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News•Jan 17, 2026
Reorientation‐Driven Degradation in Oriented Perovskite Films: Shifting Facet Engineering to Thermodynamic Stability
Researchers investigated the link between crystallographic orientation and thermal stability in narrow‑bandgap Sn‑Pb mixed perovskite solar cells. Using an additive‑free two‑step deposition, they produced highly oriented films that, when aged at 120 °C, retained only 73 % of their initial power conversion efficiency, compared with 89 % for less‑oriented counterparts. Operando grazing‑incidence wide‑angle X‑ray scattering revealed that thermal stress triggers reorientation, lattice distortion and microstrain accumulation, accelerating degradation. The authors argue that engineering for thermodynamic equilibrium, rather than maximal alignment, is essential for durable perovskite photovoltaics.
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Superior High‐Temperature Capacitive Energy Storage Enabled by Interfacial Ion‐Matrix Synergy in Fluoride‐Composites
Researchers have introduced a dual‑functional interfacial design that embeds calcium fluoride (CaF2) nanoparticles into a polyetherimide (PEI) matrix, addressing the degradation of polymer dielectrics at high temperatures. The fluoride anions neutralize mobile ions while the Ca2+ cations form deep energy...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
High Perpendicular Anisotropy in Mo‐Inserted Mg Composite Free Layer for Nonvolatile Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory in 4K‐400K Universal Temperature Applications
Researchers have unveiled a universal‑temperature nonvolatile MRAM (UTF‑NVMRAM) that operates reliably from 4 K to 400 K by inserting molybdenum into a CoFeB composite free layer and optimizing a MgO/MgOx capping stack. The design dramatically reduces temperature‑dependent switching‑voltage drift to 0.68 mV/K and...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Vapor‐Phase Synthesis of Potassium‐Doped Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photocatalytic Panels
Researchers have introduced a vapor‑phase condensation technique to grow potassium‑doped polymeric carbon nitride (CN) panels directly on KCl‑coated substrates. The process creates cyano‑group defects that shift the band edge, enhancing light absorption and charge separation. As a result, the doped...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Microbubble‐Mediated Synthesis of Smart Spindle Microfibers for Fog Harvesting
Researchers have introduced a microfluidic technique that injects microbubbles into a PNIPAm pre‑gel and uses pulsatile flow to form spindle‑knotted microfibers. The resulting fibers feature textured hydrophilic surfaces that extend the three‑phase contact line, delivering a 1.65‑fold increase in fog‑water...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Decoding pH‐Driven Phase Transition of Lipid Nanoparticles
Researchers applied constant‑pH molecular dynamics to the Comirnaty lipid nanoparticle formulation, uncovering a dramatic pKa shift for the ionizable aminolipid ALC‑0315. The intrinsic pKa of 9.3 in water drops to an apparent 4.9 within the LNP, with surface regions remaining...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Highly Selective and Flexible HCl Sensor Enabled by Ag2O‐Functionalized Graphene Micropatterns
Researchers have functionalized graphene with silver oxide (Ag₂O) nanoparticles, creating a flexible sensor that detects hydrogen chloride (HCl) at room temperature. The device achieves an ultra‑low detection limit of 5.61 parts per trillion and operates on just 6.47 mW of power. Real‑time...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Tailored Supramolecular Self‐Assembly Nanoporous Carbon Toward Zinc Ion Hybrid Supercapacitor Application
Researchers have introduced a supramolecular self‑assembly route to produce a nanoporous carbon with uniform ~10 Å pores and reinforced nitrogen doping. The “twin template” method uses heavy bio‑oil precursors to create a carbon fiber mesh that serves as an efficient cathode...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Attapulgite Template for Oxygen Vacancies Boost of Manganese Dioxide Nanozymes With High Oxidase‐Like Activity
Researchers used natural attapulgite as a template to create oxygen vacancies in MnO2 nanozymes, dramatically boosting oxidase-like activity. Surface hydroxyl groups on ATP weaken Mn‑O bonds, lowering the energy barrier for vacancy formation. The engineered nanozyme achieves a Michaelis constant...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Self‐Assembled Nanostructured Microgels with Reconfigurable Morphologies
Researchers have introduced a new class of bent‑core amphiphiles that self‑assemble into fibrillar, tubular and helical organogels. These organogels can be emulsified in water, producing nanostructured microgels that preserve the internal liquid‑crystalline architecture. By incorporating fluorocarbon oils, the droplets form...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
In Situ Cu‐N Sites: Weak Interactions Drive Strong Catalysis by Mimicking Cu–His Metallocofactor
Researchers introduced imidazole into copper‑oxide nanozyme systems, creating reversible Cu‑N active sites that mimic the Cu‑His pocket of natural phenolic oxidases. This dynamic coordination replaced static Cu‑O centers and boosted the oxidation rate of 2,4‑chlorophenol by 110‑fold. Electrochemical data revealed...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Electron‐Rich Platinum Atoms in Lattice of Nickel‐Iron Layered Double Hydroxide Enhance Seawater Electrolysis
Researchers doped sub‑percent platinum atoms into the lattice of nickel‑iron layered double hydroxide, creating the PtNiFe‑D15 catalyst. In alkaline seawater the catalyst achieves 1000 mA cm⁻² at only 217 mV overpotential, far outperforming commercial 20 wt% Pt/C. The electron‑rich Pt sites and oxygen‑vacancy‑induced Ni...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Superhydrophobic Coatings with Perfluorinated Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Corrosion Resistance
Researchers have developed a superhydrophobic coating by spray‑depositing fluorinated UIO‑66 metal‑organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles onto an epoxy resin matrix. The hierarchical coating delivers exceptional corrosion resistance, maintaining impedance values roughly seven orders of magnitude higher than bare Q235 steel after...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Amorphous Red Phosphorus: Host–Guest Assembly with Cyclodextrin
Researchers have demonstrated that amorphous red phosphorus (ARP) can form host‑guest complexes with α‑ and β‑cyclodextrins in aqueous solution, creating water‑soluble pseudo‑polyrotaxanes. β‑CD, whose 0.60 nm cavity matches ARP’s 0.582 nm width, threads rapidly, while α‑CD requires conformational distortion and achieves only...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Reconstruction Induced Dynamic Incorporation of Zn Into Cobalt Hydroxide via Synergistic Structural Evolution for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
The researchers present a ZnO@CoMoO4 core‑shell electrocatalyst where ZnO nanorods dissolve during operation, dynamically doping the reconstructed Co(OH)2 with zinc. This Zn‑doped Co(OH)2 achieves a hydrogen evolution reaction overpotential of 40 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and maintains 65 mV in simulated seawater. The...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Facile Access to Energy‐Efficient Heterostructured Films via Scalable Planar Frontal Polymerization
Researchers introduced a planar frontal polymerization (FP) method that couples self‑propagating polymer curing with gravity‑driven microsphere assembly to create heterogeneous films. The technique yields a high‑crystallinity colloidal photonic crystal layer that reflects 96% of solar radiation and emits 98% of...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Strength in Synergy: MoS2‐VS4 Nano‐Architecture Modified with Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Robust Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting
Researchers engineered a 2D heterostructure combining MoS2, VS4, and reduced graphene oxide (r‑GO) to serve as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting. The catalyst delivers a low overpotential of 104 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction and 236 mV for the oxygen...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Metallic Transport in Pseudocubic Quaternary Diamondoid Thermoelectric Semiconductor
Researchers have demonstrated that CdSe‑doped Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ exhibits metallic transport, achieving a room‑temperature electrical conductivity of 1,200 S cm⁻¹. Substituting 10 % of Sn⁴⁺ with Cd²⁺ raises carrier concentration to ~10²¹ cm⁻³ while preserving the pseudocubic lattice. Adding a small fraction of Ag further lowers...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Interfacial Bidirectional Anchoring for CsPbI3 Phase Stabilization in Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Researchers introduced a bidirectional anchoring strategy using 1‑Methyl‑3‑(3‑sulfopropyl)‑1H‑imidazol‑3‑ium chloride (SM Cl) to stabilize the black phase of inorganic perovskite CsPbI3. The sulfonate group binds Cs⁺ while the imidazole coordinates the [PbI₆]⁴⁻ octahedra, creating compressive strain that suppresses phase transition. Inverted perovskite...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Facile Synthesis of Sodium Titanate Nanosheets as Promising Electrode Material for High Power and Energy Density Supercapacitors
Researchers have developed sodium titanate (NTO) nanosheets via solid‑state sintering as a high‑performance supercapacitor electrode. The material delivers 670 F/g at 1 A/g and retains 175 F/g at 10 A/g, with 98.5 % coulombic efficiency over 5,000 cycles. An asymmetric device pairing NTO with activated...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Multi‐Dimensional Engineering Enables Interfacial and Mechanical Stability of Mesoporous Carbon Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Researchers have engineered a rigid‑flexible MC@MXene‑CNT composite that encapsulates mesoporous carbon spheres with Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets and interwoven carbon nanotubes. This multi‑dimensional architecture preserves the high surface area of the carbon while leveraging MXene’s surface chemistry and CNTs’ conductivity to...
By Small (Wiley)
News•Jan 17, 2026
Yield‐Stress Composite Fluids With High Thermal Conductivity and Tunable Rheology via Hierarchical Filler Architecture
Researchers introduced a yield‑stress composite fluid that combines liquid‑like flowability with solid‑like rigidity by embedding multi‑sized aluminum nitride (AlN) particles in a polydimethylsiloxane matrix. The hierarchical filler architecture creates dense thermal pathways, delivering a thermal conductivity of 12.0 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ while maintaining...
By Small (Wiley)