Small MethodsPub Date : 2025-06-17DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202500643
Yang-Yang Xie, Hao Chen, Ying-Ying Zhang, Si-Chong Chen, Gang Wu, Yu-Zhong Wang
{"title":"Superconfinement Engineering of Hetero-Nanoparticles in Ultrathin Carbon Nanosheets Enables Highly-Efficient Water Splitting.","authors":"Yang-Yang Xie, Hao Chen, Ying-Ying Zhang, Si-Chong Chen, Gang Wu, Yu-Zhong Wang","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Developing highly active and robust bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is of great significance for the production of green hydrogen energy. Herein, heterostructured CoP/NiCoP nanoparticles that are encapsulated one-to-one in nano caves of soda-biscuit-like ultrathin carbon nanosheets (CoP/NiCoP/CMS) are prepared, using melamine-formaldehyde sponge (MS) that grew Co/NiCo hydroxides as precursor and phytic acid (PA) as phosphorus source. Especially, the PA-induced blowing behavior during pyrolysis not only transforms the 3D networks of MS into 2D ultrathin carbon nanosheets of CMS, but also achieves the uniform one-to-one superconfinement of hetero-nanoparticles within both the intralayer nanocaves and interlayer spaces of the carbon nanosheets. Benefit from the superconfinement and interface engineering, CoP/NiCoP/CMS shows low overpotentials of 247 and 124 mV at 10 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>, as well as good stabilities toward both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions, respectively. Moreover, CoP/NiCoP/CMS//CoP/NiCoP/CMS electrolyzer only requires 1.56 V to achieve 10 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that heterojunction interfaces can well regulate the electronic structure and enhance the intrinsic activity of CoP/NiCoP/CMS, meanwhile, soda-biscuit-like architecture guarantees the compatibility of high activity and good stability. This work proposes a novel and universal strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts for efficient overall water splitting.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500643"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Small MethodsPub Date : 2025-06-17DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202500531
Xinshuang Miao, Ao Zhong, Sihang Xia, Songling Wu, Haichao Wang, Hao Li, Haoqing Ma, Yao Liu, Chao Yang, Kangning Zhao
{"title":"Mechanical Stable and Ion Pump Interface Design Through Heterogeneous Interphase Layer for Dendrite-Free Sodium Metal Batteries.","authors":"Xinshuang Miao, Ao Zhong, Sihang Xia, Songling Wu, Haichao Wang, Hao Li, Haoqing Ma, Yao Liu, Chao Yang, Kangning Zhao","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500531","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500531","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sodium-metal batteries (SMBs) emerge as a promising alternative to lithium-metal systems but face intrinsic challenges of unstable electrode/electrolyte interfaces and rampant dendrite growth, which compromise cyclability and safety. Here, a multifunctional heterogeneous interphase layer (IMS-Na) with an ion pumping function on metallic sodium is constructed. This is enabled via an in situ reaction of Sb<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> powder with Na at room temperature by forming a Na<sub>3</sub>Sb/Na<sub>2</sub>Se hybrid structure as an artificial SEI layer. This artificial SEI layer synergizes ion pumping Na<sub>3</sub>Sb with high ionic conductivity (adsorption energy: -1.31 eV, migration barrier: 0.49 eV) and mechanically stable Na<sub>2</sub>Se with electronic insulation (bandgap: 2.11 eV) and mechanical robustness (Young's modulus: 60.63 GPa). The ion pumping Na<sub>3</sub>Sb homogenizes the \"hot spot\" to suppress dendrite formation while the mechanically stable Na<sub>2</sub>Se ensures the durability of the interface, which synergically enables dendrite-free Na deposition. As a result, the IMS-Na anode achieves ultralow polarization (30 mV) and unprecedented cycling stability (1535 h at 0.5 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>) in carbonate electrolytes. Paired with a Na<sub>3</sub>V<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> cathode, the full cell delivers long-term stability (1400 cycles) and high-rate capacity (102 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 2 A g<sup>-1</sup>). This work establishes a design paradigm for artificial SEI layers, balancing ionic transport, electronic insulation, and mechanical resilience, critical for advancing high-energy-density metal batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500531"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Small MethodsPub Date : 2025-06-17DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202501013
Zhi-Bei Qu, Tao Sun, Lu Zhou
{"title":"Pioneering Biomedical Applications with Intelligent Engineering.","authors":"Zhi-Bei Qu, Tao Sun, Lu Zhou","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202501013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202501013","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2501013"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Small MethodsPub Date : 2025-06-17DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202500310
Ninggui Ma, Chihon Leung, Yuhang Wang, Yaqin Zhang, Shuang Luo, Han Liu, Bochun Liang, Changxiong Huang, Zhanhua Wei, Yang Ren, Jun Fan
{"title":"Theoretical Explanation of Diatomic Synergies and Repulsion Interactions between ORR/OER Catalytic Intermediates.","authors":"Ninggui Ma, Chihon Leung, Yuhang Wang, Yaqin Zhang, Shuang Luo, Han Liu, Bochun Liang, Changxiong Huang, Zhanhua Wei, Yang Ren, Jun Fan","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500310","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) are pivotal in energy conversion. Herein, first-principles calculations are employed to explore cooperative catalysis's influence on catalysts with doping and adsorption configurations. Specifically, doped and adsorbed metal atoms are explored on MXene, analyze bimetallic system's electronic properties via density of states, and investigate catalytic activity in homonuclear and heteronuclear diatomic cooperative reactions. It is found that heteronuclear diatomic cooperation substantially enhances catalyst activity, unveiling high-efficacy catalysts like Ni<sup>&</sup>/Co*OOH (η<sup>ORR/OER/Bi</sup> = 0.29/0.37/0.66 V) and Ni<sup>&</sup>/Co*O (η<sup>ORR/OER/Bi</sup> = 0.40/0.16/0.56 V). Such ultra-high catalytic activity is primarily attributed to the repulsive interactions between catalytic intermediates at neighboring active sites, which modulate the charge distribution at the target sites during the catalytic process, as well as the density of atomic orbital centers of the catalytic atoms. The findings offer a potential explanation for the discrepancies observed between theoretical calculations and experimental results.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500310"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revealing the Ferroelectric Fatigue Pathways in HfO₂ Film.","authors":"Yufeng Xue, Qi Hu, Zhongfei Xu, Tongcai Yue, Shuning Lv, Chuang Xue, Tingxiao Xie, Chuanjia Tong, Tengfei Cao, Gilberto Teobaldi, Li-Min Liu","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202402176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202402176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hafnium oxide (HfO₂) has emerged as a transformative material for next-generation non-volatile memory technologies due to its unique ability to exhibit ferroelectricity in ultrathin films. Its practical application is critically hindered by polarization fatigue and depolarization phenomena, while the inherent complexity of these transitions between ferroelectric and paraelectric state in HfO₂ has posed significant challenges. Here, symmetry analysis and with first-principles calculations is leveraged to systematically explore all potential transition pathways from the ferroelectric oIII/oIV phases to the paraelectric mI/mII phases. The results demonstrate that multiple-pathways involving intermediate phases, such as <math> <semantics><mrow><mi>F</mi> <mi>m</mi> <mover><mn>3</mn> <mo>¯</mo></mover> <mi>m</mi></mrow> <annotation>$Fmbar 3m$</annotation></semantics> </math> , <math> <semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi> <msub><mn>4</mn> <mn>2</mn></msub> <mo>/</mo> <mi>nmc</mi></mrow> <annotation>$P{4}_{2}/textit{nmc}$</annotation></semantics> </math> , and <math> <semantics><mrow><mi>P</mi> <msub><mn>4</mn> <mn>2</mn></msub> <mo>/</mo> <mi>nmc</mi></mrow> <annotation>$P{4}_{2}/textit{nmc}$</annotation></semantics> </math> , require relatively high energy barriers ranging from 0.33 to 0.71 eV per unit cell. In contrast, a direct transition from oIII to mI requires overcoming an energy barrier of only 0.11 eV per unit cell, suggesting that ferroelectric fatigue can occur along the direct pathway rather than multiple ones. This direct transition induces an in-plane expansion of ≈4%, thus applying in-plane confinement or compressive strain can be effective in suppressing fatigue. These findings provide a comprehensive framework for elucidating the phase transition dynamics and mechanisms underlying ferroelectric fatigue in HfO₂, offering critical insights for optimizing its integration into advanced memory technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2402176"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144300737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Situ Analysis for Protein Corona: from Morphology, Composition, Structure to Dynamic Process.","authors":"Shengtao Yu, Didar Baimanov, Zhenzhen Guo, Qing Gao, Chunying Chen, Mateus Borba Cardoso, Liming Wang","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500348","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The formation of a protein corona (PC) on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs) in biological environments is a critical factor influencing the fate and functionality of NPs in vivo. This biolayer affects NPs' biodistribution, immune recognition, cellular uptake, and therapeutic efficacy, making it essential for the rational design of nanomedicines. However, traditional analytical techniques often disrupt the native state of the PC, particularly its loosely bound soft corona (SC), leading to incomplete characterizations. In situ analysis methods offer a more accurate representation of PC composition, structure, and dynamics by preserving its native biological context. This review highlights critical advances in in situ PC analysis techniques, including methods for composition identification, structural visualization, and monitoring the dynamic evolution of the PC. It emphasizes the importance of real-time, non-disruptive analysis to better understand the nano-bio interface and its implications for nanomedicine design and safety. Additionally, it discusses challenges in current PC analysis methodologies and proposes future research directions to improve in situ characterization accuracy and standardization.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500348"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144300735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Small MethodsPub Date : 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202500396
Qianyu Huang, Wei Meng, Zhangyu Yuan, Hao Li, Fei Huang, Ning Li
{"title":"Decoding Charge Recombination and Extraction at Perovskite Interfaces with Transient Photoluminescence.","authors":"Qianyu Huang, Wei Meng, Zhangyu Yuan, Hao Li, Fei Huang, Ning Li","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500396","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500396","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding charge carrier dynamics at buried interfaces is pivotal for the rational design of high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This study presents a novel methodology combining transient photoluminescence spectroscopy with a differential equation-based analytical framework to elucidate the interplay between charge extraction and recombination processes at perovskite interfaces. The results demonstrate that the superior efficiency of self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-based devices, in comparison to conventional semiconductor thin-film-based hole transport layers, is primarily attributed to a substantially reduced defect-mediated recombination rate. While the hole extraction efficiency of SAMs is relatively low, particularly under low carrier concentrations, the findings underscore that excessive optimization of charge extraction is not the primary determinant of device performance. Instead, precise regulation of interfacial defects and mitigation of Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) recombination emerge as critical factors for performance enhancement. These insights provide a robust framework for the interface design and optimization of PSCs. Moreover, the proposed approach serves as a non-contact, high-throughput tool for evaluating the quality of buried interfaces, facilitating accelerated material discovery, and advancing energy research.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500396"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144300734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Small MethodsPub Date : 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202500624
Luke J Kubiatowicz, Nima Pourafzal, Audrey T Zhu, Zhongyuan Guo, Ronnie H Fang, Liangfang Zhang
{"title":"Nanomedicine for Oral Delivery: Strategies to Overcome the Biological Barriers.","authors":"Luke J Kubiatowicz, Nima Pourafzal, Audrey T Zhu, Zhongyuan Guo, Ronnie H Fang, Liangfang Zhang","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500624","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500624","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral drug delivery is highly desirable for medical intervention due to its convenience, patient adherence, and non-invasiveness. Despite significant efforts, the successful oral delivery of therapeutics and prophylactics has been largely hindered by biological barriers that limit bioavailability. Researchers have since turned to nanoparticles as promising delivery vehicles that offer tunable properties to protect therapeutic payloads and enhance transport across these barriers. In addition to material optimization and delivery strategies, biomimetic designs-particularly those inspired by viruses-have significantly advanced the field, leveraging natural mechanisms to penetrate mucosal layers through size, charge, and enzymatic functions. This review examines the key physiological challenges limiting oral drug absorption, including the harsh gastric environment, the mucosal layer, and the polarized epithelial barrier. Recent preclinical advancements are then highlighted in nanoparticle engineering aimed at overcoming these barriers and improving bioavailability. Continued innovation in oral nanomedicine holds immense potential to revolutionize treatment paradigms, enhancing both therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500624"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144300736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trinitarian Stabilization of Electrolyte/Interphase/Cathode for 5.0-5.4 V Dual-Ion Batteries Realized by a Gel-Polymer Electrolyte Capable of HF Elimination.","authors":"Baozhi Zhang, Qunting Qu, Weixing Xiong, Jie Shao, Longfei Wang, Ru Wang, Honghe Zheng","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500649","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500649","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) that are composed of graphite cathodes and low-potential anodes such as Li possess the unique advantages of high working voltage (≈5.0 V) and high power density, but suffer from the serious oxidative decomposition of electrolyte and cointercalation of solvent/anions into graphite cathode, leading to unsatisfactory cycling stability. From the perspectives of blocking the generation of corrosive HF in electrolyte and reinforcing the stability of cathode/electrolyte interphase (CEI), a gel-polymer electrolyte incorporating zeolite molecular sieve into the polymer matrix of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyacrylonitrile is prepared and utilized in DIBs. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of this gel-polymer electrolyte are systematically studied and compared with those of liquid electrolytes. This gel-polymer electrolyte is demonstrated to be able to mitigate the oxidative decomposition of solvent at graphite cathode and inhibit the generation of HF that corrodes CEI. The stability of the CEI layer and graphite cathode during the long-term cycling is improved significantly. The assembled Li||graphite DIBs exhibit an outstanding capacity retention of 88.3% after 6000 cycles at 25 °C, and also allow stable cycling at 60 °C and a high cutoff voltage of 5.0-5.4 V.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500649"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In Situ and Operando Analytical Techniques of Single-Atom Catalysts for Electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction.","authors":"Rongbo Sun, Xingyun Liu, Jingyao Huang, Yuchao Wang, Hongwen Huang, Yongpeng Lei, Jingjie Ge","doi":"10.1002/smtd.202500516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202500516","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electrocatalytic technology, which facilitates the transformation of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) into high-value chemicals, stands as one of the most hopeful approaches for CO<sub>2</sub> utilization. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are promising for catalyzing CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reactions (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) owing to the tunable electronic structures of their central metal atoms, which enable precise control over the adsorption energies of reactants and intermediates. Additionally, SACs bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, offering an ideal platform to investigate the reaction mechanisms of CO<sub>2</sub>RR. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic structural evolution of SACs, along with the micro-environmental changes around active sites and electrode interfaces under operational conditions, is crucial for designing effective electrocatalysts and devices for CO<sub>2</sub>RR. This review introduces the fundamentals underlying the electrocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub>RR. Subsequently, the key techniques for SACs identification and validation are thoroughly analyzed, laying a theoretical basis for the case studies. Third, the latest development of in situ and operando analytical techniques of SACs toward CO<sub>2</sub>RR are summarized, including infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, several issues are raised and possible solutions are offered regarding the in situ and operando analytical techniques of SACs for the CO<sub>2</sub>RR.</p>","PeriodicalId":229,"journal":{"name":"Small Methods","volume":" ","pages":"e2500516"},"PeriodicalIF":10.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}