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Verified CAS / Academic Author3 Decoded Studies

Prof. MA Wei

Xi'an Jiaotong University

Research Publications & English Decoded Briefs

Showing 3 publications
SCIENCE CHINA Materials2026DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3805-1

Spatially Decoupled Single/Dual-Atomic Sites with Independent Bifunctional Activity for High-Performance Fiber Zinc-Air Batteries

The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER) at the air electrode impede the practical deployment of fiber zinc-air batteries (FZABs) for wearable electronics. Conventional bifunctional catalysts suffer from an inherent activity trade-off due to the distinct mechanisms of ORR and OER. Here, we propose a spatial decoupling strategy to overcome this limitation by engineering isolated Fe single atoms and Fe–Ir dual-atom pairs on a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Fe/FeIr-NC). In this architecture, Fe single atoms serve as ORR centers, while Fe–Ir pairs with tunable spacing are tailored for OER, enabling complete functional separation and independent optimization. The catalyst exhibits an ORR half-wave potential of 0.91 V and an OER overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA cm−2, yielding a record-low bifunctional gap (ΔE = 0.57 V) that outperforms all reported single- and dual-atom catalysts. A flexible fiber zinc-air battery based on this catalyst delivers a peak power density of 3920 W kg−1, along with a 1.4-fold increase in energy efficiency and a 2.6-fold extension in cycle life compared to the commercial Pt/C + IrO2 benchmark. This work not only breaks the traditional activity trade-off in bifunctional catalysis but also offers a promising route toward high-performance power sources for wearable electronics.

SCIENCE CHINA Materials2026DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4208-8

Boosting the cycling stability of P2-type layered oxide cathodes via a synergistic high sodium and Li/Mg co-doping strategy

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance of sodium resources. Among cathode materials, P2-type layered oxides (Na_xTMO_2) offer high ionic conductivity and rate capability but suffer from low initial sodium content and Na+/vacancy ordering, leading to structural degradation and capacity fading. This study proposes a synergistic strategy combining high sodium content with Li/Mg co-doping to enhance the cycling stability of P2-type cathodes. The high sodium content increases the sodium reservoir, reducing the depth of desodiation for a given capacity, while Li/Mg co-doping mitigates Na+/vacancy ordering and stabilizes the crystal structure. The optimized cathode exhibits significantly improved cycling performance, retaining 82.3% of its initial capacity after 500 cycles at 1C, compared to 65.4% for the undoped counterpart. Furthermore, the co-doped material demonstrates enhanced rate capability, delivering 112 mAh/g at 5C, and suppressed phase transitions, as evidenced by in-situ X-ray diffraction. This work provides a rational design pathway for high-performance P2-type cathodes, addressing key bottlenecks in SIB commercialization.

SCIENCE CHINA Materials2025DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3439-7

Solution viscosity-governed phase separation and aggregation kinetics enable high-efficiency, eco-friendly slot-die coated organic solar cells

Slot-die coating with halogen-free solvents is a promising scalable fabrication strategy for organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complex interplay between long-timescale solute diffusion and microstructural evolution during the coating process remains poorly understood, limiting further optimization of morphology and device performance. In this study, we elucidate the critical role of solution viscosity in regulating phase separation and aggregation kinetics. Specifically, lower solution viscosity enhances solute diffusion, accelerating molecular aggregation while suppressing liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Notably, we observe that in three different systems with varying crystallinity and immiscibility (PM6:Y6, PTQ10:Y6, and D18:Y6), the optimal processing conditions for peak device efficiency consistently correspond to a nearly identical solution viscosity (~0.8 mPa s), despite variations in optimal processing temperatures. In situ characterizations reveal that at this viscosity, all three systems exhibit constrained LLPS and rapid molecular aggregation, promoting the formation of finely structured, continuous nanoscale domains. These findings establish solution viscosity as a universal governing parameter for morphology control in printed active layers. By providing a fundamental framework for understanding viscosity-mediated phase separation, this work offers valuable insights for advancing high-throughput, environmentally friendly printing techniques for high-efficiency OSCs.