Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), while dominant in energy storage due to high energy density and cycling stability, suffer from severe capacity decay, rate capability degradation, and lithium dendrite formation under low-temperature (LT) operation. Therefore, a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of LIB behavior at LT is urgently required. This review article comprehensively reviews recent advancements in electrolyte engineering strategies aimed at improving the low-temperature operational capabilities of LIBs. The study methodically examines critical performance-limiting mechanisms through fundamental analysis of four primary challenges: insufficient ionic conductivity under cryogenic conditions, kinetically hindered charge transfer processes, Li⁺ transport limitations across the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), and uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth. The work elaborates on innovative optimization approaches encompassing lithium salt molecular design with tailored dissociation characteristics, solvent matrix optimization through dielectric constant and viscosity regulation, interfacial engineering additives for constructing low-impedance SEI layers, and gel-polymer composite electrolyte systems. Notably, particular emphasis is placed on emerging machine learning-guided electrolyte formulation strategies that enable high-throughput virtual screening of constituent combinations and prediction of structure–property relationships. These artificial intelligence-assisted rational design frameworks demonstrate significant potential for accelerating the development of next-generation LT electrolytes by establishing quantitative composition-performance correlations through advanced data-driven methodologies.

Professor Tonggang Jiu's team at Shandong University achieved a significant improvement in the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells by regulating the NiO_x/perovskite interface chemistry by introducing a novel self-assembling molecule, (4-(2,7-dibromo-9,9-dimethylacridin-10(9H)-yl)butylphosphonic acid (2Br-4PADMAc), into the NiO_x/perovskite interface. This effectively suppressed Ni^>3+ generation and interfacial redox reactions, optimized energy level matching, and promoted high-quality film crystallization. Compared to the traditional molecule 2PACz, 2Br-4PADMAc exhibits stronger interfacial anchoring and a larger molecular dipole moment, which can improve hole transport efficiency and reduce PbI₂ accumulation. The inverse perovskite solar cell modified with this molecule achieved a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 25.28% and excellent stability. This research provides a new strategy for optimizing the efficiency and stability of NiO_x-based perovskite solar cells through interfacial molecule design. The article was published as an open access research article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.

Researchers have unveiled a new generation of sustainable carbon materials poised to revolutionize environmental protection and energy technologies. The study highlights advanced forms of carbon, including graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon dots (CDs), biochar, and aerogels, showing that these materials play essential roles in removing harmful pollutants, cleaning water, storing energy, and catalyzing chemical reactions with minimal environmental impact.

A research team from Harbin Institute of Technology has developed a new solar driven photocatalyst that uses industrial sulfite waste to rapidly break down toxic dyes in wastewater. The study demonstrates a sustainable approach that improves water quality while transforming an abundant industrial by product into a valuable resource.

In a groundbreaking exploration of the environmental impacts of fires, researchers are shedding light on how gaseous smoke pollutants affect both air and soil quality. This critical study, titled "Impact of Gaseous Smoke Pollutants from Modelled Fires on Air and Soil Quality," is spearheaded by Mikhail Nizhelskiy from the Academy of Biology and Biotechnology Named After D.I. Ivanovskiy at Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation. His work offers a deeper understanding of the often-overlooked consequences of fires on our environment.

Due to the unique conditions of the space environment and abundant resources, the field investigation and study of the Moon, Earth’s sole natural satellite, represent a crucial milestone in China’s forthcoming deep space endeavors. The successful collection of lunar soil by the Chang’E-5 mission signifies the next phase of the lunar exploration program, which aims to establish a preliminary research station on the lunar south pole. Highly adhesive fine dust particles with an adhesion strength of 0.1 to 1.0 kN/m², which originate from the regolith, disperse throughout the lunar surface. These particles exhibit a lasting attraction and subsequent persistent adhesion to the surface of spacecraft or spacesuits. The accumulation of highly adhesive dust on spacecraft presents a serious issue to hinder long-term extravehicular activity and the establishment of a permanent station on lunar surface. In contrast to the immediate physical damage caused by hypervelocity (> 1.0 km/s) impacts, this adhesion observed at low- velocity (0.01 to 100 m/s) collisions can more unobtrusively and mortally degenerate the performance of equipment. In recent years, many interaction models have been developed to forecast the adhesion and ejection dynamics of lunar dust on various surfaces. Most researches on the electrostatic force applied on dust particles near the surface use point-charge approximation. Although this simplification makes the simulation easier, the error can be large due to the polarization of dust induced by the image charge.

Anthocyanins are major pigments responsible for the vivid colors of ornamental flowers. 

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious human herpesvirus responsible for chickenpox upon primary infection and shingles upon viral reactivation. While Varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) can offer post-exposure protection for high-risk individuals, structural insights into neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) derived from natural infection remain limited. Glycoprotein E (gE), the most abundant and immunogenic envelope protein of VZV, plays an essential role in viral infection and is the sole antigen in the recombinant zoster vaccine.