Physics

We demonstrate that the decay rates of a fluorescent molecule can be controlled by electrically shifting a transparency introduced by a Fano resonance. An auxiliary quantum object (QO), located at the hotspot of a plasmonic nanoparticle, suppresses plasmonic excitation at its level spacing ωQO. As a result, the local density of states (LDOS) associated with the plasmonic spectrum is also suppressed at ω = ωQO. By shifting ωQO via an applied voltage, we continuously tune the radiative and nonradiative decay rates of the fluorescent molecule by up to two orders of magnitude. This mechanism offers a valuable tool for integrated quantum technologies, enabling on-demand entanglement and single-photon sources, voltage-controlled quantum gate operations, and electrical control of superradiant-like phase transitions. The approach also holds promise for applications in super-resolution microscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Elemental good metals, including noble metals (Cu, Ag, Au) and several<i>s</i>-block elements, do not exhibit superconductivity in bulk at ambient pressure, primarily due to weak electron-phonon coupling that fails to overcome Coulomb repulsion. Quantum confinement in ultra-thin films is known to strongly reshape the electronic spectrum and the density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level, and in established superconductors it produces pronounced, often non-monotonic, thickness dependencies of the critical temperature. In this perspective, we examine whether quantum confinement alone, or in combination with proximity effects, can induce an observable superconducting instability in metals that are non-superconducting in bulk form. We review recent theoretical progress and present a unified framework based on a confinement-generalized, isotropic one-band Eliashberg theory, in which the normal DOS becomes energy dependent and key material parameters (EF,<i>λ</i>, andμ∗) acquire an explicit thickness dependence. By numerically solving the resulting Eliashberg equations using<i>ab-initio</i>or experimentally determined electron-phonon spectral functionsα2F(Ω)and Coulomb pseudopotentialsμ∗, and without introducing adjustable parameters, we compute the critical temperature<i>T_c</i>as a function of film thickness for representative noble, alkali, and alkaline-earth metals. The theory predicts that superconductivity can emerge only in selected cases and within extremely narrow thickness windows, typically centered around sub-nanometer scales (L∼0.4-0.6 nm), highlighting a pronounced fine-tuning requirement for confinement-induced superconductivity in good metals. We further discuss layered superconductor/normal-metal systems, where quantum confinement and proximity effects coexist. In these heterostructures, a substantial enhancement of the critical temperature is predicted, even when the constituent materials are non-superconducting or poor superconductors in bulk form.

We study an exactly solvable long-range transverse-field Ising model with a power-law decaying interaction characterized by the decay exponent α. For 1 < α < 2, the model exhibits two quantum critical points (QCPs) with distinct critical exponents. In the thermodynamic limit, the system is adiabatically driven across these critical points in the presence of noise, from the paramagnetic phase with all spins down to one with all spins up. In the noiseless case, within the long-range regime, the steady-state properties are primarily influenced by the modes near the kc = π region, while the low-energy modes around kc = 0 remain nearly adiabatic and contribute negligibly. The defect density follows Kibble-Zurek (KZ) scaling law and scales as n ∝ τ -1/2 Q , implying KZ scaling exponent independent of decay exponent. However, the magnitude of the defect density increases with increasing the range (i.e., decreasing the value of α). On the other hand in the presence of noise, the low-energy modes around kc = 0 become highly susceptible to excitation, making them the dominant source of excitations, with their contribution gradually diminishing as the interaction range increases. This differs from the short-range (SR) model, where previous studies have shown that under noisy condition modes around k = π/2 play a significant role. The contrasting influence of long-range interactions under noisy and noiseless driving, is also observed in spin-spin correlation function and defect distribution, highlighting how long-range interactions fundamentally reshape the interplay between adiabatic driving and noise.

We report on the single crystal growth of Eu(Pd1–xAux)2Si2, 0 < x ≤ 0.2, from a levitating Eu-rich melt using the Czochralski method. Our structural analysis of the samples confirms the ThCr2Si2-type structure as well as an increase of the room temperature a and c lattice parameters with increasing x. Chemical analysis reveals that, depending on the Au concentration, only about 25–35% of the amount of Au available in the initial melt is incorporated into the crystal structure, resulting in a decreasing substitution level for increasing x. Au substitution leads both to negative chemical pressure and the addition of electrons, which give rise to large changes in the valence crossover temperatures, as it was already observed for low substitution levels x. In contrast to previous studies, we do not find any signs of a first-order transition in samples with xnom = 0.1 or AFM order for higher x. Furthermore, we observe the formation of quaternary side phases for a higher amount of Au in the melt. In addition, cubic-mm-sized single crystals of EuPd2(Si1–xGex)2 with xnom = 0.2 were grown. The analysis of the X-ray fluorescence revealed that the crystals exhibit a slight variation in the Ge content. Such tiny compositional changes can cause changes in the sample properties concerning variations of the crossover temperature or changes in the type of transition from crossover to magnetic order. Furthermore, we report on a new orthorhombic phase EuPd1.42Si1.27Ge0.31 that orders antiferromagnetically below 17 K.

Three novel cadmium(II)-based coordination polymers (CPs) have been successfully synthesized and structurally characterized, namely, [Cd(9-AnBz)4(4,4′-bpy)2] (CP1), [Cd(9-AnBz)4(4,4′-bpdb)2] (CP2), [Cd(9-AnBz)2(3,3′-bpdb)2(H2O)2]·H2O (CP3) (where 9-AnBz = 9-anthracenyl-4′-benzoate, 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine, 4,4′-bpdb = 1,4-bis(4′-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene, 3,3′-bpdb = 1,4-bis(3′-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction unambiguously confirmed their structural architectures, with CP1 adopting a two-dimensional coordination polymeric network, CP2 adopting a double-stranded ladder-like coordination polymer, and CP3 adopting a linear zigzag one-dimensional coordination polymeric chain. These three CPs have been explored for their performances in supercapacitor applications. CP1 with a two-dimensional network structure exhibited the highest electrochemical performance in this series, with a prominent current response in CV, and a long, extended discharge capacity in GCD analysis. CP1 delivered a very good specific capacitance of 1323 F g–1 at 3 A g–1, ∼10-fold higher than that of CP2 and CP3. It is anticipated that the two-dimensional layered structure with the shortest intermetallic distance in CP1 facilitates a prominent energy-storage performance.

In recent years, plant polyphenols have emerged as promising, eco-friendly desensitizers for energetic materials. By employing a bionic interface design, we successfully constructed core–shell structured Cyclotetramethylene tetranitroamine (HMX)@polyphenol composites, wherein plant polyphenols form a continuous protective coating. This coating effectively shields the energetic core from external stimuli, leading to a significant improvement in safety. Specifically, the impact sensitivity of the composite was reduced by 1.92 times compared to that of pure HMX. This work successfully integrates the advantages of natural polyphenols with advanced material design, demonstrating substantial potential for developing safer energetic materials.

Cuprous oxide semiconductors have been growing in research interest because of their promising optical and catalytic properties for solar energy conversion. While much recent research has focused on binary and ternary cuprous oxides, the more structurally complex quaternary and higher systems remain significantly less explored. Crystal growth in the cuprous rare-earth (RE) molybdate system has been investigated by using high-temperature and arc-melting synthesis techniques. Prior studies show the formation of two closely related compounds in these systems, occurring as either Cu6RE4(MoO4)9 (Space group: R3c, No. 161; exclusive for RE = La) or CuRE(MoO4)2 (Space group: Pbca, No. 61; for RE = Nd and heavier REs). By contrast, our new synthetic investigations for RE = Ce and La demonstrate the crystallization of both structure types, as red-colored crystals of Cu6RE4(MoO4)9 (RE = La (1) or Ce (2)) and as yellow-colored crystals of CuRE(MoO4)2 (RE = La (3) or Ce (4)), as obtained by slow cooling from 950 °C and from arc-melting techniques, respectively. Both structures similarly consist of [MoO4]2– tetrahedra bridged either by highly distorted CuO4 tetrahedra and REO9 tricapped trigonal prisms in 1 and 2 or by T-shaped CuO3 and REO8 square antiprisms in 3 and 4. Optical UV–vis diffuse reflectance measurements on powders of CuRE(MoO4)2 for RE = La, Ce, Sm, Eu, and Yb show relatively larger direct bandgaps in the range of 2.36 to 2.47 eV, while the crystals of Cu6RE4(MoO4)9 for RE = La and Ce yield smaller indirect bandgaps of about 1.89 to 2.05 eV. Electronic structure calculations show band gaps that stem predominantly from electronic transitions between the filled 3d10-based orbitals of the Cu(I) cations and the empty d-based orbitals of the Mo(VI) cations. Thus, the RE cations are found to have an indirect effect on the optical bandgaps via changes in the local coordination environments of the transition-metal cations. The change in crystal structure, such as from Cu6Ce4(MoO4)9 to CuCe(MoO4)2, has a notably larger effect of decreasing the bandgap by ∼0.4 to 0.5 eV as compared to only changing the RE cation within the same structure type. In summary, new synthetic investigations of the quaternary cuprous molybdates have elucidated the impact of RE cations on their crystal structures, compositions, and visible-light bandgaps, with the underlying relationships revealed via electronic structure calculations.

With the demand for lithium escalating in the energy storage and electric vehicle sectors, the extraction of lithium from unconventional and secondary sources has become an area of intensified focus. Lithium-ion sieves (LISs) have emerged as a highly promising technology, offering exceptional selectivity and high adsorption capacity. This review provides a systematic analysis of LIS technology, examining the fundamental structures and intercalation mechanisms of manganese-based, titanium-based, and electrochemical systems. Advanced modification strategies, such as elemental doping, surface coating, and hydrophilic modification, are critically examined for their role in enhancing performance and addressing inherent limitations. Furthermore, essential shaping technologies including granulation, gelation, membrane fabrication, and electrode integration are detailed as crucial steps for transitioning LIS from powders to practical, industrially viable forms with improved stability and recyclability. Finally, the review identifies persistent challenges and outlines future research priorities, underscoring the need for synergistic development of advanced materials and processes to secure a sustainable lithium supply.

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of the skin, distinguished by its high invasiveness and propensity for metastasis, thereby posing substantial challenges for therapeutic intervention. Here, we developed a metal-polyphenol network (MPN)- based drug delivery system (GD@MSN-CG) that induced cuproptosis and enhanced immunotherapy efficacy, thereby inhibiting melanoma progression and reducing the risk of metastasis. In the system, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and glucose oxidase (GOx) are surface-coated with Cu-based MPN (CuGA) to form GD@MSN-CG. After internalization by melanoma cells, copper ions, DOX, and GOx would be released, consuming glucose and glutathione, and producing substantial H₂O₂, which further induces strong cuproptosis. Cuproptosis in melanoma cells triggered Immunogenic cell death (ICD). <i>In vivo</i> and in vitro assessments demonstrated that GD@MSN-CG effectively induced cuproptosis, activated antitumor immune response, and improved treatment effect. Copper-based MPN coating on GD@MSN-CG reduced systemic toxicity and showed strong therapeutic effectiveness, indicating its promise as a carrier modification for cancer treatments.

Highly entangled hydrogels achieve outstanding mechanical properties via dense physical entanglements as cross-links. However, their fabrication usually relies on processing concentrated precursor solutions, which limits their scalability and practical application. This study introduces a facile dehydration-induced entanglement approach to fabricating double-network hydrogels with programmable entanglement density. Initially, a single-network hydrogel is synthesized via UV polymerization of a precursor solution containing acrylamide (AAm), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), cross-linkers, and a photoinitiator. Subsequent controlled dehydration of the hydrogel drives spontaneous polymer chain condensation, enabling dense intermolecular entanglements that are stabilized through secondary cross-linking of CMCS chains. The resulting hydrogel achieves a tensile strength of 798 kPa and a toughness of 1.98 × 10³ J·m^-2, representing 11-fold and 10-fold enhancements over conventional double-network hydrogels, respectively. These properties stem from the synergistic interplay of covalent networks and physical entanglements, that enables an optimal balance between high modulus and low hysteresis. This optimized stiffness-toughness profile renders the hydrogel an attractive candidate for applications in flexible electronics, advanced wound dressings, and controlled drug delivery systems. This methodology provides a robust platform for designing high-performance hydrogels without complex processing constraints.

Coming research trends will move toward high-energy-density Li-rich manganese layered (LMR) cathodes (>900 Wh kg^-1). Nevertheless, their practical implementation is severely impeded by irreversible lattice oxygen release, progressive structural deterioration, pronounced capacity, and voltage decay. A critical unresolved issue arises from the absence of an effective atomic-scale design principle capable of stabilizing the interfacial structure and suppressing the layer-to-rock salt transformation, an instability pathway that is further aggravated in high-Ni LMR compositions. In this work, we establish an in situ atomic-level regulation strategy through La³⁺/W⁶⁺ codoping, which induces the formation of an interface-disordered phase while preserving the integrity of the layered framework. This strategy provides a direct resolution to this long-standing structural challenge by enabling controlled oxygen-vacancy generation and localized cation rearrangement at the near-surface region, thereby effectively suppressing detrimental phase transitions during electrochemical cycling and simultaneously enhancing Li⁺ transport kinetics. The introduction of robust La-O and W-O bonds further reinforces the interfacial oxygen framework and markedly improves thermal stability. As a consequence, the modified cathode demonstrates substantially enhanced electrochemical durability. Compared with the original sample, the capacity retention rate of LW-3 is 80.25%, which is significantly better than that of LMR (66.26%). Moreover, the results substantiate that high-Ni LMR compositions possess an intrinsic propensity toward layered-to-rock-salt transformation, which profoundly compromises structural and electrochemical stability. This work strengthens the structural integrity and mechanical resilience of LMR cathodes and offers a responsible strategy toward realizing high-energy, long-life Li-rich layered oxides suitable for next-generation energy storage technologies.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation, driven by immune dysregulation. One of the key contributors to this persistent inflammation is the dysregulation of dendritic cells (DCs) in the gut and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), particularly through CD40 signaling, which plays a central role in modulating immune responses. Targeting CD40 in DCs therefore represents a promising approach for restoring immune balance and improving IBD. In this study, we developed maleimide (Mal)-modified PEG-PLGA nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of si<i>CD40</i> to DCs in the gut and MLNs. In a TNBS-induced colitis mouse model, Mal-modified si<i>CD40</i> nanoparticles significantly alleviated intestinal inflammation, improved colonic histopathology, and induced a marked increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the gut and MLNs, promoting immune tolerance while preserving gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, Mal-modified nanoparticles effectively improved gut inflammation and maintained immune tolerance even at low doses. Our findings suggest that Mal-modified PEG-PLGA nanoparticles offer a promising strategy for targeted IBD treatment by modulating local immune responses, restoring immune tolerance, and maintaining gut homeostasis. Moreover, this nanoparticle-based localized and precise immune modulation approach may provide valuable insights into the treatment of organ-specific immune-mediated diseases.

Inverted (p-i-n) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted extensive attention owing to their low-temperature processability, reduced hysteresis, and compatibility with tandem architectures. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), particularly MeO-4PACz, have emerged as highly effective hole-selective contacts for promoting efficient hole extraction. However, the interfacial energetics and defect passivation capability of pristine MeO-4PACz remain suboptimal, which limits further suppression of nonradiative recombination in the PSCs. In this study, 3-BPIC-F is incorporated into MeO-4PACz to construct dipole-modulated SAMs. Systematic characterizations demonstrate that the introduction of 3-BPIC-F enhances the interfacial dipole strength, optimizes energy-level alignment, and effectively reduces defects in perovskite layers, thereby suppressing internal nonradiative recombination and facilitating selective hole extraction. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of small-area inverted wide-bandgap PSCs (1.65 eV) is significantly improved from 21.97% to 23.64%, accompanied by concurrent enhancements in the open-circuit voltage and fill factor. Importantly, this interfacial engineering strategy is further validated at the module level, where the PCE is increased from 16.43% to 19.80%, highlighting the scalability and practical potential of 3-BPIC-F-modified MeO-4PACz SAMs.

Microwave ablation (MWA) is minimally invasive tumor therapy using electromagnetic waves. Incomplete ablation due to tumor size, location, or suboptimal planning often causes recurrence and metastasis. Although adjuvant chemotherapy can mitigate relapse, its efficacy remains limited as MWA-induced tissue injury triggers abnormal angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, thereby hindering drug penetration. Here, we propose a microwave-responsive gelling hydrogel nanocomposite that enhances heating of MWA and remodels the postablation microenvironment. The nanocomposite was prepared by dispersing polymeric nanoparticles, comprising a CaCl₂-rich core and a tranilast-loaded shell, into alginate solution. Under microwave irradiation, the polar salt core generated rapid heating, ruptured, and released calcium ions, which cross-linked alginate to form a stable hydrogel in situ. By integrating microwave sensitization with postablation microenvironment regulation, this strategy simultaneously resolves insufficient heating and aberrant ECM remodeling, enabling improved chemotherapeutic efficacy. This simple and biocompatible platform provides a rational approach for improving local tumor MWA and reducing postablation recurrence.

Bismuth iodide oxide (BiOI) has significant potential for promoting the repair of infectious nerve defects due to its excellent photoelectric conversion and carrier mobility properties. Nevertheless, their applications are restricted by inefficient near-infrared light absorption and excessive electronic transition barriers. Herein, bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles are hydrothermally deposited on BiOI, which introduces oxygen vacancies (O_V) and form a Bi-BiOI Schottky junction, and then added into a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold. Concretely, Bi nanoparticles induce a collective oscillation of free electrons, expanding the photoresponse range. The generated hot electrons are then injected into the built-in electric field of BiOI via the heterojunction, thereby enhancing the photoelectric effect. More ingeniously, O_V can introduce defect energy levels, which lower the electron injection barrier and improve electron-hole separation, thus promoting the photocatalytic effect. The results proved that the photoresponse extended to the near-infrared region and that the photoelectricity effect was confirmed by a 50% increase in transient photocurrent and an output voltage of 5 mV. Electrical signals promoting neuronal differentiation were evidenced by 40-fold and 20-fold increases in Nestin/GFAP protein and neural mRNA expression, respectively. ROS production increased by 51.8%, which effectively eradicated biofilms, and penetrated bacteria, inducing GSH depletion and protein leakage. Consequently, the antibacterial rates reached 92.5% (<i>E. coli</i>) and 93.1% (<i>S. aureus</i>).

The development of high-performance polymer donors and fused-ring small-molecule donors (SMDs) for organic solar cells is often hindered by complex multiple-step synthesis and high synthetic complexity, restricting their figure of merit (FOM). In this study, we reported two simple medium-bandgap A-D-A-type SMDs, AW-01 and AW-02, featuring the same dialkoxybenzene as a central core and two indanedione as terminal electron withdrawing units, but differed in π-linkers in their donor units (thiophene for AW-01 and ethylenedioxythiophene for AW-02). Both donors were synthesized via a facile four-step synthetic route using direct C-H arylation and Knoevenagel condensation reactions without hazardous reagents. An intramolecular noncovalent interaction strategy was employed to enhance molecular planarity; notably, AW-02 exhibits multiple O···S and O···H interactions, leading to backbone rigidification and J-aggregation. AW-02 shows complementary absorption with the Y6 acceptor over 450-900 nm and suitable energy level alignment. The nonhalogen solvent-processed all-small-molecule OSCs based on AW-02/Y6 achieved a high PCE of 15.11%, significantly outperforming AW-01 (7.49%). The superior performance of AW-02 is primarily attributed to its higher <i>J</i>_sc and FF, arising from enhanced charge transport, balanced hole and electron mobilities, low radiative energy losses, and reduced trap-assisted recombination, matching the highest efficiencies reported for additive-free binary SMD-based OSCs. This work demonstrates a promising strategy for developing simple, low-cost, and highly efficient SMDs for future scalable ASM-OSCs, highlighting their potential to replace high-efficiency polymer donors and fused SMDs.

Spin-polarized charge transfer plays a critical role in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), yet its underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, first-principles calculations reveal that OER on 2D ferromagnetic Fe₃GeTe₂ predominantly follows a dual-site mechanism with cooperative active sites, owing to its substantially reduced overpotential (0.34 V vs 0.80 V for the single-site route) and modest O-O coupling barrier (0.68 eV). Tensile strain further enhances the OER activity of Fe₃GeTe₂, reducing the key O-O coupling barrier to 0.45 eV at 5% strain, maintaining the dual-site mechanism preference. Mechanistic analysis shows that the OER on Fe₃GeTe₂ proceeds through a spin-selective charge transfer process. Unlike the single-site route that requires spin-flip at the rate-determining step, the dual-site mechanism maintains consistent spin alignment throughout all four electron transfers, enabling rapid O-O bond formation. Essentially, tensile strain strengthens the spin polarization of Fe₃GeTe₂ at the Fermi level, promoting electron transfer through favorable spin states and generating highly spin-polarized oxygen intermediates that facilitate spin-triplet O₂ formation. These findings uncover a spin-selective charge transfer mechanism that simultaneously lowers thermodynamic and kinetic barriers, offering fundamental insights for the rational design of spin-polarized OER electrocatalysts.

While complementary inverters form the foundation of modern digital electronics, the performance of flexible and wearable counterparts is still limited. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) offer a new route to address this challenge. They can leverage their unique intrinsic ion-to-electron transduction mechanism and high intrinsic transconductance to increase the gain of inverters. Furthermore, the ionic modulation observed in OECTs enables new functionalities, in particular neuromorphic behavior. In this work, complementary inverters based on vertical OECTs (vOECTs) are successfully fabricated, employing poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) as the n-type semiconductor, while poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), poly(3-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3MEEET), or a blend of both polymers is used as p-type counterparts. These devices achieve high voltage gain and fast transient response depending on the employed p-type material system. A maximum voltage gain of 200 V/V is obtained using P3HT-based devices with reduced solution concentration, while P3MEEET-based inverters exhibit faster switching kinetics, with transient response times down to 1 ms. Furthermore, P3HT-based inverters provide superior operational stability when compared with P3MEEET-based devices. By blending both polymers, a balanced device response is achieved, combining the fast transient characteristics of P3MEEET with the stability of P3HT. The resulting blend-based inverters maintain stable operation for over 18,000 cycles at 10 Hz, demonstrating a versatile vOECT platform and an effective materials-engineering approach to simultaneously achieve high speed, high gain, and robust long-term stability in organic electronics.

Aerogel fibers are ideal candidates for thermal insulation due to their low density and high porosity. However, current aerogel fibers suffer from low mechanical strength and a lack of response to multiple stimuli. In this study, we report a strategy that uses electric field and shear flow in a dry-jet wet spinning process to make carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced poly(<i>p</i>-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) composite aerogel fibers (E-PBO/CNT). This approach resolves the usual trade-offs among strength, thermal insulation, and electrical conductivity in aerogel fibers. The aerogel fibers retain low thermal conductivity (0.039 W m^-1 K^-1) and high porosity (89%), while achieving high tensile strength (42.98 MPa) and high electrical conductivity (35.24 S cm^-1). The aerogel fiber also exhibited thermal stability up to 650 °C, high flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index of 41%), and chemical resistance. The E-PBO/CNT aerogel fiber can be knotted or woven into textile structures, making it suitable for use in harsh environments from -196 to 300 °C, and possesses self-powered temperature-sensing capabilities.

Current injectable fillers often suffer from a transient efficacy and insufficient early stage improvement. To address this, we developed a composite dermal filler consisting of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly-L-lactic acid-methoxypolyethyleneglycol (PLLA-mPEG) microspheres with a unique fibrous porous structure. This distinctive architecture enabled a rapid initial release of lactic acid, effectively accelerating early cell proliferation and fundamentally overcoming the challenge of poor initial skin improvement. In a rat model, the composite filler demonstrated superior performance by orchestrating a pro-regenerative microenvironment, eliciting controlled macrophage infiltration, upregulating TGF-β expression, and significantly stimulating endogenous collagen regeneration, which leads to sustained volume restoration. By ingeniously coupling the instant filling effect of HA with the structurally enhanced bioactive function of PLLA-mPEG microspheres, this composite filler represents a breakthrough strategy that synchronizes immediate correction with long-term tissue remodeling, holding great promise for treating skin laxity and soft tissue defects.

Conductive fibers hold considerable potential in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and flexible sensing platforms. However, conventional fabrication typically relies on specialized instrumentation and high-temperature processing, limiting accessibility and sustainability. Herein, we present conductive fibers composed of chitosan and DNA-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared via interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC). This simple, low-energy method requires neither complex instrumentation nor thermal treatment. The resulting IPC fibers exhibited stable electrical conductivity, which was attributed to interactions between DNA and CNTs. Notably, the conductive fibers demonstrated self-healing capability, wherein severed segments rejoined upon hydration with restoration of conductivity. In addition, the fiber demonstrated conductivity and stretchability in the wet state, enabling the monitoring of strain-induced current changes for motion tracking capture. Furthermore, Janus fibers were fabricated by aligning the fibers with magnetic beads in parallel, yielding conductive/magnetic hybrids that demonstrated electrical switching under remote magnetic actuation. Collectively, these findings highlight a scalable and sustainable strategy for fabricating reconfigurable conductive fibers for biointerfaced and flexible electronics.

Proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cells (p-SOECs) offer a promising pathway for intermediate-temperature (400-600 °C) hydrogen production. However, they still face critical challenges related to sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics and low Faradaic efficiencies. In this work, we demonstrate that introducing a thin (∼0.8 μm) porous Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95 (GDC) interlayer between a BaCo_0.8Zr_0.1Zn_0.1O_3-δ (BCZZ) oxygen electrode and electrolyte significantly enhances p-SOEC performance. The GDC interlayer reduces polarization resistance by 48% (from 0.54 to 0.28 Ω cm²) and increases Faradaic efficiency from 63% to 81% at -0.8 A/cm² and 600 °C. GDC interlayer p-SOECs display elevated effective H₂ current densities compared to control p-SOECs and reach up to -1.22 A/cm² at 1.3 V. Mechanistic studies on the interactions between GDC and BCZZ reveal that GDC intrinsically promotes OER kinetics by significantly reducing the polarization activation energy (Ea_p), dropping from 1.45 to 1.22 eV for full p-SOECs and from 0.98 to 0.76 eV for symmetric cells. This promotional effect is localized in the electrochemically active region near the electrolyte interface. Durability testing for over 1500 h under 50% H₂O conditions indicates that the GDC interlayer also improves long-term stability, with a degradation rate 53% lower than that of control p-SOECs. By pinpointing the interfacial region where GDC exerts its promotional effect, highlighting its role in enhancing OER kinetics, and establishing interlayer engineering as a powerful technique, this work provides a unified pathway to simultaneously improve p-SOEC activity, Faradaic efficiency, and durability.