Amorphous noble metals exhibit unique electronic properties due to their disordered atomic structures; however, their potential in photothermal therapy (PTT) remains largely unexplored. This limitation arises primarily from difficulties in suppressing crystallization and achieving broadband optical absorption across both near-infrared (NIR) biological windows. Furthermore, direct experimental evidence demonstrating their effectiveness in broadband photothermal applications is scarce. To address these challenges, this study reports, for the first time, the synthesis of amorphous Pd-P-S quantum dots (a-Pd-P-S QDs) featuring engineered phosphorus-sulfur dual vacancies, fabricated via a facile laser ablation in liquid (LAL) method. This efficient physical technique effectively inhibits noble metal crystallization, enabling one-step production of Pd-based quantum dots with exceptional photothermal performance across the NIR-I (650-950 nm) and NIR-II (1000-1350 nm) spectral ranges. The synthesized quantum dots exhibit high photothermal conversion efficiency, excellent photothermal stability, and favorable biocompatibility. Photothermal heating and photothermal cytotoxicity were evaluated under both 808 nm (NIR-I) and 1064 nm (NIR-II) irradiation to substantiate the "Dual-NIR" capability, first in dispersion and then at the cellular level. While in vivo studies, 1064 nm laser was intentionally prioritized to leverage the practical advantages of the NIR-II window for deep-tissue applications. Notably, in vivo studies demonstrate that under 1064 nm laser irradiation at 1.0 W/cm2, the BSA/a-Pd-P-S QDs achieve a 91.8% suppression of tumor growth in a murine breast cancer model, with minimal systemic toxicity confirmed by hematological and histopathological analyses. This work not only introduces a universal and environmentally friendly laser-processing approach but also provides, for the first time, mechanistic insights into vacancy engineering within Pd-based quantum dots to enhance photothermal efficacy. These findings advance the development of next-generation deep-tissue theranostic platforms and expand the potential applications in future nanomedicine.

The electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia in ambient conditions is a promising approach for ammonia production, yet it is challenged by its kinetic barriers and the competition with hydrogen evolution. Addressing these challenges requires the rational design of electrocatalysts with high stability and selectivity to promote the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) while suppressing side reactions. This review summarizes recent advances in NO3RR electrocatalyst development, covering catalysts based on transition metals, noble metals, and metal-free carbon-based catalysts. In this work, we evaluated the influence of electrolyte composition and pH on NO3RR performance, along with a critical assessment of scalability barriers and practical applicability. By outlining key scientific and technical obstacles, this review aims to guide the rational design of NO3RR electrocatalysts toward industrial-level performance featuring high current density, long-term stability, and superior energy efficiency.

Mitigating the open-circuit voltage (VOC) deficit caused by non-radiative recombination at the back interface remains a critical challenge for high-performance Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells. Conventional passivation using an ultrathin insulating interlayer at the CZTSSe/Mo interface suffers from an inherent trade-off between passivation quality and charge transport. To address this limitation, we introduce a scalable direct-writing inkjet printing technique to construct patterned micro-nano insulator arrays composed of SiO2 nanoparticles at the back interface. By tailoring the printing parameters to design controllable passivation structures, interface recombination is effectively suppressed while maintaining efficient carrier transport through local openings. As a result, the interface defect density is reduced by 46% and the carrier lifetime is prolonged more than two times. The champion device achieves a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.03% with an optimal passivation area of 11%. Notably, its VOC deficit is only 253 mV, representing the lowest value among high-performance CZTSSe solar cells. This work provides a novel avenue for interface engineering to suppress non-radiative recombination and demonstrates the potential of inkjet printing technique for advanced contact design in photovoltaics.

The fabrication of kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells based on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, as an alternative to conventional molybdenum, is highly attractive for applications in semitransparent, bifacial and tandem photovoltaic devices. Although FTO exhibits phase stability during the high-temperature annealing process required for CZTSSe grain growth, its electrical conductivity decreases significantly, impairing carrier transport and limiting device performance. Addressing this issue necessitates lowering the annealing temperature without compromising the crystallinity of the CZTSSe absorber layer. In this study, we demonstrate the growth of high-crystallinity CZTSSe absorbers on FTO substrates at a reduced temperature of 500 degrees C, facilitated by silver (Ag) and sodium (Na) doping in the precursor film. The absorbers were fabricated from a 2methoxyethanol-based molecular ink, and the annealing duration was systematically optimized. We found that the crystallinity and morphology of the CZTSSe layer are strongly influenced by annealing time. An optimal film morphology was achieved with a 15-min anneal, whereas shorter annealing (<= 10 min) resulted in incomplete crystallization, and extended annealing (>20 min) promoted void formation within the absorber due to Ostwald ripening. Furthermore, the optimized annealing process reduces the interface defect density and broadens the depletion width of the device, leading to a record power conversion efficiency of 9.4 % for CZTSSe solar cells on bare FTO substrates. These results provide important insights for developing efficient bifacial CZTSSe solar cells.

Precise and local activation of T cells is essential for advancing studies of immune responses and immunotherapy. Conventional schemes, relying on biochemical or physical strategies, often suffer from limited controllability or poor biocompatibility and biosafety. Here, we select natural endogenous T cells directly as the material of micromotors (without introducing any exogenous chemical or structural components) and propose scanning optical tweezer-based light-driven cell micromotors to achieve precise and local activation of a single or multiple target T cells. By navigation of the cell micromotors along programmable trajectories, two mechanical activation schemes are designed. One is direct activation from direct mechanical collision of cell micromotors, and the other is indirect activation through the hydrodynamic shear stress generated by the microvortex. Experiments and theoretical simulations jointly indicate that the T cell activation degree can be precisely controlled by adjusting the laser scanning frequency or the scanning radius. This proposed strategy has high biosafety and flexibility, precise controllability, and excellent biocompatibility, offering a versatile mechanism for cell activation in sustainable microrobotics and biomedical applications.

We reported a general strategy for the self-assembly of carbyne nanocrystals by a two-step process based on laser ablation in liquids (LALs). First, a pulsed laser is used to ablate a graphite target in the ethanol liquid injected with nitrogen gas to synthesize hydrogen-capped polyynes, and cyano groups (-CN) are meanwhile generated in the synthesized solution. At the same time, a pulsed laser is used to ablate a gold target in pure water to synthesize the gold nanoparticle (AuNP) colloidal solution. Second, the synthesized solution containing hydrogen-capped polyynes and -CN and AuNP colloidal solution is mixed in a certain proportion and then stands at room temperature for 24 h to self-assemble carbyne nanocrystals. It was found that -CN plays a crucial role in the self-assembly of carbyne nanocrystals. Due to the presence of lone electron pairs, -CN can act as a hydrogen bond acceptor and form hydrogen bonds with the capped hydrogen of polyyne chains, thereby binding together with polyynes to form -CN@polyynes like tadpoles upon the first ablating process. Then, the complexation between -CN and gold causes a large number of -CN@polyyne chains to vertically align on the surface of AuNPs through -CN as an adhesive upon the second mixing step. The polyyne chains on the surface of AuNPs that are adjacent to each other spontaneously form chain bundles through van der Waals interactions between chains, and then nucleate and grow into small crystalline grains and finally grow into nanocrystals through the coalescence of small grains. This method can be expected to become a technique for the macroscopic and controllable synthesis of carbyne nanocrystals.

The exploration of novel materials stands as the linchpin in the advancement of the next-generation photodetectors. Group III-VI compound semiconductors have attracted extensive research enthusiasm due to their numerous advantages, including simple crystal structure, environmentally friendly composition, and outstanding air stability. Nevertheless, the exploration of the optoelectronic properties of Ga2Se3 remains relatively scarce to date as compared to other group III-VI compound semiconductors, primarily hampered by the challenges in synthesis. As an endeavor, this study has embarked on an exhaustive exploration of the physical and optoelectronic attributes of Ga2Se3 from both theoretical and experimental aspects. Initiating with an in-depth analysis on the electronic structure through systematical first-principles calculations, this study has determined that Ga2Se3 bears a sizable bandgap up to approximate to 1.96 eV as well as an optimal carrier mobility of approximate to 7081.97 cm2 V-1 s-1. In addition, the carrier transport has been revealed to be highly anisotropy, making it compelling in multifunctional optoelectronic devices. Following this, a two-step synthetic methodology has been formulated to achieve the preparation of Ga2Se3. Notably, the corresponding Ga2Se3-based photodetector exhibits distinct photoresponse to 405 nm violet light, boasting a responsivity of 0.326 mA/W, an external quantum efficiency of 0.1 %, and a specific detectivity of 8.73 x 109 Jones. Furthermore, the Ga2Se3 photodetectors have been used as the sensing components to realize proof-of-concept optoelectronic imaging and optical communication applications, demonstrating exceptional anti-interference capability to white light interference. In the end, polarization-resolved photoresponse has been unveiled. On the whole, this study provides a new material platform and a distinct pathway for broadening the horizons of optoelectronic research. (c) 2025 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

The inkjet-printed Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) has garnered extensive attention owing to its costeffectiveness, high-throughput fabrication, and roll-to-roll compatibility. However, selenium volatility loss during high-temperature selenization induces detrimental defects in both bulk and interface, limiting CZTSSe solar cell performance. Here, we develop a simple and controllable low-temperature selenium post-treatment (Se-LPT) strategy to compensate for the selenium loss. Systematic studies reveal that the Se-LPT can effectively passivate selenium vacancy deep-level defects in the CZTSSe absorber and suppresses carrier nonradiative recombination, thereby reducing the open-circuit voltage deficit from 336 to 298 mV. Furthermore, this treatment lowers the carrier transport barrier and facilitates efficient carrier transport by reducing the spike-like conduction band offset at the heterojunction interface. The enhanced carrier density and conductivity further contribute to the short-circuit current improvement. Consequently, the Se-LPT CZTSSe devices deliver an efficiency of 14.13 %, representing the highest performance reported to date for inkjet-printed CZTSSe solar cells. This work demonstrates an effective route for developing cost-effective and high-efficiency CZTSSe photovoltaics. (c) 2025 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

The development of photodetectors that match the sensitivity of biological vision while extending the response beyond the visible spectrum remains a key challenge. Here, we report a scalable photodetector array based on graphene/amorphous Sn-doped WSe2/Si (Gr/Sn-WSe2/Si) heterostructures. The pulsed-laser-deposited Sn-WSe2 nanofilm exhibits a long carrier lifetime (>5.5 ns). Combined with efficient photocarrier separation in a stacked heterostructure, it enables a remarkable self-powered photoresponse from 365 to 1550 nm. The device achieves a low noise-equivalent power of 0.029 fW/Hz1/2 and a specific detectivity of 3.4 × 1014 Jones at 808 nm, exceeding retinal sensitivity while offering a broader spectrum. It also boasts a high photo-switching ratio > 106 and fast rise/decay times of 18.3/27.2 µs. Capitalizing on these attributes, broadband visualization, see-through imaging, and starlight-level perception at 0.88 nW/cm2 are demonstrated. Moreover, the photodetector array exhibits excellent pixel-to-pixel uniformity, paving the way for the practical deployment of next-generation imaging technology.

Over the past 30 years, significant progress has been made on scalable fabrication and high-value applications of natural clay minerals-based two-dimensional (2D) materials. Natural clay minerals-based 2D materials have layered structures, high ion conductivity and selectivity, tunable surface charge, remarkable chemical stability, mechanical resilience, low cost and abundance in nature. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the advances in characterizations, properties and applications of 2D phyllosilicates. First, it summarizes the fundamentals including crystal structure and ion exchange properties of 2D clay minerals. Subsequently, it highlights how advanced characterization techniques and computational methods interconnect the structure and behavior of 2D clay minerals. We then discuss the recently developed fabrication methods of 2D phyllosilicates to make them suitable for the study of intrinsic properties, as well as for scalable devices. Next, it is elaborated on how the intrinsic properties of 2D phyllosilicates such as light transparency, surface chemistry and confined interlayer space influence their applications in ion and molecular separation, energy harvesting, and liquid crystals individually or synergistically, so that the relationship of structure-properties is elucidated. Finally, the nextgeneration design concepts, including multi-dimensional printing strategy and smart devices, in the fabrication and application fields of 2D clay minerals are proposed.

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)(4) (CZTSSe) thin-film solar cells have garnered significant interest owing to their appealing properties, such as earth-abundant composition, environmental friendliness, high light absorption coefficient and optimal bandgap. However, current high-efficiency CZTSSe devices (>13%) are predominantly fabricated by spin-coating, which is limited in scalability for mass production. To overcome this issue, we developed a scalable doctor-blading method compatible with roll-to-roll processing. For the first time, a molecular precursor ink based on 2-methoxyethanol solvent was adapted in doctor-blading for CZTSSe thin film preparation. The preheating temperature was systematically optimized to obtain high-quality precursor layers. It was found that the preheating temperature significantly influences the solvent evaporation kinetics, leading to the formation of cracks of varying sizes on the precursor film surface. At the optimal preheating temperature of 340 degrees C, moderately sized cracks were generated, which effectively facilitated the penetration of Se vapor during selenization and promoted grain growth in the absorber layer. This optimization notably enhanced the crystallinity and reduced the defect density of the CZTSSe absorbers. Furthermore, Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements revealed that the films preheated at 340 degrees C exhibited pronounced downward band bending at grain boundaries and the narrowest contact potential distribution, which effectively promoted charge carrier separation and suppressed nonradiative recombination. Consequently, a record power conversion efficiency of 13.26% was achieved for doctor-bladed CZTSSe solar cells. This work demonstrates a viable and scalable strategy for producing low-cost and highly efficient CZTSSe thin-film photovoltaics.

Developing efficient and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is essential for scalable hydrogen production via water splitting. While NiFe-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising low-cost catalysts, their catalytic performance and stability remain limited. In this study, we report a one-step laser ablation in liquid (LAL) strategy to synthesize low-loading Ru-doped NiFe-LDH nanosheets (NiFeRu/C-LDH) with precisely controlled electronic and structural properties. The laser-driven uniform incorporation of Ru-4(+) into the NiFe-LDH lattice induces contraction and optimization of the local coordination environment. The resulting catalyst achieves low overpotentials of 236 and 299 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm(-)(2), respectively, in 1 M KOH, outperforming commercial IrO2 and undoped NiFe/C-LDH. It also demonstrates high durability with 95.3% activity retention after 200 h of continuous operation. Combined experimental and Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the theoretical analyses reveal that strong Ru-O coordination and enhanced electronic interactions activate adjacent Fe sites, and establish a Fe-Ru dual active center configuration that facilitates OH- adsorption and lowers the energy barrier of the rate-determining O-O coupling step. This work offers a scalable laser-based synthesis route for high-performance electrocatalysts with tailored active sites.

Effective in situ pH sensing holds exciting prospects in environmental and biomedical applications, but still faces a great challenge. Until now, pH sensors with small size, high sensitivity, good stability and repeatability, great biosafety, wide detection range, and flexible structure have rarely been reported. Herein, we propose a novel dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent pH sensor by decorating ethyl cellulose (EC)-encapsulated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and oxazine 170 perchlorate (O170 dye) on the surface of the spider silk. When a 473 nm excitation light is coupled into the pH sensor, the evanescent wave transmitting along the surface of the spider silk will excite the CdSe/ZnS QDs and then the O170 dye based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect from the QDs; thus, the pH sensing of the surrounding liquid environment can be achieved in real time by collecting the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the pH sensor and measuring the emission intensity ratio of the two fluorescent materials. The sensor has also demonstrated a high sensing sensitivity (0.775/pH unit) within a wide pH range of 1.92-12.11, as well as excellent reusability and reversibility, structure and time stability, biocompatibility, and biosafety. The proposed pH sensor has a potential application in an in situ monitor of water microenvironments, cellular metabolism, tumor microenvironments, etc.

The precise calibration of the electronic configuration of alloy catalysts to attain elevated electrocatalytic performance and industrial scalability is a formidable challenge. In this study, a universal laser ablation in liquid (LAL) strategy is developed for the implantation of interstitial hydrogen atoms into quaternary PdPtCuIn nanoalloys, resulting in a one-step, scalable formation of PdPtCuInHx nanoalloys. We reveal a "hydrogenmediated electronic modulation" mechanism, wherein hydrogen functions as a dynamic charge modulator. This process has been shown to induce localized electron redistribution, suppress elemental segregation in PdPtCuInHx nanoalloys, significantly improve size uniformity and crystalline state, activate Cu sites through charge transfer, and optimise the d-band centres of Pd and Pt. PdPtCuInHx nanoalloys demonstrate exceptional pH-universal HER performance, attributed to near-ideal hydrogen adsorption and accelerated water dissociation kinetics. It requires low overpotentials of only 187 mV@1000 mA cm- 2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 360 mV@1000 mA cm- 2 in 1.0 M KOH, surpassing commercial Pt/C and cutting-edge alloy catalysts. This catalyst displays no substantial degradation over a period of 1550 h of operation. Integrated into a proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE), it achieves 3 A cm- 2 at 1.9 V, with a voltage decay rate of 0.2 mV h- 1 over 600 h, meeting the U.S. DOE 2026 targets. This work offers a scalable route to metastable nanoalloys, and redefines the role of hydrogen as a design element for advanced electrocatalysts in sustainable energy conversion.

The escalating security and privacy threats in machine vision call for optoelectronic sensors that can directly encrypt and preprocess optical information at the point of acquisition. Conventional photodetectors lack dynamic reconfigurability to implement robust in-sensor encryption while maintaining high-performance image acquisition. To address this dual demand, we developed a photovoltaic detector based on a Bi1.46Sb0.54Te1.7Se1.3 (BSTS)/WSe2 van der Waals heterojunction. This device uniquely features gate-programmable multidimensional encryption and convolutional image processing capabilities. Leveraging the topological surface states of BSTS for ultrafast charge extraction and the ambipolarity of 2D WSe2, the device enables efficient separation of photogenerated carriers. Under 405 nm illumination, it achieves a high responsivity of 295 mA/W, an external quantum efficiency of 90%, and a fast response time of 170/210 & micro;s. Critically, the gate voltage-tunable built-in electric field simultaneously modulates two independent photoresponse dimensions: magnitude and polarity. This dual-parameter programmability enables multidimensional encryption, demonstrated in secure data communication and privacy-preserving encrypted imaging. Furthermore, electrical reconfiguration of convolution kernels via gate voltages facilitates edge-enhanced image processing, improving contour sharpness and boosting recognition accuracy. This work pioneers a reconfigurable optoelectronic platform that concurrently addresses secure data acquisition and intelligent processing for privacy-aware machine vision.

Biological systems achieve robust perception through multimodal integration, a capability artificial vision still lacks. Inspired by this principle, we develop a gate-programmable, polarization-sensitive photodetector based on a NiTe2/WSe2 heterostructure with nanostrips, enabling bio-inspired multidimensional convolution processing. Gate-voltage modulation dynamically inverts the interfacial built-in electric field, enabling reversible photocurrent polarity switching. Meanwhile, giant anisotropic Mie resonances in NiTe2 nanostrips generate strong near-field enhancement, boosting light absorption and conferring exceptional polarization sensitivity (anisotropy ratio: 13 at 405 nm). The photoresponse intrinsically encodes three weighting parameters, including polarization orientation, wavelength, and gate voltage. Leveraging this synergy, we demonstrate cross-modal sensory-fusion convolutional kernels (CMSF-CK) that perform real-time anisotropic filtering and high-resolution polarimetric imaging. When integrated into convolutional neural networks, these CMSF-CK enhance edge sharpening and improve image recognition accuracy by 6.35% over conventional monochromatic systems. This work establishes a paradigm for neuromorphic vision processors capable of multisensory optical computation.

In one-dimensional (1D) electron systems, the Fermi liquid state breaks down due either to electron interactions, which results in a Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL) state, or to Peierls instability, which leads to an insulating charge-density-wave (CDW) phase. In general, these two phenomena are mutually exclusive, and their coexistence remains elusive in real materials. Here, we report the discovery of a new quasi-1D material, Cs_1-δCr_3S_3, which unexpectedly exhibits coexistence of the antithetical CDW and TLL states. The CDW state is evidenced by the intra-unit-cell dimerization, and the opening of an optical band gap of ∼250 meV. Meanwhile, TLL behaviour is unambiguously demonstrated by the measurements of electrical transport and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, which reveal a power-law scaling with temperature, bias voltage and electron energy. Band structure calculations reveal isolated, linearly dispersive, 1D bands around the Fermi level. For the dimerized CDW phase, the 1D Fermi-surface sheets located at the boundary of the Brillouin zone are gapped from intra-unit-cell bond symmetry breaking. Experimentally, subtle Cs vacancies shift the Fermi level into the linearly dispersive valence band, enabling the observation of TLL behaviour without interrupting the CDW order. This work establishes Cs_1-δCr_3S_3 as a rare material platform in which the antagonistic Fermi-liquid instabilities coexist and intertwine, opening new avenues for studying emergent quantum phenomena in 1D systems.

This review for the first time provides a comprehensive overview on the low-dimensional V-VI van der Waals compounds-based photodetectors. It begins with the fundamental physical mechanisms for photodetection and the properties of various V-VI van der Waals compounds. Then, the preparation methods for producing low-dimensional V-VI compounds have been presented. Following this, various photodetectors based on low-dimensional V-VI compounds with distinct characteristics have been epitomized by categorizing them into trivial semiconductors and non-trivial topological insulators. Subsequently, photodetectors built of V-VI compounds based heterostructures have been introduced, elaborating on the collaborative benefits enabled by heterostructuring. In the end, the future directions of this burgeoning domain have been proposed. On the whole, this review presents a full landscape of low-dimensional V-VI van der Waals compound photodetectors, underscoring alternative paradigms for the implementation of the next generation of advanced optoelectronic devices and systems.

Temperature is a fundamental physical quantity. With the rapid development of stretchable electronics, transparent stretchable temperature sensors are in critical demand. However, performance retention under strain is a great challenge, and the influence of the electrode on the sensing performance is rarely reported. Here, a transparent strain-insensitive stretchable ionic temperature sensor is developed, whose sensing performance is enhanced through an electrode engineering strategy by inserting MXene between two Ag NWs layers. MXene largely increases the electrodeu2019s adhesion strength to the ionogel electrolyte, and hinders ion adsorption while, in the meantime, bonds with neutral ion pairs whose dissociation enhances with increasing temperatures. The strain-insensitive sensing performance is mainly ascribed to a crack counteraction mechanism, where the boosting effect of the expanding electrode area as strain enlarges is counteracted by the decline in conductive paths owing to widening cracks. This crack counteraction mechanism is quantitatively verified through theoretical simulation. The sensor is demonstrated for various applications, including smart prosthetic hands, motion tracking, and temperature monitoring of a deforming surface. This work could inspire new stretchable sensor designs and guide strain-insensitive stretchable electronics.

Stretchable electronics have been recognized as intriguing next-generation electronics that possess huge market value, and stretchable electronic conductors (SECs) are essential for stretchable electronics, which not only can serve as critical functional components but also are the indispensable electronic connections bridging various electronic components within stretchable electronic systems. Herein, we offer a comprehensive review of recent progress in SECs including the material categories, structure designs, fabrication techniques, and applications. The characteristics, performance enhancement strategies, and application requirements are emphasized. Based on the recent advances, the existing challenges and future prospects are outlined and discussed.