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Although quasi‐2D Ruddlesden‒Popper (RP) perovskite exhibits advantages in stability, their photovoltaic performance are still inferior to 3D counterparts. Optimizing the buried interface of RP perovskite and suppress energetic losses can be a promising approach for enhancing efficiency and stability of inverted quasi‐2D RP perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Among which, constructing polymer hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) with defect passivation functions is of great significance for buried‐interface engineering of inverted quasi‐2D RP PSCs. Herein, by employing side‐chain tailoring strategy to extend the π‐conjugation and regulate functionality of side‐chain groups, target polymer HTMs (PVCz‐ThSMeTPA and PVCz‐ThOMeTPA) with high mobility and multisite passivation functions are achieved. The presence of more sulfur atom‐containing groups in side‐chain endows PVCz‐ThSMeTPA with increased intra/intermolecular interaction, appropriate energy level, and enhanced buried interfacial interactions with quasi‐2D RP perovskite. The hole mobility of PVCz‐ThSMeTPA is up to 9.20 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 S−1. Furthermore, PVCz‐ThSMeTPA as multifunctional polymer HTM with multiple chemical anchor sites for buried‐interface engineering of quasi‐2D PSCs can enable effective charge extraction, defects passivation, and perovskite crystallization modulation. Eventually, the PVCz‐ThSMeTPA‐based inverted quasi‐2D PSC achieves a champion power conversion efficiency of 22.37%, which represents one of the highest power conversion efficiencies reported to date for quasi‐2D RP PSCs. By adopting side‐chain tailoring strategy, two polymer hole‐transporting materials with high mobility and multisite passivation functions are developed for the buried‐interface engineering of inverted quasi‐2D Ruddlesden‒Popper perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Among which, PVCz‐ThSMeTPA‐based inverted quasi‐2D PSCs achieve impressive power conversion efficiency of 22.37% along with excellent thermal and long‐term stability.

Semiconductor-based photodetectors (PDs) convert light signals into electrical signals via a photon–matter interaction process, which involves surface/interface carrier generation, separation, and transportation of the photo-induced charge media in the active media, as well as the extraction of these charge carriers to external circuits of the constructed nanostructured photodetector devices. Because of the specific electronic and optoelectronic properties in the low-dimensional devices built with nanomaterial, surface/interface engineering is broadly studied with widespread research on constructing advanced devices with excellent performance. However, there still exist some challenges for the researchers to explore corresponding mechanisms in depth, and the detection sensitivity, response speed, spectral selectivity, signal-to-noise ratio, and stability are much more important factors to judge the performance of PDs. Hence, researchers have proposed several strategies, including modification of light absorption, design of novel PD heterostructures, construction of specific geometries, and adoption of specific electrode configurations to modulate the charge-carrier behaviors and improve the photoelectric performance of related PDs. Here, in this brief review, we would like to introduce and summarize the latest research on enhancing the photoelectric performance of PDs based on the designed structures by considering their surface/interface engineering and how to obtain advanced nanostructured photo-detectors with improved performance, which could be applied to design and fabricate novel low-dimensional PDs with ideal properties in the near future.

Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells hold promise for operation below 600 °C (refs. 1 , 2 ). Although the high proton conductivity of the bulk electrolyte has been demonstrated, it cannot be fully used in electrochemical full cells because of unknown causes 3 . Here we show that these problems arise from poor contacts between the low-temperature processed oxygen electrode–electrolyte interface. We demonstrate that a simple acid treatment can effectively rejuvenate the high-temperature annealed electrolyte surface, resulting in reactive bonding between the oxygen electrode and the electrolyte and improved electrochemical performance and stability. This enables exceptional protonic ceramic fuel-cell performance down to 350 °C, with peak power densities of 1.6 W cm −2 at 600 °C, 650 mW cm −2 at 450 °C and 300 mW cm −2 at 350 °C, as well as stable electrolysis operations with current densities above 3.9 A cm −2 at 1.4 V and 600 °C. Our work highlights the critical role of interfacial engineering in ceramic electrochemical devices and offers new understanding and practices for sustainable energy infrastructures. A simple acid treatment can improve high-temperature annealed electrolyte surfaces, resulting in improved performance and stability at lower temperatures for protonic ceramic fuel/electrolysis cells, offering new understanding for sustainable energy infrastructures.

Flexible pressure sensors have received extensive attention in recent years due to their great importance in intelligent electronic devices. In order to improve the sensing performance of flexible pressure sensors, researchers are committed to making improvements in device materials, force-sensitive interfaces, and device structures. This paper focuses on the force-sensitive interface engineering of the device, which listing the main preparation methods of various force-sensitive interface microstructures and describing their respective advantages and disadvantages from the working mechanisms and practical applications of the flexible pressure sensor. What is more, the device structures of the flexible pressure sensor are investigated with the regular and irregular force-sensitive interface and accordingly the influences of different device structures on the performance are discussed. Finally, we not only summarize diverse practical applications of the existing flexible pressure sensors controlled by the force-sensitive interface but also briefly discuss some existing problems and future prospects of how to improve the device performance through the adjustment of the force-sensitive interface.

Lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been rapidly developed in the past decade. Owing to its excellent power conversion efficiency with robust and low-cost fabrication, perovskite quickly becomes one of the most promising candidates for the next-generation photovoltaic technology. With the development of PSCs, the interface engineering has witnessed its increasingly critical role in maximizing the device performance as well as the long-term stability, because the interfaces in PSCs are closely correlated with the defect management, carrier dynamics and surface passivation. This review focuses on interfacial modification between the perovskite active layer and the charge transport layer, as well as the recent advances on high-efficiency and stable PSCs driven by interface engineering strategies. The contributing roles of interface engineering in terms of defect passivation, inhibiting ion migration, optimization of energy band alignment and morphological control are discussed. Finally, based on the latest progress and advances, strategies and opportunities for the future research on interface engineering for PSCs are proposed to promote the development of perovskite photovoltaic technology.

Organic–inorganic perovskites are crystalline light absorbers which are gaining great attraction from the photovoltaic community. Surprisingly, the power conversion efficiencies of these perovskite solar cells have rapidly increased by over 25% in 2019, which is comparable to silicon solar cells. Despite the many advances in efficiency, there are still many areas to be improved to increase the efficiency and stability of commercialization. For commercialization and enhancement of applicability, the development of electron transport layer (ETL) and its interface for low temperature processes and efficient charge transfer are very important. In particular, understanding the ETL and its interface is of utmost importance, and when this understanding has been made enough, excellent research results have been published that can improve the efficiency and stability of the device. Here, we review the progress of perovskite solar cells. Especially we discuss recent important development of perovskite deposition method and its engineering as well as the electron transport layer.

The hydrogen energy generated by the electrocatalytic water splitting reaction has been established as a renewable and clean energy carrier with ultra‐high energy density, which can well make up for shortcomings of conventional renewable energy sources, such as geographical limitations, climatic dependence, and energy wastage. Notably, the introduction of electrocatalysts can enhance the efficiency of the water splitting process to generate hydrogen. Particularly, the heterostructure electrocatalysts constructed by coupling multiple components (or phases) have emerged as the most promising option for water splitting due to the well‐known electronic and synergistic effects. The existing reviews on interface engineering for electrocatalyst design mostly focus on the relationship between the heterostructures and specific electrocatalytic reactions. However, a comprehensive overview of the integration of model building, directional synthesis, and electrocatalytic mechanism has been rarely reported. To this end, in this review, the development of heterostructure catalysts is systematically introduced from the perspective of interface classification, interface growth and synthesis, and regulation of electrocatalytic performance based on the interfacial microenvironment (bonding, electronic configuration, lattice strain, etc.), thereby offering useful insights on the design and construction of interfacial models. Besides, combined with the current development and applications of interface engineering strategies, the challenges of future heterostructure catalysts are discussed and relevant solutions are proposed. Overall, this review can serve as a useful theoretical reference for the integration of interfacial model building, directional synthesis, and electrocatalytic mechanism, which can further promote the development of hydrogen production technologies with low energy consumption and high yield. This work systematically introduces the development of heterostructure catalysts from interface classification, interface growth and synthesis, and the regulation of electrocatalytic performance by the interfacial microenvironment (bonding, electronic configuration, lattice strain, etc.). This supplies theoretical guide for the directional design of electrocatalyst interface and further promote the development of hydrogen production technologies with low energy consumption and high yield.

All‐solid‐state lithium batteries have emerged as a priority candidate for the next generation of safe and energy‐dense energy storage devices surpassing state‐of‐art lithium‐ion batteries. Among multitudinous solid‐state batteries based on solid electrolytes (SEs), sulfide SEs have attracted burgeoning scrutiny due to their superior ionic conductivity and outstanding formability. However, from the perspective of their practical applications concerning cell integration and production, it is still extremely challenging to constructing compatible electrolyte/electrode interfaces and developing available scale processing technologies. This review presents a critical overview of the current underlying understanding of interfacial issues and analyzes the main processing challenges faced by sulfide‐based all‐solid‐state batteries from the aspects of cost‐effective and energy‐dense design. Besides, the corresponding approaches involving interface engineering and processing protocols for addressing these issues and challenges are summarized. Fundamental and engineering perspectives on future development avenues toward practical application of high energy, safety, and long‐life sulfide‐based all‐solid‐state batteries are ultimately provided. Sulfide‐based all‐solid‐state lithium batteries have emerged as a priority candidate for the next generation of energy‐dense and safe energy storage devices. This review presents a critical overview of the current underlying understanding of interfacial issues and analyzes the main processing challenges faced by sulfide‐based all‐solid‐state batteries. The corresponding approaches involving interface engineering and processing protocols are highlighted. Fundamental and engineering perspectives on future development avenues toward their practical application are also presented.

Developing environmentally friendly and highly efficient inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) encounters significant challenges, specifically the potential toxicity and degradation of thin films in hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaics (PV). We employed theoretical design strategies that produce hysteresis-reduced, efficient, and stable PSCs based on composition and interface engineering. The devices include a mixed-organic-cation perovskite formamidinium methylammonium tin iodide ( ) as an absorber layer and zinc oxide (ZnO) together with a passivation film phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester ( ) as a double-electron transport layer (DETL). Furthermore, a nickel oxide (NiO) layer and a trap-free junction copper iodide (CuI) are used as a double-hole transport layer (DHTL). The optoelectronic characterization measurements were carried out to understand the physical mechanisms that govern the operation of the devices. The high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 24.27% and 23.50% were achieved in 1D and 2D simulations, respectively. This study illustrates that composition and interface engineering enable eco-friendly perovskite solar cells, improving performance and advancing clean energy.

Inspired by the enhanced gas-sensing performance by the one-dimensional hierarchical structure, one-dimensional hierarchical polyaniline/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PANI/CNT) fibers were prepared. Interestingly, the simple heating changed the sensing characteristics of PANI from p-type to n-type and n-type PANI and p-type CNTs form p–n hetero junctions at the core–shell interface of hierarchical PANI/CNT composites. The p-type PANI/CNT (p-PANI/CNT) and n-type PANI/CNT (n-PANI/CNT) performed the higher sensitivity to NO2 and NH3, respectively. The response times of p-PANI/CNT and n-PANI/CNT to 50 ppm of NO2 and NH3 are only 5.2 and 1.8 s, respectively, showing the real-time response. The estimated limit of detection for NO2 and NH3 is as low as to 16.7 and 6.4 ppb, respectively. After three months, the responses of p-PANI/CNT and n-PANI/CNT decreased by 19.1% and 11.3%, respectively. It was found that one-dimensional hierarchical structures and the deeper charge depletion layer enhanced by structural changes of PANI contributed to the sensitive and fast responses to NH3 and NO2. The formation process of the hierarchical PANI/CNT fibers, p–n transition, and the enhanced gas-sensing performance were systematically analyzed. This work also predicts the development prospects of cost-effective, high-performance PANI/CNT-based sensors.