Physics

Abstract Modified Gravity Theories (MGTs) are extensions of General Relativity (GR) in its standard formulation. Therefore, within this framework, we will investigate a system composed of a black hole (BH) surrounded by Maxwell-Higgs vortices, forming the BH-vortex system. In the case of linear f (R) gravity is adopted showing the existence of a three-dimensional ring-like BH-vortex system with quantized magnetic flux. Within this system, one notes the BH at r = 0 and its event horizon at r = r0, while the magnetic vortices are at r ∈ (r0, ∞). A remarkable result is the constancy of the Bekenstein-Hawking temperature (TH ), regardless of MGTs and vortex parameters. This invariance of TH suggests that the BH-vortex system reaches thermodynamic stability. Unlike the standard theory of Maxwell-Higgs vortices in flat spacetime, in f (R) gravity, the vortices suffer the influence of the BH's event horizon. This interaction induces perturbations in the magnetic vortex profile, forming cosmological ring-like magnetic structures.

Abstract An error in the numerical computation of the Dirac CP phase $\delta$ in the original work is corrected, leading to revised conclusions on CP violation and its correlation with $\theta_{23}$, while other results remain unchanged.

Abstract WO 3 /AZO/WO 3 heterofilms were deposited on p-type Si(100) single-crystal substrates via magnetron sputtering using high-purity W and Al-doped ZnO (AZO) targets. We systematically investigated the effects of annealing temperature on the microstructure, photoluminescence (PL), and photoelectric response of the as-obtained thin films. Results showed that after air annealing at 650–800 ℃, the heterofilms fully transformed into Al-doped ZnWO4 with a monoclinic wolframite structure. Al 3+ substituted for Zn 2+ in the ZnWO 4 lattice, causing lattice contraction, generating oxygen vacancies and free carriers, and tuning the local electronic structure and carrier transport behavior. The sample annealed at 750 ℃ showed optimal surface compactness and crystallinity. PL measurements revealed that compared with pure ZnWO 4 prepared under identical annealing conditions, Al-doped films had a prolonged maximum lifetime of ~26.98 μs with slightly reduced PL intensity. Al doping noticeably enhanced the conductivity and simulated sunlight photoresponse of ZnWO 4 , with the 750 ℃-annealed sample reaching a maximum light-dark resistivity difference of 710 MΩ·cm and exhibiting favorable photosensitivity. This work confirms that Al doping effectively tunes the defect structure and carrier transport of ZnWO 4 , while proper annealing temperature is critical for optimizing the optoelectronic performance of Al-doped ZnWO 4 films.

Quantum computation must be performed in a fault-tolerant manner to be useful in practice. Recent progress has established quantum error-correcting codes with sparse connectivity requirements and constant qubit overhead suitable for quantum memory. However, existing schemes that include fault-tolerant logical measurement on such quantum memories do not always achieve low qubit overhead. Here we present a low-overhead method to implement fault-tolerant logical measurement on a quantum error-correcting code by treating the logical operator as a physical symmetry and gauging it so that it is enforced by a product of local symmetries. The gauging measurement procedure introduces a high degree of flexibility that can be exploited to achieve a qubit overhead that is linear in the weight of the operator being measured up to a polylogarithmic factor. This flexibility also allows the procedure to be adapted to arbitrary quantum codes. Our results provide a more efficient approach to performing fault-tolerant quantum computation, making it more tractable for near-term implementation. Combining quantum error correction with gauge theory concepts from many-body physics enables the design of codes with improved resource requirements for fault-tolerant quantum computation.

Abstract Without a successful implementation of fault-tolerant quantum error correction, calculations on quantum computers are subject to noise that limits their capabilities. Here, motivated by realistic near-term hardware considerations, we study the impact of uncorrected local noise on logical quantum circuits. We first show that, in the task of estimating observable expectation values, any noise effectively truncates most quantum circuits to logarithmic depth. We then prove that quantum circuits under any non-unital noise do not exhibit barren plateaus for cost functions composed of local observables. However, by using the effective shallowness, we also design an efficient classical algorithm to estimate observable expectation values within any constant additive accuracy, with high probability over the choice of the circuit, in any circuit architecture. Taken together, our results establish that, unless we carefully engineer quantum circuits to take advantage of the noise, noisy quantum circuits are unlikely to offer an advantage over shallow ones for algorithms that output observable expectation value estimates, such as many variational quantum machine learning proposals.

Reconfigurable transistors are essential for the development of high-efficiency and high-versatility logic circuits. Present reconfigurable devices primarily achieve more functionality by integrating additional control dimensions which significantly improves area efficiency. However, the reliability issues and fabrication difficulty arising from increased device complexity, along with the critical problem of input/output voltage mismatch, severely limit their cascadability and scalability. Here, we propose a cascadable reconfigurable logic unit based on MoS₂ double-gate transistors (DGFETs), which is compatible with conventional integration processes, enabling large-scale fabrication. A 10 × 10 array was successfully demonstrated─representing the largest array to date in the field of two-dimensional reconfigurable transistors for logic. By utilizing double-gate tuning combined with the resistive voltage division mechanism of the inverter, the unit achieves four distinct logic functions using only an n-type channel, while maintaining complete matching of input and output voltage range. Furthermore, we fabricated reconfigurable circuits with XOR/XNOR function through cascaded connections and demonstrated real-time switching between half-subtractor and comparator operations, thereby fully showcasing the unit's potential of cascading. This work provides a viable and practical approach toward the scalable integration of reconfigurable transistors.

The rapid development of two-dimensional (2D) MXenes has outpaced our understanding of their pulmonary safety, leaving a critical gap in clinical translation due to inconsistent data from traditional 2D cell cultures. Herein, we developed an immunocompetent three-dimensional (3D) alveolar model comprising A549 epithelial cells, MRC-5 fibroblasts, and THP-1-derived macrophages cultured at the air-liquid interface. This self-organized triculture forms a stratified epithelial-mesenchymal trophic unit with functional surfactant production and cell-cell crosstalk, providing a physiologically relevant platform for the predictive screening of potential nanomedicines. Following thorough characterization, we utilized this system to investigate the therapeutic potential of in-house synthesized Ta₄C₃ MXene nanosheets across three size fractions (100-500 nm, 500-2000 nm, and ≥2000 nm). Key biological events leading to lung inflammation and fibrosis, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic markers, demonstrated the responsiveness of the model. All of the size fractions showed high biocompatibility. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed efficient cellular internalization. Notably, the 100-500 nm fraction induced the most pronounced therapeutic reaction by scavenging ROS and promoting macrophage polarization shift from M1 to M2 and arresting fibrotic remodeling. The addition of macrophages in the tricultures led to heightened inflammatory and fibrotic responses, enabling more sensitive detection of the anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of Ta₄C₃ MXenes. This study establishes a rapid 3D alveolar model for predictive assessment of pulmonary safety and therapeutic efficacy upon Ta₄C₃ treatment.

Membranes offering high ion permeability with exceptional selectivity are crucial for applications ranging from sustainable water treatment to resource extraction. Inspired by "artificially constructed molecular locks" (ion imprinting) and the voltage-gated behavior of biological ion channels, we combine a carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive network with a Prussian blue (PB) ion-imprinted lattice to fabricate an electrochemically gated ion-selective membrane. Meanwhile, the anchoring of specific cations in the crystal lattice allowed for the precise tuning of subnanometer transport channel sizes. The combined action of ion-imprinted channels and redox gating enables the PB membrane to achieve an ultrahigh K⁺/Li⁺ selectivity of 481.2, far exceeding the performance (1.5-40) of previously reported electro-responsive membranes. Electrochemical characterization and DFT simulations show that applying a redox potential accelerates diffusion, improves lattice conductivity, and weakens the ion-imprinting bias. Under voltage control, the membrane preferentially transports K⁺, significantly increasing K⁺/Li⁺ selectivity. This work provides fundamental insights into redox-regulated transport in crystalline lattices and proposes an approach for designing next-generation ion-imprinted separation membranes with voltage-sensitive ultrahigh selectivity.

The optical and electronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals are customizable by introducing electronic states into their band gap. In II-VI semiconductors, heterovalent p-type dopants such as Cu and Ag create localized acceptor states near the valence band, forming acceptor-bound excitons that have been extensively studied. In contrast, donor-bound excitons have remained elusive, as n-type dopants (e.g., indium) typically enhance electron transport properties without influencing radiative recombination dynamics. Here, we present direct experimental evidence of an emissive donor state in indium-doped CdSe nanoplatelets, synthesized via a colloidal method. Using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, we observe donor-bound exciton emission characterized by a lifetime 2 orders of magnitude shorter and a bandwidth twice as narrow as those of Ag/Cu-based acceptor states. Notably, the donor-bound exciton emission remains invariant with dopant concentration, unlike acceptor-bound excitons, which show concentration-dependent spectral shifts, as supported by band structure calculations. These results demonstrate the formation of a three-level electronic system enabled by n-type doping, revealing previously inaccessible photophysical behavior in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, with implications for optoelectronic device engineering.

Charged excitons, or trions, offering spin and charge degrees of freedom, have primarily been investigated in doped systems where charges are long considered indispensable. Here, we present an alternative route to ultraefficient trion emission from an intrinsic, defect-free semiconductor via a transfer mechanism. By exciting trions in two-dimensional tungsten-diselenide donors and transferring them into one-dimensional carbon-nanotube acceptors in mixed-dimensional heterostructures, we circumvent the usual carrier requirement, overcoming intrinsic Auger-quenching limitations. Benefiting from a reservoir effect induced by dimensional heterogeneity, this process achieves trion emission efficiencies increased by over 100-fold compared to conventional doping-based approaches, and remains robust across diverse doping conditions. Our findings extend the exciton-transfer paradigm to the three-body quasiparticles, offering a platform for advancing excitonic physics and trion-based optoelectronic/spintronic applications.

The practical deployment of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) with Ni-rich cathodes is limited by unstable electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Although LiNO₃ is widely recognized as an effective additive for stabilizing these interfaces, its extremely low solubility in carbonate electrolytes (∼0.01 mg mL^-1) severely limits practical use. Here, we introduce dehydrated sepiolite as a structurally simple, cost-effective, and multifunctional LiNO₃ solubilizer for constructing robust electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Sepiolite, with its abundant polar oxygen sites and unique open nanochannels, weakens Li⁺-NO₃^- interactions, thereby increasing LiNO₃ solubility to 13.0 mg mL^-1 (over 1000-fold), while simultaneously scavenging H₂O, HF, and transition-metal ions to mitigate parasitic reactions. These synergistic effects regulate interfacial chemistry and promote the formation of a Li₃N-Li₂O-LiF-rich interphase with high ionic conductivity, stabilizing the LiNi_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1O₂ (NCM811) cathode and enabling uniform lithium deposition. As a result, carbonate electrolytes incorporating the sepiolite-LiNO₃ solubilizer (BE-Sep@NO₃^-) deliver a Coulombic efficiency of 99.0% in Li//Cu cells and stable cycling over 1200 h in Li//Li symmetric cells. Moreover, Li//NCM811 full cells retain 84.6% and 79.5% of their capacity at 0.5 C and 5 C after 400 cycles, respectively, while pouch cells with 50 μm lithium anodes achieve 82.5% capacity retention after 120 cycles with a high energy density of 375.1 Whkg^-1. This work demonstrates that natural dehydrated sepiolite offers an environmentally friendly and scalable pathway to unlock the full potential of LiNO₃ for enabling stable, high-energy LMBs.

Resolving intact (24-mer) ferritin from its heavy and light chain subunits at the single-molecule level has remained a fundamental challenge, owing to their near-identical sizes and complex structural heterogeneity. Here, we quantitatively probe ferritin compositional and dynamic heterogeneity using confinement-modulated solid-state nanopores. Under weak confinement (∼20 nm), intact ferritin is discriminated from individual subunits via volumetric scaling of current blockades and a pronounced free-energy penalty governing its capture kinetics. Furthermore, transitioning to strong confinement (∼10 nm) reveals intrinsic, subunit-specific transport dynamics driven by steric-mechanical coupling. Finally, applying semisupervised learning to mixed samples uncovers a strong accessibility-driven translocation bias, demonstrating that nanopore readouts report capture-accessible molecular populations rather than nominal bulk abundance. This establishes a quantitative, physically grounded framework for decoding complex protein assembly states and transient dynamics in heterogeneous environments.

Accurate single nanocrystal positioning tools are critical for emerging quantum and photonic technologies. Optical printing provides a platform to realize this positioning, but we need to understand the roles that solvent and surface functionalization play in controlling positional error, particularly for dielectric nanocrystals. Here, we characterize the impact of solvent and surface functionalization on nonresonant optical printing accuracy and efficacy, demonstrating accuracies of 50 nm. Changing solvent, nanocrystal concentration, and surface functionalization influences the number of attempts required to print nanocrystals, which we find is connected to positional error. Adding electrolytes to modify the interfacial DLVO potential reveals a unique regime where high irradiances minimize positional error while maximizing efficacy. Multiphysics simulations suggest that this regime results from photothermal effects and gradient forces. We validate these simulations by showing lower positional errors from substrates with higher absorption coefficients. These results will guide optical printing procedures for single nanocrystal positioning applications.

Ohm's law provides a fundamental framework for understanding charge transport in conductors and underpins the concept of electrical scaling that has enabled the continuous advancement of modern CMOS technologies. As transistors are scaled to smaller dimensions, channels inevitably enter low-dimensional regimes to achieve a higher performance. Low-dimensional materials such as atomically thin oxide semiconductors, 2D van der Waals semiconductors, and 1D carbon nanotubes have thus emerged as key candidates for extending Moore's law. Here, we reveal the fundamental distinction between three-dimensional and low-dimensional conductors arising from disorder-induced electron localization, which leads to the breakdown of Ohm's law and lateral linear scaling. We develop a quantitative model that captures the disordered region, a unique characteristic intrinsic to low-dimensional transistors. Furthermore, the disorder-induced localization framework consistently explains experimental observations in atomically thin In₂O₃ field-effect transistors. This work establishes a unified physical picture for understanding and optimizing disorder-driven electronic transport in low-dimensional transistors.

Understanding stress accommodation at the atomic scale in nanocrystals is essential for operation in extreme environments. We use high-pressure Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging (BCDI) in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) to track three-dimensional strain and defects in individual platinum nanoparticles. The particle hosts an interfacial Shockley partial dislocation up to 2.7 GPa, followed at 5.0 GPa by nucleation of a dense dislocation network accompanied by anisotropic Bragg peak broadening, which later relaxes, indicating plasticity. Upon partial unloading, the interfacial partial reappears and transforms into a perfect dislocation that propagates into the crystal via cross-slip; additional glide events occur, while at 6.7 GPa anisotropic broadening re-emerges. Elastic finite-element modeling predicts shear stress concentrations near the particle-substrate interface, whereas nucleation is observed near the particle top surface. These results show that high-pressure BCDI captures dislocation activity and links reciprocal- and real-space signatures of plasticity in nanocrystals.

The integration of nonthermal plasma (NTP) with single-atom catalysis has recently emerged as a highly promising yet largely unexplored frontier in heterogeneous catalysis. NTP generates highly nonequilibrium reaction environments rich in energetic electrons, radicals, and excited species, while single-atom catalysts (SACs) provide atomically precise active sites with tunable electronic structures and maximized metal utilization. The convergence of these two fields enables unconventional reaction pathways and catalytic behaviors that are not readily accessible under conventional thermal conditions. However, research in this area remains at an early stage, and a systematic understanding of plasma-driven single-atom catalysis (PSAC) is still lacking. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of PSAC, with a particular focus on both plasma-assisted synthesis of SACs and plasma-driven catalytic reactions over isolated metal sites. We summarize recent advances in plasma-enabled atom dispersion, defect engineering, and stabilization strategies and discuss how plasma excitation fundamentally alters reaction mechanisms. Through critical analysis of current achievements and remaining challenges, this Review highlights key opportunities for future research and provides a conceptual framework for the rational design of PSAC systems. We anticipate that the insights presented herein will stimulate further exploration of PSAC synergy and accelerate the development of next-generation catalytic technologies for sustainable fuel and chemical production.

Magneto-optical materials are essential for optical communication devices, yet most crystalline or vitreous media are rigid and have high demands on design and processing. Here we develop a facile multicomponent composite strategy to fabricate a flexible magneto-optical film, Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8/PgC₅Cu/PMMA, where ultrasmall Fe₃O₄ magnetic units are uniformly embedded in a transparent polymer. The film loaded with 0-1.5 wt % Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8/PgC₅Cu has flexible, readily formable, and high magneto-optical properties while maintaining a high optical transmittance of about 80%. Another encouraging result is that a common magnetic material of Fe₃O₄ composite is clearly observed to have strong magneto-optical effect. At 0.5 wt %, the figure of merit reaches 6 deg.·dB^-1 at 532 nm, exceeding that of Bi:YIG/PMMA (1.46 deg.·dB^-1). Moreover, the magnetic circular dichroism at 532 nm exceeds 7 times that of commercial crystalline YIG. This work offers a promising strategy to fabricate flexible magneto-optical materials, expanding applications in microscale devices of specific shapes.

We report a plasmonic platform based on Au nanospheres for the rapid detection and removal of trace Pd²⁺ and Pt²⁺ ions from aqueous systems. Upon exposure to Pd²⁺, Pt²⁺, or a mixture of them in the presence of a reductant, surface deposition occurs on the Au nanospheres, leading to pronounced damping of localized surface plasmon resonance that can be monitored by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. By tuning the amount of Au nanospheres, the optical response can be optimized to achieve sensitive detection over a broad concentration range. Structural analyses reveal that the deposited Pd atoms are incorporated into the near-surface region of the nanospheres through interdiffusion, forming an alloyed layer rather than a sharp core-shell boundary. Because the plasmonic response is directly coupled to material uptake, this system enables simultaneous optical detection and removal of platinum-group metals (specifically, Pd²⁺ and Pt²⁺ in this work) from the solution.

Colloidal III-V nanocrystals offer a promising route toward cost-effective, CMOS-compatible infrared imaging beyond the silicon band gap. Here, we demonstrate a short-wave infrared (SWIR) imager operating at telecom wavelengths based on InAs nanocrystal photoconductors. InAs nanocrystals, with a spectral cutoff extending to 1600 nm, are synthesized and ligand-exchanged to produce an n-type conductive ink. A combination of photoemission, optical spectroscopy, and transport measurements enables a full determination of the electronic structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level, where the latter is quasi-degenerate with the conduction band and trap density is limited. Guided by these electronic characteristics, we fabricate an infrared-sensitized focal plane array using a single-step deposition process. The resulting imager enables room-temperature, real-time video imaging at telecom wavelengths under ambient operation, demonstrating the potential of III-V nanocrystal films for scalable infrared imaging technologies.

Self-assembly is pervasive in living systems but remains an unconventional paradigm for constructing functional materials in biological environments. Rather than relying on ex situ fabrication and subsequent integration, in situ self-assembly enables the autonomous formation of supramolecular architectures under physiological conditions, allowing synthetic materials to couple directly with biological functions. This Mini-Review surveys recent advances in functional self-assembly across intracellular, extracellular, and microbial realms, focusing on materials-driven strategies that introduce new electrical, optical, and mechanical capabilities into living systems. Examples range from intracellular semiconducting nanostructures and optically active supramolecular assemblies to extracellular conductive interfaces and engineered microbial materials. Together, these studies establish self-assembly as an active mechanism for augmenting biological function and a scalable route toward biointegrated, adaptive materials.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent a fascinating class of conductive additives for silicon anodes, combining a high aspect ratio with an excellent electrical conductivity. However, their agglomeration hinders stable dispersion and uniform electrode formation. Here, single-walled (SWCNTs), thin-walled (TWCNTs), and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) are harnessed to assess electrosteric debundling, interfacial adhesion, and defect formation in electrodes, thereby establishing a more resilient conductive network. We propose a mechanistic framework that links the CNT wall number, dispersant chemistry, and mechanochemical state. In situ (operando) Raman spectroscopy reveals a wall-number-dependent stress pathway during lithiation. SWCNT networks remain tensile and conformal and deliver a stable performance. TWCNT networks transition from compressive to tensile through interwall shear and show intermediate stability, whereas MWCNT networks remain predominantly compressive with interfacial slip and decoupling. We propose selecting flexible, low-wall-number CNTs to sustain a tensile conformal state during lithiation and to maximize rate capability and capacity retention.