Article 05 July 2024 | Open Access Photothermal CO2 conversion to ethanol through photothermal heterojunction-nanosheet arrays The authors report a Cu/Cu2Se-Cu2O heterojunction nanosheet array which show cases efficient CO2 reduction to ethanol using solar energy through a confluence of effects stemming from the catalyst heterostructure and including photothermal and confinement effects. Xiaodong Li, Li Li & Xinliang Feng Article 05 July 2024 | Open Access Multicolor recordable and erasable photonic crystals based on on-off thermoswitchable mechanochromism toward inkless rewritable paper Mechanochromic photonic crystals are extremely attractive due to their force-dependent structural colors yet are limited by unrecordable color and unsatisfactory performances. Here, the authors report a thermal-responsive mechanochromic photonic crystal with multicolor recordability-erasability. Yang Hu, Chenze Qi & Shaoming Huang Article 05 July 2024 | Open Access Stable peptide-assembled nanozyme mimicking dual antifungal actions Natural antimicrobial peptides and enzymes are good candidates for application but suffer from low stability. Here, the authors report on biomimetic self-assembling peptides which mimic both antimicrobial peptide and enzyme functionality, demonstrating application against fungal infection. Ye Yuan, Lei Chen & Lizeng Gao Article 05 July 2024 | Open Access 2D/2D coupled MOF/Fe composite metamaterials enable robust ultra–broadband microwave absorption Here the Authors showcase a microwave absorber design that combines semiconductive metal-organic frameworks with iron 2D layers, achieving ultra-broadband absorption in the whole 5 G frequencies and stable performance against various angles and polarizations. Ning Qu, Hanxu Sun & Jie Kong Article 05 July 2024 | Open Access A shape-driven reentrant jamming transition in confluent monolayers of synthetic cell-mimics Living cell collectives can jam and unjam through many pathways, yet the details remain elusive. Arora et al. design a monolayer of deformable cell-mimics composed of chiral active granular ellipsoids confined in flexible paper rings and show a re-entrant jamming transition mediated solely by cell shape change. Pragya Arora, Souvik Sadhukhan & Rajesh Ganapathy Perspective 05 July 2024 | Open Access A data science roadmap for open science organizations engaged in early-stage drug discovery Artificial intelligence is greatly accelerating research in drug discovery, but its development is still hindered by the lack of available data. Here the authors present data management and data science recommendations to help reach AI’s potential in the field. Kristina Edfeldt, Aled M. Edwards & Matthieu Schapira Article 05 July 2024 | Open Access Neuroprosthetic contact lens enabled sensorimotor system for point-of-care monitoring and feedback of intraocular pressure Wearable contact lens can be used for health monitoring applications such as intraocular pressure for glaucoma and postoperative myopia. Here, Liu et al. report a neuroprosthetic contact lens-enabled sensorimotor system with a sensitivity of 12.52 mV mmHg−1 for point-of-care monitoring and real-time display. Weijia Liu, Zhijian Du & Guozhen Shen Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Highly efficient recycling of polyester wastes to diols using Ru and Mo dual-atom catalyst Chemical recycling of polyester wastes is of great significance for sustainable development. Here the authors report a Ru and Mo dual-atom catalyst for reconstructing polyester wastes into diols in water under mild conditions. Minhao Tang, Ji Shen & Zhimin Liu Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Unraveling the energy storage mechanism in graphene-based nonaqueous electrochemical capacitors by gap-enhanced Raman spectroscopy Graphene is widely used as an electrode material but the understanding of its interface with electrolyte remains elusive. Here, authors employ gap-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and find that the charging mechanism shifts from co-ion desorption to ion exchange as the number of graphene layers increase. Xiao-Ting Yin, En-Ming You & Jia-Wei Yan Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Enantiopure trigonal bipyramidal coordination cages templated by in situ self-organized D2h-symmetric anions The control of a molecule’s geometry, chirality, and physical properties has long been a challenging pursuit. Here the authors introduce a method for assembling D3-symmetric trigonal bipyramidal coordination cages which exhibit chiral selectivity for the included chiral-at-metal anionic template. Shan Guo, Wen-Wen Zhan & Yang Yang Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Radially distributed charging time constants at an electrode-solution interface Classical theories of electrode kinetics assume a homogeneous electrode-solution interface. Here, authors reveal that electron transfer at a macroscopic electrode exhibits significant spatial inhomogeneity due to nonuniform solution resistance, which can be reduced by a retracted electrode design. Ben Niu, Ruo-Chen Xie & Wei Wang Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Shallow-level defect passivation by 6H perovskite polytype for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells Defects in perovskite materials are detrimental to their carrier dynamics and structural stability. Here, the authors incorporate 6H polytype perovskite into bulk to reduce defects and improve structural integrity, realizing efficient solar cells and modules with long-term stability. Hobeom Kim, So-Min Yoo & Mohammad K. Nazeeruddin Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Reducing nonradiative recombination for highly efficient inverted perovskite solar cells via a synergistic bimolecular interface Reducing interface nonradiative recombination is important for realizing highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Here, the authors employ a bimolecular interlayer to functionalize the perovskite interface, achieving cooperative surface treatment and certified power conversion efficiency of 25.05%. Shaobing Xiong, Fuyu Tian & Qinye Bao Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Topological Fermi-arc surface state covered by floating electrons on a two-dimensional electride Electrides are an emerging family of materials with potential for hosting topological states. Here, the authors demonstrate the presence of Fermi-arc surface states in close proximity to the floating electron layer on the surface of an electride. Chan-young Lim, Min-Seok Kim & Yeongkwan Kim Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Steady motion of 80-nm-size skyrmions in a 100-nm-wide track The authors study the dynamics of 80 nm-size skyrmions in a 100 nm-wide track by electrical Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. They show that the skyrmions can be moved by nanosecond current pulse without experiencing the skyrmion Hall effect. Dongsheng Song, Weiwei Wang & Haifeng Du Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Capillary compression induced outstanding n-type thermoelectric power factor in CNT films towards intelligent temperature controller Authors obtain high n-type thermoelectric power factor in carbon nanotube films for potential application in automated thermal management of electronic devices. They fabricate a high-power density curl-able thermoelectric generator with carbon nanotubes films. Hong Wang, Kuncai Li & Daotong Chong Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Designed wrinkles for optical encryption and flexible integrated circuit carrier board Current wrinkling processes for pattern formation cannot be easily controlled, resulting in deformation or detachment of patterns from substrates. Here, Zhong et al. report a wrinkling strategy for creating patterned structures with long-range order and resistant to force relaxation. Shilong Zhong, Zhaoxiang Zhu & Xudong Chen Article 04 July 2024 | Open Access Illuminating the dark space of neutral glycosphingolipidome by selective enrichment and profiling at multi-structural levels The molecular profiling of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) is hindered by the coexistence of abundant phospholipids and diverse isomers. The authors introduce a highly sensitive workflow that maps out the structural atlas of neutral GSLs, previously deemed a “dark space” within the lipidome. Zidan Wang, Donghui Zhang & Yu Xia Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Acceleration-induced spectral beats in strongly driven harmonic oscillators The authors demonstrate a novel regime of coherent harmonic modulation yielding resonances (termed acceleration beats) with energy spacing and temporal correlations controlled by the modulation amplitude. These features are associated with accelerated energy-change rates during the harmonic cycle. A. S. Kuznetsov, K. Biermann & P. V. Santos Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Liquid-liquid reactions performed by cellular reactors This study presents a 3D-printed cellular reactor enhancing liquid-liquid reactions by increasing contact area without extra additives. It securely contains two incompatible liquids, facilitating direct phase separation. Jinzhe Cao & Shengyang Tao Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Barbed arrow-like structure membrane with ultra-high rectification coefficient enables ultra-fast, highly-sensitive lateral-flow assay of cTnI Acute myocardial infarction has become a public health disease threatening public life safety. Here, authors propose a BAS Mem with an ultra-high rectification coefficient, replacing the conventional chromatographic membrane to develop an ultra-fast, highly-sensitive lateral-flow assay for cTnI. Juanhua Li, Yiren Liu & Jianhua Zhou Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Magnetic excitations in strained infinite-layer nickelate PrNiO2 films Nickelates have been shown to host unconventional superconductivity, and recently it has been found that the choice of substrate can significantly change the superconducting critical temperature. This suggests, that like some Cuprates, strain could be important. Here Gao, Fan, Wang, and coauthors find that magnetic excitations in a parent Nickelate are insensitive to substrate choice, and therefore strain, which differs markedly from the case of Cuprates. Qiang Gao, Shiyu Fan & Zhihai Zhu Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access A nanoscale photonic thermal transistor for sub-second heat flow switching Authors make a nanoscale photonic thermal transistor capable of modulating thermal currents by a factor of 3 and a fast-switching time of ~500 ms, opening new opportunities for designing thermal circuits or thermal logic devices. Ju Won Lim, Ayan Majumder & Pramod Reddy Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Dynamics of polarization-tuned mirror symmetry breaking in a rotationally symmetric system In a SO(2) rotationally symmetric system, a general polarization-tuned mirror symmetry breaking mechanism was reported to highly efficiently generate a lateral optical force, enriching the optical manipulation mechanism for mirror-symmetric objects. Yu Zhang, Zhibin Li & Jianhui Yu Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access How to catch a shear band and explain plasticity of metallic glasses with continuum mechanics The mechanisms of shear band initiation and propagation in amorphous metallic alloys is an open question of materials science. Here, the authors measure local strains around propagating shear bands and propose a model describing the plasticity of metallic glasses at different length scales. Oleksandr Glushko, Reinhard Pippan & Jürgen Eckert Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Environmental damping and vibrational coupling of confined fluids within isolated carbon nanotubes Nanotubes exhibit high vibrational coupling to the environment but lack a theoretical description. Vacuum-isolated, suspended double walled nanotubes provide a damping model for mass coupling, offering new nanomechanics and nanofluidics insights. Yu-Ming Tu, Matthias Kuehne & Michael S. Strano Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Marangoni-driven deterministic formation of softer, hollow microstructures for sensitivity-enhanced tactile system Many solid microstructures have limited sensitivity over a wide pressure range due to their inherent structural compressibility. Xiong et al. propose a Marangoni-driven deterministic formation approach for creating hollow microstructures, enabling greater deformation while hindering structural stiffening. Wennan Xiong, Fan Zhang & YongAn Huang Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Reversible two-way tuning of thermal conductivity in an end-linked star-shaped thermoset The need for reversible yet sizable thermal conductivity tuning in bulk materials impedes practical thermal switch design. Here, the authors report a scalable polymer which achieves a reversible 14 × tuning ratio via strain and temperature modulation. Chase M. Hartquist, Buxuan Li & Shaoting Lin Article 03 July 2024 | Open Access Unraveling distinct effects between CuOx and PtCu alloy sites in Pt−Cu bimetallic catalysts for CO oxidation at different temperatures This study reveals the structural evolution of PtCu/MgO catalysts from a PtCu alloy to a PtCu alloy with CuOx under redox conditions which is found to exhibit distinct effects between CuOx and PtCu alloy at different temperatures during CO oxidation. Yunan Li, Lingling Guo & Lina Li Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Light-driven C–H activation mediated by 2D transition metal dichalcogenides C–H activation in long-chain organic molecules remains largely unexplored. Here, the authors report light-driven C–H activation mediated by 2D TMDCs and the resultant synthesis of luminescent carbon dots. Jingang Li, Di Zhang & Yuebing Zheng Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Non-invasive and noise-robust light focusing using confocal wavefront shaping The Authors use a double modulation of both excitation and emission light to correct aberration and demonstrate imaging through thick scattering tissue. The approach is noise-robust and can image weak fluorescent neurons inside a thick brain slice. Dror Aizik & Anat Levin Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Strain-graded quantum dots with spectrally pure, stable and polarized emission Structural deformation can modify the optical properties of quantum dots. Here, the author report strain-graded CdSe-ZnSe quantum dots, allowing for spectrally stable and pure emission of photons at accelerated rates with near unity luminescence efficiency. Dongju Jung, Jeong Woo Park & Wan Ki Bae Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Phase-resolved measurement and control of ultrafast dynamics in terahertz electronic oscillators Researchers using femtosecond lasers generate offset-free THz pulses to phase-lock the electronic oscillators. This enables the phase-resolved measurement of the emitted THz pulses with sub-cycle time resolution. Ultrafast dynamic response, such as anti-phase locking behavior, is also observed. Takashi Arikawa, Jaeyong Kim & Koichiro Tanaka Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Experimental demonstration of tunable hybrid improper ferroelectricity in double-perovskite superlattice films Authors realize a tunable hybrid improper ferroelectricity in [La2NiMnO6/La2CoMnO6]n double perovskite superlattices at room temperature by a strain-driven oxygen octahedral distortion strategy. Yaoxiang Jiang, Jianguo Niu & Shifeng Zhao Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Tamm-cavity terahertz detector Here the authors report a terahertz detector with a Q value of 1017, embedded in a Tamm cavity and offers a 469 MHz bandwidth. It features an Nb5N6 microbolometer in an Si/air DBR and metal reflector, with tunable resonant frequency via substrate layer thickness. Xuecou Tu, Yichen Zhang & Peiheng Wu Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Enhancing sorption kinetics by oriented and single crystalline array-structured ZSM-5 film on monoliths Here authors present a distribution of oriented pores and single crystalline array structures in the presence of abundant acid sites in ZSM-5 nanorod arrays grown on monoliths. Enhanced dynamics and improved capacity are exhibited simultaneously in propene capture at low temperature within a short duration. Junfei Weng, Chunxiang Zhu & Pu-Xian Gao Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Chiral multiferroicity in two-dimensional hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites Chiral multiferroics are rare materials. Here the authors report that ferroelectric, magnetic orders, and chirality coexist in copper hybrid perovskites and reveal a hybrid-improper chiral transfer mechanism by defining a pseudo-scalar order parameter. Haining Zheng, Arup Ghosh & Kian Ping Loh Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Ligand-enabled ruthenium-catalyzed meta-C−H alkylation of (hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids Carboxylates are ideal directing groups for aryl C–H functionalizations, given their wide availability and relative ease of functional group interconversion; however, their potential in meta-selective functionalizations has not been fully realized. Here, the authors use carboxylates for meta-selective alkylations via ruthenium catalysis. Xianglin Luo, Peichao Hou & Liangbin Huang Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Neutrophil extracellular traps-inspired DNA hydrogel for wound hemostatic adjuvant Rapid hemostasis of deep noncompressible irregularly shaped trauma wounds is challenging. Here the authors report a neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)-inspired DNA hydrogel that is able to induce NETs-like thrombosis as a physical blockade and biological clot to arrest bleeding in deep tissues. Rui Ye, Ziyu Zhu & Jie Song Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access Cyprocide selectively kills nematodes via cytochrome P450 bioactivation Plant-parasitic nematodes have the potential to destroy crops globally, and limited options for managing nematode infestation are available. Here, the authors report the 1,3,4-oxadiazole thioether scaffold called Cyprocide that selectively kills nematodes including diverse species of plant-parasitic nematodes. Jessica Knox, Andrew R. Burns & Peter J. Roy Article 02 July 2024 | Open Access In silico fragment-based discovery of CIB1-directed anti-tumor agents by FRASE-bot Newly identified therapeutic targets are often hard-to-drug proteins. Here, the authors introduce FRASE-based hit-finding robot (FRASE-bot), to expedite drug discovery for unconventional therapeutic targets. Yi An, Jiwoong Lim & Dmitri Kireev Article 01 July 2024 | Open Access Development and characterization of amino donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts It is a synthetic challenge to modulate the backbone heteroatom of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts limiting their photoswitchable properties. Here, the authors address the challenge with the introduction of an amino functionality into the photoswtich backbone and investigate their resulting photoswitch isomerization. Cesar A. Reyes, Hye Joon Lee & Elias Picazo Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Structural evolution during inverse vulcanization Inverse vulcanization exploits elemental sulfur to synthesize versatile polysulfides but the mechanism of inverse vulcanization remains elusive. Herein, the authors use inverse vulcanization curves to describe the three-stage structural evolution during the inverse vulcanization process. Botuo Zheng, Liling Zhong & Huagui Zhang Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Machine learning-enabled forward prediction and inverse design of 4D-printed active plates Researchers have developed a machine learning-empowered voxel-level inverse design approach for complicated shape changes of 4D-printed plates, which paves the way for intelligent design and fabrication for 4D printing and shape-morphing structures Xiaohao Sun, Liang Yue & H. Jerry Qi Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Development of graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots-based oxygen self-sufficient platforms for enhanced corneal crosslinking NCOMMS-23-46799C Keratoconus can be effectively stabilized by corneal crosslinking (CXL), but the depletion of stromal oxygen limits the efficiency of CXL photochemical reactions. Here the authors address this issue by developing biocompatible graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots- based oxygen self-sufficient platforms. Mei Yang, Tingting Chen & Jinhai Huang Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access A unified European hydrogen infrastructure planning to support the rapid scale-up of hydrogen production A European hydrogen infrastructure supports a rapid scale-up of key production centers at Europe’s periphery. However, uncertainties in hydrogen demand, production pathways, and potential imports challenge the network design and storage development. Ioannis Kountouris, Rasmus Bramstoft & Dogan Keles Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Zero-dimensional halide hybrid bulk glass exhibiting reversible photochromic ultralong phosphorescence Dynamically responsive afterglow materials are typically fabricated as single crystals, polymers or powders. Here, the authors use zero-dimensional metal halides and organic dopants to develop photochromic glasses for diverse optical applications. Fei Nie & Dongpeng Yan Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Detection of helical water flows in sub-nanometer channels Nanoscale liquid flows are crucial in biological processes and nanofluidic applications but remain theoretically challenging within nanochannels. Authors utilize advanced techniques to uncover independent, immiscible helical, and axial water flows in peptide nanochannels, with implications for nanofluidic devices. Pavel Zelenovskii, Márcio Soares & Filipe Figueiredo Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Real-time observation of a metal complex-driven reaction intermediate using a porous protein crystal and serial femtosecond crystallography Here the authors demonstrate the use of time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography to capture intermediates in a chemical reaction in synthetic CO-releasing Mn-carbonyl complex fixed in lysozyme protein crystals, providing useful insights for the design of artificial metalloenzyme reactions. Basudev Maity, Mitsuo Shoji & Takafumi Ueno Article 29 June 2024 | Open Access Giant nonlinear Hall and wireless rectification effects at room temperature in the elemental semiconductor tellurium The nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE) in non-centrosymmetric materials could enable various device applications, but it is usually limited by small voltage outputs and low operational temperatures. Here, the authors report NLHE in semiconducting tellurium thin flakes, showing a second-harmonic voltage output up to 2.8 mV at 300 K. Bin Cheng, Yang Gao & Changgan Zeng