The giant thermopower of ionic thermoelectric materials has attracted great attention for waste-heat recovery technologies. However, generating cyclic power by ionic thermoelectric modules remains challenging, since the ions cannot travel across the electrode interface. Here, we reported a reversible bipolar thermopower (+20.2 mV K⁻¹ to −10.2 mV K⁻¹) of the same composite by manipulating the interactions of ions and electrodes. Meanwhile, a promising ionic thermoelectric generator was proposed to achieve cyclic power generation under a constant heat course only by switching the external electrodes that can effectively realize the alternating dominated thermodiffusion of cations and anions. It eliminates the necessity to change the thermal contact between material and heat, nor does it require re-establish the temperature differences, which can favor improving the efficiency of the ionic thermoelectrics. Furthermore, the developed micro-thermal sensors demonstrated high sensitivity and responsivity in light detecting, presenting innovative impacts on exploring next-generation ionic thermoelectric devices.

O-ScC₂ and o-ScN₂ monolayers, with high stability, metallic features, low Na ion diffusion energy barriers, and high specific capacities, are promising high-performance anode materials for sodium ion batteries.

Infrared vision is highly desirable for applications in multifarious fields. Of the few species with this visual capability, snakes have exceptional infrared perception with the assistance of pit organs. Inspired by the pit organ design we present here a hemispherical biomimetic infrared imaging device. The devices use high-density ionic thermoelectric polymer nanowire arrays that serve as the sensing nerve cells. The individual nanowires exhibit notable voltage response to temperature variation in test objects. An infrared sensor array with 625 pixels on the hemispherical substrate is successfully demonstrated with an ultrawide field of view up to 135°. The device can image body temperature objects without a cooling system and external power supply. This work opens up opportunities for the design and fabrication of bioinspired infrared imaging devices based on emerging ionic thermoelectric materials.

Global energy issues have spurred the development of energy storage technology, and gravity-based energy storage (GBES) technology has attracted much attention. This comprehensive review examines the principles, applications, and prospects of GBES technology, a promising solution for mitigating the intermittency of renewable energy sources and enhancing grid stability. GBES harnesses potential energy by elevating solid or liquid mediums, offering distinct advantages over other energy storage technologies such as pumped hydro storage and batteries. The study examines various GBES configurations, emphasizing the importance of system design, control strategies, and efficiency. This review also evaluates the economic, environmental, and social benefits of GBES, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness and potential for local economic growth. The need for policy support, technological innovation, and a robust regulatory framework is highlighted to promote the widespread adoption of GBES, which holds significant potential for enhancing grid stability and supporting the integration of renewable energy.

In this study, a carbon dots-genipin covalent conjugate (CDs–GP) was synthesized, characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence spectroscopy (FL). These carbon dots displayed three dimensional spherical structures with uniform diameters, blue fluorescence (excitation/emission maxima at 355/455 nm), and high water dispersion with a zeta potential of +17.1 mV. Moreover, the CDs–GP conjugate showed excellent biocompatibility with HeLa and A549 cells. Furthermore, the blood compatibility of CDs–GP was evaluated by hemolysis, and hemolysis rates were less than 5%. We deem that combining the outstanding properties of GP with CDs could further promote the development of CDs in biological applications, achieving multifunctional CDs with targeting, in vivo imaging and therapeutic-delivery capabilities. Our in vitro results demonstrated the high uptake of the CDs–GP by cells. Significantly, the prepared CDs–GP exhibited strong optical absorbance under 635 nm laser irradiation, thus the present research demonstrated that the prepared CDs–GP could be employed as a near infrared (NIR)-absorbing agent as well as a non-toxic drug carrier, realizing the synergistic treatment of photothermal therapy (PTT) and drug delivery. The release of heparin (Hep) could be selectively stimulated by NIR-light and low pH, enabling intracellular drug accumulation and thereby enhancing the efficiency. Overall, all these data suggest that the CDs–GP conjugate has a potential application as a drug delivery system and PTT agent.