{"title":"Covalency-driven amorphization in dual-anion-doped Li-Zr-Cl electrolytes enables long-life all-solid-state batteries","authors":"Zhenyu Zhu,Bohan Zhang,Ning He,Yiyan Liu,Shuoqing Zhao,Yi Pei,Shaojun Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103062","url":null,"abstract":"Zirconium-based halide electrolytes are promising candidates for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) owing to their low cost and facile processability, but their practical application is constrained by insufficient ionic conductivity. Here, we develop a dual-anion strategy to induce covalency-driven amorphization in O2−/Br−-doped Li2ZrCl6. Covalent Zr-Br interactions promote charge delocalization and weaken electrostatic interactions, while Zr-O-Zr bridges disrupt long-range structural ordering, collectively enhancing lattice flexibility and lowering the Li+ migration barrier. The resulting Li2.25ZrCl4O0.75Br0.75 electrolyte achieves a room temperature ionic conductivity of 1.95 mS cm−1 together with enhanced oxidative and interfacial stability up to 4.5 V. When integrated into LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2-based ASSLBs, the full cell delivers superior rate capability and retains 89.0% capacity after 1,000 cycles. This work establishes bond-covalency-mediated anion sublattice regulation as an effective strategy for coupling structural amorphization with fast ion transport, providing a design principle for high-performance halide solid-state electrolytes.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149221496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MatterPub Date : 2026-10-19DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2026.103060
Guolong Li,Xi Wang,Jianying Huang,Jiawen Yu,Kaiying Zhao,Jiajun Xu,Di Zhang,Songnan Zhang,Yuekun Lai
{"title":"Integrated multi-yarn synergistic light-trapping cone evaporator for efficient steam and wire-structured thermoelectric cogeneration","authors":"Guolong Li,Xi Wang,Jianying Huang,Jiawen Yu,Kaiying Zhao,Jiajun Xu,Di Zhang,Songnan Zhang,Yuekun Lai","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103060","url":null,"abstract":"Global freshwater scarcity and rising energy demand call for cogeneration technologies. Here, we report a flower-inspired, shape-programmable 3D solar evaporator built from polyaniline-coated alginate/ramie yarns with an embedded dual-wire thermoelectric core. The conductive core enables a fixed 90° conical geometry that traps light through multiple internal reflections, raising the hot section to ∼62°C and generating 38 mV under 1 sun. The device achieves a dual-sided evaporation rate of 1.77 kg m−2 h−1 and stable thermoelectric response (∼17 mV). In 3.5 wt % NaCl solution, it sustains 1.54 kg m−2 h−1 with self-desalting and no surface crystallization. Even in 21 wt % brine, salt deposits only at the periphery, preserving central optical activity. Outdoor trials yield 10.41 kg m−2 day−1 of WHO-compliant freshwater and a peak thermovoltage of 17.45 mV. By combining geometry-assisted photon management, capillary regulation, and robust yarns, this device offers a promising approach toward off-grid, modular water-electricity cogeneration for coastal and island communities.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149218216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A ferroelectric junction transistor memory made from switchable van der Waals p-n heterojunctions","authors":"Baoyu Wang,Lingrui Zou,Tao Wang,Lijun Xu,Zexin Dong,Chuan Qin,Xin He,Shangui Lan,Yinchang Ma,Meng Tang,Maolin Chen,Chen Liu,Zheng-Dong Luo,Lijie Zhang,Zhenhua Wu,Yan Liu,Genquan Han,Bin Yu,Xixiang Zhang,Kai Chang,Fei Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103032","url":null,"abstract":"van der Waals (vdW) p-n heterojunctions are important building blocks for electronics and optoelectronics, in which heterojunction quality determines device performances or functionalities. Creating tunable depletion regions with substantially suppressed leakage currents remains challenging but is crucial for heterojunction applications. Here, by using band-aligned p-type SnSe and n-type ferroelectric α-In2Se3 as a model, we report near-ideal multifunctional vdW p-n heterojunctions with reverse leakage currents (0.1 pA) and an ideality factor of 1.95. Ferroelectric tuning of the band alignment enables a giant barrier modulation of 900 meV. We propose and demonstrate a fundamentally different memory device termed ferroelectric junction field-effect transistor memory, which shows a large memory window (1.8 V), nonvolatile conductance modulation enabled by a 100 ns pulse, and low cycle-to-cycle variation (2%). Additionally, the devices exhibit reliable synaptic characteristics for low-power neuromorphic computing. Our work provides a versatile device platform with switchable memory heterojunctions for brain-inspired electronics and optoelectronics.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149173092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MatterPub Date : 2026-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2026.103057
Kai Zhang,Jingyu Zuo,Wenchao Zhao,Junjiang Wu,Wanyue Zhang,Yajie Wang,Yiwen Li,Na Li,Yu Chen,Yuxiang Li,Fei Zhang,Guanghui Li,Han Young Woo,Yanhou Geng,Long Ye
{"title":"Thermodynamic decoupling of polymer pre-aggregation in sustainable solvents enables high-detectivity flexible organic photodiodes","authors":"Kai Zhang,Jingyu Zuo,Wenchao Zhao,Junjiang Wu,Wanyue Zhang,Yajie Wang,Yiwen Li,Na Li,Yu Chen,Yuxiang Li,Fei Zhang,Guanghui Li,Han Young Woo,Yanhou Geng,Long Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103057","url":null,"abstract":"Transitioning organic photodiodes toward green manufacturing is hindered by thermodynamic mismatch during solution processing, triggering uncontrollable pre-aggregation and high dark currents. To overcome this, we introduce decoupling aggregation via refined thermodynamics. Through orthogonal thermodynamic decoupling within the dispersion matrix, this approach quantitatively manipulates intermolecular interaction vectors to tune polymer-solvent spatial distances. Elucidated by a decoupled aggregation scattering hierarchy model, this intervention dismantles dense pre-aggregated networks, substantially retarding the nucleation process and enhancing crystallinity, as inferred from film-formation dynamics and final solid-state ordering. This yields an optimized morphology with refined phase separation and suppressed deep trap states. Consequently, the eco-friendly photodetectors achieve a specific detectivity of 1.8 × 1014 Jones. Extending beyond the model system, this strategy yields organic photovoltaics exceeding 20% efficiency, alongside flexible photodetectors retaining 93% responsivity after 10,000 bending cycles for wearable photoplethysmography and conformal machine vision. Ultimately, this work establishes a robust physics-driven pathway for sustainable organic electronics.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"471 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can weakly interlayer-coupled transition metal dichalcogenides open up a new prospect of two-dimensional family?","authors":"Xian Zhou,Chengyi Xiong,Miao-Miao Chen,Shengfu Wang,Xiuhua Zhang,Yao Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103056","url":null,"abstract":"Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials have been far more enriched in the two decades, among which interlayer coupling gradually has become the central factor in material design and mechanism studies. Beyond strongly interlayer-coupled 2D materials with thickness-dependent electron energy dispersion, weakly interlayer-coupled 2D materials are paid less attention due to their passivated band structures, especially for weakly interlayer-coupled transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). In this perspective, we first introduce three energy parameters as the direct but superficial criterion to distinguish weakly and strongly interlayer-coupled TMDCs, including binding energy, in-plane translational energy, and cleavage energy. By collecting electron structure data of typical TMDCs, we then propose band-gap alteration percentage as a precise standard for semiconducting weakly interlayer-coupled TMDCs, which can be even extrapolated to semimetallic and metallic TMDCs by using energy shifting percentage as reference. We comprehensively discuss the underlying mechanisms of the unique layer-independent characteristics in the aspects of electron structures, which may commonly originate from localized intralayer charge distribution that results from various factors including orbital symmetry, crystal-field-induced energy level splitting, and stacking-determined interlayer polarization. As a consequence, the weak interlayer coupling enables low out-of-plane conductivity, stable optical properties, and low out-of-plane thermal conductivity, which provides ideal opportunities for temperature-insensitive integrated circuits, high-performance emitters, and thermally insulated devices. After the statement of recent advances, challenging fields, and future direction, we finally delineate a blueprint for 2D-material-based application including programmable 2D architecture and functionally integrated processing-in-memory all-2D chips. We believe that TMDCs with weak interlayer coupling can open up a new prospect in fundamental studies and practical applications based on the 2D family.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MatterPub Date : 2026-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2026.103055
Jung-Woo Lee,Jieun Kim,Anthony L. Edgeton,Tula R. Paudel,Neil Campbell,Brenton A. Noesges,Jonathon L. Schad,Jiangfeng Yang,Katelyn Wada,Jonathan Moreno-Ramirez,Nicholas Parker,Yulin Gan,Hyungwoo Lee,Dennis V. Christensen,Kitae Eom,Jong-Hoon Kang,Yunzhong Chen,Thomas Tybell,Nini Pryds,Dmitri A. Tenne,Leonard J. Brillson,Mark S. Rzchowski,Evgeny Y. Tsymbal,Chang-Beom Eom
{"title":"Metal-organic pulsed laser deposition for complex oxide heterostructures","authors":"Jung-Woo Lee,Jieun Kim,Anthony L. Edgeton,Tula R. Paudel,Neil Campbell,Brenton A. Noesges,Jonathon L. Schad,Jiangfeng Yang,Katelyn Wada,Jonathan Moreno-Ramirez,Nicholas Parker,Yulin Gan,Hyungwoo Lee,Dennis V. Christensen,Kitae Eom,Jong-Hoon Kang,Yunzhong Chen,Thomas Tybell,Nini Pryds,Dmitri A. Tenne,Leonard J. Brillson,Mark S. Rzchowski,Evgeny Y. Tsymbal,Chang-Beom Eom","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103055","url":null,"abstract":"Point defects in complex oxide thin films play a critical role in determining material properties but remain challenging to control with precision. This study introduces metal-organic pulsed laser deposition (MOPLD) as a synthesis technique for the precise manipulation of these defects, using LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) as a model system. By employing titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as the titanium precursor, MOPLD achieves refined stoichiometric control in strontium titanate (STO) layers while preserving their structural integrity, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Depth-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that increasing TTIP flux during STO growth enhances the [TiSr]/[VSr] ratio and reduces the [VO] concentration. These defect modifications lead to a significant improvement in the low-temperature mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas at the LAO/STO interface, evidenced by distinct Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations. This work underscores the potential of MOPLD to advance defect engineering, opening new avenues for quantum material research.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular regulation of Frenkel defect pairs enables phase-stable wide-band-gap perovskites for tandem photovoltaics","authors":"Quanrun Qiu,Tian Xia,Songyang Yuan,Lingyi Ke,Yunfan Wang,Guanhua Ren,Tino Lukas,Guangruixing Zou,Chengda Ge,Shanchao Ouyang,Nan Zhang,Hui Liu,Jiehui Liang,Cheng Zeng,Tingfeng Lei,Yiting Jiang,Xiaobin Zhang,Jiye Liu,Martin Stolterfoht,Sai Wing Tsang,Yidan An,Hin-Lap Yip","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103054","url":null,"abstract":"Tandem photovoltaic architectures offer an effective route to fully exploit the band gap tunability of metal halide perovskites, with perovskite/organic tandem solar cells (TSCs) offering lightweight and flexible platforms. However, light-induced phase segregation in wide-band-gap (WBG) mixed-halide perovskites is driven by the coupled formation and dissociation of halide Frenkel defect pairs, leading to pronounced voltage losses and compromised operational stability. Beyond conventional defect passivation, 5,6-diamino-2,3-dicyanopyrazine (DADCP) enables multi-site defect regulation, with ortho-diamine groups immobilizing iodide interstitials through hydrogen bonding and cyano groups coordinating Pb2+ sites associated with iodide vacancies. This molecular regulation provides thermodynamic suppression of Frenkel defect-pair formation and dissociation together with kinetic suppression of subsequent halide redistribution, thereby mitigating phase segregation. WBG perovskite solar cells achieve a Voc of 1.385 V and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.71%, while perovskite/organic TSCs reach 2.221 V and 26.30% PCE, retaining 80% of their initial efficiency after 1,200 h of maximum power point tracking.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149152710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MatterPub Date : 2026-10-08DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2026.103052
Anton A. Samoylov,Sean Raglow,Kenneth A. Lang,Patrick J. Lohr,Matthew Dailey,Nickolaus Swenson,Chi Nguyen,Tim Kodalle,Carolin M. Sutter-Fella,Paul Lee,Euan McLeod,Lyndsey McMillon-Brown,Adam D. Printz
{"title":"Mitigating the toughness-efficiency trade-off in perovskite solar cells through electrospun nanofiber reinforcement","authors":"Anton A. Samoylov,Sean Raglow,Kenneth A. Lang,Patrick J. Lohr,Matthew Dailey,Nickolaus Swenson,Chi Nguyen,Tim Kodalle,Carolin M. Sutter-Fella,Paul Lee,Euan McLeod,Lyndsey McMillon-Brown,Adam D. Printz","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2026.103052","url":null,"abstract":"Metal halide perovskite solar cells combine high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) with low-cost processing but remain limited by mechanical fragility. We introduce electrospun polymeric nanofibers as a reinforcement strategy that improves fracture resistance while preserving optoelectronic performance. Incorporation of nylon-6,6 nanofibers increased the cohesive fracture energy (Gc) of MAPbI3 films nearly 6-fold, from 0.40 to 2.34 J m−2. This approach is generalizable across compositions, with reinforced MAPbI3 and Cs0.09FA0.91PbI3 devices exhibiting comparable or improved PCEs over pristine devices, including an increase from 16.8 ± 1.0% to 17.6 ± 0.8% for Cs0.09FA0.91PbI3 nanocomposites. Structural and optoelectronic characterization shows that the nanofibers preserve film quality and carrier mobility, while optical scattering measurements and near-field simulations indicate low-loss light redistribution within the photoabsorber. These results demonstrate that reinforcement can mitigate the trade-off between mechanical toughness and photovoltaic performance, establishing electrospun nanofiber reinforcement as a strategy for mechanically reliable solution-processed optoelectronics.","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149124079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MatterPub Date : 2026-10-07DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2026.103048
Yadong Xu, Kangkang Zhou, Vakhobjon Kuvondikov, Kun Dai, Long Ye
{"title":"Weaving stability into stretchable photodetectors","authors":"Yadong Xu, Kangkang Zhou, Vakhobjon Kuvondikov, Kun Dai, Long Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.103048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymer elastomers can do more than soften organic semiconductor films. Their interactions with photoactive materials can reshape phase separation and determine how a film responds to strain. Reporting in <em>Matter</em>, researchers show that a moderately miscible elastomer directs the formation of a honeycomb-like morphology in organic photodetectors, allowing high detectivity to be maintained under large and repeated tensile strains. This work highlights morphology control as a practical route to combine mechanical compliance with electronic function.</div></div><div>Polymer elastomers can do more than soften organic semiconductor films. Their interactions with photoactive materials can reshape phase separation and determine how a film responds to strain. Reporting in <em>Matter</em>, researchers show that a moderately miscible elastomer directs the formation of a honeycomb-like morphology in organic photodetectors, allowing high detectivity to be maintained under large and repeated tensile strains. This work highlights morphology control as a practical route to combine mechanical compliance with electronic function.</div>","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"9 10","pages":"Article 103048"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149095000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MatterPub Date : 2026-10-07Epub Date: 2026-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2026.102958
Lei Gong, Ding Chen, Hongyu Zhao, Jiawei Zhu, Yuhan Zhang, Haocong Cheng, Ruohan Yu, Shichun Mu
{"title":"Curvature-directed electrochemical reactivity on topological carbon","authors":"Lei Gong, Ding Chen, Hongyu Zhao, Jiawei Zhu, Yuhan Zhang, Haocong Cheng, Ruohan Yu, Shichun Mu","doi":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.102958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.matt.2026.102958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>High-curvature pentagon carbon (HCPC) is built via an ionic nano-autoclave strategy</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Curvature-enhanced local electric fields accelerate OH<sup>−</sup> desorption</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>HCPC achieves ultrahigh ORR activity and specific capacitance in alkaline media</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>Atomic curvature engineering unlocks intrinsic reactivity of topological-defect carbon</div></span></li></ul></div><div>Topological defects profoundly influence the electronic structure and electrochemical behaviors of carbon materials. While previous studies have primarily focused on increasing defect density, the decisive role of the geometric microenvironment surrounding defect sites remains largely unexplored. In this work, we systematically reveal that a high geometric curvature can fundamentally unlock the intrinsic reactivity of pentagonal carbon. By utilizing an “ionic nano-autoclave” strategy, we synthesize a nanobubble-like carbon framework with an ultralow curvature radius of 1.47 nm, which effectively stabilizes the highly strained pentagonal defects. We demonstrate, for the first time, that curvature-induced electronic redistribution and intensified local electric fields of pentagonal defects synergistically accelerate the oxygen reduction kinetics by promoting OH<sup>−</sup> desorption and optimizing intermediate adsorption. More importantly, this work establishes geometric curvature as a new structure descriptor beyond conventional defect-density engineering, offering direct insights into the intrinsic activity origin of topological carbon. This study represents an important step toward understanding the curvature-regulated electrochemical behaviors in carbon systems and provides a new paradigm for designing advanced metal-free carbon catalysts for sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies in the future.</div><div><div>Topological carbon profoundly influences the electrochemical behavior of carbon frameworks. However, prevailing research primarily focuses on increasing topological defect densities, whereas the influence of geometric microenvironments, particularly curvature, on intrinsic activity remains unexplored. Here, we synthesize nanobubble-like high-curvature pentagon carbon (HCPC) with ultralow curvature radius of 1.47 nm via a molten salt-assisted strategy that stabilizes highly strained pentagonal motifs. HCPC exhibits a half-wave potential of 0.80 V for oxygen reduction and a specific capacitance of 250.4 F g<sup>−1</sup>, outperforming low-curvature counterpart carbon (LCCC). Crucially, the intrinsic activity of pentagonal sites in HCPC is 2.48 and 1.61 times higher than that of LCCC at 0.80 and 0.85 V, respectively, indicating that high curvature fundamentally transforms site reactivity. Futher analyses unveil that curvature-induced electronic redistribution and intensified local electric fields ","PeriodicalId":388,"journal":{"name":"Matter","volume":"9 10","pages":"Article 102958"},"PeriodicalIF":15.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148693097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}