Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been shown to be efficient in energy harvesting. Here, we report the use of waste heat to generate electricity via the combined piezoelectric and triboelectric properties...

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have received a surge in research interest due to their exciting range of properties. Here, we show that 2D cobalt telluride (Co2Te3), successfully synthesized via liquid-phase exfoliation in an organic solvent, exhibits weak ferromagnetism behavior at room temperature. Under a small amount of mechanical pressure, the material shows an electrical signal. Here, we also study the effect of the magnetic field on strain generation in the atomically thin Co2Te3 material and observe a linear relationship between the output voltage and the applied magnetic field. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics are used to explain these experimental results. Our work could pave the way for the development of 2D materials with coupled magnetism and flexoelectricity, leading to new applications in magnetic field sensing.

Objectives The present work aimed to investigate the deformation behavior of complex ant mound architectures under compression. Methods We have used the cement casting method to extract four different ant nest morphologies. These casted cement structures were digitalized using a 3D micro-computer tomography (CT) scan. The digitized structures were simulated under different loading conditions using Finite Element Methods (FEM). In order to supplement the numerical understanding, the digital architectures were 3D printed and experimentally tested under uniaxial loading conditions. Results Ants produce a variety of complex architectures for adapting to the surrounding environment and ants’ needs. Ant mound consists of at least one pillar with a broad base tapered towards its tip. Anthill architectures have unique topological features. Mechanical strength of ant mould can be 600 times enhanced by tuning topology. Thickness and angle of pillars have huge effect on load-bearing property Conclusion The branched structures can endure larger stress and deform in the process under a volumetric pressure application, making them sacrificial units for extreme disasters like floods and earthquakes. The 3D printing experiments and Finite Element Methods simulations are needed to tackle the complex ant mound architectures and appear in good agreement, suggesting a robust design and thus the possibility of constructing anthill-inspired civil buildings with a tree-trunk-like geometry.