22 Jun 00:06
by Yan He,
Weifeng Fang,
Kai Yin,
Yueqi Zhao,
Chenxin Song,
Tianren Liu,
Zaiqiang Ma,
Jian Zhang,
Ruikang Tang,
Zhaoming Liu
A stiff yet durable flexible material is constructed by a dynamic organic–inorganic interpenetrating nanonetwork. The uniformly distributed inorganic network provides high bending rigidity, while dynamic inter-network interactions dissipate stress during repeated bending deformation. This architecture allows the material to withstand tens of thousands of bending cycles without fracture, highlighting its promise for flexible electronics and protective structural applications.
ABSTRACT
The longstanding trade-off between stiffness and durable flexibility has limited the performance envelope of structural materials, constraining their application in demanding engineering fields. Here, we reveal an alternative organic–inorganic hybrid architecture to integrate these contradictory properties. Inspired by interpenetrating polymer networks, we interpenetrate an inorganic nanonetwork into the organic network via polymerization of inorganic ionic oligomers. In this way, an organic–inorganic (bacterial cellulose-calcium phosphate) interpenetrating nanonetwork was constructed, and notably, a dynamically reversible inter-network bonding was discovered under external force. This dynamic organic–inorganic interpenetrating nanonetwork (DIN) leads to a composite material with both high stiffness and high energy dissipation ability during deformation, exhibiting metal-like bending rigidity while sustaining 20 000 bending cycles without fatigue fracture. This demonstrates a resolution to stiffness and durable flexibility integration in structural materials. Moreover, the DIN structure exhibits resistance to harsh environments, including extreme temperatures (−196°C to 200°C) and high humidity (90% RH). Combined with its lightweight, electromagnetic transparency, and naturally derived components, DIN-based composites represent promising candidates for next-generation stiff yet durable flexible protective structural materials. This work extends the polymer-inspired approach to synthesize non-classical inorganic structures, while broadening the understanding of organic–inorganic composite architectures in integrating distinct material properties.
21 Jun 12:14
by Yingying Li,
Lu Chen,
Lingling Zhu,
Hanwei Wang,
Xinyi Xiang,
Mingdi Kang,
Yushan Yang,
Chaoji Chen,
Qingfeng Sun
A powder-to-fiber transformation creates hierarchical ceramic aerogels with microscroll-enabled fibrous networks. This architecture overcomes intrinsic brittleness, enabling temperature-invariant superelasticity, superinsulation, and effective electromagnetic shielding. The aerogels remain stable under extreme thermal and mechanical conditions, offering a robust platform for lightweight multifunctional materials in aerospace environments.
ABSTRACT
Extreme aerospace environments demand ultralight materials capable of simultaneously withstanding rapid thermal fluctuations, intense mechanical shocks, and strong electromagnetic radiation. However, integrating thermal stability, mechanical resilience, and multifunctionality within a single ceramic aerogel remains challenging due to the intrinsic brittleness and structural instability of conventional systems. Here, we report a scalable powder-to-fiber transformation strategy to construct hierarchical ceramic aerogels reinforced with cellulose-derived topological microscrolls. This process converts particle-based networks into entangled fibrous frameworks, enabling cooperative deformation and structural robustness. As a result, the aerogels exhibit near-temperature-invariant superelasticity (up to 95% strain recovery), negative thermal expansion, and ultralow thermal conductivity (3.6 mW m−
1 K−
1 in vacuum). They maintain structural integrity under extreme conditions, including direct flame exposure and rapid thermal cycling from −196°C to 1300°C, while delivering high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (above 56 dB across 8.2–40 GHz). These integrated properties establish a robust strategy for designing multifunctional ceramic aerogels for aerospace structures, thermal protection, and other extreme-environment applications.
21 Jun 12:05
by Zhenghai Bao,
Xinming Fu,
Linxin Lu,
Yiheng Song,
Zhengliang Du,
Zehao Li,
Shiwen Yang,
Yuezhan Feng,
Xianze Yin
Inspired by the epidermal bubble-like structure of ice plants, an ultra-lightweight Janus smart textile with a polyelectrolyte membrane was fabricated. It integrated passive daytime radiative cooling and multi-functional sensing, featuring outstanding cooling efficiency, precise motion detection, good durability, recyclability, and antibacterial activity, showing promising applications in wearable electronics and intelligent systems.
ABSTRACT
Smart textiles require advanced sensing capabilities, yet existing sensor-integrated fabrics suffer from poor breathability, brittleness, and thermal vulnerability, restricting large-scale deployment. Herein, inspired by the epidermal bubble-like cell structure of ice plants, we developed an ultra-lightweight Janus fabric, with a polyelectrolyte membrane as the key component—its inherent high stability, excellent ion conductivity, and good compatibility endow the fabric with superior structural flexibility and functional synergy. This design integrates passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) and sensing functions, retaining breathability and directional moisture transport. Notably, the polyelectrolyte membrane-enhanced fabric achieves 9.86°C sub-ambient cooling (101 W m−
2 net cooling power) under 1 sun intensity, 100% accurate motion monitoring, and stable triboelectric output (10 V stable output under 10 N constant force), along with exceptional durability (1000 folding cycles), recyclability, and antibacterial activity. Owing to the prominent advantages of structural innovation, excellent performance, and strong practicality, this study can not only be effectively extended to other inorganic particle systems (e.g., SiO2, boron nitride) but also holds broad application prospects in wearable electronic devices, flexible robots, and intelligent sensing systems.
21 Jun 12:01
by Jiacheng Ma,
Zhengwang Liu,
Pengyuan Zhu,
Miao Ma,
Bokun Wang,
Peiyu Cui,
Boyuan Zhang,
Long Qin,
Yifan Kang,
Zhanyou Ji,
Kaiping Tian,
Fan Wu,
Guiqiang Fei,
Renchao Che,
Wenhuan Huang
Enthalpy release from N-N’ bond rupture drives the self-propagating reconstruction of frameworks into (TPMS)-like bicontinuous carbon networks. The curved porous topology promotes impedance matching, multiple scattering, interfacial polarization, and magnetic loss for microwave attenuation, while continuous pores and heterogeneous interfaces elongate heat-transfer pathways and enhance phonon scattering for thermal insulation.
ABSTRACT
Deterministic control over pore topology remains a central bottleneck in porous carbons, limiting the ability to translate molecular design into predictable electromagnetic attenuation and coupled thermal functions. Herein, we introduce an enthalpy-driven topological programming paradigm in which the bond-enthalpy of energetic N-N’ fragments acts as a quantitative dial to steer self-propagating reconstruction of coordination frameworks into a continuous sequence of (TPMS)-like bicontinuous architectures. This programmable topology simultaneously establishes impedance-matched, multi-scattering pathways for wave ingress and concentrates heterogeneous interfaces that promote coupled dielectric and magnetic dissipation via vortex-like magnetic textures and interfacial charge accumulation. As a result, the optimized Co@1,2,3,4-NC delivers a minimum reflection loss of −53.97 dB with an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.84 GHz at 15 wt% loading. Beyond electromagnetic performance, the same bicontinuous topology suppresses heat transport by intensifying phonon scattering across hierarchical boundaries, enabling an ultralight and hydrophobic aerogel prototype that integrates electromagnetic shielding with thermal insulation. More broadly, bond-enthalpy-encoded topology control provides a transferable route to program bicontinuous porous networks across material chemistries, bridging thermodynamic driving forces with topological invariants for multifunctional matter.
21 Jun 11:54
by Dongzheng Zhang, Wenxiong Shi, Fenghua Zhang, Feng Yuan, Tongjin Zhang, Qingda Liu, and Xun Wang
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c02390
21 Jun 11:52
by Yanxia Gao, Han Chen, Chunqi Wang, Kangwei Yin, Xiaole Weng, Wonyong Choi, Zhongbiao Wu, and Xuanhao Wu
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c05820
15 Jun 00:52
by Jonas A. Finkler,
Yan Lin,
Tao Du,
Jilin Hu,
Morten M. Smedskjaer
AMDEN is a diffusion model framework for the inverse design of amorphous materials with targeted properties. By incorporating Hamiltonian Monte Carlo refinement into the denoising process, the framework overcomes the challenge of generating thermally relaxed disordered structures. AMDEN enables property-conditioned generation of amorphous oxides and multi-element glasses based on trained datasets.
ABSTRACT
Disordered (amorphous) materials, such as glasses, are emerging as promising candidates for applications within energy storage, nonlinear optics, and catalysis. Their lack of long-range order and complex short- and medium-range order, which depend on composition as well as thermal and pressure history, offer a vast materials design space. To this end, relying on machine learning methods instead of trial and error is promising, and among these, inverse design has emerged as a tool for generating materials with desired properties. Although inverse design methods based on diffusion models have shown success for crystalline materials and molecules, similar methods targeting amorphous materials remain less developed, mainly because of the limited availability of large-scale datasets and the requirement for larger simulation cells. In this work, we propose and validate an inverse design method for amorphous materials, introducing AMDEN (Amorphous Material DEnoising Network), a diffusion model-based framework that generates structures of amorphous materials. First, we demonstrate the inherent challenges for diffusion models to generate relaxed structures. These low-energy configurations are typically obtained through a thermal motion-driven random search-like process that cannot be replicated by standard denoising procedures. We therefore introduce an energy-based AMDEN variant that implements Hamiltonian Monte Carlo refinement for generating these relaxed structures. We further introduce several amorphous material datasets with diverse properties and compositions to evaluate our framework and support future development.
15 Jun 00:45
by Kira R. Baugh,
Garrett F. Godshall,
Glenn A. Spiering,
Isabela Trindade Coutinho,
Alejandro A. Rodriguez,
Katherine J. Wood,
Aiyana Gonzalez‐Arellano,
Sadeq Malakooti,
Stephanie L. Vivod,
Robert B. Moore
A new benign solvent (1,3-diphenylacetone) enables a simple, safe, and sustainable dissolution and gelation method to convert waste PET into low density, monolithic aerogels with high mechanical strength (E = 20 MPa) and remarkably low thermal conductivity (k = 21.9 to 28.9 mW/m·K). The structure of the aerogel is controlled by self-seeding crystal nucleation phenomenon that establishes a mesoscale fibrillar framework during gelation.
ABSTRACT
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is the most recycled plastic; however, upcycling of this commodity polymer to value-added products has remained limited. Recent attempts to produce PET aerogels have relied on toxic solvents, chemical conversions and cross-linking, and reinforcement to achieve useful mechanical performance. Now, using a new benign solvent (1,3-diphenylacetone), we report a simple, safe, and sustainable dissolution and gelation procedure to convert waste PET into low density, monolithic aerogels with high mechanical strength (E = 20 ± 2 MPa) and remarkably low thermal conductivity (k = 21.9 to 28.9 mW m−1 K−1). The key to this process is controlled crystal nucleation by a self-seeding phenomenon during gelation that establishes a mesoscale fibrillar framework. Our strategy offers a benign sol–gel process to upcycle plastic waste into a new form of pure PET for advanced thermal insulation.
15 Jun 00:36
by Yiming Yang,
Pingxia Zhang,
Xianxin Shao,
Zixuan Lei,
Lingyan Dong,
Liwei Wang,
Zhen Dai,
Li Ye,
Yuqiang Guo,
Changbin Tian,
Fenghua Chen,
Weijian Han,
Yiqiang Hong,
Heng Zhou,
Hao Li,
Tong Zhao
Through coordination-driven assembly and hierarchical structural engineering, multi-metal phenolic network engineered lightweight ablator undergoes spatially differentiated in situ ceramization under extreme heating, generating an interpenetrating oxide surface barrier to block oxygen ingress and a mass-fractal carbon-ceramic interior to disrupt heat-flow propagation, thereby enabling near-zero recession and long-duration thermal insulation under ultrahigh-temperature oxidative environments up to 2900 K.
ABSTRACT
Planetary-entry and sample-return missions demand thermal protection materials that simultaneously minimize mass, suppress recession, and withstand prolonged exposure to ultrahigh-temperature oxidative environments. Here, we report a metal-phenolic-network (MPN) engineered low-density-ablator that resolves this longstanding trade-off through molecularly programmable multimetal ceramization. The material is constructed by controlled ligand exchange between a quasi-linear Ti/Zr/Hf multimetal polymer and phenolic ligands, followed by polymerization into a nanoporous aerogel-like-matrix with low density, low thermal conductivity, and scalable processability. The molecular-level dispersion of multimetal species governs the in situ evolution of hierarchical ceramic architectures during extreme heating: the surface transforms into a dense interpenetrating oxide protection layer, in which (Hf, Zr)O form a rigid skeleton while (Ti, Si)O fill the intergranular space to suppress oxygen penetration and outward mass transport; meanwhile, the interior develops a mass-fractal carbon–ceramic network that disrupts heat-flux propagation. The composite exhibits near-zero recession at ultrahigh temperatures, with linear ablation rates of 0.0017 mm s−1 at 2800 K and 0.0031 mm s−1 at 2900 K, while sustaining 2500 K for 1500 s with a back-temperature-rise of only 369 K. This work establishes an MPN-based materials platform for lightweight thermal protection systems that integrate ultrahigh-temperature stability, oxidation resistance, and effective thermal insulation.
15 Jun 00:27
by Jingtian Zhang,
Yuchao Li,
Yi Liu,
Liwei Tang,
Wuqian Guo,
Linjie Wei,
Jialu Chen,
Chen Gong,
Zheshuai Lin,
Junhua Luo,
Zhihua Sun
We have presented the unusual anti-thermoplastics and extremely low linear thermal expansion in a two-dimensional metal-halide crystal. The finding sheds light on the exploration of new candidates for thermosetting systems.
ABSTRACT
Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) materials are critically important in numerous scientific and technical applications due to their versatile physical properties. However, these materials are predominantly inorganic oxides and metal alloys, while the intrinsically ZTE molecule-based single crystals remain exceptionally scarce. This scarcity arises from the lack of a comprehensive understanding of molecular deformation and spatial orientation, which are governed by the intricate coupling between molecular dynamics and intermolecular interactions. Herein, we have presented the linear ZTE and unusual anti-thermoplastics in a two-dimensional metal-halide crystal of G3Sb2Br9 (GSB, where G is guanidinium). GSB exhibits linear ZTE along the a-axis and b-axis (α
a = 1.77 × 10−6 K−1, α
b = 1.76 × 10−6 K−1) between 150 and 400 K, being comparable with several heterogeneous metal alloys (e.g., LaFe54Co3.5Si3.35). This behavior can be attributed to the wine-rack motions, which produce compensatory effects between angular contraction of the inorganic framework and bond elongation. More interestingly, the crystal exhibits anti-thermoplastic above 420 K, with both its hardness and Young's modulus increasing significantly. 2D metal-halide molecular crystals combining ultralow in-plane thermal expansion and anti-thermoplastics are rarely reported. This work expands the scope of ZTE-active materials and provides a material platform for studying thermal-stiffening in soft metal-halide frameworks.
14 Jun 12:27
by Xue Yao, Linke Huang, Yutong Liu, Robert Black, Alex Whittingham, Zahra Teimouri, Drew Higgins, Jason Hattrick-Simpers, and Chandra Veer Singh
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c07890
08 Jun 03:22
by Siyuan Jia,
Ronghui Wu,
Syeda Mishal Zahra,
Hafiz M. Asfahan,
Sujin Shao,
Meng Chen,
Xiaofeng Jiang,
Wanlin Guo,
Xiuqiang Li
A spectrally selective PVF-based radiative cooling emitter (PRCE) achieves 97.5% solar reflectance and 94.4% emissivity (8–13 µm). It suppresses parasitic heat from hot ground and buildings: 1.9°C cooler than a broadband emitter in urban canyons and 2.4°C sub-ambient in open fields. The PRCE offers the significant advantages of being scalable, durable, and self-cleaning.
ABSTRACT
Passive daytime radiative cooling offers a carbon‑free route to mitigate urban heat islands and reduce building energy use. Conventional broadband emitters, however, suffer from parasitic absorption of ambient thermal radiation from hot ground and adjacent buildings, severely compromising net cooling in dense urban settings. We present a scalable, spectrally selective radiative cooling coating that overcomes this urban penalty. By combining a phase‑inversion‑derived micro‑nano porous poly (vinyl fluoride) (PVF) layer with a reflective silver substrate, our emitter achieves a record spectral selectivity of 1.37, with 97.5% solar reflectance and 94.4% mid‑infrared emittance strictly confined to the atmospheric window (8_13 µm). In simulated urban canyon tests, the selective emitter stayed 1.9°C cooler than a broadband counterpart, effectively neutralizing heat gain from surrounding infrastructure. The coating also exhibits excellent scalability, adhesion, self‑cleaning ability, and chemical durability. By bridging performance, manufacturability, and resilience, this work offers a viable pathway for adopting radiative cooling in sustainable urban development.
08 Jun 03:14
by Dan Wang,
Chongbo Liu,
Hualong Peng,
Ruizhe Hu,
Qi Zheng,
Haoran Huang,
Fang Zhao,
Yuhui Peng,
Maosheng Cao
Based on a dual-ion synergistic regulation mechanism leveraging S, N co-doping strategy, the electronic structure was optimized, accompanied by synchronous modulation of the MxSy's work function, which allowed precise control over the BIEF intensity, ultimately achieving programmable bandwidth EMWA capability. The potential for wireless communication was validated through microstrip antenna and power divider designs. Additionally, these composites achieved radar–infrared-compatible stealth.
ABSTRACT
Electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) materials with tunable responses are critically important for operation in complex electromagnetic environments. In this study, a novel dual-ion co-modulation strategy is introduced to overcome the limited controllability of conventional EMWA materials. By employing a coordination-mediated gelation phase transformation approach, a series of transition metal sulfide/sulfur–nitrogen co-doped carbon (MxSy/SNC, M = Fe, Co, Ni, or Cu) aerogels are successfully fabricated. First-principles calculations demonstrate that N,S co-doping tunes the electronic structure of the carbon matrix, enhancing local charge imbalance and promoting dipole polarization, which significantly broadens the EMWA band. At 1.65 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth almost covers the entire Ku band. Furthermore, cation-induced modulation of the electronic configuration enables precise tuning of the built-in electric field and dielectric response, resulting in customizable absorption peaks and bandwidths. All samples achieve a minimum reflection loss (RLmin
) below −60 dB, with the RLmin
peak frequency shifting from 17.44 GHz to 11.6, 9.84, and 5.12 GHz depending on the metal ion. Finally, a low-frequency antenna and a one-to-two power divider are constructed, demonstrating strong application potential in the communications field. This study provides a new pathway for designing high-performance, programmable EMWA systems and multifunctional materials.
02 Jun 03:24
by Lingwei Wang, Shiyu Zhen, Varatharaja Nallathambi, Cui Wang, Xiaoyue Shi, Ning Lu, René Hübner, Alexander Eychmüller, Sven Reichenberger, Baptiste Gault, Liang Zhang, and Bin Cai
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c02377
02 Jun 03:23
by Yikun Kang, Zhi-Pan Liu, and Ye-Fei Li
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c05023
02 Jun 03:21
by Jun Hyuk Chang, Danial Zangeneh, Heng-Chi Chu, Justin C. Ondry, Kailai Lin, Yuan Liu, Zirui Zhou, Ahhyun Jeong, James Cassidy, Sungsu Kang, Scott A. Crooker, Alexander S. Filatov, A. Paul Alivisatos, Eran Rabani, Robert F. Klie, Richard D. Schaller, Alexander L. Efros, and Dmitri V. Talapin
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c03474
02 Jun 01:41
by Mingyu Liu,
Yanyan Ma,
Yongshi Guo,
Xianlei Shen,
Xiao Wang,
Juejing Dai,
Kang Li,
Qianqian Guo,
Chenhao Ding,
Xinyu Li,
Hayelom Belay,
Cunlei Sun,
Jianhua Yan
This study reports a scalable roll-to-roll electrospinning method for creating an elastic Al2TiO5 nanofibrous aerogel. It shows ultralow thermal conductivity from 25°C to 1000°C, resists direct flame at 1300°C without structural failure, and recovers elastically up to 90% after repeated compression. These properties stem from eutectic interfaces that scatter phonons for insulation while ensuring intrinsic thermal stability.
ABSTRACT
Ceramic aerogels that are both thermal super-insulators and mechanically robust under extreme temperatures are urgently needed yet elusive, due to the inherent trade-off between thermal resistance and thermomechanical stability. Here, we solve the problem by reporting a 3D, elastic aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5) nanofibrous aerogel crafted via a eutectic-interface engineering strategy. This approach employs a fully aqueous, scalable roll-to-roll electrospinning process, enabling the low-temperature synthesis of a co-continuous Al2O3–TiO2 eutectic architecture—a structure previously attainable only in dense ceramics through ultra-high-temperature melt growth. The resulting aerogel (density: 25 mg·cm−
3) achieves an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.033 and 0.103 W·m−
1·K−
1 at 25 and 1000°C, respectively. Moreover, the aerogel can resist direct flame at 1300°C without structural failure, and recovers elastically up to 90% after repeated compression at 50% strain. This superior performance arises from its eutectic interfaces, which act as efficient phonon scatterers for thermal insulation while also providing intrinsic thermal stability. This work not only demonstrates a viable, sustainable path for mass-producing elastic ceramic aerogels but also establishes a new material design paradigm, transforming brittle eutectic oxides into lightweight, elastic thermal super-insulators for aerospace and energy applications.
02 Jun 01:13
by Gangfeng Cai,
Ziqiu Wang,
Wenhao Tong,
Huasong Qin,
Peng Li,
Yicong Qin,
Kaiwen Li,
Zihao Deng,
Songhan Shi,
Haodong Yang,
Yilun Liu,
Zhen Xu,
Yingjun Liu,
Chao Gao
A multi-flow assembly strategy enables the fabrication of programmable graphene metamaterials with diverse architectures. Inspired by cuttlebone, the resulting low-density lamella-wall metamaterial exhibits robust mechanical performance, including high compressive strength, progressive layer-by-layer compression, and excellent elasticity, enabling applications in high-range pressure sensing.
ABSTRACT
Materials aim to integrate excellent properties, including high strength, stiffness, significant elastic deformation, specifically at low density. However, synthetic materials usually involve trade-offs among these characteristics, resulting in distinct categories, such as hard and soft carbon materials, despite sharing identical elemental composition. Here, we demonstrate a lightweight graphene metamaterial fabricated via multi-flow assembly that integrates the mechanical robustness of low-density hard carbons with the elastic deformability of soft carbons. The representative graphene metamaterial features a cuttlebone-inspired lamella-wall architecture. This architecture reasonably strengthens and stiffens the graphene metamaterial, akin to the house-of-cards carbon layer arrangement in hard carbons. The intrinsic superelasticity under huge deformation (90%) is also retained in these graphene metamaterials. Our multi-flow assembly method is facile to prepare varied metamaterials by directly manipulating the arranged texture of individual graphene sheets, paving the way for exploring the unique properties of metamaterials in the macroscopic world and their applications.
02 Jun 01:02
by Long Zhao,
Hongxiang Zong
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the modeling of material dynamics across scales. This Review highlights recent advances in AI-driven machine learning potentials, interpretability, and generative prediction for decoding dynamic processes of phase transitions in transforming materials and plastic deformation in metallic structural materials, outlining future opportunities and challenges for developing AI-powered frameworks to probe atomic-level dynamics and accelerate materials design.
Abstract
Understanding and predicting the dynamic processes that underpin material performance are crucial for designing next-generation materials capable of meeting the evolving demands of modern technologies. These processes—often occurring at atomic or molecular scales in condensed phases—remain notoriously difficult to probe experimentally. Artificial intelligence (AI) now offers a transformative framework that enables unprecedented realism in modeling, interpreting, and even generating multiscale dynamics under various external conditions. In this Review, we highlight recent advances in AI-based machine learning potentials, AI-guided interpretability, and generative AI for dynamic prediction, and demonstrate their applications to key challenges in materials science, including phase transitions in transforming materials and plastic deformation in metallic structural materials. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and outline future opportunities, aiming to inspire the development of AI-powered frameworks that can probe atomic-level dynamics and accelerate materials design.
01 Jun 23:57
by Yufei Song,
Jiangtao Fan,
Feifei Guo,
LingXiang Wang,
Yifan Hu,
Zheng Cheng,
Zeliang Gao,
Zhanggui Hu
The lead-free high-entropy ferroelectric ceramic BNBT-CHTT is first reported for self-powered x-ray detection. The BNBT-CHTT ceramic achieves an impressive combination of high sensitivity (1117.44–1223.55 µC Gyair
−1 cm−2) and ultralow detection limits (∼38.7 nGyair s−1). It exhibits unprecedented operational stability across a wide temperature range (25°C–185°C) in both biased and self-powered modes.
ABSTRACT
Sensitive and stable x‑ray detectors are essential for low‑dose medical diagnostics. Achieving wide‑temperature operation in materials remains a key challenge for enabling thermally stable, self-powered x‑ray detection. Herein, a high-entropy lead-free relaxor ferroelectric ceramic, 0.85Bi0.47Na0.47Ba0.06TiO3-0.15Ca0.7Ho0.2Ti0.75Ta0.2O3 (BNBT-CHTT), is fabricated first. The unique entropy-stabilized polar nanoregions (PNRs) endow the system with high resistivity and robust spontaneous polarization, underpinning exceptional self-powered performance across a broad thermal window. Under 70 keV x-ray irradiation, the detector exhibits excellent stability from 25°C to 185°C, delivering record-high specific sensitivities of 1117.44–1223.55 µC Gyair
−1 cm−2, self-powered sensitivities of 597.28–699.78 µC Gyair
−1 cm−2, and low detection limits of 38.7–160.6 nGya
i
r s−1. Notably, distortion-free x-ray imaging is demonstrated at 185°C under zero bias, validating the material's practical utility. This work highlights the potential of high-entropy relaxor ferroelectrics to overcome key limitations of existing detectors and provides a robust platform for next-generation, low-power, wide-temperature-range x-ray detection and imaging technologies.
01 Jun 23:52
by Mingchao Chi,
Zixi Lin,
Song Zhang,
Tao Liu,
Yanhua Liu,
Chenchen Cai,
Bin Luo,
Jinlong Wang,
Kang Yu,
Qiguan Luo,
Shuangfei Wang,
Shuangxi Nie
This work has developed an ultrastretchable aramid triboelectric aerogel by programmed ice crystal growth. The orientation fitting degree of the triboelectric aerogel reaches 98%, which is 2.6 times higher than that of conventional freeze-casting methods. This ordered structure disperses tensile stresses during stretching, enabling the triboelectric aerogel to sustain an unprecedented 539% strain.
ABSTRACT
Aerogels have demonstrated considerable potential in the field of flexible sensors owing to the tunability of porous architectures. The brittleness and low stretchability induced by high porosity remain key limitations restricting aerogel applications. Inspired by the orientation of muscle fibers, an ultrastretchable aramid triboelectric aerogel is developed by programmed ice crystal growth. The orientation fitting degree of the triboelectric aerogel reaches 98%, which is 2.6 times higher than that of conventional freeze-casting methods. This ordered structure disperses tensile stresses during stretching, enabling the triboelectric aerogel to sustain an unprecedented 539% strain. Leveraging this aerogel, the triboelectric sensing array with vibration feedback was designed. Combined with deep learning algorithms, it achieved real-time monitoring and vibration feedback alerts of driving behaviors within a single sensor interface for the first time. This study offers a promising strategy for intelligent driving systems to identify and mitigate unsafe driving behaviors.
01 Jun 23:45
by Junjie Zheng,
Junyan Zhang,
Zhen Wang,
He Jia,
Tianxiang Bai,
Mengyue Gao,
Chengjian Xu,
Xinhai Zhang,
Meifang Zhu,
Yanhua Cheng
Deployable aerospace applications impose rigorous mechanical and thermal demands on lightweight materials. Based on this, we engineered covalently fused nanofiber aerogels exhibiting super-tough multiaxial shape recovery and superior thermal insulation. Envisioned for drag-augmentation deorbiting spheres and flexible habitation capsules, this resilient aerogel provides a highly versatile material foundation for deep-space exploration.
ABSTRACT
Nanofibrous aerogels exhibit an ultralow bulk density, making them highly desirable for lightweight aerospace structures. Nevertheless, these materials are often hampered by inherent physical brittleness, leading to severe structural failure under complex mechanical loads. To address this challenge, we developed a hybrid aerogel featuring core-shell inter-fiber junctions covalently fused via siloxane bonds, fabricated by in-situ vapor-phase polymerization of poly(vinylsilsesquioxane) (PVSQ) on a continuous and crosslinked native bacterial cellulose (BC) network. This unique architecture endows the aerogel (BC-PVSQ) with outstanding mechanical adaptability and toughness, including >99% compressibility, bending resilience (curvature > 20 mm−1), robust tensile strength, and structural integrity over 10,000 shearing cycles. Significantly, it maintains low density (16.1 mg cm−3) and thermal conductivity (27.0 ± 0.2 mW m−1 K−1). As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the practical potential of the material for space-deployable drag-augmentation deorbiting spheres, enabling reversible folding compaction and reliable deployment, and for flexible habitat insulation, where it shows superior thermal insulation performance relative to conventional aerospace insulation materials under simulated Martian atmospheric conditions. This work successfully resolves the longstanding trade-off between mechanical robustness and thermal insulation, laying a multifunctional technological foundation for next-generation lightweight deployable systems designed for space environments.
19 May 03:05
by Xiaotong Chen,
Wenqing Wang,
Jingyi Chen,
Xiong Gao,
Junzhe Xin,
Chang Liu,
Rujie He,
Ying Li
Inspired by ancient paper-making technology, an ultralight SiC fiber mat is assembled from fibers using an aqueous CTAB-stabilized slurry. The as-obtained ceramic “paper” maintains structural integrity under 1600°C treatment. Fire-strengthened welded junctions deliver enhanced compressive strength, ultralow thermal conductivity, and remarkable flexibility. The mat also integrates real-time temperature measurement capability.
ABSTRACT
High-temperature thermal insulation properties of ultralight SiC materials make them highly promising for extreme environment applications. In this study, inspired by ancient paper-making, we demonstrate the room-temperature assembly of pre-formed SiC fibers into an ultralight ceramic “paper” using an aqueous CTAB-stabilized slurry. Under the baptism of 1600°C the “paper” does not burn and strengthens itself. Aerodynamic heat triggers surface oxidation, welding fiber crossings into stable junctions and boosting compressive strength from 49 to 206 kPa, while the skeleton retains its shape with only 1.23% mass loss. The resultant ultralight SiC fiber mat (SFM) carries an ultralow thermal conductivity of 42 mW m−1 K−1 and a density of 0.13 g cm−3, yet survives 80% compression, 135° bending and 45° twisting without fracture. Repeated flame impingement, cyclic airflow scouring and ten-cycle ablation leave the back-face temperature below 400°C, evidencing reliable reusability. Because the “ceramic papermaking” route relies solely on gravity sedimentation and pH-triggered structural assembly, meter-scale or intricately patterned parts can be molded in hours, then dried at 80°C, avoiding complex sol-gel chemistry or high-temperature carbothermal synthesis. The same Seebeck-principle network further endows SFM with real-time temperature measurement (±10°C accuracy), integrating insulation and damage tolerance in one fire-strengthened sheet.
10 May 09:14
by Duo Xu,
Buxuan Li,
You Lyu,
Vivian J. Santamaria‐Garcia,
Yuan Zhu,
Svetlana V. Boriskina
A fast, reversible, and recyclable thermal switch is realized using largely amorphous polyolefin fibers. Mechanical strain induces polymer chain alignment, which triggers vibrational delocalization, experimentally quantified via Raman spectroscopy, to open new heat transport channels. This mechanism enables continuous thermal conductivity tuning with high switching ratios and sub-second response times across a broad temperature range.
ABSTRACT
Developing fast, reversible, and recyclable thermal switches is essential to advance adaptive thermal management. Here, we present a strain-tunable thermal switch based on largely amorphous olefin block copolymer (OBC) fibers, achieving a continuous switching ratio above 2 over 1000 cycles, as well as very short response times below 0.22 s. Using Raman spectroscopy, we quantify vibrational delocalization with increasing strain and demonstrate its direct connection to the observed thermal conductivity changes. We show that unlike prior assumptions linking propagating heat carriers primarily to crystalline domains, alignment in amorphous systems can enable phonon-like modes that dominate transport. To our best knowledge, this work is the first to experimentally probe vibrational delocalization using Raman spectroscopy and to demonstrate that alignment alone can govern the dominant carrier in disordered polymers. These findings establish design strategies for fatigue-resistant, high-performance, and recyclable polymer thermal switches for advanced thermal energy transport applications.
10 May 09:08
by Shuichiro Hayashi,
Ankit Das,
Marco Rupp,
Elizabeth Stump,
Joshua Miller,
Michele L. Sarazen,
Craig B. Arnold
Reactive laser additive manufacturing transforms printing into a chemically active synthesis step. Salt-enabled transient reaction environments drive in situ formation of hierarchically structured graphitic aerogels with microtubular and nanoscale features in seconds. This internally programmed reactivity yields over tenfold capacitance enhancement, establishing a scalable solvent-free pathway for reaction-driven materials-by-design.
ABSTRACT
As demands for sustainable and scalable energy materials manufacturing accelerate, additive manufacturing (AM) remains largely limited to passive shaping of predefined precursors. Here, we introduce reactive laser AM, in which precursor composition is designed to transform the printing step itself into a chemically active stage of materials synthesis. Incorporating eutectic alkali halide salts into protein-based powders converts localized laser heating into transient reaction environments that drive vapor-phase chemistry, surface etching, and in situ hierarchical growth without external reagents or solvents. This internally activated reactivity enables the rapid formation of graphitic aerogel monoliths with multilevel architecture—macroporous frameworks decorated with microtubular arrays and nanoscale features—within seconds in a single process. As energy storage electrodes, these hierarchically structured aerogels exhibit a tenfold enhancement in gravimetric capacitance (∼162 F g−1) relative to salt-free counterparts. By engineering reactivity through feedstock design, this work reframes laser AM as a dynamic platform for reaction-driven materials-by-design.
10 May 09:05
by Yang Li,
Zhuoyuan Zhang,
Sai Liu,
Meng Li,
Chi‐Yan Tso,
Deqing Mei,
Keqiao Li,
Baoling Huang
A thermal-comfort-oriented design paradigm for smart thermoregulators is proposed based on predicted mean vote. By integrating responsiveness to temperature, humidity, and solar irradiance, the developed multi-stimuli-responsive device achieves stepless thermal regulation. It offers a significant regulation potential from 850 W m−2 (heating) to −114 W m−2 (cooling), ensuring year-round indoor comfort and substantial energy savings across diverse climates.
ABSTRACT
While adaptive thermoregulators are promising green solutions for buildings, current designs often focus solely on air temperature, neglecting the multifaceted nature of human thermal sensation. Here, we proposed a thermal-comfort-oriented design paradigm that integrates responsiveness to multiple environmental stimuli, including temperature, humidity, and solar irradiance. We demonstrated a proof-of-concept thermoregulator capable of perceiving environmental changes and adjusting its configuration accordingly, offering a stepless thermal regulation potential within a range of 824 W m−2 (heating) to −114 W m−2 (cooling). Field tests affirmed that model houses with this intelligent thermoregulator could maintain thermal comfort for up to 6 h with zero energy consumption during the daytime. The device also exhibited exceptional mechanical strength, adhesion properties, and resistance to adverse weather conditions, ensuring its service reliability. Simulations indicate the device can reduce energy consumption by 15%–50% compared to standard roofs while maintaining indoor thermal comfort across different climates worldwide, highlighting the great potential of multi-stimuli-responsive thermoregulators for building thermal management.
10 May 09:03
by Shengxue Zhou, Jianwei Cai, Yaming Zhou, Weijia Mu, Xiaotong Feng, Shaoxuan Luo, Xiaofan Ping, Lina Liu, Dake Hu, Jing Li, Muhammad Asif, Yue Liu, Xinsheng Wang, Wen Zhao, Wenqing Yao, Liming Xie, Feng Ding, and Liying Jiao
Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6c02743
05 May 13:35
by David McArthur,
George Maddison,
Jaianth Vijayakumar,
Paul Tafforeau,
Kathy Christofidou,
Peter David Lee,
PJ Tan,
Chu Lun Alex Leung
Triply-twinned architected lattices transform deformation from bending to stretching of struts, delivering up to threefold increases in stiffness and strength across polymeric and metallic systems. High-resolution synchrotron XCT and image-based simulations reveal how meta-grain architecture, defects, and AM build orientation govern failure pathways. This study demonstrates a design strategy for lightweight metamaterials with enhanced performance and reliability.
ABSTRACT
We designed and engineered a novel class of triply-twinned Body-Centred Cubic (BCCT) lattices that achieved up to three-fold improvements in mechanical performance over conventional BCC lattice architecture. Inefficient strut deformation and defect-sensitive failure limit the performance and reliability of architected metamaterials. Triply-twinned meta-crystal architectures transform the dominant strut-scale deformation from bending to stretching in both polymeric (Rigid 4K) and metallic (Ti-6Al-4V) Additively Manufactured (AM) BCCT lattices, significantly enhancing their stiffness (+380%) and strength (+279%). Using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray computed tomography, image-based finite element models, scanning electron microscopy, and pyrometry, we correlate fracture mechanisms to the architecture design and as-built defects in these AM lattices. We further reduce defect-driven fracture by 50% without altering the global failure mode by adjusting the build orientation of the lattices. This integrated, multi-scale approach links fundamental deformation mechanics to manufacturability, providing a broadly applicable design strategy for next-generation architected metamaterials with exceptional performance and reliability.
05 May 13:27
by Dídac Barneo,
Miquel Royo,
Rafael Ramos,
Jesús Carrete,
Hugo Romero‐Bernad,
Ricardo Jiménez,
Víctor Leborán,
César Magén,
Noa Varela‐Domínguez,
Miguel Algueró,
Riccardo Rurali,
José A. Pardo,
Francisco Rivadulla,
Eric Langenberg
Ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 epitaxial thin films exhibit a non-volatile, electrically controlled thermal conductivity enabled by the coupling between oxygen vacancy migration, acting as phonon scatterers, and ferroelectric polarization, acting as ion migration valve. The resulting hysteretic thermal response allows reversible access to distinct thermal states, establishing hafnia-based ferroelectrics as a promising platform for solid-state thermal memories and advanced thermal management technologies.
ABSTRACT
Here we investigate epitaxial Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 ferroelectric thin films as potential candidates to be used as non-volatile electric-field-modulated thermal memories. The electric-field dependence of the thermal conductivity of metal/Hf0.5Zr0.5O2/Y2O3:ZrO2 devices is found to be hysteretic—resembling a polarization vs. electric field hysteresis loop—, reaching a maximum (minimum) at large applied positive (negative) electric fields from the top metallic electrode. This dynamic thermal response is compatible with the effects of the coupling between the ferroelectric polarization and oxygen ion migration in the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 layer, in which the oxygen vacancies are the main phonon scattering centers and the polarization acts as an electrically active ion migration barrier that creates the hysteresis. This new mechanism enables two non-volatile states: high (ON) and low (OFF) thermal conductivity states when the electric field is removed, with an ON/OFF ratio of 1.6, which can be switched with applied voltages lower than -5 and +5 V, respectively. Both the ON and OFF states exhibit high stability over time, though the switching speed is limited by ion mobility in the Y2O3:ZrO2 electrode.
05 May 12:39
by Peibo Du,
Jinping Zhang,
Haoye Tian,
Kefan Zhang,
Xiaoyan Li,
Jie Wang,
Li Lv,
Chengcheng Li,
Weiguang Liu,
Fengyan Ge,
Zaisheng Cai
This work presents a bioinspired transpiration-inspired metafabric with a gradient porous structure, designed to enhance personal thermal and moisture management. The metafabric integrates superior radiative cooling, thermal conductivity, and moisture-wicking properties, achieving a 20.2°C temperature reduction in sweaty conditions. It offers a sustainable, energy-efficient solution for cooling textiles, promising substantial comfort and environmental benefits.
ABSTRACT
Advanced radiative cooling textiles represent a promising avenue for improving human thermal comfort in the face of global warming. However, their limited sweat evaporation capacity and low thermal conductivity significantly reduce the cooling efficiency, particularly in hot outdoor climates. Herein, a novel transpiration-inspired metafabric that integrates precise solar spectrum regulation, a high heat conduction pathway, and splendid moisture-wicking capacity was presented through multi-scale electrospun structural design. The gradient micro-nano porous metafabric can broadly scatter the solar spectrum while establishing a gradual refractive index transition to enhance mid-infrared absorption. The solar reflectivity and infrared emissivity of the metafabric reached 99.7% and 93.3%, respectively, inducing a cooling effect of 10.2°C and net cooling power (Pnet) of 110.1 W/m2. Meanwhile, the metafabric with a gradual wettability gradient and capillary force gradient exhibited a high one-way transport index (R) of 1330.7% and a reverse breakthrough pressure of 15.0 cm H2O, effectively preventing liquid pinning and back penetration. What's more, the coupled strategy of thermal radiation, conduction, and evaporation resulted in a temperature drop of 20.2°C in the sweaty state. The metafabric also demonstrated superb mechanical robustness, breathability, and washability. The work may offer a scalable and energy-efficient strategy for advanced thermal and moisture management textiles.