Deformable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can serve as the main power sources for flexible and wearable electronics owing to their high energy capacity, reliability, and durability. The pivotal role of cathodes in LIB performance necessitates the development of mechanically free-standing and stretchable cathodes. This study demonstrates a promising strategy to generate deformable cathodes with electrical conductivity by forming 3D interconnected elastomeric networks. Beginning with a physically crosslinked polymer network using poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMI][TFSI]), subsequent exchange with a 1 M LiPF₆ electrolyte imparts elastic characteristics to the cathodes. The resulting LiFePO₄ composite electrodes maintained their resistance under 500 consecutive bending cycles at an extremely small bending radius of 1.8 mm and showed high discharge capacity of 158 mAh g⁻¹ with stable potential plateaus in charging and discharging curves. Moreover, flexible cells utilizing the composite electrodes exhibited superior operational stability under rolling, bending, and folding deformations.

We incorporated triphenylsulfonium triflate (TPST), a sulfonium-based additive consisting of polar triflate and bulky hydrophobic phenyl rings, to the PbI₂ precursor solution for preparation of less-defect perovskite film via two-step fabrication. TPST induced localized alterations in the array of the PbI₂ structure due to its large size, thereby forming a more discontinuous and coarser surface with a greater number of pinholes and subsequently facilitating more efficient organic–inorganic reactions. As a result, we achieved the production of thick perovskite films with enlarged granules and decreased PbI₂ residuals in the two-step fabrication process. Furthermore, TPST facilitated the passivation of bulk film defects by increasing the binding energy with the defects. Consequently, the ITO/SnO₂ np-based device and the FTO/CBD SnO₂-based device obtained the best PCEs of 23.88% and 24.30%, respectively. Furthermore, the moisture stability of the perovskite was improved by the hydrophobic character of the TPST additive.

The sluggish reaction kinetics has greatly hampered the development of reversible Li-CO₂ batteries. Especially during charge, high charge voltage and possible side reactions during Li₂CO₃ decomposition require both high activity and strong durability of catalysts. Herein, a strategy of introducing rich sulfur vacancies is proposed, which tailors the configuration of Li₂CO₃ and the orbital structure of CoS to realize the dual enhancement. The calculation results show that charge redistribution by sulfur vacancies on the catalyst stretches the adsorbed Li₂CO₃ and consequently facilitates its decomposition. Moreover, the induced vacancies lower the S 2p band center, promoting the electrochemical stability of sulfides. Therefore, Li-CO₂ batteries with sulfur vacancy-rich CoS exhibit a low overpotential of 1.07 V after 400 h cycling, while batteries with pristine CoS have a short lifespan that the overpotential exceeds 1.75 V after cycling for 200 h. This study not only proposes a strategy to improve both catalytic activity and stability but also paves new avenues for designing advanced catalysts for Li-CO₂ batteries and beyond.

The introduction of alkoxy side chains into the backbone of conjugated polymers is an effective way to change their properties. While the impact on the structure and optoelectronic properties of polymer thin films was well-studied in organic solar cells and transistors, limited research has been conducted on their effects on doping and thermoelectric properties. In this study, the effects of methoxy functionalization of conjugated backbones on the doping and thermoelectric properties are investigated through a comparative study of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based conjugated polymers with and without methoxy groups (P29DPP-BTOM and P29DPP-BT, respectively). Methoxy-functionalization significantly enhances doping efficiency, converting undopable pairs to dopable ones. This dramatic change is attributed to the structural changes in the polymer film caused by the methoxy groups, which increases the lamellar spacing and facilitates the incorporation of dopants within the polymer crystals. Moreover, methoxy-functionalization is advantageous in improving the Seebeck coefficient and power factor of the doped polymers, because it induces a bimodal orientational distribution in the polymer, which contributes to the increased splitting of Fermi and charge transport levels. This study demonstrates the impact of methoxy-functionalization of a conjugated polymer on doping behavior and thermoelectric properties, providing a guideline for designing high-performance conjugated polymers for thermoelectric applications.

As global urbanization intensifies, there is an increasing need for highly sensitive and accurate environmental monitoring devices that can meet the demands of specific gas sensing applications with low power consumption. This study focuses on enhancing the sensitivity of MXene-based chemiresistive sensors for detecting CO_2(g) and NO_2(g) under zero-bias operation. This study shows that lignin hybridization effectively improves the sensitivity of a Ti₃C₂T_x MXene-based chemiresistive sensor; under zero-bias operation, lignin hybridization increases the sensitivity to 15 ppm NO_2(g) and CO_2(g) by 157.38% and 297.95%, respectively. When deposited on a flexible substrate, the MXene/lignin flexible sensor shows a similar response and sensitivity to 15 ppm NO_2(g) and CO_2(g) under 38° curvature compared to the planar sensor. Consequently, the MXene/lignin hybrid sensor is attractive for room temperature and zero-bias NO_2(g) and CO_2(g) detection. The MXene/lignin flexible sensor serves as a model system for advanced solid-state sensory platforms suitable for curved structures.

Indoor photovoltaics are limited by their inherently low-photogenerated carrier density, leading to heightened carrier recombination and adverse leakage currents compared with conventional solar cells operating under 1 sun condition. To address these problems, this work incorporates a porous insulating interlayer (Al₂O₃) in perovskite devices, which effectively mitigates recombination and parasitic leakage current. A systematic investigation of the relationship between shunt resistance, photocarrier generation, and recombination at different light intensities demonstrates the effectiveness of the alumina interlayer in perovskite solar cells under low-light conditions. Moreover, the practicability of the alumina interlayer was demonstrated through its successful implementation in a large-area perovskite solar module (PSM). With bandgap engineering, the optimized PSM achieves a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 33.5% and a record-breaking power density of 107.3 μW cm⁻² under 1000 lux illumination. These results underscore the potential of alumina interlayers in improving energy harvesting performance, particularly in low-light indoor environments.

The transition of polymer solar cells (PSCs) from laboratory-scale unit cells to industrial-scale modules requires the development of new p-type polymers for high-performance large-area PSC modules based on environmentally friendly processes. Herein, a series of 1D/2A terpolymers (PBTPttBD) composed of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene (BDT-F), thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6(5H)-dione (TPD-TT), and benzo-[1,2-c:4,5-c’]dithiophene-4,8-dione (BDD) is synthesized for nonhalogenated solvent processed PSC submodules. The optical, electrochemical, charge-transport, and nano-morphological properties of the PBTPttBD terpolymers are modulated by adjusting the molar ratio of the TPD-TT and BDD components. PBTPttBD-75:BTP-eC11-based PSC submodules, processed with o-xylene, achieve a notable PCE of 11.57% over a 55 cm² active area. This PCE value is among the highest reported using a nonhalogenated solvent over a 55 cm² active area module. The optimized PSC submodule exhibits minimal cell-to-module loss, which can be attributed to the optimized crystallinity of the PBTPttBD-75:BTP-eC11 photoactive layer system and favorable film formation kinetics.

High-performance flexible and transparent chemical sensors are key to achieving wearable electronics. Graphene with high transmittance and electrical properties is a suitable material for flexible and transparent chemical sensors. However, graphene has low detectivity to chemical substances. Here, we report hybrid chemical sensors fabricated by introducing a highly flat and smooth metal–organic framework (MOF) on graphene. The graphene chemical sensors functionalized with MOF on SiO₂/Si wafer exhibit 22 times higher sensitivity of 6.07 μA ppm⁻¹ in detecting ethanol than that of pristine graphene transistors of 0.28 μA ppm⁻¹ and a low detection limit of 1 ppm. Furthermore, a flexible transparent 7 × 7 chemical sensor array exhibits great driving stability after the bending cycles of 10⁵ at a bending radius of 1.0 mm and shows sensitivity of 0.11 μA ppm⁻¹. Our findings demonstrate an efficient way to improve the chemical sensing ability of graphene for application in wearable chemical sensors.

Sedentary, inadequate sleep and exercise can affect human health. Artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) create the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), providing the possibility to solve these problems. This paper presents a novel approach to monitor various human behaviors for AIoT-based health management using triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) sensors. The insole with solely one TENG sensor, creating a most simplified system that utilizes machine learning (ML) for personalized motion monitoring, encompassing identity recognition and gait classification. A cushion with 12 TENG sensors achieves real-time identity and sitting posture recognition with accuracy rates of 98.86% and 98.40%, respectively, effectively correcting sedentary behavior. Similarly, a smart pillow, equipped with 15 sensory channels, detects head movements during sleep, identifying 8 sleep patterns with 96.25% accuracy. Ultimately, constructing an AIoT-based health management system to analyze these data, displaying health status through human-machine interfaces, offers the potential to help individuals maintain good health.

Photothermal devices and thermoelectric cells hold great promise for energy generation but integration of the two remains a considerable challenge in real-life power supply for sensors. Here, a novel photo-thermo-electric hydrogel (PTEH-Interlocking) was constructed by the synthesis of a photothermal layer on a thermoelectric hydrogel with the redox pair Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻. The smart design of using the oxidation of pyrogallic acid by Fe(CN)₆³⁻ to construct the photothermal layer for photo-to-heat conversion protected the redox couple of the thermogalvanic ion pair from ultraviolet damage, as well as triggered the formation of an interlocking structure at the interface of the photothermal layer and the thermoelectric hydrogel. The as-prepared PTEH-Interlocking has shown a high Seebeck coefficient and rapid heat transfer, boosting the photo-thermo-electric conversion. As a demonstration of a practical application, the PTEH-Interlocking cells are successfully used as the energy supply for a mechanical sensor.

Wearable photothermal materials can capture light energy in nature and convert it into heat energy, which is critical for flexible outdoor sports. However, the conventional flexible photothermal membranes with low specific surface area restrict the maximum photothermal capability, and loose structure of electrospun membrane limits durability of wearable materials. Here, an ultrathin nanostructure candle soot/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/poly (L-lactic acid) (CS/MWCNTs/PLLA) photothermal membrane is first prepared via solvent-induced recrystallization. The white blood cell membrane-like nanowrinkles with high specific surface area are achieved for the first time and exhibit optimal light absorption. The solvent-induced recrystallization also enables the membrane to realize large strength and durability. Meanwhile, the membranes also show two-sided heterochromatic features and transparency in thick and thin situations, respectively, suggesting outstanding fashionability. The nano-wrinkled photothermal membranes by novel solvent-induced recrystallization show high flexibility, fashionability, strength, and photothermal characteristics, which have huge potential for outdoor warmth and winter sportswear.

The development of advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries that can provide high specific capacity and stable cycle performance is of paramount importance. This study presents a novel approach for synthesizing molecular-level homogeneous carbon integration to porous SiO₂ nanoparticles (SiO₂@C NPs) tailored to enhance their electrochemical activities for lithium-ion battery anode. By varying the ratio of the precursors for sol–gel reaction of (phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)), the carbon content and porosity within SiO₂@C NPs is precisely controlled. With a 4:6 PTMS and TEOS ratio, the SiO₂@C NPs exhibit a highly mesoporous structure with thin carbon and the partially reduced SiO_x phases, which balances ion and charge transfer for electrochemical activation of SiO₂@C NPs resulting remarkable capacity and cycle performance. This study offers a novel strategy for preparing affordable high capacity SiO₂-based advanced anode materials with enhanced electrochemical performances.

The productivity of global crop production is under threat caused by various biotic and abiotic adverse conditions, such as plant diseases and pests, which are responsible for 20%–40% of global crop losses estimated at a value of USD 220 billion, and can be further exacerbated by climate change. Agricultural industries are calling for game-changer technologies to enable productive and sustainable farming. Carbon dots (C-dots) are carbon-based nanoparticles, smaller than 50 nm, exhibiting unique opto-electro-properties. They have been shown to have positive impact on managing diverse biotic and abiotic stresses faced by the crops. Owing to their versatile carbon chemistry, the surface functionalities of C-dots can be readily tuned to regulate plant physiological processes. This review is focussed on establishing the correlations between the physiochemical properties of C-dots and their impacts on plants growth and health. The summary of the literature demonstrates that C-dots hold great promise in improving plant tolerance to heat, drought, toxic chemicals, and invading pathogens.

Over the years, lead-based piezoelectric ceramics found extensive use in vital fields such as sensors and actuators. Despite their exceptional electromechanical properties, lead-containing materials pose severe environmental risks and foster a new era of lead-free piezoelectric materials after decades of research. However, recent comparative assessments of potassium sodium niobate (KNN) versus lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric materials proposed that the environmental damage already presented before use due to raw material extraction and processing, invoking concerns on the true greenness of the lead-free alternatives. Nevertheless, many other factors deserve further consideration, for example, reference geometry and life cycle stage. Herein, the comprehensive life cycle assessment is undertaken on PZT and KNN-based ceramics with a unit volume of 0.001 m³ from cradle to gate. Results show that PZT exhibits higher negative impacts than KNN-based counterparts, attributed to lead extraction, processing, and associated environmental emissions. Across primary quantitative impact indicators from toxicity, environmental, and resource aspects, KNN-based ceramics impose fewer risks on the environment and human health, with the overall impact being only 28% of PZT ceramics. Still, more efficient methods are required for KNN-based ceramics to reduce the high energy consumption and emission during extraction and purification of raw material Nb₂O₅. This work not only offers critical insights for material development but also serves as a multifaceted reference for advanced fabrication technologies.

Natural polymers-based carbon electrodes have gained significant research attention for next-generation portable supercapacitors. Herein, present an environmentally benign and novel approach for the synthesis of N/S-O_x carbon material derived from natural polymers on gram scale. By capitalizing the synergistic effect of sulfonated lignin and amino-containing chitosan, this methodology produces a straightforward, low-budget, and scalable process. The incorporation of sulfonate motifs from lignin contributes to the formation of C-SO_x moieties and multi-porous architecture with a high surface area. Simultaneously, amino groups in chitosan induce nitrogen doping, enhancing conductivity, and wettability. The resulting N/SO_x carbon material exhibits a micro/meso-porous architecture, facilitating electrolyte diffusion, and demonstrating improved rate capability and pseudocapacitance via Faradaic redox reactions. The N/SO_x carbon material showcases notable capacitance (392 F g⁻¹ at 1 Ag⁻¹) as compared with the reported carbon materials form biomass and outstanding cyclic stability (94.8% retention after 5000 cycles). By optimizing various chitosan mass ratios, the most effective N/SO_x carbon material SNACM = S/N-doped activated carbon material (SNACM-2) was produced using a lignin: chitosan sample ratio of 1:2 for symmetric supercapacitors. Furthermore, the quasi-solid-state symmetric supercapacitors based on SNACM-2 exhibit an excellent specific capacitance of 142 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, coupled with outstanding flexibility. The SNACM-2 demonstrates a high-energy density of 9.8 W h kg⁻¹ at a power density of 0.5 kW kg⁻¹. This study presents a successful strategy for transforming low-valued, eco-friendly natural polymers into renewable, high-performance carbon materials for supercapacitors.

Solar-driven photodegradation for water treatment faces challenges such as low energy conversion rates, high maintenance costs, and over-sensitivity to the environment. In this study, we develop reusable concave microlens arrays (MLAs) for more efficient solar photodegradation by optimizing light distribution. Concave MLAs with the base radius of ~5 μm are fabricated by imprinting convex MLAs to polydimethylsiloxane elastomers. Concave MLAs possess a non-contact reactor configuration, preventing MLAs from detaching or being contaminated. By precisely controlling the solvent exchange, concave MLAs are fabricated with well-defined curvature and adjustable volume on femtoliter scale. The focusing effects of MLAs are examined, and good agreement is presented between experiments and simulations. The photodegradation efficiency of organic pollutants in water is significantly enhanced by 5.1-fold, attributed to higher intensity at focal points of concave MLAs. Furthermore, enhanced photodegradation by concave MLAs is demonstrated under low light irradiation, applicable to real river water and highly turbid water.

In the field of environmental science, efficient removal of organic pollutants and pathogenic bacteria from wastewater using a photocatalytic process that responds to the full spectrum of sunlight is crucial. In this study, a highly effective nanoheterojunction called NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/manganese dioxide (NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@ZIF-8/MnO₂, UCZM) was synthesized. This nanoheterojunction exhibits a remarkable ability to respond to the entire range of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. Under simulated sunlight, UCZM demonstrated outstanding performance in degrading malachite green dye, with a degradation efficiency of 92.6% within 90 min. Moreover, UCZM completely inactivated both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli within 20 min under simulated sunlight. Mechanistic studies revealed that NaGdF₄:Yb,Er played a crucial role in activating ZIF-8 and MnO₂ through Förster resonance energy transfer, facilitating the photocatalytic process. The formation of a Z-type heterojunction in UCZM promoted the efficient separation of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, UCZM exhibited excellent biosafety properties. This study represents the first exploration of a composite material composed of UCNPs, ZIF-8, and MnO₂ for photocatalytic applications. The findings highlight the potential of this novel nanoheterojunction design, which exhibits a full spectral response, for tackling water pollution through efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and inactivation of pathogenic bacteria.

Formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI₃) and SnO₂ are a promising pair of halide perovskite and electron transport layer (ETL). However, FAPbI₃ and SnO₂ have inherent problems such as high crystallization temperature of FAPbI₃ and surface defects of SnO₂ like oxygen vacancies. They cause low crystallinity, non-uniform grain growth, and more interface defects, leading to carrier recombination and leakage current. The passivation of the interface between FAPbI₃ and SnO₂ is an effective process to address these materials issues. Herein, a dual role of lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) in the interface passivation is explored. PbS QDs which are introduced to the interface between FAPbI₃ and ETL, link to Sn-dangling bonds of SnO₂ ETLs and anchor the iodine atoms of FAPbI₃. This changes considerably lower nonradiative recombination, achieve a better energetic alignment between ETL and PbI₃, and facilitate electron extraction, leading to a power conversion efficiency of 21.66%.

The simple-structural and volatile solid additive 1,4-dibromobenzene (DBrB) can outperform organic solar cells (OSCs) fabricated with 1,4-diiodobenzene and 1,4-dichlorobenzene in terms of power conversion efficiency (PCE). A remarkable PCE of 17.0% has been achieved in a binary OSC based on DBrB-optimized photoactive materials processed from non-halogenated solvents, which is mainly attributed to the formation of a three-dimensional interpenetrating network and the orderly arrangement of the photoactive materials by improving the intermolecular interaction. This optimized morphology enables efficient charge transfer/transport as well as suppressed charge recombination, resulting in the simultaneous increase in all photovoltaic parameters. More importantly, we demonstrate that non-halogenated solvent-processed DBrB enabled PM6:Y6-HU OSCs with an impressive PCE of 18.6%, which is the highest efficiency yet reported for binary OSCs. This study suggests that the novel DBrB volatile solid additive is an effective approach to optimizing the morphology and thereby improves the photovoltaic performance of OSCs.

Advancing fast-charging technology is an important strategy for the development of alkali metal ion batteries (AMIBs). The exploitation of a new generation of anode material system with high-rate performance, high capacity, and low risk of lithium/sodium/potassium plating is critical to realize fast-charging capability of AMIBs while maintaining high energy density and safety. Among them, phosphorus-based anodes including phosphorus anodes and metal phosphide anodes have attracted wide attention, due to their high theoretical capacities, safe reaction voltages, and natural abundance. In this review, we summarize the research progress of different phosphorus-based anodes for fast-charging AMIBs, including material properties, mechanisms for storing alkali metal ions, key challenges and solution strategies for achieving fast-charging capability. Moreover, the future development directions of phosphorus-based anodes in fast-charging AMIBs are highlighted.

In the pursuit of carbon neutrality policies, the development of eco-friendly and intelligent furniture commands a significant role. However, the integration of non-biodegradable electronic components in smart furniture fabrication has led to substantial electronic waste. Here, we report a straightforward approach, the rapid production of Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) on medium-density fiberboard (MDF), a prevalent recycled wood in furniture production. This LIG electrode is crafted with negligible material ablation in ambient air with the aid of femtosecond laser pulses, without requiring any additional materials, showcasing the highest electrical conductivity (2.781 Ω sq⁻¹) among previously reported lignocellulosic materials-based LIG. The application of this LIG electrode for lighting, heating, and touch sensors displays sufficient performance for smart furniture implementation. For eco-conscious furniture, LIG-based human-machine interfaces are demonstrated on recycled woods for the facile control of smart devices, which will readily enable IoT-oriented smart sustainable furniture.

Herein, we synthesized Cr³⁺/Ln³⁺ (Er³⁺, Tm³⁺)-codoped rare earth-based Cs₂NaScCl₆ double perovskite, and the near-infrared emission of Ln³⁺ can be excited by visible light through the energy transfer (ET) from Cr³⁺ to Ln³⁺. Moreover, there are two independent emission bands, which stems from ⁴T₂ → ⁴A₂ transition of Cr³⁺ (970 nm) and f-f transition of Ln³⁺ (1542 nm for Er³⁺ and 1220 nm for Tm³⁺), respectively. Particularly, both compounds have ultra-high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 60% for 10%Cr³⁺/6%Er³⁺-codoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ (Er³⁺ emission: ~26%) and 68% for 10%Cr³⁺/4.5%Tm³⁺-codoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ (Tm³⁺ emission: ~56%), which can be attributed to the ultra-high ET efficiency from Cr³⁺ to Ln³⁺ and the similar ionic activity of Sc³⁺ and Ln³⁺ allowing more dopants enter the host lattice. Considering the excellent stability of the samples, we demonstrated Cr³⁺/Tm³⁺-codoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ in the applications of near-infrared imaging and night vision. Finally, we reported 10%Cr³⁺/4.5%Tm³⁺/9%Er³⁺-tridoped Cs₂NaScCl₆ and further applied it for optical thermometry.

The practical implementation of aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) for large-scale energy storage is impeded by the challenges of water-induced parasitic reactions and uncontrolled dendrite growth. Herein, we propose a strategy to regulate both anions and cations of electrolyte solvation structures to address above challenges, by introducing an electrolyte additive of 3-hydroxy-4-(trimethylammonio)butyrate (HTMAB) into ZnSO₄ electrolyte. Consequently, the deposition of Zn is significantly improved leading to a highly reversible Zn anode with paralleled texture. The Zn/Zn cells with ZnSO₄/HTMAB exhibit outstanding cycling performance, showcasing a lifespan exceeding 7500 h and an exceptionally high accumulative capacity of 16.47 Ah cm⁻². Zn/NaV₃O₈·1.5H₂O full cell displays a specific capacity of ~130 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ maintaining a capacity retention of 93% after 2000 cycles. This work highlights the regulation on both cations and anions of electrolyte solvation structures in optimizing interfacial stability during Zn plating/stripping for high performance ZIBs.

Interfacial solar evaporation is regarded as the promising technology to mitigate freshwater scarcity. However, when polluted water is used, toxic pollutants might accumulate in the bulk water. Herein, we report the production of Ni-MOF nanorod from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) and fabricate bifunctional Ni-MOF-based evaporators. Owing to high light absorption and photothermal conversion, low thermal coefficient, and vaporization enthalpy, it shows an exciting evaporation rate (2.25 kg m⁻² h⁻¹) with good flexibility/durability, rated as one of most advanced evaporators. Density functional theory and COMSOL results show that the combination of nickel-sites in Ni-MOF and local heat plays a crucial role in peroxymonosulfate activation to produce reactive species. Thereby, it exhibits the high degradation activity of tetracycline. In outdoor, the freshwater production reaches 5.54 kg m⁻² per day, and the tetracycline removal efficiency is 91%. This work provides a sustainable approach to produce solar evaporators capable of freshwater production and contaminant degradation.

Anion exchange is an effective strategy to regulate the composition and optoelectronic properties of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). Though promising, it is more desirable to synthesize PQDs to avoid the decrease of photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). Herein, we developed a ligand mediated anion exchange approach, in which the phase transition from CsPbBr₃ QDs to CsPbI₃ QDs was observed with the introduction of N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (DMII) aqueous solution in CsPbBr₃ QDs solution. NAC is expected to create more halogen vacancies in CsPbBr₃ QDs, which provides sufficient adsorption sites for I⁻ ions, resulting in accelerating the anion exchange rate in the process of DMII incorporation. Benefiting from the synergistic ligand mediated anion exchange, high PLQY of 97% and remarkable stability of CsPbI₃ QDs are obtained. Furthermore, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) with a lumen efficiency (LE) of 116.82 lm/W is constructed, showing remarkable stability under continuous operation.

Perovskite solar cells offer a promising future for next-generation photovoltaics owing to numerous advantages such as high efficiency and ease of processing. However, two significant challenges, air stability, and manufacturing costs, hamper their commercialization. This study proposes a solution to these issues by introducing a floating catalyst-based carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode into all-inorganic perovskite solar cells for the first time. The use of CNT eliminates the need for metal electrodes, which are primarily responsible for high fabrication costs and device instability. The nanohybrid film formed by combining hydrophobic CNT with polymeric hole-transporting materials acted as an efficient charge collector and provided moisture protection. Remarkably, the metal-electrode-free CNT-based all-inorganic perovskite solar cells demonstrated outstanding stability, maintaining their efficiency for over 4000 h without encapsulation in air. These cells achieved a retention efficiency of 13.8%, which is notable for all-inorganic perovskites, and they also exhibit high transparency in both the visible and infrared regions. The obtained efficiency was the highest for semi-transparent all-inorganic perovskite solar cells. Building on this, a four-terminal tandem device using a low-band perovskite solar cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 21.1%. These CNT electrodes set new benchmarks for the potential of perovskite solar cells with groundbreaking device stability and tandem applicability, demonstrating a step toward industrial applications.

Value-added conversion of lignocellulose is a sustainable approach. Photo-refining biomass is in line with current environmental protection strategies. However, photo-reforming biomass suffers from poor catalyst stability and low conversion efficiency. Here, we designed fructose as a lignocellulosic model. The heterogeneous structure of Prussian blue coating was constructed with a special covalent bond structure of Co—CN—Zn. This structure has a catalytic conversion mechanism that can accelerate electron transfer. Fructose was simultaneously converted to value-added platform compounds (5-HMF and formic acid) and gaseous fuels (CO, CH₄) with a conversion rate of up to 92.5%, which is more than 1.7 times than that of catalysts without adding Prussian blue. Hydrogen transfer and carbon transfer on the carbon atoms of fructose facilitates the production and accelerates the spillover of CO from formic acid. This work provides new ideas for the development of Prussian blue catalysts and the conversion of pentose.

The rising demand for wearable zinc-air batteries encounters challenges in balancing electrochemical performance and mechanical resilience. Elastic carbon aerogels in air cathodes necessitate a metal content constraint of less than 3 wt.%, adversely impacting catalytic activity optimization. This study presents a novel fabrication method for fibrous carbon aerogels with high compressive resilience and extraordinary catalytic performance. An external layer of graphene shells and carbon nanotubes integrated onto the fibrous carbon matrix mitigates metallic species diffusion. This confinement ensures exceptional bi-catalytic activity for oxygen-involved redox reactions without compromising ultra-elasticity. With high cobalt content in the aerogel cathode, it exhibits minimal voltage gaps during charge–discharge cycles, showcasing unique zinc-cobalt-air hybrid battery characteristics. It sustains exceptional elasticity in repeated testing, achieving approximately 79.2% round-trip efficiency over a 60-h cycle test, underscoring its potential as a wearable energy storage device.