A bilayer dielectric film is prepared via coating boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) by solution casting on the surface of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. The BNNS layer acts as the efficient barrier layer to suppress the charge injection, thereby making the surface-modified PET films exhibit excellent breakdown strength and electrostatic energy storage performance. The surface coating methods are accessible and suitable for large-scale roll-to-roll process production of dielectric films.

Because of their better chemical stability and fascinating anisotropic characteristics, Dion–Jacobson (DJ)-layered halide perovskites, which owe crystallographic two-dimensional structures, have fascinated growing attention for solar devices. DJ-layered halide perovskites have special structural and photoelectronic features that allow the van der Waals gap to be eliminated or reduced. DJ-layered halide perovskites have improved photophysical characteristics, resulting in improved photovoltaic performance. Nevertheless, owing to the nature of the solution procedure and the fast crystal development of DJ perovskite thin layers, the precursor compositions and processing circumstances can cause a variety of defects to occur. The application of additives can impact DJ perovskite crystallization and film generation, trap passivation in the bulk and/or at the surface, interface structure, and energetic tuning. This study discusses recent developments in additive engineering for DJ multilayer halide perovskite film production. Several additive-assisted bulk and interface optimization methodologies are summarized. Lastly, an overview of research developments in additive engineering in the production of DJ-layered halide perovskite solar cells is offered.

A comprehensive summary of the representative promising applications of metal halide perovskite materials, including traditional optoelectronic devices (solar cells, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, lasers), and cutting-edge technologies in terms of neuromorphic devices (artificial synapses and memristors) and pressure-induced emission. For each application, the fundamentals of the field, the current progress and the remaining challenges are provided, based on the up-to-date works.

AbstractSection Highlights The porous structure and interconnected conductive pathways accommodate a large amount of iodine, entrap polyiodides and guarantee its efficient utilization. While the Fe single atom catalyst efficiently catalyzes the iodine/polyiodide conversion. With “confinement-catalysis” host, the ZnǀǀI2 battery delivers a high capacity of 188.2 mAh g−1 at 0.3 A g−1, excellent rate capability with a capacity of 139.6 mAh g−1 at 15 A g−1 and ultra-long cyclic stability over 50,000 cycles with 80.5% initial capacity retained under high iodine loading of 76.72 wt%.

AbstractSection Highlights A novel strategy was developed to construct ultrathin microfiber composite hydrogel films (< 5 μm) by embedding an electrospun fiber network into a hydrogel. The microfiber composite hydrogel offers tunable modulus in a broad range (from ~ 5 kPa to tens of MPa), which matches the modulus of most biological tissues and organs. The ultrathin configuration and ultrasoft nature allow the microfiber composite hydrogel seamlessly attaching to various rough surfaces.

4-nm-thick Pt nanosheets (Pt-NSs) are electrochemically grown on Ti substrates for hydrogen evolution reactions. Highly uniform Pt-NS surface coverage with an ultralow loading of 0.015 mgPt cm−2 is achieved. 99.5% catalyst savings and about 237-fold higher catalyst utilization are demonstrated.

Despite the enormous interest in inorganic/polymer composite solid-state electrolytes (CSEs) for solid-state batteries (SSBs), the underlying ion transport phenomena in CSEs have not yet been elucidated. Here, we address this issue by formulating a mechanistic understanding of bi-percolating ion channels formation and ion conduction across inorganic-polymer electrolyte interfaces in CSEs. A model CSE is composed of argyrodite-type Li6PS5Cl (LPSCl) and gel polymer electrolyte (GPE, including Li+-glyme complex as an ion-conducting medium). The percolation threshold of the LPSCl phase in the CSE strongly depends on the elasticity of the GPE phase. Additionally, manipulating the solvation/desolvation behavior of the Li+-glyme complex in the GPE facilitates ion conduction across the LPSCl-GPE interface. The resulting scalable CSE (area = 8 × 6 (cm × cm), thickness ~ 40 μm) can be assembled with a high-mass-loading LiNi0.7Co0.15Mn0.15O2 cathode (areal-mass-loading = 39 mg cm–2) and a graphite anode (negative (N)/positive (P) capacity ratio = 1.1) in order to fabricate an SSB full cell with bi-cell configuration. Under this constrained cell condition, the SSB full cell exhibits high volumetric energy density (480 Wh Lcell−1) and stable cyclability at 25 °C, far exceeding the values reported by previous CSE-based SSBs.

The first construct of a multi-field-coupled synergistic ion transport system (MSITS) in Li+ extraction is proposed. Effectively suppress the ion concentration polarization effect of the ion-enrichment zone at the membrane interface. The MSITS equipped with heterogeneous membrane exhibited outstanding separation performance with Li+ flux of 367.4 mmol m−2 h−1 and Li+/Co2+ selectivity of 216,412, outperforming previous reports.

The gelation of hole transport layer generates a dense and uniform hole transport layer film and significantly inhibits the aggregation of lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide in spiro-OMeTAD. The gelated hole transport layer confers enhanced charge carrier transport and better humidity and operational stability of perovskite solar cells.

AbstractSection Highlights The basic theory, key merits and potential development of direct current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC-TENG) from the aspect of mechanical rectifier, tribovoltaic effect, phase control, mechanical delay switch and air-discharge are discussed in detail. This review provides a guideline for future challenges of DC-TENGs, and a strategy for improving the output performance for commercial applications.

The organic optoelectronic synapse achieves unprecedented sound perception on volume, tone and timbre simultaneously. The quantitative relationship between the interfacial layers and synaptic performances is clarified.

It is the first attempt to combine covalent organic frameworks with hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) to construct efficient metal-free photocatalyst. The composite displays superior photocatalytic hydrogen production performance in metal-free systems. The integrated porous h-BN can suppress electron backflow to optimize the composite photocatalytic activity.

Imine groups in covalent organic framework (COF) films act as dual-active sites for humidity sensing, inducing an intrinsic enhanced mechanism of reversible protonated tautomerism via water molecule-induced hydrogen bonding. The cis-ketoimine reciprocal isomerization induces a stretching vibration effect for the ordered conjugated conductive frame of COF films, realizing fast response, wide range, and high sensitivity characteristics for humidity detection. Resistance changes of COF film-based sensors keep a strong linear relationship with low-range relative humidity, reflecting the quantitative sensing mechanism at the molecular level.

The fundamental properties of electric dipoles and their specific roles in perovskite solar cells are discussed. Research progress of interfacial dipoles in perovskite solar cells is summarized. Challenges of deterministic characterization of electric dipoles and future perspectives are highlighted.

Efficient sunlight reflectivity and high mid-infrared radiation emissivity are simultaneously realized in a nonwoven metafabric via PTFE microparticle impregnation and thermal-fusion. The metafabric achieves a maximum cooling effect of 17 °C and fully retains its passive cooling performance even under 50% stretching. High-quality electrophysiological monitoring of ECG, sEMG and EEG is realized through compact and homogeneous encapsulation of liquid metal on the elastomeric fibers.

AbstractSection Highlights A comprehensive discussion of the approaches for developing carbon-based sulfur hosts is presented, encompassing structural design and functional optimization. The recent implementation of effective machine learning methods in discovering carbon-based sulfur hosts has been systematically examined. The challenges and future directions of carbon-based sulfur hosts for practically application have been comprehensively discussed. A summary of the strengths and weaknesses, along with the outlook on carbon-based sulfur hosts for practical application has been incorporated.

The integration of nano-semiconductors into electromagnetic wave absorption materials is a highly desirable strategy for intensifying dielectric polarization loss; achieving high-attenuation microwave absorption and realizing in-depth comprehension of dielectric loss mechanisms remain challenges. Herein, ultrafine oxygen vacancy-rich Nb2O5 semiconductors are confined in carbon nanosheets (ov-Nb2O5/CNS) to boost dielectric polarization and achieve high attenuation. The polarization relaxation, electromagnetic response, and impedance matching of the ov-Nb2O5/CNS are significantly facilitated by the Nb2O5 semiconductors with rich oxygen vacancies, which consequently realizes an extremely high attenuation performance of − 80.8 dB (> 99.999999% wave absorption) at 2.76 mm. As a dielectric polarization center, abundant Nb2O5–carbon heterointerfaces can intensify interfacial polarization loss to strengthen dielectric polarization, and the presence of oxygen vacancies endows Nb2O5 semiconductors with abundant charge separation sites to reinforce electric dipole polarization. Moreover, the three-dimensional reconstruction of the absorber using microcomputer tomography technology provides insight into the intensification of the unique lamellar morphology regarding multiple reflection and scattering dissipation characteristics. Additionally, ov-Nb2O5/CNS demonstrates excellent application potential by curing into a microwave-absorbing, machinable, and heat-dissipating plate. This work provides insight into the dielectric polarization loss mechanisms of nano-semiconductor/carbon composites and inspires the design of high-performance microwave absorption materials.

A nanofiber composite reinforced organohydrogel with multifunctionality is prepared. The composite organohydrogel possesses multiple interfacial bondings and multi-level strengthening and toughening mechanism is proposed. The composite organohydrogel exhibits long-term strain sensing stability and can be used for high performance electromagnetic interference shielding.

Construction of a viscoelastic composite nacre with a ripple-like layered architecture through supramolecular interactions. Outstanding self-adhesion, self-healing and scrape-resistant mechanical and thermal properties. Utility as an integrated heat spreader and TIMs for “chameleon-like” thermal management of planar soft electronics.

Two series of terpolymers with improved photostability were realized by the introduction of appropriate ratio of antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene unit containing side chains. All-polymer solar cells and organic photodetectors (OPDs) with these terpolymers as both donors and acceptors have been prepared with simultaneously improved efficiency and stability. A feasible approach to develop terpolymers with antioxidant efficacy for improving the lifetime of organic solar cells and OPDs is proposed.