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.

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.

Infected wounds pose a significant medical challenge, often leading to delayed healing and complications due to bacterial biofilms and excessive inflammation. A key characteristic of these infection sites is an acidic microenvironment. Scientists have now engineered a smart nanoplatform that uses this acidity as a trigger to release a potent combination of therapeutic agents directly at the wound site.

In an article appearing in the journal Biomedical Analysis, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University describe the development of a novel nanocomposite, SH@ZIF-8/AgNPs. This platform consists of a porous carrier called a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), which is loaded with shikonin (SH), a natural compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The surface of this carrier is then decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are well-known for their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The design enables the encapsulation of a high concentration of shikonin within a stable structure.

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 new genomic study uncovers how hybridization helped shape the extraordinary diversity of Philodendron, one of the world's most valued tropical foliage plant groups.