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

The piezoelectric SF film with visible periodic piezoelectric domains and excellent biocompatibility is fabricated through a feasible photochemical method with silver nanoparticles as the developer and mediator simultaneously. Consequently, the oriented piezoelectric electric field is achieved under ultrasound and effectively regulates the directional growth and length of neurite and neural gene expression.

The development of visible periodic piezoelectric domains is highly attractive but challenging to overcome the homogeneous distribution and lack of visualization of the electric field on traditional piezopolymers. This work reports an in situ synthesis to create customized silver patterns with micron-level distinguishability. This method serves to form visible periodic piezoelectric domains and endows the silk fibroin (SF) piezoelectric generator with maximum root mean square current, energy density, and voltage of 5.1 mA, 6.7 W m−2 and 529.5 mV, respectively, under an ultrasound intensity of 1.0 W cm−2. The oriented piezoelectric electric field is periodically distributed into the SF film with ultrasound-driven assistance and remarkably regulates neurite directional growth, length, and gene expression. Additionally, these piezoelectric domains enable the direct and timely observation of the electric field's effect on neurites by biological microscopy. This approach paves the way for great potential in tailored electric stimulation for cell biology and medical engineering.

A dynamic, dual-network CGDE hydrogel, combining covalent and noncovalent crosslinking mimics the biochemical and mechanical cues of bone extracellular matrix. This viscoelastic matrix promotes 3D cellular self-organization and drives the development of functional woven bone organoids (WBOs) through intramembranous ossification, reaching peak bioactivity at 21 days. This approach offers a robust and scalable platform for bone organoid engineering.

Bone organoids, in vitro models mimicking native bone structure and function, rely on 3D stem cell culture for self-organization, differentiation, ECM secretion, and biomineralization, ultimately forming mineralized collagen hierarchies. However, their development is often limited by the lack of suitable matrices with optimal mechanical properties for sustained cell growth and differentiation. To address this, a dynamic DNA/Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel (CGDE) is developed to recapitulate key biochemical and mechanical features of the bone ECM, providing a supportive microenvironment for bone organoid formation. This dual-network hydrogel is engineered through hydrogen bonding between DNA and GelMA, combined with GelMA network crosslinking, resulting in appropriate mechanical strength and enhanced viscoelasticity. During a 21-day 3D culture, the CGDE hydrogel facilitates cellular migration and self-organization, promoting woven bone organoid (WBO) formation via intramembranous ossification. These WBOs exhibit spatiotemporal architectures supporting dynamic mineralization and tissue remodeling. In vivo studies demonstrate that CGDE-derived WBOs exhibit self-adaptive properties, enabling rapid osseointegration within 4 weeks. This work highlights the CGDE hydrogel as a robust and scalable platform for bone organoid development, offering new insights into bone biology and innovative strategies for bone tissue regeneration.

A simple and effective approach to grain boundary growth optimization: Incorporating a KTFB polyfluorinated additive into the antisolvent to regulate grain boundary growth, eliminate excessive halide lead and defects, and form wide-bandgap (1.78 eV) perovskite films with grain size over 2 µm, enabling the realization of efficient two-terminal and four-terminal all-perovskite tandem devices.

Tandem perovskite solar cells represent a significant avenue for the future development of perovskite photovoltaics. Despite their promise, wide-bandgap perovskites, essential for constructing efficient tandem structures, have encountered formidable challenges. Notably, the high bromine content (>40%) in these 1.78 eV bandgap perovskites triggers rapid crystallization, complicating the control of grain boundary growth and leading to films with smaller grain sizes and higher defect density than those with narrower bandgaps. To address this, potassium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate molecules are incorporated into the antisolvent, employing a crystallographic orientation-tailored strategy to optimize grain boundary growth, thereby achieving wide-bandgap perovskite films with grains exceeding 2 µm and effectively eliminating surplus lead halide and defects at the grain boundaries. As a result, remarkable efficiency is achieved in single-junction wide-bandgap perovskite devices, with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.7%, and in all-perovskite tandem devices, with a two-terminal PCE of 28.3% and a four-terminal PCE of 29.1%, which all rank among the highest reported values in the literature. Moreover, the stability of these devices has been markedly improved. These findings offer a novel perspective for driving further advancements in the perovskite solar cell domain.

A typical paradigm to utilize hetero-trimetallic atom catalysts (CCF TACs@NVs) with a stable symmetrical pyramid structure for catalytic guided apoptosis and ferroptosis-induced cell death, which is provided by the multi-enzymes like abilities under effective tumor aggregation, highlighting the application prospects in the biomedical field.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play crucial roles in cellular metabolic processes by acting as primary intracellular chemical substrates and secondary messengers for cellular signal modulation. However, the artificial engineering of nanozymes to generate ROS is restricted by their low catalytic efficiency, high toxicity, and off-target consumption. Herein, hetero-trimetallic atom catalysts (TACs) anchored on a stable symmetrical pyramid structure are designed in the presence of N and P surface ligands from cross-linked polyphosphazene interlayer-coated MIL-101(Fe). The 3D network TACs with a uniform dispersion of Cu, Co, and Fe hetero-single atoms effectively tailor the active sites to avoid metal sintering, thereby providing sufficient catalytic activity for ROS blooms. Nanovesicle membranes facilitate the stable accumulation of nanozymes with homologous targeting, recognition, and endocytosis, effectively addressing the potentially high toxicity and off-target defects. Therefore, the outcome of the in situ ROS-bloom acts as a redox signal for directly regulating oxidative stress in the tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, ROS intervene in the glutathione peroxidase 4, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4, and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 pathways as second messengers, fostering the proclivity toward apoptosis and lipid peroxidation-regulated ferroptosis pathway concurrently, thereby highlighting the application prospects of TACs in the biomedical field.

The CeO2- x -suspension electrolyte is initially proposed to regulate the Zn[(H2O)6]2+ solvation structure and alters the inner Helmholtz plane to accelerate Zn[(H2O)6]2+ desolvation, achieving a homogenized electric field and uniform ion flux kinetics. Consequently, the suspen sion electrolyte achieves a service life exceeding 6500 h at 0 °C and demonstrates outstanding rate performance at −20 °C, highlighting its practical potential for AZMBs.

The conventional electrolyte for rechargeable aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) breeds many problems such as Zn dendrite growth and side reaction of hydrogen evolution reaction, which are fundamentally attributed to the uneven ion flux owing to the high barriers of desolvation and diffusion of Zn[(H2O)6]2+ clusters. Herein, to modulate the [Zn(H2O)6]2+ solvation structure, the suspension electrolyte engineering employed with electron-delocalized catalytic nanoparticles is initially proposed to expedite desolvation kinetics. As a proof, the electron-density-adjustable CeO2- x is introduced into the commercial electrolyte and preferentially adsorbed on the Zn surface, regulating the Zn[(H2O)6]2+ structure. Meanwhile, the defect-rich CeO2- x redistributes the localized space electric field to uniformize ion flux kinetics and inhibits dendrite growth, as confirmed by a series of theoretical simulations, spectroscopical and experimental measurements. Encouragingly, the CeO2- x decorated suspension electrolyte enables a long stability over 1200 cycles at 5 mA cm−2 and an extended lifespan exceeding 6500 h with lower overpotentials of 34 mV under 0 °C. Matched with polyaniline cathodes, the full cells with suspension electrolyte exhibit a capacity-retention of 96.75% at 1 A g−1 under −20 °C as well as a long lifespan of up to 400 cycles in a large-areal pouch cell, showcasing promising potentials of suspension electrolyte for practical AZMBs.

An eye-drop nano-formulation of catalase self-assembled with cysteine-modified chitosan is designed. The obtained nanoparticles after eye-drop administration could form disulfide bonds with the mucin layer of the team film to achieve enhanced precorneal adhesion, so as to continuously eliminate excessive reactive oxygen species accumulated in the ocular surface to suppress inflammation, resulting in effective treatment of dry eye disease.

Dry eye disease (DED), the most prevalent ophthalmological condition worldwide, can cause severe ocular discomfort and even visual impairment. Effective yet safe therapeutics for severe DED are still highly demanded. Herein, considering the important role of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in triggering DED, an eye-drop nano-formulation of catalase (CAT) self-assembled with cysteine-modified chitosan (CS-Cys) is designed for DED treatment. Upon eye-drop administration of CS-Cys/CAT nanoparticles, CS-Cys can form disulfide bonds with abundant thiols in the mucin layer of the tear film, anchoring catalase to the corneal surface. Thus the excess ROS accumulated on the ocular surface can be effectively eliminated, resulting in a regulated tear microenvironment. In mouse and rabbit models, it is verified that CS-Cys/CAT eye drops can offer excellent therapeutic effects, especially in promoting the recovery of damaged epithelium and increasing tear secretion. Remarkably, CS-Cys/CAT eye drops showed notably better therapeutic performance than clinically used cyclosporin and dexamethasone, as well as several new DED drugs in clinical trials. Thus, the work presents a unique nanoparticulate eye-drop-based ocular delivery system to allow prolonged ocular retention of protein therapeutics, and such nanoformulation formulated by fully biocompatible/biodegradable components possesses significant translational potential for effective and safe DED treatment.

Increasing InAs CQD size exposes diverse facets and edges, bringing challenges for effective passivation. This work introduces a mixed-halide passivation strategy to stabilize these facets and edges, doubling anti-oxidation ability and boosting mobility. The resulting photodetectors achieve 75% EQE, 10 ns response time, and 50 h operational stability (10% loss) at 1140 nm, advancing InAs CQD photodetector performance.

Lead-free III-V colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are of significant interest for their potential in near-infrared (NIR) to short-wave infrared (SWIR) photodetection. However, achieving effective surface passivation remains challenging, especially as larger CQD sizes introduce more complex surface facets and compositions while shifting the absorption peak from the NIR to the SWIR range. In this study, a mixed-halide passivation strategy is developed for large InAs CQDs, an approach that led to a doubling in anti-oxidation ability and achieves a hole mobility of 0.03 cm2 Vs−1. These in turn led to a T90 lifetime of 50 h and enhanced operating stability in photodetectors operating at 1140 nm. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations and facet characterization indicate that exposed facets and edges are well passivated using a mixture of indium halides, which provide a stronger desorption energy compared to single-halide passivation. This approach yields photodetectors with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 75% and a response time of 10 ns, an advance for InAs photodetectors operating at 1140 nm.

A strategy that integrates the Ir/Mn co-mixing and the strong oxide-support interaction modulation through plasma defect engineering is used for the development of the catalysts that follow the oxide path mechanism for the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER). The obtained catalyst shows exceptional OER activity and remarkable stability in the acid media.

Developing efficient and stable catalysts that facilitate the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) through an oxide-path mechanism (OPM) is of considerable interest. However, it remains a significant challenge due to the stringent structural requirements of these catalysts. This work reports that using a strategy that integrates the Ir/Mn co-mixing and the strong oxide-support interaction (SOSI) modulation, efficient and stable Ir-based catalysts that follow the OPM for the acidic OER can be developed. The strategy mainly relies on optimizing the distance of oxygeneous intermediate adsorption sites by the Ir/Mn co-mixing and modulating the SOSI of the catalysts through plasma defect engineering to trigger the OPM pathway with a lower energy barrier. The density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations reveal a strong electronic coupling between Ir and Mn via the Ir─O─Mn bond and a ready coupling of oxygeneous adsorbed on the Ir site with those on the Mn site, leading to an asymmetric oxygen coupling for the OER. The developed catalyst merely requires an overpotential of 240 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2 with the Ir mass-activity > 75 times higher than that of the IrO2. When used in the proton-exchange-membrane water-electrolyzers, it shows high performance and excellent stability at an industrial-level current density of 1.0 A cm−2.

The sluggish water-splitting step hinders the advancement of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), making the design of efficient water-splitting active sites critical. The MgO x and MoO y on the atomically thin Ru metallene can cooperatively promote the adsorption–dissociation of water molecules, greatly promoting the efficiency of alkaline HER.

Ruthenium (Ru) is considered as a promising catalyst for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet its weak water adsorption ability hinders the water splitting efficiency. Herein, a concept of introducing the oxygenophilic MgO x and MoO y species onto amorphous Ru metallene is demonstrated through a simple one-pot salt-templating method for the synergic promotion of water adsorption and splitting to greatly enhance the alkaline HER electrocatalysis. The atomically thin MgO x and MoO y species on Ru metallene (MgO x /MoO y -Ru) show a 15.3-fold increase in mass activity for HER at the potential of 100 mV than that of Ru metallene and an ultralow overpotential of 8.5 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. It is further demonstrated that the MgO x /MoO y -Ru-based anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer can achieve a high current density of 100 mA cm−2 at a remarkably low cell voltage of 1.55 V, and exhibit excellent durability of over 60 h at a current density of 500 mA cm−2. In situ spectroscopy and theoretical simulations reveal that the co-introduction of MgO x and MoO y enhances interfacial water adsorption and splitting by promoting adsorption on oxidized Mg sites and lowering the dissociation energy barrier on oxidized Mo sites.

Efficiency and scintillation velocity are critical for high-energy and medical physics. These parameters, typically conflicting in conventional scintillators, are simultaneously optimized by exploiting the giant oscillator strength of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals, leading to radiatively accelerated (multi)excitonic emission with unity efficiency without detrimental light transport losses in polymeric nanocomposites. This opens up interesting developments in fast-timing radiation detection based on colloidal nanocrystals.

Efficiency and emission rate are two traditionally conflicting parameters in radiation detection, and achieving their simultaneous maximization can significantly advance ultrafast time-of-flight (ToF) technologies. In this study, it is demonstrated that this goal is attainable by harnessing the giant oscillator strength (GOS) inherent to weakly confined perovskite nanocrystals, which enables superradiant scintillation under mildly cryogenic conditions that align seamlessly with ToF technologies. It is shown that the radiative acceleration due to GOS encompasses both single and multiple exciton dynamics arising from ionizing interactions, further enhanced by suppressed non-radiative losses and Auger recombination at 80 K. The outcome is ultrafast scintillation with 420 ps lifetime and light yield of ≈10 000 photons/MeV for diluted NC solutions, all without non-radiative losses. Temperature-dependent light-guiding experiments on test-bed nanocomposite scintillators finally indicate that the light-transport capability remains unaffected by the accumulation of band-edge oscillator strength due to GOS. These findings suggest a promising pathway toward developing ultrafast nanotechnological scintillators with optimized light output and timing performance.

Atomic layer modulation is instrumental in optimizing catalytic kinetics for obtaining highly active photocatalysts. A precise atomic layer regulation strategy is proposed to realize the individual modulation of the surface In–S layer in ZnIn2S4, which creates deeper hybridized electronic states of Ni 3d–S 3p to optimize H* adsorption/desorption and maximize surface catalytic benefits for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Solar-driven hydrogen production is significant for achieving carbon neutrality but is limited by unsatisfactory surface catalytic reaction kinetics. Layer regulation can impact carrier transmission or catalytic behavior, but the specific effects on the oxygen or hydrogen evolution reaction (OER or HER) remain unclear, and atomic layer level modulation for maxing HER is challenging. Here the distinct roles of modulated Zn–S or In–S surface layers in ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) for the OER and HER, respectively, are disentangled. Moreover, the extensive characterizations and computational results demonstrate that stressful environments enable individual modulation and introduce Ni into the surface In–S layer rather than the easily alterable Zn–S layer, creating deeper hybridized electronic states of Ni 3d–S 3p, optimizing H* adsorption/desorption, and maximizing surface catalytic benefits for the HER. Consequently, the optimized ZIS exhibited a photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of up to 18.19 mmol g−1 h−1, ≈32 times higher than pristine ZIS. This investigation expands the application scenarios of ultrasonic technology and inspires other precise control types, such as defects and crystal plane engineering, etc.

The schematic representation highlights the essential components for developing a 3D bioprinted glioblastoma model. It includes key microenvironmental factors, biomaterials, and crosslinking techniques. The integration of bioprinting strategies with GBM-on-a-chip models enables the creation of dynamic, physiologically relevant models. A Quality-by-Design (QbD) roadmap can ensure consistent 3D bioprinting models focusing on critical bioprinting processes and material properties.

Conventional in vitro models fail to accurately mimic the tumor in vivo characteristics, being appointed as one of the causes of clinical attrition rate. Recent advances in 3D culture techniques, replicating essential physical and biochemical cues such as cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix interactions, have led to the development of more realistic tumor models. Bioprinting has emerged to advance the creation of 3D in vitro models, providing enhanced flexibility, scalability, and reproducibility. This is crucial for the development of more effective drug treatments, and glioblastoma (GBM) is no exception. GBM, the most common and deadly brain cancer, remains a major challenge, with a median survival of only 15 months post-diagnosis. This review highlights the key components needed for 3D bioprinted GBM models. It encompasses an analysis of natural and synthetic biomaterials, along with crosslinking methods to improve structural integrity. Also, it critically evaluates current 3D bioprinted GBM models and their integration into GBM-on-a-chip platforms, which hold noteworthy potential for drug screening and personalized therapies. A versatile development framework grounded on Quality-by-Design principles is proposed to guide the design of bioprinting models. Future perspectives, including 4D bioprinting and machine learning approaches, are discussed, along with the current gaps to advance the field further.

The application of 2D perovskite materials in indoor photovoltaic field is studied. By constructing DJ/RP perovskite heterojunction, an optimal balance between defect passivation and carrier transport is achieved. Ultimately, the 2D PSCs attain a PCE of 30.30%, with working stability improved by a factor of 20 compared to 3D PSCs, demonstrating their significant potential in future indoor photovoltaic technology.

2D perovskite materials are ideal candidates for indoor photovoltaic (IPV) applications due to their tunable bandgap, high absorption coefficients, and enhanced stability. However, attaining uniform crystallization and overcoming low carrier mobility remain key challenges for 2D perovskites, limiting their overall performance. In this study, a 2D perovskite light-absorbing layer is constructed using a Dion–Jacobson (DJ)-phase EDA(FA)4Pb5I16 (n = 5) and introduced butylammonium iodide (BAI) for interface modification, thereby creating a novel DJ/Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) dual 2D perovskite heterostructure. By adjusting the thickness of the BAI-based perovskite layer, the relationship between interfacial defect states and carrier mobility is investigated under varying indoor light intensities. The results indicate that, by achieving a balance between interfacial defect passivation and carrier transport, the optimized 2D perovskite device reaches a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 30.30% and an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 936 mV under 1000 lux (3000 K LED). 2D-DJ/RP perovskite IPV exhibits a twentyfold increase in T90 lifetime compared to 3D perovskite devices. It is the first time to systematically study 2D perovskites in IPV applications, demonstrating that rationally designed and optimized 2D perovskites hold significant potential for fabricating high-performance indoor PSCs.

This study reports the discovery of a stable γ-phase in Cu6Te3- x S1+ x , achieving high thermoelectric performance with a Seebeck coefficient up to 200 µVK⁻¹ and ultralow thermal conductivity (≈0.25 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹). The material eliminates phase transitions, exhibits a zT of ≈1.1 at 500 K, and offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative for waste heat recovery and cooling applications.

Copper-based chalcogenides are cost-effective and environmentally friendly thermoelectric (TE) materials for waste heat recovery. Despite demonstrating excellent thermoelectric performance, binary Cu2 X (X = S, Se, and Te) chalcogenides undergo superionic phase transitions above room temperature, leading to microstructural evolution and unstable properties. In this work, a new γ-phase of Cu6Te3- x S1+ x (0 < x ≤ 1) is discovered, a narrow-bandgap semiconductor with outstanding thermoelectric performance and high stability. By substituting Te with S in metallic Cu6Te3S, the crystal symmetry is modified and structural phase transitions are eliminated. The γ-phase exhibits a significantly higher Seebeck coefficient of up to 200 µVK−1 compared to 8.8 µVK−1 for Cu6Te3S at room temperature due to optimized carrier concentration and increased effective mass. Cu6Te3- x S1+ x materials also demonstrate ultralow thermal conductivity (≈0.25 Wm−1K−1), which, in concert with improved power factors, enables a high zT of ≈1.1 at a relatively low temperature of 500 K. Unlike most Cu-based chalcogenides, the γ-phase exhibits excellent transport property stability across multiple thermal cycles, making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to Bi2Te3-based materials. The developed Cu6Te3- x S1+ x is a promising candidate for thermoelectric converters in waste heat recovery, and its potential can be further extended to cooling applications through carrier concentration tuning.

Anisotropic microcarriers (AMs) have gained prominence for their morphological versatility. This review synthesizes two decades of advances in AM development, from fabrication strategies to multifunctional biomedical applications (cell coculture, multidrug delivery, tissue scaffolds, and 3D bioprinting). Systematic analysis of morphology-dependent effects underscores opportunities for optimizing AM utilization and establishing morphology-driven innovation frameworks in biomedicine.

Anisotropic microcarriers (AMs) have attracted increasing attention. Although significant efforts have been made to explore AMs with various morphologies, their full potential is yet to be realized, as most studies have primarily focused on materials or fabrication methods. A thorough analysis of the interactional and interdependent relationships between these factors is required, along with proposed countermeasures tailored for researchers from various backgrounds. These countermeasures include specific fabrication strategies for various morphologies and guidelines for selecting the most suitable AM for certain biomedical applications. In this review, a comprehensive summary of AMs, ranging from their fabrication methods to biomedical applications, based on the past two decades of research, is provided. The fabrication of various morphologies is investigated using different strategies and their corresponding biomedical applications. By systematically examining these morphology-dependent effects, a better utilization of AMs with diverse morphologies can be achieved and clear strategies for breakthroughs in the biomedical field are established. Additionally, certain challenges are identified, new frontiers are opened, and promising and exciting opportunities are provided for fabricating functional AMs with broad implications across various fields that must be addressed in biomaterials and biotechnology.

A full-scale field-free perpendicular magnetization switching driven by spin-orbit torque (SOT) is achieved by employing an ultrathin type-II Dirac semimetal, Pt3Sn. The generation of unconventional SOT is attributed to the spin texture of the topological surface state on the Pt3Sn (111) surface with a z-polarized spin component. This study positions the Dirac semimetals, such as Pt3Sn, as promising spin sources for integration into advanced spintronic devices.

Spin-orbit torque (SOT) induced by current is a promising approach for electrical manipulation of magnetization in advancing next-generation memory and logic technologies. Conventional SOT-driven perpendicular magnetization switching typically requires an external magnetic field for symmetry breaking, limiting practical applications. Recent research has focused on achieving field-free switching through out-of-plane SOT, with the key challenge being the exploration of new spin source materials that can generate z-polarized spins with high charge-to-spin conversion efficiency, structural simplicity, and scalability for large-scale production. This study demonstrates field-free perpendicular switching using an ultrathin type-II Dirac semimetal Pt3Sn layer with a topological surface state. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the unconventional SOT originates from a spin texture with C3v symmetry, leading to significant z-polarized spin accumulation in the Pt3Sn (111) surface, enabling the deterministic switching of perpendicular magnetization. These results highlight the potential of Dirac semimetals like Pt3Sn as scalable and efficient spin sources, facilitating the development of low-power, high-density spintronic memory and logic devices.

This study introduces a multimodal nonlinear microscopy approach using upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) under continuous-wave excitation. The UCNPs exhibit high-order nonlinear optical responses, enabling deep-tissue 3D imaging, video-rate wide-field imaging, and depth-selective photomodulation. High-resolution in vivo imaging of mouse cerebrovascular networks is demonstrated, highlighting the potential for cost-effective bioimaging and targeted phototherapy applications.

Nonlinear microscopy provides excellent depth penetration and axial sectioning for 3D imaging, yet widespread adoption is limited by reliance on expensive ultrafast pulsed lasers. This work circumvents such limitations by employing rare-earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), specifically Yb3+/Tm3+ co-doped NaYF4 nanocrystals, which exhibit strong multimodal nonlinear optical responses under continuous-wave (CW) excitation. These UCNPs emit multiple wavelengths at UV (λ ≈ 450 nm), blue (λ ≈ 450 nm), and NIR (λ ≈ 800 nm), whose intensities are nonlinearly governed by excitation power. Exploiting these properties, multi-colored nonlinear emissions enable functional imaging of cerebral blood vessels in deep brain. Using a simple optical setup, high resolution in vivo 3D imaging of mouse cerebrovascular networks at depths up to 800 µmm is achieved, surpassing performance of conventional imaging methods using CW lasers. In vivo cerebrovascular flow dynamics is also visualized with wide-field video-rate imaging under low-powered CW excitation. Furthermore, UCNPs enable depth-selective, 3D-localized photo-modulation through turbid media, presenting spatiotemporally targeted light beacons. This innovative approach, leveraging UCNPs' intrinsic nonlinear optical characteristics, significantly advances multimodal nonlinear microscopy with CW lasers, opening new opportunities in bio-imaging, remote optogenetics, and photodynamic therapy.

A finger-shaped tactile sensor inspired by human fingers is developed, capable of simultaneous normal and shear force detection and 98.33% accurate material identification. Integrated into a robot hand and arm system, it enables real-time detection of gripping force, material identification, advancing haptic sensing in robotics.

Multimodal tactile perception is crucial for advancing human–computer interaction, but real-time multidimensional force detection and material identification remain challenging. Here, a finger-shaped tactile sensor (FTS) based on the triboelectric effect is proposed, capable of multidirectional force sensing and material identification. The FTS is composed of an external material identification section and an internal force sensing section. Three materials are embedded into the surface of the silicone shell in the fingerpad, forming single-electrode sensors for material identification. In the force sensing section, the silicone shell's outer surface is coated with conductive silver paste as a shielding layer. The inner wall has four silicone microneedle arrays and a silicone bump, while five silver electrodes are coated on the internal polylactic acid skeleton. The components connect via interlocking structures near the fingernail, allowing localized contact and separation between the silicone shell and skeleton, enabling force direction detection through signals from the five electrodes. Additionally, the outer sensors achieve 98.33% accuracy in recognizing 12 materials. Furthermore, integrated into a robotic hand, the FTS enables real-time material identification and force detection in an intelligent sorting environment. This research holds great potential for applications in tactile perception for intelligent robotics.

A functionalized photochromic material based on spiro-indoline naphthoxazine is applied to halide perovskite materials and the corresponding solar cells, demonstrating photoinduced transformation by a combination of techniques. This results in improvements in photovoltaic performances and operational stabilities, highlighting the potential of dynamic photochromic strategies in photovoltaics.

The application of perovskite photovoltaics is hampered by issues related to the operational stability upon exposure to external stimuli, such as voltage bias and light. The dynamic control of the properties of perovskite materials in response to light could ensure the durability of perovskite solar cells, which is especially critical at the interface with charge-extraction layers. We have applied a functionalized photochromic material based on spiro-indoline naphthoxazine at the interface with hole-transport layers in the corresponding perovskite solar cells with the aim of stabilizing them in response to voltage bias and light. We demonstrate photoinduced transformation by a combination of techniques, including transient absorption spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. As a result, the application of the photochromic derivative offers improvements in photovoltaic performance and operational stability, highlighting the potential of dynamic photochromic strategies in perovskite photovoltaics.