Materials Today最新文献

{"title":"Triboelectric nanogenerators as a clean energy scavenging technology","authors":"Ya Yang ,&nbsp;Jie Wang ,&nbsp;Weiqi Qian ,&nbsp;Zhong Lin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span><span><span>Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) convert of mechanical energy into electric power, providing a simple way to low-emission, self-powering technology. Since their discovery in 2012, applications in </span>wearable electronic devices, wave and </span>wind energy<span> scavenging have been discussed, but further research is required to realise the real-world application of TENGs as a clean technology. This review uniquely integrates fundamental principles, advanced design strategies, and cross-disciplinary applications, addressing critical gaps overlooked in prior studies focused on material design or single-domain applications. Specifically, we highlight the theoretical framework of displacement current incorporating triboelectric polarization; innovative charge excitation techniques enabling ultrahigh surface charge density; dual-mode (alternating-current/direct-current) operation mechanisms; and emerging applications in </span></span>Internet of Things<span> (IoT), implantable medical devices<span>, and smart agriculture. These insights provide a comprehensive roadmap for advancing TENGs as a versatile clean energy technology.</span></span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 839-854"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revolutionizing fiber materials for space: Multi-scale interface engineering unlocks new aerospace frontiers","authors":"Zhicheng Shi ,&nbsp;Zihui Liang ,&nbsp;Zhiyu Huang ,&nbsp;Annan He ,&nbsp;Sijie Qiao ,&nbsp;Aixin Tong ,&nbsp;Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuxin Luo ,&nbsp;Mengqi Wang ,&nbsp;Jun He ,&nbsp;Binhao Wang ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Wang ,&nbsp;Tao Ye ,&nbsp;Jin Qian ,&nbsp;Chao Xu ,&nbsp;Fengxiang Chen ,&nbsp;Shujian Sun ,&nbsp;Kai Wang ,&nbsp;Weilin Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Space exploration represents a critical frontier for advancing human knowledge and technology. However, the extreme space environment—characterized by wide temperature fluctuations, vacuum, radiation, atomic oxygen erosion, and micrometeoroid impacts—places exceptional demands on spacecraft materials. These conditions necessitate materials that are lightweight, thermally stable, radiation- and corrosion-resistant, and mechanically robust. High-performance fibers and fiber-reinforced composites have emerged as key candidates due to their excellent specific strength, stiffness, and tunable functionalities, finding broad use in spacecraft components, astronaut gear, and shielding systems. Despite growing interest in space-applied fiber materials, comprehensive reviews integrating material design principles, interface engineering strategies, and practical aerospace applications remain scarce. This review addresses that gap by systematically analyzing recent advances in high-performance fibers and composites for space use. It focuses on their performance under multifactorial space conditions and the impact of interfacial modification and matrix architectures on composite mechanics. Functional applications—such as atomic oxygen resistance, thermal protection systems, and electromagnetic shielding—are critically discussed, with an emphasis on limitations and challenges. Finally, we highlight future directions for material innovation, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches to advance next-generation aerospace fiber systems that not only meet demanding mission requirements but also support long-term sustainability for deep-space exploration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 643-704"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent development in sodium metal batteries: challenges, progress, and perspective","authors":"Muhammad Ali ,&nbsp;Aadil Nabi Chishti ,&nbsp;Moazzam Ali ,&nbsp;Sikandar Iqbal ,&nbsp;Samia Aman ,&nbsp;Asif Mahmood ,&nbsp;Huiling Liu ,&nbsp;Muhammad Yousaf ,&nbsp;Yinzhu Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Considering the limited energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and the high cost of lithium (Li) metal, alternative high-energy–density battery systems for next-generation energy are urgently required. Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are one of the most versatile platforms for high energy density and cost-effective electrochemical energy storage systems. However, the high reactivity of sodium (Na), dendrite growth, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer result in low coulombic efficiency (CE), poor cyclic stability, and severe safety concerns, seriously hampering their practical application. This review describes the basic mechanisms related to challenging issues in SMBs and summarizes current progress in feasible strategies to address them. Briefly, we survey various strategies that augment the performance of SMBs, encompassing structure stabilization using host materials, interfacial engineering, and electrolyte formulations. We also address the current challenges and prospects within this dynamic field, including fabrication intricacies, post-processing treatments, and potential avenues for future applications. We anticipate that this tutorial review will contribute across various fields, fostering advancements in sustainable energy technologies and accelerating the transition to next-generation batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 730-751"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MXene-based electrocatalysts for lithium-sulfur, sodium-sulfur, magnesium-sulfur and aluminum-sulfur batteries","authors":"Yuan Li ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Ni ,&nbsp;Zhengran Wang ,&nbsp;Kangdong Tian ,&nbsp;Shenglin Xiong ,&nbsp;Jinkui Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span>Metal-sulfur batteries such as lithium-sulfur, sodium-sulfur, magnesium-sulfur and aluminum-sulfur batteries are promising candidates for next-generation high energy density<span> storage system owning to the ultrahigh specific capacity and low cost of sulfur. However, the slow dynamics of polysulfides </span></span>redox reaction<span><span> reduce the energy efficiency and rate capability, which hinders the commercialization of metal-sulfur batteries. MXenes, with ultrahigh specific surface area, superior electrical conductivity<span> and adjustable surface terminations, show special adsorption and catalytic effects on the polysulfides redox reaction. In this review, recent research progress of MXene-based </span></span>electrocatalysts for advanced metal-sulfur batteries are reviewed comprehensively. First, the basic principle, synthesis methods and competitive advantages of MXenes are demonstrated. Then the latest research progresses of MXenes and MXene-based composites for lithium-sulfur, sodium-sulfur, magnesium-sulfur and aluminum-sulfur batteries are introduced. Finally, limitation and prospects for the development directions of MXene-based electrocatalysts for metal-sulfur batteries are also summarized. This review may be useful for researchers in metal-sulfur batteries and related areas.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 814-838"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aptamers in drug delivery development","authors":"Connie Wen,&nbsp;Yixun Wang,&nbsp;Yong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span>Aptamers, often described as “chemical antibodies”, are short, single-stranded </span>nucleic acids<span><span> that can bind target molecules with high affinity and specificity. Due to these properties, aptamers have diverse therapeutic applications. They can function as standalone drugs, serve as carriers for a range of therapeutics including small molecules, nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, and antibodies, or be used to functionalize drug delivery systems such as </span>nanoparticles and bulk biomaterials. This review summarizes these diverse applications and discusses potential challenges associated with aptamers and drug delivery systems more broadly.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 855-870"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"State-of-the-art transition metal dichalcogenides: Synthesis, functionalization, and biomedical applications","authors":"Raj Kumar ,&nbsp;Chandrani Sarkar ,&nbsp;Naveen Bunekar ,&nbsp;Yogendra Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Ajeet Kaushik","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span><span>Among the state-of-the-art two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, 2D </span>transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising due to their different sizes, morphology, and versatile physicochemical characteristics such as unique optical, electrochemical, mechanical, photothermal properties, biocompatibility, feasibility of functionalization, and stability. Hence, TMDs have become attractive entities for biomedical applications in recent years. Keeping the breadth, requirements, and obstacles in view, this review examines the latest developments and advancements in TMDs and their biomedical applications. We carefully reviewed TMD’s structure, properties, and recent advances in synthesis strategies. These include top-down routes, namely mechanical, electrical, and liquid exfoliation, and bottom-up routes, namely different </span>chemical vapor deposition<span><span><span>, epitaxial growth, </span>molecular beam epitaxy, thermolysis, and </span>wet chemical synthesis. We also highlighted the effect of synthesis on the physicochemical properties of TMD, surface modification, and functionalization strategies based on physical and chemical interactions and newly generated properties. Finally, their promising therapeutic applications, such as therapeutic administration, hyperthermic treatment, medical imaging, biosensing, tissue engineering, and antibacterial potential, are comprehensively reviewed. Ultimately, we highlighted the critical challenges of integrating TMD into biomedical systems. This report also directs further studies and development for functional nanosystems required for innovative, refined, customized medical platforms.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 597-642"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stimuli-responsive gyroid Scaffolds: hierarchical architecture and electric stimulation promote bone regeneration","authors":"Rafael R.A. Silva ,&nbsp;Frederico Barbosa ,&nbsp;Guilherme Ferreira ,&nbsp;Carlos Ureña ,&nbsp;Eduardo H. Backes ,&nbsp;José M. Inácio ,&nbsp;José A. Belo ,&nbsp;Rui Igreja ,&nbsp;João C. Silva ,&nbsp;Luiz H.C. Mattoso ,&nbsp;Elvira Fortunato ,&nbsp;Henrique M.V. Almeida ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Martins ,&nbsp;Caio G. Otoni","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osteoporotic fractures in older adults place a significant burden on healthcare systems due to prolonged healing times and escalating costs. Innovative approaches closely mimicking the human bone microenvironment are paramount for advancing bone tissue regeneration. This study leverages a sacrificial template methodology to develop hierarchical 3D porous gelatin-NaNbO₃@PDMS scaffolds with gyroid structures mimicking cancellous bone architecture, tailored for enhanced stimuli-responsive biological performance. Modulating porosity levels (∼0%, 18 %, and 63 %) enables macro-to-micro pore transitions, highlighting how porosity and zero-curvature surfaces impact critical properties for bioactive scaffold applications. Under simulated physical activity pressures, lower scaffold porosity enhances structural integrity, mechanical stability, and damping capacity, driven by reduced thickness plastic deformation. Corona discharge poling generates electrically charged stimuli-responsive scaffolds, enhancing electric field intensity through charge trapping. Combined with ultrasound stimulation (50 and 250 mW·cm⁻²), it boosts metabolic activity, gene expression, and mineralization, increasing calcium deposition by up to 1200 % compared to unstimulated controls. Finite element analysis reveals that the 63 % porosity scaffolds generate a sixfold stronger electric field than its 18 % counterpart, enhancing stimuli-responsive cell alignment, with ultrasound stimulation boosting it by ∼10 %. These discoveries in zero-curvature geometries and stimuli-responsive systems redefine bone regeneration strategies by mimicking bone anisotropy through electric field stimulation, offering transformative insights for advanced biomaterials in implants and physiotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 186-200"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research progress in flexible solar thermoelectric devices","authors":"Jin-Zhuo Liu ,&nbsp;Si-Qi Chen ,&nbsp;Yi-Yi Ju ,&nbsp;Ming-Peng Zhuo ,&nbsp;Ke-Qin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span>Effective energy harvesting<span> and conversion from environmental sources or the human body, such as the thermoelectric conversion of heat into affordable and sustainable electricity, offers a stable and continuous energy supply for smart wearables and </span></span>Internet of Things<span> (IoTs) without relying on mechanical components or generating greenhouse gases. However, scaling up the production of thermoelectric fabrics and integrating thermal management for high-efficiency electricity generation present significant challenges. To address this, there is an urgent need to explore the rational design and scalable preparation of FSTEDs. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in radiation-modulating fibers, thermoelectric textiles, and FSTEDs, focusing on materials design principles, preparation methods, performance regulation, and wearable applications. Furthermore, we summarize the challenges currently faced by solar radiation fibers and flexible light-thermal-electric conversion devices, aiming to stimulate further research in both academia and industry. Our timely interpretation of FSTEDs underscores their potential for cost-effective, scalable, and high-performance energy harvesting and conversion in smart wearables.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 585-596"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structurally reordered crystalline atomic layer-dielectric hybrid metasurfaces for near-unity efficiency in the visible","authors":"Junhwa Seong ,&nbsp;Younghwan Yang ,&nbsp;Youngsun Jeon ,&nbsp;Chihun Lee ,&nbsp;Jihwan An ,&nbsp;Junsuk Rho","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><span>Metasurfaces<span>, consisting of sub-wavelength scale nanostructures, have garnered significant attention as promising alternatives to conventional optical elements. However, traditional metasurfaces are often limited by material inefficiencies, fabrication complexity, and challenges in achieving seamless integration with standard semiconductor equipment. Here, we propose highly efficient crystalline titanium dioxide (TiO</span></span>₂)-silicon dioxide (SiO₂<span>) hybrid metasurfaces, fabricated using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. By recrystallizing the state of the TiO</span>₂<span> atomic layer under optimized deposition conditions, we significantly increase the refractive index by 0.43 at a wavelength of 400 nm compared to its minimum value. Our hybrid metasurfaces, constructed by directly etching nanostructures into SiO</span>₂<span> substrates, substantially enhance cross-polarization transmittance, offering near-unity efficiencies across red (from 1 % to 95 %), green (from 3 % to 95 %), and blue (from 5 % to 75 %) wavelengths. We apply these hybrid metasurfaces to achieve diffraction-limited imaging with large-aperture 5 mm-sized metalenses in each color. This hybrid metasurface paves the way for real-world applications by extending SiO</span>₂<span>—widely used in the industry but previously limited by its low refractive index—into a high-efficiency metasurface material for the visible spectrum.</span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 137-145"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solid-state methods for ceramic metallization: Unlocking structural complexity, quantum effects, and multifunctionality","authors":"S. Romankov ,&nbsp;Y.C. Park ,&nbsp;R.Y. Umetsu ,&nbsp;S.V. Komarov ,&nbsp;D.V. Louzguine‑Luzgin","doi":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mattod.2025.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The metallization of ceramics is essential for advanced technological applications but remains challenging due to poor metal-ceramic adhesion and structural incompatibility. A solid-state mechanical alloying approach using ultrasonically assisted shot impact processing, which can also utilize metallic cubic billets as a coating material source, is introduced. This approach is demonstrated on W-Al- and W-Ni-based coatings fabricated on alumina substrates. The method enables the formation of a structurally complex system, integrating amorphous regions, nanocrystalline grains, and localized non-equilibrium solid solutions into a uniform structure. The as-fabricated coatings impart electrical conductivity and magnetic properties to the initially insulating ceramic substrate, while their exceptional adhesion ensures mechanical integrity, allowing the coating to co-deform with the substrate without delamination prior to ceramic fracture. Additionally, quantum transport phenomena, including weak localization and negative magnetoresistance at 6 K, are observed, revealing a direct correlation between structural complexity and electronic behavior. The emergence of quantum phenomena in mechanically integrated multicomponent metallic systems provides insight into quantum behavior in severely deformed materials and opens new possibilities for designing advanced functional materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":387,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today","volume":"88 ","pages":"Pages 155-167"},"PeriodicalIF":22.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}