Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have garnered significant attention in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries for their potential to mitigate the severe polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics. However, the development of highly efficient SACs and a comprehensive understanding of their structure–activity relationships remain enormously challenging. Herein, a novel kind of Fe-based SAC featuring an asymmetric FeN₅-TeN₄ coordination structure was precisely designed by introducing Te atom adjacent to the Fe active center to enhance the catalytic activity. Theoretical calculations reveal that the neighboring Te atom modulates the local coordination environment of the central Fe site, elevating the d-band center closer to the Fermi level and strengthening the d-p orbital hybridization between the catalyst and sulfur species, thereby immobilizing polysulfides and improving the bidirectional catalysis of Li-S redox. Consequently, the Fe-Te atom pair catalyst endows Li-S batteries with exceptional rate performance, achieving a high specific capacity of 735 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 C, and remarkable cycling stability with a low decay rate of 0.038% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1 C. This work provides fundamental insights into the electronic structure modulation of SACs and establishes a clear correlation between precisely engineered atomic configurations and their enhanced catalytic performance in Li-S electrochemistry.

Electrochemical water splitting holds promise for producing clean hydrogen at industrial scales, but current technologies often falter under large current densities. Recent advances in catalyst design and scalable synthesis strategies are bridging this gap, offering materials that maintain high efficiency, stability, and durability under harsh operational conditions. This review synthesizes progress in scalable electrocatalyst production, from electrodeposition and corrosion engineering to thermal treatment approaches, and further to their combinations. By addressing the key challenges of performance degradation, bubble management, and cost limitations, the study highlights emerging solutions that can accelerate the industrial adoption of green hydrogen production technologies.

Organic cathodes have long been sought after for safe, sustainable, and recyclable energy storage, yet their development has been hampered by solubility, low voltage, and poor conductivity. In this study, researchers report a hexaazatriphenylene-based polymer with a three-dimensional (3D) framework that successfully addresses these challenges. The material exhibits remarkable insolubility, strong electronic delocalization, and accessible redox sites, resulting in a zinc–organic battery with an impressive initial discharge voltage of 1.32 V and an extraordinary lifespan of more than 40,000 cycles with over 93% capacity retention. This work provides a new molecular design strategy for creating high-voltage, ultrastable organic batteries.

This paper proposes an intermittent measurement-based attitude tracking control strategy for spacecraft operating in the presence ofsensor-actuator faults. A sampled-data (self-)learning observer is developed to estimate both the spacecraft’s states and lumped disturbances, effectively mitigating the impact of faults. This observer acts as a virtual predictor, reconstructing states and actuator fault deviations using only intermittent measurement data, addressing the limitations imposed by sensor failures. The control scheme incorporates compensation based on the predictor’s estimates, ensuring robust attitude tracking despite the presence of faults. We provide the first proof of bounded stability for this learning observer utilizing intermittent information, expanding its applicability. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of this innovative strategy,  highlighting its potential for enhancing spacecraft autonomy and reliability in challenging operational scenarios.

Electrochemical synthesis in aqueous solution has emerged as a sustainable strategy to replace traditional fossil-fuel-driven chemical production, but it is often limited by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that wastes energy and yields low-value products. Recent advances are transforming this challenge into an opportunity by replacing OER with faster, value-added oxidation reactions paired with reduction processes beyond hydrogen production. This review highlights cutting-edge catalysts, hybrid electrolyzers, and in situ characterization tools that enable the simultaneous generation of two valuable products in a single electrochemical process. Such integrated systems not only enhance efficiency and economic viability but also pave the way for greener chemical manufacturing aligned with global net-zero goals.

This study revisits the American option pricing problem by introducing a more realistic exercise assumption: investors may exercise not only when the underlying asset reaches the theoretical optimal boundary but also when it lies within a properly defined ϵ-optimal set. For perpetual options, closed-form pricing formulas are derived. For finite-maturity contracts, a numerical algorithm is developed to approximate the ϵ-optimal exercise strip, and a Crank-Nicolson finite difference scheme is adapted to determine the resulting price interval. This approach provides a flexible pricing framework that better reflects real investor behaviour and risk preferences.

Small-scale robots designed to operate on water surfaces face challenges in mobility, adaptability, and multifunctionality. This study introduces bio-inspired “S-aquabots” powered by a programmable Marangoni motor (PM-motor), enabling highly controllable propulsion, efficient fuel use, and silent motion. The robots mimic natural leaves, blending seamlessly into aquatic environments while achieving a 3.5-fold improvement in fuel efficiency compared to conventional designs. With flexible hybrid electronics, the S-aquabots perform complex maneuvers, transmit real-time video, and monitor environmental conditions. By combining biomimicry with advanced engineering, these devices open new possibilities for environmental monitoring, pollution control, and adaptive robotics in outdoor aquatic systems.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are widely recognized for their outstanding power conversion efficiency, but their vulnerability to heat undermines long-term stability and practical use. This study introduces a crystal facet engineering strategy to enhance thermal conductivity and reduce performance loss under elevated temperatures. By orienting the perovskite film toward the (100) facet, the researchers improved heat transfer, lowered operating temperature, and achieved stable power output even during prolonged illumination. The resulting inverted solar cells reached 25.12% efficiency while maintaining over 90% of initial performance after extended aging. These findings highlight thermal management through facet orientation as a powerful route to reliable, high-efficiency solar energy technologies.

Hydrogen release at the electrode surface has long hindered the development of aqueous zinc metal batteries, a promising technology for grid-scale energy storage. While most studies have focused on hydrogen evolution during zinc plating, new evidence reveals that significant hydrogen is also generated during zinc stripping, driven by chemical corrosion of newly exposed zinc surfaces. Researchers now show that small organic additives, particularly cysteamine, can form a protective gradient solid electrolyte interphase that isolates water molecules from the electrode surface. This approach greatly reduces unwanted hydrogen generation and improves battery reversibility, achieving more than 4000 stable cycles with high Coulombic efficiency.