Conductivity Properties Research Articles

Achieving enhanced thermal conductivity and mechanical properties in Mg-Zn-Gd-Zr alloys via regulation microstructure characteristics

It is well known that the microstructure of metallic materials determines the mechanical properties. However, the effect of microstructure on thermal conductivity lacks an accurate quantitative description of this relationship. In this work, the mechanism of variation in mechanical and thermal conductivities with microstructure was revealed by the characterization of cast, heat-treated, and extruded Mg-xZn-yGd-0.6Zr (wt%) alloys: ZV66, ZV62, and ZV26. The contributions of solution atoms, second phases, grain size, and dislocations to the yield strength and thermal conductivity were quantitatively calculated, and their effects on the plasticity and work-hardening behavior were qualitatively analyzed. The results show that hot extrusion promotes the precipitation of nanoprecipitates, such as MgZn2, Mg4Zn7, and Mg5Gd, resulting in the reduction of Zn and Gd solute atoms and the introduction of high-density dislocations and grain boundaries. The extruded ZV66 alloy exhibits excellent mechanical properties and thermal conductivity (a tensile yield strength of 232 MPa, an elongation of 22 %, and a thermal conductivity of 127.6 W/(m·k)); these values are better than those reported for similar products. The achievement of high strength and thermal conductivity is attributed to the precipitation of solute atoms to improve thermal conductivity in addition to grain boundary strengthening and work-hardening strengthening to improve strength. These findings provide new insights into achieving excellent strength–thermal conductivity property amalgamations in magnesium alloys by tailoring their microstructure.

Mussel-inspired tissue adhesive composite hydrogel with photothermal and antioxidant properties prepared from pectin for burn wound healing

Biodegradable self-healing hydrogels with antibacterial property attracted growing attentions in biomedication as wound dressings since they can prevent bacterial infection and promote wound healing process. In this research, a biodegradable self-healing hydrogel with ROS scavenging performance and enhanced tissue adhesion was fabricated from dopamine grafted oxidized pectin (OPD) and naphthoate hydrazide terminated PEO (PEO NH). At the same time, Fe3+ ions were incorporated to endow the hydrogel with near-infrared (NIR) triggered photothermal property to obtain antibacterial activity. The composite hydrogel showed good hemostasis performance based on mussel inspired tissue adhesion with biocompatibility well preserved. As expected, the composition of FeCl3 improved conductivity and endowed photothermal property to the hydrogel. The in vivo wound repairing experiment revealed the 808 nm NIR light triggered photothermal behavior of the hydrogel reduced the inflammation response and promoted wound repairing rate. As a result, this composite FeCl3/hydrogel shows great potential to be an excellent wound dressing for the treatment of infection prong wounds with NIR triggers.

From density functional theory to machine learning predictive models for electrical properties of spinel oxides.

This work focuses on predicting and characterizing the electronic conductivity of spinel oxides, which are promising materials for energy storage devices and for the oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions due to their attractive properties and abundance of transition metals that can act as active sites for catalysis. To this end, a new database was developed from first principles, including band structure and conductivity properties of spinel oxides, and machine learning algorithms were trained on this database to predict electronic conductivity and band gaps based solely on the compositions. The models developed in this study are scaled from the quantum level up to a continuum conductivity model. The relatively small database used in this study allowed for accurate predictions of band gap and conductivity. By altering the composition of spinel oxides, the model was able to predict high conductivity for spinels with high nickel content and to match experimental trends for manganese cobalt spinels. The ability to predict material properties is especially important in energy conversion devices such as batteries and supercapacitors where redox reactions take place.

Bioinspired green fabricating design of ultra-breathable and moisture wicking fabric via a sustainable route

Functional textiles with breathability, thermal conductivity and moisture wicking performance are critical to achieving human comfort and reducing energy consumption. However, conventional finishing processes used for fabricating moisture wicking fabrics are usually highly polluting and exhibit poor durability as well as low recyclability, which may be detrimental to environmental sustainability. Inspired by the shorebird's beak with a conical-shaped liquid pathway for transporting liquid drops, a novel biomimetic porous fabric is proposed by using natural cotton fibers through industrial and eco-friendly knitting technology, featuring ultra-breathability, thermal conductivity and moisture wicking properties. Moreover, the effects of the pore size and arrangement on the thermal conductivity and air resistance are investigated. Obvious linearities can be obtained (R2 = 0.99). In addition, the synergistic effects of basic pore and biomimetic pore can create surface energy gradients, which result in the asymmetric pressure and water transport. As a result, when the biomimetic pore distances are 3 mm and 5 mm, respectively, high linearities of 0.99 between biomimetic pore diameter and the wicking height can be found. More importantly, the resultant biomimetic pore fabric exhibits good water absorption rate of 350%, an outstanding water vapor transmission (>10000 g/m2/24 h) and high recyclability. The green fabricating design of biomimetic porous fabric opens up a pathway to develop air, thermal, moisture regulating fabric through a sustainable route for more diverse applications, e.g., athletic apparel, industrial workwear and medical garments.

Combined effects of substrate temperature and post annealing temperature on structural, optical and electrical properties of Sb-doped SnO2 films

Sb-doped SnO2 (ATO) films have received extensive attention as transparent conductive films, but there is still a lack of in-depth and systematic study on combined effects of substrate temperature (Ts) and annealing temperature (Ta) on their transparent conductive properties. In this study, ATO films were prepared using RF magnetron sputtering at RT∼400 ℃ and subsequently annealed at 200–1000 ℃. The results show that the conductive properties of the films enhance (with a decrease in resistivity from 1.15×10-1 to 2.15×10-3 Ω•cm) and the average visible-light transmittance (TVis) decreases (90.16 → 38.24%) with increase of Ts. With the increase of Ta, the conductive properties of the films prepared at different Ts tend to first enhance and then degrade, and the TVis basically shows a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. After annealing at 600 ℃, the films prepared at RT and 100 ℃ can achieve better comprehensive properties (resistivity of 2.50×10-3 and 1.64×10-3 Ω•cm, carrier concentration of 3.35×1020 and 4.93×1020 cm-3, mobility of 7.73 and 7.76 cm2/V•s, sheet resistance of 84 and 55 Ω/sq., and TVis of 86.63 and 79.50%). In order to explore the intrinsic mechanism of the optical and electrical performance of ATO films changing with Ts and Ta, the preferred orientation, crystallinity, and stress state of the films were analyzed by XRD, and their surface morphology was observed by SEM. Meanwhile, the chemical states of Sn, O and Sb as well as Sb content in the films were analyzed by XPS, and their lattice vibration modes of the film were studied by Raman spectra. Finally, the process-structure-properties correlations were established for the ATO films.

A novel method to identify critical isthmus of right atrial reentrant tachycardia; Functional substrate mapping characteristics during sinus rhythm

Abstract Background Right atrial tachycardia (AT) is a frequent rhythm disorder in patients with atrial scar mainly due to surgical incisions or congenital heart diseases. Despite the mounting evidence about AT mechanisms and types, data is scarce regarding the conduction properties as well as functional characteristics of atrial substrate during sinus rhythm that has role in the maintenance of the tachycardia. Purpose We sought to evaluate the relationship between the functional substrate mapping (FSM) characteristics of right atrium and the critical isthmus (CI) of re-entrant ATs in patients with underlying atrial scar. Methods Among patients with the history of right AT who underwent catheter ablation with 3-D mapping were retrospectively enrolled. Voltage map and isochronal late activation mapping (ILAM) were created during sinus / paced rhythm using multielectrode catheters to detect deceleration zones (DZ). Subsequently AT was induced with programmed stimulation and activation mapping was performed to detect CI of the tachycardia. Atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa) recurrence was defined as detection of atrial fibrillation or AT (≥ 30 s) during the follow-up. Results A total of 24 patients [mean age: 46 ±15, gender: 13 (54 %) female] with right AT were included. A total of 37 ATs were mapped [16 (43.2%); localized reentry, 21 (56.7%), macroreentry]. Atrial low voltage zones comprised 23.3 ± 13.0 % of total right atrium. The mean value of bipolar voltage, EGM duration and conduction velocity during sinus rhythm corresponding to CI of ATs were 0.18 ± 0.10 mV, 121.7 ± 29.4 ms, 0.06 ± 0.04 m/s and, respectively. Total number of DZs per chamber was 1.1 ± 0.3, which were all located in the low-voltage zone (<0.5 mV) detected by high density mapping. All CIs of non- cavo-tricuspid-isthmus (CTI) dependent reentry were colocalized with DZs detected during FSM. The positive predictive value of DZs to detect CI of inducible ATs is 80.8%. During the mean follow-up of 11.7 ± 8.1 months, freedom from ATa was 87.5%. Conclusion Although, CTI-dependent macroreentry is the most common mechanism in patients with RA scar, our findings demonstrated the relevance of FSM to predict non-CTI dependent ATs. Conduction slowing manifested as DZs with continuous-fragmented signal morphology may guide to tailor ablation strategy in case of underlying RA scar.

Using the impedance map to identify non-conductive structures during cavo-tricuspidal isthmus ablation

Abstract Background The ablation of the cavo-tricuspidal isthmus (CTI) is often affected by the anatomical variability of structures made of non-conductive tissue (NCS): the Eustachian valve, tricuspid valve leaflet and Tebesio's valve, the presence of which may be associated with failure of the isthmic block despite a large number of erogations and post-ablation recurrences. Since these structures have different conductive properties from atrial tissue, it is plausible that they are characterised by their own tissue impedance, and can therefore be identified through an impedance map. Objectives The objectives of the study were: 1) to characterise CTI by impedance map, in order to identify NCS; 2) to perform ablation of CTI aimed at isolating only conductive tissue by combining impedance map with the Maximum Voltage Gradient (MVG) technique, in order to evaluate the efficacy of this strategy in acute and during follow-up. Methods From 01/2021 to 09/2023 impedance map and CTI substrate map was performed, without the use of fluoroscopy, in all patients undergoing ablation of typical atrial flutter. A 15-ohm impedance reduction from the mean atrial impedance was considered the cut-off for defining the presence of NCS. Substrate maps were constructed according to the MVG technique (0.5-2.5 mV thresholds), in particular looking for high-voltage channels in which the impedance map detected the presence of NCS. Ablation was performed only in the high-voltage channels (W45, AI500). Results Our study included 48 patients with a mean age of 68±13 years, with 92% of them being men. The mean volume of the right atrium was 153 mL, and the mean number of points per map was 1205. With the use of impedence map, we were able to identify the presence of NCS in 25 patients (52%). The distribution of non conductive structures and the mean voltage by quadrants can be seen in Figures B-C. Importantly, we found that the mean number of radiofrequency applications required to achieve isthmic block was significantly lower in patients with identified NCS compared to those without (6.3 vs. 10; p=0.007). In 60% of the patients with NCS, radiofrequency was administered in high-voltage channels that were detected in the quadrant where the NCS was present (odds ratio 3.42, p=0.04). Furthermore, we successfully achieved acute isthmic blockade in all patients, and there were no instances of recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 186 days. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the combination of Impedence Map and the Maximum Voltage Gradient technique is an effective approach for achieving isthmic block with a reduced number of radiofrequency applications. The identification of NCS allows for a more precise search for high-voltage channels, enabling ablations to be performed in optimal contact with the tissue. This meticulous approach is crucial for the success of the procedure.

Coral-Inspired Terahertz-Infrared Bi-Stealth Electronic Skin.

The development of electronic skin with dual stealth functionality is crucial for enabling devices to operate effectively in dynamic electromagnetic environments, thereby facilitating intelligent electromagnetic protection for autonomous perception. However, achieving compatibility between terahertz (THz) and infrared (IR) stealth technologies remains largely unexplored due to their inherent contradictions. Herein, inspired by natural corals, a novel coral-like multi-scale composite foam (CMSF) was proposed that ingeniously reconciles these contradictions. The design capitalizes on the conductive network and heat insulation properties of the foam skeleton, the loss effects and low infrared emission of metal particles, and the infrared transparency of magneto-optical materials. This approach leads to the realization of a THz-IR bi-stealth electronic skin concept. The CMSF exhibits a maximum reflection loss of 84.8 dB in the terahertz band, while its infrared stealth capability ensures environmental adaptability under varying temperatures. Furthermore, the electronic skin exhibits exceptional sensitivity and reliability as a wearable device for perceiving environmental changes. This advanced material, combining multispectral stealth with sensing capabilities, holds immense potential for applications ranging from camouflage technology to smart wearables.

Coral‐Inspired Terahertz‐Infrared Bi‐Stealth Electronic Skin

AbstractThe development of electronic skin with dual stealth functionality is crucial for enabling devices to operate effectively in dynamic electromagnetic environments, thereby facilitating intelligent electromagnetic protection for autonomous perception. However, achieving compatibility between terahertz (THz) and infrared (IR) stealth technologies remains largely unexplored due to their inherent contradictions. Herein, inspired by natural corals, a novel coral‐like multi‐scale composite foam (CMSF) was proposed that ingeniously reconciles these contradictions. The design capitalizes on the conductive network and heat insulation properties of the foam skeleton, the loss effects and low infrared emission of metal particles, and the infrared transparency of magneto‐optical materials. This approach leads to the realization of a THz‐IR bi‐stealth electronic skin concept. The CMSF exhibits a maximum reflection loss of 84.8 dB in the terahertz band, while its infrared stealth capability ensures environmental adaptability under varying temperatures. Furthermore, the electronic skin exhibits exceptional sensitivity and reliability as a wearable device for perceiving environmental changes. This advanced material, combining multispectral stealth with sensing capabilities, holds immense potential for applications ranging from camouflage technology to smart wearables.

Simulation of ageing and wear effect on graphene THz passive components using finite element method

In the growing scenario of 2D material-based metamaterials and metasurfaces for Terahertz (THz) applications, assessing the impact of ageing and wear due to environmental stressors on the components’ performance is becoming mandatory to understand the long-term reliability of novel technologies. This paper introduces approaches to assess the ageing and wear effects on THz passive components through numerical simulations. For this purpose, common techniques for introducing 2D materials and thin metal layers in numerical models are discussed. As a case study, this work explores the effects of graphene degradation and reflective metal ageing on the electromagnetic response of a graphene-enhanced reflective grating for THz absorption and modulation by finite element (FE) analysis. The developed FE model is validated against experimental data obtained through THz Time-Domain Spectroscopy. By computing the device’s transmission, reflection, and absorption spectra for degrading graphene and metal conductive properties, this work provides insights into the influence of ageing and wear on THz passive components.

Heterogenous atrial conduction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background/Introduction Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterised by myocardial thickening, fibrosis, and disarray, affecting both ventricles and atria. This pathology extends to atrial tissue, potentially influencing conductivity and contributing to arrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary vein isolation to treat AF in HCM patients yields less satisfactory results compared to other patient groups. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of AF in HCM patients could improve treatment stratification and delivery. Purpose This study aims to analyse atrial conduction properties in HCM patients with AF, compared to age, body mass index and sex-matched control patients. Methods Pre-ablation electroanatomic mapping data from 10 HCM patients and a matched control group of patients with structurally normal hearts undergoing AF ablation was retrospectively analysed. All patients underwent pre-ablation electroanatomic mapping during proximal coronary sinus pacing. This data was analysed using OpenEP software to quantify voltage mapping, conduction velocity and wave collision points. Conduction velocity was calculated using both plane fitting and triangulation methods. Wave collisions were identified by calculating the percentage of points with conduction velocity field divergence values less than -1.5. Results HCM patients exhibited significantly reduced mean left atrial bipolar voltage and greater low voltage burden <0.5mV than matched control patients (1.43mV vs. 2.14mV, p=0.0177; and 38.28% vs. 15.68%, p<0.0001), (Figure 1A and B). Wave collision points were significantly more prevalent in the HCM group (5.4% vs. 1.6%, p=0.0004), indicating more heterogeneous conduction (Figure 1C). Figure 2 shows example of divergence map with local electrograms around wave collision points. Both methods of quantifying conduction velocity showed comparable results. While average conduction velocity showed no statistically significant difference (plane fitting method - 0.61m/s in HCM group vs. 0.64m/s in control group, p = 0.465; triangulation method - 0.61m/s in HCM group, 0.64m/s in control group, p=0.393), a trend toward lower velocities in HCM patients was observed (Figure 1D and 1E). Conclusion HCM patients demonstrate significantly lower bipolar voltage and significantly greater low voltage areas than matched control patients. Atrial conduction in patients with HCM is significantly more heterogenous than matched control patients. These findings highlight marked conduction abnormalities in HCM patients which are likely to contribute to AF pathogenesis.

A Macroscopic Interpretation of the Correlation between Electrical Percolation and Mechanical Properties of Poly-(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate)/Zn Composites

Elastic composites were prepared using a procedure involving hot plates and zinc powder that was directly dispersed into an EVA matrix. The correlation between the zinc content and the conductive properties of the material was studied via impedance spectroscopy, the thermal properties of the material were studied via differential calorimetry and the mechanical properties of the composites were studied via tensile strength curves, representing an important advancement in the characterization of this type of composite material. The composites’ tensile strength and elongation at break decrease with the addition of filler since zinc particles act as stress-concentrating centres, while the composites’ hardness and Young’s modulus increase because of an increase in the stiffness of the material. The AC perturbation across the EVA/Zn composites was characterized using an RC parallel equivalent circuit that allowed us to easily measure their resistivity (ρp) and permittivity (εp). The dependence of these electrical magnitudes on the zinc content is correlated with their mechanical properties across the characteristic time constant τp = ρp·εp of this equivalent circuit. The dependence of the mechanical and electrical magnitudes on the zinc content is consistent with the formation of percolation clusters. The addition of graphite particles increases their potential performance. Three possible mechanisms for the electrical transport of the ac-perturbation across the EVA/Zn composites have been identified. Chemical corrosion in acid media causes the loss of zinc surface particles, but their bulk physical properties practically remain constant.

Numerical Study on Mechanical Behavior and Electromechanical Properties of Solder-Jointed REBCO-Coated Conductors

As the second-generation high-temperature superconducting conductors, rare earth–barium–copper–oxide (REBCO) coated conductor (CC) tapes have good potential as high-field and high-energy superconductors. In superconducting applications, several joints are required for conjugating comparatively short REBCO CC tapes. Soldering lap joints are the simplest and most commonly applied REBCO CC joints. In addition to joint resistance, the mechanical behavior and electromechanical properties are also crucial for superconducting applications. In this paper, the electromechanical properties and mechanical behaviors of soldering lap joints at 77 K under a self-field were studied. The mechanical behavior was addressed by using a full three-dimensional multilayer elastic–plastic finite element model (FEM) with REBCO CC tape main layers and solder connecting layers. Then, the electromechanical properties were analyzed by using Gao’s strain-Ic degradation general model on the basis of the FEM results. Both the mechanical behavior and electromechanical properties were verified by experimental results. The effects of soldering lap conditions including lap length, soldering thickness and lap style on the electromechanical properties and mechanical behaviors were discussed. The results indicate that shorter overlap lengths and a thinner solder can reduce the premature degradation of Ic due to stress concentrations nearby the joint edges; moreover, the irreversible critical strain is significantly higher in the back-to-back joint approach compared to the widely used face-to-face joint approach.

A Dual‐Bond Crosslinking Strategy Enabling Resilient and Recyclable Electrolyte Elastomers for Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries

Elastomeric solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are highly promising to address the solid‐solid‐interface issues of solid‐state lithium metal batteries (LMBs), but compromises have to be made to balance the intrinsic trade‐offs among their conductive, resilient and recyclable properties. Here, we propose a dual‐bond crosslinking strategy for SPEs to realize simultaneously high ionic conductivity, elastic resilience and recyclability. An elastomeric SPE is therefore designed with hemiaminal dynamic covalent networks and Li+‐dissociation co‐polymer chains, where the ‐C‐N‐ bond maintains the load‐bearing covalent network under stress but is chemically reversible through a non‐spontaneous reaction, the weaker intramolecular hydrogen bond is mechanically reversible to dissipate elastic energy, and the soft chains endow the rapid ion conduction. With this delicate structure, the optimized SPE elastomer achieves high elastic resilience without loading‐unloading hysteresis, outstanding ionic conductivity of 0.2 mS cm‐1 (25 °C) and chemical recyclability. Then, exceptional room‐temperature performances are obtained for repeated Li plating/stripping tests, and stable cycling of LMBs with either LiFePO4 or 4.3 V‐class LiFe0.2Mn0.8PO4 cathode. Furthermore, the recycled SPE can be circularly reused in LMBs without significant performance degradation. Our findings provide an inspiring design principle for SPEs to address the solid‐solid‐interface and sustainability challenges of solid‐state LMBs.

A Dual-Bond Crosslinking Strategy Enabling Resilient and Recyclable Electrolyte Elastomers for Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Elastomeric solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are highly promising to address the solid-solid-interface issues of solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs), but compromises have to be made to balance the intrinsic trade-offs among their conductive, resilient and recyclable properties. Here, we propose a dual-bond crosslinking strategy for SPEs to realize simultaneously high ionic conductivity, elastic resilience and recyclability. An elastomeric SPE is therefore designed with hemiaminal dynamic covalent networks and Li+-dissociation co-polymer chains, where the -C-N- bond maintains the load-bearing covalent network under stress but is chemically reversible through a non-spontaneous reaction, the weaker intramolecular hydrogen bond is mechanically reversible to dissipate elastic energy, and the soft chains endow the rapid ion conduction. With this delicate structure, the optimized SPE elastomer achieves high elastic resilience without loading-unloading hysteresis, outstanding ionic conductivity of 0.2 mS cm-1 (25 °C) and chemical recyclability. Then, exceptional room-temperature performances are obtained for repeated Li plating/stripping tests, and stable cycling of LMBs with either LiFePO4 or 4.3 V-class LiFe0.2Mn0.8PO4 cathode. Furthermore, the recycled SPE can be circularly reused in LMBs without significant performance degradation. Our findings provide an inspiring design principle for SPEs to address the solid-solid-interface and sustainability challenges of solid-state LMBs.

Epoxy/Graphene Nanoplatelet (GNP) Nanocomposites: An Experimental Study on Tensile, Compressive, and Thermal Properties

This paper presents an experimental investigation of nanocomposites composed of three ratios of epoxy/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) by weight. The 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt.% specimens were carefully manufactured, and their mechanical and thermal conductivity properties were examined. The tensile strength and modulus of epoxy/GNPs were enhanced by the large surface area of graphene nanoplatelets, causing crack deflection that created new fracture fronts and friction because of the rough fracture surface. However, the compressive strength was gradually reduced as GNP loading percentages increased. This was probably due to severe plastic yielding on the epoxy, leading to catastrophic axial splitting caused by premature fractures. Furthermore, the highest thermal conductivity was 0.1283 W/m-K, representing a 20.92% improvement over neat epoxy (0.1061 W/m-K) when 0.3 wt.% GNPs were added to the epoxy. This was because of efficient heat propagation in the GNPs due to electron movement through percolative paths. The tensile failure mode in epoxy/GNP nanocomposites showed a few deflected and bifurcated rough cracks and brittle, dimple-like fractures. Contrarily, compressive failure mode in GNP-added epoxy showed plastic flexural buckling and brittle large-axial splitting. The epoxy/GNP nanocomposites were considered a damage-tolerant material.

Study on strengthening and toughening mechanisms of Cu/Al composites dominated by interface layer

Cu/Al composites have the excellent properties of both Cu and Al, and have the properties of light weight and high conductivity, so they have been widely concerned. In this paper, 5-mm-thick Cu/Al composites prepared by the cast-rolling process are used as experimental materials. To reveal the strengthening and toughening mechanisms of the Cu/Al composites, the interfacial structure, micro-morphology, stress-strain condition, and GND distribution of Cu/Al composites before and after deformation were characterized utilizing TEM, TKD, and EBSD. The results show that the submicron intermetallic compounds Al2Cu and Al4Cu9 are formed from the casting-rolling Cu/Al composites. After 15% tensile deformation, many gaps occurred in the interface layer, but at the gaps, there was no crack spreading to the Cu and Al layers. Meanwhile, the deformation in different directions occurs in the Cu grains near the interface, forming a dislocation wall, and the entanglement of the dislocation occurs in the Cu layer near the interface, which contributes to the improvement of tensile strength. The Al layer near the interface layer produces kink bands, which helps to improve the ductility of the composites. Besides, due to the action of the hard intermetallic compound layer, with the increase in tensile deformation, a large number of GND are gradually accumulated in the Cu and Al layers near the interface, resulting in remote back stress, which makes the softer Cu and Al layers obtain higher strength. At the same time, the back stress caused by GND will induce strain hardening, which helps to maintain ductility, so that Cu/Al composites have higher plastic deformation ability while improving mechanical properties.

Nanoscale-Confined Synthesis of 2D Metal Compounds for Electrochemical Applications.

2D metal compounds, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and MXenes, are emerging as important electrocatalyst materials in the transition to a sustainable energy future. Aided by their high surface area, electrical conductivity, and tunable electronic properties, these materials have provided a crucial research thrust in enhancing the efficiency of green hydrogen production, fuel cells, and carbon reduction processes. Most importantly, the synthesis of nanostructured 2D compounds, while challenging, is the key to optimizing their catalytic performance. Recent advancements in this field have highlighted the potential of 2D metal compounds in revolutionizing energy conversion technologies, which entails the discovery of new material compositions, the development of novel synthetic routes, and the integration of these materials into practical energy conversion systems. This review presents an overview of the distinctive characteristics of nanoscale-confined 2D metal compounds, the challenges encountered in their synthesis, and electrochemical applications.

Sea Cucumber-Inspired Microneedle Nerve Guidance Conduit for Synergistically Inhibiting Muscle Atrophy and Promoting Nerve Regeneration.

Muscle atrophy resulting from peripheral nerve injury (PNI) poses a threat to a patient's mobility and sensitivity. However, an effective method to inhibit muscle atrophy following PNI remains elusive. Drawing inspiration from the sea cucumber, we have integrated microneedles (MNs) and microchannel technology into nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) to develop bionic microneedle NGCs (MNGCs) that emulate the structure and piezoelectric function of sea cucumbers. Morphologically, MNGCs feature an outer surface with outward-pointing needle tips capable of applying electrical stimulation to denervated muscles. Simultaneously, the interior contains microchannels designed to guide the migration of Schwann cells (SCs). Physiologically, the incorporation of conductive reduced graphene oxide and piezoelectric zinc oxide nanoparticles into the polycaprolactone scaffold enhances conductivity and piezoelectric properties, facilitating SCs' migration, myelin regeneration, axon growth, and the restoration of neuromuscular function. These combined effects ultimately lead to the inhibition of muscle atrophy and the restoration of nerve function. Consequently, the concept of the synergistic effect of inhibiting muscle atrophy and promoting nerve regeneration has the capacity to transform the traditional approach to PNI repair and find broad applications in PNI repair.

A Comparative Study of Single and Dual Sintering Processes of Metal Nanoparticles for Flexible Electronics Application

The introduction of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has revolutionized the fabrication of flexible electronic devices. Metallic NPs have numerous applications in the electronics industry due to their unique shape and size‐dependent properties compared to their bulk counterparts. However, the application of metallic NPs requires additional post‐processing procedures to remove stabilizing agents and additives, to achieve superior electrical conductivity. Herein, the sintering of printed metal NP patterns, including silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) NPs, fabricated on flexible polyimide substrates is explored using single and dual sintering methods. The single sintering methods involve exposing the printed metal NPs to either laser irradiation or thermal treatment. In the case of the dual sintering methods, one approach is to subject the printed metal patterns to thermal treatment followed by laser irradiation, while the other approach involves exposing the printed metal patterns to laser irradiation followed by thermal treatment. Moreover, this study identifies and compares the effects of these various sintering methods on the physical, electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the Ag and Cu NP patterns. Finally, the study suggests that dual sintering methods are more effective in improving the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the NP patterns under optimized sintering conditions.