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Organic Matrix Derived from Host–Microbe Interplay Contributes to Pathological Renal Biomineralization

A composite image of a rare form of kidney stone, illustrating extensive organic filamentous networks abundant with immune response-related proteins such as calprotectin (displayed in red), myeloperoxidase (in yellow), and DNA molecules (in blue). Originating from intricate host-microbe interplay, these organic networks promote the heterogeneous nucleation and precipitation of inorganic particulates. Read more »

Coaxing Molecules to Stand Tall for Better Solar Cells

Multimodal probes revealed a way to prevent the formation of undesirable phases in a perovskite-type compound that shows promise for the efficient harvesting of light for solar cells. The work led to new fabrication protocols that resulted in devices with improved power-conversion efficiencies and operational stability. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Spiraling Beams Differentiate Antiferromagnetic States

Using spiraling x-ray beams, researchers differentiated between energetically equivalent (“degenerate”) states in an antiferromagnetic lattice. The work shows the potential of these beams to probe properties that would otherwise be inaccessible, to better understand phenomena of fundamental interest and for applications such as spintronics. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Increasing the Energy Density of Hybrid Supercapacitor Electrodes

Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) integrate the merits of batteries with those of supercapacitors. However, the fraction of active material in HSC electrodes has remained too low for commercial requirements. Now, researchers have found a clever way to increase the active-mass ratio to achieve dramatic improvements in key measures. Read more »

Extreme Closeup of Copper Electrocatalysts in Action

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have made real-time movies of copper nanoparticles as they evolve to convert carbon dioxide and water into renewable fuels and chemicals. Their new insights could help advance the next generation of solar fuels. Read more »

Imaging Topological Magnetic Monopoles in 3D

Researchers created topologically stable magnetic monopoles and imaged them in 3D with unprecedented spatial resolution using a technique developed at the ALS. The work enables the study of magnetic monopole behavior for both fundamental interest and potential use in information storage and transport applications. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

Electric Vehicle Batteries Could Get Big Boost With New Polymer Coating

Scientists have developed a conductive polymer coating—called HOS-PFM—that conducts both electrons and ions at the same time. This ensures battery stability and high charge/discharge rates while enhancing battery life. The coating also shows promise as a battery adhesive that could extend the lifetime of a lithium-ion battery from an average of 10 years to about 15 years. Read more »

How a Record-Breaking Copper Catalyst Converts CO2 Into Liquid Fuels

Scientists know that copper has a special ability to transform CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. But for many years, they struggled to understand how. Now, a research team has gained new insight by capturing real-time movies of copper nanoparticles as they convert CO2 and water into renewable fuels and chemicals: ethylene, ethanol, and propanol, among others. Read more »

Structural Investigation of Therapeutic Antibodies Using Hydroxyl Radical Protein Footprinting Methods

Well-known high-resolution structural methods are often used to characterize antibody structures, but many require specialized sample preparation that may perturb antibody structure. We describe here the relatively new method of hydroxyl radical protein footprinting, a solution-state method that can provide structural and kinetic information on antibodies or antibody–antigen interactions useful for therapeutic antibody design. Read more »