Biofabricated scaffolds facilitate bona fide cellular interactions, cell type specification, and the formation of three-dimensional tissue architecture from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). However, xenogenic biomaterials are poorly defined, and synthetic biomaterials remain underdeveloped and understudied, hindering regulatory approval for clinical use and preventing the translation of lab-grown therapies. Here, we describe a protein screen-based hydrogel system biofabricated from physiologically relevant human components. We show that 'Alphagel', a base hydrogel comprising human embryonic matrices, supports the trilineage differentiation of hPSCs into neural, cardiac, and liver tissue. Alphagel is also shown to be biocompatible and biodegradable in vivo. Further, upon adding select proteins from maturing human foetal liver to Alphagel, we show that the resulting hydrogel (termed 'Hepatogel') enhances the differentiation of hPSC-derived hepatocytes (H-iHeps) compared with Matrigel. Importantly, when injected into mice livers, Hepatogel significantly improves the retention of H-iHeps compared to standard aqueous cell injections. Altogether, our results provide proof of concept that customisable, organ-specific hydrogel systems are a valuable tool for developing clinically translatable therapies in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Abstract Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) represent a highly efficient electrochemical energy conversion technology; however, their commercial deployment is facing a series of bottlenecks, such as material degradation at high temperatures and limited kinetics at intermediate operating temperatures. It is, therefore, essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the atomic-scale defect chemistry and ion transport mechanisms in materials caused by elements whose activity is difficult to detect with X-rays (such as oxygen and hydrogen). This review systematically summarizes the key applications of neutron scattering techniques in addressing these fundamental challenges. These methods leverage the ultra-high sensitivity and excellent penetration depth of neutrons into light nuclei for in situ analysis, providing invaluable insights. We summarize key advances in neutron powder diffraction, which enable the precise quantification of oxygen nonstoichiometry, resolution of intricate crystal structures, and determination of the localization of proton/deuterium species in protonic conductors. Furthermore, we discuss how advanced neutron data analysis can be used to visualize ion diffusion paths and characterize dynamic processes. This review also covers the applications of neutron diffraction in the nondestructive testing of residual strains and stresses, which is critical for mechanical durability. This work demonstrates how neutron scattering establishes quantitative structure-property relationships linking atomic-scale phenomena to the performance of macroscopic SOFC, providing essential guidance for the design of next-generation materials.

Abstract Lead halide perovskites have received widespread attention in the field of optoelectronics due to their high photoluminescent efficiency, tunable bandgap, and excellent color purity. However, the inherent toxicity and instability of lead significantly limit its practical applications. In an effort to resolve these concerns, we have developed a lead-free alternative by embedding Eu 3+ -doped CsMnBr 3 quantum dots (QDs) into a borosilicate glass matrix. The resulting materials exhibit intense red luminescence under ultraviolet excitation, and Eu 3+ doping enhances the photoluminescence quantum yield by a factor of 3.37 through effective excitation energy migration from Mn 2+ to Eu 3+ ions. Benefiting from glass encapsulation, the composites show remarkable thermal stability and water resistance, retaining their optical properties for more than 450 d. Furthermore, prototype light-emitting diodes fabricated with the doped glass powders demonstrate strong red emission and comparable red-light penetration to commercial phosphor-based devices. These findings highlight the excellent operational stability and practical potential of Eu 3+ -doped CsMnBr 3 glass QDs for applications in anticounterfeiting, solid-state lighting, and other optoelectronic technologies.

Abstract The principal challenge in optimizing biomass-derived hard carbon (HC) is the concurrent enhancement of specific capacity, cycling durability, and rate performance, as these properties are closely related to the disordered carbon network and abundant pore structure. However, inadequate controllability of morphology, insufficiently regulated pore structures, and the complexity of post-processing modifications hinders the practical application of HC. In this work, a high-temperature and high-pressure expansion pretreatment technique is proposed to regulate the structure of starch precursors, enabling the precise design of ordered graphitic-like microcrystals and closed pores within HC. The optimized starch-based HC displayed remarkable electrochemical efficiency, with a reversible capacity of 332.0 mAh g −1 , an initial Coulombic efficiency of 90.4%, and stable cycling over 3000 cycles. Meanwhile, advanced full-cell utilizing Na 4 Fe 3 (PO 4 ) 2 P 2 O 7 cathode achieve stable cycling performance exceeding 1000 cycles, demonstrating outstanding performance. This research innovatively employs a green expansion process to achieve structural regulation of HC, thereby providing an environmentally friendly and economically viable technical pathway for its large-scale production.

Abstract Circularly polarized luminescence perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) hold great potential in the field of information encryption, 3D display and spintronics. However, the synthesis of the chiral perovskites is still confronted with various problems, such as cumbersome synthesis process, poor compatibility and limited processability, which impede their further implementation. In this study, a one-step wet-ball-milling method is proposed for the scale-up synthesis (up to 500 mL) of chiral perovskite ink, where the chiral molecule R-/S-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (R-/S-DPEM) are introduced as chiral initiator. Chiral R-/S-DPEM molecules can endow the chirality to perovskite NCs through the strong coupling with perovskite surface. Specifically, ethyl cellulose is incorporated as passivating agents and structural supporting molecules, which can not only passivate the perovskite NCs and improve their stability, but also enable the chiral ink to possess better processability. The obtained ink is compatible with multiple substrates, which can be directly processed into various luminescent patterns by means of screen printing, writing, impregnation, laser engraving, etc. These patterns demonstrate high storage stability, flexibility and water resistance, fulfilling the requirements of a wide range of occasions in the future. This work provides a feasible solution for scalable synthesis of chiral perovskite inks, which offer promising prospects in optical anti-counterfeiting, information encryption and wearable optoelectronic devices.

Abstract Perovskite solar cells with a wide bandgap (WBG) perovskite absorber of 1.68 eV are fabricated and their performance evolution under accelerated stressing conditions are compared with 1.61 eV reference devices. The cells are processed entirely with scalable deposition methods, to guarantee their relevance for industrial application. Different stress tests, following the International Summit on Organic Photovoltaic Stability (ISOS) protocols, are performed, namely prolonged exposure to light (ISOS-L1), heat (ISOS-D2) and a combination of these (ISOS-L2). First, the ISOS-L1 test highlights the excellent stability of the chosen WBG composition, with minimal degradation after <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>60</mml:mn> <mml:mstyle scriptlevel="0"/> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> h. Secondly, the ISOS-D2 test led to a more significant degradation of the WBG cells, with only 80% efficiency retained after <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>95</mml:mn> <mml:mstyle scriptlevel="0"/> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> h. The main cause of degradation was found to be interface-related, specifically the formation of a charge transport barrier at the perovskite/electron transport layer interface, while the perovskite absorption properties remained unaffected by the stress test. Finally, the ISOS-L2 test led to an even faster degradation, with only 80% efficiency retained after <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>35</mml:mn> <mml:mstyle scriptlevel="0"/> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> h. There, the perovskite absorber itself was found to be significantly degraded due to the combined action of light and heat. Altogether, this study highlights the main degradation pathways in WBG perovskite cells while showing the importance of diversified and combined stresses in evaluating their stability.

Abstract Metallic glasses (MGs) that mainly made up of metallic elements are a new member of the glassy materials family. This new kind of glass combines the characteristics of liquids and solids, glasses and metals, making it fascinating to both scientists and industrialists. With the discovery of more and more systems, MG is becoming one of the most active research field in metallic materials, and some concepts and technologies derived from MGs also facilitate the development of other materials from quasi-crystals to high entropy alloys. MGs have now been successfully used in aerospace, robotics, medicine, consumer electronics, etc. and the practical applications of MGs are still growing. On the other hand, the diverse properties and the unique structure of the MGs render them ideal models to study major open issues including the structural model of disordered materials, glass transition, collective motion and energy landscape. However, understanding the emerging properties and phenomena of MGs still poses enormous challenges, which has stimulated a wealth of efforts, including the development of new experimental approaches, the synthesis of systems with tailored properties, and the advancements in experimental techniques, theoretical models, and numerical simulations. In this Roadmap, we try to provide a broad overview of recent and potential future activities in the MG field, and present a roadmap for the development and applications of MGs by gathering contributions form scientists with diverse backgrounds, illustrating the major challenges and discussing the latest technology and strategy to tackle these challenges with experts covering various developments in general concepts, synthesis and characterisation, and theoretical and simulation methods.

Abstract In recent years, nanoparticle/cluster catalysts and single-atom catalysts (SACs) have achieved remarkable advancements in catalytic applications, particularly in the energy and environmental sectors. SACs excel in catalysis through atomically dispersed active sites, while nanoparticle/cluster catalysts leverage their abundant surface properties and diverse active sites to enhance reaction rates and selectivity. To address the inherent limitations of individual catalysts in achieving high activity, selectivity and stability, researchers have developed hybrid catalysts that integrate these two systems, harnessing their synergistic effects. However, a comprehensive understanding of how to rationally construct and regulate these coexisting active sites remains limited. This article delves into the mechanisms underlying the coexistence of single-atom and nanocluster active sites, the structural diversity of hybrid catalysts and their dynamic transformation capabilities. By systematically analyzing the inter-site interactions, spatial configurations and synergistic behaviors, particular emphasis is placed on their synergistic effects during catalytic processes, including electronic structure modulation, bifunctional catalysis, relay catalysis and spatial confinement effects. Furthermore, hybrid catalysts demonstrate exceptional performance across practical applications, such as electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and thermal catalysis, offering new conceptual and design-based insights into developing green and efficient catalytic systems for future sustainable technologies.

Abstract Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are regarded as a promising platform for chemical and biological sensing due to their biocompatibility, cost-effectiveness and flexibility. However, maintaining long-term stability of OECTs while achieving high sensitivity remains a challenge for their practical applications. One of the main reasons is the relatively low electronic and ionic conductivity of the channel material. Herein, we present a p-type OECT fabricated by incorporating metal–organic framework (MOF)-MoS2 hybrid nanosheets into the PEDOT:PSS channel via solution-based processes. The strategy significantly improves the sensitivity of OECT, with the transconductance of the device increasing by ∼threefold to 19.34 mS. The higher transconductance is attributed to the hybrid MOF-MoS2 dopant, which not only enhances the electronic conductivity, but also strengthens ion transport and capacitance of the PEDOT:PSS film due to the synergistic effects from high electron mobility of MoS2 and MOF porous structure with large surface area. The fabricated OECT demonstrates high selectivity and sensitivity as a glucose biosensor across a wide concentration range in saliva. Finally, we illustrate the merits of integration machine learning algorithms to construct predictive models using the extensive datasets produced by our sensors for both classification and quantification tasks. These findings highlight the great potential of OECTs incorporating MOF-MoS2 hybrid, as a promising candidate for ultra-sensitive biological detections, and broaden the applications of our OECT biosensors for non-invasive health monitoring and wearable electronics.

Abstract The widespread manufacture of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is hindered by the significant use of toxic solvents in the solution processing. Among the alternative synthesis routes, the newly developed water-processable approach stands out for its environmental friendliness and scalability. However, the performance of the water-processed PSCs still lag behind those fabricated using organic solvents. In this research, we advance the water-processing fabrication of PSCs using an additive engineering strategy. Specifically, PbF2 is employed to regulate perovskite crystallization in the water-based perovskite synthesis process. The additive is found to not only accelerate the phase transformation rate, forming photoactive perovskite phase of the film, but also enhance the preferable crystal orientation of the resultant perovskite. The fluoride anion, with its strong electronegativity, creates robust passivation for the surface of perovskite grains, leading to improved optical and electrical properties. As a result, significant improvement in device performance is achieved, with an optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.1% for the PbF2-added device compared to the pristine device (PCE of 16.3%). Additionally, the devices exhibit prolonged operational and environmental lifetimes.