To meet the growing demand for high-performance, low-cost sodium-ion batteries, researchers have developed a novel iron sulfate cathode material enhanced with magnesium doping. This modified structure improves the material’s stability under high temperatures and harsh electrochemical environments. The newly engineered cathode demonstrates enhanced reaction reversibility, reduced interfacial degradation, and excellent long-term cycling performance—even at elevated temperatures of 60 °C. The innovation lies in using Mg cations to reduce the crystal’s electron density, thereby mitigating harmful side reactions with water and electrolytes. This breakthrough presents a promising direction for developing durable sodium-ion batteries suitable for large-scale energy storage applications.

Green hydrogen holds immense promise for decarbonizing energy systems, yet when produced via water electrolysis, it relies heavily on rare and expensive noble metals. This study delves into the emergence of non-noble metal catalysts (NNMCs) as a transformative alternative for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic environments. By unpacking the underlying mechanisms, performance bottlenecks, and degradation routes, the authors offer a roadmap to designing high-performing, stable NNMCs. The review also explores the latest innovations in catalyst engineering—from electronic tuning to surface reconstruction—that enable these cost-effective materials to rival their noble metal counterparts in water-splitting performance.

A team of researchers has unveiled a powerful imaging technique that captures a full-dimensional portrait of elusive trap states—defects that hinder the performance of perovskite solar cells. By combining scanning photocurrent measurement system (SPMS) with complementary tools like thermal admittance spectroscopy (TAS) and drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP), the team produced detailed spatial and energy maps of these hidden imperfections. Leveraging these insights, they introduced a passivation strategy using sulfa guanidine molecules that dramatically improved device performance. The result: a record-breaking solar cell achieving 25.74% efficiency. This breakthrough not only unlocks a deeper understanding of device physics but also provides a practical pathway to next-generation solar technologies.

In the era of global climate change, personal thermoregulation has become critical to addressing the growing demands for thermoadaptability, comfort, health, and work efficiency in dynamic environments. Here, we introduce an innovative three-dimensional (3D) self-folding knitted fabric that achieves dual thermal regulation modes through architectural reconfiguration. In the warming mode, the fabric maintains its natural 3D structure, trapping still air with extremely low thermal conductivity to provide high thermal resistance (0.06 m² K W⁻¹), effectively minimizing heat loss. In the cooling mode, the fabric transitions to a 2D flat state via stretching, with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings that enhance solar reflectivity (89.5%) and infrared emissivity (93.5%), achieving a cooling effect of 4.3 °C under sunlight. The fabric demonstrates exceptional durability and washability, enduring over 1000 folding cycles, and is manufactured using scalable and cost-effective knitting techniques. Beyond thermoregulation, it exhibits excellent breathability, sweat management, and flexibility, ensuring wear comfort and tactile feel under diverse conditions. This study presents an innovative solution for next-generation adaptive textiles, addressing the limitations of static thermal fabrics and advancing personal thermal management with wide applications for wearable technology, extreme environments, and sustainable fashion.

Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a powerful tool for molecular spectroscopy and gas sensing but remains limited by quantum shot noise. Scientists in China have developed a quantum correlation-enhanced DCS technique that surpasses this barrier, enabling the detection of signals previously hidden beneath noise. Compatible with various spectroscopic platforms, this breakthrough holds promise for ultra-sensitive trace gas detection, precision metrology, and chemical analysis, pushing the limits of what’s possible in modern spectroscopy.

A research team reported in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing has created a “smart” hydrogel-coated surface that can instantly switch its properties to separate oil and water with remarkable precision. By combining laser-etched micro–nano structures with a dual-component hydrogel, the surface achieves record-breaking separation speeds—up to 17,750 liters per square meter per hour—while maintaining over 99% efficiency and resisting fouling.

Inspired by the serrated stinger of a honeybee,  a new microneedle platform was developed in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (IF: 21.3) to combine drug delivery, electrical stimulation, and continuous monitoring in a single, wearable system. This platform tackles one of the toughest problems in modern medicine: diabetic wound healing.

A recent study has revealed that the potato glucose 6-phosphate transporter StGPT1, which resides in both chloroplasts and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), plays a crucial role in defending plants against Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen responsible for late blight.