The rapid advancement of solid-state lighting technology has made white LEDs the preferred choice for energy-efficient illumination. Nevertheless, commercial white LEDs based on blue chips and yellow phosphors suffer from inadequate red components and poor spectral continuity, leading to low color rendering index (CRI). Lead-free Cs-Cu-I perovskites, with their unique self-trapped exciton (STE) emission, offer a promising single-component white-light platform, yet their low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) remains a major obstacle. Therefore, enhancing both the PLQY and spectral coverage of Cs-Cu-I is critically important.

A team led by Aiwei Tang professor from Beijing Jiaotong University recently reported a Zn²⁺ doping strategy for Cs-Cu-I perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) to achieve high-CRI white LEDs, advancing eco-friendly solid-state lighting.

Prof. Jun Bao’s team developed a synergistic PtPd-Al₂O₃ catalyst for highly selective (96%) and durable (>20 h, FE >80%) electrochemical H₂O₂ production via the 2e⁻ oxygen reduction pathway under neutral conditions. In-situ synchrotron and DFT studies revealed that Pd modulates Pt’s electronic structure, upshifts the d-band center, optimizes *OOH adsorption, and suppresses O–O cleavage, while also stabilizing the alloy structure during operation. This work offers a general strategy for designing stable noble-metal catalysts for various electrochemical transformations.

Extreme-environment protection requires lightweight materials that can simultaneously provide thermal insulation, mechanical resilience, and impact resistance. Inspired by the hierarchical structure of bamboo, researchers at Donghua University developed a biomimetic polyimide composite aerogel with cross-scale molecular crosslinking, nanofiber interlocking, and porous scaffold support, enabling rigid–flexible coupling and integrated thermo-mechanical protection for aerospace, firefighting, and other harsh-environment applications.

The research group led by Mingyu Li at Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) developed a bayberry-like AgMP/AgNP micro–nano composite sintered silver paste (AgPs-BM), in which bayberry-like porous silver microparticles serve as the primary structural framework and silver nanoparticles act as the filling and interconnecting phase. The bayberry-like AgMPs feature a low surface organic content, a relatively high specific surface area, and abundant surface pores. The AgNPs not only fill the large voids formed by the packing of AgMPs but are also distributed between adjacent AgMPs and at particle–interface regions, thereby increasing the number of effective contact sites and establishing interparticle connections. In addition, the AgNPs can fill the surface pores of the AgMPs, shifting the sintering behavior of the AgMPs from predominantly individual-particle self-sintering toward the growth of an interparticle interconnected network.

Stabilized construction-generated soil is often too alkaline for reuse, while neutralization depends on curing conditions. Although aeration curing is the cheapest way to lower alkalinity, there has been no guidance on when to begin it. Now, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology reveal that immediate aeration is preferable when neutralization is the priority, whereas a sealed period is useful when added strength is needed, providing a practical scheduling framework for soil-recycling operations.

The existing magnetic-responsive SERS substrates have difficulty in regulating the spatial coupling between the carrier of the analyte and the plasmonic hotspots, which limits the enhancement effect. This study uses NdFeB/PS/Ag as the plasmonic substrate and the core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Ag) (FSA) as the molecular capture carrier. By adjusting the magnetization state and magnetic field gradient of the NdFeB sheet, the spatial distribution of FSA particles can be controllably regulated.

Transition-metal sulfides can accelerate sulfur reactions in all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries, but their own stability during cycling has received less attention. Researchers uncovered two major catalyst failure pathways and used these insights to develop a compositionally disordered catalyst. The new design suppresses phase separation and transition metal migration while maintaining carrier transport, enabling efficient sulfur conversion under demanding battery conditions.