Research articles

‘Molecular tweezers' offer a powerful design strategy for catalysts that can be activated or deactivated by conformational change. Here this design is extended to allow a regioselective allosteric effect upon binding of zinc ions.

Understanding the working mechanisms of electrochemical energy storage devices is crucial for the design of those with improved performances. Here the authors use Kelvin probe force microscopy to dynamically image the internal potential distribution in an operating all-solid-state Li ion battery.

Droplet networks capable of transporting molecules between compartments can function as tissue-like materials. Here an encapsulated transcription/translation system generates a Zn-controlled membrane pore, which allows interdroplet transport, enzymatic deprotection and controlled release of a small molecule to the external environment.

The thermodynamic parameters of molecules dispersed in water are influenced by the polarizability of their substituents. Here the formation of discrete aggregates from gear-shaped amphiphiles is determined by isothermal titration calorimetry, showing that substituents with higher polarizability stabilize the nanocubes enthalpically.

Amphiphilic block co-polymer vesicles have emerged as attractive artificial systems. Here the authors employ a continuously stirred tank reactor for the polymerization-induced self-assembly of giant polymer vesicles, mediated by radicals generated by an oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.

Due to loss of sulfur to the electrolyte, maintaining high charge cycle stability is a key challenge for lithium sulfur batteries. Here a highly stable cathode material is obtained through molybdenum sulfide particle loading on a laser synthesised S- and N-doped graphene electrode.

Flexible, transparent supercapacitor electrodes are promising materials for innovative electronic and display applications. Here, the authors report a leaf-skeleton inspired core-shell network that exhibits up to 88% optical transmittance and is stable over 30000 bend-release cycles while retaining competitive electrochemical performance.

Azomethine ylides have long been identified as reactive intermediates in organic synthesis, but very little concrete structural data has been obtained. Here the authors report on the preparation, isolation and characterization of a stable 2-azaphenalenyl-based azomethine ylide.

Single-atom catalysts are highly active due to maximum dispersion of the active metal. Here single-atom nickel on carbon nanotubes is used as a support structure for ruthenium catalysed wet air oxidation of acetic acid.

Perovskite-type oxynitrides hold great potential for optical applications due to their excellent visible light absorption properties. Here, a defined precursor microstructure is used to modulate the oxidation state of tantalum during ammonolysis leading to a bright red perovskite containing tantalum in a rare 4+ -state.

Ligand-directed protein labeling allows selective modification of native proteins but typically requires stoichiometric quantities of the labeling agent. Here a substoichiometric quantity of a peptide probe bound to a photocatalyst allows selective labeling of a target protein Cys residue in the presence of structurally similar proteins.

Dendrite formation on lithium metal anodes jeopardizes the safety of lithium ion batteries. Here the authors use in situ scanning electron microscopy to follow the evolution of dendrites and isles of a conductive salt forming on the anode surface, causing the battery to fault.

The basic principles behind the optoelectronic properties of metal nanoclusters are still not fully understood. Here the authors manipulate the surface ligand interactions on single metal nanoclusters, within self-assembled superlattices, and in confined nanopores to achieve precise modulation of emission colors and quantum yields.

Thermodynamic template effects are widely used in supramolecular assembly, but kinetic template effects are less well understood. Here the contributions of thermodynamic and kinetic template effects in the self-assembly of palladium metallocages are disentangled using QASAP methodology.

The optoelectronic and photophysical properties of conjugated polymers are strongly influenced by the formation of supramolecular aggregates. Here the authors use second- and third-harmonic scattering techniques to elucidate the mechanism and kinetics of the aggregation process and the role of external stimuli in the supramolecular organization.

Niobium pentoxides are valuable catalysts for biomass upgrading, and their acidity can be controlled through the choice of synthesis route. Here niobium pentoxide nanoparticles synthesised in acetophenone are shown to exhibit strong Brønsted and Lewis acidity, giving improved yields compared to conventional niobic acid in the reactions of common platform chemicals.

Catalytic ‘hydrogen borrowing’ methodology is considered to be a powerful approach for carbon-nitrogen bond formation. Here the authors report a cooperative catalytic system for the synthesis of beta-amino acid esters from beta-hydroxyl acid esters, including the bio-derived 3-hydroxypropionic acid.

Formaldehyde is the simplest biological electrophile, yet its reactivity with amino acids is not well understood. Here formaldehyde is shown to form a range of products with proteinogenic amino acids and simple peptides, including N-methyl lysine.

Cathode materials for sodium ion batteries generally maintain electroneutrality during sodiation processes through redox reactions of transition metals. Here the authors look at the role of oxygen in charge-compensation in magnesium-doped cathodes to better understand capacity limitations.

Tellurophenes are increasingly used in organic electronics and incorporated into devices, but their redox chemistry is poorly understood. Here the nucleophilicity of anions is shown to change the electrochemical redox behaviour of 2,5-substituted tellurophenes.