Sodium metal batteries have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation high-energy-density storage systems because of the abundant resources of sodium and the high theoretical capacity of sodium metal anodes (SMAs). However, the practical application of SMAs faces significant challenges, including uncontrollable dendrite growth, substantial volume changes, and unstable solid electrolyte interfaces. These issues result in a short battery cycle life and heightened safety risks. In recent years, the design of three-dimensional current collectors has been recognized as an effective strategy for addressing these challenges. This review systematically dissects the fundamental mechanisms underlying stable SMAs, focusing on the space charge effect, mass transport regulation, and nucleation thermodynamics governed by interfacial sodiophilicity. It then provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in three-dimensional current collectors, categorizing them into carbon-based systems (e.g., heteroatom doping, 3D printing, and sodiophilic gradient design) and metal-based systems (e.g., porous/nanoengineered structures and surface modification). These designs aim to lower the local current density, create ample nucleation sites, and accommodate volume expansion, effectively suppressing dendrite growth while improving the Coulombic efficiency, cycling stability, and safety of SMAs. Finally, this review outlines future directions, providing references for the development of high-performance and practical SMAs.

All-solid-state sodium batteries (ASSSBs) are regarded as prominent candidates for next-generation sustainable energy storage systems due to the natural abundance of sodium resources, intrinsic safety, and potential for high energy density. Among the solid electrolytes that serve as core components, Na3Zr2Si2PO12 (NZSP) has emerged as one of the most promising ceramic electrolyte systems owing to its three-dimensional open framework structure, appreciable room-temperature ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical stability window, and excellent air stability. Nevertheless, the transition from laboratory realization of high-performance materials to practical solid-state devices is hindered by two principal bottlenecks for NZSP-based ASSSBs: insufficient bulk ion transport efficiency and poor electrode/electrolyte interfacial compatibility. To address these challenges, this review systematically encompasses the entire chain of research progress on NZSP solid electrolytes, spanning from the fundamentals of crystal structure to intrinsic modification strategies and further to interfacial engineering. Finally, the major challenges confronting current investigations are summarized, and future development directions are envisioned from the perspectives of synergistic bulk-interface optimization, integration of advanced characterization with theoretical computations, electrolyte thin-film fabrication, and full-cell integration.

Sodium metal anodes (SMAs) are regarded as the most promising anode materials for next-generation high-energy-density sodium metal batteries, owing to their ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity (1166 mAh g−1) and low electrochemical potential (−2.71 V vs. SHEs). However, their practical application is severely hindered by a series of interrelated challenges, including unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films, severe volume fluctuations arising from their hostless nature, uncontrollable dendrite growth, and the consequent low Coulombic efficiency and short cycle life. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in stabilizing SMAs through three major categories of strategies: current collector engineering, which involves the design of planar, three-dimensional, and gradient architectures to regulate the local current density and Na+ flux, thereby guiding uniform nucleation and enabling “bottom-up” dendrite-free deposition; electrolyte engineering, which focuses on optimizing solvents, salts, and functional additives to tailor the solvation structure, construct robust inorganic-rich SEI layers, and utilize electrostatic shielding effects to suppress dendrite formation; and artificial SEI engineering, which aims to pre-construct inorganic or inorganic–organic hybrid protective layers that establish a physicochemical barrier between the electrode and electrolyte, combining high ionic conductivity, superior mechanical strength, and sufficient flexibility. Finally, we provide a critical perspective on the remaining challenges and outline future research directions, emphasizing the importance of in situ/operando characterization, synergistic multi-strategy integration, breakthroughs in high areal capacity and high-rate performance, and artificial intelligence-driven material discovery for the practical implementation of SMAs.

The resource utilization of CO2 has garnered significant attention. Among various approaches, the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 is considered an effective route to reduce chemical pollution and achieve atomic economy. In this work, Zr/Sn metal oxide catalysts were prepared by combining the precipitation method with a cotton-templating approach. The mechanistic role of the cotton template in modulating the catalyst structure and its performance in DMC synthesis were systematically investigated. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, UV-Vis DRS, and Raman spectroscopy to elucidate their morphology, crystalline structure, and optical properties. Furthermore, the structure-activity relationship was established based on catalytic tests. The results indicated that the template agent has a remarkable impact on the structural properties and catalytic activity of the Zr/Sn-2–5 g catalyst. The strong interaction between ZrO2 and SnO2 facilitates the dispersion and stability of active sites, thereby enhancing the catalyst’s activity and selectivity. Notably, the Zr/Sn-4 g catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity, yielding 1.74 mmol/g of DMC. This study offers new insights into the design of efficient catalysts for the direct synthesis of DMC from CO2.

The pursuit of white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) with high color rendering index (CRI) and stable chromaticity remains a significant challenge. This work presents a novel oxyapatite-type ZnLa4(SiO4)3O:Dy3+ phosphors as a key component to address this issue. Under 387 nm excitation, the optimized ZnLa4(SiO4)3O:2 mol

Abstract Electrochromic (EC) devices have garnered growing interest due to their adaptability for diverse applications and cost‐effectiveness. Enhancing their multifunctionality through the incorporation of thermochromic feature significantly broadens their applicability in various scenarios. Here, we introduce a paradigm‐shifting, modular electrolyte platform that transcends conventional material‐by‐material optimization. By covalently tethering thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) blocks into a polyampholyte network via atom transfer radical polymerization, we create a foundational hydrogel powder resistant to phase separation. The key innovation lies in on‐demand reconstituability: the gel powder can be seamlessly reconfigured into custom electrolytes by simply mixing with different salt solutions, accommodating diverse EC materials and application requirements. We demonstrate that the choice and concentration of salt programmatically tune the lower critical solution temperature from 33.8 to 2.3°C, and compatibility with diverse EC materials (WO 3 , Prussian blue or viologen). Consequently, this single platform enables the rapid fabrication of high‐performance devices for disparate applications: low‐temperature (2°C) information encryption, energy‐saving smart windows with a ∼7°C indoor cooling benefit, and ultra‐stable organic EC displays with exceptional cycling (>1000 cycles) and fast switching (1.6–5.6 s). This work establishes a designer electrolyte toolkit that offers unprecedented flexibility, stability, and performance‐by‐design for next‐generation adaptive multifunctional devices.

Addressing the persistent challenges of photochemical corrosion and poor stability in silver-based photocatalysts, this study proposes a sonochemical synthesis strategy to construct sponge-like porous AgCl/Malachite heterojunction composites. The as-prepared material exhibits outstanding photocatalytic activity and cycling stability toward methyl orange (MO). Under light irradiation, the composite achieves a degradation efficiency of 92.8% within 30 min, with a reaction rate constant of 0.08352 min(-1), which is 39.4 times higher than that of pure Malachite and 1.9 times greater than pure AgCl. Importantly, the photocatalytic performance shows no significant degradation after five consecutive cycles. The enhanced performance is attributed to the following factors: the formed heterojunction between AgCl and Malachite effectively promotes the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. The hierarchical porous structure and high specific surface area optimize mass transfer during the reaction and provide abundant active sites. Moreover, the composite architecture significantly suppresses the photochemical corrosion of AgCl. This work not only offers a new approach to mitigating the photochemical corrosion of silver-based materials for developing highly efficient and stable photocatalysts, but also provides a fast and controllable sonochemical route for the scalable synthesis of functional heterojunction materials with potential for industrial production.

Cerium metal-organic frameworks (Ce-MOFs) have attracted much attraction due to their significant potential in photocatalysis. However, the current development of Ce-MOFs in photocatalytic organic transformation are limited by the low visible-light absorption ability and the insufficient generation capacity of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, photocatalytic depolymerization of lignin through selective cleavage of recalcitrant C-C linkages represents a very promising approach for lignin valorization, yet a major challenge by utilizing pristine MOFs as photocatalysts. Herein, with the use of pi-conjugated and photosensitive anthracene-9,10dicarboxylic acid (H2ADC) as the organic ligand, a novel cerium MOF, donated as CSUST-5 (CSUST stands for Changsha University of Science and Technology), was successfully synthesized and characterized. Benefiting from the excellent visible-light absorption, ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, CSUST-5 as the photocatalyst could efficiently cleave C alpha-C beta bonds in lignin models. This work sheds new light on development of MOFs as photocatalysts for cleavage of lignin C alpha-C beta bonds.

In this study, novel yellow-emitting La3Ga5SnO14 phosphors doped with different concentrations of Dy3+ ions were first obtained via high-temperature solid-state reaction. The crystal structure, phase purity, morphological features, photoluminescence (PL) properties, thermal stability, and luminescence decay curves of the resulting phosphors were characterized. Under the excitation of 350 nm, three dominant emission peaks of the La3Ga5SnO14:Dy3+ centered at 479 (4F9/2–6H15/2), 573 (4F9/2–6H13/2), and 666 nm (4F9/2–6H11/2). The optimal doping concentration of Dy3+ ions in the La3Ga5SnO14:xDy3+ phosphors was x = 20 mol

Thermal stability is a crucial factor in evaluating phosphors and determining whether they can be utilized in white light emitting diodes (w-LEDs). In this work, a series of Sr6LuAl(BO3)6: Dy3+ (SLAB:Dy3+) phosphors was synthesized via high-temperature solid-state reaction. The synthesized SLAB:Dy3+ phosphor exhibits narrow-band emission in the range of 450–700 nm under 348 nm UV excitation. The strongest emission peak is located at 577 nm and is primarily due to 4F9/2-6H13/2 electron transitions. The optimal doping concentration of Dy3+ in the synthesized phosphor was 15 mol%. The integrated emission intensity of the synthesized phosphor at 480 k is 97.84% of that at 300 k, with excellent thermal stability. The activation energy Eg = 0.62 eV. Meanwhile, the Commission International de l’Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of the prepared w-LEDs were (0.309,0.363) with a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 6497 K. Preliminary experimental findings suggest that SLAB:Dy3+ phosphors hold promise for utilization in w-LEDs applications.

A series of newly synthesized red-emitting phosphors, La3Ga5SnO14:Eu3+, were produced through high-temperature solid-state synthesis methods. The phase purity, particle morphology and optical properties were systematically investigated in this work. The prepared fluorescent material has high phase purity. La3Ga5SnO14:Eu3+ has a strong red emission peak at 612 nm at the excitation at 268 nm, which is caused by the radiative transitions of electrons (5D0→7F2). The optimal doping concentration of Eu3+ was observed to be 30 mol

In this study, a type of phosphor, the double-perovskite compound Cd2CaTeO6:xDy3+ (where x takes the values of 0.5 mol.

Perovskite photodetectors (ePDs) have shown significant promise for applications in imaging and optical communications due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. Dark current density ( J d ) plays a crucial role in determining the performance of 3D PePDs based on poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). Herein, a novel viologen derivative, 1‐allyl‐1′‐(2‐phosphonoethyl)‐viologen (APV), is introduced into PEDOT:PSS to improve the crystalline quality of the perovskite film and effectively suppress dark current. Consequently, the optimized 3D PePD achieves an ultra‐low J d of 5.75 × 10 −7 mA cm −2 at −0.5 V and a maximum specific detectivity of 2.08 × 10 13 Jones at 705 nm, positioning it among the top high‐performance 3D PePDs for visible photodetection. Furthermore, the optimized PePD exhibits a fast response time of 256 ns and a large bandwidth of 1.5 MHz. Upon successful integration into an optical wireless communication (OWC) system as the signal receiver, it demonstrates a data rate of up to 12.5 Mbps with minimal distortion. We believe that APV modification provides a universal strategy to realize sensitive PePDs, potentially revolutionizing the applications of OWC and imaging. image

In this work, a nanorod-like K+ doped ZnWO4 photocatalyst was synthesized via a straightforward hydrothermal method assisted by potassium nitrate etching. The optimized K-ZnWO4 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for Cr(VI) reduction, with a high removal rate (92.6 %), fast kinetic constant (7.33 x 10-3 min-1 ), and good cycle stability (over 90 % removal rate sustained for 5 cycles). The physicochemical properties of the synthesized samples were thoroughly characterized using XRD, N2 physical adsorption, TEM, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS, XPS, TPR, and EIS. Structural characterizations revealed that the introduction of K+ reduces the sample size and increases surface roughness, facilitating the transformation from ZnWO4 nanoblocks to K-ZnWO4 nanorods. Notably, K+ doping induces lattice expansion in ZnWO4, leading to an increased electron cloud density near Zn active sites. The optimized d-band center accelerates the kinetics of Cr(VI) reduction, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic activities. This work provides deeper insight into how lattice defects optimize the electronic structure to enhance the Cr(VI) removal performance of tungstate photocatalysts.

The remediation of contaminated soils is essential for restoring land productivity and soil health. Pteris vittata L., an arsenic hyperaccumulator, has been widely used for phytoremediation, yet its ecological effects on soil systems remain insufficiently understood. In this field study, we evaluated the influence of Pteris vittata L. remediation on soil physico-chemical properties, microbial diversity, and molecular ecological networks. The results showed that long-term arsenic contamination significantly reduced soil total carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus, simplified bacterial network structures, and markedly altered the keystone taxa that maintain microbial interactions. In contrast, soils under Pteris vittata L. remediation exhibited higher nutrient availability, greater bacterial diversity, and more complex microbial networks than contaminated soils, indicating partial recovery of ecosystem functions. These findings demonstrate that Pteris vittata L. remediation can mitigate arsenic-induced soil degradation and provide an important scientific basis for assessing the long-term impacts of arsenic contamination and the role of remediation measures in soil health evolution.

A series of orange-red ZnLa4(SiO4)3O:xSm3+ (ZLSO:xSm3+) (x = 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 35 mol

To address the insufficient color performance in contemporary solid-state lighting, a novel series of orange-red-emitting KSr6ScSi4O16:Sm3+ (KSSSO: Sm3+) phosphors was synthesized employing conventional solid-state synthesis. Comprehensive characterization encompassing phase analysis, luminescence properties, and thermal behavior was performed on the temperature-optimized material. Under 402 nm excitation, the Sm3+-activated phosphors exhibit four distinct emission bands centered at 562 nm, 599 nm, 645 nm, and 708 nm, corresponding to the characteristic 4G5/2→6H5/2, 4G5/2→6H7/2, 4G5/2→6H9/2, and 4G5/2→6H11/2 transitions of Sm3+ ions, respectively. Notably, the 599 nm emission (4G5/2→6H7/2 transition) dominates the luminescence spectrum, resulting in an orange-red emission color for the phosphor. The ideal Sm3+ concentration was determined to be 2 mol

This research successfully prepared a novel series of La3Ga5SnO14:xSm3+ phosphors (x = 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mol