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The High Target Utilisation Sputtering technique (HiTUS) is of interest for industrial processes, including in roll‐to‐roll manufacturing. This study marks the first application of HiTUS to thermoelectric materials, exemplified by bismuth telluride. The HiTUS technique separates the sputtering power into the plasma power and the target power, with additional kinetic energy in the sputtering particles from the applied electrical field, thus enabling a much wider sputter parameter space to modify the film performance. This study investigates how plasma power, target power, and substrate bias in HiTUS intricately influence crystal orientation/size, elemental composition, surface morphology, and other film properties. These factors subsequently affect carrier density/mobility, and consequently the thermoelectric performance of the bismuth telluride film. These deposited films reach a power factor of 6.5 × 10−4 W m−1 K−2 with a figure of merit ≈0.14 at room temperature, the highest value for room‐temperature sputtered un‐doped bismuth telluride. Subsequent post‐deposition annealing significantly enhances the crystallinity of the film (highly polycrystalline), further improving the power factor to 23.5 × 10−4 W m−1 K‐2, with a figure of merit ≈0.45 at room temperature. The excellent performance of the HiTUS fabricated thermoelectric film opens opportunities for the large‐area manufacture of thin‐film thermoelectric materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we present the transformative effects of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-MXene hybrid nanofillers on the mechanical, electrical, and piezoresistive properties of the resulting epoxy nanocomposites. The utilization of the MWCNT-MXene hybrids significantly improves the dispersion of fillers within the epoxy matrix, effectively eliminating the agglomeration of individual fillers and improving the stress transfer efficiency. With just 1 wt % MWCNT-MXene hybrid, we observed improvements in the Young's modulus and the flexural modulus, which increased by 31 and 28%, respectively, when compared to neat epoxy. Furthermore, the fracture toughness of these composites was 84.5% higher than that of neat epoxy, primarily attributed to crack deflection and filler debonding mechanisms. The hybrid composites exhibited increased piezoresistive sensitivity during tensile, flexural, and fracture tests due to the creation of a percolating network of MWCNT and MXene nanoplatelets. Our findings have implications for the development of advanced hybrid materials, holding promise for applications in strain sensors and self-sensing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing materials for electronics and sensing based on abundant and degradable materials is fundamental for transitioning both fields toward a more sustainable future. In the long run, this approach can unleash these fields from using petroleum‐derived and/or scarce resources, possibly facilitating electronic waste (e‐waste) management at the same time. Starch, one of the most abundant and versatile natural polymers, has shown great potential in the fabrication of degradable/transient devices. In this work, electrically conductive and mechanically robust starch‐Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposites are successfully engineered, offering a promising advancement in sustainable electronics. The nanocomposite films exhibit remarkable tunability with varying MXene concentrations (from 0.69 to 2.42 vol%), allowing precise control over their properties. This tunability enables modifications in tensile strength (from 6.4 to 11.2 MPa), electrical conductivity (from 2.31 × 10−3 to 3.98 S m−1), and gauge factor. Such characteristics make these films ideal for various applications, including body movement monitoring, tactile sensing, handwriting recognition, and electronic smart skin. Unlike their petroleum‐based counterparts, the starch‐based films demonstrate significant biodegradability, breaking down within a month after being buried in soil. This rapid degradation highlights the potential of these transient composites for various electronics applications, offering an environmentally friendly alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The transcrystalline layer (TCL) constitutes a cylindrical crystal structure enveloping a reinforcing fiber, which plays a pivotal role in influencing the interfacial stress transfer within composite materials. However, its potential impact on interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and tensile properties of self‐reinforced polylactic acid composites (SRPLA) have been largely overlooked. In this study, the growth of TCL with isothermal crystallization time was observed. The development of TCL had an optimum effect on interfacial bonding (IFSS increased by 57.3%) after 10 min of isothermal crystallization due to improved “anchoring” effect caused by the interaction between the amorphous region in both TCL and the matrix. Prolonged isothermal crystallization time reversed this effect due to less chain entanglements as a result of spherulites growth and transcrystalline structure perfection. In terms of tensile properties, the development of the TCL exhibited a detrimental effect on tensile strength and strain at break, ascribed to a transition of tensile failure mode from a fiber‐dominated failure mode to a matrix‐dominated failure mode, yet yielded a positive influence on Young's modulus. This study offers crucial insights and guidance for comprehending the impact of TCL on SRPLA properties, thereby facilitating the potential for optimization of SRPLA properties. In‐situ observation of the TCL growth in SRPLA. Insight into impact of TCL development on IFSS and tensile properties. Essential guidance for SRPLA performance optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]