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A novel amphiphilic polymer Torlon-based membrane with switchable superwettability is developed using a simple one-step phase separation method. Its hierarchical porous structure and surface reorganization enable exceptional oil-water separation with ultrahigh permeance and efficiency. The membrane exhibits excellent antifouling, self-cleaning, and durability, offering a scalable solution for advanced oily wastewater treatment and beyond.

Abstract

The development of advanced membranes with switchable superwettability has attracted considerable attention for the efficient treatment of oily wastewater. However, challenges persist in designing and fabricating such membranes through straightforward methods. In this study, a novel strategy is presented to design switchable superwettable membranes based on micro/nano-structured porous surfaces and surface chemical composition reorganization. A commercial amphiphilic polymer, polyamide-imide (Torlon), is fabricated into a porous symmetric membrane with a hierarchical surface structure using a one-step non-solvent-induced phase separation method. By leveraging the surface reorganization capability of amphiphilic polymers and the hierarchically porous structure, the resulting membranes demonstrate exceptional superamphiphilicity in air, underwater superoleophobicity, and underoil superhydrophobicity. These properties enable ultrahigh permeance and separation efficiency for oil-in-water, water-in-oil, and crude oil/water emulsions through a gravity-driven process, eliminating the need for external energy. Furthermore, the membranes exhibit excellent antifouling and self-cleaning performance, maintaining stable operation over multiple cycles. This work provides an innovative and scalable approach to next-generation switchable superwettable membranes with broad potential applications in oily wastewater treatment and beyond.

This review article explores the advancement of smart dust networks for high-resolution spatial and temporal chemical mapping. Comprising miniature, wireless sensors, and communication devices, smart dust autonomously collects, processes, and transmits data via swarm-based communication. With applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, agriculture, and industry, it emphasizes energy efficiency, sustainability, and large-scale deployment to revolutionize chemical analysis in complex environments.

Abstract

This review article explores the transformative potential of smart dust systems by examining how existing chemical sensing technologies can be adapted and advanced to realize their full capabilities. Smart dust, characterized by submillimeter-scale autonomous sensing platforms, offers unparalleled opportunities for real-time, spatiotemporal chemical mapping across diverse environments. This article introduces the technological advancements underpinning these systems, critically evaluates current limitations, and outlines new avenues for development. Key challenges, including multi-compound detection, system control, environmental impact, and cost, are discussed alongside potential solutions. By leveraging innovations in miniaturization, wireless communication, AI-driven data analysis, and sustainable materials, this review highlights the promise of smart dust to address critical challenges in environmental monitoring, healthcare, agriculture, and defense sectors. Through this lens, the article provides a strategic roadmap for advancing smart dust from concept to practical application, emphasizing its role in transforming the understanding and management of complex chemical systems.

By introducing abundant polar groups as Zn2+ absorption sites and hydrogen bond arrays, a protein structure-derived binder for ZP anode and iodine cathode is proposed. This design can regulate the Zn2+ flux, benefit the formation of free-standing electrode, inhibit the side reactions, suppress the shuttle effect of polyiodides, and enable the large-scale potentials.

Abstract

Compared with commonly used Zn foil anodes, Zn powder (ZP) anodes offer superior versatility and processability. However, in aqueous electrolytes, dendrite growth and side reactions, such as corrosion and hydrogen evolution, become more severe in ZP anodes than those in Zn foil anodes because of the rough surfaces and high surface areas of ZP, leading to poor reversibility and limitations in high-loading mass cathodes. In this study, a diisocyanate-polytetrahydrofuran-dihydrazide polymer (DDP) binder is developed, inspired by protein structures. The strong Zn2+ adsorption capability of the binder effectively regulates Zn2+ flux, while its unique hydrogen-bond arrays facilitate the formation of a free-standing ZP anode and inhibit side reactions. The binder exhibits superior mechanical performance, providing ZP electrodes with excellent resistance to various mechanical stresses, including tensile, nanoindentation, scratch, and dynamic bending tests. ZP symmetric cells achieve stable cycling at capacities of 2 and 5 mAh cm−2. In addition, DDP functions as an iodine cathode, effectively mitigating the polyiodide shuttle effect. The fabricated ZP/DDP||I2/DDP full cells demonstrate an excellent rate capability and cycling stability, even under a high-loading conditions. This study presents a novel approach for preparing stable ZP anodes and iodine cathodes, offering a promising strategy for large-scale applications.

Rhodium-carbon coordination-based 2D metal-organic frameworks are rationally synthesized and exhibit ultra-narrow bandgaps (0.10–0.28 eV) and intrinsic charge mobilities up to 560 ± 46 cm2 V−1 s−1 via time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy.

Abstract

2D metal-organic frameworks (2D MOFs) are emerging organic van der Waals materials with great potential in various applications owing to their structural diversity, and tunable optoelectronic properties. So far, most reported 2D MOFs rely on metal-heteroatom coordination (e.g., metal–nitrogen, metal–oxygen, and metal–sulfur); synthesis of metal-carbon coordination based 2D MOFs remains a formidable challenge. This study reports the rhodium–carbon (Rh–C) coordination-based 2D MOFs, using isocyanide as the ligand and Rh(I) as metal node. The synthesized MOFs show excellent crystallinity with quasi-square lattice networks. These MOFs show ultra-narrow bandgaps (0.1–0.28 eV) resulting from the interaction between Rh(I) and isocyano groups. Terahertz spectroscopy demonstrates exceptional short-range charge mobilities up to 560 ± 46 cm2 V−1 s−1 in the as-synthesized MOFs. Moreover, these MOFs are used as electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reaction and show an excellent NH3 yield rate of 56.0 ± 1.5 µg h−1 mgcat −1 and a record Faradaic efficiency of 87.1 ± 1.8%. In situ experiments reveal dual pathways involving Rh(I) during the catalytic process. This work represents a pioneering step toward 2D MOFs based on metal–carbon coordination and paves the way for novel reticular materials with ultra-high carrier mobility and for versatile optoelectronic devices.

DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries - A BIOLOGICAL RIG SEMINAR

The discovery of small organic ligands, capable of specific recognition of protein targets of interest, is a central problem in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biology and Medicine. Traditionally, small organic ligands to proteins are discovered by screening, one by one, individual compounds from chemical libraries. However, the technology is cumbersome, very expensive and is typically limited to the testing of up to one million compounds. DNA -encoded chemical library (DEL) technology allows the construction and screening of much larger compound libraries, without the need for expensive instrumentations and logistics. DELs are collections of molecules, individually coupled to distinctive DNA fragments, serving as amplifiable identification barcodes. Binding compounds can be selected using affinity capture procedures, with the protein target of interest immobilised on magnetic beads. After this “fishing” experiment, the DNA barcodes can be PCR amplified and quantified using high-throughput DNA sequencing [1]. In this lecture, I will present theory and applications of DEL technology. I will also show examples of DEL -derived ligands, isolated in our laboratories, which have been tested in patients with cancer, with promising clinical results.

• Speaker: Professor Dario Neri - CEO and CSO of Philogen, Professor of ETH Zürich, Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow, Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge (UK)
• Monday 31 March 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, Wolfson Lecture Theatre.
• Series: Biological Chemistry Research Interest Group; organiser: Xani Thorman.

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Bhopal 40 years on - What have we learned?

On the night of 2 and 3 December 1984 a toxic gas release from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of life-changing injuries. Forty years later, the rusting factory equipment still towers above buried hazardous waste in the abandoned factory. I visited the site of the former Union Carbide site in Bhopal India to try to understand what went so horribly wrong.

1. What caused the worst accident in the history of the chemical industry? 2. Why was the accident never properly investigated? 3. What can we learn about process safety from revisiting the accident? 4. Why has no clean-up been undertaken in 40 years?

• Speaker: Professor Fiona Macleod
• Tuesday 06 May 2025, 14:30-15:15
• Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site.
• Series: Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; organiser: ejm94.

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Seminars in Cancer

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Professor Ahmed Ahmed, University of Oxford
• Thursday 18 September 2025, 13:00-14:00
• Venue: CRUK CI Lecture Theatre.
• Series: Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK CI) Seminars in Cancer; organiser: Kate Davenport.

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An electric power generating cell is developed based on potential difference driven reversible ion migration, which generates ultra-long life electric output over 8-month with a high short-circuit of over 40 mA and output power density of up to 6 W m−2, surpassing the values reported for many other sorts of typical electricity generators.

Abstract

Sustainable energy supply without relying on external power sources is one of the bottlenecks in achieving self-supportive wearable electronics and Internet-of-things (IoT) systems. Here a new type of universally applicable and ultra-long life cyclic power generation is developed induced by interfacial redox reaction-mediated ion-oscillation, which can provide cycling electric energy in a self-charging manner without extra pre-charge. Based on asymmetric manganese dioxide and molybdenum disulfide electrode pairs, the proof-concept electric potential difference power generating cell (EPDC) offers ultra-long life electric output over 8-month testing period for tens of thousands of cycles. A layer-stacking EPDC unit supplies a high direct current of more than 40 mA and a power density of ≈6 W m−2. Such recyclable power-generating process mainly relies on reversible ion migration at an asymmetric interface in response to relative variation of electric potentials. The universal applicability of EPDC is validated by a combination of diverse electrode pairs. Large-scale manufacture of EPDCs is achievable by industry-compatible auto-blade coating technology with on-demand power output, providing a long-acting power supply platform for self-charging electronic systems.

Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE05456C, PaperQinrui Ye, Wei Song, Yong Bai, Zhenyu Chen, Pengfei Ding, Jinfeng Ge, Yuanyuan Meng, Bin Han, Xin Zhou, Ziyi Ge
Achieving a balance between power conversion efficiency (PCE) and mechanical robustness in flexible organic solar cells (OSCs) remains a significant challenge for small molecule acceptors (SMA) and polymer acceptors. Here,...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Ultralong organic phosphorescence (UOP) nanocrystals have attracted great attention in the field of in vivo optical imaging due to their ability to effectively minimize the interference of fluorescence background from biological tissues. In this work, a bottom-up strategy is proposed for preparing UOP nanocrystals with different crystal forms for in vivo biological imaging.

Abstract

Ultralong organic phosphorescence (UOP) materials are valuable for biological imaging to avoid interference from fluorescence background signals because of their delayed emission property. Obtaining nanocrystals with high phosphorescence quantum yield is a critical factor to achieve high-quality UOP imaging. Herein, a pair of host–guest UOP doped system with variable crystal forms for the host is constructed. By exploring the relationship between the crystal form of the host and the UOP of the doped system, the importance of host crystal form is revealed to achieve high quantum yield UOP in doped systems. Furthermore, to overcome the low crystallinity and numerous defects faced by traditional bottom-up strategies for nanocrystal preparation, a strategy is proposed for the selective preparation of nanocrystals with the target crystal form. Through controlling the evaporation rate of the solvent, the ordered growth of crystals can be effectively regulated to obtain nanocrystals with different crystal forms for bioimaging applications.

Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE01083G, PaperZewei Zhu, Bingcan Ke, Kexuan Sun, Chengkai Jing, Zhenhua Song, Ruixuan Jiang, Jing Li, Song Kong, Chang Liu, Sai Bai, Sisi He, Ziyi Ge, Fuzhi Huang, Yi-Bing Cheng, Tongle Bu
The passivation of undesirable defects in the perovskite light-absorption layer is an essential and effective strategy for improving the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a novel additive, 5-Aminothiazole...
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01748-2

Rate matters

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01749-1

Amine oxides step up

Nature Energy, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01737-5

Performance issues have limited the use of organic photoactive materials in direct solar water-splitting devices. Now, anodes containing a single-junction organic bulk heterojunction solar cell protected by a graphite sheet functionalized with an Earth-abundant electrocatalyst achieve a high water oxidation photocurrent density and days-long operational stability. Moreover, tandem devices achieve unassisted solar water splitting.

Nature Materials, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02218-6

Author Correction: Antagonistic-contracting high-power photo-oscillators for multifunctional actuations

Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Jianbo Cui (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
• Thursday 26 June 2025, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: Centre for Mathematical Sciences, MR14.
• Series: Applied and Computational Analysis; organiser: Georg Maierhofer.

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Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Liying Sun (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• Thursday 26 June 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: Centre for Mathematical Sciences, MR14.
• Series: Applied and Computational Analysis; organiser: Georg Maierhofer.

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Causal Representation Learning

Machine learning (ML) has shown great success in learning low-dimensional and semantically interpretable representations of high-dimensional data. Recent leaps in designing transformers have further proliferated representation learning. Despite such success, strong generalization — transfer of the learned representations to new problems — is still an unsolved problem. Addressing strong representation requires moving away from learning good enough representations to learning ground truth representation. As a key step toward strong generalization, causal representation learning (CRL) has emerged as a cutting-edge field that merges the strengths of statistical inference, machine learning, and causal inference. Its objective is to estimate the ground truth latent representation of the data and the rich structures that model the interactions among the variables in the latent space.

In this talk, we will explore the latest advancements in the emerging field of CRL . We will introduce the foundational concepts and motivations behind combining representation learning with causal inference. Following a brief history of CRL , we will describe its primary objectives and the theoretical challenges. We will then review the key approaches to address these challenges, including CRL with multi-view observations, CRL with interventions on latent variables, and CRL applied to temporal data. We will also highlight real-world application opportunities, discuss the challenges in scaling CRL to practical use cases, and discuss open questions for CRL related to theoretical and empirical viewpoints.

Bio: Ali Tajer received a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, an M.A. in Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University. During 2010-2012, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University. He is currently a Professor of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His research interests include mathematical statistics, machine learning, and information theory. He is currently an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Information Theory and a Senior Area Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing. In the past, he has served as an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, an Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Communications, and a Guest Editor for the IEEE Signal Processing Magazine. He received the Jury Award (Columbia University), School of Engineering Research Excellence Award for Junior Faculty (Rensselaer), School of Engineering Classroom Excellence Award (Rensselaer), James M. Tien ‘66 Early Career Award for Faculty (Rensselaer), School of Engineering Classroom Excellence Award for Senior Faculty (Rensselaer), a CAREER award from the U.S. National Science and a U.S. Air Force Fellowship Award. He is a member of the 2025-2026 class of Distinguished Lecturers of the IEEE Information Theory Society.

• Speaker: Prof. Ali Tajer, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ​
• Thursday 08 May 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: JDB Seminar Room, CUED.
• Series: Signal Processing and Communications Lab Seminars; organiser: Prof. Ramji Venkataramanan.

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New Insights on High Wave Scattering by Multiple Open Arcs: Exponentially Convergent Methods and Shape Holomorphy

In this talk, we focus on the scattering of time-harmonic acoustic, elastic, and polarized electromagnetic waves by multiple finite-length open arcs in an unbounded two-dimensional domain. We begin by reformulating the corresponding boundary value problems with Dirichlet or Neumann conditions as weakly and hypersingular boundary integral equations (BIEs), respectively. We then introduce a family of fast spectral Galerkin methods for solving these BIEs. The discretization bases are built from weighted Chebyshev polynomials that accurately capture the solutions’ edge behavior. Under the assumption of analyticity of the sources and arc geometries, we show that these bases yield exponential convergence with respect to the polynomial degree.

Numerical examples will illustrate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed methods, with respect to both the number of arcs and the wavenumber. Additionally, we demonstrate that, for general weakly and hypersingular BIEs, the solutions depend holomorphically on perturbations of the arc parametrizations. These results are crucial for establishing the shape holomorphy of domain-to-solution maps arising in boundary integral equations, with applications in uncertainty quantification, inverse problems, and deep learning, among others. They also raise new questions—some of which you may have the answer to!

• Speaker: Carlos Jerez Hanckes (University of Bath)
• Thursday 15 May 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: Centre for Mathematical Sciences, MR14.
• Series: Applied and Computational Analysis; organiser: Georg Maierhofer.

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'Targeting CD4+ T Cells to Enhance Tumour Immunity'

This Cambridge Immunology and Medicine Seminar will take place on Thursday 27 March 2025, starting at 4:00pm, in the Ground Floor Lecture Theatre, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre (JCBC)

Speaker: Professor Awen Gallimore, Co-Director of Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University

Title: “Targeting CD4 + T Cells to Enhance Tumour Immunity”

Host: Maike De La Roche & Tim Halim, CRUK Cambridge Institute

Refreshments will be available following the seminar.

• Speaker: Professor Awen Gallimore, Co-Director of Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University
• Thursday 27 March 2025, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: Lecture Theatre, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
• Series: Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar Series; organiser: Ruth Paton.

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