Modification of polymers by ion irradiation improves their effective charge density due to the generation of electron-donating groups.

The surface of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bulk materials was modified by irradiation at high temperatures using a 1.2 MeV electron beam. The mass wear rate was decreased from 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ g N⁻¹ m⁻¹ to 0.08 × 10⁻⁶ g N⁻¹ m⁻¹, and the hardness was increased from 33.2 MPa to 93.9 MPa. The yield strength was increased from 12.1 MPa to 25.8 MPa and Young's modulus was enhanced from 101 MPa to 261 MPa. The use of electron beam irradiation on PTFE at high temperature is an effective modification method to significantly improve its wear resistance and hardness, and increase the elastic response range of PTFE. The chemical reaction induced by electron irradiation at high temperature changes the molecular structure of the PTFE bulk material from highly linear to a network, thus improving the surface mechanical properties of PTFE.

Highly active interfaces are crucial to the hydrogen adsorption performance of nanomaterials. However, it remains challenging to conveniently and efficiently regulate atomic stacking characteristics. Here, we present a straightforward yet effective strategy for generating a high density of stepped atoms at the surface of thin films by controlling the migration behavior of sputtered atoms during deposition. Tuning sputtering power and substrate temperature yields wide-scale stepped interface structures, thus generating irregular conical columnar nanocrystals. Benefiting from the active and stable stepped atoms at the zigzag interface, the samples exhibit an excellent threshold pressure at 200 °C and a hydrogen adsorption of 110.06 cm³/g at 6 MPa, which is 2.2 times higher than that of conventional Pd thin films. Based on the control of nucleation and crystal growth during magnetron sputtering deposition, this method provides appropriate energy for surface atomic migration on columnar crystals, achieving high-density stepped interface structures. It can be readily extended to other substrates and noble metal systems, thus offering a novel strategy and guidance for the design of efficient and cost-effective hydrogen-interactive materials.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) exhibit high sensitivity and flexibility, enabling them to rapidly and effectively respond to high‐entropy mechanical energy sources like friction and contact into utilizable electrical power, TENGs are emerging as one of the most promising devices for future applications in wearable devices and self‐powered sensors. However, the flexible polymers charging materials used in TENGs inherently suffer from low surface charge density, which significantly constrains their electrical performance. This study proposed a gradient ion beam irradiation strategy to engineer functional groups on polymer surfaces through precise dose‐control irradiation, thereby enhancing interfacial charge transport capability. Electrical testing revealed 13‐, 10‐, and 7‐fold improvements in output voltage, current, and surface charge density, respectively, with stability exceeding 1440‐fold that of pure charge injection. Chemical structural evolution under varying irradiation doses was systematically investigated to probe molecular‐scale regulatory mechanisms. Combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we found that the energy bandgap of the surface molecular structure decreased after irradiation, and the distribution of the electrostatic surface potential (ESP) indicated an increase in electron energy, thereby elucidating the mechanism underlying the enhanced surface charge transport in charged polymers. Meanwhile, after being fabricated into micro‐devices, they exhibit high sensitivity and excellent abrasion resistance, establishing a theoretical foundation for advancing TENG functionality in wearable sensors and flexible electronics.