Photodetectors find important military and civilian applications, commonly requiring expensive components and exhibiting complex designs. Herein, we report a simple and cost-effective infrared photodetector fabricated using metastable vanadium dioxide VO₂ (B) nanorod (NR) networks and exhibiting high photosensitivity, stability, and reproducibility under ambient conditions. We discuss electron transfer processes in NR networks and elucidate the mechanisms of photocurrent generation as well as performance-affecting factors, revealing that the fabricated device can be used as a high-performance infrared light photodetector.

Multiple quantum-wells light-emitting diodes (MQWs-LEDs) are high-performance electroluminescent light sources, which is widely used in solid state lighting, medical, industrial and other fields. Understanding the light emission origin and mechanisms of MQWs-LEDs is crucial for their practical applications. Here, we show the excellent ultraviolet (UV) and deep-ultraviolet (DUV) emissions from ZnO/AlGaN MQWs-LEDs using Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) simulation, which deviates from the typical ZnO heterojunction LEDs. The adjustment of the structural parameters of the MQWs was performed to control the emission wavelength in the range of 335–366 nm. After parameter optimization, 342.6–348.7 nm DUV EL from ZnO/AlGaN MQWs is obtained successfully. The deconvolution analysis of the EL spectra was conducted to investigate the origin of the emissions. The results indicate that the structural parameter operation-induced emission blue-shift results from the quantum confinement effect. This work provides new references for designing ZnO-based MQWs and preparing new DUV LEDs.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global health issue, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early diagnosis and continuous monitoring of physiological signals are crucial for managing cardiovascular diseases, necessitating the development of lightweight and cost-effective wearable devices. These devices should incorporate portable energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To enhance the durability and consistency of the monitoring systems, there is a need to develop LIBs with high energy density. Silicon-based materials hold great promise for future LIBs anodes due to their high theoretical capacity and cost-efficiency. Despite their potential, silicon-based materials encounter challenges like substantial volume fluctuations and sluggish kinetics. Transition metal carbide, MXene, features a two-dimensional structure, offering advantages in silicon-based anode materials. This review initially presents the potential of silicon-based anodes and then addresses their challenges. Subsequently, the advantages of MXene are systematically reviewed, including unique structure, abundant surface functional groups, excellent electrical conductivity, and excellent ion transport performance. Next, the detailed discussion covers recent advancements in Si/Ti₃C₂T_x MXene anode materials for LIBs, with a focus on their synthesis methods. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of synthesizing Si/Ti₃C₂T_x nanocomposites are examined, aiming to provide a foundational resource for designing advanced materials for high-energy LIBs.

Nanocomposites that combine porous materials and a continuous conductive skeleton as a sulfur host can improve the performance of lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) anchoring small-size (~40 nm) N-doped porous carbon polyhedrons (S-NCPs/CNTs) are designed and synthesized via annealing the precursor of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 grown in situ on CNTs (ZIF-8/CNTs). In the nanocomposite, the S-NCPs serve as an efficient host for immobilizing polysulfides through physical adsorption and chemical bonding, while the interleaved CNT networks offer an efficient charge transport environment. Moreover, the S-NCP/CNT composite with great features of a large specific surface area, high pore volume, and short electronic/ion diffusion depth not only demonstrates a high trapping capacity for soluble lithium polysulfides but also offers an efficient charge/mass transport environment, and an effective buffering of volume changes during charge and discharge. As a result, the Li-S batteries based on a S/S-NCP/CNT cathode deliver a high initial capacity of 1213.8 mAh g⁻¹ at a current rate of 0.2 C and a substantial capacity of 1114.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles, corresponding to a high-capacity retention of 91.7%. This approach provides a practical research direction for the design of MOF-derived carbon materials in the application of high-performance Li–S batteries.