Pub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101296
Haoru Yang, Ruigang Wang
Post‑lithium metal‑sulfur batteries, especially magnesium‑sulfur (MgS) and aluminum‑sulfur (AlS), have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density, low cost, and material abundance. Despite these advantages, their practical deployment is hindered by sluggish sulfur/sulfide conversion kinetics, dendrite growth at the anode surface, and the polysulfide shuttle effect. Recent advances in electrocatalyst design, such as transition metal compounds, single-atom catalysts, and composite materials have shown significant potential to accelerate conversion reactions and suppress polysulfide migration. In situ and operando spectroscopic techniques, including Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, provide real-time insights into polysulfide bonding evolution and catalyst functionality while maintaining battery operating conditions. Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations further elucidate adsorption energies, charge transfer, and Gibbs free energy profiles, guiding rational catalyst design. This review summarizes the advantage of combining in situ spectroscopy with electrochemical characterization techniques and the recent progress in in situ Raman and FTIR studies of electrocatalytic mechanisms in MgS and AlS batteries.
{"title":"Advancing post-Li metal-sulfur batteries: In situ Raman and FTIR studies of electrocatalytic mechanisms","authors":"Haoru Yang, Ruigang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Post‑lithium metal‑sulfur batteries, especially magnesium‑sulfur (Mg<img>S) and aluminum‑sulfur (Al<img>S), have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density, low cost, and material abundance. Despite these advantages, their practical deployment is hindered by sluggish sulfur/sulfide conversion kinetics, dendrite growth at the anode surface, and the polysulfide shuttle effect. Recent advances in electrocatalyst design, such as transition metal compounds, single-atom catalysts, and composite materials have shown significant potential to accelerate conversion reactions and suppress polysulfide migration. In situ and operando spectroscopic techniques, including Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, provide real-time insights into polysulfide bonding evolution and catalyst functionality while maintaining battery operating conditions. Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations further elucidate adsorption energies, charge transfer, and Gibbs free energy profiles, guiding rational catalyst design. This review summarizes the advantage of combining in situ spectroscopy with electrochemical characterization techniques and the recent progress in in situ Raman and FTIR studies of electrocatalytic mechanisms in Mg<img>S and Al<img>S batteries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 101296"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148951671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The energy storage characteristics of lead-free (K,Na)NbO3-based ceramics and composite films has advanced substantially through systematic tuning of composition and processing routes, leading to substantial improvements in energy density up to ∼20 J/cm3. Despite achieving high energy densities, the simultaneous optimization of energy storage efficiency remains a critical challenge for real-time device applications. Many strategies have been developed by the researchers over the last decade to obtain simultaneous high energy density along with high efficiency in KNN-based relaxors. This review opens with a concise introduction to capacitor fundamental and then focuses on KNN-based bulk ceramics & polymer composites for energy storage applications. Specifically, it highlights strategies such as grain size reduction, enhanced microstructural homogeneity, multiple phase co-existence, high entropy, polymer composites and optimized sintering, which play a crucial role in improving dielectric polarization and breakdown strength, both of which are essential for achieving high energy density and efficiency. Moreover, we discuss the advanced characterization techniques to study the dynamic Polar Nano Regions (PNRs) and microstructure-property correlations. This review opens a new gateway for systematic synthesis of KNN-based energy storage ceramics and polymer composites to deal with the growing energy demands.
{"title":"Progress and outlook of dielectric energy storage characteristics of Lead–free (K,Na)NbO3 based bulk ceramics/composite films for capacitors","authors":"Twinkle, Varun Kamboj, Chetna, Arun Kumar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Sanjeev Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101297","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101297","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The energy storage characteristics of lead-free (K,Na)NbO<sub>3</sub>-based ceramics and composite films has advanced substantially through systematic tuning of composition and processing routes, leading to substantial improvements in energy density up to ∼20 J/cm<sup>3</sup>. Despite achieving high energy densities, the simultaneous optimization of energy storage efficiency remains a critical challenge for real-time device applications. Many strategies have been developed by the researchers over the last decade to obtain simultaneous high energy density along with high efficiency in KNN-based relaxors. This review opens with a concise introduction to capacitor fundamental and then focuses on KNN-based bulk ceramics & polymer composites for energy storage applications. Specifically, it highlights strategies such as grain size reduction, enhanced microstructural homogeneity, multiple phase co-existence, high entropy, polymer composites and optimized sintering, which play a crucial role in improving dielectric polarization and breakdown strength, both of which are essential for achieving high energy density and efficiency. Moreover, we discuss the advanced characterization techniques to study the dynamic Polar Nano Regions (PNRs) and microstructure-property correlations. This review opens a new gateway for systematic synthesis of KNN-based energy storage ceramics and polymer composites to deal with the growing energy demands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 101297"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148951684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-08-31DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101294
Ankit Sharma, Kamlendra Awasthi, Kamakshi Pandey
Membranes have attracted remarkable interest in gas separation technology for industrial sustainability because of their low cost and energy requirements. Their application is quite useful for gas purification and carbon capture to enable hydrogen recovery and to create a hydrogen-based society and a carbon-free future. Conventional membranes, despite being scalable and processable, suffer from a trade-off relation between permeability and selectivity defined by the Robeson upper bound limit. Metal-organic framework (MOF)/Polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have emerged as a key solution to this limitation. The synergistic combination of the MOF's high molecular sieving properties with a robust and flexible polymer has enhanced the membranes' permeability and selectivity. This review provides a detailed discussion of the membranes, their types, and the major techniques for their fabrication. We have summarised the discussion about the MOFs, their types, synthesis, and various applications and provided our opinion on their classification, synthesis techniques, and performance in the membrane-based gas separation. The review critically analysed the gas separation performance of the MOF-incorporated polymer MMMs over the last few years and discussed the current challenges that make their industrial-scale use difficult. The review concludes by discussing emerging trends, including defect engineering and 2D MOFs, which could transform the use of MOF/polymer MMMs from the laboratory to industrial scale.
{"title":"MOF–polymer mixed matrix membranes for advanced gas separation: Progress, challenges, and future perspectives","authors":"Ankit Sharma, Kamlendra Awasthi, Kamakshi Pandey","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Membranes have attracted remarkable interest in gas separation technology for industrial sustainability because of their low cost and energy requirements. Their application is quite useful for gas purification and carbon capture to enable hydrogen recovery and to create a hydrogen-based society and a carbon-free future. Conventional membranes, despite being scalable and processable, suffer from a trade-off relation between permeability and selectivity defined by the Robeson upper bound limit. Metal-organic framework (MOF)/Polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have emerged as a key solution to this limitation. The synergistic combination of the MOF's high molecular sieving properties with a robust and flexible polymer has enhanced the membranes' permeability and selectivity. This review provides a detailed discussion of the membranes, their types, and the major techniques for their fabrication. We have summarised the discussion about the MOFs, their types, synthesis, and various applications and provided our opinion on their classification, synthesis techniques, and performance in the membrane-based gas separation. The review critically analysed the gas separation performance of the MOF-incorporated polymer MMMs over the last few years and discussed the current challenges that make their industrial-scale use difficult. The review concludes by discussing emerging trends, including defect engineering and 2D MOFs, which could transform the use of MOF/polymer MMMs from the laboratory to industrial scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 101294"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148951685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101293
Sangeetha Ashok Kumar, Alessandro Bellucci, Daniele M. Trucchi, Luigi Vesce
High-temperature solar energy conversion remains a key challenge for improving the utilization of concentrated solar resources and advancing low-carbon energy systems. Photon-Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE) has emerged as a hybrid conversion concept that synergistically combines photonic and thermal excitation of charge carriers in semiconductors to emit electrons across a vacuum gap, thereby generating electrical power. This review offers a detailed report of PETE device architectures, with a particular focus on recent advancements in cathode and anode materials, heterostructure engineering, and design innovations focusing at enhancing device performance. Critical operational parameters are investigated for their impact on power conversion efficiency, including temperature control, space-charge effects, vacuum-gap, intrinsic material properties, and optical characteristics. This review also highlights current research challenges to be addressed to advance PETE technology to practical implementation. These comprises of development of thermally stable cathode materials with lower electron affinity, anodes with low work functions, and robust thermal management strategies to maintain optimal operating conditions. Furthermore, the optimization of optical designs to maximize photon absorption and the capability to operate efficiently under high photon flux conditions are identified as key areas of research for future investigation. By identifying key material bottlenecks, device constraints, and realistic performance limits, this Review establishes material selection and device design guidelines for future research on scalable high-temperature solar energy technologies compatible with emerging net-zero energy pathways.
{"title":"Photon-enhanced thermionic emission for high-temperature solar energy conversion: materials, devices and emerging opportunities","authors":"Sangeetha Ashok Kumar, Alessandro Bellucci, Daniele M. Trucchi, Luigi Vesce","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-temperature solar energy conversion remains a key challenge for improving the utilization of concentrated solar resources and advancing low-carbon energy systems. Photon-Enhanced Thermionic Emission (PETE) has emerged as a hybrid conversion concept that synergistically combines photonic and thermal excitation of charge carriers in semiconductors to emit electrons across a vacuum gap, thereby generating electrical power. This review offers a detailed report of PETE device architectures, with a particular focus on recent advancements in cathode and anode materials, heterostructure engineering, and design innovations focusing at enhancing device performance. Critical operational parameters are investigated for their impact on power conversion efficiency, including temperature control, space-charge effects, vacuum-gap, intrinsic material properties, and optical characteristics. This review also highlights current research challenges to be addressed to advance PETE technology to practical implementation. These comprises of development of thermally stable cathode materials with lower electron affinity, anodes with low work functions, and robust thermal management strategies to maintain optimal operating conditions. Furthermore, the optimization of optical designs to maximize photon absorption and the capability to operate efficiently under high photon flux conditions are identified as key areas of research for future investigation. By identifying key material bottlenecks, device constraints, and realistic performance limits, this Review establishes material selection and device design guidelines for future research on scalable high-temperature solar energy technologies compatible with emerging net-zero energy pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 101293"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148854013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-08-29DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101295
Valentina Bugliarelli, Silvia Porporato, Stefania Lettieri, Marco Etzi, Eugenio de Nardo, Carmela Astorino, Giuseppe Ferraro, Mattia Bartoli, Candido Fabrizio Pirri, Sergio Bocchini
This comprehensive review provides a detailed analysis of the potential of polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) as specialized binders for electrochemical applications. The quest for improved fuel cell and electrolyzer performance has driven extensive research on binders. Early investigations focused on conventional binders, aiming to enhance mechanical properties and adhesion. However, limitations in mass transport prompted the search for novel materials with superior gas permeability, driving interest in PIMs. Analyzing recent advancements and insights presented in the literature, we elucidate the distinct advantages offered by PIMs, such as chemical stability and enhanced gas permeability. The latter attribute is crucial for a binder in electrochemical devices, allowing efficient transport of reactants (e.g., hydrogen, oxygen) to active sites within the catalyst layers, significantly improving device efficiency and reaction rates. By synthesizing and assessing key research findings, this review aims to pave the way for future advancements in PIM-based binders for electrochemical applications, filling a notable gap in the existing literature.
{"title":"An overview of the uses of polymers with intrinsic microporosity as binders for electrocatalysis","authors":"Valentina Bugliarelli, Silvia Porporato, Stefania Lettieri, Marco Etzi, Eugenio de Nardo, Carmela Astorino, Giuseppe Ferraro, Mattia Bartoli, Candido Fabrizio Pirri, Sergio Bocchini","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This comprehensive review provides a detailed analysis of the potential of polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) as specialized binders for electrochemical applications. The quest for improved fuel cell and electrolyzer performance has driven extensive research on binders. Early investigations focused on conventional binders, aiming to enhance mechanical properties and adhesion. However, limitations in mass transport prompted the search for novel materials with superior gas permeability, driving interest in PIMs. Analyzing recent advancements and insights presented in the literature, we elucidate the distinct advantages offered by PIMs, such as chemical stability and enhanced gas permeability. The latter attribute is crucial for a binder in electrochemical devices, allowing efficient transport of reactants (e.g., hydrogen, oxygen) to active sites within the catalyst layers, significantly improving device efficiency and reaction rates. By synthesizing and assessing key research findings, this review aims to pave the way for future advancements in PIM-based binders for electrochemical applications, filling a notable gap in the existing literature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 101295"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148854012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-08-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101291
Sara E. Ferry, Kevin G. Field, Jason R. Trelewicz, M. Grace Burke, Mary Alice Cusentino, Yutai Kato, Takaaki Koyanagi, Jaime Marian, Chad Parish, Wahyu Setyawan, Lance L. Snead, Ezekial Unterberg, Brian D. Wirth, Steven J. Zinkle
In response to the needs of a rapidly growing private fusion industry, the U.S. Fusion Materials Coordinating Committee (FMCC) and the broader U.S. fusion materials research community undertook an extensive effort to create a comprehensive roadmap for fusion materials development. The result of this effort was the U.S. Fusion Materials Community Roadmap (US-FMCR), which describes the steps needed to advance the technical maturity of leading candidates for plasma-facing materials and structural materials for fusion power plants from laboratory-scale experiments to a point of sufficient technological readiness for industrial adoption and implementation. However, researchers face significant resource constraints as well as very aggressive pilot plant development timelines. Thus, the research strategies detailed in the US-FMCR require further assessment to downselect the specific tasks that must be prioritized within the next two to three years, in order to make the most efficient use of funding, human resources, and experimental facilities. This paper presents an overview of the US-FMCR and its development process. We also present the subset of research objectives that the FMCC identified as the most urgent research priorities for the U.S. fusion materials research community. The state-of-the-art of materials research is also highlighted for each class of materials considered in the US-FMCR. The recommendations presented here integrate an extensive evaluation of the current status of fusion materials research with a broad cross-section of opinion from the wider U.S. fusion community.
{"title":"The U.S. Fusion Materials Community Roadmap: Near-term research priorities for the development of plasma-facing and structural materials for fusion power plants","authors":"Sara E. Ferry, Kevin G. Field, Jason R. Trelewicz, M. Grace Burke, Mary Alice Cusentino, Yutai Kato, Takaaki Koyanagi, Jaime Marian, Chad Parish, Wahyu Setyawan, Lance L. Snead, Ezekial Unterberg, Brian D. Wirth, Steven J. Zinkle","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101291","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101291","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In response to the needs of a rapidly growing private fusion industry, the U.S. Fusion Materials Coordinating Committee (FMCC) and the broader U.S. fusion materials research community undertook an extensive effort to create a comprehensive roadmap for fusion materials development. The result of this effort was the U.S. Fusion Materials Community Roadmap (US-FMCR), which describes the steps needed to advance the technical maturity of leading candidates for plasma-facing materials and structural materials for fusion power plants from laboratory-scale experiments to a point of sufficient technological readiness for industrial adoption and implementation. However, researchers face significant resource constraints as well as very aggressive pilot plant development timelines. Thus, the research strategies detailed in the US-FMCR require further assessment to downselect the specific tasks that must be prioritized within the next two to three years, in order to make the most efficient use of funding, human resources, and experimental facilities. This paper presents an overview of the US-FMCR and its development process. We also present the subset of research objectives that the FMCC identified as the most urgent research priorities for the U.S. fusion materials research community. The state-of-the-art of materials research is also highlighted for each class of materials considered in the US-FMCR. The recommendations presented here integrate an extensive evaluation of the current status of fusion materials research with a broad cross-section of opinion from the wider U.S. fusion community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 101291"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148730415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101284
Jiayu Ye, Jordan Noronha, Jiaxin Shi, Jackson Leigh Smith, Philip Pille, Andrey Molotnikov, Martin Leary, Ma Qian, Milan Brandt
Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is emerging as a scalable route for fabricating large-scale, coarse, strut-based metallic lattice structures that are difficult to produce within a typical laser-based powder bed fusion build-volume and powder-removal constraints. Given the rapid growth of this field, a systematic review is needed to consolidate current progresses and clarify barriers to the engineering adoption. This review examines WAAM lattice structures across slicing and toolpath planning, fabrication strategy, lattice design, fabrication quality analysis, mechanical performance, finite element modelling, applications, and standardisation. Existing studies have demonstrated mainly strut-based lattices in steels, aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, and copper-based alloys, with mechanical performance evaluated through tensile, compression, bending, and hardness testing at both strut and lattice scales. Finite element models can capture case-specific stress and thermal trends, but their predictive accuracy remains limited by nominal digitally-designedgeometry, simplified constitutive behaviour, insufficient node morphology, and weak thermal-history coupling. Demonstrated and prospective applications include civil construction, aerospace, marine engineering, and energy absorption. However, broader implementation is still constrained by immature lattice-aware slicing, gravity-induced strut instability, node control, restricted topology diversity, and inconsistent terminology. Mechanical testing should draw on existing additive manufacturing, cellular-metal, tensile and bending standards, but these frameworks must be adapted before they can serve as qualification protocols for WAAM lattices.
{"title":"Lattice structures by wire arc additive manufacturing: Design, manufacture, properties, applications, and challenges","authors":"Jiayu Ye, Jordan Noronha, Jiaxin Shi, Jackson Leigh Smith, Philip Pille, Andrey Molotnikov, Martin Leary, Ma Qian, Milan Brandt","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is emerging as a scalable route for fabricating large-scale, coarse, strut-based metallic lattice structures that are difficult to produce within a typical laser-based powder bed fusion build-volume and powder-removal constraints. Given the rapid growth of this field, a systematic review is needed to consolidate current progresses and clarify barriers to the engineering adoption. This review examines WAAM lattice structures across slicing and toolpath planning, fabrication strategy, lattice design, fabrication quality analysis, mechanical performance, finite element modelling, applications, and standardisation. Existing studies have demonstrated mainly strut-based lattices in steels, aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, and copper-based alloys, with mechanical performance evaluated through tensile, compression, bending, and hardness testing at both strut and lattice scales. Finite element models can capture case-specific stress and thermal trends, but their predictive accuracy remains limited by nominal digitally-designedgeometry, simplified constitutive behaviour, insufficient node morphology, and weak thermal-history coupling. Demonstrated and prospective applications include civil construction, aerospace, marine engineering, and energy absorption. However, broader implementation is still constrained by immature lattice-aware slicing, gravity-induced strut instability, node control, restricted topology diversity, and inconsistent terminology. Mechanical testing should draw on existing additive manufacturing, cellular-metal, tensile and bending standards, but these frameworks must be adapted before they can serve as qualification protocols for WAAM lattices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148656674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-08-03DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101288
Yan Zhang, Xin Dai, Zikang Liang, Ming He, Yucan Peng
Rising power density and device integration have made interfacial heat dissipation a major challenge in thermal management. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) bridge heat sources and sinks, but their practical performance depends on effective thermal resistance rather than thermal conductivity alone. This review focuses on flexible TIMs with low contact thermal resistance and examines how material composition, interfacial interactions, and structural design jointly regulate bulk thermal resistance, bond-line thickness (BLT), and contact thermal resistance (). We examine the physical origins of and summarize recent strategies based on compliant matrices, interfacial adhesion and wetting, adaptive gap filling, continuous thermal networks, and compressible structures. These studies show that increasing thermal conductivity alone can be ineffective when increased modulus, viscosity, or BLT limits interfacial conformability. We conclude that future TIM development should prioritize the coordinated optimization of thermal pathways, interfacial adaptability, BLT, mechanical reliability, and scalable processing under practical conditions.
{"title":"Advances in flexible thermal Interface materials with low contact thermal resistance","authors":"Yan Zhang, Xin Dai, Zikang Liang, Ming He, Yucan Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rising power density and device integration have made interfacial heat dissipation a major challenge in thermal management. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) bridge heat sources and sinks, but their practical performance depends on effective thermal resistance rather than thermal conductivity alone. This review focuses on flexible TIMs with low contact thermal resistance and examines how material composition, interfacial interactions, and structural design jointly regulate bulk thermal resistance, bond-line thickness (BLT), and contact thermal resistance (<span><math><msub><mi>R</mi><mi>C</mi></msub></math></span>). We examine the physical origins of <span><math><msub><mi>R</mi><mi>C</mi></msub></math></span> and summarize recent strategies based on compliant matrices, interfacial adhesion and wetting, adaptive gap filling, continuous thermal networks, and compressible structures. These studies show that increasing thermal conductivity alone can be ineffective when increased modulus, viscosity, or BLT limits interfacial conformability. We conclude that future TIM development should prioritize the coordinated optimization of thermal pathways, interfacial adaptability, BLT, mechanical reliability, and scalable processing under practical conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 101288"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148730416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-08-01Epub Date: 2026-07-31DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101289
Zhihao Zhou, Chuangqi Chen, Rui Li, Zhiqin Zhu, Ping-an Yang, Yiyao An, Xin Huang, Wuyang He, Yuanyuan Li
Flexible pressure sensors are highly important for real-time plantar pressure monitoring, which supports gait analysis, foot disorder diagnosis, rehabilitation, and an improved understanding of human locomotion. However, the development of flexible pressure sensors capable of simultaneously achieving high sensitivity and a wide detection range remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the hierarchical porous structure of bamboo, which exhibits exceptional mechanical adaptability, we report a biomimetic variable-modulus pressure sensor (BVMPS). The sensor is fabricated by embedding multi-walled carbon nanotubes into a polydimethylsiloxane foam featuring a variable-modulus macro/microporous structure. This bioinspired structural design effectively balances the conflicting requirements of sensitivity and a wide response range.The optimized BVMPS demonstrates a high sensitivity of 553 kPa−1, a broad detection range up to 1270 kPa, and long-term stability over 11,000 cycles. Furthermore, a 32-node smart insole array based on BVMPS sensing units was constructed for real-time plantar pressure monitoring and reliable gait phase identification during walking, stair ascent, and stair descent. This work provides a promising paradigm for bioinspired structural design in next-generation flexible electronics for healthcare and rehabilitation applications.
{"title":"Bamboo-inspired variable-modulus pressure sensors for dynamic plantar pressure mapping and gait monitoring","authors":"Zhihao Zhou, Chuangqi Chen, Rui Li, Zhiqin Zhu, Ping-an Yang, Yiyao An, Xin Huang, Wuyang He, Yuanyuan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cossms.2026.101289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flexible pressure sensors are highly important for real-time plantar pressure monitoring, which supports gait analysis, foot disorder diagnosis, rehabilitation, and an improved understanding of human locomotion. However, the development of flexible pressure sensors capable of simultaneously achieving high sensitivity and a wide detection range remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the hierarchical porous structure of bamboo, which exhibits exceptional mechanical adaptability, we report a biomimetic variable-modulus pressure sensor (BVMPS). The sensor is fabricated by embedding multi-walled carbon nanotubes into a polydimethylsiloxane foam featuring a variable-modulus macro/microporous structure. This bioinspired structural design effectively balances the conflicting requirements of sensitivity and a wide response range.The optimized BVMPS demonstrates a high sensitivity of 553 kPa<sup>−1</sup>, a broad detection range up to 1270 kPa, and long-term stability over 11,000 cycles. Furthermore, a 32-node smart insole array based on BVMPS sensing units was constructed for real-time plantar pressure monitoring and reliable gait phase identification during walking, stair ascent, and stair descent. This work provides a promising paradigm for bioinspired structural design in next-generation flexible electronics for healthcare and rehabilitation applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":295,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science","volume":"43 ","pages":"Article 101289"},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148656671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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