Silicon-based anodes are among the most promising options for next-generation high-energy lithium-ion batteries because of their high room-temperature theoretical capacity (3579 mAh g−1 for Li15Si4), natural abundance, and favorable cost-to-performance ratio. Their practical use, however, is still limited by severe volume variation during cycling, which causes particle fracture, repeated interphase rupture/regrowth, transport heterogeneity, and rapid loss of Coulombic efficiency. This review examines electrolyte engineering as the key lever for addressing these coupled failure modes across liquid, quasi-solid, and all-solid-state systems. Liquid electrolytes remain the most mature route for near-term deployment, but their performance is constrained by unstable and continuously evolving SEI chemistry. Quasi-solid electrolytes offer a more balanced pathway by combining liquid-like ionic transport with mechanical confinement and interfacial regulation. All-solid-state electrolytes provide the strongest long-term prospects for safety and energy density, yet their current performance is limited by solid–solid contact loss and chemo-mechanical instability. On this basis, we summarize practical design principles for solvation regulation, interphase chemistry, mechanical adaptability, full-cell compatibility, and manufacturability. The review is intended to provide an application-oriented framework for designing silicon anodes and related high-capacity alloying anodes for high-energy batteries.

Traditional chemotherapy for breast cancer faces limitations, including poor drug bioavailability, multidrug resistance, and severe systemic side effects. Therefore, a carrier-free nanodrug composed of Mastoparan M (Mast-M, derived from Wasp toxin), FDA-approved near infrared fluorescence dye (indocyanine green, ICG), and biosafe ion Fe3+ was developed to achieve photothermal (PTT) and synergistic chemodynamic therapy (CDT)-assisted oxidation therapy. Once accumulated within tumor sites by enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects, the Mast-M/Fe3+/ICG rapidly dissociates in response to elevated glutathione (GSH), releasing Fe2+, ICG, and Mast-M. Mast-M efficiently triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to induce mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. Fe2+-mediated CDT further amplifies oxidative stress, accompanied by GSH consumption and lipid peroxide (LPO) accumulation. Under laser irradiation, ICG generates hyperthermia to enhance oxidative stress. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated enhanced antitumor efficacy with reduced systemic toxicity. Together, these findings highlight the potential of carrier-free nanodrugs for oxidative stress-based breast cancer therapy.

Aqueous ammonium-ion batteries offer safe and low-cost energy storage but are limited by the lack of electrode materials combining high capacity, fast kinetics, and long-term stability. Herein, MXene-derived LiV3O8 nanorods are synthesized via an in situ thermal conversion strategy as high-performance anodes. The open 1D architecture enables efficient ion transport, delivering a high capacity of 185 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1, excellent rate capability of 93 mAh g-1 at 10 A g-1, and outstanding cycling durability. A dynamic storage mechanism involving reversible H+/NH4 + co-intercalation and ion-exchange-driven phase transition to NH4V3O8·H2O is revealed, inducing a self-adaptive nanorod-to-nanowire structural evolution that continuously enhances ion transport and active surface area. Density functional theory calculations further reveal ultralow ammonium-ion diffusion barriers along the V-O chain direction and strong adsorption stabilized by hydrogen-bond interactions, providing atomic-level insight into the fast kinetics. Full cells with δ-MnO2 cathodes exhibit high voltage output and long-term stability, demonstrating practical feasibility.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly resistant to transformation because of the exceptional strength of the CF bond. The limitations of electrochemical PFAS degradation are largely governed by the interplay among multiple reaction pathways and electron-transfer processes at the electrode-electrolyte interface. In many cases, inefficient electron utilization resulting from electron redistribution and competition significantly limits PFAS conversion. In this work, PFAS electrochemical conversion is systematically interpreted through the lens of electron fate and generalized into a three-stage process: electron input, electron redistribution, and electron competition. From the perspective of electron fate, PFAS transformation can be interpreted as three coupled processes: electron input, electron partitioning, and electron competition. The overall degradation efficiency ultimately depends on how effectively electrons are delivered to, retained within, and utilized by PFAS transformation pathways. Collectively, these coupled processes prevent efficient and selective utilization of electrons for PFAS transformation, thereby accounting for the intrinsically high energy demand and low mineralization efficiency of electrochemical PFAS treatment. These observations indicate that improving PFAS degradation requires not only increasing electron supply but also regulating the destination of electrons after they enter the electrochemical system. Accordingly, electrode materials should be redefined not as passive conductors, but as active regulators of electron pathways, capable of directing electron transport and selectively releasing electrons through rational interfacial and energy-level engineering. This framework provides a unified electron-scale perspective for both oxidative and reductive PFAS transformation and offers a new theoretical basis for overcoming the efficiency and selectivity limitations of electrochemical treatment.

Adaptive optics (AO) has established itself as an essential tool in high-resolution optical microscopy, enabling precise wavefront correction to enhance imaging fidelity through aberration compensation. Optofluidic phase modulators (OFPMs) offer a compelling alternative to traditional deformable mirrors by potentially reducing system complexity and improving operational efficiency. However, the lack of a predictive design framework for optimizing actuator configurations, along with the absence of a quantitative method for characterizing actuator influence functions, has forced performance evaluation to rely on empirical approaches. To address this, we present a theoretical model for the actuators within optofluidic phase modulators, derived from small deflection theory and capacitive electrostatic field principles. Experimental validation shows that the actuator influence function deviates from theoretical predictions by no more than 0.6%, and model-predicted wavefront correction results align closely with direct measurements. This model establishes a robust, quantitative framework for performance evaluation, provides a theoretical basis for the structural design of OFPMs, and paves the way for their expanded application in microscopic imaging and related photonics fields.

Anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs) offer unparalleled energy density by eliminating excess lithium, making them a transformative candidate for next-generation energy storage. However, their commercialization faces significant challenges, including uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth, interfacial instability, and the limitations of conventional copper current collectors, which suffer from excessive weight and poor lithiophilicity. This study presents a breakthrough mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTS)-functionalized MXene current collector that enables stable, high-efficiency AFLMB operation without pre-lithiation requirements. Through our study, we demonstrate that the Si-O structure-rich surface of MPTS-MXene facilitates a homogenous Li-ion flux, while its mechanically robust lamellar architecture promotes dendrite-free, compact lithium deposition. Moreover, the engineered interface fosters the formation of LiF-rich solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), drastically reducing parasitic reactions and achieving an exceptional Coulombic efficiency of 99.15% at 2 mAh cm-2. When integrated into MPTS-MXene||LiFePO4 full cell, the system demonstrates outstanding cycling stability (99.60% efficiency) and retains 57.79% capacity over 100 cycles. A critical advantage of the MPTS-MXene collector is its ultralight weight, only 15% of that of the copper per unit volume. By correlating MXene nanoengineering with electrochemical performance, this work provides a material-by-design blueprint to replace copper current collectors, paving the way for practical anode-free batteries with enhanced energy density and longevity.

Quantum interference provides a powerful mechanism for controlling electron transport at the molecular scale. While destructive quantum interference (DQI) in meta-connected aromatic systems offers potential for low conductance switching elements, experimental demonstration of electrochemical modulation under nonredox conditions remains limited. Here, we report the electrochemical gating of meta- and para-connected oligo(phenylene ethynylene) (OPE) molecules using electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy in an ionic liquid environment. A direct topology-controlled comparison reveals that meta-connected OPEs exhibit reversible conductance modulations exceeding 2 orders of magnitude (similar to 10(-3.8) to similar to 10(-6.4) G(0)) in response to gate potential, whereas para-connected analogs show only modest variations. The observed behavior is attributed to gate-induced shifting of a DQI antiresonance relative to the electrode Fermi level. These findings provide experimental validation of electrostatic control of quantum interference within a single molecular framework and establish electrochemical gating as an effective strategy for tuning interference-driven transport in molecular electronic devices.

This work establishes a framework of synergistic solvation structure engineering via pore confinement and acidity modulation, offering a new strategy to regulate solvent structures and SEI formation for safe, long-life, and high-rate lithium-metal batteries. A series of modified separators were fabricated using MCM-41 and ZSM-5 molecular sieves with systematically varied pore architectures and Br & oslash;nsted/Lewis acid site densities. Structural and spectroscopic analyses (ATR-FTIR, Raman, and 7Li NMR) reveal that molecular sieves selectively filter solvent macromolecules and adsorb ions, thereby shifting lithium-ion solvation from solvent-separated ion pairs (SSIPs) toward contact ion pairs (CIPs) and aggregates (AGGs). Density functional theory calculations further confirm that pore size matching coupled with acidic sites weakens Li+ solvation, increases local salt concentration, and releases more free Li+, enhancing the lithium-ion transference number up to 0.66. Electrochemical testing demonstrates that Li||Li symmetric cells with the optimized small pore/high-acidity ZSM-5 separator exhibit stable cycling over 750 h with low polarization (<0.2 V). Full Li||LiFePO4 cells achieve 95.7% capacity retention after 2900 cycles at 5C with a Coulombic efficiency above 99.8%. Post-cycling characterizations confirm uniform dendrite-free lithium deposition and the formation of a compact, inorganic-rich SEI (LiF/Li2O-dominated) facilitated by the solvation regulation.

Metallocenes are a wide family of organometallic compounds, in which two cyclopentadienyl ligands 'sandwich' a metal ion, M( r)5 -C5 R5 )2 , and have considerable potential for use as components in molecular electronics applications. Here we have studied the electronic transport properties of the matallocenes MCp2 (M = V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ru; Cp = r)5 -C5 H5 ) and MCp*2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co; Cp* = r)5 -C5 Me5 ). Molecular junctions have been fabricated using either two gold, or one gold and one graphene electrode(s), giving rise to single-molecule conductance values of the order of -4 to -3 log( G / G0 )) depending on both the nature of the metallocene and the electrode materials. Calculations on model junctions at the density functional theory level of theory reveal significant charge transfer from the metallocene to the junction electrodes and changes in the nature of the primary charge transport pathways in response to the nature of the metal, supporting ligands, molecular oxidation state and electrode composition. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

The selectivity and activity of photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) can be predicted with considerations of the Fermi level as a key variable of the free energy of the reactions.

Innovations in wearable electronics and soft robotics hinge significantly on the development of stretchable electrodes. However, a persistent challenge lies in balancing high stretchability, functional performance, and strain insensitivity. Conventional approaches, such as design of experiments and trial-and-error methods, often rely on time-consuming and labor-intensive experiments to navigate a vast and complex parameter space. To overcome this, we establish an integrated workflow merging robot-automated experimentation, machine learning predictions, and finite element simulations to enable the predictive design of stretchable electrodes with strain-insensitive performance. Initially, we construct an ensemble of artificial neural networks through a two-stage workflow, including feasible parameter space definition and active learning loops. Leveraging the prediction model and two-scale simulations, a microtextured stretchable nanocomposite is discovered as a strain-stable platform. Conformal deposition of a thin gold layer showcases metal-like conductivity, high resistance-insensitive stretchability, and robust durability. Furthermore, electrodeposition of Zn and MnO2 on gold conductors enables a stretchable Zn||MnO2 battery, exhibiting large elongation and strain-insensitive electrochemical performance. This machine intelligence-driven approach expedites the multi-parameter optimization of stretchable electrodes, achieving strain-invariant functionalities.

The combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) holds considerable promise for cancer treatment, but conventional Type II PDT is strongly limited by tumor hypoxia. Here, we designed a D-π-A-π-D BODIPY-based near-infrared aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer, TBSN, by integrating tetraphenylethylene units and a rotatable N,N-diethylaniline moiety. Theoretical calculations identified S1 → T2 as the predominant intersystem crossing pathway and showed that the N,N-diethylaniline unit participated in the electronic redistribution of the T2 state. The calculated T1 → S0 energy of 0.42 eV made the energy-transfer process required for singlet-oxygen sensitization thermodynamically unfavorable. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-trapping experiments detected light-induced superoxide radical anions (O2·-) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH), but no discernible singlet oxygen (1O2) signal, supporting predominantly Type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Molecular dynamics simulations further showed that the molecular rotor retained considerable rotational freedom after aggregation, consistent with the photothermal conversion efficiency of 54.44%. After encapsulation with DSPE-PEG2000, TBSN@PEG retained pronounced ROS-generating and photothermal activities and exhibited effective photocytotoxicity under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Following intratumoral administration and 730 nm irradiation, TBSN@PEG produced localized heating and markedly inhibited 4T1 tumor growth, while showing favorable preliminary short-term biosafety at the tested dose. These results demonstrate a molecular design strategy that jointly regulates triplet-state electronic structure and residual rotor motion to balance Type I ROS generation and photothermal conversion.

Developing efficient non-noble metal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media is essential for advancing sustainable energy technologies. Here, we report a three-pronged synergistic design paradigm that integrates Fe doping, morphology engineering, and MXene hybridization to construct a high-performance hybrid catalyst. Dispersed Fe-doped Co3O4 (DFC) nanoparticles are synthesized through hydrothermal treatment and ultrasonic disruption, and subsequently assembled with Ti3C2Tx MXene to form a dispersed Fe-Co3O4@Ti3C2Tx MXene composite structure (DFC-M). The optimized DFC-30M exhibits a low overpotential of 133.9 mV at 10 mA/cm2, a Tafel slope of 113.5 mV/dec, and excellent durability in 1 M KOH. The hierarchical porous network of DFC-30M facilitates the exposure of catalytic active sites and enhances both mass and charge transport. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Fe doping and MXene hybridization independently modulate the electronic structure of Co3O4, thereby reducing the reaction energy barrier and improving electrical conductivity. Furthermore, their surface-interface interaction synergistically lowers the interfacial Schottky barrier and promotes efficient interfacial charge transfer. These findings elucidate how compositional, morphological, and interfacial factors influence the HER performance of Fe-Co3O4/MXene hybrids, providing mechanistic insights to guide the rational optimization of their catalytic activity.

Unlocking the commercial potential of MXene electrodes in high-energy supercapacitors requires overcoming a fundamental limitation: severe performance decay at increased electrode thickness and mass loading. This work resolves the intrinsic trade-off between surface functionalization and oxidation in MXene chemistry regulation by constructing a controlled redox environment. A urea-assisted hydrothermal process effectively removes inert -F terminations while inducing the formation of a 3D MXene hydrogel enriched with -N active sites. Concurrently, L-ascorbic acid is introduced as an antioxidant to suppress structural oxidation and enhance stability. As a result, the optimized MXene exhibits superior rate capability and long-term cycling stability under high mass loadings. Specifically, at 10.97 mg cm-2, a high specific capacitance of 597 F g-1 is achieved at 1 A g-1, with 69.66% retention at 50 A g-1, significantly outperforming that of pristine MXene (23.44%) and N-doped MXene (59.03%). Even at an ultrahigh loading of 108.64 mg cm-2, 44.50% of the capacitance is retained (from 564 F g-1 to 251 F g-1) over the current density range of 1 to 20 A g-1. This work establishes an effective strategy for designing high-performance MXene-based electrodes via reaction pathway regulation, enabling practical operation at commercially relevant mass loadings.

Dielectric capacitors are vital components in advanced electronics and high-power electrical systems. A persistent challenge, however, is enhancing their energy density (W-rec) at low electric fields and voltages. Herein, we design a defect dipole engineered hybrid polar configuration to address this issue. By introducing defect dipoles in Na0.5Bi0.5Ti1-xAlxO3 (NBTA-x) films, tailored polar configurations comprising a ferroelectric domain matrix and sparse polar nanoregions are precisely engineered. The coexistence of macro- and micro-domains in the optimal proportion improves interdomain interactions, effectively suppressing hysteresis while still retaining ferroelectric polarization. Meanwhile, the depolarization field generated by defect dipoles drives the aligned domains to revert to their initial disordered state. Together, this dual mechanism weakens remanent polarization (P-r), enabling the simultaneous reduction of energy loss (W-loss) and enhancement of W-rec. Under a low electric field of 1756 kV cm(-1), the NBTA-0.2 relaxor ferroelectric film delivers a high W-rec of 66.2 J cm(-3) with an efficiency exceeding 70%. This work offers a generalizable strategy for developing high-performance dielectrics operating at low fields and voltages, benefiting from microscopic domain architecture and defect dipole design.

Tin (Sn)-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising candidates for low-toxicity photovoltaics. However, their performance remains limited by interfacial energy losses and cathode degradation. Here, we report a facile strategy of adopting ytterbium acetylacetonate (Yb(acac)3) as a solution-processed cathode buffer layer (CBL) to regulate the C60/Cu interface in Sn-based PSCs. The introduction of Yb(acac)3 improves energy-level alignment, suppresses charge accumulation and recombination, and facilitates electron extraction. Meanwhile, Yb(acac)3 forms a chemically anchored interlayer with C60 through pi-pi interactions, and its hydrophobic chelate structure hinders moisture ingress and iodide-ion migration, thereby enhancing the corrosion resistance of the Cu electrode. These interfacial effects are consistent with the strong Lewis acidity and coordination capability of Yb3+, which support stable interfacial binding and modified charge transport at the cathode interface. As a result, the optimized Sn-based PSCs deliver a champion efficiency of 14.92% together with substantially improved stability, maintaining 92% of the initial efficiency after 3000 h in N2 and similar to 85% after 350 h of continuous illumination in ambient air. This work provides an acetylacetonate-based interfacial engineering strategy for achieving high-performance Sn-based PSCs.

Conductive polymeric sponge is one of the most promising multifunctional sensors, featuring good flexibility, easy processability and adjustable conductive networks. However, weak interfacial interactions between conductive layers and polymer sponges cause electrical signal loss under external forces (e.g., repeated compression, solvent-force coupling action). To tackle this challenge, we fabricated reliable reduced graphene layers on PU sponges via UV-induced thiol-ene click reaction between silane-modified PU and graphene. The composite exhibits excellent piezoresistive performance (gauge factor -0.95 at strain < 35%, sensing range 0-70%, 87% resistance change at 70% strain), which is much better than pure graphene coated PU sponge. Benefiting from its good interfacial interactions and highly hydrophobic (151 degrees), the sensor also shows almost invariable sensing responses after ultrasonication treatment for 60 min and outstanding resistance to various corrosive solvents and mechanical robustness. Moreover, the sensor achieves excellent photothermal conversion, with a surface temperature of 107.1 degrees C under 1 sun intensity. Clearly, this multifunctional strain sensor possesses significant potential for versatile applications in smart human-interactive wearable electronics, human motion detection, underwater sensing.

Amphiphilic aminoglycosides offer a promising approach to combat antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Here, a series of neamine-based amphiphiles bearing alkyl chains of varying lengths (C4-C16) was synthesized via a concise route through selective modification at the 6 '-amino position of neamine. Antibacterial evaluation revealed a chain length-dependent activity, with the C14-and C15-alkyl neamine amphiphiles exhibiting the most potent antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens. The C15 derivative displayed superior activity compared to neamine and synergized with multiple clinical antibiotics against P. aeruginosa. Mechanistic studies indicated that this synergy results from enhanced outer membrane permeability, and cytotoxicity assays confirmed low toxicity at therapeutically relevant concentrations.