Phase engineering in two-dimensional (2D) materials has attracted significant attention due to their richer phase structures and tunable electrical and optical properties. However, design and synthesis of distinct phase structures have been predominantly explored in atomic crystals and organic molecular crystals, while remaining highly challenging in inorganic molecular crystals (IMCs). Here we report the phase-controllable synthesis of 2DIMC PAs₃S₃ with Pnma and R3m two phases for the first time. Utilizing the kinetics-controlled vertical microspacing sublimation (VMS) method, we found that the mass transfer efficiency is the key factor affecting the phase structure of PAs₃S₃. The R3m phase with the uniform molecular polarization direction, compared to the Pnma phase in which polarization is canceled out, exhibits a stronger second harmonic generation (SHG) signal and larger dipole–dipole interactions. PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical (PFQNM) measurements further show that the Young's modulus of the R3m phase (21.31 GPa) is 69% higher than the Pnma phase (12.6 GPa). Our research provides new ideas for the structural design and property modulation of 2DIMCs and demonstrates their potential applications in nonlinear optics and nano-flexible devices.

The thriving blue economy is undergoing a key strategic shift from nearshore to distant-ocean operations, which has created an urgent demand for stable, independent, and environmentally robust energy supply systems. Traditional infrastructure usually relies on fossil fuels or submarine cables, which are environmentally unsustainable and have high operating and maintenance costs. The existing renewable technology is difficult to operate stably in harsh marine environment for a long time. The extreme dynamic load and corrosive salt fog environment in the ocean will accelerate the degradation of materials and the instability of the system. In order to solve this dilemma, this perspective proposes a paradigm with renewable energy-driven green power supply system as the core. The paradigm framework has four key components: (1) flexible perovskite solar cells (F-PSCs) with long durability and high efficiency realized by active stress release mechanism and advanced packaging; (2) integrated triboelectric nanogenerator-supercapacitor (TENG-SC) devices by codesign and practical strategies for efficient tidal energy harvesting and storage; (3) grid-forming (GFM) control strategies for stabilizing power output and managing multi-physics coupling in low-inertia, power-electronic-dominated offshore microgrids; and (4) AI-driven digital engines accelerates the whole process from inverse design of materials to system-level optimization. This paradigm breaks through the traditional way of pursuing a single technological improvement and focuses on building an integrated energy ecosystem. It provides an actionable solution for practitioners in related fields, and more importantly, it points the way forward for achieving global carbon neutrality and entering a new era of intelligent, resilient, and zero-carbon blue economy.

As a key part of the national economy, the sustainable development of light industry is confronted with problems such as environmental pollution, resource shortage, and high energy consumption. Amyloid-like protein (ALP) assembly-driven functional materials possess excellent biocompatibility, degradability, versatility, and good environmental friendliness, providing a new solution for the sustainable development of the light industry. This article systematically reviews the basic theories and regulatory strategies of ALP assembly, with a focus on introducing the research progress of ALP assembly in fields such as food, packaging, textiles, light industry wastewater treatment, daily chemicals, and biocatalysis. Furthermore, the challenges currently faced by the material in its application, such as material stability, scalable production, and performance regulation, were analyzed, and corresponding solutions were proposed. Finally, the future research directions and application prospects of ALP materials were prospected.

The azo reaction serves as a key approach for integrating high-energy ─N═N─ linkages into energetic materials, enabling precise modulation of their energy output and structural properties. Herein, we systematically explored efficient synthesis strategies for the key energetic material 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-azofurazan (DAAzF) through chemical, electrochemical, and coupled approaches. Chemical oxidation of 3,4-diaminofurazan (DAF) using Ce⁴⁺ achieved an optimal yield of 83.3% and 97.0% purity. A high-performance Ni‒Co₃O₄@CC anode catalyst was developed, demonstrating excellent electrocatalytic activity for DAF oxidation (118.7 mA·cm^‒2) and long-term stability (92.5% Faradaic efficiency after 15 h). To integrate the high yield of chemical synthesis with the environmental benefits of electrochemistry, an innovative coupled system based on the Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox pair was constructed. This modular closed-loop design features an initial reaction chamber, a flow electrolysis cell, and a regeneration chamber, where Ce⁴⁺ is efficiently regenerated on Ni‒Co₃O₄@CC for continuous DAF oxidation. Within 120 min, this coupled system achieved a remarkable cumulative DAAzF yield of 87.46% with 79.95% Faradaic efficiency, significantly outperforming the single electrochemical route (1.62% yield) and the single chemical route (83.3% yield). This work not only provides an innovative and sustainable synthesis pathway for DAAzF but also establishes a versatile green paradigm for preparing other azo-containing energetic materials.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an important green oxidant and a promising liquid energy carrier, yet it is still produced mainly via the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. Photocatalytic synthesis from water and oxygen offers a mild route to H₂O₂ generation and holds promise for on-site production driven by sunlight. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based photocatalysts are particularly attractive because their porosity and optoelectronic structures can be tailored at the molecular level. However, progress is increasingly limited not by the intrinsic activity measured in small-batch experiments, but by device- and reactor-related limitations, including oxygen transport, light utilization, catalyst immobilization and recovery, and suppression of H₂O₂ decomposition during H₂O₂ production. These factors complicate scale-up and hinder meaningful comparisons across studies. This review summarizes COF-based photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis from catalyst design to reactor implementation. We first discuss the main reaction pathways for oxygen reduction and the coupled oxidation reactions and highlight material design strategies in four levels, including framework-level design, active-site engineering, post-synthesis modification and multicomponent COF, and interface engineering of heterostructures that promote charge separation and selective O₂ activation. We further review reactor and device designs that make COF powders into scalable systems. By analyzing reported examples, we classify three representative reactor formats, such as membrane-assisted photoreactors, panel-type photoreactors, and continuous-flow photoreactors. We clearly discuss how each addresses transport and stability bottlenecks to improve H₂O₂ concentration, productivity, and operational stability. We further summarize in situ utilization of photogenerated H₂O₂ in one-pot oxidation and water-treatment processes, linking H₂O₂ generation to practical chemical transformations. Finally, we outline key next steps, including standardized testing and reporting, scalable fabrication of COF-based devices with controlled interfaces, and mechanism-guided modeling under realistic operating conditions, so that COF-enabled solar H₂O₂ production can be evaluated and scaled in practical reactor settings.

Oily sludge (OS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewater represent two of the most hazardous contaminants at petroleum-polluted sites, necessitating integrated strategies for simultaneous solid–liquid phase remediation. This study proposes a sustainable waste-to-resource approach by converting OS into functionalized 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane/co-pyrolytic carbon (APTES/CPC) for the rapid removal of PAHs from wastewater. Results indicate that the adsorption capacity of APTES/CPC is 2.11 times higher than that of co-pyrolytic carbon (CPC). Rapid anthracene adsorption occurs within 1 min, and adsorption equilibrium is reached within 10 min. This demonstrates its potential for emergency treatment of petroleum-contaminated wastewater. Mechanistic studies using density functional theory (DFT) revealed that ethoxy functional groups played a pivotal role by inducing electron relaxation, promoting sp³-like hybridization, and facilitating stable C─C bond formation with anthracene. This shift from physical to chemical adsorption underpins the exceptional kinetics of APTES/CPC. These findings offer a promising strategy for in situ treatment of petroleum-contaminated wastewater using pyrolysis residues derived from OS.

Biochar is a sustainable carbon material whose production represents one of the few recognized carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pathways capable of delivering gigaton (Gt)-scale atmospheric carbon sequestration. Developing industrial-scale technologies for sustainable biochar production is pivotal for enabling global deployment and realizes its full potential. Although the fundamentals and applications of biochar have been extensively reviewed, reviews dedicated to large-scale production technologies and process engineering remain limited. This work comprehensively evaluates thermochemical conversion technologies, pyrolysis reactors, demonstrated successful processes, scale-up challenges, and opportunities for industrial biochar production. This review first outlines thermochemical conversion techniques, pyrolysis mechanisms, and key parameters governing biochar formation. It then critically discusses major reactor configurations, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. It also novelly maps the global implementations of biochar technologies and showcases commercially validated pyrolysis processes. Major scale-up challenges and pathways toward sustainable deployment, including heat and energy management, environmental impacts, application and market dynamics, and CDR benefits, are assessed. Finally, future research directions and engineering strategies required to advance next-generation pyrolysis technologies and sustainable biochar production are identified. This review aims to provide an integrated framework to guide process innovation and accelerate the global deployment of biochar as a Gt-scale CDR solution for climate change mitigation.

As global interest in commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) continues to grow, there is an urgent need to address challenges related to the cost, power, and durability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). In conventional cathode electrodes, the disordered microstructure and tortuous transport pathways result in poor catalyst utilization, sluggish mass transport, and low proton conductivity, ultimately constraining overall performance. Templates with customized patterns to precisely control electrode architectures at the nano- and microscale offer a promising strategy to overcome these limitations. Here, we discuss in depth the motivations for developing structured electrodes as alternatives to conventional electrodes and highlight the importance of their structure-function relationships. Specifically, a comprehensive review is presented on recent advances in the development of template-based structured electrodes, involving template selection, patterning methods, electrode coating techniques, multiscale engineering, and geometric design. The PEMFC performance of various template-based structured electrodes is also summarized and tabulated. Finally, current issues and future research directions are proposed to guide the engineering and application of template-based structured electrodes for next-generation PEMFCs.