Despite broad applications in imaging, energy conversion, and telecommunications, few nanoscale moieties emit light efficiently in the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1000–2000 nm or 1.24–0.62 eV). We report quantum-confined mercury chalcogenide (HgX, where X = Se or Te) nanoplatelets (NPLs) can be induced to emit bright (QY > 30%) and tunable (900–1500+ nm) infrared emission from attached quantum dot (QD) “defect” states. We demonstrate near unity energy transfer from NPL to these QDs, which completely quench NPL emission and emit with a high QY through the SWIR. This QD defect emission is kinetically tunable, enabling controlled midgap emission from NPLs. Spectrally resolved photoluminescence demonstrates energy-dependent lifetimes, with radiative rates 10–20 times faster than those of their PbX analogues in the same spectral window. Coupled with their high quantum yield, midgap emission HgX dots on HgX NPLs provide a potential platform for novel optoelectronics in the SWIR.

Poultry feathers are low cost, abundant bioderived materials that are often regarded as waste. In this work, we report a simple method akin to papermaking to upcycle whole poultry feather waste into nonwoven whole feather preforms. This was achieved by utilizing (nano)cellulose fibers, namely, wood pulp and nanocellulose, as binders. It was found that the hornification between adjacent (nano)cellulose fibers trapped and held the whole poultry feathers together, producing a rigid and robust nonwoven whole feather preform. The preforms containing nanocellulose were found to perform better mechanically, with a tensile strength of up to 1.6 N mm −1 (at 20 wt % nanocellulose content), compared to preforms containing wood pulp. Feather− gelatin composites containing 23 and 47 wt % nonwoven whole feather preform loadings were also successfully manufactured. The resulting composites possessed a tensile modulus and strength up to 2.1 GPa and 18 MPa, respectively. This work also shows that the feather−gelatin composites could be easily deconstructed in hot water. The produced nonwoven whole feather preforms, as well as their feather−gelatin composites, could serve as a sustainable alternative for various semistructural applications, in line with the concept of a circular bioeconomy.

Shaping liquid crystals (LCs) into arrays of defect patterns enables the design of composite materials with new stimuli‐responsive properties. Self‐assembled defect assemblies that may arise in layered smectic A (SmA) LCs such as focal conic domains (FCDs), exhibit remarkable optical features and abilities for ordering nanoparticles. However, such SmA defect patterns are essentially electrically irreversible, which currently limits their adjustability in a dynamic way. Here, in situ polymerization of the texture of SmA FCDs allows transferring them into more electrically responsive LC phases, such as nematic, making possible a dynamic switch between different textural and optical states of FCDs in a reversible manner with voltage. Moreover, the method readily enables to program the operating temperature range of the polymer/LC composite from its chemical composition, adapting the system to various potential uses. This approach may increment new applications of SmA defect patterns such as voltage‐tunable privacy layers and may further inspire the design of LC‐based nanostructured composite and hybrid materials with new functions that can be dynamically tuned with voltage.

Back Cover: In article number 2100087 by Frédéric Mondiot and co‐workers, in situ polymerization of voltage irreversible smectic A defect patterns such as focal conic domains is utilized to transfer them into more electrically responsive nematic liquid crystals. Using this approach, linear arrays of elliptic‐hyperbolic focal conic domains with uncovered hiding properties can then reversibly switch back and forth with low voltages between textures ranging from totally hiding to transparent states.