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In nature, structural and functional materials often form programmed three-dimensional (3D) assembly to perform daily functions, inspiring researchers to engineer multifunctional 3D structures. Despite much progress, a general method to fabricate and assemble a broad range of materials into functional 3D objects remains limited. Herein, to bridge the gap, we demonstrate a freeform multimaterial assembly process (FMAP) by integrating 3D printing (fused filament fabrication (FFF), direct ink writing (DIW)) with freeform laser induction (FLI). 3D printing performs the 3D structural material assembly, while FLI fabricates the functional materials in predesigned 3D space by synergistic, programmed control. This paper showcases the versatility of FMAP in spatially fabricating various types of functional materials (metals, semiconductors) within 3D structures for applications in crossbar circuits for LED display, a strain sensor for multifunctional springs and haptic manipulators, a UV sensor, a 3D electromagnet as a magnetic encoder, capacitive sensors for human machine interface, and an integrated microfluidic reactor with a built-in Joule heater for nanomaterial synthesis. This success underscores the potential of FMAP to redefine 3D printing and FLI for programmed multimaterial assembly. 

This study aimed to explore lignin as a naturally occurring aromatic precursor for the synthesis of LIG and further fabrication of ultrasensitive strain sensors for the detection of small deformations. One-step direct laser writing (DLW) induced high quality porous graphene, so called laser induced graphene (LIG), from kraft lignin under the conditions optimized for laser power, focus distance, and lignin loading. An electrode based on the resulting LIG was facilely fabricated by transferring LIG onto an elastomeric substrate ( i.e. , Dragon Skin™). The novel LIG transfer was facilitated by spin coating followed by water lifting, leading to the full retention of porous graphene onto the elastomeric substrate. The strain sensor was shown to be highly sensitive to small human body motions and tiny deformations caused by vibrations. It had a working range of up to 14% strain with a gauge factor of 960 and showed high stability as evidenced by repetitive signals over 10 000 cycles at 4% strain. The sensor was also successfully demonstrated for detecting human speaking, breath, seismocardiography (SCG), and movement of pulse and eye. Overall, the lignin-derived LIG can serve as excellent piezoresistive materials for wearable, stretchable, and ultrasensitive strain sensors with applications in human body motion monitoring and sound-related applications. 

The retromer is a heteromeric protein complex that localizes to endosomal membranes and drives the formation of endosomal tubules that recycle membrane protein cargoes. In plants, the retromer plays essential and canonical functions in regulating the transport of vacuolar storage proteins and the recycle of endocytosed plasma membrane proteins (PM); however, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of assembly, protein stability, and membrane recruitment of the plant retromer complex remain to be elucidated. In this study, we identify a plant-unique endosomal regulator termed BLISTER (BLI), which colocalizes and associates with the retromer complex by interacting with the retromer core subunits VPS35 and VPS29. Depletion of BLI perturbs the assembly and membrane recruitment of the retromer core VPS26-VPS35-VPS29 trimer. Consequently, depletion of BLI disrupts retromer-regulated endosomal trafficking function, including transport of soluble vacuolar proteins and recycling of endocytosed PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins from the endosomes back to the PM. Moreover, genetic analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana mutants reveals BLI and core retromer interact genetically in the regulation of endosomal trafficking. Taken together, we identified BLI as a plant-specific endosomal regulator, which functions in retromer pathway to modulate the recycling of endocytosed PM proteins and the trafficking of soluble vacuolar cargoes. 

Abstract With the aim of investigating how the magnetic field in solar active regions (ARs) controls flare activity, i.e., whether a confined or eruptive flare occurs, we analyze 106 flares of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite class ≥M1.0 during 2010–2019. We calculate mean characteristic twist parameters α FPIL within the “flaring polarity inversion line” region and α HFED within the area of high photospheric magnetic free energy density, which both provide measures of the nonpotentiality of the AR core region. Magnetic twist is thought to be related to the driving force of electric current-driven instabilities, such as the helical kink instability. We also calculate total unsigned magnetic flux (Φ AR ) of ARs producing the flare, which describes the strength of the background field confinement. By considering both the constraining effect of background magnetic fields and the magnetic nonpotentiality of ARs, we propose a new parameter α /Φ AR to measure the probability for a large flare to be associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME). We find that in about 90% of eruptive flares, α FPIL /Φ AR and α HFED /Φ AR are beyond critical values (2.2 × 10 −24 and 3.2 × 10 −24 Mm −1 Mx −1 ), whereas they are less than critical values in ∼80% of confined flares. This indicates that the new parameter α /Φ AR is well able to distinguish eruptive flares from confined flares. Our investigation suggests that the relative measure of magnetic nonpotentiality within the AR core over the restriction of the background field largely controls the capability of ARs to produce eruptive flares. 

Abstract Graphene with a 3D porous structure is directly laser‐induced on lignocellulosic biopaper under ambient conditions and is further explored for multifunctional biomass‐based flexible electronics. The mechanically strong, flexible, and waterproof biopaper is fabricated by surface‐functionalizing cellulose with lignin‐based epoxy acrylate (LBEA). This composite biopaper shows as high as a threefold increase in tensile strength and excellent waterproofing compared with pure cellulose one. Direct laser writing (DLW) rapidly induces porous graphene from the biopaper in a single step. The porous graphene shows an interconnected carbon network, well‐defined graphene domains, and high electrical conductivity (e.g., ≈3 Ω per square), which can be tuned by lignin precursors and loadings as well as lasing conditions. The biopaper in situ embedded with porous graphene is facilely fabricated into flexible electronics for on‐chip and paper‐based applications. The biopaper‐based electronic devices, including the all‐solid‐state planer supercapacitor, electrochemical and strain biosensors, and Joule heater, show great performances. This study demonstrates the facile, versatile, and low‐cost fabrication of multifunctional graphene‐based electronics from lignocellulose‐based biopaper.