This special issue compiles nearly a decade of pioneering achievements in the ZnO field: from electrically pumped lasers in micro/nanostructures to self-trapped luminescence in quantum dots, from exciton-polariton lasers under strong coupling to X-ray and ultraviolet photodetection, from transparent conductive films to precision engineering of core-shell structures. Notably, it also features Professor Zhonglin Wang’s forward-looking research on ZnS triboelectric-induced luminescence. These over 20 groundbreaking studies represent both a passionate response to the allure of excitons and a strategic breakthrough amid the challenges of defects.

The feast of innovation endures, and the pursuit of progress never ceases! We sincerely invite you to explore this cross-disciplinary scientific extravaganza spanning materials science, physics, and device engineering, and to witness the perseverance and transcendence of China’s research community in the realm of ZnO.