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Tuning of One Atomic Layer Unlocks Catalytic Pathway

An atomically precise surface probe helped researchers discover that a catalyst can be activated by tuning the composition of just one atomic surface layer. The work sharpens our understanding of how surface changes can improve the production of hydrogen fuel from water using efficient catalysts made of inexpensive materials. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Redirecting dynamic surface restructuring of a layered transition metal oxide catalyst for superior water oxidation

Electrocatalysts, particularly those for water oxidation, often experience substantial or at least partial reconstruction. Here, Wang et al. are able to control surface reconstruction using a cationic redox-tuning method on layered LiCoO2–xClx catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. The resulting optimized catalyst exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance in alkaline electrolyte. Read more »

Mystery Protein Helps COVID–19 Avoid Immunity

Using the Advanced Light Source (ALS), researchers solved the structure of ORF8, a protein specific to SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the structure of ORF8 opens the door to therapy studies targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Gas-phase synthesis of corannulene—a molecular building block of fullerenes

Fullerenes have been implicated to play a key role in the astrochemical evolution of the interstellar medium. However, the formation mechanism of even their simplest molecular building block—corannulene—has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate that corannulene can be synthesized in the gas phase through reactions mimicking conditions in carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes. Read more »

A COSMIC Approach to Nanoscale Science

COSMIC, a multipurpose x-ray instrument, has made headway since its launch less than two years ago, with groundbreaking contributions in fields ranging from batteries to biominerals. Its capabilities include world-leading microscopy resolution, extreme chemical sensitivity, and ultrafast scanning speed. Read more »

Additive Lithography–Organic Monolayer Patterning Coupled with an Area-Selective Deposition

This scene depicts the layer-by-layer growth of an inorganic film in a selected area. The alternation of a chemical agent (blue) deposits on a gray substrate to form an inorganic film.  A cross-linked organic material (tan) locally inhibits this reaction and prevents film deposition. Furthermore, the pattern-wise cross-linking of this organic film enables nanoscale pattern generation. Read more »

To Speed Discovery, Infrared Microscopy Goes “Off the Grid”

Researchers developed a highly efficient way to collect infrared microscopy data that avoids the use of slow, grid-based raster scans. The method substantially reduces image-acquisition times by autonomously increasing sampling density in regions of interest, facilitating infrared spectromicroscopy of biochemical processes in real time. Read more »

Chiral Spin Textures in Amorphous Iron–Germanium Thick Films

Robert Streubel and co‐workers report the formation of topological magnetization vector fields in disordered materials with local inversion symmetry breaking, harnessing high‐resolution Lorentz microscopy, quantitative x‐ray microspectroscopy, and coherent scattering. The image shows the reconstructed in‐plane magnetic induction of closely packed Bloch skyrmions embedded into helical spins. Read more »

3D Whole-Cell Mapping of Insulin Secretion

Researchers used soft x-ray tomography to gain a 3D whole-cell view of how insulin-producing pancreatic cells react upon exposure to glucose and a diabetes drug. The approach enables direct quantification of intracellular responses before, during, and after cell stimulation, providing new insights into how drugs alter cell function. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35