Interface Module Research Articles

Quantum-sized CoP nanodots with rich vacancies: Enhanced hydrazine oxidation, hydrazine-assisted water splitting, and Zn-hydrazine battery performance through interface modulation

Reducing the size of catalysts and tuning their electronic structure and interfacial properties are key to enhancing catalytic performance. Herein, a series of quantum-sized Co-based nanodot composites, including Co3O4/C, CoS2/C, CoN/C, and CoP/C, were synthesized using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. By means of experimental measurement and theoretical calculation, CoP/C exhibited more robust electrochemical response than other Co-based compounds in electrochemical oxidation of N2H4 (HzOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The catalytic activities of CoP/C can be further enhanced by introducing Co vacancies on the surface of CoP/C (labeled as Co1−xP/C). The results demonstrated that Co1−xP/C not only exhibited notable electrochemical responses at an ultra-low N2H4 concentration of 0.67 μM, showcasing its potential for ultra-sensitive N2H4 detection but also realized HzOR instead of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) half-reaction, thereby lowering the overpotential to 2.0 mV at 10.0 mA cm−2. Finally, a Zn-hydrazine (Zn-Hz) battery was fabricated as a promising energy conversion device, showing the exceptional practical value of Co1−xP/C.

Yttrium aluminum garnet fluorescent conversion films for solid-state lighting: interface reaction synthesis strategy and modulation of warm white light.

Traditional preparation of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) transparent ceramics involves several steps, including powder preparation, molding process and sintering at high temperature. Herein, a new and simple method was developed to prepare YAG transparent polycrystalline films directly through a novel interface reaction between sapphire and a Y2(OH)x(CO3)y(NO3)(6-x-2y)·nH2O film attached to the sapphire. The prepared YAG:5%Ce transparent polycrystalline film could be combined with a blue chip to obtain fluorescence-converted white LED, with a CCT of 6361 K and a CRI (Ra) of 73.3. Introducing 1%Pr into the YAG:5%Ce system increased the CRI (Ra) to 77.4. When these transparent polycrystalline films were combined with a blue light laser diode (LD), similar spectra were obtained under high power density (4.17 W mm-2) excitation. YAG:5%Ce films produced a white light CCT of 5471 K, LE of 165.1 lm W-1, and Ra of 62.9, while YAG:5%Ce,1%Pr films produced a CCT of 6311 K, LE of 146.5 lm W-1, and Ra increased to 69.7. This study provides a novel "powder-free" and "glue-free" synthesis strategy for preparing fluorescence-converted YAG:Ce,Pr transparent polycrystalline films, which not only overcomes the disadvantages of traditional transparent ceramic preparation methods, such as time consumption, energy consumption, and equipment dependence, but also avoids the problem of aging in traditional fluorescent conversion materials.

Interface Engineering and Modulation of Nickel Oxide for High Air-Stable p-Type Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells.

Dopant-free passivating contact crystalline silicon solar cells hold the potential of higher efficiency and cost down. In the hole-transport terminal, one still faces the challenge of trade-off between efficiency and stability. In this work, a H-Al2O3/NiOx/Ni stacked hole-transport layer is proposed, where the H-Al2O3 standing for H-rich Al2O3 film can effectively reduce the interfacial defects and the high work function Ni metal results in a low contact resistance of 47.12mΩcm2. Consequently, the solar cell achieves an efficiency of 20.51%, with a fill factor of 84.83%, demonstrating satisfactory stability. This work provides a strategy for reducing interfacial defects and highlights the potential of stacked structure design for enhancing passivated contact solar cell performance.

Water-Deficient Interface Induced via Hydrated Eutectic Electrolyte with Restrictive Water to Achieve High-Performance Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries.

The development of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) is hampered by dendrites and side reactions induced by reactive H2O. In this study, a hydrated eutectic electrolyte with restrictive water consisting of zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (Zn(OTf)2), 1,3-propanediol (PDO), and water is developed to improve the stability of the anode/electrolyte interface in AZMBs via the formation of a water-deficient interface. Additionally, PDO participates in the Zn2+ solvation structure and inhibits the movement of water molecules. PDO also preferentially adsorbs along the Zn (100) plane, thereby inducing the formation of the organic/inorganic SEI layer that enables the cycle life of a Zn//Zn symmetric cell to reach 3000h at 1mAcm-2 and 1mAhcm-2. Further, interfacial modulation by the eutectic electrolyte improves the cycling stability of Zn//V2O5 and Zn//VO2 cells. Particularly, the specific capacity of a Zn//V2O5 cell with the eutectic electrolyte is 1.7 times that of a cell with the 2M Zn(OTf)2 electrolyte, with a capacity retention of 93% after 100 cycles at 0.5Ag-1. This study provides a new perspective on the electrolyte modification strategies for AZMBs, highlighting the potential of PDO-8 electrolyte in developing aqueous energy storage devices with excellent cycling stability.

Ultrafast Detection of ppb-Level NH3 Gas at Room Temperature Using CuO Nanoparticles Decorated AlN-Based Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor.

Rational design of heterostructure (HS)-based surface acoustic wave (SAW) smart gas sensors for efficient and accurate subppm level ammonia (NH3) detection at room temperature (RT) is of great significance in environmental protection and human safety. This study introduced a novel HS composed of an AlN-based SAW resonator and CuO nanoparticles (NPs) as a chemical interface for NH3 detection at RT (∼26 °C). The structural, morphological, and chemical compositions were detailly investigated, which demonstrates that the CuO/AlN HS was successfully formed via interfacial modulation. The CuO/AlN HS SAW sensor exhibited a significant positive frequency shift of 52.60 kHz in response to 100 ppm of NH3, which is 4.8 times higher than that of the as-grown AlN SAW sensor. Additionally, the CuO/AlN HS SAW sensor exhibited ultrafast response/recovery times of 5/25 s, a remarkably low limit of detection (LOD) of 24 ppb, and excellent long-term stability and selectivity. These results are attributed to the high porosity and defect sites of CuO NPs, which enhanced charge transfer at the heterointerface, as well as decreased mass loading and conductivity effects. The CuO/AlN HS SAW sensor also demonstrated distinct frequency responses to 100 ppm of NH3, under varying relative humidity (RH): a positive shift at low RH (5%-10%) due to increased conductivity, and a negative shift at high RH (20%-80%) due to enhanced mass loading. These NH3 gas sensing characteristics of the CuO/AlN HS SAW sensor were validated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy band diagram analysis and resistive-type gas sensing measurements. These findings highlight the potential of the integrating metal oxide with nitride semiconductors for advanced SAW-based gas sensing technology in environmental and industrial applications.

Breaking Anionic Solvation Barrier for Safe and Durable Potassium-ion Batteries Under Ultrahigh-Voltage Operation.

Ultrahigh-voltage potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) with cost competitiveness represent a viable route towards high energy battery systems. Nevertheless, rapid capacity decay with poor Coulombic efficiencies remains intractable, mainly attributed to interfacial instability from aggressive potassium metal anodes and cathodes. Additionally, high reactivity of K metal and flammable electrolytes pose severe safety hazards. Herein, a weakly solvating fluorinated electrolyte with intrinsically nonflammable feature is successfully developed to enable an ultrahigh-voltage (up to 5.5 V) operation. Through breaking the anionic solvation barrier, synergistic interfacial modulation can be achieved by the formation of robust anion-derived inorganic-rich electrode-electrolyte interfaces on both the cathode and anode. As proof of concept, a representative KVPO4F cathode can sustain 1600 cycles with 84.4% of capacity retention at a high cutoff voltage of 4.95 V. Meanwhile, K plating/stripping process in our designed electrolyte also demonstrates optimized electrochemical reversibility and stability with effectively inhibited potassium dendrites. These findings underscore the critical impact of anion-dominated solvation configuration on synergistic interfacial modulation and electrochemical properties. This work provides new insights into rational design of ultrahigh-voltage and safe electrolyte for advanced PIBs.

Interfacial modulation and optimization of the electrical properties of ZrGdO x composite films prepared using a UVO-assisted sol-gel method.

In this paper, Gd-doped ZrO2 gate dielectric films and metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors structured as Al/ZrGdO x /Si were prepared using an ultraviolet ozone (UVO)-assisted sol-gel method. The effects of heat treatment temperature on the microstructure, chemical bonding state, optical properties, surface morphology and electrical characteristics of the ZrGdO x composite films and MOS capacitors were systematically investigated. The crystalline phase of the ZrGdO x films appeared only at 600 °C, indicating that Gd doping effectively inhibits the crystallization of ZrO2 films. Meanwhile, as the heat treatment temperature increased from 300 °C to 600 °C, the content of oxygen vacancies decreased from 18.57% to 11.95%, and the content of metal-hydroxyl-oxygen bonds decreased from 14.72% to 8.64%. Heat treatment temperature proved to be effective in passivating the oxygen defects and reducing the trap density within the dielectric layer. At 500 °C, the MOS capacitor exhibited the best electrical characteristics, including the highest dielectric constant (k = 19.3), the smallest hysteresis (ΔV fb = 0.01 V), the lowest boundary trapping oxide charge density (N bt = 2.7 × 1010 cm-2), and the lowest leakage current density (J = 9.61 × 10-6 A cm-2). Therefore, adjusting the heat treatment temperature can significantly improve the performance of ZrGdO x composite films and capacitors, which is favorable for the application of CMOS devices in large-scale and high-performance electronic systems.

Design and evaluation of a problem-based learning VR module for apparel fit correction training.

The increased adoption of three-dimensional (3D) digital prototyping software programs makes it necessary to train novice designers to use these programs efficiently. However, existing studies spanning from engineering to design education indicate that students feel incompetent in understanding 3D digital prototypes and navigating the software, so there is a need to find effective training methods. In the current study, training modules were developed to teach participants fit correction skills through an iterative problem-based learning (PBL) approach. A review of the literature was performed to develop the fit correction tasks and guide the module development process. Expert feedback was used to fine-tune the tasks and module interface. The current study explored the effects of PBL-based virtual reality (VR) training on learning how to correct two-dimensional (2D) apparel patterns to improve consequent 3D garment fit. Results indicated that the training module significantly improved spatial visualization and fit correction skills. Participants with higher apparel spatial visualization skills saw a higher improvement in fit correction skills because of the training. At lower spatial visualization skill levels, women saw a higher increase in apparel spatial visualization skills after the training than men but the difference between the learning outcomes across genders reduced when participants had higher spatial skills before training. These findings were supported by the results of qualitative data obtained through interviews. The participants found the PBL approach, immediate feedback, and aid in visualization through garment simulations beneficial for understanding the concepts. At the same time, they indicated that the training module could be used as a supplement to the traditional classroom but cannot replace the physical garment fitting practice. The findings of the study verified that PBL using virtual garment simulations can have a positive impact on learning outcomes and help identify the stage of education at which learners can be exposed to PBL.

Expected deviations in grid state identification through practical measurements using a smart grid interface module

Expected deviations in grid state identification through practical measurements using a smart grid interface module

Constructing an S-scheme ZnSnO3-CuBi2O4 heterojunction through interfacial modulation to boost visible-light-induced photothermal-photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Constructing an S-scheme ZnSnO3-CuBi2O4 heterojunction through interfacial modulation to boost visible-light-induced photothermal-photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Interfacial Modulation Strategy for Constructing a Hydrophobic Surface on Zeolite Template Carbon to Enhance VOCs Removal in High-Humidity Coal Flue Gas

Interfacial Modulation Strategy for Constructing a Hydrophobic Surface on Zeolite Template Carbon to Enhance VOCs Removal in High-Humidity Coal Flue Gas

Interfacial modulation of hierarchically porous UIO-66 for the immobilization of Rhizomucor miehei lipase towards the efficient synthesis of 1,3-dioleic acid glycerol.

Herein, UiO-66 was selected as the immobilization carrier of Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RML). After etching and hydrophobic modification, the functionalized UIO-66 (H-UIO-66-OPA) was utilized for RML immobilization and the obtained RML@H-UIO-66-OPA showed about 70 % relative activity after incubation at 60 °C, which was much better than RML (20 %). RML@H-UIO-66-OPA was used in the synthesis of 1,3-dioleic acid glycerol (1,3-DAG) and the effects of reaction conditions (temperature, enzyme addition, substrate molar ratio, and time) on 1,3-DAG yield were investigated. Under the optimal conditions (temperature of 65 °C, enzyme addition of 2 wt%, substrate molar ratio of 2:1, and reaction time of 4 h), 1,3-DAG yield reached 77 %. Finally, Box-Behnken experimental design method was utilized to optimize the process parameters for the preparation of 1,3-DAG, and the final 1,3-DAG content was 79.80 %, which demonstrated that the model could predict the relationship between the factors and be suitable for the process optimization in 1,3-DAG preparation.

Dipole Modulation Engineering Enhances Structural Order of PEDOT:PSS for Efficient and Stable InP-Based QLEDs.

Indium phosphide (InP)-based quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are promising for future lighting and display applications due to their high color purity and brightness. However, their efficiency and stability are often limited by the disordered structure of the widely used poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), which impairs charge transport. Herein, we present a strategy to enhance the performance of InP-based QLEDs by modifying PEDOT:PSS through interfacial dipole modulation using molybdenum oxide (MoOx) nanoparticles. The strong hydrogen bonding between MoOx and PSS creates strong dipole-dipole interactions, reducing the separation of PEDOT-rich regions, enhancing π-π stacking and conductivity. This optimization facilitates balanced electron and hole injection, increasing external quantum efficiency (EQE) from 12.2% in control devices to 17.8% in the treated devices, along with a brightness enhancement from 32,998 to 43,567 cd m-2. Notably, our treated devices exhibit a reduction in efficiency attenuation compared to other reported InP-based QLEDs, particularly at high brightness levels of 5000 and 10,000 cd m-2, with EQE attenuation of only 4 and 9%, respectively, compared to 16 and 30% for controls. This work highlights the potential of dipole engineering in advancing InP-based QLED technology, providing a pathway for developing high-performance, stable, and eco-friendly lighting and displays.

Wireless Modular Implantable Neural Device with One-touch Magnetic Assembly for Versatile Neuromodulation.

Multimodal neural interfaces open new opportunities in brain research by enabling more sophisticated and systematic neural circuit dissection. Integrating complementary features across distinct functional domains, these multifunctional neural probes have greatly advanced the interrogation of complex neural circuitry. However, introducing multiple functionalities into a compact form factor for freely behaving animals presents substantial design hurdles that complicate the device or require more than one device. Moreover, fixed functionality poses challenges in meeting the dynamic needs of chronic neuroscience inquiry, such as replacing consumable parts like batteries or drugs. To address these limitations, the modular implantable neural device (MIND) is introduced with a one-touch magnetic assembly mechanism. Leveraging the seamless exchange of neural interface modules such as optical stimulation, drug delivery, and electrical stimulation, MIND ensures functional adaptability, reusability, and scalability. The versatile design of MIND will facilitate brain research by enabling simplified access to multiple functional modalities as needed.

Leveraging Interfacial Electric Field for Smart Modulation of Electrode Surface in Nitrate to Ammonia Conversion.

The efficiency of nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) at low nitrate concentration is predominantly hindered by the poor affinity of nitrate ions and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), particularly in neutral and acidic media. Here, an innovative strategy to leverage the interfacial electric field (IEF) is introduced to boost the NO3RR performance. By in situ constructing tannic acid-metal ion (TA-M2+) crosslinked structure on the electrode surface, the TA-M2+-CuO NW/Cu foam sample exhibits an exceptional Faraday efficiency of 99.4% at -0.2V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and 83.9% at 0.0V versus RHE under neutral and acidic conditions, respectively. The computational studies unveil that the TA-Cu2+ complex on the CuO (111) plane induces the increasing concentration of nitrate at the interface, accelerating NO3RR kinetics over HER via the IEF effect. This interfacial modulation strategy also contributes the enhanced ammonia production performance when it is employed on commercial electrode materials and flow reactors, exhibiting great potential in practical application. Overall, combined results illustrated multiple merits of the IEF effect, paving the way for future commercialization of NO3RR in the ammonia production industry.

Generation, migration, and coalescence of droplets: A state-of-the-art review from the perspectives of wettability, inertia, and electric field

Generation, migration, and coalescence of droplets are some of the fundamental phenomena observed in multiphase microfluidic devices that offer widespread application in interdisciplinary platforms. These phenomena are governed by involved interfacial forces, and tuning these forces through active or passive techniques has emerged as a thriving research domain. Among the available strategies for interfacial force modulation, wettability, electric field, and inertia are some of the key factors that are paid attention as they are largely involved in naturally occurring phenomena and widely applied in technically designed platforms. Motivated by these, this work reviews the studies carried out in the domain of surface wettability and its influence on two-phase flow, to the electrically tuned migration and deformation characteristics of compound drop, and thereafter towards the inertia modulated coalescence dynamics of compound drop, and also explores several unresolved facets that can be addressed by the research community.

Overall photosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide with redox-active catechol moiety by modulating charge behavior of polydopamine-coated engineered carbon nitride

Photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) offers an environment-friendly and sustainable route. However, low efficiency and undesirable by-products hinder its large-scale application. A heterostructure (PDA/SCN) by in situ polymerization dopamine on edge functionalized carbon nitride (SCN) has been designed to integrate photoredox and photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide with revisable transformation between catechol and o‑benzoquinone. Benefiting from the strong built-in electric field, efficient photoinduced charge separation is disclosed to facilitate the autoxidation of redox-active catechol moiety. In addition, functional groups (–NH2) on the heterostructure, as an interfacial H-bond modulation site, are conductive to optimize the O2 activation and subsequent formation of the key intermediate *OO. Moreover, a homemade gas-solid-liquid triphase flow cell using PDA/SCN photocatalyst with improving mass transfer process has been constructed, which shows a high H2O2 generation of 1.32 mM h–1 under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) without using any sacrificial reagent. This photocatalytic system provides a new guidance of efficient photocatalyst design for the synthesis of H2O2 without using any sacrificial reagent.

High Performance Perovskite Photodiodes via Molecule-Assisted Interfacial and Bulk Modulations.

Metal halide perovskites have attracted significant attention in photodetection due to their superior photophysical properties and improved stability. However, the performance of their photodiodes is predominantly limited by non-radiative recombination within the perovskite layer or at interfaces. Here, molecular engineering via phenylethylammonium chloride for interfacial modulation and methylenediammonium dichloride for bulk modulation is introduced into vertical perovskite photodiodes to boost the photodetection performance. The responsivity at 635 nm excitation increased from 0.09 to 0.33 AW-1 with interfacial modulation, compared to the original perovskite device, and is further improved to 0.40 AW-1 with the combined effects of interfacial and bulk modulations (i.e., synergistic bimolecular engineering). The optimized photodiodes demonstrated high detectivity of over 1011 Jones, a rapid response time of ≈1 µs, and a linear dynamic range of ≈100 dB. Furthermore, the photocurrent exhibited a U-shaped dependence on temperature ranging from 10 to 300 K, with linearity breaking under strong illumination at low temperatures. These results confirmed that molecular engineering is the promising strategy for achieving high-performance perovskite photodetectors.

Structural design of “straw and clay” based on cellulose nanofiber/polydopamine and its interfacial stress dissipation mechanisms

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is often incorporated as reinforcements into various matrices to optimize the mechanical properties of composites. However, the role of CNF in structural design interface components has been mostly neglected. Inspired by the architectural structure of “straw and clay”, CNF and polydopamine (PDA) were used as the “straw phase” and “clay phase”, respectively, to construct PDA/CNF self-assembled coatings on the carbon fiber (CF) surface via covalent bonding and non-covalent self-assembly. The organic coatings endowed the CF with high specific surface area, roughness and polarity, as well as a broad and gentle interfacial layer of the CF/epoxy resin composites. After self-assembly, the monofilament tensile strength (TS) of the fiber and the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the CF/epoxy resin composites were increased by 13.44 % and 31.88 %, respectively. This investigation furnishes ideas for improving the mechanical performances of composites from the viewpoint of surface structure design and interface modulation.

Regulating Interfacial Chemistry with Amphiphilic Copolymer for Durable Zinc Metal Anodes

Although rechargeable aqueous zinc-metal batteries offer conspicuous advantages for grid-scale energy storage, their application is impeded by the insufficient reversibility of the Zn anode. Irreversible processes, such as dendrite growth and parasitic water-induced side reactions, contribute to the instability of the anode/electrolyte interface. In this study, we demonstrate amphiphilic Pluronic triblock copolymers comprising hydrophobic poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) segments as a new class of electrolyte additives for stabilizing Zn metal anodes. Theoretical calculations reveal preferential affinity of PPO segments to the Zn metal surface and stronger interactions of PEO segments with Zn2+ ions than with PPO segments. This unique amphiphilic property of Pluronic copolymers establishes a hydrodynamic molecular interphase between the Zn metal and aqueous media, modulating Zn electrode interface chemistry. PPO segments adsorbed onto the Zn surface create a localized water-shielding environment, mitigating water-induced side reactions, while PEO segments ensure uniform Zn2+ ion flux within the interfacial region. The synergistic interfacial regulation by the Pluronic additive is related to its molecular structure, PEO/PPO composition, and block length. With its harmonized hydrophilic-hydrophobic attributes, Pluronic F127 demonstrates notably effective interface modulation. Impressively, the incorporation of F127 into the electrolyte results in a significantly enhanced lifespan of over 9300 h at 1 mA cm–2 and 3100 h at 5 mA cm–2 in Zn symmetric cells. Zn||VO2 full cells exhibit exceptional capacity retention after long-term cycling across a wide range of current densities. This study offers pivotal insights into realizing highly reversible Zn metal anodes through interfacial chemistry regulation.