Polarization photodetectors with configurable polarity transition enabled by programmable ferroelectric-doping patterns.

Advances in symmetry-breaking engineering of heterointerfaces for optoelectronic devices have garnered significant attention due to their immense potential in tunable moiré quantum geometry and enabling polarization light detection. Despite several proposed approaches to breaking the symmetry of low-dimensional materials, there remains a lack of universal methods to create materials with prominent polarization detection capabilities. Here, we introduce a reliable strategy for manipulating the symmetry of low-dimensional materials through a programmable ferroelectric-doping patterns technique. This method introduces a spontaneous photocurrent and enables the detection of linearly polarization light in isotropic 2H-MoTe2. The 2H-MoTe2 photodetector exhibits a significant short-circuit photocurrent intensity (Jsc = 29.9 A/cm2) and open-circuit voltage Voc of 0.12 V ( ~ 3 × 105 V/cm). Under a specific bias, the polarization ratio transitions from 1 to ∞/-∞, shifting from a positive state (unipolar regime) to a negative state (bipolar regime). These findings underscore the potential of ferroelectric-doping patterns as a promising approach to creating composite materials with artificial bulk photovoltaic effect and achieving high-performance polarization light detection.

Two-Dimensional MoS2-Based Anisotropic Synaptic Transistor for Neuromorphic Computing by Localized Electron Beam Irradiation.

Neuromorphic computing, a promising solution to the von Neumann bottleneck, is paving the way for the development of next-generation computing and sensing systems. Axon-multisynapse systems enable the execution of sophisticated tasks, making them not only desirable but essential for future applications in this field. Anisotropic materials, which have different properties in different directions, are being used to create artificial synapses that can mimic the functions of biological axon-multisynapse systems. However, the restricted variety and unadjustable conductive ratio limit their applications. Here, it is shown that anisotropic artificial synapses can be achieved on isotropic materials with externally localized doping via electron beam irradiation (EBI) and purposefully induced trap sites. By employing the synapses along different directions, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are constructed to accomplish variable neuromorphic tasks with optimized performance. The localized doping method expands the axon-multisynapse device family, illustrating that this approach has tremendous potentials in next-generation computing and sensing systems.

Multi-dimensional optical information acquisition based on a misaligned unipolar barrier photodetector.

Acquiring multi-dimensional optical information, such as intensity, spectrum, polarization, and phase, can significantly enhance the performance of photodetectors. Incorporating these dimensions allows for improved image contrast, enhanced recognition capabilities, reduced interference, and better adaptation to complex environments. However, the challenge lies in obtaining these dimensions on a single photodetector. Here we propose a misaligned unipolar barrier photodetector based on van der Waals heterojunction to address this issue. This structure enables spectral detection by switching between two absorbing layers with different cut-off wavelengths for dual-band detection. For polarization detection, anisotropic semiconductors like black phosphorus and black arsenic phosphorus inherently possess polarization-detection capabilities without additional complex elements. By manipulating the crystal direction of these materials during heterojunction fabrication, the device becomes sensitive to incident light at different polarization angles. This research showcases the potential of the misaligned unipolar barrier photodetector in capturing multi-dimensional optical information, paving the way for next-generation photodetectors.

2D materials-based photodetectors combined with ferroelectrics.

Photodetectors are essential optoelectronic devices that play a critical role in modern technology by converting optical signals into electrical signals, which are one of the most important sensors of the informational devices in current 'Internet of Things' era. Two-dimensional (2D) material-based photodetectors have excellent performance, simple design and effortless fabrication processes, as well as enormous potential for fabricating highly integrated and efficient optoelectronic devices, which has attracted extensive research attention in recent years. The introduction of spontaneous polarization ferroelectric materials further enhances the performance of 2D photodetectors, moreover, companying with the reduction of power consumption. This article reviews the recent advances of materials, devices in ferroelectric-modulated photodetectors. This review starts with the introduce of the basic terms and concepts of the photodetector and various ferroelectric materials applied in 2D photodetectors, then presents a variety of typical device structures, fundamental mechanisms and potential applications under ferroelectric polarization modulation. Finally, we summarize the leading challenges currently confronting ferroelectric-modulated photodetectors and outline their future perspectives.

Electrically Tunable Multiple-Effects Synergistic and Boosted Photoelectric Performance in Te/WSe2 Mixed-Dimensional Heterojunction Phototransistors.

Mix-dimensional heterojunctions (MDHJs) photodetectors (PDs) built from bulk and 2D materials are the research focus to develop hetero-integrated and multifunctional optoelectronic sensor systems. However, it is still an open issue for achieving multiple effects synergistic characteristics to boost sensitivity and enrich the prospect in artificial bionic systems. Herein, electrically tunable Te/WSe2 MDHJs phototransistors are constructed, and an ultralow dark current below 0.1 pA and a large on/off rectification ratio of 106 is achieved. Photoconductive, photovoltaic, and photo-thermoelectric conversions are simultaneously demonstrated by tuning the gate and bias. By these synergistic effects, responsivity and detectivity respectively reach 13.9 A W-1 and 1.37 × 1012 Jones with 400 times increment. The Te/WSe2 MDHJs PDs can function as artificial bionic visual systems due to the comparable response time to those of the human visual system and the presence of transient positive and negative response signals. This work offers an available strategy for intelligent optoelectronic devices with hetero-integration and multifunctions.

Black Arsenic Phosphorus Mid-Wave Infrared Barrier Detector with High Detectivity at Room Temperature.

The barrier structure is designed to enhance the operating temperature of the infrared detector, thereby improving the efficiency of collecting photogenerated carriers and reducing dark current generation, without suppressing the photocurrent. However, the development of barrier detectors using conventional materials is limited due to the strict requirements for lattice and band matching. In this study, a high-performance unipolar barrier detector is designed utilizing a black arsenic phosphorus/molybdenum disulfide/black phosphorus van der Waals heterojunction. The device exhibits a broad response bandwidth ranging from visible light to mid-wave infrared (520 nm to 4.6 µm), with a blackbody detectivity of 2.7 × 1010 cmHz-1/2 W-1 in the mid-wave infrared range at room temperature. Moreover, the optical absorption anisotropy of black arsenic phosphorus enables polarization resolution detection, achieving a polarization extinction ratio of 35.5 at 4.6 µm. Mid-wave infrared imaging of the device is successfully demonstrated at room temperature, highlighting the significant potential of barrier devices based on van der Waals heterojunctions in mid-wave infrared detection.

Puerarin protects the fatty liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) remains high, and many NAFLD patients suffer from severe ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Currently, no practical approach can be used to treat IRI. Puerarin plays a vital role in treating multiple diseases, such as NAFLD, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, its role in the IRI of the fatty liver is still unclear. We aimed to explore whether puerarin could protect the fatty liver from IRI. C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) followed by ischemia reperfusion injury. We showed that hepatic IRI was more severe in the fatty liver compared with the normal liver, and puerarin could significantly protect the fatty liver against IRI and alleviate oxidative stress. The PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was activated during IRI, while liver steatosis decreased the level of activation. Puerarin significantly protected the fatty liver from IRI by reactivating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. However, LY294002, a PI3K-AKT inhibitor, attenuated the protective effect of puerarin. In conclusion, puerarin could significantly protect the fatty liver against IRI by activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Puerarin protects the fatty liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Abstract The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) remains high, and many NAFLD patients suffer from severe ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Currently, no practical approach can be used to treat IRI. Puerarin plays a vital role in treating multiple diseases, such as NAFLD, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. However, its role in the IRI of the fatty liver is still unclear. We aimed to explore whether puerarin could protect the fatty liver from IRI. C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high‐fat diet (HFD) followed by ischemia reperfusion injury. We showed that hepatic IRI was more severe in the fatty liver compared with the normal liver, and puerarin could significantly protect the fatty liver against IRI and alleviate oxidative stress. The PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was activated during IRI, while liver steatosis decreased the level of activation. Puerarin significantly protected the fatty liver from IRI by reactivating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. However, LY294002, a PI3K-AKT inhibitor, attenuated the protective effect of puerarin. In conclusion, puerarin could significantly protect the fatty liver against IRI by activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Long-Range Hot-Carrier Transport in Topologically Connected HgTe Quantum Dots.

The utilization of hot carriers as a means to surpass the Shockley-Queasier limit represents a promising strategy for advancing highly efficient photovoltaic devices. Quantum dots, owing to their discrete energy states and limited multi-phonon cooling process, are regarded as one of the most promising materials. However, in practical implementations, the presence of numerous defects and discontinuities in colloidal quantum dot (CQD) films significantly curtails the transport distance of hot carriers. In this study, the harnessing of excess energies from hot-carriers is successfully demonstrated and a world-record carrier diffusion length of 15 µm is observed for the first time in colloidal systems, surpassing existing hot-carrier materials by more than tenfold. The observed phenomenon is attributed to the specifically designed honeycomb-like topological structures in a HgTe CQD superlattice, with its long-range periodicity confirmed by High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy(HR-TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction(SAED) patterns, and low-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD). In such a superlattice, nonlocal hot carrier transport is supported by three unique physical properties: the wavelength-independent responsivity, linear output characteristics and microsecond fast photoresponse. These findings underscore the potential of HgTe CQD superlattices as a feasible approach for efficient hot carrier collection, thereby paving the way for practical applications in highly sensitive photodetection and solar energy harvesting.

A ferroelectric fin diode for robust non-volatile memory.

Among today's nonvolatile memories, ferroelectric-based capacitors, tunnel junctions and field-effect transistors (FET) are already industrially integrated and/or intensively investigated to improve their performances. Concurrently, because of the tremendous development of artificial intelligence and big-data issues, there is an urgent need to realize high-density crossbar arrays, a prerequisite for the future of memories and emerging computing algorithms. Here, a two-terminal ferroelectric fin diode (FFD) in which a ferroelectric capacitor and a fin-like semiconductor channel are combined to share both top and bottom electrodes is designed. Such a device not only shows both digital and analog memory functionalities but is also robust and universal as it works using two very different ferroelectric materials. When compared to all current nonvolatile memories, it cumulatively demonstrates an endurance up to 1010 cycles, an ON/OFF ratio of ~102, a feature size of 30 nm, an operating energy of ~20 fJ and an operation speed of 100 ns. Beyond these superior performances, the simple two-terminal structure and their self-rectifying ratio of ~ 104 permit to consider them as new electronic building blocks for designing passive crossbar arrays which are crucial for the future in-memory computing.

Next-Generation Photodetectors beyond Van Der Waals Junctions.

With the continuous advancement of nanofabrication techniques, development of novel materials, and discovery of useful manipulation mechanisms in high-performance applications, especially photodetectors, the morphology of junction devices and the way junction devices are used are fundamentally revolutionized. Simultaneously, new types of photodetectors that do not rely on any junction, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio and multidimensional modulation, have also emerged. This review outlines a unique category of material systems supporting novel junction devices for high-performance detection, namely, the van der Waals materials, and systematically discusses new trends in the development of various types of devices beyond junctions. This field is far from mature and there are numerous methods to measure and evaluate photodetectors. Therefore, it is also aimed to provide a solution from the perspective of applications in this review. Finally, based on the insight into the unique properties of the material systems and the underlying microscopic mechanisms, emerging trends in junction devices are discussed, a new morphology of photodetectors is proposed, and some potential innovative directions in the subject area are suggested.

Interface Engineering to Drive High-Performance MXene/PbS Quantum Dot NIR Photodiode.

The realization of a controllable transparent conducting system with selective light transparency is crucial for exploring many of the most intriguing effects in top-illuminated optoelectronic devices. However, the performance is limited by insufficient electrical conductivity, low work function, and vulnerable interface of traditional transparent conducting materials, such as tin-doped indium oxide. Here, it is reported that two-dimensional (2D) titanium carbide (Ti3 C2 Tx ) MXene film acts as an efficient transparent conducting electrode for the lead sulfide (PbS) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) photodiode with controllable near infrared transmittance. The solution-processed interface engineering of MXene and PbS layers remarkably reduces the interface defects of MXene/PbS CQDs and the carrier concentration in the PbS layer. The stable Ti3 C2 Tx /PbS CQDs photodiodes give rise to a high specific detectivity of 5.51 × 1012  cm W-1  Hz1/2 , a large dynamic response range of 140 dB, and a large bandwidth of 0.76 MHz at 940 nm in the self-powered state, ranking among the most exceptional in terms of comprehensive performance among reported PbS CQDs photodiodes. In contrast with the traditional photodiode technologies, this efficient and stable approach opens a new horizon to construct widely used infrared photodiodes with CQDs and MXenes.

Effect of the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program on postoperative liver cancer patients: A single-center randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is the most common complication in postoperative liver cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program on postoperative liver cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 184 liver cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (treated under the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program) or a control group (treated with the general nutritional method). Nutrition-related indicators, such as prealbumin (PA) and albumin, were assessed before and after treatment in both groups. The incidence of complications (e.g., nausea or vomiting, bloating, difficulty defecating, ascites), length of hospital stay, first time to anal exhaust and out-of-bed activity, and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 184 liver cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (treated under the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program) or a control group (treated with the general nutritional method). Nutrition-related indicators, such as prealbumin (PA) and albumin, were assessed before and after treatment in both groups. The incidence of complications (e.g., nausea or vomiting, bloating, difficulty defecating, ascites), length of hospital stay, first time to anal exhaust and out-of-bed activity, and patient satisfaction were recorded. CONCLUSION: The Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program improves the nutritional status of postoperative liver cancer patients, lowers the incidence of complications, shortens hospital stays, increases patient satisfaction, and promotes the early recovery of patients.

Ultralow-power in-memory computing based on ferroelectric memcapacitor network.

Analog storage through synaptic weights using conductance in resistive neuromorphic systems and devices inevitably generates harmful heat dissipation. This thermal issue not only limits the energy efficiency but also hampers the very-large-scale and highly complicated hardware integration as in the human brain. Here we demonstrate that the synaptic weights can be simulated by reconfigurable non-volatile capacitances of a ferroelectric-based memcapacitor with ultralow-power consumption. The as-designed metal/ferroelectric/metal/insulator/semiconductor memcapacitor shows distinct 3-bit capacitance states controlled by the ferroelectric domain dynamics. These robust memcapacitive states exhibit uniform maintenance of more than 104 s and well endurance of 109 cycles. In a wired memcapacitor crossbar network hardware, analog vector-matrix multiplication is successfully implemented to classify 9-pixel images by collecting the sum of displacement currents (I = C × dV/dt) in each column, which intrinsically consumes zero energy in memcapacitors themselves. Our work sheds light on an ultralow-power neural hardware based on ferroelectric memcapacitors.

Ferroelectric-defined reconfigurable homojunctions for in-memory sensing and computing.

Recently, the increasing demand for data-centric applications is driving the elimination of image sensing, memory and computing unit interface, thus promising for latency- and energy-strict applications. Although dedicated electronic hardware has inspired the development of in-memory computing and in-sensor computing, folding the entire signal chain into one device remains challenging. Here an in-memory sensing and computing architecture is demonstrated using ferroelectric-defined reconfigurable two-dimensional photodiode arrays. High-level cognitive computing is realized based on the multiplications of light power and photoresponsivity through the photocurrent generation process and Kirchhoff's law. The weight is stored and programmed locally by the ferroelectric domains, enabling 51 (>5 bit) distinguishable weight states with linear, symmetric and reversible manipulation characteristics. Image recognition can be performed without any external memory and computing units. The three-in-one paradigm, integrating high-level computing, weight memorization and high-performance sensing, paves the way for a computing architecture with low energy consumption, low latency and reduced hardware overhead.

Colloidal Quantum Dots in Very-Long-Wave Infrared Detection: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.

The very long wave infrared (VLWIR) is an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength range of 15-30 µm, which plays an important role in missile defense and weather monitoring. This paper briefly introduces the development of intraband absorption of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) and investigates the possibility of using CQDs to produce VLWIR detectors. We calculated the detectivity of CQDs for VLWIR. The results show that the detectivity is affected by parameters such as quantum dot size, temperature, electron relaxation time, and distance between quantum dots. The theoretical derivation results, combined with the current development status, show that the detection of VLWIR by CQDs is still in the theoretical stage.

Robust Threshold-Switching Behavior Assisted by Cu Migration in a Ferroionic CuInP2S6 Heterostructure.

The two-dimensional layered material CuInP2S6 (CIPS) has attracted significant research attention due to its nontrivial physical properties, including room-temperature ferroelectricity at the ultrathin limit and substantial ionic conductivity. Despite many efforts to control its ionic conductance and develop electronic devices, such as memristors, improving the stability of these devices remains a challenge. This work presents a highly stable threshold-switching device based on the Cu/CIPS/graphene heterostructure, achieved after a comprehensive investigation of the activation of Cu's ionic conductivity. The device exhibits exceptional threshold-switching performance, including good cycling endurance, a high on/off ratio of up to 104, low operation voltages, and an ultrasmall subthreshold swing of less than 1.8 mV/decade for the resistance-switching process. Through temperature-dependent electrical and Raman spectroscopy measurements, the stable resistive-switching mechanism is interpreted with a drifting and diffusion model of Cu ions under the electric field, rather than the conventional conducting filament mechanism. These results make the layered ferroionic CIPS material a promising candidate for information storage devices, demonstrating a compelling approach to achieving high-performance threshold-switching memristor devices.

Silencing of RAB42 down-regulated PD-L1 expression to inhibit the immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through inhibiting the E2F signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanistic role of RAB42 and corresponding regulatory path in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The expression of RAB42 in HCC tissue was checked by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical staining assay. Cell proliferation was checked by colony formation and CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were analyzed with flow cytometry. The relevance of RAB42 and PD-L1 was analyzed from TCGA database. The binding of E2F1 to PD-L1 was detected by JASPAR database, luciferase and ChIP assay. The expression of PD-L1, cell apoptosis- and E2F pathway-related proteins were checked by western blotting. RESULTS: RAB42 was highly expressed in HCC tissue. RAB42 silencing could inhibit proliferation and induce G1 phase arrest and apoptosis of HCC cells. TCGA database disclosed that PD-L1 was highly associated with RAB42 expression. Silencing of RAB42 could retard PD-L1 expression in HCC cells. GSEA analysis showed RAB42 could activate E2F signaling pathway. Silencing of RAB42 could observably weaken the expression of E2F1, CDK1 and CDC20 in HCC cells. JASPAR database predicted the binding site between E2F1 and PD-L1, and E2F1 overexpression could promote PD-L1 expression. Overexpression of E2F1 could reverse the biological function of RAB42 silencing in HCC cells. CONCLUSION: Silencing of RAB42 could down-regulate PD-L1 expression to inhibit immune escape through inhibiting E2F signaling pathway in HCC cells. RAB42 may become a novel clinical diagnostic and therapy marker for HCC.