Themed collection Materials Horizons HOT Papers

This Focus Article dispels 19 common myths and misconceptions about photon avalanching nanoparticles to remove the shroud of mystery surrounding the mechanism, utility, and future prospects of these uniquely nonlinear optical materials.

The growing plastic pollution crisis demands novel approaches, with innovative materials that mimic robotic behaviors emerging as a promising solution.

This review discusses advances in self-powered electrochemical systems for fuel production. Critical evaluations of the electrochemistry are highlighted to estimate the obstacles still hindering large-scale application in this field.

This review emphasizes memory-based intelligence, enabling artificial muscles to execute a range of pre-programmed movements and refresh stored actuation states in response to changing conditions, as well as sensory-based intelligence.

State-of-the-art review of magnetic hybrid organic–inorganic transition metal halide perovskites, focusing on chemical design, the origin and tunability of magnetism, and potential applications in magneto-optics, sensors, and spin filters.

This review includes synthetic methods, characterization techniques, electronic structure-regulating strategies, and electromagnetic wave absorption applications of high-entropy materials.

Various muscle-like hydrogels that emerged in recent years exhibit rapid and isochoric deformations upon stimulations. This minireview summarizes the development of muscle-like hydrogels, their unique mechanisms, and applications as soft robots.

This review deeply explores the application of alternating current electroluminescence in functional and visualization sensing, particularly emphasizing its future potential in human–machine visual interaction.

From individuals to families: design and application of self-similar chiral nanomaterials.

Soaking in a supersaturated salt simultaneously optimizes the mechanical performance and puncture resistance of hydrogels.

A dynamic chemical cross-linking method has been proposed to synthesize leakage-proof and tough PCMs for thermal management of modern electronics. The PCMs exhibit excellent shape memory feature, recyclability and self-healing property.

Solvation energy plays the key role in determining the cycling stability of electrochromic WO₃ thin films.

This work not only inspires environmentally friendly chemical synthesis strategy to fundamentally address fire hazards, additive risks, and plastic pollution, but also paves the way for sustainable lifecycle management of organic polymer materials.

A paired electrolysis system was constructed to synchronously valorize nitrate wastewater and upgrade polyethylene terephthalate, utilizing oxygen-vacancy-rich Co₃O₄ as the cathode and Cu-doped Ni(OH)₂ as the anode, respectively.

Two-dimensional metal halide perovskites were transformed into colloidal lyotropic liquid crystals with precisely adjustable semiconducting bandgaps and linearly polarized photoluminescence.

A medium bandgap dimeric acceptor DYO-1 achieved an open-circuit voltage exceeding 1.00 V in binary organic solar cells. Ternary devices with DYO-1 obtained efficiencies of 19.6% and 15.8% for small- and large-area devices, respectively.

“Sieging tumor cells” strategy is proposed based on FeCPs, which efficiently kills tumors while alleviating metastasis. The released SA inhibits the activity of HPA to reinforce the ECM, while DHTA as electron mediator strengthen Fe-mediated CDT.

Digital twins based on true 3D microstructures predict the bulk mechanical response of lipid-based materials and composites made thereof.

Inspired by Maya blue, color superoleophobic coatings were fabricated using silica, metakaolin and azo dyes, exhibiting excellent stability, wettability and color fastness.

Defect engineering improves breakdown strength, reduces conduction losses and induces localized disorder to achieve an ultra-high energy storage density.

This study uses contrast matched small angle neutron scattering and simulations to explore how increased pore size in carbon sorbents influences perfluorooctanoic acid adsorption and aggregation, facilitating semi-cylinder micelle formation.

Yttria films with nanocrystallite aggregates synthesized via photo-assisted chemical solution deposition achieved an E_bf over 12.7 MV/cm⁻¹, suggesting a new strategy to enhance dielectric breakdown strength beyond the experimental scaling law.

With broader UV absorption and higher antioxidative capacity than the commercial UV-shielding agent UV326 and antioxidant AO1010, one-component anti-aging agents have the potential to improve polymer photostability and food preservation packaging.

We developed a fabrication method to achieve a record-high thermal conductivity of 13.5 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ for electrically insulated polyethylene at a coverage area of 2.16 mm².

Electron–hole separation efficiency and catalytic site activity can be simultaneously enhanced by tuning the charge flow direction.

The synergistic effect of a single atom of Fe and heteroatom in X-doped Mo₂CS₂–MXene (X = B, N, O, F, P and Se) in enhancing the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen to ammonia.

Tunable multi-emission and ultra-broadband visible to near-infrared luminescence in Sn²⁺/Mn²⁺-doped lead-free Zn-based metal halides have been achieved by adjusting the doping ratios and excitation wavelengths.

The spin absorption of the CoGd layer spontaneously formed at the Co/Gd interface enhances spin-dependent transport in Pt/Co/Gd/Ir multilayers.

We developed a novel strategy for preparing conductive and tough hydrogels through in situ growth of metal dendrites within the gel. The resulting gel demonstrated outstanding conductivity, fracture toughness and fatigue fracture threshold.

Reactions on distorted graphene membranes show strain dependent reactivity with water as followed by Raman microspectroscopy.

A fully bio-based and water-resistant wood surface protection system inspired by the natural barrier function of tree bark.

Circular economy and fire-safety of polymers have become the global consensus. A strategy for selectively self-recyclable, highly-transparent and fire-safe polycarbonate is proposed by thermally responsive phosphonium-phosphate.

We propose a systematic strategy to create multistable metamaterials with function-oriented multitransition behaviors to satisfy diverse application scenarios by the replacement of designed contact block (CB) plates.

We developed a physics-informed machine learning platform that predicts stress–strain curves of 3D-printed thermoplastics from ink formulations, enabling virtual experimentation and rapid identification of optimal materials in vast chemical spaces.

We propose an OECT model for steady-state behavior based on thermodynamic and electrochemical principles. It shows that it is possible to establish the origin of the relationship between the choice of channel-electrolyte and device performance.

In this study, we designed and synthesized two NFREAs, 2BTh-3F and 2BTh-CN, incorporating distinct substituents to modulate their electron-withdrawing properties.

The copper-doped lead apatite, known as LK-99, is revealed as an intriguing flat-band material exhibiting correlated states from non-Fermi liquid to charge-transfer Mott insulator, rather than the initially claimed room-temperature superconductivity.

Two-dimensional (2D) in-plane covalent hetero-networks display exceptional optical and electrical properties well beyond those of their pristine components.

Nanofibrous hydrogel composites with exceptional mechanical, electrical, and anti-swelling properties, enabling amphibious motion sensing, underwater communication, and biological monitoring.

A latent crosslinking reaction between the polymer aerogel and organic PCMs was designed, enabling the PCC to form a copolymer monolith with improved charring ability and intrinsic fire safety when overheated, without flame-retardant modification.

The disorder in organic mixed electronic and ionic conductors (OMIECs) is highly dynamic, and, consequently, charge transport is not adversely affected by it. The dynamics of the soft materials drives the charge carriers.

We report the PANDA, a self-driving lab that handles fluids, electrodeposits polymers, and then functionally characterizes the result using optics or electrochemistry. As an example application, we perform a closed-loop study of electrochromic films.

Power dissipation, a fundamental limitation for realizing high-performance electronic devices, may be effectively reduced by an external supply voltage.

The lattice doping of lanthanide ions in Cs₂ZrCl₆ nanocrystals enabling phase transition from a cubic phase to a monoclinic phase and tunable photoluminescence.

Suppressed face-on stacking and crystallinity in ZR1:Y6 reduce charge dissociation, leading to more field-dependent charge generation compared to PM7:Y6, despite similar energy offsets in both blends.

PPP NPs revealed multiple functions with identified molecular mechanisms including ROS clearance and m6A modification regulation in alleviating damages and presenting therapeutic roles in mitochondrial and sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy.

Ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials provide exciting opportunities for the rational design of persistent luminescence owing to their long-lived excitons.

The spiroannulation of multiple resonance core skeleton gives rise to pure-green emitters and superior electroluminescence performance with low efficiency roll-off.

Thermal-adaptive implant coating inspired by polar bears enhances NIR therapy efficiency, and minimizes tissue damage in infected bone defects.

The anomalous AHE induced by the skew scattering mechanism can obtain a large AHC but a small AHA in the clean regime. Here, we observed a colossal AHC (≥ 10⁴ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹) and large AHA (> 10%) at the same time in EuAl₂Si₂.

Solvate ionic liquids’ pressurisation-induced piezoelectric response and linear relationship with force. Similar effect in solid polymer electrolyte consisting of SIL and epoxy resin. Implications in passive charging of energy storage composites.

Novel method of screening large-scale material databases to discover novel heterogeneous core@metal–organic-framework photocatalysts that are synthesizable, utilize visible light, band aligned, and water stable.

Dense ceramics of Al-substituted hexaferrites demonstrate robust, intensive, and highly magnetic field-sensitive ferromagnetic resonance absorption at 5–300 K.

In situ exsolution have been actively performed to deliver oxide nanocomposites with metal nanoparticles. In our work, a new ingredient was unveiled to boost nickel metal exsolution on the oxide surface by increasing the octahedron distortion.

Multiple topological phase transitions with a tunable orbital Hall effect under the irradiation of right-handed or left-handed circularly polarized light in two-dimensional ferromagnets.

The LCST ion gel assembled smart windows are thermotropic and electrochromic with reliable adjustment of light transparency as well as power-generating, which satisfy on-demand light modulation and high energy-efficiency.

Inspired by the adhesive capabilities of snails, this work successfully develops a touch-initiated hydrogel adhesive that exhibits remarkable on-demand adhesion on a diverse range of surfaces.