Physics

ABSTRACT In a highly purified host, the coherence of quantum emitters is ultimately limited by hyperfine interactions between the emitter and lattice nuclei possessing non‐zero nuclear magnetic moments. This limitation can only be mitigated through isotopic purification. In this work, we investigate CeO 2 as a host composed entirely of nuclei with zero nuclear moment. High‐quality CeO 2 thin films were grown by PLD and doped with Tm and Er ions. Structural characterization using X‐ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and ion channeling confirms single‐crystalline, atomically smooth films with dopants substitutionally incorporated at Ce lattice sites. Photoluminescence lifetime measurements show significantly longer lifetimes for Er‐doped CeO 2 (2.9 – 5.3 ms) compared with Tm‐doped films (14 – 68 µs). Moreover, the Er‐doped PLD films exhibit longer lifetimes at ∼1% dopant concentration than previously reported for MBE‐grown films. Density functional theory calculations reveal a substantial overlap between unoccupied O 2p and Tm 4f states near the valence band maximum, whereas Er 4f states remain well isolated. This electronic interaction likely introduces non‐radiative recombination pathways in Tm‐doped CeO 2 , explaining the reduced lifetimes. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate dopant‐host combinations and optimized growth conditions to minimize non‐radiative channels for quantum applications.

ABSTRACT Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) have attracted considerable attention for large‐scale energy storage owing to their safety, low‐cost, and high energy density. Nevertheless, their cycling life is severely compromised by the corrosive nature of ionic liquid electrolytes and dendrite growth, particularly under high current densities. Herein, we propose an in situ electropolymerization strategy to fabricate a protective polymeric membrane on the Al anode from functional ionic liquid monomers, 1‐butyl‐3‐vinylimidazolium chloride (BVIMCl). The in situ‐formed polymeric membrane can not only serve as a physical barrier that effectively suppresses anode corrosion but also homogenizes the interfacial electric field through electrostatic attraction. This dual functionality guides the ordered migration of Al 2 Cl 7 − anions and promotes a uniform ion flux, enabling highly reversible Al plating/stripping and dendrite‐free Al deposition. Consequently, the Al/Al symmetric cell delivers stable cycling for over 1000 h at 5 mA cm − 2 and 5 mAh cm − 2 , achieving a high critical current density of 8.5 mA cm − 2 . More remarkably, the Al/Graphite full cell demonstrates an ultralong lifespan of over 80 000 cycles at 5 A g − 1 . This work not only provides a facile and scalable strategy for stabilizing Al anodes but also establishes polymer‐mediated interface engineering as a promising paradigm for developing high‐performance RABs.

ABSTRACT Inverse design of functional materials—using target performance to guide optimal parameters—provides a powerful alternative to traditional forward methods, especially for complex, high‐dimensional problems. Advances in machine learning (ML) enhance its feasibility through fast surrogate modeling, efficient design‐space exploration, and direct mapping from desired properties to material solutions. This review presents a unified overview of ML‐driven inverse design methodologies, covering topology optimization, direct inverse mapping, and hybrid frameworks. We analyze key ML models, optimization algorithms, and adaptive schemes that tackle challenges including data scarcity and coupled physical constraints. Focusing on diverse functional materials, we highlight and illustrate how ML‐based inverse design is accelerating innovation across diverse classes of materials by rapid generation of microstructures and geometries tailored to specific functionalities, including mechanical and architected materials, acoustic and thermal metamaterials, optical materials, energy functional materials, biomedical and chemical materials. Finally, we outline key challenges and future directions toward autonomous, physics‐integrated, and generative pipelines for advanced functional materials. This review aims to provide a unified foundation for ML‐based inverse design and to guide the development of intelligent discovery pipelines for advanced materials.

ABSTRACT The selective removal of corroded surface layers remains a major challenge in the conservation and functional preservation of goods made of bronze and other copper‐based alloys. Corrosion products formed under diverse environmental conditions are typically chemically heterogeneous and stratified, complicating their controlled removal without causing substrate damage or loss of original surface features like engravements or texts which are often present on, for example, bronze cultural heritage relics. A broad range of mechanical, chemical, electrochemical, laser‐based, plasma‐assisted, and bio‐mediated approaches has been developed, but most of those strategies face intrinsic limitations in precision, controllability, and compatibility with complex corroded materials systems. This review provides a critical and systematic assessment of current corrosion‐removal methodologies for bronze, benchmarking their performance in terms of surface selectivity, removal depth, and chemical specificity. By highlighting the limitations of established techniques, the analysis reveals the need for more controllable and minimally invasive surface‐engineering concepts. In this context, emerging atomic‐scale removal strategies based on cyclic, self‐limiting surface reactions, including atomic layer etching, are discussed as prospective pathways toward higher precision and substrate compatibility. Although these concepts remain largely unexplored in bronze conservation, they offer a framework for rethinking corrosion removal across heritage and functional copper‐alloy applications.

ABSTRACT Aqueous Zn─S batteries are promising energy storage systems with high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, the direct conversion between S and ZnS at the cathode suffers extremely sluggish reaction kinetics, which further decay rapidly upon the increase of current density and active material loading. Facing these challenges, we herein present a bi‐directional redox mediator strategy and identify a self‐adjusted Cu‐based candidate. It possesses two redox couples whose potentials are on either side of the thermodynamic redox potential of S/ZnS reaction while between its kinetic oxidation and reduction potentials. These alignments enable the bi‐directional mediator to catalyze the charge and discharge processes using either redox couple, respectively. As a result, the sulfur cathode reaches a high capacity of 1629 mAh g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 . It also maintains 880 mAh g −1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g −1 , superior to rapid decay to 148 mAh g −1 after only 28 cycles with the mediator free cathode. Furthermore, with a high sulfur loading of 7.3 mg cm −2 and lean electrolyte of 7 µL mg S −1 , the Zn─S battery achieves a high areal capacity over 10 mAh cm −2 .

ABSTRACT Surface defects on perovskite films induce non‐radiative charge recombination, which remains a primary factor limiting the open‐circuit voltage ( V OC ) and overall performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, we introduce a passivation strategy employing two amine hydrochlorides, N‐(2‐aminoethyl)maleimide hydrochloride (AEMCl) and N‐(2‐aminoethyl)phthalimide hydrochloride (AEPCl), which yield distinctly different interfacial phase behaviors on the perovskite top surface. Intriguingly, AEPCl promotes the formation of n = 1 Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) phases at the interface, whereas AEMCl suppresses such low‐dimensional phases and effectively passivates residual PbI 2 . Consequently, the AEMCl‐treated device achieves a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.14% with a V OC of 1.164 V, outperforming both the control (24.72%) and AEPCl‐treated devices (25.46%). Furthermore, unencapsulated AEMCl‐modified devices exhibited excellent durability, retaining 89.78% of their initial PCE after 4500 h of storage in N 2 atmosphere. Under continuous one‐sun illumination and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in N 2 at room temperature, the device maintained 85.01% of its initial efficiency after 1000 h. At the molecular level, this work demonstrates how molecular structure dictates the phase behavior of perovskites.

ABSTRACT Lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathodes are pivotal for next‐generation energy storage but are plagued by severe manganese dissolution and interfacial instability, particularly under high‐temperature or high‐voltage conditions. Herein, a bifunctional electrolyte engineering strategy is proposed utilizing trimethylsilyl borate (TMSB) to fortify the cathode–electrolyte interphase (CEI) and scavenge trace acidic species. Theoretical calculations and experimental characterizations reveal that TMSB integrates into the primary Li + solvation sheath, enabling preferential sacrificial oxidation to construct a thin, hermetic, and highly conductive boron/phosphorus‐enriched CEI. Moreover, the active trimethylsilyl functional groups of TMSB chemically scavenge corrosive hydrofluoric acid, effectively inhibiting lattice corrosion and transition metal dissolution by over 60%. Consequently, this bifunctional protection confers exceptional stability to LMFP half‐cells, which retain 86.4% capacity after 500 cycles at 4.3 V and demonstrate robust resilience under aggressive conditions (4.5 V cutoff and 60°C). Furthermore, the practical viability is validated in 1 Ah graphite||LMFP pouch cells, achieving an impressive 80.1% capacity retention after 200 cycles. This work provides critical insights into designing interface‐compatible electrolytes for high‐energy‐density batteries.

ABSTRACT Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for safe, large‐scale energy storage but suffer from dendrite growth and side reactions in liquid electrolytes. While hydrogel electrolytes can mitigate leakage, their electrochemical performance is often limited by slow ion transport and poor mechanics. Herein, a uniformly porous composite hydrogel electrolyte (CN‐PAM) was constructed via an alkali‐etched graphitized carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 )‐induced polymerization strategy. The hydroxyl‐modified porous g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheets serve as a multifunctional cross‐linker, reinforcing the polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogen‐bond network and pore channel skeleton. This results in a homogeneous 3D porous structure (1.59 µm), exceptional mechanical strength (stress: 119.3 kPa, strain: 840%), high ionic conductivity (22.21 mS cm −1 ), and an elevated Zn 2+ transference number (0.80). The strengthened composite hydrogel network regulates Zn 2+ flux and immobilizes free water, effectively suppressing dendrite growth and parasitic reactions. Consequently, Zn||Zn symmetric cells with CN‐PAM electrolyte achieve ultra‐stable cycling for over 3000 h at 1 mA cm −2 /1 mAh cm −2 . When matched with an NVO cathode, the full cell delivers a high reversible capacity of 194.7 mAh g −1 and maintains 92.6% capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 10 A g −1 . This work provides a facile template strategy for designing high‐performance hydrogel electrolytes toward durable and high‐safety AZIBs.

ABSTRACT Nanostructured silicon (Si) is a highly promising anode material for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to its ultra‐high theoretical capacity (Li 22 Si 5 , ∼4200 mAh g − 1 ), yet its practical application is hindered by poor conductivity and drastic volume expansion (300–400%). Here, Si nanoparticles are in situ encapsulated within a ZIF‐8 framework, guided by a pre‐applied carbon coating, forming a porous core–shell architecture that simultaneously enhances ionic/electronic transport and buffers volumetric changes. The resulting Si@C@ZIF anode delivers a reversible capacity of 1030 mAh g − 1 after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g − 1 . In a full cell with LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NCM811), 76.8% capacity retention is maintained at 0.5 C over 260 cycles. Post‐cycling analysis reveals a robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) enriched in Li 3 N and LiF. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that preferential LiPF 6 adsorption facilitates conductive SEI formation, accelerating Li + diffusion and enhancing interfacial stability, demonstrating a low‐cost route to highly durable Si/C nanocomposite anodes for practical high‐energy LIBs.

ABSTRACT The precise control of product selectivity in the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (ECR) toward specific multi‐carbon (C 2+ ) compounds remains a significant challenge. This work demonstrates that incorporating germanium (Ge) into copper (Cu) nanoparticles to form a solid solution effectively tunes the surface electronic states of Cu, thereby steering the C 2+ product distribution from ethylene toward ethanol. First‐principles calculations predict that an optimal Ge content (Cu 94 Ge 6 ) optimizes the Cu 3d orbital hybridization and shifts the d‐band center, strengthening the adsorption of the critical * CH 2 CHO intermediate and favoring its hydrogenation pathway. Experimentally, the Cu 94 Ge 6 catalyst exhibits an ethanol‐to‐ethylene ratio of ∼1.8, significantly higher than that of pure Cu (∼0.6). Comprehensive characterization, including in situ ATR‐FTIR and quasi in situ XPS, reveals that the Ge‐induced electronic modulation enhances the adsorption of COCHO/CH 2 CHO intermediates and promotes the presence of isolated interfacial water, which collectively facilitates ethanol formation. This study presents a viable strategy for regulating C 2+ product selectivity through solid‐solution electronic engineering in Cu‐based electrocatalysts.

ABSTRACT 3D structured zinc anodes can regulate electric fields and inhibit dendrite growth to stabilize the electrodeposition/stripping behaviors. However, it is generally difficult to achieve uniform Zn deposition on complex 3D architectures, and their high surface area and strong electrochemical activity make them prone to side reactions, thus significantly degrading cycling stability. Herein, we propose a topological electrode design strategy that integrates rapid photocuring‐based 3D printing with alloy engineering to regulate zinc electrodeposition/stripping behaviors. The 3D architecture framework provides a continuous and conductive scaffold with tailored topology, guiding uniform Zn nucleation and minimizing local current density. Moreover, the introduction of nanoscale ZnCu alloying layer further reduces nucleation overpotential and promotes reversible Zn plating/stripping on the (002)‐oriented surface. Benefiting from this topology‐guided design, a phototype with the Zn@Cu‐6 anode exhibits outstanding electrochemical stability, sustaining 340 h of cycling at 10 mA cm −2 and 1 mAh cm −2 in symmetric cells. When paired with a V 2 O 5 cathode, the full cell delivers remarkable rate capability and long‐term durability, maintaining 96.4% capacity retention after 1963 cycles at 20 A g −1 . This work demonstrates that rational topological architecture and alloy interfacial engineering offer a powerful pathway toward dendrite‐free and high‐rate zinc batteries.

ABSTRACT Engineering carbonaceous cathodes with fast reaction kinetics is crucial for achieving advanced aqueous zinc‐ion capacitors (ZICs), yet the origin of pseudocapacitance‐induced accelerated kinetics remains elusive. Electrochemical processes are often explained solely through the cation reactions, neglecting the contribution of anions, which hinders a complete understanding of the energy storage mechanisms. Herein, we present a cellulose‐derived N/P co‐doped carbon (CNPC) cathode exhibiting ultrafast reaction kinetics. State‐of‐the‐art electrochemical analyses reveal that the ultrafast kinetics are predominantly governed by pseudocapacitive charge storage, enabling the CNPC‐based ZIC to deliver a high specific capacitance of 308.5 F g −1 , an energy density of 109.7 Wh kg −1 , and excellent durability over 65 000 cycles. Comprehensive DFT calculations and ex situ characterizations confirm that the enhanced pseudocapacitance originates from reversible dual‐ion chemisorption at heteroatom co‐doped active sites. Moreover, the CNPC‐based quasi‐solid‐state ZIC exhibits a low self‐discharge rate of 2.43 mV h −1 , which is attributed to the role of P species in reinforcing structural stability after anion adsorption. This work not only elucidates the mechanism through which co‐doped active sites boost the reversible pseudocapacitive dual‐ion storage but also provides fundamental design principles for developing next‐generation cathodes with ultrafast kinetics.

ABSTRACT Non‐volatile memory devices and neuromorphic computing systems based on two dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as promising platforms for real time artificial intelligence processing. However, conventional floating gate architectures often suffer from limited multi state programmability due to tunneling layer instability and interface defects, hindering the development of multifunctional bio inspired neuromorphic hardware. In this work, a MoS 2 /h‐BN/CrOCl/graphene floating‐gate field effect transistor that integrates high performance non‐volatile memory with optoelectronic synaptic functionalities is demonstrated. The incorporation of a 2D wide bandgap CrOCl layer as a tunneling pump, vertically stacked with h‐BN, raises the electron tunneling barrier and significantly suppresses charge leakage, thereby improving retention and endurance. As an electronic synapse, the device exhibits an ultra‐wide memory window exceeding 170 V and a program/erase ratio greater than 10 4 . As a photonic synapse, it emulates short term and long‐term plasticity, enabling Reservoir Computing based recognition of MNIST handwritten digits with 97.8 % accuracy. Furthermore, by decoding time encoded optical pulses, the system achieves dynamic visual recognition of vehicle motion directions with 93.7% accuracy. These results highlight the potential of the proposed heterostructure for constructing reliable, multi modal neuromorphic synapses suitable for future edge vision and intelligent sensing systems.

ABSTRACT Antisymmetric magnetoresistance shows strong potential in multi‐state memory, logical circuits, and high‐performance computing. However, the weak magnetoresistance effect and difficulty in manipulation remain as major challenges to practical applications. Emerging van der Waals (vdW) magnets offer promising candidates to overcome the neckbottle. Here, we report the first demonstration of spin‐orbit torque (SOT) controlled antisymmetric magnetoresistance effect in vdW Fe 3 GaTe 2 /Fe 3 GeTe 2 heterostructure. Spin‐orbit coupling induces spinmomentum locking at the Fe 3 GaTe 2 /Fe 3 GeTe 2 interface, contributing to the antisymmetric magnetoresistance phenomenon. The shape of antisymmetric magnetoresistance can be highly tunable by current. Surprisingly, current‐induced SOT fields are significantly large at low temperatures. In addition to the intrinsic SOT in nano‐ferromagnet, the quantitative analysis indicates that the spinmomentum locking can generate a sizable spin current, which results in a large interfacial SOT and magnetoresistance ratio. Based on multiple tunable magnetoresistance states and non‐volatility, a compute‐in‐memory processor is constructed, which achieves high performance in image classification and cryogenic qubit state discrimination. These results mark an important step in advancing the antisymmetric magnetoresistance effect toward energy‐efficient spintronic devices.

ABSTRACT Two‐dimensional (2D) Sn‐halide perovskites (Sn‐HPs) have emerged as promising candidates for efficient optoelectronic devices, owing to their suitable charge carrier mobility and tunable optical properties achievable via chemical composition. These characteristics make them ideal for extending their application to aqueous solar‐driven photocatalysis; however, the oxidation of Sn 2+ hinders their use in chemical reactions, making the stabilization of Sn 2+ a big challenge. Here, we demonstrate a novel synthetic procedure for growing water‐stable, red‐emitting 2D Sn‐HPs microcrystals and their use as raw materials for H 2 evolution. By introducing 4‐ X ‐phenethylammonium (PEA) cation derivatives ( X = fluorine, F; methoxy, MeO; and their combination), Sn‐HPs show a modulable band structure for carrying out hydrogen evolution reaction, achieving a maximum evolved H 2 of 19.3 µmol·g −1 , a H 2 evolution rate of 6.98 µmol·g −1 ·h −1 , maintaining their structural integrity over four On light cycles during HI splitting. The presence of organic functionalities in the para ( p )‐position of the PEA cation restrains the [SnI 6 ] 4− octahedra distortion, while the presence of I − prevents the rapid iodide consumption in the perovskite. This synergy enhances both the stability in aqueous solutions and electron accumulation, thus favoring the photocatalytic H 2 generation.

ABSTRACT Sorption‐based atmospheric water harvesting has emerged as a promising solution to address global freshwater scarcity. Among various sorbents, salt‐based composite sorbent with hydrogel matrix is regarded as a viable candidate by combining the strong hygroscopicity and water retention capability. However, mass transport of hydrogel is limited by the pore‐deficient polymer network, leading to slow sorption kinetics. Here, we report an in situ UV cryogelation method to prepare hygroscopic zwitterionic hydrogel sponge with macroporous structure. Benefiting from the anti‐polyelectrolyte effect, the sorbent achieves a high salt loading, enabling substantial water uptake of 1.34 and 2.29 g g −1 under 30% and 60% RH. Moreover, it exhibits faster sorption‐desorption kinetics compared to dense hydrogel, owing to enhanced mass transport of both water vapor and liquid water. A batch‐processed operation mode with optimized cycle time is adopted to improve the water productivity. Consequently, a proof‐of‐concept solar‐driven water harvester demonstrates exceptional working performance of 1.38 L water kg sorbent −1 day −1 and 5.33 L water m −2 day −1 in outdoor experiments without any additional energy input. This work offers a promising approach for efficiently extracting water from ambient air.

ABSTRACT Hydrothermally deposited Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 is a promising absorber for solution‐processed thin‐film solar cells, yet its post‐treatment typically requires high‐temperature annealing (≈370°C), which inevitably causes severe selenium loss. This loss generates a compositionally disordered near‐surface region and degrades device performance. Here, we develop a simple PbBr 2 ‐assisted approach in which an in‐situ formed Pb(S x Se 1−x ) nanoparticle film initiates Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 crystallization at a substantially lower temperature. The nanoparticle film is shown to direct the microstructural evolution by accelerating grain coalescence and inducing (hk1)‐preferred crystallinity, producing a denser and flatter absorber with markedly suppressed selenium loss and reduced surface oxidation. As a result, the champion PbBr 2 ‐treated device delivers a PCE of 10.51%, representing a 16.8% improvement over the 9.00% control, mainly arising from enhanced surface selenium retention and improved interfacial band alignment as supported by compositional and electronic analyses. This work offers a practical materials‐engineering strategy for Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 photovoltaics that resolves the long‐standing trade‐off between high‐temperature crystallization and selenium loss, providing a pathway to stabilize surface composition while maintaining a high‐quality junction for higher device efficiency.

ABSTRACT Herein, we report a built‐in electric field (BEF) construction strategy using Pt nanoparticles anchored on TiN supports, which drives electron redistribution at the Pt/TiN heterojunction interface, optimizing the electronic structure and enhancing charge transfer efficiency to regulate the adsorption energies of reaction intermediates (particularly NO x, ad species), ultimately boosting the intrinsic catalytic activity. Notably, Pt/TiN catalyst achieved a peak current of nearly 120 A g −1 during AOR, which is more than twice that of commercial Pt/C and approximately four times that of Pt/TiO 2 . Furthermore, both experimental and theoretical results indicate that the work function differences induce a pronounced BEF, which drives interfacial electron transfer, leading to Fermi level alignment and the formation of Pt regions characterized by electron accumulation. More importantly, a rechargeable Zn─NH 3 battery was constructed, delivering a Faradaic efficiency as high as 94.2% and enabling continuous NH 3 ‐mediated H 2 production for 30 h at 8 mA cm −2 , thereby laying a solid foundation for practical applications. This work introduces an innovative approach to BEF construction for regulating the electronic structure of Pt, thereby advancing electrocatalysis in energy conversion.

ABSTRACT The reconstruction of transition‐metal phosphides during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) typically produces amorphous oxyhydroxides accompanied by severe phosphorus loss, which may lead to undesired catalytic behavior at high current densities. Here we introduce a confined reconstruction strategy enabled by Au‐Co 2 P yolk‐shell heterostructure, which fundamentally reshapes the evolution pathway of Co 2 P under OER conditions. The channel‐rich shell and internal cavity suppress rapid phosphorus loss and promote the formation of crystalline CoOOH, rather than the amorphous phases formed in the Au/Co 2 P core/shell and pristine Co 2 P. Therefore, the Au‐Co 2 P yolk‐shell catalyst exhibits markedly enhanced OER activity and durability, which could be further enhanced under light illumination, requiring an overpotential of 371 mV at 200 mA cm −2 with a Tafel slope of 46.4 mV dec −1 . This work provides new insights into the structural design of OER catalysts capable of operating at high current densities and responding to photoactivation.

ABSTRACT LiMn x Fe 1‐ x PO 4 (LMFP) is a promising high‐energy‐density, cost‐effective, and safe cathode for lithium‐ion batteries. However, its practical application is hindered by intrinsic limitations, including low electronic/ionic conductivity, Jahn‐Teller distortion, and Mn dissolution, which become more severe at high temperatures. To overcome these challenges, we propose a novel configurational entropy (CE) regulation strategy, synthesizing a Li(Mn 0.6 Fe 0.4 ) 0.97 (MgCoNi) 0.03 PO 4 /C (CE‐LMFP/C) composite. The multi‐cation incorporation of Mg 2+ , Co 2+ , and Ni 2+ effectively increases the configurational entropy of the system and profoundly enhances charge transfer kinetics. Crucially, it effectively suppresses Jahn‐Teller distortion and Mn dissolution by strengthening Mn─O bonding and regulating the charge compensation mechanism. Furthermore, this strategy promotes a phase transition characterized by an extended solid‐solution region and reduced unit cell volume change. Consequently, CE‐LMFP/C delivers an impressive discharge capacity of 151.84 mAh g −1 at 0.2 C and maintains 134.14 mAh g −1 at an ultra‐high rate of 20 C. Remarkably, it exhibits outstanding stability under demanding conditions, retaining 82.64% of its initial capacity and 75.33% of its initial energy density after 400 cycles at 50°C. Detailed kinetics analysis and post‐cycling characterization confirm rapid Li + diffusion and exceptional structural integrity. This configurational entropy approach provides a powerful and novel pathway for designing high‐performance Mn‐based polyanionic cathodes.

ABSTRACT Single‐atom catalysts (SACs), featuring nearly 100% atomic utilization efficiency, show great potential for application in Li–S batteries. However, the kinetic mismatch between the uniform active sites of SACs and the diverse reaction intermediates in the multi‑step sulfur redox process leads to a lack of catalytic specificity, causing suboptimal efficiency and activity degradation. In this work, a synergistic catalyst of Fe single atoms coupled with Fe clusters anchored on porous carbon nanofibers (Fe SA/ACs/CNF) was developed to address these constraints concurrently. The synergistic sites optimize the electron‐transfer pathway with LiPSs, which accelerates LiPSs conversion kinetics and lowers the associated reaction barriers, thereby promoting the formation of more stable sulfur phases (α‐S 8 ) and rapid deposition of Li 2 S. Arising from this mechanism, the sulfur cathode achieves an areal capacity of 5.9 mAh cm −2 under even a low E/S ratio of 5 µL mg −1 and sulfur loading of 6.5 mg cm −2 . This work establishes atomic/cluster synergy as an effective design paradigm for high‐efficiency sulfur catalysis, providing a pathway toward high‐performance Li–S batteries.

Image denoising is essential in materials characterization, particularly for recovering fine structural details in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images. While supervised denoising approaches have shown strong performance, they typically rely on large datasets of paired noisy and clean images, which are often unavailable in experimental settings. Unsupervised methods, though not requiring paired data, often rely on a collection of unpaired clean images for training—resources that are frequently unavailable in real-world STM laboratory environments. In this work, we propose PDA-Net, a physics-guided deep learning framework with adversarial domain adaptation for unsupervised STM image denoising. PDA-Net leverages a physics-based simulator to generate synthetic STM images for the surface of copper single crystals, i.e., Cu(111), serving as a proxy for the clean ground truth. Built upon a generative adversarial network architecture, the framework integrates cycle-consistency and domain adversarial modules to bridge the gap between simulated and real experimental domains in the absence of paired data. Additionally, feature alignment and weight-sharing strategies are employed to enhance knowledge transfer between domains. Experimental results demonstrate that PDA-Net significantly improves STM image quality, enabling more accurate interpretation of quantum material properties and facilitating accelerated scientific discovery.