A special issue for the 20^(th) anniversary of National Center for Nanoscience and Technology

National Center for Nanoscience and Technology(NCNST),China,established in December 2003,is co-founded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)and the Ministry of Education as an institution dedicated to fundamental and applied researches in the field of nanoscience and technology,especially those with important potential applications.NCNST is operated under the supervision of the Governing Board and aims to become a world-class research center,as well as public technological platform and young talents training center in the field,and to act as an important bridge for international academic exchange and collaboration.The NCNST currently has three CAS Key Laboratories:the CAS Key Laboratory for Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety,the CAS Key Laboratory for Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology and the CAS Key Laboratory for Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication.In 2020,the CAS Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Materials and Devices started construction.Besides,there are Division of Nanotechnology Development,Nanofabrication Laboratory,Intelligent Nanosensing Laboratory and Theoretical Laboratory.

Nanoparticles for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries lead to significant loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, presenting major challenges in neural regeneration. Achieving effective therapeutic concentrations at injury sites has been a slow process, partly due to the difficulty of delivering drugs effectively. Nanoparticles, with their targeted delivery capabilities, biocompatibility, and enhanced bioavailability over conventional drugs, are garnering attention for spinal cord injury treatment. This review explores the current mechanisms and shortcomings of existing treatments, highlighting the benefits and progress of nanoparticle-based approaches. We detail nanoparticle delivery methods for spinal cord injury, including local and intravenous injections, oral delivery, and biomaterial-assisted implantation, alongside strategies such as drug loading and surface modification. The discussion extends to how nanoparticles aid in reducing oxidative stress, dampening inflammation, fostering neural regeneration, and promoting angiogenesis. We summarize the use of various types of nanoparticles for treating spinal cord injuries, including metallic, polymeric, protein-based, inorganic non-metallic, and lipid nanoparticles. We also discuss the challenges faced, such as biosafety, effectiveness in humans, precise dosage control, standardization of production and characterization, immune responses, and targeted delivery in vivo. Additionally, we explore future directions, such as improving biosafety, standardizing manufacturing and characterization processes, and advancing human trials. Nanoparticles have shown considerable progress in targeted delivery and enhancing treatment efficacy for spinal cord injuries, presenting significant potential for clinical use and drug development.

Chemical vapor deposition for perovskite solar cells and modules

Metal halide perovskites are promising materials for solar cells because of high power conversion efficiency(PCE),tun-able bandgap,high defect tolerance,long carrier diffusion length,and low-cost fabrication[1-7].The PCE for perovskite solar cells(PSCs)reaches 26.14%for single-junction cells,29.1%for perovskite/perovskite tandem cells and 33.9%for perovskite/silicon tandem cells,being comparable to that for silicon and other thin-film solar cells[8-10].Perovskite solar cells have been made by solution methods including spin-coat-ing,blade coating and printing[11,12].

Engineering fibrillar morphology for highly efficient organic solar cells

The power conversion efficiency(PCE)for single-junction organic solar cells(OSCs),wherein the photoactive layer is a typical bulk-heterojunction containing donor and acceptor materials,has surpassed 19%[1−4].The advance is ascribed to the development of Y-series non-fullerene acceptors(NFAs)[5,6]and polymer donors[7−13],and the refined control of the blend film morphology.

A“Transformers”-like nanochain for precise navigation and efficient cancer treatment

Integrated multimodal imaging in theranostics nanomaterials offers extensive prospects for precise and noninvasive cancer treatment.Precisely controlling the structural evolution of plasmonic nanoparticles is crucial in the development of pho-tothermal agents.However,previous successes have been limited to static assemblies and single-component structures.Here,an activatable plasmonic theranostics system utilizing self-assembled 1D silver-coated gold nanochains(1D nanochains)is pre-sented for precise tumor diagnosis and effective treatment.The absorbance of the adaptable core–shell chain structure can shift from visible to near-infrared(NIR)regions due to the fusion between nearby Au@Ag nanoparticles induced by ele-vated H2O2 levels in the tumor microenvironment(TME),resulting in the creation of a novel 3D aggregates with strong NIR absorption.With a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 60.2%at 808 nm,nanochains utilizing the TME-activated characteristics show remarkable qualities for photoacoustic imaging and signifi-cantly limit tumor growth in vivo.This study may pave the way for precise tumor diagnosis and treatment through customizable,optically tunable adaptive plasmonic nanostructures.

Advances in anode interfacial materials for organic solar cells

Organic solar cells(OSCs)have attracted much interest in the past few decades because of their advantages,such as being lightweight,low cost,simple preparation process,and environmental friendliness.While researchers have made significant progress on the active layer materials of OSCs,the interface engineering is another entry point for upgrading the photovoltaic performance of OSCs.Significantly,the interface modification materials,including anode interfacial materials and cathode interfacial materials,are two essential parts of interfacial layers for OSCs,in which the excellent interfacial materials can realize the very high-performance photovoltaic cells.Among these interfacial materials,the anode interfacial layers(AILs)play a crucial role in improving photovoltaic performance.This review expresses a detailed conclusion of the development of anode interfacial materials and an outlook on future trends for OSCs.

Progress on the mechanisms of Ru-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in acidic media

Water electrolysis using proton-exchange membranes is one of the most promising technologies for carbon-neutral and sustainable energy production.Generally,the overall efficiency of water splitting is limited by the oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Nevertheless,a trade-off between activity and stability exists for most electrocatalytic materials in strong acids and oxidizing media,and the development of efficient and stable catalytic materials has been an important focus of research.In this view,gaining in-depth insights into the OER system,particularly the interactions between reaction intermediates and active sites,is significantly important.To this end,this review introduces the fundamentals of the OER over Ru-based materials,including the conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism,lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism,and oxide path mechanism.Moreover,the up-to-date progress of representative modifications for improving OER performance is further discussed with reference to specific mechanisms,such as tuning of geometric,electronic structures,incorporation of proton acceptors,and optimization of metal-oxygen covalency.Finally,some valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for OER electrocatalysts are provided with the aim to promote the development of next-generation catalysts with high activity and excellent stability.

For more and purer hydrogen-the progress and challenges in water gas shift reaction

The water gas shift(WGS) reaction is a standard reaction that is widely used in industrial hydrogen production and removal of carbon monoxide. The improved catalytic performance of WGS reaction also contributes to ammonia synthesis and other reactions. Advanced catalysts have been developed for both high and low-temperature reactions and are widely used in industry. In recent years, supported metal nanoparticle catalysts have been researched due to their high metal utilization. Low-temperature catalysts have shown promising results, including high selectivity, high shift rates, and higher activity potential. Additionally, significant progress has been made in removing trace CO through the redox reaction in electrolytic cell. This paper reviews the development of WGS reaction catalysts, including the reaction mechanism, catalyst design, and innovative research methods. The catalyst plays a crucial role in the WGS reaction, and this paper provides an instant of catalyst design under different conditions. The progress of catalysts is closely related to the development of advanced characterization techniques.Furthermore, modifying the catalyst surface to enhance activity and significantly increase reaction kinetics is a current research direction. This review goals to stimulate a better understanding of catalyst design, performance optimization, and driving mechanisms, leading to further progress in this field.

Improving the charge kinetics through in-situ growth of NiSe nanoparticles on g-C_(3)N_(4)nanosheets for efficient hybrid supercapacitors

Nickel selenide(NiSe)has been a promising positive electrode for hybrid supercapacitors due to its multiple oxidation states,tunability,and high specific capacity.However,sluggish ion transfers and particle agglomeration hamper its electrochemical performance.In the present study,we have grown NiSe nanoparticles on two-dimensional(2D)graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))nanosheets to realize three-dimensional(3D)architecture.The 2D support,high nitrogen content,and features of g-C_(3)N_(4)enhanced the specific capacity of the NiSe/g-C_(3)N_(4)nanocomposite material.The resulting nanocomposite shows a specific capacity of 320 mA h g^(-1)at a current density of 1 A g^(-1),which is considerably higher than pristine NiSe.Later,the hybrid supercapacitor(HSC)device was fabricated using NiSe/g-C_(3)N_(4)composite as positive and activated carbon(AC)as negative electrodes.The cell delivered an energy density of 52.5 Wh kg^(-1)at a power density of 1488 W kg^(-1)with excellent cyclic stability of 84.9%over 8000 cycles.The electrochemical performance enhancement corresponds to a 3D structure,high electrochemical active sites,and improved charge transportation at the electrode/electrolyte interface.Thus,the present work offers an easy approach and architectural design for high-performance HSC.

Managing excess PbI_(2)for efficient perovskite solar cells

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)have attracted much attention due to their low cost,high efficiency and easy processing.Recently,You et al.achieved a record efficiency of 26.1%(certified 25.6%)in PSCs with excellent stability[1].Excess PbI_(2) in perovskite films was converted into inactive(PbI_(2))2RbCl to avoid its detrimental effect to device stability,while maintaining its positive effect to device efficiency.

Local Rotational Jamming and Multi-Stage Hyperuniformities in an Active Spinner System

An active system consisting of many self-spinning dimers is simulated, and a distinct local rotational jamming transition is observed as the density increases. In the low density regime, the system stays in an absorbing state,in which each dimer rotates independently subject to the applied torque;while in the high density regime,a fraction of the dimers become rotationally jammed into local clusters, and the system exhibits microphaseseparation like two-phase morphologies. For high enough densities, the system becomes completely jammed in both rotational and translational degrees of freedom. Such a simple system is found to exhibit rich and multiscale disordered hyperuniformities among the above phases: the absorbing state shows a critical hyperuniformity of the strongest class and subcritically preserves the vanishing density fluctuation scaling up to some length scale;the locally jammed state shows a two-phase hyperuniformity conversely beyond some length scale with respect to the phase cluster sizes;the totally jammed state appears to be a monomer crystal, but intrinsically loses large-scale hyperuniformity. These results are inspiring for designing novel phase-separation and disordered hyperuniform systems through dynamical organization.

Self‑Generated Buried Submicrocavities for High‑Performance Near‑Infrared Perovskite Light‑Emitting Diode

ABSTRACT Embedding submicrocavities is an effective approach to improve the light out-coupling efficiency(LOCE)for planar perovskite light-emitting diodes(PeLEDs).In this work,we employ phenethylammonium iodide(PEAI)to trigger the Ostwald ripening for the downward recrystallization of perovskite,resulting in spontaneous formation of buried submicrocavities as light output coupler.The simulation suggests the buried submicrocavities can improve the LOCE from 26.8 to 36.2%for near-infrared light.Therefore,PeLED yields peak external quantum efficiency(EQE)increasing from 17.3%at current density of 114 mA cm^(−2)to 25.5%at current density of 109 mA cm^(−2)and a radiance increasing from 109 to 487 W sr^(−1)m^(−2)with low rolling-off.The turn-on voltage decreased from 1.25 to 1.15 V at 0.1 W sr^(−1)m^(−2).Besides,downward recrystallization process slightly reduces the trap density from 8.90×10^(15)to 7.27×10^(15)cm^(−3).This work provides a self-assembly method to integrate buried output coupler for boosting the performance of PeLEDs.

Dimensionality regulation in tin halide perovskite solar cells: Toward high performance and stability

Tin halide perovskites(THPs)have received extensive attention due to their low toxicity and excellent optoelectronic properties,and are considered to be the most promising alternatives to develop efficient lead-free perovskite solar cells.However,due to the unique and inherent characteristics of Sn^(2+)being easily oxidized to Sn^(4+)and fast crystallization,tin perovskite solar cells(TPSCs)show relatively poor performance and stability,compared to the lead counterparts.Recently,the introduction of bulky organic spacers into three-dimensional(3D)THPs for dimensional regulation can not only prevent the intrusion of water and oxygen,but also inhibit the self-doping effect and ion migration.In this review,we will detail how dimensional regulation enables TPSCs with high performance and superior stability.First,we summarize the intrinsic properties of THPs and analyze the root causes of their poor performance and instability.Next,we discuss the specific structure and types of the dimensional regulation strategy.Then,the mechanism of dimensional regulation is discussed in detail,mainly from inhibiting the Sn^(2+)oxidation,optimizing crystallization,passivating defects,and improving energy level alignment.Finally,future challenges and prospects for dimensional regulation are elaborated to help researchers develop more efficient and stable TPSCs.

Peptide self‐assembly as a strategy for facile immobilization of redox enzymes on carbon electrodes

Redox-enzyme‐mediated electrochemical processes such as hydrogen production,nitrogen fixation,and CO_(2) reduction are at the forefront of the green chemistry revolution.To scale up,the inefficient two‐dimensional(2D)immobilization of redox enzymes on working electrodes must be replaced by an efficient dense 3D system.Fabrication of 3D electrodes was demonstrated by embedding enzymes in polymer matrices.However,several requirements,such as simple immobilization,prolonged stability,and resistance to enzyme leakage,still need to be addressed.The study presented here aims to overcome these gaps by immobilizing enzymes in a supramolecular hydrogel formed by the self‐assembly of the peptide hydrogelator fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyldiphenylalanine.Harnessing the self‐assembly process avoids the need for tedious and potentially harmful chemistry,allowing the rapid loading of enzymes on a 3D electrode under mild conditions.Using the[FeFe]hydrogenase enzyme,high enzyme loads,prolonged resistance against electrophoresis,and highly efficient hydrogen production are demonstrated.Further,this enzyme retention is shown to arise from its interaction with the peptide nanofibrils.Finally,this method is successfully used to retain other redox enzymes,paving the way for a variety of enzyme‐mediated electrochemical applications.

One‑Step Gas-Solid‑Phase Diffusion‑Induced Elemental Reaction for Bandgap‑Tunable Cu_(a)Agm_(1)Bim_(2)I_(n)/CuI Thin Film Solar Cells

Lead-free inorganic copper-silver-bismuth-halide materials have attracted more and more attention due to their environmental friendliness,high element abundance,and low cost.Here,we developed a strategy of one-step gas-solid-phase diffusioninduced reaction to fabricate a series of bandgap-tunable Cu_(a)Agm_(1)Bim_(2)I_(n)/CuI bilayer films due to the atomic diffusion effect for the first time.By designing and regulating the sputtered Cu/Ag/Bi metal film thickness,the bandgap of Cu_(a)Agm_(1)Bim_(2)I_(n)/CuI could be reduced from 2.06 to 1.78 eV.Solar cells with the structure of FTO/TiO_(2)/Cu_(a)Agm_(1)Bim_(2)I_(n)/CuI/carbon were constructed,yielding a champion power conversion efficiency of 2.76%,which is the highest reported for this class of materials owing to the bandgap reduction and the peculiar bilayer structure.The current work provides a practical path for developing the next generation of efficient,stable,and environmentally friendly photovoltaic materials.

Nanotechnology:A New Strategy for Lung Cancer Treatment Targeting Pro-Tumor Neutrophils

Primary and metastatic lung cancers are malignant lung tumors each with of which has a different pathogenesis,although both threaten patient lives.Tumor development and progression involve communication between tumor cells and the host microenvironment.Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment(TME);they participate in the generation of an inflammatory milieu and influence patient survival through their anti-and pro-tumor abilities.Neutrophils can be classified into various categories according to different criteria;frequent categories include N1 antitumor neutrophils and N2 immunosuppressive neutrophils.The antitumor effects of neutrophils are reported to be mediated through a combination of reactive oxygen species,tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand,and receptor for advanced glycation end-products–cathepsin G association,as well as the regulation of the activities of other immune cells.There have also been reports that neutrophils can function as tumor promoters that contribute to lung cancer progression and metastasis by influencing processes including carcinogenesis,angiogenesis,cancer cell proliferation,and invasion ability,as well as having similar roles in the lung metastasis of other cancers.The rapid development of nanotechnology has provided new strategies for cancer treatment targeting neutrophils.

Double Layer Composite Electrode Strategy for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Excellent Reverse-Bias Stability

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)have become the represent-atives of next generation of photovoltaics;nevertheless,their stability is insufficient for large scale deployment,particularly the reverse bias stability.Here,we propose a transparent conducting oxide(TCO)and low-cost metal composite electrode to improve the stability of PSCs without sacrificing the efficiency.The TCO can block ion migrations and chemical reactions between the metal and perovskite,while the metal greatly enhances the conductivity of the composite electrode.As a result,composite electrode-PSCs achieved a power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 23.7%(certified 23.2%)and exhibited excellent stability,maintaining 95%of the initial PCE when applying a reverse bias of 4.0 V for 60 s and over 92%of the initial PCE after 1000 h continuous light soaking.This composite electrode strategy can be extended to different combinations of TCOs and metals.It opens a new avenue for improving the stability of PSCs.

Non-invasive assessment for intratumoural distribution of interstitial fluid flow

Interstitial fluid plays a vital role in drug delivery and tumour treatment.However,few non-invasive measurement methods are available for measuring low-velocity biological fluid flow.Therefore,this study aimed to develop a novel technology called interstitial flow velocity-MRI.The interstitial flow velocity-MRI sequence consists of a dual inversion recovery preparation and an improved stimulated echo sequence(ISTE)combined with phase-contrast MRI.A homemade flow phantom was used to assess the feasibility and sensitivity of interstitial flow velocity-MRI.In addition,xenografts of female BALB/c mouse models of 4T1 breast cancer administered losartan(40 mg/kg)or saline(n?6)were subjected to imaging on a 7.0 T scanner to assess the in vivo interstitial fluid flow velocity.The results showed a significant correlation(P<0.001)between the theoretical velocities and velocities measured using the flow phantom.Interstitial flow velocity-MRI could detect a velocity as low as 10.21±2.65 mm/s with a spatial resolution of 0.313 mm.The losartan group had a lower mean interstitial fluid velocity than the control group(85±16 vs 113±24 mm/s).In addition,compared to the saline treatment,losartan treatment reduced the proportion of collagen fibres by 10%and 12%in the Masson and Sirius red staining groups,respectively.Interstitial flow velocity-MRI has the potential to determine interstitial fluid flow velocity non-invasively and exhibits an intuitive velocity map.

Brominated PEAI as Multi-Functional Passivator for High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cell

The interfaces of perovskite solar cells(PSCs)are well known to be rich in deep-level carrier traps,which serve as non-radiative recombination centers and limit the open-circuit voltage(Voc)and power conversion efficiency(PCE)of PSCs.Defect chemistry and surface passivators have been researched extensively and mainly focused on the neutralization of uncoordinated lead or anion defects.Herein,a novel brominated passivator 2-bromophenethylammonium iodide(2-Br-PEAI)is introduced for a multi-functional passivation effect at the perovskite interface.The brominated species readily form 2D perovskite on top of the 3D perovskite and multi-interact with the 3D perovskite surface.Apart from the halide vacancy filling and anion bonding ability,the Br atoms on the benzene ring can interact with the FA cations via strong hydrogen bonding N-H…Br and interact with the[PbI_(6)]^(4−)inorganic framework.The interface defects in the PSCs are well passivated,minimizing non-radiative recombination and enhancing device performance.As a result,a champion PCE of 24.22%was achieved with high V_(oc)and fill factor.In addition,modified devices also showed enhanced operational stability(retention of>95%initial PCE after 400 h)and humidity resistance(>90%initial PCE maintained after 1500 h under~50%RH).

Mechanical pressing method for making high-quality perovskite single crystals

Halide perovskites show excellent photovoltaic properties[1−4].However,the preparation of high-quality perovskite crystals remains a great challenge,which limits their applications.Perovskite materials applied to photodetectors mainly include polycrystalline thin films and single crystals.Traditional solution methods are used to prepare polycrystalline thin films,and the films are full of defects such as voids and grain boundaries[5−7].Compared to polycrystalline thin films,perovskite single crystals possess high crystallinity and low defect density[8−10].Photodetectors based on perovskite single crystals exhibit excellent performance[11].However,the size limitation of single crystals hinders their application in photodetectors[12].