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Operando Study of CO2 Reduction by Copper Nanoparticles

Since copper is necessary to catalyze the reduction of CO2, a greenhouse gas, to valuable products, scientists are working hard to improve its selectivity and activity. Now, researchers have developed an operando capability that can help in this effort by simultaneously probing chemical valence and interparticle dynamics. Read more »

Molecular Switch Triggers Changes in Plant Structure

Using x-ray crystallography, biochemistry, and plant genetics, researchers identified a molecular switch that triggers modifications to plant structure in response to environmental conditions. A greater understanding of this adaptive process will help scientists optimize plants for efficient nutrient uptake and resistance to parasitic species. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Designer Materials to Keep Plastic Out of Landfills

Scientists have designed a new material system to overcome one of the biggest challenges in recycling consumer products: mixed-plastic recycling. Their achievement will help enable a much broader range of fully recyclable plastic products and brings into reach an efficient circular economy for durable goods like automobiles. Read more »

Phosphomimetic S207D Lysyl–tRNA Synthetase Binds HIV-1 5′UTR in an Open Conformation and Increases RNA Dynamics

Binding assays, RNA chemical probing, and SAXS showed that phosphomimetic S207D LysRS binds in an open conformation preferentially to dimeric HIV-1 genomic RNA. A new working model is proposed wherein a dimeric phosphorylated LysRS/tRNA complex binds to a genomic RNA dimer, facilitating tRNA primer release and placement onto the binding site. Future anti-viral strategies that prevent this interaction are envisioned. Read more »

Visualizing the Nanoscale Oxygen and Cation Transport Mechanisms during the Early Stages of Oxidation of Fe–Cr–Ni Alloy Using In Situ Atom Probe Tomography

Understanding the early stages of interactions between oxygen and material surfaces is beneficial for fields ranging from materials degradation to forensics and catalysis. In situ atom probe tomography (APT) is demonstrated to track the diffusion of oxygen and metal ions at nanoscale spatial resolution during the early stages of oxidation of a model Fe–Cr–Ni alloy.  Read more »

New Insight into Titan’s Hazy Atmospheric Chemistry

Researchers simulated the complex chemistry that may be occurring in the hazy atmosphere of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, and analyzed the reaction products at the ALS. The work provided new insights into what future Titan probes may encounter upon arrival and what the atmosphere of Earth may have been like eons ago. Read more »

Cheng Wang Wins RSC Stephanie L. Kwolek Award

Recently the Royal Society of Chemistry awarded its Materials Chemistry Division Horizon Prize: Stephanie L. Kwolek Award to a team of scientists, including ALS Staff Scientist Cheng Wang, for the discovery of chiral organic materials that allow high control of photon and electron spin. Read more »

Copper Doping Improves Sodium-Ion Battery Performance

A big plus for batteries based on sodium over lithium is that sodium is more earth-abundant, which lowers costs and eases environmental and supply-chain concerns. Research to improve the performance of sodium-ion batteries includes this effort to use copper doping of the cathode to enhance oxygen redox reversibility. Read more »