The electrodeposition of Ni-P-PTFE nanocomposites offers an effective approach to reduce mold-polymer interface adhesion and improve the replication of polymer micro features in injection molding. However, it is still challenging to fabricate Ni-P-PTFE nanocomposites with low internal stress and nanoscale surface roughness in electrolytes containing high PTFE concentrations. In this study, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was introduced into the electrolytes to achieve a good dispersion of PTFE nanoparticles. Ni-P-PTFE nanocomposites with various compositions were successfully electrodeposited, and their tribological properties were analyzed. The electroformed Ni-P-PTFE nanocomposites with high PTFE and phosphorus contents showed a low surface roughness and surface energy compared to nickel electrodeposits. Ni-P-PTFE nanocomposites also exhibited a low coefficient of friction (COF) and wear loss when electroformed from an electrolyte containing 32 g/L phosphorus acid and 5 g/L PTFE nanoparticle. The COF of Ni-P-PTFE against stainless steel and poly(methyl methacrylate) was 0.2 and 0.12, respectively, representing a decrease of 80% and 85% compared to nickel electrodeposits. These enhancements in self-lubricating performances were primarily attributed to the low surface roughness and a shift in wear modes from adhesive wear to predominantly mild abrasive wear.

Numerical insights into interfacial adhesion enhancement: roles of material properties, interfacial interactions, and boundary conditions

Tailoring interfacial adhesion and hydrophobicity in jute-epoxy composites via acrylic water sealer coatings

Study on interfacial adhesion properties of different coarse aggregate asphalt mixtures: Experiment and molecular simulation

Investigation on the multi-scale interfacial adhesion characteristics between three kinds of repair materials and calcium-leached concrete

Structural coloration is a highly promising environmentally friendly textile coloring technology. Currently, it is limited in application by its dependence on dark substrates and low color saturation. If structural color materials are simultaneously imparted with special functions, their application fields can be significantly expanded. In this study, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles are in situ self-assembled on the surface of textiles. By adjusting the molar ratio of citrate to Cu2+, the particle size can be precisely regulated within the range of 180-320 nm, and structural colors across the entire visible spectrum from blue, green, yellow, orange to red can be obtained. The prepared textiles exhibit angle-independent high color purity. In addition, the textiles exhibited excellent antibacterial activity, achieving 100% inhibition against both E. coli and S. aureus, thus possessing dual functions of color development and antibacterial activity. Polyurethane adhesive and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface modification were applied to enhance interfacial adhesion and mechanical stability, whereby high mechanical strength and superior hydrophobicity (water contact angle > 145°) were simultaneously imparted to the textiles.

Extraction of carbon powder from pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene plastics and its application in composite laminates.

Carboxymethyl cellulose-reinforced sandwich-structured carbon nanotube composite hydrogels for strain sensing and joule heating.

Effect of silicon carbide on enhancing interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of Kevlar-glass fiber hybrid composites

Design of biodegradable PLA/PCL blends with superior impact and tensile toughness via Balancing interfacial adhesion and debonding

Ultra-adhesive and tough Ti3C2Tx/cellulose hydrogels for highly efficient microwave absorption.

Genomic association and multivariate screening of aggregate physicochemical properties for asphalt–aggregate interface adhesion

Synergistically enhanced corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and interface adhesion of TiONx/TiN coatings through in-situ anodizing and plasma nitriding of Ti BPs for PEMWE cells

Thermal Environment-Induced Interfacial Adhesion and Surface Behavior of Polyimide-Epoxy Systems

Abstract Amorphous polymer hydrogels have great potential applications in soft wearable systems, but designing for both strength and toughness remains a challenge. Although long chains and short chains can partially balance the contradiction between “rigidity and flexibility,” they usually achieve physical interweaving accompanied by structural instability. Herein, a novel strategy is proposed to construct the amorphous polymer hydrogel through the interweaving of long‐ and short‐chain via carbon dot bridging. Carbon dots grafted gelatin short chain are obtained by hydrothermal synthesis of 3,4‐dihydroxybenzaldehyde and gelatin (DGC). Flexible regions formed by carbon dots and polyacrylamide (PAM) long chains via hydrogen bonding, and rigid regions formed by carbon dots and gelatin short chains through Schiff base. Under stress, the hydrogen bonding can be broken, allowing the flexible regions to untangle and slip, whereas the rigid regions can effectively suppress the unrestricted slippage. This resulting DGC/PAM hydrogel achieves high modulus, high fracture toughness, and stable interfacial adhesion, exhibiting enhanced mechanical properties with a high tensile strength of 470 kPa, a toughness of 4.9 MJ·m −3 and a strain of 2200%, an excellent interfacial adhesion of 160 kPa. The proposed design strategy provides a facile approach to simultaneously improve cohesion and interfacial adhesion in amorphous polymer systems.

Abstract Polylactic acid or PLA based biocomposites can increasingly serve as alternatives which are eco-friendly to polymers derived from petroleum. However, inadequate filler dispersion along with poor interfacial adhesion limit the structural and functional performance of customary PLA-natural fiber systems. In this study, we have developed a new class of multiscale PLA composites with micro-chitin fibers (MCFs) and also chitosan nanowhiskers (CSWs) when we did process them through cryogenic ball milling and then we molded them with compression. This method, by greatly improving interfacial integration at both micro and nano levels and also harnessing synergistic advantages of hierarchical chitin reinforcement and also low-temperature mechanochemical dispersion, enables solvent-free, scalable fabrication of a novel processing-materials combination that was not explored in prior biocomposite systems. Composites with 5 wt% CSW showed outstanding improvements because flexural strength and modulus increased around ~ 38% and ~ 42%, and storage modulus (E′) rose around ~ 48% because elastic response improved. Thermal analysis revealed T₁₀, T₅₀, and Tder shifts up to 26 °C along with char yield nearly doubled (11.3%). These results indicated an improvement with thermal stability. FTIR-PAS and SEM analyses revealed that the bonding was stronger, in that interfacial integrity was increased. Around 40% reduction of void was attained, also 2× higher fiber–matrix contact area was attained. CSW optimized crystallization then damping behavior induced nucleation plus interfacial stiffening. With their strength now combined, with their barrier now functioning, and with their bioactivity now working, these materials can potentially apply strongly for biomedical scaffolds, for eco-packaging, and for structural components that compost, while aligning fully with goals for sustainability and for circular economy.

In high-performance lithium-ion batteries, solid–solid and solid–liquid interfaces govern key factors such as ionic transport, mechanical resilience, and long-term stability. While the importance of interfacial effects is increasingly recognized, a systematic understanding of how material-level design influences interfacial behavior remains limited. Here, we present a set of interfacial engineering strategies spanning various battery components, with a particular emphasis on novel binder architectures. These include stress-adaptive binders that dynamically respond to mechanical strain and dual-network binders tailored for dry-process cathodes, offering enhanced ionic conductivity, structural integrity, and interfacial adhesion. In each case, improved battery performance is closely linked to interfacial modulation—from uniform Li⁺ flux and favorable SEI formation to efficient removal of surface impurities. These findings highlight the pivotal role of interface engineering not only in achieving high battery performance but also in advancing sustainable and scalable battery manufacturing.

The development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) requires improvements in safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes to meet the increasing demands for efficient energy storage. One promising approach to achieving these goals is the dry battery electrode (DBE) technique, which was initially developed for supercapacitor applications. Unlike conventional wet-coating methods, DBE eliminates the need for toxic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), thereby reducing both environmental hazards and production costs. Additionally, it facilitates the fabrication of high-mass-loading electrodes by streamlining the electrode manufacturing process from the traditional “powder-slurry-film” approach to a more direct “powder-film” method.The DBE method overcomes the limitations of conventional wet processes, which are typically restricted to electrode loadings of 20 mg cm⁻² or less. DBE addresses this constraint by enabling significantly higher loadings while simplifying the overall manufacturing process. One critical aspect of DBE fabrication is binder fibrillation, where polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is commonly employed due to its ability to form fibrils under mechanical shear. These fibrils interweave electrode particles, reinforcing structural integrity. However, PTFE use comes with several drawbacks. It tends to agglomerate, leading to uneven distribution of active materials and conductive agents. Its low ionic conductivity and weak interfacial adhesion further hinder electrode performance. Additionally, PTFE is classified as a perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), which faces growing environmental regulations in the United States and European Union due to its persistence and potential toxicity.To address these limitations, this study introduces a dual-binder system that significantly reduces PTFE usage while enhancing electrode performance. This system utilizes poly(acrylic acid)-grafted sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (PAA-grafted CMC, referred to as PC) as a “micro bollard”, effectively securing PTFE fibrils and improving interfacial adhesion. The PC binder, rich in polar functional groups (–OH and –COOH), enhances Li⁺ ion transport and strengthens interactions with NMC particles, leading to improved conductivity and mechanical stability.To validate the “bollard hitch” mechanism, deep-learning-assisted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed, confirming that a 70% reduction in PTFE content (0.6 wt%) still allows for the formation of robust electrode sheets. By optimizing the PC-to-PTFE ratio at 7:3 (PC_PTFE73), an NMC 622 cathode with a high mass loading of 30 mg cm⁻² was achieved, delivering an areal capacity of 4.0 mAh cm⁻² at a 2 C rate. This significantly outperforms PTFE-only electrodes, which require three times more binder to attain comparable results. Furthermore, this binder system facilitated the production of ultra-high-loading cathodes (90 mg cm⁻², 15.6 mAh cm⁻²), surpassing previous benchmarks.When implemented in full-cell configurations, the solvent-free DBE-processed cathodes and anodes exhibited excellent long-term cycling stability, with 84% capacity retention after 50 cycles at 0.5 C. Even when paired with a slurry-cast graphite anode, the full cell demonstrated 86% capacity retention over 100 cycles, outperforming traditional PTFE-based electrode systems.This study highlights a significant advancement in DBE technology by minimizing PTFE reliance, improving electrode performance, and aligning with global environmental regulations. The proposed dual-binder system offers a practical solution for industrial-scale battery manufacturing while promoting sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions.

Lithium-ion batteries dominate applications from portable electronics to electric vehicles owing to high energy density and long cycle life. As energy targets rise, thick, high-loading electrodes become essential. In conventional manufacturing, slurry-coated electrodes (SCEs) disperse active material, carbon, and binder in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and require drying and solvent recovery, increasing energy use, process time, and factory footprint. As thickness increases, cracking and binder migration degrade uniformity and performance. These constraints motivate solvent-free dry-processed electrodes (DPEs), which eliminate solvents and shorten processing time. From a binder standpoint, PTFE provides cohesion via shear-induced fibrillation at low binder loading but adheres poorly to aluminum, whereas PVDF improves wetting to native aluminum oxide (Al2O3) but typically requires higher binder fractions that reduce active content and volumetric energy. Additionally, current collector designs explicitly tailored to DPEs remain underdeveloped, even though adhesion in solvent-free systems is governed primarily by mechanical bonding.In this work, we introduce a dual-binder DPE that integrates PTFE and PVDF with a nanostructured aluminum current collector (NSA). The NSA is prepared by anodizing Al to form vertically oriented Al2O3 nanotubes, then removing the upper layer to yield a nano-embossed porous surface. During dry mixing and calendaring, PTFE fibrillates into a continuous network that bridges active particles and conductive carbon at a very low binder fraction. During hot pressing at 180 °C, PVDF softens, wets the native aluminum oxide (Al2O3), fills surface asperities, and enlarges the true contact area, promoting electrolyte infiltration and interfacial adhesion. Mechanical interlocking with the NSA pores, combined with PVDF-driven interfacial wetting, reduces interfacial resistance and preserves a very high active-material fraction at low binder loading.With this architecture, NSA-based dual-binder DPEs show improved interfacial contact, electronic conductivity, and electrochemical performance relative to bare Al. Peel and force-displacement tests confirm high adhesion, and conductive AFM (C-AFM), EIS, and DRT indicate lower contact and charge-transfer resistances with slower growth during cycling, consistent with stable interfaces and maintained percolation networks. At 96 wt% active material and 2 wt% binder, thick cathodes reach 64 mg cm-2 loading and 12.5 mAh cm-2 areal capacity, with a volumetric energy density of 712.7 Wh L-1 and 95.9% retention after 40 cycles. This compact, mechanically robust platform addresses the DPE adhesion gap and enables scalable, high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. Figure 1

The continuous scaling of integrated circuits (ICs) necessitates the downscaling of interconnect dimensions, particularly within the back-end-of-line (BEOL) structures. However, this miniaturization exacerbates the contribution of surface scattering to metal resistivity, posing a significant challenge to maintaining device performance. To address this issue, this work investigates the application of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with ultrathin thicknesses (1–2 nm) as multifunctional interfacial layers on dielectric substrates. These SAMs serve the dual purpose of mitigating electron scattering at the metal/dielectric interface and functioning as ultrathin diffusion barriers for next-generation interconnect technologies. Conventional diffusion barriers, such as Ta/TiN, have been widely adopted due to their effective barrier and adhesion properties. Nevertheless, as the dimensions of vias and metal lines continue to shrink, the relative thickness of these traditional barriers consumes a substantial fraction of the available cross-sectional area, ultimately leading to a rise in electrical resistance. Considering this limitation, SAMs offer a promising alternative, enabling the formation of molecularly thin barriers while preserving the available space for conductive metal.This study focuses on the design and implementation of arylimine-functionalized silane SAMs, specifically benzyliminetriethoxysilane (BITES) and 2-hydroxybenzyliminetriethoxysilane (2-HBITES). These tailored SAMs not only enhance adhesion to silicon-based dielectrics but also promote specular electron scattering, which becomes increasingly critical as metal line dimensions decrease. In this work, we extend our investigation to the 2-HBITES SAM, which exhibits a notable two-fold improvement in ruthenium (Ru) complexation compared to its BITES counterpart. The stronger SAM–Ru interaction achieved with 2-HBITES significantly enhances both the diffusion barrier characteristics and interfacial adhesion when benchmarked against methyl-terminated and BITES-functionalized silane surfaces. Remarkably, the introduction of the hydroxyl-modified arylimine group in 2-HBITES results in a four-fold improvement in adhesion strength and substantially enhances the thermal and diffusion barrier properties. The Ru/2-HBITES/SiO₂ interconnect structure demonstrates an increase of at least 100 °C in breakdown temperature relative to the Ru/SiO₂ baseline, indicating superior thermal robustness and interfacial stability. Moreover, this paper presents our latest findings on the thermal reliability of SAMs within a sandwiched metal/SAM/dielectric architecture—a configuration that has received limited attention to date. The insights gained from this study provide a foundation for the development of scalable, ultrathin diffusion barriers and adhesion layers essential for advancing future interconnect technology. Figure 1