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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00267B, Paper Open Access &nbsp This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.Zhengyan Lun, Alice Jane Merryweather, Amoghavarsha Mahadevegowda, Shrinidhi S. Pandurangi, Chao Xu, Simon M Fairclough, V. S. Deshpande, Norman Fleck, Caterina Ducati, Christoph Schnedermann, Akshay Rao, Clare P. Grey
Extensive worldwide efforts have been made to understand the degradation behavior of layered Ni-rich LiNixMnyCo(1−x−y)O2 (NMC) cathodes. The majority of studies carried out to date have focused on thermodynamic perspectives...
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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE05789A, PaperShengyao Luo, Mengqi Wu, Said Amzil , Tonghui Xu, Qing Ming, Lei Zhang, Jie Gao, Shuang Tian, Yisen Qian, Donghai Wang, Yajun Cheng, Yonggao Xia
The combination of high-nickel cathodes with lithium metal anodes is widely considered a promising solution to alleviate range anxiety. Alternatively, challenges such as limited fast-charging capacity and rapid degradation persist...
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Cambridge RNA Club - ONLINE

Dr. Adam Cawte: Persistent association with chromatin facilitates the spreading and retention of Xist RNA on the inactive X-chromosome.

Prof. Isaia Barbierii: mRNA 5’-cap trimethylguanosine synthase TGS1 promotes oxidative phosphorylation in acute myeloid leukaemia.

• Speaker: Dr. Adam Cawte (University of Oxford, UK), Dr. Isaia Barbieri (University of Turin, IT)
• Thursday 17 April 2025, 17:00-19:00
• Venue: Online (Zoom).
• Series: Cambridge RNA Club; organiser: cambridgeRNA.

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Title to be confirmed

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, Cornell University
• Tuesday 20 May 2025, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: Online.
• Series: Mobile and Wearable Health Seminar Series; organiser: Cecilia Mascolo.

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César Milstein Lecture: Mechanisms driving the rapid evolution of genomes

Genome evolution has long been viewed as a gradual process, with small-scale genetic alterations accruing over many generations. However, it is now appreciated that saltatory mutational events, driving rapid evolution, can be layered onto gradual Darwinian evolution. These episodic events are particularly common in cancer, where they generate highly rearranged genomes. At least some of these processes cause human congenital disease, can be passed through the germline, and may contribute to organismal evolution. My group has contributed to this paradigm by identifying mechanisms and consequences of these catastrophic mutational events, linking them to common errors in cell division. My talk will focus on the mechanism of chromothripsis, a catastrophic mutational process that originates from aberrations in the architecture of the nucleus. I will focus on the processes that fragment chromosomes during chromothripsis.

• Speaker: David Pellman - Dana-Faber Cancer Institute, Harvard University
• Thursday 24 April 2025, 10:00-11:00
• Venue: In person in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre (CB2 0QH) and via Zoom link https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/97042445746?pwd=rjwSiStXxjdk1Q2tPOdRnqr8aM3qwn.1.
• Series: MRC LMB Seminar Series; organiser: Scientific Meetings Co-ordinator.

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A chiral ground state of ferroelectric smectric is discovered which emerges in an achiral rod mesogen. This is not due to the torque-driven effect on the surface. The research confirms that the polar smectric blocks are twisted despite its high elasticity. Such a structure is predominantly generated in molecules with larger dipole moments, smaller dipole angles, and smaller aspect ratios.

Abstract

In soft matter, the polar orientational order of molecules can facilitate the coexistence of structural chirality and ferroelectricity. The ferroelectric nematic (NF) state, exhibited by achiral calamitic molecules with large dipole moments, serves as an ideal model for the emergence of spontaneous structural chirality. This chiral ground state arises from a left- or right-handed twist of polarization due to depolarization effects. In contrast, the ferroelectric smectic state, characterized by a polar lamellar structure with lower symmetry, experiences significantly higher energy associated with layer-twisting deformations and the formation of domain walls, thus avoiding a continuously twisted layered structure. In this study, two types of achiral molecules (BOE-NO2 and DIOLT) are reported that possess different molecular structures but exhibit a NF–ferroelectric smectic phase sequence. It is demonstrated that the chiral ground state of NF is inherited in the ferroelectric smectic phases of BOE-NO2 , which features larger dipole moments and a steric hindrance moiety, thereby triggering the formation of the twisted polar smectic blocks.

Irreducibility of Severi varieties on toric surfaces

Severi varieties parametrize integral curves of fixed geometric genus in a given linear system on a surface. In this talk, I will discuss the classical question of whether Severi varieties are irreducible and its relation to the irreducibility of other moduli spaces of curves. I will indicate how tropical methods can be used to answer such irreducibility questions. The new results are from ongoing joint work with Xiang He and Ilya Tyomkin.

• Speaker: Karl Christ, Università degli studi di Torino
• Tuesday 25 March 2025, 10:00-11:00
• Venue: CMS MR13.
• Series: Algebraic Geometry Seminar; organiser: Dhruv Ranganathan.

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Brill-Noether loci of pencils with prescribed ramification

The geometry of curves carrying pencils with prescribed ramification is regulated by the so called adjusted Brill-Noether number. In this talk I will discuss the problem of existence and dimension of Brill-Noether varieties in this context and compare it to the classical one without imposed ramification. The new results are based on joint work with Andreas Leopold Knutsen.

• Speaker: Sara Torelli, Università degli studi di Torino.
• Tuesday 25 March 2025, 14:15-15:15
• Venue: CMS MR13.
• Series: Algebraic Geometry Seminar; organiser: Dhruv Ranganathan.

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This work opens the avenue to molecular-level modulation in organic precursors for developing high-performance hard carbon in sodium-ion batteries. The highly cross-linked polymeric network in the precursor is constructed by unique molecular stitching strategy. The network evolves into highly twisted graphitic lattices with abundant closed ultramicro-pores (<0.3 nm), thereby enabling the storage of massive sodium clusters in hard carbon.

Abstract

High energy density of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) requires high low-voltage capacity and initial Coulombic efficiency for hard carbon. However, simultaneously achieving both characteristics is a substantial challenge. Herein, a unique molecular stitching strategy is proposed to edit the polymeric structure of common starch for synthesizing cost-effective hard carbon (STHC-MS). A mild air-heating treatment toward starch is employed to trigger the esterification reaction between carboxyl and hydroxy groups, which can effectively connect the branched polysaccharide chains thereby constructing a highly cross-linked polymeric network. In contrast with the pristine branched-chain starch, the cross-linking structured precursor evolves into highly twisted graphitic lattices creating a large population of closed ultramicro-pores (<0.3 nm) enabling the storage of massive sodium clusters. Resultantly, STHC-MS delivers a reversible capacity of 348 mAh g−1 with a remarkable low-voltage (below 0.1 V) capacity of 294 mAh g−1, which becomes more attractive by combining the high initial Coulombic efficiency of 93.3%. Moreover, STHC-MS exhibits outstanding stability of 0.008% decay per cycle over 4800 cycles at 1 A g−1. STHC-MS||Na3V2(PO3)4 full cells achieve an energy density of 266 Wh kg−1, largely surpassing the commercial hard carbon-based counterpart. This work opens the avenue of molecular-level modulation in organic precursors for developing high-performance hard carbon in SIBs.

Resolving dynamically fine structure of electrocatalysts is realized by advanced X-ray spectroscopies. Based on a case study of operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy at various beamlines, potential artifacts generated by X-ray irradiation are validated and it is identified whether the dynamic behaviors are electrochemical reaction related. A practical protocol is proposed for conducting reliable X-ray spectroscopic measurements for accurate spectra interpretation.

Abstract

Although numerous techniques are developed to enable real-time understanding of dynamic interactions at the solid–liquid interface during electrochemical reactions, further progress in the development of these methods over the last several decades has faced challenges. With the rapid development of high-brilliance synchrotron sources, operando X-ray spectroscopies have become increasingly popular for revealing interfacial features and catalytic mechanisms in electrocatalysis. Nevertheless, the resulting spectra are highly sensitive to factors such as X-ray radiation, reaction environment, and acquisition procedures, all of which may potentially introduce artifacts that are often overlooked, leading to misinterpretations of electrocatalytic behaviors. In this perspective, several emerging hard X-ray spectroscopies used in electrocatalysis research are reviewed, highlighting their electronic transition processes, detection modes, and functional complementarity. Significantly, based on a case study of operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy at various beamlines, potential artifacts generated by X-ray irradiation are systematically investigated through photon-flux density-, dose-, and time-dependent studies of typical copper electrocatalysts. Accordingly, a practical protocol for conducting reliable X-ray spectroscopic measurements in operando electrocatalytic studies to minimize potential artifacts that can affect the resulting X-ray spectra, thereby ensuring accurate interpretation and a deeper understanding of interfacial interactions and electrocatalytic mechanisms, is established.

Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE06158F, PaperJianglong Li, Dongsheng Xie, Xiyue Yuan, Youle Li, Wenkui Wei, Yue Zhang, Haozhe Feng, Xiang Luo, Jiayuan Zhu, Zhao Qin, Jianbin Zhong, lifu zhang, Hongxiang Li, Wei Zhang, Yong Zhang, Fei Huang, Yong Cao, Chunhui Duan
Polythiophenes are the most promising electron donors for organic solar cells (OSCs) in large-scale manufacturing due to their simple chemical structures and low production cost. However, the efficiency of polythiophene...
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Distribution Learning Meets Graph Structure Sampling

This work establishes a novel link between the problem of PAC -learning high-dimensional graphical models and the task of (efficient) counting and sampling of graph structures, using an online learning framework. We observe that if we apply the exponentially weighted average (EWA) or randomized weighted majority (RWM) forecasters on a sequence of samples from a distribution P using the log loss function, the average regret incurred by the forecaster’s predictions can be used to bound the expected KL divergence between P and the predictions. Known regret bounds for EWA and RWM then yield new sample complexity bounds for learning Bayes nets. Moreover, these algorithms can be made computationally efficient for several interesting classes of Bayes nets. Specifically, we give a new sample-optimal and polynomial time learning algorithm with respect to trees of unknown structure and the first polynomial sample and time algorithm for learning with respect to Bayes nets over a given chordal skeleton.

Joint work with Sutanu Gayen (IIT Kanpur), Philips George John (NUS), Sayantan Sen (NUS), and N.V. Vinodchandran (U Nebraska Lincoln)

• Speaker: Arnab Bhattacharya (University of Warwick)
• Tuesday 22 April 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: Computer Laboratory, William Gates Building, FW26.
• Series: Algorithms and Complexity Seminar; organiser: Tom Gur.

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BSU Seminar: "A Nonparanormal Approach to Marginal Inference"

Treatment effects for a novel therapy are typically measured by comparing marginal outcome distributions across study arms. While proper randomisation in randomised trials allows their estimation from observed outcome distributions, covariate adjustment is recommended to increase precision. However, for noncollapsible measures like odds or hazard ratios in logistic or proportional hazards models, conditioning on covariates changes the effect interpretation, and different covariate sets yield incomparable estimates.

In this talk, I introduce a novel nonparanormal model formulation for adjusted marginal inference allowing the estimation of the joint distribution of outcome and covariates. This approach offers not only the marginal treatment effect of interest for a wide range of outcome types but also an overall coefficient of determination and covariate-specific measures of prognostic strength. I will show how this method enhances precision of the marginal, noncollapsible effect – both theoretically and through empirical results.

This will be a free online seminar. To register to attend, please click on the link: https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xwbSLwLITemQeb8b-jk-Fg

• Speaker: Susanne Dandl, University of Zurich
• Tuesday 25 March 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: Online Seminar.
• Series: MRC Biostatistics Unit Seminars; organiser: Alison Quenault.

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Learning to See the World in 3D

Humans can effortlessly construct rich mental representations of the 3D world from sparse input, such as a single image. This is a core aspect of intelligence that helps us understand and interact with our surroundings and with each other. My research aims to build similar computational models–-artificial intelligence methods that can perceive properties of the 3D structured world from images and videos. Despite remarkable progress in 2D computer vision, 3D perception remains an open problem due to some unique challenges, such as limited 3D training data and uncertainties in reconstruction. My goal will be to discuss these challenges and explain how my research addresses them by posing vision as an inverse problem, and by designing machine learning models with physics-inspired inductive biases.

Teams link available upon request (it is sent out on our mailing list, eng-mlg-rcc [at] lists.cam.ac.uk). Sign up to our mailing list for easier reminders via lists.cam.ac.uk.

• Speaker: Ayush Tewari (University of Cambridge)
• Wednesday 26 March 2025, 11:00-12:30
• Venue: Cambridge University Engineering Department, CBL Seminar room BE4-38..
• Series: Machine Learning Reading Group @ CUED; organiser: .

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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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An n-doped ETL, that is c-NDI-Br:PEI with high electrical conductivity, strong work function modification ability and good solvent resistance, is developed via a simple in situ cross-linking reaction. The tandem OPVs, with the all-solution-processed organic/organic ICL (m-PEDOT:PSS/c-NDI-Br:PEI) achieve 20.06% efficiency under solar radiation, and 38.50% efficiency under 808 nm laser. This study provides a new method to design high-perfoimance ICLs.

Abstract

With merits of good solution processability, intrinsic flexibility, etc, organic/organic interconnecting layers (ICLs) are highly desirable for tandem organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Herein, an n-doped cross-linked organic electron transport layer (ETL), named c-NDI-Br:PEI is developed, via a simple in situ quaternization reaction between bromopentyl-substituted naphthalene diimide derivative (NDI-Br) and polyethylenimine (PEI). Due to strong self-doping, c-NDI-Br:PEI films exhibit a high electrical conductivity (0.06 S cm−1), which is important for efficient hole and electron reombination in ICL of tandem OPVs. In addition, the cross-linked ETLs show strong work function modulation ability, and good solvent-resistance. The above features enable c-NDI-Br:PEI to function as an efficient ETL not only for single-junction OPVs, but also for tandem devices without any metal layer in ICL. Under solar radiation, the single-junction device with c-NDI-Br:PEI as ETL achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.18%, surpassing the ZnO-based device (17.09%). The homo- and hetero-tandem devices with m-PEDOT:PSS:c-NDI-Br:PEI as ICL exhibit remarkable PCEs of 19.06% and 20.06%, respectively. Under 808 nm laser radiation with a photon flux of 57 mW cm−2, the homo-tandem device presents a superior PCE of 38.5%. This study provides a new ETL for constructing all-solution-processed organic/organic ICL, which can be integrated in flexible and wearable devices.

To concurrently improve activity and stability for seawater electrolysis under high current densities, the problems of firm adherence and coverage of H2 bubbles with core/shell nanoarrays, addressed which further regulates the interfacial H2O activity to reduce overpotentials, hence highlighting its potential as a sustainable and economically feasible application for large-scale hydrogen production.

Abstract

The catalytic activity and stability under high current densities for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) are impeded by firm adherence and coverage of H2 bubbles to the catalytic sites. Herein, we systematically synthesize core/shell nanoarrays to engineer bubble transport channels, which further remarkably regulate interfacial H2O activity, and swift H2 bubble generation and release. The self-supported catalyst holds uniform ultra-low Ru active sites of 0.38 wt% and promotes the rapid formation of plentiful small H2 bubbles, which are rapidly released by the upright channels, mitigating the blockage of active sites and avoiding surface damage from bubble movements. As a result, these core/shell nanoarrays achieve ultralow overpotentials of 18 and 24 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 for HER in 1 M KOH freshwater and seawater, respectively. Additionally, the assembled electrolyzer demonstrates stable durability over 800 hours with a high current density of 2 A cm−2 in 1 M KOH seawater. The techno-economic analysis (TEA) indicates that the unit cost of the hydrogen production system is nearly half of the DOE's (Department of Energy) 2026 target. Our work addresses the stability challenges of HER and highlights its potential as a sustainable and economically feasible solution for large-scale hydrogen production of seawater.

An amplified sensing strategy is reported in the second near-infrared long-wavelength (NIR-II-L, 1500–1900 nm) window for non-invasivel in situ visualization of early cancerization biomarker miRNA-21, providing a promising alternative for early diagnosis of cancerization and a guidance for therapeutic management.

Abstract

Accurate, sensitive, and in situ visualization of aberrant expression level of low-abundant biomolecules is crucial for early colorectal cancer (CRC) detection ahead of tumor morphology change. However, the clinical used colonoscopy and biopsy methods are invasive and lack of sensitivity at early-stage of cancerization. Here, an amplified sensing strategy is developed in the second near-infrared long-wavelength subregion (NIR-II-L, 1500–1900 nm) by integrating DNAzyme-triggered signal amplification technology and lanthanide-dye hybrid system. In the early-stage of CRC, the overexpressed biomarker microRNA-21 initiates the NIR-II-L luminescence ratiometric signal amplification of the CRCsensor. The high sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.26 pm allows non-invasive visualization of orthotopic colorectal cancerization via rectal administration, which achieves early and accurate in situ diagnosis at 2 weeks ahead of the in vitro histological results. This innovative approach offers a promising tool for early diagnosis and long-term monitoring of carcinogenesis progression, with potential applications in other cancer-related biomarkers.

This study explores 2D ferroelectric CuCrP2S6 for developing advanced NC-FET technology. Using MoS2 as the channel material, NC-FETs with optimized capacitance matching conditions achieve ultra-steep subthreshold swings (12 mV dec−1) and negligible hysteresis. A resistor-loaded inverter operating at 0.2 V with hysteresis-free characteristics highlights the potential of engineered 2D ferroelectrics for next-generation low-power electronics.

Abstract

The relentless pursuit of miniaturization and reduced power consumption in information technology demands innovative device architectures. Negative capacitance field-effect transistors (NC-FETs) offer a promising solution by harnessing the negative capacitance effect of ferroelectric materials to amplify gate voltage and achieve steep subthreshold swings (SS). In this work, 2D van der Waals (vdW) ferroelectric CuCrP2S6 (CCPS) is employed as the gate dielectric to realize hysteresis-free NC-FETs technology. Scanning microwave impedance microscopy (sMIM) is employed to investigate the dielectric property of CCPS, revealing a thickness-independent dielectric constant of ≈35. Subsequently, NC-FETs are fabricated with MoS2 channel, and the capacitance matching conditions are meticulously investigated. The optimized devices exhibit simultaneously ultra-steep SS (≈12 mV dec−1) and negligible hysteresis, with immunity to both voltage scan range and scan rate. Finally, a resistor-loaded inverter is demonstrated manifesting a low operation voltage down to 0.2 V and hysteresis-free transfer characteristics. This work paves the way for the development of high-performance, low-power electronics by exploiting 2D vdW ferroelectric materials.

Combining in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging with machine learning-based image analysis, this study directly visualizes and tracks dynamic restructuring in reducible oxide catalysts for green methanol synthesis. The findings reveal how supports modulate dynamic behaviors of reaction-induced InO x species, underpinning the superior methanol productivity of the In2O3/m-ZrO2 catalyst.

Abstract

Supported reducible oxides, such as indium oxide on monoclinic zirconia (In2O3/m-ZrO2), are promising catalysts for green methanol synthesis via CO2 hydrogenation. Growing evidence suggests that dynamic restructuring under reaction conditions plays a crucial but poorly understood role in catalytic performance. To address this, the direct visualization of the state-of-the-art In2O3/m-ZrO2 catalyst under CO2 hydrogenation conditions (T  =  553 K, P  =  1.9 bar, CO2:H2  =  1:4) is pioneered using in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), comparing its behavior to In2O3 on supports with similar (tetragonal, t-ZrO2 or anatase TiO2) or lower (LSm-ZrO2) surface areas. Complementary in situ infrared spectroscopy and catalytic tests confirm methanol formation under equivalent conditions. A machine-learning-based difference imaging approach differentiates and ranks restructuring patterns, revealing that partially reduced InO x species on m-ZrO2 undergo cyclic aggregation-redispersion via atomic surface migration, maintaining high active phase dispersion. High-resolution ex situ STEM analysis further shows the epitaxial formation of In2O3 mono- and bilayers on (100) m-ZrO2 facets, highlighting strong oxide-support interactions. In contrast, sintering prevails on t-ZrO2, a-TiO2, and low-surface m-ZrO2, correlating with lower methanol productivity. This work underscores the pivotal role of oxide-support interfacial interactions in the reaction-induced restructuring of InO x species and establishes a framework for tracking nanoscale catalyst dynamics.