Detecting orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes with high-speed and -accuracy is always a challenge in the practical applications of vortex beams (VBs). Here, we design a multilayer feed-forward neural network (FNN) model to rapidly identify OAM modes. After trained with loads of learning samples influenced by the transmission distance, beam waist, and atmospheric turbulence, the model shows a good generalization ability in quickly identifying the OAM mode of VBs ranging from -25 to +25. The classification accuracy reaches 99.55% under the influence of moderate turbulence and achieves 68.53% even under strong turbulence. Furthermore, we construct a communication link to deliver a 100×100 pixels Lena gray image by encoding OAM modes. After free-space transmission, the OAM-SK signals are demodulated by the FNN model, and the Lena gray image is well reconstituted. With an i5-6500 CPU, the identification process takes only $7.5 \times 10^{-5}$ s per OAM mode. These numerical simulation results demonstrate that the proposed FNN model provides a feasible way to rapidly identify the OAM modes of VBs and may show great potential in the optical OAM communication, etc.

Despite significant progress in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, high fabrication costs and limited efficiency of photoanodes hinder practical applications. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄), with its low cost, non-toxicity, and suitable band structure, is a promising photoanode material but suffers from poor charge transport, sluggish surface kinetics, and photocorrosion. In this study, porous monoclinic BiVO₄ films are fabricated via a simplified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, followed by borate treatment and PEC deposition of NiFeO_x. The resulting B/BiVO₄/NiFeO_x photoanode exhibits a significantly enhanced photocurrent density of 2.45 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE—5.3 times higher than pristine BiVO₄. It also achieves an ABPE of 0.77% and a charge transfer efficiency of 79.5%. These results demonstrate that dual surface modification via borate and NiFeO_x is a cost-effective strategy to improve BiVO₄-based PEC water splitting performance. This work provides a promising pathway for the scalable development of efficient and economically viable photoanodes for solar hydrogen production.

With the rapid growth of renewable energy, the need for efficient and stable energy storage systems has become increasingly urgent. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) can offer high safety, abundant zinc supply, and promising electrochemical properties. However, their performance is limited by poor electronic conductivity, slow Zn²⁺ diffusion, and structural degradation of conventional cathode materials. To address these issues, an in situ polyaniline (PANI) intercalation strategy for vanadium oxide cathodes is introduced in this paper. The conductive PANI chains play three key roles: (1) expand and stabilize interlayer spacing, (2) enhance electronic conductivity, and (3) provide mechanical support to prevent structural collapse and zinc-dendrite formation. A flower-like PANI-V₂O₅ hybrid is synthesized via synchronous oxidative polymerization, forming a hierarchical architecture without inert intercalants. The resulting electrode achieves a high specific capacity of 450 mAh·g⁻¹ at 0.1 A·g⁻¹ and retains 96.7% of its capacity after 300 cycles at 1 A·g⁻¹, with excellent rate performance. These findings demonstrate that PANI intercalation enhances ion transport, electronic conductivity, and structural integrity, offering a promising design approach for next-generation AZIBs cathodes.

The practical application of vanadium-based cathode materials in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is severely hindered by vanadium dissolution, low electronic conductivity, and sluggish reaction kinetics in aqueous electrolytes. In this work, a three-dimensional confined V₂O₅@ nitrogen-doped carbon (V₂O₅@NC) composite was rationally designed and constructed through a dual-regulation strategy combining oxygen-vacancy engineering and conductive network enhancement. In this architecture, the nitrogen-doped carbon framework provides a highly conductive network and robust structural support, while in situ carbonization induces the generation of oxygen vacancies within V₂O₅. These oxygen vacancies cause lattice distortion and expand the interlayer spacing, thereby accelerating Zn²⁺ diffusion and improving reaction kinetics. Benefiting from this synergistic effect, the V₂O₅@NC electrode exhibits an excellent specific capacity of 437 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 A g⁻¹ and maintains a remarkable 89.3% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 3 A g⁻¹, demonstrating outstanding rate performance and cycling stability. This study provides new insights and an effective design strategy for developing high-performance cathode materials for next-generation aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

The development of safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy storage systems has spurred growing interest in aqueous ZIBs. However, the poor cycling stability of cathode materials—mainly due to manganese dissolution and structural degradation—remains a major bottleneck. In this work, a porous MnO₂/PPy hybrid nanocomposite is successfully synthesized via an in situ co-precipitation strategy. The conductive PPy buffer layer not only alleviates Mn dissolution and buffers volume expansion during cycling but also enhances ion/electron transport and facilitates electrolyte infiltration due to its high surface area. Electrochemical evaluation reveals that the MnO₂/PPy electrode delivers excellent cycling stability, retaining 75% of its initial capacity after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A·g⁻¹. Comparative performance analysis shows that MnO₂/PPy exhibits superior capacity retention and rate capability, especially under high current densities and prolonged cycling. These results underscore the effectiveness of the PPy interfacial layer in improving structural integrity and electrochemical performance, offering a promising route for designing high-performance cathode materials for aqueous ZIBs.