Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to CH₄ is regarded as one of the most promising strategies for mitigating environmental and energy challenges, offering a sustainable pathway toward achieving carbon neutrality. However, its practical application is hindered by low catalytic performance and product selectivity, primarily owing to inefficient electron transfer and insufficient stabilization of key reaction intermediates. Herein, an S-scheme heterojunction of In₂O₃/TiO₂ is synthesized via a two-step method to enhance photogenerated charge carrier separation and transfer. The optimized photocatalyst demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving a CH₄ yield of 64.1 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ accompanied by an ultrahigh electron selectivity of 96.0%. The integration of density functional theory (DFT) calculations with in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analyses demonstrates that the heterojunction significantly enhances CO₂ activation, as evidenced by the upshifted d-band center and increased crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) values. Furthermore, the In₂O₃/TiO₂ heterojunction exhibits enhanced adsorption of CO₂ and key intermediates, thereby improving reaction kinetics and thermodynamics. These properties facilitate the hydrogenation of *COOH, ultimately promoting CH₄ generation. This work not only provides a mechanistic understanding of S-scheme heterojunctions in CO₂ photoreduction but also provides a new design strategy for developing highly efficient photocatalysts.

While sodium metal batteries (SMBs) possess remarkable superiority for next-generation energy storage systems, interfacial reactions, and dendrite growth due to the dissolution of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) have seriously hindered the large-scale application of SMBs, especially at high temperatures. Here, a vinyl ethylene carbonate-based quasi-solid electrolyte (PVEC-QSPE) capable of enhancing the high-temperature stability of Na anodes is successfully synthesized by in situ curing of oligomeric poly(vinyl ethylene carbonate) (PVEC). The increased steric hindrance of PVEC reduces the coordination ability of C═O toward Na⁺, which promotes the cooperative migration of Na⁺ with anions and the decomposition of anions to form the SEI. Furthermore, PVEC-QSPE significantly reduces the dissolution of SEI, which contains more organic components and fewer inorganic components, thereby minimizing the release of gases including CO₂ and inhibiting the growth of sodium dendrites. The stable interface between PVEC-QSPE and Na helps Na|PVEC-QSPE|Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (NVP) batteries to operate stably at high temperatures, whose capacity retention rate reaches 80% at 80°C and 93.3% at 60°C after 3000 cycles employing high rate of 10 C. This work provides an efficient strategy to solve the problems of unstable SEI and dendrite growth, thereby promoting the development of safe and practical SMBs.

Atomic doping is recognized as an effective strategy to enhance the electrochemical performance of hard carbon (HC) in potassium-ion batteries. However, the comprehension of its influence on microstructure remains inadequately understood. Here, we investigate the synergistic effect of structural evolution and performance changes of HC, while comprehensively analyzing the strengthening mechanism of N/S co-doping on potassium-ion storage. N/S can serve not only as active sites for electrochemical redox reactions, but also expand the carbon interlayer spacing while regulating electronic properties, thereby improving diffusion kinetics. Remarkably, the introduction of N/S can adjust the curvature of graphitic microcrystallites, promoting the formation of closed pore structures, which contributes to the pore-filling of quasi-metallic potassium clusters. Multidimensional characterization techniques confirmed the “adsorption-insertion/pore-filling” mechanism for potassium storage in HC. This work establishes a design theoretical framework aimed at enhancing electrochemical performance, offering a theoretical foundation and a selection methodology for the advancement of high-performance HC anode.

Semiconducting phase is extremely rare and difficult to be realized in two-dimensional (2D) aluminum borides. Here, we for the first time report the discovery of a rarely semiconducting allotrope (labeled as AlB₄-1) in 2D AlB₄ nanosheets. This semiconductor is the global minimum structure in 2D space with two layers stacked together connected by strong Al-B bonds. Systematic studies demonstrate the high thermodynamic, lattice dynamic, thermal, and mechanical stabilities of AlB₄-1. More importantly, this semiconducting AlB₄-1 shows fascinating properties and promising applications, such as, the optimal band gap (1.156 eV at HSE06 level), high carrier mobility (up to 3.14 × 10³ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹), substantially high solar energy conversion efficiency (21.9 %) and large optical response (10⁶ cm⁻¹) in the visible region. Extensive studies indiate that h-BN can serve as an effective substrate to support and encapsulate AlB₄-1 with minimal impact on the electronic properties of AlB₄-1, laying the foundation for the real application of AlB₄-1 in electronic devices. Besides this semiconducting phase, other low-lying allotropes (AlB₄-2 to -11) also display high stabilities, exotic properties and diverse applications. For example, the metallic AlB₄-4 shows Dirac cone near Fermi level and superconductivity with T_C as high as 23.4K, which can be substantially enhanced to 34.1K at tensile strain of 11%. These allotropes with different shapes show diverse hypercoordinate motifs with unusual bonding patterns. Comprehensive studies demonstrate that 2D AlB₄ nanosheets is a class of highly stable, multifunctional nanomaterials for diverse applications in electronics, optics, optoelectronics, nanodevices, solar energy conversion, superconductivity, nanomechanics, and so on. The present study will provide useful guidance in fabricating these interesting nanostructures and stimulate both experimental and computational efforts in this direction.

Carbonaceous materials have obtained significant concern due to their low cost and physicochemical stability merits, whereas the comparatively low electrochemical capacity and tardiness dynamics characteristics hinder rapid and sustainable development. Herein, a novel strategy involving the manipulation of sulfur and nitrogen is devised to enhance the reaction dynamics and pseudocapacitance characteristics of carbon nanosheets (S&N-CNS), leading to a superior carbonaceous anode for both potassium (K) and sodium (Na) ion storage. Thus, the well-designed S&N-CNS could demonstrate elevated electrochemical performance, including a high specific capacity of 433.9/523.7 mAh/g at 0.1/0.2 A g⁻¹ and a stable cycling life over 2000/3000 cycles at 5.0 A g⁻¹ for K⁺/Na⁺ storage, respectively. The promoted performance is benefited by the increased charge transfer capacity, active/defect sites, and ion transport dynamics, as confirmed by various electrochemical measurements and theoretical simulation results. Furthermore, the underlying application is conducted by assembling a potassium ion hybrid capacitor with S&N-CNSs and an activated carbon (AC) electrode, which could contribute a high energy density of 124.0 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 165.3 W kg⁻¹ and super cycling life over 4000 cycles. This research contributes to advancing the exploration of carbon anodes and fostering the development of alkali metal ion batteries.

Seawater contains approximately 4.5 billion tons of dissolved uranium, making it a significant potential source of nuclear fuel. However, the low uranium concentration, interference from competing ions, and the complex marine environment pose major challenges to the economic feasibility of uranium extraction. Among various extraction methods, adsorption is considered the most promising due to its low cost, simple operation, and strong adaptability to marine conditions. Current research primarily focuses on developing high-performance adsorbent materials, including polymers, MXene, framework materials, and bio-based adsorbents. To optimize adsorbent performance, efforts are directed toward enhancing adsorption selectivity, increasing functional group utilization, improving adsorption kinetics, and strengthening environmental adaptability. Researchers have explored various strategies to achieve these goals, such as ion imprinting, functional group engineering, and the application of external energy fields (e.g., light, electric fields) to enhance adsorption efficiency and uranium recovery. Although significant progress has been made in laboratory settings, real-world marine applications still face critical challenges, including biofouling resistance, large-scale engineering deployment, and efficient recovery. Future research efforts should focus on developing novel adsorbents, advancing external field-assisted extraction technologies, and optimizing large-scale engineering applications to enhance the practicality of seawater uranium extraction, ultimately making it a viable source of nuclear fuel.

Ionogels have garnered significant attention in soft electronics, sensors, and biomedicine due to their combination of flexibility, thermal stability, and ionic conductivity. Nonetheless, challenges associated with designing ionogels with reliable properties for health monitoring scenarios still remain. This review offers a novel perspective on the development of wearable sensors for health monitoring by comprehensively examining ionogel synthesis methodologies, highlighting critical performance parameters, and exploring underexplored applications. First, the design principles governing polymer network optimization and advanced manufacturing techniques for ionogels are elucidated. Then, the strategies for enhancing critical performance are discussed, followed by an exploration of specific application scenarios, including noninvasive biochemical analysis, real-time motion monitoring, and disease-specific assessments. Finally, an outlook on future challenges and opportunities in the emerging field of ionogels is provided. The establishment of a hierarchical health monitoring framework that integrates molecular-, individual-, and systemic-level perspectives offers readers a unique and in-depth understanding, which advances the comprehension of this emerging field.

Conductive gels are utilized as wearable sensors in flexible electronic materials due to their human skin-like adaptability. However, achieving high strength, durability, and sustainability simultaneously remains a challenge. In this study, a tough, durable, recyclable, green, and multifunctional semi-interpenetrating network organohydrogel was developed and enhanced by lignin@polypyrrole core–shell nanoparticles (LP9). The semi-interpenetrating network organohydrogel was constructed using environmentally friendly poly (vinyl alcohol) and bio-based gelatin. The LP9 was synthesized via in-situ polymerization of pyrrole on lignin nanoparticles, serving as rigid anchors to enhance the gel's properties and eliminate heterogeneity through hydrogen bonding. With 5% of LP9, the organohydrogel (5LP9) demonstrated a tensile strength of 2.5 MPa, elongation of 700%, conductivity of 432 mS/m, and a gauge factor of 1.7 with a good linearity, highlighting its excellent performance as an electronic conductive material. In addition, the organohydrogel exhibited remarkable environmental stability, antimicrobial properties, recyclability, and biocompatibility. When applied to human motion detection, voice recognition, and gesture recognition, the organohydrogel showcased excellent recognition ability, responsive functionality, and long-term monitoring stability. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for developing green and programmable wearable sensors for human–machine interaction, incorporating deep learning such as letter-writing recognition.

Self-healing (SH) polymeric composites hold the promise of revolutionizing material performance and durability, but the challenge lies in achieving a delicate balance between healing efficiency and mechanical strength. Healing processes typically require dynamic, reversible bonds, which can weaken overall material strength, whereas robust materials rely on strong covalent bonds that resist healing. 2D materials offer a solution by acting as nanofillers that not only improve mechanical properties but also introduce multifunctional benefits like electrical and thermal conductivity, responsiveness to stimuli, and enhanced barrier properties. Depending on their surface chemistry, these materials can either actively participate in the healing process or passively reinforce the polymer matrix. This review examines recent advancements in SH polymer composites enhanced with 2D fillers, exploring how factors like filler type, surface interactions, and loading levels impact both healing efficiency and mechanical strength. It compares the contributions of various 2D materials, identifying similarities and critical differences in their roles within polymer matrices. The article also highlights the need for standardized testing and advanced characterization techniques to better understand interfacial properties and healing mechanisms. By addressing current knowledge gaps and proposing future research directions, this review provides a comprehensive resource for advancing SH polymer systems, particularly in the integration of 2D materials for applications ranging from aerospace to electronics.

Inorganic lead halide perovskites, especially CsPbI₃, have witnessed significant progress in photovoltaic field due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties and high thermal stability. However, high-performance inorganic perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) are generally realized by strictly controlling the environmental humidity (mostly lower than 40%) during fabrication, which is undesirable for reducing fabrication cost and promoting further industrial production. Herein, a synergistic in situ hydrolysis polymerization strategy through 3,3,3-(trifluoropropyl)trichlorosilane (TFCS) and (3-2-aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane (AEMS) treatment is reported to prevent water invasion and realize efficient CsPbI₃ IPSCs in highly humid air. TFCS not only regulates the crystallization process via hydrolysis reaction, but also stabilizes the phase structure by passivating the defects and producing a hydrophobic protection layer. Additionally, TFCS facilitates in situ polymerization of upper layer AEMS, thus promoting further enhanced protection of perovskites against ambient moisture. As a result, the CsPbI₃ IPSCs fabricated at 45% humidity exhibit a dramatically improved efficiency of 20.09%, representing a record value for the inverted IPSCs fabricated in air with humidity over 40%. Moreover, the environmental humidity window for device fabrication can be broadened to 60%. This work provides an effective approach to stabilizing air-processed CsPbI₃ and favoring the practical industrial manufacture to further boost their cost-effective applications.