To address the limited lithium (Li) storage of graphite anode, Li metal has been explored as a high-capacity alternative. However, its practical use is hindered by dendritic Li growth, leading to rapid degradation and safety risks. Although 3D host structures have been proposed to suppress Li dendritic growth by controlling Li⁺ flux, precise regulation at the sub-nanoscale remains a challenge. In this study, we introduce a porous electrode‒reinforced electric double-layer (PERE) structure featuring sub-nanoscale pores that focus the electric double layer (EDL) within the pore channels. This EDL focusing enables spontaneous Li⁺ accumulation, enabling stable Li deposition. When practically implemented in a battery with a LiFePO₄ (LFP) cathode, the PERE afforded a high specific capacity of 123 mAh g⁻¹ for 250 cycles at 4.0 C. Our approach solved the fundamental problem only by controlling the structure without using anode active materials, thereby improving the sustainability of the battery.

Soft materials, with high elasticity and low glass transition temperatures (T_gs), present significant challenges in fabricating finely structured components via 3D printing due to their inherent softness and slow curing kinetics. Current direct ink writing (DIW) methods for soft polymers typically rely on external stimuli (e.g., light and heat) or precious metal catalysts to ensure structural stability during printing, increasing process complexity and cost. Here, a simple DIW 3D printing strategy for rubber was developed by introducing modified lignin. By virtue of its rigid benzene ring structure and abundant reactive groups, the modified lignin forms covalently bonded crosslinked networks and intermolecular hydrogen bonds with rubber to enhance the viscoelasticity, and thixotropy of the ink. The addition of 30–50 wt% modified lignin increased the modulus of the ink by five orders of magnitude, which resulted in stable self-supported printing during the printing process. Water-collecting materials with a bionic cactus spine structure were fabricated utilizing 3D printing, which demonstrated superior capabilities for efficient fog capturing and photothermal evaporation, respectively. By combining these two water-harvesting methods, a daily cycle can ideally deliver an overall water yield approximately 22 L m⁻², which will providing a high-performance solution for all-weather fresh water access.

The nanoconfined carbon materials has attracted wide attention from academia and industry because they can disperse and stabilize metal nanoparticles through spatial confinement, preventing them from agglomerating and improving their stability and catalytic activity. Herein, in situ encapsulation of Co-N/C nanocatalyst into carbon nanocubes (Co–CNs) was designed and reported for selectively catalytic degradation of sulfadiazine via peroxodisulfate (PDS) activation. This structure of Co–CN-800 played a vital role in intercepting natural organic matters and access of target contamination for achieving selective degradation of target contamination. The electron paramagnetic resonance result and quenching experiments confirmed that O₂•⁻ and ¹O₂ are the primary reactive oxygen species in the Co–CN-800/PDS system. The specific parameters (such as E_HOMO and ionization potential) of organic pollutants were found to be highly relevant to the ln k_obs values of the removal of organic pollutants by Co–CN-800/PDS system. This suggested that the occurrence of electron transfer between PDS and pollutants, which was verified by electrochemical analysis, seemed to play a crucial role in their degradation kinetics in Co–CN-800/PDS system. Seed germination test and ecological structure–activity relationship model had confirmed the bio-toxicity of SDZ to aquatic organism and wheat seeds was strongly decreased to ecological environment safety standards after treatment by Co–CN-800/PDS system. For the real wastewater, the total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand of raw pig effluent decreased by 21.4 resp. 30.4%, after treatment by Co–CN-800/PDS system in 60 min.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) requires Pt-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts, which makes current systems costly. Low-cost alternatives have struggled to meet the requirements of both electrocatalytic activity and durability at high-current density operations. Here, we developed phosphorus-modified nickel with ruthenium nanoclusters self-supported on carbon paper (P–NiRu/CP) as efficient HER electrocatalysts. By leveraging metal–organic framework precursors and optimizing the phosphidation process, a dynamic interface between Ru, Ni, and P exhibited optimized hydrogen adsorption/desorption energies and facilitated hydrogen mobility, promoting efficient Tafel recombination. The P–NiRu/CP exhibited an overpotential of 22 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 29 mV dec⁻¹, outperforming benchmark Pt/C. Computational studies revealed that the dynamic interface in P–NiRu/CP enhanced the electrocatalytic activity. When employed as the cathode in a PEMWE single cell (with commercial IrO₂ as the anode) operating with pure deionized water, P–NiRu/CP achieved 2.05 V at 3.0 A cm⁻² with stable operation over 500 h, highlighting P–NiRu/CP as a cost-effective, durable, and scalable electrocatalyst for sustainable hydrogen production.

Enhancing the efficiency of bifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for sustainable water splitting. In this study, the electrochemical performance of Cu-doped mixed spinel cobalt ferrites (CuCoFe) was systematically investigated, focusing on the role of oxygen vacancies in catalytic activity. Cu doping optimized charge transfer modulated the electronic structure and promoted oxygen vacancy formation, collectively enhancing reaction kinetics. Among the synthesized materials, CuCoFe0.5 exhibited the lowest overpotential, with 280 mV for OER and −143 mV for HER, alongside a cell voltage of 1.66 V during 20 h of continuous water splitting. The appreciable catalytic performance of CuCoFe0.5 was attributed to its enhanced electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) and abundant oxygen vacancies, which serve as active sites for HER and OER. Furthermore, its long-term stability highlights its potential as a durable electrocatalyst. The electrochemical performance forecasting (30%) was done using LSTM memory cell. Overall, study underscores the critical role of oxygen vacancies in improving catalytic efficiency, offering valuable insights for designing next-generation spinel ferrite-based electrocatalysts for water splitting.

Synthetic materials decorated with hydrogel coatings can accommodate the requirements of biological tissues for biocompatibility, lubricity, and flexibility. Nevertheless, these features may be subject to deterioration under long-term severe friction conditions. Inspired by Ambystoma mexicanum, a regenerative hydrogel coating to circumventing existing notions of wear resistance is presented, which can maintain a long-term lubricated and soft surface through the utilization of increment substances under abiotic mechanisms. The term regenerative refers to a process of directional differentiation without the use of external raw materials, whereby a hydrophobic plastic (PDHEA) is transformed into a hydrophilic hydrogel (PHEA) coating in response to external stimulation. Such a regenerative hydrogel coating can not only be repaired after local wear and reborn after full wear, but also be adjusted with the thickness and mechanical properties according to specific engineering requirements during differentiation. Furthermore, the regenerative hydrogel coating is applied for the surgery of artificial cartilage, with potential clinical applications such as long-acting protection of bone tissue.

The efficient recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate), the most extensively produced plastics, is essential for reducing global carbon emissions and the current dependence on fossil resources. However, the chemical recycling of polyesters primarily involves polymer-to-monomer and monomer-to-polymer processes, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions owing to significant electricity and fuel consumption. Herein, this research reports a simple and efficient one-pot polymer-to-polymer upcycling process that directly converts these two polyester wastes into biodegradable thermoplastic poly(ether ester)s using poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMG). The synthesized series of poly((ET-co-BT)-mb-PTMG) (PEBTG) exhibit a maximum tensile strength of 68 MPa, with 85% weight loss after 20 weeks in composted soil. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment indicate that PEBTG is more cost-competitive and environmentally beneficial than currently existing plastics derived from fossil fuels, such as polypropylene and polybutylene adipate terephthalate. Once de-risked, the proposed upcycling strategy for polymer waste can be extended to expedite the development of a sustainable plastic economy.

Magnesium hydride (MgH₂) has been regarded as an attractive candidate for solid-state hydrogen storage, yet its practical applications are limited by the requirement of elevated temperatures and sluggish hydrogen uptake and release kinetics. Herein, TiO₂ polyhedral frameworks with uniformly distributed V₂O₅ (denoted as V₂O₅/TiO₂) are constructed to improve hydrogen storage performance of Mg/MgH₂. During the reversible hydrogenation and dehydrogenation process, metallic V and Ti along with low-valent Ti- and V-based oxides are in situ formed. Among them, metallic V supported on TiO₂ exhibits the lowest hydrogen adsorption energy, enabling superior catalytic performance over TiO₂ and V₂O₅. As a result, the peak dehydrogenation temperature of MgH₂ decreases to 215°C, 105°C lower than that of pristine MgH₂, with a decrease of the apparent activation energy from 139.50 kJ·mol⁻¹ to 68.99 kJ·mol⁻¹. Moreover, electron migration from V toward TiO₂ leads to charge accumulation around Ti and O atoms, shifting the V 3d-band center toward the Fermi level and thereby improving the catalytic function of V's d-electrons, facilitating hydrogen dissociation without energy barriers. Therefore, the V₂O₅/TiO₂-catalyzed Mg absorbs 4.12 wt% H₂ under an ultralow pressure of 1 bar at 25°C. This provides a new strategy for developing advanced Ti and V-based catalysts for mild-condition hydrogen storage of MgH₂.

Tin (Sn)-based halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer a promising lead-free alternative with favorable bandgaps and strong absorption, yet their performance is limited by substantial open-circuit voltage (V_oc) and fill factor (FF) losses. This review examines the primary origins of V_loss, mainly non-radiative recombination associated with undercoordinated Sn sites, deep-level defects, and the oxidation of Sn²⁺, all of which elevate defect densities and accelerate recombination. FF degradation is further linked to Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) trap-assisted recombination, reflected in increased ideality factors. The review also highlights advanced characterization approaches thermal admittance spectroscopy, drive-level capacitance profiling, and emerging machine-learning tools for probing carrier dynamics and quantifying non-radiative pathways. Although progress has been made, matching the V_oc and FF of Pb-based PSCs remains challenging due to the intertwined effects of oxidation chemistry, defect physics, and interfacial energetics. Recent strategies, such as molecular coordination, surface passivation, compositional engineering, and optimized charge-transport interlayers, show promise in suppressing recombination and improving energy alignment. Continued advances in defect passivation, oxidation control, and interface engineering are expected to be key to enabling efficient and environmentally sustainable Sn-based photovoltaic technologies.

Lignin, an abundant and renewable aromatic biopolymer, has emerged as a promising sustainable material for next-generation energy storage and conversion technologies. Rich in redox-active phenolic and quinone groups, pristine lignin can be directly utilized, without energy-intensive carbonization, as a redox-active component in batteries and supercapacitors. Beyond electrodes, lignin has shown potential in electrolytes, redox flow batteries, and fuel cells, owing to its redox versatility and chemical tunability. Recent advances in composite design and hybridization with conductive materials have significantly enhanced its electrochemical performance, stability, and processability. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis further confirm the environmental and economic viability of lignin-based systems, highlighting substantial reductions in carbon footprint and production costs compared with fossil-derived alternatives. This review underscores the role of pristine lignin as a low-impact, scalable material for sustainable energy technologies, supporting the transition to a circular, carbon-neutral future.

In this study, we propose a sedimentation-driven fabrication process of a single-layered seamless touch position sensor based on the transformation of a sol-state precursor into a bifunctional composite using a carbon nanomaterial-incorporated silicone elastomer. The proposed fabrication method is based on the spontaneous gravitational sedimentation effect without additional post-processing. The concentration of the carbon nanomaterials in each part can be controlled by the main process parameters, such as the temperature and composition ratio. The developed touch position sensor, called a Bifunctional composite-based Single-layered seamless Triboelectric touch position sensor (BST sensor), includes dielectric and conductive parts in a single layer, and generates an electrical signal in response to external mechanical stimuli by a self-powered mechanism. The electrical output signal is measured differently depending on the distance from the touch position to the measurement position, and therefore, the seamless touch position sensing can be realized without an array of multiple sensor units. Moreover, the BST sensor allows the sensing surface to be discretized into on-demand resolutions and patterns. The sensing accuracy is 98.52% when a deep learning-based signal processing is used. Various BST sensors with flexible resolutions and patterns are introduced, and their application strategies are suggested as proof-of-concept demonstrations.