Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction to produce selective C3 alcohols, particularly 2-propanol (2-PrOH), remains challenging due to sluggish kinetics of *C2–*C1 coupling through direct CO2 conversion under mild conditions. Conventional electrochemical routes to C3+ alcohols often require sacrificing operational simplicity and energy efficiency to overcome intrinsic kinetic barriers. Consequently, the selective formation of C3+ alcohols under ambient aqueous conditions remains a central challenge in electrochemical CO2 reduction. Herein, we demonstrate synergistic dual-pathway CO2 reduction arising from spatially engineered electronic heterogeneity in Ce(OH)x-doped Ni2P (Ce(OH)x/Ni2P). Low-valent Niδ+ sites induced by Ce(OH)x doping uniquely stabilize bidentate *OCHO intermediates, while pristine Ni2P regions maintain conventional *COOH pathways. This distinctive coexistence of dual pathways facilitates *C2–*C1 coupling through aldol condensation with *CHx insertion from Fischer-Tropsch-like process, resulting in highly efficient 2-PrOH production. At an ultralow overpotential of −0.02 V vs. RHE under ambient atmospheric conditions, Ce(OH)x/Ni2P achieves 21.0% of Faradaic efficiency and 17.3% of energy efficiency for 2-PrOH, with excellent stability over 48 h. This work reveals that engineered nanoscale heterogeneity leads to the coexistence of reaction pathways rather than their competition, yielding superior product selectivity for sustainable CO2 valorization.

Amidst the chronic issue of opioid misuse, finding an alternative to pharmaceutical pain control following surgical interventions stands as a major hurdle. Conventional non-pharmacological pain control technologies often rely on rigid stimulators linking internal and external body components, thereby imposing nerve burden and additional interventions for the removal. Here we introduce a bioresorbable triboelectric nerve cuff activated via ultrasounds for pain control. The targeted nerves are enveloped around polymers with opposite triboelectric properties that vibrate upon ultrasound stimulation, generating an alternating triboelectric field parallel to the nerve for pain modulation. In vivo testing in rat and porcine models demonstrates that the fully implanted neurostimulator exerts no discernible impact on gait and yields immediate pain relief. Application of the implant until full resorbing caused no adverse effects in the nerve or surrounding muscle tissue, and behavioural analysis confirmed its effective pain control. The implantable pain control system might offer a drug-free alternative to pain management strategies, helping prevent drug abuse. A nerve cuff composed of bioresorbable and ultrasound-activated triboelectric polymers is used to block pain in rats and pigs.

Growing concerns over lithium cost and supply limitations have led to increasing interest in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, hard carbon (HC) anodes suffer from low initial Coulombic efficiency due to irreversible sodium loss during the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase and ion trapping, which reduces the useable capacity in full-cell systems. Various sacrificial sodium sources have been investigated, but many generate gas, react with moisture, or degrade the cathode when they are mixed directly with it. In this study, we present a presodiation strategy based on a MnO@NaF composite (MNC) coated onto the cathode-facing side of the separator (MNCS). They are inexpensive, stable in air, and compatible with standard electrode fabrication processes. The MNC releases additional sodium through NaF decomposition catalyzed by MnO with negligible gaseous byproducts. By placing the MNC on the separator rather than on the cathode, the design avoids unwanted reactions while improving sodium availability and ion transport. When applied to a full cell with an O3-type Na[Li0.05(Ni0.25Fe0.25Mn0.5)0.95]O2 cathode and HC anode, the MNCS increased the initial discharge capacity to 169.5 mAh g-1 and maintained 69.5% of its capacity after 200 cycles. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in improving the available energy density and long-term stability in SIBs.

ABSTRACT Rotational triboelectric nanogenerators (r‐TENGs) are promising candidates for powering Internet of Things devices, owing to their ability to convert continuous mechanical motion into electricity. Nevertheless, improving their electrical output often comes at the cost of increased frictional degradation, which limits overall energy‐conversion efficiency and long‐term durability. Here, we introduce a novel r‐TENG to reconcile the intrinsic trade‐off between contact sufficiency and frictional dissipation. By inducing a hybrid kinematic profile, characterized by synchronized sliding and bouncing of fluorinated ethylene propylene blades, the device activates an auxiliary charge‐feeding mechanism while simultaneously mitigating wear. Experimental validation reveals that this configuration significantly enhances power density by 27% compared to constant‐length counterparts, achieving a root‐mean‐square voltage of ∼1.8 kV and a remarkable energy conversion figure of merit of 130.1 µC2 mN−1 m−5. Furthermore, we demonstrate the practical utility of this system through a self‐powered, indoor wind‐driven microbial disinfection platform. Utilizing the harvested energy to drive a Cu3P nanowire‐modified filter, the system achieves over 99.99% inactivation efficacy against both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis via an irreversible electroporation mechanism. These findings underscore the potential of the extendable swing arm r‐TENG as a sustainable, dual‐function solution for ubiquitous energy harvesting and airborne pathogen control in indoor environments.

Amphiphilic additives are commonly incorporated into hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes to enhance water permeability and fouling resistance. Although numerous studies have reported additive surface migration in nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) membrane systems, corresponding studies in thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) systems remain very limited, particularly with respect to simulation-based mechanistic investigations of crystallization-driven membrane formation. In this study, amphiphilic comb copolymers, poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PTFEMA-co-POEM) (PTFO), were synthesized and employed to elucidate additive migration during TIPS membrane formation. To isolate the intrinsic thermodynamic and kinetic factors governing additive redistribution, a simplified ternary PVDF/PTFO/diluent model system was intentionally employed. A multiscale simulation framework combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was integrated with experimental characterization to model temperature-driven phase separation and subsequent solvent exchange processes. The simulations revealed weaker interactions between PTFO and the diluent compared to PVDF–diluent pairs, leading to enhanced mobility and preferential interfacial localization of PTFO along membrane surfaces and pore walls during cooling and washing. Experimental results confirmed improved surface hydrophilicity with increasing PTFO content while preserving comparable pore structure and crystallization-driven membrane morphology. These findings provide molecular-level mechanistic insight into additive redistribution, surface enrichment, and interfacial localization during crystallization-driven TIPS membrane formation. More broadly, the results establish a general framework for understanding and designing surface-segregating amphiphilic additives in crystallization-driven TIPS membrane systems.

A composition-dependent Ni2P@PPy nanocomposite is developed as a multifunctional electrocatalyst-supercapacitor. Upon controlling Ni2P loading, Ni2P@PPy switches functionality, delivering efficient hydrogen evolution (102 mV at 10 mA cm-2) or ultrahigh supercapacitor performance (2961 F g-1 at 10 A g-1), highlighting a rational strategy for integrated energy conversion and storage.

Composition-tunable Ni 2 P@PPy switches between the HER and surface redox-dominated supercapacitor behavior via balanced Ni 2 P active sites and PPy-mediated charge transfer.

Dry electrodes with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binders are promising candidates for sustainable lithium-ion batteries owing to their low cost, environmental sustainability, and compatibility with high-mass-loading designs; however, the application of PTFE in anodes is hindered by its irreversible reduction at low potentials and degradation mechanisms, which remain under investigation. This study elucidates the influence of the molecular weight of PTFE on the electro-chemo-mechanical stability of dry-processed graphite anodes. Dry electrodes with a low content (0.5 wt.%) of high-molecular-weight PTFE show ultra-high areal capacities of similar to 11, 22, and 33 mAh cm(-2). Under lean electrolyte conditions, pouch cells incorporating the optimized high-molecular-weight PTFE electrode attain a high volumetric energy density (> 840 Wh L-1 at 0.1 C) and a capacity retention of 76% over 300 cycles-significantly outperforming conventional wet-processed electrodes (> 790 Wh L-1 at 0.1 C, capacity retention approximate to 56%). This study provides fundamental insights into the degradation of PTFE and presents a viable pathway toward scalable, high energy density, and environmentally sustainable battery manufacturing.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) require sustainable and efficient energy sources for long-term operation. Ultrasound-driven triboelectric nanogenerators offer a promising solution by converting ultrasonic energy into electricity. However, their practical application is hindered by challenges in maintaining high output performance and stability. This study introduces an acoustic impedance mismatched triboelectric nanogenerator (AIM-TENG) that optimizes ultrasonic energy harvesting through controlled acoustic impedance variations. The AIM-TENG incorporates a patterned triboelectric membrane with concave regions that enhance vibration and convex regions that suppress it, achieving a similar to 200% increase in short-circuit output current compared with a planar film device of identical size at an ultrasound intensity of 0.5 W/cm2, while maintaining this enhancement after a 100-million-cycle vibration test. In vivo implantation in rats demonstrated stable electrical output for six weeks, with efficient battery charging rates exceeding flat film-based designs. The integration of structural optimizations and material properties underscores the AIM-TENG's potential as a reliable energy source for IMDs, offering insights into advanced ultrasonic device design for biomedical applications.

To advance binder-free aluminum (Al) foil anodes beyond the conventional trade-off between mechanical integrity and interfacial instability, we integrate bulk microstructure programming and interphase engineering within a single process-realistic architecture. Al-carbon nanotube (CNT) composite foils are fabricated via spark plasma sintering of ball-milled powders followed by rolling, which builds an electronically percolated CNT network and activates the pre-existing and milling-refreshed surface oxide. A modest CNT loading (1 vol%) yields an ultrafine-grained Al matrix (similar to 0.83 & micro;m) with a pronounced hardness increase while preserving a favorable strength-ductility balance. Critically, prelithiation converts the mechano-chemically fragmented Al2O3 into a Li2O-rich inorganic passivation layer that compensates lithium-inventory and provides a mechano-chemically stable interface. With this interphase, CNTs primarily redistribute flux that homogenizes electrochemical activity, suppresses localized reaction hot spots, and guides lithiation into a partitioned phase-transformation pathway. This cooperative mechanism preserves a conductive alpha-Al filament network within the beta-LiAl matrix, sustaining electronic continuity and mitigating strain localization during repeated alloying/dealloying. Consequently, the prelithiated Al-1 vol% CNT foil anode achieves stable full-cell cycling approaching similar to 630 cycles, while delivering the lowest charge-transfer resistance and improved rate capability among the anodes studied. This study establishes a general design principle: mechano-chemical oxide activation combined with prelithiation can convert native oxide into a robust inorganic interphase, enabling CNT-reinforced bulk architectures to translate into long-term practical Al foil anodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Gas-phase dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation to methyl acetate (MA) is prone to be deactivated by coke depositions on Br & oslash;nsted acid sites (Si-OH-Al groups) of ferrierite zeolite, and those inevitable coke depositions on the active sites, especially in eight-membered ring (8-MR) channels, are required to be regenerated through in situ removal of coke precursors in a circular fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) for its stable operation. The bench-scale FBR system was applied to verify optimal regenerative treatment conditions and to study behaviors of spray-dried FER zeolites similar to 60 mu m in size after regeneration. Those inactive coke precursors were effectively removed with small structural disintegrations of the FER zeolite under an air environment at 500 degrees C at a slow ramping rate of 1 degrees C/min among the tested range of 1-25 degrees C/min. Although the high regeneration temperature (similar to 500 degrees C) compared to the lower regeneration temperature of 300-400 degrees C caused slight decreases of Si-OH-Al sites assigned to Br & oslash;nsted acid sites, the catalytic activity was almost recovered at those optimal regeneration conditions with an almost complete removal of coke precursors. The stable maintenance of active sites and original sphere shapes was clearly observed during 5 successive cycles of gas-phase DME carbonylation reaction at 240 degrees C and regenerative treatment at similar to 500 degrees C at a fixed pressure of 5.0 MPa, which were attributed to the appropriate removal of surface coke precursors in the 8-MR channels without any significant structural disintegration.

Although lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries offer high theoretical energy density, their practical implementation is impeded by the polysulfide shuttle effect and mechanical disintegration of sulfur cathodes, particularly under high-sulfur-loading conditions. To overcome these limitations, a multifunctional aqueous binder, poly(acrylamide-co-lithium acrylate) (AmLA), is proposed to synergistically enhance electrode integrity and suppress lithium polysulfide (LiPS) migration. The copolymer architecture integrates polar amide and lithium carboxylate groups, which establish a robust hydrogen-bonding network for mechanical stability while simultaneously providing strong chemical anchoring sites for LiPS confinement. In situ UV-visible spectroscopy corroborates the significant retardation of LiPS dissolution, confirming the suppression of shuttle reactions. Consequently, AmLA-based sulfur cathodes exhibit superior electrochemical kinetics, delivering a 3.4-fold enhancement in rate capability at 2 C compared to the polyvinylidene fluoride binder. With a high sulfur content of 75 wt% and an areal loading of 3.2 mg cm-2, the cathode retains a high reversible capacity of 777 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles, accompanied by reduced polarization. Furthermore, stable cycling is preserved even at a high sulfur loading of 6 mg cm-2 (7 mAh cm-2). Thus, AmLA offers a viable strategy for resolving the chemical and mechanical bottlenecks of high-energy-density Li-S batteries.

A portable device capable of detecting and disinfecting water without power supplies or chemical additives can provide reliable and equitable access to safe drinking water. Here we develop an all-in-one floating capsule, requiring no external power or chemicals, which monitors chemical pollutants by detecting total dissolved solids (TDS) as surrogates and can disinfect microorganisms, guided by the measured TDS. The capsule converts manual shaking to electrical power for TDS detection and Bluetooth transmission through electromagnetic induction. When TDS levels indicate an acceptable level of chemical safety, the capsule autonomously initiates disinfection. Propelled by gentle movement, the capsule's dielectric outer shell generates electrostatic charges at the water-dielectric interface. These charges accumulate at the nanorod tips to create intense local electric fields, facilitating disinfection by electroporation. The cost-effective capsule (6.0-log removal) in containers over 120 cycles, demonstrating a scalable and energy-independent approach for decentralized water safety monitoring and treatment.

A super-tough polyglycolide-b-poly(L-)lactide-b-polyglycolide (b-PLLGA) triblock copolymer was prepared without sacrificing the excellent intrinsic mechanical strength of b-PLLGA. The material was fabricated in a sustainable manner using a simple one-pot conventional ring-opening (ROP) technique with 30 mol

Here, we demonstrate a scalable dry-electrode fabrication strategy integrating single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) wrapping of LiNi0.8Co0.15Mn0.03Al0.02O2 particles with roll-to-roll solvent-free electrode processing. This approach resolves the inhomogeneity of conductive additives in mechanical dry-mixing and overcomes conventional slurry-casting limitations. The SWCNT sheath, formed via zeta potential modulation, provides a continuous conductive network enabling ultrahigh active material loading (99.7 wt %, including 0.2 wt % SWCNT) and electrode density (∼4.0 g cm−3) with minimal binder (0.3 wt % polytetrafluoroethylene). Microstructural analyses and digital twin simulations confirm enhanced pore connectivity and 2.5-fold higher lithium-ion diffusivity, ensuring uniform ionic and electronic transport even in ultrathick cathodes (>11 mAh cm−2). In full cells with dry-processed graphite anodes, the cathode delivers ∼315 Wh kg−1 and ∼945 Wh L−1, achieves 80% charge in 20 min, and retains ∼80% capacity after 300–700 cycles. These results establish this strategy as a practical route for high-energy, fast-charging next-generation LIBs.

A hand-rotation-powered, nanomaterial-enabled disinfection system generates reactive oxygen species that rapidly disinfect a wide range of pathogens by leveraging mechanically induced interfacial electric fields. This electricity-free operation, having high efficiency, safety and long-lasting microbial protection, offers a robust, portable solution for clean-water access in disaster situations and in environments where the electricity grid is unavailable.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising technology for high-efficiency, low-cost energy production. However, their path to commercialization has been impeded by inefficient and time-consuming manufacturing processes. This research leverages machine learning (ML) models and open data to optimize PSC fabrication, focusing on devices incorporating light-scattering materials and metal nanoparticles (NPs) in the electron transport layer (ETL). The study employed two ML models for predictions: the Extra Tree Regressor (ETR) for PSCs with scattering materials, and the Ridge Regression (RR) model for PSCs with metal NPs. The ETR model predicted 15.960% efficiency for PSCs with scattering materials, identifying short-circuit current density (Jsc) as the critical factor. The RR model forecasted 18.122% efficiency for PSCs with metal NPs, highlighting open-circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (ff) as key contributors. Experimental validation closely aligned with these predictions. PSCs fabricated with TiO2 nanotube array fragments as scattering materials achieved an average efficiency of 15.819% (Jsc = 25.089 mA/cm², Voc = 0.902 V, ff = 0.699), deviating only 0.88% from the prediction. PSCs incorporating silver NPs as plasmonic agents reached an average efficiency of 17.887% (Jsc = 25.905 mA/cm², Voc = 0.942 V, ff = 0.733), with a 1.30% difference from the predicted value. This research demonstrates the power of combining ML with experimental validation to enhance PSC performance. The approach shows potential for application in other energy technologies, offering a data-driven pathway to accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced energy solutions.Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising technology for high‑efficiency, low‑cost energy production, yet their path to commercialization is hindered by inefficient and time‑consuming manufacturing processes. This work leverages machine learning (ML) models and open data to guide PSC fabrication, focusing on devices incorporating light‑scattering materials and metal nanoparticles (NPs) in the electron transport layer (ETL). Among 18 regression algorithms benchmarked on open datasets, the Extra Trees Regressor (ETR) was identified as the best performer for PSCs with scattering materials, while Ridge Regression (RR) showed the highest accuracy for PSCs with metal NPs. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) applied to these models revealed that efficiency gains in scattering‑based PSCs are primarily governed by short‑circuit current density (Jsc), whereas in metal‑NP‑based PSCs they are dominated by open‑circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (ff).Guided by these insights, PSCs were fabricated using TiO2 nanotube array (TNT) fragments as scattering centers and TiO2‑coated Ag NPs as plasmonic and charging agents in the ETL. For devices with scattering materials, the ETR model predicted an efficiency of 15.960%, identifying Jsc as the critical factor, while experimentally fabricated cells achieved an average efficiency of 15.819% (Jsc = 25.089 mA/cm², Voc = 0.902 V, ff = 0.699). For devices with Ag NPs, the RR model forecasted an efficiency of 18.122%, highlighting Voc and ff as key contributors, and the corresponding experimental PSCs reached an average efficiency of 17.887% (Jsc = 25.905 mA/cm², Voc = 0.942 V, ff = 0.733). The close agreement between prediction and experiment validates the ML‑guided design rules and confirms that scattering layers mainly enha

Polymer-based artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers have emerged as a promising solution to address the inherent limitations of silicon-carbon nanocomposite (SCN) anodes. However, their practical implementation remains hindered by the inherent trade-off between achieving complete surface coverage and maintaining a thin, uniform coating. This trade-off often compromises either the electrolyte-blocking capability or the Li-ion transport efficiency. To overcome these challenges, we aim to enhance the ionic conductivity of the artificial SEI layer to levels comparable to liquid electrolytes, while simultaneously improving Li-ion dissociation properties. To this end, we developed a polymer-based supramolecular artificial SEI layer incorporating p-phenylenediamine (pPD) as a bridging agent. The supramolecular network formed via pPD introduces robust hydrogen bonding and facilitates the formation of Li-ion hopping channels through its benzenoid-quinoid transition. As a result, the incorporation of pPD significantly increases the ionic conductivity of PEO and PMMA polymers to 0.215 and 0.106 mS cm-1, respectively. Furthermore, SCN anodes coated with this supramolecular SEI exhibited over fourfold improvement in cycling stability under ultra-lean electrolyte conditions, closely mimicking commercial operating environments, compared to uncoated SCN in full-cell configurations. This study offers a robust platform for the design of advanced artificial SEI layers tailored for high-performance anode materials.