Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Enantioselective nickel-catalyzed anodic oxidative dienylation and allylation reactions Precision control of stereochemistry in radical reactions remains a formidable challenge. Here the authors demonstrate an electricity driven asymmetric Lewis acid catalysis to facilitate asymmetric dienylation and allylation reactions, resulting in the formation of all-carbon quaternary stereocenters. Qinglin Zhang, Jiayin Zhang & Chang Guo Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Inhomogeneous high temperature melting and decoupling of charge density waves in spin-triplet superconductor UTe2 Understanding the physics of charge density waves in emerging superconductors may reveal insights into unconventional superconductivity mechanisms. Here, the authors study the temperature and magnetic-field dependence of charge-density-wave suppression in the unconventional superconductor UTe2. Alexander LaFleur, Hong Li & Ilija Zeljkovic Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Intelligent wearable olfactory interface for latency-free mixed reality and fast olfactory enhancement Liu et al. developed AI-driven, wearable olfactory interfaces with odor generators for realizing latency-free mixed-reality and fast olfaction recovery. This technology enables personalized olfactory feedback and enhanced virtual environments for various applications including education, and clinical treatment. Yiming Liu, Shengxin Jia & Xinge Yu Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Enhancement of phase transition temperature through hydrogen bond modification in molecular ferroelectrics The authors propose a hydrogen bond modification method to achieve introduction of polarization and enhancement of phase transition temperature in molecular ferroelectrics, exploring the piezoelectric prototype devices of the molecular ferroelectric. Yu-An Xiong, Sheng-Shun Duan & Yu-Meng You Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Synergetic regulation of SEI mechanics and crystallographic orientation for stable lithium metal pouch cells The application of Li-metal batteries (LMBs) is impeded by unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and uncontrollable Li dendrites growth. Here, the authors present an YF3/PMMA composite layer to achieve high-performance LMBs via the synergetic regulation of SEI mechanics and Li crystallography. Yanhua Zhang, Rui Qiao & Jiangxuan Song Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Duality between predictability and reconstructability in complex systems Reconstructing the structure of a complex networked system and predicting its time evolution to understand its functions are usually two subjects that are treated separately. The authors propose a theoretical framework based on information theory, that uncovers the relation between reconstructability and predictability in networked systems. Charles Murphy, Vincent Thibeault & Patrick Desrosiers Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Above-room-temperature chiral skyrmion lattice and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in a van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3−xGaTe2 There are now several van der Waals magnets that have been shown to host skyrmions, however, these are typically hampered by a low Curie temperature, restricting the temperature at which the skyrmions can exist. Here, Zhang, Jiang, Jiang and coauthors find a skyrmion lattice in the van der Waals magnet Fe3 − xGaTe2 above room temperature and demonstrate the critical role of symmetry breaking in crystal lattice in the origin of these skyrmions. Chenhui Zhang, Ze Jiang & Hyunsoo Yang Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Spike-based dynamic computing with asynchronous sensing-computing neuromorphic chip Mimicking high-level abstraction of the brain to achieve energy advantages is a fundamental issue in neuromorphic computing. Here, the authors fabricate an asynchronous chip and demonstrate a high-accuracy neuromorphic system with power consumption of 0.7mW. Man Yao, Ole Richter & Guoqi Li Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Electrostatically controlled spin polarization in Graphene-CrSBr magnetic proximity heterostructures The electrostatic control of magnetic properties is central for future development of spintronic devices. Here, the authors show that the magnetic proximity effect induces an exchange shift in the band structure of graphene interfaced with CrSBr. Boxuan Yang, Bibek Bhujel & Bart J. van Wees Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Humidity-tolerant porous polymer coating for passive daytime radiative cooling A consistency issue with the production of porous polymer-based radiative coatings can be a significant drop in the cooling performance when dried under humid conditions. This issue is efficiently resolved by adding polymer reinforcement. Dongpyo Hong, Yong Joon Lee & Sang Yoon Park Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Non-thermal emission in gap-mode plasmon photoluminescence Photoluminescence from plasmonic nanostructures exhibits diverse wavelength dependent nonlinear behaviors with debated origins. Here, authors use plasmonic gap mode resonators with precise nanoscale confinement to show this nonlinear emission can become dominated by non-Fermi carrier contributions. Robert Lemasters, Manoj Manjare & Hayk Harutyunyan Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Limit state equation and failure pressure prediction model of pipeline with complex loading Assessing failure pressure is critical in determining pipeline integrity. In this study, based on the unified yield criterion, authors propose a limit state equation for steel pipes under various loads which can be converted into a series of failure pressure evaluation models for pipeline with different yield criteria. Ming-ming Sun, Hong-yuan Fang & Ke-Jie Zhai Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Steering and cloaking of hyperbolic polaritons at deep-subwavelength scales Polaritons – hybrid light-matter excitations – in van der Waals materials hold promise for photonics applications below the diffraction limit. Here, the authors demonstrate in-plane steering and cloaking of phonon polaritons in assembled micro-structures based on α-MoO3 films with misaligned crystallographic orientations. Hanchao Teng, Na Chen & Qing Dai Article 25 May 2024 | Open Access Synergizing habits and goals with variational Bayes Intelligent agents can perform two types of behavior, habitual and goal-directed. The authors propose a deep learning framework using a variational Bayes approach, which computationally explains many aspects of the interaction between the two types of behaviors in sensorimotor tasks. Dongqi Han, Kenji Doya & Jun Tani Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access High-power electrically pumped terahertz topological laser based on a surface metallic Dirac-vortex cavity The researchers showcase an exciting surface metallic Dirac-vortex cavity design with enhanced power capabilities for electrically pumped Topological Lasers in the THz spectral range. Junhong Liu, Yunfei Xu & Shenqiang Zhai Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Hybrid architectures for terahertz molecular polaritonics Metasurface-based architectures enhance light-matter interactions between a terahertz photonic mode and glucose vibrational resonance. This platform allows new physical and chemical properties of hybrid light-matter states to be exploited. Ahmed Jaber, Michael Reitz & Jean-Michel Ménard Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Molecular orbital breaking in photo-mediated organosilicon Schiff base ferroelectric crystals Switchable structural and physical bistability in ferroelectric materials can be achieved as result of molecular orbital breaking. Here, the authors describe the photo-mediated bistability in organosilicon Schiff base ferroelectric crystals for the modulation of dielectric, second-harmonic generation, and ferroelectric polarization and showing good in vitro biocompatibility. Zhu-Xiao Gu, Nan Zhang & Han-Yue Zhang Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access In-situ noncovalent interaction of ammonium ion enabled C–H bond functionalization of polyethylene glycols The noncovalent interaction of ammonium ion with multidentate oxygen-based host serving as a key reacting center in catalytic reactions is rare. In this work, the authors report a noncovalent interaction of ammonium ion enabled reactivity enhancement process, achieving the C–H functionalization of polyethylene glycols with acrylates. Zongnan Zhang, Xueli Lv & Rong Zeng Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Tunnel junctions based on interfacial two dimensional ferroelectrics The authors study tunneling junctions in rhombohedral MoS2 bilayers and correlate their performance with the local domain layout. They show that the switching behavior in sliding ferroelectrics is strongly dependent on the pre-existing domain structure. Yunze Gao, Astrid Weston & Roman Gorbachev Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Anomalous behavior of critical current in a superconducting film triggered by DC plus terahertz current The authors study the [Nb/V/Ta] superconducting artificial superlattice, known to support a superconducting diode effect, by pulsed THz spectroscopy and simultaneous transport. They found a non-monotonic switching between the superconducting and normal state, which can be explained if the THz-driven vortex depinning determines the critical current. Fumiya Sekiguchi, Hideki Narita & Yoshihiko Kanemitsu Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Spider-silk-inspired strong and tough hydrogel fibers with anti-freezing and water retention properties Hydrogel fibres have potential in a range of applications such as flexible electronics, but achieving the desired mechanical properties can be challenging. Here, the authors report spider silk-inspired hydrogel fibres with tuneable mechanical properties suitable for flexible electronics. Shaoji Wu, Zhao Liu & Yurong Yan Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Revealing the hidden structure of disordered materials by parameterizing their local structural manifold The structure of crystalline materials plays a central role in materials science, but the disordered structure of metallic glass is difficult to characterize and describe. Here, the authors use diffusion maps on atomistic data to obtain general structural descriptors tied to atomic positions. Thomas J. Hardin, Michael Chandross & Michael D. Shields Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Transparent radiative cooling cover window for flexible and foldable electronic displays In this work, authors synthesize transparent radiative cooling cover windows for flexible and foldable electronic devices. Besides demonstrated enhanced mechanical and moisture-impermeable properties, these mitigate temperature rise of devices under solar irradiation and improve overall thermal management. Kang Won Lee, Jonghun Yi & Dong Rip Kim Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Urea-formaldehyde resin room temperature phosphorescent material with ultra-long afterglow and adjustable phosphorescence performance Organic room temperature phosphorescent materials have useful properties, but development can be limited by processing and stability challenges. Here, the authors report a derivatisation strategy for the preparation of room temperature phosphorescent materials responsive to an electrostatic field. Wensheng Xu, Bowei Wang & Ligong Chen Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Unusual facet and co-catalyst effects in TiO2-based photocatalytic coupling of methane Designing photocatalysts to enhance the efficiency of non-oxidative coupling of methane is a challenging task. Here, the authors report that the anatase TiO2 with exposed {101} facets and Pd co-catalyst enables efficient and selective methane coupling to ethane via a heterogeneous-homogeneous hybrid reaction pathway. Huizhen Zhang, Pengfei Sun & Ye Wang Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Highly porous metal-organic framework liquids and glasses via a solvent-assisted linker exchange strategy of ZIF-8 The canonical metal-organic framework ZIF-8 does not melt and form a glass. Here, authors incorporated two additional organic linkers into ZIF-8 to generate meltable derivatives which can be transformed into highly porous glasses by melt-quenching. Wen-Long Xue, Pascal Kolodzeiski & Sebastian Henke Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access An inorganic-blended p-type semiconductor with robust electrical and mechanical properties The authors report an inorganic tellurium-selenium-oxygen (TeSeO) alloyed semiconductor for high-mobility p-channel transistors and broadband photodetectors, through the scalable thermal evaporation method combined with post-oxygen implantation. You Meng, Weijun Wang & Johnny C. Ho Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Remarkable flexibility in freestanding single-crystalline antiferroelectric PbZrO3 membranes Authors find that freestanding single crystalline antiferroelectric PbZrO3 membranes exhibit remarkable flexibility that can endure a maximum bending strain of 3.5%, with the assistance of mechanical-induced antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition. Yunting Guo, Bin Peng & Ming Liu Article 24 May 2024 | Open Access Ultrafast all-optical toggle writing of magnetic bits without relying on heat Toggle switching refers to the switching of magnetization induced by a train of ultrashort laser pulses. The high speed make such switching in extremely promising for devices, however, the underlying toggle switching mechanism in metals is due to heating, and thus has a downside of dissipation. Here, Zalewski et al demonstrate ultrafast ‘cold’ toggle switching, with a mechanism that does not rely on heating in dielectric Cobalt doped Yittrium Iron Garnet. T. Zalewski, A. Maziewski & A. Stupakiewicz Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Direct observation of electron transfer in solids through X-ray crystallography Electron transfer in solids is a fundamental process in many functional nanomaterials. Here, the authors directly observe this process via x-ray crystallography for incorporating of electron-donor guest molecules in macrocyclic nanotube crystals. Daiji Ogata, Shota Koide & Junpei Yuasa Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Heat-activated growth of metastable and length-defined DNA fibers expands traditional polymer assembly The combination of dynamic, energy driven folding and growth with structural stiffness and length control is difficult to achieve in synthetic polymer self-assembly. Here the authors show that highly charged, monodisperse DNA oligomers assemble via seeded growth into length-controlled supramolecular fibers during heating. Michael D. Dore, Muhammad Ghufran Rafique & Hanadi F. Sleiman Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Real-time observation of two distinctive non-thermalized hot electron dynamics at MXene/molecule interfaces Photoexcited MXenes could transfer charge carriers to or heat molecules at their interfaces. Here, the authors show using time-resolved spectroscopy that the non-thermalized carriers can directly transfer to molecules or heat them within 125 fs. Qi Zhang, Wei Li & Xueming Yang Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Self acceleration from spectral geometry in dissipative quantum-walk dynamics The strong connection between the dynamics of a physical system and its Hamiltonian’s spectrum has scarcely been applied in the non-Hermitian case. Here, the authors use a photonic quantum walk to confirm and expand previous theoretical analyses connecting self-acceleration dynamics with non-trivial point-gap topology. Peng Xue, Quan Lin & Wei Yi Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Abiotic formation of alkylsulfonic acids in interstellar analog ices and implications for their detection on Ryugu Alkylsulfonic acids represent an alternative source of sulfur for the origins of life. Here the authors demonstrate, via laboratory simulation experiments, the formation of these compounds in interstellar analog ices with implications for their incorporation into asteroids such as Ryugu. Mason McAnally, Jana Bocková & Ralf I. Kaiser Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Syntheses and reactivities of strained fused-ring metallaaromatics containing planar eleven-carbon chains 7C-10C and 12C-carbolong complexes with planar ligand skeletons containing 7-10 and 12 carbon atoms have been previously reported but 11C-carbolong complexes with a planar carbon-chain ligand are elusive. Here, the authors prepare metallabenzyne-fused metallapentalenes and metallabenzene-fused metallapentalynes, both representing 11C-carbolong complexes with a planar carbon-chain ligand Binbin Xu, Wei Mao & Haiping Xia Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Titanium catalyzed [2σ + 2π] cycloaddition of bicyclo[1.1.0]-butanes with 1,3-dienes for efficient synthesis of stilbene bioisosteres Natural stilbenes show significant potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases due to their diverse pharmacological activities. Here the authors present a mild and effective Ti-catalyzed intermolecular radical-relay cycloaddition reaction with good regio- and trans-selectivity offering rapid access to structurally diverse stilbene bioisosteres. Yonghong Liu, Zhixian Wu & Lei Shi Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Nylons with Highly-Bright and Ultralong Organic Room-Temperature Phosphorescence It may be useful to obtain nylon with room temperature phosphorescence, but identifying a suitable luminophore is challenging. Here, the authors report the doping of nylon with cyano-substituted benzimidazole derivatives for room temperature phosphorescent nylons. Dian-Xue Ma, Zhong-Qiu Li & Yu-Wu Zhong Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Single molecule delivery into living cells Controlled manipulation of cultured cells by delivery of exogenous macromolecules is a cornerstone of experimental biology. Here, the authors describe a platform to deliver defined numbers of macromolecules into cultured cell lines at single molecule resolution. Chalmers C. Chau, Christopher M. Maffeo & Paolo Actis Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Highly tunable ground and excited state excitonic dipoles in multilayer 2H-MoSe2 Here, the authors discover the ground and excited state interlayer excitons in bi- and tri-layer 2H-MoSe2 crystals which exhibit electric-field-driven hybridisation with the intralayer A excitons, showing distinct spin, layer and valley characteristics. Shun Feng, Aidan J. Campbell & Brian D. Gerardot Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Rashba-splitting-induced topological flat band detected by anomalous resistance oscillations beyond the quantum limit in ZrTe5 Topological flat bands offer a solid-state platform for studying the interplay between topology and electron correlations. Here, the authors demonstrate that a prototypical 3D Dirac material can host topological flat bands under magnetic fields due to polar-distortion-assisted Rashba splitting. Dong Xing, Bingbing Tong & Cheng-Long Zhang Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Stable pure-green organic light-emitting diodes toward Rec.2020 standard It is essential to manipulate the dynamic behaviour of charge carriers and excitons in organic light-emitting diodes. Here, authors report the trapping of injected electrons by a thermally activated delayed fluorescence assistant molecule in a bipolar host matrix and achieve long device stability. Xun Tang, Tuul Tsagaantsooj & Chihaya Adachi Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Link between supercurrent diode and anomalous Josephson effect revealed by gate-controlled interferometry The authors study the intrinsic superconducting diode effect (SDE) in a single Josephson junction consisting of a InGaAs/InAs/InGaAs quantum well as the weak link, and an Al film as the superconductor. They find a correspondence between SDE and an offset in the relationship between critical current and the difference in phase of the superconducting order parameter across the junction. S. Reinhardt, T. Ascherl & N. Paradiso Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access Orbital-dependent electron correlation in double-layer nickelate La3Ni2O7 Recently, superconductivity near 80 K was observed in La3Ni2O7 under high pressure, but the mechanism is debated. Here the authors report angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements under ambient pressure, revealing flat bands with strong electronic correlations that could be linked to superconductivity. Jiangang Yang, Hualei Sun & X. J. Zhou Article 23 May 2024 | Open Access A rationally designed miniature of soluble methane monooxygenase enables rapid and high-yield methanol production in Escherichia coli Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) is a potentially value biocatalyst, but production of active recombinant sMMO is very challenging. Here the authors report the rational design and construction of a catalytically active miniature sMMO which enables high-yield production of methanol in E. coli. Yeonhwa Yu, Yongfan Shi & Jeewon Lee Article 22 May 2024 | Open Access Organocatalytic skeletal reorganization for enantioselective synthesis of S-stereogenic sulfinamides The enantioselective synthesis of S-stereogenic sulfinamides has garnered considerable attention due to their unique structural and physicochemical properties but catalytic asymmetric synthesis of sulfinamides still remains challenging. Here, the authors present the synthesis of S-stereogenic sulfinamides through the peptide-mimic phosphonium salt-catalyzed asymmetric skeletal reorganization of simple prochiral and racemic sulfoximines. Zanjiao Liu, Siqiang Fang & Tianli Wang