ArticleList

Surpassing Shockley–Queisser Efficiency Limit in Photovoltaic Cells

Zhigang Li and Bingqing Wei

The Shockley–Queisser (S-Q) model sets a theoretical limit on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of single-junction solar cells at around 33%. Recently, a PCE of 50%-60% was achieved for the first time in n-type single-junction Si solar cells by inhibiting light conversion to heat at low temperatures. Understanding these new observations opens tremendous opportunities for designing solar cells with even higher PCE to provide efficient and powerful energy sources for cryogenic devices and outer and deep space explorations.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 330 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01844-8

Core–Shell IrPt Nanoalloy on La/Ni–Co3O4 for High-Performance Bifunctional PEM Electrolysis with Ultralow Noble Metal Loading

Yifei Liu, Xinmeng Er, Xinyao Wang, Hangxing Ren, Wenchao Wang, Feng Cao, Taiyan Zhang, Pan Liu, Yakun Yuan, Fangbo Yu, Yang Ren, Fuqiang Huang, Wenjiang Ding, and Lina Chong

The development of highly efficient and durable bifunctional catalysts with minimal precious metal usage is critical for advancing proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). We present an iridium–platinum nanoalloy (IrPt) supported on lanthanum and nickel co-doped cobalt oxide, featuring a core–shell architecture with an amorphous IrPtOx shell and an IrPt core. This catalyst exhibits exceptional bifunctional activity for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions in acidic media, achieving 2 A cm-2 at 1.72 V in a PEMWE device with ultralow loadings of 0.075 mgIr cm-2 and 0.075 mgPt cm-2 at anode and cathode, respectively. It demonstrates outstanding durability, sustaining water splitting for over 646 h with a degradation rate of only 5 μV h-1, outperforming state-of-the-art Ir-based catalysts. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory simulations reveal that the optimized charge redistribution between Ir and Pt, along with the IrPt core–IrPtOx shell structure, enhances performance. The Ir–O–Pt active sites enable a bi-nuclear mechanism for oxygen evolution reaction and a Volmer–Tafel mechanism for hydrogen evolution reaction, reducing kinetic barriers. Hierarchical porosity, abundant oxygen vacancies, and a high electrochemical surface area further improve electron and mass transfer. This work offers a cost-effective solution for green hydrogen production and advances the design of high-performance bifunctional catalysts for PEMWE.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 329 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01845-7

Self-Regulated Bilateral Anchoring Enables Efficient Charge Transport Pathways for High-Performance Rigid and Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells

Haiying Zheng, Guozhen Liu, Xinhe Dong, Feifan Chen, Chao Wang, Hongbo Yu, Zhihua Zhang, and Xu Pan

Interface modification has been demonstrated as an effective means to enhance the performance of perovskite solar cells. However, the effect depends on the anchoring mode and strength of the interfacial molecules, which determines whether long-term robust interface for carrier viaduct can be achieved under operational light illumination. Herein, we select squaric acid (SA) as the interfacial molecule between the perovskite and SnO2 layer and propose a self-regulated bilateral anchoring strategy. The unique four-membered ring conjugated structure and dicarboxylic acid groups facilitate stable hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds at both SnO2/SA and SA/PbI2 interfaces. The self-transforming property of SA enables the dynamic bilateral anchoring at the buried interface, ultimately releasing residual stress and constructing a stable interfacial molecular bridge. The results show that SA molecular bridge not only can effectively inhibit the generation of diverse charged defects but also serves as an effective electron transport pathway, resulting in improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 23.19 to 25.50% and excellent stability at the maximum power point. Additionally, the PCEs of the flexible and large-area (1 cm2) devices were increased to 24.92% and 24.01%, respectively, demonstrating the universal applicability of the bilateral anchoring to PSCs based on different substrates and larger area.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 328 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01846-6

Nonswelling Lubricative Nanocolloidal Hydrogel Resistant to Biodegradation

Tiantian Ding, Chunxia Ren, Liyuan Meng, Guoyong Han, Yao Xue, Wenlong Song, Daowei Li, Hongchen Sun, Bai Yang, and Yunfeng Li

Hydrogels derived from biopolymers have numerous applications in bioengineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and wearable devices. Yet, their strong swelling and uncontrollable degradation stimulate the development of hydrogels that overcome these limitations. Here, we report nanocolloidal hydrogels formed from nanoparticles of methacryloyl-modified biopolymers that exhibit resistance to swelling and enzymatic degradation both in vitro and in vivo, along with exhibiting a broad-range of mechanical and lubrication properties, wear resistance and biocompatibility. The nonswelling behavior of nanocolloidal hydrogels takes origin in the resistance to swelling of their hydrophobic regions which are resulted from the nanophase of hydrophobic methacryloyl groups in the interior of the constituent nanoparticles. The developed approach to the preparation of nanocolloidal hydrogel with greatly enhanced properties will have applications in long-term drug delivery and cell culture, soft tissue augmentation, and implantable bioelectronics.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 327 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01830-0

Scalable and Sustainable Chitosan/Carbon Nanotubes Composite Protective Layer for Dendrite-Free and Long-Cycling Aqueous Zinc-Metal Batteries

Jinchang Wang, Alessandro Innocenti, Hang Wei, Yuanyuan Zhang, Jingsong Peng, Yuanting Qiao, Weifeng Huang, and Jian Liu

Rechargeable aqueous zinc (Zn)-metal batteries hold great promise for next-generation energy storage systems. However, their practical application is hindered by several challenges, including dendrite formation, corrosion, and the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. To address these issues, we designed and fabricated a composite protective layer for Zn anodes by integrating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with chitosan through a simple and scalable scraping process. The CNTs ensure uniform electric field distribution due to their high electrical conductivity, while protonated chitosan regulates ion transport and suppresses dendrite formation at the anode interface. The chitosan/CNTs composite layer also facilitates smooth Zn2+ deposition, enhancing the stability and reversibility of the Zn anode. As a result, the chitosan/CNTs @ Zn anode demonstrates exceptional cycling stability, achieving over 3000 h of plating/stripping with minimal degradation. When paired with a V2O5 cathode, the composite-protected anode significantly improves the cycle stability and energy density of the full cell. Techno-economic analysis confirms that batteries incorporating the chitosan/CNTs protective layer outperform those with bare Zn anodes in terms of energy density and overall performance under optimized conditions. This work provides a scalable and sustainable strategy to overcome the critical challenges of aqueous Zn-metal batteries, paving the way for their practical application in next-generation energy storage systems.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 326 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01837-7

Comprehensive Understanding of Closed Pores in Hard Carbon Anode for High-Energy Sodium-Ion Batteries

Siyang Gan, Yujie Huang, Ningyun Hong, Yinghao Zhang, Bo Xiong, Zhi Zheng, Zidong He, Shengrui Gao, Wentao Deng, Guoqiang Zou, Hongshuai Hou, and Xiaobo Ji

Hard carbon (HC) is considered the most promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its high cost-effectiveness and outstanding overall performance. However, the amorphous and intricate microstructure of HC poses significant challenges in elucidating the structure–performance relationship, which has led to persistent misinterpretations regarding the intrinsic characteristics of closed pores. An irrational construction methodology of closed pores inevitably results in diminished plateau capacity, which severely restricts the practical application of HC in high-energy-density scenarios. This review provides a systematic exposition of the conceptual framework and origination mechanisms of closed pores, offering critical insights into their structural characteristics and formation pathways. Subsequently, by correlating lattice parameters with defect configurations, the structure–performance relationships governing desolvation kinetics and sodium storage behavior are rigorously established. Furthermore, pioneering advancements in structural engineering are critically synthesized to establish fundamental design principles for the rational modulation of closed pores in HC. It is imperative to emphasize that adopting a molecular-level perspective, coupled with a synergistic kinetic/thermodynamic approach, is critical for understanding and controlling the transformation process from open pores to closed pores. These innovative perspectives are strategically designed to accelerate the commercialization of HC, thereby catalyzing the sustainable and high-efficiency development of SIBs.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 325 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01833-x

Radiative Cooling Materials for Extreme Environmental Applications

Jianing Xu, Wei Xie, Hexiang Han, Chengyu Xiao, Jing Li, Yifan Zhang, Shaowen Chen, Binyuan Zhao, Di Zhang, and Han Zhou

Radiative cooling is a passive thermal management strategy that leverages the natural ability of materials to dissipate heat through infrared radiation. It has significant implications for energy efficiency, climate adaptation, and sustainable technology development, with applications in personal thermal management, building temperature regulation, and aerospace engineering. However, radiative cooling performance is susceptible to environmental aging and special environmental conditions, limiting its applicability in extreme environments. Herein, a critical review of extreme environmental radiative cooling is presented, focusing on enhancing environmental durability and cooling efficiency. This review first introduces the design principles of heat exchange channels, which are tailored based on the thermal flow equilibrium to optimize radiative cooling capacity in various extreme environments. Subsequently, recent advancements in radiative cooling materials and micro-nano structures that align with these principles are systematically discussed, with a focus on their implementation in terrestrial dwelling environments, terrestrial extreme environments, aeronautical environments, and space environments. Moreover, this review evaluates the cooling effects and anti-environmental abilities of extreme radiative cooling devices. Lastly, key challenges hindering the development of radiative cooling devices for extreme environmental applications are outlined, and potential strategies to overcome these limitations are proposed, aiming to prompt their future commercialization.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 324 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01835-9

Advanced Nanomedicines for Treating Refractory Inflammation-Related Diseases

Xiuxiu Wang, Xinran Song, Wei Feng, Meiqi Chang, Jishun Yang, and Yu Chen

This review examines inflammation as a physiological defense mechanism against infectious agents, physical trauma, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and metabolic stress, which, under dysregulated conditions, may progress into chronic diseases. Nanomedicine, which integrates nanotechnology with medicine, suppresses inflammatory signaling pathways and overexpressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as ROS, to address inflammation-related pathologies. Current advances in nanomaterial design and synthesis strategies are systematically analyzed, with parallel discussions on toxicity mechanisms, influencing factors, and evaluation methods that are critical for clinical translation. Applications of functional nanomaterials are highlighted in the context of refractory inflammatory conditions, including wound healing, gastrointestinal disorders, and immune, neurological, or circulatory diseases, along with targeted delivery strategies. Persistent challenges in nanomedicine development, such as biocompatibility optimization, precise biodistribution control, and standardized toxicity assessment, are critically assessed. By bridging material innovation with therapeutic efficacy, this review establishes a framework for advancing nanomedicine to improve treatment outcomes while addressing translational barriers.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 323 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01829-7

A LiF-Pie-Structured Interphase for Silicon Anodes

Weiping Li, Shiwei Xu, Cong Zhong, Qiu Fang, Suting Weng, Yinzi Ma, Bo Wang, Yejing Li, Zhaoxiang Wang, and Xuefeng Wang

Silicon (Si) is a promising anode material for rechargeable batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and abundance, but its practical application is hindered by the continuous growth of porous solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), leading to capacity fade. Herein, a LiF-Pie structured SEI is proposed, with LiF nanodomains encapsulated in the inner layer of the organic cross-linking silane matrix. A series of advanced techniques such as cryogenic electron microscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry have provided detailed insights into the formation mechanism, nanostructure, and chemical composition of the interface. With such SEI, the capacity retention of LiCoO2||Si is significantly improved from 49.6% to 88.9% after 300 cycles at 100 mA g-1. These findings provide a desirable interfacial design principle with enhanced (electro) chemical and mechanical stability, which are crucial for sustaining Si anode functionality, thereby significantly advancing the reliability and practical application of Si-based anodes.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 322 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01832-y

Designing a Sulfur Vacancy Redox Disruptor for Photothermoelectric and Cascade-Catalytic-Driven Cuproptosis–Ferroptosis–Apoptosis Therapy

Mengshu Xu, Jingwei Liu, Lili Feng, Jiahe Hu, Wei Guo, Huiming Lin, Bin Liu, Yanlin Zhu, Shuyao Li, Elyor Berdimurodov, Avez Sharipov, and Piaoping Yang

The therapeutic efficacy of cuproptosis, ferroptosis, and apoptosis is hindered by inadequate intracellular copper and iron levels, hypoxia, and elevated glutathione (GSH) expression in tumor cells. Thermoelectric technology is an emerging frontier in medical therapy that aims to achieve efficient thermal and electrical transport characteristics within a narrow thermal range for biological systems. Here, we systematically constructed biodegradable Cu2MnS3-x-PEG/glucose oxidase (MCPG) with sulfur vacancies (SV) using photothermoelectric catalysis (PTEC), photothermal-enhanced enzyme catalysis, and starvation therapy. This triggers GSH consumption and disrupts intracellular redox homeostasis, leading to immunogenic cell death. Under 1064 nm laser irradiation, MCPG enriched with SV, owing to doping, generates a local temperature gradient that activates PTEC and produces toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hydroxyl radicals and oxygen are generated through peroxide and catalase-like processes. Increased oxygen levels alleviate tumor hypoxia, whereas hydrogen peroxide production from glycometabolism provides sufficient ROS for a cascade catalytic reaction, establishing a self-reinforcing positive mechanism. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated that vacancy defects effectively enhanced enzyme catalytic activity. Multimodal imaging-guided synergistic therapy not only damages tumor cells, but also elicits an antitumor immune response to inhibit tumor metastasis. This study offers novel insights into the cuproptosis/ferroptosis/apoptosis pathways of Cu-based PTEC nanozymes.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 321 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01828-8

Dual Structure Reinforces Interfacial Polarized MXene/PVDF-TrFE Piezoelectric Nanocomposite for Pressure Monitoring

Yong Ao, Long Jin, Shenglong Wang, Bolin Lan, Guo Tian, Tianpei Xu, Longchao Huang, Zihan Wang, Yue Sun, Tao Yang, Weili Deng, Fan Yang, and Weiqing Yang

The emerging interfacial polarization strategy exhibits applicative potential in piezoelectric enhancement. However, there is an ongoing effort to address the inherent limitations arising from charge bridging phenomena and stochastic interface disorder that plague the improvement of piezoelectric performance. Here, we report a dual structure reinforced MXene/PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric composite, whose piezoelectricity is enhanced under the coupling effect of interfacial polarization and structural design. Synergistically, molecular dynamics simulations, density functional theory calculations and experimental validation revealed the details of interfacial interactions, which promotes the net spontaneous polarization of PVDF-TrFE from the 0.56 to 31.41 Debye. The oriented MXene distribution and porous structure not only tripled the piezoelectric response but also achieved an eightfold increase in sensitivity within the low-pressure region, along with demonstrating cyclic stability exceeding 20,000 cycles. The properties reinforcement originating from dual structure is elucidated through the finite element simulation and experimental validation. Attributed to the excellent piezoelectric response and deep learning algorithm, the sensor can effectively recognize the signals of artery pulse and finger flexion. Finally, a 3 × 3 sensor array is fabricated to monitor the pressure distribution wirelessly. This study provides an innovative methodology for reinforcing interfacial polarized piezoelectric materials and insight into structural designs.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 320 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01839-5

Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Conductive Hydrogel Dressings for Refractory Wounds Monitoring

Yumo She, He Liu, Hailiang Yuan, Yiqi Li, Xunjie Liu, Ruonan Liu, Mengyao Wang, Tingting Wang, Lina Wang, Meihan Liu, Wenyu Wan, Ye Tian, and Kai Zhang

Refractory wounds cause significant harm to the health of patients and the most common treatments in clinical practice are surgical debridement and wound dressings. However, certain challenges, including surgical difficulty, lengthy recovery times, and a high recurrence rate persist. Conductive hydrogel dressings with combined monitoring and therapeutic properties have strong advantages in promoting wound healing due to the stimulation of endogenous current on wounds and are the focus of recent advancements. Therefore, this review introduces the mechanism of conductive hydrogel used for wound monitoring and healing, the materials selection of conductive hydrogel dressings used for wound monitoring, focuses on the conductive hydrogel sensor to monitor the output categories of wound status signals, proving invaluable for non-invasive, real-time evaluation of wound condition to encourage wound healing. Notably, the research of artificial intelligence (AI) model based on sensor derived data to predict the wound healing state, AI makes use of this abundant data set to forecast and optimize the trajectory of tissue regeneration and assess the stage of wound healing. Finally, refractory wounds including pressure ulcers, diabetes ulcers and articular wounds, and the corresponding wound monitoring and healing process are discussed in detail. This manuscript supports the growth of clinically linked disciplines and offers motivation to researchers working in the multidisciplinary field of conductive hydrogel dressings.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 319 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01834-w

Scalable Fabrication of Methylammonium-Free Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells by Blade Coating in Ambient Air

Jianbo Liu, Meng Zhang, Xiaoran Sun, Linhu Xiang, Xiangyu Yang, Xin Hu, Zhicheng Wang, Tian Hou, Jinzhao Qin, Yuelong Huang, Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi, and Xiaojing Hao

Scalable fabrication of efficient wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is crucial to realize the full commercial potential of tandem solar cells. However, there are challenges in fabricating efficient methylammonium-free (MA-free) WBG PSCs by blade coating, especially its phase separation and films stability. In this work, an MA-free WBG perovskite ink is developed for preparing FA0.8Cs0.2Pb(I0.75Br0.25)3 films by blade coating in ambient air. Among various A-site iodides, RbI is found to be the most effective in suppressing the precipitation of PbI2 induced by Pb(SCN)2 while keeping the enlarged grains. The distribution of Rb suggested that the Rb ions are kept isolated with the perovskite grains during the crystallization and Ostwald ripening processes, which contributes to the formation of the large-grain WBG perovskite film with minimum non-radiative recombination. As a result, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.0% was achieved on small-area WBG PSCs, while mini-modules with an aperture area of 10.5 cm2 exhibited a PCE of 20.2%, among the highest reported for solar cells prepared with WBG perovskites via blade coating. This work presents a scalable and reproducible fabrication strategy for stable MA-free WBG PSCs under ambient conditions, advancing their path toward commercialization.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 318 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01838-6

Low Energy Consumption Photoelectric Memristors with Multi-Level Linear Conductance Modulation in Artificial Visual Systems Application

Zhenyu Zhou, Zixuan Zhang, Pengfei Li, Zhiyuan Guan, Yuchen Li, Xiaoxu Li, Shan Xu, Jianhui Zhao, and Xiaobing Yan

Optical synapses have an ability to perceive and remember visual information, making them expected to provide more intelligent and efficient visual solutions for humans. As a new type of artificial visual sensory devices, photoelectric memristors can fully simulate synaptic performance and have great prospects in the development of biological vision. However, due to the urgent problems of nonlinear conductance and high-energy consumption, its further application in high-precision control scenarios and integration is hindered. In this work, we report an optoelectronic memristor with a structure of TiN/CeO2/ZnO/ITO/Mica, which can achieve minimal energy consumption (187 pJ) at a single pulse (0.5 V, 5 ms). Under the stimulation of continuous pulses, linearity can be achieved up to 99.6%. In addition, the device has a variety of synaptic functions under the combined action of photoelectric, which can be used for advanced vision. By utilizing its typical long-term memory characteristics, we achieved image recognition and long-term memory in a 3 × 3 synaptic array and further achieved female facial feature extraction behavior with an activation rate of over 92%. Moreover, we also use the linear response characteristic of the device to design and implement the night meeting behavior of autonomous vehicles based on the hardware platform. This work highlights the potential of photoelectric memristors for advancing neuromorphic vision systems, offering a new direction for bionic eyes and visual automation technology.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 317 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01816-y

Triple-Layer Porous Transport Layers with Ultra-High Porosity for Enhanced Oxygen Transport and Catalyst Utilization in Water Electrolysis

Seong Hyun Park, Young Je Park, Seungsoo Jang, Pilyoung Lee, Soobin Yoon, Young-June Park, Chi-Young Jung, and Kang Taek Lee

The commercialization of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) for green hydrogen production hinges on the development of low-cost, high-performance titanium porous transport layers (PTLs). This study introduces a triple-layer Ti-PTL with a graded porous structure and a 75% ultra-high porosity backing layer, fabricated through tape casting and roll calendering. This triple-layer PTL, composed of a microporous layer, an interlayer, and a highly porous backing layer, enhances catalyst utilization, mechanical integrity, and mass transport. Digital twin technology using X-ray revealed increased contact area and triple-phase boundary at the interface with the catalyst layer, significantly improving oxygen evolution reaction kinetics. Numerical simulations demonstrated that the strategically designed porous structure of the triple-layer PTL facilitates efficient oxygen transport, mitigates oxygen accumulation, and improves reactant accessibility. Electrochemical evaluations showed improved performance, achieving 127 mV reduction in voltage at 2 A cm-2 compared to a commercial PTL, highlighting its potential to enhance PEMWE efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 316 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01831-z

Designing Metal Phosphide Solid-Electrolyte Interphase for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries Through Electrified Interface Optimization and Synergistic Conversion

Jung Been Park, Changhoon Choi, Min Sang Kim, Hyeongbeom Kang, Eunji Kwon, Seungho Yu, and Dong-Wan Kim

Regulating the nucleation and growth of Li metal is crucial for achieving stable high-energy-density Li metal batteries (LMBs) without dendritic Li growth, severe volume expansion, and “dead Li” accumulation. Herein, we present a modulation layer composed of porous SnP0.94/CoP p-n heterojunction particles (SCP), synthesized applying the Kirkendall effect. The unique heterointerfaces in the SCP induce a fully ionized depletion region and built-in electric field. This provides strong Li affinity, additional adsorption sites, and facilitated electron transfer, thereby guiding dendrite-free Li nucleation/growth with a low Li deposition overpotential. Moreover, the strategic design of the SCP, accounting for its reaction with Li, yields electronically conductive Co, lithiophilic Li–Sn alloy, and ionic conductive Li3P during progressive cycles. The mixed electronic and ionic conductor (MEIC) ensure the long-term stability of the SCP modulation layer. With this layer, the SCP@Li symmetric cell maintains a low overpotential for 750 cycles even at a high current density of 5 mA cm-2. Additionally, the LiFePO4//SCP@Li full cell achieves an imperceptible capacity decay of 0.03% per cycle for 800 cycles at 0.5 C. This study provides insight into MEIC heterostructures for high-performance LMBs.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 315 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01813-1

Screening Anionic Groups Within Zwitterionic Additives for Eliminating Hydrogen Evolution and Dendrites in Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

Biao Wang, Chaohong Guan, Qing Zhou, Yiqing Wang, Yutong Zhu, Haifeng Bian, Zhou Chen, Shuangbin Zhang, Xiao Tan, Bin Luo, Shaochun Tang, Xiangkang Meng, and Cheng Zhang

Zwitterionic materials with covalently tethered cations and anions have great potential as electrolyte additives for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their appealing intrinsic characteristics and merits. However, the impact of cationic and anionic moieties within zwitterions on enhancing the performance of AZIBs remains poorly understood. Herein, three zwitterions, namely carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA), sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), were selected as additives to investigate their different action mechanisms in AZIBs. All three zwitterions have the same quaternary ammonium as the positively charged group, but having different negatively charged segments, i.e., carboxylate, sulfonate, and phosphate for CBMA, SBMA, and MPC, respectively. By systematical electrochemical analysis, these zwitterions all contribute to enhanced cycling life of Zn anode, with MPC having the most pronounced effect, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect of positively quaternary ammonium group and unique negatively phosphate groups. As a result, the Zn//Zn cell with MPC as additive in ZnSO4 electrolyte exhibits an ultralong lifespan over 5000 h. This work proposes new insights to the future development of multifunctional zwitterionic additives for remarkably stable AZIBs.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 314 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01826-w

Strategies for Enhancing Energy-Level Matching in Perovskite Solar Cells: An Energy Flow Perspective

Xiaorong Shi, Kui Xu, Yiyue He, Zhaogang Peng, Xiangrui Meng, Fayi Wan, Yu Zhang, Qingxun Guo, and Yonghua Chen

Metal halide perovskites, owing to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and broad application prospects, have emerged as a research hotspot in materials science and photovoltaics. In addressing challenges related to energy loss, photoelectric conversion efficiency, and operational stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), various strategies have been proposed, such as improving perovskite crystallization, developing tandem architectures, and advancing interfacial engineering. However, the specific impact of these approaches on internal energy transfer and conversion mechanisms within PSCs remains insufficiently understood. This review systematically examines the relationship between energy and perovskite materials throughout the photon absorption to charge carrier transport process, with particular focus on key strategies for minimizing energy losses and their underlying influence on energy-level alignment-especially in the electron transport layer and hole transport layer. It summarizes optimal absorption conditions and contributing factors during energy transfer, alongside representative case studies of high-performing systems. By elucidating these mechanisms, this work offers valuable theoretical insights for optimizing energy-level alignment, reducing energy dissipation, and guiding experimental design in PSCs research.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 313 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01815-z

Pickering Emulsion-Driven MXene/Silk Fibroin Hydrogels with Programmable Functional Networks for EMI Shielding and Solar Evaporation

Guang Yin, Jing Wu, Chengzhang Qi, Xinfeng Zhou, Zhong-Zhen Yu, and Hao-Bin Zhang

Flexible and conformable nanomaterial-based functional hydrogels find promising applications in various fields. However, the controllable manipulation of functional electron/mass transport networks in hydrogels remains rather challenging to realize. We describe a general and versatile surfactant-free emulsion construction strategy to customize robust functional hydrogels with programmable hierarchical structures. Significantly, the amphipathy of silk fibroin (SF) and the reinforcement effect of MXene nanosheets produce sable Pickering emulsion without any surfactant. The followed microphase separation and self-cross-linking of the SF chains induced by the solvent exchange convert the composite emulsions into high-performance hydrogels with tunable microstructures and functionalities. As a proof-of-concept, the controllable regulation of the ordered conductive network and the water polarization effect confer the hydrogels with an intriguing electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (~ 64 dB). Also, the microstructures of functional hydrogels are modulated to promote mass/heat transfer properties. The amino acids of SF and the surface terminations of MXene help reduce the enthalpy of water evaporation and the hierarchical structures of the hydrogels accelerate evaporation process, expecting far superior evaporation performance (~ 3.5 kg m⁻2 h⁻1) and salt tolerance capability compared to other hydrogel evaporators. Our findings open a wealth of opportunities for producing functional hydrogel devices with integrated structure-dependent properties.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 312 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01818-w

3D-Printed Boron-Nitrogen Doped Carbon Electrodes for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment via MPECVD

Iwona Kaczmarzyk, Malgorzata Szopińska, Patryk Sokołowski, Simona Sabbatini, Gabriel Strugala, Jacek Ryl, Gianni Barucca, Per Falås, Robert Bogdanowicz, and Mattia Pierpaoli

This study proposes a novel and sustainable method for fabricating 3D-printed carbon-based electrodes for electrochemical wastewater treatment. We prepared B,N-doped carbon electrodes with hierarchical porosity and a significantly enhanced surface area-to-volume ratio (up to 180%) compared to non-optimized analogues using a synergistic combination of 3D printing, phase inversion, and microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This process allows the metal-free growth of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures directly onto polymer-derived substrates, resulting in a 20-fold increase in the electrochemically active surface area. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to improve mass transport and reduce pressure drop. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated that the optimized electrodes performed significantly better, achieving 4.7-, 4-, and 6.5-fold increases in the degradation rates of atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol, respectively, during electrochemical oxidation. These results highlight the efficacy of the integrated fabrication and simulation approach in producing high-performance electrodes for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.

Nov. 03, 2025
Nano-Micro Letters
Vol. 17, Issue 1, 311 (2025)
DOI：10.1007/s40820-025-01827-9