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1. Ultra‐Flexible Visible‐Blind Optoelectronics for Wired and Wireless UV Sensing in Harsh Environments

   https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202001125  

   Li, Guanghui; Yao, Yao; Ashok, Nikhil; Ning, Xin (July 2021, Advanced Materials Technologies)

   Abstract Exploring remote destinations on Earth and in space such as the Antarctic and Mars is of great significance to science and technology. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at those locations is usually strong due to the depletion or absence of ozone, which is often accompanied by strong visible light interference and harsh environments with extreme temperatures. Those exploration missions extensively utilize flexible and foldable membranes and shells to meet the extreme requirements on structural size and weight. Ultra‐flexible UV photodetectors (PDs) capable of surviving harsh environments with additional ability to integrate on flexible and foldable structures for in situ visible‐blind UV sensing are critical to the protection of human explorers and engineering materials. However, the development of such UV PDs remains challenging. Here, this work introduces wired and wireless optoelectronic devices based on visible‐blind, ultra‐flexible, sub‐micron nanocomposites of zinc oxide nanoparticles and single‐walled carbon nanotubes. In‐depth studies demonstrate their operation at cold and hot temperatures and low air pressure. Those PDs can employ flexible near‐field communication circuits for wireless, battery‐free data acquisition. Their ultra‐flexibility allows folding into a sharp crease and conformal integration to flexible and origami structures, bringing further opportunities for UV detection in demanding missions on Earth and in space. 

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2. Tuning Microbial Activity via Programmatic Alteration of Cell/Substrate Interfaces

   https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202004655  

   Gulyuk, Alexey_V; LaJeunesse, Dennis_R; Collazo, Ramon; Ivanisevic, Albena (May 2021, Advanced Materials)

   Abstract A wide portfolio of advanced programmable materials and structures has been developed for biological applications in the last two decades. Particularly, due to their unique properties, semiconducting materials have been utilized in areas of biocomputing, implantable electronics, and healthcare. As a new concept of such programmable material design, biointerfaces based on inorganic semiconducting materials as substrates introduce unconventional paths for bioinformatics and biosensing. In particular, understanding how the properties of a substrate can alter microbial biofilm behavior enables researchers to better characterize and thus create programmable biointerfaces with necessary characteristics on demand. Herein, the current status of advanced microorganism–inorganic biointerfaces is summarized along with types of responses that can be observed in such hybrid systems. This work identifies promising inorganic material types along with target microorganisms that will be critical for future research on programmable biointerfacial structures. 

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3. Origami-based integration of robots that sense, decide, and respond

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37158-9  

   Yan, Wenzhong; Li, Shuguang; Deguchi, Mauricio; Zheng, Zhaoliang; Rus, Daniela; Mehta, Ankur (April 2023, Nature Communications)

   Abstract Origami-inspired engineering has enabled intelligent materials and structures to process and react to environmental stimuli. However, it is challenging to achieve complete sense-decide-act loops in origami materials for autonomous interaction with environments, mainly due to the lack of information processing units that can interface with sensing and actuation. Here, we introduce an integrated origami-based process to create autonomous robots by embedding sensing, computing, and actuating in compliant, conductive materials. By combining flexible bistable mechanisms and conductive thermal artificial muscles, we realize origami multiplexed switches and configure them to generate digital logic gates, memory bits, and thus integrated autonomous origami robots. We demonstrate with a flytrap-inspired robot that captures ‘living prey’, an untethered crawler that avoids obstacles, and a wheeled vehicle that locomotes with reprogrammable trajectories. Our method provides routes to achieve autonomy for origami robots through tight functional integration in compliant, conductive materials. 

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4. Materials properties characterization in the most extreme environments

   https://doi.org/10.1557/s43577-022-00441-z  

   Schreiber, Daniel K.; Schwaiger, Ruth; Heilmaier, Martin; McCormack, Scott J. (December 2022, MRS Bulletin)

   AbstractThere is an ever-increasing need for material systems to operate in the most extreme environments encountered in space exploration, energy production, and propulsion systems. To effectively design materials to reliably operate in extreme environments, we need an array of tools to both sustain lab-scale extreme conditions and then probe the materials properties across a variety of length and time scales. Within this article, we examine the state-of-the-art experimental systems for testing materials under extreme environments and highlight the limitations of these approaches. We focus on three areas: (1) extreme temperatures, (2) extreme mechanical testing, and (3) chemically hostile environments. Within these areas, we identify six opportunities for instrument and technique development that are poised to dramatically impact the further understanding and development of next-generation materials for extreme environments. Graphical abstract 

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5. Recent Progresses in the Investigation of Rare-Earth Boron Inverse Sandwich Clusters

   https://doi.org/10.14102/j.cnki.02545861.2011–2891  

   W. L. Li, T. T. (June 2020, Jiegou huaxue)

   null (Ed.)

   While rare-earth borides represent a class of important materials in modern industries, there are few fundamental researches on their electronic structures and physicochemical properties. Recently we have performed combined experimental and theoretical studies on rare-earth boron clusters and their cluster-assembled complexes, revealing a series of rare-earth inverse sandwich clusters with fascinating electronic structures and chemical bonding patterns. In this overview article, we summarize recent progresses in this area and provide a perspective view on the future development of rare-earth boride clusters. Understanding the electronic structures of these clusters helps to design materials of f-element (lanthanide and actinide) borides with critical physiochemical properties. 

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