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Copyright of China Textile Leader is the property of China Textile Information Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, a novel synthesis of ultrathin, highly uniform colloidal bismuth sulfohalide (BiSX where X = Cl, Br, I) nanowires (NWs) and NW bundles (NBs) for room‐temperature and solution‐processed flexible photodetectors are presented. High‐aspect‐ratio bismuth sulfobromide (BiSBr) NWs are synthesized via a heat‐up method using bismuth bromide and elemental S as precursors and 1‐dodecanethiol as a solvent. Bundling of the BiSBr NWs occurs upon the addition of 1‐octadecene as a co‐solvent. The morphologies of the BiSBr NBs are easily tailored from sheaf‐like structures to spherulite nanostructures by changing the solvent ratio. The optical bandgaps are modulated from 1.91 (BiSCl) and 1.88 eV (BiSBr) to 1.53 eV (BiSI) by changing the halide compositions. The optical bandgap of the ultrathin BiSBr NWs and NBs exhibits blueshift, whose origin is investigated through density functional theory‐based first‐principles calculations. Visible‐light photodetectors are fabricated using BiSBr NWs and NBs via solution‐based deposition followed by solid‐state ligand exchanges. High photo‐responsivities and external quantum efficiencies (EQE) are obtained for BiSBr NW and NB films even under strain, which offer a unique opportunity for the application of the novel BiSX NWs and NBs in flexible and environmentally friendly optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method, using a servicing spacecraft (SS) mounted with very flexible operation devices (FOD), has shown promising application in detumbling rotating satellites due to its unique advantage of compliant contact processes. The SS is highly flexible, and successful implementation of detumbling rotating satellites is dependent on the advanced controller with high performance. However, the controller design suffers from two problems: (i) since the uncertain dynamics arising from the FOD lead to difficulty in acquiring an accurate dynamic model of the SS, the conventional model-based controllers are unable to achieve high performance; (ii) the large deformation of the FOD caused by contact processes generates impactive disturbance that severely deteriorates the transient and steady-state performances. To address these problems, this paper proposes a prescribed performance based adaptive model-free control for the first time. In the controller design process, a finite-time prescribed performance function is designed to incorporate into the model-free controller, which ensures the user-specified error constraints concerning the convergence rate, overshoot, and tracking accuracy. Meanwhile, an adaptive estimation algorithm is developed to significantly enhance the robustness against the disturbance. Moreover, an anti-windup compensator is constructed to effectively handle the adverse effect of thruster saturation. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller, and further show that the SS can successfully detumble the rotating satellite while achieving prescribed performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current field of lithium battery energy storage, some commonly used cathode materials have been unable to meet some large-scale intelligent energy storage equipment. Layered lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials have great development potential due to their high capacity and high operating voltage. However, it currently has fast capacity decay and poor rate performance, because the layered structure of the material can easily collapse during the cycle. To solve this problem, we modified the surface of the material with Al2O3 coating. The results show that the performance of modified material is significantly improved because of the reduction in corrosion on the electrode. The electrochemical performance has also been improved in the full-cell system. Moreover, the pouch cell of modified electrode has also been measured, but the device is not affected under different bending states, indicating that the modified electrode presents a promising application in the field of flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of electrochromic π-conjugated polymers which cover almost full-colour gamut are designed. This is the first time to deeply explore the multicolour electrochromic mechanism in this material system. Based on a fine adjustment on their energy level structures, which are further developed into flexible electrochromic prototype devices with dynamic multicolour displays. [Display omitted] Multicolour electrochromic materials have been considered as a promising alternative to achieve dynamic full-colour tuning towards next-generation electronic display technology. However, the development of electrochromics with wide colour gamut and subtle multicolour tunability still remains challenging due to inflexible energy level structures in intrinsic active materials. Herein, the electrochromic π-conjugated polymers with rich and subtle colour tunability were designed and developed based on a fine adjustment on the energy level structures. The chromatic transition covers almost full-colour gamut, and each colour scheme has a rich variety of categories stemming from versatile hues, chromas and lightnesses. Moreover, the multicolour π-conjugated polymers also demonstrate superior overall electrochromic performance, including fast switching (∼1.0 s), high colouration efficiency (160.4 cm2 C−1@550 nm) and good reversibility (over 90 % retention after 10,000 cycles). As a proof of concept, ultrathin and flexible prototype devices are developed by utilizing the multicolour π-conjugated polymers as electrochromic active layer, exhibiting a wide colour gamut and highly saturated multicolour tunability. The design principles proposed in this work may also be applicable to diverse optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, on the fabrication of a flexible wavelength sensor is reported, which is achieved by growing a layer of lead sulfide (PbS) nanofilm on both sides of a polyethylene terephthalate substrate using the chemical bath deposition method, followed by the deposition of two parallel Au interdigital electrodes. Experimental result shows that the photocurrent ratio of the two photodetectors monotonically decreases with increasing wavelength in the range from 265 nm (UV) to 2000 nm (NIR), indicating that the incident light wavelength can be distinguished by the photocurrent ratio. Notably, the as‐constructed wavelength sensor exhibits superior performance compared to most previously reported filter‐less designs, achieving an average absolute error of 11.5 nm and an average relative error of 1.1%. It is also found that the sensor exhibits excellent mechanical flexibility and environmental stability. Furthermore, by introducing the back‐end circuit, real‐time detection of the wavelength of monochromatic light and the peak wavelength of LED light are achieved, with detection errors not exceeding 2.8% and 2.6%, respectively. It is believed that the flexible PbS nanofilm wavelength sensor prepared in this study has potential application in future portable and flexible optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of nanocomposite thin films with combined multifunctionalities on flexible substrates is desired for flexible device design and applications. For example, combined plasmonic and magnetic properties could lead to unique optical switchable magnetic devices and sensors. In this work, a multiphase TiN-Au-Ni nanocomposite system with core–shell-like Au-Ni nanopillars embedded in a TiN matrix has been demonstrated on flexible mica substrates. The three-phase nanocomposite film has been compared with its single metal nanocomposite counterparts, i.e., TiN-Au and TiN-Ni. Magnetic measurement results suggest that both TiN-Au-Ni/mica and TiN-Ni/mica present room-temperature ferromagnetic property. Tunable plasmonic property has been achieved by varying the metallic component of the nanocomposite films. The cyclic bending test was performed to verify the property reliability of the flexible nanocomposite thin films upon bending. This work opens a new path for integrating complex nitride-based nanocomposite designs on mica towards multifunctional flexible nanodevice applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomically thin, mechanically flexible, memory‐functional, and power‐generating crystals play a crucial role in the technological advancement of portable devices. However, the adoption of these crystals in such technologies is sometimes impeded by expensive and laborious synthesis methods, as well as the need for large‐scale, mechanically stable, and air‐stable materials. Here, an instant‐in‐air liquid metal printing process utilizing liquid bismuth (Bi) is presented, forming naturally occurring, air‐stable, atomically thin, mechanically flexible nanogenerators and ferroelectric oxides. Despite the centrosymmetric nature of the monoclinic P21/c system of achieved α‐Bi2O3‐δ the high kinetics of liquid metal synthesis leads to the formation of vacancies that disrupt the symmetry which is confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The polarization switching is measured and utilized for ferroelectric nanopatterning. The exceptional attributes of these atomically thin multifunctional stable oxides, including piezoelectricity, mechanical flexibility, and polarizability, present significant opportunities for developing nano‐components that can be seamlessly integrated into a wide range of devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent low thermal conductivity, low cost, and flexibility of polymeric materials make them potential candidates for thermoelectric applications. Their eco-friendliness and mechanical flexibility are useful for the design of portable and flexible self-powered electronics. However, the heat-to-electrical power conversion efficiency, also known as the figure-of-merit (ZT), of polymer TE materials is low. Research efforts are in progress to enhance the thermoelectric performance of polymers and to find new kinds of polymer composites. Recent research innovations, such as chemical doping of polymers, development of nanocomposites and hybrid composites, and nanostructuring have significantly changed the thermoelectric properties of the polymeric materials. In this article, we summarize the recent developments and achievements in polymer materials for thermoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of the flexible devices with excellent photovoltaic performance and stability is critical for the commercialization of organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, the conjugated dimer acceptor DY‐TVCl and the non‐conjugated dimer acceptor DY‐3T based on the monomer MY‐BO are synthesized to regulate the molecular glass transition temperatures (Tg) for improving the morphology stability of active layer films. And the crack onset strain values for the blend films based on dimer acceptors are superior than that of small molecule, which are beneficial for the preparation of flexible devices. Accordingly, the binary device based on PM6:DY‐TVCl achieves a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.01%. Meanwhile, the extrapolated T80 (time to reach 80% of initial PCE) lifetimes of the PM6:DY‐TVCl‐based device and PM6:DY‐3T‐based device are 3091 and 2227 h under 1‐sun illumination, respectively, which are better than that of the PM6:MY‐BO‐based device (809 h). Furthermore, the flexible devices based on DY‐TVCl and DY‐3T exhibit the efficiencies of 15.23% and 14.34%, respectively. This work affords a valid approach to improve the stability and mechanical robustness of OSCs, as well as ensuring the reproducibility of organic semiconductors during mass production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of flexible quasi‐solid‐state thermocells (TECs) provides a fresh way forward for wearable electronics. However, their insufficient mechanical strength and power output still hinder their further applications. This work demonstrates a one‐stone‐two‐birds strategy to synergistically enhance the mechanical and thermoelectrochemical properties of the [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−‐based TECs. By introducing Hofmeister effect and multiple non‐covalent interactions via betaine zwitterions, the mechanical strength of the conventional brittle gelatin hydrogel electrolytes is substantially improved from 50 to 440 kPa, with a high stretchability approaching 250 %. Meanwhile, the betaine zwitterions strongly affect the solvation structure of [Fe(CN)6]3− ions, thus enlarging the entropy difference and raising the thermoelectrochemical Seebeck coefficient from 1.47 to 2.2 mV K−1. The resultant quasi‐solid‐state TECs exhibit a normalized output power density of 0.48 mW m−2 K−2, showing a notable improvement in overall performance compared to their counterparts without zwitterion regulation. The intrinsic thermo‐reversible property also allows the TECs to repeatedly self‐recover through sol‐gel transformations, ensuring reliable energy output and even recycling of TECs in case of extreme mechanical damages. An energy‐autonomous smart glove consisting of eighteen individual TECs is further designed, which can simultaneously monitor the temperature of different positions on any touched object, demonstrating high potential in wearable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient electronics with degradability or dissolvability on demand possess remarkable characteristics for wearable, bioelectronic, and implanted electronic devices. While synthetic materials have made significant progress in degradability and stretchability, they suffer from intrinsic limitations, including low degradation rates, poor mechanical compliance, and high production cost, which restrict the growth of transient electronic devices. Herein, a versatile fabrication strategy is presented for transient electronics that combine a resilient biopolymer substrate (gelatin biogels) with liquid metal (Galinstan). The circuits made from gelatin biogel‐based and liquid metal are mechanically resilient and durable, exhibiting good compliance with irregular and deformable surfaces, and thus can withstand long‐term exposure to dynamic deformation (about 60 000 cycles at a strain of 50%). More importantly, gelatin biogels are naturally derived and endowed with thermally reversible gelling, which enables on‐demand rapid dissolution and recycling of the materials. As a proof‐of‐concept, transient circuit‐based capacitive sensors, which can be degraded within 20 s, are fabricated for monitoring finger touching, morse code generation, and electrical touchpad. Such a strategy provides a guideline for designing transient electronics with a combination of biopolymer gels and liquid metal, and this approach is anticipated to find applications in human–machine interfaces and wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For applications involving the implantation of organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) in flexible environments, maintaining uniform device performance and ultrathin profiles with excellent mechanical stability is crucial for dynamic deformable conditions. This study presents high‐performance, mechanically flexible ultrathin OTFTs with a thickness under 5 µm, designed to be scalable for utilization in large areas. The OTFTs utilized an organosilicon polymer dielectric layer synthesized via initiated chemical vapor deposition combined with the crystalline organic semiconductor 2‐Decyl‐7‐phenyl[1]benzothieno[3,2‐b][1]benzothiophene (Ph‐BTBT‐10). Compared with conventional organic transistors, the OTFTs exhibited exceptional features, such as a charge carrier mobility of up to 7 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a near‐zero threshold voltage. Their performance is showcased across 900 devices on a 10 cm × 10 cm substrate to ensure uniformity and scalability. Additionally, the OTFTs demonstrate remarkable resilience to mechanical deformation, with a 97.4% mobility retention rate under a 20% tensile compression. After 1000 cycles of repeated deformation stress, they maintain a robust 94.6% performance level compared with the initial state. In summary, the ultrathin flexible OTFTs exhibit exceptional resilience to mechanical deformation, extended air exposure, uniformity in large arrays, and high mobility. This makes them promising for diverse applications, such as in vivo organ monitoring and skin displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D materials have shown great promise for novel electronic functionality. A common challenge for 2D materials‐based transistors is forming a high‐performance gate terminal due to the challenges of depositing a dielectric of sufficient quality and controllable thickness. Herein the van‐der‐Waals integration of a free‐standing Al2O3 dielectric membrane is demonstrated as a facile, scalable, and powerful gate dielectric. A process is developed that permits the wet transfer of an amorphous alumina layer with a finely adjustable equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) in the single nanometer range. Electrical characterization demonstrates the high breakdown field and low leakage of the dielectric and integration into 2D materials transistors reveals a high performance. The wafer‐scale uniformity of the dielectric membrane permits the formation of large‐scale flexible devices that exhibit good robustness and long‐term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a novel synthesis of ultrathin, highly uniform colloidal bismuth sulfohalide (BiSX where X = Cl, Br, I) nanowires (NWs) and NW bundles (NBs) for room‐temperature and solution‐processed flexible photodetectors are presented. High‐aspect‐ratio bismuth sulfobromide (BiSBr) NWs are synthesized via a heat‐up method using bismuth bromide and elemental S as precursors and 1‐dodecanethiol as a solvent. Bundling of the BiSBr NWs occurs upon the addition of 1‐octadecene as a co‐solvent. The morphologies of the BiSBr NBs are easily tailored from sheaf‐like structures to spherulite nanostructures by changing the solvent ratio. The optical bandgaps are modulated from 1.91 (BiSCl) and 1.88 eV (BiSBr) to 1.53 eV (BiSI) by changing the halide compositions. The optical bandgap of the ultrathin BiSBr NWs and NBs exhibits blueshift, whose origin is investigated through density functional theory‐based first‐principles calculations. Visible‐light photodetectors are fabricated using BiSBr NWs and NBs via solution‐based deposition followed by solid‐state ligand exchanges. High photo‐responsivities and external quantum efficiencies (EQE) are obtained for BiSBr NW and NB films even under strain, which offer a unique opportunity for the application of the novel BiSX NWs and NBs in flexible and environmentally friendly optoelectronic devices.

Transparent photovoltaics (TPVs) generate electric power by selectively harvesting ultraviolet and/or near‐infrared light. If integrated with electronic products, TPV can sustainably power the products without affecting the user experience. Future electronics require flexibility and lightweight, hence the integrated TPV should also be flexible. To achieve this, a flexible, transparent conducting platform is desirable. A binary transparent conductor (TC) based on Ag(O) has been studied for flexible TPV. The oxygen‐induced Ag growth provides better Ag wettability, enabling a low sheet resistance of 12.5 Ω sq−1 at an Ag thickness of 6.5 nm. The AZO/Ag(O) binary structure, with an average visible transmittance value of 86%, has a figure of merit of 17.7 (10−3 Ω−1), which surpasses conventional TCs such as fluorine‐doped tin oxide and indium‐doped tin oxide. Furthermore, the multilayer design of Ag(O)‐based TC allows interfacial engineering to enhance the performance of TPV. The optimum photovoltaic performance of NiO/ZnO TPV is achieved with an AZO thickness of 12 nm, providing a performance enhancement of 700%. The NiO/ZnO/AZO/Ag(O) device exhibits a stable photovoltaic effect with a consistent open‐circuit voltage value of 0.4 V after numerous bending cycles with a bending radius of 0.7 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of low‐cost and convenient procedure to produce large‐area reconfigurable chiroptical meta‐devices (CMDs) enantiomers with dynamically tunable chiroptical response in the visible band has generated significant interest, owing to its tremendous potential for applications such as optical rotary filtering, color switching, information storage, etc. Currently, many methods, such as phase change material, air pressure, bias, etc., are proposed to reconfigure the chiroptical response of the CMDs enantiomers, but still lack of ability to actively regulate the chiroptical response of the large‐area CMDs. Herein, the centimeter‐scale stressmechanically reconfigurable CMDs enantiomers with actively‐tunable chiroptical response in the visible band is proposed. The chirality sign switching and chirality intensity turning on–off of the CMDs enantiomers can be achieved by bending the flexible substrate to the desired curvature radius to turn the electromagnetic modes resonance of the CMDs enantiomers. The results provide an effective approach to supply the large‐area reconfigurable CMDs enantiomers with actively tunable chiroptical response and will open up new possibilities for chirality nanophotonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and small-scale energy storage technologies are critical for future applications such as wearable electronics. In this context, paper has emerged as a lightweight, low-cost, and ecologically friendly flexible substrate for energy storage devices. This paper presents a simple method for fabricating a micro-supercapacitor (MSC) using a wax printing approach that can achieve high resolution without requiring complex processes. In addition, the developed MnO2–Au-paper (MAP) microelectrodes with high porosity exhibit enhanced charge and ion transfer while maintaining a stable flexibility. The solid-state micro-supercapacitor delivers a very large areal capacitance of 624.32 mF cm−2 at 0.2 mA cm−2 and is stable under external stress. The highest energy and power densities obtained for the present MSCs (55.5 μWh cm−2 and 1.59 mW cm−2, respectively), are much larger than those previously reported for pseudocapacitive MSCs, including flexible ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract For applications involving the implantation of organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) in flexible environments, maintaining uniform device performance and ultrathin profiles with excellent mechanical stability is crucial for dynamic deformable conditions. This study presents high‐performance, mechanically flexible ultrathin OTFTs with a thickness under 5 µm, designed to be scalable for utilization in large areas. The OTFTs utilized an organosilicon polymer dielectric layer synthesized via initiated chemical vapor deposition combined with the crystalline organic semiconductor 2‐Decyl‐7‐phenyl[1]benzothieno[3,2‐b][1]benzothiophene (Ph‐BTBT‐10). Compared with conventional organic transistors, the OTFTs exhibited exceptional features, such as a charge carrier mobility of up to 7 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a near‐zero threshold voltage. Their performance is showcased across 900 devices on a 10 cm × 10 cm substrate to ensure uniformity and scalability. Additionally, the OTFTs demonstrate remarkable resilience to mechanical deformation, with a 97.4% mobility retention rate under a 20% tensile compression. After 1000 cycles of repeated deformation stress, they maintain a robust 94.6% performance level compared with the initial state. In summary, the ultrathin flexible OTFTs exhibit exceptional resilience to mechanical deformation, extended air exposure, uniformity in large arrays, and high mobility. This makes them promising for diverse applications, such as in vivo organ monitoring and skin displays.

Abstract 2D materials have shown great promise for novel electronic functionality. A common challenge for 2D materials‐based transistors is forming a high‐performance gate terminal due to the challenges of depositing a dielectric of sufficient quality and controllable thickness. Herein the van‐der‐Waals integration of a free‐standing Al2O3 dielectric membrane is demonstrated as a facile, scalable, and powerful gate dielectric. A process is developed that permits the wet transfer of an amorphous alumina layer with a finely adjustable equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) in the single nanometer range. Electrical characterization demonstrates the high breakdown field and low leakage of the dielectric and integration into 2D materials transistors reveals a high performance. The wafer‐scale uniformity of the dielectric membrane permits the formation of large‐scale flexible devices that exhibit good robustness and long‐term stability.

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing, as a novel technique provides broad benefits in thermoelectric materials synthesis, such as enhanced printing speed, reduced waste materials, and customized dimension design. The high energy density of laser could potentially balance the synthesis rate and thermoelectric figure-of-merit zT , but the correlations between laser energy and material performance are still vague. Herein, Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 bulks are directly synthesized by LPBF with a recorded synthesis rate of 254 g h−1. The maximum zT , without any post-processing, reaches 1.1 at 75 °C. Induced nanoscale pores by high laser energy printing, obtain a comparable diameter to phonon mean free path, leading to reduced lattice thermal conductivity and enhanced TE performance. We found that input laser energy critically affected thermoelectric performance and concluded the correlation between volumetric energy density E V and power factor PF , PF = 9.05 E V 2 – 30.01 E V + 48.84. It potentially predicts thermoelectric performance with inputted laser energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent times research towards solid state supercapacitors (SSS) have increased drastically due to the promising performance in futuristic technologies particularly in portable and flexible electronics like smart watches, smart fabrics, foldable smartphones and tablets. Also, when compared to supercapacitors using liquid electrolyte, solid electrolyte has several advantages like high energy density, safety, high cycle life, flexible form factor, and less environmental impact. The crucial factor determining the sustainability of a technology is the eco‐friendliness since the natural resources are being exploited in a wide scale. Numerous studies have focused on biodegradable materials for supercapacitor electrodes, electrolytes, and other inactive components. Making use of these biodegradable materials to design a SSS enables the technology to sustain for a very long time since biodegradable materials are not only environment friendly but also, they show relatively high performance. This review focuses on recent progress of different biodegradable electrodes, and electrolytes along with their properties, electrochemical performance and biodegradable capabilities for SSS have been analyzed and provides a concise summary enabling readers to understand the importance of biodegradable materials and to narrow down the research in a more rational way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring heart health typically requires a 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) system with a sampling frequency of ≥400 Hz with high power requirements. This allows the detection of clinically relevant cardiovascular events using P, Q, R, S, and T signature peaks in ECG. These requirements limit the scope of ECG use, especially in proactive monitoring, cardiac event prevention, and wireless wearable devices. Herein, a skin‐mountable 3‐lead wireless sensor patch based on the Einthoven triangle is experimentally demonstrated. It allows us to gather vital cardiac information in place of a conventional 12‐lead ECG system. The patch uses the industry's lowest‐power Bluetooth low‐energy system on chip which requires 50 Hz sampling frequency to detect all critical events. A firmware for the chip is developed to transmit data wirelessly at extremely low power (−19 dB), resulting in uninterrupted operation for ≈4 days using a simple CR1632 battery. An Android app records and plots ECG data on a smartphone for real‐time visual monitoring and transmits the data to the cloud‐connected interface for remote monitoring. The demonstration with low‐power operation and integration to the cloud‐connected interface is a significant step for nonassisted home‐based caring to enable preventive health management without being widely constrained by battery and tethered operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent electrodes (TE) based on silver nanowire (AgNW) exhibit good physical properties and constitute a promising alternative to transparent conductive oxides due to their low cost, flexibility, and low toxicity. Nevertheless, they suffer from stability issues over harsh conditions, and encapsulation allows to overcome these limitations. Herein, the low‐cost, scalable fabrication and study of transparent electrodes based on sprayed AgNW networks coated with MgO thin films deposited by atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition (AP‐SALD) at mild deposition temperature (≤220 °C) is reported. Fabrication of MgO thin films by AP‐SALD is reported here for the first time, and their deposition on different substrates is optimized. MgO exhibits a pure phase and conformal growth with a preferential (220) crystalline orientation and a higher growth rate as compared to conventional atomic layer deposition (ALD). Furthermore, thanks to the conformal coating of MgO on AgNW, the obtained nanocomposites exhibit great optical transparency of ≈85% and flexibility while maintaining high stability under thermal and electrical stress. Indeed, this study shows a clear enhancement of the stability of AgNW networks for thin MgO coatings of only a few nanometers thick. Finally, a proof‐of‐concept transparent heater is fabricated to melt a piece of cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase-change memory (PCM), recently developed as the storage-class memory in a computer system, is a new non-volatile memory technology. In addition, the applications of PCM in a non-von Neumann computing, such as neuromorphic computing and in-memory computing, are being investigated. Although PCM-based devices have been extensively studied, several concerns regarding the electrical, thermal, and structural dynamics of phase-change devices remain. In this article, aiming at PCM devices, a comprehensive review of PCM materials is provided, including the primary PCM device mechanics that underpin read and write operations, physics-based modeling initiatives and experimental characterization of the many features examined in nanoscale PCM devices. Finally, this review will propose a prognosis on a few unsolved challenges and highlight research areas of further investigation. We certify that the submitted manuscript is truly original, unpublished, and not being considered for publication elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, various research works have been conducted in the field of flexible electronic devices (FEDs). Researchers have focused their efforts on solving the existing challenges in the electronic, electrochemical, and mechanical behaviors of FEDs. The importance of flexible lithium-ion batteries (FLIBs) in the area of FEDs is evident; however, less attention has been paid to the mechanical behavior of FLIBs in comparison with the material and electrochemical characteristics. The present paper reviewed the research works in the FLIBs, focusing on their mechanical integrity and electrochemical performances. First, an introduction to FLIBs was presented, and the previous review papers published in this field were briefly introduced. Then, a detailed review of the available electrochemical and mechanical research works on FLIBs was presented. Moreover, the mechanical testing methods (tensile, compressive, indentation, fatigue, and adhesion) for the characterization of FLIBs' components, the research works on the simulation and modeling of the mechanical behavior of FLIBs, and a summary of the present situation and the future trend of research in this field were reviewed and presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of nanocomposite thin films with combined multifunctionalities on flexible substrates is desired for flexible device design and applications. For example, combined plasmonic and magnetic properties could lead to unique optical switchable magnetic devices and sensors. In this work, a multiphase TiN-Au-Ni nanocomposite system with core–shell-like Au-Ni nanopillars embedded in a TiN matrix has been demonstrated on flexible mica substrates. The three-phase nanocomposite film has been compared with its single metal nanocomposite counterparts, i.e., TiN-Au and TiN-Ni. Magnetic measurement results suggest that both TiN-Au-Ni/mica and TiN-Ni/mica present room-temperature ferromagnetic property. Tunable plasmonic property has been achieved by varying the metallic component of the nanocomposite films. The cyclic bending test was performed to verify the property reliability of the flexible nanocomposite thin films upon bending. This work opens a new path for integrating complex nitride-based nanocomposite designs on mica towards multifunctional flexible nanodevice applications.

Highlights The MXene-boosted rapid gelling expedites the assembly of flexible thermocell arrays, overcoming the typical constraint of complicated device fabrication processes. The hydrogel electrolyte can sustain stable thermoelectrochemical performance under various challenging conditions, including large, repeated, and sustained deformations, and multiple cut-healing cycles. The as-assembled thermocell array exhibits device-level self-healing capability and high adaptability to human body, efficiently harvesting low-grade heat for wearable applications.

Highlights Convincing candidates of flexible (stretchable/compressible) electromagnetic interference shielding nanocomposites are discussed in detail from the views of fabrication, mechanical elasticity and shielding performance. Detailed summary of the relationship between deformation of materials and electromagnetic shielding performance. The future directions and challenges in developing flexible (particularly elastic) shielding nanocomposites are highlighted. Abstract With the extensive use of electronic communication technology in integrated circuit systems and wearable devices, electromagnetic interference (EMI) has increased dramatically. The shortcomings of conventional rigid EMI shielding materials include high brittleness, poor comfort, and unsuitability for conforming and deformable applications. Hitherto, flexible (particularly elastic) nanocomposites have attracted enormous interest due to their excellent deformability. However, the current flexible shielding nanocomposites present low mechanical stability and resilience, relatively poor EMI shielding performance, and limited multifunctionality. Herein, the advances in low-dimensional EMI shielding nanomaterials-based elastomers are outlined and a selection of the most remarkable examples is discussed. And the corresponding modification strategies and deformability performance are summarized. Finally, expectations for this quickly increasing sector are discussed, as well as future challenges.

Monitoring heart health typically requires a 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) system with a sampling frequency of ≥400 Hz with high power requirements. This allows the detection of clinically relevant cardiovascular events using P, Q, R, S, and T signature peaks in ECG. These requirements limit the scope of ECG use, especially in proactive monitoring, cardiac event prevention, and wireless wearable devices. Herein, a skin‐mountable 3‐lead wireless sensor patch based on the Einthoven triangle is experimentally demonstrated. It allows us to gather vital cardiac information in place of a conventional 12‐lead ECG system. The patch uses the industry's lowest‐power Bluetooth low‐energy system on chip which requires 50 Hz sampling frequency to detect all critical events. A firmware for the chip is developed to transmit data wirelessly at extremely low power (−19 dB), resulting in uninterrupted operation for ≈4 days using a simple CR1632 battery. An Android app records and plots ECG data on a smartphone for real‐time visual monitoring and transmits the data to the cloud‐connected interface for remote monitoring. The demonstration with low‐power operation and integration to the cloud‐connected interface is a significant step for nonassisted home‐based caring to enable preventive health management without being widely constrained by battery and tethered operation.

ABSTRACTPhase-change memory (PCM), recently developed as the storage-class memory in a computer system, is a new non-volatile memory technology. In addition, the applications of PCM in a non-von Neumann computing, such as neuromorphic computing and in-memory computing, are being investigated. Although PCM-based devices have been extensively studied, several concerns regarding the electrical, thermal, and structural dynamics of phase-change devices remain. In this article, aiming at PCM devices, a comprehensive review of PCM materials is provided, including the primary PCM device mechanics that underpin read and write operations, physics-based modeling initiatives and experimental characterization of the many features examined in nanoscale PCM devices. Finally, this review will propose a prognosis on a few unsolved challenges and highlight research areas of further investigation.

Flexible sensors enable the gathering of information from nonplanar surfaces, which facilitates huge data collection tasks. Monitoring of pH levels in industrial wastewater is one example. For this purpose, stable, reliable flexible pH sensors are required to monitor pH in pipes or containers. Carbon nanotube field‐effect transistors (CNT‐FETs) are attractive transducers for flexible sensors because of their multiple functionalities, such as good electrical properties and mechanical flexibility. However, semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes (s‐SWNTs) must be separated from metallic SWNTs of high purity for channel materials to be used in CNT‐FETs. Herein, a simple method to sort s‐SWNTs in an aqueous system using only dispersion and centrifugation is developed. This sorting method is much less expensive than other techniques, such as density gradient ultracentrifugation, agarose‐gel chromatography, or selective sorting by conjugated polymers. These sorted s‐SWNTs result in high‐performance CNT‐FETs with electrical hysteresis reduced to almost zero and improved bias stability. This method demonstrates the importance of the solubility parameter between polymers and water for CNT‐FET hysteresis. The resulting carbon nanotubes also have high uniformity of characteristics, making them valuable as transducers for flexible sensors. Furthermore, real‐time pH monitoring using ion‐sensitive, field‐effect transistors (ISFETs) based on CNT‐FET is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel barium titanate–coated cobalt ferrite core–shell magnetoelectric nanoparticle and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate–based wearable energy‐harvesting patch for wireless power‐transfer applications are proposed. The developed flexible patch has unique ease of fabrication and high‐efficiency energy conversion capability from the magnetic field and mechanical motion to the electric field as compared to bulk or thin‐film‐based devices. This unique power‐transfer capability of this device is achieved due to the crystalline nature of fabricated nanoparticles, which is confirmed using X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. This wearable patch can generate a high voltage of 560 mV when exposed to a 40 μT alternating magnetic field at the resonance frequency of 48.6 kHz. The hybrid mode of electric power generation is achieved by coupling bodily motion with the remotely applied alternating magnetic field (40 μT), which results in the generation of a higher electric potential of 860 mV and maximum power density of 0.458 mW cm−3 across a 10 kΩ load. The maximum magnetoelectric coefficient is recorded as 1300 mV cm−1 Oe−1. The flexible nature and hybrid operation of the proposed device make it an efficient alternative for powering a wide range of wearable medical electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐performance miniaturized flexible sensors are becoming increasingly important in wearable electronics. However, miniaturization of devices often requires high‐precision manufacturing processes and equipment, which limits the commercialization of flexible sensors. Therefore, revolutionary technologies for manufacturing miniaturized flexible sensors are highly desired. In this work, a new method for manufacturing miniaturized flexible humidity sensor by utilizing heat shrinkage technology is presented. This method successfully achieves much smaller sensor and denser interdigital electrode. Utilizing this method, a miniaturized flexible humidity sensor and array are presented, fabricated by anchoring nano‐Al2O3 into carbon nano‐tube as the humidity sensitive film. This heat shrinkage technology, forming wrinkle structure on the humidity sensitive film, endows the sensor with a high sensitivity over 200% (ΔR/R0) at humidity levels ranging from 0 to 90%RH and a fast recovery time (0.5 s). The sensor allows non‐contact monitoring human respiration and alerting in case of an asthma attack and the sensor array can be adaptively attached to the wrist as a non‐contact human–machine interface to control the mechanical hand or computer. This work provides a general and effective heat shrinkage technology for the development of smaller and more efficient flexible circuits and sensor devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The MXene-boosted rapid gelling expedites the assembly of flexible thermocell arrays, overcoming the typical constraint of complicated device fabrication processes. The hydrogel electrolyte can sustain stable thermoelectrochemical performance under various challenging conditions, including large, repeated, and sustained deformations, and multiple cut-healing cycles. The as-assembled thermocell array exhibits device-level self-healing capability and high adaptability to human body, efficiently harvesting low-grade heat for wearable applications. The evolution of wearable technology has prompted the need for adaptive, self-healable, and energy-autonomous energy devices. This study innovatively addresses this challenge by introducing an MXene-boosted hydrogel electrolyte, which expedites the assembly process of flexible thermocell (TEC) arrays and thus circumvents the complicated fabrication of typical wearable electronics. Our findings underscore the hydrogel electrolyte's superior thermoelectrochemical performance under substantial deformations and repeated self-healing cycles. The resulting hydrogel-based TEC yields a maximum power output of 1032.1 nW under the ΔT of 20 K when being stretched to 500% for 1000 cycles, corresponding to 80% of its initial state; meanwhile, it sustains 1179.1 nW under the ΔT of 20 K even after 60 cut-healing cycles, approximately 92% of its initial state. The as-assembled TEC array exhibits device-level self-healing capability and high adaptability to human body. It is readily applied for touch-based encrypted communication where distinct voltage signals can be converted into alphabet letters; it is also employed as a self-powered sensor to in-situ monitor a variety of body motions for complex human actions. The swift assembly approach, combined with the versatile functionality of the TEC device, paves the way for future advancements in wearable electronics targeting at fitness monitoring and human–machine interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the low photon energy in the relevant frequency band, fewer materials can directly excite carriers, and an extreme lack of high‐performance, large‐area detectors, limit the promotion, and development of 6G technology. In addition, flexible detectors with the integration of 6G communication and Internet of Things technology has good prospects for application in the development of optoelectronic devices, which are also urgently needed. A large‐area flexible thin layer terahertz detector is designed that combines the advantages of excellent optoelectronic performance in the detection of electromagnetic waves with low photon energy and the localized surface plasmon (LSP) effect in a sub‐wavelength structure detector. Due to the large effective area, the spiral electrode device demonstrates the best performance at room temperature. The noise equivalent power (NEP) and photoresponsivity (RV) are achieved with 0.4 pW Hz−1/2 and 154 MV W−1 at 0.28 THz. In addition, the bending experiments show that the device has extreme advantages for flexible 6G detector applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal electronics, an emerging interdisciplinary field, is advancing the development of flexible devices that can seamlessly integrate with the skin. These devices, especially Electric Double Layer (EDL)-based sensors, overcome the limitations of conventional electronic devices, offering high sensitivity, rapid response, and excellent stability. Especially, Electric Double Layer (EDL)-based epidermal sensors show great potential in the application of wearable electronics to detect biological signals due to their high sensitivity, fast response, and excellent stability. The advantages can be attributed to the biocompatibility of the materials, the flexibility of the devices, and the large capacitance due to the EDL effect. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of EDL epidermal electronics as wearable sensors for health monitoring and wound healing. These devices can analyze various biofluids, offering real-time feedback on parameters like pH, temperature, glucose, lactate, and oxygen levels, which aids in accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Beyond healthcare, we explore the role of EDL epidermal electronics in human-machine interaction, particularly their application in prosthetics and pressure-sensing robots. By mimicking the flexibility and sensitivity of human skin, these devices enhance the functionality and user experience of these systems. This review summarizes the latest advancements in EDL-based epidermal electronic devices, offering a perspective for future research in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Convincing candidates of flexible (stretchable/compressible) electromagnetic interference shielding nanocomposites are discussed in detail from the views of fabrication, mechanical elasticity and shielding performance. Detailed summary of the relationship between deformation of materials and electromagnetic shielding performance. The future directions and challenges in developing flexible (particularly elastic) shielding nanocomposites are highlighted. With the extensive use of electronic communication technology in integrated circuit systems and wearable devices, electromagnetic interference (EMI) has increased dramatically. The shortcomings of conventional rigid EMI shielding materials include high brittleness, poor comfort, and unsuitability for conforming and deformable applications. Hitherto, flexible (particularly elastic) nanocomposites have attracted enormous interest due to their excellent deformability. However, the current flexible shielding nanocomposites present low mechanical stability and resilience, relatively poor EMI shielding performance, and limited multifunctionality. Herein, the advances in low-dimensional EMI shielding nanomaterials-based elastomers are outlined and a selection of the most remarkable examples is discussed. And the corresponding modification strategies and deformability performance are summarized. Finally, expectations for this quickly increasing sector are discussed, as well as future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible photonics has the potential to develop artificial skins with superior sensing capabilities. As an essential skin function, the tactile simulation is, however, still challenging due to the difficulty in combining high pressure sensitivity and resolution in sensor networks. Here, this work designs flexible artificial photonic skins for the vivid tactile perception based on responsive cholesteric liquid‐crystal (CLC) vertical‐cavity microlaser arrays. Controllable liquid‐crystal molecule arrangement is explored to synthesize the elastic CLC vertical microcavity lasers, which support a strong correlation between the laser output signals and the external pressures. Large‐scale integration of the CLC microlaser‐based mechanical sensors enables the spatially resolved detection of pressures. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration of vivid tactile simulation, the flexible photonic chip consisting of a CLC microlaser array is used to identify the contact objects. These results present a significant advance in the construction of high‐performance flexible optical sensor networks, thus providing valuable guidance for the design of novel photonic skins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskites are qualified to meet the flexibility demands of optoelectronic field because of their merits of flexibility, lightness, and low cost. However, the intrinsic defects and deformation‐induced ductile fracture in both perovskite and buried interface significantly restrict the photoelectric performance and longevity of flexible perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). Here, a dual‐dynamic cross‐linking network is schemed to boost the photovoltaic efficiency and mechanical stability of flexible PVSCs by incorporating natural polymerizable small molecule α‐lipoic acid (LA). The LA therein can be autonomously ring‐opening polymerized through dynamic disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds, concurrently forming coordination bonds to interact with perovskite component. Importantly, the polymerization product can serve as efficacious passivating and toughening agents to simultaneously optimize interfacial contact, enhance perovskite crystallinity and sustain robust mechanical bendability. Subsequently, the rigid (or flexible) p‐i‐n device realizes a champion efficiency of 22.43% (or 19.03%) with prominent operational stability. Moreover, the dual‐dynamic cross‐linking network endows PVSCs with bendability and self‐healing capacity, allowing the optimized devices to retain >80% efficiency after 3000 bending cycles, and subsequently restore to ≈95% of its initial efficiency under mild heat‐treatment. This toughening and self‐healing strategy provides a facile and efficient path to prolong operational lifetime of flexible device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible electronic devices require metal interconnects to facilitate the flow of electrical signals among the device components, ensuring its proper functionality. There are multiple factors to consider when designing metal interconnects for flexible electronics, including their conductivity, flexibility, reliability, and cost. This article provides an overview of recent endeavors to create flexible electronic devices through different metal interconnect approaches, with a focus on materials and structural aspects. Additionally, the article discusses emerging flexible applications, such as e-textiles and flexible batteries, as essential considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain engineering in perovskite oxides provides for dramatic control over material structure, phase, and properties, but is restricted by the discrete strain states produced by available high-quality substrates. Here, using the ferroelectric BaTiO3 , production of precisely strain-engineered, substrate-released nanoscale membranes is demonstrated via an epitaxial lift-off process that allows the high crystalline quality of films grown on substrates to be replicated. In turn, fine structural tuning is achieved using interlayer stress in symmetric trilayer oxide-metal/ferroelectric/oxide-metal structures fabricated from the released membranes. In devices integrated on silicon, the interlayer stress provides deterministic control of ordering temperature (from 75 to 425 °C) and releasing the substrate clamping is shown to dramatically impact ferroelectric switching and domain dynamics (including reducing coercive fields to

Abstract Despite the broadly applicable potential in the bioelectronics, organic/inorganic material-based bioelectronics have some limitations such as hard stiffness and low biocompatibility. To overcome these limitations, hydrogels capable of bridging the interface and connecting biological materials and electronics have been investigated for development of hydrogel bioelectronics. Although hydrogel bioelectronics have shown unique properties including flexibility and biocompatibility, there are still limitations in developing novel hydrogel bioelectronics using only hydrogels such as their low electrical conductivity and structural stability. As an alternative solution to address these issues, studies on the development of biohybrid hydrogels that incorporating nanomaterials into the hydrogels have been conducted for bioelectronic applications. Nanomaterials complement the shortcomings of hydrogels for bioelectronic applications, and provide new functionality in biohybrid hydrogel bioelectronics. In this review, we provide the recent studies on biohybrid hydrogels and their bioelectronic applications. Firstly, representative nanomaterials and hydrogels constituting biohybrid hydrogels are provided, and next, applications of biohybrid hydrogels in bioelectronics categorized in flexible/wearable bioelectronic devices, tissue engineering, and biorobotics are discussed with recent studies. In conclusion, we strongly believe that this review provides the latest knowledge and strategies on hydrogel bioelectronics through the combination of nanomaterials and hydrogels, and direction of future hydrogel bioelectronics. Graphical Abstract