The superconducting diode effect (SDE) is a fascinating nonreciprocal phenomenon where the critical current is different for opposite current directions. It is widely believed that realizing SDE requires breaking both inversion symmetry and time-reversal symmetry (TRS), which are usually achieved via heterostructure engineering and applying external magnetic fields. Here, we report a pressure-induced magnetic-field-free SDE in NbSe_{2} flakes without any heterostructures. We show that pressure alone breaks the inversion symmetry, as confirmed by the second harmonic generation. Crucially, upon applying an out-of-plane magnetic field (B), the SDE exhibits even-in-B behavior, implying the absence of explicit TRS breaking. This finding challenges the prevailing theoretical paradigm and demonstrates that a magnetic-field-free SDE can emerge without explicitly breaking TRS. Thereby, our Letter establishes pressure engineering as a powerful tool for inducing nonreciprocal superconductivity and designing versatile, magnetic-field-free superconducting devices.

Programmable photovoltaic functionalities offer a route to integrating energy conversion with information processing. However, existing approaches, relying on either heterostructure design or gate-free architectures based on ferroelectricity and ion migration, suffer from complex device architectures dictated by single-field modulation, where electrical bias simultaneously governs addressing and state switching, imposing an intrinsic constraint on spatial selectivity, architectural simplicity, and operational efficiency. Here, we introduce light as an independent, spatially resolved degree of freedom to decouple addressing from switching, establishing a light-electric dual-field programming paradigm for photovoltaic systems. Using anomalous photovoltaic effects in van der Waals ZnIn2S4 as a model system, we demonstrate nonvolatile, reconfigurable states with retention exceeding 100 days. Spatially localized illumination selects where programming occurs, while a global electric field switches the state, enabling selector-free operation without per-pixel wiring. The programmable response originates from the [ZnS4] tetrahedral distortion and is markedly enhanced by pressure modulation. We demonstrate self-powered visual information processing with 87.9% accuracy in noisy image classification. These findings establish dual-field programming as a powerful strategy to lift the intrinsic constraints of single-field control, leveraging light as an independent control dimension to enable selector-free programmable photovoltaics and advanced optoelectronic architectures.

Large-volume presses (LVPs) are widely utilized in diverse research fields—including high-pressure physics, chemistry, materials science, and Earth and planetary sciences—to investigate the physical and chemical properties of materials under extreme high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. A prerequisite for achieving reproducible property measurements is the determination and control of pressure within experimental setups. However, the lack of precise pressure calibration in LVPs hinders the broader application of such devices in ultrahigh-pressure studies. This study employs a suite of standard phase transition-based pressure markers—comprising metallic conductors, semiconductors, and minerals—through both in situ and ex situ identification approaches, to establish pressure calibration curves ranging from 0.4 to >30 GPa for various types of LVP installed at the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR), Beijing, including piston–cylinder, cubic, and multi-anvil presses. The results provide a unified and traceable pressure reference for high-pressure experiments conducted at HPSTAR, while also offering technical guidance and calibration standards for other researchers utilizing similar LVP systems, thereby enabling more consistent comparison between different laboratories. This work facilitates the advancement of LVP research toward broader applications in higher-pressure regimes.

Magnesium fluoride (MgF2) serves as an important analog system to study the pressure-induced structural and electronic phase transitions in oxides relevant to geoscience and planetary science, such as SiO2 and GeO2. In this work, through first-principles calculations combined with synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Ramanscattering measurements in laser-heated diamond anvil cells, we study the structural phase transition of MgF2 at high pressure. We confirm the existence of a mixed-coordinated rhombohedral phase with R3 & strns; symmetry in MgF2, which was previously predicted to be thermodynamically stable between 645 and 890 GPa in silica but has never been synthesized experimentally. This R3 & strns; phase is the ground state in the pressure range from 40 to 55 GPa in MgF2, in analogy to silica but at much lower pressure. The in situ high-pressure XRD measurements confirm the phase transition from the pyrite-type phase to the R3 & strns; phase after laser heating at around 51 GPa along with Raman modes well aligned with the calculated R3 & strns; phase. Furthermore, our extended calculations for GeO2 confirm the R3 & strns; phase as the ground state at 250-310 GPa. Considering the similar phase transition sequences of silica and magnesium fluoride, our findings provide a reference for the future experimental verification of the R & strns;3 phase of SiO2, which is of great significance in geoscience and planetary science.

Polar lattice structures and excitonic properties critically govern light-matter interactions and the distinctive functionalities of two-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites (2D OIHPs). However, the multiscale coupling of organic-cation dynamics, inorganic-framework polarization, and electron-phonon interactions obscures the intrinsic relationship between lattice polarization and exciton behavior. Here, we disentangle these coupled effects by applying hydrostatic pressure to a homologous series of 2D perovskites, (iBA) 2 (A) 2 Pb 3 Br 10 (A = MA, EA, MHy). Continuous modulation of the interactions between intralayer A-site cations and the inorganic framework enables the concurrent tuning of lattice polarization and excitonic properties. We identify pressure-induced locking of the intralayer A-site cations and establish its pivotal role in governing lattice polarization. In the cation-locked state, lattice compression markedly enhances polarization; however, the large exciton binding energy precludes efficient exciton dissociation. Instead, the enhanced polarization further localizes excitons and accelerates their recombination, resulting in a shortened photoluminescence lifetime. These findings reveal a cation-dynamics-mediated causal relationship between lattice polarization and exciton behavior, bridging a critical mechanistic gap and providing a principled framework for the rational design of polar 2D perovskites with tailored excitonic properties.

Controlling collective electronic states through clean and reversible external stimuli is crucial for realizing functional quantum materials. Here, we report a study on temperature (T) and pressure (P)-tuned charge-densitywave (CDW) orders in the quasi-one-dimensional system of NbSe3, through single-crystal x-ray diffraction, and electric and magnetotransport measurements. A refined and extended phase diagram is presented, prompting a reevaluation of earlier claims regarding the coexistence of CDW and superconductivity (SC). Here, SC is found to emerge only once all long-range CDWs are suppressed. Notably, the anomalous Hall and magnetoresistance (MR) effects observed at low pressure (LP similar to 0.8 GPa) may arise from distinct carrier types associated with the two competing CDWs, CDW1 and CDW2. These two coexisting CDWs, characterized by distinct modulation vectors, q1 and q2, show pressure-induced opposing shifts in their b* axis projections (denoted as qb* while preserving a phase-coupling relationship 2(q1 + q2) similar to [111]. Upon gradual suppression of the long range 1 of CDW1 stabilizes and enters a decoupled regime within similar to 0.8-1.3 GPa, followed by a pronounced change in its periodicity between similar to 1.3 and 2.9 GPa. Above 2.9 GPa, all long-range CDW orders vanish, giving way to emergent superconductivity (SC).

Roaming-mediated isomerization is a universal reaction mechanism in photochemistry, yet solvent-dependent pathways of roaming intermediates remain poorly understood, particularly for environmentally relevant halogen compounds involved in ozone depletion. Here, using femtosecond time-resolved X-ray solution scattering, we resolve the solvent-dependent roaming dynamics of CHBr3 in methanol and methylcyclohexane. By combining multi-method experimental analysis, machine learning-assisted ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, and density functional theory calculations, we uncover distinct solvent-steered reaction pathways. In methanol, roaming enhances solute-solvent interactions, leading to solvolysis before a stable isomer forms. In methylcyclohexane, roaming facilitates isomerization to a long-lived iso-CHBr2-Br product. Direct dissociation into CHBr2 + Br competes with both pathways in either solvent. By tracking bond-length oscillations and angular dynamics in real time, we visualize how the condensed-phase environment governs the branching ratio between competing pathways. Our findings establish solute-solvent interactions as key factors controlling roaming-mediated reactions in CHBr3, with broad implications for photochemical outcomes in solution.

Introducing dopants via high-temperature solid-state synthesis is a widely employed strategy to enhance the electronic and mechanical properties of inorganic materials. However, the intrinsic distribution and incorporation mechanisms of dopants are often obscured by localized side reactions arising from the inhomogeneous mixing inherent to conventional methods. Here, we present a model system based on sequentially coating the oxides of target dopant elements onto substrate surfaces using atomic layer deposition (ALD), enabling precise investigations of intrinsic doping behaviors and dopant-dopant interactions. This ALD-based methodology ensures uniform and controlled reactions between dopants and substrates, effectively eliminating undesired side products. By sequentially depositing Al2O3 and WO3 onto a Ni0.9Co0.05Mn0.05(OH)2 precursor followed by calcination with LiOH·H2O, we reveal a unique synergistic effect between Al and W: whereas W alone tends to segregate at the particle surface, the presence of Al facilitates its lattice incorporation. Notably, lattice-incorporated W significantly enhances rate capability and high-voltage cycling stability, attributed to robust W-O bonding within the host lattice. This ALD-based model system provides a versatile and broadly applicable platform for elucidating fundamental doping mechanisms in solid-state synthesis, offering critical insights into complex multidopant interactions.

The discovery of superconductivity in pressurized Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) nickelates has provided new perspectives on the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. Up to now, most experiments concentrated on the lanthanum-related RP phase, so the discovery of new superconducting RP nickelates is highly desirable to reveal their generality. Here we report the observation of superconductivity in Pr4Ni3O10 single crystals above 10 GPa, achieving a maximum Tc of 39 K without saturation, significantly exceeding the value of 25–30 K of La4Ni3O10. Ultrasensitive magnetic susceptibility measurements under high pressure indicate bulk superconductivity with appreciable superconducting volume fractions. Unlike La4Ni3O10, the electronic structure of the high-pressure phase of Pr4Ni3O10 exhibits a dramatic metallization of the σ-bonding band consisting of three d_z^2 orbitals and van Hove singularity of coupled bands of d_x^2-y^2 orbitals near the Fermi level, similar to La3Ni2O7. These findings reveal some generic features of both crystal and electronic structures for high-temperature superconductivity in nickelates and multi-layer cuprates.

The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in pressurized Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates has prompted intensive research into their correlated electron physics. Establishing the diversity of ground states across different Ruddlesden-Popper phases is crucial for elucidating the electron-pairing mechanism in these nickelates. In this work, we synthesized and investigated the long-range ordered 1313-type La3Ni2O7 single crystal. Unlike the bilayer nickelate, the 1313-type La3Ni2O7 exhibits semiconducting behavior at ambient pressure, characterized by a distinct anomaly at 170 K. This behavior is consistently corroborated by magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements. 139La nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy unambiguously reveals a spin-density-wave transition occurring at 170 K. High-pressure electrical transport measurements reveal pressure-induced metallization but no discernible signs of superconductivity up to 65 GPa. Our findings establish the 1313-type La3Ni2O7 as a platform for investigating the interplay among crystal structure, density-wave orders, and electron pairing in hybrid nickelates.

The BC8 phase of carbon was theoretically proposed nearly 40 years ago but lacking direct experimental structural confirmation, leaving its high-pressure stability and the predicted diamond-BC8-liquid triple point unresolved. Constraining carbon’s terapascal phase diagram is important for planetary interiors and inertial confinement fusion. Here, we report decaying shock compression experiments on single-crystal diamond with [100] orientation up to 1600 GPa and 14000 K, supported by large-scale molecular dynamics simulations using a machine-learning interatomic potential. Reflectivity increases markedly from 600 GPa and 6000 K, indicating formation of a metastable liquid-like intermediate (MLI). The measured Hugoniot curve closely follows the negative slope of the diamond melting curve between 700 and 830 GPa, is compatible with a diamond-BC8-liquid triple point at approximately 830 GPa and 7200 K, and is consistent with the BC8 melting curve from 830 to 1000 GPa. These measurements provide the high-accuracy thermodynamic constraints for testing melting curve models near the predicted tripe point and support the existence of the predicted BC8 phase of carbon. Simulations suggest that the MLI provides a transient pathway associated with the diamond-to-BC8 transition. These findings provide unprecedented experimental thermodynamic constraints on carbon's high-pressure phase diagram, offer new insights into ultrafast phase transitions in condensed matter at terapascal pressures, and suggest that carbon may contribute to magnetic-field generation within carbon-rich exoplanets. Direct structural confirmation of BC8 through in situ X-ray diffraction remains an open challenge.

Cagelike carbon frameworks, characterized by robust covalent bonding and unique topological motifs, offer a fertile ground for the discovery of high-temperature superconductors under ambient conditions. Inspired by Archimedean polyhedral geometry, we propose a carbon cage structure, C48, featuring cubic symmetry and dynamic stability at ambient pressure. Leveraging this framework, we applied a guest-host engineering approach to systematically explore 961 binary and ternary compounds of the form XY C24 via high-throughput density functional theory calculations, in which the guest elements X and Y are located at the cage corners and body center, respectively. Through stringent stability and metallicity screening, we identified 123 compounds that are both dynamically stable and metallic at ambient pressure, all of which exhibit intrinsic superconductivity. Notably, our analysis reveals a necessary correlation between the dynamical stability of these compounds and the atomic radius of the guest atoms, highlighting the critical role of size compatibility in stabilizing the host-guest framework. Moreover, five of these superconductors exhibit critical temperatures (Tc) exceeding the McMillan limit. Among them, NaRbC24 and TlKC24 demonstrate ideal superconducting properties, with Tc reaching as high as 70.7 and 75.2 K, respectively. The high Tc originates from strong electron-phonon coupling driven by pronounced Fermi surface nesting and carbon-dominated electronic states at the Fermi level. Our findings highlight the critical role of guest atom size in stabilizing the structure and enhancing superconductivity. This work not only enriches the family of carbon-based superconductors but also establishes polyhedral cage design as a powerful paradigm for the targeted discovery of ambient-pressure high-temperature superconductors.

The recently discovered magnetic exciton in the van der Waals (vdW) antiferromagnet NiPS3 exemplifies these phenomena, exhibiting several distinctive characteristics. Despite extensive investigation, much of its physics remains unresolved, with key questions about why the NiPS3 magnetic exciton is so sharp and optically bright despite the nominally spin-forbidden transition, posing significant challenges to a proper understanding and practical manipulation of the exciton. An urgent question is to what extent it is due to chemical disorder, magnetic weakening, lattice modification, or intrinsic instability of the bright exciton itself: answers to which will put stringent constraints on possible theoretical models. Here we address these questions using hydrostatic pressure as a clean, continuous, reversible, and in-situ tuning parameter. We find that the sharp photoluminescence peak is drastically suppressed by as little as 0.4 GPa and completely quenched by 1.5 GPa, with demonstrating its reversibility. Crucially, this bright-to-dark conversion occurs without magnetic, crystallographic, or electronic reconstruction despite an increase in the Neel temperature, as established by Raman, X-ray absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and first-principles many-body calculations. Our results demonstrate that the optical brightness of the magnetic exciton is independent of chemical disorder, lattice expansion, and weakening of magnetic order, indicating that a higher-order correlated mechanism governs the bright exciton. We further propose experimentally constrained microscopic scenarios involving exciton pairing, crystal-field-controlled spin-orbit mixing, and symmetry breaking, providing a framework for future tests of entangled magnetic exciton in correlated quantum magnets.

Increasing the charging cutoff voltage is the most direct way to enhance the energy density of LiCoO2, but it brings severe adverse effects. Here we propose a synergistic strategy of surface reconstruction and lattice oxygen modulation by Ba-doping to improve structural stability and electrochemical performance. Ba-doped LiCoO2 presents fast-charging durability at 4.6 V, and enhanced capacity retention of 69.4% after 200 cycles at 1 C compared to 16.8% for pristine LiCoO2. Introducing both the large ionic radius of Ba and lattice oxygen vacancies facilitates lithium-ion transport. The surface construction tailors the residual alkali layer and rocksalt phase. Two-phase hybrids with heterogeneous Li+ (de)lithiation were observed in pristine LiCoO2 during cycling, while a spinel phase with 3D lithium-ion diffusion channels was observed in Ba-doped LiCoO2. Our strategy suppresses lattice strain, structural degradation, and microcracks, and alleviates gas release during fast charging at high voltage, revealing the potential of lattice engineering to meet the demands of high-voltage batteries.

Over last decade, the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) has continuously refreshed new records at high pressure conditions. Among these superconductors, some systems show remarkably robust Tc after reaching the highest value for a quite broad pressure range, crossing metal elements, high/mid-entropy alloy, and metallic compounds. However, no known superconductor with robust Tc exceeding 20 K across a wide pressure range has been reported, and the underlying mechanism in known robust Tc superconductors is not well understood. Here, alpha-MoB2 maintains the robust Tc of 32 K up to 230 GPa, setting a new high record of robust Tc with a pressure range over 100 GPa, while the upper critical field mu 0Hc2 demonstrates a dome shape. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations reveal a pressure-induced compensatory effect, where the enhancement of superconductivity through an increase in the logarithmic average phonon frequency omega log is counterbalanced by a reduction in electron-phonon coupling (EPC) strength lambda, leading to the robust Tc behavior after reaching the record-high Tc over a broad pressure range. These exceptional high-pressure superconducting properties in MoB2 not only advance our understanding of this important metal diboride, but also offer valuable insights into the mechanisms driving robust superconductivity of other systems.

Metal halide perovskites have emerged as a cornerstone of next-generation optoelectronics, distinguished by their unique structural tunability and versatile functionalities. While chemical engineering has been extensively explored, high pressure provides a powerful thermodynamic dimension to manipulate lattice properties without chemical complexity. This review comprehensively analyzes high-pressure research on metal halide perovskites, bridging fundamental insights with engineering strategies. We examine structural evolution and optoelectronic responses in three-dimensional systems, followed by pressure-modulated excitonic behaviors in low-dimensional analogs. Beyond elucidating emergent phenomena and structure–property relationships, we highlight a paradigm shift toward pressure engineering—leveraging high-pressure discoveries to guide materials design. Key strategies include high-pressure structural mimicry, phase retention via pressure aging or steric effects, and heterostructure construction exploiting differential pressure responses. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future landscape of this field, emphasizing how the integration of advanced high-pressure techniques with simulation can accelerate the discovery of novel functional phases.

As critical volatiles in the deep Earth, carbon and water significantly modify magma activities and mantle dynamics. However, it remains highly controversial how hydrous minerals affect carbonate stability and carbon speciation in the deep mantle. Here, we synthesized 13C-enriched dolomite (MgCa(CO3)2) and experimentally investigated hydrous interactions with the synthetic carbonate at 14-120 GPa and 1,500-2,800 K. Compared to dry conditions with low decarbonation efficiency, hydrous environments significantly boost decarbonation rate, facilitating the formation of superdeep elemental carbon (i.e., graphite, diamond) under deep-mantle conditions. In principle, water polarizes the CO3 2- electron cloud, depleting electron density in C-O bonds and weakening their structural integrity. This water-driven breakdown represents a viable mechanism for carbon mobilization and enrichment via mantle fluids. Our findings highlight tight coupling between deep water and carbon cycles, establishing a mechanistic framework for superdeep diamond genesis.

Multiferroic ferroelectric photovoltaic (FPV) materials, combining magnetic and ferroelectric properties, are of paramount importance for optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. However, optimizing both the remanent polarization and the optical bandgap-key factors for enhanced FPV performance-presents a significant challenge due to their trade-off. This work shows that pressure-induced charge transfer between different metal sites can break this trade-off. Above approximate to 20 GPa, charge transfer between different trivalent iron (Fe) sites in the multiferroic material BaFe4O7 leads to Fe valence disproportionation, FeO4 tetrahedra disorder, and Jahn-Teller distortion of FeO6 octahedra. These changes reduce the bandgap, lower resistivity, and enhance ferroelectric polarization, resulting in a 2.5-fold increase in photocurrent. Upon decompression, BaFe4O7 retains an order-disorder structure, optimal ferroelectric and optical properties at ambient conditions. This work provides a novel pathway to simultaneously optimizing ferroelectricity and bandgap via pressure-induced charge transfer, overcoming the traditional trade-off in FPV materials, and offers a promising approach for developing high polarization performance, narrow-bandgap FPV materials.

Interface instability between the perovskite Li3xLa2/3-xTiO3 (LLTO) and lithium metal anode limits the application in all-solid-state lithium batteries. Direct contact with lithium metal triggers Ti4+ reduction in crystalline LLTO, including rapid lattice destabilization and performance decay, though the governing mechanisms remain unelucidated. Herein, significant insights from multi-scale characterization technologies and molecular dynamics simulations, reveal the formation of oxygen vacancies in LLTO and lithium oxides at the interface. The mechanical measurements with nanoindentation and Vickers hardness allow us to directly quantify the degradation of hardness and elastic modulus of LLTO. Li|LLTO|Li symmetric cells further confirm the electrochemical decline. We propose a degradation mechanism of the interfacial instability from the perspective of microstructure, mechanical, chemical and electrochemical kinetics. This study provides crucial insights into the microscopic origin to understand the interfacial chemical processes, which is helpful to guide future interface designs.

A uniquely shaped impact structure,the Hailin impact crater,has been discovered in northeast China.The crater was formed on a granodiorite hillside and is an oval depression with asymmetric rim height and a maximum diameter of 1360 m.The bottom of the crater is filled by Quaternary sediments with large amounts of rock fragments underneath.The discovery of quartz planar deformation features in rock clasts on the crater floor provides diagnostic evidence for the impact origin of the structure.The shape of the crater is largely due to the impact having occurred on a ridge terrain.The impact event probably occurred in the late Cenozoic Era.The Hailin impact crater is the fourth confirmed Chinese impact crater.