Advanced Functional Materials

Choi, Deokjae; Hwang, Inchan; Lee, Youri; Lee, Myounghyun; Um, Han‐Don; Seo, Kwanyong

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202208377pmid: N/A

Microwire (MW)‐based radial junction crystalline silicon (c‐Si) solar cells have great potential as an emerging energy device with an efficiency of over 20%. However, the competitive efficiency of MW‐based c‐Si solar cells in realizing a wafer‐scale device is limiting its commercialization. In this study, the aim is to demonstrate that conventional fabrication techniques can be applied to MW‐based solar cells while not only increasing the size from the lab‐scale to the wafer‐scale but also retaining an efficiency of >20%. Surprisingly, an improvement in open‐circuit voltage and fill factor is observed with an increase in device size, due to the reduction of recombination loss at the device edge. Finally, a successful demonstration of 21.1% efficiency at 4‐inch wafer‐scale (25 cm2) in c‐Si MW solar cell is observed, while an efficiency of 20.6% at a lab‐scale size (1 cm2) is observed.

Zhong, Lieshuang; Chen, Huan; Zhu, Lingmei; Zhou, Maolin; Zhang, Lei; Wang, Shaomin; Han, Xuefeng; Hou, Yongping; Zheng, Yongmei

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202208117pmid: N/A

Constructing surface wetting gradients usually involves complex physical or chemical methods. Here, a novel Gradient‐Janus wire (GJW) can be designed based on the theory of newly Liquid Confined Modification (LCM). In LCM theory, reaction difference will be generated by the confinement of reaction solution, which constructs wettability discrepancy on the same curve surface. Thus a unique continuous Gradient‐Janus wetting region can be constructed in a long range on a 1D wire. It is demonstrated that GJW can propel water droplets to transport the distance of ≈73 mm in 0.9 s, and liquid bridge to 85 mm (the longest among this kind of study) in 0.79 s with peak velocity high up to 237 mm s−1 (over 20 times faster than droplet transport on surface of Sarracenia trichome). The mechanism is attributed to cooperation between imbalanced Laplace pressure and surface tension force to generate the driving force act on droplet, liquid bridge, or column transport, respectively. LCM directs the large‐scale facile fabrication of GJWs within 20 s. A large‐scale GJW array can achieve the high‐efficient transport of water droplet in a wide volume range (few µL to 1 mL), making it potential in fogwater harvesting.

Mohamed, Abubaker A.; Noguchi, Hironaga; Tsukiiwa, Mirano; Chen, Chen; Heath, Rachel S.; Mubarak, M. Qadri E.; Komikawa, Takumi; Tanaka, Masayoshi; Okochi, Mina; Visser, Sam P.; Hayamizu, Yuhei; Blanford, Christopher F.

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202207669pmid: N/A

A new route to single‐step and non‐covalent immobilization of proteins on graphene is exemplified with the first biosensor for nitriles based on a graphene field‐effect transistor (GFET). The biological recognition element is a fusion protein consisting of nitrile reductase QueF from Escherichia coli with an N‐terminal self‐assembling and graphene‐binding dodecapeptide. Atomic force microscopy and analysis using a quartz crystal microbalance show that both the oligopeptide and the fusion protein incorporating it form a single adlayer of monomeric enzyme on graphene. The fusion protein has a 6.3‐fold increase in binding affinity for benzyl cyanide (BnCN) versus wild‐type QueF and a 1.4‐fold increase for affinity for the enzyme's natural substrate preQ0. Density functional theory analysis of QueF's catalytic cycle with BnCN shows similar transition‐state barriers to preQ0, but differences in the formation of the initial thioimidate covalent bonding (∆G‡ = 19.0 kcal mol−1 for preQ0 vs 27.7 kcal mol−1 for BnCN) and final disassociation step (∆G = −24.3 kcal mol−1 for preQ0 vs ∆G = +4.6 kcal mol−1 for BnCN). Not only do these results offer a single‐step route to GFET modification, but they also present new opportunities in the biocatalytic synthesis of primary amines from nitriles.

Lee, Suyeong; Park, Hyeona; Rizell, Josef; Kim, Un‐Hyuck; Liu, Yangyang; Xu, Xieyu; Xiong, Shizhao; Matic, Aleksandar; Zikri, Adi Tiara; Kang, Hyokyeong; Sun, Yang‐Kook; Kim, Jaekook; Hwang, Jang‐Yeon

Zhou, Liping; Zeng, Zehua; Liu, Songyang; Min, Tiantian; Zhang, Wenmin; Bian, Xiaochun; Du, Hongwu; Zhang, Peixun; Wen, Yongqiang

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202207466pmid: N/A

A grade 3 burn is a nonstatic fatal injury, which can lead to complete damage to the skin structure, accompanied by a series of symptoms such as persistent inflammation, pain, pruritus, ulcer, and peripheral neuropathy. Although the primary clinical burn treatment is skin grafting, it cannot comprehensively solve burn symptoms. Here, a multifunctional DNA hydrogel integrated system is conveniently obtained through dynamic cross‐linking of the DNA unit, polyacrylamide, and l‐ascorbate 2‐phosphate (l‐A2P) formation of dense hydrogen bonds. The DNA hydrogel is doped with borneol for pain and itch relief. The obtained DNA hydrogel provides a hotbed similar to the extracellular matrix structure in vivo for the growth and development of stem cells, which can regulate cell proliferation, maintain cell viability, and achieve perfect release in a suitable environment. Additionally, the pharmacological wound dressing shell features excellent mechanical behavior, tissue adhesion, and antibacterial properties. Beyond that, the multifunctional DNA hydrogel integrated system can promote macrophage transformation, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. Notably, the system activates the phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase (PI3K)‐Akt signaling pathway, which helps to promote tissue regeneration. Therefore, the DNA hydrogel integrated system opens the cascade mode of effective integrated treatment of burn wounds, further driving the in‐depth study of clinical transformation mechanisms in the future.

Hong, Kootak; Tan, Shaun; McDermott, Matthew J.; Huang, Tianyi; Babbe, Finn; Kodalle, Tim; Gallant, Max; Seo, Sehun; Toma, Francesca M.; Persson, Kristin A.; Yang, Yang; Sutter‐Fella, Carolin M.

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202206641

Restle, Tassilo M. F.; Strangmüller, Stefan; Baran, Volodymyr; Senyshyn, Anatoliy; Kirchhain, Holger; Klein, Wilhelm; Merk, Samuel; Müller, David; Kutsch, Tobias; Wüllen, Leo; Fässler, Thomas F.

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202112377pmid: N/A

Phosphide‐based compounds are promising materials for solid electrolytes. In recent times, a multiplicity of compounds featuring isolated MP4 (M = Si,Ge,Sn,Al,Ga) tetrahedra as structural building units in different arrangements with superionic lithium conductivity have been discovered. ω‐Li9AlP4, ω‐Li9GaP4, and ω‐Li9InP4 are presented as new high‐temperature modifications with superionic lithium conductivity reaching 4.5 mS cm−1 at room temperature. Impedance spectroscopy and static temperature‐dependent 7Li NMR experiments reveal conductivity values in the range of 0.2 to 4.5 mS cm−1 at room temperature and low activation energies for the title compounds. X‐ray and neutron diffraction methods disclose that the phosphorus atoms form a cubic‐close packing. The triel element and Li atoms are located in tetrahedral voids, further Li atoms partially fill the octahedral voids. Temperature‐dependent neutron diffraction shows for Li9AlP4 a phase transition at 573 K that influences the occupation of voids with Li and significantly affects the Li‐ion mobility. The evaluation of nuclear scattering densities by the maximum‐entropy approach and application of the one‐particle‐potential formalism reveal 3D lithium diffusion with a low activation energy preferentially on paths of adjacent tetrahedral and octahedral voids. The investigation of different polymorphs suggests that the equilibrated filling of tetrahedral and octahedral voids is a crucial parameter for the enhancement of superionic lithium conductivity.

Cai, Huiling; Cao, Rui; Gao, Jinxiang; Qian, Chen; Che, Bo; Tang, Rongfeng; Zhu, Changfei; Chen, Tao

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202208243pmid: N/A

Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) is a kind of emerging candidate for the application in low‐cost and high‐efficiency thin film solar cells owing to its non‐toxicity, earth‐abundance, and unique quasi‐1D crystal structure. In this photovoltaic material, quasi‐vertically oriented Sb2Se3 thin films can transfer photocarriers efficiently along the [hk1]‐orientation. However, the crystal orientation control in thin films is still the main obstacle to improve the efficiency of Sb2Se3 solar cells. Herein, an interfacial engineering method is developed by antimony chloride (SbCl3) on CdS films with post‐annealing treatment to improve the quality of both interface and absorber thin film. It is found that the SbCl3 treatment resulted in 1) transformation of the CdS/Sb2Se3 interface from “cliff” to “spike” like energy band alignments; 2) improved surface morphology of CdS surface, and 3) suppressed cubic structure of CdS structure and thus generating improved [hk1]‐oriented Sb2Se3 film on the high‐purity hexagonal CdS. As a result, the Sb2Se3 solar cell treated with SbCl3 achieves a top efficiency of 6.89% in superstrate planar heterojunction Sb2Se3 solar cell. This study provides a new interfacial post‐treatment method for the preparation of high‐performance Sb2Se3 planar heterojunction solar cells.

Zhou, Qian; Ji, Bing; Hu, Fengming; Dai, Ziyi; Ding, Sen; Yang, Hao; Zhong, Junwen; Qiao, Yancong; Zhou, Jianhua; Luo, Jianyi; Zhou, Bingpu

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202208120pmid: N/A

Electronic skin (e‐skin), which mimics the tactile perception as human skin, is of interest to advance robotics, prosthetics, and human‐machine interactions (HMI). However, the construction of artificial e‐skin with the simulated function of morphology recognition and stimuli response remains challenging. Here, the design of a multifunctional and self‐powered e‐skin system based on the whisker‐like magnetized micro‐cilia array (MMCA) and the underneath flexible coils is reported. Owing to the excellent flexibility of the MMCA, the adaptive micro‐cilia bending can be produced according to the tactile inputs or surface morphologies. With built‐in magnetic moments, the MMCA deformation thus alters the magnetic flux distribution, which induces an electromotive force (voltage) in the coils for pressure detection and quantitative recognition of micro‐scaled 3D morphologies. It is shown that using the distinct voltage intensities and waveforms, the optimized e‐skin can be applied for real‐time healthcare monitoring, Braille identification, and reconstruction of relief information. By customizing the magnetic moment alignments in MMCA, one e‐skin device can further produce distinguishable signals to build up multi‐commands for efficient HMI, e.g., underwater Morse code communication. Along with temperature tolerance and environmental immunity, the e‐skin exhibits the potential to serve as an effective channel for intelligent 3D topology recognition and high‐capacity communications.

Meng, Yuan; Zhang, Lifang; Peng, Mingji; Shen, Danni; Zhu, Changhao; Qian, Siyi; Liu, Jie; Cao, Yufeng; Yan, Chenglin; Zhou, Jinqiu; Qian, Tao

doi: 10.1002/adfm.202206653pmid: N/A

Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) that use water‐based electrolytes have attracted significant attention. However, under harsh conditions, extreme heat is accumulated inside ZIBs, which inevitably causes thermal runway risk. Therefore, the practical applications of rechargeable ZIBs are significantly limited because the internal heat accumulated by harsh conditions induces drastic bulges or even explosions. To overcome this limitation, a self‐adaptive thermoregulatory hydrogel electrolyte (TRHE) that integrates phase transition chains with endothermic effects into agarose backbones via hydrogen bonding interactions is reported. Under extreme conditions, TRHE can tolerate sudden thermal shock; thus, ZIBs can function properly for a period in environments (100 °C) owing to their thermally self‐regulating feature, which alleviates the thermal issues associated with batteries. The hydrogel network with uniform ion migration channels can accelerate ion transport and homogenize ion distribution to realize dendrite inhibition; in addition, other pressing concerns can be effectively resolved, including hydrogen evolution and Zn corrosion, which significantly contribute to the outstanding electrochemical performance. It is believed that the proposed TRHE will help in overcoming thermal runaway in ZIBs and in other aqueous batteries.