Featured
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Article
| Open AccessCharge state-dependent symmetry breaking of atomic defects in transition metal dichalcogenides
The microscopic structure of quantum defects in 2D materials is crucial to understand their optical properties and spin-photon interface. Here, the authors report the direct imaging of charge state-dependent symmetry breaking of sulfur vacancies and rhenium dopants in 2D MoS2, showing evidence of a Jahn-Teller effect.
- Feifei Xiang
- , Lysander Huberich
- & Bruno Schuler
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Article
| Open AccessSignificant enhancement of proton conductivity in solid acid at the monolayer limit
High performance proton conductor is highly desired for energy application. Here authors report an increase in the number of active protons in solid acid at the monolayer limit, enabling membranes with proton conductivity 5 times higher than that of Nafion.
- Zhangcai Zhang
- , Lixin Liang
- & Wencai Ren
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Article
| Open AccessAnomalous anti-Kasha excited-state luminescence from symmetry-breaking heterogeneous carbon bisnanohoops
It is a long-standing scientific controversy to achieve anti-Kasha emissions by tuning structures at a molecular level. Herein, the authors constructed two symmetry-breaking heterogeneous carbon bisnanohoops with unusual anti-Kasha characteristics.
- Xinyu Zhang
- , Cheng Chen
- & Pingwu Du
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Article
| Open AccessObservation of naturally canalized phonon polaritons in LiV2O5 thin layers
Canalized polaritons are light-matter excitations characterized by intrinsic collimation of electromagnetic energy along a specific crystal axis. Here, the authors report the observation of intrinsically canalized phonon polaritons in a single thin layer of a van der Waals crystal, LiV2O5.
- Ana I. F. Tresguerres-Mata
- , Christian Lanza
- & Pablo Alonso-González
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Article
| Open AccessElectricity generation from carbon dioxide adsorption by spatially nanoconfined ion separation
Nanogenerators have promising applications in energy and environment-related fields. Here, the authors developed Nanosheet-Agarose Hydrogel generators to enable near-perfect anion/cation separation, leading to simultaneously CO2 adsorption and energy generation.
- Zhuyuan Wang
- , Ting Hu
- & Xiwang Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessRealization of sextuple polarization states and interstate switching in antiferroelectric CuInP2S6
Materials with higher-order multistates are desired for non-Boolean high-density storage. Here the authors realized sextuple intrinsic polarization states in vdW CuInP2S6, and reversible transformation among sextuple-, quadruple-, and double-polarization orders.
- Tao Li
- , Yongyi Wu
- & Tai Min
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Article
| Open AccessDeep-potential enabled multiscale simulation of gallium nitride devices on boron arsenide cooling substrates
Efficient heat dissipation is critical to optimize high-power devices. Here, the authors report high interfacial thermal conductance in GaN-BAs heterostructures and investigate the competition between grain size and boundary resistance by multiscale simulations.
- Jing Wu
- , E Zhou
- & Guangzhao Qin
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Article
| Open AccessVelocities of transmission eigenchannels and diffusion
Wave scattering can be described with a diffusion model in which the velocity is randomized by scattering. Here the authors find that the velocities of different transmission eigenchannels are distinct on all length scales.
- Azriel Z. Genack
- , Yiming Huang
- & Zhou Shi
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Article
| Open AccessLayer-polarized ferromagnetism in rhombohedral multilayer graphene
Rhombohedral multilayer graphene has emerged as an exciting solid-state platform for studying correlated electron physics. Here, the authors demonstrate field-tunable layer-polarized ferromagnetism and isolated surface flat bands engineered with a moiré potential.
- Wenqiang Zhou
- , Jing Ding
- & Shuigang Xu
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Article
| Open AccessForward-predictive SERS-based chemical taxonomy for untargeted structural elucidation of epimeric cerebrosides
SERS-based chemical taxonomy is attractive for practical SERS applications where the identity and concentration of analytes are unknown. Here, the authors demonstrate a machine learning framework for classifying “unknown” molecules that lie outside the boundaries of the models used.
- Emily Xi Tan
- , Shi Xuan Leong
- & Xing Yi Ling
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Article
| Open AccessSpectroscopic visualization of reversible hydrogen spillover between palladium and metal–organic frameworks toward catalytic semihydrogenation
The authors report an in situ investigation of interfacial hydrogen spillover in Pd/ZIF-8 structures with X-ray and Raman techniques. A mechanistic picture of how Pd/ZIF-8 catalyst mediate alkyne semihydrogenation to alkynes is described.
- Qiaoxi Liu
- , Wenjie Xu
- & Yujie Xiong
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Article
| Open AccessHeight-renderable morphable tactile display enabled by programmable modulation of local stiffness in photothermally active polymer
The controllability of deformation height in reconfigurable touch displays currently limits their deliverable information. Hwang et al. present a light-triggered morphable tactile display enabling generation of refreshable, height-adjustable, and latchable 3D topologies with varying textures on a thin film surface.
- Inwook Hwang
- , Seongcheol Mun
- & Sungryul Yun
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Article
| Open AccessDirect visualization of stacking-selective self-intercalation in epitaxial Nb1+xSe2 films
The interplay between stacking configurations and atom intercalation in van der Waals materials has been rarely characterized at the microscopic level. Here, the authors report an electron microscopy study of stacking-selective self-intercalation in Nb1+xSe2 films, showing potential for nanoscale engineering of electronic properties in van der Waals materials and devices.
- Hongguang Wang
- , Jiawei Zhang
- & Hidenori Takagi
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Article
| Open AccessUltrafast all-optical second harmonic wavefront shaping
Enhancing the data encoding into the orbital angular momentum of light beams could enable faster and more efficient optical communications. This work demonstrates complex control of the second harmonic wavefront with dynamics solely limited by the pulse duration.
- Artem Sinelnik
- , Shiu Hei Lam
- & Isabelle Staude
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Article
| Open AccessHigh performance artificial visual perception and recognition with a plasmon-enhanced 2D material neural network
Here, the authors demonstrate a low-power neuromorphic visual architecture based on a plasmon-enhanced 2D semiconductor phototransistor array, showing high-speed sensing, preprocessing and image recognition functionalities.
- Tian Zhang
- , Xin Guo
- & Linjun Li
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Article
| Open AccessButton shear testing for adhesion measurements of 2D materials
2D materials are being investigated for several applications in micro- and nanoelectronics, but their weak adhesion represents a critical challenge for device integration. Here, the authors propose a button shear testing method to evaluate the adhesion forces of various large-area 2D films on SiO2 and Si3N4 substrates.
- Josef Schätz
- , Navin Nayi
- & Max C. Lemme
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Article
| Open AccessWell-defined diatomic catalysis for photosynthesis of C2H4 from CO2
Principal interest lies in diatomic catalysts (DACs) for efficient CO2 to C2H4 photoconversion yet optimizing catalytic performance and exploring reaction mechanisms are impeded by heteronuclear atom random distribution. Here, a novel up-bottom ion-cutting architecture is proposed for fabricating well-defined DACs.
- Zhongkai Xie
- , Shengjie Xu
- & Shuyan Song
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Article
| Open AccessBroadened quantum critical ground state in a disordered superconducting thin film
The authors present Nernst measurements on a 2D film of amorphous MoxGe1−x, which shows a magnetic-field-induced superconductor-metal-insulator transition. The intermediate metal phase is known as the “anomalous metal” (AM) state. The authors conclude that the AM state originates from broadening of the superconductor-insulator transition.
- Koichiro Ienaga
- , Yutaka Tamoto
- & Satoshi Okuma
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Article
| Open AccessNear-field detection of gate-tunable anisotropic plasmon polaritons in black phosphorus at terahertz frequencies
Polaritons in 2D materials offer the possibility to confine and manipulate light in the terahertz (THz) range. Here, the authors report the observation of THz elliptic plasmon polaritons in 2D black phosphorus, showing deep subwavelength light confinement and anisotropic polariton propagation.
- Eva A. A. Pogna
- , Valentino Pistore
- & Miriam S. Vitiello
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Article
| Open AccessPhotooxidation triggered ultralong afterglow in carbon nanodots
Biocompatible afterglow materials have potential in imaging applications, but are challenging to prepare. Here the authors report the development of carbon nanodots with near-infrared afterglow, and demonstrate their use in imaging for tumour resection.
- Guang-Song Zheng
- , Cheng-Long Shen
- & Chong-Xin Shan
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Article
| Open AccessHigh figure-of-merit for ZnO nanostructures by interfacing lowly-oxidized graphene quantum dots
It is crucial to design ZnO with uniform nanoscale features to reduce thermal conductivity while maintaining electrical conduction pathways. Authors realize a high figure-of-merit value of 0.486 at 580 K by interfacing graphene quantum dots with three-dimensional nanostructured ZnO.
- Myungwoo Choi
- , Juyoung An
- & Seokwoo Jeon
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Article
| Open AccessExcitonic Mott insulator in a Bose-Fermi-Hubbard system of moiré WS2/WSe2 heterobilayer
Strongly interacting interlayer excitons and the interplay between excitons and electronic states have recently been studied in moire superlattices. Here the authors study moire WS2/WSe2 heterobilayer with tuneable electron and exciton populations and find signatures of an excitonic Mott insulating state.
- Beini Gao
- , Daniel G. Suárez-Forero
- & Mohammad Hafezi
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Article
| Open AccessIntragrain impurity annihilation for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
The detrimental effects of intragrain impurity nanoclusters on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells remain unexplored. Here, the authors study the intragrain impurity annihilation by in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and adopt a laser stimulus to heal such impurity.
- Songhua Cai
- , Zhipeng Li
- & Yuanyuan Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessPushing the thinness limit of silver films for flexible optoelectronic devices via ion-beam thinning-back process
The use of thin silver films with nanometric thickness for optoelectronic devices is essential for high transparency, flexibility, and electrical properties. Ma et al. report a thinning-back process with a flood ion beam, to further reduce film thickness down to 4.5 nm.
- Dongxu Ma
- , Ming Ji
- & Huigao Duan
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Article
| Open AccessControlled formation of three-dimensional cavities during lateral epitaxial growth
Substrate patterning offers additional degrees of freedom to engineer the structure and function of a semiconductor device. Here, fully-enclosed germanium cavities, with size and position tunable through the initial mask pattern, can be created through an unexpected self-assembly process.
- Yiwen Zhang
- , Baoming Wang
- & Rui-Tao Wen
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Article
| Open AccessElectrostatic potentials of atomic nanostructures at metal surfaces quantified by scanning quantum dot microscopy
Surface averaging techniques offer only limited access to the electrostatic potentials of nanostructures, which are determined by shape, material, and environment. Here, the authors quantify these potentials for gold and silver adatom chains, explaining the mechanisms of dipole formation.
- Rustem Bolat
- , Jose M. Guevara
- & Christian Wagner
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular sieving of iso-butene from C4 olefins with simultaneous high 1,3-butadiene and n-butene uptakes
The efficient separation of iso-butene, an important raw material in chemical industry, remains challenging due to similar molecular properties of C4 olefins. Here, the authors report a sulfate-pillared adsorbent for the molecular sieving of iso-C4H8 from C4H6 and n-C4H8 with good benchmark uptake ratios and Henry’s selectivities.
- Junhui Liu
- , Hanting Xiong
- & Jun Wang
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Article
| Open AccessLiquid metals for boosting stability of zeolite catalysts in the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons
For the methanol-to-hydrocarbons process, coke build can rapidly deactivate the zeolite catalyst. Here the authors show that the addition of liquid metal gallium can reduce coke deposition and increase catalyst lifetime.
- Yong Zhou
- , Sara Santos
- & Vitaly V. Ordomsky
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Article
| Open AccessComplete separation of benzene-cyclohexene-cyclohexane mixtures via temperature-dependent molecular sieving by a flexible chain-like coordination polymer
The separation and purification of C6 cyclic hydrocarbons by thermal distillation is an energy intensive process which may be replaced by alternative energy-efficient adsorptive techniques. Here, the authors report a chain-like coordination polymer which facilitates complete separation of benzene, cyclohexene, and cyclohexane via an ideal molecular sieving mechanism.
- Feng Xie
- , Lihang Chen
- & Jing Li
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Article
| Open AccessVortex-based soft magnetic composite with ultrastable permeability up to gigahertz frequencies
The development of higher frequency transformers and inductors requires soft magnetic materials with stable permeability up to GHz frequencies, however, such soft magnetic materials are current lacking. Here Bai et al demonstrate a soft magnetic composite featuring isolated magnetic vortices, which endow the material with a stable permeability over a GHz range of frequency.
- Guohua Bai
- , Jiayi Sun
- & Xuefeng Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessFloat-stacked graphene–PMMA laminate
To maximize composite reinforcing efficiency, a semi-infinite reinforcement should be aligned in the matrix. Here, the authors report a float-stacking strategy for graphene-PMMA laminate with precisely aligned monolayer graphene in a polymer matrix.
- Seung-Il Kim
- , Ji-Yun Moon
- & Jae-Hyun Lee
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Article
| Open AccessArea-selective atomic layer deposition on 2D monolayer lateral superlattices
Area selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD) has been recently proposed as a controlled growth method, but the patterning resolution and selectivity require improvements. Here, the authors report a superlattice-based AS-ALD method to deposit various materials onto 2D MoS2-MoSe2 lateral superlattices, with a minimum half-pitch size of ~ 10 nm.
- Jeongwon Park
- , Seung Jae Kwak
- & Kibum Kang
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Article
| Open AccessRegulating ion affinity and dehydration of metal-organic framework sub-nanochannels for high-precision ion separation
Understanding ion transport mechanisms in confined environments is key to achieving efficient membrane-based ion separation. Here, the authors regulate the ion affinity and dehydration in metal-organic framework sub-nanochannels and achieve a high-precise mono-/di-valent cation separation.
- Ri-Jian Mo
- , Shuang Chen
- & Zhong-Qiu Li
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Article
| Open AccessProton-selective coating enables fast-kinetics high-mass-loading cathodes for sustainable zinc batteries
Sluggish Zn2+-dominated Faradic reactions lead to suboptimal charge-storage capacity and durability of aqueous zinc battery cathodes. Here, the authors present a proton-selective interfacial coating strategy that enables high-performance cathodes with fast-kinetics proton-dominated Faradic reactions.
- Quanquan Guo
- , Wei Li
- & Xinliang Feng
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Article
| Open AccessAcidity-activatable upconversion afterglow luminescence cocktail nanoparticles for ultrasensitive in vivo imaging
Activatable afterglow luminescence nanoprobes reduce unspecific signals and improve imaging fidelity, but their utility is limited by a requisition of donor-acceptor distance (>10 nm) in common biomarker-activatable designs. Here, the authors address this issue by developing organic afterglow luminescence cocktail nanoparticles for acid-activatable upconversion afterglow luminescence imaging.
- Yue Jiang
- , Min Zhao
- & Qingqing Miao
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Article
| Open AccessLight-responsive and ultrapermeable two-dimensional metal-organic framework membrane for efficient ionic energy harvesting
With porous structure and photothermal conversion performance, Cu-porphyrin framework membranes exhibit high efficiency in the extraction of electrical energy from salt solutions, opening avenues for renewable energy.
- Jin Wang
- , Zeyuan Song
- & Lei Wang
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Article
| Open AccessTri-system integration in metal-oxide nanocomposites via in-situ solution-processed method for ultrathin flexible transparent electrodes
Fabricating flexible transparent electrodes with robust operational stability alongside electrical and mechanical properties is challenging. Here, Kim et al. develop ultrathin flexible transparent electrodes using in-situ solution-processing and unveil interface dynamics of the integrated tri-system.
- John Jinwook Kim
- , Kojima Shuji
- & Wallace C. H. Choy
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Article
| Open AccessAn artificial protein modulator reprogramming neuronal protein functions
Direct modulation of protein by artificial catalysts as enzyme mimetics remains hindered by the lack of highly efficient catalytic centers. Here, the authors present the development of artificial protein modulators (APROMs) with protein phosphatase-like characteristics, catalytically reprogram the biological function of α-synuclein.
- Peihua Lin
- , Bo Zhang
- & Daishun Ling
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-assembly of Co/Pt stripes with current-induced domain wall motion towards 3D racetrack devices
The authors report an alternative approach to build 3D magnetic memories by rolling Co/Pt stripes on flexible polymers in compact geometry, and simultaneously offering current-induced domain wall motion and strain-induced domain wall speed control.
- Pavel Fedorov
- , Ivan Soldatov
- & Daniil Karnaushenko
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Article
| Open AccessReversible chirality inversion of an AuAgx-cysteine coordination polymer by pH change
Reactive chiral systems have attracted much attention in biology, optoelectronics, and photonics; however, a comprehensive understanding of these systems remains incomplete. Here the authors show the reversible chirality of AuAgx-cys coordination polymers induced by pH changes.
- Bing Ni
- , Dustin Vivod
- & Helmut Cölfen
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Article
| Open AccessOrbitronics: light-induced orbital currents in Ni studied by terahertz emission experiments
Several recent works have highlighted the importance of the orbital currents in transferring angular momentum within materials. In combination with spin-orbit coupling, such orbital currents can be used to alter the magnetization of a material. Herein, the authors demonstrate the inverse effect, showing orbital current driven terahertz emission in Nickel based heterostructures.
- Yong Xu
- , Fan Zhang
- & Weisheng Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessIn situ electrochemical regeneration of nanogap hotspots for continuously reusable ultrathin SERS sensors
SERS is a powerful analytical technique, but achieving reproducibility for continuous analysis a challenge. Here, the authors report a SERS substrate recycling method that enables direct analysis of complex samples without substrate contamination.
- Sarah May Sibug-Torres
- , David-Benjamin Grys
- & Jeremy J. Baumberg
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Article
| Open AccessCrystallization of molecular layers produced under confinement onto a surface
Molecules arranged in close proximity to a surface form molecular layers, exhibiting distinct properties. However, the creation of these layers is challenging. Here, the authors present a technique for generating molecular layers through crystallization induced by gas blowing onto a surface.
- Jincheng Tong
- , Nathan de Bruyn
- & Cinzia Casiraghi
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Article
| Open AccessOptically addressable spin defects coupled to bound states in the continuum metasurfaces
Previous research reported enhanced emission from spin defects in hBN by coupling to optical resonators; however, this approach has limited scalability. Here the authors use a monolithic metasurface featuring quasi bound states fabricated from hBN to enhance photoemission and optical spin-readout efficiency of defects in the same material.
- Luca Sortino
- , Angus Gale
- & Andreas Tittl
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Article
| Open AccessJanus microparticles-based targeted and spatially-controlled piezoelectric neural stimulation via low-intensity focused ultrasound
Wireless and localized stimulation of neural cells remains challenging. Here, the authors propose piezoelectric magnetic Janus microparticles that can target and stimulate neurons under low-intensity ultrasound through voltage-gated ion channels.
- Mertcan Han
- , Erdost Yildiz
- & Metin Sitti
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Article
| Open AccessPrediction of highly stable 2D carbon allotropes based on azulenoid kekulene
Discovery of 2D materials with useful electronic properties is challenging. Here, the authors use DFT to design a stable semiconducting 2D carbon allotrope for optoelectronic applications that has light charge carriers and unusual secondary bandgap.
- Zhenzhe Zhang
- , Hanh D. M. Pham
- & Rustam Z. Khaliullin
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Article
| Open AccessColor construction of multi-colored carbon fibers using glucose
Color construction of black carbon fibers is a challenge due to their stable physicochemical properties. Here, the authors demonstrate the tunable structural color of carbon fibers endowed by the dynamic growth of carbon spheres using glucose.
- Sijie Zhou
- , Chunhua Zhang
- & Weilin Xu
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Article
| Open AccessDynamic mechanostereochemical switching of a co-conformationally flexible [2]catenane controlled by specific ionic guests
By virtue of the rotational motions of interlocked macrocycles, the authors describe a chameleon-like catenane host that can adjust its co-conformation for selective binding to copper(I) or sulfate ion. While the cationic copper(I) complex is achiral, the interlocked rings in the catenane host rotate and re-orient into a chiral co-conformation upon forming the anionic sulfate complex.
- Yueliang Yao
- , Yuen Cheong Tse
- & Ho Yu Au-Yeung
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Article
| Open AccessAn acetate electrolyte for enhanced pseudocapacitve capacity in aqueous ammonium ion batteries
Ammonium ion batteries are of growing interest for energy storage research. Here, the authors observe two-step pseudocapacitive storage behavior in an ammonium acetate electrolyte, resulting in a superior ammonium ion storage capacity.
- Zhuoheng Bao
- , Chengjie Lu
- & ZhengMing Sun
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