Resonant x-ray scattering and x-ray absorption spectroscopy with elemental sensitivity unravel structural features tied to water–ion domains and discern sulfur-containing groups in sulfonated ionomers, which help delineate chemical factors controlling their phase-separated morphology and governing ion transport. Read more »
Journal Covers
Heliconical-layered nanocylinders (HLNCs) – hierarchical self-assembly in a unique B4 phase liquid crystal morphology
Morphology is of critical importance for molecular crystals, drug molecules, alloys, and elements in the periodic table. We here demonstrate how very subtle structural changes in a set of bent-core liquid crystals lead to rather complex hierarchical superstructures driven by changes in molecular conformation. Read more »
Exploring the “minimal” structure of a functional ADAMTS13 by mutagenesis and small-angle X-ray scattering
Researchers used the SIBYLS beamline to gain insight into ADAMTS13, the only known protein to regulate the adhesive function of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a blood-clotting protein. When VWF is deficient or abnormal, it causes a common inherited bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease. VWF is also implicated in arterial and deep-vein thrombosis, stroke, atherosclerosis, sickle cell crisis, and sepsis. Read more »
Structural Characterization of a Synthetic Tandem-Domain Bacterial Microcompartment Shell Protein Capable of Forming Icosahedral Shell Assemblies
Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are subcellular compartments found in many prokaryotes, and they are of considerable interest for biotechnological applications. The BMC-H2 shell system constitutes a relatively simple generic building block that could be used to construct designed shells with a relatively highly tunable pore. Read more »
Fingerprint Oxygen Redox Reactions in Batteries through High-Efficiency Mapping of Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering
We provide a comprehensive analysis and an explicit interpretation of the five evolving components of O-K mRIXS of the typical battery electrode that involves lattice oxygen redox reactions upon cycling. This work is the first benchmark for a complete assignment of all the important mRIXS features collected from battery materials, and thus delivers guidelines for future studies of oxygen redox reactions. Read more »
Gas‐Phase Synthesis of Triphenylene (C18H12)
The cover image shows the triphenylene molecule as a potential precursor to two‐dimensional graphite nanosheets in the interstellar medium. The barrier‐less, exoergic nature of the reaction reveals a versatile reaction mechanism that may drive molecular mass growth processes in cold environments in deep space. Read more »
Biochemical and structural characterization of two variants of uncertain significance in the PMS2 gene
The lack of information as to whether a genetic mutation is pathogenic or benign causes ambiguity during clinical diagnosis and hinders appropriate treatment. Here, researchers use several techniques, including small‐angle x‐ray scattering, to help classify genetic variants associated with an increased predisposition to certain cancers. Read more »
Comparative morphology of cheliceral muscles using high‐resolution X‐ray microcomputed‐tomography in palpimanoid spiders
Spiders are important predators in terrestrial ecosystems, yet we know very little about their principal feeding structures—the chelicerae—an extremely important aspect of spider biology. Here, using micro‐Computed‐Tomography scanning techniques, researchers perform a comparative study to examine cheliceral muscle morphology in six different spider specimens. Read more »
Spatial and Temporal Correlations of XY Macro Spins
Artificial spin-ice structures have become prototypical systems to study vector spin frustration at the microscale and have recently been expanded towards XY spin systems and fundamentally fascinating phase transitions. The illustration depicts the quasi long-range ordered vortex phase in a nano disk honeycomb lattice imaged by magnetization-sensitive photoemission electron microscopy. Read more »
Magnetic Skyrmions: Current‐Induced Skyrmion Generation through Morphological Thermal Transitions in Chiral Ferromagnetic Heterostructures
Magnetic skyrmions are particle‐like chiral twists of the magnetization that promise advances in spin‐based data storage and logic device applications. In this article, researchers examine current‐induced generation of skyrmions in heavy‐metal/ferromagnet multilayers and show that Joule heat pulses can drive topological transitions in magnetic textures and enable skyrmion creation on nanosecond timescales. Read more »
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