ABSTRACT Thin‐film solar cells offer advantages in cost and flexibility compared with traditional silicon‐based photovoltaics. However, the limited active layer thickness and low near‐bandgap absorption efficiency result in significant photon loss and reduced efficiency. Plasmonic nanomaterials, through excitation of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), offer a powerful strategy to enhance light harvesting and charge separation. A systematic framework connecting the design of such nanomaterials to device performance remains lacking. This review clarifies the material‑oriented mechanisms of plasmon‑enhanced light management and surveys recent advances in thin‑film and tandem solar cells integrated with metallic nanostructures. Specifically, an in‐depth investigation is carried out on the precise manipulation of light, including localized, lattice coupling, and propagating modes, through the geometric arrangements of metallic nanostructures. Furthermore, we highlight the critical roles of advanced micro/nano fabrication techniques in enabling large‐scale production and artificial intelligence in optimizing structural design, while also envisioning their potential applications in smart building systems and electrochromic devices.

ABSTRACT Conversion‐type electrodes with extended Li + storage and multi‐electron transfer capabilities hold great promise for meeting the growing demand for high energy density. However, most of these materials suffer from inherently poor rate performance and limited capacity reversibility, primarily due to the low diffusivity of metal cations and inevitable structural changes during (de)lithiation. Herein, we report the high first‐cycle capacity reversibility of FeS 2 under ultrahigh charging rates. The kinetic properties of the charging process are revealed through electrochemical measurements, and the origin of the outstanding rate performance is further investigated using advanced spectroscopic characterizations. In particular, the exceptionally high apparent diffusion coefficient observed in the electrode reflects the excellent mobility of Fe 2+ cations, which directly accounts for the remarkable rate capability. Further investigation reveals that the S 2 – anion framework of the anti‐fluorite structure is well preserved during charging, providing stable channels and sites for Fe 2+ insertion. Moreover, the high‐spin state of Fe 2+ reduces the energy barrier for its migration into the tetrahedral sites formed by S 2 – anions, facilitating rapid and stable ion transport. This study elucidates the origin of the kinetic performance from a mechanistic perspective and provides guidance for the development of conversion‐type electrodes in high‐power energy storage devices.

ABSTRACT High‐performance lithium‐sulfur batteries capable of operating under harsh environmental conditions have garnered significant attention, yet they still confront two critical challenges: sluggish polysulfide redox reaction kinetics at low temperatures and the persistent shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides at elevated temperatures. Herein, a single‐atom catalyst featuring an asymmetric Ti 1 ‐O 5 configuration (Ti‐rGO) supported by reduced graphene oxide is designed to act as an efficient host catalyst for lithium‐sulfur batteries. Experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the Ti 1 ‐O 5 configuration in Ti‐rGO is capable of tuning the electronic properties of rGO. Such a tailored electronic structure with an optimized Fermi level accelerates charge transfer and further enhances adsorption energy and conversion kinetics for lithium polysulfides. The 2D porous nanostructure of Ti‐rGO provides a physical barrier for the shuttle effect and an open framework to efficiently boost the utilization of sulfur species. Lithium‐sulfur batteries employing Ti‐rGO/S cathodes demonstrate exceptional rate capability (761 mAh g −1 at 5 C) and cycling stability (low capacity decay of 0.018% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 2 C) under ambient conditions. With a high sulfur loading of 9.2 mg cm −2 and lean electrolyte usage of 5.8 μL mg −1 , the Ti‐rGO/S cathodes still achieve a remarkable areal capacity of 10.65 mAh cm −2 . Notably, even over a wide temperature range (−25°C–70°C), the lithium‐sulfur batteries based on Ti‐rGO/S cathodes still maintain stable cyclic performance at 2 C. This research demonstrates that Ti‐rGO‐based electrocatalyst systems can facilitate the realization of temperature‐resilient lithium‐sulfur batteries capable of withstanding both cryogenic and elevated temperature conditions.

ABSTRACT As key reaction intermediates involved in the electroreduction of carbon dioxide, *CO and *H (* represents active center) prove to be critical in regulating the selectivity toward different carbonaceous products. However, how the coverage of *H and *CO affects the selectivity of ethylene and ethanol remains unclear. In this work, we judiciously control the coverage of *CO or *H intermediates by introducing foreign metal into Cu nanoparticles, with the synthesis of four copper‐based bimetallic catalysts, including CuAg, CuZn, CuCo, and CuPd. Four catalysts, together with Cu nanoparticles, are subjected to the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in an H‐cell. The CuZn catalyst is identified as the most effective catalyst for C─C coupling, exhibiting a Faradaic efficiency of 34.5% for C 2+ products at −1.09 V versus RHE and a current density of −30.4 mA cm −2 . In contrast, CuPd catalyst inclines to catalyze C─C coupling toward ethanol, with an FE ethanol /FE ethylene ratio reaching up to 1.15. The coverage of key intermediates is investigated through in situ Raman spectroscopy. The doping of Ag and Zn metals can enhance the adsorption of *CO on the catalyst, while the doping of Co and Pd metals can enhance the adsorption of *H on the catalyst. Hence, the increased *CO coverage on Ag‐ and Zn‐doped CuNP promotes C 2+ generation, and the increased *H coverage of Co‐ and Pd‐doped CuNPs enhances the C 2 H 5 OH/C 2 H 4 ratio.

ABSTRACT High‐nickel layered oxides are considered key cathode materials for high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries due to their high specific capacity. However, the spin state localization of Ni 3+ (t 2g 6 e g 1 ) leads to severe Jahn–Teller distortion and structural degradation, limiting their cycling stability. This study proposes a high‐entropy transition metal (TM) regulation strategy, which introduces multicomponent vacant orbital TM ions (Mn, Ti, Nb, Ta, W, and Mo) to construct a Ni─OO─TM electronic resonance network, promoting the delocalization of Ni 3+ e g electrons, thereby suppressing spin disorder and enhancing structural stability. On the basis of this, a high‐entropy high‐nickel cathode material (HE‐LNF, LiNi 0.8 Fe 0.14 Mn 0.01 Ti 0.01 Nb 0.01 Ta 0.01 W 0.01 Mo 0.01 O 2 ) was designed. Combining first‐principles calculations with experimental characterization, the weakening effect of electronic resonance on magnetic frustration was revealed: This effect increases the phase transition temperature to 294.23°C by reducing the amplitude of lattice vibrations, while electronic delocalization reduces local nuclear repulsion, maintaining excellent structural stability with minimal lattice strain evolution after cycling. Electrochemical testing shows that HE‐LNF maintains a capacity retention rate of 91% after 100 cycles at a 0.33‐C rate, significantly outperforming traditional high‐nickel materials. This study provides new insights into the design of high‐stability high‐nickel cathodes based on electronic structure regulation.

Back cover image: In article CEY270076, Xinping Ai, Hui Li, Guo Tang, Gengzhong Lin and co-workers report a versatile in-situ strategy for designing a highly stable and flexible interlayer between the cathode and solid electrolyte in sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs), featuring a solid–polymer–electrolyte interphase inductively formed via residual alkali on the high-nickel cathode. This study provides a new route for creating electrochemically and structurally stable solid–solid interfaces for ASSLBs.

ABSTRACT Ferrite–carbon composites effectively absorb electromagnetic (EM) waves via coupled mechanisms. However, the dynamic evolution of intrinsic polarization and magnetic loss mechanisms following interfacial coupling has long been overlooked, impeding broadening of the ultra‐broadband EM wave absorption performance in heterostructures. Herein, via surface ligand modulation, in situ growth of 0D Fe 3 O 4 quantum dots (QDs) on the surface of 1D carbon nanotubes triggers grain boundary coupling. The energy rebalancing effect at the interface induces an extreme charge rearrangement within the Fe 3 O 4 QDs. This rearrangement enhances dipole orientation hysteresis and charge accumulation, resulting in charge and interfacial polarization losses. Meanwhile, for subcritical Fe 3 O 4 QDs, short‐range magnetic resonance and magnetic exchange–triggered magnetic resonance transfer synergistically enhance the magnetic loss. Through charge rearrangement/magnetic resonance induced by 0D/1D grain boundary coupling, an effective bandwidth of nearly 10 GHz is achieved at a minimal thickness of 2 mm, covering the X and Ku bands. This strategy provides an effective paradigm and novel theoretical insights for ultra‐broadband electromagnetic wave absorption applications.

ABSTRACT Selective CO 2 photoreduction via artificial photocatalysis into high‐value chemical feedstocks such as CO is a productive strategy for remitting environmental problems and energy crises. Nevertheless, photocatalysts generally endure low activity and poor product selectivity due to the low light/CO 2 capture and slow dynamic transfer of photogenerated electrons. Herein, we describe an all‐in‐one lignin‐based artificial thylakoid nanovesicle (AiO‐L‐ATN) using the confined growth strategy of lignin molecules, inspired by the chloroplast's photosynthesis mechanism. Such AiO‐L‐ATN possesses a high CO generation rate of 98.8 μmol g −1 h −1 at normalized active mass with a satisfactory selectivity of 92.1% in a gas‐solid system with H 2 O, exceeding 26 times that of the primary ZnCdS. Besides, introducing carbon nanovesicles significantly improves CO 2 capture performance, narrows the band gap, expands the wavelength range of light absorption, and accelerates the separation of photogenerated electrons. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the carbon nanovesicles with various functional groups favor *CO 2 adsorption, *COOH production and conversion, as well as accelerate the dynamic transfer of photogenerated electrons, thereby endowing the outstanding CO 2 reduction rate and CO selectivity of AiO‐L‐ATN. This study not only provides valuable insights into the preparation of highly efficient photocatalysts but also offers novel avenues for CO 2 photoreduction.

ABSTRACT Defect engineering serves as a cornerstone in the design of high‐efficiency single‐atom catalysts (SACs) for advanced electrocatalytic systems. This study demonstrates oxygen vacancy‐induced near‐zero‐valent Pt SACs anchored on TiO 2 for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Synchrotron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculation reveal that oxygen vacancies create unconventional Pt–Ti coordination while strengthening electronic metal‐support interactions. This facilitates substantial electron transfer from TiO 2 to Pt, generating a near‐zero‐valent Pt state with elevated electron density. The modified electronic structure lowers the Pt d‐band center, reducing hydrogen intermediate (*H) adsorption energy and optimizing HER kinetics. Moreover, ab initio molecular dynamics and in situ Raman spectra show that the negative charge accumulated at the Pt site promotes K + enrichment at the interface, which enhances H–OH bond polarization and accelerates water dissociation kinetics. The resulting D‐TiO 2 /Pt SACs exhibit superior HER activity across acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions, achieving low overpotentials of 40, 57, and 60 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , respectively. Additionally, its mass activities at the overpotential of 100 mV are 10.3, 33.9, and 20.9 times higher that of Pt/C, respectively. This study shows the key role of defect‐mediated electronic engineering in tailoring SACs' valence states and catalytic functions, advancing sustainable hydrogen production through rational catalyst design.

ABSTRACT Fine‐grained nuclear graphite is a key material in high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactors (HTGRs). During air ingress accidents, core graphite components undergo severe oxidation, threatening structural integrity. Therefore, understanding the oxidation behavior of nuclear graphite is essential for reactor safety. The influence of oxidation involves multiple factors, including temperature, sample size, oxidant, impurities, filler type and size, etc. The size of the filler particles plays a crucial role in this study. Five ultrafine‐ and superfine‐grained nuclear graphite samples (5.9–34.4 μm) are manufactured using identical raw materials and manufacturing processes. Isothermal oxidation tests conducted at 650°C–750°C are used to study the oxidation behavior. Additionally, comprehensive characterization is performed to analyze the crystal structure, surface morphology, and nanoscale to microscale pore structure of the samples. Results indicate that oxidation behavior cannot be predicted solely based on filler grain size. Reactive site concentration, characterized by active surface area, dominates the chemical reaction kinetics, whereas pore tortuosity, quantified by the structural parameter Ψ , plays a key role in regulating oxidant diffusion. These findings clarify the dual role of microstructure in oxidation mechanisms and establish a theoretical and experimental basis for the design of high‐performance nuclear graphite capable of long‐term service in high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactors.