Physics

ABSTRACT Developing efficient dopant‐free polymer hole transport materials (HTMs) plays a crucial role in solution‐processed perovskite optoelectronics. Herein, we propose a conjugated backbone‐integrated noncovalent conformational locking (NCL) strategy and report three p‐type conjugated polymers (PTPC, PTPN, and PTPSi) via bridging atom engineering. The backbone‐integrated NCL outperforms conventional side‐chain‐based noncovalent interactions, enabling a highly planarized polymer conformation and more compact π – π stacking. Notably, the strategic incorporation of dual‐functional N atoms in PTPN strengthens intramolecular S···N interactions, which minimizes molecular reorganization energy and boosts hole mobility. Meanwhile, thiophene S and bridging N atoms synergistically anchor undercoordinated Pb 2 + on the perovskite surface, thus effectively suppressing defect‐induced nonradiative recombination. Three polymers were evaluated as dopant‐free HTMs in all‐solution‐processed perovskite photodetectors. The PTPN device presents an extremely low dark current density of 3.25 × 10 − 10 A cm − 2 at 0 V, an outstanding external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 86.1%, and a high detectivity exceeding 10 12 Jones. In addition, the multifunctional PTPN device exhibits stable and reconfigurable synaptic plasticity, offering extensive features for synaptic behavior emulation, visual memory, and high‐accuracy image recognition. We also demonstrate an advanced preprocessing strategy, and proof‐of‐concept preprocessing with the PTPN device achieves an ultrahigh recognition accuracy of 97.7% in an artificial neural network.

ABSTRACT The proliferation of distributed Internet of Things (IoT) nodes and wearable electronics demands sustainable, high‐performance power sources capable of harvesting ambient mechanical energy. However, current piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) face a critical efficiency–mechanics–sustainability trilemma. Here, we report a fully water‐processed, bio‐derived piezocomposite that overcomes these limitations by coupling Schottky‐type interfacial electronic engineering with a dynamically hydrogen‐bonded molecular network. We demonstrate that in situ synthesized copper–piezoceramic (Cu@KNN; KNN, (Na 0.5 K 0.5 )NbO 3 ) Schottky‐type interfaces introduce built‐in electric fields to actively regulate charge transport, thereby suppressing polarization screening and intensifying local field distribution to maximize polarization efficiency and the piezoelectric response—a fundamental departure from traditional passive dielectric tuning. Concurrently, we engineer a cellulose matrix where small‐molecule modifiers (glucose and urea) reorganize the rigid structure into a dynamic network that accommodates deformation through reversible hydrogen‐bond breaking and reformation. The resulting harvester exhibits exceptional stretchability (up to 269% strain) and durability (>8000 cycles), delivering a high pressure sensitivity of 1.67 V kPa −1 and an instantaneous power output of ∼940 µW—sufficient to directly power commercial electronics and charge energy storage units. This work establishes a scalable, eco‐friendly paradigm for designing mechanically adaptive energy harvesters, paving the way for sustainable, self‐powered bio‐integrated electronics.

ABSTRACT Persistent luminescent (PersL) materials exhibit promising application prospects in night displays, information storage, and background‐free imaging. However, the realization of continuously tunable multicolor PersL within a single material remains a formidable challenge. This work presents a novel germanate glass and glass ceramic (GC) system with PersL colors continuously tunable from blue‐white to yellow. DFT calculation revealed the electron capture and release mechanisms associated with defects (vacancies and anti‐site defects) during multicolor luminescence, and further elucidated the evolution of defect states during glass crystallization. By virtue of their excitation‐, time‐, and temperature‐dependent PersL characteristics, the application potential of these materials in multidimensional advanced optical anti‐counterfeiting is rationally designed and verified. Furthermore, Mn 2 + ‐doped GCs with luminescence colors continuously tunable from green to red were successfully fabricated. Under x‐ray excitation, their scintillation luminescence intensity reaches 123.3% of that of BGO crystal, with an imaging resolution of 20 LP/mm, enabling clear observation of the internal circuit layout of electronic components. This work not only provides a multifunctional luminescent platform for advanced anti‐counterfeiting and x‐ray imaging, but also offers new insights into the rational design of defect‐mediated luminescent materials and the exploration of luminescence mechanisms.

ABSTRACT Hard carbon (HC) is considered the most promising anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, precisely engineering closed pores for high plateau capacity while securing long‐term cycling stability remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a molecular engineering strategy based on amide‐bond crosslinking is proposed to achieve the synergistic optimization of the closed‐pore structure and interfacial chemistry in HC. Graphite fragmentation is suppressed by the atomic‐level amide anchors through the regulation of π – π stacking, whereby local curvature is induced to drive planar carbon layers into ultrathin‐walled closed pores. Simultaneously, the highly active pyridinic nitrogen sites introduced by the crosslinked network alter the electrolyte reduction pathway, lowering the decomposition energy barrier of PF 6 − and promoting the formation of a robust, NaF‐rich solid electrolyte interphase. Consequently, the optimized HC anode delivers highly reversible sodium storage performance, achieving a remarkably low‐voltage plateau capacity of 250 mAh g −1 . Even at a high current density of 1 A g −1 , the electrode maintains a capacity retention of 95.14% after 1000 cycles. When coupled with a Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C cathode, the assembled full cell demonstrates extended cycling durability. This work links precursor molecular topology to the structural and interfacial chemistry of hard carbon, paving a new design pathway for SIBs.

ABSTRACT The centrosymmetric crystal structure of SnSe 2 intrinsically excludes a piezoelectric property. Herein, a piezoelectric effect of SnSe 2 is activated via introducing Se vacancies (SnSe 2 ‐V Se ), endowing a piezoelectric coefficient as high as 19.9 pm V −1 . By leveraging the continuous anionic framework, the valence state compatibility, and the comparable atomic radii between Se and S, an atomically precise S‐scheme SnSe 2 ‐V Se @In 2 S 3 heterojunction is constructed. Systematic studies demonstrate that the Se vacancies generate strong localized polarization fields, which, in conjunction with the interfacial built‐in electric field (IEF) in SnSe 2 ‐V Se @In 2 S 3 , significantly enhance the carrier separation efficiency by 16‐fold as compared to pristine SnSe 2 ‐V Se . Theoretical calculations reveal that interfacial electronic coupling facilitates O 2 adsorption, while an upward shift in the Sn d‐band center optimizes the adsorption free energy of * OOH intermediates. Under the piezo‐photocatalysis, the system achieves an H 2 O 2 generation rate of 2.38 mmol g −1 h −1 through the oxygen reduction pathway, alongside enhanced O 2 evolution via water oxidation. Further, in‐situ generated H 2 O 2 mediates efficient U(VI) reduction and precipitation, enabling almost 100% uranium extraction from both simulated wastewater and artificial seawater.

ABSTRACT The double‐network strategy is a classic approach for preparing the hydrogels with high mechanical performance. However, the poor modulus compatibility between the rigid and soft polymers causes rigid network stress concentration and irreversible fracture, thus ultimately limiting hydrogels applicability. Here, we propose a strategy to fabricate strong and tough double‐network hydrogel by regulating modulus compatibility and reinforcing interfacial interactions between poly(vinyl alcohol) and cellulose nanofibers. The introduction of tannic acid not only enables decrease of modulus of CNF rigid network within the double‐network hydrogel, but also reinforces the noncovalent interactions between the double networks, leading to the improvement of mechanical properties. The resulted hydrogel exhibits an extremely high tensile strength of 39.7 ± 1.7 MPa and an outstanding toughness of 155.2 ± 2.5 MJ m −3 . Furthermore, the double‐network hydrogel has excellent fracture energy, fatigue resistance and biocompatibility. This work provides a practical avenue to design strong and tough hydrogels that can be exploited for biomedical application.

ABSTRACT Flexible strain sensors are key components for humanoid robots to achieve high‐precision facial expression monitoring and gesture recognitions. However, they still face challenges in realizing high linearity under high sensitivity, which is mainly due to the uncontrollable reconstruction of the conductive network of sensitive materials under large deformations. Here, we propose a flexible strain sensor with a stiffness‐gradient re‐entrant anti‐tetrachiral auxetic metamaterial (SG‐RATCAM), which achieves high linearization by leveraging the complementary effect of the nonlinear responses of sensitive units in different stiffness regions. The sensor is fabricated by in‐situ printing using laser‐assisted direct ink writing (DIW) technology and its local stiffness is regulated by the laser power density (LPD). By exploiting the differences in the sensing characteristics of RATCAM sensors with different stiffnesses, the SG‐RATCAM is forward‐designed based on the theoretical model. Thus, the sensor exhibits high linearity (GF = 104.68, R 2 = 0.99) within the strain range of 0%–25%, and achieves a minimum detection limit of 0.04%. As a proof of concept, this sensor has been successfully applied to facial expression recognition and dynamic monitoring of dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA), providing a reliable solution for human‐machine interaction and integrated sensing and actuation in soft robotics.

ABSTRACT Brain‐inspired neuromorphic computing provides an efficient paradigm for integrating sensing, memory, and processing, offering new opportunities for secure optical information systems. Circularly polarized light (CPL) is an attractive carrier for information encryption. However, existing CPL‐based systems are fundamentally constrained by the lack of chiral semiconductors with broadband, consistently high absorption dissymmetry factor ( g abs ), and by encoding strategies that rely on externally defined optical parameters. Here, we propose a material‐centric encryption paradigm enabled by newly designed heterochiral molecules that exhibit uniformly high g abs (>0.01) across nearly all bisignate circular dichroism bands. This broadband and intrinsic chiroptical response allows CPL to function as a robust, high‐dimensional encoding variable. Leveraging this capability, we develop a multi‐wavelength CPL encryption and decryption framework based on chiral optoelectronic synaptic transistors that integrate sensing, memory, and processing within a single device. Compared to conventional single‐wavelength schemes, our approach significantly enhances encryption performance, achieving a 21% increase in entropy, a 134% improvement in normalized signal‐to‐noise ratio, and a 33% enhancement in signal difference maximization index. An artificial neural network constructed from these devices demonstrates 93.0% accuracy in decrypting dual‐encrypted video. This work establishes a shift from parameter‐defined to material‐intrinsic multidimensional encoding for neuromorphic optical security systems.

ABSTRACT Exposing distinct facets on an intermetallic nanocrystal can leverage their synergistic effect to tune the adsorption behavior of intermediates. Additionally, the interface between the facets can facilitate the intermediates transfer, thus accelerating the reaction kinetics. However, current methods normally yield intermetallic nanocrystals with high symmetry, for example, quasi‐spherical particles exposing facets with the lowest surface energy or nanocrystals with equivalent facets. The simultaneous exposure of two distinct facets on a single intermetallic nanocrystal has not been achieved. Herein, we synthesize RhPb 2 nanocubes (NCs) that simultaneously expose {001} and {110} facets, breaking the high symmetry of conventional NCs enclosed by equivalent {001} facets. The NCs demonstrate high catalytic performance in alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The kinetic current density and exchange current density for HOR are 2.12 and 0.96 A mg −1 , respectively. In HER, these NCs require an overpotential of 18 mV to reach 10 mA cm −2 . Theoretical calculations suggest that the synergy of the facets reduces the energy barriers of HOR and HER, and that the hydrogen spillover between the facets further enhances reaction kinetics. These findings provide new insights into facet control in intermetallics and induce hydrogen spillover for enhancing electrocatalytic performance.

ABSTRACT Traditional type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) is limited in treating bacterial infections because hypoxic conditions at the lesion site and the barrier effect of the high‐viscosity extracellular polymeric matrix within biofilms significantly reduce its antibacterial efficacy. To address this challenge, we propose an adaptive aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer, DTPy‐Bio, based on a synergistic cation‐biotin molecular engineering strategy. This photosensitizer not only exhibits outstanding photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer and charge separation, enabling efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under illumination, but its aggregates also demonstrate excellent semiconductor‐like behavior. This allows it to generate oxygen in situ via water oxidation under hypoxic conditions and further triggers a cascade of electron transfer to form a radical storm that achieves highly efficient killing of drug‐resistant bacteria. Notably, DTPy‐Bio exhibits significant viscosity‐responsive properties, and its photosensitization activity is further enhanced in high‐viscosity biofilm microenvironments, demonstrating excellent microenvironmental adaptability. The experimental results showed that DTPy‐Bio achieved an antibacterial rate of 94.46% against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) and promoted exceptional wound healing in infected wound models. This study provides an innovative approach for developing novel, highly efficient type I photosensitizers with microenvironmental adaptability, offering a new strategy to overcome treatment challenges associated with bacterial biofilms.

ABSTRACT Nonconventional luminescence from non‐π‐conjugated polymers has attracted increasing attention as an alternative photophysical paradigm based on clusterization‐triggered emission (CTE). However, most systems emit only in concentrated solutions or the solid state, and sustainable platforms capable of emission in dilute aqueous environments remain scarce. Herein, we report a cellulose‐based, water‐processable platform of clusteroluminogens via Schiff‐base coupling of dialdehyde carboxymethyl cellulose (DACMC) with amino compounds, affording imine‐functionalized DACMCs (IDCs). The IDCs exhibited clear fluorescence in dilute aqueous solution as low as 0.02 wt%. The photoluminescence properties depended on amine structure, and a maximum photoluminescence quantum yield of 4.2 ± 0.1% was obtained. Systematic variation of imine content and functionality revealed that C═N linkages play a decisive role in promoting CTE. Spectroscopic and computational analyses indicate that O/N‐rich hydrogen‐bonded microenvironments generate locally confined heteroatom clusters, where through‐space interactions stabilize emissive states while restricting intramolecular motion. Furthermore, the IDCs enable class‐selective detection of tetracycline antibiotics in water via an inner‐filter‐effect‐mediated quenching mechanism with sub‐micromolar limits of detection. This work establishes a sustainable polysaccharide‐based platform for dilute‐solution CTE luminophores and provides a general strategy for controlling cluster density and heteroatom environments in aqueous photofunctional materials.

ABSTRACT Surface atomic steps serve as highly active sites for electrocatalysis, yet their controllable construction remains challenging. Herein, we report a facile strategy combining galvanic replacement and Au‐catalyzed reduction to fabricate AuCu@Pd core‐shell nanoparticles with dense surface Pd atomic steps on carbon substrate. Binary AuCu nanoalloy seeds were prepared via a Joule‐heating‐driven solid‐state diffusion method. Subsequently, Pd atoms substitute Cu atoms on the surface of AuCu alloy seeds, maintaining a flat surface morphology; next, Pd atoms selectively deposit on Au sites, forming atomic steps together with the Pd atoms that substituted Cu atoms in the last step. The optimized Au 10 Cu 5 @Pd 4 /C catalyst exhibits exceptional oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance in alkaline media, with a half‐wave potential of 0.92 V versus RHE, a specific activity of 1.29 mA cm −2 and a mass activity of 2.86 A mg Pd −1 , significantly outperforming commercial Pd/C. Control experiments verify that surface Pd atomic steps dominate the enhanced ORR activity. This strategy is further extended to synthesize AuCu@Pt nanoparticles with surface Pt steps, which show superior methanol oxidation activity. This work provides a universal approach to engineering surface atomic steps for high‐performance electrocatalysts.

ABSTRACT The controllable regulation of the SEI is pivotal to solve the problem of Li dendrite growth for high‐performance LMBs, yet its achievement is constrained by the difficulty in dynamic synergistic matching of ion and electron fluxes. Herein, based on the rectification principle of diodes, a quasi‐PN junction composed of a BP loaded Li anode (P‐type) and an ATO‐coated separator (N‐type) is constructed in the separator/anode interface, creating a “rectifying interphase” to achieve uniform lithium deposition in LMBs. During battery operation, the RI layer can block electron transport and enhance Li + flux, thereby reducing the initial nucleation sites of Li and facilitating the rapid migration of Li + . The as‐formed multiphase SEI layer exhibits both high mechanical strength and efficient Li + transport capability, effectively suppressing side reactions. Remarkably, the NCM811||Li cells with the RI deliver an initial capacity of 175.51 mAh g −1 and a capacity of 121.77 mAh g −1 after 900 cycles at 0.5 C. In addition, they exhibit a high energy density of 640.88 Wh kg −1 (calculated based on the mass of cathode active material and twice the theoretical mass of anode active material) and high‐safety performance. This work provides a new insight for the interface optimization of high‐performance battery systems.

ABSTRACT Microcarriers have emerged as a promising technology in modern drug delivery. They offer significant advantages in controlled and targeted release of therapeutic agents, providing higher encapsulation efficiency, structural protection, and precise administration. Furthermore, it is vital in ensuring the safety and quality of the active pharmaceutical ingredient during drug delivery as external environmental perturbations may cause premature degradation. With the abundance of naturally derived materials, recent advances in microcarrier fabrication focus on the extraction of natural resources and present various microcarrier designs with improved biocompatibility and functionalization, offering new avenues for the development of versatile drug carriers. This review explores the four principal categories of microcarriers: polysaccharide‐based, protein‐based, pollen‐derived, and other synthetic polymer microcarriers, highlighting their development history, physicochemical properties, and transformative potential for stimuli‐responsive release mechanisms.

ABSTRACT The practical deployment of aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) is severely hindered by uncontrolled zinc dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions at the anode–electrolyte interface. As a critical component, the separator governs Zn 2+ transport and interfacial stability, yet conventional glass fiber separators suffer from low mechanical strength and disordered porous structures, causing uneven ion flux, side reactions, and dendrite growth. Herein, a wood‐derived cellulosic membrane with abundant nanochannels and water‐binding functionalities is developed as a sustainable, low‐cost separator. The densely aligned cellulose nanofibrils impart exceptional mechanical robustness, while hydroxyl‐rich surfaces form strong hydrogen bonds with water molecules, immobilizing free water and stabilizing the electrolyte–anode interface. Moreover, the hierarchical fibrillar network, swollen by electrolyte uptake, forms well‐aligned nanochannels that enable uniform Zn 2+ flux and homogenize electric field distribution, thereby mitigating tip‐induced dendrite propagation. As a result, Zn||Zn symmetric cells show ultra‐stable cycling for 1920 h, Zn||Cu cells deliver a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.5% over 1000 cycles, and Zn||MnO 2 full cells retain 88.8% capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 A g −1 . This work highlights the potential of ordered wood cellulose membranes as sustainable and low‐cost separators for dendrite‐free, high‐performance AZIBs.

ABSTRACT The electrocatalytic synthesis of urea under ambient conditions from nitrate ions and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) offers a sustainable pathway to turn waste into valuable products. However, its development is hindered by the difficulty in synchronizing multi‐proton/electron reaction to promote C─N coupling and hydrogenation. Herein, we report a metal–support interaction (MSI) strategy by constructing electron‐deficient Zn as active center in the activated Zn|ZnMoO 4 ─CNT composite catalyst to drive the co‐reduction of CO 2 and to urea. The as‐developed catalyst achieves a urea Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 59.10 ± 2.12% and yield of 228.41 ± 1.69 µg·h −1 ·mg −1 , outperforming most reported Mo‐ and Zn‐based electrocatalysts. Replacing the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with ethylene glycol oxidation (EGOR), the urea||EGOR system reduces energy consumption by over 20% and achieves high urea and formate yields. Mechanistic studies show the synergistic MSI between electron‐deficient Zn and electron‐rich Mo boosts catalytic performance. Electron‐deficient Zn facilitates generation of the key *CO 2 NH 2 intermediate from *CO 2 and *NO 2 , promotes C─N coupling, and accelerates hydrogenation via enhanced proton supply, ultimately leading to superior urea selectivity. This work provides a new perspective for enhancing electrocatalytic urea synthesis and extending C─N coupling for high‐value compounds.

ABSTRACT H 2 O 2 ‐based advanced oxidation processes are promising for water purification, but free‐radical‐dominated pathways are often inhibited by coexisting inorganic anions in high‐salinity environments. Here, we develop a Cu single‑atom doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet catalyst and reveal that abundant Cl − in seawater is converted from a potential radical scavenger into an active participant in H 2 O 2 activation. The Cu 1 ‑N 3 /H 2 O 2 /Vis system achieves rapid degradation of 1‑naphthylamine (1‑NA) in seawater, with an apparent rate constant 69 times higher than that of the CN/H 2 O 2 /Vis system. Mechanistic results suggest that Cu 1 ‐N 3 sites promote H 2 O 2 activation and facilitate Cl − ‐involved pathway reconfiguration, leading to the formation of reactive chlorine species (RCS)‐related intermediates, 1 O 2 , and high‐valent Cu‐associated oxidative species. These species collectively establish a cooperative radical/non‐radical oxidation network, rather than a conventional free‐•OH‐dominated pathway. Continuous‐flow tests further demonstrate stable 1‐NA removal during 20 h operation. This work provides a promising strategy for Cl − ‐steered photo‐Fenton pathway reconfiguration toward high‐performance seawater decontamination.

ABSTRACT Ultralong organic phosphorescent (UOP) materials have emerged as a transformative class of luminescent systems exhibiting prolonged afterglow under ambient conditions. In recent years, extensive efforts have been put on molecular design and aggregation control toward efficient UOP systems, with a growing focus on host–guest systems. Stimuli‐responsive UOP materials have been a vibrant and promising research direction in smart luminescent materials. This review summarizes recent progress in organic UOP materials that respond to external stimuli (heat, light, and mechanical force) as well as internal chemical cues (solvent polarity, acid/base conditions, and humidity). The basic luminescent mechanisms of UOP are first introduced, followed by a detailed summary of molecular designing principles and strategies for the construction of efficient and tunable stimuli‐responsive UOP materials. Various practical applications of these materials, such as bioimaging, sensing, anti‐counterfeiting, data encryption, and 3D printing, are overviewed. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are discussed to highlight the key opportunities and focus for the advancement of the next‐generation UOP systems.

ABSTRACT Enhancing the absorption of the photodetector's active layer within the target spectral range is a key strategy for improving the device performance. Strong near‐field light localization in carefully engineered metal or oxide metasurfaces coupled to semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) enables efficient and wavelength‐selective photodetection, but such structures are typically complex and require expensive fabrication. Here, we introduce an up‐scalable, all‐solution process to realize photodetectors operating in the extended short‐wavelength infrared (ESWIR) range, using colloidal plasmonic In 2 O 3 :Sn,F (commonly abbreviated as ITO) nanocrystals (NCs) coupled to colloidal HgTe QDs, which boosts the optical absorption of HgTe QDs across the range from 1500 to 3000 nm. The responsivity of photodetectors to blackbody illumination reaches over 40 A/W within the 180–240 K temperature range, and the photocurrent spectrum is tailored thanks to the localized surface plasmon resonance of the ITO NCs. An In 2 O 3 shell further grown around ITO NCs allows us to suppress the dark current, albeit at the cost of the exciton‐plasmon coupling strength. The specific detectivity remains in the range from 10 11 to 10 10 Jones as the operating temperature is varied from 160 to 260 K, establishing a pathway for all‐colloidal materials‐based ESWIR photodetectors compatible with cryogen‐free cooling systems.

ABSTRACT Ultrawide‐bandgap rutile is a promising semiconductor for power electronics, where efficient heat dissipation is essential to suppress self‐heating and ensure device reliability. However, the temperature dependence and microscopic origin of its anisotropic heat transport have remained experimentally unresolved. Here, temperature‐dependent time‐domain thermoreflectance measurements combined with first‐principles phonon‐transport calculations quantify the thermal conductivity of single‐crystal rutile from 80 to 350 K along [001] and [110]. At 295 K, the thermal conductivity reaches 47.5 W along [001] and 32.5 W along [110], corresponding to an anisotropy ratio of 1.46, in good agreement with theory. The thermal conductivity follows an approximate dependence rather than a simple law, indicating additional scattering beyond purely three‐phonon‐limited transport. Mode‐resolved analysis shows that the room‐temperature anisotropy originates from larger phonon group velocities along [001] and direction‐dependent phonon lifetimes, while depopulation of high‐frequency phonons upon cooling reduces the anisotropy. The temperature‐dependent thermal boundary conductance of Al/rutile interfaces further indicates predominantly elastic interfacial transport. These findings establish the microscopic basis of bulk and interfacial heat transport in rutile for ultrawide‐bandgap electronics.

ABSTRACT Heterojunction electrocatalysts have emerged as promising candidates for advancing lithium‐sulfur battery cathodes due to their tunable electronic structures and abundant active sites, yet their performance is often compromised by the thermodynamic instability arising from excessive defect sites at the interface. We report a phosphorus doping strategy to stabilize pre‐engineered sulfur vacancies in a carbon‐coated CoS 2 ‐FeS 2 heterojunction (P‐V S ‐CFS@C). Partial occupancy of V s by P 3− not only passivates the vacancy structure and suppresses interfacial trap effects, but also strengthens lithium polysulfide (LiPSs) adsorption. Density functional theory calculations reveal that phosphorus incorporation modulates the local charge redistribution, generating spin‐polarized states near the Fermi level and lowering the energy barrier for the critical Li 2 S 2 ‐to‐Li 2 S conversion. The resulting P‐V S ‐CFS@C/S cathode delivers a high‐rate capacity of 784.1 mAh g −1 at 5 C and exceptional long‐term cycling stability with 963.6 mAh g −1 retained after 1000 cycles at 1 C. This work presents a rational anion‑doping approach for stabilizing heterointerface defects and offers new insights into interface engineering for durable electrocatalysis in energy‑storage systems.

ABSTRACT Biocompatible hydrogel materials loaded with therapeutic cargo have attracted significant attention in biomedical and clinical drug delivery. Various chemical and physical stimuli strategies have been developed for the on‐demand drug release; however, challenges remain in effectively triggering drug release from hydrogels in deep tissues and controlling release kinetics. To overcome these challenges, we developed acoustically responsive hydrogel‑bubble microspheres (HBMS), which feature a built‑in compressible bubble core. This core functions as an intrinsic acoustic amplifier, transducing ultrasound energy into localized high‐frequency oscillations within the hydrogel shell. This enables on‑demand payload release with low activation energy input. Experimentally, a microfluidic system was employed for the high‐throughput production of HBMS, allowing precise control over droplet size and gas‑core ratio. The HBMS exhibited significantly enhanced ultrasound‐triggered payload release compared with conventional hydrogel microspheres (HMP), achieving significantly greater payload release even at low acoustic energy. Moreover, this strategy proved therapeutic efficiency in a mouse model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy (OIR). This HBMS exhibits excellent acoustically responsive performance, mitigates the risk of thermal damage, and avoids the introduction of chemical or heterogeneous triggering components. With its efficient energy conversion, programmability, injectability, and low‑cost fabrication, HBMS represents a promising platform for ultrasound‐programmable drug delivery in biomedical applications.

ABSTRACT In this work, we report a rapid, one‐step continuous‐wave CO 2 laser–induced thermal shock process for synthesizing Ru/RuO 2 with coherent metallic–oxide interfaces. The ultrafast laser process enables the precise creation of an electronically coupled Ru/RuO 2 interface with superior bifunctional activity toward both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR). Notably, the optimized Ru/RuO 2 ‐1 catalyst (1:1 molar ratio of Ru precursor to KOH) exhibits ultralow overpotential of 34 mV for HER and oxidation potential of −56 mV versus the reversible hydrogen electrode for HzOR at a current density of 10 mA·cm −2 in alkaline media. In overall hydrazine splitting, a symmetric Ru/RuO 2 ‐1||Ru/RuO 2 ‐1 pair achieves current densities of 10 and 150 mA·cm −2 at ultralow cell voltages of 0.044 and 0.717 V, respectively. Furthermore, a Zn–hydrazine battery assembled with Ru/RuO 2 ‐1 as the cathode enables self‐powered hydrogen generation with stable operation for 200 h. Advanced in situ and ex situ spectroscopies combined with density functional theory reveal that strong electronic coupling at the Ru/RuO 2 interface promotes intermediate adsorption and lowers kinetic barriers for both the HER and HzOR. This study introduces a CO 2 laser‐induced interfacial engineering strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts for self‐powered and energy‐efficient H 2 production technologies.

ABSTRACT The construction of artificial ion transport systems exhibiting tunable functionality is essential for enhancing our understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying natural channel proteins (NCPs). This study presents a biomimetic transmembrane proton transport system, synthesized by a one‐pot light‐induced iron‐catalyzed alkylation of C─H bonds in polyethers. Controlling the reaction time to modulate the functionalization level of polyethers, and thereby the amphiphilicity, results in a system that demonstrates adjustable transport activity. Additionally, it emulates natural proton channels, efficiently promoting proton transport by forming multiple hydrogen‐bonding chains while efficiently excluding other ions and water molecules. Patch‐clamp measurements revealed a high proton transport rate ( = 97 ± 3 pS, ≈ 50% of natural gramicidin A's 213 ± 4 pS) and significant proton selectivity ( P H+ / P K+ = 106.7, P H+ / P Na+ = 168.2, P H+ / P Cl‐ = 10.6) for this system. The markedly greater proton gradient across the plasma membrane of cancer cells compared to normal cells means that this proton transport system can be selectively activated by cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. This work is expected to enhance understanding of the underlying mechanisms of NCPs and contribute to the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

ABSTRACT In aqueous zinc‐ion batteries, zinc deposition on the Zn (002) crystallographic plane is constrained by sluggish kinetics and limited active sites. To address this limitation, we construct a cyano‐functionalized carbon nitride layer (CN─C 3 N 4 @GF) on a glass fiber (GF) separator via chemical vapor deposition. This functional layer combines sufficient mechanical robustness to suppress dendrite penetration with regulated nanoporous channels that promote rapid Zn 2+ transport. The surface‐enriched cyano groups (─C≡N), serving as strong electron‐donating coordination sites, form high‐binding‐energy coordination interactions with Zn 2+ , thereby modulating the solvation structure and lowering the desolvation energy. More importantly, interfacial CN─C 3 N 4 preferentially adsorbs onto the Zn(002) plane, thereby regulating the crystallographic growth behavior and guiding Zn deposition along the kinetically favorable Zn (101) plane. This preferentially regulated growth suppresses dendrite formation and produces a dense, highly textured zinc deposition layer. As a result, Zn||Zn symmetric cells using the CN─C 3 N 4 @GF separator operate stably for 2380 h at 0.5 mA cm −2 /0.5 mAh cm −2 and for 1000 h at 5 mA cm −2 . Moreover, Zn||MnO 2 full cells retain a high specific capacity of 154.9 mAh g −1 after 3000 cycles at 5 A g −1 , demonstrating excellent high‐rate cycling stability. This work presents an interfacial engineering strategy for highly reversible zinc metal anodes.