In a remarkable leap forward for green chemistry, researchers at the School of Life and Environmental Science, Shaoxing University, China, have developed an innovative method to efficiently adsorb and reduce Au(III) ions to gold particles using cost-effective chitosan-functionalized cellulose nanofibers. This groundbreaking study, titled "Efficient Adsorption and Reduction of Au(III) to Gold Particles Using Cost-Effective Chitosan Functionalized Cellulose Nanofiber," offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for gold recovery, led by Prof. Baowei Hu.

Carbon dioxide energy storage (CES) is an emerging compressed gas energy storage technology which offers high energy storage efficiency, flexibility in location, and low overall costs. This study focuses on a CES system that incorporates a high-temperature graded heat storage structure, utilizing multiple heat exchange working fluids. Unlike traditional CES systems that utilize a single thermal storage at low to medium temperatures, this system significantly optimizes the heat transfer performance of the system, thereby improving its cycle efficiency. Under typical design conditions, the round-trip efficiency of the system is found to be 76.4%, with an output power of 334 kW/(kg·s−1) per unit mass flow rate, through mathematical modeling. Performance analysis shows that increasing the total pressure ratio, reducing the heat transfer temperature difference, improving the heat exchanger efficiency, and lowering the ambient temperature can enhance cycle efficiency. Additionally, this paper proposes a universal and theoretical CES thermodynamic intrinsic cycle construction method and performance prediction evaluation method for CES systems, providing a more standardized and accurate approach for optimizing CES system design.

A new study has shown that turning sugarcane waste into a smart catalyst can efficiently convert carbon dioxide into methane, offering a promising route to recycle greenhouse gases into useful fuel. The research team designed a cobalt and cerium based catalyst supported on biochar made from sugarcane bagasse, achieving high CO2 conversion and methane selectivity under relatively mild conditions.

In a significant stride towards cleaner water, researchers at the School of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China, have developed a novel material that effectively removes harmful pollutants from water. Professors Jianhua Qu and Ying Zhang lead the team behind the study titled "Synthesis of Polyvinyl Chloride Modified Magnetic Hydrochar for Effective Removal of Pb(II) and Bisphenol A from Aqueous Phase: Performance and Mechanism Exploration." This innovative research introduces a powerful new tool in the fight against water pollution.

Researchers at ICFO have generated and measured a 19.2-attosecond soft X-ray pulse, the shortest flash of light ever reported. The breakthrough establishes a new global benchmark in ultrafast science and allows scientists to observe in detail how electrons move within atoms, molecules, and materials.

A liquid alloy (GaInSn)-coated Cu substrate (LM@Cu) addresses K anode instability and dendrites via enhanced potassiophilicity, reduced nucleation overpotential, and self-diffusive planar growth, enabling uniform K deposition. Paired with a PTCDI cathode, the battery delivers 124.4 mAh g⁻¹ initially and retains 78.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 4900 cycles at 500 mA g⁻¹, demonstrating LM@Cu's viability for durable K-metal batteries.

Recently, Professor Shijian Zheng and Associate Professor Kaixiang Lei from Hebei University of Technology, in collaboration with Professor Lin Li and Dr. Xunzhu Zhou from Wenzhou University, published a research paper titled "Synergistic biphasic engineering and dual-site high-entropy doping enable stable sodium storage in layered oxide cathodes" in the journal Nano Research. In this study, a novel P2/O3 biphasic high-entropy oxide cathode material (Na_0.88K_0.02Ni_0.24Li_0.06Mg_0.07Fe_0.1Mn_0.41Ti_0.1Sn_0.02O₂, HEO) for sodium-ion batteries was successfully synthesized. By integrating biphasic engineering with a high-entropy strategy, this material effectively suppresses irreversible phase transitions, significantly enhances particle integrity and structural stability, and simultaneously improves the diffusion kinetics of Na⁺. Experimental results demonstrate that the cathode material maintains a high capacity retention of 82.68% after 1000 cycles, exhibiting its outstanding cycling stability.

Sulfide-based all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) are promising for high-energy-density and safe energy storage. But the poor compatibility of sulfide electrolytes with both high-voltage cathodes and lithium metal anodes hinders their practical application. Here, Professor Xie Jia's group from Huazhong University of Science and Technology discloses a fluorine-nitrogen synergistic interfacial engineering strategy by modifying Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 (LPSC) with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). The modified LPSC electrolyte shows a high ionic conductivity of 2.88 mS/cm. Moreover, LiTFSI induced dual-functional interphases, a fluorine-rich CEI (LiF/LixPOyFz) and a fluorine-nitrogen composite SEI (Li3N/LiF/LixPOyFz), contributing to high oxidation stability (LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2//LiIn battery retains 107% capacity retention after 13000 cycles at 15 C) and excellent lithium dendrite inhibition ability (Li//Li: CCD 3.4 mA/cm2, stably cycling 2600 h at 0.5 mA/cm2). As a result, the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2//Li cell with modified electrolyte demonstrates 1000 stable cycles at a high cut-off voltage of 4.5 V and wide-temperature adaptability (-20~50 ℃). This work shows a facile and effective method for constructing long-life high-energy-density sulfide based ASSLMBs.

Ultrawide bandgap semiconductor optoelectronic synapses can perform high-parallel computing with low false alarm rate, making them ideal for building deep-ultraviolet (DUV) neuromorphic visual system (NVS). Scientists in China developed a breakthrough DUV optoelectronic synapse using Ga₂O₃-based cascade heterojunctions. The device mimics biological vision with 4,096 conductance states and ultrahigh linearity, enabling high-accuracy fingerprint recognition and fault-tolerant logic operations. This innovation paves the way for energy-efficient neuromorphic vision systems in military, environmental monitoring, and secure communications.