Polarization-sensitive photodetectors are critical for advanced optical imaging, secure near-infrared communication and optical encryption, yet most existing two-dimensional devices suffer from narrow spectral coverage, weak anisotropic response and reliance on external power. A collaborative Chinese research team has engineered a vertical van der Waals heterostructure by stacking black phosphorus (BP) with low-symmetry Nb₂SiTe₄, constructing a self-driven photodetector covering an ultra-broad spectrum from ultraviolet (360 nm) to short-wave infrared (2200 nm). The atomically sharp heterointerfaces create strong built-in electric fields for fast charge separation, while intentional symmetry breaking drastically amplifies optical anisotropy, yielding a maximum dichroic ratio of 10.4 under 2200 nm illumination. Proof-of-concept demonstrations validate the device’s capacity for single-pixel polarization-resolved imaging and dual-wavelength polarization encryption and decryption, paving a practical route toward low-power, multifunctional polarization optoelectronic hardware.

Researchers at Lund University have demonstrated a new strategy for controlling where light is generated in semiconductor nanowire LEDs. Instead of relying on a material that emits light throughout the device, they used an indirect-bandgap core semiconductor nanowire as a pathway to transport electrical charge into nanoscale branches specifically designed for light emission. The work introduces separating charge transport from light generation, opening opportunities for more efficient nanowire-based optoelectronic devices.

Black phosphorus-based micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) are a highly promising micro-scale energy storage technology beyond traditional lithium-ion batteries. They offer significant advantages in flexible wearable electronics, yet suffer from intrinsic instability and sluggish electron kinetics. The two-dimensional phosphorene/bismuthene (BP/Bi) heterojunction, featuring a highly conductive network and anti-stacking architecture constructed via interfacial P-O-Bi covalent coupling, provides a new solution for the development of high-performance, low-temperature-tolerant MSCs and integrated sensing systems.

Nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and may pose risks to the central nervous system, but how deeply they penetrate brain-like tissues and where they induce oxidative stress have remained unclear. Researchers from Wuhan University and Nanjing Medical University developed a flexible electrochemical sensor based on platinum nanoparticle-modified carbon nanotube fiber to monitor hydrogen peroxide, a key oxidative stress marker, within human cortical organoids. The sensor revealed that nanoplastic-induced oxidative stress increased over time but remained mainly localized within the approximately 100-μm-deep region where most particles accumulated.

Hypersonic vehicles and reusable spacecraft demand lightweight thermal protection systems that can withstand extreme heat while mitigating electromagnetic wave radiation, yet single-scale ceramic architectures typically sacrifice one function for another. Now, researchers have developed a multiscale SiC fiber/nanowire aerogel that breaks this performance trade-off. Inspired by traditional Chinese papermaking, the team combined a scalable room-temperature ceramic papermaking process with high-temperature chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to fabricate hierarchical aerogels with an ultralow density of 0.23 g·cm^-3, a minimum reflection loss of −46.62 dB, and the ability to limit back-surface temperatures to ~250 °C under a 1000 °C flame. Remarkably, prolonged ablation triggers a “fire-strengthening” effect that simultaneously enhances mechanical strength and expands the effective absorption bandwidth from 4.6 GHz to 11.5 GHz—covering 72% of the 2–18 GHz range and fully spanning the C, X, and Ku bands. This work provides a new paradigm for next‑generation extreme‑environment thermal protection materials.