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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00735F, PaperSeungon Jung, Yunjeong Jang, Hohyun Jung, Yujin Kim, Eunbin Son, Seulgi Jeong, Yihan Zhang, Joohoon Kang, Jeong Min Baik, Jianfeng Lu, Hyesung Park
Tin (Sn)-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as promising alternatives to lead-based PSCs owing to their lower toxicity and desirable optoelectronic properties. However, the instability of Sn-based perovskites and...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE01525A, PaperYue Chen, Xiaopeng Duan, Junjie Zhang, Zhongwei Ge, Haisheng Ma, Xiaobo Sun, Huotian Zhang, Jiaxin Gao, Xuelin Wang, Xunchang Wang, Zheng Tang, Renqiang Yang, Feng Gao, Yanming Sun
The persistent challenge of high non-radiative recombination energy loss (ΔEnr) remains a critical bottleneck in advancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, a fused non-fullerene...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE06204C, Analysis Open Access &nbsp This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.Muhammad Tayyab, Maximiliane Dreis, Dennis Blaudszun, Kevinjeorjios Pellumbi, Urbain Nzotcha, Muhammad Qaiser Masood, Sebastian Stiessel, Henning Weinrich, Hermann Tempel, Kai junge Puring, Ruediger-A. Eichel, Ulf-Peter Apfel
The defossilisation of the chemical industry is a critical milestone in achieving climate-friendly and sustainable production routes. In this regard, CO2-electrolysis technologies have emerged as a foundational element of Carbon...
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Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Matthew Hornsey (University of Queensland)
• Monday 09 June 2025, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: Ground Floor Lecture Theatre, Department of Psychology, Downing Site, Cambridge.
• Series: Social Psychology Seminar Series (SPSS); organiser: Yara Kyrychenko.

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High-efficiency and stable polymer solar cells typically rely on expensive oligomeric small-molecule acceptors and high-cost polymer donors. To overcome this limitation, conjugated side chains are strategically employed to modulate and dimerize acceptors, precisely tuning their thermodynamic properties for optimal compatibility with the low-cost polymer donor PTQ10. This approach provides a viable pathway toward sustainable and renewable energy solutions.

Abstract

Polymer solar cells (PSCs) rely on blends of small-molecule acceptors (SMAs) and polymer donors, but the thermodynamic relaxation of SMAs requires an oligomeric approach to enhance operational stability. However, high-efficiency devices often depend on the expensive synthesis of oligomeric SMAs and costly polymer donors, posing a significant barrier to achieving sustainable and renewable energy. Here, the challenge is addressed through a thermodynamically derived compatibility of giant acceptors with the low-cost polymer donor PTQ10. This is achieved by strategically employing conjugated side chains to modulate and dimerize acceptors, thereby precisely tuning their thermodynamic properties to optimize compatibility. Our synthetic route avoids toxic reagents, halogenated solvents, and harsh conditions. The dimer (DYBT) incorporating an n-type linker enhances crystallinity, absorption, and intramolecular superexchange coupling compared to its p-type counterpart, and achieves a device efficiency of 19.53%. Considering efficiency, stability, and material cost, the potential cost per kilowatt for the PTQ10:DYBT device is 0.10 $ kW−1, while most systems exceed 10 $ kW−1. These findings offer valuable insights for the cost-effective oligomeric acceptors, to well pair with low-cost donors and reduce the overall material cost of the photo-active layer for sustainable and durable energy.

Canalization-based super-resolution imaging has been achieved based on ultralow-loss and extremely anisotropic phonon polaritons in a natural van der Waals material α-MoO3. This canalization lens exhibits the superior capability to resolve deeply subwavelength feature sizes down to 15 nm, which represents a promising solution for non-destructive nanoelectronic circuit imaging and inspection.

Abstract

Optical inspection has long served as a cornerstone non-destructive method in semiconductor wafer manufacturing, particularly for surface and defect analysis. However, conventional techniques such as dark-field scattering optics or atomic force microscopy (AFM) face significant limitations, including insufficient resolution or the inability to resolve subsurface features. Here, an approach is proposed that integrates the strengths of dark-field scattering optics and AFM by leveraging a van der Waals (vdW) canalization lens based on natural biaxial α-MoO3 crystals. This method enables ultrahigh-resolution subwavelength imaging with the ability to visualize both surface and buried structures, achieving a spatial resolution of 15 nm and grating pitch detection down to 100 nm. The underlying mechanism relies on the unique anisotropic properties of α-MoO3, where its atomic-scale unit cells and biaxial symmetry facilitate the diffraction-free propagation of both evanescent and propagating waves via a flat-band canalization regime. Unlike metamaterial-based superlenses and hyperlenses, which suffer from high plasmonic losses, fabrication imperfections, and uniaxial constraints, α-MoO3 provides robust and super-resolution imaging in multiple directions. The approach is successfully applied to achieve high-resolution inspection of buried nanoscale electronic circuits, offering unprecedented capabilities essential for next-generation semiconductor manufacturing.

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Miles H. Wheeler (University of Bath)
• Monday 02 June 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: MR13.
• Series: Partial Differential Equations seminar; organiser: Giacomo Ageno.

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Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Tobias Barker (University of Bath)
• Monday 09 June 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: MR13.
• Series: Partial Differential Equations seminar; organiser: Giacomo Ageno.

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In situ Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS) of peptides in living cells is developed for enhancing cancer chemotherapy through targeting membraneless organelle stress granules. The peptide underwent sulfatase-induced phase separation into droplets upon sulfate hydrolysis. Decorated with protein ligands, the in situ-formed droplets coacervated with stress granules, thereby enhancing cancer chemotherapy with sorafenib via activating caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins and nucleic acids into membraneless organelles (MLOs) plays a critical role in sustaining fundamental physiological processes. However, creating artificial coacervate droplets in living cells from exogenous molecules and modulating the functions of MLOs remain challenging. To address this concern, here we reported enzyme-induced in situ phase separation of peptides into droplets targeting MLO stress granule (SG) for enhanced cancer chemotherapy. The peptide YSO4F containing two sulfated tyrosine residues undergoes sulfatase-responsive LLPS into droplets. Cellular studies confirm in situ phase separation of YSO4F selectively in sulfatase-overexpressing cancer cells. By integrating with appropriate ligands, the in situ-formed droplets d-YF-LSG coacervate with SGs driven by association between the ligand with SG key component protein G3BP2. Mechanistic studies illustrate that the in situ-formed droplets enhance the cytotoxicity of sorafenib via activating caspase-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, animal experiments confirm that administration of the in situ-formed droplets with sorafenib significantly inhibits tumor growth in murine models bearing tumors, accompanied by an excellent biosafety profile. The findings in this study elucidate an innovative approach for in situ formulation of coacervate droplets within tumor cells and a new material for targeting membraneless organelles, thus providing a promising new strategy for disease organelle-targeted therapy in the future.

A synthetic system mimics essential functions of living cells—migration, division, and reconfiguration—by encapsulation of active magnetic particles within a nanoparticle—surfactant membrane. This membrane preserves its shape after deformations, which can be tuned with surfactant concentrations. The resulting biomimetic, reconfigurable, and responsive material paves the way for autonomous synthetic machines.

Abstract

Migration, division, and reconfiguration – functions essential to living systems – are driven by active processes. Developing synthetic mimics is an outstanding challenge. Lipid bilayers that bound natural systems are locally deformed by active species, e.g., microtubules, but the resulting non-equilibrium shapes relax when active species motion ceases, and the shape changes lack immediate control. A fully synthetic system is described, driven by active particles encapsulated by a reconfigurable nanoparticle-surfactant membrane that undergoes shape fluctuations reminiscent of living cells. These shape changes are preserved after particle activity stops. Surfactant concentration tunes the interfacial tension over three orders of magnitude, making on-demand shape evolution possible. Directional migration, division, and reconfiguration across multiple scales are possible, leading to a new class of biomimetic, reconfigurable, and responsive materials, paving the way for autonomous synthetic machines.

The degradation of perovskite precursors is suppressed by modulating the position and type of functional groups in stabilizers. 4-hydrazinobenzenesulfonic acid (4-HBSA), with the lowest pK a, effectively improved stability, passivated grain boundary defects, and increased carrier lifetime, leading to a maximum PCE of 26.79% in inverted PSCs fabricated by vacuum flash technology under ambient conditions.

Abstract

The instability of perovskite precursor solution induced by deprotonation of organic cations and oxidation of iodide ions substantially deteriorates the reproducibility and reliability of the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The above decomposition reactions can be conquered via the synergistic engineering of organic functional groups. However, how spatial conformation and type of weak acid functional groups impact the stability of perovskite precursor solution remains to be investigated. Herein, it is uncovered that the position of functional groups on the benzene and the type of weak acid functional groups remarkably influence the acid dissociation constant (pK a) and thus the stability of perovskite inks. The pK a plays a decisive role in suppressing the deprotonation of organic cations and following the amine-cation addition-elimination reaction. The 4-hydrazinobenzenesulfonic acid (4-HBSA) with the lowest pK a is optimal in stabilizing perovskite inks and mitigating nonradiative recombination through defect passivation. This breakthrough enables the inverted PSCs to deliver a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.79% (certified 26.36%, the highest PCE value for PSCs prepared in ambient conditions) using vacuum flash evaporation technology. The modulated PSC could maintain 92% of its initial efficiency after 2000 h of continuous maximum power point tracking.

A new amplified micro-deformation strategy is proposed to develop a 3D fabric-based F-TENG with 3D conductive PPy network and a water-resistant WPU layer. The device enables highly sensitive and real-time physiological monitoring, maintains stable performance in both in vivo and skin surface wet conditions, and exhibits excellent antibacterial properties. F-TENG is expected to achieve the application of integrated diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract

The demand for real-time physiological monitoring drives innovation in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). TENGs offer promise for real-time dynamic monitoring, but they are often complicated to manufacture, have low sensitivity, and are easily disturbed by ambient humidity. Herein, a fabric-based integrated triboelectric nanogenerator (F-TENG) is developed, employing waterborne polyurethane (WPU) as both a water-resistant encapsulation and friction layer, and polypyrrole (PPy) as a friction and conductive layer. This design simplifies the fabrication process while simultaneously improving the device's resistance to environmental factors. The micro-filament structure enables localized contact-separation during deformation, initiating the triboelectric effect, while the 3D architecture amplifies local strain, further enhancing sensitivity to weak signals. F-TENG demonstrates effective voltage output during carotid and respiratory monitoring, highlighting its capability to detect subtle physiological signals. Furthermore, F-TENG maintains stable performance under humid conditions, retaining 78.78% of its output voltage as relative humidity increased from 20% to 80%. When implants in the moist environment of a rat's leg, F-TENG exhibits a notable output of 21 V. In addition, the inherent antibacterial properties of F-TENG further enhance its application potential. These findings position F-TENG as a robust and versatile platform for dynamic monitoring, wearable electronics, and integrated diagnostic and therapeutic systems.

Metastable skyrmions in chiral cubic Co8Zn9Mn3 are shown to exhibit decay dynamics influenceable by varying the magnetic anisotropy at room temperature, revealing a new avenue for control of topological magnetism. This study further uncovers a nascent square-coordinated spin texture that coexists with hexagonal skyrmion lattices, highlighting a rich topological landscape. The findings may enable advanced applications based on dynamic and customizable properties of topological spin textures at room temperature.

Abstract

Chiral cubic Co-Zn-Mn magnets exhibit diverse topological spin textures, including room-temperature skyrmion phases and robust far-from-equilibrium metastable states. Despite recent advances in understanding metastable skyrmions, the interplay between compositional disorder and varying magnetic anisotropy on the stability and decay of metastable textures, particularly near room temperature, remains incompletely understood. In this work, the equilibrium and metastable skyrmion formation in Co8Zn9Mn3 is examined, revealing transformations between distinct metastable spin textures induced by temperature and magnetic field. At room temperature, the decay dynamics of metastable skyrmions exhibits a strong dependence on magnetic anisotropy, showcasing a route towards tailoring relaxation behavior. Furthermore, a nascent double-q spin texture, characterized by two coexisting magnetic modulation vectors q, is identified as a minority phase alongside the conventional triple-q hexagonal skyrmion lattice. This double-q texture can be quenched as a metastable state, suggesting both its topological character, and its role as a potential intermediary of metastable skyrmion decay. These findings provide new insights into the tunability of equilibrium and metastable topological spin textures via chemical composition and magnetic anisotropy, offering strategies for designing materials with customizable and dynamic skyrmion properties for advanced technological applications.

A core–shell ternary electrode (Opt-SWCNTs/PEDOT:PSS/IL) is developed via a simple two-step dispersion and vacuum filtration process, with component ratios optimized to achieve excellent mechanical toughness and electrical conductivity based on simulation results. The resulting actuators demonstrate high strain and blocking force, enabling precise gripping and complex deformation, showing great potential for soft robotics and next-generation electrochemical actuators.

Abstract

Ionic actuators based on composite electrodes consisting of nanomaterials and conducting polymer typically offer the advantages of low-voltage operation and high stability, however, electrode preparation using conventional mixing suffers from issues of ineffective dispersion of nanomaterials, greatly diminishing their synergistic effects. Here, the ternary electrode system based on SWCNTs/PEDOT: PSS/ionic liquid using the two-step dispersion process is optimized, achieving a uniformly coated core–shell structure with high conductivity (≈392.4 S cm−1). The ions migration process is analyzed according to the core–shell model, further optimization of the ternary electrode and device structure enables the actuator to realize the peak-to-peak strain per volt reaching 1.3% V−1 and normalized blocking force of 0.15 MPa V−1 (≈89.2 times its own weight), with stable performance maintained over 1 million cycles. Therefore, the actuator can be utilized for the assembly of multi-clawed grippers to grasp precision components or larger objects. Multiple connected actuators fulfill a complex deformation, indicating promising applications in smart grippers, bioinspired robotics, and human–machine interaction.

Carbon-based hole-transport-layer-free perovskite solar cells present a cost-effective and stable photovoltaic alternative but suffer from low efficiency due to the absence of back surface field (BSF). In this work, trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate is utilized to engineer dual BSFs, significantly enhancing open-circuit voltage and leading to a champion efficiency of 20.79%—marking a substantial improvement in device performance.

Abstract

Carbon-based hole transport layer-free (C-HTL-free) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising for low-cost and stable photovoltaics, but the HTL absence deteriorates their power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to the lack of back surface field (BSF). In this work, the benefits of forming dual BSFs in improving the PCE of C-HTL-free PSCs are first investigated by simulation. Then, trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (Tr+TPFB−) is introduced into the C-HTL-free PSCs by post-treatment for the first time, which enables the formation of dual BSFs. TPFB− passivates n-doping defects in perovskite and leads to the formation of perovskite n-p homojunction, while Tr+ extracts electrons from carbon and lowers its work function, which succeeds realizing dual BSFs. This improves the separation and extraction of photocarriers within the device, which is evidenced by the photoluminescence lifetime imaging of the device cross-section for the first time. As a result, the average open-circuit voltage increases significantly by about 70 mV, which largely contributes to the improvement of PCE with a champion value of 20.79% obtained.

Benzenesulfonate monomers undergo in situ self-polymerization during the crystallization process of perovskite, providing more uniform passivation for perovskite defects than single molecules. The in situ formed polymer also facilitates the growth of large grain domains and the charge transport, offering an efficiency of 25.34% for small-area perovskite solar cells and 21.54% for mini-modules with an active area of 14.0 cm2.

Abstract

Realizing high-quality perovskite films through uniform defect passivation and crystallization control is pivotal to unlocking the potential of scalable applications. However, prevalent small-molecule additives are inherently susceptible to the crystallization dynamics of perovskites, resulting in non-uniform distribution within the crystalline film and impeding consistent passivation and precise crystallization control. While polymers offer improved uniformity, their poor solubility restricts practical applications. To overcome this limitation, an in situ self-polymerization strategy is employed, enabling homogeneous coordination between sulfonate-containing additives and undercoordinated lead cations. This approach enhances perovskite film quality, promotes larger crystalline grain domains, and facilitates more efficient charge transport across grain domain boundaries. As a result, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) achieve a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 25.34% in small-area devices and 21.54% in 14.0 cm2 mini-modules, accompanied by exceptional operational stability. These findings highlight in situ polymerization as an effective strategy for leveraging sulfonate additives to overcome distribution challenges, advancing the scalable fabrication of efficient and stable PSCs.

A universal weakly-solvated electrolyte design principle is established for phosphorus-based anodes through systematic evaluation. Based on this criterion, the fluorinated solvent of FEC emerges as the optimal co-solvent, effectively suppressing the dissolution of lithium polyphosphides while enhancing desolvation/charge-transfer kinetics and simultaneously fostering a stable inorganic-rich SEI layer. This rational strategy addresses critical interfacial challenges in high-performance phosphorus-based battery systems.

Abstract

hosphorus-based anodes hold promise for energy storage due to their high theoretical capacity and favorable lithiation potential. However, their practical application is hindered by sluggish reaction kinetics and irreversible capacity loss, primarily attributed to multiphase lithiation/delithiation reactions and the dissolution of lithium polyphosphide intermediates. Herein, a universal design principle of weakly solvated electrolytes (WSEs) tailored for phosphorus-based anodes is proposed. Combined with a high dielectric constant, and significant dipole moment, a fluorinated cosolvent is incorporated into a WSE to effectively suppress the dissolutions of lithium polyphosphides, enhance interfacial stability, and accelerate reaction kinetics. With this electrolyte, a phosphorus-based anode achieves a remarkable capacity of 2615.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 1C, maintaining 91.7% capacity retention over 1000 cycles. Even at a high rate of 4 C, it delivers 2210.7 mAh g⁻¹ with an exceptional retention of 96.7% after 1500 cycles. Furthermore, at 0 °C, the anode sustains a capacity of 2016.7 mAh g⁻¹, with 97% retention after 300 cycles at 1C. This study provides a novel electrolyte design strategy to regulate the solvation sheath, paving the way for high-rate, long-cycle phosphorus-based anodes suitable for fast-charging applications.

Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE01295C, PaperHouwei He, Zhongliao Wang, Jinfeng Zhang, Shavkat Mamatkulov, Olim Ruzimuradov, Kai Dai, Jingxiang Low, Yue Li
Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production (PHP) represents a promising strategy for substituting the anthraquinone process, yet the sluggish redox kinetics causes strong oxidizing superoxide intermediate rapid accumulation, resulting in poor...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00652J, PaperXiao Fang, Bonan Li, Jiao Huang, Chunlian Hu, Xu Yang, Pengfei Feng, Xiaoyu Dong, Junhao Wu, Yuanyuan Li, Yong Ding
Artificial photosynthesis is a potential hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production strategy, but the poor charge separation and transfer limit the photocatalytic efficiency. Here, the sodium/potassium poly(heptazine imide) (NaK-PHI) photocatalyst with the...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE04857A, PaperMingzhe Yang, Tongle Chen, gongrui Wang, Xiaofeng Li, Yangyang Liu, Xuanxuan Ren, Ying Zhang, Lu Wu, Li Song, Juncai Sun, Zhong-Shuai Wu
Lithium-rich manganese-based oxides (LRMOs) are promising high-specific-energy cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) but face issues of voltage decay and poor cyclability rooted in ireversible O/Mn redox. Herein we present...
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