Recent Highlights

We have collaboratively developed a NiCo2Se4 nanowire–carbon cloth cathode scaffold that enhances polysulfide retention and sulfur redox kinetics. The resulting electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 1,544 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C with low polarization. The directly grown, binder-free scaffold maintains its structural and electrical integrity after repeated curvature conditioning and when integrated into cylindrical, oval, square, and drone-leg components, demonstrating its potential for non-planar structural battery integration.

The work has been published in Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-026-02093-y 

We have demonstrated that incorporating nitrogen into Ti3CNTx MXene significantly boosts the performance of electro-ionic soft actuators beyond conventional Ti3C2Tx compositions. When integrated with PEDOT:PSS (PP), the higher electronegativity of Ti–N bonding increases redox-active sites and expands interlayer spacing, driving rapid ion kinetics. These findings highlight electronegativity-driven composition engineering as a transformative design strategy for next-generation soft robotics, artificial muscles, and electro-active devices.

The work has been published in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.140532 

We have provided a comprehensive overview of next-generation multivalent batteries, covering multivalent metal–ion, metal–sulfur, and metal–selenium systems. It highlights recent advances in electrode design and electrolyte engineering to overcome key challenges such as sluggish ion diffusion, structural degradation, and electrolyte incompatibility. The review also explores emerging applications in grid-scale energy storage and biomedical devices, while identifying critical research gaps and future directions toward sustainable, high-performance energy storage technologies.

The work has been published in Materials Today: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2026.103286 

We developed a monolithic UV-laser programming strategy for photothermal NiTi shape memory alloys, integrating kirigami mechanics and enhanced photothermal absorption within a single metamaterial platform. Laser micromachining enables programmable 3D morphing, while laser-induced TiOx porous layers provide strong near-infrared absorption without external coatings. The platform enables precise, wireless, and spatiotemporally controlled actuation, demonstrated through a multi-channel 3D morphing and haptic display. This scalable approach opens new opportunities for adaptive surfaces, interactive haptics, and photonic soft robotics.

The work has been published in Advanced Science (Hot Topic: Robotics):

 https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.74930 

We developed an atomically engineered Ti3C2Tx@C2N heterostructure as a durable, platinum-free electrocatalyst for acidic hydrogen evolution. Strong Ti–N interfacial bonding and electronic coupling deliver Pt-like activity, with an overpotential of just 42 mV at 10 mA cm–2 and a Tafel slope of 36 mV dec–1. Remarkably, the catalyst operates stably for 550 h at 100 mA cm–2 in acidic media, outperforming Pt/C. This synergistic interface and porous architecture offers a promising route toward scalable, low-cost catalysts for PEM electrolyzers and sustainable hydrogen production.

The work has been published in Advanced Functional Materials:

 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202530090 

We developed a flexible hydrogel-based power source that continuously generates electricity from moisture-induced ion gradients and differential ion absorption using charge-asymmetric electrodes. The device delivers a stable 0.45 V output for 4,000 min, a current density of 12.3 µA cm–2, and a power density of up to 7.7 W m–3. Its flexible and foldable architecture enables compact integration, with a 16-unit palm-sized device capable of directly powering a calculator. This work offers a promising strategy for self-sustained, conformable energy harvesting in wearable and flexible electronics.

The work has been published in Advanced Functional Materials:

 https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202518814 

We developed a Pose-Independent Haptic Ring (PIHR) featuring a compact multichannel shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator array embedded in a stretchable elastomer. By mapping four directional force channels to anatomical joint movements, the device preserves consistent spatial cues despite changes in hand posture. The optimized design achieved an overall 79.2% directional recognition accuracy without prior training and demonstrated tactile-guided touchscreen interaction and vision-integrated teleoperation. This work establishes a compact and robust platform for wearable haptics, intuitive human–machine interaction, and remote teleoperation.

The work has been published in Small Structures:

 https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202600017