Vanadium-cerium redox flow batteries (V-Ce RFBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to all-vanadium systems due to the lower cost and high standard redox potential of Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺. However, their practical application is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox reaction and the severe corrosion of conventional graphite felt electrodes. To address these challenges, we constructed a single atomic nickel catalyst (Ni₁/NC) with a four-nitrogen coordination structure (Ni₁–N₄ moiety) on nitrogen-doped carbon support. The Ni₁/NC catalyst with high Ni loading possesses abundant accessible active sites and unique structure properties for catalysis. When applied as a positive electrode, the Ni₁/NC catalyst exhibited significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability for Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox. The assembled V-Ce RFBs achieves a high energy efficiency of 69.1% at 200 mA cm^-2 and a superior peak power density, markedly outperforming cells with baseline electrodes. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the Ni₁–N₄ sites facilitate charge transfer and enhance activation of reactant species (Ce⁴⁺), providing atomic-level insight into the catalytic mechanism. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of single-atom catalysts in enhancing the performance of V-Ce RFBs and sheds light on designing advanced electrocatalysts.

The pursuit of safety and efficiency in electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems has long been a central theme. Among these systems, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered promising candidates for next-generation energy storage devices due to their high safety, low cost, and high capacity. However, several critical issues associated with Zn²⁺ ion transport, including dendrite formation and side reactions at zinc (Zn) metal anodes, severely restricted their practical applications. As the “blood” of AZIBs, electrolytes play a crucial role in stabilizing Zn metal anodes by introducing various components or optimizing the liquid environment. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of electrolyte engineering for AZIBs is of great significance. In this review, the development of electrolytes is first discussed. Then, the roles of electrolytes in AZIBs are summarized based on recent advances, including regulation of the solvation process, optimization of the solid electrolyte interphase layer, and modulation of ionic transport. Finally, perspectives on the further development of electrolytes for AZIBs are provided. This review may offer valuable insights for the design of functional electrolytes for advanced electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems.

Coupling triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) with memristors offers a direct route to integrating energy harvesting and adaptive learning within a single physical substrate, thereby enabling self-powered neuromorphic systems driven by ubiquitous mechanical stimuli. Unlike conventional electronics that rely on external power rails, triboelectric-memristive hybrids transduce mechanical excitations into programmable resistive states, supporting synaptic functions such as short-term plasticity, long-term plasticity, and spike-timing-dependent plasticity. This review synthesizes the physical mechanisms of triboelectric-memristive coupling and clarifies how charge transfer, interfacial electron-ion interactions, and device-level state dynamics collectively enable energy-to-information transduction for signal processing and learning. In contrast to previous surveys that focus on TENGs or memristors in isolation, we establish a unified transduction framework that links mechanical stimulus statistics to TENG waveform characteristics and further to memristive state-variable evolution, which serves as the organizing principle throughout the paper. We then present (ⅰ) a mechanism-guided taxonomy of representative device architectures and their achievable plasticity modes; and (ⅱ) a system-level perspective on the integration of self - powered sensing, in-memory learning, and multimodal data fusion. Finally, we summarize key challenges - including charge stability, humidity tolerance, device variability, and scalable integration - and discuss emerging directions such as large-area triboelectric materials for improved array uniformity, multiphysics co-learning for enhanced in-sensor intelligence, and physics-informed compact models to support device-circuit-algorithm co-design under stochastic energy inputs.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have garnered significant attention as anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high theoretical capacity and moderate Li-intercalation potential. However, TMP still suffer from challenges, including severe volume effects and poor electrical conductivity. Herein, the heterostructure nanofibers anode is synthesized by uniformly distributing CoP/Co₂P nanoparticles onto N, P co-doped carbon substrate (CoP/Co₂P/C). The built-in electric field generated by the heterostructure enhances electron/ion conductivity, provides additional Li storage sites, thereby optimizing electrochemical performance. The CoP/Co₂P/C nanofibers exhibit great cycling stability in applications as LIBs anodes, maintaining the specific capacity above 356 mA h g^-1 after 2000 cycles under 1,000 mA g^-1. By regulating the ratio of CoP to Co₂P, the numbers of heterostructure within the nanofibers were effectively controlled. Based on this, the correlation between heterostructure and electrochemical performance was analyzed. The strategy of constructing heterostructure using the same metal significantly simplified the preparation process for high-performance TMPs anode, providing a viable approach for developing novel anode for LIBs.

Carbon dots (CDs), an emerging class of zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials, have attracted extensive attention for lithium-based energy storage due to their high specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, excellent electronic conductivity, and abundant, readily functionalized surface states. Recent advances have demonstrated that CDs can serve as conductive bridges, chemical regulators, and interfacial stabilizers across all key components of lithium batteries, enabling the simultaneous optimization of electronic and ionic transport, as well as interfacial reactions, in cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. This review systematically summarizes the synthesis strategies and structural classifications of CDs, emphasizing how precursor selection, heteroatom doping, and surface functionalization determine their core-shell structures, defect states, and chemical reactivity. Subsequently, the applications of CDs in cathode modification, anode reinforcement, and electrolyte optimization are discussed in detail, highlighting their roles in enhancing charge-transfer kinetics, modulating ion transport, stabilizing interphases, and suppressing lithium dendrite formation. Special attention is given to interfacial reconstruction mechanisms driven by heteroatom-doped or functionalized CDs, which simultaneously promote ionic conduction and electron blocking at solid-solid interfaces. Finally, current challenges and future directions are outlined, including predictive synthesis design, interfacial chemistry optimization, multiscale composite construction, and scalable green fabrication. Overall, this review aims to deepen the understanding of CD-mediated interfacial engineering and to provide design guidelines for the development of safe, long-life, and high-energy-density lithium-based batteries.

Harvesting energy from water droplets offers a promising route to power decentralized electronics, yet conventional triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are limited by intermittent output and reliance on repetitive mechanical contact. Here, we present a hemispherical TENG (H-TENG) featuring a breakthrough dual-electrode configuration that enables high-efficiency continuous energy extraction from a single moving droplet. The device operates via a two-phase mechanism: initial contact electrification followed by sustained electret-field-driven polarization. As the droplet oscillates, the friction layer accumulates charges and evolves into a permanent electret, producing a stable electric field that polarizes subsequent droplets without direct contact. This design eliminates the inherent intermittency of conventional TENGs and allows infinite energy conversion cycles under wave-like motion. The hemispherical structure is ideally suited for scalable blue energy harvesting from ocean waves. Through systematic experimental and theoretical analysis, we demonstrate the essential roles of droplet kinetics, ion-mediated interfacial effects, and optimized device geometry in enhancing performance. This work offers a robust, material - structure-integrated strategy toward sustainable droplet-based energy harvesting, with significant potential for applications in self-powered marine systems and large-scale renewable energy conversion.

Owing to sluggish ion migration, structural instability, and elevated interfacial impedance, ternary lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) systems often fail to meet the requirements of rapid charge-discharge, resulting in low power densities in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This study investigates the electrochemical performance of cathodes fabricated via the integration of three types of ternary NCM material (namely NCM523, NCM811, and NCM9055) composited with activated carbon (AC) for hybrid battery supercapacitors (HBS). Attributed to the highly uniform morphology, enhanced structural stability, and high Ni percentage, NCM9055/AC composite cathodes not only a superior specific capacity (231 mAh/g at 0.1 C) but also exceptional rate charge and discharge performance and long cycling stability. At a current density of 0.5 C, the NCM9055/AC composite cathode maintained a high capacity of 222 mAh/g. Even at a high current density of 5 C, NCM9055/AC composite cathodes delivered a reversible capacity of 153 mAh/g with a retention of 79.4% after 360 cycles. Outperforming the NCM811/AC and NCM523/AC composite cathodes, demonstrating that synergistic optimization can indeed achieve the objectives of high capacity, enhanced rate capability, and improved cycling stability. Furthermore, the assembled pouch HBS, constructed with one NCM9055/AC composite cathode and two graphite anodes, achieved an energy density of 55 Wh/kg, a power density of 1,828 W/kg, and a capacity retention up to 99% after 340 cycles at 0.5 C. This indicates exceptional potential for fast charging and long cycle life, providing an innovative technical solution for application scenarios requiring high energy and rapid response.

The buried interface between the electron transport layer (ETL) and perovskite is critical for the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Modifying the microstructure of this buried interface using dipolar molecules is among the most effective strategies to enhance device performance. However, the influence of the electron-donating/electron- withdrawing group ratio (EDG/EWG ratio) of dipolar molecules on buried interface engineering has not been systematically investigated. In this work, dipolar molecules are classified into EWG-rich, balanced, and EDG-rich configurations according to their EDG/EWG ratio, using L-aspartic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, and L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DBA) as model systems. We confirm that the primary factor limiting device performance is located on the perovskite side rather than the ETL side. Both experimental and theoretical results reveal that the EDG-rich dipolar configuration provides the most efficient defect passivation for perovskite, promotes the growth of high-quality perovskite films, strengthens the interfacial electric field, and accelerates interfacial electron extraction and transport. As a result, the DBA-modified device achieves a champion PCE of 24.18% and maintains 85% of its initial efficiency after 30 days of ambient storage (20-25 °C, 25%-30% relative humidity) without encapsulation, showing excellent long-term stability. This work establishes asymmetric molecular engineering as a key design principle for optimizing the buried interface in high-performance PSCs.

The advancement of infrared detection technologies necessitates the development of novel stealth materials that can actively manipulate thermal signatures. Here, we report a Ti₃C₂T_x/Bi₂Se₃ hybrid designed with high-efficiency photothermal conversion for an active infrared thermal stealth strategy. Bi₂Se₃ was prepared using bismuth on Se nanodisks grown via Cu²⁺-induced strategy, and Ti₃C₂T_x MXene and Bi₂Se₃ were successfully composited through a facile low-temperature ultrasonic process. Owing to the efficient light absorption and charge transfer enabled by the strong interaction between Ti₃C₂T_x MXene and Bi₂Se₃, the Ti₃C₂T_x/Bi₂Se₃ hybrid material exhibited enhanced photothermal conversion, achieving a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of approximately 52.03%, with a standard deviation of 1.67%. In the simulated infrared detection, the Ti₃C₂T_x/Bi₂Se₃-based dummy target gradually concealed the real target in the environmental background within 10 min through photothermal conversion. This work demonstrates a promising active stealth strategy and underscores the potential of MXene-based photothermal hybrids in next-generation infrared camouflage technologies.

Solid-state batteries with lithium-rich manganese layered oxide (LRMO) cathodes, anode-free architectures, and polymer electrolytes offer high energy density and enhanced safety. However, unstable cathode morphology and irreversible redox reactions at the electrolyte-cathode interface lead to severe interfacial degradation and poor cycling stability. Recently, a fluoropolyether-based polymer electrolyte has been developed, which is a copolymer synthesized via in situ polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate and fluorohydrocarbon monomers. Its anion-rich solvation environment drives the in situ formation of fluorine-rich interphases at both electrodes and significantly improves the redox reversibility of LRMO. This quasi-solid polymer electrolyte, containing 30 wt% trimethyl phosphate, enables the LRMO cathode to achieve energy densities of 604 Wh kg^-1 and 1,027 Wh L^-1 in pouch batteries. Despite this progress, practical deployment still requires the development of low-fluorine electrolytes, uniform in situ polymerization in large-format batteries, improved mechanical robustness, and long-term stability with lithium metal and high-voltage LRMO cathodes.