Generalized Gradient Approximation Made Simple

DFT Study of the Mechanism of Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene by Rhodium Single-Atom Catalyst Supported on HY Zeolite

The selectivity of acetylene hydrogenation by the Rh single-atom catalyst (SAC) supported on HY zeolite was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and a 5/83T quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) embedded cluster model. The calculated activation barrier (ΔG≠) for the oxidative addition of dihydrogen to the Rh metal center (15.9 kcal/mol) is lower in energy than that for the σ-bond metathesis of dihydrogen to the Rh-C bond (22.7 kcal/mol) and the Rh-O bond (28.4 kcal/mol). The activation barriers of the oxidative addition of subsequent dihydrogen molecules are significantly higher than that of the oxidative addition of the first dihydrogen molecule. These findings align with the experimentally observed activity and selectivity of the atomically dispersed Rh catalyst supported on HY zeolite. Natural bond orbital (NBO), molecular orbital (MO) and fuzzy bond order analyses were used to examine the interaction between the Rh metal center and acetylene versus ethylene ligands. The occupancies of the Rh lone pairs, π-bonding and π*-antibonding orbitals of acetylene and ethylene are consistent with the expected stronger interaction between the Rh metal center and acetylene compared to ethylene on the HY zeolite support.

Dissociation of Hydrogen and Formation of Water at the (010) and (111) Surfaces of Orthorhombic FeNbO4

The orthorhombic structure of FeNbO4, where the Fe and Nb cations are distributed randomly over the octahedral 4c sites, has shown excellent promise as an anode material in solid oxide fuel cells. In this study, we have used calculations based on the density functional theory with a Hubbard Hamiltonian and long-range dispersion corrections (DFT+U-D2) to explore the adsorption and dissociation of H2 molecules and the formation reaction of water at the (010) and (111) surfaces. We have generated pristine surfaces with random distributions of cations from a 2×2×2 quasi-random orthorhombic bulk structure. Specifically, we have considered various terminations for the (010) and (111) surfaces with different ratios of Fe and Nb cations in the exposed layers. The top and sub-surface layers of the (010) surface move in opposite directions after relaxation, whereas the relaxed layers of the (111) surface shift outward by no more than 2.5 %. Simulations of the surface properties confirmed that the bandgaps are significantly reduced compared to the bulk material. We found that the hydrogen molecule prefers to dissociate at the O bridge sites of the (010) and (111) surfaces, especially where these are coordinated to Fe cations, thereby forming two hydroxyl groups. We have investigated the water formation reaction and found that the energy barriers for migration of the H ions are generally lower for the Fe/Nb-O sites than for the O-O site. Overall, our simulations predict that after dissociation, the H atoms tend to remain stable in the form of Olayer-H groups, whereas a larger barrier needs to be overcome to achieve the formation of water. Future work will focus on potential surface modifications to reduce further the barrier of migration of the dissociated H ions, especially from the oxygen bridge sites.

Space-confined charge transfer turns on multicolor emission in metal-organic frameworks via pressure treatment

Single-component multi-emissive materials with stimuli-responsive properties offer unique advantages in the field of multicolor-tunable photoluminescence (PL). However, precisely modulating the emission of each component and achieving high-efficiency emission present a formidable challenge. Herein, we demonstrate that space-confined charge transfer (CT) turns on bright blue-green-white emission in initially faintly emissive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at ambient conditions through pressure treatments. Pressure treatments induce a transition from the initial long-range CT to a space-confined mode, significantly amplifying radiative transitions. Furthermore, the space-confined CT, which occurs between mutually perpendicular ligands, significantly influences the spin-orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing. Precise tuning of space-confined CT kinetics via multi-level pressure treatments allows us to modulate the fluorescence-to-phosphorescence ratio, achieving multicolor-tunable emission in the target MOFs. Our work advances the development of multicolor-tunable smart PL materials and unlocks the potential for their application in atmospheric environments.

Ferroelectricity, Piezoelectricity, and Unprecedented Starry Ferroelastic Patterns in Organic-Inorganic (CH3C(NH2)2)3[Sb2X9] (X = Cl/Br/I) Hybrids

In this study, we present a novel class of lead-free hybrid antimony halides incorporating the acetamidinium cation, with the chemical compositions: (CH3C(NH2)2)3[Sb2Cl9] (ACA), (CH3C(NH2)2)3[Sb2Br9] (ABA), and (CH3C(NH2)2)3[Sb2I9] (AIA) . Despite their seemingly analogous chemical formulations, these compounds exhibit diverse physical characteristics, predominantly dictated by the differences in their metal-halide architectures. Indeed, the anionic frameworks of ACA and AIA are reminiscent of well-known ferroelectric materials, with ACA distinguished by its piezoelectric and ferroelastic characteristics, underpinned by a buckled honeycomb two-dimensional (2D) layers of antimony chloride. Conversely, AIA is characterized by its ferroelectric attribute, with discrete bioctahedral units forming a zero-dimensional (0D) structure. A surprising structural deviation constitutes the anionic sublattice of ABA, which amalgamates features from both ACA and AIA, yielding an unprecedented hybrid two-component (0D + 2D) anionic architecture. The ferroelectric properties of AIA have been demonstrated through pyroelectric current measurements and hysteresis loop analyses. Additionally, the noncentrosymmetric nature of ACA and AIA has been corroborated by second harmonic generation experiments. The piezoelectricity of ACA was confirmed using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Furthermore, observations under a polarizing microscope revealed distinct ferroelastic properties in both ACA and ABA, characterized by well-defined and abundant star patterns previously observed only in simple oxides and alloys.

Bimetallic synergy in non-precious metal Mn/Ba-SSZ-13 zeolite for improving NOx storage capacity at low temperatures

Pd-zeolite is considered one of the most promising passive NOx adsorber (PNA) materials for NOx purification in diesel vehicles during cold start. Nevertheless, the scarcity and high cost of the precious metal Pd restrict the industrialisation of Pd-zeolites as PNA. This work developed a bimetallic Mn and Ba co-modified SSZ-13 as non-precious metal PNA material. The results of the orthogonal experiments demonstrated that 0.5Ba3Mn-SSZ-13 exhibits an exceptional NOx storage capacity (255 μmol/gcat.). The physicochemical properties, active adsorption sites and NOx adsorption mechanism are deeply analyzed to illustrate the bimetallic synergistic effect between Mn and Ba. The findings demonstrate that the addition of Ba results in the formation of greater quantities of Mn4+ (MnO2) in lieu of Mn3+ (Mn2O3) within the 0.5Ba3Mn-SSZ-13. Moreover, it demonstrates that Mn3+ (Mn2O3) has a higher affinity for NO, NO2 and NO3- than of Mn4+ (MnO2) through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Concurrently, the introduction of Ba increases the adsorption sites for nitrate and nitrite species in 0.5Ba3Mn-SSZ-13, thereby enhancing the NOx storage capacity of the zeolite. This work offers novel insights and a scientific foundation for the synthesis of non-metallic PNA materials, which will facilitate the substantial advancement of materials that comply with ultra-low emission regulations in the near future.

Revealing the enhanced role of hydroxylamine and bimetals in the CuFe2O4/PMS/HA system towards effective degradation of organic contaminants

In this study, a hydroxylamine (HA)-enhanced magnetic spinel catalyst CuFe2O4-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system (CuFe2O4/PMS/HA) was constructed to degrade Sulfamethoxazole (SMX). Results from experiments and theoretical calculations indicated that active species generation mechanism involved the direct activation of PMS by HA, the redox cycles acceleration on the surface of CuFe2O4 by HA, and the synergistic action of the low valence Fe and Cu species in CuFe2O4 for PMS activation. The efficacy of other organic pollutants removal was further validated in bio-treated landfill leachate through removal performance and toxicity assessment. This study provided an understanding of the role of HA and its interactions with Cu-Fe bimetals to activate PMS, advancing our understanding and inspiring the application of similar spinel/reductants/PMS systems.

Bifunctional Pd-Pt Supported Nanoparticles for the Mild Hydrodeoxygenation and Oxidation of Biomass-Derived Compounds

The conversion of bio-based molecules into valuable chemicals is essential for advancing sustainable processes and addressing global resource challenges. However, conventional catalytic methods often demand harsh conditions and suffer from low product selectivity. This study introduces a series of bifunctional PdxPty catalysts supported on TiO2, designed for achieving selective and mild-temperature catalysis in biomass conversion. Synthesized via a sol immobilization method and characterized by XRF, N2 physisorption, HRTEM, HAADF-STEM, and XPS, these catalysts demonstrate superior selectivity and activity over monometallic counterparts. In fact, at 20 bar H2, Pt/TiO2 show a low selectivity in benzophenone hydrodeoxygenation, favoring the benzhydrol hydrogenation product; similarly, Pd/TiO2 preferentially form the diphenylmethane hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) product, but with slow conversion rates. The synergistic combination of the two metals in Pd4Pt1/TiO2 drastically improve performance, with 100 % benzophenone conversion and 73 % diphenylmethane selectivity. DFT calculations confirm the synergy between Pd and Pt as the key to drive the activity and selectivity. Additionally, the catalysts also demonstrate high recyclability with minimal performance loss, and have been generalized for the HDO of vanillin and furfural, and in HMF oxidation. Overall, this work highlights the potential of bimetallic catalysts in enabling efficient and selective bio-based molecule conversion under mild conditions.

Conventional High-Temperature Superconductivity at Ambient Pressure in Zincblende-Like Light-Element Compounds

To validate the feasibility of high-temperature superconductivity in light-element compounds at ambient pressure, we designed a class of XY4Z4 (Y4Z4 = B4N4, Si4C4, B4P4) structures based on the zincblende configuration. Using high-throughput calculations based on density functional theory, we evaluate 201 compounds and identify 17 materials that are both dynamically and mechanically stable at ambient pressure. These materials demonstrate an insulator-to-metal transition achieved through carrier doping, including 12 superconductors, with 4 of them showing a Tc above 20 K. Notably, LiB4N4 and MgB4P4 stand out with predicted Tc values of 67 and 45 K, respectively, both surpassing the Tc of MgB2. A high electronic density of states at the Fermi level, combined with phonon softening in the low-frequency region, enhances electron-phonon coupling strength. The exploration of strong-bond and lightweight materials will pave the way for achieving high-temperature superconductivity at ambient pressure.

A Theoretical Investigation on the Structural, Electronic and Photocatalytic Properties of BaTaO2N Adsorbed with Metal Cocatalysts

We have performed DFT calculations to study the adsorption of single metal atoms (M=Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) on both BaO- and TaON-terminated surfaces of cis-BaTaO2N (001). We have identified the most stable adsorption configuration of each case and explored the relative stability, structural deformations, charge transfer, work function, density of states and mechanism of photocatalytic HER. For BaO termination, all of the adatoms bind covalently on top of the surface oxygens. For TaON termination, the metal atoms are located at the fourfold hollow site. The single metal atoms tend to exist on TaON-termination while they are apt to aggregate on BaO-termination. The formation of impurity states in the band gap is mostly originated from the adatom. When electrons are transferred from the adatom to the surface, the conduction band of semiconductor becomes partially occupied. The charge gained from the BaO termination or transferred to the TaON termination reduces with the increase in electronegativity of metal adatoms. The attachment of metal atoms on the BaO termination is favorable to the improvement of HER activity. While the TaON termination adsorbed with Ti, V and Cr may have better or comparable performance of HER compared with the pure surface.

Transition Metal-Decorated Biphenylene Sheet for Dioxin Detection: A First-Principles Investigation

Detecting highly toxic environmental pollutants, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), is crucial for environmental safety. However, current sensors often lack the necessary sensitivity and efficiency for rapid detection and reusability. In this study, we explore the potential of biphenylene (BPh), a 2D carbon allotrope, for TCDD detection by using density functional theory (DFT). To enhance the performance of BPh monolayers, we introduced metal decoration using Sc, Co, and Pd. Our analysis includes geometric structure, adsorption energy, partial density of states (PDOS), charge transfer mechanisms, and work function evaluation. The results reveal that while TCDD weakly adsorbs onto pristine BPh, metal decoration significantly improves the adsorption strength by enhancing charge transfer between TCDD and the BPh monolayer, leading to stronger orbital hybridization and more stable adsorption configurations. The Co-decorated BPh system exhibits the highest adsorption energy at -1.95 eV, followed by Pd (-1.77 eV) and Sc (-1.48 eV), with Co and Pd systems showing strong interactions but limited reusability due to prolonged desorption times. In contrast, the Sc-decorated BPh monolayer balances strong adsorption and efficient desorption, making it the most practical candidate for sensing applications. The recovery time for the Sc-decorated system at 500 K was calculated to be 1.59 s, and under UV light, it reduced to 89.2 ms, indicating optimal desorption efficiency. These findings suggest that Sc-decorated BPh monolayers hold promise for developing practical, reusable sensors for TCDD detection, providing both high sensitivity and reusability.

Less-acidic boric acid-functionalized self-assembled monolayer for mitigating NiOx corrosion for efficient all-perovskite tandem solar cells

The interfacial contact between NiOx and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in wide-bandgap (WBG) subcells limits the efficiency and stability of all-perovskite tandem solar cells (TSCs). The strongly acidic phosphoric acid (PA) anchors in common PA-SAMs corrode reactive NiOx, undermining device stability. Moreover, SAM aggregation leads to interfacial losses and significant open-circuit voltage (VOC) deficits. Here, we introduce boric acid (BA) as a milder anchoring group that chemisorbs onto NiOx via strong -BO 2 - -Ni coordination. A benzothiophene-fused head group enhances interfacial bonding through S-Ni orbital interactions, yielding higher binding energy than PA-SAMs. This design also promotes homogeneous SAM formation without aggregation. Resultantly, the WBG cell exhibits an improved PCE to 20.1%. When integrated with narrow bandgap (NBG) subcell, the two-terminal (2T) TSCs achieve an ameliorative PCE of 28.5% and maintain 90% of the initial PCE after maximum power point tracking (MPP) under 1 sun illumination for 500 h.

Oxygen-transfer from N2O to CO via Y-doped Ti2CO2 (MXene) monolayer at room temperature: Density functional theory and ab initio molecular simulation studies

Nitrous oxide (N2O) contributes to global warming and its reduction by carbon dioxide (CO) offers a promising way to mitigate N2O emissions. However, available catalysts lack high activities at low temperatures. Herein, the catalytic activity of transition-metal-doped Ti2CO2 monolayers (MXenes) are identified theoretically. It is unraveled that Sc-, Y-, Ti- and Zr-doped MXenes exhibit both thermodynamically and dynamically stable while Hf-MXene is dynamical stable. The obtained energy profiles, activation barriers and energetic spans are compared. A new descriptor considering synergy effects of promotion energy, ionization potential and d-electron number is proposed for the energetic span with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The Y-doped MXene stands out as an ideal catalyst which is further validated using the ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at 298.15 K. This work offers not only an excellent room-temperature catalyst for N2O + CO reaction, but also a descriptor for chemical reactions with a high correlation.

Elasticity and stability of GdAl2 under pressure and temperature investigated using DFT+AI

The cubic ferromagnetic Laves phase intermetallic compound [Formula: see text] is a promising candidate for aerospace, defense, and advanced engineering applications due to its thermal stability and reliable elastic properties under pressure. However, two key gaps persist: discrepancies between theoretical and experimental elastic constants, and a lack of systematic pressure-dependent investigations. This study addresses these gaps, highlighting [Formula: see text]'s exceptional thermal stability, with melting temperatures rising linearly under pressure, its near-isotropic compressive behavior, and mild anisotropy in shear and Young's moduli. Using density functional theory, elasticity theory, and AI-driven neural networks, we systematically analyzed the elasticity and stability of the system under pressure and temperature. A rigorous energy-based methodology resolves the first gap, setting a benchmark for cubic systems. To address the second gap, we analyzed mechanical stability up to 20 GPa via the Born stability criteria, finding consistent increases in elastic constants, bulk modulus, and Young's modulus under compression. Phonon dispersion and density of states analyses confirm dynamic stability and reveal that low-frequency acoustic modes dominated by Gd atoms drive elastic behavior, reflecting spin-dominated mechanics. Poisson's ratio shows mild anisotropy, while ductility assessments reaffirm the material's brittle nature, consistent with Laves phase intermetallics. By integrating advanced computational methods and AI predictions, this work resolves theoretical-experimental discrepancies, establishes a framework for spin-dominated systems, and positions [Formula: see text] as a benchmark for spin-lattice interactions and anisotropy in next-generation engineering under pressure.

Understanding stability and reactivity of transition metal single-atoms on graphene

Recently, single-atom catalysts (SACs) based on transition metals (TMs) have been identified as highly active catalysts with excellent atomic efficiency, reduced consumption of expensive materials, well-defined active centers, and tunable activity and selectivity. Furthermore, when carbon-based supports (including graphene-derived materials) are employed in SACs, their unique structural and electronic properties, such as high electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, can be integrated. However, for this application, the primary objective is to maintain proper stability-reactivity balance, ensuring the system remains stable while preserving its high chemical activity. In this context, we explore the adsorption behavior of TM single atoms (Co, Ni, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt) on pristine graphene (pGR), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), and graphene with monovacancies (GRm) using DFT-PBE+D3 calculations. From the adsorption energy trends, we observe weak chemisorption on pGR and physisorption on hBN, with adsorption energies ranging from 0.5 eV (Co/hBN) to 1.80 eV (Rh/pGR). In contrast, the adsorption strength is significantly enhanced on GRm (strong chemisorption), with adsorption energies reaching up to 9.11 eV for Ir/GRm, attributed to the strong defect-induced reactivity and improved orbital overlap. Electronic structure analysis reveals that pGR retains its semimetallic nature, hBN remains an insulator, and GRm transitions to metallic behavior due to the strong interactions between TM-C. Bader charge analysis indicates significant charge transfer in GRm, consistent with its catalytic potential, while hybridization indices show substantial pd orbital mixing, favoring improved TM anchoring. Thus, our results identify GRm as the most promising substrate for SACs, pGR as a balanced platform for controlled reactivity, and hBN as a stable support for selective catalysis or dielectric applications. Finally, defect engineering is a powerful strategy for designing next-generation catalysts, ensuring the right balance between stability and reactivity.

Lanthanide-specific doping in vacancy-engineered piezocatalysts induces lysosomal destruction and tumor cell pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated pyroptosis provides a robust strategy for overcoming apoptosis resistance in breast cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the low efficiency of pyroptosis remains an undeniable challenge. Overcoming this obstacle necessitates the creation of innovative approaches and nanocatalysts to boost ROS generation. Herein, the distinct lanthanum-doped BiFeO3 (La-BFO) piezoelectric nanozymes are rationally designed and engineered for the specific cell pyroptosis of breast cancer through inducing the amplified production of ROS and releasing La ions.

RESULTS

The introduction of La reduces the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs through narrowing the bandgap and creating the oxygen vacancy of BFO, improving the harmful ROS generation efficiency. Importantly, the released La ions robustly disrupt the lysosomal membrane, ultimately inducing cell pyroptosis, in combination with ROS-induced biological effect.

CONCLUSION

In vitro and in vivo antineoplastic results confirm the desirable therapeutic effect on combating tumor. Especially, the iron and bismuth elemental components endow the nanocomposites with dual-mode computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging ability, guaranteeing the potential therapeutic guidance and monitoring.

Discovery and Prediction on a Family of Hard Superconductors with Kagome Lattice: XY3 Compounds

The search for and design of superconductors with both Kagome lattice and hardness is a challenging and frontier research topic. This work utilizes structure predictions to discover the Kagome lattice in NaSi3_P6/mmm phase of NaxSiy (x, y = 1-3). For a comprehensive understanding of XY3_P6/mmm, other atoms such as X = Li, Na, Cs and Y = B, Si, Ge are included. Superconducting critical temperatures (Tc) of XY3 compounds are calculated between 0 and 20 GPa and found to be 30.54 K for CsB3 at 0 GPa, indicating that electron-phonon coupling, phonon softening, linewidths, and electron density at the Fermi level all have significant effects on Tc. The bonding type of B, Si, and Ge atoms in the Kagome lattice also determines the boundaries of its hard properties and superconductivity. Moreover, the melting temperature of NaSi3_P6/mmm is determined to be 608 K at 0 GPa and P-T phase diagram at pressures of 0-15 GPa using deep learning molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings provide a multitude of excellent properties in the XY3 compounds, including Kagome lattice, high hardness, and superconductors, which will provide essential physical insights and theoretical guidance for the experimental exploration of the hard superconductors.

High-Temperature High-Voltage Thermal Charging Cells Enabled by Ca-Li Dual-Cationic Ionic Liquid Electrolytes and Anionophilic Separators

Thermoelectric technologies (TEs) offer immense potential for waste heat recovery and energy storage. However, the practical application of current TEs has been severely hampered by potential performance degradation in extreme environments, particularly at high temperatures, due to electrolyte flammability or poor carrier mobility. The development of high-temperature, high-performance TEs is crucial for broadening their operational range and enabling diverse applications. Here, practical high-temperature high-voltage thermal charging cells (HHTCCs) are reported, facilitated by a heat-resistant trifluoromethanesulfonate-based Ca-Li dual-cationic ionic liquid electrolyte containing functionalized AmimCl solvent, together with a thermotolerant composite membrane, PEN(polyphenylene-ether-nitrile)@ZrBDC-F-4%. The dual-cation mechanism enables high thermal voltage through cooperative energy storage, while the functionalized AmimCl accelerates the mobility of Ca2+ and Li+ ions by weakening the surrounding shielding effect. Additionally, the anionophilic ZrBDC-F-4% nanoparticles in the composite membrane enhance carrier migration. As a result, the HHTCCs exhibit an impressive thermal voltage of 1.138 V, a remarkable thermopower of 15.3 mV K-1, and an outstanding Carnot-relative efficiency of 9.56% over an unprecedented temperature range from 328.15 to 393.15 K, demonstrating the excellent safety and feasibility of HHTCCs. This work expands the service-temperature range of i-TEs, holding significant promise for high-temperature, high-performance waste heat harvesting.

In Situ Converting Conformal Sacrificial Layer Into Robust Interphase Stabilizes Fluorinated Polyanionic Cathodes for Aqueous Sodium-Ion Storage

Sodium vanadium oxy-fluorophosphates (NVOPF), as typical fluorinated polyanionic compounds, are considered high-voltage and high-capacity cathode materials for aqueous sodium-ion storage. However, the poor cycle life caused by interfacial degradation (especially the attack of specific HF by-products) greatly hampers their application in aqueous electrolytes. Here, it is shown that in situ converting harmful HF derivate to F-containing cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) can overcome the above challenge. As a proof-of-concept, a conformal Al2O3 sacrificial layer is precoated on NVOPF for on-site generating robust AlF3-rich CEI while eliminating continuous HF release. The evolved CEI chemistry mitigates interfacial side reactions, inhibits vanadium dissolution, and promotes Na+ transport kinetics, thus significantly boosting cycling stability (capacity retention rate increased to 3.15 times), rate capability, and even low-temperature performance (≈1.5 times capacity improvement at -20 °C). When integrated with pseudocapacitive zeolite-templated carbon anode and adhesive hydrogel electrolyte, a unique 2.3 V quasi-solid-state sodium-ion hybrid capacitor is developed, exhibiting remarkable cycle life (77.0% after 1000 cycles), high energy and power densities, and exceptional safety against extreme conditions. Furthermore, a photovoltaic energy storage module is demonstrated, highlighting the potential use in future smart/microgrids. The work paves new avenues for enabling the use of unstable electrode materials via interfacial engineering.

Reusable Te-Doped Sn-P-I Catalysts With Anti-Healing P Vacancies and Stable I Sites for Efficient Black Phosphorus Growth

Black phosphorus (BP) holds significant potential for various applications, but its widespread use requires the development of efficient and cost-effective preparation methods. Sn-P-I clathrates are identified as potential catalysts for BP growth; however, the intact Sn-P-I structure leads to prolonged preparation times, rapid deactivation, and an unclear catalytic mechanism. In this study, a Te-doping strategy is proposed to simultaneously improve the activity and stability of Sn-P-I catalysts. Te doping induces the formation of Sn─Te bonds, creates intrinsic anti-healing phosphorus vacancies, while also mitigates iodine loss due to the lower electronegativity of Te compared to P. This doping changes the deactivation mechanism of the Sn-I-P from phosphorus saturation to iodine loss in the Te-doped Sn-I-P. To further improve catalyst reusability, an iodination treatment is introduced to reactivate the Te-Sn-P-I catalysts. The optimized Te-Sn-P-I catalyst reduced the reaction time for BP synthesis from 15 h to just 45 min, achieving a BP yield of 96.7%. The reactivation process restores 100% of the catalytic performance.

Understanding the Synergistic Effect of Mg/Co Ions Doping on the Layer-Tunnel Hybrid Structure of Na0.44MnO2 Cathode Materials

Sodium manganese oxide Na0.44MnO2 has become a promising cathode material for sodium ion batteries due to its stable tunnel structure, but its low Na+ content and Mn3+ induced Jahn Teller (JT) distortion pose challenges to its practical application. This study constructs a tunnel-layered hybrid material that combines the advantage of two structures through co-doping with Mg and Co ions. The Mg/Co co-substitution effect is crucial in regulating the hybrid crystal structure, as it compresses the TM-O layer (transition metal oxide plates) and expands the Na layer spacing, enhancing Na+ diffusion kinetics. This modification also mitigates lattice distortion from the JT effect, improving structural stability. Electrochemical studies reveal that the Na0.44Mn0.96Mg0.02Co0.02O2 cathode in sodium-ion batteries demonstrates a higher initial specific capacity (135.8 mAh g-1, 0.5C) and improved cycle stability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further confirm that Mg and Co ions reduce the band gap, enhance electronic conductivity, and improve rate performance. Additionally, the increased O 2p state density near the Fermi level favors oxygen redox reactions. This research provides a new method for the design of energy storage materials. Besides, the investigation into the mechanism of Mg and Co dual substitution offers a promising strategy for optimizing sodium-ion batteries.

Tailoring Colour Centres of Host-Dopant Light Emitters by X-Ray Radiations

Electrically driven host-dopant structure, such as single Ga-doped ZnO microwire, is promising for miniaturized light sources. However, the electroluminescence (EL) for a fixed concentration of Ga dopant barely vary for a single ZnO micro/nanostructure, limiting their applications in integrated optoelectronics. Here X-ray irradiation is reported as a simple and effective post-treatment to tailor the EL intensity and color coordinate of Ga-doped ZnO microwires. After irradiating the microwires under an X-ray dose of 180 Gy, the intensity of green EL light increases by ≈12 times, accompanied by a narrowed spectrum linewidth. Meanwhile, the EL color coordinate shifts from (0.309, 0.416) for pristine microwires to (0.319, 0.503) for X-ray irradiated ones, corresponding to more purified green emission. The EL intensity monotonically increases (>20 times) with further increments of irradiation doses, and intense X-ray irradiations shift the EL color center toward the green-yellow spectral region and a total average redshift of ≈30±6 nm is achieved. The density functional theory (DFT) simulations suggest that the EL variation may stem from the substitution of host Zn atoms by interstitial Ga dopant stimulated by high-energy X-ray. These presented results indicate X-ray irradiation is a potential post-treatment strategy for host-dopant light emitters toward practical applications.

Ambient Solvent Evaporation-Triggered Irreversible Covalent Crosslinking for Robust Adhesion in Extreme Conditions

Covalently crosslinked polymers, renowned for their stability and superior performance, play a pivotal role in materials science and technology. Yet, conventional crosslinking, reliant on external agents and energy-intensive processes, prompts a growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient alternatives. Here, it is demonstrated that irreversible covalent crosslinking can be achieved simply through ambient solvent evaporation in a molecularly engineered polydimethylsiloxane system functionalized with dithiolane moieties. This process, validated using reduced density gradient analysis, forms a robust, irreversible covalent polymer network (CTP), fundamentally distinct from conventional dynamic disulfide-based reversible crosslinking systems or physically bonded polymers typically formed via solvent evaporation. The resultant CTP demonstrates strong adhesion to various substrates, as analyzed quantitatively through Density Functional Theory simulations. Furthermore, the CTP displays excellent waterproofing, high optical transparency, and notable resistance to extreme temperatures and highly corrosive solvents. The superior performance of CTP derives from its robust covalent network, enriched with disulfide and peptide bonds and liquid-like PDMS segments. Moreover, the CTP's preparation is straightforward, sustainable, and cost-effective. These advancements position CTP as a promising development in adhesive technology, suitable for a wide range of applications requiring mechanical robustness, chemothermal resilience, and optical clarity, particularly in scenarios sensitive to thermal or radiation exposure.

Orbital Topology of Chiral Crystals for Orbitronics

Chirality is ubiquitous in nature and manifests in a wide range of phenomena including chemical reactions, biological processes, and quantum transport of electrons. In quantum materials, the chirality of fermions, given by the relative directions between the electron spin and momentum, is connected to the band topology of electronic states. This study shows that in structurally chiral materials like CoSi, the orbital angular momentum (OAM) serves as the main driver of a nontrivial band topology in this new class of unconventional topological semimetals, even when spin-orbit coupling is negligible. A nontrivial orbital-momentum locking of multifold chiral fermions in the bulk leads to a pronounced OAM texture of the helicoid Fermi arcs at the surface. The study highlights the pivotal role of the orbital degree of freedom for the chirality and topology of electron states, in general, and paves the way towards the application of topological chiral semimetals in orbitronic devices.

Synthesis and electronic structure of atomically thin 2H-MoTe2

An in-depth understanding of the electronic structure of 2H-MoTe2 at the atomic layer limit is a crucial step towards its exploitation in nanoscale devices. Here, we show that millimeter-sized monolayer (ML) MoTe2 samples, as well as smaller sized bilayer (BL) samples, can be obtained using the mechanical exfoliation technique. The electronic structure of these materials is investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) for the first time and by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The comparison between experiments and theory allows us to describe ML MoTe2 as a semiconductor with a direct gap at the K point. This scenario is reinforced by the experimental observation of the conduction band minimum at K in Rb-doped ML MoTe2, resulting in a gap of at least 0.924 eV. In the BL MoTe2 system, the maxima of the bands at Γ and K show very similar energies, thus leaving the door open to a direct gap scenario, in analogy to WSe2. The monotonic increase in the separation between spin-split bands at K while moving from ML to BL and bulk-like MoTe2 is attributed to interlayer coupling. Our findings can be considered as a reference to understand quantum anomalous and fractional quantum anomalous Hall effects recently discovered in ML and BL MoTe2 based moiré heterostructures.

Titanium carbide MXene/anatase titanium dioxide-supported gold catalysts for the low-temperature oxidation of benzene in indoor air

In the present study, the oxidative removal of benzene (model carcinogenic aromatic volatile organic compound (VOC)) from indoor air is investigated using titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXene/anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2)-supported gold (Au) catalysts under dark and low-temperature (DLT: 30-90 °C) conditions. The reduction pre-treatment (catalyst labelled with the 'R' suffix) has been used to form metallic Au (Au0) nanoparticles and anatase TiO2 in the MXene structure. The relative ordering in the Au catalysts, if assessed in terms of room-temperature (RT) benzene (5 ppm) conversion (XB (%)) at 10,191 h-1 gas hourly space velocity, is found as: 0.5 %-Au/Ti3C2-R (85 ± 5.5 %) > 0.2 %-Au/Ti3C2-R (71 ± 1.8 %) ≈ 0.5 %-Au/Ti3C2 (71 ± 2.8 %) > 1 %-Au/Ti3C2-R (52 ± 5.8 %). The catalytic activity peaks at 0.5 wt% Au loading with reduction pre-treatment and is further enhanced by decreasing the flow rate, benzene concentration, and relative humidity (or by increasing the catalyst mass). The 0.5 %-Au/Ti3C2-R catalyst maintains stable benzene mineralization for 24 h time-on-stream (maximum tested reaction time) at RT without noticeable deactivation. Benzene oxidation on the 0.5 %-Au/Ti3C2-R surface proceeds through diverse reaction intermediates (e.g., phenolate, catecholate, o-, p-benzoquinone, formate, and carbonate). The adsorption of benzene and molecular oxygen (O2) occurs near the Au0 sites. Hydrogen first migrates from benzene to O2, forming an -OOH group attached to Au0. Subsequently, hydrogen transfers from benzene to -OOH, leading to the formation of water as the final product. The benzene ring is then unzipped to yield carbon dioxide through various reaction steps. The present work offers insights into developing Au catalysts for practical DLT control of indoor air pollutants.

The electronic properties of functionalized MXene M2XT2 (M = Ti, Zr, Sc; X = C; T = O, F) nanoribbon/striped borophene nanoribbon heterojunctions

The van der Waals heterojunctions and heterostructures developed from diverse materials demonstrate unparalleled potential by combining the favorable properties of their structural layers. In this investigation, we initially showcase the findings and evaluations derived from Density Functional Theory (DFT) of selected functionalized MXene nanoribbons (Ti2CO2, Zr2CO2, and Sc2CF2), along with four types of striped borophene nanoribbons. Nanoribbons come in two forms (armchair and zigzag) and have a variety of widths. Except for 9-, 12-, and 15-MZNRs, there are no band gaps on MXene nanoribbons arranged in a zigzag pattern. Contrastingly, band gaps emerge in MXene nanoribbons with armchair-shaped edges. It is also discovered that every selected SBNR is metallic in nature. Lastly, we carried out a computational analysis of the electronic characteristics of the MNR/SBNR heterojunctions. The significant thermodynamic stability of MNR/SBNR heterojunctions is suggested by the small lattice mismatch in the periodic direction and the negative formation energies. Our research demonstrates that all heterojunction samples exhibit metallic behavior. Additionally, we observed significant changes in total magnetization when applying electric fields of different directions and amplitudes to the heterojunction samples. These findings present promising avenues for enhancing and controlling multiferroics or electrically controllable antiferromagnets, as well as advancing spintronic devices. Moreover, they hold potential for memory devices and sensors.

Quaternary Alloy Interfaces for Stable Zinc Anodes for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries With Long-Term Cycling Stability

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as a promising energy storage solution owing to their intrinsic safety, low cost, environmental friendliness, and high theoretical specific capacity. However, their practical application is hindered by uncontrollable dendrite growth and side reactions at the zinc metal anode. To address these challenges, a simple and cost-effective electrodeposition strategy is proposed to construct a quaternary Zn-Cu-Sn-Bi alloy artificial interface layer on zinc foil (ZCSB@Zn) as the anode of AZIBs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and in situ optical dendrite observation confirm that this dense alloy interface layer reduces the migration barrier and weakens hydrogen adsorption, facilitating uniform zinc deposition while effectively suppressing side reactions and dendrite formation. The symmetric ZCSB@Zn cell exhibits extraordinary cycle stability exceeding 8000 h. Furthermore, the assembled ZCSB@Zn//CSB-MnO2 full cell demonstrates a high specific capacity of 199 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1, maintaining stability even under high loading of 10 mg cm-2 and high temperature conditions (50 °C). This study presents a scalable and cost-effective strategy for constructing quaternary artificial interface layers in zinc metal anodes, highlighting their potential for practical AZIB applications.

In intercalation and an Si-containing protective layer enhance the electrochemical performance of NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 for sodium-ion batteries

To enhance the electrochemical performance of NaNi0.5Mn0.5O2 (NM) cathode material for sodium-ion batteries, a novel indium-intercalated NaNi0.5-xMn0.5InxO2 cathode material enriched with oxygen vacancies was first synthesized via a high-shear co-precipitation method. Subsequently, a thin Si-containing protective layer was produced on the surface through the interfacial reaction between oxygen vacancies and tetraethyl orthosilicate. Results of performance evaluation and characterization tests, including in situ XRD, Ar+ sputtering XPS, and HAADF-STEM, indicated that the optimal sample Siy@NaNi0.497Mn0.5In0.003O2-y exhibited superior initial discharge capacity of 125.0 mA h g-1 (0.1 C) and excellent capacity retention of 98.4% after 100 cycles at 1 C. In particular, the Si@In-doped sample offered larger lattice spacing, higher Na+ diffusion rate and better conductivity than the In-intercalated sample and pristine NM. DFT calculations illustrated that In preferentially substituted the Mn site, while Si preferred to substitute the Ni site closer to the In-intercalating location. The Na+ diffusion energy barrier was greatly reduced with In intercalation and Si doping. Such a facile strategy to augment the lattice spacing of the O3-layer cathode while producing a thin protective layer using the oxygen vacancies on the surface has promising applications to explore new cathode materials with high electrochemical performance for sodium-ion batteries.

Endogenous Intermediate Template Guided Crystallization for High Performance FAPbCl3 UV Detector

Lead-chloride perovskite is a promising candidate for the active layer of UV detectors. However, due to the high ionic character of chloride compound, it is difficult to form a ligand-lead adduct that guides the crystallization of perovskite, resulting in poor film quality and device performance. Herein, an endogenous intermediate template strategy is developed to guide the crystallization of lead-chloride perovskite FAPbCl3 (FA = formamidine). Based on the enrichment of hydrogen bonds between ligands, a low dimensional N-Pb-O adduct FAPbCl3-DMSO (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide) is observed in precursor liquid. This results in the endogenous formation, not the external introduction of low dimensional FAxPbCly (x>1, y>3) intermediate phase, serving as a crystallization template guiding the oriented growth of FAPbCl3 perovskite film with large and closely packed grain. As a result, the film shows much stronger PL intensity and significantly reduced defect density. Therefore, a self-driven lead-chloride perovskite UV detector is realized with responsivity, detectivity and response time of 0.63 A W-1, 1.3 × 1013 Jones, and 205/53 µs at 365 nm and zero bias. Furthermore, for the first time, a uniform 64 × 64 lead-chloride perovskite UV array detector is successfully fabricated and achieves a promising image sensing function.

Liquid metal anode enables zinc-based flow batteries with ultrahigh areal capacity and ultralong duration

Zinc-based flow batteries (Zn-FBs) are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage because of their intrinsic safety and high energy density. Unlike that conventional flow batteries operate on the basis of liquid-liquid conversions, the Zn anode in Zn-FBs adopts a solid-liquid conversion reaction, presenting challenges such as dendrite formation, poor reversibility, and low areal capacity, limiting its long-duration energy storage (LDES) applications. Here, we developed a liquid metal (LM) electrode that evolves the deposition/dissolution reaction of Zn into an alloying/dealloying process within the LM, thereby achieving extraordinary areal capacity and dendrite-free Zn-FBs with outstanding cycling stability. Both Zn-I2 and Zn-Br2 flow batteries using LM electrodes exhibited an ultrahigh areal capacity of 640 milliampere-hours per square centimeter, corresponding to an ultralong discharge duration of ~16 hours, thus exceeding the LDES standard defined by the US Department of Energy. This study breaks the solid-liquid working mode of the Zn anode, offering an effective solution for LDES applications with Zn-FBs.

Symmetry is the Key to the Design of Reticular Frameworks

De novo prediction of reticular framework structures is a challenging task for chemists and materials scientists. Herein, a computational workflow that predicts a list of possible reticular frameworks based on only the connectivity and symmetry of node and linker building blocks is presented. This list is ranked based on the occurrence of topologies in known structures, thus providing a manageable number of structures that can be optimized using density functional theory, and inform future experiments. This workflow is broadly applicable, correctly predicts known reticular materials, and furthermore identifies novel unknown phases for some systems. This workflow is available online at https://rationaldesign.pythonanywhere.com/.

Investigation of ion diffusion in polyethylene oxide-based solid electrolyte with functionalized La(OH)3 nanofibers for high-rate all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes have emerged as promising materials for next-generation lithium metal batteries due to their enhanced safety and high energy density potential. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by slow ion transport and inefficient lithium-ion (Li+) selectivity. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces a composite electrolyte by incorporating functionalized La(OH)3 nanofibers with oxygen vacancies into a Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix. These nanofibers, synthesized via a simple method, are designed to improve Li+ mobility by leveraging their oxygen vacancies to immobilize TFSI- anions from the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Simultaneously, amino groups on the nanofiber surface act as binding sites, facilitating lithium salt dissociation and creating supplementary ion transport pathways. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that the functionalized La(OH)3 nanofibers effectively suppress TFSI- anion movement while reducing the energy barrier for Li+ migration. This mechanism elevates the Li+ transference number to 0.51, a significant improvement over the conventional PEO-based electrolytes. The composite electrolyte exhibits excellent performance in Li||Li cells, maintaining stable cycling for over 600 h at a current density of 0.38 mA cm-2. Furthermore, a solid-state LiFePO4||Li battery demonstrates highly reversible capacities of 100.2 mAh g-1 after 600 cycles at 8C. By combining anion confinement strategies with tailored electronic interactions, this work provides a practical approach to advancing solid-state battery performance. The findings not only highlight the potential of La(OH)3-PEO composite electrolytes but also establish a new framework for optimizing ionic conductivity through targeted molecular design.

Precision Synthesis of a Single Chain Polymorph of a 2D Solid within Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The discovery and synthesis of atomically precise low-dimensional inorganic materials have led to numerous unusual structural motifs and nascent physical properties. However, access to low-dimensional van der Waals (vdW)-bound analogs of bulk crystals is often limited by chemical considerations arising from structural factors like atomic radii, bonding or coordination, and electronegativity. Using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as confinement templates, we demonstrate the synthesis of a short-wave infrared-absorbing quasi-1D (q-1D) chain polymorph of Sb2Te3 ([Sb4Te6]n) that is structurally and electronically distinct from its 2D counterpart. It is found that the q-1D chain polymorph has both three- and five-coordinate Sb atoms covalently bonded to Te and is thermodynamically stabilized by the electrostatic interaction between the encapsulated chain and the model SWCNT. The complementary experimental and computational results demonstrate the synthetic advantage of vdW nanotube confinement in the discovery of low-dimensional polytypes with drastically altered physical properties and potential applications in energy conversion processes.

Rationally Designed Binder with Polysulfide-Affinitive Moieties and Robust Network Structures for Improved Polysulfide Trapping and Structural Stability of Sulfur Cathode

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have emerged as a promising next-generation energy storage application owing to their high specific capacity and energy density. However, inherent insulating property of sulfur, along with its significant volume expansion during cycling, and shuttling behavior of lithium-polysulfides (LiPSs), hinder their practical application. To overcome these issues, a crosslinked cationic waterborne polyurethane (CCWPU) is rationally designed as a binder for LSBs. The mechanical robustness of CCWPU enables it to withstand the high stress derived from volume expansion of sulfur, facilitating charge-transferring through conserved charge-transfer pathway and promoting interconversion of LiPSs. Additionally, polar urethane groups offer favorable interaction sites with LiPSs, mitigating shuttling behavior of LiPSs via polar-polar interaction. Density functional theory investigations further elucidate that the incorporation of cationic moieties enhances LiPSs immobilization by confining Sn x- (x = 1 or 2) in LiPSs, thereby improving sulfur utilization. Benefiting from these, the cell with CCWPU demonstrates reduced polarization, superior LiPSs conversion rates, and stable cycling performance. Moreover, water-processable nature of CCWPU aligns with environmental consciousness. These diverse functionalities of CCWPU provide valuable insights for the development of advanced binder for LSBs, ultimately improving the electrochemical performances of LSBs.

Platinum Carbonyl Chini Clusters as Catalysts for Photocatalytic H2 Generation

Platinum Chini clusters with a general formula [Pt3(CO)6] n 2- are formed by stacked Pt3 units. They have fascinating electronic and optical properties that can be tuned with n. In the current manuscript, the electronic, photochemical, and charge transport properties of the platinum Chini clusters are studied with the density functional theory (PBE and CAM-B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)+LANL2DZ) as a function of their nuclearity number n. Our theoretical predictions are supported by experimental proof of concept, in which synthesized Chini clusters are deposited as cocatalysts on TiO2 for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. We demonstrate that smaller clusters (n = 4) are more effective than larger ones (n = 7-8), and that composites having lower Pt content perform better.

Advanced Solid Lubrication with COK-47: Mechanistic Insights on the Role of Water and Performance Evaluation

Metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles have attracted widespread attention as lubrication additives due to their tunable structures and surface effects. However, their solid lubrication properties have been rarely explored. This work introduces the positive role of moisture in solid lubrication in the case of a newly described Ti-based MOF (COK-47) powder. COK-47 achieves an 8.5-fold friction reduction compared to AISI 304 steel-on-steel sliding under room air. In addition, COK-47 maintains a similarly low coefficient of friction (0.1-0.2) on various counterbodies, including Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC, and Si3N4. Notably, compared to other widely studied MOFs (ZIF-8, ZIF-67) and 2D materials powder (MXene, TMD, rGO), COK-47 exhibits the lowest friction (≈0.1) under the same experimental settings. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy indicate that the tribofilm is an amorphous film obtained by hydrolysis of COK-47 in the air with moisture. Density functional theory further confirms that water catalyzes the decomposition of COK-47, a crucial step in forming the tribofilm. This study demonstrates the idea of utilizing MOF and water-assisted lubrication mechanisms. It provides new insights into MOF applications in tribology and highlights interdisciplinary contributions of mechanical engineering and chemistry.

Polybenzimidazole Composite Separators Engineered from MOFs-HNTs Composites Applicated in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Incorporating inorganic nanostructured materials into polymeric separators for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) enhances properties such as ionic conductivity, electrolyte wettability, and thermal resistance. However, poor interfacial compatibility between inorganic materials and the polymeric matrix remains a significant challenge. In this study, Zr-based UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is employed as an interfacial binder between halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and a poly-(arylene ether benzimidazole) (OPBI) matrix, preparing porous separators using the non-solvent phase separation (NIPS) method. The UiO-66 MOFs promote strong adhesion of HNTs to the OPBI chains, creating a more cohesive inorganic-organic system, as confirmed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of binding energy. The resulting OPBI@M-H10 composite separator exhibits high porosity (80%), an electrolyte absorption capacity of 377%, and an ionic conductivity of 1.59 mS·cm⁻¹. Furthermore, LiFePO4 half-cells assembled with this composite separator show a discharge capacity of 161 mAh·g⁻¹ and a retention rate of 97.96% after 200 charge-discharge cycles. The separator also demonstrates excellent electrode stability in the plating/stripping test of Li symmetric cells, lasting up to 1600 hours and effectively inhibiting dendrite growth on the Li anode. This approach provides a promising solution for high-performance LIBs separators and paves the way for advancements in LIBs technology and energy storage applications.

Raman Fingerprints of Phase Transitions and Ferroic Couplings in van der Waals Multiferroic CuCrP2S6

CuCrP2S6 (CCPS), a type-II multiferroic material, exhibits unique phase transitions involving ferroelectric, antiferroelectric, and antiferromagnetic ordering. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive investigation on the intricate phase transitions and their multiferroic couplings in CCPS across a wide temperature range from 4 to 345 K through Raman spectroscopic measurements down to 5 cm-1. We first assign the observed Raman modes with the support of theoretical calculations and angle-resolved polarized Raman measurements. We further present clear signatures of phase transitions from the analyses of temperature-dependent Raman spectral parameters. Particularly, two low-frequency soft modes are observed at 36.1 cm-1 and 70.5 cm-1 below 145 K, indicating the antiferroelectric to quasi-antiferroelectric transition. Moreover, phonon mode hardening is observed when the temperature increases from 4 to 65 K, suggesting negative thermal expansion (NTE) and strong magnetoelastic coupling below 65 K. These findings advance the understanding of vdW multiferroic CCPS, paving the way for future design and engineering of multiferroicity in cutting-edge technologies, such as spintronics and quantum devices.

Fast-Track to Catalyst Stability: Machine Learning Optimized Predictions for M1/M2-N6-Gra Catalysts

Graphene-based dual-atom catalysts M1/M2-N6-Gra have shown significant potential in various reactions, although their stabilities are debated. Therefore, developing an efficient and accurate approach to screen thermodynamically stable M1/M2-N6-Gra is significant. Herein, we designed a rational machine learning (ML) scheme based on 143 DFT calculated samples to predict the formation energies (Ef) of 1134 possible M1/M2-N6-Gra. A well performing multilayer perceptron model with test set R2 = 0.98 was obtained after feature engineering, model training, data supplementation, and transfer learning. This model successfully screened 604 thermodynamic stable M1/M2-N6-Gra with Ef < 0 eV. Feature importance, predictions distribution, and energy decomposition revealed that the coordination number significantly influences Ef, with cohesive energy dominating low-coordination catalysts and binding energy between metal and substrate being more critical in higher-coordination catalysts. This work highlights the potential of ML and developed effective approaches to screen thermodynamically stable catalysts and reveals the laws of stability for various materials.

An Accurate, Affordable Density Functional Tight-Binding Model for Excited State Hydrocarbon Polymer Molecular Dynamics

We have developed a density functional tight-binding model for hydrocarbon excited state dynamics by referencing to high-level electronic structure theory and incorporating a many-body repulsive energy. We then validate our model against n-octane geometry optimizations, bond dissociation scans, and vibrational frequencies. Our model is approximately 103 times more efficient than hybrid time-dependent density functional theory calculations with comparable accuracy. Our efforts enable longer timescale excited state simulations of photochemistry and scattering of incident radiation.

Exploring vacancy defects in s-I clathrate hydrates

This study investigates the role of vacancy defects in s-I clathrate hydrate structures, particularly in the presence of ethylene oxide (EO) molecules, through first-principles calculations. The structural properties, formation energies, and guest-host interactions of these vacancy defects were examined in both periodic systems and finite-size clusters. Our findings demonstrate that EO molecules significantly stabilize vacancy defects via hydrogen bonding, especially when forming double hydrogen bonds with dangling hydrogens (d-Hs) arising from the molecular vacancy defect. The encapsulation of EO in defect-free cages and its interaction with dangling oxygens (d-Os) were also analyzed, highlighting the superior stabilizing effect of double hydrogen bonds. These results provide new insights into the behavior of vacancy defects in hydrate structures and the potential role of polar guest molecules in enhancing defect stability and facilitating hydrate formation processes.

Computational and Experimental Elucidation of the Charge-Dependent Acid-Etching Dynamics and Electrocatalytic Performance of Au25(SR)18 q(q = -1, 0, +1) Nanoclusters

Using thiolate-protected Au25(SR)18 nanocluster (NC) with different charge states as the test candidate, how the charge effect affects the etching dynamics of thiolate ligands in acid and the electrocatalytic performance is explored. The ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations revealed the charge-dependent reaction kinetics in acid, where the anionic and neutral Au25(SCH3)18 q (q = -1, 0) favorably react with the acid and partially remove the thiolate ligands via two-step proton attack, while the cationic Au25(SCH3)18 + NC is acid-resistant with no tendency for -SR removal. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further predict that the dethiolated Au sites exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for CO2 electroreduction to CO, with the anionic Au25 - showing significantly superior activity. Acid etching and electrocatalytic experiments further confirmed partial removal of thiolate ligands in Au25(SCH3)18 q (q = -1, 0), with dethiolated Au25 NCs showing enhanced catalytic performance in CO2 electroreduction, particularly Au25 - exhibiting better activity than Au25 0. This work revealed an interesting charge state-mediated interface dynamics and electrocatalytic behaviors in Au25 NCs, which can be applied to modulate the interface and catalytic properties of other atomically precise metal nanoclusters.

Strain and Charge Doping Modulated Optical Emission Signatures of Polycrystalline WSe2

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors with direct bandgap in the visible and near-IR spectral range, such as transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) films, are promising candidates for optoelectronic devices and in light harvesting applications. Large area growth of 2D TMDs through techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), while offering industrial scalability, suffers major drawbacks due to polycrystalline nature of the grown films. Here, the optical emission signatures of polycrystalline WSe2 monolayers grown on sapphire substrates using CVD are investigated to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to the photoluminescence (PL) in these films. The epitaxy with the substrate along with other growth space parameters significantly influences the atomic structure of the grain boundaries (GBs) in polycrystalline WSe2. While the local charge doping from adsorbed growth precursors is the critical factor influencing PL intensity at mirror twin GBs (MTGBs), the films with tilt GBs (TGBs) show inhomogeneous PL emission due to tensile and compressive strain arising from thermal expansion co-efficient mismatch between WSe2 and growth substrate. These results are understood from the Bader charge analysis of adatoms and funneling effect in the band structure arising from non-uniform strain landscape. The findings are crucial in the development of highly efficient optoelectronic devices from 2D TMDs.

Defect-Promoted Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Monoxide to Methanol on ThO2 Surfaces

The conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) to methanol (CH3OH) is an attractive process as it converts a toxic and environmentally harmful gas into a widely used industrial chemical via hydrogenation. Traditionally, this process is catalyzed by Cu-based multicomponent materials, which require high pressures and temperatures, making the process costly and environmentally unfriendly. In this article, we show that thorium dioxide (ThO2) is an attractive alternative catalyst that is earth abundant and chemically and thermally stable. Using quantum chemistry calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), we investigated the feasibility and reaction mechanism of the CO-to-CH3OH conversion catalyzed by the ThO2 (111) surface. Particular focus is given to the role of O vacancies. It is found that that the O vacancies act as catalytic centers, promoting the chemical activation of CO and H2 simultaneously and facilitating the reaction steps to form CH3OH. Based on these observations, we propose a dual-site catalytic mechanism wherein oxygen vacancies activate CO and H2 in parallel. This work demonstrates that the presence of O vacancies on the ThO2 surface improves its catalytic performance, paving the way for broader application of ThO2 catalysis to sustainable chemistry.

Vacancy engineering of single-layer lateral heterojunction for efficient Z-scheme photocatalytic water reduction

Optimizing the Z-scheme charge transmission of lateral heterojunction constructed by single-layer (SL) nanosheets is an appealing yet challenging tactics to boost photocatalytic efficiency for solar fuel production and environmental remediation. Herein, we reported the edge/corner-specific growth of SL ZnIn2S4-MoSe2 lateral heterojunction with intensified Z-scheme charge transmission through intimate Mo-S connection and S vacancies (VS) engineering. The Mo-S chemical bonds inside ZnIn2S4-MoSe2 heterojunction offer a speedy channel for Z-scheme charge transmission as confirmed via surface photovoltage spectroscopy, radical production, and in situ photo-irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy tests as well as density functional theory calculation, while VS engineering enlarges Fermi level difference between ZnIn2S4 and MoSe2 to strengthen internal electric field and driving force for photo-carriers transmission, resulting in an excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution (PHE) capability. Isotopic labeling experiment verified the photocatalytic water reduction by ZnIn2S4-MoSe2 heterojunction, which exhibited a visible-light-driven PHE rate up to 55.70 mmol g-1h-1 (or 550.70 μmol/10 mg/h) with an apparent quantum yield reaching 38.9 % at 400 nm. Moreover, the ZnIn2S4-MoSe2 heterojunction also possessed a robust stability during long-term photocatalytic reaction. The research findings could inspire new idea to enhance the photocatalytic capability of two-dimensional (2D) heterojunction by strengthening Z-scheme charge transmission at atomic level.

Exploring the Local Structure of Molten NaF-ZrF4 through In Situ XANES/EXAFS and Molecular Dynamics

Molten salts are critical materials for advanced energy systems, particularly in molten salt reactors (MSRs), due to their exceptional thermophysical and chemical properties. While significant progress has been made in understanding their macroscopic behaviors, detailed knowledge of their atomic structures remains limited, particularly in fluoride-based salts with high zirconium concentrations. This study investigates the atomic structure and thermophysical properties of NaF-ZrF4 salt mixtures (53-47 and 56-44 mol %) using an integrated experimental and computational approach. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy were employed to probe the local environment of Zr atoms across temperatures from 530 to 700 °C, revealing changes in coordination states and bond distances. Complementary ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and neural network-based molecular dynamics (NNMD) simulations were validated against experimental data to elucidate short- and intermediate-range ordering in the melt. The results highlight a temperature-driven transition toward lower Zr coordination numbers and increased structural distortion, providing insights into the fluoroacidity and potential corrosiveness of these salts. This comprehensive understanding of the NaF-ZrF4 structure supports the development of more reliable models for molten salts, aiding advancements in next-generation nuclear reactors and energy systems.

Biphenylene Coordination and Ring-Opening by Alkali-Metal Nickelates

The pre-coordination of substrates to heterobimetallic complexes plays a key role in facilitating challenging bond activations and catalytic reactions. Herein, we report a family of low-valent phenyl-alkali-metal nickelates containing a η4-coordinated biphenylene ligand and demonstrate how the coordination and solvation preferences of the alkali-metal cation (Li, Na, or K) influence the rate of C─C bond oxidative addition at nickel through combined structural, spectroscopic and computational studies. The rate of C─C bond cleavage can be further manipulated by replacing the two phenyl-carbanionic ligands with a cyclic 2,2'-biphenyl scaffold, which affords thermally stable and symmetric spirocyclic nickelates upon ring-opening.

Highly stable lithium metal anodes enabled by bimetallic metal-organic frameworks derivatives-modified carbon cloth

Lithium (Li) metal anodes hold great promise for next-generation secondary batteries with high energy density. Unfortunately, several problems such as Li dendrite growth, low Coulombic efficiency and poor cycle life hinder the commercialization of Li metal anodes. Herein, we design a highly lithiophilic carbon cloth host modified with Sn-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) (ZnSn-CC) directly derived from a bimetallic ZnSn metal-organic framework (ZnSn-MOF), which boosts uniform Li plating/stripping during charge-discharge and effectively protects the Li metal anode. Due to the lithiophilic modification, the cycling reversibility of the host material is increased and the growth of Li dendrites and the generation of "dead Li" are inhibited. As a result, the resultant composite Li metal anode (ZnSn-CC@Li) manages to retain cycling stability for over 1000 h at a current density of 1 mA cm-2 and a specific capacity of 1 mAh cm-2 in a symmetric cell. When paired with the LiFePO4 (LFP) and LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM) cathodes, both the assembled ZnSn-CC@Li||LFP and ZnSn-CC@Li||NCM full cell achieve good rate capability and improved cycle life. Density functional theory calculations, in combination with in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), in-situ time-lapse optical testing, ex-situ extended X-ray fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis, reveal the origin of the synergetic interaction between Tin (Sn) and Zinc (Zn) atoms upon Sn-doping in ZnO. The improved lithiophilicity can be attributed to the incorporation of Sn atoms, which have a higher coordination number than Zn atoms, into the ZnO lattice, forming joint adsorption sites of multiple oxygen atoms toward Li atoms. The Li nucleation barrier is thereby reduced and the smooth Li deposition is facilitated. The findings provide a new strategy for the rational design of functional host materials based on bimetallic MOFs derivatives toward high-performance and safe Li metal batteries.

Emergent Multiple Spin States From Baromagnetic Effect in Strongly Correlated Magnet Mn₃GaC

Strongly correlated magnets, exhibiting distinctive spin properties such as spin-orbit coupling, spin polarization, and chiral spin, are regarded as the next-generation high-density magnetic storage materials in spintronics. Nevertheless, owing to intricate spin interactions, realizing controllable spin arrangement and high-density magnetic storage remains a formidable challenge. Here, controllable multiple spin states induced by the baromagnetic effect in kagome lattice magnet Mn₃GaC are first reported, achieved by manipulating spin rotation within the spin-polarized plane employing pressure. Neutron diffraction refinement and specific heat measurements under pressure, combined with first-principles calculations, demonstrate that multiple spin states are originating from the synergistic mechanism between spin frustration and spin polarization related to the lifting of degeneracy in electronic microstates. Electrical transport measurements under pressure reveal that multiple spin states exhibit giant baro-magnetoresistance effect, enabling enhanced storage density in spintronics via multi-logic state applications. Integrating the pressure response and microscopic behaviors of spins, a comprehensive p-T-H phase diagram is constructed, offering a novel and robust framework for multi-logic states. These findings provide critical insights into controllable spin states, opening a new avenue for high-density magnetic storage through multiple spin states.

Surface Modification of Ti3CN MXene and Their Enhanced Performance in Photodetection

As a typical hetero-MXene, Ti3CN MXene has attracted great attentions owing to its ultrafast carrier dynamic and unique nonlinear optical response. However, the photo-response of pristine Ti3CN is unsatisfied due to the fast carrier recombination. Herein, multi-layer Ti3CN MXene is modified with well-dispersed Bi quantum dots, where the Ti3CN@Bi heterojunction can not only tune the optical absorption but also introduce energy transfer channels. The built-in electric field endows Ti3CN@Bi self-powered response behavior and the performance can be further enhanced by tuning external conditions. As demonstrated, the Ti3CN@Bi-based photodetectors exhibit high photocurrent density (18.24 µA cm-2) and excellent photoresponsivity (18.32 mA W-1). In addition, the device shows fast response and outstanding stability (0.002% for each cycle), holding great potentials for practical applications. Hence, this work not only highlights the broad prospects of MXene-based heterojunction, but also provides great value for other optoelectronic device applications.