Silicon carbide (SiC), as a representative wide bandgap semiconductor material, has increasingly demonstrated its significance in high-power, high-frequency and high-temperature electronic device applications. In recent years, SiC semiconductors have become primary material for power devices in electric drive modules and charging modules of new energy vehicles. Compared to Si-based insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), a kind of minority carrier device, SiC materials enable high-voltage resistance through majority carrier devices (such as Schottky barrier diodes and metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs)) with high-frequency device structures, which conversely allows SiC to simultaneously achieve key characteristics of low on-resistance and high frequency. It is easy to deduce that, SiC will also play an indispensable role in emerging fields such as electric aircrafts, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles for low-altitude transportation, augmented reality (AR), photovoltaic inverters, and rail transportation. Among various SiC polytypes, 3C-SiC stands out due to its unique cubic crystal structure, higher thermal conductivity (500 W/(m·K)) and channel mobility (approximately 300 cm²/(V·s)), showcasing significant application potential and research value. This paper provides an overview of the crystal structure, fundamental physical properties, application advantages, and major growth methods of 3C-SiC, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), continuous-feed physical vapor transport (CF-PVT), sublimation epitaxy (SE), and top-seeded solution growth (TSSG). Research progress and the latest achievements in 3C-SiC crystal growth using above techniques are reviewed, focusing on the thermodynamic characteristics and growth mechanisms of vapor-phase and liquid-phase methods. The microscopic processes of crystal growth are analyzed and summarized, and the future development directions and application prospects for 3C-SiC crystals are discussed.

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) faces challenges of low efficiency and high costs due to its relatively low current density. It is necessary to develop efficient and stable non-precious metal electrocatalysts under high current densities. In this study, an amorphous NiMoOP/NF electrocatalyst was fabricated by the hydrothermal method combined with phosphorization on a nickel foam (NF) substrate. The amorphous needle-like morphology effectively increases active sites and enhances the stability of hydrogen production through water electrolysis. At current densities of 10 and 1000 mA·cm^-2, the hydrogen evolution overpotentials are 31 and 370 mV, respectively, and the catalyst stably runs for 1100 h at a high current density of 1 A·cm^-2. The NiMoOP/NF material, when integrated with crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells for overall water splitting, achieves a theoretical solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of up to 18.60%. Under industrially relevant conditions (60 ℃, 30% (in mass) KOH electrolyte), the electrolysis voltage is 1.77 V, enabling a current density of 400 mA·cm^-2, with a hydrogen production energy consumption of 4.19 kWh·Nm^-3 (Nm³: Normal cubic meter). Economic analysis of photovoltaic-powered hydrogen production via electrolysis indicates that the minimum hydrogen production cost for an off-grid and non-storage photovoltaic hydrogen production system is ¥28.52 kg^-1. The amorphous nanoneedle-like materials developed in this study significantly enhanced both hydrogen evolution activity and stability during water electrolysis, providing valuable insights for design of high-current-density hydrogen evolution catalysts. Furthermore, the combined economic analysis of photovoltaic electrolysis for green hydrogen production supports advancement of green hydrogen industry.

In the post-Moore era, temporary bonding and ultra-thin wafer thinning of large-size functional wafers have emerged as essential technologies underpinning innovation within the semiconductor industry. However, challenges such as wafer warpage and breakage commonly encountered during wafer thinning severely limit device performance and yield. To address these issues, WAN’s group at Yongjiang Laboratory developed a cost-effective, room-temperature ultra-flat temporary bonding technique. This innovative process has significantly reduced the risk of wafer warpage while achieving high flatness and stability in wafer bonding. By integrating this process with domestically developed thinning equipment, the group successfully thinned 8-inch silicon wafers down to 8 µm, 12-inch silicon power chips to 15 µm with a total thickness variation (TTV) ≤2 µm, and 8-inch lithium niobate wafers to 8-10 µm, thereby satisfying diverse piezoelectric micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) application demands. Currently, this technology is widely applied in heterogeneous integration of various wafer materials, including silicon, lithium niobate/lithium tantalate, gallium oxide, and indium phosphide, providing crucial support for the localization and development of power chips and high-performance MEMS devices.

Silica aerogel has broad applications in the field of high-temperature thermal insulation due to its low density, low thermal conductivity and high stability. However, its thermal insulation performance deteriorates significantly at elevated temperatures exceeding 600 ℃, primarily due to the collapse of pore structure. Meanwhile, the shielding capacity of SiO₂ aerogel to the infrared radiation at high temperature is rather low due to the intrinsic properties of SiO₂. Herein, a strategy for improving the high-temperature stability and infrared shielding properties of SiO₂ aerogel via Ca doping was explored. Calcium-doped silica aerogel (CSA) powders were prepared by Sol-Gel, hydrothermal, and ambient pressure drying (APD) techniques using water glass and anhydrous calcium chloride as precursors and trimethylchlorosilane as a hydrophobic modifier. The effects of Ca/Si molar ratio in the precursor and hydrothermal conditions (temperature and pH) on the crystalline properties, microscopic morphology and pore structure of CSAs were investigated. The results show that the Ca/Si molar ratio and hydrothermal treatment have significant effects on the microstructure and heat resistance of CSAs in the temperature range of 400-1000 ℃. The samples sintered at 1000 ℃ have a high specific surface area of 100.1 m²/g and a pore volume of 0.8705 cm³/g, indicating that the CSA has good heat resistance. One-side insulation tests at temperatures up to 600 ℃ show that the sample with a Ca/Si molar ratio of 1.0 has the best insulation performance, with a cold surface temperature of 450 ℃, which is 27 ℃ lower than that of the pure silica aerogel.

As classical cathode materials of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), Fe-based perovskite materials are favored for their affordable price, low thermal expansion coefficient and high stability. In this study, B-site high-entropy perovskite oxide La_0.7Sr_0.3(FeNiCo)_0.8Mo_0.1Ti_0.1O_3-δ (LSFNCMT) was prepared by the citric acid-nitrate combustion method. Due to the faster oxygen surface exchange rate of the high-entropy material, the LSFNCMT cathode shows excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with a polarization impedance (R_p) of 0.11 Ω·cm² at 800 ℃, which is much lower than that of the La_0.7Sr_0.3FeO_3-δ (LSF) cathode (0.31 Ω·cm²). Furthermore, the high-entropy material exhibits superior stability due to incorporation of highly acidic Ni, Co, and Mo cations as well as Ti cation with more negative average bonding energy (ABE) of metal-oxygen. In the 22 h-stability test of the symmetric cell with LSFNCMT cathode in the Cr-containing atmosphere, R_p only increases from 1.07 Ω·cm² to 2.98 Ω·cm², while R_p of the LSF cathode increases from 2.62 Ω·cm² to 7.90 Ω·cm² under the same conditions, indicating better Cr-resistance of LSFNCMT due to the high-entropy strategy. The fact that the maximum power density (MPD) of the single cell with LSFNCMT cathode at 800 ℃ is 1105.26 mW·cm^-2, significantly higher than that of LSF cathode (830.74 mW·cm^-2), and R_p at 800 ℃ is 0.24 Ω·cm², lower than that of LSF cathode (0.36 Ω·cm²), confirming excellent toxicity resistance of the high-entropy cathode. This study shows that B-position high entropy is an effective way to improve the catalytic activity and chromium resistance of cathode materials.

Solid oxide cell (SOC) has attracted extensive attention in recent years due to its high-efficiency clean power generation capability in fuel cell (SOFC) mode and excellent hydrogen production and energy storage potential in electrolysis cell (SOEC) mode. Conventional SOC typically employs pore-forming agents such as graphite or carbon powder to fabricate porous electrode supports. This approach results in disordered pore distribution and complex pore structure, leading to high tortuosity factor. Particularly under conditions of dilute fuel or high current densities, these factors cause concentration polarization, limiting further performance improvements. To address these challenges, application of straight-pore structures has shown significant progress. The ordered pore channels in this structure enhance gas diffusion and transport, reduce concentration polarization, and improve the impregnation efficiency of electrode materials while increasing the utilization of active sites, thereby significantly boosting the electrochemical performance of SOC. This review systematically summarizes recent advancements in the preparation techniques for straight-pore structured SOC. It details the pore-forming mechanisms, process characteristics, and applications of key technologies (phase inversion, freeze-drying and alginate ion gelation) in both planar and tubular SOC configurations. Furthermore, it provides an in-depth analysis of how the straight-pore structure enhances performance in both SOFC mode (hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuel adaptability) and SOEC mode (conventional H₂O/CO₂ electrolysis and fuel-assisted electrolysis), elucidating the underlying mechanisms. Despite the great potential demonstrated by straight-pore structures in SOC, comprehensive reviews focusing on their fabrication techniques remain scarce. This paper aims to consolidate the latest progress in straight-pore SOC preparation technologies, analyze their technical advantages and existing challenges, and propose future research directions.

Dry reprocessing technology has advantages of irradiation resistance, proliferation resistance and simplified waste treatment, thereby rendering it a preferred technology for reprocessing of spent fuel of advanced fast reactors. Molten salt electrolytic refining serves as the core technology of dry reprocessing, primarily capitalizing on the difference in redox potential between actinides such as uranium and plutonium and other fissionable elements within a molten salt system. This technology facilitates separation and recovery of actinides. During the electrolytic refining process, lanthanide elements and fission elements, such as Sr and Cs, tend to accumulate within the molten salt, which can change the physicochemical properties of molten salt, thus seriously affecting the efficiency of electrolytic refining. In addition, fission products such as ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs are water-soluble and long-lived nuclides, posing significant environmental hazards if inadequately managed. Therefore, effective purification of fission elements such as Sr and Cs from molten salt is imperative, not only to improve the efficiency of dry reprocessing via molten salt electrolysis, but also as a crucial strategy to reduce the discharge of radioactive waste. This paper summarizes the current research status of Sr and Cs removal methods in molten salts, comparatively analyzes the separation principles and separation effects of different methods, such as electrolysis, crystallization, decompression distillation, precipitation, and ion exchange. Furthermore, it explores prospective direction of development and potential applicability of various material systems.

The efficient removal of low-concentration volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor and industrial environments remains a significant challenge. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential oxidation catalysts due to their superior adsorption enrichment capability for low-concentration VOCs. In this work, hydroxyl-containing ligands were introduced into UiO-66, and the as-synthesized UiO-66-OH catalyst exhibited exceptional photothermal catalytic performance on oxidation of flowing low-concentration VOCs (initial concentrations of 0.075 mg/L for toluene and 0.064 mg/L for benzene, a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 30000 mL/(g∙h)), achieving 97% and 90% conversion of toluene and benzene, respectively, surpassing the reported photothermal catalysts such as metal oxides and noble-metal-loaded catalysts. Such impressive activity is attributed to the synergy of thermal catalysis and photocatalysis. Ligand hydroxylation optimizes the electron structure and the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) effect, enhancing light absorption, improving electron-hole separation efficiency and photothermal properties of UiO-66. Hydroxyl introduction promotes the formation of oxygen vacancies, facilitating oxygen adsorption/activation to sustain lattice oxygen (O_latt) and generate superoxide radical (∙O₂^-), which are the dominant reactive species in VOCs oxidation. This work not only presents the potential of MOFs as efficient photothermal catalysts for the oxidation of low-concentration VOCs but also shows prospects on facile modulation of electron structure by ligand engineering to enhance the photothermal properties of MOFs.

Driven by global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals, proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (P-SOFCs) have become a research hotspot in clean energy technology due to their advantages of efficient medium-to-low temperature power generation (400-600 ℃), excellent fuel compatibility, and high energy conversion efficiency. This review analyzes the development prospects of hydrogen-containing fuel P-SOFCs. Addressing key technological bottlenecks, this review focuses on three core dimensions including material design, reaction mechanisms, and characterization techniques to summarize research progress and technical challenges in hydrocarbon-fueled and ammonia-fueled P-SOFC systems. For hydrocarbon-fueled P-SOFCs, the carbon deposition issue is thoroughly examined. Their formation mechanisms, characterization methods and influencing factors on carbon deposition are discussed in depth. Advanced improvement strategies are highlighted, including modification of reforming catalysts, optimization of proton-conducting electrolytes, and novel design of electrodes. Regarding direct ammonia fuel cells (DAFCs), challenges related to insufficient anode durability are addressed. Critical influencing factors are identified as catalyst activity, support types, nitridation corrosion mechanisms, hydrogen partial pressure, ammonia flow rate, and anode microstructure. Based on cutting-edge research, novel improvement strategies, such as anode modification, optimization of anode catalytic layers and innovative cell structure designs, are summarized. This review outlines future development directions to advance the commercialization of hydrogen-containing fuel P-SOFCs.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, pose significant threats to the environment and human health due to their high volatility and biological toxicity. Traditional metal- organic frameworks (MOFs) are primarily microporous, and their trade-off between adsorption capacity and molecular transport efficiency has driven development of more advanced material systems. In this work, graphene oxide (GO) doped metal-organic framework gels (MOGs) based on UiO-66 were developed, leveraging the synergistic modification effect of GO. The π-conjugated structure of GO enhanced π-π interactions with toluene molecules, while its abundant oxygen-containing functional groups facilitated competitive coordination with metal nodes, leading to exposure of additional Lewis acid sites and thereby enhancing metal-π interactions. Experimental results demonstrated that UG-1 with a mass ratio of GO to ZrCl₄ at 1 : 100 exhibited a breakthrough adsorption capacity of 77.4 mg/g in dynamic adsorption experiments and a saturated capacity of up to 1245.5 mg/g in static tests, outperforming both UiO66 MOF and UiO66 MOG materials. In conclusion, this study elucidates multiple regulatory mechanisms of GO incorporation in modulating pore structure and host-guest interactions, providing a new theoretical basis and practical guidance for designing efficient and recyclable VOC adsorbents.

Periodontitis is a clinical challenge caused by bacterial overgrowth, resulting in irreversible damage to periodontal tissue. Antibacterial sonodynamic therapy (aSDT) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional debridement due to its excellent biocompatibility and tissue penetration capability. However, this therapy cannot cure the periodontitis solely, needing more exploration to find an effectively improved treatment. Here, Fe doped Ti based metal-organic frameworks (Fe/Ti-MOFs) were prepared to explore the relationship between Fe doping and sonoresponsive efficiency. Incorporation of Fe enabled precise modulation of the band structure and crystallinity while maintaining the lattice architecture. Results showed that Fe/Ti-MOFs exhibited enhanced hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation under ultrasonic irradiation, effectively facilitating the eradication of bacterial pathogens. Notably, the sample with a Fe/Ti molar ratio of 0.025 : 1 exhibited exceptional performance. The sonocatalytic activity was collectively influenced by bandgap engineering, Fe doping concentration and crystallinity. Moreover, Fe/Ti-MOFs exhibited no cytotoxicity toward gingival fibroblasts and maintained excellent biocompatibility, without adverse effects on tissue repair. The ultrasound responsive Fe/Ti-MOFs material developed in this study offers potential for mitigating the adverse effects of antibiotics and providing novel insights and strategies for the application of aSDT in periodontitis treatment.

Traditional wave-absorbing materials often exhibit performance limitations at high temperatures, which makes it difficult to meet performance demands in extreme high-temperature environments. Fe₂AlB₂ has garnered significant attention in the field of high-temperature wave absorption due to its nano-layered structure and exceptional high-temperature stability. This study synthesized Fe₂AlB₂ powder through a wet ball milling process followed by sintering in an argon atmosphere. Investigation was conducted to elucidate the oxidation mechanisms and to assess the evolution of its wave-absorbing properties at elevated temperatures. Additionally, electromagnetic simulation software was utilized to model the radar cross-section associated with its absorption process under 7 GHz microwave irradiation. The results indicate that the onset oxidation temperature of Fe₂AlB₂ is 671 ℃. As the oxidation temperature increases, a dense Al₂O₃ protective film forms on its surface, significantly enhancing its oxidation resistance. Beyond 1000 ℃, this Al₂O₃ film fractures, leading to transformation of the primary phases into Fe₂O₃, Al₄B₂O₉ and amorphous B₂O₃. Within the oxidation temperature range of 300-800 ℃, the wave absorption performance of the sample progressively improves with increasing oxidation temperature, exhibiting particularly outstanding dielectric loss capabilities around 10 GHz. At an oxidation temperature of 900 ℃, the sample achieves a reflection loss of -42.60 dB at a frequency of 11.28 GHz, with corresponding a thickness of 2.8 mm. The Al₂O₃ film significantly enhances dielectric loss efficiency by inducing interfacial polarization loss at the "oxide film-matrix" interface. This study elucidates that oxidation mechanisms of Fe₂AlB₂ at varying temperatures and examines consequent impacts on wave-absorbing properties, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for its application in high-temperature wave-absorbing environments.

Hard carbon is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost, wide source and long lifespan. However, its lower initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor capacity limit its practical applications. At present, heteroatom doping is an effective strategy to modulate the amorphous carbon microcrystalline structure and improve the sodium storage performance of carbon materials. The synergistic effect generated by combined heteroatom doping is more conducive to enhancing the electrochemical reactivity of carbon materials than single heteroatom doping. In this study, carbon spheres were synthesized by hydrothermal reaction, with waste residue extracted from potato starch processing waste liquid as precursor, based on which boron and nitrogen co-doped biomass carbon spheres were prepared by ball milling and pyrolysis using urea and sodium tetraborate as doping sources. Subsequently, the effects of B and N co-doping on the microstructure and sodium storage properties of carbon materials were investigated. The results indicated that B and N co-doping increased disorder and enlarged layer spacing of carbon materials, while forming suitable C=O bonds that were conducive to stabilizing solid electrolyte interphase film generation. The as-prepared electrode exhibited a reversible capacity of 284.3 mAh·g^-1 at a current density of 50 mA·g^-1 with an ICE of 77.0%. After 500 cycles at 2 A·g^-1, its capacity decayed to 122.5 mAh·g^-1, with 56.1% capacity retention. Therefore, boron and nitrogen co-doped biomass carbon sphere anode material is a promising one for sodium-ion batteries with superior sodium storage properties.

Phosphor materials are essential functional components in modern optoelectronics, playing a crucial role in next-generation displays, solid-state lighting, biomedical imaging, and sensing applications. However, the properties of materials are stringently required in multiple dimensions for practical applications. The conventional trial-and-error approach impedes the development of novel high-performance phosphors due to its long cycles and high costs. In recent years, the rapidly advancing machine learning (ML) methodology presents an innovative solution to addressing these bottlenecks. It not only dramatically accelerates the high-throughput virtual screening of candidate materials by establishing complex mappings among “composition-structure-property”, substantially improving efficiency, but also provides novel theoretical insights into structure-property correlations through algorithm-derived importance weights. This review systematically outlines the methodological framework for ML-driven phosphor development, covering key stages including data preparation, feature engineering, model selection, model evaluation and application. It further discusses specific considerations and corresponding strategies for each stage of the process. Subsequently, it reviews recent research progress in applying ML to predict key phosphor properties, encompassing critical metrics such as emission wavelength, full width at half-maximum (FWHM), thermal stability, fluorescence lifetime, centroid shift, and process optimization. Finally, this review addresses existing challenges in current research, such as scarcity of reliable data, complexity of materials properties, and difficulties in parameter quantification. The article outlines future development trends for the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in luminescent materials research, aiming to provide a valuable reference for promoting the establishment of an “AI for Science” paradigm in the field of phosphor materials.

Continuous fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites utilized in hot-section components of high thrust-to-weight ratio aero-engines require protection via thermal/environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs). To develop novel rare-earth oxide thermal barrier coating materials with low thermal conductivity, compatible thermal expansion coefficients, and excellent high-temperature phase stability, introduction of a high-entropy design concept offers a promising approach and opportunity for composition design and performance optimization. Addressing the challenges of structural modeling and property prediction for complex high-entropy ceramic systems, this study firstly introduces a novel high-entropy ceramic modeling strategy based on the special quasi-random structure (SQS) method. This strategy facilitates rapid prediction of complex ceramic properties while maintaining computational accuracy. Subsequently, crystal structures, elastic properties and thermophysical characteristics of four high-entropy rare-earth oxide materials are predicted and compared by integrating first-principles calculations. This research particularly elucidates regulatory effects and atomic-scale origins of different rare-earth compositions and Hf doping on the material’s low thermal conductivity performance. The research results provide scientific insights and fundamental data for theoretical simulation and material selection design of T/EBCs for aero-engine hot-section components.

Scintillators are key materials for radiation detection field. They have wide applications in many fields such as high-energy physics, medical diagnostics, astronomy, radioactivity exploration, and homeland security. However, most of the reported scintillators (e.g. NaI:Tl and LaBr₃:Ce) can hardly provide a perfect combination of high light yield and energy resolution, excellent ambient stability and low cost. It is urgent to discover novel scintillators with outstanding comprehensive performance and ideal cost. Zero-dimensional (0D) metal halides, possessing abundant advantages such as high light yield, weak self-absorption, strong ambient adaptability, and considerable stability under irradiation, are good candidates for the next-generation scintillators. This review consolidates the recent research progress on 0D metal halide scintillators towards applications in radiation detection. Firstly, the basic properties as well as the scintillation mechanism of 0D metal halides are analyzed at molecular scale, especially their unique self-trapped exciton emission characteristic. Then, some typical 0D metal halides which show excellent radiation detection properties are systematically introduced, containing Pb-, Cu-, Mn-, and Sn-based structures, and their key scintillation parameters are comprehensively compared. Furthermore, their applications in X-ray imaging, gamma-ray spectrum measurement, and neutron detection are well discussed. Last, the challenges and opportunities in development of 0D metal halide scintillators towards radiation detection are prospected. In the future, researchers should be committed to providing solutions to the issues such as growth of large-scale, defect-less and highly transparent single crystals, deep and reasonable explanation of scintillation mechanism, and creation of standard for the methods of performance measurement towards various kinds of scintillators.

Sodium-ion batteries are widely considered a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries owing to their low cost and the abundance of sodium resources. Advances in development and application of all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries (ASSBs) critically depend on the availability of solid electrolytes that combine high ionic conductivity with wide electrochemical stability window. Among various solid electrolytes, chloride solid electrolytes have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their high ionic conductivity, high oxidation potential and favorable deformability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of development of sodium chloride solid electrolytes, emphasizing interplay of chemical composition, crystal structure and ionic conductivity, and further examining how modification approaches, including cation/anion doping, amorphization and heterostructure engineering, govern their ionic transport behavior. In addition, this review also evaluates the electrochemical stability of sodium chloride solid electrolytes, and their chemical and electrochemical compatibility with common cathode materials, which are crucial for enabling practical cell configurations. The interfacial degradation mechanisms that arise at the interface with sodium metal anode are also analyzed, and recent advances in chloride-based ASSBs are concisely reviewed. Finally, key challenges that hinder practical deployment of chloride-based ASSBs are highlighted, and prospective research directions are proposed, which are expected to provide valuable insights to guide future application of chloride solid electrolytes in energy conversion and storage technologies.

Due to their intrinsic brittleness and high sensitivity to structural flaws, ceramics face a fundamental limitation in applications that require mechanical load-bearing capacity, impact resistance, and reliable performance under complex service conditions. Natural ceramic-based materials, such as nacre, have evolved intricate multiscale structures through long-term evolutionary processes, effectively integrating high strength and fracture toughness, offering valuable inspiration for the design of synthetic ceramics. This study utilized an accumulative rolling technique combined with a layer-by-layer assembly process to fabricate bioinspired ceramic-polymer composites featuring nacre-like layered and gradient structures at the multiscale. The composites exhibit a characteristic nacre-like “brick-and-mortar” architecture at the microscale, as well as periodic or gradient variations in ceramic content at the mesoscale, collectively forming bioinspired multiscale layered and gradient structures. The mechanical properties of the bioinspired composites were systematically investigated and compared with uniform composites with equivalent ceramic content. The relationships between the bioinspired structures, mechanical properties, and damage characteristics were elucidated. The results demonstrate that the bioinspired composites exhibit variations of up to several times in local hardness and elastic modulus along the thickness direction. In particular, the gradient composite with a “soft-hard-soft” configuration achieves superior strength-toughness synergy, demonstrating significantly higher strength, work of fracture, and fracture and impact toughness compared to the uniform materials with the same ceramic content. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the ability of this architecture to broaden stress distribution, reduce local stress concentrations, and facilitate extensive dissipation of mechanical energy. This study provides a useful reference and guidance for the structural design of strong and tough bioinspired ceramic-polymer composites.

BiScO₃-PbTiO₃ (BSPT)-based piezoelectric ceramics have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric applications above 350 ℃ due to their high Curie temperature (T_C) and large piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃). However, the conventional trial-and-error approach is inefficient for the rapid design of high-temperature piezoelectric ceramics across a wide compositional space. In this work, we developed a machine learning model trained on a small dataset and integrated it with experimental knowledge to accelerate the design of BSPT-based ceramics with simultaneously large d₃₃ and high T_C. Guided by the trained model, we designed Ga-W ion-pair co-doped 0.36BiScO₃-0.64PbTi_1-x(Ga_2/3W_1/3)_xO₃ (BSPTGW1000x) ceramics. The results demonstrated that this doping strategy significantly modified the lattice distortion and domain structures of BSPT-based ceramics, leading to enhanced piezoelectric performance. Among the compositions, BSPTGW10 (x=0.010) exhibited the best overall properties (d₃₃=525 pC/N, T_C=423 ℃), which were in close agreement with the predicted values. Moreover, its piezoelectric coefficient variation remained within ±15% up to 365 ℃, indicating excellent thermal stability. This study not only provides an effective approach for the rapid discovery of BSPT-based ceramics with dual high-performance characteristics, but also yields a promising piezoelectric ceramic material suitable for high-temperature applications. The datasets in this article are listed in Science Data Bank at https://www.doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.27980.

LiNi_xCo_yMn_1-x-yO₂ (NCM, x≥0.8), a promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, possesses high energy density and excellent discharge performance. However, it also appears drawbacks such as severe cation disorder, poor cycling performance and insecurity at high temperatures and high cut-off voltages. In this study, a high-entropy (HE) doping modification strategy was introduced into a high-nickel and low-cobalt LiNi_0.86Co_0.04Mn_0.1O₂ cathode material, and a high-nickel single-crystal layered ternary cathode material was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The results show that at 0.1C (1C=180 mA·g^-1) and 25 ℃, the battery equipped with modified material has a reversible discharge capacity of 197 mAh·g^-1 and exhibits excellent discharge performance at high temperatures and high cut-off voltages. At 0.5C, 55 ℃ and 4.3 V, the discharge capacity reaches 281 mAh·g^-1, while at 0.5C, 25 ℃ and 4.5 V, the discharge capacity is as high as 194 mAh·g^-1. This material has a good layered structure with a uniform arrangement of nanoscale primary particles at microscale and a smaller total impedance. This work significantly improves cycling performance and safety of high-nickel ternary cathode materials at high temperatures and high cut-off voltages, providing a good modification method for the cobalt-free, high-nickel and practical application of ternary materials.

Silicon, due to its exceptionally high theoretical capacity, is widely regarded as an ideal candidate for the anode material in next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. However, its practical application is limited by several critical issues, including significant volume expansion during repeated cycling, poor intrinsic conductivity, and instability at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Mechanical ball milling, a solid-state processing technique, offers significant advantages in the performance enhancement of silicon-based anode materials due to its adjustable structure, simplicity in operation, and scalability. This method enables precise control over particle size, morphology, and structural characteristics, providing an efficient and flexible strategy for improving material performance without the need for overly complex or stringent processing conditions. This review summarizes the recent progress in the application of mechanical ball milling for the performance optimization of silicon-based anode materials. Representative advancements include the controlled preparation of nanosilicon, rational design of silicon- carbon composite materials, construction of silicon-metal and metal silicide composite systems, and the implementation of in situ coating strategies. Overall, these studies clearly demonstrate that mechanical ball milling plays a key role in enhancing the structural stability and electrochemical performance of silicon-based anodes. Furthermore, this paper discusses the main challenges currently faced in this field, such as poor uniformity of composite materials, complexity of controlling energy input during milling, and limited understanding of the interface reaction mechanisms. Finally, emerging directions in the field are highlighted, including smart ball milling, interface engineering, and data-driven optimization, which are expected to provide valuable insights for the practical application and commercial promotion of high-performance silicon-based anode materials in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.

The development of lightweight, mechanically robust, and high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials is critical for next-generation electronic and communication systems. In this study, we report the design and fabrication of a 3D-printed carbon nanotube/polydimethylsiloxane (CNT/PDMS) composite with tunable composition and hierarchical architecture. The resulting composite exhibits exceptional mechanical resilience, supporting loads up to 250 times its own weight and recovering fully after experiencing 40% strain. During pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere, the PDMS matrix decomposes and transforms into a SiC-SiO₂ ceramic phase that encapsulates the CNT network, thereby forming a hierarchically porous, multi-phase architecture. Notably, the CNT/SiC-SiO₂ composite demonstrates outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 62.0 dB in the X-band (8-12 GHz), primarily attributed to absorption (SE_A=59.91 dB). This elevated absorption capability arises from synergistic effects including improved impedance matching, conduction loss, interfacial/dipole polarization, and multiple internal reflections within the hierarchically porous, multi-interface architecture. The “absorption- reflection-reabsorption” mechanism enables near-complete attenuation of incident electromagnetic waves. This work presents a scalable, 3D-printing-enabled strategy for fabricating multifunctional carbon-ceramic composites with superior EMI shielding performance, which can meet the requirement of aerospace, wearable electronics, and military applications.

The development of traditional luminescent materials (such as cadmium-based quantum dots and lead halide perovskites) is intrinsically limited by their reliance on toxic heavy metals (e.g., Cd and Pb), which raises severe environmental and health risks throughout their lifecycles. Therefore, the transition toward eco-friendly alternatives, including cadmium-free quantum dots, lead-free halide perovskites, and rare-earth-doped phosphors, has become a pivotal research imperative. Currently, the design and optimization of such materials rely on inefficient trial-and-error experimental paradigms, which often fail to overcome critical bottlenecks in luminous efficiency, environmental stability, and interfacial compatibility. This review systematically outlines the current landscape and technical challenges of environmental-friendly luminescent materials. It highlights how computational techniques, particularly density functional theory, allow the accurate prediction of optoelectronic properties in core-shell structures and the elucidation of defect-induced non-radiative recombination mechanisms, thus facilitating rational material design and property optimization. In addition to theoretical calculations, data-driven technologies further accelerate material screening by leveraging standardized databases and machine learning models, having already yielded high-stability phosphors and high-efficiency narrowband emitters. Finally, an outlook on the synergy between computational and data-driven approaches to overcome existing research and development barriers is provided. Future efforts must focus on deepening the integration of these technologies to advance the practical deployment of environmental-friendly luminescent materials in display and lighting applications, thereby driving the sustainable transformation of the optoelectronics industry.

The rapid development of advanced light source technologies, such as synchrotron radiation and X-ray free electron lasers, especially for high-energy and high-brightness X-ray facilities, has become one of the key factors restricting the further improvement of beamline performance. When high-energy beams are irradiated onto the surface of mirrors, the absorption of such energy can cause radiation damage and thermal deformation of the mirrors. This study provides an in-depth exploration of various aspects, including the structural design of mirrors, material selection, performance simulation, prototype fabrication, optical processing, and performance testing. By combining solid-state sintering with precision optical processing technology, a silicon carbide (SiC) planar mirror with high optical properties was developed. The influence of different materials on the thermal deformation of the reflective mirror surface, as well as the impact of surface shape accuracy and roughness control on the optical surface quality of the reflective mirror, was discussed. The research shows that under an absorbed power of 200 W, the modified SiC mirror exhibits approximately 25% reduction in normal deformation along the meridional direction compared to conventional single-crystal silicon mirrors. After optical processing, the peak to valley (PV) value of its mirror surface reaches 24.294 nm, the root mean square (RMS) value reaches 1.680 nm, the surface roughness RMS reaches 0.168 nm, and the gas release rate is 2.40×10⁻⁷ Pa∙L/(s∙cm²). These results meet the requirements for ultra-smooth mirrors in advanced light source facilities, demonstrating the potential of high-performance silicon carbide ceramics as an ideal choice for next-generation mirror applications, instead of single-crystal silicon.

Hydrogen energy as an ideal energy carrier holds significant importance for promoting the transformation of energy structures. Electrolytic water splitting technology is crucial to achieve large-scale hydrogen production. The hydrogen evolution activity, stability and cost of catalysts are the key factors for its development. Transition metal compounds (TMCs) become popular candidates to replace noble-metal catalysts due to their low costs, abundant resources and tunable electronic structures. Mott-Schottky (M-S) junctions, constructed between transition metal compound semiconductors and metals, are considered to be an effective strategy to enhance catalytic activity. This review summarizes the research progress of metal/TMCs M-S junction catalysts, including their classification (metal/oxides, sulfides, selenides, phosphides, and nitrides, etc.), construction strategies (hydrothermal method, in-situ reduction, and phosphidation treatment, etc.), and enhancement mechanisms. Research findings indicate that the M-S junction optimizes their electronic structure and hydrogen adsorption free energy through interfacial charge rearrangement and their formation of built-in electric fields, thereby promoting charge separation and transfer and significantly enhancing hydrogen evolution activity. In addition, the review discusses the key issues that still need in-depth exploration and clarification regarding M-S junction catalysts, and provides an outlook on future research directions and development trends. It aims to offer theoretical guidance for design of efficient and cost-effective hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts and to promote sustainable development of hydrogen energy technology.

To solve the problems of large volume expansion, poor cycling stability, low electrical conductivity and high energy consumption of silicon-anode materials, a porous silicon-carbon anode material (P-Si@G@C) was prepared by a non-solvent low-temperature method with nano-silicon as active substance, graphite as conductive carrier, asphalt as carbon precursor, and potassium chloride as pore-forming agent. Structure and performance of P-Si@G@C anode were systematically studied by comparing with a series of silicon-carbon anodes. The results showed that insertion of silica nanoparticles in graphite matrix (Si@G) could improve the electrical conductivity of the whole material which is beneficial for electron transport, and the graphite matrix could alleviate the volume expansion of silica nanoparticles. Then the porous carbon shell coated on the surface of Si@G greatly reduced the volume expansion of nano-silicon, and improved the diffusion rate of lithium ion and electron transport rate. Compared with Si@G and unperforated Si@G@C anodes, the P-Si@G@C anode presented the best electrical performance with initial Coulombic efficiency of 85.8%. At the current density of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 A·g^-1, the specific capacities of P-Si@G@C anode were 1403.6, 1291.7, 1206.1, 1093.6, 868.4, and 609.5 mAh·g^-1, respectively. Its recovery rate of specific capacity reached 98.3%, displaying excellent rate performance. The specific capacity still remained 770.7 mAh·g^-1 after 200 cycles at 1.0 A·g^-1, showing good long-cycle stability.

Lithium tantalate (LiTaO₃, LT) stands as a significant multifunctional ferroelectric material, playing a critical role in infrared detectors and thermal imaging sensors, owing to its outstanding pyroelectric coefficient, stable physicochemical properties, and broad-band spectral response. In recent years, rapid advancements in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and integrated photonics have driven the evolution of sensor and detection systems toward miniaturization, integration, and high performance. Consequently, the core sensing material of pyroelectric devices has progressively shifted from traditional bulk crystals to high-quality LT single-crystal films, aiming to achieve superior thermal management and electrical performance. This article systematically reviews the development of key thinning technologies for LT single crystals, covering a range of processes from conventional mechanical grinding and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to emerging advanced techniques such as crystal ion slicing and the Smart-Cut process. It includes a focused analysis of principles underlying each technical route, achievable film thickness, crystal quality, and their respective advantages and limitations. Building on this foundation, the paper further discusses the application advantages and performance of thinned LT films in pyroelectric detectors. Finally, the review outlines the current technical challenges associated with the fabrication and integration of ultra-thin LT single crystals and offers perspectives on future development directions. This review provides a valuable reference for the development of next-generation, high-performance, and miniaturized pyroelectric devices.

Commercial phosphor-converted white LEDs (pc-WLEDs) face two inherent limitations, namely blue light hazard and low color rendering index, due to the use of blue LEDs as excitation source. To address these challenges, violet LEDs are proposed as an alternative solution. Currently, phosphors that can be efficiently excited by violet light (with wavelengths from 400 to 420 nm) remain under development still. In this study, we utilize large language models to construct a comprehensive database of Eu²⁺ and Ce³⁺ doped phosphors for discovering novel violet-excited phosphors. A total of 822 phosphor data entries, including elemental compositions, crystal structures and excitation/emission wavelengths, have been extracted and validated from 9551 research papers. Compared with Ce³⁺ doped phosphors, the Eu²⁺ are in general more suited for violet-excited phosphors, as well as red-emitting phosphors. In particular, Eu²⁺ doped nitrides and sulfides are worth of exploration for violet-excited phosphors. This database is expected to be useful in the future development of phosphors for pc-WLEDs based on artificial intelligence methods. The datasets in this article are listed in Science Data Bank at http://doi.org/10.57760/sciencedb.34314.

High-entropy ceramic (HEC) demonstrates exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, along with outstanding chemical stability, which can be attributed to their high entropy, lattice distortion, sluggish diffusion, and cocktail effects. However, the expansive compositional and structural space associated with HEC renders traditional trial-and-error methods time-consuming, costly and inadequate for investigation of complex systems. Thus, theoretical calculation has become an indispensable tool for addressing these challenges. To outline recent advances in theoretical calculation for HEC, this article focuses on prevalent calculation methods, including first-principles calculations, molecular dynamics, machine learning, and calculation of phase diagrams. Additionally, it discusses research paradigms such as high-throughput computing and performance descriptors, providing a comprehensive overview of their key roles and specific applications in HEC. The article first outlines fundamental characteristics and core effects of HEC, then turns to critically examine theoretical basis of these calculation methods, elaborating on their applications through specific examples in composition design, property prediction, microstructural parsing, and phase stability assessment. Finally, this paper summarizes the major challenges encountered in theoretical calculations in the study of multi-component systems, such as the scarcity of high-quality datasets and the ambiguity of structure-property relationships. It concludes with a forward-looking outlook on the development directions in this field, including data-driven design, cross-scale correlation, and extreme environment simulation.

Currently, photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has reached 27%, yet their industrialization remains constrained by film quality and stability issues in perovskite layers. This study employed butylammonium iodide (BAI) as additive to regulate crystal orientation in perovskite films through retarded crystallization kinetics and induced preferred orientation growth, resulting in significantly enlarged grain sizes and reduced defect densities. Benefiting from the intrinsic high hydrophobicity of organic ammonium salts, optimized films demonstrated enhanced environmental tolerance. Consequently, achieved PCE of rigid devices improved from 22.32% to 23.46% with notably suppressed hysteresis, while that of flexible perovskite solar cells (F-PSCs) improved from 21.51% to 22.26%, confirming the strategy's universality across substrates. Stability tests demonstrated that treatment of perovskite film with BAI led to simultaneous improvements in the environmental stability, thermal stability and light stability of PSCs, as well as the mechanical stability of F-PSCs. This work provides a novel solution for enhancing crystallization control and stability in perovskite films, offering new insights for developing high-performance perovskite photovoltaics with significant industrial application potential.

As a typical photocatalytic material, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has been widely applied in environmental remediation and energy conversion due to its excellent chemical stability, non-toxicity and low cost. However, its wide bandgap structure restricts light absorption to ultraviolet wavelengths, and severe recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in bulk materials limits quantum efficiency. Here, a hydrothermal method was used to construct a novel 2D/2D coupled ZnIn₂S₄ (ZIS)@TiO₂ composite material. This heterojunction consists of ultrathin TiO₂ nanocages composited with ZIS nanosheets, exhibiting a unique hollow core-shell morphology. ZIS-T20 catalyst with composite 20 mg TiO₂ nanocages demonstrates significantly enhanced light absorption across a broad wavelength range of 400-720 nm. Under influence of the built-in electric field, photo-generated electrons cannot migrate from conduction band (CB) of ZIS to that of TiO₂, whereas the transfer of holes from valence band (VB) of ZIS to that of TiO₂ proceeds unimpededly. This spatial separation effect preserves electrons with high reduction potential in ZIS, overcoming inherent drawback of reduced redox capability in conventional type-I heterojunctions. In photocatalytic CO₂ reduction (PCR) reaction, ZIS@TiO₂ exhibits improved performance, achieving CO and CH₄ production rates of 58.87 and 12.03 μmol·g^-1·h^-1, respectively, with CO selectivity as high as 83.03%. Compared to individual components, the CO yield is 6.15 and 1.96 times higher than that of pristine ZIS and TiO₂, respectively. This work not only provides a new strategy for designing efficient 2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts, but also offers valuable insights into understanding interfacial charge transfer mechanisms.

Interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs), which achieve a continuous interpenetration of porous ceramic skeletons and polymer or metal phases in 3D space, have opened up a new way to overcome the brittleness of ceramics and given new possibilities for the development of next-generation impact-resistant and damage-tolerant advanced ceramics. Additive manufacturing (AM) provides support for the controllable preparation of IPCs. Hence, this paper systematically reviews the progress of additively manufactured ceramic lattice-based IPCs. Firstly, AM processes such as vat photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, material extrusion, and binder jetting are introduced, with their respective technical characteristics and scope of application. Next, ceramic lattice structures, such as honeycomb, truss, plate lattice, and shell structures, are discussed as well as their unique advantages in mechanical properties. Then, core composite processes including infiltration and electrodeposition of two key IPC systems, polymer/ceramic and metal/ceramic IPCs, are provided, and the effects of key parameters such as structural configuration, volume fraction, and gradient design on their mechanical properties are summarized. Finally, based on the current research status, the challenges and opportunities in terms of composite processes, multi-scale structural design, and multifunctional integration are further analyzed and forecasted.

Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE), with its high boiling point, excellent thermal conductivity, and favorable safety properties, has become the core coolant for accelerator-driven advanced nuclear energy systems (ADANES) and lead-cooled fast reactors (LFRs). However, the coupled issues of oxidation corrosion, dissolution corrosion, and erosion corrosion induced by its high-temperature environment severely threaten the service life of structural materials, and hinder the engineering implementation of advanced nuclear technology. Surface coating technology, which enhances corrosion resistance while preserving the inherent properties of the substrate, has emerged as a key strategy to mitigate LBE corrosion. This paper provides a systematic review of research progress on corrosion-resistant coatings for nuclear applications against LBE corrosion. Starting from corrosion mechanisms, the influences of synergistic factors, including dissolved oxygen, temperature, flow velocity, and irradiation, on corrosion behavior are elucidated. Coatings are classified into three major systems, i.e. metallic, ceramic, and composite, and the corrosion resistance mechanisms, performance advantages, and failure behaviors of FeCrAl(Y), high-entropy alloys, Al₂O₃, MAX phases, and gradient composite coatings are analyzed. Research indicates that FeCrAl(Y) coatings form a continuous Al₂O₃ barrier layer through “matrix-oxide film” synergistic effect, with corrosion resistance and mechanical properties correlated to Cr and Al content. High-entropy alloy coatings suppress inward diffusion of corrosion species through lattice distortion and multi-component synergistic oxidation, yet they are susceptible to like high-temperature phase decomposition and irradiation embrittlement. Thermodynamically stable ceramic coatings like Al₂O₃ provide effective substrate protection, yet tend to fail in high-temperature environments due to amorphous crystallization, interface mismatch, and lack of self-healing. Composite-structured coatings with a gradient architecture of “metal transition layers + ceramic functional layers” present a promising approach for integrating high adhesion, high toughness, and high barrier properties. Future efforts should focus on coupled regulation of environment-composition-process, multi-factor service evaluation, and lifetime prediction models to deliver long-term reliable protection solutions for advanced nuclear energy systems.

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR), as a green technology for producing ammonia and purifying wastewater, faces challenges in terms of nitrite intermediate accumulation and competitive hydrogen evolution reactions. Tandem catalytic strategy (NO₃^-→NO₂^-→NH₃) is expected to significantly improve the rate and selectivity of ammonia production. Therefore, designing and constructing dual active sites with different catalytic properties contributes to improving reaction activity. Herein, a CuNi bimetallic metal organic framework (MOF) tandem catalytic system using well-defined MOFs as templates was constructed through simple hydrothermal synthesis. The research results indicated that Cu active sites could efficiently catalyze the reduction of NO₃^- to NO₂^-, while Ni sites exhibited excellent active hydrogen species ^*H supply capacity and NO₂^- conversion efficiency, forming an efficient tandem catalytic mechanism with Cu sites, and achieving a Faraday efficiency of up to 90.1% for ammonia synthesis and an ammonia yield of 28.8 mg·h^-1·mg_cat^-1. In addition, the bimetallic MOFs catalyst showed excellent cycling stability without any degradation in ammonia synthesis after multiple cycling tests. This work provides new insights for the design and optimization of high-performance tandem catalysts.

Platinum-carbon (Pt/C) catalyst is one of the most promising cathode materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, it faces significant durability challenges, primarily due to growth and agglomeration of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs), which results in increased Pt particle size and consequent loss of catalytic activity. In this study, an internally pearl-like mesoporous carbon (IPMC) support with beaded pore channels was constructed to investigate the deposition sites of Pt NPs within carbon supports. Through precisely confining Pt NPs within the pore channels by leveraging the unique pore architecture, efficient confinement and stabilization of Pt NPs were achieved. Average size of Pt NPs in IPMC increased by only 0.46 nm after 30000 cycles of accelerated durability test (ADT), significantly less than the growth (0.79 nm) observed in conventional solid carbon-supported catalysts. The IPMC-based catalyst also exhibited slower electrochemical performance decay. The electrochemical active area (ECSA) loss rate of the mesoporous carbon catalyst was 24.18%, significantly lower than 32.33% observed for solid carbon catalyst in comparative testing. This superior durability originates from unique pore structure of IPMC, which imposes spatial confinement effects that effectively suppress Ostwald ripening and migration of Pt NPs, thereby mitigating the degradation of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. This work delivers a precise structural blueprint for optimal carbon carriers of high-stability PEMFCs catalysts by revealing how beaded mesopores confine Pt NPs: interconnected pore channels with local constrictions form spatial barriers which hinder dissolved platinum species diffusion while anchoring particles.

The performance of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is mainly constrained by the cathode's oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is crucial for overall cell efficiency. In this study, La_0.25M_0.75FeO_3-δ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba, abbreviated as LCF, LSF, LBF) perovskite cathodes were synthesized based on tolerance factors and structural design, and effects of Ba, Sr, and Ca doping on electrochemical performance was examined. Different alkaline earth elements have a significant effect on the crystal structure. LBF is Pm-3m cubic phase, LSF is R-3c rhombohedral phase, and LCF is a composite phase of P21ma orthogonal and Pcmn rhombohedral. Difference of crystal structure also leads to various thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and electrical conductivity. LCF possesses the smallest TEC (1.38×10^-5 K^-1), while LSF possesses the highest conductivity, which reaches 404.4 S·cm^-1 at 550 ℃. All three Fe-based cathodes exhibit excellent stability in air and CO₂ atmospheres, as well as chemical compatibility with electrolytes. In addition, different alkaline earth elements also affect catalytic activity of the material. LSF and LBF have low area specific resistance (ASR). At 800 ℃, their ASR are only 0.022 and 0.027 Ω·cm², which are better than the 0.351 Ω·cm² of LCF. The higher oxygen reduction activity is attributed to its crystal structure, oxygen adsorption and dissociation ability. In view of the advantages and disadvantages of Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ca²⁺ in cathode performance, medium/high-entropy design can be effectively introduced in A-site in the future to give full play to their respective advantages to obtain SOFC cathode with excellent comprehensive performance.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important cathodic reaction, but its slow reaction kinetics seriously hinders the application of clean energy devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Although platinum (Pt)-based catalysts possess excellent ORR activity, their high cost, scarce reserves, poor stability and tolerance make it difficult to commercialize current clean energy technologies. To address the above problems, it is urgent to develop new types of efficient and low-cost ORR catalysts. As an emerging carbon-based material, nanodiamond (ND) exhibits broad application prospects in ORR catalysis due to its advantages such as low cost, controllable functional group modification, high surface energy (>1000 mJ·m^-2), and unique π and σ bond configurations. This paper reviews the latest research progress of ND catalysts. Firstly, preparation methods such as detonation, chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser ablation, and high-pressure high-temperature are introduced. Subsequently, modification strategies including heteroatom doping, surface functionalization, material composite, and morphology regulation are summarized, and their formation mechanism of active centers and regulation rules of reaction paths are analyzed, covering influence of different modification strategies on catalytic performance and comparison of relevant performance data. Finally, the challenges faced by current ND catalysts in catalytic mechanism, synthesis process, characterization technology, and design methods are analyzed to suggest the future development directions for the research and development of new carbon-based ORR catalysts.

Brittleness is a major bottleneck that limits the efficient processing and manufacturing of inorganic semiconductor materials and their application in complex structural scenarios. Overcoming the intrinsic brittleness of inorganic semiconductors and achieving metal-like processing and manufacturing have long been a significant challenge in the field of materials science. In recent years, Chinese researchers have pioneered the discovery of room-temperature macroscopic ultra-large plastic strain in inorganic semiconductors, reshaping the traditional understanding of the mechanical properties of these materials. The exceptional plasticity of these materials enables various metal-like processing and manufacturing methods, resulting in diverse material forms such as sheets, foils, wires, and rods, which greatly expands the application scenarios. After years of development, ductile inorganic semiconductors have gradually emerged as an important and emerging research focus in the field of inorganic non-metallic materials. This perspective briefly reviews the research progress and development trajectory of this new direction, with a focus on representative work in materials discovery, deformation mechanisms, cold and warm processing, and exemplary applications. Finally, we tentatively outline the challenges and potential future research directions in this field.

Two-dimensional (2D) gallium nitride (GaN) exhibits broad application prospects in the field of ultraviolet optoelectronics due to its dual characteristics of wide-bandgap semiconductor and quantum confinement effect. However, conventional synthesis methods for 2D GaN, such as metal-organic chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy, typically require high growth temperatures, prolonged processing time, and relatively high costs. To address these critical challenges, this work leverages the intrinsic properties of liquid metal gallium, including its low melting point and ease of oxidation to develop an efficient and relatively low-temperature synthesis strategy for 2D GaN. The core of this strategy includes following steps. Firstly, utilizing a straightforward spin-coating exfoliation technique to directly extract an amorphous gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) from the surface of liquid gallium. Subsequently, subjecting the amorphous Ga₂O₃ to a nitridation treatment process at a relatively low temperature of 850 ℃, successfully achieved its conversion into high-crystalline-quality GaN. Characterization results demonstrate that the synthesized 2D GaN possesses a thickness of approximately 2.2 nm, a lateral dimension on the centimeter scale, and a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. Furthermore, based on the prepared 2D GaN, a photoconductive ultraviolet photodetector is constructed. Performance characterization results reveal that under a 5 V bias voltage and illumination by 325 nm ultraviolet light, the device exhibits a responsivity of 4.14 A/W and a high detectivity of 1.02×10¹³ Jones. This study demonstrates the successful preparation of large-area 2D GaN material based on liquid gallium metal, providing a valuable reference for the development of low-dimensional and high-performance ultraviolet photodetectors.

Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) two-dimensional layered perovskites have garnered extensive attention in the fields of optoelectronics due to their intrinsic natural quantum-well structures, tunable physicochemical properties, and remarkable optoelectronic performance. However, the rapid and high-quality preparation of two-dimensional single-crystalline perovskite flakes remains a significant challenge. In this work, a rapid and facile floating method was developed for growing a series of high-quality two-dimensional RP-type perovskite single-crystalline nanosheets with different compositions. The method involves the controlled growth of single-crystalline nanosheets at the liquid-air interface, where surface tension plays a critical role in driving the anisotropic two-dimensional growth of the crystals. By adjusting the types and proportions of long-chain ammonium salts, organic cations and halogens in the precursor solution, 12 kinds of RP-type perovskite single-crystalline nanosheets with different components and shapes (strip-shaped, flake-shaped, plate-shaped, etc.) are successfully prepared, demonstrating the universality of this strategy. The resultant nanosheets exhibit excellent crystalline quality, atomically flat surfaces, and uniform elemental distributions, as confirmed by different characterizations. These structural and compositional properties are essential for achieving consistent and stable optoelectronic performance. Moreover, the photodetectors fabricated based on (BA)₂PbBr₄ nanosheets exhibit ultraviolet detection capabilities. Under the conditions of 370 nm ultraviolet illumination and 3 V bias voltage, it achieves a responsivity of 19.7 mA/W and a specific detectivity of 1.14×10¹¹ Jones, demonstrating its strong potential as a promising candidate for ultraviolet photodetectors. This study provides a solid foundation for the miniaturization of perovskite optoelectronic devices.