Strain-Induced Distortion of MXene Nanosheets Enabling Freestanding Electrodes with Linearly Upscaling Areal Capacitance at Ultrahigh Mass Loadings.

The development of high-mass-loading electrodes offers a promising solution for enhancing energy density and reducing costs by minimizing inactive components. However, thick electrodes often face challenges, such as structural instability and poor electron and ion transport. Here, we present a strain-induced strategy for preparing distorted MXene nanosheets, enabling the fabrication of pressure-resistant crumpled freestanding electrodes with low tortuosity and a curvature-induced cation enrichment effect.

State-Resolved Dynamics and Rate Coefficients of the F + CH Reaction with a Submerged Barrier: Ring Polymer Molecular Dynamics and Quasiclassical Trajectory Insights.

Due to its potential applications in HF chemical lasers and its significance as a prototypical polyatomic reaction, the F + CH reaction has long been a central topic in chemical kinetics and molecular dynamics. Although previous studies have reported both experimental and theoretical rate constants, discrepancies among these results persist. Moreover, the available experimental data do not cover the full temperature range, particularly at temperatures above room temperature, which are highly relevant to combustion and chemical laser applications.

(CNH)HCNS: Trithiocyanurate Exhibiting Giant Optical Anisotropy via Weak Interaction-Mediated Functional Module Alignment.

There is an immediate demand for identifying birefringent materials that possess substantial optical anisotropy to meet the requirements of photonic applications. Optimizing the orientation of functional modules to achieve enormous anisotropy is essential for enhancing the linear optical properties of birefringent materials. In this research, the arrangement of anionic groups was regulated by the hydrogen bonds formed between group (CNH) and (HCNS) groups, and coupled with the synergistic effect of the repulsive force between the same groups, this resulted in the design and synthesis of the first metal-free trithiocyanurate ultraviolet (UV) birefringent crystal (CNH)HCNS.

Conformation-Adaptive Transformations of Flexible Frameworks: From Controlled Stimuli-Responsiveness to Regulated Responsive Behaviors.

Synthesizing enzyme-like porous materials that can regulate responsiveness through conformations remains a challenge. Here, two flexible framework conformers (FJI-H29 and FJI-H41) were prepared from a semirigid ligand. They not only exhibit different responses to the same stimuli, but their responsive behaviors can also be regulated precisely.

A Redox-Active Manganese Nanocluster Reverses Depression-Impaired Bone Regeneration via Targeting Cellular Senescence, Lymphangiogenesis, and the Muscle-Bone Metabolic Axis.

Depression, a prevalent chronic psychological disorder in aging populations, is increasingly recognized for its deleterious impact on bone regeneration; yet its pathological mechanisms and targeted therapies remain underexplored. Here, a rationally engineered tetranuclear manganese nanocluster (Mn), supported by a heptadentate chelating ligand (TPDP), as a multifunctional nanozyme platform to combat depression-induced skeletal dysfunction, is introduced. Utilizing a murine chronic restraint stress model combined with tibial drill-hole injury, it is demonstrated that depression impairs bone healing through a complex interplay of cellular senescence, inflammatory dysregulation, compromised lymphatic vessel proliferation, and disruption of the muscle-bone metabolic axis.

Gamma Ray Radiation Promotes Linker Mixing in Multivariate Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Mixed-linker-based multivariate metal-organic frameworks (MTV-MOFs) recently received considerable research effort because they exhibit tailored physicochemical properties that are often not possessed by single-linker MOFs and therefore find unique applications. Relative to the pristine linker, the incorporated linkers may tend to form different topologies, bringing about lattice mismatch and structural disorder. This leads to a low mixed-linker incorporation limit, and further increasing the linker incorporation rate may disrupt the crystallinity of the parent MOF, resulting in amorphous products or other topologies.

An Injectable Zwitterionic Hydrogels with Multiple Intermolecular Interactions for Effective Prevention of Abdominal Adhesions.

Postoperative abdominal adhesions are the most common complication following abdominopelvic surgery, posing a significant burden on patients, clinicians, and society. However, current physical barriers often involve a tradeoff between preventing these adhesions and inhibiting inflammation. Herein, a one-stone-two-birds strategy is presented to address this challenge through an injectable intertwined hydrogel containing sulfobetaine, modified aminocaproic acid (A6ACA), and ZnO nanoparticles (PSA-ZnO hydrogel).

Multicomponent Assembly of High-Component Covalent Organic Cages.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs), a powerful strategy for generating desired products by employing more than two starting materials in one-pot reactions, have been determined to be a superior synthetic strategy to achieve structural complexity and functional diversity. However, the use of MCRs in fabricating the multicomponent covalent organic cages (MCOCs) is still in its infancy. Here we report coronavirus-shaped MCOCs, formed by MCR involving a Schiff-base reaction (C═N bonds), coupled with the formation of dative B←N and B─O bonds.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Radical Relay for C─N Cleavage and Ring Expansion: Accessing Medium-Sized Lactams From Unstrained Cyclic Amines.

The synthesis of medium-ring lactams constitutes a formidable yet pivotal frontier in modern chemical research. Persistent endeavors in this field are essential for overcoming the prevailing obstacles, particularly in the realm of ring expansion strategies for unstrained cyclic amines. In this study, we introduce a groundbreaking photoredox-catalyzed radical relay process that accomplishes direct C─N bond cleavage in unstrained cyclic amines, thereby enabling the efficient construction of highly functionalized 9-11-membered lactams adorned with a Z-olefin moiety.

Atomic Exploration of the Fluorination-Driven Structural Rearrangement of Carbon Electrocatalysts toward Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

The atom arrangement in carbon electrocatalysts is crucial for enhancing the intrinsic activity toward oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs), a key process in multiple renewable energy systems. However, the challenge of designing electrocatalysts with improved performance by manipulating atomic arrangement has been limited by synthetic constraints and a lack of understanding of the catalytic phase formation. Herein, we gain atomic-level insight into the origin of a highly active site by creating a model catalyst with a heteroatom-decorated carbon matrix of a specific configuration.

Halogen substitution strategy of spacer cations in two-dimensional perovskite ferroelectrics gives giant anomalous photovoltaic effect.

Halogen substitution effect, as one of the most feasible chemical strategies for exploiting new ferroelectric materials, holds a promise to optimize spontaneous polarization (P) and improve potential phase transition energy barrier. However, it is challenging to rationally regulate the photoferroelectric properties, e.g.

Tapered Quantum Cascade Laser Achieving Low Divergence Angle and High Output Power.

In this work, we present a high-performance tapered quantum cascade laser (QCL) designed to achieve both high output power and low divergence angle. By integrating a tapered waveguide with a Fabry-Perot structure, significant improvements of tapered QCL devices in both output power and beam quality are demonstrated. The optimized 50 µm wide tapered QCL achieved a maximum output power of 2.

3D Microporous Structure with Tunable Surface Roughness Enables Fast Bubble Dynamics for Efficient Water Splitting.

Water splitting serves as a cornerstone technology in modern energy conversion and storage systems. However, its industrial-scale implementation remains constrained by dynamic interfacial destabilization caused by intense bubble evolution under high current densities. Herein, a laser-assisted fabrication strategy is dveloped utilizing selective laser melting to construct 3D metallic electrodes with macro-micro synergetic architectures, enabled by precise laser energy density control for simultaneous optimization of water splitting and bubble transport dynamics.

AlkD's Conformational Dynamics Regulated by Protein-DNA Interactions for Effective Target Recognition.

alkylpurine DNA glycosylase AlkD plays a critical role in preserving genomic integrity by selectively excising cytotoxic positively charged lesions. Unlike most DNA glycosylases, AlkD employs a unique non-base-flipping mechanism involving distinct conformational states for lesion searching and excision. However, the interplay between its conformational dynamics and lesion recognition remains unclear.

A Sensitive Ratiometric Thermometer Constructed by AIEgen-Based Mixed Lanthanide MOF for Intracellular Temperature Mapping.

Accurate temperature sensing at the subcellular level is of great significance for gaining insights into a wide range of biological processes. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is a promising photophysical phenomenon in which the luminescence intensity is highly related to the degree of restriction of intramolecular motions. By combining AIE luminogen (AIEgen) ligands with mixed lanthanide ions, an AIEgen-based mixed lanthanide MOF (LnMOF) can be synthesized.

Self-Assembled Polyoxometalate Supramolecular Nanosheets for Efficient and Durable Water Oxidation.

Superstructures assembled from nanoscale polyoxometalates (POMs) attract considerable interest due to their well-defined architectures and outstanding physicochemical properties. However, the targeted synthesis of self-assembled POM-based superstructures with high-efficiency electrocatalytic performance remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report the rational design and construction of three POM-based superstructures with ultrathin graphene-like morphologies and well-organized frameworks via a simple self-assembled method, in which transition metals (TMs) bridge POMs into graphene-like planes, while cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) serves as an intercalation agent, endowing the structures with high surface area and enhanced electronic conductivity.

Hydrogen-Bond-Directed Modular Assembly of Polar Chains for Rational Construction of UV Nonlinear Optical Crystals.

Non-centrosymmetric (NCS) materials underpin a host of emerging technologies-from high-power lasers to optical communications and sensors-yet their targeted design remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we introduce a "Hydrogen-Bond-Directed Modular Assembly" strategy for the rational construction of ultraviolet (UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. In this strategy, programmable hydrogen-bonding schemes serve as a predictive handle to propagate local asymmetry into a macroscopic polar network.

Copper-based homometallic and heterometallic binuclear complexes for electrocatalytic CO reduction.

A series of copper-based binuclear complexes were synthesized and investigated as homogeneous catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Introduction of the second metal site systematically tuned the electronic structures of the complexes to regulate the catalytic performance, giving a faradaic efficiency (FE) of 71% for formic acid with a Cu-Cu complex and an FE of 17% for hydrocarbons with a Cu-Co complex.

DFT study of SF decomposition species adsorption on Ni-doped InSe Monolayer: Insights into gas sensing performance.

This study employs first-principles calculations to investigate the gas sensing behavior of a Ni-doped indium selenide (InSe) monolayer toward four SF decomposition products: HS, SO, SOF, and SOF. Structural optimization, AIMD, and vibrational analyses confirm the thermal stability of the Ni-InSe monolayer. Adsorption results indicate strong chemisorption for HS and SO, weak chemisorption for SOF, and physisorption for SOF.

The Polarization-Resolved and Helicity-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy of the Twisted 1D/2D MoO Mixed-Dimensional Homojunction.

The anisotropic/anisotropic mixed-dimensional nanostructures, integrating two-dimensional (2D) materials with other low-dimensional counterparts, can generate a unique quantum phenomenon due to an additional degree of freedom enabling precise control over anisotropy and may provide a fascinating platform for advanced materials and innovative devices. Herein, we report the synthesis of an anisotropic/anisotropic 1D/2D mixed-dimensional homojunction, specifically a 1D/2D MoO mixed-dimensional homojunction, composed of a 1D MoO anisotropic nanowire and a 2D MoO anisotropic nanoplate. This synthesis was achieved in a single step using the space-constrained rapid chemical vapor deposition (s-CVD) method.

Domain Interactions in a Chimeric Dual-domain Lysin Lead to Broad Bactericidal Activity.

Phage-derived lysins represent a novel, non-traditional therapeutic agent against multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, engineering lysins with broad host range remain poorly addressed. Previously, we reported that the chimeric lysin ClyR, which harbors the CHAP catalytic domain of PlyC lysin (PlyCAC) and the SH3b cell-wall binding domain of PlySs2 lysin (PlySb), exhibits an expanded host range.

Engineering Imine Carbon Catalytic Sites in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Overall HO Photosynthesis.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as ideal photocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (HO) photosynthesis from oxygen and water due to their broad light harvesting and programmable structures. However, their catalytic efficiency remains constrained by undefined electron transfer pathways caused by redundant inactive sites around the catalytic sites. Herein, we report a polarization engineering strategy that converts the imine unit from an electronic recombination-prone center into a catalytic center for the oxygen reduction reaction.

In situ spatial profiling of cytochrome c release at the single-cell level under photothermal stress utilizing a 3D bifunctional SERS substrate.

Cytochrome c (Cyt c) released from apoptotic cells into extracellular environment during photothermal therapy plays an important role in cell communication, immunological response, acting as a potential tissue messenger. Determining the spatial distribution of Cyt c at a single-cell level is essential to understanding its effects on the surrounding tissue. Here, we report a label-free method for mapping the spatial distribution of Cyt c around single apoptotic cells under photothermal stress using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Metal/TiO composite photocatalysts with tunable activity for nitrogen fixation: the impact of metal nanoparticles.

Photocatalytic N fixation reactions can harvest solar energy to convert the abundant but inert N into available NH. Nanoscale metal/semiconductor composites are among the most developed photocatalysts for the conversion, whereas systematic investigations of the impact of metal species and status on their photocatalytic performance are rarely reported. Herein, metal nanoparticle-modified TiO (M-TiO, M = Au, Pd and Cu) samples were selected as model composites for photocatalytic N fixation.

Autonomous Signaling and Recording of Electrical and Photodegradation in Polymers.

Dielectric polymers are crucial to optoelectronic and spintronic devices. However, electrical stress and/or light irradiation significantly accelerate polymer degradation and can trigger catastrophic failures of many devices, especially in the presence of oxygen. The detection and early warning of these degradations remain challenging.