We have used a rapid, solvent-free pulse laser ablation in liquids technique to create sulfur-defect rich zinc indium sulfide (ZnIn₂S₄) nanosheets. These engineered defects act as super-active sites, dramatically improving the material's ability to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon monoxide (CO) using visible light. The optimized photocatalyst shows a 15-fold increase in performance and high stability, offering a promising new pathway for clean fuel production and carbon capture

Single-molecule spintronics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that integrates molecular electronics with spin-based information science, offering novel pathways for encoding, manipulating, and detecting spin at the molecular level. This review explores the fundamental principles, advances, and prospects of single-molecule spin devices, emphasizing the manipulation of spin states in various molecular systems, such as single-molecule magnets, spin crossover complexes, organic radicals, and chiral molecules. Due to their intrinsic quantum characteristics and tunable functionalities, these systems serve as ideal platforms for investigating spin-related phenomena including Kondo effects, spin filtering, and thermoelectric effects. The integration of molecular junctions with advanced measurement techniques, such as spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and electron spin resonance, has significantly advanced the understanding of spin transport and coherence in single-molecule configurations. Furthermore, potential applications of these molecules in devices like spin valves, spin switches, and quantum bits are discussed, highlighting their promise for realizing low-power, high-efficiency spintronic technologies. Despite significant progress, several challenges remain in terms of stability, reproducibility, and scalability, necessitating further research into molecular design, interfacial engineering, and quantum coherence to enable practical applications in molecular spintronics and quantum information science.

As two-dimensional (2D) materials emerge as leading candidates for next-generation electronics, a critical challenge remains: the quality of electrical contact with metal electrodes. A new review published in Nano Research systematically explores the dual nature of the Schottky barrier at 2D material–metal interfaces, offering a comprehensive roadmap for engineering both Ohmic and Schottky contacts to unlock the full potential of 2D devices.

The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR) is a promising route for green ammonia synthesis, but its complex reaction pathway makes adsorption selectivity critical. In this study, researchers introduced boron doping into nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) supported Cu₂O-Fe₃O₄ catalysts to enhance nitrate adsorption and increase local concentration near the electrode surface. The team confirmed that the B-doped carbon nanotube substrate effectively boosts NO₃RR performance with higher ammonia yield and a positive-shifted onset potential. This general doping strategy offers a new way to tune complex electrocatalytic reactions, especially those requiring high selectivity and concentration sensitivity.

A joint research team from China has developed a novel microwave-assisted rapid synthesis strategy for fluorescent polymer nanoparticles (FPNs) with physically entrapped fluorophores. Published in Nano Research, this method allows robust and rapid synthesis of FPNs with tunable size and fluorescence emission wavelengths by modulating key reaction parameters, as well as stimuli-responsiveness functionality.

Adsorption in nanoporous materials is crucial to addressing global challenges such as carbon capture, gas separation, and water harvesting. While machine learning potentials (MLPs) offer a revolutionary way to predict material behavior with high accuracy, integrating them into traditional simulation tools has been a major technical bottleneck. Researchers have now developed HULU, a universal Python-based framework that acts as a "bridge," allowing scientists to seamlessly apply diverse atomistic foundation models to Monte Carlo simulations. This breakthrough paves the way for faster, more accurate discovery of the next generation of sustainable materials.

Self-emissive quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are promising next-generation displays, but their industrialization is hindered by uncontrollable acid-induced positive aging, leading to non-uniform luminescence and short operating lifetimes. Researchers from BOE Technology Group developed a solution-processed thermal treatment strategy for ZnMgO electron transport layers, reducing the density of oxygen vacancies and increases the nanoparticle size, enabling QLED devices to achieve uniform electroluminescence with high efficiency, bright luminance and longer operating lifetime. This work provides a reliable route for scalable manufacturing of high-performance QLED displays.

A flexible sensing-storage integrated system have been developed for wearable health monitoring. This system is fabricated using a low-cost solution spin-coating process, combining a flexible floating-gate organic thin-film transistor memory with an organic thin-film transistor pressure sensor to achieve in-situ acquisition and storage of physiological signals, which provides an innovative platform for constructing low-cost, fully flexible electronic skins capable of simultaneous physiological sensing, data storage, and wireless transmission.

Beyond the gut and skin microbiota, a world of persistent intracellular microbes resides within human tissues. A new review introduces the concept of PIEM—persistent intracellular extraintestinal microbes—to describe these residents. Using human cytomegalovirus as a model, the authors propose that PIEMs act as systemic "tuning devices," calibrating immune, vascular, and metabolic baselines. The review also highlights circulating viral miRNAs as a liquid biopsy window for monitoring PIEM activity, opening directions for precision medicine.

Type 2 diabetes affects far more than glucose metabolism. Researchers have reported that a 16-week personalized exercise delivered broad health benefits for people with type 2 diabetes and abdominal obesity. Beyond reducing body fat, the intervention increased skeletal muscle mass, improved glycemic regulation and physical fitness, and enhanced cognitive performance. The findings suggest that personalized exercise should be viewed as a comprehensive therapeutic strategy rather than simply a weight-loss tool.