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In this work, we report a single-mode Ho3+/Yb3+ codoped fluorotellurite (HYCF) microsphere laser at ∼2.1 μm with low threshold of 96.2 μW. Fluorotellurite glass microspheres exhibit a high Q-factor, reaching up to 106. Furthermore, we demonstrate the thermal tunability of the microsphere lasers, with a temperature sensitivity of 38 pm/°C for the lasing wavelength. These research findings showcase highlight the potential of HYCF glass microsphere lasers as a miniature photonic element in the emerging field of compact IR lasers, low-threshold, as well as for high-precision temperature sensing applications.

Chalcogenide solid-state electrolytes (SEs) have been regarded as promising candidates for lithium dendrite suppression due to their high ionic conductivity, suitable mechanical strength, and large Li+ion transference number. However, the wide applications of SEs in pragmatic all-solid-state batteries are still retarded by their limited interface stability, which leads to lithium dendrite growth and formation of interphase with high resistance. In addition, the interphase evolution mechanism between SEs and metallic Li anodes remains unclear. Herein, this work demonstrates that the interfacial stability of Li2S–SiS2–P2S5SEs can be effectively enhanced by tuning the interphase through LiI incorporation. This strategy contributes to a high ionic conductivity of the SEs and electronic insulation interphase containing LiI. Thus, the 70(60Li2S–28SiS2–12P2S5)–30 LiI SEs prepared by melt-quenching exhibit a high ionic conductivity of 1.74 mS cm–1at room temperature and a larger critical current density of 1.65 mA cm–2at 65 °C. The cycling life of the symmetric Li|SEs|Li cell is up to 200 h without significant resistance growth at 0.1 mA cm–2at room temperature. This enhanced interface stability is revealed to originate from the in situ-formed LiI within the interphase, which prevents continual SEs degradation and suppresses lithium dendrite growth. This work provides a vital understanding of interphase evolution, which is valuable for designing SEs with long cycling stability.

The high-precision patterning of metal halide perovskites (MHPs) is of paramount importance for their device application. Here, we demonstrate the femtosecond (fs)-laser-assisted formation of three-dimensional MHP nanocrystal (NC) patterns with strong blue photoluminescence (PL) inside an oxide glass. Our strategy enables the crystallization and erasing of CsPb(Cl/Br)3NCs inside a glass localized around the laser focal area through a combination of fs laser irradiation and thermal treatment processes. These recoverable patterns exhibit a switchable PL associated with the laser-induced defect and the thermal healing of MHP NCs that are benefits from the soft ionic crystal structure and low formation energy of the MHPs. Due to the high stability offered by the protection of the oxide glass matrix, the laser printing of fine-structured MHP micropatterns can be repeated over multiple cycles with a high robustness compared with their colloidal process counterparts. Our results demonstrate a simple strategy for creating emissive patterns inside a stable and transparent solid matrix that could be promising for applications including information storage, three-dimensional displays, anticounterfeit labels, and information security protection.

Wearable thermal sensors based on thermoelectric (TE) materials with high sensitivity and temperature resolution are extensively used in medical diagnosis, human–machine interfaces, and advanced artificial intelligence. However, their development is greatly limited by the lack of materials with both a high Seebeck coefficient and superior anticrystallization ability. Here, a new inorganic amorphous TE material, Ge15Ga10Te75, with a high Seebeck coefficient of 1109 μV/K is reported. Owing to the large difference between the glass-transition temperature and initial crystallization temperature, Ge15Ga10Te75strongly inhibits crystallization during fiber fabrication by thermally codrawing a precast rod comprising a Ge15Ga10Te75core and PP polymer cladding. The temperature difference can be effectively transduced into electrical signals to achieve TE fiber thermal sensing with an accurate temperature resolution of 0.03 K and a fast response time of 4 s. It is important to note that after the 1.5 and 5.5 K temperatures changed repeatedly, the TE properties of the fiber demonstrated high stability. Based on the Seebeck effect and superior flexibility of the fibers, they can be integrated into a mask and wearable fabric for human respiration and body temperature monitoring. The superior thermal sensing performance of the TE fibers together with their natural flexibility and scalable fabrication endow them with promising applications in health-monitoring and intelligent medical systems.

The pursuit of compact and integrated devices has stimulated a growing demand for multifunctional sensors with rapid and accurate responses to various physical parameters, either separately or simultaneously. Fluorescent fiber sensors have the advantages of robust stability, light weight, and compact geometry, enabling real-time and noninvasive signal detection by monitoring the fluorescence parameters. Despite substantial progress in fluorescence sensors, achieving multifunctional sensing in a single optical fiber remains challenging. To solve this problem, in this study, we present a bottom-up strategy to design and fabricate thermally drawn multifunctional fiber sensors by incorporating functional nanocrystals with temperature and pressure fluorescence responses into a transparent glass matrix. To generate the desired nanocrystal-in-glass composite (NGC) fiber, the fluorescent activators, incorporated nanocrystals, glassy core materials, and cladding matrix are rationally designed. Utilizing the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique, a self-calibrated fiber sensor is demonstrated, with a bi-functional response to temperature and pressure. For temperature sensing, the NGC fiber exhibits temperature-dependent near-infrared emission at temperatures up to 573 K with a maximum absolute sensitivity of 0.019 K−1. A pressure-dependent upconversion emission is also realized in the visible spectral region, with a linear slope of -0.065. The successful demonstration of multifunctional NGC fiber sensors provides an efficient pathway for new paradigms of multifunctional sensors as well as a versatile strategy for future hybrid fibers with novel combinations of magnetic, optical, and mechanical properties.