Dihydrochalcones (DHCs)—the compounds that give sweet tea its characteristic sugar-like taste—are produced in extraordinary quantities in the tender leaves of Lithocarpus litseifolius, yet how plants actually make these molecules has remained a mystery.

Inspired by human skin, researchers proposed a skin-inspired intumescent flame-retardant and superhydrophobic coating with excellent self-extinguishing properties and robustness. Combining an outer superhydrophobic layer with an inner intumescent flame-retardant layer, this coating offers a new solution with exceptional mechanical durability and efficient flame retardancy for various combustible materials, showing broad application prospects in fields such as materials, pipe insulation, energy storage, and interior plastics.

The dramatic expansion of data volumes has placed high demands and challenges on optical information technology, and thus the reliable luminescence materials, especially their fatigue resistance during the storage and erasure process are highly considered. Solvent-driven switchable photoluminescence in Sc(DMSO)₆SbCl₆ exhibits promising potential for storing information, which offers a new route in the development of hybrid bimetallic halides for erasable information storage.

AIEgens typically feature dynamic molecular rotor modules, often exhibiting non-planar and conformationally flexible molecular structures. By incorporating AIEgens into the framework of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as functionalized linkers, one can effectively overcome the geometric constraints inherent in traditional, rigid "static" linkers, while simultaneously circumventing the major bottleneck associated with traditional organic fluorophores—namely, their propensity for fluorescence quenching in the aggregated state. The self-assembly of dynamic Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks (LnMOFs)—formed by the alternating linkage of lanthanide ions or clusters (serving as Secondary Building Units, or SBUs, and possessing exceptional photophysical properties and fingerprint emission spectra) with dynamic molecular rotors (serving as linkers)—opens up new horizons for the construction of novel, intelligent luminescent materials. The degree of twisting within the molecular rotors of the AIEgen ligands—and the consequent changes in energy levels resulting from conformational shifts—enables an adaptive "antenna effect" tailored to the distinct energy levels of various lanthanide ions, thereby facilitating the effective construction of intelligent multicolor and/or chromogenic materials.

A new review in Nano Research systematically details the latest advances in quantum dot (QD) technology for point-of-care testing (POCT). Through precise material engineering strategies, QDs can advance the development of various high-sensitivity sensing technologies. Although challenges remain in biosafety and device integration, the coordinated development of "greening, intellectualization, and integration" is driving quantum dot technology from the laboratory toward practical application.

Understanding how crystal facets dictate the adsorption mechanisms of multifunctional oxides is crucial for designing selective materials for fluorine-containing contaminants.

Researchers at Southern University of Science and Technology established the structure–facet–function correlation in CeO₂, unveiling dual active-site mechanisms that differentiate inorganic and organic fluorine adsorption and offering mechanistic insights for rational design of advanced fluorine-selective materials.

A research paper by scientists at City University of Hong Kong presented a 3-level intelligent framework for multijoint upper-limb assistance based on electromyography (EMG) to support the daily living activities of older adults..

The research paper, published on Jul 15, 2026 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems.

A research team has successfully engineered “frustrated Lewis pairs” (FLPs) on graphitic carbon nitride, creating a highly efficient photocatalyst that activates and degrades tetracycline in water nearly four times faster than conventional materials. The unique “push-pull” electron effect of FLPs facilitates molecular polarization and stepwise decomposition, steering the reaction toward less toxic intermediates and offering a promising sustainable solution for antibiotic-contaminated wastewater treatment.