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Pressure-dependent electron heating and discharge localization in an electronegative CF4 ICP reactor with RF substrate bias

Journal of Applied Physics Zhaoyu Chen, Zili Chen, Yu Wang et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0343176

A two-dimensional axisymmetric direct-implicit particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision model is used to study pressure-dependent electron heating and discharge localization in an electronegative CF4 plasma sustained by an inductive source with RF substrate bias. Under fixed absorbed inductive and bias powers, increasing the pressure from 20 to 200 mTorr transforms the discharge from a relatively diffuse state into a strongly localized and highly electronegative regime. The plasma contracts toward the dielectric window, while the downstream bulk becomes strongly electron depleted. This behavior is traced to a pressure-induced redistribution of electron energy: energetic electrons are able to penetrate into the bulk at low pressure, but become increasingly confined near the inductive heating zone at high pressure and cool rapidly during transport. Consequently, ionization becomes sharply localized near the dielectric window, whereas dissociative attachment is enhanced over a broader surrounding region. The results reveal a spatial decoupling between ionization-capable and attachment-favorable electron populations and clarify the kinetic origin of pressure-dependent discharge localization in electronegative CF4 inductively driven plasmas.

Temperature-bias noise and quantum shot noise as probes of pairing symmetry in iron pnictides

Journal of Applied Physics Sachiraj Mishra, A. Rajmohan Dora, Colin Benjamin Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0345321

Quantum noise has long served as a powerful probe of quantum transport in mesoscopic junctions. Recently, temperature-driven noise, or ΔT noise, has attracted growing interest due to its presence even in the absence of average charge current. In this work, we investigate a normal metal–insulator–iron-pnictide junction and demonstrate how zero-temperature quantum shot noise, finite-temperature quantum noise, and ΔT noise can discriminate between s++ and s+− pairing symmetries, which are relevant to iron-based superconductors. We introduce ΔT noise as a novel probe for distinguishing between the two pairing symmetries. In contrast to conductance, which exhibits a single peak for both s++ and s+− states with only a difference in magnitude, the ΔT noise reveals qualitatively distinct features: a twin-peak structure for the s++ pairing symmetry and a single-peak profile for the s+− state. A similar symmetry-dependent contrast is observed in both zero-temperature quantum shot noise and finite-temperature quantum noise, where the s++ state consistently exhibits a twin-peak structure, while the s+− state shows a single-peak response. Our results demonstrate that noise-based measurements form a mutually reinforcing set of probes that enables reliable identification of superconducting gap symmetry in iron-pnictide superconductors.

Spatially asymmetric switching under spin–orbit torque and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

Journal of Applied Physics Zhenhang Kong, Zhengde Xu, Xue Zhang et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0326907

Efficient spin–orbit torque (SOT) switching of perpendicular magnetization is of crucial importance for the magnetic random-access memory. In this work, we study the ultrafast switching of a perpendicular ferrimagnetic alloy by the SOT and an external field (Hx) along the current direction. We find that the magnetization reversal occurs first at the corner of the sample and then propagates to the whole sample through domain-wall motion. We show that, in the absence of field-like SOT, the location of this anti-domain nucleation corner exhibits left-right and top-down asymmetries, as determined by the polarities of current and Hx. By varying the magnitude and sign of field-like SOT, we establish that it significantly affects the switching process but is not necessary for such switching asymmetries. These results are fully explained using a consistent torque analysis framework. Our work improves the understanding of the physics behind SOT switching.

High-sensitivity optical fiber magnetic field and current sensor based upon two cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers

Journal of Applied Physics Rui Li, Chao Jiang, Cheng Peng et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0346329

In this article, we have designed a highly sensitive S1 that can measure magnetic field (MF) and current. S1 consists of two Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) cascaded together, namely, MZI1 and MZI2. MZI1 and MZI2 have simple structures and are fabricated by directly tapering single-mode fiber. MZI1 and MZI2 with tapered structures are sensitive to axial strain and temperature. MZI1 is pasted into Terfenol-D microgroove with magnetostrictive properties, and the MF acting on Terfenol-D corresponds to acting the strain to MZI1, so MZI1 has high sensitivity to MF. MZI2 is pasted onto a copper rod, which generates abundant heat, which is absorbed by MZI2 and causes the resonance wavelength drift, making MZI2 very sensitive to current. The experiment reveals that the MF sensitivity of MZI1 is −97.47 pm/mT, and the sensitivity of the current square of MZI2 is −45.44 pm/A2. S1 is a Vernier effect sensor composed of MZI1 and MZI2 cascaded together, which can improve the sensitivities of MZI1 and MZI2. The experiment reveals that S1 has the MF sensitivity of −1011.98 pm/mT and the sensitivity of the current square of 439.36 pm/A2, which increases the sensitivities of MZI1 and MZI2 by 10.4 and 9.7 times, respectively. The manufacturing of sensor S1 only requires fiber tapering, fiber cleaving, and material bonding. Therefore, this sensor boasts advantages such as simple structure, easy manufacturing, low cost, durability, and high sensitivity, providing a novel scheme for simultaneously measuring MF and current.

Zr concentration-dependent sub-lattice phase-field model of Hf1− <i>x</i> Zr <i>x</i> O2: Analysis of phase composition and polarization switching

Journal of Applied Physics Tae Ryong Kim, Sumeet K. Gupta Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0335991

We develop a sub-lattice phase-field model of Hf1−xZrxO2 incorporating zirconium (Zr) concentration (x)-dependence. Our framework expands the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equation to the sub-lattice level and incorporates x-dependent interaction parameters and gradient coefficients. Our experimentally calibrated model captures the evolution of charge–voltage (Q–V) characteristics for x ranging from 0.5 to 1.0. The sub-lattice formulation explains the thermodynamic preference and kinetic transition barriers of competing orthorhombic phase (o-phase) and tetragonal phase (t-phase), while the phase-field framework enables spatially resolved analysis of polarization (P) and electric-field (E-field) profiles, allowing multi-domain (MD) P and mixed-phase states to emerge naturally. Our model reproduces the experimentally observed ferroelectric (FE)-to-anti-ferroelectric (AFE) transition as x increases from 0.5 to 1.0. At low Zr concentration (x = 0.5–0.6), the o-phase dominates, yielding distinct FE behavior. At high concentration (x ≥ 0.9), the t-phase is stabilized, leading to AFE transitions. A key finding of our work is the unique behavior at intermediate Zr concentrations (x = 0.7–0.8). Here, the o- and t-phase energies are comparable, making the system strongly influenced by local variations in the electric field (E-field), which arise from stray fields near the domain walls. This non-uniform field distribution results in a mixed-phase composition and spatially staggered P reversal, which manifests as a more gradual Q–V evolution (compared to other values of x). By linking energy landscapes to spatial field effects, the model provides insights into the FE-to-AFE crossover in Hf1−xZrxO2.

Hysteretic excitation in non-collinear antiferromagnetic spin-torque oscillators: A terminal velocity motion perspective

Journal of Applied Physics Hao-Hsuan Chen, Ching-Ming Lee Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0335383

We present a novel theoretical framework for non-collinear anti-ferromagnetic spin torque oscillators by unifying spin dynamics under the Poisson bracket formalism. By shifting from traditional torque-based descriptions to a continuous operational symmetry perspective, we develop two complementary viewpoints: a vector perspective that identifies infinite degenerate Rigid Body Precessional (RBP) states—arising from the fact that exchange energy is solely a function of the Rigid Body Rotational Transformation (RBRT) generator (i.e., total magnetic momentum)—and a particle perspective that decomposes the dynamics into Center-of-Mass (CM) translation and Relative Motion (RM) oscillation. Utilizing time-dependent RBRT and rigid body uniform translational transformation techniques, we analytically resolve the rapid (∼10 ps) transient evolution into a stable RBP state driven by spin–orbit torques (SOTs) and damping. We further demonstrate that the out-of-plane anisotropy component of the uniaxial crystalline anisotropy lifts the exchange degeneracy, triggering a long-term (∼1 ns) oscillatory decay toward a finalized steady state s, characterized by uniform spin z-components and a 120° inter-spin locking angle. The dynamics of this state are accurately governed by our proposed terminal velocity motion model for CM variables [H.-H. Chen et al., arXiv:2305.11020 (2023)], in which exchange coupling is effectively transformed into kinetic energy with a light effective mass, leading to a transient excitation time of approximately 10 ps—nearly two orders of magnitude shorter than that of typical ferromagnetic systems (∼1–2 ns). This model precisely predicts SOT-driven transients, hysteretic excitation process, and the dynamic phase diagram across the full current range. Finally, we account for the theoretical mismatch in the sub-critical current regime by identifying a “rigid-body breaking” effect: a surge in effective friction caused by the self-resonance of RM variables induced by the translation of the CM variable, as mediated by the in-plane anisotropy component of the uniaxial crystalline anisotropy.

Layer-resolved pump absorptance in spintronic/orbitronic terahertz emission modeling: A transfer matrix Poynting flux analysis method with sample-specific parameter fittings

Journal of Applied Physics Yingshu Yang, Piyush Agarwal, Zeng Wang et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0347721

Quantitative interpretation of thickness-dependent spintronic/orbitronic terahertz (THz) emitter (STE/OTE) experiments requires reliable knowledge of how pump energy is distributed among individual layers. However, this distribution is often approximated using tabulated optical constants or simple thickness-weighted estimation, which may not represent actual thin-film spectral parameters. Here, we develop a sample-specific optical-analysis workflow based on transfer-matrix modeling combined with Poynting-flux evaluation. The workflow supports forward calculation and thickness-dependent modeling with retrieval of effective optical constants. Using representative Sub/Pt/NiFe, Sub/W/NiFe, and Sub/Ta/NiFe series, we show that thickness-dependent reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance data can be self-consistently reproduced using a single set of effective optical constants for the varying layer, from which layer-resolved pump absorptance is obtained. Comparison with thickness-weighted partitioning further shows that, although simple rules may capture qualitative trends, rigorous sample-specific investigation provides a more reliable description of pump-energy deposition for quantitative STE/OTE analysis.

Using the recurrent neural networks to predict the results of classical molecular dynamics modeling of crystalline solids

Journal of Applied Physics D. V. Zav'yalov, V. I. Konchenkov, E. S. Sivashova et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0341179

In this article, on an example of modeling the equilibrium state of crystalline copper, the possibility of predicting the atomic configuration at the next time step using data on atomic configurations at several previous time steps by a bidirectional recurrent neural network trained on classical molecular dynamics data is shown. A network with a minimum number of hidden layers (the number of layers is three) is used, which corresponds to the required number of nodes for calculating velocity and acceleration when integrating particle motion equations using the finite difference method. The figure of merit of the simulation is based on a comparison of the dynamic structural factor of the system, calculated from the initial molecular dynamic trajectories, and the one calculated from the molecular trajectories predicted by the recurrent neural network. The graphs of the radial distribution function, as well as the histograms of the distribution of the first-order differences of coordinates, constructed from the initial data on the arrangement of atoms and from the data predicted by the neural network, show a good match. Both the graphs of the radial distribution function and the histograms of the distribution of the first-order coordinate differences do not undergo significant changes during the simulation of the equilibrium state (180 ps), which indicates an adequate representation of statistical patterns in molecular trajectories predicted by a recurrent neural network.

Electrostatic rectification of Li+ transport in amorphous TiO <i>x</i> thin films grown by mist CVD

Journal of Applied Physics Y. Yamamoto, F. Kobayashi, Y. Wasai et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0334893

Amorphous metal oxide interlayers are widely used to stabilize Li+ transport at battery interfaces, yet the underlying transport mechanisms remain unclear. Here, Li+ transport in amorphous TiOx (a-TiOx) thin films prepared by mist chemical vapor deposition was investigated by comparing electrochemical lithiation with concentration-driven Li+ insertion induced by LiPF6 exposure. Electrochemical lithiation enables redox-assisted, dynamically activated Li+ diffusion accompanied by partial Ti4+ reduction, whereas LiPF6 exposure results in diffusion-limited Li+ transport without significant electronic reduction. Depth-resolved glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry clearly distinguish these two regimes. In addition, dielectric contrast between the electrolyte, a-TiOx, and graphite is proposed to generate internal electric fields that directionally bias Li+ transport. A Drude-like sub-gap optical response originates from field-induced polarization and localized electronic states rather than metallic conduction. These results highlight the importance of dielectric-field effects in amorphous oxide interlayers for improving interfacial stability and rate performance in lithium-based batteries.

A tetragonal Cu20Bi9 intermetallic compound phase discovered in Cu75Sn13Bi12 alloy

Journal of Applied Physics Q. C. Zhong, W. J. Xie Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0342394

This study reports the discovery and characterization of a previously unknown intermetallic compound phase, Cu20Bi9, within Cu75Sn13Bi12 alloy solidified both onboard China’s Space Station and under ground-based conditions. Combined with selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), atomic-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy elemental mapping, its crystal structure was identified to be tetragonal (P4¯, No. 81) with lattice parameters a = b = 17.648 Å and c = 10.534 Å. A crystallographic model consisting of 80 Cu and 36 Bi atoms in a single unit cell was proposed, and its dynamic stability was validated by density functional theory-based molecular dynamics simulations. SAED patterns and HAADF images simulated based on this model perfectly reproduce the experimentally observed diffraction and imaging characteristics. Theoretical calculations of the formation and cohesive energies suggest that Cu20Bi9 is thermodynamically metastable, which is further supported by isothermal annealing experiments.

Molecular dynamics study on anisotropic water cluster formation in polyethylene: A fundamental perspective on water tree initiation

Journal of Applied Physics Shinya Iwata, Ryota Kitani, Tomoka Tsuya et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0345672

The microscopic mechanisms of water tree inception in polymeric insulating materials remain a critical challenge for high-voltage engineering. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the structural and kinetic responses of water nanoclusters in a polyethylene matrix to external electric fields (0 and 2 V/nm). We demonstrate a fundamental disparity between ion-free pure water and ion-containing (Na+ and SO42−) clusters. In pure water systems, external fields induce macroscopic elongation along the field direction, accompanied by a reduction in the activation energy for hydrogen-bond dissociation. This field-induced dynamic softening kinetically facilitates continuous structural reorganization. Conversely, in ion-containing systems, the intense Coulombic attraction of the ions forms an electrostatically locked “hydration core.” This core exhibits an anomalously high activation energy that remains robustly intact even under 2 V/nm fields, causing kinematic freezing of the cluster’s morphology. These findings suggest that while pure water possesses the kinetic flexibility to undergo one-dimensional anisotropic growth under electrical stress, ionic impurities act as stable, non-deformable aggregation centers. Such contrasting dynamic behaviors provide a fundamental perspective on the initial cluster stabilization and directional elongation processes associated with water tree initiation.

A scheme to transform extracellular matrices into source and sink modes engulfing cancerous cells

Journal of Applied Physics Sudarsan Das, Pawan K. Tiwari Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0347739

The frequency dependent dielectric property of biological tissues plays a pivotal role in deciphering the intricacies of electromagnetic field cancer cell interaction and propels new therapeutics in the domain of electrotherapy. This study investigates a theoretical and computational approach to study the propagation of electromagnetic fields in a multilayered tissue model consisting of extracellular matrix (ECM), phospholipid bilayer, and intracellular media. The targeted delivery and accumulation of nanoparticles (NPs) of aspect ratio ∼100 in the ECM transform it into source and sink modes due to the distribution of electric field lines in the ECM region. Nanoparticles induce localized heating due to the increased specific absorption rate to achieve a steady-state temperature rise of 55°C within the first half cycle of the EM field and thermal diffusion and cooling in the refractory period of the EM field. The temperature variation instigates cell death (apoptosis) through localized hyperthermia. The duration of EM field application to achieve hyperthermia is inversely proportional to the frequency of the applied electric field and the concentration of the nanoparticles in the ECM. In the frequency range of a few tens of kHz such as 20 − 40 kHz and NP ECM concentration in the range 50%−100%, hyperthermia-triggered optimum apoptosis yield can be achieved in the time scale of ∼ 41.33–10.25 h. In the sub-kHz frequency of ∼50 Hz, hyperthermia application time increases to ∼20 months. However, in the very low frequency regime, the source–sink oscillations are progressively suppressed and the system transitions to a diffusion-dominated regime, while preserving the inverse frequency–NP relationship.

Anisotropic thermal transport and thermoelectric properties of hexagonal LiSr <i>X</i> ( <i>X</i>  = As, Sb, Bi)

Journal of Applied Physics Zijiao Li, Yinchang Zhao, Pengfei Sui et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0336412

Hexagonal LiSrX (X = As, Sb, Bi) compounds exhibit intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity and promising thermoelectric transport properties due to their layered crystal structures and strong phonon anharmonicity. In this work, we systematically investigate their thermal and electronic transport behaviors using first-principles calculations combined with anharmonic phonon and Boltzmann transport theories. The results demonstrate that all three compounds possess excellent dynamical, thermodynamic, and mechanical stability over a wide temperature range. The lattice thermal conductivity is dominated by low- to mid-frequency acoustic phonons and exhibits pronounced crystallographic anisotropy. As the X atom evolves from As to Bi, phonon softening and enhanced fourth-order anharmonicity significantly suppress the lattice thermal conductivity. Electronic structure calculations reveal that all compounds are direct-bandgap semiconductors with favorable n-type transport characteristics, including high carrier mobility and enhanced power factors. Among them, LiSrBi achieves the best thermoelectric performance with a maximum ZT value of approximately 1.0 at 800 K. Our results further show that the synergistic interplay among weak interatomic bonding, layered structural anisotropy, and anharmonic phonon dynamics governs the thermal transport behavior and thermoelectric performance of this material family. These findings provide useful insights for the design of high-performance layered thermoelectric materials.

Spectral evolution and real-space topological classification in a non-Hermitian Aubry–André–Harper model with quasiperiodic on-site potential

Journal of Applied Physics Jinmeng Zhang, Bin Guo Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0347101

We present a systematic numerical study of the one-dimensional non-Hermitian Aubry–André–Harper model, which incorporates asymmetric nonreciprocal hopping and a quasiperiodic on-site potential. Using exact diagonalization, we investigate the interplay between the non-Hermitian skin effect driven by nonreciprocal hopping and Anderson localization induced by quasiperiodic disorder. We first analyze the evolution of the complex energy spectrum as the quasiperiodic potential strength V is tuned, revealing four characteristic stages: a fully closed point-gap topological loop in the complex plane, the onset of band splitting, the rupture of the topological loop into independent sub-loops, and the full collapse of the spectrum onto the real axis. We then construct detailed two-dimensional localization phase diagrams based on the average inverse participation ratio, demonstrating that nonreciprocal hopping enriches the phase structure of the standard Hermitian AAH model by introducing left-skin and right-skin topological phases alongside the extended metallic and Anderson insulating phases. Finally, we compute the real-space winding number under twisted boundary conditions and map out the complete topological phase diagram, clearly delineating regions with winding numbers W = +1, W = −1, and W = 0. Our results provide a comprehensive numerical characterization of the competition between quasiperiodic disorder and non-Hermitian nonreciprocity.

A data-driven framework for band-structure optimization and valley-topological control in phononic crystals

Journal of Applied Physics Weike Li, Jianhua Lin, Yongzhi Ouyang et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0343068

Band-structure characteristics in phononic crystals are highly sensitive to structural variations and strong multi-parameter coupling, necessitating dense sampling to effectively explore the design space. However, exhaustive searches are computationally prohibitive when using traditional simulations. To address this challenge, a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) based surrogate model was developed and integrated with particle swarm optimization for efficient optimization of the valley-related branch separation. Its performance was benchmarked against convolutional neural network and support vector machine models. Additionally, unit-cell rotation was introduced as a key degree of freedom, allowing data-driven optimization and topological regulation to be incorporated into a unified design framework. The results demonstrated that the MLP model outperformed the comparative models in both prediction accuracy and convergence behavior, achieving a mean squared error of 6.54 × 10−5. Simultaneously, the trained MLP achieved a per-configuration speedup of approximately 8 × 104 times compared to finite element method simulations. The optimized valley-related branch separation had a width of 16 229 Hz, with lower and upper frequency bounds of 7349 and 23 578 Hz, respectively, along the Γ–K–M–Γ path. Further analysis revealed that rotational modulation induces band-structure reconstruction, generating valley-dependent edge states with controllable topological phase transitions and enabling robust propagation of interface states within the constructed heterostructure, even under complex structural perturbations. Overall, this work achieved an effective integration of data-driven design and physical mechanism regulation, providing a unified and scalable framework for the topological optimization of phononic crystal structures.

Influence of pre-existing negative surface charges on secondary electron emission avalanche evolution in vacuum surface flashover of spacecraft

Journal of Applied Physics Yue-Tong Liu, Bai-Peng Song, Guang-Yu Sun et al. Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0349230

Surface charging of dielectric materials is commonly observed in spacecraft under complex space environments. The accumulated charges on dielectric surfaces can modify the local electric-field distribution and subsequently affect secondary electron emission avalanche (SEEA), which plays a critical role in vacuum surface flashover. However, the influence mechanism of pre-existing surface charges formed before discharge initiation on the subsequent SEEA evolution remains insufficiently understood. In this work, a 2-spatial- and 3-velocity-dimensional particle-in-cell model is employed to investigate the effect of pre-existing negative surface charges near the cathode on vacuum surface flashover development. Different levels of localized negative surface charge densities are introduced as initial charging states, and their effects on electron emission, avalanche evolution, surface charge accumulation, and electric-field redistribution are systematically analyzed. The results demonstrate that the pre-existing charge of dielectric surfaces can strongly regulate subsequent vacuum flashover behavior, providing new insights into the coupling mechanism between surface charging and SEEA development in spacecraft and vacuum insulation systems.

Electro-thermal and mechanical simulations of laser annealing perovskite films

Journal of Applied Physics Arnaud Fouchet, Ashwin Sudarshan Suresh, Charles Manière Aug 14, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0335266

Conventional thermal annealing of oxide thin films (&amp;gt;600 °C) often induces interfacial diffusion and substrate degradation, compromising structural integrity. Nanosecond pulsed laser annealing (ns-PLA) circumvents these limitations by enabling ultrafast, localized energy deposition with minimal thermal load. However, the fundamental mechanisms governing film–substrate interactions under ns-PLA remain unclear due to the complex interplay of electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical processes, including light–matter interactions, transient heat transfer, and stress–strain dynamics from differential thermal expansion. To address this, we present a fully coupled electro-thermo-mechanical finite element model of ns-PLA. Our model integrates Maxwell's equations in the frequency domain, transient heat transfer, and thermoelastic stress analysis. For a 3 ns, 40 mJ cm−2 pulse, simulations reveal that electromagnetic interference localizes absorption near the LaNiO3/SrTiO3 interface, deviating from Beer–Lambert predictions. Peak temperatures exceed 1100 °C, with vertical thermal gradients of ∼109 K m−1, accelerating diffusion and epitaxial ordering by three orders of magnitude compared to furnace annealing. The thermoelastic response generates transient stresses of several gigapascals, exhibiting a distinct tensile–compressive distribution across the interface. Our findings emphasize the necessity of multiphysics coupling for accurately describing ns-PLA and provide quantitative insights into stress generation during epitaxial crystallization. This work advances the understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena in oxide heterostructures and establishes ns-PLA as a versatile tool for probing and controlling such processes at the nanoscale.

Interfacial Failure and Self‐Healing in Solid‐State Batteries

Advanced Materials Xinxin Zhu, Tengfei Dai, Wendi Dou et al. Aug 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74666

ABSTRACT Solid‐state batteries hold great promise for simultaneously improving energy density and intrinsic safety. However, their practical application is severely impeded by interfacial instabilities arising from coupled mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical degradation during cycling, ultimately resulting in rapid performance decay. Although conventional strategies, such as interfacial coatings or electrode structural optimization, have partially improved electrochemical performance, their inherently static nature renders them ill‐equipped to adapt to the continuous and dynamic evolution of interfacial damage during long‐term operation. To address these persistent challenges, dynamic interfacial self‐healing has emerged as a compelling strategy for developing highly durable and stable solid‐state batteries. In this review, we first discuss the origins and evolution of mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical failures at the interface, highlighting their intricate interplay. Recent progress in self‐healing strategies, including physical flow, chemical restoration, external stimuli, and electric fields was subsequently analyzed to solve specific interfacial failure behavior. Perspectives on the emerging strategies and key challenges for achieving high self‐healing efficiency were provided in the end. The development of self‐healing mechanisms presents a highly viable route toward the realization of robust, low‐pressure solid‐state batteries.

Molecular Bridge Overcomes Carrier Transport Limitations for High‐Efficiency Quantum Dot Photovoltaic

Advanced Materials Yuxin Kong, Yuhao Chen, Du Li et al. Aug 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74668

ABSTRACT Metal halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for next‐generation photovoltaic devices; however, their practical performance is largely limited by inefficient charge transport between neighboring QDs. To address this issue, we designed and synthesized a series of conjugated functional molecules, Mono‐OMe, Bi‐OMe, and Tetra‐OMe, featuring varying numbers of anchoring sites to tailor the interfaces within solid QD films. The π‐conjugated backbone promotes efficient charge transport between QDs, while multidentate anchoring groups enhance QD surface passivation. Systematic experimental characterizations reveal that higher denticity leads to more effective enhancements of the QD/organic heterointerfaces. In particular, the rationally designed tetradentate molecular bridge Tetra‐OMe forms more robust coordination with perovskite QDs, effectively passivating surface defects and promoting charge transport between adjacent QDs. As a result, molecularly bridged QD‐based solar cells achieve high‐power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 17.71% for wide‐bandgap CsPbI 3 and 19.06% (certified 18.72%) for narrow‐bandgap FAPbI 3 perovskite QDs, representing state‐of‐the‐art performance in QD photovoltaics.

Topological Frustration of Ångström‐Confined Water for Stable Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

Advanced Materials Yufeng Liao, Zhenjie Chen, Luyuan Tao et al. Aug 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74640

ABSTRACT Despite extensive efforts to regulate water activity in hydrogel electrolytes for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs), current strategies are insufficient to impose spatial constraints on water molecules and prevent the self‐assembly of bulk water networks. Herein, we report a quasi‐solid hybrid electrolyte (HM) by integrating polyacrylamide with a rigid inorganic montmorillonite (MMT) framework that imposes strong ångström confinement on interlayer water molecules. Such spatial confinement restricts the volume required to assemble a bulk three‐dimensional tetrahedral hydrogen‐bond network. Concurrently, polar Si‐O bonds on the MMT surface chemically anchor water molecules in a one‐hydrogen‐down configuration, inducing symmetry breaking and topological frustration. Consequently, Grotthuss‐type proton transport and water autoionization are suppressed. This molecular‐level regulation mitigates water‐induced parasitic reactions and byproduct accumulation, ensuring a reversible Zn/electrolyte interface. As a result, the assembled Zn||NH 4 V 4 O 10 full cell achieves stable cycling for over 800 cycles at 1 A g −1 . By shifting the electrolyte design toward ångström topological engineering, this work establishes a promising paradigm for suppressing water‐induced parasitic reactions in high‐performance AZIBs.