Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Electron stochastic acceleration in laboratory-produced kinetic turbulent plasmas The origin of energetic charged particles in universe remains an unresolved issue, while one of the promising mechanism contributions is stochastic acceleration. Here the authors demonstrate electron stochastic acceleration of kinetic turbulence in a lab setting. Dawei Yuan, Zhu Lei & Jie Zhang Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Silicon photocathode functionalized with osmium complex catalyst for selective catalytic conversion of CO2 to methane Solar-driven CO2 conversion to produce solar fuels is an attractive way to harness solar energy and reduce carbon emissions. Here, the authors report two osmium complexes as highly active and selective CO2 reduction catalysts for selective CO2-to-methane conversion on Si-based photocathodes. Xing-Yi Li, Ze-Lin Zhu & Jing-Xin Jian Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Ising meson spectroscopy on a noisy digital quantum simulator Recent work has shown that digital quantum simulations may be well suited for simulating non-perturbative quantum field theories. Here the authors use a superconducting quantum computer to obtain the energy spectrum of a strongly interacting quantum field theory mapped onto a quantum spin chain model. Christopher Lamb, Yicheng Tang & Ananda Roy Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Asymmetric total synthesis of polycyclic xanthenes and discovery of a WalK activator active against MRSA Structurally diverse natural products are a promising source of antibiotics. Here, the authors report the collective asymmetric total synthesis of polycyclic xanthene myrtucommulone D and five related congeners and discover a compound active against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Min-Jing Cheng, Yan-Yi Wu & Lei Wang Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Enhanced electrocatalytic biomass oxidation at low voltage by Ni2+-O-Pd interfaces Catalytic oxidation of biomass-derived aldehydes and alcohols into acids is challenging due to low activity and selectivity. Here the authors report a Pd/Ni(OH)2 electrocatalyst with abundant Ni2+-O-Pd interfaces that enables efficient electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with high selectivity and product yield. An Pei, Peng Wang & Guangxu Chen Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Contact-electro-catalytic CO2 reduction from ambient air Traditional catalytic techniques often encounter obstacles in the search for sustainable solutions for converting CO2 into value-added products because of their high energy consumption and expensive catalysts. Here, we introduce a contact-electro-catalysis approach for CO2 reduction reaction, achieving CO Faradaic efficiency of 96.24%. Nannan Wang, Wenbin Jiang & Zibiao Li Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Selective and stable CO2 electroreduction at high rates via control of local H2O/CO2 ratio While challenging, controlling H2O/CO2 concentrations at the reaction interface is critical for achieving efficient electrochemical CO2 reduction. This work demonstrates that polymer coatings on the catalyst surface can effectively tune local H2O/CO2 concentrations, leading to selective, energy efficient and robust CO2 electroreduction. Junmei Chen, Haoran Qiu & Lei Wang Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Ethylene electrosynthesis from low-concentrated acetylene via concave-surface enriched reactant and improved mass transfer Electrocatalytic semihydrogenation of acetylene produces ethylene without petroleum, but is hindered by the need to preprocess coal-derived acetylene. Here the authors report concave carbon-supported Cu nanoparticles to enrich local acetylene concentration for ethylene electrosynthesis from low-concentrated raw coal-derived acetylene with a 91.7% FE at 420 mA cm−2. Fanpeng Chen, Li Li & Bin Zhang Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Demethylation C–C coupling reaction facilitated by the repulsive Coulomb force between two cations Carbon chain elongation (CCE) is normally carried out using either chemical catalysts or bioenzymes. Herein we demonstrate a catalyst-free approach to promote demethylation C–C coupling reactions for advanced CCE constructed with functional groups under ambient conditions. Xiaoping Zhang, Keke Huang & Huanwen Chen Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access A strategy for tough and fatigue-resistant hydrogels via loose cross-linking and dense dehydration-induced entanglements For use in a range of applications, hydrogel properties are vital, but it can be challenging to balance different aspects. Here, the authors report the use of a dehydration strategy to prepare hydrogels with desirable fracture toughness, fatigue threshold, and modulus. Danming Zhong, Zhicheng Wang & Wei Yang Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Overhauser enhanced liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in one and two dimensions The authors report signal enhancements in high-resolution liquid-state NMR by a new setup for dynamic nuclear polarization. Two-dimensional NMR techniques are used to transfer hyperpolarization within the nuclei of molecules such as metabolites or drugs. Marcel Levien, Luming Yang & Marina Bennati Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Room temperature catalytic upgrading of unpurified lignin depolymerization oil into bisphenols and butene-2 Despite numerous techniques for lignin depolymerization into mixtures of valuable monomers, methods for their upgrading into final products are scarce. Here the authors present an alternative approach whereby the target monomers are selectively and directly converted in unpurified mixtures into easily separable bisphenols and butene-2 under mild conditions. Elena Subbotina, Layra Rodrigues Souza & Paul Anastas Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Elucidating the catalytic mechanism of Prussian blue nanozymes with self-increasing catalytic activity Sustained catalytic performance wound benefit the applications of nanozymes, but the catalytic activity of some nanozymes depletes with time. Here the authors report Prussian blue nanozymes that exhibit self-increasing catalytic activity and elucidate the underlying catalytic mechanisms. Kaizheng Feng, Zhenzhen Wang & Yu Zhang Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Voxelated bioprinting of modular double-network bio-ink droplets Voxel bioprinting uses bio-ink droplets as building blocks to create functional tissue mimics, but manipulating small bio-ink droplets in 3D space can be challenging. Here, the authors report a bioprinting technology allowing prescribed assembly of bio-ink voxels to form robust 3D constructs. Jinchang Zhu, Yi He & Li-Heng Cai Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Diameter-dependent phase selectivity in 1D-confined tungsten phosphides Topological materials confined in 1D could transform computing technology, but their crystallization is poorly understood. Here, the authors demonstrate template-based synthesis of 1D nanowires, revealing diameter-dependent phase selectivity. Gangtae Jin, Christian D. Multunas & Judy J. Cha Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Polylogarithmic-depth controlled-NOT gates without ancilla qubits Multi-controlled operations are very common in quantum algorithms applications. Here, the authors propose three schemes for decomposing n-control-NOT gates into single-qubit and CNOT gates, which have polylog overhead as opposed to current linear schemes. Baptiste Claudon, Julien Zylberman & Jean-Philip Piquemal Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access An electricity-driven mobility circular economy with lifecycle carbon footprints for climate-adaptive carbon neutrality transformation This study proposes approaches to quantify battery carbon intensity and achieve zero-carbon batteries through multi-directional V2X(Vehicle-to-Everything) and battery circular economy in a community with energy paradigm shifting towards renewable and sustainability. Aoye Song, Zhaohui Dan & Yuekuan Zhou Article 13 July 2024 | Open Access Global protein turnover quantification in Escherichia coli reveals cytoplasmic recycling under nitrogen limitation Gupta, Johnson et al. quantify the turnover rates of ~3200 E. coli proteins, demonstrating that cytoplasmic proteins are recycled when nitrogen is limited and that protein degradation rates are generally uncoupled from cell division rates. Meera Gupta, Alex N. T. Johnson & Martin Wühr Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Advanced parametrization for the production of high-energy solid-state lithium pouch cells containing polymer electrolytes Multiscale design principles and empirical processing techniques are considered for the design of high-energy-density Li-based batteries using polymer electrolytes. Here, the authors demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach by assembling and testing ampere-hour-level solid-state lithium-based pouch cells. Wonmi Lee, Juho Lee & Jinsoo Kim Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Single-shot laser-driven neutron resonance spectroscopy for temperature profiling Non-contact thermometry is one of the key technologies for modern science and industry. Here, authors demonstrated measurement of temperature of an element using neutron resonance spectroscopy with Doppler broadening with single intense short neutron pulse provided from high peak power. Zechen Lan, Yasunobu Arikawa & Akifumi Yogo Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access High-efficiency dysprosium-ion extraction enabled by a biomimetic nanofluidic channel Separation of rare-earth ions is challenging due to their chemical and physical similarities. Here, the authors fabricate a biomimetic nanofluidic channel featuring an asymmetrical structure functionalized with glycyl-L-proline for selective and unidirectional extraction of dysprosium ions. Weiwen Xin, Yanglansen Cui & Liping Wen Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Nucleation phenomena and extreme vulnerability of spatial k-core systems Complex systems can undergo abrupt transitions leading to dramatic changes in the structural properties of the system by crossing the critical point. The authors study the origin of such critical transitions in spatially embedded networks and discover processes when external intervention on microscopic level leads to macroscopic transition of the system. Leyang Xue, Shengling Gao & Shlomo Havlin Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Optimizing high-temperature energy storage in tungsten bronze-structured ceramics via high-entropy strategy and bandgap engineering The authors improve the energy storage performance and high temperature stability of lead-free tetragonal tungsten bronze dielectric ceramics through high entropy strategy and band gap engineering. Yangfei Gao, Zizheng Song & Xiaojie Lou Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Harnessing virus flexibility to selectively capture and profile rare circulating target cells for precise cancer subtyping The effective isolation of rare target cells, such as circulating tumor cells from whole blood is still challenging. Here, the authors utilize adaptable flexible M13 phage in constructing magnetic beads, forming a deformable surface that can tightly capture CTCs. Hui-Da Li, Yuan-Qiang Chen & Chuanbin Mao Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Plasmonic trimers designed as SERS-active chemical traps for subtyping of lung tumors SERS spectroscopy critically relies on the accumulation of analyte molecules in electromagnetic ‘hotspots’. Here, the authors demonstrate plasmonic trimers with central particles that act as chemical traps, enabling the subtyping of lung tumors using fresh tissue samples. Xing Zhao, Xiaojing Liu & Qi Hao Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Efficient molecular doping of polymeric semiconductors improved by coupled reaction Chemical doping has been essential to improve electrical properties of polymeric semiconductors for organic electronics. Here, authors report coupled reaction-assisted doping by introducing a thermodynamically favorable reaction with additives highly reactive to the reduction product of the dopant. Jiahao Pan, Jing Wang & Hong Wang Article 12 July 2024 | Open Access Definitive engineering strength and fracture toughness of graphene through on-chip nanomechanics Researchers used a fracture mechanics approach with on-chip nanomechanical testing and a large number of samples to establish a definitive fracture toughness of graphene of 4.4 MPa m1/2, with fracture controlled by unavoidable 1.4 nm-size defects. Sahar Jaddi, M. Wasil Malik & Thomas Pardoen Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of Si-stereogenic silacycles Among the diverse organosilicon compounds, Si-stereogenic silanes have recently demonstrated promising biological activities but only few protocols for the preparation of organosilicon compounds possessing a Si-stereogenic center exist in the literature. Here the authors show that a strong and confined Brønsted acid catalyzed enantioselective cyclization of bis(methallyl)silanes and provides enantioenriched Si-stereogenic silacycles. Jung Tae Han, Nobuya Tsuji & Benjamin List Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access 3D printable and biocompatible PEDOT:PSS-ionic liquid colloids with high conductivity for rapid on-demand fabrication of 3D bioelectronics Conventional PEDOT:PSS inks for electrical interfacing with ex-vivo and in-vivo systems are limited by poor rheological and conductive properties. Here, the authors show a one-shot strategy to fabricate 3D printable and biocompatible PEDOT:PSS-ionic liquid colloidal ink for bioelectronics with 2D and 3D structures. Byungkook Oh, Seunghyeok Baek & Steve Park Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Active learning streamlines development of high performance catalysts for higher alcohol synthesis Developing efficient catalysts for syngas-based higher alcohol synthesis (HAS) remains challenging. Here the authors successfully demonstrate an active learning strategy by integrating Bayesian optimization into experimental workflows to accelerate the design of highly active and stable FeCoCuZr catalysts for HAS. Manu Suvarna, Tangsheng Zou & Javier Pérez-Ramírez Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Hyperconfined bio-inspired Polymers in Integrative Flow-Through Systems for Highly Selective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions Access to clean water is a fundamental requirement owing the rapid population growth. Here, the authors report bio-inspired polymers mimicking plant phytochelatin and their hyperconfinement in flow-through systems to enable the selective capture of hazardous heavy metal ions from contaminated water to drinkable level. Masaki Nakahata, Ai Sumiya & Motomu Tanaka Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Spontaneous symmetry breaking in polar fluids Spontaneous symmetry breaking and emergent polar order are key to liquid crystal phase behaviour. This study reveals two new polar liquid states with lamellar structures, providing novel insights into electrical analogues of magnetic spin structures. Calum J. Gibb, Jordan Hobbs & Richard. J. Mandle Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Aperiodic approximants bridging quasicrystals and modulated structures Aperiodic crystals, including modulated structures and quasicrystals, are fascinating, but their relationship to each other is enigmatic. Here, the authors reveal the pivotal role of aperiodic approximants that unify those crystals under the concept of superspace. Toranosuke Matsubara, Akihisa Koga & Tomonari Dotera Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access White-light activatable organic NIR-II luminescence nanomaterials for imaging-guided surgery Second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging is promising for real-time surveillance of surgical operations, but its clinical uses have been limited by the safety and cost concerns associated with lasers or X-rays. Here the authors report the engineering and applications of white-light activatable organic nanomaterials with bright NIR-II emission. Chunbin Li, Jian Du & Ben Zhong Tang Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Stretchable glove for accurate and robust hand pose reconstruction based on comprehensive motion data Hand’s complexity and individual variation poses a challenge to achieve accurate tracking hand motion. Here, authors introduce a glove that estimates finger bone lengths and joint angles, achieving accurate and robust motion estimation for virtual reality and robotic control applications. Myungsun Park, Taejun Park & Yong-Lae Park Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Atomic sawtooth-like metal films for vdW-layered single-crystal growth Although single-crystal (SC) 2D materials can be grown on atomic sawtooth metal surfaces, the formation mechanism during the melting-solidification process remains unclear. Here authors reveal that solidification starts at high-index facets and spreads, forming a SC atomic sawtooth surface. Hayoung Ko, Soo Ho Choi & Ki Kang Kim Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access ‘Rewritable’ and ‘liquid-specific’ recognizable wettability pattern Design of rewritable wettability pattern of low surface tension liquids is a challenging task to achieve. Here, authors introduced a chemically reactive crystalline network of polymer to develop rewritable and liquid-specific wettability pattern via spatially selective chemical modification. Manideepa Dhar, Debasmita Sarkar & Uttam Manna Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access Computational elements based on coupled VO2 oscillators via tunable thermal triggering The tunable control of the interaction among oscillators usually requires additional electronic components. Here, Li et al. show that the thermal coupling synchronizes neighboring VO2 oscillators without any extra electronic components, reducing the energy consumption. Guanmin Li, Zhong Wang & Stuart S. P. Parkin Article 11 July 2024 | Open Access High throughput platform technology for rapid target identification in personalized phage therapy Phage therapy often relies on labour-intensive and time-consuming methods that could lead to delays in medical treatment. Here, authors describe an all-in-one solution for navigating multiple, large, decentralized biobanks, allowing for rapid high-throughput phage susceptibility testing. Fereshteh Bayat, Arwa Hilal & Zeinab Hosseinidoust Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Tunable quantum emitters on large-scale foundry silicon photonics Integrating tunable quantum emitters with commercial photonic circuits is promising for quantum information applications but remains a challenge. Here the authors report integration of InAs/InP microchiplets containing quantum dot single photon emitters into a large-scale foundry silicon platform. Hugo Larocque, Mustafa Atabey Buyukkaya & Dirk Englund Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Ultrathin silica-tiling on living cells for chemobiotic catalysis Harnessing the power of cell biocatalysis for sustainable chemical synthesis requires rational integration of living cells with modern synthetic catalysts. Here, the authors introduce a silica-tiling strategy to enhance yeast cell biocatalysts by creating a nanospace with 2D silica bilayers hosting metal catalysts, enabling chemobiotic reactions without affecting cell viability. Jeongsang Oh, Nitee Kumari & In Su Lee Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access High-density vertical sidewall MoS2 transistors through T-shape vertical lamination Vertical transistors based on 2D semiconductors have the potential to reduce the footprint of electronic circuits, but their high-density integration remains challenging. Here, the authors report a vertical lamination approach for realizing high-density MoS2 vertical sidewall transistors. Quanyang Tao, Ruixia Wu & Yuan Liu Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Ambient hydrogenation of solid aromatics enabled by a high entropy alloy nanocatalyst Traditional hydrogenation of aromatics requires high temperatures and pressures. Here, the authors present a PdPtRuCuNi high entropy alloy nanocatalyst that achieves 100% hydrogenation of solid aromatics at 25 °C without the need for solvents. Zekun Jing, Yakun Guo & Maobing Shuai Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Active species in chloroaluminate ionic liquids catalyzing low-temperature polyolefin deconstruction The catalytic conversion of polyolefins into gasoline-range alkanes requires a comprehensive understanding of the catalytically active species and their corresponding performance. Here the authors tackle this need by examining the nuclearity of the chloroaluminate ions and their interactions with reaction intermediates. Wei Zhang, Rachit Khare & Johannes A. Lercher Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Tuning electronic structure of metal-free dual-site catalyst enables exclusive singlet oxygen production and in-situ utilization Developing eco-friendly catalysts for effective water purification with minimal oxidant use is imperative. Here, authors present a metal-free and nitrogen/fluorine dual-site catalyst, enhancing the selectivity and utilization of singlet oxygen for sustainable water decontamination. Chao-Hai Gu, Song Wang & Han-Qing Yu Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Wavelength-tunable high-fidelity entangled photon sources enabled by dual Stark effects Realising scalable entangled photon sources with quantum dots requires compensating for both wavelength mismatches and exciton fine-structure splitting (FSS). So far, multiple QDs with the same emission wavelength and near-zero FSS have not been demonstrated. Here, the authors fill this gap, reaching high entanglement fidelity for multiple QDs tuned into resonance with each other or with Rb atoms. Chen Chen, Jun-Yong Yan & Feng Liu Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Isotopologues of potassium 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxide for applications in positron emission tomography and beyond The 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy group features in drugs and potential tracers for biomedical imaging with positron emission tomography. Herein, the authors report the conversion of fluoroform into potassium 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxide isotopologues and their applications in late stage 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxylations of aromatic and aliphatic substrates for positron emission tomography and stable isotope labeling. Qunchao Zhao, Sanjay Telu & Victor W. Pike Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Realization of higher-order topological lattices on a quantum computer Previous quantum simulations of higher-order topological phases have utilized synthetic dimensions. Here the authors simulate high-order topological phases on lattices with spatial dimension up to four on a superconducting quantum computer using a mapping to a many-body Hamiltonian in a reduced dimension. Jin Ming Koh, Tommy Tai & Ching Hua LeeArticle 10 July 2024 | Open Access Bioengineered niches that recreate physiological extracellular matrix organisation to support long-term haematopoietic stem cells The ability to maintain blood stem cells (HSCs) in vitro would allow us to provide better therapies for blood diseases. Here, the authors report that polymer-organised extracellular proteins, coupled to soft environments mimicking bone marrow stiffness, allow stromal cells to maintain HSCs in vitro. Hannah Donnelly, Ewan Ross & Matthew J. Dalby Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Strong angular and spectral narrowing of electroluminescence in an integrated Tamm-plasmon-driven halide perovskite LED By exploiting Tamm plasmon modes, Ooi et al. report highly directional and enhanced electroluminescence in quasi-2D perovskite LEDs with angular FWHM of 36.6° and spectral FWHM of 12.1 nm. The photonic platform is versatile and tuneable across the visible spectral range with directionality up to 40°. Zher Ying Ooi, Alberto Jiménez-Solano & Samuel D. Stranks Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Ion diffusion retarded by diverging chemical susceptibility For first-order phase transitions, the second derivatives of Gibbs free energy diverge at the transition point, causing super-elasticity or super-thermicity. Here authors report a chemical analogy of these effects by atomic doping, where the second derivative of Gibbs free energy diverges at the transition point, leading to an anomalously high energy barrier for dopant diffusion in coexisting phases. Yuhang Cai, Zhaowu Wang & Junqiao Wu Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access On-demand transposition across light-matter interaction regimes in bosonic cQED Current bosonic circuit QED setups lack tunability across interaction regimes between a superconducting cavity and a nonlinear circuit element. Here the authors achieve such tunability in a cavity-transmon system by using a magnetic hose for fast flux control of the qubit while preserving the cavity coherence. Fernando Valadares, Ni-Ni Huang & Yvonne Y. Gao Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Iron-sulphur protein catalysed [4+2] cycloadditions in natural product biosynthesis Native enzymes using Lewis acid catalysis in intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition remain unreported. Herein, the authors report the ferredoxins catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition in polycyclic macrolactam verticilactam biosynthesis using a transition-metal center. Yu Zheng, Katsuyuki Sakai & Shunji Takahashi Article 10 July 2024 | Open Access Primordial aqueous alteration recorded in water-soluble organic molecules from the carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu In this study, the authors report primordial aqueous alteration signatures in water-soluble organic molecules from the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu. This provides evidence o coevolutionary aqueous alteration between water and organics in this asteroid. Yoshinori Takano, Hiroshi Naraoka & Shogo Tachibana Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Acquisition of molecular rolling lubrication by self-curling of graphite nanosheet at cryogenic temperature Molecular rolling lubrication can control friction phenomenon like a wheel. Here, the authors find the self-curled deformation effect of graphite nanosheets at cryogenic temperature, which promotes the in-situ formation of parallel nano-rollers, and acquire molecular rolling lubrication. Panpan Li, Wenhao He & Jianmin Chen Comment 09 July 2024 | Open Access Blossoms in perovskite planar X-ray detectors Solution processable perovskites are revolutionising the research field of direct X-ray detectors. Here, the authors discuss the opportunities, challenges, and research strategies for perovskite planar X-ray detectors. Xiangyu Ou & Feng Gao Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Regioselective fluorination of allenes enabled by I(I)/I(III) catalysis The prevalence of propargylic fluorides in bioactive molecules necessitates development of synthetic methods towards this connectivity. Here, the authors present a protocol to construct propargylic fluorides from allenes via I(I)/I(III) catalysis, delivering the products in high regioselectivity. Zi-Xuan Wang, Yameng Xu & Ryan Gilmour Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed atroposelective synthesis of N-Aryl phthalimides and maleimides via activation of carboxylic acids N-aryl phthalimides are usually synthesized by the condensation of phthalic anhydride and aniline derivatives under harsh conditions. Herein, the authors report the N-heterocyclic carbene- catalyzed atroposelective synthesis of N-aryl phthalimides via the traditional N-CC = O disconnection under mild conditions. Soumen Barik, Sowmya Shree Ranganathappa & Akkattu T. Biju Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Photocascade chemoselective controlling of ambident thio(seleno)cyanates with alkenes via catalyst modulation Thiocyanates possess ambident reactivity, as the electron density can be localized on sulfur and nitrogen atoms of the moiety. Here, the authors present chemoselective, divergent protocols to install thiocyanates and isothiocyanates, modulated by choice of photocatalyst. Injamam Ul Hoque, Apurba Samanta & Soumitra Maity Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Two-dimensional bilayer ice in coexistence with three-dimensional ice without confinement Icing plays an important role in various physical-chemical process. Here, the authors identify a critical value of surface energy parameter, above which two-dimensional and three-dimensional coexisting ice can form on the surface. Jing Jiang, Yuanming Lai & Fan Yu Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access A joint diffusion/collision model for crystal growth in pure liquid metals In current solidification theory, it is still unclear whether growth in pure liquid metals is thermally activated. Here, the author presents a model for predicting growth behaviour of pure metals, showing that a considerable fraction of liquid atoms needs thermal activation in this process. Hua Men Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Stimuli-responsive mechanically interlocked polymer wrinkles Existing methods for modulating artificial wrinkles with responsive erasure and regeneration behaviours are reliant on a network rearrangement mechanism. Here, the authors report a dually cross-linked mechanically interlocked network that can dissipate stress within the wrinkles by sliding without disrupting the network structure. Mengling Yang, Shuai Chen & Xuzhou Yan Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Catalytic properties of trivalent rare-earth oxides with intrinsic surface oxygen vacancy Oxygen vacancies (Ov) are prevalent anionic defects in transition metal oxides, known for enhancing catalytic performance by modifying the material’s electronic and geometric structure. Here, the authors introduce a novel type of Ov, and materials featuring this rare Ov structure demonstrate excellent performance in the ammonia decomposition reaction. Kai Xu, Jin-Cheng Liu & Chun-Hua Yan Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Synergism of primary and secondary interactions in a crystalline hydrogen peroxide complex with tin Despite the significance of H2O2-metal adducts, the nature of the interactions between H2O2 and metal cations remains elusive due to the weak coordinating ability of H2O2, which poses challenges in characterizing the specific nature of these interactions. Herein, the authors obtain H2O2–metal complexes using H2O2 as both solvent and ligand. Alexander G. Medvedev, Pavel A. Egorov & Petr V. Prikhodchenko Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Topologically controlled synthesis of active colloidal bipeds Topological growth control can produce colloidal rods with specific, adjustable lengths. Using an external magnetic field and metamorphic patterns, authors assemble paramagnetic colloidal spheres into walking bipeds, whose length determines their movement towards or away from an active zone. Jonas Elschner, Farzaneh Farrokhzad & Thomas M. Fischer Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Estimation of joint torque in dynamic activities using wearable A-mode ultrasound Monitoring internal loads in the human musculoskeletal system has been challenging, especially during dynamic movement. Here, the authors present a wearable joint torque estimation strategy using A-mode ultrasound and demonstrate its effectiveness during various real-world activities. Yichu Jin, Jonathan T. Alvarez & Conor J. Walsh Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Periodic spinodal decomposition in double–strengthened medium–entropy alloy Overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off in metallic alloys is a longstanding challenge. Here, the authors design a ferrous medium-entropy alloy to induce nanoscale spinodal decomposition, resulting in doubled strength without significant ductility loss. Hyojin Park, Farahnaz Haftlang & Hyoung Seop Kim Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Piezoelectricity in chalcogenide perovskites The lead-free chalcogenide perovskite BaZrS3 is shown to exhibit piezoelectricity. The loosely packed structure of BaZrS3 allows for an extended displacement of the ions, resulting in symmetry breaking and an enhanced dipole moment. Sk Shamim Hasan Abir, Shyam Sharma & Nikhil Koratkar Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Unlocking the function promiscuity of old yellow enzyme to catalyze asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction Exploring the promiscuity of native enzymes is a promising strategy for expanding their synthetic applications. Here, the authors show that old yellow enzymes (OYEs) can facilitate the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction (MBH reaction), leveraging substrate similarities between MBH reaction and reduction, and engineer GkOYE.8 with no reduction activity, but enhanced MBH activity. Lei Wang, Yaoyun Wu & Wei Song Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Self-powered triboelectric-responsive microneedles with controllable release of optogenetically engineered extracellular vesicles for intervertebral disc degeneration repair Excessive exercise can cause intervertebral disc degeneration. Here, authors fabricate self-powered triboelectric microneedles with sustainable release of engineered extracellular vesicles for precise regulation of exercise-associated degeneration process. Weifeng Zhang, Xuan Qin & Cao Yang Article 09 July 2024 | Open Access Flavor-switchable scaffold for cultured meat with enhanced aromatic properties Flavour properties are often overlooked in meat cultivation strategies and in the development of culture scaffolds. Here, the authors develop a flavour-switchable scaffold for the enhancement of sensorial characteristics of cultured meat. Milae Lee, Woojin Choi & Jinkee Hong Matters Arising 08 July 2024 | Open Access Reply to: Diffusion anomaly in nanopores as a rich field for theorists and a challenge for experimentalists Mingbin Gao, Jiamin Yuan & Anmin Zheng Matters Arising 08 July 2024 | Open Access Diffusion anomaly in nanopores as a rich field for theorists and a challenge for experimentalists Stefano Brandani, Seungtaik Hwang & Enzo Mangano Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Observation of stacking engineered magnetic phase transitions within moiré supercells of twisted van der Waals magnets van der Waals magnets can be arranged into twisted heterostructures, with the twisting leading to the formation of new magnetic phases. Here, Li, Sun, and coauthors show via NVcentre based magnetometry small angle twisted double trilayer CrI3 exhibits a co-existing, hybrid magnetic phase with distinct phase transition temperatures. Senlei Li, Zeliang Sun & Chunhui Rita Du Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Network properties determine neural network performance Understanding of artificial neural networks function, and their ability to effectively solve specific tasks, still require more rigorous analytical background. Using network science and dynamical systems tools, the authors develop a framework for predicting the performance of artificial neural networks Chunheng Jiang, Zhenhan Huang & Jianxi Gao Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Flexible tungsten disulfide superstructure engineering for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution in anion exchange membrane water electrolysers Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis is a promising strategy for achieving sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, the authors report a flexible WS2 superstructure as hydrogen evolution catalyst for alkaline water electrolysis which could maintain stable electrolysis for 1000 h at 1 A cm−2. Lingbin Xie, Longlu Wang & Qiang Zhao Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Fluorinated chlorin chromophores for red-light-driven CO2 reduction Using low-energy photons in light-driven reactions is an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of solar energy conversion but molecular systems that mimic such function are extremely rare in non-noble-metal catalysis. Here the authors report fluorinated chlorins as chromophores for CO2 reduction, which catalytically produce CO under both 630 nm and 730 nm light irradiation. Shuang Yang, Huiqing Yuan & Zhiji Han Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Coherent spin qubit shuttling through germanium quantum dots Spin shuttling is a promising technique for establishing a quantum link between qubit registers and has been studied in several quantum dot qubit platforms. Here the authors realize coherent shuttling of a hole spin qubit in a minimal quantum dot chain in germanium despite strong spin-orbit coupling. Floor van Riggelen-Doelman, Chien-An Wang & Menno Veldhorst Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Donor-acceptor bulk-heterojunction sensitizer for efficient solid-state infrared-to-visible photon up-conversion Using donor-acceptor bulk heterojunction as sensitiser for efficient charge generation and low charge recombination in triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion, Bi et al report solid-state one-step printed device with upconversion efficiency of 2.2% and threshold excitation intensity of 10 mW cm−2. Pengqing Bi, Tao Zhang & Le Yang Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Genetically encoded Nδ-vinyl histidine for the evolution of enzyme catalytic center Genetic code expansion enables precisely introducing chemical structures into proteins to improve their catalytic functions. In this study, the authors report the incorporation of genetically encoded Nδ-Vinyl Histidine (δVin-H) into an organocatalytic esterase and myoglobin, and improve the performance of the hydrolysis reaction and carbene transfer reactions catalyzed by the respective enzymes. Haoran Huang, Tao Yan & Jie Wang Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Metal-ligand dual-site single-atom nanozyme mimicking urate oxidase with high substrates specificity Single-atom nanozymes are a type of non-protein artificial enzymes and promising for mimicking enzyme active centers, but lack recognition sites to confer substrate specificity. Here, the authors report on a metal-ligand dual-site single-atom nanozyme (Ni-DAB) that mimics the dual-site catalytic mechanism of urate oxidase and has high selectivity in uric acid (UA) oxidation. Kaiyuan Wang, Qing Hong & Yuanjian Zhang Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Ultrastable and efficient slight-interlayer-displacement 2D Dion-Jacobson perovskite solar cells The stability of perovskite materials has been a long-standing concern for their solution-processed photovoltaic applications. Here, authors report a series of Dion−Jacobson perovskites incorporated with 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanammonium and demonstrate efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Weichuan Zhang, Ziyuan Liu & Huiqiong Zhou Article 08 July 2024 | Open Access Effects of nonlinearity on Anderson localization of surface gravity waves Anderson localization is a linear phenomenon, with ongoing debate about the impact of nonlinearity. This study shows that nonlinearity strengthens the localization of surface-gravity waves in a canal with a random bottom through experimental measurements and numerical simulations. Guillaume Ricard, Filip Novkoski & Eric Falcon Article 07 July 2024 | Open Access Molecular and supramolecular adaptation by coupled stimuli Adaptation transcends scale in both natural and artificial systems, but the factors driving the cause of this phenomenon are unclear. Herein, the authors describe the molecular requirements for adaptation and establish a link to rationalize adaptive behavior on a self-assembled level. Torsten Dünnebacke, Niklas Niemeyer & Gustavo Fernández Article 07 July 2024 | Open Access Designing highly efficient interlocking interactions in anisotropic active particles Cluster formation in microscopic swimmers, essential for biofilms and colonies, typically requires high concentrations. Authors show that bent rod shapes, especially semicircles, significantly promote clustering even at low densities, driven by interlocking mechanisms and cluster stability. Solenn Riedel, Ludwig A. Hoffmann & Daniela J. Kraft Article 07 July 2024 | Open Access Hierarchically porous and single Zn atom-embedded carbon molecular sieves for H2 separations Supramolecular mixed matrix materials containing amorphous MOFs are carbonized to form hierarchically nanoporous carbon membranes, and the single metal atoms and clusters enhance H2 separation properties for H2 production, delivery, and recovery. Leiqing Hu, Won-Il Lee & Haiqing Lin Article 07 July 2024 | Open Access Stable and efficient CsPbI3 quantum-dot light-emitting diodes with strong quantum confinement Li et al. report the regulation of perovskite quantum dot growth after nucleation by designing ligand exchange utilising proton transfer. The Ostwald ripening and regrowth are prohibited with an external quantum efficiency of 26.04% achieved in the pure-red perovskite light-emitting diodes. Yanming Li, Ming Deng & Chaoyu Xiang Article 07 July 2024 | Open Access Pedestrians' safety using projected time-to-collision to electric scooters Regulators’ approach to electric scooters on sidewalks is inconsistent and conflicting worldwide. Maintaining a minimum projected time-to-collision as a near-miss metric provides a sufficient condition for pedestrian safety as well as improving pedestrian subjective perceived safety. Alireza Jafari & Yen-Chen Liu Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Generation of precision microstructures based on reconfigurable photoresponsive hydrogels for high-resolution polymer replication and microoptics Microstructured molds play an important role in polymer replication for applied fields like microfluidics and precision optics. Here, authors present a method to generate micromolds based on reusable photoresponsive hydrogels and demonstrate its application for microfluidic devices and optical elements. Pang Zhu, Qingchuan Song & Bastian E. Rapp Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Concentric hollow multi-hexagonal platelets from a small molecule Creating well-defined hollow two-dimensional structures from small organic molecules, particularly those with controlled widths and numbers of segments, remains a formidable challenge. Here the authors report the fabrication of well-defined concentric, hollow 2D platelets with programmable widths and numbers of segments. Chenglong Liao, Yanjun Gong & Jincai Zhao Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Tetrafluoroisopropylation of alkenes and alkynes enabled by photocatalytic consecutive difluoromethylation with CF2HSO2Na Direct assembly of complex fluorinated motifs from simple fluorine sources is an attractive frontier of synthetic chemistry. Here the authors report a protocol for achieving tetrafluoroisopropylation by using commercially available CF2HSO2Na as a convenient source of the tetrafluoroisopropyl [(CF2H)2CH] group. Yuwei Hong, Jiayan Qiu & Gangguo Zhu Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Chemically tailored block copolymers for highly reliable sub-10-nm patterns by directed self-assembly Printing features with half pitch size of less than 10 nm by block copolymer lithography is challenging. Here, the authors employ directed self-assembly on tailored block co-polymers and achieved line pattern of 15.1 nm which corresponds to 7.6 nm half pitch size. Shinsuke Maekawa, Takehiro Seshimo & Teruaki Hayakawa Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Shadows of quantum machine learning Quantum machine learning faces applicability challenges as quantum computers are needed for both training and evaluation of trained models. This study explores models that can be quantumly trained but classically evaluated, highlighting their limits compared to fully quantum models and their advantages over classical ones. Sofiene Jerbi, Casper Gyurik & Vedran Dunjko Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Clustering induces switching between phoretic and osmotic propulsion in active colloidal rafts Diffusiophoresis and diffusioosmosis govern the dynamics of catalytically active colloids. Here, the authors show that the competition between these effects can control the propulsion direction of active colloidal rafts composed of a central apolar particle and several shells of passive ones. Dolachai Boniface, Sergi G. Leyva & Pietro Tierno Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Aggregation promotes charge separation in fullerene-indacenodithiophene dyad Light-harvesting applications require dyes with efficiently formed long-lived charge separated electronic states. Here the authors achieve this through aggregation in fullerene dyads and reveal their excited-state dynamics mechanism. Chong Wang, Bo Wu & Chunru Wang Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Engineered droplet-forming peptide as photocontrollable phase modulator for fused in sarcoma protein Modulating the phase of condensates can unravel the roles of condensation. Here the authors engineer a droplet-forming peptide that promotes FUS condensation in the dark and triggers FUS aggregation upon photoinitiation, both in vitro and in cells: this shows a correlation between FUS phase transitions and proteinopathy. Hao-Yu Chuang, Ruei-Yu He & Joseph Jen-Tse Huang Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access General negative pressure annealing approach for creating ultra-high-loading single atom catalyst libraries High-density single atom catalysts are crucial for improving catalytic performance but achieving metal contents above 10 wt% is challenging. Here, authors develop a negative pressure annealing strategy, which enables fabrication of catalysts with metal contents up to 27–45 wt% for 13 different metals. Yi Wang, Chongao Li & Yunteng Qu Article 06 July 2024 | Open Access Water quality management could halve future water scarcity cost-effectively in the Pearl River Basin Future water scarcity is expected to increase up to fourfold in most parts of the Pearl Basin by 2050, driven by changes in both water quantity and quality. Water quality management options could cost-effectively half future water scarcity. Safa Baccour, Gerwin Goelema & Maryna Strokal