With the vigorous development of artificial intelligence and the semiconductor industry, the treatment of a mass of copper- and fluorine-containing industrial wastewater poses a challenge to the sustainable development of human society and the environment. This study presents a scalable synthesis of 3D porous Cu4(OH)6FCl nanosheets via the self-assembly of Cu2+, F-, and Cl- from industrial wastewater. Benefiting from the unique 3D porous nanosheet structure that facilitates the extensive exposure of redox active sites (∼92.7%), the Cu4(OH)6FCl anode in a lithium-ion battery delivers remarkable reversible capacity (958 mAh g-1 at 0.04 A g-1) and exhibits exceptional cycling stability (no capacity decay after 1000 cycles at 0.64 A g-1), significantly outperforming its bare CuF2 and CuCl2 counterparts. This research presents a novel strategy for upcycling industrial wastewater to high-performance anode materials in a mild coprecipitation manner, promoting the unity of environmental, social, and economic benefits.

ABSTRACT Gallium‐based liquid metals (Ga‐LMs) have enabled encouraging conceptual advances in next‐generation rechargeable batteries, combining high electrical conductivity, self‐healing behavior, strong metal‐ion affinity, and spontaneous alloying. Demonstrations across Li‐ion, Li metal, Na‐ion, Na metal, Zn‐ion, Mg‐ion, and Li–S systems highlight Ga‐LMs' versatility as binders, conductive networks, interfacial wetting agents, and protective coatings—helping to mitigate volume changes, accelerate kinetics, and suppress dendrite formation. While it remains premature to assess their commercial readiness, a critical evaluation of these conceptual breakthroughs is timely, particularly in comparison to mature functional materials and realistic lab‐scale cell standards. Many reported Ga‐LM components are fabricated under conditions that diverge from scalable battery manufacturing practices (e.g., nonstandard electrode preparation) and tested under relaxed conditions (e.g., low mass loading, flooded cells, low current densities). Key challenges, including nanoparticle agglomeration, gravimetric energy penalties, unwanted reactions with battery components, phase transition‐induced solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) instability, and long‐term stability under standard cycling protocols, remain unresolved or, more accurately, largely unexplored. Moreover, gallium's limited and geographically concentrated production raises important concerns regarding cost, scalability, and long‐term materials stewardship. In this perspective, we critically assess the core hypotheses driving Ga‐LM integration, benchmark reported performance against established standards and examine how recent in situ and operando characterization strategies, together with emerging end‐of‐life recovery and recycling pathways, inform both the mechanistic understanding and the sustainability of Ga‐LM deployment. By identifying where Ga‐LMs provide genuine advantages, and where more established strategies remain preferable, we offer constructive recommendations to guide future research toward solutions that can transition from inspiring lab‐scale concepts to commercially relevant technologies.

The direct conversion and storage of solar energy in photo-rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (PRZIBs) is an attractive route toward sustainable power, yet practical output is often constrained by inefficient photocarrier separation and sluggish charge transport kinetics. Here we report a hierarchical MoS2/SnO2/TiO2@Ti composite photocathode to address these bottlenecks. This rationally engineered structure exhibits high visible-light harvesting, efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and rapid pathways for charge transport, collectively leading to improved performance. As a result, the fabricated photocathode delivers a specific capacity nearly twice that achieved in the dark. Under continuous illumination for 2 h, the PRZIB exhibits an open-circuit photovoltage of 1.0 V and a photoconversion efficiency of 1.3%. To demonstrate practical applicability, it was successfully integrated into the smartwatch, underscoring its potential use in next-generation autonomous wearable devices. This work provides a practical composite-architecture design strategy for developing highperformance photo-rechargeable batteries.

LiFePO4/graphite (LFP/Gr) batteries are extensively used in energy storage. During cycling, the repeated lithiation/delithiation of active materials induces periodic stress fluctuations, which negatively impact electrochemical performance. Unveiling the correlation between stress evolution and electrode-level changes during long-term cycling is crucial for accurately estimating the state of health of the battery. Herein, a selfdeveloped high-precision in situ stress monitoring platform is used to track the stress evolution of LFP/Gr batteries over 500 cycles in real time. By combining the characterization of transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), it is found that the increase in the stress baseline during aging can reflect the thickening of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the Gr particles, while the change in the stresscurve amplitude indicates an increase in the cracking degree and proportion of LFP particles owing to the increased specific surface area of the cracked LFP particles that accelerate the phase-change rate on the positive electrode side. By establishing the connection between macroscopic stress features and electrode microstructures, this research provides experimental evidence for further stress-based battery state estimation technologies.

Herein, a novel colorimetric system based on bimetallic copper-silver (Cu/Ag) nanozymes has developed for hydroquinone determination. The bimetallic Cu/Ag nanozymes possess oxidase-mimic activity and could rapidly oxidize TMB to blue oxTMB. When HQ was added to the sensing system, blue oxTMB was reduced to colorless TMB, causing the absorbance to decrease. The proposed assay exhibited excellent performance for hydroquinone assay with a detection limit of 85 nM. Moreover, this strategy can be used to hydroquinone assay in spiked tap and river water samples with favorable recoveries of 97.4%-106.5%.

A fluorescent aptamer sensor for kanamycin was constructed based on G-quadruplex DNAzyme and Exo III-assisted signal amplification. Target binding triggered cDNA release, activating Exo III to cleave HP and release G-quadruplex, which formed a DNAzyme with hemin to catalyze OPD oxidation and generate fluorescence. The method achieved a detection limit as low as 0.063 nM.

Quasi-solid/solid-state sulfur redox reactions critically determines the electrochemical stability of room-temperature sodium‑sulfur (Na-S) batteries, yet the field still lacks comprehensive and profound understanding of underlying mechanisms. This directly contributes to ambiguous interpretation of fundamental electrochemical principles as well as substantial obstacles to performance breakthroughs and practical applications of Na-S batteries. In this critical review, we comprehensively present deep understanding of quasi-solid/solid-state sulfur redox reactions in Na-S batteries. First of all, the differences of various sulfur redox reaction mechanisms are analyzed with a focus on their formation origins a and behavior characteristics. Following by it, the fundamental principles and methodologies of designing quasi-solid/solid-state sulfur redox reactions are elaborated, especially emphasizing their correlation to materials, electrolytes, and interfaces. Then, we systematically discuss how to kinetically manipulate quasi-solid/solid-state sulfur conversion in Na-S batteries. Finally, reasonable perspectives are offered to guide future development of Na-S batteries.

Dispersing catalytically active gallium (Ga)-based liquid metal (LM) nano- and micro-droplets onto solid metallic mesh substrates remains challenging due to their strong tendency to either agglomerate or migrate away from the substrate. Another challenge is the reactivity of Ga with support metals, often forming discrete solid intermetallic phases. Here, we develop a 3D matrix formed by fused tungsten nanoparticles (W NPs) to physically entrap Ga-based LM nano-droplets, which effectively prevent their agglomeration and stabilize their reactive surface. Printing these W/LM composites onto a porous substrate (e.g., molybdenum (Mo) mesh) further promoted their dispersion and brought about enhanced electrochemical reactivity. To verify the efficiency of this strategy, we printed Pt-in-Ga droplets mixed with W NPs onto porous Mo substrate and evaluated their performance by two model reactions-CO2RR (CO2 reduction reaction) and HER (Hydrogen evolution reaction). The printed showed remarkable stability and reactivity toward both reactions. In addition, computational investigations revealed distinct active motifs for these two reactions, supporting the notion that adaptive LM catalysts can facilitate diverse reaction pathways depending on the targeted reactions.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a sensitive analytical technique, which converts electrochemical energy into electromagnetic radiation. With its high sensitivity, low background noise, and excellent controllability, ECL demonstrates significant application potential in fields such as bioanalysis, environmental monitoring, and food safety. However, traditional co-reactant-based ECL systems often suffer from low reaction efficiency and require relatively high concentrations of co-reactants to achieve satisfactory luminescence performance. The introduction of co-reaction accelerators (CRAs) offers an innovative strategy for constructing efficient and stable ECL systems by promoting the generation and transformation of reactive co-reactant intermediates. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in CRAs. First, based on material composition, CRAs are categorized into three major categories: inorganic CRAs, bio-organic CRAs, and multifunctional CRAs. The fundamental principles of ECL and the underlying mechanisms of CRA-mediated signal enhancement are then discussed. We also summarize recent achievements of CRA-based ECL sensing platforms in detecting disease biomarkers and environmental pollutants, as well as in food safety applications. Finally, we discuss current challenges in this field and outline future development directions, aiming to provide valuable insights for the rational design of next-generation high-performance ECL analytical technologies.

Herein, a track-based orbital DNA walker is used to design a novel ECL biosensor for the highly sensitive detection of Pb2+ based on Ag3PO4@perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA). Ag3PO4@PTCA works as the ECL emitter; K2S2O8 acts as the co-reactant; and the DNA walker is used as the signal amplification strategy. Because Ag3PO4@PTCA exhibits a higher initial ECL luminescence signal than either Ag3PO4 or PTCA alone, it improves the sensitivity, and increases the signal-to-noise ratio for the ECL biosensor. In the presence of Pb2+, the orbital DNA walker is activated to cut the strand containing the Fc group (i.e., L2-Fc, a quenching group) in the track chain. The DNA walker detaches from the as-cleaved L2-Fc and moves to the un-cleaved L2-Fc. Finally, as-cleaved L2-Fc detaches from the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface, and the ECL signal is restored. This ECL biosensor exhibits a low LOD of 0.253 fM in a wide range of 1 mu M-10 fM for Pb2+ assay. Furthermore, this ECL biosensor exhibits high specificity, good stability, excellent reproducibility and great practicability for Pb2+ detection in lake and river water.

Gallium-based liquid metal (LM) nanoparticles hold an exceptional promise for catalysis, energy storage, and printed electronics due to their high conductivity, fluidity, and dynamic catalytic surfaces. However, maintaining their mechanical and chemical stability remains a major challenge, as LM nanoparticles tend to agglomerate due to their high surface tension and are susceptible to chemical degradation, such as dissolution or leaching in reactive environments. Surface modification and encapsulation techniques are employed to enhance the mechanical and functional stability of these particles. Previously, methane pyrolysis has been considered as a route to produce high-purity hydrogen and carbon. In this work, we employ methane pyrolysis as a controllable route to synthesise carbon-encapsulated Ga-based alloy nanoparticles (NPs), where catalytic activity serves as the driving mechanism for shell formation rather than the ultimate function of the material. During pyrolysis, trimetallic Cu-Pt-Ga NPs act as transient catalytic sites that initiate carbon growth, while the resulting graphitic shell provides mechanical confinement, prevents agglomeration, and enhances resistance to leaching. By tuning alloy composition, the rate and morphology of carbon formation can be modulated, enabling precise control over the resulting core-shell architecture. Overall, the primary contribution of this work is the demonstration of a robust and general method for producing carbon-coated liquid-metal nanomaterials with tailored structural and functional properties for applications beyond catalysis.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising large-scale energy storage devices due to their intrinsic safety, low cost, and environmental compatibility. Despite these advantages, their practical deployment is hindered by zinc dendrite growth, parasitic side reactions, and the limited scalability of existing separator technologies. Herein, we report a scalable electrospun polyimide nanofiber (PINF) separator that integrates uniform three-dimensional ion-transport pathways and intrinsic zincophilicity. The highly porous nanofiber network homogenizes Zn2+ flux and lowers the local current density, while imide functional groups promote Zn2+ desolvation and preferential (002)-oriented deposition. Concurrently, the aromatic backbone restricts water migration towards the zinc surface, suppressing hydrogen evolution and corrosion. As a result, a Zn|PINF|Zn symmetric cell achieved stable cycling for 1000 h at an ultrahigh current density of 50 mA cm−2. An areal capacity of 50 mAh cm−2 was recorded, which corresponds to a cumulative plating capacity of 50 Ah cm−2. The separator further enabled improved reversibility in Zn|PINF|Cu cells and enhanced rate capability and durability in Zn|PINF|MnO2@carbon nanotube full cells, while maintaining mechanical flexibility and recyclability. This work demonstrates that synergistic coupling of pore architecture and functional chemistry in a scalable polymer separator provides an effective pathway toward dendrite-free and sustainable AZIBs.

A multifunctional electrochemiluminescence (ECL) coreaction accelerator, AuAgPt nanoframes (NFs), is described for use in an ECL aptasensor for highly sensitive aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) detection. As a signal quencher, the broad UV-vis absorption spectrum of AuAgPt nanosheets (NSs) overlaps the ECL emission spectrum of g-C3N4@Au, triggering an ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET). By the adjustment of the dosage of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the AuAgPt NSs are transformed into AuAgPt NFs because H2O2 etches Ag in AuAgPt NSs into Ag+, which disrupts the RET process. The as-formed AuAgPt NFs act as a coreaction accelerator to enhance the ECL response of the g-C3N4@Au/K2S2O8 system. Without AFB1, the Ag-dependent DNAzyme is inactive, and a strong ECL signal is observed. After AFB1 is added, the AFB1 aptamer targets AFB1 and the DNAzyme active site is exposed. As-generated Ag+ further activates DNAzyme to cut the substrate strand (S-DNA), which causes AuAgPt NFs to detach from the electrode surface and the ECL signal to significantly decrease. Under optimal conditions, the proposed ECL aptasensor exhibits high sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.11 fg/mL in the range of 1 fg/mL to 1 μg/mL for AFB1 detection.

Despite the rising use of liquid metal alloys in catalytic applications, the nature of synergistic effects between constituent metals which are central to achieving enhanced reactivity, remains unclear. Herein, we report the synthesis of liquid metal alloys consisting of discretely dispersed Cu in the eutectic gallium-indium alloy EGaIn and investigate the role Cu plays in the activation of Ga. The performance of Cu-based liquid metal alloys was assessed for the synthesis of solketal and in situ hydrogen generation applications. Molecular dynamics simulations combined with experimental investigation indicated that the activation of Ga atoms by adjacent Cu atoms is responsible for the observed enhanced activity of the Cu-EGaIn alloy. This research clarifies the role dissolved metallic species play in liquid metal catalysis and also highlights opportunities for the use of liquid metals as reducing agents in organic synthesis and in situ hydrogen generation applications.

Two-dimensional tin disulfide (SnS2) has emerged as a promising candidate for high-performance energy storage systems, owing to its exceptional theoretical capacity and favorable electrochemical properties. Nevertheless, the practical application of SnS2 is severely hindered by structural instability during electrochemical cycling, manifested as substantial volumetric expansion, particle agglomeration, and electrolyte-induced dissolution. To address these challenges, we developed a novel nanocomposite through surface modification of SnS2 with a Sn4+crosslinked sodium alginate (Sn-SA) hydrogel matrix. This rationally designed architecture demonstrates dual functionality: accommodating the volume fluctuations of the active material and mitigating parasitic reactions. Benefiting from this structural optimization, the SnS2@Sn-SA composite electrode delivers an impressive reversible capacity of 797 mAh g- 1 at 0.1C while maintaining exceptional cycle life. This study not only presents a viable strategy for stabilizing conversion-alloy-type electrode materials but also highlights the potential of biopolymers in advanced energy storage technologies.

The self-decomposition of hydrogen peroxide inevitably hinders the sensitivity and luminous efficiency of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) systems. For the first time, as a new and advanced coreactant, glucose was efficiently activated by PTCA/graphene oxide (PTCA/GO) to generate numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) for triggering the ECL emission of PTCA. PTCA/GO exhibits excellent glucose oxidase-like and catalase (CAT)-like activities to achieve the in situ generation and accumulation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radicals (O2•-). Meanwhile, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of PTCA/GO follows a four-electron pathway to produce more ·OH and O2•-. The as-accumulated ·OH and O2•- subsequently react with PTCA anion radicals (PTCA•-) to emit strong ECL signals. Finally, a novel ECL biosensor was fabricated based on the PTCA/GO-glucose system for the ultrasensitive detection of glucose and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

BACKGROUND:Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by transient brain dysfunction due to abnormal neuronal discharges. Oxidative stress is strongly correlated with epilepsy onset and progression and is a critical factor in triggering seizures. Therefore, antioxidants may serve as effective anti-seizure treatments. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP), which have antioxidant properties and function as nano-enzymes, may offer neuroprotective and therapeutic benefits for epilepsy. This study aims to investigate the effects of CNP on epilepsy. METHODS:We established a pilocarpine (PILO)-induced epilepsy rat model to assess the effects of pretreatment with different doses of CNP on epileptic behavioral changes, electroencephalographic activity, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) signaling in rats. RESULTS:In brief, a dose of 2.5 mg/kg CNP prolonged the latency of PILO-induced seizures in rats (p < 0.05), reduced the severity of seizures (p < 0.05), and decreased the 24-h mortality rate (p < 0.01). Additionally, CNP also extended the latency of epileptiform discharges (p < 0.01) and significantly decreased the average energy density of electroencephalographic activity (p < 0.0001). It inhibited seizure-induced lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001) and increased superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05) and catalase activities (p < 0.01). Furthermore, pretreatment with CNP elevated the expression of NRF2 and NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) in antioxidative stress pathways (p < 0.05) and reduced neuronal necrosis and degeneration in CA1 and CA3 regions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:CNP exhibits anti-epileptic and neuroprotective effects in PILO-induced epilepsy. This protective effect is likely due to the enhancement of the NRF2 signaling pathway, which regulates antioxidant enzymes, improves neuronal defense mechanisms against oxidative stress, and reduces seizure-induced neuronal damage.

To overcome the drawbacks of poor stability and analytical accuracy with exogenous co-reactants in electrochemiluminescence (ECL), a self-enhanced nanoemitter, i.e., polyethylenimine-coupled pyrene derivative doped silica nanoparticles (H4-PEI@SiO2 NPs), is proposed in this work. Here, H4-PEI@SiO2 NPs not only serves as an emitter, but also plays the role of endogenous coreactant. Based on H4-PEI@SiO2 NPs, a self-enhanced ECL aptasensor is fabricated for ultra-sensitive detection of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Notably, as the endogenous coreactant, polyethyleneimine (PEI) covalently connects with 1, 3, 6, 8-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrene (H4TBAPy) to form H4-PEI@SiO2 NPs, which exhibit robust ECL emission. When DEHP is present, its aptamer would target DEHP and release trigger DNA (tDNA) to initiate catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) cycles. Then, ferrocene (Fc)-modified hairpin chain DNA2 (H2-Fc) is captured by the as-opened hairpin chain DNA1 (H1). As a result, the ECL signal of H4-PEI@SiO2 NPs is significantly quenched by H2-Fc. The ECL aptasensor exhibits ultrasensitive and highly selective detection of DEHP in a wide concentration range of 1 fg/mL to 0.1 mu g/mL with a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.04 fg/mL. What's more, the ECL aptasensor exhibits outstanding practicality for DEHP assay in real food and water samples. This work provides a promising ECL platform for monitoring pollutants and food safety.