ABSTRACT Nickel hydroxyfluoride (Ni 4 OHF 7 ) has attracted increasing attention due to its high theoretical capacitance, yet its rate capability and cycling stability remain to be substantially improved. Here, we achieve dual optimization through elemental doping and support interaction, doping with Fe and Cr to enhance the rate capability, and compositing with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to improve cycling stability. Experimental results show that the introduction of Cr, with lower electronegativity, further elevates the electronic state of the host element, while rGO facilitates the uniform distribution of active materials. The comprehensively optimized electrode material, denoted NFCHF/G, delivers a specific capacitance of 2852 F g −1 at a current density of 1 A g −1 , and retains 80% of its initial specific capacitance after 10,000 cycles. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) based on NFCHF/G//AC achieves a maximum energy density of 71.9 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 750 W kg −1 , demonstrating promising application prospects. This work provides a reliable strategy for the development of hydroxyfluoride‐based electrode materials and is expected to better meet future energy demands.
ABSTRACT Ammonia (NH 3 ) is a key precursor for fertilizers and bulk chemicals, with global production reaching approximately 200 million tons in 2018. It is also regarded as a highly promising hydrogen carrier thanks to its high hydrogen content and the ease with which it can be stored and transported. However, the traditional Haber process for synthesizing ammonia is energy‐intensive and produces significant carbon emissions, making the development of sustainable new synthesis routes imperative. In recent years, nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR/NO x RR) involving photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, or both (photo‐electrocatalysis) have received significant attention for their potential to drive ammonia synthesis under mild conditions using renewable electrical or solar energy. The key advancement in this field is designing high‐performance catalysts. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), in particular, have emerged as an ideal platform for elucidating reaction mechanisms and enhancing catalytic performance, thanks to their precisely tunable structures, adjustable porosity, well‐defined active sites, and ease of modification. This review outlines the application and research advances of MOF‐based materials in photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and photo‐electrocatalytic nitrogen and NO 3 ‐ reduction for ammonia synthesis in a systematic way. The focus is on how the rational design of MOF metal nodes, organic ligands, and pore environments can regulate key steps, including light absorption, charge separation/transport, nitrogen adsorption activation, and proton transfer, to optimize catalytic performance. The paper thoroughly analyses effective strategies, including defect engineering, structural regulation, and morphology design, to overcome current challenges associated with catalysts, such as low selectivity, insufficient activity, and poor stability. Leveraging the programmable nature of MOF materials, the paper envisages their future role as models for studying mechanisms and as high‐performance catalysts in advancing green ammonia synthesis technology toward practical application.
ABSTRACT Lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) offer advantages such as high energy density, cost‐effectiveness, and abundant sulfur resources and therefore are regarded as ideal large‐scale energy storage systems. However, due to the shuttle effect caused by the dissolution of soluble lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) into the electrolyte, LSBs face issues of low reversible capacity and rapid capacity decay. To overcome this limitation, a multifunctional polypropylene separator is developed by 2hexagonal‐phase molybdenum diselenide (2H‐MoSe 2 ) functionalized hollow carbon spheres through a coating method. 2H‐MoSe 2 strongly interacts with soluble LiPSs, enhancing their redox dynamics and improving sulfur utilization. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the diffusion barrier for Li ions on the 2H‐MoSe 2 surface is minimal, facilitating efficient lithium‐ion transport. Furthermore, hollow carbon spheres physically restrict the dissolution of soluble LiPSs. This multifunctional separator exhibits excellent electrochemical performance in LSBs, achieving a high reversibility of 800 mAh g −1 at 1.0 C after 1500 cycles. This investigation presents an efficacious approach to the development of a functional separator with shuttle suppression capabilities.
ABSTRACT In recent years, a class of 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXenes) has demonstrated outstanding advantages in the field of diabetes treatment, particularly in constructing the functional platforms for optimal diabetes treatment, owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, abundant functional groups, large specific surface area, unique photothermal effect, and biocompatibility. This review summarizes the unique advantages and latest progress of MXene‐based approaches for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. The significant assistance of MXenes in various therapeutic stages of diabetes, including their application in noninvasive blood glucose monitoring, as well as the implementation strategies of MXenes in wound healing and complication management for diabetic patients, is discussed in detail. Furthermore, the key clinical translational barriers and regulatory issues for advancing MXene‐based diabetes treatment platforms are discussed. Finally, the existing challenges and future development directions of MXene materials in diabetes treatment are summarized and prospectively discussed.
ABSTRACT Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from anthropogenic sources are major contributors to global warming and climate change, necessitating efficient separation from gas mixtures for mitigation and utilization. Polymeric membranes have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional CO₂ separation technologies, such as amine absorption and cryogenic distillation, due to their lower energy consumption, modular design, and operational simplicity. Recent advances suggest that membrane‐based systems can reduce energy penalties while offering scalable solutions for carbon capture and storage (CCS), natural gas purification, and biogas upgrading. This review highlights that advanced polymeric membrane materials, particularly polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) and mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs), have demonstrated substantial improvements in CO₂ permeability while maintaining competitive selectivity. This reflects significant progress toward overcoming the traditional permeability−selectivity trade‐off. Compared to conventional technologies, membranes offer operational and energy advantages, although challenges remain under high‐pressure and mixed‐gas conditions. Various membrane materials are discussed, including cellulose‐based membranes for low cost and biodegradability, polyimides for thermal and chemical stability, polybenzimidazole and polysulfone for mechanical strength, and rubbery polymers for high CO₂ permeability. The incorporation of inorganic fillers further enhances performance, though issues such as plasticization and aging remain critical barriers to large‐scale application. Fabrication approaches, particularly dense and thin‐film composite membranes, are also emphasized for their industrial relevance. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of recent material advancements, performance trends, and key challenges (plasticization, aging, and thermal stability), offering insights into the future development of high‐performance polymeric membranes for CO₂ separation.
ABSTRACT The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is a highly promising carbon neutralization pathway to enable efficient CO 2 conversion into high‐value–added multi‐carbon (C 2+ ) fuels and chemicals. However, the formation of C 2+ products involves complex C−C coupling kinetics and multi‐step proton‐coupled electron transfer processes, placing stringent demands on the activity and selectivity of catalysts. Copper (Cu) is one of the few metals capable of efficiently producing C 2+ products through CO 2 RR; yet, its selectivity, overpotential, and stability remain to be improved. Recently, Cu‐based coordination materials, with unique coordination environments and electronic structures, have been discovered to show pronounced advantages in tuning CO 2 RR performance. By leveraging the coordination interaction between Cu sites and ligands, the geometric configuration and the electronic structure of Cu active sites can be finely manipulated. Hence, these materials contribute toward optimizing the catalytic kinetics of critical C 1 /C 2 intermediates, thereby promoting CO 2 RR performance. This review summarizes the recent advances of Cu‐based coordination catalysts in CO 2 electroreduction into C 2+ products. First, this review elucidates the reaction kinetics of electrocatalytic CO 2 RR into various C 2+ products. Moreover, the design strategies and the catalytic mechanism of various Cu coordination materials for CO 2 RR are introduced in detail. Special emphasis is placed on how catalysts regulate the reaction kinetics and promote the catalytic activity and selectivity of C 2+ product formation. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of Cu‐based coordination catalysts for CO 2 RR are discussed, providing theoretical guidance for their future development.
Hypoxia, a hallmark pathological feature of liver fibrosis, upregulates HIF-1 alpha expression to drive hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, resulting in fibrotic lesions. Targeting activated HSCs (aHSCs) and achieving efficient liver fibrosis treatment remain daunting challenges. For the first time, we constructed a biomimetic carbon nitride-based drug-gas codelivery platform HMCCNs@MAN for precise mild photothermal immunotherapy (< 45 degrees C) for liver fibrosis. Specifically, by utilizing the immunocamouflage and fibrosis-targeting properties of macrophage (M Phi) membranes, along with the homologous targeting ability of aHSCs membranes, the hybrid M Phi-aHSC membrane-coated, carbon dot-doped carbon nitride (HMCCNs) achieved a dual-targeted delivery of mangiferin (MAN) to liver fibrosis lesions. At the lesion site, HMCCNs enabled NIR-triggered water splitting to produce oxygen and exhibited catalase-like enzymatic activity, synergistically ameliorating hypoxic conditions. Simultaneously, HMCCNs demonstrated a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 69.52%. Furthermore, the photocorrosive effect endowed HMCCNs@MAN with significant NIR-responsive drug release capability. Released MAN and generated oxygen cooperatively modulated the HIF-1 alpha/HSP27 axis, leading to an increased sensitivity of fibrotic lesions to thermotherapy. Notably, HMCCNs@MAN + NIR activated natural killer cells, thereby enhancing the immune response against aHSCs. This study reveals the great potential of HMCCNs@MAN as a mild photothermal-immunotherapy strategy for liver fibrosis treatment.
ABSTRACT Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) offer a clean pathway for electricity generation. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by the high cost and insufficient durability of platinum (Pt)‐based cathode catalysts. Although non‐precious metal single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as promising alternatives, their activity and stability still lag behind practical requirements. An effective strategy to bridge this gap is the construction of hybrid catalysts that couple Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with SACs. This approach simultaneously addresses cost and durability challenges; however, the fundamental mechanisms behind the synergistic enhancement remain unclear, impeding rational design. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in Pt‐based NPs/clusters combined with non‐platinum single‐atom site catalysts/hybrid catalysts (Pt/M@SACs), focusing on how the integration of SACs enhances the sintering resistance, durability, poisoning tolerance, and intrinsic activity of Pt sites. This review focuses on elucidating the underlying mechanisms, including charge transfer, modulation of intermediate adsorption, and alteration of reaction pathways. Finally, we provide perspectives on future research directions, aiming to guide the rational design of next‐generation, high‐performance, and low‐Pt fuel cell catalysts.
We report a bioinspired, transparent green plant-like window that integrates passive cooling, thermal insulation, and solar-driven waste heat recovery to reduce building energy consumption. By mimicking leaf transpiration, the system uses a carbon quantum dot-doped CPPB hydrogel to achieve high visible transmittance (similar to 92%) while blocking UV and NIR radiation. A self-powered water circulation layer repurposes solar heat for domestic water heating. Outdoor field tests and 168-h solar simulator exposure confirm long-term thermal stability and cooling up to 21.9 degrees C. Simulations across 30 global cities show annual cooling energy savings up to 569.1 MJ/m(2). This scalable, multifunctional window offers a sustainable path toward net-zero energy buildings.
ABSTRACT Mixed‐halide (I/Br) wide‐bandgap perovskites have emerged as promising top‐cell candidates for tandem photovoltaics due to their tunable bandgap and excellent optoelectronic properties. However, halide phase segregation poses a critical challenge to their commercialization, as initially homogeneous perovskite films spontaneously demix into iodide‐rich and bromide‐rich domains under illumination or electrical bias. This phenomenon leads to severe open‐circuit voltage ( V OC ) losses, efficiency degradation, and compromised device stability. This comprehensive review systematically examines the fundamental origins of halide phase segregation from thermodynamic, kinetic, and defect chemistry perspectives, with particular emphasis on the oxidation‐driven irreversible degradation pathways. We survey advanced characterization techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), conductive atomic force microscopy (c‐AFM), photoluminescence (PL), and cathodoluminescence (CL) that have provided unprecedented insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of phase segregation. Furthermore, we critically evaluate multidimensional mitigation strategies encompassing compositional engineering, grain boundary passivation, and interface optimization. This review aims to provide a holistic understanding of halide phase segregation and guide the development of next‐generation stable perovskite photovoltaics.
ABSTRACT The global freshwater crisis, intensified by population growth and climate change, has spurred the demand for sustainable desalination technologies. Traditional desalination methods are hindered by high energy consumption and operational costs, whereas solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) technology offers a green and efficient alternative by localizing solar energy at the gas–liquid interface for water evaporation. This review systematically summarizes the working mechanisms of SIE, including photothermal conversion materials and water transport/evaporation processes. The review first summarizes design strategies of SIE systems, encompassing high‐performance photothermal materials, water transport materials, and matrix structures, along with key performance metrics such as evaporation rate, photothermal efficiency, and long‐term stability. It then explores the practical applications of SIE in seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, and emerging fields like steam sterilization and agricultural irrigation. Finally, it addresses current technical challenges, including efficiency limits of photothermal conversion, long‐term stability in harsh environments, and cost‐effective scaling, and outlines future trends in novel material development, multifunctional system integration, and intelligent optimization. This work provides a comprehensive perspective on the development of SIE technology as a promising approach to alleviating water scarcity.
ABSTRACT Protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) have emerged as a transformative technology for low‐cost, large‐scale green hydrogen production, owing to their intrinsic high energy conversion efficiency and unique advantages of mid‐temperature operation. However, systematic discussion is still lacking regarding the unique characteristics of PCEC systems and the specific implications of these characteristics for material design and operational condition optimization. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of milestone innovative achievements across the entire development chain of PCECs, from fundamental laboratory research to large‐scale energy applications. Specifically, it highlights the critical roles of compositional regulation, structural design, and fabrication process optimization in breaking through the core technical bottlenecks, systematically analyzes the physicochemical stability, interface bonding strength, and electrochemical–thermal coupling behavior of electrolyte and electrode components under practical operating conditions, thoroughly explores the engineering application potential from single‐cell scale‐up, stack design to system integration, and finally discusses the key challenges and future development prospects in the industrial scaling‐up process.
ABSTRACT Ammonia serves as a dual‐purpose nitrogen and hydrogen carrier, essential for global food security and the ongoing renewable energy transition. The century‐old industrial Haber‐Bosch process, however, is limited by considerable energy consumption and massive carbon emissions, necessitating efficient catalysts for low‐temperature ammonia synthesis. Despite recent progress in diverse catalytic systems, including electrides, nitrides, hydrides, and engineered transition‐metal sites, differences in active‐site architecture give rise to distinct reaction routes, and a unified mechanistic framework remains absent. This review systematically summarizes recently developed catalytic systems based on a mechanism‐driven classification covering dissociative, hydrogen‐assisted, and associative routes, with emphasis on structure–activity relationships and mechanistic insights revealed through advanced characterization techniques. By critically evaluating state‐of‐the‐art catalysts, this review establishes strategic design principles to guide the rational development of next‐generation ammonia synthesis catalysts.
ABSTRACT Enzymes are widely employed in bioprocesses as catalysts to enhance biofuel and value‐added compound (VACs) production. To improve product yield in these processes, researchers are working on various methods. Among them, nanobiocatalysts (NBCs) are promising, in which enzymes are immobilized onto a nanocarriers. This facilitates improvements in the activity, stability, and recyclability of the immobilized enzymes and reduces the cost of the treatment process. Different nanocarriers, such as organic, inorganic, hybrid, and functionalized materials, have gained attention for immobilizing single and multiple enzymes. Exploiting NBCs to improve hydrolysis, fermenting the substrate to produce biofuels such as bioethanol and biohydrogen, and enhancing the transesterification process for biodiesel are discussed. The role of NBCs in the bioconversion of various substrates to generate VACs and the use of single and multienzyme cascade systems for biotransformation are discussed. The review critically evaluates the efficiency of current nanobiocatalytic systems and highlights strategies to enhance their performance for practical applications. Finally, the review concludes by highlighting the challenges NBCs face in real‐time implementations and outlining possible areas for NBC applications in biorefineries.
ABSTRACT Lithium manganese iron phosphate (LiMn 0.4 Fe 0.6 PO 4 , LMFP) offers a significant improvement in operating voltage and energy density compared to Li (lithium) iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 , LFP), garnering considerable research attention in recent years. However, LMFP suffers from low electronic conductivity and sluggish ion diffusion kinetics, resulting in poor performance under high current densities. Furthermore, the Jahn–Teller effect associated with Mn 3+ in LMFP leads to Mn (manganese) dissolution during electrochemical reactions, which compromises structural stability and leads to suboptimal long‐term cycling stability. In this study, a simple ball milling‐sintering method was employed to successfully incorporate Hf 4+ (Hafnium) into the transition metal sites of LMFP. The higher bond energy of Hf–O compared to Mn–O enables the construction of a stable Mn–O framework through Hf doping, thereby stabilizing the lattice structure, reducing Mn dissolution, and significantly enhancing the long‐term cycling performance of the material. Furthermore, Hf 4+ doping improves the redox reaction kinetics of the material, increasing both the lithium‐ion diffusion rate and electronic conductivity. Among the tested materials, LMFP‐3%Hf exhibited the most outstanding cycling stability (with a capacity retention rate of 89.7% after 400 cycles at 1C) and rate capability (delivering a discharge specific capacity of 70 mAh g −1 at 10C).
ABSTRACT There is a pressing need for efficient, stable, and low‐cost electrocatalysts to overcome the core bottleneck associated with the sluggish kinetics of electrochemical energy conversion processes. In response to this challenge, molten‐salt synthesis (MSS) has emerged as a powerful, versatile, and scalable strategy for the rational construction of advanced electrocatalysts. Benefiting from its unique liquid‐phase reaction environment, MSS enables rapid mass transport and homogeneous reaction conditions. This allows precise regulation of catalyst crystal structure, composition, and electronic properties, while simultaneously facilitating atomic‐level dispersion of active species, controllable defect engineering, and well‐defined interface construction. These features are crucial for optimizing catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. In addition, the inherent scalability of MSS makes this approach particularly attractive for the large‐scale preparation of functional electrocatalysts. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the synthesis of various advanced electrocatalysts via MSS, including carbon‐based materials, metal oxides, layered double hydroxides, and two‐dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides. The catalytic performances of these materials in key electrochemical reactions, such as the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and other related applications, are critically evaluated, with particular emphasis on the underlying structure–performance relationships. Finally, current research gaps, major challenges, and future opportunities in the field are highlighted to provide insights for the rational design and scalable development of next‐generation electrocatalysts.
