To commemorate the 15th anniversary since the inauguration of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, this special issue highlights KAUST's cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the forefront of science, technology, and engineering. The special edition showcases a selection of research articles, reviews, and perspectives, reflecting the outstanding contributions of KAUST faculty members and research fellows to their respective fields of research. Covering diverse fields such as energy, sustainability, and advanced materials, this collection illustrates KAUST's commitment to solving global challenges through scientific innovation and collaboration.

Located along the scenic shores of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, KAUST was founded in 2009 with a mission to be a world-class research institution. The aerial view of the KAUST campus highlights its well-organized layout and beautiful surroundings (Figure 1a,b). In just over a decade, KAUST has rapidly become one of the leading research universities globally, earning a stellar reputation for its contributions to renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and advanced technologies. Despite its relatively young age, KAUST has established itself as a beacon of innovation, providing solutions to the most pressing scientific and technological challenges of our time while driving transformative research that impacts both the Kingdom and the broader global community. KAUST's academic divisions and Centers of Excellence advance the University's mission by uniting faculty, researchers, and graduate students across disciplines. By harnessing the synergy between science and engineering, they tackle fundamental and applied challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Research efforts focus on addressing global issues in water, food, energy, and the environment, supported by expertise in 20 related fields. This collaborative environment fosters innovative, and cross-disciplinary solutions.

KAUST led the Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings 2023, underscoring its leadership in the Middle East region. The university's research productivity in high-impact journals places it amongst the top 25% most influential universities worldwide. KAUST's focus on research excellence is further demonstrated by its collaborations with top-tier global corporations such as Aramco, SABIC, and IBM, as well as strategic partnerships with institutions globally, contributing to its growing international stature. KAUST is committed to inclusivity, and our international community brings together people from almost 120 nations, fostering cultural and ethnic diversity. Since 2009, KAUST has been a champion of co-education in Saudi Arabia with women comprising 39% of its students and 51% of its entrepreneurship program participants.

As part of its continued evolution, the university recently announced its new strategic goals to amplify the commercialization of research. The National Transformation Institute (NTI) was established to fast-track technology development, supporting Saudi Arabia's economic diversification, and a $200 million fund has been created to invest in high-tech firms, fostering economic diversification and generating high-quality technical jobs. Research at KAUST is supported by a central laboratory network that provides frontier facilities and scientific experts for advanced characterization. For example, KAUST's Shaheen III was installed in November 2023 as the most powerful supercomputer in the Middle East (Figure 2a).

KAUST also actively engages in dynamic outreach efforts. It hosted the inaugural conference of Saudi Youth for Sustainability in 2022, uniting experts, professionals, and researchers for panel discussions, workshops, and interactive events to empower young leaders and to advance sustainability (Figure 2b). KAUST was also selected to host the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in 2025, the first time this summit will be held in the Middle East.

KAUST's impressive portfolio of research achievements, and its commitment to knowledge transfer and commercialization, positions it as a driving force in the global scientific community. Its strategic focus on applied science and collaboration with leading academic and industrial partners ensures that KAUST continues to accelerate innovation, making a lasting impact on both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world.

This Special Issue of Advanced Materials features 12 Research Articles, 7 Reviews, and 1 Perspective, encompassing various disciplines within materials science and engineering, organized under eight main themes: Energy Conversion and Energy Storage Materials, Photovoltaic Materials, Membrane and Film Materials, Microscopy Technologies, Catalytic Materials, Devices and Novel Technologies, Nanomaterials and Composite Materials.

In the field of Energy Conversion and Energy Storage Materials, Prof. Kuo-Wei Huang and co-workers provide a comprehensive review of catalyst design strategies for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to formic acid with low fugitive H₂ emissions. This article emphasizes the integration of nanoscale materials with advanced reaction engineering to enhance the economic feasibility and industrial applicability of formic acid production (adma.202404980). Prof. Huabin Zhang and co-workers demonstrate the potential of phase engineering strategies to enhance alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction by developing a crystalline/amorphous heterostructure (adma.202405128). Prof. Merfat Alsabban and co-workers introduce boron-doped molybdenum sulfide as an efficient catalyst for the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction in acidic media. (adma.202405578). Dr. Zhiming Zhao and co-workers explore interfacial stabilization in lithium-metal batteries through magnesium-based electrolytes, forming robust interphases that suppress dendrite growth and enhance cycling stability (adma.202402626).

In the field of Photovoltaic Materials, Dr. Sofiia Kosar and Prof. Stefaan De Wolf review the spatial inhomogeneities inherent in metal halide perovskites (MHPs) caused by their compositional and structural diversity and low-temperature processing. The review provides a detailed guide to imaging tools, including their spatial resolution, sample requirements, advantages, and limitations, offering strategies to mitigate inhomogeneities and to improve MHP-based device performances (adma.202406886). Prof. Frédéric Laquai and co-workers present a comprehensive overview of solid additive engineering in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. This review emphasizes the role of solid additives in tuning solution-processed bulk heterojunction morphology, enhancing efficiency and stability, and enabling cost-effective large-scale production (adma.202406949).

In the field of Membranes and Films Topics, Prof. Sahika Inal and co-workers investigate the role of hydration on mixed charge transport in n-type organic mixed ion-electron conductors, demonstrating the critical influence of water uptake on the electronic interconnectivity within films, even under structural swelling (adma.202313121). Prof. Husam N. Alshareef and co-workers present a green and scalable process for wafer-scale transfer of MXene films, enabling efficient interface engineering and achieving a two-order-of-magnitude improvement in interfacial carrier transfer efficiency through liquid-assisted intercalation (adma.202405214). Prof. Ingo Pinnau and co-workers report hydroxyl-functionalized polymers of intrinsic microporosity and dual-functionalized blends, achieving exceptional permselectivity and plasticization resistance for industrial gas separation applications, offering new insights into advanced polymer network design (adma.202406076). Prof. Omar F. Mohammed and co-workers introduce semiconductive MOF glass films as a scalable, eco-friendly material for X-ray detection. These detectors achieve high sensitivity and detection limits, offering promising applications in medical and security fields (adma.202412432).

In the field of Microscopy Technologies, Prof. Yu Han and co-workers presents a perspective on the untapped potential of single-particle analysis (SPA) for synthetic chemical systems. The study also explores SPA's use in analyzing intermediates in material synthesis, emphasizing the need for purification via soft-landing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (adma.202406914). Yue Yuan and Prof. Mario Lanza systematically investigates the impact of relative humidity (RH) on conductive atomic force microscopy, addressing inconsistencies in prior studies. The findings reveal that higher RH enhances current flow in insulators and ultra-thin semiconductors due to a conductive water meniscus at the tip/sample interface, while thicker semiconductors and metals remain unaffected (adma.202405932).

In the field of Catalytic Materials, Prof. Yoji Kobayashi and co-workers investigate alkali silicon clathrates (AxSi46) as low-work-function catalyst supports for ammonia synthesis. The study highlights the scalability and stability of silicon clathrates compared to other hydride/electrode catalysts and opens pathways to explore electron-rich Zintl phases for broader catalytic applications (adma.202406944). Prof. Javier Ruiz-Martínez reviews recent advancements in ethanol conversion into non-oxygenated value-added chemicals, such as light olefins, 1,3-butadiene, and aromatics. The article delves into catalyst design, reaction mechanisms, and deactivation processes, proposing strategies to optimize active site proximity for synergistic reactions. It also underscores the potential of ethanol derived from CO₂ and biomass for sustainable chemical production, outlining challenges and future directions in ethanol valorization (adma.202406472).

In the field of Devices and Novel Technologies, Prof. Khaled N. Salama and co-workers present a novel high-performance hydrogen sensor based on thiolate-protected palladium nanoclusters, which achieves robust and rapid hydrogen sensing with a low limit of detection (1 ppm) (adma.202404291). Prof. Qiaoqiang Gan and co-workers introduce a lubricated surface coating on vertical double-sided condensers for enhanced radiative cooling and passive water collection, offering a decentralized and energy-free solution for sustainable water harvesting (adma.202404037). Prof. Muhammad M. Hussain and co-workers review the recent advancements in flexible electronic systems, with a focus on sensors, power management, and actuators. The review highlights the shift toward transformational electronics, which leverage heterogeneous integration of components for compact, high-density systems (adma.202406424).

In the field of Nanomaterials and Composite Materials, Prof. Lain-Jong Li and co-workers revisit the epitaxial growth mechanism of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide single crystals on sapphire substrates. Their study reveals the crucial role of sulfur evaporation rates in controlling the growth mode (adma.202404923). Prof. Boon S. Ooi and co-workers review the development of group-III nitride nanowires, particularly their use in high-performance optoelectronics and photonics. The review highlights the significant advances in semiconductor heterostructures that have propelled the field beyond traditional silicon technology (adma.202405558). Prof. Gilles Lubineau and co-workers review strategies to enhance material toughness through extrinsic energy dissipation mechanisms. They highlight the potential of architected microstructures and additive manufacturing to improve the performance of composites and 3D-printed parts while addressing challenges in scalability, control of dissipation mechanisms, and advanced fracture modeling (adma.202407132).

The guest editors are delighted and privileged to introduce this meticulously curated special issue, highlighting a broad spectrum of multidisciplinary materials research conducted at KAUST. While it is beyond the scope of this issue to encompass all research activities at KAUST, it represents a significant and insightful cross-section. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all contributing authors, esteemed faculty members, and collaborators for their invaluable input to this endeavor.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the handling editor of this special issue, Dr. Sneha Rhode Gupta, whose strategic vision and unwavering support were crucial from the inception of this project. Additionally, we offer our sincere congratulations and best wishes to the editors-in-chief of Advanced Materials, Dr. Irem Bayindir-Buchhalter and Dr. Esther Levy, as they continue to lead the journal's distinguished legacy toward new horizons. Special acknowledgment is also due to Dr. Guangchen Xu and Dr. Neville Compton for their invaluable suggestions and coordination, which played a pivotal role in bringing this special issue to fruition.

We hope that the readers of Advanced Materials will find this issue both engaging and enlightening, offering a deeper understanding of KAUST's cutting-edge contributions to fundamental and applied materials science. We are confident that this special issue will inspire further productive interdisciplinary and international collaborations, reinforcing KAUST's standing as a global leader in materials research.

为纪念沙特阿拉伯阿卜杜拉国王科技大学 （KAUST） 成立 15 周年，本期特刊重点介绍了 KAUST 在科学、技术和工程前沿的前沿跨学科研究。特别版展示了精选的研究文章、评论和观点，反映了 KAUST 教职员工和研究员对各自研究领域的杰出贡献。该馆藏涵盖能源、可持续性和先进材料等不同领域，展示了 KAUST 致力于通过科学创新和合作解决全球挑战的承诺。

阿卜杜拉国王科技大学位于沙特阿拉伯风景秀丽的红海沿岸，成立于 2009 年，其使命是成为世界一流的研究机构。阿卜杜拉国王科技大学校园的鸟瞰图突出了其井井有序的布局和美丽的环境（图 1a、b）。在短短十多年里，阿卜杜拉国王科技大学已迅速成为全球领先的研究型大学之一，因其对可再生能源、环境可持续性和先进技术的贡献而赢得了良好的声誉。尽管 KAUST 成立时间相对较短，但它已经将自己确立为创新的灯塔，为我们这个时代最紧迫的科学和技术挑战提供解决方案，同时推动影响王国和更广泛的全球社区的变革性研究。阿卜杜拉国王科技大学的学术部门和卓越中心通过将跨学科的教师、研究人员和研究生联合起来，推进大学的使命。通过利用科学与工程之间的协同作用，他们通过跨学科方法应对基本和应用挑战。研究工作侧重于解决水、食品、能源和环境方面的全球问题，并得到 20 个相关领域的专业知识支持。这种协作环境促进了创新和跨学科的解决方案。

阿卜杜拉国王科技大学在 2023 年泰晤士高等教育阿拉伯大学排名中名列前茅，凸显了其在中东地区的领导地位。该大学在高影响力期刊上的研究生产力使其跻身全球最具影响力的大学前 25% 之列。阿卜杜拉国王科技大学与沙特阿美、沙特基础工业公司（SABIC）和IBM等全球顶级公司的合作，以及与全球机构的战略伙伴关系，进一步证明了阿卜杜拉国王科技大学对卓越研究的关注，为不断提高其国际地位做出了贡献。阿卜杜拉国王科技大学致力于包容性，我们的国际社区汇集了来自近 120 个国家的人们，促进了文化和种族的多样性。自 2009 年以来，KAUST 一直是沙特阿拉伯男女同校的倡导者，女性占其学生的 39% 和创业计划参与者的 51%。

作为其持续发展的一部分，该大学最近宣布了其新的战略目标，以扩大研究的商业化。国家转型研究所 （NTI） 的成立旨在加快技术发展，支持沙特阿拉伯的经济多元化，并设立了一个 2 亿美元的基金，用于投资高科技公司，促进经济多元化并创造高质量的技术就业机会。阿卜杜拉国王科技大学的研究得到了中心实验室网络的支持，该网络为高级表征提供了前沿设施和科学专家。例如，阿卜杜拉国王科技大学的 Shaheen III 于 2023 年 11 月安装，是中东地区最强大的超级计算机（图 2a）。

阿卜杜拉国王科技大学还积极参与充满活力的外展工作。它于 2022 年主办了沙特青年可持续发展大会，将专家、专业人士和研究人员联合起来，参加小组讨论、研讨会和互动活动，以增强青年领袖的能力并促进可持续发展（图 2b）。阿卜杜拉国王科技大学还被选中主办 2025 年泰晤士高等教育世界学术峰会，这是该峰会首次在中东举行。

阿卜杜拉国王科技大学令人印象深刻的研究成就组合，以及对知识转移和商业化的承诺，使其成为全球科学界的推动力。其战略重点是应用科学以及与领先的学术和工业合作伙伴的合作，确保 KAUST 继续加速创新，对沙特阿拉伯王国和世界产生持久影响。

本期《先进材料》特刊收录 12 篇研究文章、7 篇评论和 1 篇观点，涵盖材料科学与工程的各个学科，分为八个主要主题：能量转换和储能材料、光伏材料、膜和薄膜材料、显微镜技术、催化材料、器件和新技术、纳米材料和复合材料。

在能量转换和储能材料领域，黄国伟教授及其同事全面回顾了将 CO₂ 电化学还原为具有低逸散性 H₂ 排放的甲酸的催化剂设计策略。本文强调纳米级材料与先进反应工程的整合，以提高甲酸生产的经济可行性和工业适用性 （adma.202404980）。张华斌教授及其同事展示了相工程策略的潜力，即通过开发结晶/非晶异质结构来增强碱性析氢反应 （adma.202405128）。Merfat Alsabban 教授及其同事介绍了硼掺杂硫化钼作为酸性介质中电化学氮还原反应的有效催化剂。（ADMA.202405578）。Zhiming Zhao 博士及其同事通过镁基电解质探索锂金属电池中的界面稳定性，形成抑制枝晶生长并增强循环稳定性的坚固界面 （ADMA.202402626）。

在光伏材料领域，Sofiia Kosar 博士和 Stefaan De Wolf 教授回顾了金属卤化物钙钛矿 （MHP） 固有的空间不均匀性，这些不均匀性是由其成分和结构多样性以及低温加工引起的。该综述提供了成像工具的详细指南，包括其空间分辨率、样品要求、优势和局限性，提供了减少不均匀性和提高基于 MHP 的器件性能的策略 （adma.202406886）。Frédéric Laquai 教授及其同事全面概述了体异质结有机太阳能电池中的固体增材工程。本综述强调了固体添加剂在调整溶液处理的体异质结形态、提高效率和稳定性以及实现具有成本效益的大规模生产中的作用 （adma.202406949）。

在膜和薄膜主题领域，Sahika Inal 教授及其同事研究了水合对 n 型有机混合离子-电子导体中混合电荷传输的作用，证明了吸水对薄膜内电子互连性的关键影响，即使在结构膨胀的情况下也是如此 （adma.202313121）。Husam N. Alshareef 教授及其同事提出了一种绿色且可扩展的 MXene 薄膜晶圆级转移工艺，可实现高效的界面工程，并通过液体辅助嵌入将界面载流子转移效率提高两个数量级 （adma.202405214）。Ingo Pinnau 教授及其同事报道了具有本征微孔性的羟基官能团聚合物和双官能团共混物，在工业气体分离应用中实现了出色的选择性和塑化性，为先进的聚合物网络设计提供了新的见解 （ADMA.202406076）。Omar F. Mohammed 教授及其同事将半导体 MOF 玻璃薄膜作为一种可扩展的环保 X 射线检测材料。这些探测器可实现高灵敏度和检出限，在医疗和安全领域具有广阔的应用前景 （adma.202412432）。

在显微镜技术领域，Yu Han 教授及其同事对合成化学系统中单颗粒分析 （SPA） 尚未开发的潜力提出了观点。该研究还探讨了 SPA 在材料合成中分析中间体的用途，强调了通过软着陆电喷雾电离质谱法 （adma.202406914） 进行纯化的必要性。Yue Yuan 和 Mario Lanza 教授系统地研究了相对湿度 （RH） 对导电原子力显微镜的影响，解决了先前研究中的不一致之处。研究结果表明，由于尖端/样品界面处的导电水弯月面，较高的 RH 增强了绝缘体和超薄半导体中的电流，而较厚的半导体和金属则不受影响 （adma.202405932）。

在催化材料领域，Yoji Kobayashi 教授及其同事研究了碱硅包合物 （AxSi46） 作为氨合成的低功函数催化剂载体。该研究强调了与其他氢化物/电极催化剂相比，硅笼状物的可扩展性和稳定性，并为探索富电子 Zintl 相以更广泛的催化应用开辟了途径 （adma.202406944）。Javier Ruiz-Martínez 教授回顾了乙醇转化为非含氧增值化学品（如轻质烯烃、1,3-丁二烯和芳烃）的最新进展。本文深入探讨了催化剂设计、反应机理和失活过程，提出了优化协同反应活性位点接近度的策略。它还强调了从 CO₂ 和生物质中提取的乙醇在可持续化学品生产中的潜力，概述了乙醇价值化的挑战和未来方向 （adma.202406472）。

在器件和新技术领域，Khaled N. Salama 教授及其同事提出了一种基于硫酸盐保护钯纳米团簇的新型高性能氢传感器，该传感器可实现稳健和快速的氢传感，检测限低 （1 ppm） （ADMA.202404291）。俾强甘教授及其同事在立式双面冷凝器上引入了一种润滑表面涂层，以增强辐射冷却和被动集水，为可持续集水提供分散和无能源的解决方案 （ADMA.202404037）。Muhammad M. Hussain 教授及其同事回顾了柔性电子系统的最新进展，重点介绍了传感器、电源管理和执行器。该综述强调了向变革性电子器件的转变，它利用组件的异构集成来实现紧凑的高密度系统 （adma.202406424）。

在纳米材料与复合材料领域，李来钟教授及其同事重新审视了二维过渡金属硫化物单晶在蓝宝石衬底上的外延生长机制。他们的研究揭示了硫蒸发速率在控制生长模式中的关键作用 （adma.202404923）。Boon S. Ooi 教授及其同事回顾了 III 族氮化物纳米线的发展，特别是它们在高性能光电子学和光子学中的应用。该综述强调了半导体异质结构的重大进展，这些进步推动了该领域超越了传统的硅技术 （adma.202405558）。Gilles Lubineau 教授及其同事回顾了通过外源能量耗散机制提高材料韧性的策略。它们强调了架构微结构和增材制造的潜力，可以提高复合材料和 3D 打印部件的性能，同时解决可扩展性、耗散机制控制和高级断裂建模方面的挑战 （adma.202407132）。

客座编辑们很高兴也很荣幸地介绍这本精心策划的特刊，重点介绍了 KAUST 进行的广泛多学科材料研究。虽然它超出了本期的范围，无法涵盖 KAUST 的所有研究活动，但它代表了一个重要且富有洞察力的横截面。我们衷心感谢所有特约作者、尊敬的教职员工和合作者，感谢他们为这项工作提供的宝贵意见。

我们向本期特刊的处理编辑 Sneha Rhode Gupta 博士致以最深的感谢，从本项目一开始，他的战略眼光和坚定不移的支持就至关重要。此外，我们向 Advanced Materials 的主编 Irem Bayindir-Buchhalter 博士和 Esther Levy 博士表示衷心的祝贺和良好的祝愿，因为他们继续引领该期刊的杰出遗产走向新的视野。还要特别感谢 Guangchen Xu 博士和 Neville Compton 博士的宝贵建议和协调，他们在实现本特刊的成果中发挥了关键作用。

我们希望 Advanced Materials 的读者会发现这个问题既有吸引力又有启发性，从而更深入地了解 KAUST 对基础和应用材料科学的前沿贡献。我们相信，本期特刊将激发进一步富有成效的跨学科和国际合作，巩固阿卜杜拉国王科技大学作为材料研究全球领导者的地位。