Researchers at the Center of Advanced Lubrication and Seal Materials, Northwestern Polytechnical University, proposed an interface engineering strategy to construct a boronized layer on metal surfaces, coupled with hydroxyl-rich polyol lubricants, to achieve macroscale superlubricity from room temperature to above 200 ℃.

This study cross-applies d-band center theory from catalysis to stabilize zinc anodes in aqueous electrolytes. By adding oxalic acid, the d-band center of Zn is downshifted, fundamentally weakening hydrogen adsorption and suppressing hydrogen evolution. Concurrently, it optimizes the Zn²⁺ solvation sheath, minimizing byproduct formation. The Zn||I₂ battery enables a high Coulombic efficiency of and retaining 92.8% capacity after 10,000 cycles. This work pioneers a new paradigm for stabilizing metal anodes via surface electronic structure modulation.

A rambutan-inspired tri-layer composite has been rationally designed to tackle the unstable cycling issues of high-capacity electrodes with large volume changes. This design leverages the high capacity of Si while effectively regulating its volume effect and lithium transport. The resultant composite achieves an optimized balance among strain accommodation, transport kinetics, and interfacial stability, leading to ultrastable and high-capacity lithium storage. These findings are published in Science Bulletin.

HfO₂-based ferroelectrics are promising for embedded non-volatile memory, but typically require high crystallization temperatures. Researchers developed an in-situ ALD lanthanum-doping approach that enables robust ferroelectricity under low thermal budgets, delivering low-voltage operation, high breakdown voltage, and endurance over 10¹¹ cycles.

A smartphone app designed to tackle the underlying psychological causes of premature ejaculation can significantly improve sex life and delay ejaculation, while offering a way to reduce stigma around the condition, say researchers.