Batteries face critical challenges in thermal management, including overheating risks, poor interfacial contact, and mechanical vibration–induced performance attenuation. To address these issues, we developed a flame-retardant bio-based thermo-flexible phase-change composite (VHPs) by integrating vanillin-derived polyols (VED), hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene-modified expanded graphite (HPEG), and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The HPEG hybrid filler effectively suppresses the “popcorn effect” of EG while significantly enhancing thermal conductivity, achieving a 246.90% improvement over neat polyurethane (PU). The thermally flexible polyurethane matrix reduces interfacial thermal resistance by 40% at 60 °C due to PEG soft-segment melting, enabling conformal wrapping around batteries. During 36 000 s of charge/discharge cycles, the VHPs reduced the battery temperature by 10 °C and increased the discharge capacity by 53.84% at 3C rates. Compared to the reported phase-change materials, VHPs uniquely integrate flame retardancy (peak of heat release rate reduced to 136.58 kW m⁻²), vibration resistance (compressive strength of 0.28 MPa at 50% strain), and infrared stealth (IR transmittance <0.04% in 3–25 μm). This work provides a sustainable, multifunctional solution for advanced battery thermal management, enhancing both safety and energy efficiency in high-power applications.

Non-dispersive infrared gas sensors, renowned for their high selectivity and high reliability, are extensively employed in applications of smart agriculture. In particular, a stable and high-emission infrared source component plays a critical role in the proper functioning of non-dispersive infrared systems. However, current infrared sources usually have shortcomings in poor temperature homogeneity within the active area and low-power consumption. Here, we demonstrate a wafer scale, in situ integrated infrared source combined with an Al@NF-based radiation layer, achieving a high emissivity of 0.8 at 4.26 μm. Through iterative optimization of the microheater pattern, the temperature homogeneity reaches an impressive 90%. In the integrated Al@NF-infrared source sensing system, the power density is reduced from 386.8 to 256.7 mW/mm²; meanwhile, its operational efficiency is increased eighteenfold, from 0.39% to 7.24%. The developed device enables precise tracking of greenhouse gas concentrations under controlled greenhouse conditions. The findings pave the way for low-power non-dispersive infrared systems and provide a new hardware model for smart agriculture.

The development of safe and high-performance polymer electrolytes is critical for advancing lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we report a PVDF-HFP-based polymer electrolyte incorporating two ionic liquids with different anions FSI⁻ and TFSI⁻-to investigate their impact on structure and electrochemical behavior. The TFSI⁻-based system (PPIL) exhibits smaller particle size, reduced crystallinity, and enhanced amorphous β-phase content, enabling improved ion mobility and a lower activation energy (69.0 kJ mol⁻¹). Solid-state NMR and Raman analyses reveal weaker Li⁺ coordination in PPIL, consistent with its higher ionic conductivity (1.22 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹). Interfacial characterizations show that PPIL promotes the formation of a stable, LiF/Li₃N-rich SEI. As a result, LMBs using PPIL achieve over 2000 h of stable cycling, superior rate performance, and excellent thermal and mechanical safety in pouch cells. This work highlights the importance of ionic liquid anion design in optimizing polymer electrolytes for next-generation energy storage systems.

This work evaluates the radiative cooling potential of cement as a component of photonic metaconcrete, capable of energy savings and reduction of CO₂ emissions. In particular, we present a comparative study of the optical and radiative properties of primary clinker products (alite and belite) and typical sulfate additives (CaSO₄ and gypsum) across the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared ranges. The dielectric response, emissivity, and reflectance were obtained using first-principle calculations, specifically density functional theory, together with the GW and the Bethe–Salpeter equation methods. This advanced computational approach identified strongly anisotropic excitons within the electronic band gaps of the cement phases. Our findings revealed that both oxygen–silicon and oxygen–sulfur bonds play a central role in thermal emission within the atmospheric transparency window. The combination of selective emissivity and high solar reflectivity suggests that cement-based nanocomposites are promising materials for radiative cooling applications. Furthermore, the reflectance measurements indicate an optical band gap of approximately 5.24 eV for alite. Overall, this work advances the understanding of the optical and thermal behavior of cementitious materials and provides insights into the design of energy-efficient photonic concrete composites.

Nickel-based materials are promising anode candidates for sodium-ion batteries and potassium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacities. However, their practical application is hindered by slow ion diffusion kinetics and structural degradation during cycling, resulting in rapid capacity decay. To address these limitations, we developed a sulfur/selenium (S/Se) dual-anion engineering strategy that creates strong interfacial charge redistribution through S²⁻/Se²⁻ synergy, thereby accelerating charge transfer kinetics and stabilizing the electrode-electrolyte interface. Using a one-step microwave-assisted synthesis (20 min), we successfully fabricated NiSSe nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NiSSe/N-C). The NiSSe/N-C anode delivers ultrahigh reversible capacities of 1006.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ and 756.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ over 3000 cycles in sodium-ion batteries, while achieving 530 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ and 477 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ over 200 cycles in potassium-ion batteries. When paired with a NaNi_0.33Fe_0.33Mn_0.33O₂ cathode in a full-cell configuration, the NiSSe/N-C anode enables 96.7% capacity retention after 200 cycles, demonstrating its practicality in pouch cells. This work highlights the dual advantages of microwave-driven rapid synthesis and multi-anion synergy for designing high-performance battery materials.

Carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) are inexpensive and stable, demonstrating great potential for commercial applications. However, the relatively low power conversion efficiency (PCE) stemmed from the poor conductivity of carbon electrodes and the energy level mismatch of the perovskite/carbon back interface are the key obstacles to further development of C-PSCs. In this work, the electronic properties of a carbon electrode are regulated by designing a novel kind of B and N co-doped carbon sphere (BN-CS), resulting in a downshift of the Fermi level, which can minimize the energy level mismatch of the back interface. The optimized energy level alignment of the back interface accelerates the carrier separation, extraction, and transportation processes while effectively inhibiting charge recombination. Consequently, combined with an efficient buried passivation using aminomethylphosphonic acid, the PCE of the C-PSCs is finally enhanced to 18.56%, much higher than that (15.16%) of the pristine C-PSCs without any modification. Furthermore, the stability of the C-PSCs is also enhanced using the synthesized BN-CS with excellent hydrophobicity, and the PCE retention rate is up to 98.2% for the 30-day stability test.

With no need for separate charging processes, spontaneously-polarized electrets are gaining increased attention, particularly in energy harvesting. However, vulnerability to environmental factors, like illumination, moisture, or mechanical contact may cause a rapid loss of surface potential, rendering their suitability for real-world applications uncertain. To enhance their stability—focusing on a wind energy harvesting application—a bilayer protection is proposed, consisting of zinc sulfide and polystyrene thin films. A bare 1,3,5-Tris(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene (TPBi) sample loses 35% of initial surface potential after 16 h of light exposure, and nearly the entire of that upon water contact or mechanical impact with a grounded counter-electrode. Implementing a bilayer protection comprising a 50 nm-thick zinc sulfide film and an 11.8 μm-thick titanium dioxide-doped polystyrene layer, despite introducing fabrication-related losses, reduces surface potential photodegradation to 3.5% of initial value. Moreover, 14.4 μm-thick polystyrene layers doped with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles best protect TPBi, so that almost no surface potential decay is observed after 2-min full-surface water contact, and after 100 000 impacts with grounded counter-electrode, respectively. The effects of the aforementioned protections on Tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq₃) are comparable to those on TPBi against water contact and mechanical impact, but significantly less pronounced under light.

Lead-halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have garnered considerable attention in the field of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their extraordinary optoelectronic properties. However, it is still difficult to fabricate blue LEDs with high efficiency, due to the surface trap-mediated non-radiative charge recombination from unstable emitters. Herein, short-chain ligand tridecylamine (TDA) is introduced as a surface passivation strategy to synthesize high-performance sky-blue CsPbBr₃ QDs via size engineering, which show a stable photoluminescence (PL) intensity with a higher PL quantum yield (PLQY). This improvement is achieved through well-suppressed surface defects by the ligand TDA with stronger affinity, resulting in the reduced non-radiative recombination due to trap-state passivation. Consequently, high-efficiency sky-blue QD LEDs were fabricated, which presented a peak EQE of 13.6% at 492 nm. Our findings suggest that this feasible surface modification approach can alter carrier dynamics and facilitate charge injection balance to develop stable and efficient perovskite LEDs.

Solid-state ion-conductive elastomers (SICEs) as novel conductive elastomer materials are the most attractive candidates for energy-harvesting devices. However, integrating mechanical properties, conductivity, and harsh environment resistance into SICEs remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a “three birds with one stone” strategy based on the fluorine effect to prepare a fluorinated SICE (TICE-70Li) with excellent mechanical performance, conductivity, and environmental stability. Benefiting from multiple interactions and fluorination effects, TICE-70Li exhibits outstanding mechanical performance (7.35 MPa and 61.4 MJ m⁻³) and ionic conductivity (4.2 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹). Compared with fluorine-free SICE (DICE-XLi), the comprehensive performance of TICE-70Li has been fully improved. Moreover, TICE-70Li exhibits excellent resilience, environmental stability, and self-healing performance. The triboelectric nanogenerators (TICE-TENG) based on TICE-70Li not only demonstrate high power density (1.72 W m⁻²), but also can be stably operated in a variety of harsh environments. TICE-TENG based paper-folding TENGs enable energy harvesting for a wide range of water wave motions. Notably, we achieve the recycling and reutilization of polyurethane elastomers and LiTFSI by solvent recycling. This work provides new strategies for the construction of high-performance fluorinated SICEs and environmentally stable energy-harvesting devices, providing new insight into the sustainability of SICEs.

Few-layered 1T-MoS₂ is highly promising for supercapacitor applications due to its wide interlayer spacing, high electrical conductivity, and abundant active sites. However, its poor structural stability greatly challenges the synthesis of stable 1T-MoS₂. This study systematically investigates the dual-function mechanism of cobalt (Co) doping in few-layered MoS₂. Co is successfully doped into MoS₂ to fabricate stable 1T-MoS₂ by a simple synthesis approach. The formation of Co-S bonds during doping plays a critical role in stabilizing the 1T phase. Furthermore, Co doping deliberately induces defects in the MoS₂ lattice. The defects modify the electronic structure, increasing the density of states near the Fermi level, and enhancing both electrical conductivity and charge-transfer efficiency. SEM, XRD, and XPS characterizations of samples stored for half a year show that Co doping stabilizes the morphology and crystal phase of 1T-MoS₂. DFT calculations further validate the enhanced performance of Co doping MoS₂. Specifically, M-Co (1.5%) (1.5% Co-MoS₂) reaches a specific capacitance of 197 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, with 88% capacitance retention after 40 000 cycles. The assembled M-Co (1.5%)//CC asymmetric supercapacitor device maintains 92% capacity retention after 20 000 cycles. This work offers new insights into stable 1T-MoS₂ preparation and promotes the application of TMDs in supercapacitors.

Uncontrolled dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency remain major challenges limiting the practical application of rechargeable lithium metal batteries. Here, we introduce potassium hexafluorophosphate (KPF₆) as an additive to a commercial 1 m LiPF₆-EC/DEC (1:1 vol%) electrolyte, which induces the formation of positively charged small aggregates in which a PF₆⁻ anion is shared between Li⁺ and K⁺ solvation structures. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the 0.1 m KPF₆-containing electrolyte exhibits a higher Li⁺ diffusion coefficient than in the baseline system, consistent with its enhanced ionic conductivity and transference numbers. Complementary density functional theory calculations show that these small aggregates possess lower solvation energies, facilitating Li⁺ desolvation, while their reduced LUMO energy promotes LiPF₆ decomposition to generate a robust inorganic-rich SEI. Experimentally, the KPF₆ additive drives the formation of a smooth, uniform, and ion-conductive SEI on lithium metal, enabling Li‖LiFePO₄ cells to deliver superior rate capability and capacity retention. Pouch cell tests further underscore the practical potential of this electrolyte design. These findings highlight the role of small aggregates in solvation structure engineering and provide new insights for the development of high-performance lithium metal batteries.

The photocatalytic performance is governed by three critical kinetic processes: photon absorption efficiency, charge carrier separation dynamics, and interfacial reaction kinetics. Strategic engineering through morphological design, elemental doping, heterojunction construction, and vacancy engineering has emerged as effective approaches to enhance these interrelated processes. Herein, we demonstrate a p-n junction photocatalyst via in-situ growth of n-type ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets on p-type Cu_2–xS hollow nanocubes. This hierarchical architecture enables synergistic enhancement of charge separation through built-in electric field effects, achieving the most suppression of electron–hole recombination compared to pristine ZnIn₂S₄. The optimized Cu_2–xS/ZnIn₂S₄ composite exhibits exceptional visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution activity, delivering a production rate of 5.7 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ under broad-spectrum irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm), 9.5-fold higher than bare ZnIn₂S₄ (0.6 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹). Notably, an apparent quantum efficiency of 11.4% was achieved at 420 nm monochromatic light, accompanied by remarkable stability over long-term cyclic tests. Combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and density functional theory calculations reveal dual enhancement mechanisms: the redistribution of interface charges helps to increase the density of photogenerated electrons and photogenerated holes as well as facilitate efficient carrier migration, while the p-n junction's band alignment promotes redox reaction kinetics. This work provides fundamental insights into heterojunction engineering for developing cost-effective photocatalytic systems.

Proton-based electrochemistry offers a promising solution to the cost and safety-limited lithium-ion batteries in general and sluggish ion diffusion and poor stability challenges of metal-ion batteries in particular, since it leverages the Grotthuss mechanism for ultrafast transport in aqueous media. Proton insertion accompanied by metal ions has been worked out extensively; however, pure protonation/deprotonation remains underexplored. Here, we report pure protonation/deprotonation in a confined water-containing V₂O₅ wrapped in holey reduced graphene oxide via facile hydrothermal and sonication processes. The as-prepared composite demonstrated stable and efficient electrochemistry by exhibiting excellent capacity (~122 mAh g⁻¹ @ 25 mA g⁻¹) and exceptional stability (over 10 000 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹) with excellent coulombic efficiencies. To our knowledge, this is the first study on pure protonation/deprotonation in V₂O₅, highlighting its potential in highly stable energy storage systems.

Deprotonation of organic cations in hybrid perovskites generates nitrogen-site hydrogen vacancies that activate lone-pair electrons and induce configuration-dependent nonradiative losses. Here, we introduce a novel cyclic A-site organic cation, aziridinium, into the APbI₃ perovskite lattice and establish a direct structure–function correlation between the molecular configuration of the organic cation and the lone-pair electron activity associated with nitrogen-site hydrogen vacancies defects. Compared with conventional formamidinium and methylammonium cations, the geometrically constrained, distorted coordination environment of aziridinium promotes facile deprotonation, resulting in a higher tendency for nitrogen-site hydrogen vacancies formation. The deprotonated aziridinium species exhibit markedly enhanced lone-pair electron activity, acting as strong Lewis bases that perturb the local PbI₆ octahedra by detaching Pb²⁺ ions and forming stable Pb–AZ dimers. These defect complexes serve as highly efficient nonradiative recombination centers, yielding an ultrahigh carrier capture coefficient of 10⁻⁵ cm³ s⁻¹. This work reveals the decisive influence of A-site cation chemistry on defect energetics and recombination kinetics, emphasizing the necessity of simultaneously optimizing iodide stoichiometry and aziridinium incorporation to suppress nonradiative losses in aziridinium-based halide perovskites.

The global surging demand for lithium iron phosphate batteries necessitates efficient recycling strategies to ensure environmental sustainability and resource conservation. While direct regeneration is considered sustainable, its widespread adoption is hindered by three critical challenges: 1) heterogeneous and unquantifiable lithium loss across waste streams, 2) abnormal particle growth during high-temperature restoration, and 3) limited economic returns arising from the low-value elements and complex process. Here, we report a universal and scalable “x → 0 → 1” normalization strategy. All spent Li_xFePO₄ is first reset to Li-free olivine FePO₄ (x → 0) via mechanochemical delithiation, eliminating batch-specific variability. Benefiting from the olivine FePO₄ with pre-existing Li⁺ diffusion channels and nonequilibrium kinetics, subsequent ultrafast heating resynthesis (UHR) restores stoichiometric lithium iron phosphate (0 → 1) in just 35 s, effectively suppressing particle coarsening while cutting energy/time consumption by >99% compared to furnace sintering. This approach accommodates diverse degradation levels and their mixture, yielding regenerated lithium iron phosphate with consistent capacity, superior rate capability (84.3 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 C) and cycling stability (89.1% retention after 1000 cycles at 10 C), outperforming fresh commercial lithium iron phosphate (73.3 mAh g⁻¹, 66.6%). Beyond regeneration, flash upcycling to lithium manganese iron phosphate further enhances energy density to 549 Wh kg⁻¹. Techno-economic analysis confirms strong profitability (lithium iron phosphate: 4.86 $ kg⁻¹ cell, lithium manganese iron phosphate: 10.98 $ kg⁻¹ cell), low energy demand (6.56 MJ kg⁻¹ cell), and reduced emissions (2.95 kg CO₂-eq kg⁻¹ cell). Our strategy therefore establishes a general and robust platform for closed-loop cathode recycling and upcycling.

Developing zero-power and wearable electromagnetic functional fabrics is essential for adaptive communication and shielding in complex environments. Here, we propose a stretchable active frequency selective fabric, fabricated by screen printing, that achieves bistable switching between bandstop and broadband transparent states through fracture-induced topological reconfiguration. In its initial state, the periodic cross-shaped conductive units produce a strong bandstop response at 10.5 GHz (−22.48 dB, quality factor 7.5). When stretched to 15% strain, conductive pathways rupture into a disordered network, eliminating resonance and enabling nearly transparent transmission (<0.2 dB across 4–14 GHz). Upon release, the conductive structure self-reconstructs, restoring the original bandstop performance with excellent cycling durability. Unlike conventional diode- or bias-driven active frequency selective surface, the proposed active frequency selective fabric requires no external circuits or energy input, offering a scalable, lightweight, and flexible solution. These attributes highlight its potential for wearable electromagnetic shielding, sustainable communication devices, and next-generation adaptive smart fabrics.

The magnetic properties of Fe-based amorphous/nanocrystalline alloys are governed by composition, annealing process, and nanostructure. Although AI has advanced the development of soft magnetic amorphous alloys, the predominant focus on optimizing composition has resulted in insufficient understanding of the mechanisms of heat treatment and nanocrystalline precipitation. In this study, we propose an AI-guided non-isothermal annealing strategy that can accurately determine the critical Avrami exponent of 2.5, which corresponds to a transition from 3D growth to spatially confined nanocrystals during the process of crystallization. Applying this approach, we not only validated the performance of our previously reported Fe_85.5B_8.5Si₂P₂C₂ alloy but also achieved a record-high B_s of 1.97 T in Fe₆₉Co₁₆Ni₁Si₃B₁₁. Moreover, even for commercial FINEMET alloy, the B_s could still be enhanced by 6.2%, while simultaneously maintaining H_c below 1 A m⁻¹. Compared to conventional annealing processes, this technique can both endow superior soft magnetic performance and achieve an average 500% improvement in annealing time. This study pioneers an AI strategy for Fe-based amorphous/nanocrystalline alloys and may establish a paradigm for integrating AI with physical theories applicable to diverse material systems.

The selective photocatalytic oxidation is one of the versatile routes for biomass valorization, while α-C–H bond cleavage is typically limited by uncontrolled hole migration and poor stability of active free radicals. Herein, we showcase the integration of interlayer polarization modulation and interface engineering for directional C–H activation. As a proof of concept, phosphorus (P) incorporation amplifies the charge density gradient between [ZnS₄] and [InS₆] layers of P-doped ZnIn₂S₄ (P_x-ZIS), anchoring a robust polarization electric field. In-situ characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that the enhanced polarization electric field significantly improves carrier separation efficiency by spatially separating electron–hole pairs. Meanwhile, driving the oriented localization of holes to interfacial S sites in the Zn-S layer stabilizes the generated sulfur anion radicals (S^−·). This not only promotes precise electron transfer from C–H bonds to P_x-ZIS, enhancing α-C–H adsorption/activation, but also reduces the product desorption barrier, associated with improved selectivity. The developed P₁-ZIS can catalyze the partial oxidation of bio-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to exclusively afford 2,5-diformylfuran with 90% yield under visible light at 25 °C, outperforming state-of-the-art photocatalytic systems. This work establishes a new paradigm of combining polarization field and interface engineering for merging selective C–H activation and in-situ transformation of biomass feedstock.

Aqueous zinc–iodine batteries (Zn–I₂Bs) emerge as promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage due to their inherent safety, low cost, and environmental benignity. However, their practical deployment is hindered by critical challenges, including severe self-discharge driven by coupled polyiodide shutting and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), limited practical energy density constrained by low voltage plateaus and predominantly two-electron iodine redox, sluggish reaction kinetics from complex iodine species interconversion, and zinc anode instability (dendrites, corrosion, passivation). This work provides a comprehensive analysis of Zn–I₂B mechanisms, debating the interplay between iodine's layered structure favoring intercalation and its multivalency enabling conversion reactions, particularly pathways for electron redox beyond I⁻/I₂. Strategies to mitigate these challenges are critically reviewed: anchoring iodine species within tailored host materials (e.g., functionalized carbons, COFs, perovskites) to suppress shuttling; electrolyte engineering (e.g., DES, additives) to sequester free I⁻ and modulate solvation; functional separators/membranes for ion sieving; catalytic materials (transition metal/nonmetal-based) to accelerate kinetics; and anode protection/modification (interfacial layers, hydrogel electrolytes, nonmetallic anodes) to enhance reversibility. The review synthesizes recent advances, identifies persistent bottlenecks, and outlines future research directions essential for realizing the commercial potential of high-performance Zn–I₂Bs.

The growing demand for grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) has prompted researchers to turn their attention to alkali metal anodes (particularly lithium, sodium, and potassium), which feature higher capacity and lower potential. As a new system, the design of electrolytes has become a focus of research. However, most studies on alkali metal batteries remain confined to systems with thin cathodes and excess alkali metals, making them difficult to translate into practical applications. This review outlines the current requirements and challenges for grid-scale battery energy storage systems. By clarifying the definitions of the N/P ratios and the relationship between full/half cells, it focuses on the loading of the cathode and the amount of electrolyte. In addition, this review systematically compiles the latest research advances and design strategies in electrolyte technology (ranging from liquid to solid states). By comparing liquid and solid electrolytes, it clarifies the required properties and characteristics of liquid–solid electrolytes in practical battery systems. Finally, it highlights critical challenges and potential future research directions in the field, aiming to facilitate the practical application of Li/Na/K-metal batteries in next-generation grid-scale energy storage systems.

For commercialization of organic solar cells, achieving high power conversion efficiency and prolonged thermal stability remains critical. We systematically investigated the thermal durability of PM6:Y6-based organic solar cells incorporating PDINN and PFN-Br as organic electron transport layers. PDINN-based organic solar cells achieved an exceptional power conversion efficiency of 17.06% at room temperature and remarkably maintained >15% power conversion efficiency even under harsh 110 °C thermal treatment. In contrast, PFN-Br-based devices initially showed 15.26% power conversion efficiency but exhibited significantly reduced performance with increasing processing temperatures. To elucidate the contrasting thermal behaviors, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of both organic electron transport layer films and their effects on the PM6:Y6 active layer through advanced thermal analysis, optical spectroscopy, surface morphological characterization, and detailed charge dynamics investigations. Our findings reveal that PDINN-based devices demonstrated superior charge transport efficiency and effectively suppressed recombination processes under thermal stress, primarily attributed to strong hydrogen bonding interactions between PDINN's amine groups and Y6 acceptor molecules. Conversely, PFN-Br-based organic solar cells exhibited poor thermal durability due to detrimental bromide ion migration and accumulation at the silver electrode interface. This study demonstrates the critical importance of strategic interfacial engineering for simultaneously improving both efficiency and thermal stability of organic solar cells, providing insights for next-generation thermally resistant organic photovoltaics.

High-entropy oxides have garnered significant attention as a promising catalyst for lithium–sulfur batteries. However, their development has been hindered by intractable structures and unclear catalytic mechanisms. We conducted simultaneous structural engineering of high-entropy metal oxides nanoparticles embedded in 2D porous carbon sheets (HEO-C) across atomic, nano, and micro scales. In the prepared HEO nanoparticles, we observed and confirmed the presence of numerous ion vacancies, likely resulting from lattice distortions. The presence of these ionic vacancies can furnish supplementary edge adsorption and catalytic sites for lithium polysulfide conversion, and augment catalytic activity through modulation of the d-band center. Furthermore, the high entropy of HEO-C attributes in inducing the rapid dissociation and conversion of long-chain lithium polysulfides, improving redox kinetics. As a result, cells equipped with the HEO-C catalyst exhibited outstanding electrochemical rate performance, delivering 761 mAh g⁻¹ at 3 C, along with excellent cycling stability—retaining 80.44% capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C. The high surface area of HEO-C facilitates the reduction of inactive components in the cell while preserving the catalytic activity, enhancing the potential for practical application. The assembled pouch cell with the HEO-C catalyst achieved a reversible capacity of 968 mAh g⁻¹ and retained 81.33% of its capacity after 200 cycles at 0.1 C.

Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides are recognized as cathode materials with bright prospects for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), primarily attributed to their low cost, high capacity output, and high operating voltage. However, their practical application is restricted by inadequate initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and unstable electrode/electrolyte interfaces, which result in high interfacial impedance, large overpotential, irreversible capacity fading, and inferior cycling stability. In this work, Li_3/8Sr_7/16Ta_3/4Zr_1/4O₃ (LSTZ), a fast Li⁺-ion conductor, is introduced as a surface coating. The LSTZ layer effectively suppresses oxygen release and electrolyte corrosion, thereby mitigating structural degradation and voltage decay while improving interfacial stability. Moreover, LSTZ provides fast Li⁺ transport pathways, facilitating Li⁺ diffusion, and reducing polarization, which significantly enhances rate capability. At 1 C and 25 °C, the LSTZ-coated cathode delivers a reversible capacity of 178.5 mAh g⁻¹ with 94.4% retention after 120 cycles. Even at 0.3 C and 45 °C, it maintains 209.7 mAh g⁻¹ with 95.7% retention after 300 cycles, demonstrating excellent thermal stability.

Electrocatalytic coupling of CO₂ and \text{N}{\text{O}}_3^{-} enables urea synthesis under mild conditions while simultaneously converting greenhouse gases/pollutants, yet suffers from sluggish C–N coupling kinetics and low efficiency. To address this, a novel Cu/Cu₂O catalyst with a high-density heterogeneous interface and 3D crosslinking network structure was constructed. The high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope reveals the Cu/Cu₂O heterogeneous interface at the atomic scale, showing a distinct contrast discontinuity that defines the metal/metal oxides phase boundary. This unique structure exposes a large number of dual active sites. In-situ attenuated total reflection-surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations revealed a space-separated activation mechanism induced by the dual active sites at the heterogeneous interfaces. The electron-deficient Cu site preferentially activates CO₂ to produce *CO, while the electron-rich Cu₂O site dominates \text{N}{\text{O}}_3^{-} reduction to form *NOH intermediates. The built-in electric field formed at the heterogeneous interface further promotes the efficient C–N coupling of *CO and *NOH, significantly reducing the reaction energy barrier. Electrochemical tests showed Cu/Cu₂O outperformed Cu and Cu₂O in electrocatalytic coupling of CO₂ and \text{N}{\text{O}}_3^{-} for urea synthesis, achieving a record urea yield rate of 1156.63 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ with 29.67% Faradaic efficiency at −1.0 V (vs RHE).

Aqueous-based zinc-iodine batteries (AZIBs) are extremely competitive and have gigantic potential in the next generation of energy storage technologies on account of their ultra-high safety and excellent theoretical capacity. Howbeit, the unsatisfactory conductivity of iodine and the shuttle effect of polyiodides will greatly confine their commercial applications. In this study, an original composite material of selenium (Se) and activated carbon (AC) (designated as Se–AC), as a functional iodine-adsorbed cathode host, is successfully synthesized with the dual-effect function of Se. Se has a larger atomic size and higher polarizability compared to carbon, effectively accelerating the charge transfer rate. Therefore, the incorporation of Se nanoparticles can generate higher strain at the edge of AC to improve the adsorption of iodine species, especially I₃⁻. Furthermore, the inorganic Se nanoparticles can make AC provide abundant adsorption-catalytic active sites that significantly enhance electron transfer kinetics while catalyzing the I⁰/I⁻ conversion reaction. As expected, Se–AC/I₂ can deliver an ideal specific capacity of 249.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹. Additionally, the energy density of Se–AC/I₂//Zn exhibits 217.5 Wh kg⁻¹ at 86.2 W kg⁻¹, exceeding most reported AZIBs. This dual-effect function strategy creates transformative opportunities for AZIBs, enabling high energy density, long cycling, and cost-effective energy storage solutions for renewable grids.

Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃), with its wide direct bandgap (~4.9 eV) and high stability, holds great potential for applications in solar-blind ultraviolet (SBUV) photodetectors. In this work, simple vertical-structured SBUV photodetectors based on (YGa)₂O₃/F-SnO₂ (YGO/FTO) heterojunctions were designed and fabricated for the first time. Owing to the wider bandgap of Y₂O₃ (~5.9 eV) compared to Ga₂O₃ and the stronger Y–O bonding relative to Ga–O, the YGO alloy films exhibit an expanded bandgap (~5.2 eV) with fewer oxygen vacancies than pure Ga₂O₃. This results in SBUV photodetectors with an extremely low dark current and fast photoresponse. Moreover, the YGO/FTO-based photodetectors demonstrate excellent performance in both biased and self-driven modes. At 0 V bias, the photodetector with a YGO layer thickness of 246 nm exhibits an exceptionally low dark current of 0.145 pA, a short photoresponse time of 15 ms, high responsivity of 12.2 mA W⁻¹, and a detectivity of 2.84 × 10¹² Jones. At a bias of −10 V, the device with a 425 nm-thick YGO layer achieves a high photocurrent/dark current (I_photo/I_dark) ratio of 10⁶, UV/visible rejection ratio of 10⁵, and remarkably high responsivity of 12.3 A W⁻¹ with a detectivity of 1.08 × 10¹⁵ Jones. These results highlight the great promise of YGO alloys in developing simple vertical-structured YGO/FTO high-performance photodetectors for ultraweak SBUV detection.

Sulfur doping is an effective strategy to promote the electrochemical performance of hard carbon anode. However, its commercial applications of hard carbon materials have been limited by low initial Coulombic efficiency and poor cycle by traditional sulfur doping method. Herein, we used sulfur fixation strategy through magnesium oxide to produce hard carbon by sodium lignosulfonate precursor, which adjusted the microstructure of the hard carbon with increasing the disorder degree and interlayer spacing. Thereby, this not only provides more space and better kinetic conditions for the insertion/deinsertion of Na⁺ but also introduces abundant defects and active sites, thereby enhancing the surface adsorption capacity and significantly improving the electronic conductivity. As a result, the sulfur-doped hard carbon material achieved a reversible initial capacity of 307.1 mAh g⁻¹ at 20 mA g⁻¹, which also has a higher capacity retention of 77.5% at 500 mA g⁻¹ compared with untreated hard carbon (capacity retention 66.5%). Moreover, the 21700 cylindrical batteries with the sulfur-doped hard carbon as anode have the capacity retention of 91.5% at 1.4 A after 400 cycles. This method opens up a new path for the preparation of long cycle hard carbon anodes.

Traditional civil engineering materials (CE materials) are usually involved with high-energy consumption during manufacturing, significant maintenance costs, and substantial environmental impacts throughout their life cycles. The progress of nanotechnology is catalyzing a green and sustainable transformation within the field. Among various nanomaterials, carbon dots (CDs) have recently emerged as a promising eco-friendly candidate due to their unique physical and chemical properties. They offer innovative strategies to enhance durability, introduce multifunctionality, and reduce the ecological footprints of infrastructure materials, including steel, concrete, and wood. This review summarizes recent advancements in CDs-based CE materials with an emphasis on their green and sustainable attributes. We critically elucidate the mechanisms behind their improved performance in terms of durability and multifunctionality and discuss the current challenges and future directions for their successful integration into large-scale sustainable construction practices.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for large hydrogen (H₂) production from renewable electricity. However, using iridium (Ir) in large quantities is a roadblock in the widespread expansion of this technology. One strategy to reduce Ir loading in the anode is the use of an electroceramic support material. This study examines the structural and electrochemical evolution of Ir on antimony tin oxide (Ir/ATO) anodes under extended operation. Initial electrochemical performance demonstrates that low-loaded Ir/ATO (0.2 mg_Ir cm⁻²) can achieve a competitive current density of 2.82 A cm⁻² at 2 V, comparable to state-of-the-art PEMWE catalysts. However, extended operation leads to a minimal but gradual decline in catalytic activity. Postmortem analysis reveals changes in porosity and pore distribution, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies indicate ionomer degradation in the anode catalyst layer (ACL). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the dissolution of oxides of Sb and Sn from the support material. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) confirmed the oxidation of metallic Ir (Ir⁰) to IrOx_x·OH_y species before and after operation. Understanding degradation in low-Ir PEMWEs is key to improving long-term stability. These results highlight the need for support stabilization and catalyst structuring to ensure durable performance.

Conductive polymers have emerged as promising candidates for microwave absorbing materials due to their low density, structural flexibility, and tunable dielectric properties. However, persistent challenges such as conductivity decline, interfacial instability, and insufficient intrinsic loss capability dramatically limit the potential. Herein, vapor phase infiltration (VPI) is reported for the first time as a general interfacial engineering strategy for conductive polymer absorbers, enabling simultaneous regulation of dielectric behavior and enhancement of environmental stability. By infiltrating AlO_x into the in situ polymerized polypyrrole layer on polyurethane foams, the VPI process establishes a gradient hybrid interface from the aluminum-rich surface to the moderately hybridized interior, which facilitates charge transport through interconnected pathways and promotes stability by optimizing stress distribution. The VPI-modified foam exhibits enhanced absorption efficiency per unit thickness (~2.6 times that of the pristine foam) and achieves continuous frequency tuning (from S to Ku bands) and “on/off” function under compressive strain (0–70%) while also maintaining stable performance after prolonged acid/alkaline corrosion or continuous mechanical compression. Theoretical analysis reveals that the mechanism for enhanced polarization loss originates from a reorganization of charge density and bandgap narrowing at the VPI-induced interface. This study provides guidance for designing high-performance polymer-based microwave absorbers and highlights the critical role of atomic-level interface engineering in electromagnetic wave dissipation.

The introduction of semiconductor materials as bifunctional oxygen reduction/evolution reaction (ORR/OER) electrodes has been proved as an efficient way to improve the reaction kinetics and reduce the overpotential of ORR/OER during the discharge/charge process of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (RZABs) by combining photochemistry and electrochemistry. Herein, a photo-responsive bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalyst with CeO₂/Co₃O₄ p-n heterojunction has been constructed by a facile hydrothermal method for RZABs. Under illumination, photogenerated electrons have been demonstrated by the combination of in-situ XPS and in-situ XAS to transfer from Co₃O₄ to CeO₂, whereas the holes are in opposite directions, which is beneficial for the formation of built-in electric field and in turn promoting the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Benefiting from the unique structural features, the resultant CeO₂/Co₃O₄ exhibits the photo-enhanced ORR/OER performance with half-wave potential of 0.794 V and overpotential of 360 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm⁻² as well as remarkable RZABs performance with the maximum power density of 207.85 mW cm⁻² and good round-trip efficiency under illumination.

The solvation chemistry of perovskite precursor solutions plays a pivotal role in perovskite crystallization, exerting a significant influence on the performance and stability of devices. As such, the selection of the solvent is of utmost importance. Dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide, characterized by high Gutmann donor numbers, form strong coordinate bonds with perovskite precursors, thereby retarding perovskite crystallization. Nevertheless, the substantial desolvation activation energy associated with these solvents gives rise to elevated defect concentrations in the resultant perovskite films. In this study, we introduce dimethyl carbonate (DMC), a sustainable solvent with a lower Gutmann donor number that establishes weaker coordination with perovskite precursors. The interactions between DMC and PbI₂/FAI facilitate the formation of smaller colloidal particles, prolonging the shelf-life of the precursor solution. Furthermore, the incorporation of DMC enhances the quality of perovskite films, optimizes energy-level alignment, and improves charge carrier transport and extraction. Consequently, devices treated with DMC exhibit a power conversion efficiency of 25.53%, alongside enhanced long-term stability.

Recently, photocatalytic synthesis of H₂O₂ has received much attention. However, the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts is generally limited due to multiple factors, such as insufficiency of photoelectrons, low adsorption capability of O₂ on the photocatalyst surface, and high thermodynamic barrier. To address these issues, herein we have designed an interesting kind of hollow HKUST-1@CuFePBA@CuS (HS@CuFe@CuS) heterojunction photocatalyst. HKUST-1 metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with cubic morphology were first synthesized as the precursor. Next, Cu²⁺ ions were released from HKUST-1 for the growth of CuFe Prussian blue analogue (CuFePBA) nanosheets on the HKUST-1 surface and then CuS nanoparticles on the CuFePBA nanosheet surface, simultaneously creating a hollow structure in HKUST-1. It is demonstrated that the resultant photocatalysts exhibit remarkable photocatalytic activity for H₂O₂ synthesis. Particularly, the H₂O₂ yield rate reaches 927 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ over the HS@CuFe@CuS-4, which is increased by 5.3, 10.3, and 5.2 times as compared with that over single HKUST-1, CuFePBA, and CuS, respectively. Experimental and theoretical studies outline several advantages of the hollow HS@CuFe@CuS heterostructures for boosting the photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis: 1) more photoelectrons available for O₂ photoreduction reactions due to the efficient photocarrier separation/transfer and unique hollow structure, 2) increased O₂ adsorption on the active sites, and 3) a decrease in the Gibbs free energies for O₂ photoreduction reactions. This study highlights a promising nanostructure design strategy of photocatalysts for boosting H₂O₂ synthesis.

Metallic Zn anodes are pivotal for high-energy Zn-ion storage but face intractable challenges, typically including dendrite proliferation, parasitic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and sluggish ion transport. Here, we report a temporally programmed dual-phase strategy, coordinating electrolyte solvation manipulation for rationally designed growth of three-dimensional (3D) Zn architectures. By modulating ZnCl₂ concentrations, we dynamically configure the solvation complexes from [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ to [ZnCl(H₂O)₅]⁺, which steers the epitaxial growth of Zn nanosheet arrays with dominant exposed crystal faces from (101) to (002), thus fundamentally suppressing the dendrites and HER with reduced interfacial impedance (down to only 6.8 Ω s⁻¹). Such a crystal plane-engineered anode exhibits excellent performance with 97.8% capacity retention over 10 000 cycles in Zn-HSCs, delivering an energy density of 54.1 μWh cm⁻² (1.08 mW cm⁻²) and retaining 77% efficiency at 16.7 mW cm⁻². Based on the molecular dynamic simulations and experimental analyses, the mechanism of crystal plane engineering based on concentration-driven solvation-topology interplay has been demonstrated, establishing a metastable crystallization paradigm for scalable fabrication of ultra-stable metal electrodes.

Sensitive and selective detection of contaminants is crucial for environmental protection. As promising materials, engineered metal–organic frameworks with unique physicochemical properties of composites and framework modularity, large surface area, tunable pore sizes, and multi-functionality have shown significant advances in environmental determinations. This review provides an overview of the key sensing parameters in analytical chemistry and outlines the synthesis principles as well as research progress of metal–organic framework-based sensory materials in pollutant detection. Where engineered metal–organic frameworks serve as an integral component of the achieved function, highlighting the typical regulation strategies that involve tuning active sites, ligand functionalization, pyrolysis, and modification of functional compounds, among others, to achieve performance improvement. Following, we present the unique properties of engineered metal–organic frameworks that can be harnessed to develop different types of sensing systems based on the sensing mechanisms of spectrometry, luminescence, electrical transduction, and others to achieve highly sensitive and selective detection of different contaminants. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives on the development and exploration of advanced metal–organic frameworks for sensing are discussed.

Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) thin-film solar cells have garnered significant interest owing to their appealing properties, such as earth-abundant composition, environmental friendliness, high light absorption coefficient and optimal bandgap. However, current high-efficiency CZTSSe devices (>13%) are predominantly fabricated by spin-coating, which is limited in scalability for mass production. To overcome this issue, we developed a scalable doctor-blading method compatible with roll-to-roll processing. For the first time, a molecular precursor ink based on 2-methoxyethanol solvent was adapted in doctor-blading for CZTSSe thin film preparation. The preheating temperature was systematically optimized to obtain high-quality precursor layers. It was found that the preheating temperature significantly influences the solvent evaporation kinetics, leading to the formation of cracks of varying sizes on the precursor film surface. At the optimal preheating temperature of 340 °C, moderately sized cracks were generated, which effectively facilitated the penetration of Se vapor during selenization and promoted grain growth in the absorber layer. This optimization notably enhanced the crystallinity and reduced the defect density of the CZTSSe absorbers. Furthermore, Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements revealed that the films preheated at 340 °C exhibited pronounced downward band bending at grain boundaries and the narrowest contact potential distribution, which effectively promoted charge carrier separation and suppressed nonradiative recombination. Consequently, a record power conversion efficiency of 13.26% was achieved for doctor-bladed CZTSSe solar cells. This work demonstrates a viable and scalable strategy for producing low-cost and highly efficient CZTSSe thin-film photovoltaics.

Vacancies play a pivotal role in determining the physical and chemical properties of materials. Introducing vacancies into two-dimensional (2D) materials offers a promising strategy for developing high-performance electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage. Herein, a facile top-down strategy is employed to create V-based MXenes with tunable vacancy concentrations, achieved by designing the precursor (V_1−xCr_x)₂AlC (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.3) MAX phase and precisely controlling the etching process. Systematic investigations reveal that introducing a moderate concentration of Cr-induced vacancies significantly enhances both the capacitance and rate performance of V-based MXenes. Specifically, V_1.9CT_z achieves a capacitance of 760 F g⁻¹, far exceeding the 420 F g⁻¹ of vacancy-free V₂CT_z MXene. In contrast, an excessively high vacancy concentration leads to deteriorated electrochemical performance and compromised structural stability. This work illustrates that defect engineering is a powerful approach to tailor the electrochemical properties of MXenes, offering a framework for designing next-generation MXene-based energy storage systems.

Membrane-based enantioselective separation offers various advantages, making it a promising method for chiral separation. However, its realistic application remains a challenge due to limitations in current separation performance. Here, we propose a new type of chiral graphene oxide membrane that exhibits a tyrosine racemates separation factor up to 20.1, as well as a preferential enantiomer flux of 4.5 mmol m⁻² h⁻¹, superior to those of the most advanced membranes. Moreover, the chiral sieving application of this graphene oxide membrane is extended to four different chiral amino acids representing two distinct classes. These abundant oxygen-containing groups in the graphene oxide membrane allow the extensive functionalization of chiral amino acids. Theoretical analyses reveal the significant interaction differences between the functionalized-graphene oxide sheets and D- or L-chiral amino acids, maintaining the remarkable chiral separation performance of this graphene oxide membrane. Besides, the novel fast protein liquid chromatography-compatible column was further developed via stacking these chiral graphene oxide membranes, facilitating more efficient, lower operational requirement, and cost-effective enantioselective separation, a capability that other reported high-performance liquid chromatography-compatible-only materials lack. Therefore, this study not only highlights the superior performance of the specifically designed graphene oxide membrane for chiral amino acid separations but also provides an accessible, cost-effective, and highly efficient approach for chiral separation.

As a typical 2D layered material, black phosphorus (BP) demonstrates exceptional promise in various fields, particularly in energy storage for alkali metal-ion batteries. However, its distinctive structure and properties, together with the compositional complexity of BP-based composites, the realization of the mature and large-scale application of BP-based materials still needs more in-depth research on various BP-based materials. The synthesis approaches for BP derived from other phosphorus allotropes or compounds, as well as the exfoliation strategies used to obtain BP nanomaterials from bulk BP, are systematically summarized according to different application contexts and requirements. In addition, based on the three characteristics of BP: anisotropy, layer dependence, and oxidation susceptibility, the characterization and testing methods of BP-based materials are introduced in detail. The strong dominance relationship of the three characteristics to the characterization and analysis results of BP-based materials during the testing and application processes has been clarified. Finally, future development directions are discussed, including controlled oxidation and rational utilization of oxidized BP, in situ synthesis of BP nanomaterials and composites, and the standardization of characterization methods for BP-based materials.

The order-structured cathode catalyst layer (CCL) has been considered the most promising solution to construct low-cost proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with an ultra-low Pt loading (<100.0 μg cm⁻²). Herein, the ordered CCL was developed by depositing Pt nanoparticles onto the vertically aligned carbon nanotube film (Pt/VACNTs) via atomic layer deposition. Compared to the disordered CCL prepared by random Pt/CNTs obtained by dispersing Pt/VACNTs, the Pt/VACNTs-ordered CCL is characterized by higher porosity (41.64%) and smaller tortuosity (1.29), leading to a 54% and 53% reduction of oxygen transport resistance and proton transport resistance, respectively. As a result, the cell with Pt/VACNTs-ordered CCL at a Pt loading of 80.0 μg cm⁻² produces the maximum power density of 1.01 W cm⁻² (H₂/Air, 150.0 kPa), much higher than the cell with the same Pt loading Pt/CNTs-disordered CCL (0.69 W cm⁻² at 80.0 μg cm⁻²) and commercial Pt/C CCL (0.77 W cm⁻² at 200.0 μg_Pt cm⁻²). Meanwhile, the Pt/VACNTs-ordered CCL also exhibits a higher durability with only a power density loss of 19.4% and a voltage loss of 29.7 mV at 0.8 A cm⁻² after 30 000 cycles of accelerated stress test, compared with that of Pt/C (a power density loss of 33.2% and a voltage loss of 80.0 mV). This work further identifies the critical role of ordered CCLs in charge and mass transport for developing ultra-low Pt loading PEMFCs.

The direct conversion of CO₂ into high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) remains a formidable challenge, primarily due to the oxidation of metal catalyst by the oxidative nature of CO₂. To overcome this limitation, a tandem catalytic system was implemented, in which CO₂ was converted to produce CH₄ on Ni catalysts in the primary reactor, and the CNT was synthesized from CH₄ on an Fe catalyst in the secondary reactor. Nevertheless, unreacted CO₂ was introduced into the secondary reactor, where the Fe catalysts were oxidized and thus failed to produce any solid carbon. To prevent the oxidation of Fe catalysts, a bimetallic Fe–Mo catalyst was employed instead of pure Fe. Mo was partially converted to Mo₂C by reacting with unreacted CO₂, which effectively suppressed the oxidation of Fe, thereby stabilizing the active Fe phase. This transformation was further corroborated by XPS analysis, where the Mo 3d spectra exhibited an increased Mo²⁺ peak intensity, whereas the Fe 2p spectra showed a stronger metallic Fe signal, confirming that Mo incorporation inhibited Fe oxidation. However, excessive Mo loading resulted in the formation of multi-walled CNTs instead of single-walled CNTs, as evidenced by the reduced selectivity toward radial breathing modes in the Raman spectra and the broader diameter distribution observed in TEM measurements. These findings underscore the critical role of Mo in preserving Fe activity under oxidizing conditions and highlight the importance of optimizing its content, as an appropriate Mo level enables the selective synthesis of high-quality single-walled CNTs from CO₂ via a dual-step tandem process.

The rapid development of flexible electronics has imposed demands on the comprehensive properties of conductive materials. This paper systematically reviews the synergistic design strategies of conductive nanocomposites based on zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, covering their preparation methods, synergistic mechanisms, electronic and mechanical properties, and cutting-edge applications in flexible electronics. By integrating the high electrical conductivity of 0D nanoparticles, the strain dissipation ability of 1D nanostructures, and the chemical stability and interfacial charge transfer of 2D materials, multi-dimensional synergistic effects can be achieved through strategies such as multi-dimensional spatial structure regulation and interface engineering, thereby overcoming the performance limitations of single-type materials. These effects enable a balance of electrical conductivity, flexibility, and stability via spatial complementarity of materials with different dimensions (0D filling, 1D bridging, 2D support), interface optimization (quantum confinement effect, van der Waals force regulation), and functional integration. This review establishes a universal design principle for the rational design of multi-dimensional conductive nanomaterials for flexible electronics.

To achieve sustainable renewable energy, there is an urgent need for efficient electrocatalyst. Such electrocatalyst must have capability to drive the water electrolysis with significant stability and electrocatalytic activity. The metal organic framework and their derivatives have become popular material due to its porosity and tunable coordination framework. However, their restricted conductivity and structural delicateness limit their full exploration. Therefore, to reduce their inherent limitation, recently MOF-based and MOF-derived composites (MOF-GO, MOF-Polymer, and MOF-MXene) with versatile architecture have been developed. Therefore, such MOF composite can offer improved charge transfer kinetics, high exposure of active sites during electrochemical studies. In this context, this comprehensive review offers a critical assessment of the recent advancement of MOF and MOF-based and MOF-derived composites for the oxygen evolution reaction. This review will highlight how structural design and interfacial engineering can dictate electrocatalytic performance. Additionally, to illustrate the contribution of redox-active metal centers, organic ligands, and hierarchical porosity, significant example and cases are thoroughly discussed. Finally, opportunities and challenges are outlined, including scalable synthesis, in situ/operando insights, and incorporation into practical electrolyzer systems.

Solar interfacial evaporation, featuring no extra energy need and low equipment demand, offers a promising off-grid desalination solution to alleviate global freshwater shortage. However, solar evaporators typically rely on internal pores for water transport that impedes vapor escape. In this work, exploiting a two-phase structure and directional arrangement of bamboo, a bamboo fiber aggregation (BFA)-based broom-like solar evaporator with open fibrous gaps for water transport and vapor diffusion is developed. The polypyrrole-coated BFA (PPy-BFA) evaporator exhibits a water evaporation rate of 3.3 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ with an efficiency of 146.7% under 1 sun. This value is 2.6 times higher than that of PPy-coated natural bamboo and superior to most of the previously reported bamboo-based evaporators. These low-tortuosity fiber gaps enable rapid water transport while providing extensive air–liquid interfaces that effectively promote vapor diffusion and harness heat from the environment. Open-channel configuration has a lower surface temperature and more uniform vapor distribution than that of the internal-channel one, preventing the formation of high-humidity zones. Moreover, PPy-BFA also demonstrates excellent salt tolerance performance, maintaining a stable evaporation rate of 2.3 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ for 20% NaCl solution. This work offers important insights into the configuration design of solar evaporators and provides a low-cost choice for off-grid desalination.