High-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs) show great potential as functional materials. However, thus far, the realized high-entropy alloys have been restricted to palettes of similar elements, which greatly hinders the material design, property optimization and mechanistic exploration for different applications. Herein, we discovered that liquid metal endowing negative mixing enthalpy with other elements could provide a stable thermodynamic condition and act as a desirable dynamic mixing reservoir, thus realizing the synthesis of HEA-NPs with a diverse range of metal elements in mild reaction conditions. The involved elements have a wide range of atomic radii and melting points. We also realized the precisely fabricated structures of nanoparticles via mixing enthalpy tuning.

Developing a precise and reproducible bandgap-tuning method that enables tailored design of materials is of crucial importance for optoelectronic devices. Toward this end, we report a sphere diameter engineering (SDE) technique to manipulate the bandgap of two-dimensional materials. This SDE technique showing good precision, uniformity, and reproducibility with high efficiency may further accelerate the potential applications of 2D materials.

Here, we achieve a nearly perfect blackbody absorption and a high PCE in the second near infrared (NIR-II) window (73.7% at 1064 nm) via a Pt nanoparticle shell (PtNP-shell). By precisely manipulating the photothermal effect, we successfully achieve rapid and precise multimodal neuromodulation encompassing neural activation (41.0–42.9 ^oC) and inhibition (45.0–46.9 ^oC) in a male canine model. The NIR-II photothermal modulation additionally achieves multimodal reversible autonomic modulation and confers protection against acute ventricular arrhythmias associated with myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in interventional therapy.

The liquid metal nanoreactor strategy was proposed for realizing high-entropy alloy arrays. The coalescence nature endowed by the tendency to decrease surface energy constructed the basis of the nanoreactor to provide a confined reaction environment for the nucleation and growth of multiple elements, thus forming a single particle within each patterned feature.

In this review, a comprehensive overview of the controllable synthesis of HEAs is provided, ranging from composition design to morphology control, structure construction, and surface/interface engineering. The fundamental parameters and advanced characterization related to HEAs are introduced. We also propose several critical directions for future development. This review can provide insight and an in-depth understanding of HEAs, accelerating the synthesis of the desired HEAs.

The self-lattice-framework with mixing assistor guided strategy was proposed for synthesizing ultrathin high-entropy oxides with the desired phase structures. Natural bonding preference constructed the basis of the lattice framework, and the Ga assistor promoted multiple elements into the lattice site to form the high-entropy state. The glucose and glycine were utilized to generate the carbon template for guiding the morphology. This work lays the foundation for applications of high-entropy oxides and inspires a similar methodology to explore high-entropy compounds.

This special issue of Advanced Materials features 31 high-quality papers to commemorate Wuhan University’s 130th anniversary. These reviews and research articles contributed by the faculty of Wuhan University cover a broad scope of materials science. This issue not only signifies the rapid growth of research in materials at Wuhan University but also exemplifies the institution’s ongoing interdisciplinary pursuits.

We report a strategy to achieve 100% activation of atoms on the basal plane of 2D layered materials by constructing an interlayer bi-atomic bridge. New gap states at the Fermi level are introduced and interlayer conductivity is enhanced in this catalyst. Exposed basal plane atoms are optimized to a state favorable for adsorbing catalytic intermediates.

We presented a new concept to alter the lithiophobic nature of solid electrolytes through the creation of an ultra-wettable interface utilizing liquid metal. It can accomplish sufficient and intimate interface contact between solid electrolyte and Li metal without void formation at the atomic scale, thus promoting the diffusion of Li+ at the interface. The solid-state batteries exhibit superior cycling stability and rate performance without dendrite growth.

The vdW LaOCl single-crystal dielectric was synthesized by precisely controlling the growth kinetics. Due to the considerable dielectric properties of LaOCl and its dangling-bond-free and atomically smooth surface, the MoS₂ FET with vdW LaOCl dielectric exhibits ultralow hysteresis. These results greatly verified vdW LaOCl single crystal possesses the tremendous potential to act as an ideal gate dielectric for 2D FETs.

We report a material system that differentiates from layered and non-layered materials, termed quasi-layered domino-structured (QLDS) materials, effectively bridging the gap between these two typical categories. Considering the skewed structure, the force orthogonal to the 2D QLDS-GaTe growth plane constitutes a synergistic blend of vdW forces and covalent bonds, with neither of them being perpendicular to the 2D growth plane. This unique amalgamation results in a force that surpasses that in layered materials, yet is weaker than that in non-layered materials.

Atomic manufacturing is a guideline for researchers to precisely synthesize materials, customize their properties and apply them into advanced applications in demand. Atomic manufacturing has the ability to visualize substances at the atomic level, while manipulating them atom by atom, inducing and promoting chemical reactions, and ultimately obtaining products with specific atomic structures.

Intractable oral biofilms are the chief culprits of both dental infections and systemic inflammation, posing a great threat to human health. In this review, core strategies of recently developed biomaterials in eradicating oral biofilm are present. Furthermore, design rationales of biomaterials with advanced antibiofilm capacity, as well as versatile antibiofilm biomaterials with other functions are comprehensively summarized.

We present a universal synthesis of monolayer HELH frame in a mild environment, regardless of the solubility product limit. Mild reaction conditions allow us to precisely control the fine structure and elemental composition of the final product. The high-entropy engineering and fine nanostructure control open opportunities to solve the problems of low intrinsic activity, very few active sites, instability, low conductance during OER for LDH catalysts.

Curvature engineering offers a new tuning freedom beyond the thoroughly studied layer number, grain boundaries, stack, etc. The precise control of the curvature geometry in 2D materials can redefine this material family. Special attention will be given to this emerging field and highlight the possible future directions. With the step-by-step achievement in understanding the curvature engineering effect in 2D materials and establishing reliable delicate curvature controlling strategies, a brand-new era of 2D materials research should be developed.

We develop a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method to construct the 2D room-temperature magnetic MnGa₄-H crystal with a thickness down to 2.2 nm. Hydrogen insertion inside the MnGa₄ lattice can modulate the atomic distance and charge state, thereby ferrimagnetism can be achieved without destroying the structural configuration. 2D MnGa₄-H crystal is high-quality and air-stable, demonstrating robust and stable room-temperature magnetism with a high Curie temperature above 620 K.

For the first time, we demonstrate a chemical potential-modulated strategy to realize the precise synthesis of various ultrahigh-phase-purity (approximately 100%) ultrathin TMB single crystals, and the precision in the phase formation energy can reach as low as 0.01 eV per atom. The ultrathin MoB₂ single crystals exhibit an ultrahigh Young’s modulus of 517 GPa compared to other 2D materials.

In this review, we present a systematic and comprehensive overview of the structure modulation of TMDs, including point, linear and out-of plane structures, following and updating the conventional classification for silicon and related bulk semiconductors. Finally, we demonstrate challenges and prospects in the structure modulation of TMDs and forecast potential directions about what and how breakthroughs can be achieved.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the facet engineering of 2D materials, ranging from a basic understanding of facets and the corresponding approaches and the significance of facet engineering. We also propose current challenges and forecast future development directions including the establishment of a facet database, the fabrication of new 2D materials, the design of specific substrates, and the introduction of theoretical calculations and in situ characterization techniques.

It is crucial to understand and conclude the process of 2D material design and synthesis from chemical insights to further research the intrinsic quantum physics and better explore potential properties and applications of 2D quantum materials. In this review, we first summarize the recent advance of 2D quantum phenomena, then give the universal design paradigm from two aspects: element-dependence and phase-dependence, at last we propose different synthesis resolutions. We also summarize the challenges in this area and put forward feasible solution.

This research demonstrates a chemical potential modulated strategy for the realization of ultrathin transition metal boride (TMB) single crystals with ultrahigh phase purity (approximately 100%). The uniform distribution of precursor ensures a very narrow compositing window that permits the monophasic nucleation and growth of ultrathin TMBs.

Graphene is an atomically thin material for which all atoms are exposed to the interfaces that need to be studied using a nondestructive and sensitive technique. In this review, we summarize and discuss that how to characterize these interfaces by synchrotron radiation techniques to understand the structure and property evolution of graphene.

For the first time, we achieve the synthesis of a wide variety of high-quality 2D REO single crystals with tailorable facets via designing a hard-soft-acid-base couple for controlling the 2D nucleation of the predetermined facets and adjusting the growth mode and direction of crystals.

Based on the good solubility, layering property, rheological property and excellent conductivity, the liquid metal reaction system in the “Eight Trigrams Furnace” is constantly providing surprises for designing advanced materials including 2D materials and composite materials for a wide range of applications in electronics, photonics, and energy field.

In article number 2100334, Lei Fu, Mengqi Zeng and co-workers open the “black box” of the growth, movement and self-assembly of graphene on liquid metal via in-situ technique. Graphene can translate, rotate and spontaneously tend to be evenly distributed on liquid metal. This work offers an innovative way to explore the dynamic growth process and mechanism of 2D materials.

Liquid metals can flow freely like water at relatively low temperatures, thus changing the perception of metals as solid. Taking gallium (Ga) as an example, hold it in your hand for a while and, interestingly, it melts and turns into a silvery drop that rolls around in your hand. More interestingly, it can be encapsulated in carbon tubes to form the smallest thermometer in the world. This kind of fascinating materials bring people into a new world. Nowadays, liquid metals are emerging as a new cutting-edge material in the frontiers of science and technology and nurturing a revolution in both fundamental discovery and unconventional applications.

The main contents include synchrotron radiation generation, properties, experimental methods, application examples and development trends at home and abroad. This book can be used as a reference for researchers and postgraduates in universities and research institutes in the fields of materials science, chemistry, life science, physics, medicine, environmental science and other disciplines, as well as for researchers in various fields with synchrotron radiation device as the experimental platform. This book is especially suitable for researchers who are new to the field of synchrotron radiation.

This book presents an overview of graphene from rationale to applications, including basic concepts, theories, and principles. Hereinto, preparation methods, growth mechanisms, condensed matter structures, and graphene chemistry are described in detail. The book emphasizes electrical, optical and magnetic properties of graphene. Subsequently, the prospects and challenges of graphene in composite materials, energy materials, and industrial applications are systematically introduced. This book can be used as reference for senior undergraduates, postgraduates, and institute researchers in the fields of chemistry, materials, physics, and information.