State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining

Over the past two decades, a series of aqueous rechargeable metal-ion batteries (ARMBs) have been developed, aiming at improving safety, environmental friendliness and cost-efficiency in fields of consumer electronics, electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. However, the notable gap between ARMBs and their organic counterparts in energy density directly hinders their practical applications, making it difficult to replace current widely-used organic lithium-ion batteries. Basically, this huge gap in energy density originates from cell voltage, as the narrow electrochemical stability window of aqueous electrolytes substantially confines the choice of electrode materials. This review highlights various ARMBs with focuses on their voltage characteristics and strategies that can effectively raise battery voltage. It begins with the discussion on the fundamental factor that limits the voltage of ARMBs, i.e., electrochemical stability window of aqueous electrolytes, which decides the maximum-allowed potential difference between cathode and anode. The following section introduces various ARMB systems and compares their voltage characteristics in midpoint voltage and plateau voltage, in relation to respective electrode materials. Subsequently, various strategies paving the way to high-voltage ARMBs are summarized, with corresponding advancements highlighted. The final section presents potential directions for further improvements and future perspectives of this thriving field.

Abstract The flourishing development of multifunctional flexible electronics cannot leave the beneficial role of nature, which provides continuous inspiration in their material, structural, and functional designs. During the evolution of flexible electronics, some originated from nature, some were even beyond nature, and others were implantable or biodegradable eventually to nature. Therefore, the relationship between flexible electronics and nature is undoubtedly vital since harmony between nature and technology evolution would promote the sustainable development. Herein, materials selection and functionality design for flexible electronics that are mostly inspired from nature are first introduced with certain functionality even beyond nature. Then, frontier advances on flexible electronics including the main individual components (i.e., energy (the power source) and the sensor (the electric load)) are presented from nature, beyond nature, and to nature with the aim of enlightening the harmonious relationship between the modern electronics technology and nature. Finally, critical issues in next‐generation flexible electronics are discussed to provide possible solutions and new insights in prospective exploration directions.

A general dealloying strategy is developed to prepare multi-component alloys with high thermal stability, electrochemical durability, and catalytic activity.

A high-ε polymer based composite with lower inorganic content (≤10 vol%) has been fabricated using BaTiO₃ nanowires as fillers.

The traditional analytical biosensor instruments are relatively bulky, expensive, and not easy to handle, thus their applications are largely limited in resource-limited settings. The recent development of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology has provided a possible solution to miniaturize the conventional biosensing system, yet other accessory devices to detect, readout, analyze, transfer, and display results are still required. With the rapid development, mass production, and pervasive distribution of smartphones in recent years, they have provided people with portable, cost-effective, and easy-to-operate platforms to build analytical biosensors for point-of-care (POC) applications and mobile health. Based on the common analytical methods, this paper reviews the recent development of four types of smartphone based analytical biosensory systems at the POC, i.e., smartphone-based microscopic imaging, colorimetric, electrochemical, and electrochemiluminescence biosensor. The different bio-sensing strategies and analytical performance together with future perspectives are discussed.

To realize high-performance and long life span supercapacitors, highly electrochemically active materials and rational design of structure are highly desirable.

We design V doped NiCoP nanosheets with P vacancies induced by Ar plasma as a cost-effective and bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

Foldable potassium-ion batteries are achieved through flexible and free-standing SnS₂@C nanofibers.

We report a facile synthesis strategy for core-branched CoSe₂/Ni_0.85Se nanotube arrays directly on Ni foam by simply selenizing Co-precursor nanowires.

Heavy metals refer to metals with a density above 5 × 103 kg m-3, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Even a trace amount of heavy metals is detrimental to human health. With the increasing significance of detection of heavy metals, the use of the electrochemical detection technique combined with microfluidics is a promising strategy and has thus attracted wide attention from academia and is the subject of this review. First, this review introduces the basics of electrochemical detection and microfluidics. Second, this review presents and evaluates a variety of electrochemical microfluidics technologies for heavy metal ions detection that are user friendly, portable, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture compared to traditional methods. The categorization is based on different detected ions in the order of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Mn, and Zn. Finally, the author summarizes the development of detection technology in recent years and puts forward a perspective for the future prospects.

Ceramics are usually composed of randomly oriented grains and intergranular phases, so their properties are the statistical average along each direction and show isotropy corresponding to the uniform microstructures. Some methods have been developed to achieve directional grain arrangement and preferred orientation growth during ceramic preparation, and then textured ceramics with anisotropic properties are obtained. Texture microstructures give particular properties to ceramics along specific directions, which can effectively expand their application fields. In this review, typical texturing techniques suitable for ceramic materials, such as hot working, magnetic alignment, and templated grain growth (TGG), are discussed. Several typical textured structural ceramics including α-Al2O3 and related nacre bioinspired ceramics, Si3N4 and SiAlON, h-BN, MB2 matrix ultra-high temperature ceramics, MAX phases and their anisotropic properties are presented.

Abstract In aqueous electrolytes, the uncontrollable interfacial evolution caused by a series of factors such as pH variation and unregulated Zn 2+ diffusion would usually result in the rapid failure of metallic Zn anode. Considering the high correlation among various triggers that induce the anode deterioration, a synergistic modulation strategy based on electrolyte modification is developed. Benefitting from the unique pH buffer mechanism of the electrolyte additive and its capability to in situ construct a zincophilic solid interface, this synergistic effect can comprehensively manage the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of Zn anode by inhibiting the pH variation and parasitic side reactions, accelerating de‐solvation of hydrated Zn 2+ , and regulating the diffusion behavior of Zn 2+ to realize uniform Zn deposition. Thus, the modified Zn anode can achieve an impressive lifespan at ultra‐high current density and areal capacity, operating stably for 609 and 209 hours at 20 mA cm −2 , 20 mAh cm −2 and 40 mA cm −2 , 20 mAh cm −2 , respectively. Based on this exceptional performance, high loading Zn||NH 4 V 4 O 10 batteries can achieve excellent cycle stability and rate performance. Compared with those previously reported single pH buffer strategies, the synergistic modulation concept is expected to provide a new approach for highly stable Zn anode in aqueous zinc‐ion batteries.

Multiplexed detection of biomarkers, i.e., simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers in a single assay, is a process of great advantages including enhanced diagnostic precision, improved diagnostic efficiency, reduced diagnostic cost, and alleviated pain of patients. A typical lateral-flow immunoassay (LFIA) is a widely used paper-based immunochromatographic test strip designed to detect a target biomarker through two common formats: sandwich assay and competitive assay. In order to obtain qualitative or quantitative results, a probe with unique optical or magnetic properties is usually employed to characterize the concentration of the target biomarker. The typical LFIA is suitable for point-of-care testing due to its simplicity, portability, cost-effectiveness, and rapid detection of a target biomarker. However, detection of a single biomarker in the typical LFIA is not favorable for high throughput analysis. Therefore, multiplexed detection of biomarkers in LFIAs has been extensively studied in recent years for high throughput analysis. To accomplish multiplexed detection of biomarkers in LFIAs, the most frequently used structure is a test strip with multiple test lines (TLs), where each TL can detect a specific biomarker. An alternative structure, i.e., a multi-channel structure with multiple test strips, where each test strip has one TL for detecting a specific biomarker, is employed for multiplexed detection of biomarkers. Sometimes, a single test strip with only one TL containing different receptors, where each detection receptor corresponds to a specific biomarker, is another structure applied for multiplexed detection of biomarkers. This paper reviews three common structures for multiplexed detection of biomarkers in LFIAs, i.e., a test strip with multiple TLs, a multi-channel structure with multiple test strips, and a test strip with a single TL. Based on the three common structures, different signal detection strategies that include colorimetric detection, fluorescence detection, surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection, and magnetic detection, along with performance and perspectives are discussed.

Coherent Ni₃S₂/carbon nanocomposites were designed and successfully synthesized. Outstanding Na-ion-storage performances are attributed to effectively alleviated volume changes and confined poly-sulfides.

Strong chemical bonds between transition metal oxides and carbon materials which enable fast electron transfer kinetics are highly required in supercapacitor electrodes.

The resistance of AgNW films generally increased with storage time.

To achieve high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors, we designed and synthesized a new anode material of Fe₃O₄nanosheet arrays, which were encapsulated<italic>in situ</italic>by graphene layers (G@Fe₃O₄).

shows unique boundaries, which can improve Li-ion diffusion through the electrode. Improved rate capacities and cycling stability open the door to design of high-performance lithium ion capacitor bridging batteries and supercapacitors.

High energy storage density and good thermal stability are simultaneously achieved in a new lead-free relaxor ferroelectric 0.7Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃–0.3SrTiO₃/0.6SrTiO₃–0.4Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ multilayer film.

SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) can realize fingerprint recognition of molecular samples with high detection accuracy and sensitivity. However, rapid and convenient measurement of the Raman spectra of analytes for a point-of-care test (POCT) has put forward a high demand for portable Raman spectrometers, as well as reliable SERS substrates. Hereby, we first utilize a smartphone as a miniaturized Raman spectral analyzer, which has the revolutionary advantages of a friendly human-machine interface, fast measurement time, and good sensitivity. Meanwhile, a paper-based SERS chip was prepared based on commonly used filter paper and silver nanoparticles (AgNP), which was successfully used to detect low concentrations of typical SERS analyte model molecules including rhodamine 6G and crystal violet. The current method of smartphone-based SERS spectroscopy as a POCT device will greatly promote the application of Raman technology in a variety of scenarios, such as safety inspections, pesticide residue detection, water pollution monitoring, and so on. Coupled with paper-based SERS chips with advantages of facile preparation, low cost and good reliability, the current work proves to have a great potential for industrial production and for meeting the vast marketing demand of Raman based POCT technology.