Absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding fabrics are urgently needed to address the increasingly severe electromagnetic radiation pollution, especially the secondary radiation problem. In this study, we design novel core-sheath CNT@MXene fibers with a gradient conductive structure and corresponding fabrics to realize absorption-dominated EMI shielding performances. This coaxial structure utilizes carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the sheath and MXene as the core and is constructed through a wet spinning technique. By virtue of the core-sheath structure, the conductive gradient structure in the fibers is easily optimized by adjusting the core MXene and sheath CNT content. This gradient conductive network of fiber effectively facilitates the incidence of electromagnetic waves and strong interactions between electromagnetic waves and the composites, resulting in excellent EMI absorption ability. Within the X-band frequency range, the fabric exhibits an electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 23.40 dB and an absorption coefficient of 0.63. Due to the protection of polymer, the fiber’s electrical conductivity remains stable under conditions such as multi-cycle bending, stretching, and ultrasonic treatment, and in high relative humidity environments. Additionally, the fabric also demonstrates EMI shielding stability in indoor environments. This work indicates the great potential of the gradient structured fibers to achieve an absorption-dominated mechanism for next-generation eco-friendly EMI shielding fabrics.

Carbon fiber (CF) has emerged as a promising candidate for microwave absorbers to resolve the escalating electromagnetic wave (EMW) pollution issue, not just serving as a structural reinforcement. However, the drawbacks, such as high conductivity, limit its ability to strongly absorb EMWs over a wide bandwidth. To address these challenges, graphite wrapped FeNi₃/Co with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) anchored on MgO@CF heterostructures were synthesized by introducing MgO nanofilms on a CF surface and subsequent chemical vapor deposition catalyzed by two-phase catalysts. The synthesis of MgO suppresses the etching of CF during the experimental processes, effectively maintaining the inherent structure of CF, which is conducive to constructing rich conductive networks and developing excellent mechanical properties. By modulating the catalyst concentration, deposited CNTs with appropriate defects increase the conduction loss and stimulate defect polarization loss. The abundant interfaces formed by multiple components lead to fulfilling interface polarization, while the doping of O heteroatoms causes dipole polarization. In addition, the introduction of FeNi₃/Co generates effective magnetic loss and optimizes electromagnetic parameters to form more matching impedance conditions. At a low filler loading of 23 wt%, the stable sample obtains a remarkable minimum reflection loss of up to − 72.08 dB at merely 1.38 mm with an effective absorption bandwidth reaching 4.88 GHz at only 1.44 mm, which is superior to that of numerous distinguished carbon-based composites in regard to being “thin, light, wide and strong”. CST simulation reveals that the maximum radar cross section reduction acquires 26.88 dBm², ascertaining the radar stealth capability of the distinctive heterostructure. Moreover, great mechanical and electromagnetic interference shielding performance is demonstrated by epoxy composites. Henceforth, this study proposes profound insights into the intricate relationship between the structure and EMW absorbing mechanism, and elucidates an attractive strategy for mass-producing modified CF-based hybrids for versatile applications.

Fiber strain sensors with robust sensing performance are indispensable for human–machine interactions in the electronic textiles. However, current fiber strain sensors are confronted with the challenges of unavoidable deterioration of functional sensing components during wearable and extreme environments, resulting in unsatisfactory stability and durability. Here, we present a robust fiber strain sensor based on the mutual inductance effect. The sensor is assembled by designing coaxial helical coils around an elastic polyurethane fiber. When stretching the fiber sensor, the strain is detected by recording the voltage changes in the helical coils due to the variation in magnetic flux. The resultant fiber strain sensor shows high linearity (with a linear regression coefficient of 0.99) at a large strain of 100%, and can withstand various extreme environmental conditions, such as high/low temperatures (from − 30 °C to 160 °C), and severe deformations, such as twisting and pressing (with a pressure of 500 N/cm). The long-term cyclic stability of our fiber strain sensor (100,000 cycles at a strain of 100%) is superior to that of most reported flexible resistive and capacitive strain sensors. Finally, the mass-produced fiber strain sensors are woven into a smart textile system to accurately capture gestures.

Owing to the high flexibility, low thermal conductivity, and tunable electrical transport property, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) exhibits promising potential for designing flexible thermoelectric devices in the form of films or fibers. However, the low Seebeck coefficient and power factor of PEDOT:PSS have restricted its practical applications. Here, we sequentially employ triple post-treatments with concentrated sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dichloroacetate (EMIM:DCA) to enhance the thermoelectric performance of flexible PEDOT:PSS fibers with a high power factor of (55.4 ± 1.8) μW m⁻¹ K⁻² at 25 °C. Comprehensive characterizations confirm that excess insulating PSS can be selectively removed after H₂SO₄ and EMIM:DCA treatments, which induces conformational changes to increase charge carrier mobility, leading to enhanced electrical conductivity. Simultaneously, NaBH₄ treatment is employed to adjust the oxidation level, further optimizing the Seebeck coefficient. Additionally, the assembled flexible fiber thermoelectric devices show an output power density of (60.18 ± 2.79) nW cm⁻² at a temperature difference of 10 K, proving the superior performance and usability of the optimized fibers. This work provides insights into developing high-performance organic thermoelectric materials by modulating polymer chains.

Microneedles (MNs) with unique three-dimensional stereochemical structures are suitable candidates for tissue fixation and drug delivery. However, existing hydrogel MNs exhibit poor mechanical properties after swelling and require complex preparation procedures, impeding their practical application. Hence, we engineered chitosan fiber-reinforced silk fibroin MN patches containing epigallocatechin gallate (SCEMN). A formic acid–calcium chloride system was introduced to fabricate hydrogel MNs with excellent inherent adhesion, and the incorporation of chitosan fiber as a reinforcing material enhanced mechanical strength and viscosity, thereby increasing the physical interlocking with tissue and the ability to maintain shape. The SCEMN with a lower insertion force firmly adhered to porcine skin, with a maximum detachment force of 11.98 N/cm². Additionally, SCEMN has excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, facilitates macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, and demonstrates superior performance in vivo for diabetic wound repair compared with the commercial product Tegaderm™. This study represents the first trial of fiber-reinforced hydrogel MNs for robust tissue adhesion. Our findings underscore the significance of this innovative approach for advancing MN technology to enhance tissue adhesion and accelerate wound healing.

An advanced approach for functionalizing the surfaces of electrospun poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) nanofibers for biomedical applications is presented here. Using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), a coating of the copolymer p(PFMA-co-DVB) containing poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PFMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) was applied to the PLCL nanofibers. This coating facilitated efficient immobilization of the biomolecules on the PLCL nanofiber surfaces, allowing precise adjustments to the polymer composition through modulation of the monomer flow rates. The resulting copolymer exhibited superior efficiency for immobilizing IgG, as confirmed by immunofluorescence intensity analysis. In vitro studies conducted with different neural cell types demonstrated that the laminin-coated iCVD-functionalized PLCL nanofibers maintained their inherent biocompatibility while significantly enhancing cell adhesion. By exploiting the elastic nature of the PLCL nanofibers, cell elongation could be successfully manipulated by controlling the nanofiber alignment, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and quantification of the immunofluorescence image orientation. These findings highlight the potential of iCVD-modified PLCL nanofibers as versatile platforms for neural tissue engineering and various biomedical applications, allowing valuable biomaterial surface modifications for enhanced cellular interactions.

Solar-driven seawater evaporation is a potential strategy for mitigating global freshwater shortage, but its application is hindered by the photothermal membranes with high evaporation enthalpy, unsatisfactory photoabsorption, and easy contamination by microorganism. To solve these problems, herein we reported the design of manganese oxide/poly-L-lysine co-decorated carbon-fiber cloth (CFC) with decreased evaporation enthalpy and enhanced photoabsorption/antibacterial performance. Manganese oxide (MnO₂) nanosheets (thickness: 10–30 nm, diameter: 400–450 nm) were grown in situ on the CFC surface by a hydrothermal method, and then the nanosheet surface was further decorated with poly-L-lysine (PLL) by the electrostatic adsorption. Co-decoration of MnO₂/PLL confers the conversion of hydrophobic CFC to superhydrophilic CFC/MnO₂/PLL, accompanied by the reduction of the evaporation enthalpy of bulk water to 2132.34 kJ kg⁻¹ for CFC/MnO₂/PLL sample. Such CFC/MnO₂/PLL exhibits a strong photoabsorption in wide range (280–2500 nm) with an absorption efficiency of 97.8%, due to the light-trapping effects from hierarchical structures. Simultaneously, CFC/MnO₂/PLL has excellent antibacterial performance toward E. coli (99.1 ± 0.2%) and S. aureus (98.2 ± 0.5%) within 60 min in the dark, due to the electrostatic interaction between the bacterial cell membrane and PLL. Subsequently, CFC/MnO₂/PLL was hung between the seawater tank and empty tank to construct a hanging evaporator. Under 1.0 kW m⁻² light irradiation, CFC/MnO₂/PLL shows a preeminent evaporation rate of 2.20 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. Importantly, when germy NaCl solution is evaporated, there is no solid-salt accumulation and bacteria contamination on CFC/MnO₂/PLL surface during the long-time test (12 h), conferring long-term anti-fouling seawater evaporation. Hence, this work provides new possibilities in the rational design of photothermal fabrics for solar-enabled efficient anti-fouling seawater desalination.

Wearable electronics based on natural biomaterials, such as bacterial cellulose (BC), have shown promise for a variety of healthcare and human-computer interaction applications. However, current BC-based pressure sensors have an inherent limitation, which is the two-dimensional rigid structures and limited compressibility of BC restrict the sensitivity and working range for pressure sensing. Here, we propose a strategy for fabricating BC/polypyrrole/spacer fabric (BPSF) pressure sensors with a hierarchical structure constructed by integrating conductive BC nanonetwork into a compressible fabric frame via the in situ biofermentation process. The hierarchical structure design includes a cross-scale network from the nanoscale BC sensor networks to the macroscopic three-dimensional compressible fabric sensor network, which significantly improves the working range (0–300 kPa) and sensitivity (40.62 kPa⁻¹) of BPSF. Via this unique structural design, the sensor also achieves a high fatigue life (~5000 cycles), wearability, and reproducibility even after several washing and abrasion cycles. Furthermore, a flexible and wearable electronic textile featuring an n × n sensing matrix was developed by constructing BPSF arrays, allowing for the precise control of machines and weight distribution analysis. These empirical insights are valuable for the biofabrication and textile structure design of wearable devices toward the realization of highly intuitive human-machine interfaces.

Smart data gloves capable of monitoring finger activities and inferring hand gestures are of significance to human–machine interfaces, robotics, healthcare, and Metaverse. Yet, most current smart data gloves present unstable mechanical contacts, limited sensitivity, as well as offline training and updating of machine learning models, leading to uncomfortable wear and suboptimal performance during practical applications. Herein, highly sensitive and mechanically stable textile sensors are developed through the construction of loose MXene-modified textile interface structures and a thermal transfer printing method with the melting-infiltration-solidification adhesion procedure. Then, a smart data glove with adaptive gesture recognition is reported, based on the integration of 10-channel MXene textile bending sensors and a near-sensor adaptive machine learning model. The near-sensor adaptive machine learning model achieves a 99.5% accuracy using the proposed post-processing algorithm for 14 gestures. Also, the model features the ability to locally update model parameters when gesture types change, without additional computation on any external device. A high accuracy of 98.1% is still preserved when further expanding the dataset to 20 gestures, where the accuracy is recovered by 27.6% after implementing the model updates locally. Lastly, an auto-recognition and control system for wireless robotic sorting operations with locally trained hand gestures is demonstrated, showing the great potential of the smart data glove in robotics and human–machine interactions.

Organ-on-a-chip stands as a pivotal platform for skeletal muscle research while constructing 3D skeletal muscle tissues that possess both macroscopic and microscopic structures remains a considerable challenge. This study draws inspiration from LEGO-like assembly, employing a modular approach to construct muscle tissue that integrates biomimetic macroscopic and microscopic structures. Modular LEGO-like hybrid nanofibrous scaffold bricks were fabricated by the combination of 3D printing and electrospinning techniques. Skeletal muscle cells cultured on these modular scaffold bricks exhibited a highly orientated nanofibrous structure. A variety of construction of skeletal muscle tissues further enabled development by various assembling processes. Moreover, skeletal muscle-on-a-chip (SMoC) was further assembled as a functional platform for electrical or perfusion stimuli investigation. The electrical stimulus was conveniently applied and tuned in such a SMoC platform to significantly enhance the differentiation of skeletal muscle tissues. Additionally, the effect of perfusion stimulation on skeletal muscle vascularization within the SMoC platform was also demonstrated. These findings highlight the potential of these assembled SMoCs as functional ex vivo platforms for skeletal tissue engineering and drug research applications, and such a LEGO-like assembly strategy could also be applied to the other engineering organ-on-chips fabrication, which facilitates the development of bionic functional platforms for various biomedical research applications.

We developed a list of modular nanofibrous scaffold bricks by a hybrid fabrication method combining 3D printing and electrospinning techniques, featuring precise microscale and nanoscale structures. Emulating the LEGO-like assembly method, these bricks were assembled along the x–y–z axis to mimic various skeletal muscle structures. These developed engineered skeletal muscle tissues were further integrated into the microfluidic chip to develop the skeletal muscle-on-a-chip (SMoC) as an in vitro testing platform for both electrical and perfusion stimuli investigation.

Space exploration provides unparalleled opportunities for unraveling the mysteries of our origins and exploring planetary systems beyond Earth. Long-distance space missions require successful protection against significant radiation exposure, necessitating the development of effective radiation shielding materials. This study developed aromatic amide polymer (AAP) and boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) composite fibers using lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) and industrially viable wet-spinning processes. The uniaxially oriented 1D composite fibers provide the necessary continuity and pliability to fabricate 2D macroscopic textiles with low density (1.80 g cm⁻³), mechanical modulus (18.16 GPa), and heat stability (up to 479 °C), while exhibiting the improved thermal neutron absorption cross-section with thermal neutron-shielding performance (0.73 mm⁻¹). These composite textiles also show high thermal conductivity (7.88 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) due to their densely packed and uniaxially oriented structures. These enhanced characteristics render the fibers a highly promising material for space applications, offering robust protection for both astronauts and electronics against the dual threats of radiation and heat.

A separation membrane with low or clean energy costs is urgently required for energy-saving and long-term service since electric energy generated from burning non-renewable resources will gradually cause a burden to the environment. At present, the conventional membrane being used in one mode is critical for a variety of scenarios in real life, which suffers from a trade-off effect, short service life, being difficult to recycle after damage. Herein, we report a trimode purification membrane composed of an eco-friendly polycaprolactone (PCL) substrate and functional graphene dioxide/polyaniline (GO/PANI) particles. Due to the photothermal transfer and photocatalytic properties of GO/PANI blend, the composite membrane can absorb 97.44% solar energy to handle natural seawater or mixed wastewater, which achieves a high evaporation rate of 1.47 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ in solar-driven evaporation mode. For the photocatalytic adsorption–degradation mode, 93.22% of organic dyes can be adsorbed and degraded after 12 h irradiation under 1 kW m⁻². Moreover, electric-driven cross-flow filtration mode as a supplement also shows effective rejection over 99% for organic dyes with a high flux over 40 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹. The combination of solar-driven evaporation, photocatalytic adsorption–degradation, and electric-driven cross-flow filtration demonstrates a prospective and sustainable strategy to generating clean water from sewages.

A trimode self-cleaning composite membrane of bio-degradable substrate PCL and functional particles GO/PANI were successfully fabricated, which can purify natural seawater or mixed wastewater stably in solar-driven evaporation mode, handle organic dyes by reduction–oxidation chemical transformation in photothermal adsorption–degradation mode, and be applied in cross-flow filtration mode driven by electric as a supplement for rainy, cloudy days, or at night.

Waterborne organic pollutants pose significant threats to ecosystems and the health of billions worldwide, presenting a pressing global challenge. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) offer promise for efficient wastewater treatment, yet the efficacy and the reliability of current environmental catalysts hinder their widespread adoption. This study developed an as-cast nanostructured glassy fiber capable of rapidly activating persulfate and achieved the degradation of diverse organic contaminants within 60 s using the as-prepared fiber. The material is relatively robust and can be reused about 40 times. The exceptional catalytic performance of the fibers stemmed from their low atomic coordination numbers, which facilitated the generation of numerous unsaturated active sites and accelerated radical production rates through a one-electron transfer mechanism. Additionally, the glassy-nanocrystalline heterogeneous interface, achieved through our proposed nanostructuralization approach, exhibited electron delocalization behavior. This enhanced persulfate adsorption and reduced the energy barrier for heterolytic cleavage of peroxy bonds. These findings present a novel avenue for the rational structural design of high-performance environmental catalysts for advanced water remediation.

The exploration of high-efficiency transition metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) catalysts is crucial for accelerating the kinetics of oxygen reduction/oxygen evolution reactions (ORR/OER). Fine-tuning the distribution of accessible metal sites and the correlated triphase interfaces within the M–N–C catalysts holds significant promise. In this study, we present an integrated electrocatalyst comprised of tip-enriched NiFe nanoalloys encapsulated within N-doped carbon nanotubes (NiFe@CNTs), synthesized using an in-situ wet-electrochemistry mediated approach. The well-defined NiFe@CNTs catalyst possesses a porous heterostructure, synergistic M–N_x–C active sites, and intimate micro interfaces, facilitating accelerated redox kinetics. This leads to exceptional OER/ORR activities with a low overall ΔE of 630 mV. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations unveil the predominant electronic interplay between the apical bimetallic sites and neighboring N-doped CNTs, thereby enhancing the binding of intermediates on NiFe@CNTs. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the local gas–liquid environment surrounding NiFe@CNTs favors the diffusion/adsorption of the OH⁻/O₂ reactants. Consequently, NiFe@CNTs contribute to high-performance aqueous Zn–Air batteries (ZABs), exhibiting a high gravimetric energy density (936 Wh kg_Zn ^–1) and superb cycling stability (> 425 h) at 20 mA cm^–2. Furthermore, solid-state ZABs based on NiFe@CNTs demonstrate impressive electrochemical performance (e.g., peak power density of 108 mW cm⁻², specific energy of 1003 Wh kg_Zn ^–1) and prominent flexibility. This work illuminates a viable strategy for constructing metal site-specific, cobalt-free, and integrated M–N–C electrocatalysts for multifunctional catalysis and advanced/flexible energy storage applications.

Medical hemostatic gauze is one of the most common agents for bleeding management used in pre-hospital care and clinical treatment. An ideal hemostat requires the features including fast coagulation ability, high biocompatibility and low cost, which is difficult to be achieved simultaneously. Herein, we reported a chemical immobilization method to uniformly anchor the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) nanoparticles on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membrane, which dramatically accelerated the in vivo conversion process of prothrombin to thrombin, achieving a short hemostasis time around 60 s with a low amount of blood loss of 23 mg. Later, the hemostatic mechanism was unveiled by two pathways involving the activation of platelets and the conversion of prothrombin, indicating that this ZIF-8-based membrane works in a similar way to natural platelet-based physiological processes. More importantly, the convenient manufacturing and excellent biocompatibility of ZIF-8-based membrane provide a practical candidate hemostat for clinical bleeding management.