Accurate malaria staging is vital for treatment decisions and monitoring of transmission. Because mature parasites sequester in deep vasculature, noninvasive diagnostics must target circulating ring stages and transmiss...Accurate malaria staging is vital for treatment decisions and monitoring of transmission. Because mature parasites sequester in deep vasculature, noninvasive diagnostics must target circulating ring stages and transmissible gametocyte stages. Label-free optical detection is ideal as it probes intrinsic biochemical signatures without exogenous reagents. We present a population-level Raman spectroscopy framework coupled with interpretable machine learning to define biochemical signatures of infected red blood cells. By utilizing confocal and spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) on synchronized cultures, we captured aggregate biochemical alterations associated with parasite development. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis identified discriminative spectral regions, specifically hemoglobin-associated vibrational modes, and composite biochemical features. To assess translational feasibility, we demonstrated sensitivity to infection signatures beneath a skin-mimetic phantom, confirming subsurface detectability under tissue-like scattering conditions. These results provide a rigorous biochemical basis for stage-specific Raman classification, laying the groundwork for noninvasive, stage-aware diagnostics capable of identifying the infection and transmission potential.
Reversible ultrafast switching of surface thermodynamics is highly desirable for hydrogen storage and catalysis yet remains elusive at the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate that photoinduced ferroic-order switching in two-...Reversible ultrafast switching of surface thermodynamics is highly desirable for hydrogen storage and catalysis yet remains elusive at the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate that photoinduced ferroic-order switching in two-dimensional ionic ferroelectric monolayers enables rapid, reversible control of hydrogen binding. In TiGeSe, carrier-density-driven redistribution of transition-metal 3 orbital occupations triggers a sequential evolution from the ferroelectric ground state to paraelectric phases with staggered or zig-zag antiferromagnetic order. This switch continuously tunes the hydrogen adsorption free energy from 0.33 to 1.11 eV, shifting the interface from near-thermoneutrality to spontaneous desorption. Nonadiabatic dynamics simulations indicate that electron-phonon coupling promotes nonthermal H release, while picosecond carrier recombination rapidly restores the initial ferroic order, closing an ultrafast reversible cycle. Generality is further validated in AgBiPSe and CuInPS, establishing ferroic order as an optically addressable knob for dynamic thermodynamic reconfiguration beyond static design.
Despite significant progress in the field of molecular electronics over the last two decades, the quantitative prediction of metal-molecule-metal junction conductance remains a challenge. The standard computational frame...Despite significant progress in the field of molecular electronics over the last two decades, the quantitative prediction of metal-molecule-metal junction conductance remains a challenge. The standard computational framework combines density functional theory (DFT) with nonequilibrium Green's functions (NEGF) using low-rung exchange-correlation functionals such as PBE, which overestimate the conductances. More advanced correction methods exist but require complex workflows and high computational cost, limiting their accessibility. Here, we introduce a physically motivated approach that approximates results obtained with high-rung functionals. Our method fits the PBE-calculated transmission to a Breit-Wigner form and subsequently refines the fit parameters using molecular orbital energies and metal densities of states computed for the isolated subsystems with high-rung functionals. This approach is applicable to a broad range of molecular junctions yielding conductance values in quantitative agreement with experiments. Our approach is simple, low-cost, and accurate, making it well-suited for routine and large-scale prediction of single-molecule junction conductance.
Ammonia ranks as the most typical biomarker in the analysis of exhaled breath. However, developing ammonia gas sensors remains challenging for noninvasive exhaled human breath monitoring. In this work, a polyaniline/bism...Ammonia ranks as the most typical biomarker in the analysis of exhaled breath. However, developing ammonia gas sensors remains challenging for noninvasive exhaled human breath monitoring. In this work, a polyaniline/bismuth oxychloride (PANI/BiOCl) heterojunction-inspired ammonia gas sensor was reported for real-time exhaled biomarker analysis. The PANI/BiOCl heterojunction-enabled gas sensor exhibits a very short response time (11 s), an ultralow limit of detection (0.5 ppm), a high response value (1.5%, even at 1 ppm), and excellent stability under ambient conditions. The intimate contact across the interface between BiOCl and PANI can greatly promote the charge carrier migration and separation. A wireless passive device was further developed by integrating a PANI/BiOCl heterojunction and a near-field communication tag, validating the feasibility of its use for expiratory disease monitoring. This work establishes an innovative pathway for the systematic development of high-performance wireless gas sensors.
Sliding ferroelectricity in van der Waals materials shows great potential for designing robust memory devices. However, its thermodynamic behaviors and the coupling with certain quantum effects remain largely unexplored....Sliding ferroelectricity in van der Waals materials shows great potential for designing robust memory devices. However, its thermodynamic behaviors and the coupling with certain quantum effects remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate ferroelectric control over quantum nonlinear transport in a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)-encapsulated twisted double-bilayer graphene moiré heterostructure. The ferroelectricity is attributed to the presence of rhombohedral stacking in the top hBN, confirmed by both electrical transport and optical second harmonic generation measurements. Remarkably, the polarization magnitude remains temperature-independent across 1.7-200 K, while nucleation time exhibits thermally activated behavior, decreasing with increasing temperature. Furthermore, we demonstrate a ferroelectric-switchable nonlinear Hall effect, attributed to the chiral scattering induced by Berry curvature, with outstanding fatigue-resistant and nonvolatility, demonstrating direct coupling between sliding ferroelectricity and quantum geometric properties. Our results establish sliding ferroelectrics as a platform for exploring electrically programmable Berry curvature physics.
Optical nonlinear processes are fundamental to numerous applications, from frequency conversion to quantum technologies. Although subwavelength integrated photonic structures can enhance nonlinear interactions, they rare...Optical nonlinear processes are fundamental to numerous applications, from frequency conversion to quantum technologies. Although subwavelength integrated photonic structures can enhance nonlinear interactions, they rarely exploit the broad oblique wavevector components of tightly focused pump beams, restricting the nonlinear conversion efficiency. Here, we demonstrate efficient second-harmonic generation (SHG) pumped by tightly focused beams containing broad oblique wavevector components in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) moiré superlattice microcavity. Specifically, we experimentally achieve flatband enhanced SHG in a 4.41°-twisted moiré cavity with a high quality () factor of ∼1100 and a normalized SHG conversion efficiency of (2.1 ± 0.4) × 10 cm/GW at an extremely low pump power density of 1.1 ± 0.2 MW/cm. The synergy of high , flatband dispersion, and broad angular acceptance maximizes pump utilization, enabling high-efficiency nonlinear conversion. This breakthrough establishes TFLN moiré superlattices as a versatile platform for compact, integrated nonlinear photonics and next-generation quantum light sources.
Investigating micro/nanomotors' (MNMs') motion behavior is crucial for their practical applications and fundamental understanding of propulsion mechanisms. However, existing methods focus exclusively on a single-drive sy...Investigating micro/nanomotors' (MNMs') motion behavior is crucial for their practical applications and fundamental understanding of propulsion mechanisms. However, existing methods focus exclusively on a single-drive system and lack discriminative capability between different driving modes. Herein, we employ deep learning methods to distinguish different driving modes of catalytic micromotors (e.g., platinum driven and enzyme driven). When using trajectories as input, the classification accuracy is as high as 70.19%, which was primarily due to short-term motion. By extracting an optical flow map from original motion videos, classification accuracy reached 97.75% through multisegment sampling with transfer learning. Crucially, single-modality analysis demonstrated that driving mode differences occur within optical flow frames spanning just 0.45 s, which aligns precisely with trajectory-based findings. This work not only overcomes limitations of traditional analysis methods on MNMs' motion behaviors but also provides insights for future elucidation of fundamental motion mechanisms of chemically powered MNMs.
Temperature gradients can generate phonon angular momentum, yet most quantitative descriptions rely on semiclassical intraband transport. Here we show that finite line widths can activate an interband channel once neighb...Temperature gradients can generate phonon angular momentum, yet most quantitative descriptions rely on semiclassical intraband transport. Here we show that finite line widths can activate an interband channel once neighboring phonon branches develop spectral overlap. Within a self-energy-broadened Green's-function (bubble) framework, we derive compact intraband/interband expressions and identify an activation criterion, (Γ + Γ)/2 ∼ |ω - ω|. Using first-principles phonon dispersions and eigenvectors together with temperature-dependent, mode-resolved line widths, we compare three materials spanning distinct phonon landscapes: chiral Te as an intraband-dominant baseline, multibranch LiNbO as an activated but overbroadening-limited case, and strongly anharmonic RbSe, where dense low-frequency manifolds make the interband contribution dominant at elevated temperatures. We further introduce a minimal nanoribbon model showing that subband crowding and finite line widths can also promote interband contributions in nanostructures. These results identify line width broadening as a design knob and provide practical guidelines for searching for larger interband thermal Edelstein responses in complex crystals and nanostructures.
Magnon-mediated spin-orbit torque (SOT) has emerged as a promising mechanism for efficient magnetization control in spintronic devices. Here, we provide experimental evidence for magnon-mediated orbital torque─the orbita...Magnon-mediated spin-orbit torque (SOT) has emerged as a promising mechanism for efficient magnetization control in spintronic devices. Here, we provide experimental evidence for magnon-mediated orbital torque─the orbital analogue of magnon-mediated SOT. We demonstrate that the current-induced torque in Ti/NiO/CoPt heterostructures is governed by the orbital Hall effect in the Ti layer and exhibits a strong dependence on the antiferromagnetic ordering of NiO, indicating the magnon-mediated transport of orbital angular momentum through the antiferromagnetic insulator. Notably, the magnon-mediated orbital torque enables efficient manipulation of perpendicular magnetization with reduced electrical currents. These results open a pathway toward highly efficient orbitronic devices driven by magnons.
We demonstrate that water microdroplets create a highly reactive interfacial environment that enables the rapid, room-temperature synthesis of boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs). Using a borane ammonia complex (BHNH) and...We demonstrate that water microdroplets create a highly reactive interfacial environment that enables the rapid, room-temperature synthesis of boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs). Using a borane ammonia complex (BHNH) and a boric acid-ammonia system as precursors, we obtain green- and blue-emissive BNQDs, respectively, under ambient conditions. Mass spectrometry reveals a dehydrogenative cyclization pathway for BHNH, delineates the size distribution of BN clusters, and reveals reaction kinetics accelerated by 6 orders of magnitude relative to conventional bulk hydrothermal synthesis. Hydroxyl radicals (OH), generated from interfacial water and entrained oxygen, act as key oxidants driving stepwise dehydrogenation of BHNH. For the boric acid-ammonia system, the dehydration and deamination process is accelerated on the air-water interface. In a spraying-recirculating microdroplet reactor, milligram-scale quantities of BNQDs with an average diameter of ∼8.5 nm are produced within 1 h, establishing a green, bottom-up route for nanomaterial synthesis by exploiting the intrinsic reactivity of water microdroplets.
The ability to resolve rare and transient cellular states is critical for understanding metastasis, immune evasion, and therapy resistance in cancer, yet these dynamic processes often escape detection by conventional seq...The ability to resolve rare and transient cellular states is critical for understanding metastasis, immune evasion, and therapy resistance in cancer, yet these dynamic processes often escape detection by conventional sequencing and imaging approaches. Recent advances at the interface of nanotechnology, high-resolution live-cell imaging, and single-cell/spatial multiomics methods have enabled functional profiling of cells with unprecedented precision within their native microenvironment. In this Mini-Review, we highlight emerging nanoscale platforms that couple real-time phenotypic imaging with molecular readouts, such as FUNseq and CIN-seq, to directly link functional heterogeneity to transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenomic information. By integrating nanoscale optical imaging, microengineered perturbation tools, and AI-driven computational analysis, these technologies open up new avenues for dissecting rare metastatic, therapy-resistant, or immune-evasive subpopulations. We further discuss how these next-generation imaging-guided single-cell and spatial omics platforms not only advance fundamental cancer biology but also create opportunities to accelerate the development of nanomedicine applications.
Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnets are promising for the development of novel physical paradigms and next-generation spintronics. However, their practical applications are limited by a low Curie temper...Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnets are promising for the development of novel physical paradigms and next-generation spintronics. However, their practical applications are limited by a low Curie temperature () and the strong thickness dependence of , which decreases significantly toward the 2D limit. 2D Fe-M-Te (M = Ge, Ga) compounds have emerged as key platforms, exhibiting intrinsic ferromagnetism below but near room temperature in few-layer Fe-Ge-Te and above room temperature in few-layer Fe-Ga-Te. This review discusses their recent advances and challenges, especially about the first well above-room-temperature intrinsic 2D vdW ferromagnet FeGaTe which makes room-temperature practical 2D spintronic and quantum devices possible. The preparation and properties are first summarized, followed by magnetism regulation strategies (e.g., doping, pressure, electrical control, and interfacial engineering) and vdW spintronics (e.g., topological spin textures, vertical spin valves, and spin/orbital torque devices). Finally, some fundamental and technological challenges are highlighted, providing insights into room-temperature spintronics based on vdW ferromagnets.
The dissipation of heat is an inevitable byproduct of all processes─physical, chemical, biological, and computational─putting fundamental limits on the energy required. For quantum machines, these limits have heretofore...The dissipation of heat is an inevitable byproduct of all processes─physical, chemical, biological, and computational─putting fundamental limits on the energy required. For quantum machines, these limits have heretofore appeared to be prohibitively stringent due to the large entropy produced in processes at low absolute temperatures. However, we show that the conventional formulas used to compute heat and entropy in quantum processes are incomplete as they omit a term involving the flow of free energy that becomes increasingly important at low temperatures. We analyze steady-state and transient flows of heat and entropy in three representative driven quantum systems and show that inclusion of the new term is needed to obey the third law of thermodynamics. Importantly, the correct results for heat dissipated in quantum processes are orders of magnitude lower than that predicted by the conventional formula. The crossover to the macroscopic limit, where the conventional formula is recovered, is demonstrated.
Altermagnetism has emerged as a distinct class of unconventional magnetism, uniquely combining the nonrelativistic spin splitting of ferromagnets with the stray-field immunity of antiferromagnets. However, realizing alte...Altermagnetism has emerged as a distinct class of unconventional magnetism, uniquely combining the nonrelativistic spin splitting of ferromagnets with the stray-field immunity of antiferromagnets. However, realizing altermagnetism driven by universal and strain-tunable structural geometry effects remains a critical challenge. Here, we introduce a mechanism for inducing altermagnetism via a polyhedral rotation distortion. We demonstrate that cooperative polyhedral rotations selectively break the symmetry operations enforcing spin degeneracy while preserving those required for altermagnetism. Crucially, the sign of the spin splitting is coupled to the direction of rotation distortion, providing a deterministic structural degree of freedom to switch the spin splitting. We validate this mechanism in two-dimensional MnX (X = O, S, Se, Te) monolayers and reveal a significant strain-tuning effect, including a reversible phase transition between spin-degenerate antiferromagnetic and altermagnetic states. This work establishes polyhedral rotation as a design strategy for altermagnetism, offering a versatile platform for strain-controlled nanoscale spintronics.
Solanki AB, Wu YC, Ather H
… +12 more, Adhikary P, Shankar A, Gallagher I, Gao X, Matthiessen O, Sychev D, Lagutchev A, Li T, Chen YP, Shalaev VM, Lawrie B, Upadhyaya P
Quantum sensors based on spin defects have become powerful tools for detecting faint magnetic signals, yet their operation remains confined to low magnetic fields and gigahertz frequencies. Extending such sensors into hi...Quantum sensors based on spin defects have become powerful tools for detecting faint magnetic signals, yet their operation remains confined to low magnetic fields and gigahertz frequencies. Extending such sensors into high-field ( T) and subterahertz regimes would enable quantum metrology across a wide range of electromagnetic phenomena and scientific applications, but has proven challenging. Here, we demonstrate that negatively charged boron vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride can function as relaxation-based quantum sensors operating up to 0.2 terahertz and 7 T fields. Their uniform spin-orientation and persistent spin-contrast at high fields enable measurement of intrinsic spin relaxation across unexplored field regimes. We reveal a crossover in relaxation behavior, initially decreasing at low fields before rising at higher fields, consistent with the emergence of single-phonon-induced resonant noise at subterahertz frequencies. These results establish centers as a versatile platform for quantum sensing in the subterahertz, high-field regime.
Atomic-resolution imaging of battery materials is critical for identification of local defects and structural variations, which are tied to battery performance. However, since battery materials are, by design, optimized...Atomic-resolution imaging of battery materials is critical for identification of local defects and structural variations, which are tied to battery performance. However, since battery materials are, by design, optimized to allow ion motion in response to an applied electric field, they are also very sensitive to radiation damage by an electron beam. Image resolution is therefore severely constrained by the dose applied. Here, we show that multislice electron ptychography (MEP) can provide sub-ångström lateral resolution images of both light and heavy elements of a Li-ion battery cathode, along with nanometer-scale depth information and greater dose efficiency than conventional electron microscopy methods. Using the depth-sectioning capability of MEP, we have been able to obtain direct visualizations of Li vacancy clusters, atom column by atom column, in LiNiMnCoO (NMC111) cathodes. This capability to track Li distributions will be valuable in understanding, informing, and optimizing electrode material design for ion storage and transfer.
Two-dimensional (2D) magnets have emerged as a promising platform for spin-based nanoelectronics, enabling atomic-scale control of magnetic order, interfaces, and symmetry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in 2...Two-dimensional (2D) magnets have emerged as a promising platform for spin-based nanoelectronics, enabling atomic-scale control of magnetic order, interfaces, and symmetry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in 2D ferromagnets, antiferromagnets, and altermagnets, demonstrating how enhanced Curie temperatures, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and unconventional magnetic orders translate into device-relevant functionality. Spin-dependent transport in vertical magnetic tunnel junctions and lateral spin valves based on 2D heterostructures benefits from atomically sharp interfaces, enabling highly tunable spin injection, propagation, and detection. We further highlight field-free, energy-efficient spin-orbit torque magnetization switching in 2D systems, driven by unconventional spin currents from adjacent low-symmetry spin-orbit layers. Microscopic mechanisms involving symmetry breaking, Berry curvature, and orbital angular momentum transport are discussed, along with key challenges, including switching determinism and torque efficiency. These developments position 2D magnets as promising candidates for tunable, energy-efficient spintronic technologies integrating spin, charge, orbital, and topological degrees of freedom.
Detailed-balance limits for transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) solar cells have been reported, but a unified treatment of thickness-dependent optics, carrier multiplication (CM), hot-carrier (HC) extraction, and finit...Detailed-balance limits for transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) solar cells have been reported, but a unified treatment of thickness-dependent optics, carrier multiplication (CM), hot-carrier (HC) extraction, and finite cooling leakage has been lacking. Here, we develop a generalized detailed-balance upper-bound framework that combines energy- and thickness-dependent absorptance, exciton-resolved monolayer absorbance, an experimental CM-yield limit (η ≤ 0.97), and an endoreversible HC engine with a finite cooling coefficient κ. For optically thick absorbers under AM1.5G, the Shockley-Queisser optimum near ≃ 1.3 eV shifts toward ∼1.0 eV, with reversible efficiencies above 50%. CM does not raise the reversible HC limit; at finite κ, it only redistributes part of the same excess photon energy into collected current. Monolayer TMDs show negligible CM benefit, whereas bulk-like TMDs can exhibit large HC gains only when electron-phonon cooling is strongly suppressed. These results identify narrow-bandgap, optically strong TMDs as the more plausible beyond-SQ route.
Ultraviolet optoelectronic logic gates (OELGs) are becoming the core components of next-generation logic circuits with applications for precise detection, image recognition, and brain-inspired computing. However, their p...Ultraviolet optoelectronic logic gates (OELGs) are becoming the core components of next-generation logic circuits with applications for precise detection, image recognition, and brain-inspired computing. However, their practical application is limited by high energy consumption and slow response. Here, we develop a CoAlO/4H-SiC heterojunction logic platform by utilizing both vertical and lateral photovoltaic effects and achieve multiple OELGs operating in the ultraviolet range and exhibiting ultralow energy consumption and ultrafast and stable operation. Explicitly, a single device achieves switching among XNOR, NOR, AND, and XOR operations under 51.7 nW/cm of 266 nm laser illumination simply by adjusting the laser position, with a response time of 0.39 μs. The resultant OELGs exhibit solar-blind and high radiation resistance characteristics and maintain 73% performance at 433 K. Compared to traditional CMOS logic gates, this design reduces transistor count by up to 91.7%, offering a highly integrated and energy-efficient route for large-scale data processing.
Recent theoretical advances have highlighted the role of Bloch state intrinsic properties in enabling unconventional electro-optic (EO) phenomena in bulk metals, offering novel strategies for dynamic optical control in q...Recent theoretical advances have highlighted the role of Bloch state intrinsic properties in enabling unconventional electro-optic (EO) phenomena in bulk metals, offering novel strategies for dynamic optical control in quantum materials. Here, we identify an alternative EO mechanism in bulk metallic systems that arises from the interplay between Berry curvature and the orbital magnetic moment of Bloch electrons. Focusing on twisted double-bilayer graphene (TDBG), we show that the enhanced intrinsic properties of moiré Bloch bands give rise to a sizable linear magnetoelectric EO response, a first-order, electric-field-induced non-Hermitian correction to the gyrotropic magnetic susceptibility. This mechanism dominates in -symmetric TDBG, where EO contributions originating from the Berry curvature dipole (BCD) are symmetry-forbidden. Our calculations reveal giant, gate-tunable linear and circular dichroism in the terahertz regime, establishing a robust and tunable platform for ultrafast EO modulation in two-dimensional materials beyond the BCD paradigm.