While light scattering is widely utilized in optical metrology and measurement, it has long been regarded as detrimental in laser-material processing. Scientist in China proposed an interferometric scattering-based optical tomoslicing technology (i-SOT), which overturns this conventional view and kerf widths as narrow as 7 nm under an industrial standard efficiency were achieved. This unprecedented axial resolution enables nearly lossless laser wafering from ingots——with transformative potential for manufacturing laser crystals, photovoltaics, and microelectronic chips.

Researchers have developed a catalyst that coordinates structure and chemistry from the atomic scale to the millimeter scale. The 3D-printed tough metallic-glass scaffold promotes fluid flow and bubble removal, while a NiMo nanoglass coating supplies active amorphous interfaces. The Gyroid-based NiMo@G catalyst required 1.438 V to reach 100 mA cm⁻² in alkaline water electrolysis and remained stable for more than 200 hours.

Professor Chengbo Tian's research group at Huaqiao University recently reported a methylene-functionalized fullerene diadduct electron transport material (CH₂)₂C₆₀ without isomers. They applied this material to tin-based perovskite and wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells via vapor deposition, effectively improving the efficiency and stability of the devices. This work focused on the energy level mismatch between tin-based and wide-bandgap perovskites and commonly used fullerene electron transport materials, as well as the poor charge transport performance of disubstituted fullerenes with large-sized groups. They designed and synthesized a disubstituted fullerene molecule (CH₂)₂C₆₀ with a small-sized methylene group . Due to its energy level fit, high electron mobility, and excellent thermal stability, the efficiencies of tin-based and wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells based on (CH₂)₂C₆₀ reached 15.35% and 20.81%, respectively. The article was published as an open access Research Article in CCS Chemistry, the flagship journal of the Chinese Chemical Society.