Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors with atomically thin body thickness, dangling-bond-free surface, and high carrier mobility are promising candidates for next-generation electronic devices. However, realizing the potential of 2D semiconductors in the practical transistor application remains considerably challenging because of the difficulty in ultrathin high-k insulator synthesis. Here, we report the synthesis of ultrathin single-crystalline high-k dielectric MnNb2O6, a representative microwave ceramic, via a hydrate-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Such MnNb2O6 exhibits a high dielectric constant of similar to 21.4 and a large breakdown strength of 15.2 MV/cm. An equivalent oxide thickness near 1 nm is obtained with a leakage current below the low-power limit of 10-2 A/cm2 even at 7 V. The MoS2 FET using MnNb2O6 dielectric as gate dielectrics exhibits efficient switching characteristics, a negligible hysteresis under 8 mV, a low subthreshold swing of 72 mV dec-1 at an operation voltage < 1 V, and a high on/off current ratio up to 107 . Our hydrate-assisted CVD method can also be used to synthesize other ultrathin microwave ceramic dielectrics, including ZnWO4, CoWO4, CaNb2O6, and MnTiO3. This work demonstrates the great potential of ultrathin microwave ceramics as gate dielectrics and paves the way for their applications in high-speed, low-power 2D transistors. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Direct recycling has emerged as a promising alternative to existing recycling methods due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.However,its scalable application remains a subject of debate,primarily due to the complexity of mixed degraded cathode materials in practice.The reason is that degraded materials with different compositions are extremely difficult to be repaired to produce cathode materials with uniform composition and performance.Herein,we have successfully realized direct regeneration of mixed heterogeneous degraded LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 from different sources on an industrial scale.First,uniform contact lithiation is achieved through the van der Waals force between Li-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 molecules,leaving them in a uniform lithium-rich state.A self-saturating synthetic lithiation process occurs during subsequent heating,ensuring that each particle from various sources is repaired as needed.This method has been demonstrated to treat 50 kg of cathode materials per batch,and the regenerated products show uniform and excellent performance,achieving a retention rate of 90.7％after 1500 cycles in Ah-level pouch cells.This performance is the best result reported to date and sets a new benchmark for regenerated LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 cathode materials,which have reached the standard for direct commercial use.

This study reports an AZ31B magnesium alloy processed by hot rolling at 400°C. High-temperature hot rolling process enables simultaneous enhancement of strength and ductility. Its microstructure consists of a large number of fine grains, uniformly distributing dynamic recrystallized (DRX) grains and a small number of non-DRX grains. The microstructure is key to simultaneous strength and ductility improvement. During hot rolling at 400°C, enhanced grain boundary mobility and full activation of non-basal slip (pyramidal slip) lead to a recrystallization process dominated by strain-induced grain boundary migration. Full recrystallization randomizes the matrix orientation and thus causes microstructural softening. Therefore, during tensile deformation, cracks no longer initiate and propagate along a single rapid twin boundary path. Instead, they form through the gradual nucleation, growth, and coalescence of numerous microvoids. This finally contributes to simultaneous strength and ductility improvement in the rolling sample at 400°C.

Black phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs) are unique quasi-1D nanomaterials that have attracted enormous interest due to their properties, such as tunable bandgap, magnetism, and semiconducting ground states at room temperature. However, the scalable synthesis of PNRs has remained a considerable challenge. We report the scalable topochemical synthesis of PNRs by the solid lithiation of black phosphorus (BP) powder and subsequent exfoliation into nanoribbons. The produced PNRs have an average length of 3.48 μm, an aspect ratio up to 137, a minimum thickness of 5 layers for individual nanoribbons, and an average thickness of 14 layers. This method has a high yield of 61%, a powder production scale of 10 g, and a liter-range colloidal dispersion. The PNRs can be easily processed into versatile, flexible devices on a fabric substrate by screen printing. A cellulose/(DMF-dispersed PNR) (Cel/D-PNR) flexible film has excellent flame-retardant properties, with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) reaching 33%. PNR-supported Co nanoparticles (Cox-PNR) had an outstanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with an overpotential of only 350 mV at 10 mA/cm2. This work allows the scalable production of PNRs in order to explore their potential applications in flexible electronics and energy conversion.

The ridge at the intersection of two adjacent non-equivalent facets of single crystalline particles holds great potential to harmonize catalytic activity and durability. However, conventional facet engineering usually yields crystals with sparse ridges, impeding ridge catalysis. Here, we implement a programmed growth strategy via a decomposable evaporative eutectic system, enabling alternating BFDH-driven <422> -preferential growth and Wulff-guided <111> -preferential growth in pentlandite to produce dense ridges between {111} and {200} facets. The facet-dependent surface reconstruction induces the selective formation of NiOOH and (Fe,Ni)OOH on the {111} and {200} facets, respectively, to create highly active NiOOH/(Fe,Ni)OOH interfacial sites precisely at their ridges, which overcomes the Fe/Ni-equivalent homogeneity constraints of pentlandite to unlock its activities in oxygen evolution reaction (186 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and >1000 h stability at 100 mA cm-2). In an anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzer, such pentlandite microcrystals deliver the current density of 1.0 A cm-2 at 1.95 V with 160 h stability at 500 mA cm-2. This work establishes ridge engineering as a paradigm for stable, high-activity catalysts.

Laser initiation technology, as a safer and more reliable method, is constrained by the inherent limitations of primary explosives, which typically exhibit low laser sensitivity but high mechanical sensitivity. To address this issue, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was utilized as a photosensitizer to improve the laser initiation and safety of energetic complexes Pb-OBTT and Pb-BTO. A series of rGO samples were prepared via four distinct methods and characterized using infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Among them, rGO-AT with a C/O atomic ratio of 97.4:2.6 demonstrated the most outstanding near-infrared (NIR) absorption capacity. The addition of rGO-AT exerted no significant influence on the thermal decomposition behavior of Pb-OBTT and Pb-BTO, while remarkably reducing the mechanical sensitivity of both complexes. At a laser wavelength of 800 nm, rGO-AT drastically boosted the NIR absorbance of the complexes, thereby optimizing their laser initiation response. Specifically, the initiation delay time and threshold energy of pristine Pb-OBTT (15.150 ms, 90.9 mJ) were reduced to 8.150 ms and 48.9 mJ after doping with 0.5% rGO-AT. For Pb-BTO, the corresponding parameters were diminished from 121.100 ms to 726.6 mJ to 44.125 ms and 264.8 mJ, respectively. These results indicate that rGO-AT holds great potential as a high-performance photosensitizer for energetic complexes.

ABSTRACT The electrooxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has attracted great attention in biomass value‐added conversion. However, the central challenge for achieving industrial‐level scalable biomass upgrading is that the catalysts’ inherent preference for activating O─H bond in the competitive oxygen evolution reaction (OER) over the strong C─H bond in organic molecules. Herein, we designed a Cu‐substituted Ni(OH)2 catalyst with orthogonal activity by precise valence engineering, selectively activating the aldehyde C─H in HMF oxidation while remaining inert toward the O─H cleavage in OER. Mechanistic studies and in situ characterizations confirm that the incorporation of Cu creates a unique local environment that fine‐tunes the deprotonation kinetics in two competing reactions, thereby improving selectivity and activity. This specific orthogonal design delivers outstanding performance, achieving an industrial‐scale current density of 1 A cm−2 at 1.55 V vs. RHE with a high Faraday efficiency for FDCA of 99.5%, which is comparable to the best catalysts reported to date. More importantly, the catalyst is continuously stable over 15 cycles. This work provides a new strategy for designing advanced electrocatalysts to achieve selective biomass conversion under industrial‐scale conditions.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries show great promise for large-scale energy storage due to their high safety and low cost. However, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the zinc (Zn) metal anode significantly limits its cycling life and practical applicability. This review summarizes recent advances in suppressing HER on Zn anodes. It focuses on the mechanisms and efficacy of strategies, including alloying, interface engineering, electrolyte optimization, and electronic structure modulation. Although these approaches have achieved notable success in laboratory settings, their practical implementation faces several challenges, such as interfacial stability, scalable material production, cost control, and full-cell compatibility. Future research should prioritize electronic structure modulation and multi-scale collaborative design, develop dynamic characterization techniques, establish quantitative structure-activity relationships between electronic structure parameters and electrochemical performance, and accelerate material discovery through machine learning and other advanced methods. By promoting a paradigm shift from “passive protection” to “active regulation”, the industrialization of high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries can be expected.

Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) with a high energy density for ultralow-temperature use are crucial for polar and space explorations, but hindered by the lack of suitable electrolytes and electrodes. We proposed a strong-weak interaction strategy to precisely regulate the solvation structure of an ionic liquid-based electrolyte that is stable from 25 to -80 degrees C. Then, by using activated carbon with a mesopore-rich structure, we obtain an EDLC that can be used at -80 degrees C and 4.5 V and has a record energy density of 104.5 Wh kg-1 with an 89.5% capacitance retention after 10 000 cycles. Furthermore, a 300 F pouch-type EDLC was assembled and it can operate stably from 25 to -80 degrees C, demonstrating the practical applicability. This study provides strategic guidance for constructing EDLCs with a high energy density for use under extreme conditions.

While two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics in the form of films have proven their potential in manipulating charge carrier dynamics across diverse systems, the synthesis and application of 2D ferroelectrics in particulate scenarios remain largely unexplored. Fundamental obstacles persist in achieving and maintaining stable ferroelectric ordering within nanoscale domains. Herein, we report a strategy for the controlled exsolution growth of a robust ferroelectric MoS2 bilayer, which self-assembles into a chainmail architecture that uniformly encapsulates 80 nm CdS nanoparticles. The emergence of ferroelectricity in the MoS2 bilayer originates from asymmetric lattice contraction, where the inner layer undergoes a compressive strain of 1.51% relative to the outer layer. This built-in polarization gradient substantially enhances the vertical (out-of-plane) migration of photoexcited electrons within the MoS2 structure, as unambiguously evidenced by angle-resolved THz emission spectroscopy. When employed as a cocatalyst, the ferroelectric MoS2 bilayer remarkably boosts the extraction efficiency of visible-light-generated electrons, achieving an 8.6-fold enhancement in photocatalytic hydrogen production compared to conventional non-ferroelectric analogues. This breakthrough not only advances cocatalyst design principles but also expands the functional landscape of ferroelectric materials in energy conversion technologies.

CuGaTe2 is a promising mid-temperature thermoelectric material, though its performance is limited by less-thanideal electronic properties. In this work, we demonstrate that introducing Ga vacancies is an effective strategy for synergistic optimization. First-principles calculations indicate that Ga vacancies can enhance band degeneracy and reduce phonon group velocity. Experimentally, Ga-deficient CuGa1-xTe2 (x = 0-0.08) samples were synthesized. In the optimal composition, CuGa0.92Te2, the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity were improved simultaneously, resulting in an enhanced power factor. At the same time, lattice thermal conductivity was significantly reduced due to intensified phonon scattering from point defects and precipitates. As a result, a peak ZT value of .0.86 was achieved at 823 K, which approximately 51% higher than that of the pristine sample. A maximum power density of 0.27 W/cm2 and a peak conversion efficiency of 2.98% are achieved at a Delta T of 523 K. This study confirms Ga-vacancy engineering as a viable approach for enhancing the thermoelectric performance of CuGaTe2.

The TiCp/Q690E composite offers excellent strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance, making it promising for marine engineering and shipbuilding. Investigating its hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution is crucial for optimizing hot working processes and improving the material’s performance. In this study, isothermal compression tests were performed at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1150 °C and at strain rates from 0.001 to 10 s−1 to investigate the influence of titanium carbide (TiC) particles on flow behavior, microstructure evolution, and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanisms. The results indicate that the peak stress increases with the addition of TiC particles. The flow curves show DRX characteristics at strain rates ⩽1 s−1, whereas dynamic recovery (DRV) dominates at 10 s−1. A strain-compensated Arrhenius constitutive model was developed, which demonstrated high prediction accuracy with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9784 and an average absolute error (AARE) of 5.44

Two-dimensional (2D) materials show high potential in neuromorphic vision applications due to reconfigurable photovoltaic effect. The high reconfigurability of photovoltaic devices requires controllable ion accumulation and semiconducting properties, which needs further exploration. Herein, we fabricate a two-terminal device using CuInP2Se6 (CIPSe), an ionic 2D semiconductor, generating multi-state reconfigurable photovoltaics. The reversible intrinsic Cu ion aggregation under electric field, resulting in PN/NP configurations. Combined with the controllable intrinsic Cu ion aggregation and semiconducting property, the CIPSe device achieves +/- tunable photovoltaic states up to 17, superior to other works. Furthermore, the CIPSe device array exhibits good photovoltaic response uniformity and achieves multifunctional building edge extractions by intrinsic ion operation. This work demonstrates the great potential of ionic 2D semiconductive CIPSe as the high-performance twoterminal reconfigurable photovoltaic device for neuromorphic computing.

The physical adsorption of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) onto an anchored layer introduces disordered stacking and a tangled dipole orientation at the hole-selective layer (HSL) surface, which affects the charge-transport dynamics and interface-driven energy loss in photovoltaic devices. Herein, we develop a collaborative strategy that combines stacking-order-driven interfacial dipole flipping with a chlorine-iodine exchange, achieved by depositing bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) onto SAMs. This HSL exhibits a crystalline order characterized by dipole flipping and long-range periodic alignment in in-plane direction, driven by π-π interactions among carbazole units. It demonstrates enhanced stability against perovskite precursor solvents and thermal perturbations. The chlorine from BiOCl undergoes a chlorine-iodine exchange at the buried interface, modulating perovskite crystallization and weakening electron-phonon coupling. Our champion single-junction inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) achieve remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 27.25% (1.55 eV, 0.09 cm²) and 20.24% (1.85 eV, 0.09 cm²) with exceptional repeatability and operational stability. When employing SAMs/BiOCl as both HSL and interconnection layer, the champion perovskite-organic tandem solar cell (PO-TSC) attains an exceptional PCE of 28.14% (certified 27.84%) with steady power output of 27.86% (certified 27.59%). The device retains 90% of its initial efficiency under continuous maximum power point tracking with one-simulated-sun illumination over 600 hours.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems due to their high energy density and enhanced safety. In recent years, machine learning (ML) has become a transformative tool in battery research to accelerate the discovery of new materials and predict cycle life. However, the widespread application of ML is hindered by the "black-box" nature of many models, which limits their interpretability and scientific credibility. We propose a structured framework for using ML in SSB research by encompassing five components: (i) solid electrolyte design, (ii) material characterization, (iii) electrode/electrolyte interface optimization, (iv) battery lifetime prediction, and (v) dendrite inhibition. For each component, we identify its specific requirements and recommend appropriate approaches to develop interpretable ML. Finally, we summarize current challenges and propose corresponding suggestions as well as open-source toolchains aimed at transitioning from "black-box" predictions to mechanism-driven design, which will accelerate the development of high-performance SSBs for energy storage.

Bi-based catalysts are known to promote the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formic acid (HCOOH) or formate (HCOO-). However, their implementation presents challenges: the first H+/e-pair transfer to form the key *OCHO intermediate on a Bi surface is a slow, kinetically sluggish endergonic process, resulting in a large overpotential and narrow potential window for high HCOOH/HCOO-selectivity. Altering the localized p-orbital electron states of Bi to change intermediate binding behaviors is difficult. We addressed this problem by using an in-situ polymerization method to obtain a polyaniline-Bi hybrid (PANI-Bi) with Bi surrounded by PANI chains. Combined experimental and computational studies indicate that the polyaniline acted as an "electron pump" that facilitated charge transfer from the PANI backbone to the Bi surface and changed the p-orbital electrons of the Bi active sites. This lowered the energy barrier for the adsorption of intermediates and facilitated *OCHO formation. Consequently, a significant increase in formate production was observed, achieving a single-pass carbon efficiency exceeding 48.7% at 800 mA cm-2. This organic functionalization strategy, aimed at modifying the electronic structure of heterogeneous catalysts, offers a promising approach for achieving highly selective electroreduction of CO2 at a high current density. (c) 2026, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Direct recycling of cathode materials is critical for achieving sustainable battery ecosystems. The key challenge lies in replenishing lithium deficiencies to enable structural reconstruction to their original states. However, phase separation in degraded LiFePO4 (LFP) materials causes structural heterogeneity, hindering lithium replenishment during solid-state regeneration. Here, we report solid-solution phase engineering to regenerate degraded LFP by breaking the conventional two-phase transition. This strategy alters anisotropic charge distribution and lattice strain in phase-separated LFP, lowering the energy barrier of Li+ ion diffusion. A subsequent single-phase lithiation pathway facilitates homogeneous structural evolution for heterogeneous particles, enabling universal regeneration of LFP from various sources. The regenerated LFP shows ultrahigh-rate capability (93 mAh g-1 at 20 C) and scalability in a 1 Ah pouch cell with 82.2% capacity retention over 1,000 cycles. Our findings reveal the key importance of phase-transition pathways, demonstrating universal and scalable regeneration of electrode materials from spent lithium-ion batteries.

Batteries based on redox chemistry, such as lithium-sulfur and lithium-oxygen, can store more energy than conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, their chemical reactions are limited by sluggish and incomplete conversion reactions, especially those involving insulating solid intermediates (for example, Li2S2 and Li2O2), in which electrocatalysts play a decisive role. Here, through a large-scale theoretical analysis, we propose an electronic property criterion that emphasizes the efficient conduction of ions and electrons as essential for high catalytic activity. Guided by this insight, we have designed a CoCo dual-atom catalyst that accelerates the conversion of solid insulating Li2S2 and Li2O2 intermediates by effective orbital coupling, making these intermediates conductive and catalytically active. This strategy enables the fabrication of high-energy lithium-sulfur pouch cells at the ampere hour scale, achieving a specific energy of 459 Wh kg-1. Our results extend the fundamental understanding of rate-determining solid-phase reactions in redox chemistry and provide principles for the design of electrocatalysts for use in energy storage systems.

Low-iridium cobalt spinel oxides are promising anode catalysts for proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs), but their practical application remains limited by the structural instability of Ir-O-Co motifs at high current densities. Here, we show that the simultaneous incorporation of Mn and Ir into the octahedral (Oh) sites of Co3O4 to form Ir0.1Co1.93Mn0.97O4 markedly enhances both acidic oxygen evolution activity and durability. In contrast to the single-doped analogues, in which Mn is predominantly stabilized as Jahn-Teller-active Mn3+ in Co2MnO4 and Ir exists as less oxidized Ir>4+ in Ir0.1Co2.9O4, Ir0.1Co1.93Mn0.97O4 exhibits an optimized local coordination environment with Jahn-Teller-suppressed Mn4+ and high-valence Ir>4+ species at the Oh sites. This distinctive local coordination chemistry enhances structural robustness while promoting catalytic activity under operating conditions. In a practical PEMWE, Ir0.1Co1.93Mn0.97O4 sustains stable operation for 2800 h at 0.5-1.0 A cm-2, outperforming most reported low-Ir-loading catalysts. This work highlights the importance of coordination asymmetry in the design of durable electrocatalysts for clean energy conversion.

Understanding how the electronic environment regulates catalyst reconstruction is essential for advancing biomass electro-oxidation. Here, we design a series of model catalysts by anchoring NiO species on two-dimensional MS2 nanosheets (M = Sn, Ta, Mo, Ti) to probe how the electronic properties of substrates influence catalytic performance. Substrates with a lower carrier concentration were found to induce stronger interfacial charge transfer from NiO, generating electron-deficient Ni centers that readily reconstruct into an active NiOOH phase. Spectroscopic analyses reveal elongated Ni-O bonds and elevated Ni valence, consistent with enhanced oxidation propensity. Consequently, the NiO/SnS2 catalyst can be operated at an ampere-level current density at 1.45 V vs RHE, with 98.7% FDCA yield, 99% Faradaic efficiency, and robust cycling stability. Density functional theory calculations further show that interfacial charge redistribution lowers the adsorption barriers of HMF and *OH, accelerating the deprotonation step. This work offers insights into the rational design of high-performance biomass electro-oxidation catalysts.