http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/rss/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1521-4095

A general strategy- “interfacial energetics reversal” to reconstruct perovskite energetics that matches well with the upper hole transport layer has been successfully developed, enabling efficient n–i–p perovskite solar cells with nonradiative recombination induced qVoc loss of only 57 meV from the radiative limit.

Reducing heterointerface nonradiative recombination is a key challenge for realizing highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Motivated by this, a facile strategy is developed via interfacial energetics reversal to functionalize perovskite heterointerface. A surfactant molecule, trichloro[3-(pentafluorophenyl)propyl]silane (TPFS) reverses perovskite surface energetics from intrinsic n-type to p-type, evidently demonstrated by ultraviolet and inverse photoelectron spectroscopies. The reconstructed perovskite surface energetics match well with the upper deposited hole transport layer, realizing an exquisite energy level alignment for accelerating hole extraction across the heterointerface. Meanwhile, TPFS further diminishes surface defect density. As a result, this cooperative strategy leads to greatly minimized nonradiative recombination. PSCs achieve an impressive power conversion efficiency of 25.9% with excellent reproducibility, and a nonradiative recombination-induced qV oc loss of only 57 meV, which is the smallest reported to date in n-i-p structured PSCs.

The designed Pt atomic chain modified fcc-type Ru nanocrystal with co-crystalline structure possesses an efficient bridge adsorbed hydrogen configuration (*Hbridge) at the Pt–Ru(fcc) interface. The *Hbridge dominates HER and exhibits superior intrinsic activity, ≈10.6 times higher than that of Pt. The designed Pt–Ru(fcc) with *Hbridge demonstrates excellent catalytic activity and stability for both laboratory and industrial levels.

Atop and multiple adsorbed hydrogen are considered as key intermediates on Pt-group metal for acidic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet the role of bridge hydrogen intermediate (*Hbridge) is consistently overlooked experimentally. Herein, a Pt atomic chain modified fcc-Ru nanocrystal (Pt–Ru(fcc)) is developed with a co-crystalline structure, featuring *Hbridge intermediate bonded on the Pt–Ru pair site. Electrons leap from the pair site to *Hbridge facilitate hydrogen desorption, thus accelerating the Tafel kinetics and ensuring outstanding electrocatalytic performance, with a low overpotential (4.0 mV at 10 mA  cm−2) and high turnover frequency (56.4 H2 s−1 at 50 mV). Notably, the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer PEMWE with ultra-low loading of 10 ugPt cm−2 shows excellent activity (1.61 V at 1.0 A cm−2) and low average degradation rate (4.0 µV h−1 over 1000 h), significantly outperforming the benchmark Pt/C. Furthermore, the PEMWE-based 80 µm Gore membrane under identical operating conditions requires only 1.54 and 1.58 V to achieve 1.0 and 1.5 A cm−2. This finding highlights the key role of *Hbridge at the Pt–Ru interface in obtaining high HER intrinsic activity and underscores the transformative potential in designing next-generation bimetallic catalysts for clean hydrogen energy.

Soft dendritic particles (SDPs) made of biodegradable polymers and small-molecule drugs are manufactured using a fluid flow templating method. In alginate gels, extruded SDPs sustainably adhere on tumor sites and selectively kill cancer cells. Intravesical instillation of SDPs in tumor-bearing mouse bladders triggers a CD45+ immune response with minimal toxicity, highlighting their potential for targeted cancer therapy.

Bladder cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, yet current intravesical drug delivery methods often suffer from poor retention times in the bladder. Gecko feet-like nanomaterials offer the potential to overcome this challenge, however, conventional methods to fabricate high surface area nanomaterials for drug delivery involve complex and expensive manufacturing processes. In this work, a simple fluid flow templating method is reported for manufacturing soft dendritic particles (SDPs) composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with a chitosan coating for enhanced adhesion to epithelial tissues via van der Waals interactions. The biodegradable SDPs encapsulate chemotherapeutic agents and are administered using an alginate hydrogel, enabling precise deposition by extrusion for sustained drug release. The results demonstrate that SDPs adhere to mouse and human cancer cells for several days. The SDPs effectively encapsulate and release several clinically utilized chemotherapeutic drugs such as gemcitabine, docetaxel, and methotrexate, exhibiting superior cancer cell killing in vitro. In murine models, gemcitabine-loaded SDPs instilled into tumor-bearing bladders elicited stronger CD45+ immune cell responses than control groups while maintaining minimal toxicity. This work presents a simple, biomimetic drug delivery platform with prolonged retention and controlled drug release, offering a versatile approach for enhancing therapeutic delivery in epithelial cancer models.

This study reports a near-infrared (NIR) luminescent material (Mg2SiO4:1.5%Cr,5%Li) with efficient (EQE = 48%) ultra-broadband (FWHM ≈ 2413 cm−1 (226 nm)) NIR emission at 960 nm upon blue-light excitation. This innovation addresses the low efficiency of long-wavelength (λmax > 900 nm) NIR-emitting materials due to the radiationless de-activation and the low absorption efficiency of Cr3+ activators.

Near-infrared (NIR) light sources hold great potential for applications in night vision illumination, bio-imaging, and non-destructive testing. However, radiationless de-activation and low absorption restrict the development of high-efficiency blue light excitable NIR phosphors, especially for emissions beyond 900 nm. Herein we report a high-performance Cr3+-activated forsterite (Mg2SiO4:1.5%Cr3+, 5%Li+) phosphor exhibiting broadband NIR emission peaking at 960 nm with a record external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 48%. The introduction of Li+ as a charge compensator and symmetry distorter not only suppresses Cr4+ formation but also enhances the cross section of Cr3+ d-d forbidden transitions in Mg2SiO4. More importantly, Li+ promotes excited-state energy transfer between Cr3+ emitters, yielding exceptional thermal stability and external quantum efficiency. A fabricated NIR phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (LED) achieved a NIR radiated power of 356 mW (at a driving current of 700 mA) and an electro-optical conversion efficiency up to 12.9% (at 100 mA). This work unlocks new possibilities for smart spectroscopy applications, from non-destructive testing to human angiography and biometric recognition.

The engineered lipid nanoparticles (NanoCa) demonstrate potent anti-tumor effects by activating type I interferons, promoting the maturation of dendritic cells, and enhancing antigen presentation.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy; however, many patients exhibit suboptimal responses, which is due to inadequate T cell priming by the innate immune response. Metal ions play a critical role in modulating the innate immune response. However, the mechanisms by which metal ions facilitate dendritic cell maturation through the activation of interferon remain poorly understood. This research identifies a nanomaterial Calcium phosphate-containing liposome (NanoCa), characterized by an atypical crystal structure and pH-responsive profile. NanoCa promotes bone marrow-derived dendritic cell maturation and exhibits antiviral effects and anti-tumor properties in different tumor models. Also, NanoCa acts as an immunostimulant by fostering antibody production. Furthermore, when combined with programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1)  blocking antibodies, NanoCa synergistically enhances anti-tumor efficacy in CT26 models. Mechanistically, NanoCa rapidly releases Ca2+ via the lysosome pathway post-endocytosis, subsequently triggering interferon through the Ca2+-calcineurin (CaN) - nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFATc2) - protein kinase C beta (PKCβ) - interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signal pathway. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) shows NanoCa increases the population of tumoral infiltrating dendritic cell (DC), C1qc+ TAM, and CD8T_eff cells and decreases the CD8T_ex and immunosuppressive SPP1+ TAM population in tumor-draining lymph nodes. Overall, NanoCa shows translational potential for anti-tumor immune therapeutics.

1D PbI2 superlattice are synthesized utilizing an antisolvent diffusion method, in which demonstrates in-plane anisotropic phonon vibrations and optical transport characteristics. Leveraging on the anisotropic optical transport nature and effective coupling with vdWMs, filter-free polarization-sensitive photodetector comprising vdWMs and PbI2 superlattice waveguide are realized in a broad spectra range with linear dichroism ratio values of 1.43–1.73.

The ability to detect polarimetric information of light over a broad spectra range is central to practical optoelectronic applications and has been successfully demonstrated with photodetectors of low-symmetry 2D van der Waals materials (vdWMs). However, polarization sensitivity within such a photodetectors remains elusive due to the limited diversity. To address this challenge, an approach is proposed by transforms 2D Lead iodine (PbI2) into 1D superlattice microwires (SLMs) through a solution-phase antisolvent diffusion method. This structural shifting enables the creation of low-symmetry crystal characteristics, a well-defined geometric microcavity structure, and an increased bandgap, which collectively confer anisotropic waveguide properties across visible and near-infrared wavelengths. By integrating PbI2 SLMs with isotropic 2D vdWMs, that waveguide-integrated photodetectors are demonstrated capable of polarization detection, achieving linear dichroism ratio (LDR) values of 1.66 at 405 nm for PbI2 photodetectors and 1.73 at 785 nm for WSe2 photodetectors. This paradigm-shifting strategy enables polarimetric information detection using isotropic vdWMs and advances the development of next-generation polarization-resolved optoelectronic devices.

The accumulation of stress leads to electrochemical-mechanical degradation, resulting in rapid capacity loss of solid-state batteries. A stress-adaptive graphene@selenium cathode is developed in this work to enhance ion transport and relieve mechanical stress in all-solid-state lithium-selenium batteries, enabling superior electrochemical performance.

All-solid-state lithium-selenium batteries (ASSLSeBs) offer high energy density and improved safety for next-generation energy storage. Still, selenium cathodes suffer from large volume changes during cycling, leading to mechanical stress and rapid capacity fade. To address this, a stress-adaptive 2D graphene@Se composite cathode is developed, where small Se nanoparticles are anchored onto acid-treated expanded graphite (AcEG) to enhance charge transport and alleviate stress. Mechanical characterization confirms that the composite effectively mitigates Li-ion-induced strain. As a result, ASSLSeBs with this cathode achieve exceptional cycling stability with ultrahigh capacity retention after 4000 cycles at 2 C and stable performance for over 400 cycles even under high active-material loading. Furthermore, an all-solid-state Li-Se pouch cell with a record energy density of 376.8 Wh kg⁻¹ is demonstrated, the highest reported for ASSLSeBs. This work presents a strategy for designing stress-adaptive cathodes, enabling ultra-stable ASSLSeBs for practical applications.

A self-evolving discovery integrating automation and AI is developed to address the high-dimensional-parameter-space challenge in carrier biomaterials. The discovered biomaterials showed ultra-low nonspecific protein adsorption, achieving a 10 000-fold reduction in experiment workload; and they are further fabricated into microfluidic-used carriers for protein-analysis applications, showing a 9-fold enhancement in detection sensitivity. This study has potential for applications in single-cell analysis.

Carrier biomaterials used in single-cell analysis face a bottleneck in protein detection sensitivity, primarily attributed to elevated false positives caused by nonspecific protein adsorption. Toward carrier biomaterials with ultra-low nonspecific protein adsorption, a self-evolving discovery is developed to address the challenge of high-dimensional parameter spaces. Automation across nine self-developed or modified workstations is integrated to achieve a “can-do” capability, and develop a synergy-enhanced Bayesian optimization algorithm as the artificial intelligence brain to enable a “can-think” capability for small-data problems inherent to time-consuming biological experiments, thereby establishing a self-evolving discovery for carrier biomaterials. Through this approach, carrier biomaterials with an ultra-low nonspecific protein adsorption index of 0.2537 are successfully discovered, representing an over 80% decrease, while achieving a 10 000-fold reduction in experiment workload. Furthermore, the discovered biomaterials are fabricated into microfluidic-used carriers for protein-analysis applications, showing a 9-fold enhancement in detection sensitivity compared to conventional carriers. This is the very demonstration of a self-evolving discovery for carrier biomaterials, paving the way for advancements in single-cell protein analysis and further its integration with genomics and transcriptomics.

This study presents a novel stochastic orientational encoding approach utilizing a nanoscopic film of a novel rod-shaped π-architecture, achieved through facile ambient-atmosphere solution processing. Energetically favorable molecular assembly, driven by directional multiple hydrogen-bonding motifs and uniaxial microcrystal growth, results in a woven-textured pattern with random 1D features. The rich variations in microcrystal domain properties and crystal orientations coupled with artificial coloration enable high encoding capacity in a single-material, solution-processed system.

The prevention of counterfeiting and the assurance of object authenticity require stochastic encoding schemes based on physically unclonable functions (PUFs). There is an urgent need for exceptionally large encoding capacities and multi-level responses within a molecularly defined, single-material system. Herein, a novel stochastic orientational encoding approach is demonstrated using a facile ambient-atmosphere solution processing of a molecular thin film based on the rod-shaped oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) π-architecture. The nanoscopic film, derived from the small molecule 2EHO-CF3PyPE with donor, acceptor, and π-spacer building units, is designed for energetically favorable uniaxial molecular assembly and crystal growth via directional multiple hydrogen-bonding motifs at the molecular termini and short C─H···π contacts at the center. A facile solvent vapor annealing induces concurrent dewetting and microscopic 1D random crystallization, yielding a woven-textured random features. Using convolutional neural networks, the rich variations in microcrystal domain properties and stochastic encoding of 1D crystal orientations generate artificial coloration, achieving an encoding capacity reaching (6.5 × 10⁴)(2752 × 2208). The results demonstrate an effective strategy for achieving ultrahigh encoding capacities in a thin film composed of a single-material. This approach enables low-cost, solution-processed fabrication for mass production and broad adoption, while opening new opportunities to explore molecular-PUFs through structural design and engineering noncovalent interactions.

A symmetry-protected Z₂ non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) is experimentally demonstrated in acoustic metamaterials. By implementing projective mirror symmetry—which enables pseudospins in spinless systems—both uniform and bidirectional Z₂ NHSEs characterized by different accumulation directions are observed. Active feedback circuits provide the requisite non-Hermitian gain/loss, establishing a platform for topological wave manipulation.

Non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), where eigenstates localize at the boundary of non-Hermitian lattices, has gained significant attention in various fields. This phenomenon, driven by the point-gap topology of complex energy bands, occurs even without special symmetries. Nevertheless, additional symmetry may significantly enrich the NHSE. Notably, time-reversal symmetry protects a Z2 NHSE, featuring oppositely accumulated skin modes. Here, a 1D bilayer Z2 NHSE model based on projective mirror symmetry is proposed, making Z2 NHSE possible in spinless systems. Experimentally, both uniform and bidirectional Z2 NHSEs are observed in acoustic metamaterials, where the necessary non-Hermitian elements—gain and loss—are achieved through active feedback circuits. These findings open new avenues for exploring symmetry-enriched non-Hermitian topological phenomena and pave the way for potential applications in wave manipulation, sensing, and beyond.

A nanocrystal-nucleus template strategy addresses nanoscale phase separation and energy-level mismatch in wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells. By tailoring nanocrystals to match the target perovskite's composition and structure, this approach enables uniform halide distribution, enhanced crystallization, and improved electron extraction. The strategy achieves 23.4%-efficient PSCs (1.68 eV) with a record V OC of 1.30 V and certified 31.7%-efficient perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.

Wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are critical for advancing tandem solar cell efficiencies, yet suffer from severe photovoltage deficits and halide segregation, substantially degrading their performance and stability. Here, a nanocrystal-nucleus template (NCNT) strategy is developed to directly addresses heterogeneous nucleation—the root cause of phase separation—by precisely matching the I/Br ratio of nanocrystal to that of the target perovskite film. This approach guides homogeneous assembly of Pb-I/Br octahedra, achieving exceptional halide uniformity and precise crystallization control for WBG films. The NCNT simultaneously induces p-type doping and reduces the perovskite/C60 interfacial energy barrier, significantly enhancing charge extraction. Remarkably, 1.68-eV WBG PSCs fabricated via this approach achieve a record open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.30 V, alongside a champion efficiency of 23.4%. The broad applicability of this strategy is demonstrated across a wide bandgap range of 1.63–1.76 eV, all exhibiting (001)-preferred orientation and exceptional photostability. When integrated into a 0.945 cm2 monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell, the NCNT-based device delivers a high efficiency of 32.0% (certified 31.7%). This work highlights the pivotal role of nanocrystals in regulating perovskite crystallization, resolves long-standing VOC limitations in WBG perovskites, and establishes a scalable platform for next-generation optoelectronic devices and tandem photovoltaics.

Superblack carbon hierarchitectures are developed through synergistic cross-dimensional engineering that integrates physical structuring with chemical modification, enabling high-performance multispectral absorption across visible, infrared, and microwave regimes simultaneously. Carbon microparticles with a fractal dimension approaching 1.0, or those possessing a networked structure, inherently offer advantages in achieving broad and strong multispectral responses.

Multispectral absorbing materials that can efficiently dissipate waves across the visible, infrared, and microwave regimes have long been pursued for advanced applications in fields such as space exploration, stealth, and camouflage. However, the wide range of incident wavelengths, spanning five orders of magnitude, presents a significant challenge for the practical implementation of multispectral absorbers. Herein, superblack carbon hierarchitectures (SCHs) are designed using a bottom-up approach involving the self-assembly and self-sacrifice of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), realizing synergistic morphological customization and dielectric gene editing (via carbon nitride like-moieties conjugated with C═C short chains). Through the cross-dimensional coupling action between light-trapping hierarchitecture and robust dielectric loss, superb visible light absorption (>99.6%), high infrared absorption (98.5%/97.5%/99.6% for long-/mid-/short-wavelength infrared regimes), and ultrabroad microwave absorption (effective bandwidth of 8.52 GHz, nearly covering both the X and Ku bands) can be simultaneously achieved in monolayer SCHs-based absorbers. Furthermore, the topologically transformed structures of SCHs enable a systematic dissection of the longstanding ambiguity surrounding the geometrical effect, revealing the synergistic influence of fractal dimension and interconnection status of microparticles, particularly in the microwave regime. This work introduces a new paradigm for multispectral absorption and advances the understanding of absorption mechanisms for developing next-generation absorbers.

This study explores the novel sensing applications of water evaporation-induced power generation, by using lignin/ZnO nanofibrous membranes for sensing airflow through output voltage variation. Obtained lignin/ZnO airflow sensors are self-powered, precise, and quick-responding, and can be used as wearable devices for breath monitor, surrounding movement sensor, and sweat monitor.

The interest and demand for flexible sensors and wearable devices are rapidly growing. The added benefit of electricity generation, enabling gas sensors to be self-powered, increases the applicability of these devices for flexible and wearable airflow sensors. Inspired by water evaporation-induced power generation, this study explores its potential in sensing applications, which has not yet been explored in detail. Electrospinning technology is used to prepare superhydrophilic lignin/ZnO nanofibrous membranes with a ZnO nanoparticle layer, capable of generating at least 100 mV (which allows it to power its own signal transduction). The membrane is highly sensitive to variations in airflow, enabling its use as an ultrasensitive and flexible airflow sensor. This sensor demonstrates exceptional performance, including a fast response time (0.65 s), broad detection range (with lower detection limit down to 0.25 and upper detection limit of 3 m s−1), and extremely high airflow velocity detection accuracy. Beyond these, it can serve as a wearable sensor for sweat monitoring, motion detection, and breath monitoring (to accurately detect breathing rate, intensity and variations in speech). Such self-powered, ultrasensitive, and flexible lignin/ZnO airflow sensors provide novel potential to advance the development of smart textiles and wearable electronics.

Inspired by insect olfactory structures, a bionic nanoengineered wood scalable monolithic gas sensor fabrication is developed. By precisely constructing vertical microchannels and sulfur-vacancy WS₂ nanosheets, the wood achieves selective NO₂ adsorption and efficient charge transfer. The 3D interdigitated electrodes enhance signal conduction, achieving a detection limit of 50 ppb, demonstrating great potential for scalable manufacturing and wireless gas detection.

Insects exhibit exceptional olfactory abilities due to the synergistic interaction between porous sensilla and sensory receptors, optimizing gas transmission and capture. Inspired by this, a scalable structure of WS2-functionalized nanoengineered wood (WS2-NEW) for bio-inspired gas sensors is designed. A multiscale sensing network mimicking insect receptor synergy by in-situ loading WS2 nanosheets into vertically aligned microchannels formed by lignin removal, integrated with cross-sectional 3D interdigital electrodes is developed. The nanoengineered wood enables selective NO2 adsorption and optimized charge transfer through engineered gas transport pathways and defect-rich active sites. With the optimized 3D electrode structure, WS₂-NEW facilitates rapid gas transmission and real-time signal transduction, achieving highly sensitive NO2 detection at room temperature with a detection limit as low as 50 ppb. Utilizing wood's processability, WS2-NEW has demonstrated the potential for large-scale manufacturing via simple cutting techniques. A wireless sensor watch based on WS2-NEW for real-time NO2 detection highlights its potential in wearable devices. This work proposes an innovative strategy for the manufacturing of gas sensors.

A universal ligand adsorption strategy for controllable synthesis of low-dimensional (1D and 2D) Pd-based electrocatalysts to establish a fundamental understanding of the relationship between catalyst morphological structure and performance.

Unraveling the fundamental determinants of the intrinsic activity of practical catalysts has long been challenging, mainly due to the complexity of the structures and surfaces of such catalysts. Current understandings of intrinsic activity mostly come from model catalysts. Here, a pH-induced ligand adsorption strategy is developed to achieve controllable synthesis of self-assembled low-dimensional PdMo nanostructures, including 1D nanowires, 2D metallenes, and 2D metallene nanoveins. A strong correlation is established between the intrinsic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and the density of grain boundaries. Increased grain boundary density induces more extensive tensile strain, which, in synergy with electronic interactions within PdMo alloys, effectively lowers the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*O to *OH). 2D PdMo metallene nanoveins, featuring the highest grain boundary density and a unique mesoporous structure, exhibit superior ORR activity and mass transport capabilities. Computational fluid dynamics simulations and in situ spectroscopy are employed to elucidate the structure-activity relationship. This work provides fundamental insights into the critical role of grain boundary engineering in enhancing ORR electrocatalysis in Pd-based nanostructures.

Sun et al. reviews recent progress in enhancing the enzyme-like catalytic selectivity of SAzymes through the rational design of their spatial coordination structures. They emphasize the structure-activity relationships of various attributes of these coordination structures in promoting selective catalytic behavior, the strategic design of coordination structures for target enzyme-like reactions, and effective synthesis methods for integrating these structures onto supports.

Single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) are nanomaterials that rely on atomic-level active sites to efficiently express catalytic functions like natural enzymes. With their outstanding robustness and exceptional atomic utilization, they are among the most competitive nanozymes used to overcome the inherent shortcomings of natural enzymes. However, SAzymes lack the precise structural complexity of natural enzymes and therefore do not exhibit the same level of catalytic selectivity—a major barrier to fully replacing natural enzymes. Previous studies have primarily focused on summarizing the methods and rules for improving the enzyme-like activity of SAzymes, while comparatively little attention has been given to their catalytic selectivity. Herein, this work reviews recent progress in enhancing the enzyme-like catalytic selectivity of SAzymes through the rational design of their spatial coordination structures. It emphasizes the structure-activity relationships of various attributes of these coordination structures in promoting selective catalytic behavior, the strategic design of coordination structures for target enzyme-like reactions, and effective synthesis methods for integrating these structures onto supports. In addition, the development prospects and current challenges in exploring SAzyme coordination structures are analyzed to provide new inspiration constructing next generation, highly selective SAzymes.

This study presents a novel unidirectional electrobending behavior with a symmetric butterfly-shaped bipolar S-E curve in acceptor-doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics, where the bending direction is governed by the pre-poling direction rather than the applied electric field. We attribute that this unprecedented unidirectional behavior arises from the synergistic interaction between domains and defect dipoles in the surface layers.

Since 2022, large apparent strains (>1%) with highly asymmetrical strain-electric field (S-E) curves have been reported in various thin piezoceramic materials, attributed to a bidirectional electric-field-induced bending (electrobending) deformation, which consistently produces convex bending along the negative electric field direction. In this study, a novel unidirectional electrobending behavior in acceptor-doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics are reported, where convex bending always occurs along the pre-poling direction regardless of the direction of the applied electric field. This unique deformation is related to the reorientation of the (MNb′′′−VO··$M_{{\mathrm{Nb}}}^{^{\prime\prime\prime}} - V_{\mathrm{O}}^{ \cdot \cdot }$) defect dipoles (where M2+ represents the acceptor-doped ion in the Nb- site) in one surface layer during the pre-poling process, resulting in an asymmetrical distribution of defect dipoles in the two surface layers. The synergistic interaction between ferroelectric domains and defect dipoles in the surface layers induces this unidirectional electrobending, as evidenced by a butterfly-like symmetrical bipolar S-E curve with a giant apparent strain of 3.2%. These findings provide new insights into defect engineering strategies for developing advanced piezoelectric materials with large electroinduced displacements.

In this work, a novel Cu/Cu2+1O/ZnO inverse opal catalyst is presented with abundant active sites and optimized electronic structure for the nitrate reduction reaction and high-power Zn-NO3 – battery, resulting in the significantly enhanced catalytic reaction kinetics.

The electroreduction of NO3 − to NH3 (NO3RR) using renewable energy presents a promising strategy to mitigate environmental pollution and produce high-value chemicals. However, the practical application of NO3RR is hindered by limited active sites and sluggish reaction kinetics, stemming from the complex eight-electron process. Herein, a novel Cu/Cu2+1O/ZnO-2.5 inverse opals (CCZ-IOs-2.5) catalyst featuring a 3D porous network is designed, which provides abundant active sites and an optimized electronic structure to accelerate the NO3RR kinetics for efficient NH3 production. Experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the introduction of ZnO facilitates electron transfer to Cu active sites, increasing charge density and lowering the reaction energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*NO to *NOH). As a result, CCZ-IOs-2.5 exhibits a notable enhancement in NH3 yield (from 0.255 to 0.313 mmol h−1 cm−2) and Faradaic efficiency (from 85.7% to 95.5%) compared to the Cu/Cu2+1O catalyst. Thanks to its excellent NO3RR activity, the Zn-NO3 − battery with the CCZ-IOs-2.5 cathode achieves a max power density of 11.93 mW cm−2. This study adopts a multi-dimensional strategy encompassing morphology regulation, electronic structure optimization, and surface/interface engineering, offering new insights into efficient electrocatalyst development and realizing integrated NH3 synthesis and energy output in a Zn-NO3 − battery.

An electrohydrodynamic printing process is developed to precisely pattern liquid metal microfibers with ultra-high resolution (≈1.5 µm) and minimal defects, which effectively overcomes the limitations of electrospinning. To the best of their knowledge, the patterning resolution achieved in this work is the highest reported for liquid metal particle-based inks. Applications in soft sensors and soft conductive composites are demonstrated.

Liquid metal particle-based microfibers attract great interest in soft and wearable electronics. The most facile method to fabricate sub-50 µm liquid metal fiber is electrospinning. However, electrospinning has poor patterning ability and the electrospun fibers have inherent defects, which significantly lowers the electrical conductivity and limits their application. Therefore, better manufacturing methods are needed to precisely deposit high-quality liquid metal fibers. In this work, an electrohydrodynamic printing process is developed to precisely pattern liquid metal microfibers with minimal defects and ultra-high resolution (≈1.5 µm), overcoming the limitations of electrospinning. The patterned liquid metal fibers can be used for soft conductive composites and soft electronics with highly customized microscale features. The conductive composites embedded with these fibers not only exhibit high conductivity (up to 214 S cm−1), but also possess nearly strain-insensitive resistance (7.3% resistance change at 200% strain) and exceptional cyclic stability. Additionally, the potential applications of the liquid metal fibers and composites in soft sensors, stretchable heaters, and transparent electrodes are demonstrated.

A multifunctional nanomedicine co-loading of the α-emitter 223RaCl2 within iron-based MOFs is developed. Precisely targeted to mitochondria, it exploits the full decay spectrum to synchronize three therapeutic actions: direct α-particle ionization, self-powered catalytic H2O2 generation via secondary electrons, and immunogenic cell death induction. This integrated approach overcomes the limitations of conventional radiotherapy by facilitating effective local tumor ablation and systemic anti-tumor immunity without external energy input.

Internal Radionuclide Therapy (IRT) faces significant challenges, particularly the limited controlled penetration depth of conventional β rays and the inefficient targeted delivery of α-emitters. In this study, a mitochondria-targeted, self-powered α radionuclide nanomedicine, and pioneer a groundbreaking “suborganelle precise radiodynamic immunotherapy” paradigm that synergistically integrates physical irradiation, catalytic chemistry, and immunomodulation to overcome the historical limitations of IRT is developed. The innovation establishes a “radionuclide energy internal cycling” strategy through 223RaCl2 (the first FDA-approved α-emitter), unlocking three synergistic therapies from one radionuclide: precise ionizing radiation, self-powered catalysis, and immunogenic reprogramming. This paradigm uniquely exploits the full decay spectrum (α particles, β electrons, γ photons) to synchronize physical, chemical, and biological anti-tumor mechanisms without requiring external energy inputs, offering a transformative solution to overcome the physical-biological barriers of IRT and bridge localized eradication with systemic immune regulation.