Significantly surpassing their single-junction counterparts in power-conversion efficiency (PCE), two-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have emerged as a game-changer in photovoltaics. However, due to the lack of effective optimisation of the device interface to maximise charge extraction efficiency and reduce energy loss, their widespread application has been limited. Researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have pioneered a novel bilayer interface passivation strategy to develop tandem solar cells that achieve a record-high PCE of 33.89%, representing a milestone in the development of solar technology.

Researchers from the University of South China and the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences carried out precise measurements of the photoneutron cross-section of ⁶³Cu using quasi-monochromatic and energy-tunable γ-beams generated by the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma Source (SLEGS). High-precision (4%) data of the photoneutron cross-section of ⁶³Cu were obtained. The gamma-ray strength function (γSF) of the ⁶³Cu(γ, n) reaction was extracted, and the cross-section of its inverse reaction, ⁶²Cu(n, γ), was successfully calculated. This research provides important support for the measurement and evaluation of photonuclear reaction data, and offers a new approach for extracting the neutron capture cross-sections of some unstable nuclides.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a scalable, non-viral technology that efficiently delivers genetic material into human immune cells. The platform, called Nanostraw Electro-actuated Transfection (NExT), uses tiny hollow nanostructures and electrical pulses to insert a wide variety of biomolecules — proteins, mRNA and gene-editing tools — into immune cells with high efficiency and minimal disruption.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (President Seog-Hyeon Ryu, hereinafter referred to as KIMM), under the National Research Council of Science & Technology (Chairperson Kim, Yeung-Shik), has developed a technology that stably generates high photocurrent under natural sunlight to efficiently produce hydrogen.

In the latest issue of the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Professor Jiankang He and his team from Xi'an Jiaotong University introduce new frontiers for the regeneration and functionality enhancement of excitable tissues by integrating bioelectronics with bioengineered constructs.

Their work not only deepens our understanding of the role of electrical microenvironments in tissue development but also sets forth critical design principles for creating bioelectronic-tissue construct hybrids. These advancements hold transformative potential for repairing and restoring damaged excitable tissues such as cardiac, neural, and muscle tissues.