The new release work in Nano Research reveals the critical role of initial lattice distortion (quantified by atomic size difference, δ) in defect formation and capacity decay of vanadium (V)-based alloys. High-δ alloys exhibited greater hydrogen capacity loss, accompanied by increased plateau slopes (S_f) and defect concentrations High-resolution microscopy uncovered a two-stage defect evolution in high-δ alloys: (1) misoriented nanograins formed at the first cycle, generating dislocations; (2) alternating layered nanostructures emerged in subsequent cycles, creating subgrain boundaries and localized strain. Notably, low-δ alloys avoided layered structure formation. These findings propose a design principle—minimizing δ—to develop stable hydrogen storage alloys.

A liquid alloy (GaInSn)-coated Cu substrate (LM@Cu) addresses K anode instability and dendrites via enhanced potassiophilicity, reduced nucleation overpotential, and self-diffusive planar growth, enabling uniform K deposition. Paired with a PTCDI cathode, the battery delivers 124.4 mAh g⁻¹ initially and retains 78.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 4900 cycles at 500 mA g⁻¹, demonstrating LM@Cu's viability for durable K-metal batteries.

Radioactive iodine gas detection has significant applications in the nuclear industry, particularly in nuclear accident scenarios and nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), owing to their high specific surface area, large pore volume and structurally tunable nature, hold great promise as sensing materials for the electrical detection of iodine gas, by combining with impedance spectroscopy techniques.

The detection of circularly polarized light (CPL) is crucial for various emerging technologies such as communication, information processing, and photoelectronic devices. However, the widespread use of lead-based materials in CPL detection poses environmental concerns. A research team led by Ruosheng Zeng from Guangxi University has synthesized a zero-dimensional (0D) lead-free chiral antimony-based halide, (R/S-MBA)₄Sb₂Br₁₀, which exhibits strong polarity and crystallographic chirality. This material shows great potential for high-sensitivity self-powered CPL detection, nonlinear optics, and chiral-induced spin selectivity effects (CISS), offering a new approach for the development of environmentally friendly optoelectronic devices.

Macrocycles serve as key building blocks for mechanically interlocked molecules. Incorporating novel macrocyclic motifs into interlocked topologies not only expands structural diversity but also unlocks emergent properties. This review summarizes mechanically interlocked molecules consisting of radially conjugated macrocycles, highlighting their innovative structural designs and synthetic approaches from a topological perspective.

Researchers have developed a high-vacuum annealing strategy to regulate the oxygen vacancy (O_v) concentration in RuO₂, thereby enabling the precise modulation of the atomic coordination structures of RuO₂. The optimized RuO_2-x catalyst exhibits exceptional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, attributed to the synergistic effects between the metallic Ru-Ru and Ru-O moieties.

With the continuous development of drug delivery technology, natural polyphenol self-assembled drug delivery systems (DDS) have become a research focus due to their unique advantages. Polyphenols can not only serve as drugs themselves but also as components of self-assembled drug delivery systems, broadening their application in the field of drug delivery. This article reviews the mechanisms of interactions between polyphenols and between polyphenols and other molecules, and analyzes the process of constructing drug delivery systems with polyphenols. At the same time, it deeply explores the multiple functions of polyphenol self-assembled complexes in drug delivery, such as enhancing drug efficacy, achieving precise targeted delivery, and overcoming biological barriers, highlighting their great potential in enhancing drug efficacy and reducing side effects. In addition, several advanced characterization and preparation techniques are introduced and discussed, which will help to deeply understand and evaluate the structure and performance of polyphenol self-assembled delivery systems, promoting their further development. Finally, the challenges and future intelligent manufacturing strategies of polyphenol self-assembled complexes are summarized.

Immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function, significantly impacts the efficacy of immunotherapy in elderly cancer patients. A groundbreaking review published in Nano Research highlights how nanomedicine precisely target immunosenescence by remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME), eliminating senescent cells, and mimicking immune cell functions, thereby reversing or ameliorating the aged TME to improve treatment and prognosis for elderly cancer patients. This interdisciplinary approach promises to overcome the limitations of current treatments and improve outcomes for older cancer patients.