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Abstract Solid state lithium metal batteries using garnet solid electrolytes such as LLZTO (Li6.4La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12) promise substantial improvements in energy density and safety. However, practical implementation is hindered by lithium dendrite penetration at high current densities. Recent work shows that internal electrochemically induced mechanical stresses are large enough to propagate lithium dendrites and subsequently fracture solid electrolytes. This study builds on this understanding and demonstrates that stress‐driven dendrite propagation can be controlled via deflection at weakly bonded internal interfaces. This approach, based on a fracture‐mechanics analysis of multilayered composites, is investigated with a variety of interlayer materials that are embedded into LLZTO. The viability and effectiveness of dendrite deflection are most clearly evident with reduced graphene oxide where the critical current density increased from 0.6 to 3.8 mA cm−2. In this material, both the weak interface with LLZTO and the mixed ionic–electronic conducting nature of the interlayer appear to contribute to the improved performance. Additional insight into the mechanics of multilayered electrolytes is also obtained with finite element modeling. The overall results present a promising proof‐of‐concept demonstration along with important generalized design guidelines for creating multilayered solid electrolyte architectures that can enable high‐performance solid‐state batteries.more » « less
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Graphene-based materials are being developed for a variety of wearable technologies to provide advanced functions that include sensing; temperature regulation; chemical, mechanical, or radiative protection; or energy storage. We hypothesized that graphene films may also offer an additional unanticipated function: mosquito bite protection for light, fiber-based fabrics. Here, we investigate the fundamental interactions between graphene-based films and the globally important mosquito species, Aedes aegypti , through a combination of live mosquito experiments, needle penetration force measurements, and mathematical modeling of mechanical puncture phenomena. The results show that graphene or graphene oxide nanosheet films in the dry state are highly effective at suppressing mosquito biting behavior on live human skin. Surprisingly, behavioral assays indicate that the primary mechanism is not mechanical puncture resistance, but rather interference with host chemosensing. This interference is proposed to be a molecular barrier effect that prevents Aedes from detecting skin-associated molecular attractants trapped beneath the graphene films and thus prevents the initiation of biting behavior. The molecular barrier effect can be circumvented by placing water or human sweat as molecular attractants on the top (external) film surface. In this scenario, pristine graphene films continue to protect through puncture resistance—a mechanical barrier effect—while graphene oxide films absorb the water and convert to mechanically soft hydrogels that become nonprotective.more » « less
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