Aqueous alkali metal-ion batteries (AAMIBs) have been recognized as emerging electrochemical energy storage technologies for grid-scale applications owning to their intrinsic safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. However, the practical application of AAMIBs is still severely constrained by the tendency of aqueous electrolytes to freeze at low temperatures and decompose at high temperatures, limiting their operational temperature range. Considering the urgent need for energy systems with higher adaptability and resilience at various application scenarios, designing novel electrolytes via structure modulation has increasingly emerged as a feasible and economical strategy for the performance optimization of wide-temperature AAMIBs. In this review, the latest advancement of wide-temperature electrolytes for AAMIBs is systematically and comprehensively summarized. Specifically, the key challenges, failure mechanisms, correlations between hydrogen bond behaviors and physicochemical properties, and thermodynamic and kinetic interpretations in aqueous electrolytes are discussed firstly. Additionally, we offer forward-looking insights and innovative design principles for developing aqueous electrolytes capable of operating across a broad temperature range. This review is expected to provide some guidance and reference for the rational design and regulation of wide-temperature electrolytes for AAMIBs and promote their future development.

Dr. LU Ming's group from the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with researchers from Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, has now identified a key acetate source by revealing how HCC cells trigger acetate secretion by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) through a metabolic interaction involving lactate and the lipid peroxidation–aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) pathway.

A collaborative research team led by the Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a new “sandwiched” MoOx/Ag/MoOx (MAM) buffer layer to improve the performance and scalability of semi-transparent CsPbI₃/TOPCon tandem solar cells. The MAM buffer layer enhances light transmittance and charge carrier transport while effectively protecting underlying layers from sputtering damage. This innovation enabled semi-transparent CsPbI₃ solar cells to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.86% (0.50 cm²) and corresponding 4-T CsPbI₃/TOPCon tandem cells to reach 26.55% PCE. Significantly, the technology was successfully scaled to larger-area minimodules, achieving 16.67% and 26.41% PCE for CsPbI₃ and 4-T tandem minimodules (6.62 cm²), respectively—marking the first reported minimodule demonstration for this architecture. This work provides a scalable and efficient buffer layer strategy, paving the way for next-generation, high-efficiency perovskite-based photovoltaic systems.

A research team from Tianjin University of Technology, Shandong Univeristy and Shantou University has developed a novel method to enhance the performance and durability of inverted perovskite solar cell (PSC). By introducing guanidinium salt into the fabrication process, the team successfully controlled crystal growth and orientation, leading to solar cells with higher efficiency (25.85%), improved charge transport and exceptional stability under humid and thermal conditions. Moreover, extensive testing demonstrated that the devices retain over 95% of their original efficiency after thousands of hours of operation and exposure to challenging environments.

This work offers a reliable approach to fabricating highly oriented, low-defect perovskite films, accelerating the development and commercialization of efficient and stable PSCs.

Scientists in China have developed a vertical integrated photonic chip that achieves high-throughput optical computing at 25 million frames per second. Leveraging mutually incoherent vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) array and diffractive neural networks, the chip performs single-shot images processing with high energy efficiency and robustness. This breakthrough opens a pathway to next-generation free-space optical processors for real-time vision, AI acceleration, and low-power computing.

A new study led by Dr. Mohammad Fazle Rabbi at the University of Debrecen uncovers how targeted reforms in Europe’s food systems could significantly reduce carbon emissions and accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG‑12), which promotes responsible consumption and production.

A team of scientists from Khalifa University has identified a new form of carbon material that could revolutionize energy storage for electric vehicles and portable electronics. Their study, published in Carbon Research, reveals that a two‑dimensional compound called biphenylene oxide can store nearly five times more energy than graphite, the main material used in most lithium‑ion batteries today.

As industries continue to produce colorful textiles and plastics, the dyes that make them vibrant pose a serious threat to rivers and lakes. A new study published in Carbon Research shows how machine learning can help design better materials to capture and remove toxic dyes from water, improving both environmental safety and industrial sustainability.