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Electrocatalytic water splitting is considered one of the most promising approaches for large-scale hydrogen production. However, designing transition metal catalysts with high durability under acidic conditions remains a significant challenge. The durability of the catalyst is closely related to the changes of the catalyst during its operation, and constructing effective surface reconstruction strategies can help address the durability issues of transition metals in acidic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). Herein, the spontaneous formation of surface-reconstructed heterostructures of NiMo alloys is reported during the HER in acidic media. The surface of the catalyst is characterized by the presence of Ni/Mo metal nanoparticles and Ni x Mo y O z nanosheets, which coexist as HER proceeds. Notably, the E-Ni 90 Mo 10 /CC After 96 h catalyst demonstrates a significantly reduced overpotential of 56.84 mV at 10 mA cm⁻ 2 in 0.5 m sulfuric acid, which is better than other E-Ni 90 Mo 10 /CC counterparts. Both experimental data and theoretical calculations suggest that these spontaneously formed heterostructures are helpful for optimizing hydrogen adsorption. Furthermore, the downward shift of the d-band center within the heterostructure (Ni 90 Mo 10 /Ni x Mo y O z ) is found to facilitate the desorption of intermediate products, thereby enhancing the overall HER activity. This work provides a new perspective for designing highly durable transition metal catalysts for acidic HER., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Antimony selenide (Sb 2 Se 3 ) has demonstrated considerable potential and advancement as a light-absorbing material for thin-film solar cells owing to its exceptional optoelectronic characteristics. However, challenges persist in the crystal growth, particularly regarding the nucleation mechanism during pre-selenization process for Sb 2 Se 3 . The defects originating from this process significantly impact the quality of the absorber layer, leading to the degradation in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device. Herein, the evolution of pre-selenization using rapid thermal processing (RTP) on the crystallization quality of Sb 2 Se 3 film is systematically investigated. By optimizing the initial nucleation process during pre-selenization, resulting in a reduction of grain boundaries and nucleation centers, the Sb 2 Se 3 thin films demonstrate enhanced crystallinity and pinholes-free morphology. It is found that the improved quality of the grain interior and interfaces of the Sb 2 Se 3 absorber can mitigate intrinsic defects within the bulk layer, and passivate interfacial defect recombination. As a result, the short circuit current density (J SC ) is elevated to 28.97 mA cm -2 , and a competitive efficiency of 9.03% is achieved in Sb 2 Se 3 device. This study provides comprehensive insight into the process of crystal growth and the mechanism for defect suppression, which holds guiding significance for advancing photovoltaic performance., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Droplet-based electricity generators (DEGs) are increasingly recognized for their potential in converting renewable energy sources. This study explores the interplay of surface hydrophobicity and stickiness in improving DEG efficiency. It find that the high-performance C-WaxDEGs leverage both these properties. Specifically, DEGs incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with carnauba wax (C-wax) exhibit increased output as surface stickiness decreases. Through experimental comparisons, PDMS with 1wt.% C-wax demonstrated a significant power output increase from 0.07 to 1.2 W m - 2 , which attribute to the minimized adhesion between water molecules and the polymer surface, achieved by embedding C-wax into PDMS surface to form microstructures. This improvement in DEG performance is notable even among samples with similar surface potentials and contact angles, suggesting that C-wax's primary contribution is in reducing surface stickiness rather than altering other surface properties. The further investigations into the C-WaxDEG variant with 1wt.% C-wax PDMS uncover its potential as a sensor for water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, and heavy metal ion concentration. These findings open avenues for the integration of C-WaxDEGs into flexible electronic devices aimed at environmental monitoring., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In the realm of thrombosis treatment, bioengineered outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) offer a novel and promising approach, as they have rich content of bacterial-derived components. This study centers on OMVs derived from Escherichia coli BL21 cells, innovatively engineered to encapsulate the staphylokinase-hirudin fusion protein (SFH). SFH synergizes the properties of staphylokinase (SAK) and hirudin (HV) to enhance thrombolytic efficiency while reducing the risks associated with re-embolization and bleeding. Building on this foundation, this study introduces two cutting-edge microrobotic platforms: SFH-OMV@H for venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment, and SFH-OMV@MΦ, designed specifically for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) therapy. These platforms have demonstrated significant efficacy in dissolving thrombi, with SFH-OMV@H showcasing precise vascular navigation and SFH-OMV@MΦ effectively targeting cerebral thrombi. The study shows that the integration of these bioengineered OMVs and microrobotic systems marks a significant advancement in thrombosis treatment, underlining their potential to revolutionize personalized medical approaches to complex health conditions., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Bright near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes play an important role in in vivo optical imaging. Here, renal-clearable nanodots prepared from Aza-BODIPY are reported fluorophores for multiphoton brain imaging. The design of donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) type conjugated structures endowed the fluorophores with large three-photon absorption cross-section for both 1620 and 2200 nm excitation. The side chain modification and lipid encapsulation yield ultrasmall nanodots (≈4 nm) and a high fluorescence quantum yield (≈0.35) at 720 nm emission in the aqueous phase. The measured three-photon action cross-section of a single Aza-BODIPY fluorophore in the nanodots is ≈30 times higher than the commonly used Sulforhodamine 101 dye. Three-photon deep brain imaging of subcortical structures is demonstrated, reaching a depth of 1900 µm below the brain surface in a live mouse study. The nanodots enabled blood flow measurement at a depth of 1617 µm using line scanning three-photon microscopy (3PM). This work provides superior fluorescent probes for multiphoton deep-brain imaging., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered the most promising energy storage battery due to their low cost and high theoretical energy density. However, the low utilization rate of sulfur and slow redox kinetics have seriously limited the development of Li-S batteries. Herein, the electronic state modulation of metal selenides induced by the bi-metallic coupling strategy is reported to enhance the redox reaction kinetics and sulfur utilization, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries. Theoretical calculations reveal that the electronic structure can be modulated by Ni-Co coupling, thus lowering the conversion barrier of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and Li + , and the synergistic interaction between NiCoSe nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped porous carbon (NPC) is facilitating to enhance electron transport and ion transfer kinetics of the NiCoSe@NPC-S electrodes. As a result, the assembled Li-S batteries based on NiCoSe@NPC-S exhibit high capacities (1020 mAh g -1 at 1 C) and stable cycle performance (80.37% capacity retention after 500 cycles). The special structural design and bimetallic coupling strategy promote the batteries working even under lean electrolyte (7.2 µL mg -1 ) with a high sulfur loading (6.5 mg cm -2 ). The proposed bimetallic coupling strategy modulating electronic construction with N-doping porous carbon has jointly contributed the good redox reaction kinetics and high sulfur utilization., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Vanadium (V)-based oxides have garnered significant attention as cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) due to their multiple valences and high theoretical capacity. However, their sluggish kinetics and low conductivity remain major obstacles to practical applications. In this study, Mo-doped V 2 O 3 with oxygen vacancies (OVs, Mo-V 2 O 3-x @NC) is prepared from a Mo-doped V-metal organic framework. Ex situ characterizations reveal that the cathode undergoes an irreversible phase transformation from Mo-V 2 O 3-x to Mo-V 2 O 5-x ·nH 2 O and serves as an active material exhibiting excellent Zn 2+ storage in subsequent charge-discharge cycles. Mo-doped helps to further improve cycling stability and increases with increasing content. More importantly, the synergistic effect of Mo-doped and OVs not only effectively reduces the Zn 2+ migration energy barrier, but also enhances reaction kinetics, and electrochemical performance. Consequently, the cathode demonstrates ultrafast electrochemical kinetics, showing a superior rate performance (190.9 mAh g -1 at 20 A g -1 ) and excellent long-term cycling stability (147.9 mAh g -1 at 20 A g -1 after 10000 cycles). Furthermore, the assembled pouch cell exhibits excellent cycling stability (313.6 mAh g -1 at 1 A g -1 after 1000 cycles), indicating promising application prospects. This work presents an effective strategy for designing and fabricating metal and OVs co-doped cathodes for high-performance AZIBs., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Photodetectors are one of the most critical components for future optoelectronic systems and it undergoes significant advancements to meet the growing demands of diverse applications spanning the spectrum from ultraviolet (UV) to terahertz (THz). 2D materials are very attractive for photodetector applications because of their distinct optical and electrical properties. The atomic-thin structure, high carrier mobility, low van der Waals (vdWs) interaction between layers, relatively narrower bandgap engineered through engineering, and significant absorption coefficient significantly benefit the chip-scale production and integration of 2D materials-based photodetectors. The extremely sensitive detection at ambient temperature with ultra-fast capabilities is made possible with the adaptability of 2D materials. Here, the recent progress of photodetectors based on 2D materials, covering the spectrum from UV to THz is reported. In this report, the interaction of light with 2D materials is first deliberated on in terms of optical physics. Then, various mechanisms on which detectors work, important performance parameters, important and fruitful fabrication methods, fundamental optical properties of 2D materials, various types of 2D materials-based detectors, different strategies to improve performance, and important applications of photodetectors are discussed., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This work reports a novel 3D printed grid reservoir-integrated mesoporous carbon coordinated silicon oxycarbide hybrid composite (3DP-MPC-SiOC) to establish the zincophile interphase for controlling the dendrite formation. The customized 3D printed grid patterned structure inhibits Zn dendrite growth and achieves long-term stability with reduced voltage polarization due to homogeneous electric field distribution. The hybrid composite consisting of SiOC interpenetrated within carbon constructs a high zinc nucleation interphase, hence promoting uniform Zn 2+ deposition and enhancing ionic diffusion with dendrite-free growth and a reduced nucleation energy barrier. As a result, the 3DP-MPC-SiOC@Zn symmetrical cell affords a highly reversible Zn plating/stripping and dendrite-free structure over 198 h with an ultra-low voltage polarization. These inspiring performances endow the 3DP anode with a 3DP-VO cathode as a full battery, which shows a retention capacity of 78.8 mAh g -1 (Coulombic efficiency: 94.04%) at 0.1 A g -1 and a large energy density of 41 Wh kg -1 at a power density of 1.2 W kg -1 (based on the total mass of electrode) after 120 cycles. This newly developed 3D printing of hybrid composite as an electrode is straightforward and scalable and provides a novel concept for realizing dendrite-free and stable rechargeable Zn-ion batteries., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The field of 2D materials has advanced significantly with the emergence of MBenes, a new material derived from the MAX phases family, a novel class of materials that originates from the MAX phases family. Herein, this article explores the unique characteristics and morphological variations of MBenes, offering a comprehensive overview of their structural evolution. First, the discussion explores the evolutionary period of 2D MBenes associated with the several techniques for synthesizing, modifying, and characterizing MBenes to tailor their structure and enhance their functionality. The focus then shifts to the defect chemistry of MBenes, electronic, catalytic, and photothermal properties which play a crucial role in designing multifunctional solar-driven hybrid systems. Second, the recent advancements and potentials of 2D MBenes in solar-driven hybrid systems e.g. photo-electro catalysis, hybrid solar evaporators for freshwater and thermoelectric generators, and phototherapy, emphasizing their crucial significance in tackling energy and environmental issues, are explored. The study further explores the fundamental principles that regulate the improved photocatalytic and photothermal characteristics of MBenes, highlighting their promise for effective utilization of solar energy and remediation of the environment. The study also thoroughly assesses MBenes' scalability, stability, and cost effectiveness in solar-driven systems. Current insights and future directions allow researchers to utilize MBenes for sustainable and varied applications. This review regarding MBenes will be valuable to early researchers intrigued with synthesizing and utilizing 2D materials for solar-powered water-energy-fuel and phototherapy systems., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Developing a new end group for synthesizing asymmetric small molecule acceptors (SMAs) is crucial for achieving high-performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Herein, an asymmetric small molecule acceptor, BTP-BO-4FO, featuring a new difluoro-methoxylated end-group is reported. Compared to its symmetric counterpart L8-BO, BTP-BO-4FO exhibits an upshifted energy level, larger dipole moment, and more sequential crystallinity. By adopting two representative and widely available solvent additives (1-chloronaphthalene (CN) and 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO)), the device based on PM6:BTP-BO-4FO (CN) photovoltaic blend demonstrates a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.62% with an excellent open-circuit voltage (V OC ) of 0.933 V, which surpasses the optimal result of L8-BO. The PCE of 18.62% realizes the best efficiencies for binary OPVs based on SMAs with asymmetric end groups. A series of investigations reveal that optimized PM6:BTP-BO-4FO film demonstrates similar molecular packing motif and fibrillar phase distribution as PM6:L8-BO (DIO) does, resulting in comparable recombination dynamics, thus, similar fill factor. Besides, it is found PM6:BTP-BO-4FO possesses more efficient charge generation, which yields better V OC -J SC balance. This study provides a new ending group that enables a cutting-edge efficiency in asymmetric SMA-based OPVs, enriching the material library and shed light on further design ideas., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Perovskite solar cells, recognized for their high photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE), cost-effectiveness, and simple fabrication, face challenges in PCE improvement due to structural defects in polycrystalline films. This study introduces a novel fabrication method for perovskite films using methylammonium chloride (MACl) to align grain orientation uniformly, followed by a high-pressure process to merge these grains into a texture resembling single-crystal perovskite. Employing advanced visual fluorescence microscopy, charge dynamics in these films are analyzed, uncovering the significant impact of grain boundaries on photo-generated charge transport within perovskite crystals. A key discovery is that optimal charge transport efficiency and speed occur in grain centers when the grain size exceeds 10 µm, challenging the traditional view that efficiency peaks when grain size surpasses film thickness to form a monolayer. Additionally, the presence of large-sized grains enhances ion activation energy, reducing ion migration under light and improving resistance to photo-induced degradation. In application, a perovskite solar cell module with large grains achieve a PCE of 22.45%, maintaining performance with no significant degradation under continuous white LED light at 100 mA cm -2 for over 1000 h. This study offers a new approach to perovskite film fabrication and insights into optimizing perovskite solar cell modules., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The advancement of acceptors plays a pivotal role in determining photovoltaic performance. While previous efforts have focused on optimizing acceptor-donor-acceptor 1 -donor-acceptor (A-DA 1 -D-A)-typed acceptors by adjusting side chains, end groups, and conjugated extension of the electron-deficient central A 1 unit, the systematic exploration of the impact of peripheral aryl substitutions, particularly with different electron groups, on the A 1 unit and its influence on device performance is still lacking. In this study, three novel acceptors - QxTh, QxPh, and QxPy - with distinct substitutions on the quinoxaline (Qx) are designed and synthesized. Density functional theory (DFT) analyses reveal that QxPh, featuring a phenyl-substituted Qx, exhibits the smallest molecular binding energies and a tightest π···π stacking distance. Consequently, the PM6:QxPh device demonstrates a better power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.1% compared to the blends incorporating QxTh (16.4%) and QxPy (15.7%). This enhancement is primarily attributed to suppressed charge recombination, improved charge extraction, and more favorable molecular stacking and morphology. Importantly, introducing QxPh as a guest acceptor into the PM6:BTP-eC9 binary system yields an outstanding PCE of 19.5%, indicating the substantial potential of QxPh in advancing ternary device performance. The work provides deep insights into the expansion of high-performance organic photovoltaic materials through peripheral aryl substitution strategy., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Enhancing active states on the catalyst surface by modulating the adsorption-desorption properties of reactant species is crucial to optimizing the electrocatalytic activity of transition metal-based nanostructured materials. In this work, an efficient optimization strategy is proposed by co-modulating the dual anions (C and S) in Ni 3 C/Ni 3 S 2 , the heterostructured electrocatalyst, which is prepared via a simple hot-injection method. The presence of Ni 3 C/Ni 3 S 2 heterojunctions accelerates the charge carrier transfer and promotes the generation of active sites, enabling the heterostructured electrocatalyst to achieve current densities of 10/100 mA cm -2 at 1.37 V/1.53 V. The Faradaic efficiencies for formate production coupled with hydrogen evolution approach 100%, accompanied with a stability record of 350 h. Additionally, operando electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), in situ Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrate that the creation of Ni 3 C/Ni 3 S 2 heterointerfaces originating from dual anions' (C and S) differentiation is effective in adjusting the d-band center of active Ni atoms, promoting the generation of active sites, as well as optimizing the adsorption and desorption of reaction intermediates. This dual anions co-modulation strategy to stable heterostructure provides a general route for constructing high-performance transition metal-based electrocatalysts., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Various semiconductor devices have been developed based on 2D heterojunction materials owing to their distinctive optoelectronic properties. However, to achieve efficient charge transfer at their interface remains a major challenge. Herein, an alloy heterojunction concept is proposed. The sulfur vacancies in ZnIn 2 S 4 are filled with selenium atoms of PdSe 2 . This chemically bonded heterojunction can significantly enhance the separation of photocarriers, providing notable advantages in the field of photoelectric conversion. As a demonstration, a two-terminal photodetector based on the PdSe 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 heterojunction materials is fabricated. The photodetector exhibits stable operation in ambient conditions, showcasing superior performance in terms of large photocurrent, high responsivity (48.8 mA W -1 ) and detectivity (1.98 × 10 11 Jones). To further validate the excellent optoelectronic performance of the heterojunction, a tri-terminal phototransistor is also fabricated. Benefiting from gate voltage modulation, the photocurrent is amplified to milliampere level, and the responsivity is increased to 229.14 mA W -1 . These findings collectively demonstrate the significant potential of the chemically bonded PdSe 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 alloy heterojunction for future optoelectronic applications., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Host-guest catalyst provides new opportunities for targeted applications and the development of new strategies for preparing host-guest catalysts is highly desired. Herein, an in situ solvent-free approach is developed for implanting ZrW 2 O 7 (OH) 2 (H 2 O) 2 nanorods (ZrW-NR) in nitro-functionalized UiO-66(Zr) (UiO-66(Zr)-NO 2 ) with hierarchical porosity, and the encapsulation of ZrW-NR enables the as-prepared host-guest catalyst remarkably enhanced catalytic performance for both for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) and acetalization reactions. ZrW-NR@UiO-66(Zr)-NO 2 can eliminate 500 ppm sulfur within 9 min at 40 °C in ODS, and can transform 5.6 mmol benzaldehyde after 3 min at room temperature in acetalization reaction. Its turnover frequencies reach 72.3 h -1 at 40 °C for ODS which is 33.4 times higher than UiO-66(Zr)-NO 2 , and 28140 h -1 for acetalization which is the highest among previous reports. Density functional theory calculation result indicates that the W sites in ZrW-NR can decompose H 2 O 2 to W VI -peroxo intermediates that contribute to catalytic activity for the ODS reaction. This work opens a new solvent-free approach for preparing MOFs-based host-guest catalysts to upgrade their redox and acid performance., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Enhancing the thermoelectric performance of n-type polycrystalline SnSe is essential, addressing challenges posed by elevated thermal conductivity and compromised power factor inherent in its intrinsic p-type characteristics. This investigation utilized solid-state reactions and spark plasma sintering techniques for the synthesis of n-type SnSe. A significant improvement in the figure of merit (ZT) is achieved through strategic reduction in Se concentration and optimization of crystal orientation. The co-doping with Br and Ge further improves the material; Br amplifies carrier concentration, enhancing electrical conductivity, while Ge introduces effective phonon scattering centers. In the Br/Ge co-doped SnSe sample, thermal conductivity dropped to 0.38 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹, yielding a remarkable power factor of 662 µW mK - 2 at 773 K, culminating in a ZT of 1.34. This signifies a noteworthy 605% improvement over the pristine sample, underscoring the pivotal role of Ge doping in enhancing n-type material thermoelectric properties. The enhancement is attributed to Br doping introducing additional electronic states near the valence band, and Ge doping modifying the band structure, fostering resonant states near the conduction band. The Br/Ge co-doping further transforms the band structure, influencing electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity, advancing the understanding and application of n-type SnSe materials for superior thermoelectric performance., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Gas vesicles (GVs) from microorganisms are genetically air-filled protein nanostructures, and serve as a new class of nanoscale contrast agents for ultrasound imaging. Recently, the genetically encoded GV gene clusters have been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, allowing these genetically engineered bacteria to be visualized in vivo in a real-time manner by ultrasound. However, most of the GV genes remained functionally uncharacterized, which makes it difficult to regulate and modify GVs for broad medical applications. Here, the impact of GV proteins on GV formation is systematically investigated. The results first uncovered that the deletions of GvpR or GvpU resulted in the formation of a larger proportion of small, biconical GVs compared to the full-length construct, and the deletion of GvpT resulted in a larger portion of large GVs. Meanwhile, the combination of gene deletions has resulted in several genotypes of ultrasmall GVs that span from 50 to 20 nm. Furthermore, the results showed that E. coli carrying the ΔGvpCRTU mutant can produce strong ultrasound contrast signals in mouse liver. In conclusion, the study provides new insights into the roles of GV proteins in GV formation and produce ultrasmall GVs with a wide range of in vivo research., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Electrochemical conversion of nitrate, a prevalent water pollutant, to ammonia (NH 3 ) is a delocalized and green path for NH 3 production. Despite the existence of different nitrate reduction pathways, selectively directing the reaction pathway on the road to NH 3 is now hindered by the absence of efficient catalysts. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are extensively investigated in a wide range of catalytic processes. However, their application in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 - RR) to NH 3 is infrequent, mostly due to their pronounced inclination toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, Ni single atoms on the electrochemically active carrier boron, nitrogen doped-graphene (BNG) matrix to modulate the atomic coordination structure through a boron-spanning strategy to enhance the performance of NO 3 - RR is designed. Density functional theory (DFT) study proposes that BNG supports with ionic characteristics, offer a surplus electric field effect as compared to N-doped graphene, which can ease the nitrate adsorption. Consistent with the theoretical studies, the as-obtained NiSA@BNG shows higher catalytic activity with a maximal NH 3 yield rate of 168 µg h -1  cm -2 along with Faradaic efficiency of 95% and promising electrochemical stability. This study reveals novel ways to rationally fabricate SACs' atomic coordination structure with tunable electronic properties to enhance electrocatalytic performance., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Innovative advances in the exploitation of effective electrocatalytic materials for the reduction of nitrogen (N 2 ) to ammonia (NH 3 ) are highly required for the sustainable production of fertilizers and zero-carbon emission fuel. In order to achieve zero-carbon footprints and renewable NH 3 production, electrochemical N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) provides a favorable energy-saving alternative but it requires more active, efficient, and selective catalysts. In current work, sulfur vacancy (Sv)-rich NiCo 2 S 4 @MnO 2 heterostructures are efficaciously fabricated via a facile hydrothermal approach followed by heat treatment. The urchin-like Sv-NiCo 2 S 4 @MnO 2 heterostructures serve as cathodes, which demonstrate an optimal NH 3 yield of 57.31 µg h -1  mg cat -1 and Faradaic efficiency of 20.55% at -0.2 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in basic electrolyte owing to the synergistic interactions between Sv-NiCo 2 S 4 and MnO 2 . Density functional theory (DFT) simulation further verifies that Co-sites of urchin-like Sv-NiCo 2 S 4 @MnO 2 heterostructures are beneficial to lowering the energy threshold for N 2 adsorption and successive protonation. Distinctive micro/nano-architectures exhibit high NRR electrocatalytic activities that might motivate researchers to explore and concentrate on the development of heterostructures for ambient electrocatalytic NH 3 generation., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Bismuth-based materials have been recognized as the appealing anodes for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity. However, the kinetics sluggishness and capacity decline induced by the structure distortion predominately retard their further development. Here, a heterostructure of polyaniline intercalated Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /MXene (BOC-PA/MXene) hybrids is reported via simple self-assembly strategy. The ingenious design of heterointerface-rich architecture motivates significantly the interior self-built-in electric field (IEF) and high-density electron flow, thus accelerating the charge transfer and boosting ion diffusion. As a result, the hybrids realize a high reversible specific capacity, satisfying rate capability as well as long-term cycling stability. The in/ex situ characterizations further elucidate the stepwise intercalation-conversion-alloying reaction mechanism of BOC-PA/MXene. More encouragingly, the full cell investigation further highlights its competitive merits for practical application in further PIBs. The present work not only opens the way to the design of other electrodes with an appropriate working mechanism but also offers inspiration for built-in electric-field engineering toward high-performance energy storage devices., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Cu 2 ZnSn (S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe), a promising absorption material for thin-film solar cells, still falls short of reaching the balance limit efficiency due to the presence of various defects and high defect concentration in the thin film. During the high-temperature selenization process of CZTSSe, the diffusion of various elements and chemical reactions significantly influence defect formation. In this study, a NaOH-Se intermediate layer introduced at the back interface can optimize Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS)precursor films and subsequently adjust the Se and alkali metal content to favor grain growth during selenization. Through this back interface engineering, issues such as non-uniform grain arrangement on the surface, voids in bulk regions, and poor contact at the back interface of absorber layers are effectively addressed. This method not only optimizes morphology but also suppresses deep-level defect formation, thereby promoting carrier transport at both interfaces and bulk regions of the absorber layer. Consequently, CZTSSe devices with a NaOH-Se intermediate layer improved fill factor, open-circuit voltage, and efficiency by 13.3%. This work initiates from precursor thin films via back interface engineering to fabricate high-quality absorber layers while advancing the understanding regarding the role played by intermediate layers at the back interface of kesterite solar cells., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) hampers the application of oxygen (O 2 )-dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT) in solid tumors. To address this problem, a biomimetic nanotheranostics (named MMCC@EM) is developed for optical molecular imaging-escorted self-oxygenation PDT. MMCC@EM is synthesized by encapsulating chlorin e6 (Ce6) and catalase (CAT) in metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles with erythrocyte membrane (EM) camouflage. Based on the biomimetic properties of EM, MMCC@EM efficiently accumulates in tumor tissues. The enriched MMCC@EM achieves TME-activatable drug release, thereby releasing CAT and Ce6, and this process can be monitored through fluorescence (FL) imaging. In addition, endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) will be decomposed by CAT to produce O 2 , which can be reflected by the measurement of intratumoral oxygen concentration using photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Such self-oxygenation nanotheranostics effectively mitigate tumor hypoxia and improve the generation of singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ). The 1 O 2 disrupts mitochondrial function and triggers caspase-3-mediated cellular apoptosis. Furthermore, MMCC@EM triggers immunogenic cell death (ICD) effect, leading to an increased infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) into tumor tissues. As a result, MMCC@EM exhibits good therapeutic effects in 4T1-tumor bearing mice under the navigation of FL/PA duplex imaging., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Solid-state electrochemical energy systems have attracted numerous attentions for their excellent performance, high safety, and low cost. Recently, ice of aqueous electrolytes is reported as a new kind solid-state electrolyte for low-temperature solid-state devices. However, the lack of kinetically favorable electrodes hampers the performance of this new class of icy electrolyte-based solid-state devices at sub-zero temperatures. In this work, a hydrated layered polyaniline cathode active material (h-LPANi) with nanoconfined supercooled water by metatungstate clusters is utilized to improve the performance of sub-zero solid-state zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs). The interlayer confined hydrated network of h-LPANi improves kinetics, surpassing pristine polyaniline and conventional porous carbon-based active materials. At -15 °C, the solid-state iced ZIHCs with h-LPANi cathode demonstrate an areal energy density of 580.0 µWh cm -2 at 1.1 mW cm -2 and 155.7 µWh cm -2 at 43.3 mW cm -2 , surpassing other low-temperature solid-state ZIHCs with conventional cathodes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In this work, a highly accurate neural network potential (NNP) is presented, named Pt NNP , and the exploration of the reconstruction of the Pt(001) surface and its vicinal surfaces with it. Contrary to the most accepted understanding of the Pt(001) surface reconstruction, the study reveals that the main driving force behind Pt(001) quasi-hexagonal reconstruction is not the surface stress relaxation but the increased coordination number of the surface atoms resulting in stronger intralayer binding in the reconstructed surface layer. In agreement with experimental observations, the optimized supercell size of the reconstructed Pt(001) surface contains (5 × 20) unit cells. Surprisingly, the reconstruction of the vicinal Pt(001) surfaces leads to a smooth shell-like surface layer covering the whole surface and diminishing sharp step edges., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Enhancing phosphoric acid (PA) doping in polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes is crucial for improving the performance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). However, excessive PA uptake often leads to drawbacks such as PA loss and compromised mechanical properties when surpassing PA capacity of PBI basic functionality. Herein, a new strategy that integrates high PA uptake, mechanical strength, and acid retention is proposed by embedding linear PBI chains into a crosslinked poly(N-vinylimidazole) (PVIm) backbone via in-situ polymerization. The imidazole (Im)-riched semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN) membrane with high-density nitrogen moieties, significantly enhancing the PA doping degree to 380% shows an excellent conductivity (0.108 S cm -1 ). Meanwhile, the crosslinking structure in the sIPN membrane ensures adequate mechanical properties, low hydrogen permeability, and a relatively low swelling ratio. As a result, the single cell based on the membrane achieves the highest power density of 1060 mW cm -2 with a low Pt loading (0.6 mg cm -2 ) up to now and exhibits excellent fuel cell stability., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

LiCoO 2 (LCO) cathode materials have attracted significant attention for its potential to provide higher energy density in current Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the structure and performance degradation are exacerbated by increasing voltage due to the catastrophic reaction between the applied electrolyte and delithiated LCO. The present study focuses on the construction of physically and chemically robust Mg-integrated cathode-electrolyte interface (MCEI) to address this issue, by incorporating Magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Mg[TFSI] 2 ) as an electrolyte additive. During formation cycles, the strong MCEI is formed and maintained its 2 nm thickness throughout long-term cycling. Notably, Mg is detected not only in the robust MCEI, but also imbedded in the surface of the LCO lattice. As a result, the parasitic interfacial side reactions, surface phase reconstruction, particle cracking, Co dissolution and shuttling are considerably suppressed, resulting in long-term cycling stability of LCO up to 4.5 V. Therefore, benefit from the double protection of the strong MCEI, the Li||LCO coin cell and the Ah-level Graphite||LCO pouch cell exhibit high capacity retention by using Mg-electrolyte, which are 88.13% after 200 cycles and 90.4% after 300 cycles, respectively. This work provides a novel approach for the rational design of traditional electrolyte additives., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Renewable energy is crucial for sustainable future, and Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) based solar cells shine as a beacon of hope. CZTS, composed of abundant, low-cost, and non-toxic elements, shares similarities with Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS). However, despite its promise and appealing properties for solar cells, CZTS-based solar cells faces performance challenges owing to inherent issues with CZTS material, and conventional substrate structure complexities. This review critically examines these roadblocks, explores ongoing efforts and breakthroughs, providing insight into the evolving landscape of CZTS-based solar cells research. Furthermore, as an optimistic turn in the field, the review first highlights the crucial need to transition to a superstrate structure for CZTS-based single junction devices, and summarizes the substantial progress made in this direction. Subsequently, dive into the discussion about the fascinating realm of CZTS-based tandem devices, providing an overview of the existing literature as well as outlining the possible potential strategies for enhancing the efficiency of such devices. Finally, the review provides a useful outlook that outlines the priorities for future research and suggesting where efforts should concentrate to shape the future of CZTS-based solar cells., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Developing the second near-infrared (NIR-II) photoacoustic (PA) agent is of great interest in bioimaging. Ag 2 Se quantum dots (QDs) are one kind of potential probe for applications in NIR-II photoacoustic imaging (PAI). However, the surfaces with excess anions of Ag 2 Se QDs, which increase the probability of nonradiative transitions of excitons benefiting PA imaging, are not conducive to binding electron donor ligands for potential biolabeling and imaging. In this study, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) cells are driven for the biosynthesis of Ag 2 Se QDs with catalase (CAT). Biosynthesized Ag 2 Se (bio-Ag 2 Se-CAT) QDs are produced in Se-enriched environment of S. aureus and have a high Se-rich surface. The photothermal conversion efficiency of bio-Ag 2 Se-CAT QDs at 808 and 1064 nm is calculated as 75.3% and 51.7%, respectively. Additionally, the PA signal responsiveness of bio-Ag 2 Se-CAT QDs is ≈10 times that of the commercial PA contrast agent indocyanine green. In particular, the bacterial CAT is naturally attached to bio-Ag 2 Se-CAT QDs surface, which can effectively relieve tumor hypoxia. The bio-Ag 2 Se-CAT QDs can relieve heat-initiated oxidative stress while undergoing effective photothermal therapy (PTT). Such biosynthesis method of NIR-II bio-Ag 2 Se-CAT QDs opens a new avenue for developing multifunctional nanomaterials, showing great promise for PAI, hypoxia alleviation, and PTT., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Electrowetting displays (EWDs) based on microfluidics are highly sought after in the fields of electronic devices, smart homes, and information communication. However, the power supply of the EWD systems for visually engaging multi-color displays remains a big challenge. Herein, self-powered colorful dynamic display systems are developed by integrating the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with the EWD device. The TENG is designed with a nanotube-patterned surface and can generate open-circuit voltages ranging from 30 to 295 V by controlling the contact area. The wetting property of the micro-droplet exhibits a response to the applied voltage, enabling the triboelectricity-triggered electrowetting-on-dielectric. Driven by the voltage of 160 V, the monochromatic EWD exhibits bright color switching from magenta to transparent with a pixel aperture ratio of 78%, and the recovery process can be rapidly completed. Furthermore, the self-powered colorful dynamic EWD system can be achieved. By selectively applying the voltage to the pixels in the three monochromatic layers that constitute the colorful EWD, the wetting properties of the fluids can be controlled, allowing for colorful dynamic display. This work contributes to the advancement of color display technology for portable and wearable electronic ink displays, indoor and outdoor sports equipment, and information communication., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Bacterial cellulose/oxidized bacterial cellulose nanofibrils (BC/oxBCNFs) macro-fibers are developed as a novel scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. Utilizing a low-speed rotary coagulation spinning technique and precise solvent control, macro-fibers with a unique heterogeneous structure with dense surface and porous core are created. Enhanced by a polydopamine (PDA) coating, these macro-fibers offer robust mechanical integrity, high biocompatibility, and excellent cell adhesion. When cultured with endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), the macro-fibers support healthy cell proliferation and exhibit a unique spiral SMC alignment, demonstrating their vascular suitability. This innovative strategy opens new avenues for advances in tissue engineering., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Nuclear energy holds great potential to facilitate the global energy transition and alleviate the increasing environmental issues due to its high energy density, stable energy output, and carbon-free emission merits. Despite being limited by the insufficient terrestrial uranium reserves, uranium extraction from seawater (UES) can offset the gap. However, the low uranium concentration, the complicated uranium speciation, the competitive metal ions, and the inevitable marine interference remarkably affect the kinetics, capacity, selectivity, and sustainability of UES materials. To date, massive efforts have been made with varying degrees of success to pursue a desirable UES performance on various nanomaterials. Nevertheless, comprehensive and systematic coverage and discussion on the emerging UES materials presenting the fast-growing progress of this field is still lacking. This review thus challenges this position and emphatically focuses on this topic covering the current mainstream UES technologies with the emerging UES materials. Specifically, this review elucidates the causality between the physiochemical properties of UES materials induced by the intellectual design strategies and the UES performances and further dissects the relationships of materials-properties-activities and the corresponding mechanisms in depth. This review is envisaged to inspire innovative ideas and bring technical solutions for developing technically and economically viable UES materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders significantly burden patients and society, resulting in high healthcare costs and productivity loss. These disorders are the leading cause of physical disability, and their prevalence is expected to increase as sedentary lifestyles become common and the global population of the elderly increases. Proper innervation is critical to maintaining MSK function, and nerve damage or dysfunction underlies various MSK disorders, underscoring the potential of restoring nerve function in MSK disorder treatment. However, most MSK tissue engineering strategies have overlooked the significance of innervation. This review first expounds upon innervation in the MSK system and its importance in maintaining MSK homeostasis and functions. This will be followed by strategies for engineering MSK tissues that induce post-implantation in situ innervation or are pre-innervated. Subsequently, research progress in modeling MSK disorders using innervated MSK organoids and organs-on-chips (OoCs) is analyzed. Finally, the future development of engineering innervated MSK tissues to treat MSK disorders and recapitulate disease mechanisms is discussed. This review provides valuable insights into the underlying principles, engineering methods, and applications of innervated MSK tissues, paving the way for the development of targeted, efficacious therapies for various MSK conditions., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Anode materials with high-rate performances and good electrochemical stabilities are urgently required for the grid-scale application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Theoretically, transition metal borides are desirable candidates because of their appropriate working potentials and good conductivities. However, the reported metal borides exhibit poor performances owing to their lack of favorable Li + storage sites and poor structural stabilities during long-term charging/discharging. In this work, a ternary alkali metal boride, Li 1.2 Ni 2.5 B 2 , which displays a high Li + storage capacity and remarkable electrochemical stability and an excellent rate performance is studied. In contrast to conventional transition metal borides, the introduction of Li atoms facilitates the formation of 1D Ni/B-based honeycomb channels during synthesis. This Ni/B framework successfully sustains the strain during Li + intercalation and deintercalation, and thus, the optimized Li 1.2 Ni 2.5 B 2 anode exhibits an excellent cycle stability over 500 charge/discharge cycles. This electrode also exhibits superior reversible capacities of 350, 183, and 80 mA h g -1 at 0.1, 1, and 5 A g -1 , respectively, indicating the considerable potential of the 1D Ni/B framework as a commercially available fast-charging LIB anode., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) as an analytical technology with a perfect combination of electrochemistry and spectroscopy has received considerable attention in bioanalysis due to its high sensitivity and broad dynamic range. Given the selectivity of bio-recognition elements and the high sensitivity of the ECL analysis technique, ECL biosensors are powerful platforms for the sensitive detection of biomarkers, achieving the accurate prognosis and diagnosis of diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial biomarkers involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, whose aberrant expression is often related to serious diseases, especially cancers. ECL biosensors can fulfill the highly sensitive and selective requirements for accurate miRNA detection, prompting this review. The ECL mechanisms are initially introduced and subsequently categorize the ECL biosensors for miRNA detection in terms of the quenching agents. Furthermore, the work highlights the signal amplification strategies for enhancing ECL signal to improve the sensitivity of miRNA detection and finally concludes by looking at the challenges and opportunities in ECL biosensors for miRNA detection., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Effective strategies toward building exquisite nanostructures with enhanced structural integrity and improved reaction kinetics will carry forward the practical application of alloy-based materials as anodes in batteries. Herein, a free-standing 3D carbon nanofiber (CNF) skeleton incorporated with heterostructured binary metal selenides (ZnSe/SnSe) nanoboxes is developed for Na-ion storage anodes, which can facilitate Na + ion migration, improve structure integrity, and enhance the electrochemical reaction kinetics. During the carbonization and selenization process, selenium/nitrogen (Se/N) is co-doped into the 3D CNF skeleton, which can improve the conductivity and wettability of the CNF matrices. More importantly, the ZnSe/SnSe heterostructures and the Se/N co-doping CNFs can have a synergistic interfacial coupling effect and built-in electric field in the heterogeneous interfaces of ZnSe/SnSe hetero-boundaries as well as the interfaces between the CNF matrix and the selenide heterostructures, which can enable fast ion/electron transport and accelerate surface/internal reaction kinetics for Na-ion storage. The ZnSe/SnSe@Se,N-CNFs exhibit superior Na-ion storage performance than the comparative ZnSe/SnSe, ZnSe and SnSe powders, which deliver an excellent rate performance (882.0, 773.6, 695.7, 634.2, and 559.0 mAh g -1 at current rates of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2 A g -1 ) and long-life cycling stability of 587.5 mAh g -1 for 3500 cycles at 2 A g -1 ., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as versatile tools for interfacial engineering in perovskite photovoltaics. Their multifaceted application targets defect mitigation at SnO 2 -perovskite interfaces, finely tuning energy level alignment, and enhancing charge transport, meanwhile suppressing non-radiative recombination. However, the diverse chemical structures of ILs present challenges in selecting suitable candidates for effective interfacial modification. This study adopted a systematic approach, manipulating IL chemical structures. Three ILs with distinct anions are introduced to modify perovskite/SnO 2 interfaces to elevate the photovoltaic capabilities of perovskite devices. Specifically, ILs with different anions exhibited varied chemical interactions, leading to notable passivation effects, as confirmed by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation. A detailed analysis is also conducted on the relationship between the ILs' structure and regulation of energy level arrangement, work function, perovskite crystallization, interface stress, charge transfer, and device performance. By optimizing IL chemical structures and exploiting their multifunctional interface modification properties, the champion device achieved a PCE of 24.52% with attentional long-term stability. The study establishes a holistic link between IL structures and device performance, thereby promoting wider application of ILs in perovskite-based technologies., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The environmental deterioration caused by dye wastewater discharge has received considerable attention in recent decades. One of the most promising approaches to addressing the aforementioned environmental issue is the development of photocatalysts with high solar energy consumption efficiency for the treatment of dye-contaminated water. In this study, a novel low-cost π-π biomass-derived black carbon modified g-C 3 N 4 coupled FeIn 2 S 4 composite (i.e., FeInS/BC-CN) photocatalyst is successfully designed and fabricated that reveals significantly improved photocatalytic performance for the degradation of Eosin Yellow (EY) dye in aqueous solution. Under dark and subsequent visible light irradiation, the amount optimized composite reveals 99% removal performance for EY dye, almost three-fold compared to that of the pristine FeInS and BC-CN counterparts. Further, it is confirmed by means of the electron spin resonance spectrometry, quenching experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, that the hydroxyl radicals ( • OH) and superoxide radicals ( • O 2 - ) are the dominant oxidation species involved in the degradation process of EY dye. In addition, a systematic photocatalytic degradation route is proposed based on the resultant degradation intermediates detectedduring liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. This work provides an innovative idea for the development of advanced photocatalysts to mitigate water pollution., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

With rapidly increasing demand for high energy density, silicon (Si) is greatly expected to play an important role as the anode material of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high specific capacity. However, large volume expansion for silicon during the charging process is still a serious problem influencing its cycling stability. Here, a Si/C composite of vertical graphene sheets/silicon/carbon/graphite (VGSs@Si/C/G) is reported to address the electrochemical stability issues of Si/graphite anodes, which is prepared by adhering Si nanoparticles on graphite particles with chitosan and then in situ growing VGSs by thermal chemical vapor deposition. As a promising anode material, due to the buffering effect of VGSs and tight bonding between Si and graphite particles, the composite delivers a high reversible capacity of 782.2 mAh g -1 after 1000 cycles with an initial coulombic efficiency of 87.2%. Furthermore, the VGSs@Si/C/G shows a diffusion coefficient of two orders higher than that without growing the VGSs. The full battery using VGSs@Si/C/G anode and LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 cathode achieves a high gravimetric energy density of 343.6 Wh kg -1 , a high capacity retention of 91.5% after 500 cycles and an excellent average CE of 99.9%., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) with ultra-high energy density (2600 W h kg -1 ) and readily available raw materials are emerging as a potential alternative device with low cost for lithium-ion batteries. However, the insulation of sulfur and the unavoidable shuttle effect leads to slow reaction kinetics of LSBs, which in turn cause various roadblocks including poor rate capability, inferior cycling stability, and low coulombic efficiency. The most effective way to solve the issues mentioned above is to rationally design and control the synthesis of the cathode host for LSBs. Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) with good electrical conductivity and dual adsorption-conversion capabilities for polysulfide (PS) are regarded as promising cathode hosts for new-generation LSBs. In this review, the main obstacles to commercializing the LSBs and the development processes of their cathode host are first elaborated. Then, the sulfur fixation principles, and synthesis methods of the TMPs are briefly summarized and the recent progress of TMPs in LSBs is reviewed in detail. Finally, a perspective on the future research directions of LSBs is provided., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Layered oxides are widely used as the electrode materials for metal ion batteries. However, for large radius size ions, such as Zn 2+ and Al 3+ , the tightly stacked layers and poor electrical conductivity of layered oxides result in restricted number of active sites and sluggish reaction kinetics. In this work, a facile in-situ construction strategy is provided to synthesize layered oxide nanosheets/nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet (NC) heterostructure, which shows larger interlayer spacing and better electrical conductivity than the layered oxides. As a result, the Zn 2+ ion diffusion inside the interlayer gallery is greatly enhanced and the storage sites inside the gallery can be better used. Meanwhile, the NC layers and oxide nanosheets are bridged by the C─O bonds to form a stable structure, which contributes to a better cycling stability than the pure layered oxides. The optimal V 2 O 5 @NC-400 cathode shows a capacity of 467 mA h g -1 at 0.1 A g -1 for 300 cycles, and long-term cyclic stability of 4000 cycles at 5 A g -1 with a capacity retention of 92%. All these performance parameters are among the best for vanadium oxide-based cathode materials., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Heteroatom-doped porous carbon materials have investigated to promote the energy density of zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZICs). Yet, the quest for high-performance carbon materials or cathodes brings to light the question of which dopants facilitate fast energy storage kinetics and various types of pseudocapacitive reactions. Investigation of carbon materials with precise quantitative dopants as the key variable represents an effective appropriate approach to comprehending the intricate role of dopants in energy storage areas. Here, a straightforward solvothermal strategy is demonstrated for a variety of pristine and iron-incorporated polymer microspheres, used as precursors for durable spherical carbons intended for cathode applications in ZICs. The strategy effectively governs the incorporation of dopants within the carbon materials, whilewhile maintaining consistent morphology, microtexture, and pore structure across different carbon variations. The synergistic effect of various dopants enhance the pseudocapacitance and facilitate the ion storage process. In consequence, the optimal cathode delivers considerable capacity (178.8 mAh g -1 at 0.5 A g -1 ), good energy density (120.2 Wh kg -1 at 336 W kg -1 ), and excellent cycling stability (101.5% capacity retention at 35 000 cycles). The demonstration showcases a viable method for crafting carbon materials with precise dopants to accommodate the zinc anode, thus enabling high-capacity and high-energy ZICs., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The stability of aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) is detrimentally influenced by the formation of Zn dendrites and the occurrence of parasitic side reactions at the Zn metal anode (ZMA)-electrolyte interface. The strategic manipulation of the preferential crystal orientation during Zn 2+ plating serves as an essential approach to mitigate this issue. Here, Zn aspartate (Zn-Asp), an electrolyte additive for AZIBs, is introduced not only to optimize the solvation structure of Zn 2+ , but also to crucially promote preferential Zn 2+ plating on the (002) crystal plane of ZMA. As a result, both side reactions and Zn dendrites are effectively inhibited, ensuring an anode surface free of both dendrites and by-products. The implementation of Zn-Asp leads to significant enhancements in both Zn||Zn symmetric and Zn||Ti batteries, which demonstrate robust cyclability of over 3200 h and high Coulombic efficiency of 99.29%, respectively. Additionally, the Zn||NaV 3 O 8 ·1.5H 2 O full battery exhibits remarkable rate capability, realizing a high capacity of 240.77 mA h g -1 at 5 A g -1 , and retains 92.7% of its initial capacity after 1000 cycles. This research underscores the vital role of electrolyte additives in regulating the preferential crystal orientation of ZMA, thereby contributing to the development of high-performing AZIBs., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Mimicking efficient biocatalytic cascades using nanozymes has gained enormous attention in catalytic chemistry, but it remains challenging to develop a nanozyme-based cascade system to sequentially perform the desired reactions. Particularly, the integration of sequential hydrolysis and oxidation reactions into nanozyme-based cascade systems has not yet been achieved, despite their significant roles in various domains. Herein, a self-cascade Ce-MOF-818 nanozyme for sequential hydrolysis and oxidation reactions is developed. Ce-MOF-818 is the first Ce(IV)-based heterometallic metal-organic framework constructed through the coordination of Ce and Cu to distinct groups. It is successfully synthesized using an improved solvothermal method, overcoming the challenge posed by the significant difference in the binding speeds of Ce and Cu to ligands. With excellent organophosphate hydrolase-like (K m = 42.3 µM, K cat = 0.0208 min -1 ) and catechol oxidase-like (K m = 2589 µM, K cat = 1.25 s -1 ) activities attributed to its bimetallic active centers, Ce-MOF-818 serves as a promising self-cascade platform for sequential hydrolysis and oxidation. Notably, its catalytic efficiency surpasses that of physically mixed nanozymes by approximately fourfold, owning to the close integration of active sites. The developed hydrolysis-oxidation self-cascade nanozyme has promising potential applications in catalytic chemistry and provides valuable insights into the rational design of nanozyme-based cascade systems., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Long-term exposure to low concentration indoor VOCs of acetaldehyde (CH 3 CHO) is harmful to human health. Thus, a novel isogenous heterojunction CeO 2 /Ce-MOF photocatalyst is synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method for the effective elimination of CH 3 CHO in this work. This CeO 2 /Ce-MOF photocatalyst performs well in CH 3 CHO removal and achieves an apparent quantum efficiency of 7.15% at 420 nm, which presents ≈6.7 and 3.4 times superior to those generated by CeO 2 and Ce-MOF, respectively. The enhanced efficiency is due to two main aspects including i) an effective photocarrier separation ability and the prolonged reaction lifetime of excitons play crucial roles and ii) the formation of an internal electric field (IEF) is sufficient to overcome the considerable exciton binding energy, and increases the exciton dissociation efficiency by up to 50.4%. Moreover, the reasonable pathways and mechanisms of CH 3 CHO degradation are determined by in situ DRIFTS analysis and simulated DFT calculations. Those results demonstrated that S-scheme heterojunction successfully increases the efficiency of harmful volatile organic compounds elimination, and it offers essential guidance for designing rare earth-based MOF photocatalysts., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a means of locally and rapidly inducing adipocyte death via light illumination, in combination with adipose browning induction, a more gradual and widespread effect that could transform white adipose tissue into thermogenic adipose tissue, manifests a promising approach to combat obesity. Herein, adipose-targeting ultra-small hybrid nanoparticles (Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs) composed of an adipose-targeting peptide, Fe 3+ , a photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX), and a browning agent (baicalin) are introduced. Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs have been designed to simultaneously enhance the photodynamic effect and induce browning. After intravenous injection in obese mice, the hybrid nanoparticles can specifically accumulate in white adipose tissues, especially those rich in blood supply, and drive adipose reduction owing to the synergy of the PDT effect and baicalin browning induction. Overall, Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs exhibited superior anti-obesity potential through PDT synergistic with adipose browning induction. The designed multifunctional adipose-targeting hybrid nanoparticles present a prospective nanoplatform for obesity treatment., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and safety issues are huge problems that hinder the practical application of Li metal anodes. Constructing Li host structures decorated with functional species can restrain the growth of Li dendrites and alleviate the great volume change. Here, a 3D porous carbonaceous skeleton modified with rich lithiophilic groups (Zn, ZnO, and Zn(CN) 2 ) is synthesized as a Li host via one-step carbonization of a triazole-containing metal-organic framework. The nano lithiophilic groups serve as preferred sites for Li nucleation and growth, regulating a uniform Li + flux and uniform current density distribution. In addition, the 3D porous network functions as a Li reservoir that provides rich internal space to store Li, thus alleviating the volumetric expansion during Li plating/stripping process. Thanks to these component and structural merits, an ultra-low overpotential for Li deposition is achieved, together with high CE of over 99.5% for more than 500 cycles at 1 mA cm -2 and 1 mAh cm -2 in half cells. The symmetric cells exhibit a prolonged cycling of 900 h at 1 mA cm -2 . The full cells by coupling Zn/ZnO/Zn(CN) 2 @C-Li anode with LiFePO 4 cathode deliver a high capacity retention of 94.3% after 200 cycles at 1 C., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Short-wavelength infrared photodetectors play a significant role in various fields such as autonomous driving, military security, and biological medicine. However, state-of-the-art short-wavelength infrared photodetectors, such as InGaAs, require high-temperature fabrication and heterogenous integration with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) readout circuits (ROIC), resulting in a high cost and low imaging resolution. Herein, for the first time, a low-cost, high-performance, high-stable, and thin-film transistor (TFT) ROIC monolithic-integrated (Bi,Sb) 2 Se 3 alloy thin-film short-wavelength infrared photodetector is reported. The (Bi,Sb) 2 Se 3 alloy thin-film short-wavelength infrared photodetectors demonstrate a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.1% (light intensity of 0.76 µW cm -2 ) and a fast response time (3.24 µs). The highest EQE is about two magnitudes than that of the extrinsic photoconduction of Sb 2 Se 3 (0.051%). In addition, the unpackaged devices demonstrate high electric and thermal stability (almost no attenuation at 120 °C for 312 h), showing potential for in-vehicle applications that may experient such a high temperature. Finally, both the (Bi,Sb) 2 Se 3 alloy thin film and n-type CdSe buffer layer are directly deposited on the TFT ROIC (with a 64 × 64-pixel array) with a low-temperature process and the material identification and imaging applications are presented. This work is a significant breakthrough in ROIC monolithic-integrated short-wavelength infrared imaging chips., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In recent years, microneedles (MNs) have attracted a lot of attention due to their microscale sizes and high surface area (500-1000 µm in length), allowing pain-free and efficient drug delivery through the skin. In addition to the great success of MNs based transdermal drug delivery, especially for skin diseases, increasing studies have indicated the expansion of MNs to diverse nontransdermal applications, including the delivery of therapeutics for hair loss, ocular diseases, and oral mucosal. Here, the current treatment of hair loss, eye diseases, and oral disease is discussed and an overview of recent advances in the application of MNs is provided for these three noncutaneous localized organ diseases. Particular emphasis is laid on the future trend of MNs technology development and future challenges of expanding the generalizability of MNs., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Photovoltaic thin film solar cells based on kesterite Cu 2 ZnSn(S, Se) 4 (CZTSSe) have reached 13.8% sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency. However, this efficiency is still far from the Shockley-Queisser radiative limit and is hindered by the significant deficit in open circuit voltage (V OC ). The presence of high-density interface states between the absorber layer and buffer or window layer leads to the recombination of photogenerated carriers, thereby reducing effective carrier collection. To tackle this issue, a new window structure ZnO/AgNW/ZnO/AgNW (ZAZA) comprising layers of ZnO and silver nanowires (AgNWs) is proposed. This structure offers a simple and low-damage processing method, resulting in improved optoelectronic properties and junction quality. The ZAZA-based devices exhibit enhanced V OC due to the higher built-in voltage (V bi ) and reduced interface recombination compared to the usual indium tin oxide (ITO) based structures. Additionally, improved carrier collection is demonstrated as a result of the shortened collection paths and the more uniform carrier lifetime distribution. These advances enable the fabrication of the first ITO-free CZTSSe solar cells with over 10% efficiency without an anti-reflective coating., (© 2023 The Authors. Small published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)