Uptake of Gaseous Elemental Mercury by a Rainforest: Insights from a Tropical Glasshouse Used as a Dynamic Flux Chamber.

Vegetation uptake of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg) is the main deposition pathway to terrestrial environments. However, the fluxes and processes of forest-atmosphere Hg exchange remain ill-constrained, especially in rainforests. To help address this, we used the 1 ha Masoala Rainforest hall of the Zoo Zurich as a dynamic flux chamber to measure net rainforest Hg fluxes and even calibrate Hg deposition velocities with turbulence measurements.

Tunable synthesis of carbon nanotubes methane catalytic pyrolysis by adjusting Mo incorporation in Fe/MgO.

Catalytic pyrolysis of methane for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was explored using an Fe-Mo/MgO catalyst. The impact of molybdenum (Mo) addition on carbon productivity and product characteristics was investigated by (S)TEM, XRD, TGA, nitrogen adsorption, and Raman spectroscopy. The Fe/MgO catalyst exhibited a carbon productivity of 0.

Experimental determination of partial charges with electron diffraction.

Atomic partial charges, integral to understanding molecular structure, interactions and reactivity, remain an ambiguous concept lacking a precise quantum-mechanical definition. The accurate determination of atomic partial charges has far-reaching implications in fields such as chemical synthesis, applied materials science and theoretical chemistry, to name a few. They play essential parts in molecular dynamics simulations, which can act as a computational microscope for chemical processes.

Strong repulsive Lifshitz-van der Waals forces on suspended graphene.

Understanding surface forces of two-dimensional (2D) materials is of fundamental importance as they govern molecular dynamics in nanoscale proximity. Despite recent understanding of substrate-supported 2D monolayers, the intrinsic surface properties of 2D materials remain vague. Here we report on a repulsive Lifshitz-van der Waals force generated in proximity to the surface of suspended graphene.

From Molecules to Machines: A Multiscale Roadmap to Intelligent, Multifunctional Soft Robotics.

Soft robots, with their exceptional compliance, adaptability, and ability to safely interact with delicate objects, are redefining human-machine interfaces and expanding robotic capabilities into environments inaccessible to rigid systems. However, creating intelligent, multifunctional soft robots demands navigating a complex, multiscale design landscape, ranging from molecular-level building blocks through multifunctional soft robotic materials to fully integrated systems. In this review, we present a structured roadmap that addresses key challenges at three critical scales.

DNA lipid nanoparticles as alcohol-sensitive surrogates to trace microbial transmission and monitor hand hygiene.

Understanding the transmission routes of microbial pathogens is essential for infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. However, using infectious microorganisms to this end is challenging and poses potential risks. We explored alcohol-sensitive DNA-encapsulating lipid nanoparticles (LNP) as surrogate tracers to investigate microbial transmission, including the effect of hand hygiene.

Exploring the intersection of natural sciences and information technology via entropy and randomness.

Physical sources of randomness are indispensable for information technology and cryptography. Yet, the usefulness of random processes seems to be ignored by many natural science researchers, who are exposed to the downsides of randomness, which adds noise and uncertainty to experiments. Here, we look at experimental science through the lens of information theory, with entropy as a key concept that bridges multiple fields.

Influence of Hydrogen and Oxygen Impurities on Platinum-Catalyzed Acetylene Hydrochlorination.

Platinum (Pt) nanostructuring is a powerful strategy for tuning adsorption properties and reactivity in vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) synthesis. To ensure relevance beyond ideal conditions, catalyst performance must be evaluated under more realistic acetylene (CH) feeds containing unavoidable impurities such as oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H), which can impair the performance through competitive adsorption and active site modification. Herein, we study the behavior of Pt single atom (SA) under multicomponent feeds containing H and O.

Understanding Optical Properties and Electronic Structures of High-Entropy Alloyed Perovskite Nanocrystals.

High-entropy alloying (HEA) has emerged as a prominent strategy to modulate physiochemical properties of nanomaterials. Nevertheless, this approach is underexplored in luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) due to the lack of understanding into the HEA-induced electronic effect and photophysical behaviors. Herein, harnessing the defect tolerance of metal halide perovskite NCs, we systematically synthesized and characterized high-entropy halide perovskite (HEP) NCs containing multiple B-site elements (Pb, Sr⁺, Ca⁺, Cd⁺, and Mg⁺).

Quantifying electronic and geometric effects on the activity of platinum catalysts for water-gas shift.

The unique catalytic activity of small nanoparticles can be attributed to their distinctive electronic structure and/or their ability to expose sites with a unique geometry. Quantifying and distinguishing the contributions of these effects to catalytic performance presents a challenge, given the complexity arising from multiple influencing factors and the lack of a quantitative structure-activity relationship. Here, we show that the intrinsic activity of platinum atoms at the perimeter corner sites is three orders of magnitude higher as a result of an electronic structure effect, with a threshold occurring at an average nanoparticle size of 1-1.

Colorimetric Biosensor for Nucleic Acid Detection Using Hybridization Chain Reaction and Gold Nanoparticles: Effect of DNA Hairpin Sequence Modifications on Biosensor Performance.

In this work, a pair of DNA hairpins was specifically designed for detecting and amplifying a target DNA via hybridization chain reaction (HCR). The biosensor exploits the interactions between gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and DNA hairpins as well as HCR products, resulting in salt-induced aggregation (SIA) of the AuNPs, observable through visible color changes and UV-vis spectral shifts. This study builds on previous findings regarding the optimal length and sequence of hairpin toeholds and stems, which provide AuNPs with greater protection against SIA.

Enhancement of enzymatic activity by biomolecular condensates through pH buffering.

Biomolecular condensates can affect enzymatic reactions by locally changing not only concentrations of molecules but also their environment. Since protein conformations can differ between the dense and dilute phase, phase separation can particularly modulate enzymes characterized by a conformation-dependent activity. Here, we generate enzymatic condensates containing a lipase from Bacillus thermocatenulatus, which exhibits an equilibrium between a closed, inactive state, and an open, active conformation.

Microfluidics for High-Throughput Screening and Directed Evolution in Agrochemical R&D.

Directed evolution (DE) optimizes biomolecules through natural selection principles, revolutionizing the development of proteins, nucleic acids, and strains for various applications. However, conventional DE methods face limitations in screening throughput, which can prevent the identification of rare but optimal variants within a population. Droplet-based microfluidics enable the transfer of conventional screening methods into nanolitre- scale droplets, enabling high-throughput screening while preserving genotype-phenotype connections.

Elucidation of the Structure-Activity Relationship for Cu-Erionite in the Direct Conversion of Methane to Methanol: An Operando XAS Study.

The partial oxidation of methane to methanol over copper-exchanged zeolites offers a promising avenue for methane valorization. Numerous zeolites have been demonstrated to be active for the selective oxidation of methane, with the methanol yield varying significantly depending on the zeolite framework, Si/Al ratio, and copper loading. Herein, we present a comprehensive study of one of the most active Cu-erionite (Cu-ERI) zeolites with different compositions for the stepwise conversion of methane to methanol, aiming to elucidate the relationship between the methanol yield and the nature of copper species in Cu-ERI zeolites.

High-Resolution C. elegans Imaging Across All Larval Stages.

Caenorhabditis elegans has become one of the most widely studied and best-understood animal models in biology. Three features are key to C. elegans' success as a model organism: its invariant cell lineage, transparency, and genetic tractability.

Tracking life and death of carbon nitride supports in platinum-catalyzed vinyl chloride synthesis.

Deactivation of metal-based catalysts for vinyl chloride synthesis via acetylene hydrochlorination is often dictated by indispensable, catalytically-active carbon supports, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Carbon nitrides offer an attractive platform for studying them thanks to ordered structure and high N-content, which facilitates coking. Herein, we monitor the life and death of carbon nitride supports for Pt single atoms in acetylene hydrochlorination, demonstrating that specific N-functionalities and their restructuring cause distinct deactivation mechanisms.

Integrating the Reverse Boudouard Reaction for a More Efficient Green Methanol Synthesis from CO and Renewable Energy.

Green methanol is an important renewable platform chemical that could be used to produce a wide range of sustainable products and fuels. However, it is currently economically unappealing. This high cost is mainly driven by the CO hydrogenation process, which requires 50% more H consumption than the classic fossil-based CO-rich syngas to methanol.

Surfactants Screen Slide Electrification.

Water drops spontaneously accumulate charges when they move on hydrophobic dielectric surfaces by slide electrification. Slide electrification generates electricity with possible applications on tiny devices. The potential of up to 1 KV generated by slide electrification alters wetting and drop motion.

SPOCK Tool for Constructing Empirical Volcano Diagrams from Catalytic Data.

Volcano plots, stemming from the Sabatier principle, visualize descriptor-performance relationships, allowing rational catalyst design. Manually drawn volcanoes originating from experimental studies are potentially prone to human bias as no guidelines or metrics exist to quantify the goodness of fit. To address this limitation, we introduce a framework called SPOCK (systematic piecewise regression for volcanic kinetics) and validate it using experimental data from heterogeneous, homogeneous, and enzymatic catalysis to fit volcano-like relationships.

Pathways to Aromatics in the Catalytic Pyrolysis of a Polyvinylchloride Model Compound Revealed by Operando Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectroscopy.

Dechlorination channels and pathways to olefins and aromatics in the catalytic pyrolysis of the polyvinylchloride (PVC) model compound 1,3-dichlorobutane are revealed using operando photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectroscopy. Experimental and computational results agree that the primary pathway involves double dehydrochlorination producing 1,3-butadiene and HCl. Minor radical channels are evidenced by the detection of chloromethyl, methyl, and propargyl radicals in thermal decomposition, while chlorine radicals are absent.

Monitoring neurodegeneration through brain-derived extracellular vesicles in biofluids.

The identification of neurodegenerative disease (ND) biomarkers in easily accessible body fluids is crucial in the fight against this class of disorders. Brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BDEVs) have gained attention as nanoscale carriers of molecular information and bioactive molecules that reflect the status of their source cells. By crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), BDEVs can transfer these biomolecular signatures to peripheral biofluids, setting the scene for their use as ND biomarkers.

Aluminum distribution and active site locations in the structures of zeolite ZSM-5 catalysts.

Zeolites have exceptional catalytic performance in oil refining and chemical synthesis that can be attributed to their well-defined porous structures that host active sites. This study pinpoints the exact locations of aluminum atoms in ZSM-5 structures-a key zeolite catalyst. Aluminum siting governs catalytic efficiency in acid and redox processes.

Photoswitchable Gold Nanoparticles for Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuation Imaging in Nanostructured Materials.

Camera-based super-resolution approaches surpass the diffraction limit of conventional optical microscopy by relying on the stochastic activation and precise localization of fluorescent molecules. However, traditional probes such as organic dyes and quantum dots present challenges such as photobleaching and blinking variability, which limit their application in super-resolution imaging, particularly in non-liquid environments. Herein, the study demonstrates the potential of gold nanoparticles as a promising alternative for localization-based super-resolution imaging.

Why Charged Drops Do Not Splash.

The dynamics of charged drops, especially in the context of drop splashing, remains largely uncharted despite its prevalence in both natural phenomena and technological applications. Our research uncovers the ability of charged drops to suppress splashing effectively. The electric charges surrounding drops exert a force that pulls the ejecting lamella toward the substrate, resulting in a thinner lubrication air film at the solid-liquid interface.

Affinity-Based Isolation and One-Pot Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles from Biofluids Using Phase Separated Zwitterionic Coacervates.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold promise for liquid biopsy and drug delivery applications. However, their heterogeneous nature poses challenges for efficient and selective isolation from complex biofluids. Here, an isolation method based on phase-separated zwitterionic (ZW) coacervates is developed.