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Films of piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymer P(VDF-TrFE) have been studied intensively for their potential application in piezoelectric sensing devices. The present work focuses on tuning the piezoelectric properties of P(VDF-TrFE) films via incorporating Ag and polydopamine co-decorated PZT (Ag@PDA@PZT) particles. Ag@PDA@PZT particles can effectively improve the β-phase content and piezoelectric properties of P(VDF-TrFE) films. The highest open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current of P(VDF-TrFE)-based flexible pressure sensors incorporating Ag@PDA@PZT particles are ~30 V and ~2.4 μA, respectively. The flexible sensors exhibit a response to different body movements, providing a practical and potentially useful basis for human−machine interface applications.

Abstract Flexible piezoelectric pressure sensors (FPPS) received a lot of attention because of their prominent performance in body motion detection and energy recovery. However, it has faced a huge challenge in manufacturing FPPS with high sensitivity, low cost, and high flexibility. Herein, a ternary flexible nanofiber composite with Sb nanosheets and BaTiO3 nanoparticles as the fillers of P(VDF‐TrFE) is prepared by electrospinning. An impressive open‐circuit voltage of 17.1 V and short‐circuit current of 4.4 µA is obtained based on the composite nanofiber mat at a pressure of 128 kPa with 2 Hz frequency. The FPPS not only exhibit a high sensitivity of 96 mV kPa−1 but also an ultrafast response time of 2 ms. Excellent flexibility and reliability are demonstrated by the unchanged open‐circuit voltage after 2400 cycles. The enhanced FPPS performance is owed to the interfacial polarization effect at the inorganic filler‐organic matrix interface, which also enhances the ferroelectric and dielectric properties. The present FPPS is further confirmed to be a real‐time motion monitor and voice recognizer, which can distinguish various actions and sounds according to distinct output voltage signals and is expected to be used in virtual reality devices, robotic electronic skin, haptic simulation, artificial throat, etc.

In this work, the local conductance of the tetragonal-like (T-like) and rhombohedral-like (R-like) phases of epitaxial BiFeO3 film is systematically studied via conductive atomic force microscopy. At higher tip voltage, there is a mutual transition between the T-like and R-like phases, which could be attributed to the strain relaxation in the T-like phase induced by electric poling, as well as local polarization switching. The T-like phase exhibits a higher conductance, which is related to the lower interface potential barrier between the tip and film surface. Reversible low- and high-current states in the T-like phase can be tuned by polarization switching. These results will be helpful for designing novel nanoelectronic devices, such as voltage and strain sensors.

Magnetoelectric (ME) magnetic field sensors utilize ME effects in ferroelectric ferromagnetic layered heterostructures to convert magnetic signals into electrical signals. However, the substrate clamping effect greatly limits the design and fabrication of ME composites with high ME coefficients. To reduce the clamping effect and improve the ME response, a flexible ME sensor based on PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (PZT)/CoFe2O4 (CFO) ME bilayered heterostructure was deposited on mica substrates via van der Waals oxide heteroepitaxy. A saturated magnetization of 114.5 emu/cm3 was observed in the bilayers. The flexible sensor exhibited a strong ME coefficient of 6.12 V/cm·Oe. The local ME coupling has been confirmed by the evolution of the ferroelectric domain under applied magnetic fields. The flexible ME sensor possessed a stable response with high sensitivity to both AC and DC weak magnetic fields. A high linearity of 0.9988 and sensitivity of 72.65 mV/Oe of the ME sensor were obtained under flat states. The ME output and limit-of-detection under different bending states showed an inferior trend as the bending radius increased. A flexible proximity sensor has been demonstrated, indicating a promising avenue for wearable device applications and significantly broadening the potential application of the flexible ME magnetic field sensors.

Abstract This work focuses on the nature of magnetic anisotropy in 2.5–16 micron thick films of nickel ferrite (NFO) grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). The technique, ideal for rapid growth of epitaxial oxide films, was utilized for films on (100) and (110) substrates of magnesium gallate (MGO). The motivation was to investigate the dependence of the growth induced anisotropy field on film thickness since submicron films of NFO were reported to show a very high anisotropy. The films grown at 850–875 C and subsequently annealed at 1000 C were found to be epitaxial, with the out-of-plane lattice constant showing unanticipated decrease with increasing film thickness and the estimated in-plane lattice constant increasing with the film thickness. The uniaxial anisotropy field H σ , estimated from X-ray diffraction data, ranged from 2.8–7.7 kOe with the films on (100) MGO having a higher H σ value than for the films on (110) MGO. Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements for in-plane and out-of-plane static magnetic field were utilized to determine both the magnetocrystalline the anisotropy field H 4 and the uniaxial anisotropy field H a . Values of H 4 range from −0.24 to −0.86 kOe. The uniaxial anisotropy field H a was an order of magnitude smaller than H σ and it decreased with increasing film thickness for NFO films on (100) MGO, but H a increased with film thickness for films on (110) MGO substrates. These observations indicate that the origin of the induced anisotropy could be attributed to several factors including (i) strain due to mismatch in the film-substrate lattice constants, (ii) possible variations in the bond lengths and bond angles in NFO during the growth process, and (iii) the strain arising from mismatch in the thermal expansion coefficients of the film and the substrate due to the high growth and annealing temperatures involved in the LPE technique. The LPE films of NFO on MGO substrates studied in this work are of interest for use in high frequency devices.

The Sr1-xLaxTi1-xCrxO3 (x = 0–0.05) nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning based on Pechini sol-gel method. The prepared Sr1-xLaxTi1-xCrxO3 nanofibers were analyzed by XRD, Raman, UV–vis spectra, XPS, SEM, TEM, transient photocurrent, electrochemical impedance and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution tests. The results showed that CrLa co-doped can expand the light absorption region of SrTiO3 from the ultraviolet region to the visible light, and significantly narrowed its band gap. Under visible light irradiation, Sr1-xLaxTi1-xCrxO3 nanofibers exhibited the best hydrogen evolution activity at x = 0.03, and the hydrogen evolution rate reached 106.2 μmol∙g−1∙h−1. This may be the result of the combined effect of the intermediate band gap and the band gap variation due to Cr doping.

Photovoltaics are being transformed by perovskite solar cells. The power conversion efficiency of these solar cells has increased significantly, and even higher efficiencies are possible. The scientific community has gained much attention due to perovskites’ potential. Herein, the electron-only devices were prepared by spin-coating and introducing the organic molecule dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DC) to CsPbI2Br perovskite precursor solution. The current-voltage (I-V) and J-V curves were measured. The morphologies and elemental composition information of the samples were obtained by SEM, XRD, XPS, Raman, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The distinct impact of organic DC molecules on the phase, morphology, and optical properties of perovskite films are examined and interpreted with experimental results. The efficiency of the photovoltaic device in the control group is 9.76%, and the device efficiency gradually increases with the increase of DC concentration. When the concentration is 0.3%, the device efficiency is the best, reaching 11.57%, short-circuit current is 14.01 mA/cm2, the open circuit voltage is 1.19 V, and the fill factor is 0.7. The presence of DC molecules effectively controlled the perovskite crystallization process by inhibiting the in-situ generations of impurity phases and minimizing the defect density of the film.

MXenes have emerged as potential antimicrobial materials. Here, the authors report on the creation of a Schottky junction to increase the charge separation between MXenes and semiconductor to increase photodynamic creation of reactive oxygen species under near infrared irradiation for antibacterial purposes.

Abstract The productivity evaluation of gas reservoirs is used to determine the optimal number of well pattern, which is an important part of the preparation of gas reservoir development plan. Using integral transformation and asymptotic analyses to solve the pseudo steady-state flow model in closed rectangular gas reservoir of constant thickness, analytic solution of pressure distribution of eccentric well can be obtained. This paper presents mathematical model of multiple wells producing from a closed gas reservoir by applying the principle of pressure superposition. The pseudo steady-state dimensionless production index is introduced to solve the multiple well mathematical models under the constant pressure, and the number of production wells and cumulative production in different production interval are obtained. The results of the calculation shows that the curve of the cumulative production and economic benefits have a maximum value when the producing time, gas price, and drilling costs are given, so it can determine the optimal number of wells and provide the basis for making gas reservoir development plan.

Abstract Although epitaxial strain imparted by lattice mismatch between a film and the underlying substrate has led to distinct structures and emergent functionalities, the discrete lattice parameters of limited substrates, combined with strain relaxations driven by film thickness, result in severe obstructions to subtly regulate electro‐elastic coupling properties in perovskite ferroelectric films. Here a practical and universal method to achieve highly strained phases with large tetragonal distortions in Pb‐based ferroelectric films through synergetic effects of moderately (≈1.0%) misfit strains and laser fluences during pulsed laser deposition process is demonstrated. The phase possesses unexpectedly large Poisson's ratio and negative thermal expansion, and concomitant enhancements of spontaneous polarization (≈100 µC cm−2) and Curie temperature (≈800 °C), 40% and 75% larger than that of bulk counterparts, respectively. This strategy efficiently circumvents the long‐standing issue of limited numbers of discrete substrates and enables continuous regulations of exploitable lattice states in functional oxide films with tightly elastic coupled performances beyond their present levels.

Abstract We prepared (1−x)CaTiO3–xLaAlO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) microwave dielectric ceramics using a conventional two-step solid-state reaction method, and investigated microwave dielectric properties of the ceramics in terms of A/B-site ionic-parameters. Ionic-parameters such as ionic polarizability, A-site bond valence, and ionic rattling were linked to the microwave dielectric properties. As the LaAlO3 content x in the (1−x)CaTiO3–xLaAlO3 ceramics increased from 0.3 to 0.7, the dielectric constant gradually decreased, which was attributed to the decrease of polarizability deviation and suppression of the cation rattling. The temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency decreased as the content of LaAlO3 increased because of the increase of A-site cation bond valence. The quality factor value (Q × f) increased as LaAlO3 content increased because of the enhancement of the order degree of B-site cation. A significant deterioration of the temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency and Q × f value was observed at the composition x = 0.5. These decreases were attributed to a phase transition from orthorhombic crystal (for x ≤ 0.5) to rhombohedral crystal (for x > 0.5).

Abstract Biofilms have been related to the persistence of infections on medical implants, and these cannot be eradicated because of the resistance of biofilm structures. Therefore, a biocompatible phototherapeutic system is developed composed of MoS2, IR780 photosensitizer, and arginine–glycine–aspartic acid–cysteine (RGDC) to safely eradicate biofilms on titanium implants within 20 min. The magnetron‐sputtered MoS2 film possesses excellent photothermal properties, and IR780 can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the irradiation of near‐infrared (NIR, λ = 700–1100 nm) light. Consequently, the combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), assisted by glutathione oxidation accelerated by NIR light, can provide synergistic and rapid killing of bacteria, i.e., 98.99 ± 0.42% eradication ratio against a Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in vivo within 20 min, which is much greater than that of PTT or PDT alone. With the assistance of ROS, the permeability of damaged bacterial membranes increases, and the damaged bacterial membranes become more sensitive to heat, thus accelerating the leakage of proteins from the bacteria. In addition, RGDC can provide excellent biosafety and osteoconductivity, which is confirmed by in vivo animal experiments.

In this work, (1-x)Li2TiO3-xLi4NbO4F ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state ceramic route. With the increase of Li4NbO4F content, the phase structure transformed from ordered monoclinic to disordered cubic. By increasing Li3NbO4F content, the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) was successfully adjusted closer to zero, while the dielectric constant (εr) and microwave quality factor (Qf) decreased to some degree. Outstanding microwave dielectric properties with a εr = 18.7, Qf = 61,388 GHz (6.264 GHz), and τf = 0.9 ppm/°C were obtained for 0.9Li2TiO3-0.1Li4NbO4F ceramics sintered at 1050 °C for 2 h, which indicated that these ceramics are suitable for practical applications in the field of microwave substrates and components.

Nowadays, wearable and flexible nanogenerators are of great importance for portable personal electronics. A flexible piezoelectric energy harvester (f-PEH) based on Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12 single crystalline nanoplates (BNdT NPs) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomeric polymer was fabricated, and high piezoelectric energy harvesting performance was achieved. The piezoelectric output performance is highly dependent on the mass ratio of the BNdT NPs in the PDMS matrix. The as-prepared f-PEH with 12.5 wt% BNdT NPs presents the highest output voltage of 10 V, a peak-peak short-circuit current of 1 μA, and a power of 1.92 μW under tapping mode of 6.5 N at 2.7 Hz, which can light up four commercial light emitting diodes without the energy storage process. The f-PEHs can be used to harvest daily life energy and generate a voltage of 2–6 V in harvesting the mechanical energy of mouse clicking or foot stepping. These results demonstrate the potential application of the lead-free BNdT NPs based f-PEHs in powering wearable electronics

Epitaxial La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 thin films with different crystallographic orientations were fabricated on (001)-, (110)-, and (111)-oriented SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy was studied with the field angle fixed at 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90° relative to the film surface. The results show that there is a remarkable dependence of the magnetization on the magnetic field direction and crystallographic orientation. Furthermore, the (110)- and (111)-oriented thin films show stronger angular-dependent magnetic anisotropy than the (001) film, and the (110)-oriented one can reach the saturated magnetization more easily than the other two films. Such findings are correlated with the strain imposed on the films via substrates with different orientations. Our results have implications for the better understanding of magnetic anisotropy and the tunability of the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient involving multiferroic composite thin films.