A microscopic view of diffusion and failure mechanisms of lithium anodes in solid-state batteries
September 2026
Although all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLBs) have long been regarded as successors of the commercially available lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), SSLBs do not yet deliver sufficient and competitive...
In situ EPR imaging for lithium/sodium batteries
September 2026
In situ electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), particularly in situ top-view EPRI, is an indispensable analytical technique for revealing the electrochemical reaction mechanisms in battery...
Biomimetic halide perovskite synapses for neuromorphic computing
September 2026
Driven by the exponential surge in computational demands, there is a pressing imperative to pioneer novel information processing paradigms that overcome the inherent von Neumann bottleneck in conventional...
Photosynthesis-inspired decoupled devices: Development, mechanisms, and application
September 2026
Natural photosynthesis efficiently converts solar energy into chemical energy through spatially and temporally decoupled light and dark reactions by thylakoid membranes and proton-coupled electron transfer...
Synergistic solar-thermal icephobic armor: Ultrasmall-bandgap MOFs drive efficient anti-/de-icing via superhydrophobic photothermal cooperation
September 2026
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been positioned as promising candidates for fabricating photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces, due to their gas-trapping porosity, tunable nanoarchitectures, and...
Modulation of electron delocalization and localization induced by single-atom alloys on defective HxMoO3−y for boosting photocatalytic reduction of nitric oxide to ammonia
September 2026
Photocatalytic technology for the NO reduction has tremendous potential at ambient conditions compared to conventional NO abatement technologies. Modulation of delocalization and localization of photogenerated...
Hydroxide-activated hydrogen spillover-mediated nitrogen reduction pathways for efficient ammonia synthesis
September 2026
Developing novel reaction mechanisms to simplify the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) pathways and break scaling relationships of catalysts remain challenges in improving catalytic efficiency. Here,...
Advancing zinc-based batteries for next-generation energy storage: Key challenges, mitigation strategies, and future perspectives
September 2026
Emerging Zn–X (X = O2, S, Se, Te, I2, Br2) batteries present promising opportunities for advancing high-performance zinc-based batteries, owing to their remarkable theoretical capacity, environmental...
Composition-driven anion vacancy control in I–III–VI CuIn(S1−xSex)2 quantum dots for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen production
September 2026
Heavy-metal-free I–III–VI quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for solar energy conversion owing to their strong light absorption, broadly tunable bandgap spanning the full solar spectrum, and...
Machine learning-guided deep eutectic electrolytes for high energy density and safe lithium–air batteries
September 2026
Lithium–air batteries (LABs) are considered promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems due to their ultrahigh energy density. However, their electrolytes still face high volatility,...
Self-healing supramolecular cathode binder additive with dynamic bonds for durable high-voltage solid-state lithium batteries
September 2026
Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes are indispensable for high-energy polymer-based solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs), yet their application is plagued by severe volumetric strain and unstable...
Asymmetric cobalt sites induced low-spin state for enhanced redox kinetics in lithium–sulfur batteries
September 2026
Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have drawn widespread attention for their exceptionally high theoretical energy density, yet their progress remains impeded by sluggish reaction kinetics and the notorious...
Visualized fiber-shaped solar-blind photodetectors enable wearable dual-mode ultraviolet monitoring
September 2026
Wearable solar-blind photodetectors (SBPDs) are critical for health and environmental monitoring. However, achieving real-time visual feedback while maintaining high sensitivity and flexibility has...
Lattice oxygen mechanism triggered via stable Ni–O–W for solar-boosted water electrolysis
September 2026
Developing an alkaline overall water splitting (OWS) photo-electrocatalyst with high structural stability and excellent solar response capability remains a critical challenge. Here, we report a 10 ×...
Phase-change hydrogel-integrated solar evaporator featuring self-adaptive thermal regulation and anti-fouling for sustainable osmotic energy harvesting
September 2026
The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is vital for addressing global resource crises, but intersystem trade-offs challenge holistic management. Interfacial evaporation-driven osmotic energy harvesting platforms...
A Janus conductive MOF-on-conductive-MOF heterostructure enables simultaneous production of H2O2 and active chlorine by seawater electrolysis
September 2026
Seawater electrolysis is an ideal strategy for the simultaneous production of H2O2 and active chlorine, but it has yet to be realized. In this study, a rationally designed conductive metal–organic framework...
Insect-scale robots with embodied intelligence: Challenges and future perspectives
July 2026
Inspired by the agility, adaptability, and efficiency of insects, insect-scale robots are emerging as promising platforms for applications in environmental monitoring, search and rescue, precision agriculture,...
Carbon dots: Electroluminescent devices for lighting and display applications
July 2026
Carbon dots (CDs) have garnered significant attention as next-generation optoelectronic materials due to their tunable photoluminescence, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and excellent photostability....
Emerging inorganic amorphous solid-state electrolytes in all-solid-state lithium batteries: From crystallographic order to atomic and lattice disorder
July 2026
Solid-state electrolytes (SEs) are the “blood vessels” in all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), providing essential ion channels. In past decades, SE design has been mainly carried out within ordered crystalline...
Coalescence-induced late departure of bubbles improves water electrolysis efficiency
July 2026
In water electrolysis, smaller bubble departure sizes are traditionally considered beneficial for electrolysis efficiency. However, we show that this paradigm breaks down at high current densities,...
Solid polymer electrolyte chemistries tailored by solvation structures
July 2026
Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) endow lithium (Li) metal batteries with superior safety and energy density. However, sluggish Li ion (Li+) transport within the SPE inhibits its practical application....
Electron beam irradiation for spent LiFePO4 recycling
July 2026
Efficient recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for environmental protection and resource sustainability. Direct recycling offers a promising alternative but suffers from difficulty...
The metamaterial paradigm in wearable electronics
July 2026
Metamaterials transcend the limits of traditional materials by achieving unprecedented performance through architectural design. This paradigm has catalyzed the emergence of meta-wearables—wearable...
Morphology-defect synergy in Cs2PdBr6 perovskite nanocrystals for enhanced photocatalytic CO2-to-CO conversion
July 2026
Designing efficient photocatalysts for the selective conversion of CO2 to CO is crucial for addressing energy and environmental challenges. Lead-free Cs2PdBr6 perovskite shows promise but suffers from...
Humidity-responsive multistate resistive switching device for non-contact sensory neuro-electronic applications
July 2026
Integrated sensory-based synaptic systems offer a promising pathway for developing future neuro-electronic technologies that emulate the human brain. In this study, we present a humidity-sensitive multistate...
