Nano-Micro Letters

A Buried Sulfonate Molecular Bridge for Synchronous Charge Transport and Defect Passivation in High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

Leying Zha — 2026-08-14

The quality of the buried interface between the self-assembled molecules (SAM) and the perovskite layer directly governs the processes of charge carrier transport and non-radiative recombination, which ultimately dictates the efficiency and stability of the inverted perovskite solar cells. However, the simultaneous mitigation of poor SAM layer adhesion and perovskite substrate interface defects remains a significant challenge. Herein, low-cost and readily available 2‑formylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt (2‑FAS) is employed as a bifunctional interlayer to molecularly bridge the SAM and perovskite. The benzene ring of 2‑FAS interacts via π–π stacking with the SAM, strengthening adhesion and promoting hole transfer, while its sulfonate group (-SO₃⁻) coordinates with Pb²⁺ to regulate crystallization and passivate surface defects. As a result, the 2-FAS-modified devices deliver a champion power conversion efficiency of 26.21%, with a significant fill factor of 86.15%. Furthermore, Na⁺ from 2‑FAS occupies A‑site vacancies in the perovskite lattice, which effectively suppresses ion migration and phase transition, thereby enhancing structural integrity. Benefiting from these combined effects, unencapsulated devices retain over 90% of their initial PCE after 4500 h of storage in a nitrogen atmosphere, demonstrating exceptional long-term stability.

Highlights:
1 Bridging the 2-formylbenzenesulfonic acid salt molecule at the self-assembled molecules/perovskite buried interface enhances charge transfer via π–π stacking and passivates defects via Pb²⁺ coordination, yielding a superior power conversion efficiency of 26.21%.
2 The modified devices demonstrate exceptional storage stability, retaining over 90% of their initial power conversion efficiencies after 4500 h in a nitrogen atmosphere without encapsulation.
3 Na⁺ from 2-formylbenzenesulfonic acid salt effectively occupy A-site vacancies in the perovskite lattice, reinforcing structural stability and substantially improving device longevity.

Enhanced Antibiotics Sieving by Exfoliated TiS2 Membranes via Surface Functionalization and Passivation

Ruixin Yan — 2026-08-14

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanolaminate membranes hold great promise for molecular sieving due to their two-dimensional capillary structures, which facilitate size-restricted diffusion. However, many transition metal sulfides exhibit intrinsic instability and are highly susceptible to oxidation, which severely limits their durability under reverse osmosis operating conditions. In this work, we introduce a stable 1T phase titanium disulfide (TiS₂) constructing nanolaminate membranes from Group IVB, enabling the formation of tunable capillary channels and achieving a permeance up to 46.8 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹. Experiments confirm that water-initiated hydrolysis, rather than direct oxidation by molecular O₂, dominates the degradation of TiS₂, while alkyl-chain hydrophobic barriers effectively suppress this water-triggered degradation. The enhanced surface hydrophobic properties simultaneously improve antioxidation stability and ensure sustained performance over 30 filtration cycles and 15 days of continuous operation. Functionalized membranes further reached 96.9% rejection for diverse antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and rifampicin. This work opens new avenues for exploring emerging TMD materials in the efficient and reliable removal of trace antibiotics from water, contributing to safer water resources and promoting sustainable ecological practices.

Highlights:
1 A facile electrostatic self-assembly strategy simultaneously achieves interlayer expansion and antioxidation passivation of TiS₂ membranes via quaternary ammonium functionalization.
2 The optimized DD-TiS₂ membrane exhibits > 95% antibiotic rejection with high water permeance and retains stable performance over 30 filtration cycles and 15 days of continuous operation.
3 Density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that hydrophobic alkyl-chain barriers suppress water-initiated TiS₂ hydrolysis, while tunable capillary width governs antibiotic rejection via geometric size sieving.

Polar-Twisted Electron-Transport Layer Simultaneously Breaks Efficiency-Flexibility-Cost Limits in Organic Solar Cells

Thi Le Huyen Mai — 2026-08-13

Perylene diimide (PDI)-based electron-transport layers (ETLs) are fundamental in governing charge extraction, interfacial recombination, and the operational longevity of organic solar cells (OSCs), yet their molecular design still lacks transferable principles. Here we present a PDI-ETL molecular design framework that couples bay-position engineering with polar, bulky side-chain modulation to improve additive-free alcohol solubility, suppress over-crystallization, and mitigate oxidative degradation. With this framework, H75-DMA suppresses reactive-oxygen-driven chemical evolution and interfacial trap accumulation, thereby stabilizing interfacial energetics and electron transport. Binary OSCs based on H75-DMA achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) above 20% and exhibit improved mechanical toughness and bending durability in flexible devices. Its smooth, high-surface-energy interface also induces continuous growth of ultrathin metal cathodes, leading to increased light-utilization efficiency in flexible semitransparent OSCs. In addition, H75-DMA enables cathode substitution from Ag to Cu while retaining about 97% of the PCE of the Ag-based devices, thereby improving cost-effectiveness at the device level.

Highlights:
1 A polar-twisted perylene diimide electron-transport layers framework enables additive-free alcohol processing, suppressed over-crystallization, and improved oxidative stability.
2 H75-DMA delivers over 20% efficiency in binary organic solar cells while retaining ~ 80% of its initial power conversion efficiency after 384 h air storage.
3 H75-DMA enhances flexible and semitransparent organic solar cells and enables Ag-to-Cu cathode substitution with 18.65% efficiency, highlighting device-level cost effectiveness while approaching Ag-based performance.

Polymorphic Transformation and Dislocation Regulation in MoS2 Enabled by Electric Field Postprocessing for Enhanced Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Xiangdong Wang — 2026-08-12

Electric field modulation offers a non-contact route to tune electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA) by controlling carrier behavior. However, current in-situ electric field modulation strategies are often hindered by multi-physics factors during synthesis, limiting a deeper understanding of the decoupled mechanism of the electric field. Here, we report a postprocessing strategy that employs direct current electric field to induce d-orbital electron migration, triggering the 2H to 1T-phase transition in MoS₂, accompanied by dislocation generation. On one hand, the increased 1T-phase content optimizes the conductive loss. Meanwhile, the Fermi level mismatch at 2H/1T interfaces creates electron accumulation regions that drive polarization loss. On the other hand, positive and negative charges accumulate on opposite sides of the dislocation lines, forming ordered equivalent dipole arrays, markedly boosting polarization. After treatment at 6 V for 10 min, MoS₂ achieves an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.72 GHz at 2.20 mm, a 440% enhancement relative to the untreated sample. This improvement exceeds the typical 150% to 350% enhancement achieved by most field modulation strategies. This work demonstrates that the electric field postprocessing strategy effectively tailors the phase ratio, defects, and EWA performance of MoS₂, offering a pathway for the design of advanced electromagnetic wave absorbers.

Highlights:
1 A direct current electric field postprocessing strategy enables precise control over the electronic structure and phase ratio of MoS₂.
2 Dislocation induced dipole arrays synergize with sulfur vacancies to enhance dipole polarization.
3 Synergizing multiple loss mechanisms at 6 V for 10 min delivers an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.72 GHz, a 440% enhancement over the untreated sample.

Covalent Organic Framework-Anchored Carbon Nanotubes Enabling Ultra-Thin Robust Polyimide Films for High-Specific-Power Flexible GaAs Solar Cells

Bin Li — 2026-08-10

Free-standing polymer films that are ultra-thin, lightweight, and robust hold significant promise for applications in flexible electronics. However, their performance has been constrained by the challenge of simultaneously enhancing mechanical strength and reducing density. Herein, an ultra-thin and robust polyimide (PI)-based covalent organic framework-modified multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT-COF) film is demonstrated for high-specific-power flexible GaAs solar cells. The film exhibits a high Young’s modulus of 1.53 GPa, a tensile strength exceeding 97.53 MPa, and a low density of 0.73 g cm⁻³, representing a 45.1% reduction in density. The incorporation of 3D interconnected layered and porous MWCNT-COF significantly enhances the film’s mechanical properties while reducing its density. The synergistic effects of robust MWCNTs and covalently bonded COF layers, combined with the thermally stable PI molecular structure, impart exceptional strength and lightness to the film. Computational studies further confirm that COF-grafted MWCNTs effectively modify the polyamide acid matrix, substantially improving the mechanical properties of the PI films. Moreover, flexible dual-junction and triple-junction GaAs solar cells were successfully fabricated using 6 µm-thick MWCNT-COF/PI composite films, delivering outstanding specific powers of 8998 and 7749 W kg⁻¹, along with efficiencies of 26.6% and 31.5% (AM0), respectively. These results underscore the potential for high-performance applications in space and energy systems. This work offers valuable insights into the development of high-performance flexible GaAs solar cells based on ultra-thin and robust PI films for a wide range of applications.

Highlights:
1 A scalable solvothermal route is proposed for directly growing covalent organic framework (COF) shells on carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), yielding MWCNT-COF hybrids with high thermal stability.
2 Polyimide composite films demonstrate a tensile strength of 97.5 MPa, a modulus of 1.53 GPa, and a density of 0.73 g cm⁻³, resolving the strength–density dilemma.
3 Flexible dual-junction and triple-junction GaAs solar cells achieve ultrahigh specific powers of 8998 and 7749 W kg⁻¹, respectively, with minimal performance degradation after 2000 bending cycles at a 10 mm radius.

Layered Defect-Filling co-Assembled Carbazole-Based SAMs Deliver 20% Organic Solar Cells and 17% Mini-Modules

Jingnan Wu — 2026-08-10

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are widely used as hole-transport layers (HTLs) in organic solar cells (OSCs), yet conventional single-component SAMs often form quasi-monolayers with incomplete coverage and interfacial defects that become increasingly detrimental upon device scaling. Here, we develop a co-assembled multilayered SAM (coSAMu) strategy that combines two SAM molecules, 2PACz and 2Cl-4PACz, with distinct dipoles and steric configurations through blend casting and sequential casting. Photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, and molecular simulations support a layered structure in which a chemisorbed, 2PACz-rich bottom layer primarily sets the indium tin oxide (ITO) work function, while a 2Cl-4PACz-rich upper layer fills interfacial voids, improves molecular packing, and passivates defects. Consistent with this picture, coSAMu promotes a more favorable vertical composition near the ITO surface and suppresses trap-assisted recombination, enabling more efficient charge extraction and collection. Consequently, a representative D18:L8-BO OSC incorporating the sequential-cast coSAMu HTL achieves a power conversion efficiency of 20.1% (0.042 cm²), outperforming pristine 2PACz. Importantly, when scaled to a 17.14 cm² mini-module (six serially connected subcells), coSAMu delivers 17.0% efficiency versus 12.2% for the 2PACz control. This work demonstrates controlled multilayer co-assembly as an effective strategy for scalable OSC interface engineering that is broadly applicable to multiple donor–acceptor systems.

Highlights:
1 A sequential co-assembly of 2PACz and 2Cl-4PACz forms densely packed, electronically coupled SAM-based hole-transport layers.
2 The bottom 2PACz-rich monolayer tunes the indium tin oxide work function, while the upper 2Cl-4PACz layer fills interfacial voids, enhances packing, improves coupling with donor polymers, and promotes favorable vertical phase separation.
3 This cooperative interface engineering boosts charge transport and suppresses recombination, enabling organic solar cells to achieve a 20.1% power conversion efficiency and 17.0% mini-modules.

Bioinspired Molecular Magnetic Field-Responsive Catalyst for On-Demand Switching of 2e− and 4e− Oxygen Reduction

Boying Zhang — 2026-08-10

Achieving precise and on-demand steering of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) pathway between the efficient 4e⁻ route to H₂O and the valuable 2e⁻ route to H₂O₂ remains a pivotal challenge in electrocatalysis. Herein, we address this challenge by designing a bioinspired molecular magnetic field-responsive catalyst (MMFR-C) via magnetic single-atom-anchored Salen-based covalent organic frameworks (MSA-Salen COFs) onto magnetic nanoparticles (single/multi-domain Fe₃O₄). Mimicking cytochrome c oxidase, the MMFR-C employs MSA-Salen COFs as an ordered proton-transfer channel and well-defined N₂-M-O₂ moieties as enzymatic O₂ activation sites, with Fe₃O₄ providing a built-in magnetic field for remote regulation of the active-site electronic structure. The bioinspired MMFR-C exhibits switchable ORR pathways. Relative to the pristine Co-Salen COF (26% H₂O₂ selectivity, n = 3.48), the MMFR-C integrated with a single-domain Fe₃O₄ exhibits a remarkably enhanced H₂O₂ selectivity of 63.9% (n = 2.72), while that with a multi-domain Fe₃O₄ diverts the ORR pathway toward the 4e⁻ route (n = 3.67). (i) We elucidate that the uniform magnetic field from the single-domain Fe₃O₄ in MMFR-C favors orbital hybridization between its active N₂-M-O₂ moieties and the *OOH intermediate, with moderate *OOH adsorption suppressing O–O scission and thus steering ORR selectivity toward H₂O₂. (ii) In contrast, the enhanced specific magnetism from its multi-domain Fe₃O₄ core optimizes the d-band center of MMFR-C’s active sites, stabilizes triplet O₂ adsorption, and reduces spin-forbidden transition barriers, thereby facilitating O–O cleavage and diverting its ORR pathway to the 4e⁻ route.

Highlights:
1 The bioinspired molecular magnetic field responsive catalysts were synthesized to selectively switch between the 2e⁻ and 4e⁻ oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) pathways.
2 The molecular magnetic field responsive catalyst integrated with single domain Fe₃O₄ delivers a significantly boosted H₂O₂ selectivity of 63.9% (electron transfer number, n = 2.72), whereas the multi domain Fe₃O₄ incorporated variant effectively redirects the ORR exclusively toward the 4e⁻ pathw ay (n = 3.67).

Atomic High-Spin Cobalt Unlocks Reversible Multi-Electron Transfer Chemistry for Superb Aqueous Zn-Mn Batteries

Yajun Zhao — 2026-08-10

To settle inherent irreversible phase transition and motivate re-dissolution of deposited “dead” MnO₂ without acid and redox mediator addition, we introduced atomic-dispersed Co atoms with high-spin state into layered MnO₂, denoted as Co–MnO₂, via an in situ topological phase transformation strategy, thereby unlocking reversible multi-electron transfer chemistry for superb Zn–Mn batteries. Specifically, atomic-distributed Co atoms within Co–MnO₂ effectively modulate [MnO₆] octahedral symmetry and reduce Co–O bond covalency along with enhanced lattice oxygen activity. Based on this, high-spin Co (t_2g⁴e_g²) greatly mitigates the Jahn–Teller distortion as well as promotes electrolytic MnO₂ deposited onto the cathode surface completely converted from adsorbed Mn²⁺ for inhibited “Mn dendrites”, achieving reversible MnO₂/Mn³⁺ and electrolytic MnO₂/Mn²⁺ reactions with highly thermodynamical favorability. Benefiting from the “two-step, three-electron” mechanism triggered by high-spin Co, Zn//Co–MnO₂ battery delivers an outstanding capacity of 658 mAh g^–1 and ultra-long lifespan over 15,000 cycles. This work reveals the critical role of transition-metal spin state modulation for energy-dense and durable Zn-MnO₂ batteries with reversible multi-electron storage mechanisms.

Highlights:
1 Atomically dispersed high-spin Co atoms embedded in layered MnO₂ are realized via in-situ topological phase transformation from CoMn-LDH.
2 High-spin Co unlocks fast electrode kinetics in Co-MnO₂ by regulating the symmetry of [MnO₆] and providing available excessive electrons to lattice oxygen.
3 The Co-MnO₂ exhibits dual-energy storage mechanisms of MnO₂/Mn³⁺ in bulk and electrolytic MnO₂/Mn²⁺ at interface in Mn²⁺ containing electrolyte.

Decoupling Ion–Dipole Interactions via Competitive Coordination for Durable Dendrite-Free Zinc Metal Batteries

Bixian Chen — 2026-08-10

The aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are famous for high-safety and high-energy-density, but limited by severe challenges around the Helmholtz plane layer such as the strong ion–dipole interactions between Zn²⁺ and H₂O, resulting in slow desolvation processes and limited transport kinetics as well as corresponding higher barriers. To reconstruct the ion–dipole surroundings, the interface chemistry of employing a high permanent dipole moment of L-Carnosine (L-CN) has been proposed, weakening the interactions between Zn²⁺ and H₂O to realize a crowded Zn²⁺-conductive structure, accelerating the desolvation kinetics. As revealed, the strong affinity between L-CN and Zn²⁺ enables the L-CN molecules to repulse H₂O, reconfiguring the inner Helmholtz plane layer, thereby inhibiting the active water molecular to form hydrogen evolution reactions. Consequently, the Zn//Zn symmetric cells with Helmholtz plane modulation achieve a long lifespan up to 7000 h, a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.72%, and a high stabilization at high depth of discharge (85.4%). The assembled Zn//V₂O_5−x full cell with optimal electrolyte delivers the capacity of 289 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹ under an N/P ratio of 3.98. Impressively, the large-scale pouch cell with optimal electrolyte stabilizes for 200 cycles, offering the bright future of reconstructing Helmholtz plane for achieving high-performance AZMBs.

Highlights:
1 A competitive permanent dipole L-Carnosine (L-CN) is introduced to interact with Zn²⁺ in the Zn²⁺–H₂O solvation shell and form Zn²⁺(L-CN)_y(H₂O)_x structure, enhancing the desolvation kinetics of [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and diffusion kinetics of zinc ions/atoms.
2 The L-CN molecule forms a crowded Zn²⁺-conductive structure and remodels the inner Helmholtz plane layer with abundant Zn²⁺ flux, enabling durable dendrite-free Zn deposition.
3 The cells with optimal electrolyte stabilize for 7000 h, a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.72%, and even stabilize over 200 h under a high depth of discharge of 85.4%. The assembled Zn//V₂O_5−x full cell delivers the capacity of 289 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹ under an N/P ratio of 3.98.

Continuous Fabrication of Bioinspired All-Biomass Aerogel Fibers for Thermal Insulation

Meiling Zhou — 2026-08-10

Aerogel fibers have been considered as a promising solution for thermal protection textiles due to their high porosity and low thermal conductivity. However, the scalable production of sustainable and mechanical strong aerogel fibers remains a critical challenge. Here, inspired by the porous core–shell structure of polar bear hair, we report a continuous strategy to fabricate all-biomass aerogel fibers featuring an encapsulated core–shell architecture using silk fibroin as the core and cellulose as the shell. This tunable structure, with radially aligned sheet-like pores and adjustable shell thickness, is achieved through hydrogen bond-driven cellulose contraction and alcohol-induced curing of sheet-like silk fibroin. Such a porous architecture effectively suppresses convective heat transfer and promotes a multi-reflective effect for infrared radiation. The resulting fibers exhibit good mechanical robustness with a tensile load of a single aerogel fiber is up to 200 g without reinforcement. Meanwhile, the aerogel fiber maintains high porosity (79.78%), low thermal conductivity (52.4 ± 4.2 mW m⁻¹ K⁻¹), and low density (0.193 ± 0.01 g cm⁻³). Furthermore, an aerogel glove fabricated from these fibers demonstrates good thermal insulation. These results provide new insights for the design of biomimetic aerogel fibers with core–shell architecture, offering a scalable and eco-friendly pathway toward advanced wearable thermal management.

Highlights:
1 A scalable continuous method was established for fabricating all-biomass aerogel fibers.
2 Hydrogen-bond-driven cellulose shrinkage and alcohol-cured silk fibroin collaboratively enabled the formation of a core-shell aerogel fiber with aligned lamellar pores in the core.
3 The hierarchical aerogel fibers exhibit low thermal conductivity (52.4 ± 4.2 mW m⁻¹ K⁻¹), low density (0.193 ± 0.01 g cm⁻³), excellent mechanical flexibility, wash stability, and effective thermal protection.

Hydrophobic Eutectogels Reinforced by Zn2+-Coordinated Lignin Nanoparticles for Underwater Wearable Electronics

Fuyuan Lu — 2026-08-03

Wearable flexible sensors for underwater communication and biomotion monitoring are gaining attention. However, developing gel-based strain sensors with high toughness, anti-swelling performance, robust underwater adhesion, and long-term stability remains challenging. Herein, we present a hydrophobic eutectogel (DPF-Zn@LNP-HEG) fabricated via the assembly of a polymerizable hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (PHDES), 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate (PEA), and Zn²⁺-coordinated lignin nanoparticles (Zn@LNP). The resulting structure, composed of hydrophobic polymer networks and metal-phenolic complexes, forms hydrophobic microdomains that disrupt the hydration layer and prevent water penetration. Meanwhile, Zn@LNP serve as dynamic sacrificial cross-linkers, enhancing the material’s mechanical strength, energy dissipation, and anti-swelling properties. The resulting eutectogel exhibits remarkable tensile strength (1.14 MPa), superior toughness (3.15 MJ m⁻³), excellent anti-swelling properties (< 1% after 30 days), and robust underwater adhesion (1.07 MPa on glass). Based on these properties, we demonstrate an underwater strain sensor with high sensitivity (gauge factor = 8.12) and long-term stability, enabling underwater Morse code transmission, biomotion monitoring, and Bluetooth-based tracking of swimming movements. This work not only provides a versatile design paradigm for multifunctional underwater sensing platforms but also advances the high-value utilization of bio-based materials in next-generation flexible electronics.

Highlights:
1 A novel deep eutectic solvent with dual functions of hydrophobicity and polymerizability was developed.
2 Zn²⁺-coordinated lignin nanoparticles act as dynamic cross-linkers, significantly enhancing the toughness, energy dissipation, and swelling resistance of hydrophobic eutectogels.
3 Hydrophobic microdomains formed synergistically by polymer networks and metal-phenolic complexes disrupt the hydration layer on the gel surface, thereby preventing water penetration into the network.

Ultralow Noise Orthogonal Fluxgates Enabling Weak Magnetic Field and Biomolecular Detection

Xiaofeng Pu — 2026-08-03

Noninvasive detection of ultra-weak biomagnetic signals is crucial for modern biosensing, but conventional magnetic sensors are fundamentally limited by intrinsic noise. Orthogonal fluxgates (OFGs) enable high signal-to-noise-ratio detection of weak magnetic fields, yet their performance is still constrained by intrinsic 1/f noise and Barkhausen-related magnetic fluctuations. This study reports a low-noise orthogonal fluxgate in which a newly designed magnetic core and circuit mitigate existing noise limitations. The CoP/Ag composite core, featuring an amorphous-nanocrystalline dual phase, is associated with reduced low-frequency magnetic loss and improved noise performance. When integrated with a closed-loop feedback, the sensor achieves a noise floor of 8 pT/√Hz at 1 Hz. The sensor enables reliable detection of ultralow-concentration magnetic-bead signals. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was used as a model biomarker in an immunomagnetic bead assay, yielding a linear response from 50 fg mL⁻¹ to 100 ng mL⁻¹ and a detection limit of 50 fg mL⁻¹, which compares favorably with representative reported AFP magnetic biosensors. OFGs demonstrate strong prospects in biosensing, geomagnetic measurements, and weak field detection.

Highlights:
1 A low-noise orthogonal fluxgate was developed using a CoP/Ag composite core with an amorphous-nanocrystalline dual-phase structure.
2 The amorphous–nanocrystalline core is associated with reduced magnetic loss and improved domain regularity and, together with closed-loop feedback, enables a noise floor of 8 pT/√Hz at 1 Hz.
3 The sensor enables Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) immunomagnetic detection with a linear range of 50 fg mL⁻¹–100 ng mL⁻¹ and a detection limit of 50 fg mL⁻¹, demonstrating competitive sensitivity for AFP immunomagnetic detection.

Atomic and Molecular Structure Regulated In Situ Cross-Linked Polyurethane Gel Electrolyte for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries

Jialun Ni — 2026-08-03

The incompatibility of conventional electrolytes with high-voltage cathodes and lithium metal anodes limits the performance of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Here, an in situ cross-linked polyurethane gel electrolyte (G-P3 AR) is designed through atomic and molecular structure regulation. The polyester segments widen the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap, extending the electrochemical stability window to 4.97 V for compatibility with NCM811 cathodes. Polyether segments exhibit a lower Li⁺ binding energy, reducing the desolvation barrier and enhancing anode stability. At the atomic level, sp²-hybridized boron in the chain extender immobilizes anions (TFSI⁻ and DFOB⁻) through Lewis acid–base interactions, raising the Li⁺ transference number to 0.78 and enabling exceptional rate capability (157.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 C in the Li||NCM811 cell). Hydrogen bonding between the polymer and solvent restructures the solvation sheath, promoting inorganic-rich interphases. The Li|G-P3 AR|NCM811 cell retains 81.7% capacity after 500 cycles at 0.5 C charge/1 C discharge, demonstrating a rational electrolyte design strategy for high-performance LMBs.

Highlights:
1 Hybrid polyester/polyether segments simultaneously enable high-voltage stability (4.97 V) and fast Li⁺ desolvation in Li||NCM811 batteries for both cathode and anode compatibility.
2 The sp²-hybridized boron Lewis acid centers anchor anions via acid-base interactions, boosting Li⁺ transference number to 0.78 and enhancing rate capability (157.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 C).
3 Hydrogen bonding restructures solvation sheath, promoting anion-derived inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase/cathode electrolyte interphase that delivers 81.7% capacity retention after 500 cycles.

Biomimetic Gradient Porous Core–Shell Fibers with Enhanced Gas Sensing for CO-Temperature Dual-Mode Early Fire Warning

Lele Huang — 2026-08-03

Early fire detection systems that are highly sensitive are essential for reducing the impact of fire disasters. However, their development still faces significant challenges due to the lack of capability for simultaneous monitoring of both temperature and gas. Herein, we propose a facile coaxial wet-spinning strategy to fabricate a dual-parameter fiber sensor capable of simultaneously detecting carbon monoxide (CO) and temperature for early combustion warning. The resulting core–sheath structured fiber consists of a CO sensing sheath made of SnO₂/In₂O₃ heterojunction/aramid nanofiber (ANF)/silver nanowire composite with biomimetic gradient pores, an ANF isolation layer, and a temperature sensing core composed of MXene. The gradient porous sheath constructed by gradient-induced phase separation technology exhibits gradually decreasing pore sizes from outer (> 10 μm) to inner (< 3 μm) regions. This structure demonstrates a significant enhancement in the fiber sensor’s sensitivity to CO, achieving a 15% higher response compared to non-gradient porous structures (ΔR/R₀ = 0.95%/ppm; detection limit of 10 ppm), with the response time reduced to 19.28 s, surpassing the response speed of most fire-warning fibers. Additionally, this fiber sensor can rapidly monitor abnormal temperature increases, enabling flame alarm functionality within 3 s. It also achieves precise real-time temperature detection within the range of 50–300 °C, exhibiting high sensitivity (20.6 μV K⁻¹) and a strong linear correlation (R² = 0.99). This work highlights the significant potential of gradient pore in enhancing CO sensing and offers a novel perspective for the design of ultrafast early fire-warning fiber sensors.

Highlights:
1 A biomimetic gradient porous core–shell fiber with enhanced gas-sensing capabilities for CO-temperature early fire warning is fabricated via a coaxial wet-spinning technology.
2 The gradient porous sheath with SnO₂/In₂O₃ heterojunction endows enhanced CO gas-sensing performance with high sensitivity, low detection limit and improves the CO respond of by 15%.
3 The CO-temperature dual-mode sensing fiber integrated with a wireless early fire-warning system achieves a rapid respond to fire in ~3 s and detects 10 ppm CO gas within 19 s.

Interface Contact Optimization via Phosphomolybdic Acid Enables 24.9% Efficiency in MoOX-Based Silicon Solar Cells

Shaopeng Chen — 2026-07-31

The development of cost-effective carrier-selective passivating contacts is critical for enhancing the commercial feasibility of silicon compound solar cells. Molybdenum oxide (MoO_X) has garnered considerable interest as a promising hole transport layer (HTLs). A key advantage of MoO_X is high work function, in addition to the low-cost processability. However, in silicon photovoltaics, MoO_X-based p-type contacts face fundamental limitations at hydrogenated amorphous silicon (i-a-Si:H)/MoO_X interface, where oxygen vacancy defects lower work function, as well as, weak van der Waals-dominated interactions impair charge carry transport. To address these challenges, we introduced an ultrathin phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) interlayer at the i-a-Si:H/MoO_X interface. PMA passivated oxygen vacancy defects, resulting in a notable improvement in open-circuit voltage from 713 to 730 mV, and 0.11 eV work function elevation via dipole formation; meanwhile, PMA strengthened the interfacial bonding energy, reducing saturation current density and contact resistance by 63% and 24%, respectively, contributing to a fill factor enhancement from 83.7% to 84.9%. In the end, we demonstrated a record efficiency of 24.9% for MoO_X-based silicon solar cells, which provides valuable insights for developing high-performance MoO_X HTL devices for dopant-free p-type contact technologies.

Highlights:
1 We present a novel phosphomolybdic acid (PMA)/MoO_X that overcomes the intrinsic passivation and transport limitations of transition metal oxides in silicon photovoltaics.
2 PMA acts as a dual-functional modifier, creating a strong interface dipole (6.34 D) and reducing the tunneling barrier, which lowers the contact resistance by 24%.
3 The optimized dopant-free contact achieves a record-breaking efficiency of 24.9%, high-performance silicon solar cells.

Covalent Organic Framework Membranes through Sequential Imine Exchange for Precise Molecular Separation

Tingyuan Wang — 2026-07-30

Covalent organic framework (COF) membranes with high crystallinity hold great promise in precise molecular separation, but often suffer from the intercrystalline defects and thus poor membrane-formation ability. This study reports a sequential imine exchange strategy to fabricate highly crystalline, defect-free COF membranes for precise molecular separation. Two functional amines (aromatic and aliphatic amines) are employed in highly reversible imine exchange reaction to separately conduct crystallization and defect remedy processes according to their different energy gaps. Aromatic amine, which serves as COF framework building unit, undergoes the first-step imine exchange for high crystallinity because of its lower energy gap. Afterward, the hyperbranched aliphatic amine with abundant amino groups undergoes the second-step imine exchange, affording the tight connections between adjacent crystals and the excellent membrane-formation ability. Accordingly, the COF membrane exhibits high permeance (344 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ for water, 462 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ for methanol) and rejection (> 99.9% for Congo red and Alcian blue). Meanwhile, the membrane is endowed with an ultrahigh separation factor (> 528) for mixed dye aqueous solutions and large-scale processability (> 290 cm²). This work offers a new strategy to fabricate highly crystalline and defect-free COF membranes, revealing their large potential in diverse practical applications.

Highlights:
1 A sequential imine exchange strategy is first proposed for the fabrication of highly crystalline and defect-free covalent organic framework (COF) membranes.
2 Sequential exchange of two functional amine monomers with distinct exchange energy gaps enabled controlled crystallization and membrane formation, allowing large-area membrane fabrication (> 290 cm²) within 3 h.
3 The fabricated COF membranes exhibited high permeance (344 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ for water and 462 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹ for methanol), high rejection (> 99.9% for Congo red and Alcian blue 8GX), and an ultrahigh separation factor (> 528) for mixed dye aqueous solutions.

Rheologically Engineered 3D-Printed Highly Loaded Magneto-Dielectric Absorbers for Device-Level Electromagnetic Compatibility

Yuheng Jiang — 2026-07-30

Highly loaded magneto-dielectric composite systems are promising for achieving strong electromagnetic loss and structural design flexibility, yet their processability and geometric controllability remain extremely challenging. Herein, a rheologically engineered direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing strategy is developed. Graphene (Gr) is introduced to reconstruct the particle-loading network, which synergistically improves the ink’s yield behavior, shear-thinning property, structural recovery, and a magnetic–dielectric synergistic loss system is constructed with carbonyl iron powder (CIP). The critical CIP content (~ 84.06 wt%) is determined by the yield model, and a tunable Gr/CIP (GC) composite ink is obtained. The correlation among rheological response, geometric fidelity, and temporal stability is established, enabling high-fidelity 3D-printed gradient honeycomb structures. The rationally designed 3D-printed GC honeycomb (GCH) absorber achieves an effective absorption bandwidth of 18 GHz–4 THz, with an RL_min of − 84.30 dB at a thickness of 2.6 mm. When integrated into device-level terahertz reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), the GCH absorber contributes to a ~ 3.3 dBi main lobe gain enhancement, 1.9–3.3 dB sidelobe suppression, and a ~ 58% reduction in reflection beamwidth, showing excellent electromagnetic compatibility performance for communication, imaging, and radar. This work offers a practical strategy for the structural fabrication and device integration of high-load magneto-dielectric synergistic absorbers.

Highlights:
1 A rheologically engineered approach enables the 3D printing of high-loading (~84.06 wt%) magneto-dielectric composite inks, with quantitative composition–rheology–printability relationships established.
2 3D-printed GC honeycomb (GCH) absorber achieves ultra-broadband absorption covering 18 GHz–4 THz, with reflection loss (RL) ≤ − 10 dB and RL_min of − 84.30 dB in the terahertz band.
3 The monolithic integration of the GCH absorber with a terahertz reconfigurable intelligent surface delivers a 3.3 dBi increase in main lobe gain and ~58% reduction in specular reflection beamwidth.

Redox-Active Ligand-Stabilized Lithium Iron Phosphate Nanoparticles for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode with High Capacities and Long-Term Stability

Jiwon Bok — 2026-07-30

Developing cathodes that simultaneously deliver high capacity, superior rate capability, and long-term cycling stability remains a major challenge in lithium-ion batteries. Here, we report a high-performance textile cathode constructed via interfacial interaction-mediated assembly of high-energy porphyrin (PP) ligand-stabilized LiFePO₄ nanoparticles (LFP NPs). For this, 19 nm LFP NPs with olivine-type intercalation mechanism were covalently integrated with amine-functionalized PP to enable multi-electron redox activity, followed by encapsulation with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) multilayers. Subsequent thermal annealing transformed the MWCNT layers into a covalently cross-linked conductive network. As a result, the textile cathode delivers an unprecedented specific capacity of ~260 mAh g⁻¹ at ~0.1 C, excellent rate capability, and retains over 93% of its initial capacity after 2,000 cycles at 1 C with nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. This work highlights interfacial interaction-mediated ligand assembly as a powerful strategy for next-generation high-capacity and durable cathodes.

Highlights:
1 High-energy porphyrin ligand-stabilized LiFePO₄ (LFP) nanoparticles act as cathode components delivering high capacity and outstanding cycling stability.
2 Interfacial interaction–mediated assembly effectively prevent the dissolution of porphyrin in electrolyte solution.
3 The specific capacity and stability of cathodes based on high-energy LFP nanoparticles surpass those of traditional Ni-rich oxide and LFP cathodes.

Zwitterionic Ionogels Resolving the Trade-Off Between Mechanical Strength and Autonomous Self-Healing for Iontronics

Zhengyang Kong — 2026-07-30

Simultaneously achieving mechanical robustness and autonomous self-healing in ionogels remains a fundamental challenge for durable, skin-like electronics. Conventional approaches often improve mechanical strength by introducing rigid or densely cross-linked polymer networks, but such strategies inevitably restrict polymer chain mobility and hinder dynamic bond reconfiguration required for healing. Here, a zwitterionic side-chain engineered tough ionogel (ZESTI) is developed to overcome this trade-off through molecular-level design. Hydrophilic zwitterions are covalently grafted onto a hydrophobic polyurethane backbone to preferentially interact with the ionic liquid through ion–dipole interactions and thereby regulate its distribution. This architecture simultaneously facilitates dipole–dipole interactions for mechanical reinforcement and ion–dipole coordination for efficient self-healing under ambient conditions. As a result, ZESTI exhibits an exceptional combination of tensile strength (10.40 MPa), stretchability (1606%), toughness (56.03 MJ m⁻³), and ambient self-healing efficiency exceeding 83%, while maintaining high ionic conductivity via enhanced ion hopping. When constructed as a self-reporting packaging interface, ZESTI provides stable protection and state perception under sharp contact and restores signal output after mechanical damage through self-healing. This work offers a generalizable design strategy that reconciles mechanical toughness with dynamic functionality in ionogels, establishing a general design paradigm for next-generation self-sustaining iontronic devices.

Highlights:
1 Zwitterionic side-chain engineered tough ionogel (ZESTI) resolves the trade-off between mechanical toughness and autonomous self-healing through zwitterionic side-chain engineering.
2 Synergistic dynamic ion–dipole and dipole–dipole interactions enable robust mechanical reinforcement, efficient ion transport, and room-temperature self-healing.
3 ZESTI-based iontronic devices exhibit reliable sensing performance and functional recovery after mechanical damage.

From Screening to Site Control: Phytic-Acid Mediated P-Tuning of M–N Coordination to Balance Iodine Adsorption and Stability in Zn–I2 Batteries

Yuxuan Jiang — 2026-07-30

Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (AZIBs) show promise for grid-scale energy storage, but they are hampered by polyiodide shuttling, sluggish iodine redox kinetics, and irreversible active-site poisoning caused by uncontrolled adsorption. We provide a comprehensive screening of M₁ (M₁ = P, S, B) heteroatom dopants, and P is identified as the best candidate for achieving coordination-tuned, moderate adsorption that balances adsorption and catalytic activity while mitigating site poisoning. Using phytic acid as both the P source and an etchant, we create a universal in situ approach to core–shell single-atom catalysts (M₂-P-CSNC, M₂ = Fe, Co, Ni). The unique core–shell structure achieves stable confinement of polyiodides, rapid ion transport, and protection of active sites, while in situ P doping precisely regulates the local electronic environment and d-band center of the Fe–N_x active centers. In situ characterization confirms that Fe–P-CSNC has a strong reversible anchoring ability for polyiodides, which can significantly accelerate redox kinetics. The optimized Fe–P-CSNC/I₂ exhibits almost no capacity decay after 20,000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g⁻¹. This work’s facile heteroatom doping strategy for electronic modulation offers a reference for high-performance catalyst design in conversion-type energy storage systems.

Highlights:
1 Systematic B/S/P heteroatom screening identifies P doping as the optimal strategy to realize coordination-tuned moderate iodine adsorption, addressing the critical adsorption-catalysis imbalance in Zn-I₂ batteries.
2 A universal phytic acid-assisted one-step strategy is developed to fabricate core-shell single-atom catalysts, with synchronous P doping, cavity construction and metal site atomic dispersion.

Biomimetic PD-1-Functionalized Immunostimulatory Nanomedicine Enables STING Activation and Durable Antitumor Immunity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Yanbing Cao — 2026-07-30

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) responds poorly to immune checkpoint blockade, largely because of an immunologically cold tumor microenvironment (TME) characterized by deficient antigen presentation and impaired cytotoxic T cell responses. Analysis of numerous HCC clinical cohorts, including our institutional datasets, reveals that stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway activity is positively correlated with patient survival, enhanced antigen presentation capacity, and an immune-activated TME. However, achieving effective and controllable STING activation in immune-cold HCC tumors remains challenging. Here, we develop a biomimetic nanomedicine that integrates photothermal therapy (PTT), STING pathway activation, and immune checkpoint blockade to treat refractory HCC. A coordination nanomedicine MCI-NP is engineered by co-encapsulating the STING agonist MSA-2 and indocyanine green (ICG) via Cu²⁺-mediated chelation, enabling stabilized PTT-induced immunogenic cell death together with robust STING-driven innate immune activation. Further cloaked with PD-1-overexpressing cell membranes, MCI-NP@mPD-1 achieves an approximately fivefold increase in tumor accumulation compared with uncoated MCI-NP and enables localized PD-1/PD-L1 axis blockade. Following a single treatment, MCI-NP@mPD-1-based photothermal immunotherapy effectively suppresses primary tumor growth and significantly prolongs survival by remodeling the TME toward an immune-active state, while inducing durable systemic immune memory that effectively limited postoperative lung metastasis. Without introducing additional nanocarriers or excipients, MCI-NP@mPD-1 offers a promising therapeutic paradigm for photothermal immunotherapy of immune-cold HCC.

Highlights:
1 Clinical cohort analyses identify stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling as a key determinant of immune responsiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing a data-driven rationale for nanomedicine design.
2 A carrier-free coordination nanomedicine co-assembles MSA-2 and indocyanine green to couple photothermal-induced immunogenic cell death with STING activation, while PD-1 membrane camouflage enables ~fivefold tumor accumulation and localized checkpoint blockade.
3 This integrated strategy converts immune-cold HCC into an immune-active state, achieving durable tumor control and systemic immune memory against metastasis.

Bolstered Interfacial Field Chemistry for Deep Fast-Charging Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

Minxi Sun — 2026-07-29

Deep fast-charging capability has become the core pursuit for practical applications of aqueous zinc metal batteries, yet it is critically impeded by unfavorable interfacial field evolution at the electrode/electrolyte interface under high-current–density conditions. The coexistence of sluggish Zn²⁺ desolvation, competitive H₂O reduction corrosion, uneven electric field, and concentration field collectively leads to poor rate performance. To tackle these issues, a bolstered interfacial field chemistry strategy was developed via sulfosuccinic acid to precisely regulate the physicochemical and electrochemical properties within the inner Helmholtz plane. The tuned interfacial field comprises a homogeneous distribution of interfacial ions and electric fields, promoting fast desolvation and interfacial electron transfer. Consequently, the modified Zn||Cu asymmetric cells deliver an outstanding average Coulombic efficiency of 99.48% over 1600 cycles at 2 mA cm⁻² and 1 mAh cm⁻². Furthermore, the modified Zn||Zn symmetric cells demonstrate exceptional stability under challenging conditions of 5 mA cm⁻², 2 mAh cm⁻² (over 1600 h), and 10 mA cm⁻², 10 mAh cm⁻² (over 675 h, depth of discharge = 17.08%). Impressively, a substantial cumulative capacity of 3500 mAh cm⁻² is attained at 10 mAh cm⁻² and a 56.93% Zn utilization rate. Besides, the enhanced Zn (10 µm) ||I₂ (10.87 mg cm⁻²) full cell sustains over 1490 cycles at 1 A g⁻¹ with 77.13% capacity retention and a harsh N/P ratio of 2.31. Remarkably, the Zn (10 µm) ||I₂ pouch cell achieves over 680 cycles with an ultralow N/P ratio of 2.04.

Highlights:
1 A sulfosuccinic acid-enabled interfacial field chemistry strategy is developed to regulate the inner Helmholtz plane, which homogenized ion/electric distribution, thus accelerating Zn²⁺ desolvation and charge transfer under high current density.
2 This strategy enables superior reversibility and ultralong stability in Zn||Zn cells, simultaneously meeting the requirements of high current density and deep discharge.
3 The optimized Zn (10 µm) ||I₂ full cells deliver over 1490 cycles (N/P = 2.31) and 680 cycles in pouch cells (N/P = 2.04), respectively.

Dual-Ion Co-Storage via Solvation Structure Tuning Toward Ultrafast and Durable Zinc-Organic Batteries

Si Liu — 2026-07-28

Aqueous Zn-organic batteries are promising due to the sustainability and tunability of organic cathodes. However, the critical challenge in their practical application lies in dissolution, degradation, and sluggish kinetics, ultimately degrading the cycling stability and rate capability. Herein, we demonstrate a simple effective electrolyte engineering strategy by introducing potassium chloride (KCl) as a co-solute into the ZnCl₂ electrolyte to achieve high-performance Zn batteries utilizing 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) as the cathode. Experimental studies and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that KCl addition not only enhances electrolyte conductivity but also modulates Zn²⁺ solvation environment to form [Zn(H₂O)₂Cl₄]²⁻, significantly improving ion diffusion kinetics. Consequently, the Zn//PTCDA in the ZnCl₂-KCl electrolyte exhibits a remarkable capacity of 124.7 mAh g⁻¹ with an average voltage of 0.65 V, exceptional rate performance (56% capacity retention at 30 A g⁻¹), and prolonged cycling performance (90.9% retention after 10,000 cycles). Experimental and density functional theory mechanistic studies unveil a new reversible Zn²⁺/K⁺ co-storage mechanism in the PTCDA cathode, where K⁺ acts as a charge shield and structural pillar, synergistically decreasing the ion migration energy barrier, enhancing reaction kinetics, and stabilizing the cathode structure. This work elucidates dual-ion storage chemistry and highlights rational electrolyte design for durable, high-power metal–organic batteries.

Highlights:
1 Introducing KCl into ZnCl₂ electrolyte induces salting-out and suppresses 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) dissolution.
2 The reversible Zn²⁺/K⁺ co-storage mechanism of the PTCDA cathode was unveil.
3 The assembled Zn//PTCDA battery exhibits superior electrochemical performance.
4 A high capacity of 124.7 mAh g⁻¹ (91.7% of the theoretical capacity) at 1 A g⁻¹ is achieved.

Correction: Copper-Based Targeted Nanocatalytic Therapeutics for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Yongfei Fan — 2026-07-28

Conventional treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suffer from low remission rates, high drug resistance, and severe adverse effects. To leverage the therapeutic potential of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nanocatalytic medicine utilizes nanomaterials to generate ROS specifically within tumor sites, enabling efficient and targeted cancer treatment. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified copper (Cu) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) assembled nanoparticles (Cu-DMSA-HA NPs) are developed with tumor-targeting capability and efficiently catalyze ROS production via coordination chemistry. Targeted delivery is facilitated by HA surface modification through recognition of overexpressed cluster of differentiation 44 receptors on cancer cells, which enhances nanoparticle uptake. Once internalized, intracellular glutathione is depleted by the NPs, followed by a Fenton-like reaction that sustains ROS production. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that this catalytic strategy effectively inhibits DNA replication, prevents cell cycle progression, downregulates glutathione peroxidase 4 expression, induces ferroptosis, and ultimately suppresses NSCLC progression. Overall, the readily prepared Cu-DMSA-HA NPs exhibit robust catalytic activity and tumor specificity, highlighting their strong potential for clinical translation in nanocatalytic cancer therapy.

Highlights:
1 Developed a novel type of nanoparticles (NPs)—hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified copper (Cu) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)-assembled NPs copper (Cu) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA).
2 The constructed NPs were surface-modified with HA to selectively target overexpressed cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) receptors on cancer cells and catalytically generate highly efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) via coordination chemistry.
3 Such efficient ROS generation induced intracellular ROS accumulation, mitochondrial disruption, glutathione (GSH) depletion, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) downregulation, ultimately triggering ferroptosis in cancer cells.

Ultramicropore-Confined Solvation and Interphase Regulation Unlock High-Performance Hard Carbon Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Shunyuan Tan — 2026-07-27

Hard carbon (HC) anodes are promising for sodium-ion batteries, yet achieving high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), large plateau contribution, and fast charge-transfer kinetics remains challenging due to insufficient control of micro–nanostructure and interphase chemistry. Here, we present a precursor-level molecular engineering strategy that simultaneously regulates sodium desolvation and interphase chemistry in HC. An iodine-mediated oxidative cross-linking process converts starch into spherical HC with uniformly distributed ultramicropores and carbonyl-rich surfaces. These nanoconfined pores are proposed to act as molecular sieves, preferentially excluding bulky solvent molecules while allowing PF₆⁻-coordinated Na⁺ access, thereby favoring anion-enriched electrolyte structures under confinement. Surface carbonyls exhibit strong PF₆⁻ affinity, which may promote fluorine-rich inorganic interphases on pore surfaces. The synergistic effects of anion-selective adsorption and confined desolvation are suggested to favor thin and robust NaF-rich interphases at external surfaces and within nanoconfined pore regions, contributing to reversible interfacial reactions and rapid Na⁺ storage kinetics. Consequently, the HC delivers an ICE of 88.4%, a reversible capacity of 352.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C, excellent rate capability (288.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 5C), and 95.6% capacity retention over 200 cycles. This work offers a molecular-level design paradigm integrating efficiency, capacity, and kinetics in HC anodes.

Highlights:
1 An iodine-mediated oxidative cross-linking strategy enables the synthesis of spherical hard carbon with uniformly distributed ultramicropores (< 0.9 nm) and carbonyl-rich surfaces from starch precursors.
2 Ultramicropore-confined solvation favors anion-enriched electrolyte structures, while carbonyl groups promote NaF-rich inorganic interphases, enabling synergistic interfacial regulation.
3 The optimized hard carbon delivers high initial Coulombic efficiency (88.4%), large plateau contribution (64.1%), excellent rate capability (288.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 5C), and stable cycling (95.6% retention after 200 cycles).

IrMn-Cluster-Based Artificial Metalloenzymes with Radiosensitized Systemic Antitumor Responses to Prevent Malignant Tumor Metastasis and Recurrence

Ruidan Li — 2026-07-27

Developing radiosensitizing agents to amplify tumor-eradicating effects on primary, regional recurrence, and distant metastases plays a transformative role in modern cancer care. Here, we report the de novo design of biocatalytic artificial metalloenzymes with an IrMn-cluster-based redox center (IMM) to achieve radiosensitized systemic antitumor responses for preventing malignant tumor metastasis and recurrence. Notably, our findings indicate that Mn-organic ligands substantially enrich the electron density of Ir clusters, thereby optimizing their interaction with oxygen species and markedly enhancing the production of both reactive oxygen species and molecular oxygen. When combined with radiotherapy, the IMM effectively amplifies DNA damage and induces pronounced apoptosis by alleviating intratumoral hypoxia. This shift reprograms the tumor microenvironment, enhancing radiosensitivity and facilitating the infiltration and activation of intratumoral CD8⁺ T cells and dendritic cells. Moreover, when integrated with anti-PD-1 therapy, this coordinated therapeutic regimen elicits potent systemic immune responses and durable antitumor memory, effectively suppressing tumor recurrence and metastasis while markedly improving therapeutic efficacy and long-term survival. We anticipate that this conceptual design could offer a promising and translationally relevant nanomedicine platform for radiotherapies.

Highlights:
1 The bioinspired design of IrMn-based redox centers (IMM) with rapid electron transfer can promote the formation of electron-rich IMM, thereby guaranteeing superior radio-enhanced reactive oxygen species biocatalysis and O₂ generation.
2 The tumor-adaptive and biocompatible IMM can induce mitochondrial dysfunction and hinder DNA repair, resulting in robust immunogenic cell death.
3 An IMM-based biocatalyst can activate systemic antitumor responses and reverse a suppressive tumor microenvironment, thereby boosting tumoricidal effects and preventing metastasis and recurrence by synergizing with checkpoint blockade therapy.

Elucidating the Respective Roles of Photochemical and Photothermal Effects in Photocatalytic Methanol Decomposition

Qichen Liu — 2026-07-27

Photocatalytic reactions can be driven by both photochemical and photothermal processes. However, their individual contributions and synergistic effect remain to be clarified. Herein, we investigated the respective roles of these effects using a Cu–TiO₂/Ti model catalyst that integrated photochemical and photothermal functionalities within a single photocatalytic system. Employing photocatalytic methanol decomposition as a model reaction, the Cu–TiO₂/Ti catalyst achieved a high H₂ yield rate of 0.511 mmol h⁻¹ with selectivity of 96.6% toward HCHO among oxidation products, attributed to the cooperative action of photochemical and photothermal processes. In situ resonant Auger electron spectroscopy (RAS), together with in situ Cu K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure and excited-state density functional theory calculations, revealed the accumulation of photogenerated electrons at Cu sites from TiO₂, suggests the possible formation of an electron transfer pathway from TiO₂ to Cu, which promotes stepwise methanol dehydrogenation to HCHO and H₂. Simultaneously, the photothermal contribution from Ti enhanced catalytic activity by accelerating reaction kinetics and promoting the desorption of HCHO, thereby suppressing its overoxidation to CO.

Highlights:
1 A rationally engineered Cu-TiO₂/Ti model catalyst enables the distinction of photochemical and photothermal effects, revealing their distinct roles in enhancing CH3OH dehydrogenation and suppressing HCHO overoxidation, thus achieving high H₂ production, excellent HCHO selectivity, and long-term stability in a non-noble metal system.
2 The integration of in situ resonant Auger electron spectroscopy with in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, in situ Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations enable direct visualization of charge transfer pathways and elucidates how the photothermal effect promotes HCHO desorption while preventing overoxidation.

Materials–Structure–Hardware–Algorithm Co-Driven Hierarchical Optimization for Flexible Sensors

Pengyu Zhu — 2026-08-10

Flexible electronics represent a paradigm shift in modern electronics, with flexible sensors serving as pivotal components in these systems. Despite significant advances driven by innovations in materials, structures, hardware, and algorithms, conventional design approaches that focus on optimizing individual hierarchies have inherent performance trade-offs, limiting further development. This review contends that future performance enhancements can no longer rely solely on breakthroughs in separate components. Still, it must adopt a new co-design paradigm spanning the “materials–structure–hardware–algorithm” hierarchy. In this review, we systematically organized the research landscape and representative advances across these four key hierarchies, analyzed the importance and recent breakthroughs in hierarchical synergy, and established a forward-looking theoretical framework to foster innovation and development in the field of flexible sensing.

Highlights:
1 A novel co-design paradigm is proposed. A holistic co-design paradigm of “materials–structure–hardware–algorithm” is proposed here to overcome the performance trade-offs of traditional fragmented sensors.
2 A systematic research framework is established based on the fundamental composition of flexible sensors. The interrelations within this dynamic field are clarified by structuring the review on the core hierarchies of materials, structure, hardware, and algorithms.
3 The research landscape across the field’s core components is systematically organized. The review provides a comprehensive overview of representative advances at the material, structural, hardware, and algorithmic hierarchies, and outlines future challenges and directions for next-generation flexible sensors.

Photothermal Superhydrophobic Textiles: An Emerging Paradigm from Passive Water Repellency to Active Thermal Management

Tianyu Sheng — 2026-08-10

Photothermal superhydrophobic textiles represent an emerging paradigm integrating active light-driven functionality with passive liquid repellency. While previous reviews treated superhydrophobicity and photothermal effects in isolation, this work pioneers a systematic analysis of their synergistic interplay—a critical, underexplored mechanism where superhydrophobicity preserves photothermal efficiency by minimizing water-induced heat loss, while photothermal activity prevents surface fouling that compromises non-wetting performance. Through detailed case studies of advanced material systems, this review highlights how this synergy supports significant advancements in adaptive wearable technology, energy-efficient infrastructure, and eco-friendly water treatment. This review presents an original “lab-to-life” roadmap that structurally links material design to durability assessment, environmental impact evaluation, and scalable manufacturing strategies—a holistic framework absent in existing literature. The review emphasizes urgent sustainability priorities including green material substitutions, non-toxic solvent processing methodologies, and circular design principles aligned with global environmental regulations. By connecting fundamental mechanisms to real-world deployment scenarios while outlining transformative future directions such as AI-accelerated material discovery, stimulus-responsive systems, and intelligent manufacturing protocols, this work provides a timely and actionable reference for advancing next-generation textiles toward technological sophistication and practical viability in sustainable development.

Highlights:
1 This review proposes a representative framework for photothermal superhydrophobic textiles, highlighting the transition from single-material studies toward integrated, system-level design and intelligent applications.
2 This review deciphers the synergistic mechanism between photothermal conversion and superhydrophobicity, linking nano‑/micro‑scale material design to active de‑icing and self‑cleaning performance.
3 This review critically analyzes scalable fabrication, real‑world applications, and key challenges, while outlining AI‑guided optimization and stimulus‑responsive systems as future pathways.

Designing Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Self-Assembled Monolayer Hole Transport Layers

Xinyuan Feng — 2026-08-10

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have emerged as highly versatile interfacial materials in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), offering tunable molecular structures, favorable energy-level alignment, high optical transparency, and minimized non-radiative recombination losses. With the rapid advancement of inverted (p-i-n) PSC architectures, SAM-based hole-selective contacts have demonstrated distinct advantages in achieving superior power conversion efficiency, cost-effective fabrication, and strong compatibility with scalable manufacturing processes. This review first summarizes the evolution of SAM applications, with a particular focus on SAM-based materials in p-i-n PSCs. Subsequently, the fundamental aspects of SAMs are systematically discussed. Further, common preparation methods of SAMs are reviewed, along with the key challenges encountered in achieving uniform SAM coating. Based on this, recent progress in SAM-based PSCs is comprehensively summarized, including their applications in high-efficiency single-junction devices, perovskite tandem solar cells, and large-area photovoltaic modules. The crucial roles of SAMs in energy-level modulation, interfacial modification, defect passivation, and charge transport are highlighted. Finally, the remaining challenges and future prospects of SAMs in inverted PSCs are discussed, with particular emphasis on interfacial stability and long-term operational reliability. This review aims at providing systematic insights and guidance for the further development of SAM-based inverted PSCs.

Highlights:
1 This review summarizes the development of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), with a special focus on their applications in inverted (p-i-n) perovskite solar cells.
2 This review discusses the structure, preparation methods, interfacial roles of SAMs, as well as the common problems encountered during their fabrication process.
3 This review highlights recent advances of SAM-based inverted perovskite solar cells in efficient single-junction, tandem, and large-area modules and outlines key challenges and future prospects of SAM applications.

Wearable Electronics for Precision Diagnosis Through Advanced Manufacturing and Integration

Xia Gong — 2026-08-07

Wearable electronics are rapidly transforming healthcare by enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of physiological and molecular signals directly at the point of need. This shift supports a transition from episodic, generalized care toward precision diagnosis, where individualized, longitudinal data guide early detection, risk stratification, and treatment decisions. Central to this transformation is the convergence of advanced manufacturing and heterogeneous integration strategies, which enable the development of compact, multimodal, and highly conformable diagnostic platforms. In this review, we examine how advances in materials engineering, micro/nanofabrication, and system integration have transformed wearable devices from single-parameter sensors into fully integrated, multimodal diagnostic systems. We outline key architectures and transduction mechanisms and highlight manufacturing approaches such as printing, 3D fabrication, photolithography, and laser writing. We emphasize heterogeneous integration strategies that combine sensing, electronics, power, and communication into skin-conformal platforms for long-term use. These advances enable precision diagnostics through continuous monitoring, multimodal data fusion, and individualized baselines. We also outline key challenges to clinical translation and discuss future directions toward robust, scalable, and clinically actionable systems, providing a strategic outlook for next-generation wearable electronics in precision diagnosis.

Highlights:
1 Multimodal sensing strategies—electrical, electrochemical, transistor-based, and optical—integrated with AI-enabled interpretation establish a systems-level framework for continuous, individualized precision diagnosis across metabolites, electrophysiological signals, and molecular biomarkers in diverse biofluids.
2 Advanced manufacturing and heterogeneous integration strategies, spanning printing, photolithography, 3D fabrication, and laser writing, enable skin-conformal platforms that unify sensing, signal transduction, power, and wireless communication into compact, long-term wearable diagnostic systems.
3 Wearable diagnostic platforms demonstrate broad clinical applicability across neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, ocular, musculoskeletal, oncological, diabetic, and inflammatory conditions; by enabling longitudinal multi-parameter data fusion and personalized physiological baselines, they provide a clinically actionable pathway for early disease detection, risk stratification, and real-time health management.

Advances in TMDs-Based Electromagnetic Wave Absorbers: From Structural Engineering to Multicomponent Synergy

Yuefeng Yan — 2026-08-03

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have garnered considerable attention as advanced electromagnetic wave absorption (EMA) materials due to their unique layered structures, tunable electronic properties, and intrinsic defect-induced polarization mechanisms. This comprehensive review systematically summarizes recent advances in TMDs-based absorbers, with particular focus on two fundamental development strategies. The first involves multiscale structural design of pure phase TMDs spanning from atomic to submillimeter dimensions, achieved through precise defect regulation, phase engineering, and sophisticated morphological manipulation to optimize electromagnetic parameters and attenuation capabilities. The second strategy focuses on constructing multicomponent composite systems, incorporating dielectric matrices, magnetic elements, and multicomponent hybrids to achieve synergistic enhancement through interfacial polarization, conductive loss, and magnetic dissipation mechanisms. The review critically analyzes pioneering research achievements across various subfields while identifying specific challenges and opportunities within each domain. Future perspectives highlight emerging frontiers including atomic level interface engineering, inverse design of multicomponent and multiscale architectures, sustainable large-scale synthesis techniques, and development of multifunctional smart-response systems. This work aims to establish fundamental principles and provide forward-looking guidance for designing next-generation high-performance TMDs-based EMA materials with tailored functionalities.

Highlights:
1 Systematically elucidated the core advantages of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) as dielectric electromagnetic wave absorbing materials, emphasizing their multiscale tunability in both composition and structure.
2 Provided a comprehensive overview of recent advances in pure-phase TMDs and their multicomponent composites, highlighting their critical role in electromagnetic wave absorption.
3 Integrated the latest multidisciplinary breakthroughs of TMDs in frontier research areas to outline diverse future directions and potential for TMDs-based electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.

Rational Design of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Oxygen Electrocatalysis: Recent Advances and Mechanistic Insights

Xinyan Zhang — 2026-07-30

Due to the excessive consumption of fossil fuels and the increasingly severe global environment, the world urgently needs to develop new clean and renewable energy sources. However, these energy sources have intermittency and instability, so it is necessary to vigorously develop efficient and large-scale energy conversion and storage technologies such as fuel cells, water electrolyzers, and metal–air batteries based on the core reactions of oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction. Because of their excellent molecular designability and structural tunability, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show great potential for applications in this field. In this review, we first classify COF-based electrocatalysts based on the nature of active sites. Subsequently, strategies including structural design and functional synthesis for improving performance of COF-based electrocatalysts in the field of oxygen catalysis are systematically reviewed. Importantly, mechanism discussion of the performance improvement is highlighted. Finally, we put forward prospects for the future research directions, challenges, and development opportunities in this field. This review aims to provide guidance for the development of high-performance COF-based electrocatalysts through critical analysis of existing research, revealing the correlation between material design and mechanism for performance improvement.

Highlights:
1 Comprehensive classification of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based electrocatalysts based on the nature of active sites.
2 Systematic review of structural design and functional synthesis strategies for enhancing oxygen electrocatalysis.
3 In-depth mechanistic insights into performance improvement and future perspectives for COF-based oxygen electrocatalysts.

Low-Temperature All-Solid-State Batteries

Hyojoo Lee — 2026-07-27

Reliable battery operation in sub-zero environments is critical for polar exploration, military missions, and space applications. However, conventional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) face inherent limitations at low temperatures by intrinsic hurdle of poor ionic mobility in liquid electrolytes. All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), which replace liquid electrolytes with non-flammable and non-freezing solid electrolytes, are considered promising alternatives because these solid electrolytes provide high ionic conductivity at low temperatures, superior temperature stability, and exceptional safety. ASSBs still face practical limitations at extremely low temperatures due to degradation caused by interfacial side reactions and mechanical instabilities that increase resistance and polarization. Addressing these challenges is critical to realize the advantages of ASSBs and enable their practical deployment in low-temperature applications. This review provides an overview of historical developments, critical challenges, and recent progress in advancing the low-temperature performance of ASSBs. The key components of ASSBs, including solid electrolytes, cathodes, and anodes, are systematically investigated to develop strategies for improving ASSBs at low temperatures. By highlighting future perspectives, we emphasize both the potential and necessity of ASSBs to overcome the intrinsic limitations of LIBs and ensure reliable energy storage in harsh environments.

Highlights:
1 All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) overcome the intrinsic limitations of liquid electrolyte based lithium-ion batteries, such as electrolyte freezing and sluggish ion transport, by utilizing non-freezing solid electrolytes with relatively stable ionic conductivity at sub-zero temperatures.
2 Performance degradation in ASSBs under sub-zero conditions arises from interconnected factors, including suppressed Li-ion transport, increased interfacial resistance due to side reactions, and mechanical instability, such as contact loss and microcracking.
3 Achieving robust low-temperature performance demands the combined advancement of materials design and system-level engineering.

Strategies of Designing High-Efficiency Electrolyte Additives for Aqueous Magnesium Batteries: A Review

Yulong Wu — 2026-07-27

With the development of next-generation energy storage systems focusing on green, safe, and sustainable devices, aqueous magnesium (Mg)–air batteries have emerged as promising candidates owing to the intrinsic merits of the Mg metal anode, including low cost, large volumetric capacity, a highly negative electrode potential, and excellent safety. However, the high self-discharge rate and formed discharge products substantially impair the practical discharge performance of Mg anodes with poor anode utilization efficiency and low cell voltage. While anode alloying and electrolyte additive strategies can help mitigate this issue, designing highly efficient electrolyte additives that are compatible with the established anode remains a challenge. This review summarizes recent progress toward understanding the role of electrolyte additives for aqueous Mg batteries, provides insights into the discharge mechanism of Mg-based anode materials in different types of additive-containing electrolytes, and offers strategies for designing high-efficiency mixtures of electrolyte additives. Moreover, a highly promising direction of AI-supported and robotic workflows for the future fast design of advanced electrolyte additives for aqueous Mg batteries is discussed.

Highlights:
1 This review provides a systematic summary of aqueous Mg–air electrolyte additives, offering structured data to support future machine learning screening, especially for binary additive systems.
2 This work emphasizes the significant influence of oxygen reduction reaction-induced oxygen corrosion on Mg anode utilization, particularly for clean Mg anodes in additive-containing electrolytes.
3 This article proposes a clear design concept for binary additives, enabling rational rather than empirical combinations and guiding the development of high-performance hybrid additives for aqueous Mg–air batteries.