MAX/MAB phases are a series of non-van der Waals ternary layered ceramic materials with a hexagonal structure, rich in elemental composition and crystal structure, and embody physical properties of both ceramics and metals. They exhibit great potential for applications in extreme environments such as high temperature, strong corrosion, and irradiation. In recent years, two-dimensional (2D) materials derived from the MAX/MAB phase (MXene and MBene) have attracted enormous interest in the fields of materials physics and materials chemistry and become a new 2D van der Waals material after graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides. Therefore, structural modulation of MAX/MAB phase materials is essential for understanding the intrinsic properties of this broad class of layered ceramics and for investigating the functional properties of their derived structures. In this paper, we summarize new developments in MAX/MAB phases in recent years in terms of structural modulation, theoretical calculation, and fundamental application research and provide an outlook on the key challenges and prospects for the future development of these layered materials.

In response to the evolving landscape of high-speed aircraft, characterized by an expansive airspace, prolonged flight durations, and increased velocities, the thermal protection requirements for key structures such as the nose cone, leading edge, and engine combustion chamber have become more exacting. This necessitates a concerted focus on the development of high-performance thermal protection materials capable of withstanding extreme conditions. Ultra-high temperature ceramic composites have emerged as noteworthy candidates, showcasing exceptional oxidation and ablation resistance. Despite their commendable properties, the inherent brittleness of these composites poses a significant obstacle to widespread engineering applications. To address this limitation, there is a growing emphasis on toughening through structural modulation. Simultaneously, the imperative to enhance aircraft payload capacity underscores the demand for lightweight ultra-high temperature ceramic composites. This paper provides a systematic overview of the major research advances made in recent years on ultra-high temperature ceramic composites, including preparation methods such as pressure sintering, slurry infiltration, precursor impregnation and pyrolysis, reactive melt infiltration, chemical vapor infiltration/deposition, and “solid-liquid” combination process, toughening methods such as particles, whiskers, soft-phase materials, short-cut fibers, and continuous fibers, as well as oxidation ablation resistant properities and mechanisms, and lightweighting design. The relationship between the components, microstructures and properties of ultra-high temperature ceramic composites is discussed in depth, and the current challenges as well as the future development trends of ultra-high temperature ceramic composites are presented.

The development of high-speed flight technology has put forward an urgent demand for high- performance thermal structure materials. High-entropy carbides (HECs) ceramics are a fast-emerging family of materials that combine the excellent properties of high-entropy ceramics and ultra-high temperature ceramics. HECs have a broad application prospect in extreme service environments, which has received extensive attention from scholars in recent years. Compared with traditional ultra-high temperature carbides containing only one or two transition metal elements, HECs have a greater potential for development because of their improved comprehensive performance and greater designability of composition and properties. After successive exploration of HECs in recent years, researchers have obtained many interesting results, developed a variety of preparation methods, and gained comprehensive understanding of microstructure and properties. The basic theories and the laws on HECs obtained from experimental process are reviewed in this paper. Preparation methods of HECs including powders, blocks, coatings and films, as well as fiber-reinforced HECs-based composites are summarized. Research progress on the properties of HECs, such as the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and especially the oxidation and ablation resistance related to high-temperature applications, is reviewed and discussed. Finally, the scientific issues that need to be further explored in this area are emphasized, and the prospects are proposed.

With rapid development of lithium ion batteries (LIB) and sodium ion batteries (SIB), hard carbon (HC) as new anode material has earned much attention. Besides its rich precursor sources and low cost, HC has higher Li⁺ storage capacity and better rate performance than graphite for LIB. Furthermore, it is also recognized as the most commercially potential anode material for SIB. However, low initial Coulombic efficiency is a common issue for HC. In addition, it is believed that the specific capacity can be further improved with the clarification of the Li/Na ion storage mechanism. In recent years, many researches on electrochemical mechanism have been conducted with some model assumptions proposed for better understanding the mechanism. This review introduced the structures and preparation approaches of HC as well as its application in LIB and SIB. The advantages, especially in fast charging, coating and other subdivision were discussed, and the different modification strategies such as pore structure design, doping, optimizing interface between electrode and electrolyte were summarized, aiming at the increase of capacity and the improvement of Coulombic efficiency of batteries.

Methane is the second greenhouse gas contributing greatly to global warming, about 80 times of CO₂. Considering background of global warming and atmospheric methane growth, to catalyze total oxidation of atmospheric methane is of great importance to mitigate greenhouse effects and slow this global warming. However, catalytic oxidation of methane has always been a big challenge due to its high structural stability. In this article, research progress in total oxidation of methane under thermal-, photo- and photothermal-catalysis was reviewed. High temperature in thermal catalysis increases the energy loss and accelerates the deactivation of catalysts speedingly. Therefore, development of catalysts that oxidize methane under moderate temperatures is the main research interests. Photocatalysis provides a way to eliminate methane at ambient conditions with the assistance of solar energy, but the reaction rates are lower than that in thermal catalysis. It is worth mentioning that photothermal catalysis, developed in recent years, can achieve efficiently catalytic total oxidation of methane under mild conditions, showing a high potential application prospect. This article reviews development of three modes of catalysis, analyzes their different reaction mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages under different reaction conditions. Finally, prospects and challenges of this catalytic total oxidation are pointed out, which is expected to provide references for future research on this field.

Ceramic-based porous structures not only inherit the excellent properties of dense ceramic materials such as high-temperature resistance, electrical insulation, and chemical stability, but also have unique advantages similar to porous structures, including low density, high specific surface area, and low thermal conductivity. They show great potential in various applications, such as thermal insulation, bone tissue engineering, filtration and pollutants removal, and electronic components. However, there still exist some challenges for shaping complex geometries on the macro- scale and adjusting pore morphologies on the micro- and nano-scale through the conventional preparation strategy of ceramic-based porous structures. In recent decades, researchers have been devoting themselves to developing novel manufacturing techniques for ceramic-based porous structures. The direct-ink-writing 3D printing, as one of the representative additive manufacturing technologies, has become a current research hotspot, rapidly developing a series of mature theories and innovative methodologies for fabricating porous structures. In this work, the conventional strategies and additive manufacturing strategies for obtaining porous structures were firstly summarized. The direct-write assembly processes of pore structures were further introduced in detail, mainly including pseudoplastic ink formulation, solidification strategy, drying, and post-treatment. Meanwhile, the feasibility of direct-ink-writing 3D printing technologies combined with conventional manufacturing strategies in constructing ceramic-based hierarchical pore structures was analyzed emphatically. The new perspectives, developments, and discoveries of direct-ink-writing 3D printing technologies were further summarized in the field of manufacturing complex ceramic-based porous structures. In addition, the developments and challenges in the future were prospected according to the actual application status.

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics, as a high-performance structural-functional integrated material, are widely used in aerospace, nuclear industry and braking system. However, the conventional fabrication methods can not meet the increasing demands for large-scale and complex-structured SiC ceramics, such as engine nozzles, flaps and turbine blades. Binder jetting (BJ) 3D printing technology can overcome the traditional obstacle and provide a novel manufacturing roadmap. Here, we adopted this technique via SiC particle grading, optimized the particle size ratio based on gradation theory, and studied the influence of BJ printing on properties of SiC green body and as-sintered ceramic. For the particle-graded green body after BJ printing, SiC ceramics with a maximum flexural strength of (16.70±0.53) MPa was obtained after one precursor impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) treatment, whose flexural strength was improved by 116% as compared with that BJ printed from a median diameter of 20 μm. SiC ceramics were further densified using liquid phase siliconization, with the density, flexural strength, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness reaching (2.655±0.001) g/cm³, (285±30) MPa, (243±12) GPa, and (2.54±0.02) MPa·m^1/2, respectively. XRD results demonstrated that the sintered SiC ceramics were mainly composed of 3C structured-β-SiC. All results show that high-performance SiC ceramic materials are innovatively prepared by an efficient and reliable method, based on the combined techniques of particle grading, BJ printing, PIP and liquid silicon infiltration.

Semiconductor materials are the core of modern technology development and industrial innovation, with high frequency, high pressure, high temperature, high power, and other high properties under severe conditions or super properties needed by the “double carbon” goal, the new silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) as representative of the third generation of semiconductor materials gradually into industrial applications. For the third-generation semiconductor, there are several development directions in its packaging interconnection materials, including high-temperature solder, transient liquid phase bonding materials, conductive adhesives, and low-temperature sintered nano-Ag/Cu, of which nano-Cu, due to its excellent thermal conductivity, low-temperature sintering characteristics, and good processability, has become a new scheme for packaging interconnection, with low cost, high reliability, and scalability. Recently, the trend from material research to industrial chain end-use is pronounced. This review firstly introduces the development overview of semiconductor materials and summarizes the categories of third-generation semiconductor packaging interconnect materials. Then, combined with recent research results, it further focuses on the application of nano-Cu low-temperature sintering in electronic fields such as packaging and interconnection, mainly including the impact of particle size and morphology, surface treatment, and sintering process on the impact of nano-Cu sintered body conductivity and shear properties. Finally, it summarizes the current dilemmas and the difficulties, looking forward to the future development. This review provides a reference for the research on low-temperature sintered copper nanoparticles in the field of interconnect materials for the third-generation semiconductor.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted widespread attention due to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low manufacturing cost. Although the certified PCE has reached 25.8%, the stability of PSCs under high temperature, high humidity, and continuous light exposure is still significantly inferior to that of traditional cells, which hinders their commercialization. Developing and applying highly stable inorganic hole transport materials (HTMs) is currently one of the effective methods to solve the photo-thermal stability of devices, which can effectively shield water and oxygen from corroding the perovskite absorption layer, thereby avoiding the formation of ion migration channels. This paper outlines the approximate classification and photoelectric properties of inorganic HTMs, introduces relevant research progress, summarizes performance optimization strategies for inorganic HTMs devices, including element doping, additive engineering, and interface engineering, and finally prospects the future development directions. It is necessary to further study the microstructure of inorganic HTMs and their relationship with the performance of PSCs to achieve more efficient and stable PSCs.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskite displays great potential in optoelectronic applications due to its inherent quantum well structure, large exciton binding energy and good stability. However, facile preparation of high-quality 2D perovskite films with low cost remains a huge challenge. In this work, high-quality two-dimensional perovskite (PEA)₂PbI₄ films were prepared by solution method at low annealing temperature(80 ℃) without other special treatments, and further applied in the field of photodetectors. The results show that this photodetector possessed a low dark current (10^-11 A), good responsiveness illuminated at a wavelength of 450 nm (107 mA·W^-1), high detection rate (2.05×10¹² Jones) and fast response time (250 μs/330 μs). After 1200 s continuous illumination, the device maintains 95% initial photocurrent. In addition, the photocurrent remains almost unchanged after storage for 30 d. This work provides promising strategy to develop stable and high-performance optoelectronic devices.

MXene is a large family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides. Its characteristics (various compositions, two-dimensional atomic layer structures, metallic electrical conduction, active surfaces, etc.) render MXene unique interactions with electromagnetic waves at different frequencies (visible light, infrared, terahertz, microwave, etc.), deriving a variety of electromagnetic functional applications. In the infrared range, MXene has a wide range of infrared radiation properties, and its active surface endows tunable infrared absorption. These features have attracted researchers’ interest in exploring infrared properties of MXene and the corresponding applications in recent years. In this perspective, the intrinsic infrared characteristics and manipulation strategies of different MXenes are systematically summarized, and the research progress of representative infrared applications are briefly introduced, including infrared identification/camouflage, surface plasmon, photothermal conversion, and infrared photodetection. Particularly, the contribution and mechanism of MXene in these applications are discussed. Finally, the outlook for infrared functional applications with MXenes is proposed.

X-ray detection has been widely used in medical imaging, security inspection, and industrial non-destructive tests. Halide perovskite X-ray detectors have attracted increasing attention due to their high sensitivity and low detection limit, but the notorious ion migration leads to poor operational stability. It is reported that the low dimensional structure can effectively suppress the ion migration of perovskites, thus greatly improving the stability of the detectors. This review introduces the working mechanism, key performance parameters of perovskite X-ray detectors, and summarizes the recent progress of low-dimensional perovskite materials and their application in direct X-ray detectors. The relationship between the structural characteristics of low-dimensional perovskite materials and their X-ray detection performance was systematically analyzed. Low-dimensional perovskite is a promising candidate for the preparation of X-ray detectors with both high sensitivity and stability. Further optimization of detection material and device structure, preparation of large-area pixelated imaging devices, and study of working mechanism in-depth of the detector are expected to promote the practical application of perovskite X-ray detectors.

Two-dimensional transition metal carbon/nitride MXenes show promising applications in various fields due to their remarkable electrical and mechanical properties. Recently, the research of high performance MXenes nanocomposites (including one-dimensional fibers, two-dimensional films and three-dimensional blocks) has made remarkable progress. However, the mechanical properties are still far lower than the intrinsic mechanical properties of MXenes nanosheets, mainly due to the key scientific problems of voids, misalignment of MXenes nanosheets and weak interfaces. In order to solve the above problems, the intrinsic mechanical properties of MXenes nanosheets are firstly discussed in this work, then the development of high performance MXenes nanocomposites are summarized, and the latest research progress of high performance MXenes nanocomposites is discussed in detail, including how to eliminate void, improve the orientation of MXene nanosheets and enhance the interface interaction. Meanwhile, the applications of high performance MXenes nanocomposites in the fields of electric heating, thermal camouflage, electromagnetic shielding, sensing and energy storage are introduced. Finally, the challenges and future development directions of high performance MXenes nanocomposites are proposed.

As a kind of important functional material, flexible piezoelectric materials can realize the effective conversion between mechanical energy and electrical energy, with the advantages of good toughness, high plasticity and light weight. Therefore, they can be attached to the human body to obtain human or environment information in real time, which is widely used in the fields of motion detection, health monitoring, and human-computer interaction. Due to high requirements of various three-dimensional (3D) structures of the flexible piezoelectric materials, additive manufacturing has been extensively utilized to fabricate different kinds of piezoelectric materials. This technology is expected to break the bottleneck of traditional processing of piezoelectric material by improving the structural design freedom and the performance of flexible piezoelectric materials, and provides enormous potential and opportunities for the application of flexible piezoelectric materials. Based on the introduction of the classification and features of flexible piezoelectric materials, this paper explained the main additive manufacturing technologies, including fused deposition modeling, direct ink writing, selective laser sintering, electric-assisted direct writing, stereolithography, and inkjet printing that commonly used in processing these materials. Then, various structural designs, such as multi-layer structure, porous structure, and interdigital structure for the flexible piezoelectric materials produced by different additive manufacturing approaches were reviewed. Moreover, the applications of additive manufactured flexible piezoelectric materials in energy harvesting, piezoelectric sensing, human-computer interaction, and bioengineering were introduced. Finally, the challenges faced by additive manufacturing on processing flexible piezoelectric materials and the development trends in the future were summarized and prospected.

Developing novel low-dimensional materials for terahertz electromagnetic shielding and absorbing applications represents a critical research frontier. Their unique electrical, mechanical, and electromagnetic responses hold great potential in enabling more efficient solutions for electromagnetic shielding and absorbing. Two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitride MXenes have already demonstrated excellent electromagnetic shielding and absorbing performance in the low-frequency spectrum. MXenes possess high conductivity, low density, and high flexibility, which are advantageous for future portability and integration of terahertz devices and systems. However, practical implementation of MXene-based terahertz electromagnetic shielding and absorption materials faces challenges in adhesion stability, environmental resilience, and high-temperature tolerance, hindering their suitability for aerospace and future next generation communication applications. Moreover, in terahertz frequency band, lacking more comprehensive and reliable electromagnetic scattering and absorbing measurement methods limits the development of THz shielding and absorbing materials. Extensive research efforts have targeted on these limitations, exploring fundamental architectural and theoretical aspects of prevalent electromagnetic materials. This review specifically highlights the terahertz electromagnetic shielding and absorption characteristics inherent in various MXenes and their compositions, such as Ti₃C₂T_x, Mo₂Ti₂C₃T_x, Mo₂TiC₂T_x, Nb₄C₃T_x, and Nb₂CT_x. Additionally, this review envisages the forthcoming challenges and prospects of MXenes as a pivotal electromagnetic shielding and absorbing material within the terahertz frequency band.

Ammonia serves not only as a primary raw material in synthetic fertilizers, but also as a novel high-energy- density fuel. In recent years, electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis has gained extensive attention as a green and sustainable approach due to its potential as an eco-friendly and sustainable way that could replace the energy-intensive and high-carbon-emission Haber-Bosch process. Nevertheless, the efficient electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis is still hampered by low reaction efficiency and product selectivity as well as catalyst stability. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop efficient catalysts to advance electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis. Recently, metal oxide catalysts have been at the center of attention for their superior performance in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis. This review consolidates the developments of metal oxide electrocatalysts converting nitrate to ammonia, focusing on elucidating the reaction mechanism and introducing typical metal-based (Cu, Fe, Ti, etc.) catalysts. Additionally, it discusses the latest research progress in enhancing catalytic reaction efficiency, product selectivity, and material stability through strategies like morphology control, surface reconstruction, oxygen vacancy engineering, element doping, metal-assisted catalyst loading, etc. Finally, the paper outlines the challenges and future research directions in the realm of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis.

Bentonite is an abundant, cheap and readily available natural clay mineral, with montmorillonite (MMT) as its main mineral composition. MMT possesses excellent ion exchange, adsorption and ion transport properties due to its unique two-dimensional layered nanostructure, abundant pore structure, and high specific surface area. Moreover, it also possesses excellent thermal, chemical and mechanical stabilities. In recent years, MMT has attracted extensive attention in the field of electrochemical energy storage owing to the above excellent characteristics, especially the inherent fast ion (Li⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺, etc.) transport properties. Thus, the bentonite-based functional materials have been widely applied to the key components (i.e., electrodes, polymer electrolytes, and separators) of electrochemical energy storage devices and show good application prospects. In this review, the structure and physicochemical properties of bentonite are firstly introduced, and then the research progress of bentonite-based functional materials in the field of electrochemical energy storage, mainly including metal anodes, lithium-sulfur battery cathodes, solid/gel polymer electrolytes, and polymer separators, is comprehensively summarized. On the basis of these facts, the ion transport promotion mechanism of bentonite-based functional materials during the process of electrochemical energy storage is elaborated. Finally, the current problems and challenges faced by application of bentonite-based materials in electrochemical energy storage devices are pondered, and the possible future research directions are prospected. This review provides useful guidance for the design and development of bentonite-based electrochemical energy storage functional materials.

In recent years, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have received a lot of attention for their excellent performance and low manufacturing cost. However, the toxicity of lead in organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells and instability inhibits its further commercialization. Double perovskite Cs₂AgBiBr₆ possess excellent stability, low toxicity, long carrier lifetime, and small effective carrier mass, and is considered as a promising photovoltaic material. It has been applied in solar cells and displayed superior performance. However, the power conversion efficiency of Cs₂AgBiBr₆ perovskite solar cell still lags behind organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells, and its development faces various challenges. This review firstly introduces the crystal structure and the structural parameters such as tolerance factor of Cs₂AgBiBr₆. And then, the progress of thin film preparation technologies such as solution processing method, anti-solvent assisted film forming method, vapor deposition processing method, vacuum-assisted film forming method, spray-coating method are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of various preparation technologies are discussed. The performance optimization strategies of Cs₂AgBiBr₆ perovskite solar cells are analyzed from three aspects: element doping, additive engineering, and interface engineering (interface energy level matching and interface defect passivation), and the research progress in recent years is reviewed. Finally, the challenges faced by Cs₂AgBiBr₆ perovskite solar cells are pointed out, and future research directions are prospected from three aspects: precursor solvent engineering, bandgap engineering, and device degradation mechanism.

With the rise of the third-generation wide-bandgap semiconductors represented by SiC and GaN, power electronic devices are developing rapidly towards high output power and high power density, putting forward higher performance requirements on ceramic substrate materials used for power module packaging. The conventional Al₂O₃ and AlN ceramics are inadequate for the new generation of power module packaging applications due to low thermal conductivity or poor mechanical properties. In comparison, the newly developed Si₃N₄ ceramics have become the most potential insulating heat dissipation substrate materials due to its excellent mechanical properties and high thermal conductivity. In recent years, researchers have made a series of breakthroughs in the preparation of high strength and high thermal conductivity Si₃N₄ ceramics by screening effective sintering additive systems and optimizing the sintering processes. Meanwhile, as the advancement of the engineering application of coppered Si₃N₄ ceramic substrate, the evaluation of its mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties has become a research hotspot. Starting from the factors affecting thermal conductivity of Si₃N₄ ceramics, this article reviews the domestic and international research work focused on sintering aids selection and sintering processes improvement to enhance the thermal conductivity of Si₃N₄ ceramics. In addition, the latest progress in the dielectric breakdown strength of Si₃N₄ ceramic substrates and the evaluation of properties after being coppered are also systematically summarized and introduced. Based on above progresses and faced challengies, the future development direction of high strength and high thermal conductivity Si₃N₄ ceramic substrates is prospected.

Advanced ink printing techniques, such as printing and coating, have overcome the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods, allowing for rapid prototyping of films and electronic devices with sophisticated structures and specific functions. These techniques hold enormous potential in wearable smart identification, energy storage, electromagnetic shielding and absorption, touch display, and so on. The key to printing advanced energy and electronic devices lies in the development of cutting-edge functional inks and their corresponding printing technologies. MXene, a family of two-dimensional compounds composed of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides, was discovered in 2011. MXene exhibits remarkable physical and chemical properties, including high conductivity, pronounced hydrophilicity, and diverse surface chemistry, which has garnered significant attention within the research community and made it particularly suitable as inks in printing applications. Conducting research on the printing behavior and mechanisms of MXene inks is crucial not only for achieving high-precision patterns but also for establishing a solid foundation for manufacturing techniques that can precisely create multiscale, multimaterial and multifunctional films, and electronic devices. This article begins with a brief discussion of MXene flakes’ synthesis and colloidal stability, followed by a detailed examination of its rheological characteristics, printable ink formulation, and printing methods. Additional, special attention is given to the latest advances of MXene ink in energy, health, and sensing applications. The perspective concludes with a summary of current research challenges and future directions in this area, offering new perspectives and insights for researchers.

With improvement in service temperature of thermal structural components for the new generation hypersonic aircraft, higher requirements are put forward for the phase stability and ablation resistance of the thermal protection coatings (TPCs). Carrying out high-entropy design for traditional transition metal oxide ZrO₂ and HfO₂ coatings, solid-phase reaction and supersonic atmosphere plasma spraying (SAPS) were applied to prepare (Hf_0.125Zr_0.125Sm_0.25Er_0.25Y_0.25)O_2-δ (M1R3O), (Hf_0.2Zr_0.2Sm_0.2Er_0.2Y_0.2)O_2-δ (M2R3O), (Hf_0.25Zr_0.25Sm_0.167Er_0.167Y_0.167)O_2-δ (M3R3O) high-entropy oxide (HEO) coatings. The effects of rare earth content on phase structure evolution, phase stability and ablative resistance of HEO coatings were investigated. M2R3O coating and M3R3O coating possessed excellent phase stability and ablation resistance, which maintained stable phase structure after ablation by oxygen-acetylene flame with heat flux density of 2.38-2.40 MW/m², without decomposition of solid solution and precipitation of rare earth components. Mass ablation rate and linear ablation rate of M2R3O coating after cyclic ablation for 180 s are 0.01 mg/s and -1.16 μm/s, respectively. Compared with M1R3O coating (0.09 mg/s, -1.34 μm/s) and M3R3O coating (0.02 mg/s, -4.51 μm/s), the reductions of ablation rate are 88.9%, 13.4%, respectively, and 50.0%, 74.3% for M2R3O coatings, respectively, presenting the best ablation resistance. M2R3O coating exhibits excellent ablation resistance due to its high melting point (>2200 ℃) and low thermal conductivity ((1.07±0.09) W/(m·K)), which effectively protects the internal SiC transition layer and C/C composites from oxidation damage, avoiding interface cracking caused by the formation of SiO₂ phase.

Silicon carbide (SiC) has wide application in electric vehicles, rail transit, high voltage power transmission and transformation, photovoltaic, and 5G communication owing to its excellent physical and chemical properties. 8-inch SiC substrate has great potential in reducing unit cost of devices and increasing capacity supply, and has become an important technology development direction of the industry. Recently, Shandong University and Guangzhou Summit Crystal Semiconductor Co., Ltd. have made a major breakthrough in the control of dislocation defects in 8-inch SiC substrates. The 8-inch n-type 4H-SiC single crystal substrate with low dislocation density has been fabricated by physical vapor transport (PVT) method, of which the threading screw dislocation (TSD) density is 0.55 cm^-2, and the basal plane dislocation (BPD) density is 202 cm^-2.

Inspired by gene scissor concept in biological genetic engineering, chemical scissors, as important research tools, play an important role in the study of structure editing and application of materials. We aim to review the research progress of chemical scissors in structural editing and applications of materials. First of all, we introduce the basic concept and mechanism. Chemical scissors strategy refers to a methodology for material editing through which the main crystal structure is preserved but targeted atoms or structural units are knocked out, replaced, repaired or reconstructed in order to realize special functionality. Subsequently, the specific applications of chemical scissors in materials structure editing are discussed in depth, including the methods and functional designs for precise structure modulation of materials by chemical shearing, modification, synthesis, as well as etching and intercalation. Finally, the future research direction of chemical scissors in the field of material structure editing is envisioned, including developing new chemical scissors that are more intelligent and efficient, exploring more innovative strategies for material structure editing, understanding the underlying chemical mechanism, and further expanding the applicability of chemical scissors. Overall, we summarize the research progress and potential of material structural editing, which provides important theoretical and experimental support for further exploring and developing the application of chemical scissors in the field of materials.

Brain-inspired neuromorphic computing refers to simulation of the structure and functionality of the human brain via the integration of electronic or photonic devices. Artificial synapses are the most abundant computation element in the brain-inspired system. Memristors are considered to be ideal devices for artificial synapse applications because of their high scalability and low power consumption. Based on Ohm’s law and Kirchhoff’s law, memristor crossbar arrays can perform parallel multiply-accumulate operations in situ, leading to analogue computing with greatly improved speed and energy efficiency. Oxides are most widely used in memristors due to the ease of fabrication and high compatibility with CMOS processes. This work reviews the research progress of oxide memristors for brain-inspired computing, mainly focusing on their resistance switching mechanisms, device structures and performances. These devices fall into three categories: electrical memristors, memristors controlled via both electrical and optical stimuli, and all-optically controlled memristors. The working mechanisms of electrical memristors are commonly related to microstructure change and Joule heat that are detrimental to device stability. The device performance can be improved by optimizing device structure and material composition. Tuning the device conductance with optical signals can avoid microstructure change and Joule heat as well as reducing energy consumption, thus making it possible to address the stability problem. In addition, optically controlled memristors can directly response to external light stimulus enabling integrated sensing-computing-memoring within single devices, which are expected to be used for developing next-generation vision sensors. Hence, the realization of all-optically controlled memristors opens a new window for research and applications of memristors.

Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in human society. Running AI algorithms represented by deep learning places great demands on computational power of hardware. However, with Moore's Law approaching physical limitations, the traditional Von Neumann computing architecture cannot meet the urgent demand for promoting hardware computational power. The brain-inspired neuromorphic computing (NC) employing an integrated processing-memory architecture is expected to provide an important hardware basis for developing novel AI technologies with low energy consumption and high computational power. Under this conception, artificial neurons and synapses, as the core components of NC systems, have become a research hotspot. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review on the development of oxide neuron devices. Firstly, several mathematical models of neurons are described. Then, recent progress of Hodgkin-Huxley neurons, leaky integrate-and-fire neurons and oscillatory neurons based on oxide electronic devices is introduced in detail. The effects of device structures and working mechanisms on neuronal performance are systematically analyzed. Next, the hardware implementation of spiking neural networks and oscillatory neural networks based on oxide artificial neurons is demonstrated. Finally, the challenges of oxide neuron devices, arrays and networks, as well as prospect for their applications are pointed out.

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid electrolytes are deemed as the most promising alternatives for solid-state lithium batteries on account of their low cost, good stability against Li metal, and easy large-scale production. However, the instability of PEO against high-voltage cathodes severely limits its application in the fields needing high energy density. In this work, a discontinuous cyclized polyacrylonitrile (cPAN) nanolayer, served as an electron-conducting shell, is partially coated on LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ (NCM) cathode particles, while an ionic liquid acted as ion-conducting pathway is introduced at NCM/PEO interface, enabling the high compatibility of PEO against high-voltage NCM cathode. The cPAN layer not only physically isolates the direct contact of PEO electrolyte from NCM cathode, but also contributes to the electronic transfer inside the cathode due to the formation of delocalized sp² π bond during coating process. Meanwhile, the mobile ionic liquid with good ionic conductivity fully wets cathodic interface, followed by decomposition into cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) of LiF and Li₃N, further restricting the oxidation-failure of PEO electrolyte. By taking the combined strategy, the corresponding solid-state NCM/Li battery delivers an excellent electrochemical performance with a capacity retention of 85.3% after 100 cycles at rate of 0.1C (1C=0.18 A·g^-1) under a cutoff voltage of 4.30 V. This work opens up a new direction to address the interfacial stability issues of PEO-based electrolyte against high-voltage cathodes through surface coating and interface modification.

Oxide ceramics, known for their outstanding strength and excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance, are prime candidates for high-temperature structural materials of aero-engines. These materials hold vast potential for application in high-end equipment fields of the aerospace industry. Compared with traditional ceramic preparation methods, laser additive manufacturing (LAM) can directly realize the integrated forming from raw powders to high-performance components in one step. LAM stands out for its high forming efficiency and good flexibility, enabling rapid production of large complex structural components with high performance and high precision. Recently, research on LAM for melt-grown oxide ceramics, which involves liquid-solid phase transition, has surged as a hot topic. This paper begins by outlining the basic principles of LAM technology, with an emphasis on the process characteristics of two typical LAM technologies: selective laser melting and laser directed energy deposition. On this basis, the paper summarizes the microstructure characteristics of several different oxide ceramics prepared by LAM and examines how process parameters influence these microstructures. The differences in mechanical properties of laser additive manufactured oxide ceramics with different systems are also summarized. Finally, the existing problems in this field are sorted out and analyzed, and the future development trend is prospected.

Smart windows have gained tremendous attention because of their ability to dynamically modulate the solar radiation to minimize energy consumption and improve indoor living comfort. Vanadium dioxide (VO₂) is one of the most attractive thermochromic materials for energy-saving smart windows due to its reversible metal-to-insulator transition at a critical temperature of ~68 ℃ and accompanying great change of its optical transmittance. However, VO₂ itself has a couple of significant limitations as a smart window material: high phase transition temperature (τ_c), low luminous transmittance (T_lum) and insufficient solar energy modulation ability (ΔT_sol). Several methods have been used to grow VO₂ thin films with improved properties to meet the specific requirements for smart windows applications. The phase transition temperature (τ_c) should be reduced to near room temperature, in the meantime luminous transmittance (T_lum) and solar energy modulation ability (ΔT_sol) should be high enough for the modulation of indoor temperature self-adapted to seasons and climate. The most common way to reduce τ_c is by doping. To enhance T_lum and ΔT_sol, multilayer structures and/or nanocomposite film have been widely adopted. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a promising technique to produce high quality and highly uniform VO₂ thin film with different morphologies in large scale and at low costs. In this paper, various CVD techniques, such as atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD), aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD), low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD) and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), are examined with respect to their advantages for VO₂ deposition, film quality and the strategies for film quality improvement. Finally, challenges and opportunities for further research and development of VO₂ thermochromic films using PECVD technique are emphasized.

MAX phase ceramics, with their mixed covalent-metallic-ionic atomic bonds, can uniquely combine the advantages of both metals and ceramics, offering a series of distinctive characteristics. The particular layered atomic structure further endows them with decent fracture toughness, good damping capacity, and self-lubricating property. As such, MAX phase ceramics are more appealing to serve as reinforcements for metal matrix composites (MMCs) than conventional ceramic materials. Here, we foused on the development. To date, fabrication of MMCs reinforced by MAX phase ceramics still involves the use of stir casting, powder metallurgy, and melt infiltration techniques. The obtained composites made by different methods may display distinct differences in their structural characteristics, show notable enhancement in strength, hardness, and stiffness as compared to their metal matrices, and exhibit good wear resistance, high electrical conductivity and remarkable arc erosion resistance. Moreover, ultrafine MAX phase platelets can be preferentially oriented and aligned, e.g., by using vacuum filtration or ice templating techniques. By infiltrating metal melt into partially sintered porous ceramic scaffolds, bioinspired composites with nacre-like architectures can be obtained, thereby affording further improvement in strength and fracture toughness. Sufficient combinations of mechanical and functional properties enable the MMCs reinforced by MAX phase ceramics promising for a variety of applications, such as load-bearing structures, electrical contact materials. These composites can offer enhanced strength, stiffness, and wear resistance, making them ideal candidates for these applications.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted global attention as one of the most promising photovoltaic materials due to their high efficiency, low energy consumption and low cost. However, non-radiative recombination caused by interface defects severely inhibits the performance of PSCs. To solve this critical issue, the particle size of nickel oxide (NiO_x) hole transport layer was reduced to improve the particle size uniformity and achieve efficient hole transport. Furthermore, the antisolvent acting time of the perovskite film was optimized to reduce the interfacial non-radiative recombination and interfacial defect. As a result, the crystalline quality is improved and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the perovskite solar cells increase from 10.11% to 18.37%. Kelvin probe atomic force microscopy (KPFM) study shows that the contact potential difference (CPD) of the optimized perovskite film in the illumination condition increases by 120.39 mV compared with that under the dark condition. Analysis by piezoelectric atomic force microscopy (PFM) reveals that the ferroelectric polarization of the optimized interfacial perovskite films hardly changes from illumination to dark states, indicating that reducing interfacial defects can decrease the hysteresis effect of the PSCs. It is concluded that optimizing the NiO_x hole transport layer and improving the quality of perovskite film can reduce the interface defects, the non-radiative recombination and the hysteresis effect, and improve PCE of perovskite solar cells.

Nowadays, we are facing increasingly serious energy and environmental problems, which urgently need more efficient chemical industry technologies to meet the requirements of low cost, high yield and sustainability. Developing efficient catalysts is of great significance for improving production efficiency, expanding economic benefits, optimizing energy structure, and ameliorating industrial structure. Single-atom catalysts (SACs), featuring unique properties arising from their single-atom dispersion on support surface, have demonstrated exceptional activity, selectivity and stability in energy catalysis, environmental catalysis and organic catalysis. Therefore, preparation methods and catalytic mechanisms of SACs have become a hot research topic on the international catalytic community. This review describes three strategies for preparing SACs: bottom-up synthesis, top-down synthesis and quantum dots cross-linking/self-assembly. Specifically, methods such as co-precipitation, immersion, atomic layer deposition, high-temperature atom thermal transfer, and high-temperature pyrolysis are presented in detail. These approaches precisely control the location and distribution of metal atoms, maximizing their utilization and catalytic efficiency. In addition, the challenges and development prospects faced by SACs related to stability, integrated control and industrial scalability are also summarized.

Continuous SiC fiber-reinforced SiC (SiC_f/SiC) composites possess high specific strength, high specific modulus, high-temperature resistance, and radiation resistance, making them suitable for applications in hot-end parts of advanced aero-engines and claddings of nuclear reactors. SiC_f/SiC composites are composed of fibers, interfaces and matrix, endowing them with complex multi-scale structural characteristics. These composites are designed to serve in harsh environment, and their damage and failure process are complex. A profound understanding and accurate analysis of damage and failure mechanisms of SiC_f/SiC composites under service environments are of great significance for the optimized design of materials and the reliable service of components. Traditional “post-mortem analysis” methods are incapable of acquiring data during the damage and failure process of materials under complex service environments. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop in-situ characterization techniques for composites under high-temperature service environments. This paper reviewed the principles, advantages, and limitations of in-situ monitoring methods based on scanning electron microscopy, digital image correlation, micro computational tomography, acoustic emission, and electrical resistance. It focused on the latest research progress in the high-temperature mechanical characterization of SiC_f/SiC composites using various in-situ monitoring methods and combinations thereof. It summarized the challenges in the in-situ monitoring technologies of SiC_f/SiC composites under high-temperature environments and provided a preliminary outlook on the future development directions, such as the combined use of multiple in-situ monitoring techniques, new detection technologies like terahertz radiation, and in-situ damage monitoring methods for complex components.

In comparison to Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries offer the benefits of low cost, good low-temperature performance, and safety, attracting great attention in the cost- and reliability-sensitive applications. With high capacity and low cost, Prussian blue-like materials (PBAs) stand as promising cathode materials for Na-ion batteries. However, the presence of crystalline water within their structure induces fast performance decay of the battery, serving as a critical bottleneck limiting their application. This work reports a facile thermal treatment strategy to effectively remove crystalline water from PBAs cathode materials, improving capacity retention from 73% to 88% after 340 cycles. The in-situ analysis uncovers that the initial loss of Coulombic efficiency of PBAs cathode is a result of its irreversible transformation from a trigonal form to cubic phase during the charging and discharging process. This issue can be addressed by introducing of Na₂C₂O₄ to compensate the irreversible Na loss in the cathode. On this basis, a high-performance quasi-solid-state Na-ion battery is built by pairing a low-water-content PBAs cathode with Na₂C₂O₄ additive and a hard carbon (HC) anode within a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based quasi-solid-state electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability. This battery exhibits the specific capacities ranging from 58 to 105 mAh·g^-1 at current densities from 20 to 500 mA·g^-1, capable of sustaining stable cycling for over 200 cycles. This study underscores the significant improvement in stability and capacity of PBAs cathode materials by the efficient removal of crystalline water in them.

Recently, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have demonstrated a broad commercial prospect due to their high photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) and low fabricating costs. During the past decades, the highest reported PCE of small-area (<1 cm²) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) rose to 26.10%, and those of large-area (1-10 cm²), mini-module level (10-800 cm²) and module level (>800 cm²) PSCs increased to 24.35%, 22.40% and 18.60%, respectively. The performance of PSCs decreases dramatically with the area increasing due to limitation of the deposition method and the poor quality of large-area perovskite films. Spin-coating method is not suitable for actual industrial production, while the scalable deposition methods including blade-coating and slot-die coating still face the difficulty of precisely controlling nucleation and crystallization of the perovskite films with large area. This review summarized preparation methods of large-area perovskite films, and discussed the film-forming mechanism and strategies for high-quality perovskite films. Finally, relevant outlooks on technologies and applications for large-area PSCs with high performances and stabilities were analyzed. This review is expected to provide insights on the research of large-area PSCs with high performance.

Microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) technology is an ideal way to prepare large size and high-quality single crystal diamonds. However, the complexity of MPCVD single crystal diamond growth and the diversity of crystal growth requirements make it difficult to optimize the growth process. To address this issue, a systematic design method for MPCVD single crystal diamond growth based on plasma diagnostic technology was proposed, using plasma imaging and spectral analysis to quantitatively diagnose microwave plasma. The physical coupling characteristics and quantitative relationship between pressure, microwave(MW) power, plasma properties, and substrate temperature were studied by using home-made MPCVD system. And the size of major axis, precursor group concentration and distribution, energy density, and other data of the plasma under different parameters were obtained. Based on experimental data, the growth process map of single crystal diamond was obtained. According to this map, we selected process parameters by growth temperature and growth area. Through experimental verification, it is shown that this map is usful for guiding prediction with parameter error of less than 5%. Simultaneously, based on the predicted map, growth of single crystal diamond under different plasma energy densitiesis studied. At lower power (2600 W), a higher energy density (148.5 W/cm³) was obtained, and the concentration of carbon containing precursors was higher than that of the other parameters, resulting in a higher growth rate (8.9 μm/h). By this method system, effective plasma control and process optimization can be carried out meeting for different single crystal diamond growth.

Bioceramic scaffolds with excellent osteogenesis ability and degradation rate exhibit great potential in bone tissue engineering. Akermanite (Ca₂MgSi₂O₇) has attracted much attention due to its good mechanical property, biodegradability and enhanced bone repair ability. Here, akermanite (Ca₂MgSi₂O₇) scaffolds were fabricated by an extrusion-type 3D printing at room temperature and sintering under an inert atmosphere using printing slurry composed of a silicon resin as polymer precursor, and CaCO₃ and MgO as active fillers. Furthermore, the differences in structure, compressive strength, in vitro degradation, and biological properties among akermanite, larnite (Ca₂SiO₄) and forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) scaffolds were investigated. The results showed that the akermanite scaffold is similar to those of larnite and forsterite in 3D porous structure, and its compressive strength and degradation rate were between those of the larnite and forsterite scaffolds, but it showed a greater ability to stimulate osteogenic gene expression of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) than both larnite and forsterite scaffolds. Hence, such 3D printed akermanite scaffold possesses great potential for bone tissue engineering.

Absorptive materials, by absorbing electromagnetic wave energy, effectively mitigate electromagnetic interference through reduction or elimination of wave reflection. The electromagnetic parameters of materials determine their electromagnetic wave absorption performance. Traditional control strategies, such as adjusting filler ratio, changing macroscopic morphology, and regulating composite methods, have certain limitations to control their structure and cannot fundamentally alter their electromagnetic parameters, which severely hinders their further development. Now, micro-nanostructure design strategies can basically change electromagnetic parameters of the materials by altering their electrical conductivity, charge density and magnetic properties, showing significant advantages in controlling electromagnetic wave absorption capacity. However, the precise micro-nanostructure design and the mass production still face challenges to be overcome. Additionally, structure-property relationship between micro-nanostructures and electromagnetic wave response, and its underline mechanisms are still not fully understood. Herein, a comprehensive review on these relationships was introduced to elucidate the advantages of micro-nanostructure design strategies for regulating electromagnetic wave absorption capacity. Moreover, by introducing these strategies, such as element doping, surface effect modulation and nucleation-controlled growth, this review provides researchers with deep insights and theoretical guidance for modulating electromagnetic properties through micro-nanostructure design. Finally, the research progresses on electromagnetic performance modulation through micro-nanostructure design based on the case of quantum dots, nanocrystals and nanowires, as well as the current research status and prospects in the field of electromagnetic absorption were summarized, providing a theoretical foundation and strategic support for the development of micro-nanoparticles.

Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography utilizes Laser Produced Plasma (LPP) technology to generate EUV light with a 13.5 nm wavelength by bombarding tin liquid droplets with high-power lasers. Piezoelectric high-temperature nozzle based on inverse-piezoelectric effect is the key component for obtaining high-frequency tin droplet targets. Here, breakthroughs have been made in the composition design, fine preparation of high-temperature micro piezoelectric ceramic tubes that can withstand temperatures up to 250 ℃, and structure design, fabrication and precise driving control of the piezoelectric high-temperature nozzle. Based on a self-constructed high-temperature tin droplets generation platform, a stable output of high-temperature tin droplet targets with repetition frequency of 20 kHz and diameter of 100 μm is successfully achieved.

Density functional theory calculations play an important role in the study of defects in halide perovskites. Although the traditional semi-local functionals (such as PBE) can obtain the band gaps close to the experiments, they fail to accurately describe the positions of the band edges. Utilizing more accurate hybrid functionals combined with the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effect with full structure relaxation is considered to be necessary for the prediction of defect properties. There are two types of hybrid functionals in the literature, namely the screened HSE and the unscreened PBE0. In this study, taking the orthorhombic phase CsPbI₃ as an example, these methods were compared for the calculation of defect properties. The results show that there is no obvious difference between two methods for bulk properties, but qualitative differences appear for the defect properties. Most of the shallow-level defects predicted in the HSE calculations become deep-level defects in the PBE0 calculations. Meanwhile, there are qualitative differences between the defect transition levels and the Kohn-Sham levels. The origin of above differences lies in the fact that the Hartree-Fock exchange potential has long-range interaction. Therefore, in unscreened hybrid functionals, such as PBE0, it is more difficult to obtain convergent results with a manageable supercell size. In contrast, HSE exhibits a screening effect on the Hartree-Fock exchange potential and can obtain accurate defect energy levels using relatively small supercell sizes. Therefore, all results here demonstrate that the HSE hybrid functional owns a significant advantage in dealing with this problem even though a large Hartree-Fock mixing parameter (about 0.43) is needed.

Power conversion efficiency of single-junction solar cells is fundamentally limited by the Shockley- Queisser (S-Q) limit. The most promising practical technology to break through the S-Q limit is to use two-terminal tandem structure which can simultaneously solve the problems, spectral mismatch and thermal relaxation energy loss, in single-junction devices. As one of the important components of the interconnecting layer, the recombination layer in the two-terminal tandem solar cells can provide recombination sites for electrons and holes extracted from the electron transporting layer and the hole transporting layer, avoiding the open-circuit voltage loss caused by charge accumulation and promoting the current flow of tandem solar cells. The recombination layer is considered as one of the key factors of achieving high-performance tandem devices. The ideal recombination layer should possess high conductivity to improve the charge recombination rate, high optical transmittance to ensure effective light absorption of the rear subcells, good chemical stability to reduce the damage caused by the solvent, and low preparation cost to promote the commercial production process. At present, a variety of materials have been used in two-terminal tandem solar cells, such as thin metals, transparent conductive oxides, conductive polymers, graphene oxide, etc., which play an important role in perovskite-perovskite, perovskite-organic, and perovskite-silicon two terminal tandem devices. In this review, the research progress of recombination layers in different types of tandem solar cells is summarized, together with types, design principles, preparation processes, and their advantages and disadvantages. Meanwhile, problems and challenges of the current recombination layers are proposed, which provides a useful reference for the design of high-performance tandem cells.