This research examines vanadium‐deficient V₂C MXene, a two‐dimensional (2D) vanadium carbide with exceptional electrochemical properties for rechargeable zinc‐ion batteries. Through a meticulous etching process, a V‐deficient, porous architecture with an expansive surface area is achieved, fostering three‐dimensional (3D) diffusion channels and boosting zinc ion storage. Analytical techniques like scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and X‐ray diffraction confirm the formation of V₂C MXene and its defective porous structure. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy further verifies its transformation from the MAX phase to MXene, noting an increase in V³⁺ and V⁴⁺ states with etching. Cyclic voltammetry reveals superior de‐zincation kinetics, evidenced by consistent V³⁺/V⁴⁺ oxidation peaks at varied scanning rates. Overall, this V‐deficient MXene outperforms raw MXenes in capacity and rate, although its capacity diminishes over extended cycling due to structural flaws. Theoretical analyses suggest conductivity rises with vacancies, enhancing 3D ionic diffusion as vacancy size grows. This work sheds light on enhancing V‐based MXene structures for optimized zinc‐ion storage.

The mechanical response of patterned graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with a width less than 100 nm was studied in-situ using quantitative tensile testing in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A high degree of crystallinity was confirmed for patterned nanoribbons before and after the in-situ experiment by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. However, the maximum local true strain of the nanoribbons was determined to be only about 3%. The simultaneously recorded low-loss electron energy loss spectrum (EELS) on the stretched nanoribbons did not reveal any bandgap opening. Density Functional Based Tight Binding (DFTB) simulation was conducted to predict a feasible bandgap opening as a function of width in GNRs at low strain. The bandgap of unstrained armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) vanished for a width of about 14.75 nm, and this critical width was reduced to 11.21 nm for a strain level of 2.2%. The measured low tensile failure strain may limit the practical capability of tuning the bandgap of patterned graphene nanostructures by strain engineering, and therefore, it should be considered in bandgap design for graphene-based electronic devices by strain engineering.

Diatom frustules, with their hierarchical three-dimensional patterned silica structures at nano to micrometer dimensions, can be a paragon for the design of lightweight structural materials. However, the mechanical properties of frustules, especially the species with pennate symmetry, have not been studied systematically. A novel approach combining in situ micro-indentation and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (XCT)-based finite element analysis (FEA) at the identical sample is developed and applied to Didymosphenia geminata frustule. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations are conducted to obtain detailed information regarding the resolvable structures and the composition. During the in situ micro-indentation studies of Didymosphenia geminata frustule, a mainly elastic deformation behavior with displacement discontinuities/non-linearities is observed. To extract material properties from obtained load-displacement curves in the elastic region, elastic finite element method (FEM) simulations are conducted. Young’s modulus is determined as 31.8 GPa. The method described in this paper allows understanding of the mechanical behavior of very complex structures.