The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence(AI)models,such as ChatGPT,Deep-Seek,and autonomous vehicle systems,has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI,enabling highly complex tasks in natural language proc...The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence(AI)models,such as ChatGPT,Deep-Seek,and autonomous vehicle systems,has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI,enabling highly complex tasks in natural language processing,image recognition,and real-time decisionmaking.However,these models demand immense computational power and are often centralized,relying on cloud-based architectures with inherent limitations in latency,privacy,and energy efficiency.To address these challenges and bring AI closer to real-world applications,such as wearable health monitoring,robotics,and immersive virtual environments,innovative hardware solutions are urgently needed.This work introduces a near-sensor edge computing(NSEC)system,built on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform,to provide real-time,energy-efficient AI capabilities at the edge.Leveraging the electro-optic properties of AlN microring resonators for photonic feature extraction,coupled with Si-based thermo-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers for neural network computations,the system represents a transformative approach to AI hardware design.Demonstrated through multimodal gesture and gait analysis,the NSEC system achieves high classification accuracies of 96.77%for gestures and 98.31%for gaits,ultra-low latency(<10 ns),and minimal energy consumption(<0.34 pJ).This groundbreaking system bridges the gap between AI models and real-world applications,enabling efficient,privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare,robotics,and next-generation human-machine interfaces,marking a pivotal advancement in edge computing and AI deployment.展开更多
Minimal photon fluxes(MINFLUX)nanoscopy has emerged as a transformative advancement in superresolution imaging,enabling unprecedented nanoscale observations across diverse biological scenarios.In this work,we propose,...Minimal photon fluxes(MINFLUX)nanoscopy has emerged as a transformative advancement in superresolution imaging,enabling unprecedented nanoscale observations across diverse biological scenarios.In this work,we propose,for the first time,that employing high-order vortex beams can significantly enhance the performance of MINFLUX,surpassing the limitations of the conventional MINFLUX using the first-order vortex beam.Our theoretical analysis indicates that,for standard MINFLUX,high-order vortex beams can improve the maximum localization precision by a factor corresponding to their order,which can approach a sub-nanometer scale under optimal conditions,and for raster scan MINFLUX,high-order vortex beams allow for a wider field of view while maintaining enhanced precision.These findings underscore the potential of high-order vortex beams to elevate the performance of MINFLUX,paving the way towards ultra-high resolution imaging for a broad range of applications.展开更多
Metamaterials have proven their ability to possess extraordinary physical properties distinct from naturally available materials,leading to exciting sensing functionalities and applications.However,metamaterial-based ...Metamaterials have proven their ability to possess extraordinary physical properties distinct from naturally available materials,leading to exciting sensing functionalities and applications.However,metamaterial-based sensing applications suffer from severe performance limitations due to noise interference and design constraints.Here,we propose a dual-phase strategy that leverages loss-induced different Fano-resonant phases to access both destructive and constructive signals of molecular vibration.When the two reverse signals are innovatively combined,the noise in the detection system is effectively suppressed,thereby breaking through the noise-related limitations.Additionally,by utilizing loss optimization of the plasmon-molecule coupling system,our dual-phase strategy enhances the efficiency of infrared energy transfer into the molecule without any additional fabrication complex,thereby overcoming the trade-off dilemma between performance and fabrication cost.Thanks to the pioneering breakthroughs in the limitations,our dual-phase strategy possesses an overwhelming competitive advantage in ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopy over traditional metamaterial technology,including strong signal strength(×4),high sensitivity(×4.2),effective noise suppression(30%),low detection limit(13 ppm),and excellent selectivity among CO_(2),NH_(3),and CH_(4) mixtures.This work not only opens the door to various emerging ultrasensitive detection applications,including ultrasensitive in-breath diagnostics and high-information analysis of molecular information in dynamic reactions,but also gains new insights into the plasmon-molecule interactions in advanced metamaterials.展开更多
Water droplets help life in nature survive,thrive,and evolve.With water droplet serv-ing as one of the indispensable elements in the Internet of Things(IoT),many droplet-oriented technologies,such as microfluidics,dro...Water droplets help life in nature survive,thrive,and evolve.With water droplet serv-ing as one of the indispensable elements in the Internet of Things(IoT),many droplet-oriented technologies,such as microfluidics,droplet manipulation,electrowetting,and energy harvesting,make rapid progress driven by material science,computer science,and medicine.Droplet-based wearable devices are endowed with advantages such as flexibility,sensing ability,and automation for various parameter detection.Besides,the continuous exploration of droplet manipulation has led to the emergence of a wide variety of manipulation methods.Meanwhile,electrowetting that utilizes exter-nal fields modifying liquid–solid surfaces has found its applications in various areas,including droplet transportation,microfabrication,and healthcare.The energy gener-ation from water droplets also presents exciting opportunities for the development of novel electricity generators.These approaches for droplet utilization underscore the immense potentials and versatilities of droplet-based technologies in the IoT land-scape.Hence,this mini review presents the fundamental droplet-based technologies by summarizing their working mechanisms and methods,device structures,and appli-cations.Given the challenges in materials,fabrication,and system integration,this review shows the overall development roadmap in terms of improved functionality and performance and highlights the opportunities toward multifunctional,self-sustainable,and intelligent systems,which is called for IoT construction.展开更多
基金the National Research Foundation(NRF)Singapore mid-sized center grant(NRF-MSG-2023-0002)FrontierCRP grant(NRF-F-CRP-2024-0006)+2 种基金A*STAR Singapore MTC RIE2025 project(M24W1NS005)IAF-PP project(M23M5a0069)Ministry of Education(MOE)Singapore Tier 2 project(MOE-T2EP50220-0014).
文摘The rise of large-scale artificial intelligence(AI)models,such as ChatGPT,Deep-Seek,and autonomous vehicle systems,has significantly advanced the boundaries of AI,enabling highly complex tasks in natural language processing,image recognition,and real-time decisionmaking.However,these models demand immense computational power and are often centralized,relying on cloud-based architectures with inherent limitations in latency,privacy,and energy efficiency.To address these challenges and bring AI closer to real-world applications,such as wearable health monitoring,robotics,and immersive virtual environments,innovative hardware solutions are urgently needed.This work introduces a near-sensor edge computing(NSEC)system,built on a bilayer AlN/Si waveguide platform,to provide real-time,energy-efficient AI capabilities at the edge.Leveraging the electro-optic properties of AlN microring resonators for photonic feature extraction,coupled with Si-based thermo-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers for neural network computations,the system represents a transformative approach to AI hardware design.Demonstrated through multimodal gesture and gait analysis,the NSEC system achieves high classification accuracies of 96.77%for gestures and 98.31%for gaits,ultra-low latency(<10 ns),and minimal energy consumption(<0.34 pJ).This groundbreaking system bridges the gap between AI models and real-world applications,enabling efficient,privacy-preserving AI solutions for healthcare,robotics,and next-generation human-machine interfaces,marking a pivotal advancement in edge computing and AI deployment.
基金supported in part by the Academic Research Fund(AcRF)-Tier 2(A-8000117-01-00)and Tier 1(A-8003279-00-00)from the Ministry of Education(MOE)of Singapore,Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Province(BZ2022056),NUS(Suzhou)Research Institute/Biomedical and Health Technology Platform,2024 Tsinghua-NUS Joint Research Initiative Fund(A-8002557-00-00)the National Medical Research Council(NMRC)(A-0009502-01-00,and A-8001143-00-00),Singapore.
文摘Minimal photon fluxes(MINFLUX)nanoscopy has emerged as a transformative advancement in superresolution imaging,enabling unprecedented nanoscale observations across diverse biological scenarios.In this work,we propose,for the first time,that employing high-order vortex beams can significantly enhance the performance of MINFLUX,surpassing the limitations of the conventional MINFLUX using the first-order vortex beam.Our theoretical analysis indicates that,for standard MINFLUX,high-order vortex beams can improve the maximum localization precision by a factor corresponding to their order,which can approach a sub-nanometer scale under optimal conditions,and for raster scan MINFLUX,high-order vortex beams allow for a wider field of view while maintaining enhanced precision.These findings underscore the potential of high-order vortex beams to elevate the performance of MINFLUX,paving the way towards ultra-high resolution imaging for a broad range of applications.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,Grant/Award Number:2019YFB2004800Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Center(ARTIC)Project,Grant/Award Number:A-0005947-20-00+2 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:52072041Ministry of Education(MOE)of Singapore Tier 1 grants,Grant/Award Number:A-0005138-01-00China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,Grant/Award Number:2021M693746。
文摘Metamaterials have proven their ability to possess extraordinary physical properties distinct from naturally available materials,leading to exciting sensing functionalities and applications.However,metamaterial-based sensing applications suffer from severe performance limitations due to noise interference and design constraints.Here,we propose a dual-phase strategy that leverages loss-induced different Fano-resonant phases to access both destructive and constructive signals of molecular vibration.When the two reverse signals are innovatively combined,the noise in the detection system is effectively suppressed,thereby breaking through the noise-related limitations.Additionally,by utilizing loss optimization of the plasmon-molecule coupling system,our dual-phase strategy enhances the efficiency of infrared energy transfer into the molecule without any additional fabrication complex,thereby overcoming the trade-off dilemma between performance and fabrication cost.Thanks to the pioneering breakthroughs in the limitations,our dual-phase strategy possesses an overwhelming competitive advantage in ultrasensitive vibrational spectroscopy over traditional metamaterial technology,including strong signal strength(×4),high sensitivity(×4.2),effective noise suppression(30%),low detection limit(13 ppm),and excellent selectivity among CO_(2),NH_(3),and CH_(4) mixtures.This work not only opens the door to various emerging ultrasensitive detection applications,including ultrasensitive in-breath diagnostics and high-information analysis of molecular information in dynamic reactions,but also gains new insights into the plasmon-molecule interactions in advanced metamaterials.
基金Funding information Agency for Science,Technology and Research(A*STAR),Grant/Award Number:A18A5b0056Reimagine Research Scheme(RRSC),Grant/Award Numbers:A-0009037-02-00,A0009037-03-00,A-0009454-01-00+1 种基金Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre(ARTIC),Grant/Award Number:A-0005947-20-00Ministry of Education(MOE),Grant/Award Number:A-0009520-01-00。
文摘Water droplets help life in nature survive,thrive,and evolve.With water droplet serv-ing as one of the indispensable elements in the Internet of Things(IoT),many droplet-oriented technologies,such as microfluidics,droplet manipulation,electrowetting,and energy harvesting,make rapid progress driven by material science,computer science,and medicine.Droplet-based wearable devices are endowed with advantages such as flexibility,sensing ability,and automation for various parameter detection.Besides,the continuous exploration of droplet manipulation has led to the emergence of a wide variety of manipulation methods.Meanwhile,electrowetting that utilizes exter-nal fields modifying liquid–solid surfaces has found its applications in various areas,including droplet transportation,microfabrication,and healthcare.The energy gener-ation from water droplets also presents exciting opportunities for the development of novel electricity generators.These approaches for droplet utilization underscore the immense potentials and versatilities of droplet-based technologies in the IoT land-scape.Hence,this mini review presents the fundamental droplet-based technologies by summarizing their working mechanisms and methods,device structures,and appli-cations.Given the challenges in materials,fabrication,and system integration,this review shows the overall development roadmap in terms of improved functionality and performance and highlights the opportunities toward multifunctional,self-sustainable,and intelligent systems,which is called for IoT construction.
