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Coal is widely used for energy generation, but has not been considered for possible functional materials. Here, the authors report the one-step formation of graphene quantum dots from coal at yields of up to 20%, which is advantageous when compared with their syntheses from sp²-type carbon structures.

Traditional recycling of polyoxymethylene plastic often leads to significant material loss and toxic emissions. Here, the authors introduce an acidic electrochemical process that efficiently converts plastic waste into valuable chemicals with conversion efficiency approaching 90%.

Multielectron molecular CO₂ reduction in acid is challenged by weak CO binding and competing hydrogen evolution. Here a methanol Faradaic efficiency of 62% is achieved in acid by tuning the microenvironment with cationic, hydrophobic and aerophilic layers.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) can be obtained via a practically convenient approach, but its amorphous characteristics limit its applications. Here, the authors report a flash Joule heating strategy to improve the crystalline quality and conductivity of LIG, leading to strain sensors with enhanced sensitivity.

Selective electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) in strong acids remains challenging due to competition with the hydrogen evolution reaction. Now it is reported that peripheral functionalization of immobilized molecular complexes with quaternary ammonium groups can regulate the mass distribution surrounding the active sites, enabling selective CO₂RR in strong acids.

Controlling the kinetics and thermodynamics of electrochemical processes is essential to achieve high-performance multielectron reduction. Here, the authors report laser-induced copper bipyramids with abundant nanograins and controlled tip angles for enhanced multielectron CO₂ and nitrate reduction.

While strain engineering via support modification is a powerful strategy to tune catalytic properties, it is complex to control for immobilized molecular complexes. Now the curvature of carbon nanotubes is leveraged to induce strain to metal phthalocyanine complexes and boost their electrocatalytic activity

The straightforward and scalable synthesis and patterning of graphene-based nanomaterials remains a technological challenge. Here, the authors use a CO₂infrared laser, under ambient conditions, to directly produce and pattern porous graphene films with three-dimensional networks from commercial polymer films.

Design of artificial photosynthetic systems that mimic the complex supramolecular structures in natural systems remains a grand challenge. Here self-assembled nanomicelles containing Zn porphyrins and Co porphyrins as photosensitizer and catalyst achieve selective photocatalytic CO₂-to-CH₄ conversion in water.

Artificial systems capable of photocatalytic hydrogen production are not typically based on precisely controlled scaffolds. Now, statistical seeded crystallization of block copolymers—bearing either a pendant cobalt catalyst or a photosensitizer—from solution has been shown to yield recyclable, colloidally stable nanofibres that can be tailored to promote photocatalytic hydrogen production from water.

Laser technology offers high energy, precise spatial resolution and seamless automation for materials synthesis and device fabrication. This Review highlights laser-assisted materials engineering at the atomic and nanoscales and examines the laser-assisted discovery of materials with interesting properties and applications.