Porous Support-Anchored High-Density Single-Site Catalysts for Water Electrolysis.

Single-site catalysts (SSCs) have attracted increasing attention due to their ultrahigh atomic utilization and intrinsic catalytic activity in water electrolysis. However, the low volumetric density of SSCs on bulk supports limits the overall activity. Coupling porous supports with SSCs (PS-SSCs) can synergistically achieve exponential performance improvements.

Uncovering Stability Origins in Layered Ferromagnetic Electrocatalysts Through Homolog Comparison.

Magnetic 2D materials offer a compelling platform for next-generation electrocatalysis by enabling spin-dependent reaction pathways. Among them, layered ferromagnets such as FeGeTe (FGT) have garnered attention for combining intrinsic ferromagnetism with high predicted oxygen evolution activity. However, the stability of non-oxide ferromagnets in electrochemical environments remains an unresolved challenge, limiting their envisioned applications.

Direct Glass-to-Metal Welding by Femtosecond Laser Pulse Bursts: I, Conditions for Successful Welding with a Gap.

We report on the welding of optical borosilicate glass to an unpolished copper substrate (surface Ra of 0.27 µm and Rz of 1.89 µm) using bursts of femtosecond laser pulses.

Long-Range Order and Strong Quantum Coupling Enabled Stable Carrier Transport for Reliable Neuromorphic Computing.

Bio-inspired neuromorphic computing based on memristors holds significant potential for performing massively parallel computational tasks with high accuracy. However, its practical application is significantly limited by poor reliability, primarily due to instability in carrier transport. Here, long-range ordered quantum dot (QD) superlattices with strong quantum coupling is presented to enable carrier transport stability and improve device reliability.

Water, Collagen, and Lipid Content in the Human Skin and Muscles Assessed with Near-Infrared Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy and Multi-Spectral Optoacoustic Tomography.

Infrared spectroscopy can quantify individual body components such as lipids, water, and proteins, but extending it to a comprehensive assessment of overall body composition is hampered by high variability and optical heterogeneity of biological tissues. Here, a theoretical and experimental strategy merging multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is introduced to characterize skin and subcutaneous tissue composition in the near-infrared range. Water, lipids, and collagen exhibit distinct absorption peaks, with lipids demonstrating significantly higher absorption than collagen at comparable mass concentrations.

Mineralized double-network hydrogels for the controlled release and improved stability of antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted considerable attention in chronic wound management and the prevention of implant-associated infections due to their excellent bactericidal activity, low toxicity, and great biocompatibility. However, their poor stability and uncontrolled release often result in transient efficacy, necessitating frequent administration. Developing a delivery system that ensures both sustained release and mechanical stability is crucial for the clinical translation of AMPs.

Bright Light Emission from Deep Energy States.

Deep energy states, a fundamental concept in semiconductor physics, play a pivotal role in determining the optical performance of semiconductor materials. They are generally regarded as undesirable defects, as they can serve as efficient centers for non-radiative recombination. Thus, the prevailing consensus is that deep energy states must be passivated and mitigated to enhance the optical properties of semiconductors.

Tailoring the energy landscape of a bloch point domain wall with curvature.

Topological defects, or singularities, play a key role in the statics and dynamics of complex systems. In magnetism, Bloch point singularities represent point defects that mediate the nucleation of textures such as skyrmions and hopfions. While these textures are typically stabilised in chiral magnets, the influence of chirality and symmetry breaking on Bloch point singularities remains relatively unexplored.

Ultrabroadband nonlinear Hall rectifier using SnTe.

The rapid expansion of self-powered electronics in the Internet of Things, 6G communication and millimetre-wave systems calls for rectifiers capable of operating across ultrabroadband frequencies and at extremely low input power levels. However, conventional rectifiers based on semiconductor junctions face fundamental limitations such as parasitic capacitance and threshold voltages, preventing effective operation under broadband and ambient radio-frequency conditions. Here we present an ultrabroadband, zero-bias rectifier based on the nonlinear Hall effect in wafer-scale (001)-oriented topological crystalline insulator SnTe thin film.

XFBLD-Platform: a crystallographic fragment-screening platform at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility.

Fragment-based lead discovery (FBLD) is an efficient and effective method for identifying novel chemical scaffolds that have advantages in drug development. X-ray crystallography has an inherent advantage in recognizing low-affinity fragments and integrates fragment identification with complex structure determination, making it an increasingly important tool for screening fragment compounds. Here, we introduce a crystallographic fragment-screening platform developed by the biological macromolecular crystallography group at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, named the XFBLD-Platform.

High-Luminescence Efficiency NIR-II Nanocrystals via Hierarchical Confinements for Imaging-Guided Surgery of Acute Intestinal Ischemia.

Among the diverse challenges encountered by fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared region (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm), achieving high quantum yields (QYs) for contrast agents is critical yet rarely addressed. Herein, we demonstrate an approach to overcoming this issue through rational structural design that leverages hierarchical confinements at both molecular and aggregate levels. Through an alteration of methyl substituents, the rotational freedom of aromatic rings is effectively reduced, facilitating the formation of rigid mortise-and-tenon joints within the crystal lattice.

Variable-Temperature X-Ray Scattering Unveils the Solution Aggregation Structures and Processing Resiliency of High-Efficiency Organic Photovoltaics with Iodinated Electron Acceptors.

Polymer photovoltaics are promising for low-cost, flexible, and lightweight power supplies. Their performance is heavily influenced by the morphology of the polymer: acceptor blend, where the aggregation structures of both components play a crucial role in charge generation, transport, and overall device performance. This study probes and resolves the solution aggregation behavior and processing resilience of high-efficiency polymer photovoltaics incorporating an iodinated electron acceptor, BO-4I, using variable-temperature small-angle X-ray scattering and neutron scattering.

High-Temperature Long-Term Cycling Capability of Lithium Batteries Enabled by Releasing Local Constriction.

Reusable interstellar exploration and commercial spaceflight urgently require the development of high-temperature secondary battery technology. However, metal/semimetal anodes contributing to high theoretical capacity are prone to creep at high temperatures, which raises significant concerns about battery safety and cycling performance. Here, we identify the generation of Li-rich phases at anodes that leads to the sustained degradation of high-temperature batteries.

Rapid Drug Screening of NQO1-Positive Cells Based on Impedance Technology without Cell Adhesion.

This study introduces a rapid, label-free impedance-based approach for evaluating the effects of NQO1-targeting drugs on cancer cells. Departing from the traditional reliance on adherent cell cultures, the method utilizes suspended cells to eliminate the need for cell seeding, significantly reducing the total assay duration from over 48 h to less than 24 h. Unlike conventional assays like CCK8, which rely on end point metabolic measurements, impedance spectroscopy enables real-time, label-free monitoring of cellular responses by detecting dynamic changes in cell membrane integrity and intracellular conductivity.

Computational approaches in 3D quantitative phase Imaging: Current and future trends in cellular imaging.

Phase retrieval methods are essential in computational imaging, enabling high-resolution, non-invasive imaging across various fields. This review focuses on the Transport of Intensity Equation (TIE) and its role in Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI). We compare TIE with Shack-Hartmann and Pyramid wavefront sensors, as well as iterative methods like the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm.

Energetically Favored One-Dimensional Moiré Superstructure in the Pseudo-Square Lattice GdTe.

Moiré engineering in layered crystals has recently gained considerable attention due to the discovery of various structural and physical phenomena including interfacial reconstruction, superconductivity, magnetism, and distinctive optoelectronic properties. Nevertheless, most explored moiré systems have been limited to hexagonal lattices, thereby constraining a comprehensive understanding and technological application of moiré phenomena in general layered crystals. Here, we investigate GdTe, a pseudo-tetragonal layered crystal, as a platform to explore unconventional moiré phenomena.

Template-driven synthesis of tin selenide nanosheets and their composites for supercapacitor applications.

Bulk SnSe and SnSe, with direct-band gaps of 1.3 eV and 1.84 eV, are promising materials for optoelectronics, lithium-ion batteries, thermoelectrics, and supercapacitors, due to their excellent electrochemical performance for energy storage.

A clickable spherical nucleic acid probe for fluorescence and synchrotron radiation X-ray dual-modality imaging.

In this study, we have developed a dual-mode probe based on click chemistry for spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), achieving extremely specific fluorescence imaging and synchrotron X-ray microscopy of neuronal cells.

Effect of nanoparticle density on the kinetics of SPP-assisted plasmonic assembly.

The dynamic assembly of plasmonic metal nanoparticles (PMNPs) in an aqueous medium as a Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate offers advantages for analyzing liquid samples, as it generates 3-dimensional intraparticle hotspots. The surface plasmon polariton (SPP) assisted surfactant-free reversible assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) is one of the latest methods, and it stands as a promising approach for conducting SERS measurements on molecules that demand a physiological environment. However, the assembly process is dynamic and requires a thorough analysis of the behavior of NPs in the combined forces of fluid convection and plasmonics.

The modeling of the interaction of pulsed 5G/6G signals and the fine structure of human skin.

Current regulations concerning the allowed levels of human exposure to electromagnetic radiation emanating from wireless technologies are governed by the Specific Absorption Rate standard (SAR). This allows the absorption by tissue of up to 2 W/kg averaged for 6 minutes in a 10 g cube of homogenized tissue. Much criticized, the SAR standard relates only to thermal effects.

First Lasing and Stable Operation of a Direct-Amplification Enabled Harmonic Generation Free-Electron Laser.

Seeded free-electron lasers (FELs) capable of operating at repetition rates up to the MHz level are in high demand for advanced time-resolved spectroscopies, which require both full longitudinal coherence and high average photon flux in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and x-ray regimes. However, conventional external-seeding methods require ultraviolet seed lasers with peak powers on the order of 100 MW, constraining them to lower repetition rates. Here, we report the first lasing and stable operation of a direct-amplification enabled harmonic generation FEL driven by a weak seed laser with only MW-level peak power.

Theoretical Investigation of the Laser-Induced Ionization-Fragmentation Dynamics of H Associated with Ionization Timings.

The theoretical investigation on the laser-induced ionization-fragmentation dynamics is very challenging, all dynamics processes from neutrality to ionization and then to fragmentation of molecular ions must be considered. In this work, we develop a quantum time-dependent wave packet evolution method to simulate the entire process of laser-induced ionization-fragmentation of H. Our investigation specifically delves into the influence of laser ionization timing of neutral H on molecular kinetic energy release and orientation of H.

Encapsulation of nanoparticles with Xe adsorption sites into MOFs for enhanced Xe/Kr separation.

Xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr) are important gases with significant industrial and medical applications. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a promising class of sorbent materials for Xe/Kr separation. To enhance the Xe/Kr separation performance of MOFs, we develop a strategy to encapsulate Pt nanoparticles into MOFs to introduce strong Xe adsorption sites.

Integrating Raman spectroscopy and optical meters for nitrogen management in broccoli seedlings.

Raman spectroscopy enables non-destructive detection of nitrates and other nitrogen-related biochemical markers, including chlorophyll and polyphenols, with unparalleled specificity and sensitivity. Integrating Raman spectroscopy with proximal optical sensors, such as Dualex (Dx) and Multiplex (Mx), offers a transformative approach to precision nitrogen management in broccoli seedlings, complementing their ability to rapidly estimate nitrogen balance indices and key vegetation compounds. The integration demonstrated strong correlations between Raman spectral bands, optical indices, and biochemical parameters across varying nitrogen levels, enhancing the precision of nitrogen status assessment, resulting in a robust, scalable, and information-rich system.

Read my LIPSS: organic lasers on micromachined resonators.

Thin-film lasers based on organic semiconductors offer significant potential for miniaturized sensing and optical memory. We present a new method for creating first-order distributed feedback (DFB) Bragg gratings using laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) as the optical resonator. These subwavelength structures, fabricated via femtosecond laser micromachining, exhibit stable periodicities and provide sufficient feedback for lasing in an Alq:DCM film.