Themed collection Recent Review Articles

The differences between the transport properties of grain boundaries in polycrystalline oxides are widely discussed in the scientific community. AFM-based measurements are a good addition to the toolbox to characterize grain boundary characteristics.

This review primarily outlines the entire process from nanoparticle synthesis and ligand selection to assembly, as well as the applications of the final assemblies, with a focus on DNA.

In this review, we overview the current advances in bioinspired smart slippery surfaces for bubble manipulation, including design principles, manipulation mechanisms, manipulation strategies, and emerging applications.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology (SDIE) has shown considerable potential in addressing global water scarcity, thanks to its eco-friendly, efficient, and versatile nature.

This work introduces basic laser interferometry methods, covering principles and configurations, and demonstrates their value for visualizing concentration fields and supporting mechanistic understanding of mass transport in electrochemical systems.

To address the challenges of complex application environments, multifunctional polyurethane coatings have emerged as a key focus of future research. Achieving an optimal balance among their diverse functional properties remains critically important.

This review article focuses on the recent advances in various bismuth-based materials for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to fuel or value-added products.

This review mainly provides an overview of the cathode catalyst progress in aprotic Li–O₂ batteries. Notably, this review includes studies of new spinel oxide modulation strategies, high-entropy alloys, and new soluble catalysts for Li–O₂ batteries.

Bio-based cyclic carbonates enable green NIPUs. This review surveys synthesis, waterborne/hybrid advances, challenges, and applications in coatings, adhesives, and biomedical fields.

Covalently bonded SPAN cathodes eliminate polysulfide shuttling and enable high stability in Li–S batteries. This review highlights structural designs, doping strategies, and electrolyte/binder innovations driving their practical advancement.

This review examines EDL modulation strategies for achieving ionic rectification in hydrogel, discuss the representative research work, prospect the development of EDL in hydrogel-based iontronics and emphasize the opportunities and challenges.

Electron transfer dynamics at semiconductor–cocatalyst interfaces are critical for efficient solar fuel generation, including water splitting, pollutant degradation, CO₂ reduction, and N₂ fixation.

Methods for modifying the surface structure of MOFs are categorized and flame-retardant effects of various modification techniques are examined, emphasizing the development of MOF surface morphology and its compatibility with the polymer matrix.

This review provides an overview of porous carbon materials and their hydrogen storage properties with insight on strategic improvement by structural and chemical modifications and current trends of using machine learning and lifecycle assessment.