The development of cost-effective electrocatalysts for large-scale H2 production requires both enhanced intrinsic catalytic activity and efficient mass transport under high current densities. Herein, we present a dual-scale design strategy that integrates Ru-Ni2P catalysts with wood-based electrodes to create advanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. At the atomic level, Ru doping enhances the orbital interaction between Ni 3d and P 3p states, inducing electron redistribution that modulates the electronic structure of Ni2P. This modulation optimizes the adsorption free energy of key reaction intermediates, including H & lowast; and H2O & lowast;, thereby accelerating the HER kinetics. At the macrostructural level, we employ freestanding electrodes derived from natural wood, which feature vertically aligned microchannels, to replace conventional binder-loaded nickel foam. This hierarchical architecture facilitates efficient gas bubble release and rapid mass transfer. The integration of Ru-Ni2P catalysts with the wood-based electrodes yields remarkably low overpotentials (18.21 mV at-10 mA cm-2 and 275.11 mV at-1000 mA cm-2) and outstanding durability (600 h at-500 mA cm-2). This work provides a compelling example of designing high-performance electrocatalysts by integrating atomic-scale electronic tuning with macrostructural engineering. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

The methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is a key anodic process in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), yet its practical application is hindered by the sluggish kinetics and high cost of noble metal catalysts. Herein, we report a facile alkaline etching strategy to fabricate nickel hydroxide electrodes with tunable cation vacancies (V-Ni(OH)2/NF) for efficient electrocatalytic methanol oxidation. Starting from NiAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets grown hydrothermally on nickel foam, selective dissolution of Al3+ species in concentrated NaOH solution generates well-defined cation vacancies. The vacancy concentration is readily controlled by adjusting the Ni/Al molar ratio in the precursor. Among the obtained catalysts, V0.1250-Ni(OH)2/NF exhibits the highest MOR activity, achieving a peak current density of 0.112 A cm-2 at 1.72 V (vs. RHE) in 1.0 M KOH + 0.4 M CH3OH, along with good stability. This work demonstrates a vacancy-engineering strategy for designing high-performance, low-cost nickel-based electrocatalysts, offering a promising pathway for sustainable energy conversion technologies.

Practical biomass adhesives for fiber composites require low-viscosity processability, efficient curing, and durable bonding. Inspired by the sequential association and stabilization of collagen, a tannic acid-based adhesive was developed through staged pre-curing association followed by thermally induced network development. Tannic acid (TA), a citric acid-glucose prepolymer (CABP), and an amine-terminated hyperbranched polymer/glutaraldehyde composite (HBPA/GA) supplied phenolic hydroxyl, hydroxyl/carboxyl, and amino-containing sites, respectively, while HBPA/GA regulated the uncured colloidal state. Spectroscopic, colloidal, and rheological analyses indicated formulation-dependent hydrogen bonding, ionic association, and colloidal aggregation before hot pressing, together with changes in ester- and amide-containing chemical environments during curing. Under the investigated curing condition, the HBPA/GA-containing formulation exhibited a higher gel fraction, lower equilibrium swelling, and more pronounced viscoelastic network development than the TA@CABP control. Reed-fiber composites prepared at 140 ℃ for 15 min achieved a flexural strength of 63 MPa, a flexural modulus of 10.31 GPa, an internal bond strength of 0.60 MPa, a tensile strength of 62 MPa, and a 24 h thickness swelling of 14.87

Lignocellulose biomass, a plentiful and renewable resource found in abundance on Earth, holds significant promise in reforming into H2 and value-added biochemicals like lactic acid through photocatalytic technology. However, the efficient photorefinery encounters challenges, including the recombination of photo-induced carriers, poor H2 evolution, and slow biomass oxidation. Here, we report a bimetallic catalyst supported on layered carbon nitride (PtRh/CN) for lignocellulose photoreforming. This catalyst combines the synergistic effects of Pt and Rh, enhancing both the absorption of visible light and the separation and migration of photogenerated charge carriers. The optimal catalyst achieves a high hydrogen production rate of 6.1 mmol g- 1 h- 1 and a lactic acid yield of 92.9 %. Mechanistic studies using specific scavengers demonstrate that e- , h+, 1O2, & sdot;O2- , and & sdot;OH species all facilitate the simultaneous production of hydrogen and lactic acid. This study not only advances the efficient utilization of lignocellulose biomass but also provides a novel framework for designing highly efficient photocatalysts for photoreforming biomass into hydrogen and biochemicals.

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) largely determines the performance of Al/seawater batteries, but reported conventional HER catalysts possess low intrinsic activity in the seawater environment, even for the expensive and scarce Pt-based ones. For the first time, a NF-supported Ni-BTC nanoflower array (NF@Ni-BTC NFA) has been synthesized via urea-mediated self-assembly, whereby the urea in situ generates NH3 to serve as a modulator to both coordinate with Ni2+ and deprotonate BTC. This 3-D nanostructure exhibits superior HER activity than the NF-supported nanosheet array obtained without urea and even commercial Pt/C in the KOH-added simulated seawater. An Al/seawater battery has been fabricated directly using NF@Ni-BTC NFA as the cathode, showing higher power density, anode efficiency, and energy density than all the reported Al/H2O batteries measured in the electrolyte without addition of corrosion inhibitors. This work not only develops a low-cost, highly efficient noble-metal-free HER catalyst for high-performance Al/seawater batteries via facile and economical self-assembly strategy, but provides scientific insights for the self-assembly mechanism and high performance of the HER catalyst and the Al/seawater batteries.

Energy-efficient buildings require sustainable materials that combine structural performance with advanced optical and thermal functionalities to minimize energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we reported a new strategy to develop biodegradable transparent bamboo with a dense and ordered structure, achieved through selective delignification followed by directional pressing to align cellulose nanofibrils. This process yielded large-scale transparent bamboo with remarkable mechanical strength, 78% optical transparency in the visible spectrum, and a high haze (> 90%) that ensured uniform daylight distribution and reduced reliance on artificial lighting. To further impart dynamic solar modulation, a thin polylactic acid film containing tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide (W-VO2) nanoparticles was integrated onto the transparent bamboo substrate. The resulting thermochromic bamboo exhibited a solar modulation ability of 9.7% along with effective thermal regulation that lowered indoor heating loads in hot regions. By synergizing biodegradability, mechanical robustness, and active photothermal control, this transparent bamboo/W-VO2 composite offered a sustainable and high-performance alternative to conventional glass, holding great promise for energy-efficient building applications.

Developing high-performance structural materials from fast-renewable biomass is an effective strategy to reduce dependence on fossil resources and mitigate CO2 emissions. Here, we report a scalable, water-only process that transforms fast-growing bamboo into robust structural materials through hydrothermal-assisted disintegration followed by thermal self-bonding. Subcritical water treatment softens cell walls and enables the controlled separation of high-aspect-ratio (>3000) macrofibers, while inducing the selective lignin migration and surface enrichment. During subsequent hot-pressing, this mobilized lignin undergoes in-situ condensation and interfacial crosslinking, forming a continuous, load-bearing network that reinforces a densely hydrogen-bonded cellulose microfiber framework. Reducing the macrofiber diameter to 100 mu m significantly increases the specific interfacial area and promotes microfiber alignment, yielding fully adhesive-free structural materials with exceptional mechanical performance, including a tensile strength of 580 MPa, a flexural strength of 228 MPa, and a toughness of 4.35 MJ/m(3), surpassing conventional adhesive-bonded fiberboard by 3-5 times. Life-cycle assessment reveals more than a 60% reduction in fossil carbon input and CO2 emissions relative to petroleum-based plastics. This work demonstrates a green and generalizable strategy for lignocellulosic biomass valorization through programmed lignin activation and chemical-free consolidation, providing sustainable production of high-performance bio-based structural materials with a minimized environmental footprint.

MoS2 has garnered significant attention as a potential alternative to platinum for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), though its efficiency is restricted by inert basal planes. Concurrently, costeffective and eco-friendly wood-derived substrates are gaining prominence in electrocatalysis. Herein, a heterostructure comprising MoP and expanded MoS2 (E-MoS2) embedded in phosphorus-doped carbonized wood was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method, followed by simultaneous phosphorization and carbonization using natural wood. The E-MoS2 possessed an enlarged interlayer spacing of 9.8 A & ring;. Coupled with MoP, it formed a built-in electric field that modulated the electronic structure of E-MoS2 and optimized the adsorption energy of reactive intermediates. The hierarchical porous carbonized wood facilitated electrolyte penetration and gas dissipation. Leveraging efficient charge transfer through Mo(P)-S-Mo(S) bonds and the enhanced mass transport within the wood architecture, the catalyst exhibited exceptional HER performance, achieving overpotentials of only 34.0 mV in alkaline and 63.8 mV in acidic media at a current density of-10 mA cm-2. It also demonstrated outstanding stability for over 80 h at-50 mA cm-2 under both conditions, outperforming most reported MoS2-based catalysts. This work provides a sustainable strategy for designing high-performance electrocatalysts for practical applications. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Efficient separation of bamboo fibers and parenchyma cells is essential for sustainable utilization of lignocellulosic biomass, yet conventional non-selective processes cause substantial loss of parenchyma resources. The separation of bamboo fibers and parenchyma cells is fundamentally constrained by the structural heterogeneity of cell wall interfaces. Here we show that dilute alkali treatment selectively acts on the lignin-carbohydrate complex network in parenchyma cells, which is enriched in labile beta-O-4 ether bonds and phenolic ester linkages, while preserving the more condensed structure of fiber cells. This molecular-level selective deconstruction induces a pronounced cell-scale mechanical gradient: the elastic modulus of parenchyma cell walls decreases from 8.35 to 3.14 GPa, whereas that of fiber cell walls remains at approximately 16 GPa. During subsequent hydraulic shearing, this mechanical heterogeneity directs crack propagation along weakened interfaces, enabling a transition from stochastic fracture to controllable cellular dissociation. The yields of both components increase by approximately 10% compared to conventional methods. This work establishes a direct causal link from molecular bond cleavage to macroscopic separation behavior, providing a paradigm for utilizing intrinsic structural heterogeneity rather than combating it. The recovered high-integrity fibers are well suited as discontinuous reinforcements in structural biocomposites, while the intact parenchyma cells can serve as bio-based microcarriers for controlled release. This mechanism-driven approach provides an efficient, low-consumption, and sustainable pathway for the high-value utilization of bamboo biomass.

Developing high-performance fully bio-based adhesives that combine pre-curing interfacial adaptability with cured-network stability is essential for sustainable structural composites. However, most existing bio-based adhesives have insufficient crosslinking density and limited interfacial stress-transfer capability, leading to poor mechanical reliability and moisture resistance. Herein, a fully bio-based adhesive (TCG) was prepared from tannic acid (TA) and soluble citric acid-glucose (CG) oligomeric products through hydrogen-bond-assisted preassembly followed by thermally induced esterification. Before curing, multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions promoted supramolecular preassembly and conformal interfacial contact. Some hydroxyl/carboxyl-associated sites were proposed to be partially converted into ester-related crosslinks during thermal curing, forming a stable supramolecular-covalent network. The improved performance was mainly associated with thermally induced ester crosslinking after curing, assisted by hydrogen-bond-mediated preassembly and improved interfacial contact with pretreated reed fibers. The optimized TCG-5 composite showed a flexural strength of 50 MPa, a flexural modulus of 11,136 MPa, an internal bond strength of 0.54 MPa, and a thickness swelling of 14.44%. These values meet the relevant P3-grade requirements of GB/T 4897–2015. Compared with conventional petroleum-based systems, these formaldehyde-free composites showed outstanding mechanical reliability, dimensional stability, and sustainability, indicating considerable potential for lightweight load-bearing bio-composites and low-carbon structural engineering. This work presents a high-performance, fully bio-based adhesive system. It also establishes a stage-evolved molecular-network strategy for balancing pre-curing interfacial adaptability with post-curing network stability in difficult-to-bond lignocellulosic composites.

Long-term on-skin sensing is constrained by sweat accumulation at the skin-device interface, which disrupts signal stability and user comfort despite advances in breathable materials. Although porous and fibrous substrates improve initial vapor permeability, they typically fail under prolonged perspiration due to localized evaporation and salt buildup. Here, we show that interfacial stability is not fully captured by porosity alone, but is strongly associated with the ability of a permeable scaffold to redistribute liquid through interconnected transport pathways. To realize this concept, we reconfigure natural wood into a permeable flexible wood (PFW) by partially deconstructing the cell-wall matrix, increasing accessibility of hydrophilic pathways, and improving connectivity among axial and lateral transport routes. The resulting material exhibits a water-vapor transmission rate of 136.23 g m- 2 h- 1 and retains 84.3% of its WVTR after five artificial-sweat cycles, while dyed artificial-sweat tests confirm efficient liquid redistribution across the scaffold. As a piezoelectric biointerface, PFW maintains 81.5% of signal amplitude after 6000 mechanical cycles under sweating conditions. These results support multidirectional liquid redistribution as an important design principle for reducing localized salt accumulation and preserving performance under repeated sweating-related challenges, providing a strategy for engineering sweat-stable permeable biointerfaces.

The solvent effect plays a critical role in the process of extracting chemicals from rice straw for high-value utilization. However, studying the solvent effect in the hydrothermal decomposition of rice straw solely through experimental methods remains challenging. This study investigated a tetrahydrofuran/water composite solvent system for the sustainable production of furan chemicals from rice straw. The process achieved a furan chemical yield of 91.1% and a 22.7% yield of levulinic acid. Remarkably, this study employs an integrated approach combining quantum chemical calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental validation to elucidate the molecular-scale mechanism of solvent effects on rice straw hydrolysis and depolymerization in a co-solvent system. Under kinetic control, water molecules facilitate the formation and migration of the catalytic active center, while the organic solvent stabilizes both the center and the furan products via electronic structure modulation. As a result of this positive synergy, technical-economic analysis indicates that processing 1000 kg of rice straw via the developed method can generate an estimated revenue of 155.56 USD. This study establishes a viable model for the economically sustainable production of high-value chemicals from rice straw, providing a blueprint for the large-scale green biorefining of other biomass feedstocks.

Hygroscopic polymeric gels hold a promising avenue for sustainable sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH). However, conventional designs relying on homogeneous hydrophilic networks face an inherent trade-off: strong hydrogen bond-mediated water retention and osmotic pressure-driven water transport. Here, we propose a strategy to construct heterogeneous structure composed of hydrophilic pectin shell and relatively hydrophobic graphene oxide (GO) sheets core for hygroscopic polymeric organgel integrated with glycerol. The pectin shell acts as a gas-liquid conversion interface, enabling continuous and efficient water condensation. The incorporation of pristine GO interlayers significantly reduces the interaction between adsorbed water molecules and hydrophilic functional groups. This configuration enhances glycerol-enabled osmotic pumping for rapid water transport into storage and supports efficient solar-driven water release. The resulting organgel exhibits a high water uptake capacity ranging from 0.83 to 6.57 g g-1 across a broad relative humidity spectrum (30% to 90%). Under 1.0 sun illumination, it achieves a notable desorption rate of 2.06 kg m-2 h-1, contributing to a daily water yield of up to 2.86 Lwaterkgsorbent-1day-1. This heterogeneous structure challenges the conventional paradigm of maximizing hydrophilicity and supports the rational design of high-performance toward next-generation SAWH materials.

Bio-based fluorescent polymer (BFPs) offer a sustainable platform for multifunctional materials. However, concurrently achieving strong fluorescence and antibacterial activity remains a significant challenge because their nutrient-rich carbonaceous backbones often promote microbial colonization and fluorescence degradation. Herein, we propose a molecular design strategy that exploits the aromatic structure and multifunctional groups of eugenol (EU) to construct intrinsically dual-functional BFPs with high fluorescence intensity and effective antibacterial performance. The phenolic hydroxyl and methoxy groups of EU endow the polymer network with strong lipophilicity, facilitating efficient membrane penetration and disruption for potent antibacterial effects. Meanwhile, partial EU molecules are transformed into phenyl-N-alkyl carbamate (PNAC) segments, which selfassemble via hydrogen bonding and it-it stacking to generate stable clusterization-triggered emission (CTE) domains. Subsequent thiol-ene crosslinking with pentaerythritol tetra(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP) enhances molecular rigidity and electronic delocalization, markedly boosting fluorescence quantum yield and emission stability. As a result, the resulting BFPs exhibit an absolute quantum yield of 14.48%, maintain antifungal efficacy exceeding 99.9% for over 7 weeks, achieve >90% antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus, and retain intense and durable fluorescence under varied environments. This work demonstrates a sustainable, highperformance fluorescent-antibacterial bio-based polymers with promising applications in next-generation smart coatings.

Binderless lignocellulosic composites (BLCs), where native lignin functions as an intrinsic binder within the lignocellulosic matrix, are promising sustainable alternatives for structural materials and engineered wood products. However, their practical application is fundamentally limited by a strength-density trade-off originating from insufficient control over lignin reactivity and interfacial consolidation. Herein, an oxidative microenvironment engineering strategy is proposed to fabricate BLCs with concurrently high strength and low density. By tailoring solvent-mediated oxidative systems (H2O2-only, CH3COOH/H2O2, and NaOH/H2O2), lignin bonding states are modulated to balance mobility and condensation, thereby directing distinct interfacial evolution pathways and enabling tunable mechanical performance. The CH3COOH/H2O2 route follows a favorable "mobility-first, curing-second" sequence, in which controlled activation may retain lignin mobility for interfacial redistribution before subsequent condensation consolidates a continuous lignin-rich bonding phase. As a result, the optimized system achieves commercial-level performance (IB = 1.17 MPa; MOR = 25.71 MPa) at a low density (0.90 g cm-3), effectively overcoming the conventional strength-density trade-off. Moreover, the process is scalable and rinse-free, avoiding washing-related wastewater generation and synthetic adhesive addition, and providing a pathway-controlled strategy for sustainable high-performance binderless composites.

The practical application of biomass-derived hard carbon faces dual challenges: widespread issues with insufficient electrochemical performance and stability, coupled with the high energy consumption and severe pollution associated with traditional synthesis methods. This study proposes a green strategy to prepare hard carbon anode materials with tunable interlayer spacing through citric acid-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment combined with low-temperature carbonization of reed. This process utilizes citric acid to catalyze the hydrolysis, aromatization, and self-assembly of hemicellulose and lignin, efficiently removing impurities while forming spherical carbon composite precursors supported by reed fibers. The resulting material, CA-R-900, exhibits moderate interlayer spacing, high graphitization, abundant defect structures, and a mesoporous-dominated pore system. These synergistic properties enhance sodium storage and transport efficiency. Electrochemical performance shows CA-R-900 achieves a reversible capacity of 390.4 mA h g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 with an initial coulombic efficiency of 77.8 %. After 200 cycles, capacity retention reaches 98.5 %. Even at 3.0 A g-1 , it maintains a capacity of 269.4 mA h g-1 , demonstrating outstanding rate performance and stability. Density functional theory calculations theoretically reveal the intrinsic relationship between interlayer spacing and adsorption energy. This study pioneers an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for preparing high-performance biomass-derived hard carbon anodes.

The synergistic interaction between electric double-layer capacitor and pseudocapacitor materials is critical for high-performance supercapacitors, but it remains a challenge to develop a molecular-level approach to maximize this synergistic effect. Herein, for the first time, we report the synthesis of a two-dimensional nanohybrid of pristine-graphene-supported conformal and molecularly interpenetrated phosphomolybdic acid (HPMo)/polyaniline (PANI) multilayer with an ultralow and controlled thickness via in situ layer-by-layer self-assembly, in which HPMo serves as not only a polyanion, but an oxidant to in situ form the PANI polycation. The optimized G@(HPMo/PANI)4.5 shows superior supercapacitor performance compared to most reported electrode materials. It delivers a high specific capacitance of 396 F g- 1 at 1 A/g in a three-electrode system. The symmetric supercapacitor fabricated using G@(HPMo/PANI)4.5 electrode exhibits a specific capacitance of 213 F g- 1 at 1 A/g and an energy density of 21.0 Wh kg- 1 at 400 W kg-1, outperforming most reported supercapacitors, and excellent cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 87.5% after 10,000 cycles at 2.5 A/g. This study not only develops a novel ultrathin inorganic-organic hybrid electrode material to maximize the synergistic effect of electric double-layer and pseudocapacitive charge storage behaviors on the molecular level, but sheds light on the mechanisms for self-assembly and high supercapacitor performance.

Wood is highly valued and widely used for its eco-friendly and sustainability. However, the inherent flammability severely limits the practical application of wood. Here, the modified wood (ADP-SiO2@Cu/DW) with excellent flame-retardant and smoke-suppression properties was synthesized by in situ constructing the Cu-MOF (MOF-199)/Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate-SiO2 (ADP-SiO2) functional layer within delignified poplar wood (DW). Hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of wood were exposed by delignification, which provided abundant active sites to anchor Cu2+ and ADP-SiO2. Also, the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on wood adsorbed initial Cu2+ ions, providing sites for the nucleation of Cu-MOF. With further impregnation of ADP-SiO2, the ADP-SiO2@Cu-MOF functional layer was in situ constructed in DW. Impressively, Cu-MOF (MOF-199) effectively promoted the uniform dispersion of ADP-SiO2 particles within wood, and produced the uniform flame-retardant and smoke-suppression layer of ADP-SiO2@Cu-MOF on cell wall of DW. Consequently, the resulted ADP-SiO2@Cu/DW demonstrated significant flame-retardant and smoke-suppression properties, with lower peak heat release rate (pHRR) of 22.3 kW m-2, total heat release (THR) of 4.1 MJ m-2, and total smoke production (TSP) of 0.79 m2, respectively. These values demonstrated dramatic reductions of 93.9 %, 87.4 %, and 83.8 % compared to those of natural wood (NW). Moreover, ADP-SiO2@Cu/DW presented enhanced thermal stability with denser char layer and higher residual char yield of 46.2 %. The flame-retardant and smoke-suppression mechanism of ADP-SiO2@Cu/DW was summarized. The combined effect of delignification and ADP-SiO2@Cu-MOF functional layer promoted the flame-retardant and smoke-suppression properties of wood dramatically. This work provided an efficient method for the functional modification of wood.

Designing synergistic regulation strategies is widely recognized as an effective approach to enhancing electrocatalytic performance. This study synthesized a nanosheet array composed of Cr-Co2P confined within a P, N co-doped carbon matrix (Cr-Co2P@PNC) through a facile synchronous carbonization-phosphorization method, then anchored onto a P-doped carbonized wood framework (PCW) to construct a composite catalyst. Benefiting from the synergistic coupling between the Cr-Co2P@PNC nanosheet array architecture and the wood-derived carbon matrix, the Cr-Co2P@PNC/PCW demonstrates remarkable catalytic activity and long-term durability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), achieving an overpotential of 283 mV at 50 mA cm-2 with stable operation exceeding 100 h. When integrated with commercial Pt/C into an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer, it delivers 500 mA cm-2 at 1.87 V and exhibits excellent durability. Experimental characterization and theoretical calculations confirm that the coupling of the wood-derived interconnected hierarchical porous structures with the nanosheet array facilitates extensive contact between active sites and electrolyte, enhancing mass transport during reactions. Cr doping modulates the electronic structure, alleviating strong adsorption at Co sites and reducing the energy barrier of the OER rate-determining step. The P, N co-doped carbon matrix inhibits the corrosion and aggregation of metal active sites and promotes electron transfer to optimize reaction kinetics. This work demonstrates an optimization strategy for OER composite catalysts while providing new perspectives for exploring renewable wood-derived catalyst designs.

Designing non-precious metal electrocatalysts enabling the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) operates steadily at substantial current densities for long time is crucial for electrolysis commercialization. Within this work, we successfully fabricated a self-supporting sea urchin-like nickel modified tungsten oxide catalyst on carbonized wood. The electrode requires merely 56 mV achieving a current of 10 mA cm- 2, which is comparable to that of advanced nickel-based and tungsten-based HER catalysts. The anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer equipped with the self-supporting Ni-WO3/CW cathode achieves 1 A cm- 2 under 2.23 V, sustaining stable operation for 300 h without obvious change. The carbonized wood, with its improved conductivity and hierarchical porous structure, coupled with the superhydrophilic and superaerophobic properties of the electrocatalyst, which facilitated rapid bubble detachment and electrolyte penetration, effectively promoting the charge transfer under and achieving stable operation under a large current density. Density functional theory calculation and experiments confirm dual nickel species effectively modulate charge modulation and tailors the adsorption energetics of reaction intermediates, thus enhancing the activity of the catalyst in HER within alkaline solution. This work provides an innovative strategy for designing HER catalysts with substantial current density in alkaline solutions and opens new ideas for the high-value utilization of wood resources.