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All-inorganic halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit outstanding optoelectronic properties, yet their practical applications in wide-color-gamut displays are severely constrained by inherent stability. Here, we developed a robust encapsulation strategy for CsPbX3 NCs using low-cost silica aerogels (AGs) through an improved low-temperature molten-salt sintering method. During sintering, the aerogel pore structure partially collapses, mechanically sealing the NCs within a rigid inorganic framework. Subsequent alkaline treatment leads to the in situ formation of a PbBr(OH) secondary shell, providing an additional chemical protection layer. Owing to this dual-encapsulation architecture, the resulting CsPbBr3@AGs(OH) composites exhibit intense green emission with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 91%, together with remarkable resistance to moisture, heat, and high-intensity irradiation. Notably, the corresponding polymer film retained 97.6% of its initial luminance after 1000 h of continuous blue-light exposure at 300W/m2. By extending this strategy, blue- and red-emitting CsPbX3@AGs composites covering the 443-659 nm range are achieved, enabling an ultrawide-color-gamut coverage of 132.85% NTSC and 99.2% Rec.2020. This work provides a universal, low-cost, and scalable encapsulation platform that simultaneously delivers an excellent optical performance and long-term stability, paving the way for next-generation display applications.

Controlling molecular transport in hydrated macromolecular networks remains a central challenge in the development of protein-based drug delivery systems. Herein, we report a biocompatible human serum albumin (HSA)-derived hydrogel that spontaneously self-assembles at room temperature through simple mixing with a reducing agent, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP), and inorganic salts, without the use of synthetic crosslinkers. Reduction of intramolecular disulfide bonds induces partial unfolding of HSA, promoting intermolecular association and network formation. By systematically varying the valency of inorganic cations, we observed consistent modulation of hydrogel gelation behavior, mechanical properties, and apparent network characteristics. The results are consistent with a proposed mechanism in which monovalent cations mainly reduce electrostatic repulsion between protein chains, whereas divalent cations may promote stronger ion-mediated associations, leading to relatively denser and mechanically reinforced networks. Using doxorubicin as a model small-molecule probe, we show that molecular release behavior is associated with cation-dependent differences in hydrogel properties, resulting in tunable release profiles of approximately 37-50% within 24 h without relying on specific drug-matrix affinity. In vitro release and ex vivo permeation studies further suggest that the representative HSA hydrogel can exhibit tissue-dependent permeation and retention behavior, supporting its potential as a localized drug delivery platform. These findings establish a clear structure-property-transport relationship in protein-derived hydrogels and provide a simple ionic strategy for designing tunable and cytocompatible hydrogel platforms for localized and transdermal drug delivery.

Organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides have emerged as highly promising nonlinear optical (NLO) candidates due to their structural diversity and excellent growth habits. Herein, two novel hybrid Sb-based halides, (C4H8N5)2SbBr5 (MGSB) and (C4H8N5)2SbCl5·H2O (MGSC), were successfully synthesized by halogen substitution and hydrogen bond engineering. MGSB crystallizes in the centrosymmetric (CS) space group P1̅, whereas MGSC adopts the noncentrosymmetric (NCS) space group Pca21. The NCS structure of MGSC originates from synergistic effects among asymmetric hydrogen bonding interactions, highly distorted inorganic polyhedra, and the ordered zigzag arrangements of organic molecules in the lattice. MGSC shows a promising second-harmonic generation (SHG) response (1.8 × KDP), a wide bandgap (3.78 eV), and appropriate birefringence (0.16@546 nm), making it a competitive NLO candidate. Moreover, MGSC exhibits bright blue fluorescence under ultraviolet light, indicating that MGSC achieves an unprecedented quadruple enhancement in optical properties relative to MGSB. This work provides an effective strategy for developing multioptical-functional hybrid metal halides.

Climate-induced permafrost thaw unlocks large stores of organic carbon that are mineralized and emitted as carbon dioxide (CO2) from rivers to the atmosphere1. Concurrently, warming and permafrost thaw can increase mineral weathering rates, thus affecting the release and sequestration of inorganic carbon2-4. Yet how these biological and geological carbon cycles interact and jointly affect CO2 dynamics (emission compared with drawdown) in permafrost rivers remains unknown5. Here we combine CO2 emissions, organic and inorganic solute concentrations, dual carbon isotopes (δ13C-Δ14C) and geochemical modelling to infer how permafrost thaw may affect river biogeochemistry over decades to centuries across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Leveraging a gradient of thermal permafrost degradation, we find that river CO2 emissions decline, whereas solute fluxes from rock weathering increase with decreasing permafrost cover. Across this region, net CO2 drawdown fluxes from rock weathering are about 35% of river CO2 emissions, varying from around 15% in catchments with continuous permafrost to more than 100% in catchments with discontinuous or isolated permafrost. Thus, carbon fluxes from chemical weathering may become increasingly important with ongoing permafrost thaw, potentially even outpacing river CO2 emissions. Our findings disentangle the interplay between biological and geological carbon fluxes that are important for the cryosphere and the global carbon cycle.

Aerogels composed of chiral nanoparticles combine the high surface area, extensive porosity, and low density of aerogels with the chiroptical and enantioselective properties of nanoscale chiral building blocks, thereby opening up potential applications in photonics, enantioselective catalysis, and molecular recognition. Here, we report the fabrication of a chiral TiO2-based aerogel from l/d-threoninol-functionalized nanoparticles. Gelation was induced by controlled destabilization of the nanoparticle dispersion through the addition of a nonsolvent, leading to the formation of a highly porous three-dimensional network. Remarkably, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, supported by Fourier-transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis, reveals that the chiral ligand interacting with the titania surface is largely removed during the gelation and solvent exchange processes. Despite the absence of the ligand, circular dichroism (CD) measurements demonstrate that the nanoparticles constituting the aerogel retain the chiroptical response with a g-factor comparable to that of the ligand-functionalized particles. These results indicate that the observed chirality arises from the inorganic TiO2 nanoparticles rather than from threoninol, suggesting that chiral structural features were imprinted onto the nanoparticle surface during synthesis. This work demonstrates that chiral information can be preserved within an inorganic aerogel architecture, laying the groundwork for the use of such materials in heterogeneous asymmetric photocatalysis.

Inspired by cellular compartmentalization, porous microreactors provide confined microenvironments that enhance molecular collisions and mass transport, thereby enabling advanced catalysis, drug delivery, and bioengineering. However, fabricating reactors with hierarchical hydrophobic-hydrophilic domains and tunable meso-/macroporosity remains challenging. Here, we report the scalable synthesis of zein mesoporous particles (ZMP) using an antisolvent precipitation method with inorganic salts as removable templates. The resulting ZMP exhibit tunable pore sizes (19-302 nm) and a robust core-shell structure, with hydrophobic α-zein subunits localized in the core and hydrophilic subunits forming a porous outer shell. Dual-dye fluorescence imaging and confocal microscopy confirm this amphiphilic architecture, while selective partitioning of hydrophobic and hydrophilic guest molecules further verifies the spatial heterogeneity. Enzymatic loading experiments demonstrate the potential of ZMP as active biocatalytic microreactors under mild conditions. These protein-based porous materials provide a sustainable and biocompatible alternative to inorganic systems, offering a programmable platform for biomimetic catalysis, molecular separation, and green manufacturing.

Eggs are natural and multifunctional bioresources, and their components are widely applied in the food, biomedical, functional, and environmental fields. Most studies have focused on the chemical properties or functional characteristics of individual components, and a systematic understanding that connects molecular structure, material performance, and cross-disciplinary applications is lacking. This review comprehensively synthesized existing studies, covering inorganic constituents (e.g., eggshell minerals), natural fibers (e.g., eggshell membrane), and protein and lipid structural features, determining their roles in functional regulation, interfacial activity, network formation, and material properties. Advancements in egg-based composite systems, including protein-polysaccharide networks, egg yolk lipid-based nanocarriers, eggshell-eggshell membrane composites, and protein-keratin crosslinked systems, are highlighted. The effects of the conditions of preparation, composite strategies, and interfacial modulation on the microstructure, rheology, film-forming ability, and stability were critically discussed. Future perspectives were proposed, emphasizing multicomponent synergistic design, cross-phase interface engineering, and the development of egg-based smart materials. This framework provides a systematic reference for using eggs in high-performance food systems, biomedical applications, and functional composite materials.

During the Shang (ca. 1500-1046 BCE) and early Western Zhou (1046-978 BCE) periods in China, elite rituals involved offerings of food and drink presented to ancestors in elaborately cast bronze vessels. Although later texts describe these practices in detail, direct biomolecular evidence for vessel contents remains scarce. We analyzed corrosion from eight unprovenanced Chinese ritual bronzes at the Museum Rietberg (Zurich, Switzerland) using powder X-ray diffraction to characterize crystalline inorganic phases and nanoLC-MS/MS to target preserved proteins. Only one vessel (a hu-type) yielded diagnostic peptides preserved within a copper carbonate matrix, matched to proteins from ginger (Zingiber officinale) and a fermentation mold (Monascus purpureus). Serpin-domain-containing protein signals were also detected and are interpreted more cautiously. To our knowledge, this study provides the first direct proteomic evidence consistent with a fermented beverage residue associated with ancient Chinese recipes and supports the traditional interpretation of this vessel type in drink preparation and/or consumption. More importantly, we show that corroded, unprovenanced bronze vessels can preserve archeologically informative proteins, highlighting the value of proteomics for extending the scientific and curatorial significance of museum collections.

Deep eutectic gel polymer electrolytes (DEGPEs), combining intrinsic non-flammability with outstanding thermal stability, are attractive candidates for next-generation lithium metal batteries (LMBs). However, their practical deployment in high-energy-density LMBs has been fundamentally constrained by poor interfacial stability with the lithium metal anode and limited tolerance toward the high-voltage cathode. We report a new amide-monomer-mediated DEGPE that achieves comprehensive performance via a LiNO3 solubilization strategy. The N-methylacrylamide (NME) units in the poly(N-methylacrylamide) (PNME) framework enhance LiNO3 solubility through hydrogen bonding and Li+ coordination, forming a stable inorganic-rich interphase. Concurrently, it immobilizes free N-methyltrifluoroacetamide (NMTFA) via hydrogen bonds, suppressing transition-metal dissolution and preventing electrolyte leakage. The amide monomer-mediated DEGPE-based NCM811||Li cells achieve 80.1% capacity retention after 500 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.67%, a performance that surpasses state-of-the-art (deep eutectic electrolyte) DEE-based systems. More impressively, LCO||Li cells retain 89.6% capacity after 300 cycles even at an elevated temperature of 80°C, far exceeding the thermal stability limits of conventional electrolytes and underscoring its remarkable interfacial stability under extreme operational conditions. This work establishes a molecularly engineered solvation and interfacial regulation strategy for DEGPEs, providing both fundamental insight and a practical pathway toward safe, high-energy, and high-temperature-tolerant LMBs.

The global prevalence of iron (Fe) deficiency anemia (IDA) continues to pose major public health challenges, necessitating the development of effective fortification strategies. Dairy-based systems are promising vehicles for Fe fortification and delivery due to their widespread consumption and nutritional value, although their complex matrix presents significant challenges for maintaining Fe bioavailability and product quality. This review critically evaluates current knowledge on Fe fortification in dairy systems, integrating evidence on Fe forms, physicochemical interactions between Fe and the matrix, and their consequent effects on Fe bioavailability and physical functionality. Emerging fortification strategies are highlighted. Conventional Fe salts, including ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, and ferric pyrophosphate, have varying degrees of solubility and absorption but are often associated with adverse sensory changes, lipid oxidation, and reduced product stability. Fe-ligand complexes, including protein-, carbohydrate-, and Maillard reaction product (MRP)-based systems, can impart improved stability to the fortified product and bioavailability by minimizing interactions with inhibitors of Fe absorption. The incorporation of Fe into dairy matrices influences product pH and structural and functional properties while also accelerating lipid oxidation and sensory deterioration when inorganic salts are used. Strategies such as Fe chelation, microencapsulation, and co-fortification with enhancers have shown potential to mitigate these limitations. In addition, the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and MRPs in modulating Fe absorption remains complex and context dependent. Despite promising advancements, gaps remain in understanding interactions between Fe, proteins, carbohydrates and MRP and their implications for Fe fortification of dairy systems. Future research should focus on developing integrated fortification approaches enabling the design of next-generation functional dairy foods to effectively combat global Fe deficiency.

Atmospheric deposition is a significant source of cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice, yet studies on the foliar uptake and accumulation of its different chemical forms remain limited. In this study, two rice varieties with a significant difference of leaf cuticle were cultivated and exposed to three different chemical forms of Cd (CdCl2, CdO and PM-Cd) via foliar application at the grain-filling stage. The Cd content in rice tissues, its subcellular localization and chemical speciation in leaves, and the cuticular wax composition of different varieties were analyzed. The results showed that the ionic CdCl2 was better retained by the epidermal waxes and thus absorbed. The accumulation of Cd in rice grains varied significantly depending on its chemical form, following the order of CdCl2 > PM-Cd > CdO treatment. Under CdO-exposed conditions, Cd primarily accumulated in the cell wall, with a predominance of the residual fraction of Cd. In contrast, CdCl2 exposure resulted in higher Cd bioavailability, as evidenced by increased proportions of inorganic Cd and water-extractable Cd. The leaf epidermal wax deposited and retained approximately 1/2-2/3 of the Cd, with the ZJZ17 variety (higher epidermal wax content) showing greater grain Cd accumulation than XZX24. This study concludes that higher plant cuticular wax content leads to greater Cd accumulation in rice, with CdCl2 identified as the most easily absorbed form among different types of Cd. These findings contribute to combating atmospheric Cd pollution, ensuring food safety, and providing new directions for future research.

Subterranean estuaries play a key role in the land-ocean interface by modulating groundwater-borne and recycled solutes discharged to the coast. Despite their importance for coastal ecosystems, the sensitivity of these systems to human activities is still unknown. To address this gap, dissolved organic matter (DOM) and dissolved inorganic nutrients of a pristine site were compared with those from two nearby, semiurban sites characterized by contrasting oxygen conditions. The local aquifers surrounding the semiurban subterranean estuaries contained more nitrogen, silicate, and DOM of higher molecular weight than the aquifers surrounding the pristine site. Despite the different chemical composition of the arriving fresh groundwater, N/P ratios and the quantity of humic-like DOM compounds at the pristine site were intermediate between those of the two semiurban sites. This pattern reflected the intermediate permeability and oxygenation of the pristine beach, highlighting the role of the sediment matrix in modulating the exported solutes. Enhanced oxygenation at one semiurban site resulted from a human-derived gravel layer that increased sediment permeability and reduced internal residence times. The anthropogenic alteration of the sediment permeability had a greater influence on the nutrients and DOM found in subterranean estuaries than did the chemical composition of the inland aquifers.

Hybrid organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are promising semiconductors for photovoltaics and optoelectronics, but their commercial viability is limited by instability, particularly strain induced by mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) between the perovskite film and substrate. Here, we investigate strain development and relaxation in MHP thin films using in situ bending and Grazing Incidence Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (GIWAXS). We quantify the film-substrate interfacial mechanical coupling and identify interfacial slippage beyond a critical strain (∼0.4%), with Br-2PACz exhibiting comparatively stronger interfacial mechanical coupling among common interface modifiers. Time-resolved GIWAXS reveals reversible macrostrain during thermal cycling driven by CTE mismatch. Leveraging this behavior, we introduce a prestrain process that induces persistent compressive strain after cooling, with partial relaxation over time. These results provide insight into interfacial mechanical coupling and strain dynamics, offering a framework for strain engineering in perovskite devices.

Giant birefringence (Δn > 1.0) is an essential requirement and a remaining challenge for advanced polarization optics. Organic π-conjugated molecules possess high intrinsic polarizability favorable for birefringent materials design, although this potential is often hindered by dense, cofacial π-π stacking, which induces strong interlayer electronic coupling and severely limits optical anisotropy. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer a solution that utilizes coordination bonds to modulate the packing configuration of ligands. However, a dimensionality dilemma remains: 3D MOFs often possess high symmetry that cancels optical anisotropy, while 2D MOFs typically inherit eclipsed stacking of conjugated ligands, locking birefringence at low levels. Herein, we propose an anion-induced coordination competition strategy (AICCS) to disrupt dense stacking. By steering inorganic anions (Td of SO4 2- and D3h of NO3 -) and π-conjugated 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) ligands to competitively coordinate with La3+, we successfully force in-plane slip of adjacent HHTP layers in resulted MOFs. This precisely engineered slip-stacking decouples interlayer electronic states and liberates the latent polarizability of the π-system. Consequently, we achieved a dramatic birefringence enhancement from the suppressed state in the parent LaHHTP (Δn = 0.12) to record-high values of Δn = 1.1 in LaHHTP-SO4 and Δn = 1.3 in LaHHTP-NO3, providing a versatile route to design next-generation anisotropic optical crystals.

Owing to the possession of naturally formed quantum wells with strong spatial and dielectric confinements, 2D lead-halide perovskites are attracting intensive research interest in the context of potential applications in classical optoelectronic devices. Here we have synthesized a 2D (PEA)2PbI4 perovskite microplate and observed at ∼3 K that it can emit single photons from the abundant ultranarrow peaks appearing in the photoluminescence spectrum. This signifies the formation of 0D quantum emitters within the otherwise homogeneous 2D energy landscape, which can be attributed to the thickness fluctuations induced by octahedral tiltings across an inorganic sheet. These findings mark the emergence of a hybrid type of quantum emitters with both 0D and 2D confinements, thus extending the fundamental and practical studies of 2D perovskites to the prospective regime of quantum information technologies.