Low Mismatch Research Articles

High performance BAW resonators with improved AlN thin films quality based on BaF2 buffer layer

The quality of AlN thin films has an important effect on the performance of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators. In this work, the low lattice mismatch of BaF2 buffer layer with AlN thin films was employed to improve the crystalline quality of AlN thin films. Furthermore, an ethanol assisted epitaxial liftoff (ethanol-ELO) technique based on the BaF2 buffer layer was proposed to lift off AlN thin films from Si substrate, which reduced surface roughness scattering. The ELO technology reduced the damage of AlN thin films and Si wafer during the ELO process due to the selective etching of AlN and BaF2. Utilizing the BaF2 buffer layer, the as-prepared BAW resonators, based on single-crystalline AlN, displayed Q-factor up to 2857, which was 47% higher than that without the BaF2 buffer layer. This study highlights the significant role of the BaF2 buffer layer in enhancing BAW resonators' performance and reducing fabrication costs.

On the stresses associated with heterointerfaces

ABSTRACT Considering the formation of misfit dislocations in systems with both high and low lattice mismatch, the Peierls–Nabarro mechanism is first introduced to deal with periodic dislocations. The effect of interfacial misfit dislocations on the interior of the crystal is then investigated using exact elasticity solutions. The core structure of the misfit dislocation is then given, and it is emphasised that the stress field inside the crystal can be determined under certain combinations of material constants so as to determine the atomic configuration of the material. An application of the theoretical results to interfacial dislocations of a BN/AlN heterojunction is shown, and the reliability of theory is verified by first-principles calculations.

Multifunctional Conjugated Polyphenol "Bridge" Capped the Upper Interface of Highly Efficient and Stable Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells Fabricated in Air.

Carbon-based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are promising alternatives compared with conventional organic-inorganic halide PSCs because of their good thermal stability. However, low carrier transport efficiency and energy level mismatch of the upper interface of the device limit the further improvement of power conversion efficiency (PCE), and all-inorganic perovskites are extremely sensitive to oxygen and humidity, which seriously damages the long-term stability of the device. Upper interface modification is an effective solution to improve the PCE and the stability of devices. Unfortunately, many traditional interface modifiers exhibit insulated and hygroscopic characteristics, which may be harmful to the performance of the device. Herein, a multifunctional conjugated polyphenol "bridge" strategy was adopted on the upper interface of the device fabricated in air, that is, stilbene and polyhydroxy stilbene were capped on perovskite. The results demonstrate that they can effectively enhance the energy level alignment, improve charge transport, passivate defects, suppress nonradiative recombination of interface, and resist oxygen and moisture in air, and the positive effects of modification become more and more pronounced with the increment of the number of hydroxyl groups. The PCE of PSCs was improved from 11.10 to 13.10% after modification. In addition, the unencapsulated modified devices exhibited better stability than the control devices under different environmental conditions.

Ultraflexible Neural Electrodes Enabled Synchronized Long-Term Dopamine Detection and Wideband Chronic Recording Deep in Brain.

Ultraflexible neural electrodes have shown superior stability compared with rigid electrodes in long-term in vivo recordings, owing to their low mechanical mismatch with brain tissue. It is desirable to detect neurotransmitters as well as electrophysiological signals for months in brain science. This work proposes a stable electronic interface that can simultaneously detect neural electrical activity and dopamine concentration deep in the brain. This ultraflexible electrode is modified by a nanocomposite of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (rGO/PEDOT:PSS), enhancing the electrical stability of the coating and increasing its specific surface area, thereby improving the sensitivity to dopamine response with 15 pA/μM. This electrode can detect dopamine fluctuations and can conduct long-term, stable recordings of local field potentials (LFPs), spiking activities, and amplitudes with high spatial and temporal resolution across multiple regions, especially in deep brain areas. The electrodes were implanted into the brains of rodent models to monitor the changes in neural and electrochemical signals across different brain regions during the administration of nomifensine. Ten minutes after drug injection, enhanced neuronal firing activity and increased LFP power were detected in the motor cortex and deeper cortical layers, accompanied by a gradual rise in dopamine levels with 192 ± 29 nM. The in vivo recording consistently demonstrates chronic high-quality neural signal monitoring with electrochemical signal stability for up to 6 weeks. These findings highlight the high quality and stability of our electrophysiological/electrochemical codetection neural electrodes, underscoring their tremendous potential for applications in neuroscience research and brain-machine interfaces.

The effects of strain and interface engineering on the PbS/PbSe/CsPbI3 heterojunction

Abstract This paper investigates the PbS/PbSe/CsPbI3 heterojunction based on first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory and demonstrates the effects of different strains on the structural, electronic, optical properties. PbS/PbSe, PbSe/CsPbI3 and PbS/CsPbI3 all possess relatively low lattice mismatch rates (2.3%, 2.4% and 4.6%) and similar octahedral structures. The PbS/CsPbI3 heterojunction reduces carrier transfer losses between different materials. By serving as the functional layer, PbSe can alter the electron–hole recombination losses at the heterostructure interface, broaden the spectral response range, and change the electronic density around the atoms at the heterostructure interface. All three heterojunctions are direct band gap semiconductors (ΔEg: PbS/PbSe-PbSe/CsPbI3-PbS/CsPbI3, 0.632–0.856–0.523 eV). The spectral comparison shows that PbS/PbSe/CsPbI3 > PbSe/CsPbI3 > CsPbI3, indicating that PbS/PbSe/CsPbI3 exhibits superior stability, charge density transfer, and optical performance with a redshift in absorption spectra. Additionally, the band gap and optical properties of PbS/PbSe/CsPbI3 can be adjusted by applying strain, thereby affecting its optical absorption intensity. This work provides a theoretical foundation for improving the performance of PbS/PbSe/CsPbI3 heterojunction as visible-near infrared optoelectronic materials.

Designing Ni2MnSn Heusler magnetic nanoprecipitate in copper alloy for increased strength and electromagnetic shielding

Structural electromagnetic shielding materials are required to withstand high stress and electromagnetic interference in extreme environments. In this paper, a nano-magnetic Heusler phase with desired structure parameters was successfully obtained in a copper matrix by employing a multi-objective driving design strategy. The resulting copper alloy exhibits a yield strength of up to 1.5 GPa, and the attenuation degree of electromagnetic wave reaches 99.999999999% (110 dB) within the frequency range of 10 kHz to 3 GHz. The research suggests that the Ni2MnSn precipitates with optimized structure parameters (including high number density: 5 × 1023 m−3, small size: 23 nm, large aspect ratio: 4, low mismatch: 2.3%, strong bonding: -0.316 eV/atom, magnetic order: 4.05 μB/f.u.) both reinforce the matrix by strong pinning and enhance electromagnetic shielding properties through magnetic-electric coupling. This design method tailored for multiple performance requirements provides a valuable tool for the development of structure-function integrated materials.

Thermionic Emission in Artificially Structured Single-Crystalline Elemental Metal/Compound Semiconductor Superlattices.

Metal/semiconductor superlattices represent a fascinating frontier in materials science and nanotechnology, where alternating layers of metals and semiconductors are precisely engineered at the atomic and nano-scales. Traditionally, epitaxial metal/semiconductor superlattice growth requires constituent materials from the same family, exhibiting identical structural symmetry and low lattice mismatch. Here, beyond this conventional constraint, a novel class of epitaxial lattice-matched metal/semiconductor superlattices is introduced that utilizes refractory hexagonal elemental transition metals and wide-bandgap III-nitride semiconductors. Exemplified by the Hf/AlN superlattices exhibiting coherent layer-by-layer epitaxial growth, cross-plane thermionic emission is observed through current-voltage measurements accomplished for the first time in any metal/semiconductor superlattices. Further, thermoreflectance measurements reveal significant enhancement in cross-plane Seebeck coefficients attributed to carrier energy filtering by Schottky barriers. Demonstration of artificially structured elemental-metal/wide-bandgap compound-semiconductor superlattices promises to usher in new fundamental physics studies and cutting-edge applications such as tunable hyperbolic metamaterials, quantum computing, and thermionic-emission-based thermoelectric and thermophotonic energy conversion devices.

A Study of Electro-Epitaxial Deposition of Zn on Cu Substrate by a Combinatorial Substrate Approach

Zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) offer notable advantages such as low safety concerns, cost-effectiveness and a high theoretical capacity for serving as a large-scale energy storage system. However, the application of ZIBs is hindered by the dendrite growth problem leading to a low column power efficiency and a shorter lifespan. Epitaxial growth of Zn in deposition is a promising strategy to suppress dendrite growth. Existing methods primarily involve modifying the substrate surface to enhance Zn binding or to lower the lattice mismatch. However, these methods add complexity to the processing and inflate cost. Alternatively, this study aims at a simpler strategy of utilizing suitable substrates with high stability in the electrochemical environment and low lattice mismatches with Zn to enhance Zn epitaxy in deposition. It is noted that copper meets the electrochemical stability criterion, and the (111) Cu planes have a low lattice mismatch of 4.1% with the (0001)Zn. In this study, Zn was deposited galvanostatically in a sulfate solutions onto polycrystalline Cu sheets at room temperature using a combinatorial substrate approach. The effects of solution pH, current density and substrate orientation were examined. Electron backscatter diffraction technique was used to analyze the orientation of each substrate grain prior to deposition and the overlaid Zn layer afterwards. Results indicated that the solution pH, current density and substrate orientation all affected significantly on the deposition mode of Zn. At high pHs and an intermediate range of current density, Zn was deposited epitaxially up to a thickness of 10 mm or more. Moreover, the epitaxial growth on the (100) grains was heavily prohibited regardless the deposition condition.

Evaluating spatial variation of accessibility to urban green spaces and its inequity in Chicago: Perspectives from multi-types of travel modes and travel time

Urban green spaces (UGS) significantly benefit public health outcomes. Providing equal access to UGS and ensuring a better match between UGS demand and supply are crucial for developing sustainable cities. This study employed the 3SFCA method and multi-source data to explore the spatial variation and equity in UGS accessibility in the City of Chicago by considering different types of UGS, travel modes, and travel time thresholds. The Gini index and spatial statistical methods are used to evaluate the inequity in and the mismatch between UGS accessibility and demand. The findings showed significant disparities in accessibility and high inequity among different types of UGS, travel modes, and travel time thresholds. The travel mode of driving and a larger travel time threshold led to more homogeneous distributions of accessibility and mild inequity but exacerbated the mismatch between UGS accessibility and demand. Census tracts in the eastern part of Chicago have consistently low accessibility with a high demand-low supply mismatch while the rest of the city had high accessibility to UGS with a low demand-high supply mismatch under certain circumstances. The findings offer insights into the spatial patterns of UGS accessibility and inequity and contribute to more effective planning policies to improve the quality of human life.

Mismatch Vs No Mismatch in Large Core-AMatter of Definition.

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has shown promise in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for large ischemic core stroke patients, yet variability in core definition and onset-to-imaging time creates heterogeneity in outcomes. This study aims to clarify the prevalence and implications of core-perfusion mismatch (MM) versus no mismatch (No MM) in such patients, utilizing established imaging criteria. Aretrospective cohort study was conducted including patients from 7/29/2019 to 1/29/2023, with data extracted from acontinuously maintained database. Patients were eligible if they met criteria including multimodal CT imaging performed within 24 h from last known well (LKW), AIS-LVO diagnosis, and ischemic core size defined by specific rCBF thresholds. Mismatch was assessed based on different operational definitions from the EXTEND and DEFUSE 3trials. Fifty-two patients were included, with various time windows from LKW. Using EXTEND criteria, asignificant portion of early window patients exhibited MM; however, fewer patients met MM criteria in the late window. Defining MM using DEFUSE 3criteria yielded similar patterns, but with overall lower MM prevalence in the late window. When employing rCBF <38% as asurrogate for ischemic core, ahigher percentage of patients were classified as MM across both time windows compared to rCBF <30%. The prevalence of MM in large ischemic core patients varies significantly depending on the imaging criteria and time from LKW. Notably, MM was more prevalent in the early time window across all criteria used. Additional RCTs are needed to determine if this definition of MM identifies patients who will benefit most from EVT.

Spatiotemporal Changes and Driving Mechanisms of Ecosystem Service Supply–Demand Contradictions Under Urbanization

Clarifying the driving mechanisms of ecosystem service (ES) supply and demand under urbanization is of significant importance for urban ecological planning and management. However, how the balance of ES supply and demand and its driving mechanisms vary with the degree of urbanization has been little studied. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal changes and the correlations between ES supply and demand and the degree of urbanization in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area (ZZMA) from 2000 to 2020 and further explored the driving mechanisms behind these changes. The results showed that, (1) between 2000 and 2020, the ZZMA experienced a deficit in comprehensive ES supply and demand, and regions with rapid urbanization development were more likely to trigger imbalances in ES supply and demand; (2) the spatial mismatch between low–high ES supply and demand was primarily distributed in the built-up areas of various cities, while the high–low spatial mismatch was mostly found in forest and grassland areas; (3) the comprehensive urbanization level of the ZZMA was spatially negatively correlated with the ratio of ES supply and demand. Regions with lower ES balance were more susceptible to disturbances caused by urbanization; (4) population density was the key factor influencing the supply and demand of carbon sequestration, oxygen release, water conservation, and food provision services, while the proportions of forest land and construction areas had the greatest influence on the supply and demand of air purification and leisure services. It is important to ensure the ecological status of the northwestern, southwestern, and central mountainous and forested areas; maintain the agricultural status of the main grain-producing areas in the eastern plains; strengthen ecological restoration and green infrastructure in built-up areas; and formulate differentiated management policies to promote the sustainable supply of ES and safeguard the ecological security of the region.

Clinical and histopathological features of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with varying responses to cemiplimab.

Most patients with unresectable locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) benefit from cemiplimab, but some do not respond. Our study aims to identify clinical and histopathological features predicting response to cemiplimab. We analyzed 15 patients treated with cemiplimab, assessing clinical, demographic, histopathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics and correlating them with treatment response. Furthermore, effectiveness and safety were evaluated in our cohort. Our cohort included 12 males and 3 females, with a mean age of 78.1years. The majority of tumors, accounting for 66.7%, were located in the head and neck region. Treatment was well-tolerated, with only one grade3 colitis. There was no correlation between immune-related adverse events and treatment response. Non-responders were younger (69.4 vs. 82.5years). A history of hematological malignancy correlated with poorer response. High mitotic rate, poor tumor differentiation, high vimentin and p53, and low E-cadherin expression were associated with worse response. Conversely, higher intratumoral inflammatory infiltrate density, presence of necrotic areas, and lower mismatch repair-protein staining correlated with better response. Cemiplimab is a safe and effective therapy, particularly in elderly patients. Well-differentiated tumors with low proliferative index, intratumoral inflammatory infiltrate, and tumor necrosis may predict better clinical response.

Planar Deposition via In Situ Conversion Engineering for Dendrite-Free Zinc Batteries.

Owing to the considerable capacity, high safety, and abundant zinc resources, zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have been garnering much attention. Nonetheless, the unsatisfactory cyclic lifespan and poor reversibility originate from side reactions and dendrite obstacles to their practical applications. In addition to inhibiting the corrosion of aqueous electrolytes, regulating planar deposition is a key strategy to enhance their long-term stability. Herein, an in situ conversion strategy is reported to construct a protective "dual-layer" structure (VZSe/V@Zn) on zinc metal, consisting of the VSe2-ZnSe outer layer with low lattice mismatch to Zn (002) plane, and corrosion-resistant nanometallic V inner layer. Such design integrates superior interfacial ionic/electronic transfer, corrosion resistance, and unique planar deposition regulation capability. The as-prepared VZSe/V@Zn demonstrates remarkable durability of 238h at 50mA cm-2 with a high depth of discharge (68.3% DOD) in the Zn||Zn symmetric cell. Even in the anode-free system, the as-prepared protective layer can extend the cycle life up to 2000 cycles, with an outstanding capacity retention of 93.1% and ultra-high average coulombic efficiency of 99.998%. This work delineates an effective strategy for fabricating lattice-matching protective layers, with profound implications for elucidating zinc deposition mechanisms and paving the way for the development of high-performance zinc batteries.

Single Exposed Zn (0002) Plane and Sustainable Zn‐Oriented Growth Achieving Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Batteries

AbstractTo prevent dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution reaction, directional epitaxial growth of Zn2+ ions on Zn anode, especially along the lowest‐surface‐energy Zn (0002) plane, is pursued for highly reversible zinc metal batteries (ZMBs). However, designing single Zn (0002) exposed anodes for sustained uniaxial crystalline orientation of Zn electroplating faces challenges. Herein, we propose an anode engineering that utilizes a low lattice mismatch substrate and ordered Zn2+ migration channels to modify Zn anodes with single (0002) surface exposure and sustainable Zn‐oriented growth, yielding highly reversible ZMBs. A vapor‐deposited metal–organic framework Cu3(C6O6)2 film on brass foil shows low lattice mismatch (4.24 %) with electrodeposited Zn anodes, enabling the exposure of a single (0002) plane. Furthermore, the low desolvation energy (−1.36 eV) between solvated Zn2+ ions and the ordered porous Cu3(C6O6)2 film guides sustainable Zn‐oriented nucleation along the Zn (0002) surface. Consequently, the Zn||Zn cells with brass‐Cu3(C6O6)2 substrate shows a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.55 % after 4,000 cycles at 10 mA cm−2. This work provides a new window to design highly reversible Zn metal anode with a single‐exposed Zn (0002) plane and sustainable oriented growth for emerging ZMBs.

Single Exposed Zn (0002) Plane and Sustainable Zn-Oriented Growth Achieving Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Batteries.

To prevent dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution reaction, directional epitaxial growth of Zn2+ ions on Zn anode, especially along the lowest-surface-energy Zn (0002) plane, is pursued for highly reversible zinc metal batteries (ZMBs). However, designing single Zn (0002) exposed anodes for sustained uniaxial crystalline orientation of Zn electroplating faces challenges. Herein, we propose an anode engineering that utilizes a low lattice mismatch substrate and ordered Zn2+ migration channels to modify Zn anodes with single (0002) surface exposure and sustainable Zn-oriented growth, yielding highly reversible ZMBs. A vapor-deposited metal-organic framework Cu3(C6O6)2 film on brass foil shows low lattice mismatch (4.24 %) with electrodeposited Zn anodes, enabling the exposure of a single (0002) plane. Furthermore, the low desolvation energy (-1.36 eV) between solvated Zn2+ ions and the ordered porous Cu3(C6O6)2 film guides sustainable Zn-oriented nucleation along the Zn (0002) surface. Consequently, the Zn||Zn cells with brass-Cu3(C6O6)2 substrate shows a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.55 % after 4,000 cycles at 10 mA cm-2. This work provides a new window to design highly reversible Zn metal anode with a single-exposed Zn (0002) plane and sustainable oriented growth for emerging ZMBs.

Stroke thrombectomy for large infarcts with limited penumbra: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Recent randomized trials have suggested that endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is superior to medical management (MM) for stroke patients with large infarcts. However, whether or how perfusion metrics should be used to guide optimal patient selection for treatment is largely unknown. This was a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials reporting the effectiveness of EVT for large infarcts stratified by perfusion mismatch profiles. Patients with mismatch ratio 1.2-1.8 or penumbra volume 10-15cc (intermediate mismatch) or mismatch ratio <1.2 or volume <10cc (low mismatch) were included. Odds of 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) 0 to 3 (good) and 5 to 6 (poor) were calculated and effect sizes were pooled using Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effects models. Two trials - SELECT2 and ANGEL-ASPECT - were included; 140 intermediate mismatch (75 EVT and 65 MM) and 60 low mismatch patients (23 EVT and 37 MM) were identified. EVT was significantly associated with higher odds of mRS 0 to 3 for intermediate mismatch (pooled OR 2.77 [95%CI 1.11-6.89], p=0.028; Figure 1), but not low mismatch (pooled OR 1.47 [95%CI 0.444.94], p=0.54; Figure 1). Similarly, in terms of 90-day poor outcomes (mRS 5 or 6), EVT for intermediate mismatch patients was significantly associated with lower odds (OR 0.49 [95%CI 0.24 to 0.99], p=0.046; Figure 2), while EVT for the low mismatch cohort was not (OR 0.66 [95%CI 0.22 to 1.96], p=0.45; Figure 2). There was no significant inter-study heterogeneity observed across study estimates. For patients with large infarcts, EVT appears to be likely beneficial for patients with perfusion mismatch ratio and volume of at least 1.2 and 10cc, but not for those with mismatch ratio <1.2 or volume <10cc. These data generally support the continued use of perfusion imaging to select patients with large infarcts for EVT if it is available at the treating institution. Future studies and trials should consider investigating the efficacy and safety of EVT for patients with large infarcts and low mismatch profiles. EVT = endovascular thrombectomy; MM = medical management; OR = odds ratio; CI = confidence interval.

Ensemble LVQ Model for Photovoltaic Line-to-Line Fault Diagnosis Using K-Means Clustering and AdaGrad

Line-to-line (LL) faults are one of the most frequent short-circuit conditions in photovoltaic (PV) arrays which are conventionally detected and cleared by overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs). However, OCPDs are shown to face challenges when detecting LL faults under critical detection conditions, i.e., low mismatch levels and/or high fault impedance values. This occurs due to insufficient fault current, thus leaving the LL faults undetected and leading to power losses and even catastrophic fire hazards. To compensate for OCPD deficiencies, recent studies have proposed modern artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods. However, various limitations can still be witnessed even in AI-based methods, such as (i) most of the models requiring a massive training dataset, (ii) critical fault detection conditions not being taken into consideration, (iii) models not being accurate enough when dealing with critical conditions, etc. To this end, the present paper proposes a learning vector quantization (LVQ)-based ensemble learning model in which three LVQs are individually trained to detect and classify LL faults in PV arrays. The initial LVQ vectors are determined using the k-means clustering method, and the learning rate is optimized by the adaptive gradient (AdaGrad) optimizer. The training and testing datasets are collected according to the PV array’s current–voltage (I–V) characteristic curve, and several features are extracted based on the Canberra and chi-squared distance techniques. The model utilizes a small training dataset, considers various critical detection conditions for LL faults—such as different mismatch levels and fault impedance values—and the final experimental results show that the model achieves an impressive average accuracy of 99.26%.

Highly Reversible Zn Anode Design Through Oriented ZnO(002) Facets.

The practical implementation of aqueous Zn-ion batteries presents formidable hurdles, including uncontrolled dendrite growth, water-induced side reactions, suboptimal Zn metal utilization, and intricate Zn anode manufacturing. Here, large-scale construction of a highly oriented ZnO(002) lattice plane on Zn anode (ZnO(002)@Zn) with thermodynamic inertia and kinetic zincophilicity is designed to address such problems. Both theoretical calculations and experiment results elucidate that the ZnO(002)@Zn possesses high Zn chemical affinity, hydrogen evolution reaction suppression, and dendrite-free deposition ability due to the abundant lattice oxygen species in ZnO(002) and its low lattice mismatch with Zn(002). These features synergistically promote ion transport and enable homogeneous Zn deposition. Consequently, the ZnO(002)@Zn anode displays a stable and prolonged cycling lifespan exceeding 500h even under a larger depth of discharge (85.6%) and realizes an impressive average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7%. Moreover, its efficacy is also evident in V2O5-cathode coin cells and pouch cells with not only high discharge capacity but also exceptional cycling stability. This integrated approach presents a promising avenue for addressing the challenges associated with Zn metal anodes, thereby advancing the prospects of aqueous Zn-ion battery technologies.

Lattice Match-Enabled Covalent Heterointerfaces with Built-in Electric Field for Efficient Hydrogen Peroxide Photosynthesis.

Crafting semiconducting heterojunctions represents an effective route to enhance photocatalysis by improving interfacial charge separation and transport. However, lattice mismatch (δ) between different semiconductors can significantly hinder charge dynamics. Here, meticulous lattice tailoring is reported to create a covalent heterointerface with a built-in electric field (BIEF), imparting markedly improved hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) photosynthesis. Specifically, an In2S3/CdS heterojunction with a coherent heterointerface, characterized by covalent In─S─Cd bridge and exceptionally low lattice mismatch of 0.27%, and a BIEF from In2S3 to CdS, is rationally designed. This heterojunction entails rapid charge separation and transfer, achieving an outstanding H2O2 production rate of 2.09 mmol g-1 h-1 without the need for scavengers and oxygen bubbling, and a high apparent quantum efficiency of 17.73% at 400 nm. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal that this Z-scheme heterojunction facilitates the adsorption of *O2 and the generation of *OOH intermediates during the 2e- oxygen reduction reaction, associated with a low Gibbs free energy. This study underscores the significance of fine-tuning interfacial lattices and integrating BIEF to accelerate photocatalysis. The simple yet robust strategy can be conveniently leveraged to enhance device performance in optoelectronics, electrocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis, and sensing.

Zincophilic host with lattice plane matching enables stable zinc anodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries

The practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZBs) as attractive energy storage devices is severely hampered by the uncontrollable zinc dendrite growth on the metal anode. Here, a lightweight and flexible free-standing membrane of MXene/Ag nanowires (AgNWs) was synthesized via vacuum filtration to support the zinc anode. The 3D cross-linked network structure provides ample space for densely packed zinc electrodeposition. Zincophilic AgNWs that exhibit a low lattice plane mismatch with zinc lower the nucleation barrier for zinc, inducing uniform nucleation and lateral growth of zinc on the substrate. In addition, the 3D network framework effectively reduces the local current density and area capacity of the anode, creating a uniform electric field that is not conducive to zinc dendrite formation. Consequently, the highly reversible Zn@MXene/AgNWs composite anode exhibits long cycle stability of 1000 h at 2.0 mA cm−2, 1.0 mAh cm−2 in the symmetrical battery. The full battery assembled with a sodium vanadate (NVO) cathode demonstrates excellent rate performance and long cycle life (2000 cycles at 5.0 A/g). The design of zincophilic hosts with high lattice plane matching provides a promising strategy for realizing dendrite-free zinc anodes for AZBs.