The slow kinetics and high energy consumption of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limit the large-scale development of electrocatalytic water splitting. Replacing OER with the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) and coupling it with the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can optimize the electrocatalytic water splitting system. Now, a research team at Wuhan University has accelerated the hydrogen transfer in the glycerol oxidation process by regulating the d-p hybridization of MnO₂, providing new insights for balancing the adsorption and activation of biomass molecules. These findings are published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry.

A research team from the School of Engineering (SENG) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has introduced comprehensive bio-inspired multiscale design strategies to address key challenges in the commercialization of perovskite solar cells: long-term operational stability. Drawing inspiration from natural systems, these strategies aim to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and adaptability of solar technologies. The approaches focus on leveraging insights from biological structures to create solar cells that can better withstand environmental stressors and prolonged use.

Immunotherapy has shown tremendous potential in cancer treatment but remains ineffective for most patients. Researchers continue to develop new therapeutic strategies to enhance both the safety and treatment efficacy of immunotherapy. A commentary authored by the group of Bo Xiao and Chenghui Wang at University of Electronic Science and Technology of China introduces a new strategy combining systemic type I interferons (IFN-I) with topical Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonists to enhance the antitumor effect of PD-1 antibodies. The commentary, titled “Systemic IFN-I Synergizes with Topical TLR7/8 Agonists to Suppress Metastatic Tumors,” was published in Research.