Artificial Intelligence-Guided Cosolvent Design for High-Performance Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells - Nano-Micro Letters

Realizing high-performance perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells requires precise control of wide-bandgap perovskite crystallization. Solvent engineering is the most direct lever for this task; yet, its intricate, multi-variable mechanisms defy intuition-driven design. Herein, we overcome this bottleneck by pioneering a retrieval-augmented large language model to screen > 8000 solvents, identifying γ-valerolactone (GVL) as a non-toxic, high-performance cosolvent. It is found that the GVL strongly coordinates FA+, thus precisely modulating crystallization kinetics, retarding nucleation, and promoting oriented, micrometer-scale grain growth. The resulting films exhibit not only superior crystallinity, reduced non-radiative recombination, but also improved scalability to large area and the tolerance to increased film thickness. Consequently, both the single-junction and tandem devices achieve efficiencies of 23.3% and 32.5%, respectively, along with excellent stability under moisture and illumination. This study establishes the first artificial intelligence (AI)-guided cosolvent strategy for 1-μm-thick perovskite layers in perovskite/silicon tandem architectures, underscoring the transformative role of generative AI in advancing high-performance photovoltaics.

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Radar-Infrared Multi-Scale Bi-Stealth via Optically Transparent Chaotic Coding Metasurface - Nano-Micro Letters

The rapid development of multispectral detection technology urgently requires the simultaneous suppression of microwave and infrared (IR) signatures. However, conventional strategies suffer from limited functional integration, complex structures, and poor scalability in achieving synergistic control of radar cross section (RCS) and IR radiation characteristics. Herein, we propose a chaotic paradigm combined with a multi-scale strategy to address radar-IR-optical multispectral stealth by using a single-layer coding indium tin oxide (ITO) platform. This architecture covers millimeter-scale representative elements, centimeter-scale phase-coded subarrays, and decimeter-scale meta-arrays, with a direct correlation established between chaotic initial conditions and microwave/IR responses theoretically. Specifically, chaotic coding, a deterministic pseudo-random coding method, is adopted to construct a meta-array inspired by sensitivity of chaotic systems to initial conditions. Tuning chaotic initial parameters enables controllable spatial IR emissivity modulation while preserving broadband intrinsic microwave diffusion due to the multi-wavevector mechanism. For verification, a proof-of-concept metadevice is fabricated, and experimental results manifested a broadband RCS reduction over 10 dB within X/Ku bands (8 ~ 18 GHz) for incident angles up to 45°, with a low IR emissivity below 0.3 and a high optical transmittance of 71.2%. Featuring ultrathin profile (3.35 mm, ~ 0.09 λL), light weight, optical transparency, and facile fabrication, our strategy offers a promising avenue for multi-scale multispectral stealth applications.

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Unveiling Photo-Thermal-Electrical Performance in Robust, Self-Healing, and Anti-Freezing Cellulose-MXene Eutectogels for Advanced Hemostasis - Nano-Micro Letters

Uncontrolled hemorrhage, resulting from trauma or surgery, presents a critical challenge in medical care. This study introduces a novel eutectogel, a multifunctional material synthesized using choline chloride/phytic acid derived deep eutectic solvents (CP-DES)-mediated cellulose-MXene polyacrylamide, aimed at addressing hemostatic needs. The eutectogel combines photothermal and thermoelectric effects to accelerate hemorrhage control, significantly reducing blood loss and hemostasis time. Unlike existing hemostatic materials, our design leverages the synergistic effects of photothermal heating and thermoelectric current, enhancing coagulation and promoting tissue repair. The innovation lies in the integration of DES to stabilize MXene, optimizing its photothermal and thermoelectric properties, and enabling rapid gelation, self-healing, and anti-freezing capabilities. In vitro and in vivo tests demonstrate the material’s superior performance in hemostasis compared to traditional gauze, highlighting its potential for trauma care and surgical applications. This approach sets a new paradigm in the development of advanced, multifunctional biomedical materials for hemostasis and beyond.

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Design Strategies Toward Zinc Anodes with High Utilization Rate for Practical Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries - Nano-Micro Letters

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as promising candidates for large-scale energy storage systems due to their high safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the zinc (Zn) anode faces a series of side reactions, including hydrogen evolution, dendrite growth, corrosion, and passivation, leading to irreversible loss of active Zn material and a significant reduction of cycling stability of the Zn anode. To mitigate the impact of these issues, an excess of Zn anode is commonly employed to ensure a continuous supply of Zn during long-term operation. However, the use of excess Zn results in a practical energy density of AZIBs that is far below the requirements for commercialization. Improving Zn anode utilization rate (ZUR) and optimizing the negative/positive electrode capacity ratio (N/P) are effective pathways to achieve high energy density. This review systematically summarizes the challenges associated with Zn anodes with high ZUR and provides a detailed discussion on modification strategies to improve the ZUR from three aspects: the anode, electrolyte, and separator. Finally, we look ahead to the future development directions and prospects of Zn anodes with high ZUR and AZIBs with high energy density. With ongoing technological advancements and continuous innovation, we believe AZIBs have the potential to overcome current bottlenecks and contribute to the global development of sustainable energy systems.

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Engineering Noble Metals Single-Atom Catalysts for Photothermal-Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production - Nano-Micro Letters

Photothermal-enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) converts nonradiative losses into localized interfacial heating, while precious-metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer atom-efficient and well-defined active sites. However, progress remains difficult to compare and translate because reaction-zone temperatures are often poorly constrained, the active forms of single atoms under light and heat are rarely verified, and performance in model suspensions does not readily extend to practical reactors or long-term operation. This Review summarizes major material platforms for photothermal harvesting and single-atom site design, and defines key support requirements, including strong light absorption, efficient charge and heat transport, and stable anchoring sites. It also outlines the typical roles of different noble metals and proposes actionable frameworks for the field. Thermometry-anchored protocols help disentangle thermal, photochemical, and synergistic effects through temperature-matched controls, absorption-normalized kinetics, and activation-energy benchmarks. An operando and ultrafast evidence framework tracks coordination, valence, charge transfer, and intermediates in real time, enabling verification of dynamic active sites. Finally, scale-relevant design rules connect photon and heat management with mass transport, bubble dynamics, scalable synthesis, and long-term validation, guiding photocatalysis toward mechanistically accountable and deployable solar H2 production.

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A Universal Bio-Hybrid Nanoparticle Backpack Platform Endows Stem Cells with Microenvironmental Resilience and Sustained Paracrine Signaling - Nano-Micro Letters

The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in regenerative medicine is frequently thwarted by hostile post-injury microenvironments characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation, and rapid clearance, which compromise cell survival and paracrine efficacy. Herein, we establish a universal bio-hybrid “stem cell backpack” platform designed to fundamentally overcome these bottlenecks through precise surface interface engineering. By tethering drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles onto the MSCs membrane via mild, biocompatible click chemistry, we create a programmable nanotherapeutic depot that endows host cells with dual, synergistic capabilities: (1) robust scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to ensure cellular resilience and (2) sustained, localized release of regenerative factors to amplify paracrine signaling. Using corneal chemical injury as a rigorous proof-of-concept model, this platform demonstrated unprecedented regenerative potency. The engineered cells markedly outperformed conventional therapies by simultaneously suppressing inflammatory cascades, preventing fibrosis and neovascularization, and orchestrating multi-lineage regeneration, including epithelial restoration, nerve reinnervation, and limbal stem cell reactivation. Quantitatively, this approach achieved a 63.6% enhancement in transparency restoration and a 76.9% greater reduction in tissue defects compared to cell monotherapy. Crucially, the modular design of this backpack system allows for the interchangeable loading of diverse therapeutics, extending its applicability beyond ophthalmology to other tissues facing similar microenvironmental challenges. This work presents a transformative paradigm in nanomedicine, shifting the focus from passive cell delivery to active microenvironmental modulation, thereby offering a versatile and scalable strategy for next-generation regenerative therapies across diverse clinical indications.

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