Browse Articles

Inter‐Doping ZrO ₂ ‐5.5RuO ₂ Heterostructures for Enhanced Efficiency and Stability in Acidic Oxygen Evolution

ABSTRACT Acid water electrolysis represents a crucial technology for the sustainable production of hydrogen. However, acidic media and high oxidation potential can lead to oxidative dissolution of catalysts (e.g., RuO 2 → soluble RuO 4 ), resulting in a rapid loss of active sites. Here, we present an inter‐doping strategy for the construction of zirconium‐ruthenium oxide heterostructure (ZrO 2 ‐xRuO 2 ) through metal–organic framework confined effect and fused salt mixing method. Specifically, ZrO 2 ‐5.5RuO 2 achieves an ultralow overpotential of 137 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , setting a new benchmark for oxygen evolution catalysts under acidic conditions. Its mass activity (337.5 A g Ru −1 ) at 250 mV overpotential is 32.3 times that of commercial RuO 2 . The catalyst also demonstrates long‐term stability for 655 h, far superior to commercial RuO 2 (<6 h). The remarkable activity and stability can be attributed to the Zr─O─Ru interfacial junction, resulting in low‐valence Ru sites and high‐valence Zr sites. The charge redistribution optimizes the adsorption energy of reactive oxygen species and minimizes the involvement of lattice oxygen, thus leading to a significant enhancement in both activity and stability. This work provides a novel insight for addressing the activity‐stability dilemma through atomic‐level interface engineering, establishing a new paradigm for the large‐scale application of green hydrogen energy.

Perspective: OLED Displays Singing with the Blues

ABSTRACT While blue pixels consume approximately 50% of the energy of organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) display front planes, in the 25 years since their invention, 100% internal efficiency phosphorescent OLEDs (PHOLEDs) have not met the stability standards necessary for their adoption. In this perspective, we discuss the significant progress and challenges encountered during this long journey of exploration and discovery. Today, using a combination of solutions including robust molecular design, graded doping of the emission layer, increasing the optical density of states to decrease the triplet radiative lifetime, and employing light outcoupling schemes, deep blue PHOLEDs are now achieving lifetimes approaching those of their green analogs. This perspective elaborates on the challenges and opportunities confronting further development of triplet‐controlled emitters, including PHOLEDs using heavy‐metal phosphors and thermally activated delayed fluorescent OLEDs. We also address some persistent problems commonly found in the literature concerning the measurement of quantum efficiency and operational lifetime.

HDAC6-mediated PFKL deacetylation enhances aerobic glycolysis and promotes VSMC proliferation

Enhanced Biofilm Infiltration by Drug‐laden Coacervate for Treating Refractory Infections

ABSTRACT The effective treatments of biofilm‐related refractory infections such as osteomyelitis are hampered by the limited drug coverage to large infected areas and infiltration into the biofilm at infection sites. Herein, guided by the hypothesis that liquid water‐immiscible coacervates with ultra‐low interfacial tension could effectively infiltrate these barriers, it is systematically screened 7 representative coacervates for their biofilm infiltration performance. Coacervates with ultra‐low interfacial tension (<0.5 mN m − 1 ) showed markedly enhanced biofilm infiltration, whereas a high‐interfacial‐tension control (Gel‐Nap coacervate) and aqueous controls failed to infiltrate biofilms. However, electrostatically assembled complex coacervates suffered from poor physiological stability and cytotoxicity. The physiologically stable and biocompatible PEG‐alkyl coacervate is selected as a lead candidate for in vivo validation. In murine and canine osteomyelitis models, the selected drug‐loaded PEG‐alkyl coacervate system further demonstrated robust infiltration of microporous bone and dense biofilm, sustained local drug retention, effective eradication of Staphylococcus aureus , suppression of inflammatory cytokines, and accelerated bone regeneration. This study establishes low‐interfacial‐tension–driven infiltration as a generalizable principle for designing stable and biocompatible fluidic coacervate carriers to eradicate refractory biofilm infections.

Radiation Effects in Electret Organic Thin‐Film Transistors Due to High Flux and High Dose X‐Ray Irradiation

Abstract Organic electronic devices offer lightweight, flexible, and low‐cost alternatives to conventional semiconductor technologies, with growing interest in dosimetry applications. An organic thin‐film transistor (OTFT) with a polymer electret is presented for high dose‐rate synchrotron dosimetry. The OTFT operates in accumulated‐dose and real‐time readout modes and demonstrates excellent linearity with various beam filtrations. Device response increases with decreasing energy, and simulations reveal gold contacts as the primary source of energy dependence. Depth dose measurements show good agreement with a commercial detector, validating dosimetric performance. Minimal changes in mobility are observed at clinically relevant doses, but mobility degradation becomes apparent after high accumulated doses, indicating radiation damage in active materials. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near‐edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) techniques are employed to analyze pristine and irradiated active material films separately and in a combined stack. XPS reveals oxidation in pentacene and a Fermi level shift in polystyrene in irradiated films, both of which likely cause the mobility reduction observed in OTFTs. Valence band and NEXAFS spectra show no evidence of new states in the bandgap. These findings demonstrate the potential of OTFTs as dosimeters for high dose‐rates and clarify how radiation alters the molecular structure and electronic behavior of the device.

Chaperone-assisted expression and purification of the AML-associated Src-family kinase Fgr in Escherichia coli

Covalent Organic Cage‐Based Photocatalysts for Highly Efficient and Selective H ₂ O ₂ Production

ABSTRACT Photocatalysts are key to sustainable hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) production, yet most reported systems are polymeric or composite, with limited solubility and poorly defined architectures that obscure mechanistic understanding and structure–function relationships. Here we present covalent organic superphane cages bearing secondary amine, tertiary amine, or ammonium functionalities as discrete, metal‐free photocatalysts for H 2 O 2 generation. Among them, the tied tertiary amine derivative ( SUPE‐ptz‐2 ) exhibits enhanced light absorption, efficient charge carrier separation and transfer, and precisely organized redox‐active sites. As a result, SUPE‐ptz‐2 achieves an H 2 O 2 production rate of 11,089 µmol h − 1 g − 1 in oxygen‐saturated water, rising to 25,031 µmol h − 1 g − 1 with 10% isopropanol, with an apparent quantum yield of 29.2% at 400 nm and 93% selectivity for the two‐electron oxygen reduction pathway. Comprehensive experimental investigations combined with density functional theory calculations reveal that phenothiazine moieties facilitate water oxidation via the four‐electron WOR pathway, while amine groups promote oxygen reduction through both the two‐electron ORR1 and ORR2 pathways; the tied cage architecture enforces spatial separation of redox sites, stabilizes key reaction intermediates, and enhances charge transport. Beyond photocatalytic efficiency, SUPE‐ptz‐2 demonstrates robustness across diverse water sources and enables sunlight‐driven disinfection. These results establish covalent‐organic superphane cages as photocatalysts (singzymes) for sustainable H 2 O 2 generation and broaden their potential in solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion and environmental applications.

Unlocking High External Quantum Yield for Broadband Near‐Infrared Emission From Lead‐Free Perovskite Variant Solid Solutions Cs ₂ Te _1‒ <i> _x </i> Mo <i> _x </i> Cl ₆

ABSTRACT Broadband near‐infrared (NIR) phosphor‐converted LEDs are efficient light sources for imaging, sensing, and security. However, the development of NIR phosphors has been limited by a strategy that prioritizes internal quantum efficiency (IQE) while leaving absorption efficiency (AE) largely underexplored, causing the external quantum efficiency (EQE) to plateau. Here, we break from this convention and demonstrate an absorption‐engineered, single‐component solid solution, Cs 2 Te 0.92 Mo 0.08 Cl 6 , designed under a new strategy that synergistically optimizes AE and IQE. The material delivers broadband NIR emission spanning 750–1350 nm with an IQE of 97.4% and a record‐high EQE of 65.6% for broadband NIR phosphors beyond 900 nm. This performance originates from the synergistic effect of strong photon harvesting, low phonon energy (138 cm −1 ), and a Type‐I band alignment, as confirmed by experimental and theoretical studies. Notably, Cs 2 Te 0.92 Mo 0.08 Cl 6 maintains outstanding stability, enabling NIR LED fabrication on 395 nm UV chips. The fabricated device achieves a electro‐optical conversion efficiency of 15.2% and an optical output of 112 mW, setting a new benchmark for NIR light sources. Practical demonstrations in ethanol concentration detection, solar energy harvesting, night vision, and anti‐counterfeiting confirm its utility, thereby establishing a transformative design platform for next‐generation optoelectronics.

Ultrathin Monatomic Antimony Films by Sacrificial Atomic Layer Deposition for Phase Change Memory

Abstract Antimony (Sb) is an intriguing material for advanced electronics, with thickness‐dependent properties at the nanoscale offering new functionalities. However, conventional methods for depositing Sb thin films cannot produce continuous ultrathin films with conformality in complex nanoscale structures. This study introduces a novel sacrificial atomic layer deposition (s‐ALD) approach that overcomes these limitations by using chemical substitution between the antimony precursor and the pre‐deposited Sb 2 Te 3 . The structural similarity between Sb 2 Te 3 and Sb enables local epitaxial growth of a uniform, (00 l )‐oriented Sb film with exceptional surface smoothness (root‐mean‐squared roughness &lt;&lt; 1 nm) at a 4‐nm thickness. Highly pure Sb films with excellent wafer‐scale uniformity and conformality are achieved on high‐aspect‐ratio structures. The mechanism involves substitution reactions driven by the preferential Te‐(CH 3 ) 3 Si bonding, along with enhanced atomic diffusion through the aligned crystal structure. Phase change memory devices using 5‐nm‐thick s‐ALD Sb films demonstrate ultrafast switching with femtosecond laser pulses (≈220 fs) with high device‐to‐device uniformity (coefficient of variation &lt; 5 %) and ultralow drift coefficients (0.0013 for the on state and 0.0073 for the off state). This s‐ALD technique offers a promising pathway for depositing ultrathin, uniform Sb films, enabling full utilization of Sb's unique nanoscale properties.

A pathway for D-cysteinolate degradation in sulfate- and sulfite-reducing bacteria

Self‐Rectifying Memristors Based on Dimensionally Graded Halide Perovskites

ABSTRACT Neuromorphic in‐memory computing has emerged as one of the forerunners in addressing the data deluge problem in this age of smart electronics and artificial intelligence. Memristor crossbar arrays are fundamental storage and processing hardware frameworks that enable in‐memory computing. Halide perovskites have been examined for memristors, owing to their mixed ionic‐electronic conduction and solution processability. However, such studies so far have not addressed the challenge of sneak paths, which can result in erroneous computation. Self‐rectifying memristors, which can be integrated into a passive crossbar array, are the most efficient solution to the sneak‐path problem in terms of circuit complexity and device footprint. This work introduces a new approach to realizing a self‐rectifying halide memristor by creating a 2D to 3D dimensionally graded perovskite. Through a careful selection of 2D spacer cations based on the energy level alignment with methylammonium lead iodide, a favorable heterojunction is created that achieves a rectification ratio &gt; 10 3 . Moreover, the memristor displayed robust synaptic characterization (endurance &gt; 4 × 10 4  pulses) with high linearity in weight update. By suppressing the sneak currents, a far larger 140 × 140 crossbar array could be supported. Using this, 93% accuracy is achieved in an image classification task despite introducing write noise.

Janus Nanohybrids Enable Superflash Warming and High‐Affinity Ice Confinement for Cross‐Scale Cryopreservation

Abstract Strong hydration of cryoprotective agents reduces the glass transition temperature of water and suppresses ice formation. However, lethal cooling and warming remain a critical obstacle to cross‐scale cryopreservation of clinical biospecimens. Herein, a snowman‐like Janus nanohybrid composed of magnetic iron tetraoxide and photothermal polypyrrole is reported. Its cranial–corporal asymmetry enables heterogeneous hydration for a record high efficiency of ice confinement, reducing mean ice crystal area by 98.4%. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that Janus architecture simultaneously enhances interactions with ice and strengthens the local hydration anisotropy, accounting for the effective inhibition of ice growth. Superflash warming over 920 °C min ‒1 by magnetically rotating its anisotropic structure for uniform heat dissipation narrows the hostile temperature window in micro‐/macroscopic scenarios, as further confirmed by Monte Carlo modeling. This design enables cost‐effective post‐thaw magnetic retrieval, eliminating the need for heavy centrifuges, well‐suited for scalable and on‐site applications. As a result, cryopreserved samples from single cells, bacteria, to porcine trachea retain near‐complete viability and functionality. Therefore, this study offers a promising technique to bridge the gap between microscale cell storage and whole‐organ preservation.

The biochemical dynamics of the glycogen phosphatase laforin directly impact brain metabolism

Energy Density Recovery by Enhanced Hydrogen Bonding for High‐Performance Composite Phase Change Materials

ABSTRACT Phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage require both high latent heat and high thermal conductivity, which is almost infeasible because the energy‐dense materials are usually poor heat conductors, and increasing their thermal conductivity by making composites inevitably leads to a sacrifice in latent heat. Here, we propose a strategy for recovering the unavoidable loss of energy density of a composite PCM by strengthening the molecular connections between the fillers and matrix PCM. Taking erythritol (a polyol rich in hydroxyl groups) as an example, we use hydroxyl‐modified nanofillers to reconstruct the filler‐to‐PCM intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Compared to unmodified graphene, we observe a remarkable recovery in the latent heat of erythritol using hydroxylated graphene, and verify the extension of this strategy to acids and hydrated salts. We show an almost full recovery of the energy density loss for composite erythritol at 1 wt.% loading, reaching an ultrahigh latent heat of fusion (328.5±0.9 J g −1 ). Using molecular simulations, we confirm the formation of strong hydrogen bonds between the model PCM molecules and hydroxylated graphene. Our strategy enables the development of polyol‐based composite PCMs, which can be generalized to other matrix PCMs, toward more balanced performance in high energy density and power density.

Discovery of small molecules and a druggable groove that regulate DNA binding and release of the AP-1 transcription factor ΔFOSB

Medium‐Entropy Regulation Enables Phase‐Stable Layered Oxide Cathodes with Reversible Anionic Redox for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

ABSTRACT Layered transition‐metal (TM) oxides with anionic redox reactions are promising cathode candidates for sodium‐ion batteries because of their high theoretical capacity and cost effectiveness, but they still suffer from severe P‐to‐O phase transition, irreversible TM migration, and lattice oxygen release. Herein, we report a strategy of rational entropy regulation for circumventing these multiple issues by systematically investigating layered TM oxide cathodes with low‐, medium‐, and high‐entropy configurations. It reveals that compared with the counterparts, the medium‐entropy cathode not only mitigates the lattice strain by accommodating the changes of local interactions conferred by entropy‐driven stabilization within the TMO 2 slabs, but also facilitates the appropriate facet exposure to maintain sufficient interlayer Na + shielding within the single NaO 2 slab, together delaying the P‐to‐O phase transition onset and suppressing the neighboring O‐type stacking. Therefore, this moderate medium‐entropy configuration enables reversible dynamic TM migration, benefiting from the robust phase stability, as revealed by in situ high‐energy‐resolution fluorescence‐detected X‐ray absorption spectroscopy results, which further minimizes oxygen vacancy formation and inhibits irreversible oxygen release. As a result, enhanced electrochemical performances with a long‐enduring reversible anionic redox activity are achieved. Our work underscores the critical role of rational entropy regulation for achieving high‐performance layered TM oxide cathodes.

Aqueous Sodium Humate Binder Enabling Ultra‐Stable High‐Voltage Cathodes via Protection from Interface to Bulk

Abstract Raising the charging cutoff voltage is a well‐established approach to enhance the energy density of LiCoO 2 (LCO) cathodes, known for their high bulk energy density, in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, their practical implementation under high‐voltage conditions remains limited by interphase instability and bulk structural degradation. Herein, an innovative application of low‐cost and water‐soluble sodium humate (NaHA) is proposed, traditionally employed in aquaculture and pharmaceuticals, as a multifunctional binder for high‐voltage LCO cathodes. Enriched with ─COOH and ─OH functional groups, NaHA not only forms robust hydrogen bonds with the LCO surface, enabling uniform coating on LCO particles, but also promotes a protective interphase microenvironment. More importantly, NaHA facilitates lattice‐cognate in situ trace Na doping into the LCO bulk lattice during cycling, effectively enhancing its structural stability. This dual modification strategy, combining surface confinement and bulk reinforcement, endows LCO cathodes with ultra‐stable electrochemical performance, retaining 95.1% capacity after 1700 cycles at 4.45 V and 87.1% over 1000 cycles at 4.5 V. Moreover, the water solubility of NaHA simplifies end‐of‐life electrode disassembly and promotes recyclability, supporting sustainable battery design. This binder‐directed strategy offers a scalable, eco‐friendly, and efficient binder‐based stabilization route for high‐voltage LCO cathodes, paving the way for the development of high‐specific‐energy LIBs.

Enzymatic basis of branching and extension of O-Man glycans for keratan sulfate biosynthesis

Correction to “Engineered Neutrophil Nanovesicles for Inhibiting Corneal Neovascularization by Synergistic Anti‐Inflammatory, Anti‐VEGF and Chemoexcited Photodynamic Therapy”

Energy‐Efficient, Sustainable Cascade Glucose Electrooxidation into Glucaric Acid

ABSTRACT Glucaric acid (GRA) is a critical platform chemical for manufacturing biodegradable materials. Selective glucose (GLU) electrooxidation into GRA provides a sustainable route for biomass valorization. However, conventional methods suffer from energy‐intensive processes due to excessive operational potential exceeding 1.2 V. Here we demonstrate an energy‐efficient tandem system that decouples GRA electrosynthesis into cascade GLU‐to‐gluconic acid (GNA) and GNA‐to‐GRA oxidation. When pairing an Au/C catalyst for selective aldehyde oxidation and an AuPt/C catalyst for hydroxyl oxidation, we achieve 91.8% Faradaic efficiency and nearly 100% conversion efficiency at 0.6 V RHE for GLU‐to‐GNA oxidation, and 81% Faradaic efficiency and 90% conversion efficiency at 0.55 V RHE for GNA‐to‐GRA oxidation. Chronoamperometry demonstrates ∼100% substrate conversion with a minor decrease in product selectivity, confirming the catalyst's excellent stability. Our tandem system improves the overall GLU‐to‐GRA energy efficiency from 13.8% for conventional one‐step route to 31.8%. When oxygen reduction is selected as paired reaction, our system not only enables efficient chemical electrosynthesis, but is also estimated to generate electricity of 1.24 × 10 5  kWh per kiloton GRA, outperforming traditional method with energy consumption of 4.31 × 10 5  kWh. Our work establishes a sustainable and economically viable pathway for biomass valorization, offering a blueprint for circular, carbon‐neutral chemical production.