Nature-Inspired MXene Electrode with the Highly Interconnected Gradient Nanoconfined Architecture.

Achieving efficient ion transport in thick electrodes remains a fundamental challenge in electrochemical systems with high energy density, primarily due to prolonged diffusion pathways and poorly integrated architectures. Leveraging the nanoconfinement effect, (sub)nanoscale channels can significantly accelerate ion transport kinetics to maximize electrochemical performance. Inspired by the hierarchical network structure of bamboo membrane, a gradient nanoconfined MXene electrode (GNC-MX) is designed, where multiscale interlayer spacing is coupled with in-plane mesopores that bridge adjacent nanoconfined channels, enabling synergistic vertical and horizontal ion migration.

Nanoscale Interlayer Engineering Enhances MXene-Based Flexible Pressure Sensor.

MXene, an emerging two-dimensional nanomaterial, has attracted considerable interest due to its large surface area, excellent mechanical strength, and superior electrical and chemical properties, making it a strong candidate for high-performance pressure sensors. However, its inherent tendency to self-stack limits the tunability of its interlayer structure, which is critical for resistance-based sensing mechanisms. In this work, we successfully achieved continuous tuning of MXene's interlayer spacing, effectively enhancing the sensitivity and overall performance of the pressure sensor.

Thermo-Switchable Enzyme@Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Biocatalysis and Biosensing.

The stimulus-responsive regulation of enzyme catalytic activity and selectivity provides a new opportunity to extend the functionality and efficiency of immobilized enzymes. This work aims to design and synthesize a thermo-switchable enzyme@MOF for size-selective biocatalysis and biosensing through the immobilization of lipase (CRL) within ZIF-8 functionalized with thermally responsive polymer, poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) (CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM). Unlike free CRL, which does not demonstrate substrate selectivity, we can reversibly tune the pore size of the ZIF-8-PNIPAM nanostructures (open pores or blocked pores) through temperature stimulus and subsequently modulate the substrate selectivity of CRL@ZIF-8-PNIPAM.

Study of the growth mechanism of a self-assembled and ordered multi-dimensional heterojunction at atomic resolution.

Multi-dimensional heterojunction materials have attracted much attention due to their intriguing properties, such as high efficiency, wide band gap regulation, low dimensional limitation, versatility and scalability. To further improve the performance of materials, researchers have combined materials with various dimensions using a wide variety of techniques. However, research on growth mechanism of such composite materials is still lacking.

Maximizing Electron Channels Enabled by MXene Aerogel for High-Performance Self-Healable Flexible Electronic Skin.

Among the increasingly popular miniature and flexible smart electronics, two-dimensional materials show great potential in the development of flexible electronics owing to their layered structures and outstanding electrical properties. MXenes have attracted much attention in flexible electronics owing to their excellent hydrophilicity and metallic conductivity. However, their limited interlayer spacing and tendency for self-stacking lead to limited changes in electron channels under external pressure, making it difficult to exploit their excellent surface metal conductivity.

3D MXene-Based Flexible Network for High-Performance Pressure Sensor with a Wide Temperature Range.

With the increasing popularity of smart wearable devices, flexible pressure sensors are highly desired in various complex application scenarios. A great challenge for existing flexible pressure sensors is to maintain high sensitivity over a wide temperature range, which is critical for their applications in harsh environments. Herein, a flexible piezoresistive sensor made of polyetherimide (PEI) fibrous network evenly covered with MXene nanosheets is reported to construct conductive pathways, showing ultrahigh sensitivity over a wide temperature range from -5 °C (sensitivity of 80 kPa ) to 150 °C (20 kPa ), low detection limit of 9 Pa, fast response time of 163 ms, outstanding durability over 10 000 cycles at room temperature, 2000 cycles at 100 °C and 500 cycles at -5 °C.

Maximizing the ion accessibility and high mechanical strength in nanoscale ion channel MXene electrodes for high-capacity zinc-ion energy storage.

Two-dimensional transition-metal carbides (MXenes) have superhydrophilic surfaces and superior metal conductivity, making them competitive in the field of electrochemical energy storage. However, MXenes with layered structures are easily stackable, which reduces the ion accessibility and transport paths, thus limiting their electrochemical performance. To fully exploit the advantages of MXenes in electrochemical energy storage, this study reports the etching of large-sized MXene into nanosheets with nanoscale ion channels via a chemical oxidation method.

3D Porous Structure in MXene/PANI Foam for a High-Performance Flexible Pressure Sensor.

The fields of electronic skin, man-machine interaction, and health monitoring require flexible pressure sensors with great sensitivity. However, most microstructure designs utilized to fabricate high-performance pressure sensors require complex preparation processes. Here, MXene/polyaniline (PANI) foam with 3D porous structure is achieved by using a steam-induced foaming method.

3D Porous MXene Aerogel through Gas Foaming for Multifunctional Pressure Sensor.

The development of smart wearable electronic devices puts forward higher requirements for future flexible electronics. The design of highly sensitive and high-performance flexible pressure sensors plays an important role in promoting the development of flexible electronic devices. Recently, MXenes with excellent properties have shown great potential in the field of flexible electronics.

High-Performance Flexible Pressure Sensor with a Self-Healing Function for Tactile Feedback.

High-performance flexible pressure sensors have attracted a great deal of attention, owing to its potential applications such as human activity monitoring, man-machine interaction, and robotics. However, most high-performance flexible pressure sensors are complex and costly to manufacture. These sensors cannot be repaired after external mechanical damage and lack of tactile feedback applications.

TiCT MXene-Based Flexible Piezoresistive Physical Sensors.

MXenes have received increasing attention due to their two-dimensional layered structure, high conductivity, hydrophilicity, and large specific surface area. Because of these distinctive advantages, MXenes are considered as very competitive pressure-sensitive materials in applications of flexible piezoresistive sensors. This work reviews the preparation methods, basic properties, and assembly methods of MXenes and their recent developments in piezoresistive sensor applications.

Study of the Growth Mechanism of Solution-Synthesized Symmetric Tellurium Nanoflakes at Atomic Resolution.

As a new member of 2D materials, 2D tellurium (Te) has recently attracted much attention due to its intriguing properties. Through hydrothermal processing, 2D Te with tunable thickness and size has been realized, and its growth mechanism has also been studied. However, the tailored growth of 2D Te nanoflakes with symmetrical morphologies and interfacial moiré fringes has never been reported.

Proline-Modified UIO-66 as Nanocarriers to Enhance Lipase Catalytic Activity and Stability for Electrochemical Detection of Nitrofen.

Immobilization can be used to improve the stability of lipases and enhances lipase recovery and reusability, which increases its commercial value and industrial applications. Nevertheless, immobilization frequently causes conformational changes of the lipases, which decrease lipase catalytic activity. in the present work, we synthesized UIO-66 and grafted UIO-66 crystals with proline for immobilization of lipase (CRL).

Revealing the Phase-Transition Dynamics and Mechanism in a Spinel LiTiO Anode Material through in Situ Electron Microscopy.

Spinel LiTiO is considered as a promising anode material for long-life lithium-ion batteries because of the negligible volumetric variation during the insertion and extraction of Li ions. Phase transition is an inevitable process during the migration of Li ions, and the transition process and mechanism need detailed investigation down to the atomic scale. In this study, we investigated the behavior and mechanism on the phase transition of LiTiO through in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Study of nanometer-scale structures and electrostatic properties of InAs quantum dots decorating GaAs/AlAs core/shell nanowires.

The configurations of core/shell nanowires (NWs) and quantum dots (QDs) decorating NWs have found great applications in forming optoelectronic devices thanks to their superior performances. The combination of the two configurations would expect to bring more benefits, however, the nanometer-scale electrostatic properties of the QD/buffer layer/NW heterostructures are still unrevealed. In this study, the InAs QDs decorating GaAs/AlAs core/shell NWs are systemically studied both experimentally and theoretically.

Bioinspired Microspines for a High-Performance Spray TiCT MXene-Based Piezoresistive Sensor.

Recently, wearable and flexible pressure sensors have sparked tremendous research interest, and considerable applications including human activity monitoring, biomedical research, and artificial intelligence interaction are reported. However, the large-scale preparation of low-cost, high-sensitivity piezoresistive sensors still face huge challenges. Inspired by the specific structures and excellent metal conductivity of a family of two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal carbides and nitrides (MXene) and the high-performance sensing effect of human skin including randomly distributed microstructural receptors, we fabricate a highly sensitive MXene-based piezoresistive sensor with bioinspired microspinous microstructures formed by a simple abrasive paper stencil printing process.

MoS-Based Photodetectors Powered by Asymmetric Contact Structure with Large Work Function Difference.

Self-powered devices are widely used in the detection and sensing fields. Asymmetric metal contacts provide an effective way to obtain self-powered devices. Finding two stable metallic electrode materials with large work function differences is the key to obtain highly efficient asymmetric metal contacts structures.