Accounting for atmospheric degradation of levoglucosan is essential for accurate identification of biomass burning sources in tropical regions, but as much as 88% of levoglucosan may be lost before measurement. After correcting for this atmospheric loss, the researchers identified urban domestic use of fuels, rather than agricultural burning, as the dominant source of PM_2.5 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 

Achromatic metalenses face stringent aperture-NA constraints, a key bottleneck in metasurface imaging. We first propose a novel achromatic imaging method using Bessel spots’ wideband consistency with non-blind restoration, design eccentric-phase off-axis meta-axicons, and develop a 9-meta-axicon integrated meta-camera. It achieves 10° FOV achromatic near-diffraction-limit imaging, circumvents aperture limits via natural dispersion, and provides a valuable solution for large-aperture wide-FOV meta-cameras.

A research team led by Researcher CHEN Chong from the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a new synergistic strategy based on glutathione (GSH) additives, combining "dynamic regulation" and "static protection" to improve both the efficiency and stability of inverted perovskite solar cells. 

Sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention as a lower-cost and more resource-abundant alternative to lithium-ion systems, but their practical performance is often weakened before they truly begin working. A major obstacle is the loss of active sodium ions during the first charge-discharge cycle, especially when hard carbon anodes are used. A new study reports a residue-free electrolyte additive, sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (NaSO₂CF₃), designed to release sodium ions at the right stage of battery formation while avoiding harmful solid leftovers. By combining molecular design, electrochemical testing, and pouch-cell validation, the work offers a practical route to improving initial efficiency, cycle life, and manufacturability in sodium-ion batteries.

Optically addressable spin systems have emerged as promising platforms for quantum sensing. Researchers studying spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have found that excitation wavelength plays a critical role in their performance. By tuning the wavelength, the team achieved a threefold improvement in the measured contrast and magnetic field sensitivity. The findings also uncover a strong impact on photodynamics, offering a practical pathway to optimising hBN-based defects for quantum sensing technologies.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are widely viewed as a safer and more powerful alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries, but their promise is often limited by unstable interfaces inside the cell. A new study shows that carefully introducing oxygen into a sulfide-based solid electrolyte (SE) can stabilize this vulnerable interface while keeping lithium ions moving rapidly. Using lithium sulfate (Li₂SO₄) as an oxygen source, the researchers reshaped the internal lithium pathways of an argyrodite electrolyte and activated cage-to-cage ion conduction. The result is a solid electrolyte that supports high capacity, fast charging and discharging, and long cycling stability, offering a practical strategy for next-generation batteries.

A research team at Saitama University has used first-principles quantum-mechanical calculations to clarify how various atomic-scale defects control the electronic structure, excitonic behavior, and optical properties of carbon quantum dots. The findings provide atomistic design guidelines for environmentally friendly carbon nanomaterials with potential applications in fluorescence sensing, photocatalysis, bioimaging, photothermal therapy, and optoelectronic devices.

The double-bond character of phosphates in solid and liquid phases was investigated using the P=O π* peaks in oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). In the solid phase, the double-bond character of phosphates increased with increasing negative charge; NaH₂PO₄ exhibited weak P=O π* peaks, whereas Na₃PO₄ exhibited prominent P=O π* peaks. In an aqueous Na₃PO₄ solution, the double-bond character was reduced owing to interactions between phosphate and Na⁺ as well as the formation of hydration structures. These findings provide insights into the influence of chemical environment on the electronic structure and reactivity of phosphate compounds involved in various biological processes such as adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis.