Liquid-like surfaces (LLS), as novel bioinspired interfacial materials, form dynamic molecular brush interfaces through the covalent grafting of flexible polymers or alkyl molecular chains. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional superhydrophobic surfaces (SHPS) and slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), which heavily rely on micro/nanostructures or external lubricants. The core advantage of LLS lies in the high mobility of its molecular chains, which significantly reduces contact angle hysteresis (CAH) and sliding angle (SA), enabling droplet self-cleaning at minimal tilt angles or even on horizontal surfaces. This paper first elaborates on the liquid-repellent mechanism of LLS, which involves the use of flexible chains to mask substrate defects and reduce contact line pinning effects, thereby achieving dynamic droplet dewetting. Subsequently, it summarizes the three main types of LLS, including monolayers, polymer layers, and organic-inorganic hybrid layers, and analyzes the relationship between different structures and liquid-repellent performance. Next, the applications of LLS coatings in anti-icing, self-cleaning, graffiti resistance, anti-bioadhesion, directional liquid transport, anti-scaling, and membrane fouling inhibition are reviewed. Finally, the challenges faced by LLS coatings, such as mechanical durability and chemical stability, are discussed, along with future prospects for advancing multifunctional integration.

Graphynes are a kind of low-dimensional carbon material composed of sp- and sp²-hybridized carbon atoms with unique electronic conjugation topologies and tunable chemical properties. Recently, significant progress has been made in the synthesis methods of graphynes. Various derivative structures as well as different morphologies from nanosheets to macroscopic films have been achieved through dry or wet chemical methods, which provide important theoretical and experimental supports for designing new carbon materials. Due to the high specific surface areas, abundant chemically active sites, and adjustable bandgap structures, graphyne derivatives exhibit high nonlinear optical coefficients and ultra-fast carrier migration rates, revealing great application potential in nonlinear optics. In this paper, the structural classification, synthesis strategies, and third-order nonlinear optical properties of graphynes are systematically reviewed, aiming to provide references for practical applications of graphynes in optical and optoelectronic fields.

Copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have gained prominence due to their remarkable color-tunable light emission and cost-effective, versatile solution-based synthesis. The use of various functional ligands in the synthesis of CuNCs enables the modulation of their emission wavelengths and enhances their environmental stability. These nanoclusters have found applications across diverse fields, including catalysis, sensing, bioimaging, and optoelectronics. This review offers a focused and up-to-date perspective by covering literature from the past decade (2015-2025) with an explicit emphasis on practical environmental matrices, including heavy metal ions, organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and other environmental contaminants. It systematically compares sensing mechanisms (e.g., fluorescence quenching, turn-on responses, ratiometric and inner-filter effects) and provides tabulated limits of detection for key heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pharmaceuticals to facilitate direct benchmarking. Finally, the review highlights translational gaps for in-field deployment, such as matrix interferences, long-term stability of ligand-stabilized CuNCs, sample pre-treatment needs, and the absence of standardized validation protocols and proposes targeted research directions to bridge laboratory advances with real-world environmental monitoring.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging proton-conducting materials widely used in the modification of proton exchange membranes (PEM). Among them, the UiO-66 series MOFs (UiO-MOFs) exhibit high thermal and chemical stability, and are easy to synthesize and modify, making them ideal for PEM modification. This paper primarily reviews related research on UiO-MOFs used for PEM modification over the past five years from the perspective of filler design and preparation. Section II introduces the materials and proton conduction mechanisms of UiO-MOFs. Section III summarizes the design of ligands and metal clusters in UiO-MOFs, such as acid/base group modifications and metal cluster replacements. Section IV consolidates the methods for post-synthetic modifications of UiO-MOFs, such as grafting acid/base groups using active functional groups from external crystal structures. Section V presents various composite schemes involving UiO-MOFs and other materials to construct composite fillers with different dimensionalities. Finally, the summary highlights unresolved issues regarding the use of UiO-MOFs in PEMs and proposes future research directions.

The complexity of sodium-storage mechanisms has become a key bottleneck limiting the deployment of high-performance carbon-based anodes in commercial sodium-ion batteries. In hard-carbon anodes, Na-storage involves multiscale, coupled processes that are challenging to characterize. Machine learning (ML) can bridge the experiment-characterization-simulation divide, rapidly uncover nonlinear multivariate relationships and key structure-property descriptors, complement theoretical calculations by mitigating limitations in time/length scales and data scarcity, and enable predictions of capacity plateaus, diffusion kinetics, and cycling stability. Building on a critical synthesis of Na-storage mechanisms in hard carbon, this review distills core ML strategies and representative applications to support interpretable, data-driven design of high-capacity, long-life carbon anodes, highlighting ML-centered approaches for probing alkali-ion behavior. The aim is to provide theoretical guidance and practical design rules for the future design and optimization of carbon-based anode materials.

All-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs) are regarded as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density (2600 Wh/kg) and enhanced safety. Current bottleneck issues primarily stem from the sluggish redox kinetics and mechanical degradation of sulfur-based cathodes in solid-state systems. Therefore, developing advanced characterization techniques to elucidate the behavior of sulfur cathodes in solid-state configurations is crucial for optimizing battery design and enhancing performance. This review summarizes recent research progress in advanced characterization technologies for cathode development in all-solid-state Li-S batteries. Through representative case studies, it comprehensively explores how X-ray, electron, optical, and other emerging techniques reveal the sluggish kinetics and degradation mechanisms of sulfur-based cathodes, providing guidance for high-performance cathode design. Finally, the article prospects future development directions of characterization technologies in solid-state Li-S battery cathodes and summarizes current challenges, offering valuable insights and references for future research endeavors.

Efficient recovery and recycling of phosphorus are of dual strategic significance to alleviate global phosphorus shortage and eutrophication. As a green, economical and multifunctional porous carbon material, biochar is an ideal carrier for phosphorus recovery and slow-release utilization. This paper discusses the influence of biomass feedstock and pyrolysis process on phosphorus adsorption capacity, and puts forward the principles of feedstock screening and preparation process optimization. Secondly, the metal modification-based enhancement strategy is analyzed in detail, and the mechanism and advantages of metal doping in enhancing phosphorus adsorption performance are clarified. Next, the synergistic effects involving electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, ligand exchange and surface precipitation during biochar phosphorus adsorption are systematically revealed, and functional groups and Lewis acid-base interactions contribute to the selectivity of phosphorus adsorption. The application of slow-release kinetic models to evaluate the phosphorus release mechanism is discussed, and a phosphorus fertilizer efficiency evaluation system is established by integrating slow-release characteristics and agronomic effect assessment. Finally, the future problems and directions are outlined to provide theoretical references for advancing this field.

As a clean and efficient secondary energy source, hydrogen energy represents a strategic pillar for future energy transition, capable of replacing fossil fuels to achieve deep decarbonization in industries, transportation, and other sectors. In recent years, seawater electrolysis has emerged as a promising route for green hydrogen production, owing to its potential to utilize seawater as a feedstock and address offshore wind power utilization challenges in remote marine areas. However, current research on seawater electrolysis predominantly focuses on catalyst development at the material level, with insufficient attention to synergistic optimization at the system and process levels. To bridge this gap, this review systematically summarizes the state-of-the-art technologies and future trends in seawater electrolysis systems and processes. The system is decomposed into four key components: electrolyzer, power supply system, gas-liquid separation system, and gas purification system, with a comprehensive analysis of their current research progress. Additionally, this paper highlights innovations in non-catalyst aspects, including technological and methodological advancements. Finally, future directions and application prospects for seawater electrolysis systems are discussed, emphasizing the importance of integrated system design, scalability, and cost-effectiveness to accelerate industrial deployment. This work aims to provide insights into the holistic development of seawater electrolysis technology for sustainable hydrogen production.

Inspired by the stimulation of biological systems, cyclic dipeptides self-assemble through the synergistic driving of various non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, to form functional materials with long-range ordered nanostructures, whose excellent physicochemical properties, such as unique photo-responsive properties and biocompatibility, have a wide range of applications in the fields of bio-photovoltaics and energy harvesting. In this paper, we focus on the structure-mechanism-function linkage of cyclic dipeptide self-assembly, and systematically illustrate its transition from basic research of molecular design to application. At the level of self-assembly mechanism, the entropy-driven crystallization dynamics is revealed, and the intermolecular forces and stacking arrangement are confirmed by crystallographic characterization techniques; at the level of functionality, the multi-dimensional applications of cyclic dipeptides as low-loss organic optical waveguide materials, piezoelectric sensors, and anti-bacterial and anticancer materials are analyzed. Through the establishment of non-covalent interaction network-microstructure-macroscopic performance constitutive model, we will point out the technical route for the development of biodegradable bioelectronic devices and intelligent drug delivery systems, and promote the cyclic dipeptide materials from basic research to the leapfrog development of precision medicine and flexible electronics industry.

With the increasing proportion of renewable energy in the energy structure, the development of efficient and safe secondary battery energy storage technologies is crucial for addressing the challenges of integrating intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar power into the grid. Due to its unique structure and physicochemical properties, graphite anode material has been widely used in lithium-ion batteries. Inspired by the lithium storage behavior of graphite, its application in other metal-ion batteries has also been extensively studied, demonstrating significant potential. However, the application of graphite anode materials in various metal-ion secondary batteries still lacks a comprehensive understanding. This review analyzes the electrochemical behavior of graphite in different metal-ion secondary battery systems, identifies the challenges faced by graphite materials, and highlights the primary strategies and current research progress in addressing these issues. The aim is to provide a reference for the development of high-performance and sustainable graphite-based energy storage batteries.

In recent years, visible-light-promoted palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions and C-H functionalization have witnessed remarkable advances in the field of organic synthesis. By utilizing photoexcited palladium complexes to mediate single-electron transfer (SET) processes, researchers have effectively addressed challenges associated with the activation of inert bonds in conventional thermal catalytic systems. This strategy has notably expanded the scope of applicable substrates and improved compatibility with diverse functional groups. This review highlights recent developments in visible-light-induced palladium-catalyzed Negishi coupling, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, Heck reaction, three-component coupling, as well as C-H functionalization. Particular emphasis is placed on the distinct advantages of photoexcited palladium catalysis in enabling inert bond activation, regioselective control, and stereoselective transformations. This Pd/photoredox dual catalytic strategy significantly enhances reaction regioselectivity and stereocontrol, substantially broadening the substrate scope and functional group tolerance. It demonstrates particular utility in the construction of fluorinated molecules, strained rings, and heterocyclic architectures, offering a novel and efficient green pathway for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, functional materials, and natural products, thereby revealing considerable application potential.

Since the widespread acceptance between 1960s and 1970s, the condensed matter physics has undergone rapid development. Condensed matter physics primarily investigates the geometric and electronic structures of solid and liquid substances, as well as the resulting microscopic and macroscopic physical phenomena such as sound, light, electricity, magnetism, heat, etc. Meanwhile, the field of chemistry has also evolved significantly, especially in the last two decades, with advancements in theoretical chemistry and chemical characterization techniques. Researchers have gradually come to realize that chemical reactions are not merely straightforward transformations from reactants to products. The structural hierarchy of the reaction system plays a crucial role in the progression of chemical reactions. There has been a growing emphasis on the in-situ characterization of chemical reactions, and efforts have been made to explore the dynamic changes in the material structures at different levels within the system under reaction conditions. These developments can be considered as the nascent stages of condensed matter chemistry research. Physics and chemistry have always been intertwined and mutually reinforcing natural sciences. Currently, new phenomena and theories in condensed matter physics continue to emerge. Introducing these new physical phenomena and theories into chemical research is a highly worthwhile exploration area. The present review will briefly introduce some relatively recent concepts in condensed matter physics (e.g., surface plasmon polariton, topological insulators, quasicrystals, local micro-electric/magnetic fields, light-matter interactions, alternating magnets, etc.) and their applications in chemistry. The aim is to illustrate the application potentials of cutting-edge condensed matter physics research in chemistry, provide insights into advancing traditional chemical research to the realm of condensed matter chemistry, and contribute to the development of condensed matter chemistry.

Contents

1 Introduction: From solid-state physics to condensed matter physics

2 Condensed matter in chemical reaction systems

2.1 Dynamic interface configurations in reactions

2.1.1 Reactions on solid-gas interfaces

2.1.2 Reactions on solid-liquid interfaces

2.1.3 Reactions on solid-Solid interfaces

2.2 External electric field

2.3 Other external fields

2.4 Microenvironments

3 New chemical methods from the new concepts of condensed matter physics

3.1 Quantum confinement effects

3.2 Surface plasmon polariton

3.3 Topological insulator

4 Conclusion and outlook

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reactions (CO₂RR) have become an important means of building sustainable energy systems due to their potential to convert carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals under mild conditions, as global carbon dioxide emissions become increasingly serious. This review provides a systematic overview of the research progress in the construction of CO₂RR electrodes, with a focus on the structural design principles of the electrodes. It highlights typical construction strategies for metal-based, carbon-based, and emerging electrode structures, analyzing the effects of conductivity, pore structure, and three-phase interface stability on electron transport, carbon dioxide mass transfer, and product desorption behavior.

It particularly emphasizes the crucial role of surface and interface engineering in enhancing catalytic selectivity and long-term stability, and summarizes cutting-edge construction methods such as 3D printing, bio-inspired modification of electrodes, and the use of derivative materials. Although existing research has made significant progress under laboratory conditions, challenges such as structural stability, construction costs, and large-scale manufacturability remain to be addressed in practical applications. Therefore, this review proposes that future research should be conducted in a coordinated manner in the areas of interface microenvironment control, structural modeling, and manufacturing process simplification to achieve efficient, stable, and scalable CO₂RR electrode systems.

Contents

1 Introduction

2 CO₂RR mechanism

3 CO₂RR Electrode Construction

3.1 Transition metal-based

3.2 Carbon-based

3.3 Emerging Structures and 3D Printed Electrodes

4 Surface and Interface Engineering

5 Conclusion and outlook

Recent advances in machine learning (ML) have demonstrated remarkable potential in revolutionizing the design, property prediction, and synthesis optimization of nanomaterials, facilitating a paradigm shift from traditional empirical approaches to data-driven methodologies in nanoscience. This review systematically examines the research frameworks and cutting-edge developments in ML-assisted nanomaterial design and fabrication, with a focus on representative material systems, including zero-dimensional quantum dots, one-dimensional nanotubes, two-dimensional materials, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Key technical aspects such as data acquisition and feature engineering, supervised and unsupervised modeling, generative algorithms, and automated experimental platforms are critically discussed. Furthermore, we highlight emerging challenges and future directions, emphasizing the need for standardized databases, physics-informed ML models, and closed-loop experimental systems to enable intelligent and efficient nanomaterial development. This work provides a comprehensive methodological reference for the integration of ML in next-generation nanomaterial research.

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Machine Learning Application Framework

2.1 Acquisition and Standardized Preprocessing of High-Quality Data

2.2 Representation Methods and Feature Engineering for Material Structures

2.3 Model Construction and Training

2.4 Validation and Generalization Assessment

2.5 Performance Prediction and Material Screening

2.6 Inverse Design and Generative Structural Optimization

3 Representative Research Progress

3.1 Zero-Dimensional Nanomaterials

3.2 One-Dimensional Nanomaterials

3.3 Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

3.4 Metal-Organic Frameworks

4 Conclusion and Outlook

The electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) has emerged as an energy-efficient alternative to the traditional oxygen evolution reaction for hydrogen production, with mechanistic understanding being critical for the rational design of catalysts. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in in situ characterization techniques for elucidating the dynamic reaction mechanisms of UOR. Studies reveal that phase transitions, valence state migration, and electronic structure evolution of catalysts under operational conditions are key factors governing activity and stability. Techniques such as in situ X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy enable real-time monitoring of catalyst reconstruction, intermediate evolution, and interfacial adsorption behavior, overcoming the environmental deviations inherent in conventional ex situ characterization. When combined with theoretical calculations, these methods provide direct evidence for identifying active-site configurations, reaction pathways, and rate-determining steps. In addition, special emphasis is placed on multimodal in situ strategies for deciphering synergistic effects in nickel-based catalysts, while current challenges including non-alkaline systems, real wastewater environments, and multi-metal cooperation mechanisms are critically discussed. Future research should focus on developing novel in situ approaches for complex systems and establishing a mutually reinforcing framework integrating theoretical prediction and experimental validation, thereby advancing UOR catalyst design from empirical exploration to mechanism-guided optimization.

Cell heterogeneity is key to understanding life processes such as embryonic development and disease evolution, while traditional bulk cell RNA sequencing cannot resolve gene expression differences at the single-cell level. Although single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology can construct transcriptomic maps at single-cell resolution, it faces challenges such as low efficiency in single-cell isolation and capture, and large deviations in trace RNA manipulation. Microfluidic chip technology, through a microscale fluid manipulation system, integrates processes such as single-cell isolation, lysis, reverse transcription, amplification, and sequencing library construction, achieving high-throughput, low sample loss, and automated operations, which significantly improves the efficiency and data reliability of scRNA-seq. This paper outlines the sequencing process of scRNA-seq, including steps such as single-cell isolation and capture, RNA extraction, reverse transcription and amplification, and single-cell sequencing. It analyzes the core advantages of microfluidic chips in adapting to single cells, precisely controlling reaction volumes, and realizing process automation, and briefly describes the technical principles and characteristics of representative platforms such as Fluidigm C1, 10X Genomics Chromium, and BD Rhapsody. Microfluidic chip technology provides an efficient and precise technical platform for scRNA-seq. In the future, with the continuous optimization of chip design and the improvement of multi-omics integrated analysis capabilities, we expect it to play a more profound role in resolving complex biological systems, revealing disease mechanisms, and even promoting precision medicine.

Air pollution is a major challenge for the improvement of urban environmental quality. The process of urbanization is an important cause of highly complex air pollution, on the other hand it also provides artificial reinforcement conditions for self-purification of air pollutants in cities. "Environmental catalytic city" refers to the spontaneous catalytic purification of low concentration gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere by catalytic materials coating on the artificial surfaces, such as building surfaces in the city under natural photothermal conditions. "Environmental catalytic city" is of great significance for the control of complex air pollution without additional energy consumption, the continuous improvement of indoor and outdoor air quality, and the scheme and construction of " self-purifying city". Here, we propose the concept of “environmental catalytic city”, and discuss its further improvement, development, and application.

Lignocellulose aerogels possess excellent properties of low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity and so on, making them widely utilized in thermal insulation, adsorption, catalysis, electromagnetic shielding, biomedical and other fields. Moreover, as a bio-based material, lignocellulose is a green, pollution-free, renewable, and sustainable material. In this paper, the latest research progress of wood-based cellulose and agricultural waste-based cellulose aerogels are reviewed. Then the current research status of lignocellulose aerogel preparation methods including freeze-drying, supercritical drying, and atmospheric drying, is summarized. In addition, for the flammability issues commonly found in lignocellulose aerogels, commonly used methods to improve the flame retardancy of lignocellulose aerogels are discussed in detail. Finally, this paper concludes the main problems in lignocellulose aerogel preparation methods and properties, and the future development direction in this field is proposed.

Water is a clean, safe, environmentally benign chemical reaction medium. Understanding the properties of water and the chemical processes in hydrothermal systems is of vital significance in the research of condensed matter chemistry. The physicochemical features of water under hydrothermal conditions greatly differ from that under normal condition, and thus the hydrothermal technique has been extended to much broader systems. In this review article, we introduce the structures of water and its clusters, the variation of their properties along with conditions, and relevant condensed matters in hydrothermal systems. We also illustrate the hydrothermal chemistry through discussing the preparation of typical materials through hydrothermal methods, hydrothermal organic reactions, and bio-hydrothermal chemistry. By relating condensed matter and hydrothermal chemistry, we hope this review will offer new ideas for comprehending hydrothermal reaction systems from the angle of condensed matter chemistry.

Fuel cell technology and its industrialization have been developed rapidly in China in recent years. However, the high cost of the fuel cell caused mainly by the using of precious Pt catalysts is still one of the most important factors restricting the development of fuel cell commercialization. It is of great significance to develop low Pt catalysts with much higher catalytic efficiency and lower Pt loadings. In recent years, Pt-based catalysts with three-dimensional morphology or nanostructure have been emerged as a type of ultra-important low Pt catalysts, due to their special morphologies/structures, their catalytic activity are usually much higher than that of the widely used Pt/C catalysts. In this paper, the research progress of Pt-based catalysts with special three-dimensional morphology (such as nanoframe structure, flower-like structure, nanocage structure, sea urchin structure, etc.) and their applications in fuel cells are reviewed, meanwhile, some weaknesses and challenges of these catalysts are concluded; Furthermore, the future development and application of these catalysts are prospected.

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging, as a new type of imaging technique that offers strong optical absorption contrast and high ultrasonic resolution, shows great application prospects in the early disease diagnosis for its characteristics of deep tissue penetration and high spatial resolution. However, traditional "always on" PA contrast agents have many disadvantages such as low signal-to-noise ratio, poor selectivity and specificity. In contrast, activatable PA contrast agents, where the imaging signal can be changed in response to pathologic parameters, have shown decreased background signal and improved selectivity and specificity in early disease detection. Moreover, these contrast agents can obtain pathological parameters and information of various diseases at the molecular level by rational design to their structures, providing important guidelines for the optimization of treatment options. Therefore, activatable PA contrast agents hold greater promise in clinical practice than traditional "always on" PA contrast agents. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the development of activatable PA contrast agents. The design mechanisms and proof-of-concept applications of these activatable PA contrast agents are summarized in detail. The use of these activatable probes to detect different pathologic parameters (such as metal ions, enzymes, reactive nitrogen and reactive oxygen) is highlighted. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives in this emerging field are also analyzed.

The elemental sulfur as an active cathode material in lithium sulfur batteries possess a high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh/kg, which is 5~6 times higher than that of traditional Li-ion batteries. Thus, the use of lithium sulfur batteries can significantly prolong the endurance mileage of electric cars and working time of electronic products. However, lithium sulfur batteries are suffering from the dissolution of polysulfide in the electrolyte during charging and discharging process, which can cause dramatic loss of active materials in the cathode. In order to suppress the problem of polysulfide dissolution, strategies such as porous modification and polarization were applied to increase the sulfiphilicity of cathode host. The biomass fibers are natural nanomaterial source to obtain cathode host materials which typically possess natural abundant hierarchical pores and heteroatoms. The porosity and heteroatom doping properties of biomass fiber derived host materials can be used to trap polysulfide via chemical and physical adsorption in cathode. The application of such materials in cathode are beneficial for slowing down the decay rate of cycling stability in lithium sulfur batteries. This review provides an overview and discussion on the application, working mechanism, problems and prospects of the biomass fibers derived cathode host for lithium sulfur batteries.

In recent years,the use of abundant and renewable biomass resources to prepare high value-added chemicals and liquid fuels is one of the hot spots in the chemical research field,which is in line with the national strategy of sustainable development. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(HMF)is one of the key biomass platform compounds,widely used in the preparation of fine platform compounds,drug intermediates,polymer synthesis and liquid fuel precursor. Therefore,the selective oxidation of HMF has gradually become a research hotspot in the field of biomass. This paper mainly introduces the research on preparation of biomass derivatives such as DFF,FFCA and FDCA by selective oxidation of HMF in last five years,and the transformation of biomass with HMF as intermediate. The selective oxidation of HMF mainly focuses on two ways:thermalcatalytic and photocatalytic. Among them,the selective oxidation of HMF to DFF and FDCA by thermalcatalytic is widely studied. The catalytic system under this approach mainly introduces the noble metals and non-precious metals. In the few photocatalytic pathways,the main catalytic system is g-C₃N₄ catalyst. In addition,the deficiencies in there search on the oxidation of HMF are pointed out and the possible solutions are proposed.