Aqueous ammonium ion battery(AAIB)is considered as a promising candidate for next generation energy storage devices because the usage of non-metal NH₄+as a carrier,which possesses the merits of low molar mass,small hydrated ion radius,and rich reservation.In this work,a novel electrospun Ti₃C₂Tx@S-V₂O₅@CNF nanofiber is constructed by sulfur doping and Ti₃C₂T×introduction strategy to exert the synergetic effect on NH₄+storage capacity.DFT calculations indicate that the induction of Ti₃C₂Txcan redistribute internal charges of the material,induce downshift of the d-band center of V atoms and p-band center of S atoms to the Fermi level,thus the adsorption energy of NH₄⁺is optimized.Electrochemical results show that the Ti₃C₂Tx@S-V₂O₅@CNF electrode displays high capacity of 576.2 mAh g¹at 0.5 Ag¹, long cycle life,and superior rate performance.Our work provides a new thought for designing high-performance cathode material through local charge regulation for AAIBs.

The cover will depict the process from the cellular and tissue damage caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the innovative repair of neural networks and the skull using advanced biomaterials such as ECM mimetics, smart materials, and 3D printing. The design concept is inspired by the unique relationship between neural repair and guitar strings. Just as guitar strings transmit sound through precise tension adjustments, producing coordinated vibrations and notes, neural conduction relies on the precise transmission and repair of signals. The tension of the guitar strings not only symbolizes the transmission of neural signals but also metaphorically represents the complexity and delicate repair mechanisms of the nervous system. Against this backdrop, biomaterials, through the simulation of natural extracellular matrix (ECM), smart responsive materials, and the application of 3D printing technologies, offer unprecedented therapeutic approaches for patients with traumatic brain injury, facilitating the reconstruction and recovery of both neural networks and the skull.

The application of NO₂ sensor effectively reduces industrial and automotive NO₂ emissions. However, insufficient electrocatalytic activity and limited NO₂ adsorption capacity of sensing electrode (SE) limit the sensitivity increment of NO₂ sensor. To address this challenge, we developed a ZnWO₄/Li₆W₂O₉ heterojunction SE by molten salt method for the zirconia-based impedancemetric NO₂ sensor. The results show that the sensitivity of ZnWO₄/Li₆W₂O₉ sensor is significantly increased compared to the pristine ZnWO₄ sensor. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the introduction of Li₆W₂O₉ significantly increases the density of Lewis base sites on the surface of the SE, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity for NO₂. Simultaneously, the formation of the heterojunction of ZnWO₄/Li₆W₂O₉ effectively reduces the interfacial resistance and improves the electrochemical catalytic activity. This work successfully demonstrates the in-situ heterojunction construction by molten salt method for synthetic SE, thereby establishing an effective strategy for developing gas sensors with large sensitivity.

Spin polarization-a quantum property of electrons-has become a powerful design principle for next-generation catalysts, especially for complex reactions like the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), critical in fuel cells. Yet, inducing spin polarization often demands elaborate structures or external fields, complicating both catalyst design and mechanism understanding. In this study, we turn to nature’s handedness-chirality-as a solution. Taking B20-type chiral crystals as an example, nanosized PtGa alloys with inherent spin polarization triggered by electric current were synthesized. Dispersed on carbon supports, these alloys exhibited clear circular dichroism, confirming their spin-polarized nature. Remarkably, the chiral PtGa catalyst achieved a high half-wave potential (0.91 V), outstanding mass activity (1.17 A mgPt⁻¹), and ultra-low H₂O₂ production (0.5%)-far outperforming commercial Pt/C. By promoting a direct four-electron transfer pathway, this work offers a novel, efficient route for spin-controlled catalysis, paving the way for cleaner, more affordable energy technologies.

Driven by big data analytics and artificial intelligence, advanced electronic packaging has an increasing demand for high reliability of interconnect interfaces. However, how the intrinsic “quality” parameters of Cu (crystal defects) affect the formation mechanism of Kirkendall voids (KVs) in Cu/Sn solder joints remains unclear. In this study, substrates with different crystal defects were prepared and the solder joints of these Cu substrates were subjected to long-term thermal aging to investigate the formation of KVs at the interface. When the grain boundary energy is higher than the lattice energy, the additional driving force leads to shortcircuit diffusion, which causes local Cu loss and the formation of voids. The low crystal defect sample maintained the local Cu/Sn interdiffusion equilibrium, and there were very few voids after 1000 h. This study emphasizes that regulating the crystal defects can reduce KVs and provides a new insight for improving the integrated solder joint’s reliability.

Sintered NdFeB magnets are widely used in new energy vehicles, wind power generation, low-altitude aircraft, and robotics due to their exceptional magnetic properties. However, their intrinsic brittleness severely compromises service stability under complex mechanical environments. In this study, Ti was introduced into the grain boundary phase to form rod-shaped heterogeneous phases, which impede dislocation slip and achieve heterogeneous deformation. Additionally, leveraging the diffusion behavior of Ti atoms at elevated temperatures, Fe atoms in the main phase were partially substituted, thereby modulating the covalent bond strength of the main phase and enhancing its mechanical properties. Through the synergistic effects of these multi-scale strengthening mechanisms, the flexural strength of the magnet increased by 159.05%, offering a novel strategy for improving the mechanical performance of sintered NdFeB magnets.

In this cover figure, a robotic arm wields a laser like an artist’s brush, weaving elemental cubes of Cr, Ni, Co, Fe, Ti, and Al into a tower of tomorrow’s materials. This visionary artwork captures the essence of breakthrough research where laser-aided additive manufacturing (LAAM) becomes a high-precision foundry for designed alloys. By use of LAAM, phase-tunable materials are easily fabricated by adjusting the raw powders. The central “tower” embodies the study’s most profound implication: spatially programmable properties. By tuning powder ratios across a component, LAAM fabricates structures with customized mechanical landscapes—enabling reactors, turbines, and aerospace systems to locally optimize strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

Amid increasing resource depletion, ecological fragility, and geopolitical uncertainty, the sustainable development of rare earth elements (REEs) has become a global priority. This study proposes a Tai Chi–inspired sustainability model that integrates traditional Chinese philosophy with modern engineering. Drawing upon the structure of Tai Chi – Two Forms – Four Symbols – Eight Trigrams, the model outlines five interconnected levels: one core goal (sustainability), two technological pathways (mining and recycling), four societal roles (government, enterprises, researchers, consumers), and eight influencing factors (resources, energy, environment, policy, application, technology, supply & demand, economy). Through a Tai Chi diagram, it visualizes the dynamic, mutually reinforcing relationships across these components, anchored within a full life-cycle stakeholder network.

This interdisciplinary framework not only reveals systemic interactions within the REE industry but also provides a culturally rooted paradigm for managing other strategic metal resources. It represents an Eastern systems-thinking approach to achieving global sustainability in resource governance.

Metallic glass composites hold significant potential as structural materials. However, few methods are available to enhance their mechanical properties post-casting. In this study, simple pre-tensile training was applied to a TRIP-reinforced metallic glass composite, resulting in a more than one-third increase in plasticity, while the reliability of plasticity was also enhanced. The deformation mechanism was further elucidated, revealing that pre-tension induced the formation of multi-layered nanostructures at the dendrite-glass interface. This microstructural evolution facilitates the formation of finer martensite laths within the dendrites and multiple shear bands in the glass matrix during compression, thereby enabling more uniform plastic deformation. These findings suggest that simple preloading treatments may offer a viable approach to regulating the microstructure of as-cast metallic glass composites and optimizing their mechanical properties.

Rapid revolution of information technology towards high-frequency applications urges the development of advanced soft magnetic alloys to overcome resonance limitations at elevated frequencies. Incorporation of planar anisotropies including intrinsic easy-plane (IEP) and artificial easy-plane (AEP) structure effectively addresses such demand. Herein combined melt spinning and magnetic field-assisted annealing has been used to improve the coincidence degree between magneto-crystalline anisotropy and shape anisotropy of Y2Co14B nanocrystalline ribbons. The applied magnetic field serves as an invisible magic hand, guiding the formation of easy-magnetization crystal planes of the nanograins and their alignment with the ribbon plane. Such strategy allows superimposed IEP and AEP effects for enhanced high-frequency performance, providing valuable insights into the future design and fabrication of advanced rare-earth transition-metal alloys with superior easy-plane characteristics.

As silicon-based semiconductor functional devices have reached their limits, there is an urgent need for a new material with high charge carrier efficiency to further expand Moore's Law. In recent years, a novel quasi-two-dimensional charge-carrying semiconductor, bismuth oxyselenide (Bi₂O₂Se), has come into view. It has outstanding stability, moderate and tunable bandgap, as well as the virtue of quick response to various input signals, which make it one of the most promising emerging platforms for next-generation semiconductor devices. Recent advancements in the development of diverse Bi₂O₂Se heterojunctions have unveiled extensive potential applications in both electronics and optoelectronics. However, achieving an in-depth understanding of band alignment and particularly interface dynamics remains a significant challenge. This study conducts a comprehensive experimental investigation into band alignment utilizing high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS), while also thoroughly discussing the properties of interface states. These findings reveal that ultrathin films of Bi₂O₂Se grown on SrTiO₃ (with TiO₂ (001) termination) exhibit Type-I (straddling gap) band alignment characterized by a valence band offset (VBO) of approximately 1.77 ± 0.04 eV and a conduction band offset (CBO) around 0.68 ± 0.04 eV. And an extremely large build-in electrical field is estimated great larger than 10mVÅ-1. Notably, when accounting for the influence of interface states, the bands at the interface display a herringbone configuration due to substantial built-in electric fields, which markedly deviate from conventional band alignments. Such scenario provides insight for in-depth understanding the band bending and the properties of interface states in such 2D heterostructures, and also sheds light on the development of high-efficiency electronic and optoelectronic devices, specifically of the devices where the charge transfer is highly sensitive to interface states.

This study investigates interfacial thermal transport in silicon-based ceramic composite phase change materials (SiC/Si₃N₄/SiO₂-erythritol) through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) experiments. Experimental interfacial thermal conductance (ITC) values for SiC, Si₃N₄, and SiO₂ fillers are 50.1, 40.0, and 25.6 MW·m⁻²·K⁻¹, respectively, aligning with simulation trends. Phonon density of states and energy analyses reveal that crystalline fillers (SiC/Si₃N₄) reduce phonon scattering via enhanced vibrational matching and interfacial binding, forming efficient thermal pathways. Despite SiC’s slightly lower phonon overlap energy than Si₃N₄, stronger interfacial interactions minimize interface spacing, yielding higher ITC. These findings provide multiscale insights into optimizing composite phase change materials for advanced thermal energy storage and electronics thermal management.

Complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) containing the L21 phase are recognized for their exceptional strength and thermal stability, positioning them as strong candidates for transformative applications in aerospace, energy, and structural sectors. However, the laws governing the mechanics of the system are not clear, and systematic guidance is lacking. Herein, The AlFexNiTiV40−x (x = 0, 10, 20, 30, 35, 40; at%) CCAs was systematically investigated, aiming to unlock the synergistic potential of BCC and L21 phases. The Al15Fe35Ni30Ti15V5alloy demonstrates remarkable mechanical properties, achieving a yield strength of 2140.9 MPa and ultimate compressive strength of 2699.7 MPa, primarily through solid-solution strengthening and precipitation hardening. This study achieves the synergistic optimization of specific strengths at both room and high temperatures through phase modulation, providing a reference for controlling microstructure and properties, and thus opens new avenues for designing advanced, lightweight, and high-strength alloys for elevated-temperature applications.

Manganese-copper alloys have high damping capacity due to movement of a twin interface, which is widely applied in the submarine, high-precision machine tool, high-resolution satellite, and rail transit for reducing vibration and noise. Traditional Mn-Cu manufacturing procedure is no longer appropriate for material applications in certain fields, such as component quick prototyping and mechanical part repair. Compared to traditional casting, cold spray additive manufacturing has attracted an increasing interest due to low heat input, which avoids grain growth, phase transformation, and high thermal stress. However, high dislocation density formed because of extensive plastic deformation, pores, and cracks result in the low damping capacity in the as-deposited Mn-Cu alloy. Heat treatments are an effective method for increasing damping capacity, which can effectively reduce the internal defects, improve the bonding properties between powders, and result in the formation of the twin interface. This study fills the gap in the preparation of high damping Mn-Cu alloys manufactured by cold spray additive manufacturing.

Lithium is a crucial strategic resource for national interests, with broad applications in fields such as aerospace, healthcare, and ceramics and glass production. Additionally, it plays a vital role in next-generation battery technologies, with widespread use in emerging markets such as electric vehicles and portable electronics, driving a significant increase in global lithium demand. Lepidolite is recognized as one of the key mineral sources for lithium extraction due to its abundant reserves. As a result, there has been increasing interest in the exploration and utilization of lepidolite. Lepidolite, feldspar, and quartz are silicate minerals with similar chemical properties, complicating their flotation separation. Ammonium dodecylsulfate (ALS) can selectively extract lepidolite from feldspar and quartz. ALS is an environmentally friendly anionic surfactant characterized by its excellent biodegradability. It supports sustainable development goals and effectively mitigates environmental pollution risks.

Synergetic high hardness and strong crack resistance is essential but challenging merits to ceramic coatings for harsh condition services, because they usually expel each other. The understanding for underlying deformation mechanisms that build link between these two merits is still lacked. Here we perform in-depth analysis to create connections between mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of benchmark TiMoN coatings. Such ternary ceramic coatings are capable to store high density of nanoscale dislocations because the stress concentration of dislocation core has been weakened due to high VEC-CEC solution. The prestored dislocations further slip and multiply during load bearing processes, therefore providing substantial plasticity and strain hardening, responsible for the enhanced hardness and toughness of the coatings. The findings unlock the dislocation-related mechanisms of hard-yet-tough ceramics coatings, which show promising applications on aeroengines and high-speed cutting tools.

Aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) are garnering an increasing attention in the realm of green energy storage due to their high safety, environmental compatibility and power density. However, practical application of ZIHCs is notably limited by the relatively low energy density, which arises from the restricted energy storage capacity of carbon cathodes through physical adsorption/desorption of ions. Therefore, modulating the surface physicochemical properties and pore structure of carbon materials is pivotal for enhancing the overall performance of aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors. In this study, we introduce a chemisorption site modification strategy to construct nitrogen-doped polyimide carbon with abundant oxygen vacancies and carbonyl functionalization via acid treatment. The introduction of carbonyl functional groups at the edge of pyridine/pyrrole N can induce Zn2+ adsorption and improve Zn2+ storage capacity. The synergistic effect of oxygen vacancies, carbonyl groups, increased specific surface area, and porous structure enables stable and fast zinc ion storage. The carbon material exhibits excellent stability over 20,000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g-1. Moreover, the assembled capacitor delivers an energy density of 65.61 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 197.82 W kg-1.

Semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) gas sensors are widely used in smart cities, industrial safety, and health monitoring due to their high sensitivity, low cost, and miniaturization advantages. Researchers have overcome the bottlenecks in selectivity, stability, and intelligence of gas sensors through metal doping, precious metal modification, and the integration of artificial intelligence. These advancements have significantly improved response speed and selectivity of SMO gas sensors. Especially with the introduction of machine learning and deep learning algorithms, the adaptability of gas sensors in complex environments has been greatly enhanced.

This review summarizes the latest progress in the gas-sensing performance of metal oxide nanomaterials, particularly dual-metal modification and composite materials, and explores the application prospects of MEMS gas sensor arrays and smart electronic noses in environmental monitoring and disease diagnosis. The deep integration of SMO gas sensors and AI will drive their widespread application in the future.

The in-situ dynamic covalent reaction of thiol-disulfide exchange could slowly produce disulfide macrocycles. The co-self-assembly was subsequently triggered to encapsulated anticancer drugs (paclitaxel) and photothermal conversion agents (gold nanoparticles) to construct the co-delivery system. The resulting stable co-delivery nanosystem endowed with high drug loading efficiency owes to kinetic control over thiol-disulfide exchange during co-self-assembly. The high level glutathione in tumor cells could cause the disulfide macrocycles in nanostructures to break, resulting in intelligent drug release. Combined with near-infrared light, a co-delivery system was utilized to achieve synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy to overcome hepatocellular carcinoma. This strategy offers an efficient preparation of functional carriers, opening a new door in a wide range of potential applications in cancer treatment.