Research articles

We developed an injectable thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel (NE@CSB) for sustained release of Netrin-1-overexpressing macrophage-derived exosomes (N-Exos) to promote peripheral nerve regeneration and angiogenesis synchronously. In vitro experiments demonstrated that N-Exos significantly enhanced endothelial cell functions and inhibited pyroptosis via the Unc5b/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In a diabetic mouse model of peripheral nerve injury, NE@CSB effectively promoted angiogenesis, axonal regeneration, and functional recovery. These findings suggest a promising synergistic strategy for diabetic peripheral nerve repair.

Monoclinic KBiFe₂O₅ exhibits three key features: (i) unconventional dual bandgap (1.69 eV and 2.17 eV) from Fe-O orbital contributions for broadband photovoltaics; (ii) multiferroic coupling comprising G-type antiferromagnetic order (T_c~832 K) with spin-canted weak ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity driven by stereochemically active Bi³⁺ lone pairs; (iii) first comprehensive thermal characterization revealing standard molar entropy (297.59 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹), enthalpy, and significant magnetocaloric effects near 832 K, establishing potential for solid-state refrigeration.

Silica glass exhibits structural flexibility of the SiO₄ network, enabling tunable optical properties under external stimuli. This study compares modifications induced by femtosecond laser direct writing (FLDW) and high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) treatment using confocal Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. FLDW forms nanoscale periodic nanogratings with localized refractive-index changes, whereas HPHT promotes network densification via pressure-driven structural relaxation. The ultrafast non-equilibrium heating and quenching in FLDW generate defect configurations distinct from those formed under thermodynamic HPHT conditions, demonstrating a pathway for deterministic microstructural engineering of silica glass for advanced photonic applications. This study compares silica glass densification via high-pressure treatment and femtosecond laser. It reveals that laser irradiation creates unique structures with high-fictive temperatures and specific defects, enabling local optical tuning.

This study introduces a computationally efficient approach for determining the alloy structures expected under working conditions. The method combines a compact lattice Hamiltonian with Monte Carlo sampling and parameters fitted to density functional theory (DFT) data for archetypal nanoparticle arrangements. Applied to Pd-Pt-Cu, Ni-Pd-Cu, and Co-Rh-Cu nanoparticles, the model reproduced distinct ordering patterns and showed that temperature-driven disorder can strongly alter surface composition and reactivity. The approach also enabled direct estimation of mixing free energies, offering a practical route to more realistic simulations and design of multimetallic nanocatalysts.

A minute amount of Fe was introduced into NbSb₂ single crystals, as illustrated in the upper-left panel. Remarkably, despite the dilute level of magnetic doping, the de Haas–van Alphen oscillations exhibit a substantial phase shift of 0.58π, whereas nonmagnetic samples converge to the expected phase value, as shown in the upper-right panel. This pronounced phase deviation indicates that even dilute magnetic impurities can strongly influence the quantum oscillation phase through spin-dependent scattering, while the exceptionally high quality of the host crystal allows this effect to be clearly resolved. The lower panel summarizes the striking contrast in oscillation phase between samples without and with magnetic impurities.

A TiO₂/Al₂O₃ bilayer memristor exhibits filament-based gradual dual resistive switching through the filament dynamics in Al₂O₃ and resistive modulation of TiO₂. The device supports quasi-symmetric spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) and anti-STDP without explicit mode switching, delivers 95% functional yield and less than 3% switching variation, and enables reliable bidirectional synaptic updates in crossbar arrays under identical spike inputs. Simulations based on experimentally extracted device parameters achieve 84.5% MNIST classification accuracy. These results demonstrate a scalable, cost-effective and CMOS-compatible platform for neuromorphic hardware.

Integrated photonic memory based on phase-change materials (PCM) offers a promising approach for neuromorphic computing. Here, we employ a multiscale simulation scheme, which combines density functional theory and finite-difference time-domain simulations, to investigate the low-loss origin of Sb₂Se₃, and design a programmable mode converter array with 5-bit precision and −0.65 dB insertion loss per node. This Sb₂Se₃-based photonic tensor core is predicted to be scalable to a large matrix size of 128 × 128, and simulated image recognition accuracy could be comparable to the pure software-based predictions. Our work is expected to stimulate the exploration of low-loss PCM for photonic computing.

A thixotropic, injectable hydrogel composed of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) nanofibers and oxidized dextran (OD) was developed as a sealant for anastomotic reinforcement. The ELP nanofibers form a physically cross-linked network that undergoes reversible sol–gel transitions in response to shear stress, while covalent bonding with OD reinforces the network against mechanical deformation and imparts tissue adhesive properties via residual aldehyde groups. The resulting hydrogel exhibited tissue adhesion strength comparable to that of fibrin glue in ex vivo and demonstrated self-hardening behavior upon exposure to the biological environment in vivo, suggesting its potential utility as a practical and effective surgical sealant.

This study reports the development of a high-performance supercapacitor utilizing a templated carbon electrode (graphene mesosponge; GMS) and a novel ionogel electrolyte. By integrating an ionic liquid ([EMIM]⁺[HSO4]^-) within a PVA/GMS polymer matrix, the device achieves enhanced electrochemical stability and ion mobility. Electrochemical characterization via CV, EIS, and GCD demonstrates superior capacitive behaviour and reduced internal resistance (IR drop). The results were supported by computational models that confirms that GMS's unique structure enhances ion accessibility and interaction and the ionogel enables efficient charge storage, offering a promising strategy for flexible and robust energy storage applications.

Direct microwave oxidation of naturally abundant MoS₂ ore enables gram-scale, phase-pure α-MoO₃ in minutes. Volumetric microwave heating converts MoS₂ to layered α-MoO₃ via SO₂ evolution while preserving a belt-like morphology and yielding millimeter-long crystals. The simple process is highly scalable (1 g h⁻¹), energy- and carbon-efficient versus state-of-the-art routes, and the resulting high-quality crystals serve as the active layer in low-voltage MIOS memristors driven by oxygen-vacancy migration.

In this study, we aimed to enhance sustainability in the biomanufacturing field by utilizing the photosynthetic pathway, nitrogen fixation pathway, and lithotrophic pathway of the purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodovulum sulfidophilum, by using CO₂ gas, N₂ gas, and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds as carbon, nitrogen, and electron sources, respectively. Under these culture conditions, the expression of recombinant proteins was investigated, focusing on the production of artificial spider silk proteins.

The phase diagram of 5% Hg-doped CeRhIn₅ reveals two distinct antiferromagnetic ground states without superconductivity, contrasting sharply with electron- and dilute hole-doped systems. This behavior highlights a fundamental asymmetry in local electronic structure: electron substitution induces homogeneous effects, whereas hole doping nucleates localized magnetic droplets. In the heavy hole-doping limit, these droplets grow to stabilize a new magnetic order and create a spatially heterogeneous electronic state. Consequently, the high impurity density locally freezes magnetic fluctuations, suppressing the canonical quantum critical signatures and preventing the formation of superconductivity near the quantum critical point.

In this study, we demonstrate a novel and scalable route to CoPi, where cobalt oxide (CoO_x) is first grown by aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) and then surface modified through a dark electrochemical treatment (ET) process. CoPi was grown onto bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) photoanodes, also synthesised by AACVD. CoPi-decorated BiVO₄ demonstrated high charge separation efficiency (84%), stability over four hours of chronoamperometry (~90% of initial performance retained), and photoelectrochemical performance, achieving a half-cell solar-to-hydrogen (HC-STH) efficiency of 1.16% at 1.23 V vs RHE. Overall, our study demonstrates the viability of the AACVD technique to produce scalable photoanodes for solar water splitting applications.

Viologen-based 2D ionic covalent organic polymer (V-iCOP) thin films are synthesized via the Zincke reaction using three different linkers with varying electron affinities. The structural and electronic effects of the different linkers on the electrochromic device (ECD) performances are investigated and compared with theoretical DFT calculations. Due to the cationic viologen moiety, the V-iCOP films promote fast ionic diffusion with photocurable hydrogel electrolyte, with the ECD resulting in rapid switching (<10 s), high coloration efficiency (up to 836.08 cm² C⁻¹), low operating bias, multichromic behavior, and long-term cycling stability (92.5% retention after 2000 cycles).

An azobenzene derivative has been investigated to demonstrate its excellent multifunctional characteristics: piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and memristor. Most of the figures of merit for these properties of the lightweight material are superior to those reported for the other organic ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials, suggesting its exceptional capabilities. The study highlights the potential of azobenzene systems for their application as a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) for piezoelectric energy harvesting.

Mixed cubic B20 helimagnets are famous for pronounced tunability of their properties with the alloy composition. In the present study, we show that it can have important drawbacks. Using experimental techniques - spin wave small-angle neutron scattering and X-ray circular magnetic dichroism – and analytical calculations, we show that B20 skyrmion host Cr_0.82Mn_0.18Ge does not possess well-defined magnons in its field-polarized phase. Minority Mn ions strongly scatter spin waves, so the elementary excitations become overdamped. This leads to diffusive noisy spin wave small-angle neutron scattering maps observed experimentally which reflect the disordered nature of the studied material.

The present work reports a novel and unique strategy for strengthening semi-crystalline polymers; nano-structuring by introducing ultra-fine mosaics into the crystalline lamellae indeed increases the strength. This is inspired by the well-known empirical strengthening principle for metals/alloys, the so-called Hall-Petch relation, which has clearly shown that simply having smaller crystalline grains makes metals/alloys stronger. In contrast to the increasing-crystallinity strategy that has been used so far for semi-crystalline polymers, the present nano-structuring effects provide an alternative strength-ductility tailoring method based on higher-order structure control (i.e. crystalline-size control) that can be achieved simply by a heat elongation process.

Lignin-derived 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) was polymerized with various diols to produce biomass-based polyesters. The effects of alkylene spacer length on their thermal, crystalline, processability, and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. The biodegradation rate was found to correlate with the alkylene spacer length and the hydrophilicity of the polymers. Furthermore, the PDC-based polyesters exhibited strong adhesion to various metals, with adhesion strength increasing with PDC content. A maximum lap-shear strength of 15.26 MPa was achieved on aluminum.

This study demonstrates the use of molecularly tailored self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as ultrathin diffusion barriers and adhesion liners for Ru interconnects. Compared to non-functionalized and methyl-terminated surfaces, hydroxylated arylimine SAMs such as 2-HBITES effectively suppress Ru interdiffusion, prevent film delamination, and significantly enhance thermal stability up to 700 °C. The SAM-functionalized interfaces exhibit improved adhesion and structural integrity, offering a promising strategy for future scaled interconnect technologies.

In this article, we explore the coupling between the localized surface plasmon of gold nanorods and the excitonic states of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) perovskite quantum dots. Using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and finite-difference time-domain simulations, we reveal the origin of exciton-plasmon-coupled blinking suppression and emission intensity enhancement in the gold nanorod-MAPbI₃ quantum dot system.