Rising vehicle Mach numbers urgently necessitate broadband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbers capable of operating at even higher temperatures while maintaining environmental durability. However, Current high-temperature EMW absorbing materials face the restriction and temperature-sensitivity of dielectric frequency-dispersion (FD), which often forces reliance on complex macro-structures to broaden effective absorption bandwidth (EAB). Here, inspired by the concept of finite element method, we propose a controlled FD regulation strategy to overcome this by employing multivariate ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) borides with tunable surface oxide thickness. The fabricated material (without structural design) yields a broad EAB of 26.98 GHz at just 2.8 mm thickness, alongside environmental resistance. Crucially, the multivariate polarization remains effective for FD regulation even at 1473 K, enabling our material to harvest an EAB of 10.26 GHz after applying an oxide layer, showing bright application prospects for the stealth of high-speed vehicles.

Carbon fiber/phenolic composites have wide application prospects in the transmission of vehicles, where the combination of prominent mechanical and tribological properties is required. Multiscale metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and polydopamine (PDA) as binary reinforcements were employed to construct a rigid–flexible hierarchical structure for improving the interfacial performances of friction materials. This unique rigid–flexible (MOFs/PDA) reinforcement could act as an effective interfacial linker, significantly facilitating the integration of fibers into the matrix and establishing a strong mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding onto the fiber/matrix interphase, thus boosting the mechanical and tribological properties of the composites. Benefiting from the MOF/PDA synergistic enhancement effects, the interlaminar shear strength of ZIF-8-composites (P1), MOF-5-composites (P2) and UiO-66-(COOH)₂-composites (P3) was improved by 70.80%, 43.80% and 53.28%, respectively. In addition, the wear rate of P1 decreased from 3.55 × 10⁻⁸ cm³ J⁻¹ to 2.45 × 10⁻⁸ cm³ J⁻¹. This work provides a feasible approach for establishing rigid–flexible reinforced structures and opens up a double-component synergistic enhancement strategy to efficiently promote mechanical and tribological properties for fabricating high-performance carbon fiber/phenolic composites.

Turbulence-induced vibrations pose substantial risks to aircraft structural integrity and flight stability, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), where real-time impact monitoring and lightweight protection are critical. Here, we present a bioinspired twist-hyperbolic metamaterial (THM) integrated with a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for simultaneously impact buffering and self-powered sensing. The THM-TENG protector exhibits tunable stiffness (40 to 4300 newtons per millimeter), ~70% impact energy absorption, and achieves a specific energy absorption of ~0.25 joules per gram at a weight of only 10 grams. Through triboelectrification, the protector converts mechanical energy into electrical signals, enabling real-time monitoring of impact loads up to 1000 newtons (≤5 hertz). Integrated with a microcontroller unit, wireless transmission, and alarm systems, THM-TENG demonstrates dual functionality in UAVs: mitigating vibration while providing real-time force monitoring, positioning, and early warning, all without external power sources. This work establishes a transformative framework for lightweight, multifunctional protective systems with applications in aerospace, robotics, and autonomous vehicles.

Weakly charged droplets eliminate gas entrapment and bubbles during an impact on flat surfaces.