The junctions formed at the contact between metallic electrodes and semiconductor materials are crucial components of electronic and optoelectronic devices . Metal-semiconductor junctions are characterized by an energy barrier known as the Schottky barrier, whose height can, in the ideal case, be predicted by the Schottky-Mott rule on the basis of the relative alignment of energy levels. Such ideal physics has rarely been experimentally realized, however, because of the inevitable chemical disorder and Fermi-level pinning at typical metal-semiconductor interfaces. Here we report the creation of van der Waals metal-semiconductor junctions in which atomically flat metal thin films are laminated onto two-dimensional semiconductors without direct chemical bonding, creating an interface that is essentially free from chemical disorder and Fermi-level pinning. The Schottky barrier height, which approaches the Schottky-Mott limit, is dictated by the work function of the metal and is thus highly tunable. By transferring metal films (silver or platinum) with a work function that matches the conduction band or valence band edges of molybdenum sulfide, we achieve transistors with a two-terminal electron mobility at room temperature of 260 centimetres squared per volt per second and a hole mobility of 175 centimetres squared per volt per second. Furthermore, by using asymmetric contact pairs with different work functions, we demonstrate a silver/molybdenum sulfide/platinum photodiode with an open-circuit voltage of 1.02 volts. Our study not only experimentally validates the fundamental limit of ideal metal-semiconductor junctions but also defines a highly efficient and damage-free strategy for metal integration that could be used in high-performance electronics and optoelectronics.

E fficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts play critical roles in energy conversion and storage [1][2][3] . Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts represent two parallel frontiers of electrocatalysts, each with their own merits and drawbacks 4,5 . Homogeneous catalysts are attractive for their highly uniform active sites, tunable coordination environment and maximized atom utilization efficiency, but are limited by their relatively poor stability and recyclability. Heterogeneous catalysts are appealing for their high durability, excellent recyclability, and easy immobilization and integration with electrodes, but usually have rather low atom utilization efficiency due to the limited surface sites accessible to reactants. To this end, considerable efforts have been devoted to developing nanoscale heterogeneous catalysts that can increase the exposed surface atoms 3 . However, the inhomogeneity in the distribution of particle sizes and facets poses a serious challenge for controlling active sites and fundamental mechanistic studies 6,7 . In contrast, homogeneous catalysts typically exhibit the well-defined atomic structure with tunable coordination environment that is essential for deciphering the catalytic reaction pathway and rational design of targeted catalysts with tailored catalytic properties 8 . Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with monodispersed single atoms supported on solid substrates are recently emerging as an exciting class of catalysts that combine the merits of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts [9][10][11][12][13][14] . However, most SACs studied to date employ metal oxides (for example, TiO 2 , CeO 2 and FeO x ) as supporting substrates to prevent atom aggregation [15][16][17][18] , which cannot be readily applied in electrocatalytic applications due to their low electrical conductivity and/or poor stability in harsh liquid-phase electrolytes (for example, strong acid or base). Atomic transitionmetal-nitrogen moieties supported in carbon (M-N-Cs) represent a unique class of SACs with high electrical conductivity and superior (electro)chemical stability for electrocatalytic applications 19 . In particular, Fe-based M-N-Cs have been extensively studied as electrocatalysts towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with demonstrated activity and stability approaching those of commercial Pt/C catalysts 20,21 . In addition, as suggested by numerous theoretical studies, M-N-Cs are promising candidates for catalysing a wide range of electrochemical processes, such as hydrogen reduction/oxidation 22 , CO 2 /CO reduction 23 and N 2 reduction 24 . A significant advantage of SACs is that the well-defined single atomic site could allow precise understanding of the catalytic reaction pathway, and rational design of targeted catalysts with tailored activity (in a manner similar to homogeneous catalyst design). However, this perceived advantage has been investigated theoretically

Nanostructured materials have shown extraordinary promise for electrochemical energy storage but are usually limited to electrodes with rather low mass loading (~1 milligram per square centimeter) because of the increasing ion diffusion limitations in thicker electrodes. We report the design of a three-dimensional (3D) holey-graphene/niobia (NbO) composite for ultrahigh-rate energy storage at practical levels of mass loading (>10 milligrams per square centimeter). The highly interconnected graphene network in the 3D architecture provides excellent electron transport properties, and its hierarchical porous structure facilitates rapid ion transport. By systematically tailoring the porosity in the holey graphene backbone, charge transport in the composite architecture is optimized to deliver high areal capacity and high-rate capability at high mass loading, which represents a critical step forward toward practical applications.

The fundamental kinetics of the electrocatalytic sulfur reduction reaction (SRR), a complex 16-electron conversion process in lithium-sulfur batteries, is insufficiently explored to date. Herein, by directly profiling the activation energies in the multi-step SRR, we reveal that the initial reduction of sulfur to the soluble polysulfides is relatively easy with low activation energy, while the subsequent conversion of the polysulfides into the insoluble Li 2 S 2 /Li 2 S is more difficult with much higher activation energy, which contribute to the accumulation of polysulfides and exacerbate the polysulfide shuttling effect. We use heteroatom-doped graphene as a model system to explore electrocatalytic SRR. We show nitrogen and sulfur dual-doped graphene considerably reduces the activation energy to improve SRR kinetics. Density functional calculations confirm that the doping tunes the p-band center of the active carbons for an optimal adsorption strength of intermediates and electroactivity. This study establishes electrocatalysis as a promising pathway to high performance lithium-sulfur batteries. The sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) chemistry undergoes a complex 16-electron conversion process, transforming S 8 ring molecules into a series of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) with variable chain lengths before fully converting them into 2 insoluble Li 2 S 2 /Li 2 S products. This 16-electron SRR process is of considerable interest for high-density energy storage with theoretical capacity of 1672 mAh g-1 , but the chemistry is plagued by sluggish sulfur reduction kinetics and polysulfide (PS) shuttling effect. In practical Li-S cells, these effects limit the rate capability and cycle life 1,2. These limitations are fundamentally associated with the slow and complex reduction reaction involving S 8 ring molecules. In general, the insulating nature of elemental sulfur and its reduced products, and the sluggish charge transfer kinetics lead to incomplete conversion of S 8 molecules to soluble LiPSs. These polysulfides may shuttle across the separator to react with and deposit on the lithium anode, resulting in rapid capacity fading 3. Considerable efforts have been devoted to combating the PS shuttling effect, typically by employing a passive strategy by using various sulfur host materials to physically or electrostatically trap the LiPSs in the cathode structure 4-13. These passive confinement/entrapping strategies have partly mitigated the PS shuttling

Ceramic aerogels are attractive for thermal insulation but plagued by poor mechanical stability and degradation under thermal shock. In this study, we designed and synthesized hyperbolic architectured ceramic aerogels with nanolayered double-pane walls with a negative Poisson’s ratio (−0.25) and a negative linear thermal expansion coefficient (−1.8 × 10−6 per °C). Our aerogels display robust mechanical and thermal stability and feature ultralow densities down to ~0.1 milligram per cubic centimeter, superelasticity up to 95%, and near-zero strength loss after sharp thermal shocks (275°C per second) or intense thermal stress at 1400°C, as well as ultralow thermal conductivity in vacuum [~2.4 milliwatts per meter-kelvin (mW/m·K)] and in air (~20 mW/m·K). This robust material system is ideal for thermal superinsulation under extreme conditions, such as those encountered by spacecraft.

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Artificial superlattices, based on van der Waals heterostructures of two-dimensional atomic crystals such as graphene or molybdenum disulfide, offer technological opportunities beyond the reach of existing materials. Typical strategies for creating such artificial superlattices rely on arduous layer-by-layer exfoliation and restacking, with limited yield and reproducibility. The bottom-up approach of using chemical-vapour deposition produces high-quality heterostructures but becomes increasingly difficult for high-order superlattices. The intercalation of selected two-dimensional atomic crystals with alkali metal ions offers an alternative way to superlattice structures, but these usually have poor stability and seriously altered electronic properties. Here we report an electrochemical molecular intercalation approach to a new class of stable superlattices in which monolayer atomic crystals alternate with molecular layers. Using black phosphorus as a model system, we show that intercalation with cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide produces monolayer phosphorene molecular superlattices in which the interlayer distance is more than double that in black phosphorus, effectively isolating the phosphorene monolayers. Electrical transport studies of transistors fabricated from the monolayer phosphorene molecular superlattice show an on/off current ratio exceeding 10, along with excellent mobility and superior stability. We further show that several different two-dimensional atomic crystals, such as molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide, can be intercalated with quaternary ammonium molecules of varying sizes and symmetries to produce a broad class of superlattices with tailored molecular structures, interlayer distances, phase compositions, electronic and optical properties. These studies define a versatile material platform for fundamental studies and potential technological applications.

The synthetic strategies, structural identification and electrocatalytic applications of single atom catalysts supported on graphene or graphene-like carbons are reviewed.