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

A heavy-metal removal battery is designed, which displays the capacity of simultaneous heavy-metal ion adsorption and electricity generation. In such battery, the heavy-metal ion adsorption is driven by the potential difference between adsorption electrodes and metal electrodes. Furthermore, a chemical oxidation strategy is developed to desorb heavy-metal ions from adsorption electrodes, achieving the recycling of the electrodes.

The heavy-metal ion in wastewater is a great threat to the health of both humans and ecosystems. The common heavy-metal ion removal strategies usually suffer from energy consumption and poor recyclability. Herein, a heavy-metal removal battery is designed by constructing a two-chamber configuration. Such battery displays the capacity of simultaneous heavy-metal ion adsorption and electricity output, where heavy-metal ion adsorption is driven by the potential difference between adsorption electrodes and metal electrodes, and electricity is generated continuously during the adsorption process. Significantly, various heavy-metal ions (e.g., Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cr3+ and Pb2+ ions) can be removed due to the large lattice spacing of active materials in adsorption electrodes, displaying the universality of adsorbing heavy-metal ions from wastewater. In addition, an environmental-friendly chemical oxidation strategy is developed to desorb heavy-metal ions from adsorption electrodes, which not only produces high-quality metal salts, but also reduces the toxicity of sludge in the case of secondary pollution. Impressively, these heavy-metal removal batteries can be easily scaled up and integrated to extend the heavy-metal ion adsorption ability and voltage/current output. This work proves a creative approach for simultaneous heavy-metal ion removal and electricity generation from wastewater.

The TOC illustrates Cs₃Cu₂Br₅, Cs₃Cu₂Cl₅, and double perovskite suspensions, the 3D-printed “MIZZOU” text under 325 nm laser excitation, the corresponding emission spectra of the color conversion layer, and the CIE 1976 (u', v') color space of the fabricated white LED.

Metal halide perovskites and their derivatives have emerged as highly promising materials for next-generation optoelectronic devices, owing to their intrinsic defect tolerance and exceptional electrical and optical properties. Among these, lead-free copper(I)-based halide perovskite derivatives, Cs₃Cu₂X₅ (X = Cl, Br, I) (CHPs), have garnered significant attention as environmentally friendly and stable alternatives to lead-based perovskites. In this study, a cost-effective and sustainable synthesis route for Cs₃Cu₂Cl₅ and Cs₃Cu₂Br₅ powders is developed, which exhibit strong green (≈526 nm) and blue (≈458 nm) emissions, and achieve remarkable photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) of 100% and 92%, respectively. Cs₃Cu₂X₅ (X = Cl, Br) powders are incorporated into 3D-printed structures, exhibiting excellent transparency and color stability. Furthermore, white LEDs are fabricated by using the green-emitting Cs₃Cu₂Cl₅ and blue-emitting Cs₃Cu₂Br₅ and a yellow-emitting double perovskite (PLQY≈ 73%), resulting in devices with an exceptionally high color rendering index (CRI) of up to 98 and tunable correlated color temperatures (CCTs) ranging from 3864 to 9677 K, closely mimicking natural white light. Beyond solid-state lighting, the superior optical performance and stability of Cs₃Cu₂X₅ (X = Cl, Br) powders open new avenues for their application in photovoltaics and other optoelectronic devices.

Mesoporous core@shell Cu2O/Cu@PdCu nanozymes are demonstrated as efficient tandem electrocatalyst for highly selective NH3 electrosynthesis from NO3 − at fairly positive potentials. Meanwhile, this enzyme-like electrocatalyst performs perfectly in the two-electrode coupling system for cathode NO3 −-to-NH3 and anode ethanol oxidation in a more energy-efficient manner.

Electrocatalytic tandem nitrate reduction to ammonia (NO3 −-to-NH3) offers a promising pathway for energy and environmental sustainability. Although considerable efforts have been presented to modulate the reaction pathways for enhanced NO3 −-to-NH3 electrocatalysis, these advances often require relatively high overpotentials to balance yield rate and selectivity of NH3, resulting in a remarkable energy inefficiency. Inspired by enzyme catalysis in nature, herein a tandem enzyme-like electrocatalyst is designed consisting of a core of Cu2O/Cu heterojunction surrounded by mesoporous PdCu shell (Cu2O/Cu@mesoPdCu) that accelerated NO3 −-to-NH3 electrocatalysis in positive potentials. Impressively, Cu2O/Cu@mesoPdCu nanozymes hold superior performance for robust NH3 electrosynthesis in a fairly positive potential of 0.10 V (versus reversible hydrogen electrode), having Faraday efficiency of 96.2%, yield rate of 13.3 mg h−1 mg−1, and half-cell energy efficiency of 46.0%. Kinetic studies, in situ spectra and density functional theory calculations revealed that Cu2O/Cu core preferentially adsorbed NO3 − and further reduced to *NO2, while active hydrogen radicals enriched on PdCu shell promoted multistep hydrodeoxygenation of *NO2 to NH3 within “semi-closed” mesoporous microenvironment, both of which synergistically enabled tandem electrocatalysis in positive potentials. Moreover, this enzyme-like electrocatalyst disclosed better NO3 −-to-NH3 performance in a more energy-efficient manner when coupling with more thermodynamically favorable ethanol oxidation reaction.

Residue-free 2D materials with exceptional cleanliness and high quality are achieved using van der Waals interaction-based fabrication and manipulation techniques, completely free from polymers and solvents. Precise manipulation enables the construction of vdW heterostructures with controlled alignment, expanding the potential of 2D materials for next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices.

2D materials have garnered considerable attention due to their distinctive properties, prompting diverse applications across various domains. Beyond their inherent qualities, the significance of 2D materials extends into the fabrication processes that can lead to the degradation of intrinsic performance through undesirable mechanical defects and surface contaminations. Herein, a novel fabrication technique to achieve residue-free 2D materials using van der Waals (vdW) interactions, primarily employing molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is proposed. Optical and electrical characterizations confirm the absence of residues, mechanical defects, oxidation, and strain, along with a prominent field-effect mobility of up to 60 cm2 V−1 s−1 and an on/off ratio of ≈108. Furthermore, the utilization of residue-free material as a stamp enables various manipulations of flakes transferred on substrates in advance, including pick-up and release, stacking, exfoliation, wiping-out, flipping, and smoothing-out processes. Additionally, the manipulation techniques also facilitate the fabrication of vdW heterostructures with precise positioning and the desired stacking order. In this regard, the feasibility of applying this method to hexagonal boron nitride and graphite is demonstrated. It is expected that this method will offer a versatile and effective approach to enhancing the qualities of 2D material-based electronic and optoelectronic devices.

A universal strategy for constructing ultrasensitive self-powered sensing materials with dual-gradient heterojunctions is developed through the induction of anionic and cationic polymer gradient distribution under direct current electric field.

The hydrogel ionic diode is regarded as a promising self-powered sensor, capable of harvesting energy from low-frequency stimuli human motions and converting it into electrical signals. However, the sensitivity of the reported conventional bilayer hydrogel ionic diodes are relatively low, due to the single heterojunction interface and high interface resistance, making it challenging to meet the demands of high-precision sensing. Here, a universal method for fabricating dual-gradient hydrogel ionic diodes without bilayer structure through the induction of anionic and cationic polymer gradient distribution via a direct current electric field is developed. Due to the dual-gradient distribution, numerous heterogeneous microstructures (i.e., microdiodes) with low interface resistance are formed in the bulk phase of hydrogel, and these series-connected microdiodes demonstrate a significantly increase in open circuit voltage in response to mechanical pressure. The dual-gradient hydrogel ionic diode exhibits ultra-high sensitivity (1247.3 mV/MPa) and ultralow detection limit (0.8 Pa), enabling the smart prosthetic hand to non-destructive grasp ultrasoft tofu. This work is expected to pave the way for novel high-precision self-powered sensors in intelligent wearable electronics.

A novel highly biocompatible organic phosphorescent HOF nanoscintillators (BPT-HOF@PEG) is designed and engineered to enhance X-PDT for unresectable HCC treatment. Precise tumor localization capability of SRT and effective X-ray energy absorbing and transferring capability of BPT-HOF@PEG endowing BPT-HOF@PEG-mediated X-PDT approach with significant HCC therapeutic potential. Therefore, phosphorescent HOF-based X-PDT is an ideal alternative therapy for patients with unresectable HCC.

X-ray induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) leverages penetrating X-ray to generate singlet oxygen (1O2) for treating deep-seated tumors. However, conventional X-PDT typically relies on heavy metal inorganic scintillators and organic photosensitizers to produce 1O2, which presents challenges related to toxicity and energy conversion efficiency. In this study, highly biocompatible organic phosphorescent nanoscintillators based on hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOF) are designed and engineered, termed BPT-HOF@PEG, to enhance X-PDT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. BPT-HOF@PEG functions simultaneously as both scintillator and photosensitizer, effectively absorbing and transferring X-ray energy to generate abundant 1O2. Both in vitro and in vivo investigations demonstrate that internalized BPT-HOF@PEG efficiently produces significant quantities of 1O2 upon X-ray irradiation. Additionally, X-ray exposure directly inflicts DNA damage, and the synergistic effects of these mechanisms result in pronounced cell death and substantial tumor growth inhibition, with a significant inhibition rate of up to 90.4% in vivo assessments. RNA sequencing analyses reveal that X-PDT induces apoptosis in Hepa1-6 cells while inhibiting cell proliferation, culminating in tumor cell death. Therefore, this work highlights the considerable potential of efficient phosphorescent HOF nanoscintillators-based X-PDT as a promising therapeutic approach for HCC, providing a highly effective alternative with negligible toxicity for patients with unresectable tumors.

Atomic-Scale Polarization

In article number 2420510, Walid A. Daoud and colleagues report an atomic-scale polarization-functionalized Mn3O4-based catalyst for vanadium redox flow battery, where the role of vacancy-induced local polarization on vanadium redox reactions is investigated. The findings shed light on the fundamental rules governing the utility and evolution of vacancies in transition metal oxide electrocatalysts, thereby moving a step closer toward their deployment in a wide range of sustainable energy storage schemes.

Cancer Cell Detection

In article number 2412738, Zihan Zhao, Guangwei Hu, Xumin Ding, and co-workers report a method that employs a multiplexed THz metachip with high sensitivity to capture rich spectral signatures of human cancer cells and maps them in a three-dimensional spatial coordinate. The experimental detection success rate reaches 93.33%, providing a novel path for early cancer screening technology.

Hybrid Organic–Inorganic MXenes

This cross-sectional STEM image captures the wave-like rippling observed in an organic-inorganic hybrid 2D MXene. Here, these ripples, often referred to as Ripplocations, are formed when the organic surface groups are exposed to the electron beam. Ripplocations are a fundamental defect in layered materials and may play a key role in how the material responds to stress and external conditions. More details can be found in article number 2411669 by Francisco Lagunas, Robert F. Klie, and co-workers.

X-Ray Induced Photodynamic Therapy

A novel biocompatible organic phosphorescent HOF nanoscintillator (BPT-HOF@PEG) was fabricated to enhance X-ray induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The precise tumor localization ability of stereotactic radiotherapy, along with the efficient X-ray energy absorption and transfer properties of BPT-HOF@PEG, provides significant therapeutic potential for HCC treatment, making this phosphorescent HOF-based X-PDT a promising alternative for patients with unresectable HCC. More details can be found in article number 2417001 by Feng Shen, Huijing Xiang, Yu Chen, Tian Yang, and co-workers.

Coated Liquid Metal Droplets

In article number 2414519, Yixiong Feng. Jingyu Sun, Xiuju Song, and co-workers present a novel strategy for coating liquid metals with 2D magnetic materials. The fabricated cadmium telluride (Cr2Te3)-coated liquid metal (CT-LM) droplets exhibit controllable deformation and locomotion under magnetic fields, non-adhesion to surfaces, and cost-effective recyclability. Their functionality is demonstrated in magneto-interactive memory devices and wearable sensors for dynamic gesture recognition, broadening the potential applications of flexible electronics.

A 3D spatial map for human cancer cells is developed using the designed multiplexed THz metachip with superior Q factors and sensitivity. This method for screening and quantifying cancer cells based on such a 3D spatial map has been experimentally validated to achieve high accuracies (93.33%) under several selected cancer cells from different parts of the human body.

In this paper, compact terahertz (THz) metachips for hyperspectral screening and quantitative evaluation of human cancer cells is reported. This pixelated resonant metachips feature the resonance channel from 1 and 3 THz frequency with a record-high quality factor (up to 230). Through the interactions of various cancer cells of different concentrations, high-dimensional spectral signatures are obtained, which are further transformed into a spatial map for labelling and quantification purposes. The screening of up to 15 cancer cells is experimentally reported, with very high detecting accuracy of 93.33% and with attractive quantitative concentration sensitivity up to 1320 kHz cell mL−1. This hyperspectral metachips are low-cost, highly compact, and label-free for fast, high-throughput and high-sensitivity detections and evaluation of human cancer cells. This technology does not require clinical experience, representing an accessible technology for early diagnosis of cancer.

This work presents a novel strategy for coating liquid metals with 2D magnetic materials. The fabricated chromium(III)-telluride-coated liquid metal droplets exhibit controllable deformation and locomotion under magnetic fields, nonadhesion to surfaces, and cost-effective recyclability. Their functionality is demonstrated in magnetointeractive memory devices and wearable sensors for dynamic gesture recognition, broadening the potential applications of flexible electronics.

Magnetic liquid metal droplets, featured by unique fluidity, metallic conductivity, and magnetic reactivity, are of growing significance for next-generation flexible electronics. Conventional fabrication routes, which typically incorporate magnetic nanoparticles into liquid metals, otherwise encounter the pitfall pertaining to surface adhesivity and corrosivity over device modules. Here, an innovative approach of synergizing liquid metals with 2D magnetic materials is presented, accordingly creating chromium(III)-telluride-coated liquid metal (CT–LM) droplets via a simple self-assembly process. The CT–LM droplets exhibit controllable deformation and locomotion under magnetic fields, demonstrate nonadherence to various surfaces, and enable cost-effective recycling of components. The functionality of CT–LM droplets is validated through their use in magnetointeractive memory devices to enable sensing/storing 64 magnetic paths and in wearable sensors as the flexible vibrator for dynamic gesture recognition with machine learning assistance. This work opens new avenues for the functional droplet design and broadens the horizons of flexible electronics.

A robust Mo-dopedNi2P@Ni12P5 heterojunction with rich P vacancies on Ni foam is proposed for accomplishing simultaneous electrooxidation of CHA to AA and HER at large current density with 85.7% yield of AA and 100% Faradaic efficiency of H2 production at 232 mA cm−2. Synergistic charge optimization and P vacancy by Mo Doping endows the enhanced bifunctional performances.

Synchronous electrosynthesis of value-added adipic acid (AA) and H2 is extremely crucial for carbon neutrality. However, accomplishing the preparation of AA and H2 at large current density with high selectivity is still challenging. Herein, a robust Mo-doped Ni2P@Ni12P5 heterojunction with more P vacancies on Ni foam is proposed for accomplishing simultaneous electrooxidation of cyclohexanol (CHAOR) to AA and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at large current density. Combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption fine structure, and electron spin resonance confirm that Mo incorporation induces the charge redistribution of Ni2P@Ni12P5, where Mo adjusts electrons from Ni to P, and triggers more P vacancies. Further experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the d-band center is upshifted, optimizing adsorption energies of water and hydrogen on electron-rich P site for boosting HER activity. Besides, more Ni3+ generated from electron-deficient Ni induced by Mo, alongside more OH* triggered from more P vacancies concurrently promote CHA dehydrogenation and C─C bond cleavage, decreasing energy barrier of CHAOR. Consequently, a two-electrode flow electrolyzer achieves industrial current density (>230 mA cm−2) with 85.7% AA yield, 100% Faradaic efficiency of H2 production. This study showcases an industrial bifunctional electrocatalyst for AA and H2 production with high productivity.

Atomic-scale in situ heating scanning transmission electron microscopy of the (Pb,La)(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 materials reveals the origin of characteristic hysteresis behavior of relaxor-like antiferroelectric. The nanosized multistate configurations which encompass antiferroelectric, quasi-paraelectric, and ferroelectric nanoregions are responsible for the slim double hysteresis loops of relaxor-like antiferroelectric. Such nanosized multistate configurations break the common belief of single-phase antiferroelectric nanodomains.

Antiferroelectric materials have garnered significant attention for their potential applications in high-power capacitors. Among the four technically important types of ferroelectric states-classical ferroelectric, relaxor ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, and relaxor antiferroelectric-the first three have well-defined physical pictures, while the fourth remains contentious. Here, atomic-scale in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy is demonstrated to provide a clear resolution to this long-standing issue. The temperature-dependent configurational evolution during the transition from room-temperature classical antiferroelectric to high-temperature relaxor-like antiferroelectric in (Pb,La)(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 materials is directly observed. The nanosized multistate configurations formed during transformation, which encompass antiferroelectric, quasi-paraelectric, and ferroelectric nanoregions, are responsible for the slim double hysteresis loops characteristic of relaxor-like antiferroelectric. These findings offer new guidelines for validating the physical models essential for the development of high-performance relaxor-like antiferroelectrics.

A bioinspired micro-groove structure is developed to address the challenges of snow and ice accumulation. By minimizing capillary effects, and reducing mechanical interlocking, this multifunctional design highlights two key metrics for snow prevention surfaces: adhesion reduction and shedding efficiency, paving the way for applications in energy systems and architecture.

Many outdoor devices require effective snow prevention solutions, yet existing passive anti-icing technologies are inadequate for snow repellency due to the variability of snow properties. This study addresses this gap by proposing a bioinspired micro-grooved anti-snow structure that minimizes van der Waals forces through reduced contact area and mitigates capillary effects via a V-shaped design, facilitating the separation of liquid water at the interface. Snow-shedding performance is shown to be highly sensitive to surface roughness, with the periodic smoothness of micro-grooves significantly reducing mechanical interlocking with snow. In contrast, hierarchical superhydrophobic structures strongly interlock with ice grains, preventing spontaneous snow-shedding even at extremely low adhesion forces. By embedding superhydrophobic nanoparticles into the micro-groove structure, this study presents a multifunctional design that integrates anti-icing, anti-snow, and water-repellent properties. Experimental results demonstrate that the structure effectively balances adhesion reduction and snow-shedding performance, showing promising potential for photovoltaic solar power systems and large-scale architectural applications.

Wearable sensors, empowered by AI and smart materials, revolutionize healthcare by enabling intelligent disease diagnosis, personalized therapy, and seamless health monitoring without disrupting daily life. This review explores cutting-edge advancements in smart materials and AI-driven technologies that empower wearable sensors for diagnostics and therapeutics. Current challenges, limitations, and future opportunities in transforming intelligent healthcare are also examined.

Intelligent wearable sensors, empowered by machine learning and innovative smart materials, enable rapid, accurate disease diagnosis, personalized therapy, and continuous health monitoring without disrupting daily life. This integration facilitates a shift from traditional, hospital-centered healthcare to a more decentralized, patient-centric model, where wearable sensors can collect real-time physiological data, provide deep analysis of these data streams, and generate actionable insights for point-of-care precise diagnostics and personalized therapy. Despite rapid advancements in smart materials, machine learning, and wearable sensing technologies, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews that systematically examine the intersection of these fields. This review addresses this gap, providing a critical analysis of wearable sensing technologies empowered by smart advanced materials and artificial Intelligence. The state-of-the-art smart materials—including self-healing, metamaterials, and responsive materials—that enhance sensor functionality are first examined. Advanced machine learning methodologies integrated into wearable devices are discussed, and their role in biomedical applications is highlighted. The combined impact of wearable sensors, empowered by smart materials and machine learning, and their applications in intelligent diagnostics and therapeutics are also examined. Finally, existing challenges, including technical and compliance issues, information security concerns, and regulatory considerations are addressed, and future directions for advancing intelligent healthcare are proposed.

To address off-target organ enrichment and low endosomal escape during mRNA delivery, the study learns from the technology of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and integrate cholesterol moieties and zwitterionic species into branched poly(β-amino ester)s (hPAEs) to obtain “four-in-one” LNP-like hPAEs (O-LhPAEs), which have spleen-targeted delivery and have potential for the treatment of silicosis by nebulization.

mRNA therapeutics hold tremendous promise for disease prevention and treatment. Development of high-performance mRNA delivery systems with enhanced transfection efficiency and a safety profile will further fulfill their therapeutic potential and expedite their translation. The synthesis of “four-in-one” highly branched poly(β-amino ester)s (O-LhPAEs) is reported by integrating the essential components of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for spleen-selective mRNA enrichment and nebulization treatment of silicosis. 60 O-LhPAEs with distinct branched structure and chemical composition, including tertiary/quaternary amines, cholesterol moieties, zwitterionic species, and hydrophobic alkyl tails, are synthesized using sequential Michael addition, ring-opening, and nucleophilic substitution reactions. The unique topological structure and chemical composition collectively enhanced O-LhPAEs/mRNA polyplex serum resistance, cellular uptake, and endosomal escape. The optimal O-LhPAE, 20%b-3C-2P12, exhibits up to 93.1% mRNA transfection across 11 different cell types, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, cancer cells, stem cells, neurological cells, and astrocytes. Biodistribution study reveals that 20%b-3C-2P12/mRNA polyplexes are mainly enriched in the spleen following systemic administration. Through nebulization, 20%b-3C-2P12 mediated high Tbx2 mRNA expression in the lungs of silicosis mice, effectively restoring lung functions. This study not only establishes a strategy for development of LNP-like O-LhPAEs but also provides promising candidates for highly safe, efficient, and spleen-selective mRNA delivery and nebulization treatment of silicosis.

Long-lived circularly polarized organic long persistent luminescence (CP-OLPL) is achieved by constructing a chiral exciplex system, with green CP-OLPL emission lasting over 1.5 hours and exhibiting an asymmetry factor of 4.5 × 10− 3. Additionally, by incorporating a fluorophore emitter and utilizing synergistic singlet-singlet and chirality energy transfer, an orange-red CP-OLPL with a duration exceeding 1 hour is realized, showcasing its potential for applications in afterglow display and lighting, and multi-level information encryption.

Circularly polarized organic long persistent luminescence (CP-OLPL) has garnered significant attention due to its distinctive properties. However, achieving CP-OLPL materials with ultralong durations remains a formidable challenge. Herein, an effective strategy is proposed to obtain long-lived CP-OLPL by constructing a self-designed chiral donor for developing a host–guest chiral exciplex system. The gradual recombination of long-lived charge-separated states enables a green CP-OLPL emission to persist for over 1.5 hours with an asymmetry factor (|g lum|) of 4.5 × 10−3. More intriguingly, doping with rubrene fluorophore yields an orange-red CP-OLPL system, exhibiting a duration over 1 hour and |g lum| of 2.3 × 10−3 through synergistic singlet-singlet and chirality energy transfer. These properties render the development of chiral afterglow display, multi-level information encryption, and afterglow lighting. This work not only represents a significant advancement in the design of chiral donors for ultralong CP-OLPL exciplex system with durations but also provides valuable insights into exciton dynamics.