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Nature Materials, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02155-4

The authors demonstrate on-chip circularly polarized light detection using the chiral properties of transition metal dichalcogenide valleytronic transistors on centrosymmetric plasmonic metamaterials.

Nature Materials, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02156-3

The authors present transport measurements of rhombohedral trilayer graphene proximitized by transition metal dichalcogenides. They find that the presence of transition metal dichalcogenides enables the emergence of new superconducting and metallic phases and affects the superconducting states present in bare rhombohedral trilayer graphene.

Nature Materials, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41563-025-02173-2

Metal–organic chemical vapour deposition enables the wafer-scale growth of hexagonal boron nitride with an AA stacking sequence that was previously considered thermodynamically unfavourable.

Nature Energy, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01732-w

Nanofiltration membranes can potentially lower the energy demands of separation processes, yet identifying promising systems for further development can be challenging. Now, data-driven and equation-based modelling is used to holistically compare and select optimal separation processes.

Nature Energy, Published online: 19 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41560-025-01743-7

Solar photovoltaic systems vary in quality, which may result in energy generation differences. New research investigates these disparities among installed PV systems in Connecticut, noting that choice of installer and financing model contribute to gaps, while differences are notable across neighbourhood income and race.

Deterministic Neural Syllogistic Reasoning (Part 2)

In my last talk (https://talks.cam.ac.uk/talk/index/228844), I introduced the criterion of deterministic neural reasoning, the method of reasoning through model construction and inspection, and proposed a novel neural network, Sphere Neural Network (SphNN), which reasons syllogistic statements by constructing and inspecting Euler diagrams. SphNN does not use training data, instead, it uses a transition map of neighbourhood relations. In this talk, I will present three control process (1. neighbourhood transition without constraint; 2. constraint neighbourhood transition; 3. neighbourhood transition with restart) and prove that the whole control process will successfully construct an Euler diagram in one epoch (M=1). With this proof, SphNN becomes the first neural network that reaches the symbolic-level of syllogistic reasoning.

• Speaker: Tiansi Dong
• Monday 31 March 2025, 17:00-17:45
• Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Computer Laboratory, William Gates Building.
• Series: Foundation AI; organiser: Pietro Lio.

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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D4EE05613B, Review Article Open Access &nbsp This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.Bochun KANG, Feng Yan
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs), recognized as a promising third-generation thin-film photovoltaic technology, offer notable advantages including low-cost production, high power conversion efficiency, and tunable bandgap characteristics. Despite these advancements, scaling...
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The low plating-stripping Coulombic efficiency of the iron metal anode is a major barrier for next-generation Fe-ion batteries. Introducing a high concentration of ZnCl2 to the FeCl2-based electrolyte makes the solid-electrolyte interphase-enabling dimethyl carbonate miscible to the electrolyte. The hybrid electrolyte exhibits an average Coulombic efficiency of 98.3% and a more stable cycle life.

Abstract

Iron is a promising candidate for a cost-effective anode for large-scale energy storage systems due to its natural abundance and well-established mass production. Recently, Fe-ion batteries (FeIBs) that use ferrous ions as the charge carrier have emerged as a potential storage solution. The electrolytes in FeIBs are necessarily acidic to render the ferrous ions more anodically stable, allowing a wide operation voltage window. However, the iron anode suffers severe hydrogen evolution reaction with a low Coulombic efficiency (CE) in an acidic environment, shortening the battery cycle life. Herein, a hybrid aqueous electrolyte that forms a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the Fe anode surface is introduced. The electrolyte mainly comprises FeCl2 and ZnCl2 as cosalts, where the Zn-Cl anionic complex species of the concentrated ZnCl2 allows dimethyl carbonate (DMC) to be miscible with the aqueous ferrous electrolyte. SEI derived from DMC's decomposition passivates the iron surface, which leads to an average CE of 98.3% and much-improved cycling stability. This advancement shows the promise of efficient and durable FeIBs.

Hybrid materials with enhanced photostability and photothermal properties are prepared by modifying gold nanorods with tailored organic dyes, where plasmonic thermalization and nonradiative relaxation are effectively combined. Using the materials as a reusable energy converter, localized, and controllable photothermal crystallization of biorelevant mineral salts, including NaCl, CaCO3, BaCO3, and SrCO3, is realized using 638 nm laser light.

Abstract

Well-designed nanomaterials with favorable photothermal performance are beneficial for exploring fascinating and prospective applications. Herein the facile and effective way is reported to enhance photothermal properties of gold nanorods (GNRs) through immobilizing tailored organic dyes around GNRs. Benefitting from the combination of plasmonic thermalization and nonradiative relaxation, the modified GNRs exhibit a temperature increase of >100 °C under 638 nm laser irradiation in film state, which is double of that of the bare GNRs-doped film under the same condition. The hybrid film also exhibits superior stability and reusability compared to the film only doped with the dyes. Surface temperature of the hybrid film can be adjusted from 31 to 116 °C by tunning either doping materials concentration or light power. Interestingly, the hybrid film serves as a reusable energy converter in confined and controllable photothermal crystallization of mineral salts. NaCl crystals can be arranged into different patterns by moving the laser probe during the crystallization. Microcrystals of CaCO3 (calcite, vaterite, and aragonite), BaCO3, and SrCO3 are successfully obtained. It is believed that the as-prepared materials as well as the demonstrated photothermal crystallization will contribute to the development of function-led photothermal materials.

A unique electrocatalyst featuring singly dispersed Pt–Co sites in a fully metallic state on nanoporous Co2P, which confers exceptional activity and durability for the hydrogen evolution reaction, enabling high-performance anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyser, is reported. Real-time monitoring reveals that these sites self-adaptively distort under operating conditions to form a Pt1Co6 configuration with strongly negative charge, optimizing reactant binding and reorganizing the interfacial water structure.

Abstract

Metallizing active sites to control the structural and kinetic dissociation of water at the catalyst–electrolyte interface, along with elucidating its mechanism under operating conditions, is a pivotal innovation for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, a design of singly dispersed Pt–Co sites in a fully metallic state on nanoporous Co2P, tailored for HER, is introduced. An anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyzer equipped with this catalyst can achieve the industrial current densities of 1.0 and 2.0 A cm−2 at 1.71 and 1.85 V, respectively. It is revealed that the singly dispersed Pt–Co sites undergo self-adaptive distortion under operating conditions, which form a Pt1Co6 configuration with a strongly negative charge that optimizes reactant binding and reorganizes the interfacial water structure, resulting in an improved concentration of potassium (K+) ions in the closest ion plane. The K+ ions interact cooperatively with H2O (K·H2O), which strengthens the Pt–H binding interaction and facilitates the polarization of the H─OH bond, leading to improved HER activity. This study not only propels the advancement of cathodic catalysts for water electrolysis but also delineates a metallization strategy and an interface design principle, thereby enhancing electrocatalytic reaction rates.

Raphael Mattiuz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunobiology, Mount Sinai

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

Speaker: Raphael Mattiuz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunobiology, Mount Sinai

Title: TBC

Host:

Refreshments will be available following the seminar.

• Speaker: Raphael Mattiuz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunobiology, Mount Sinai
• Thursday 10 April 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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Fighting cancer and fake news: A battle against misinformation

Cancer-related medical misinformation is a wicked problem, deeply embedded in social, cultural, and technical systems. It represents a deliberate and profit-driven phenomenon, perpetuated by bad actors exploiting online platforms and societal vulnerabilities. Cancer misinformation thrives on information asymmetry, where creators hold an informational advantage over their audience. Bad actors exploit this imbalance by distorting facts and concealing critical context, preying on knowledge gaps and fear and uncertainty following a diagnosis. Drawing from signalling theory, we will explore how misinformation creators mimic trustworthy signals like expertise (e.g., impersonating professionals), consensus (e.g., fake reviews), and familiarity (e.g., mimicking reputable formats), manipulating audiences into accepting their claims as credible. These individuals and organisations manipulate trust, emotions, and gaps in knowledge, fostering harmful behaviours and undermining public health efforts. Social media’s monetisation systems incentivise engagement over accuracy, perpetuating a vicious cycle of distrust in conventional medicine. Cancer misinformation leads to devastating outcomes, including delays in treatment, financial exploitation, and diminished trust in healthcare systems. Understanding medical misinformation tactics and the structural mechanisms enabling misinformation is critical to devising effective interventions that address its root causes. This talk explores the roots, proliferation, and impacts of cancer-related misinformation, focusing on its mimicking of trust signals, dissemination through digital ecosystems, and profound consequences for patients and caregivers.

Zoom link: https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/83142055830?pwd=tVRAsZyuo4LMFR0RinDBY8YHmpwqTY.1

• Speaker: Alice Hutchings (University of Cambridge)
• Tuesday 18 March 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: Webinar & LT2, Computer Laboratory, William Gates Building..
• Series: Computer Laboratory Security Seminar; organiser: Anna Talas.

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tbc

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Prof. Santanu Mukherjee, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
• Wednesday 09 July 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: Dept. of Chemistry, Wolfson Lecture Theatre.
• Series: Synthetic Chemistry Research Interest Group; organiser: Dr. Robert J. Phipps.

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aphael Mattiuz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunobiology, Mount Sinai

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

Speaker: Raphael Mattiuz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunobiology, Mount Sinai

Title: TBC

Host:

Refreshments will be available following the seminar.

• Speaker: aphael Mattiuz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunobiology, Mount Sinai
• Thursday 10 April 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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Synthesis RIG Postdoc Seminar - Dr Sona Krajcovicova and Dr Antti Lahdenpera

Abstract not available

• Speaker: Speaker to be confirmed
• Wednesday 07 May 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: Dept. of Chemistry, Wolfson Lecture Theatre.
• Series: Synthetic Chemistry Research Interest Group; organiser: Dr. Robert J. Phipps.

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Energy Environ. Sci., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
DOI: 10.1039/D5EE00152H, PaperXinhu Liang, Zhihao Zhang, Zhe Wang, mingzhen hu, Dan Cheng, Yue Jiang, Hao Ren, Fengyi Shen, Shitu Yang, Xiaoxin Yang, Wenkun Jiang, Xianghui Shi, Zihao Ma, Kebin Zhou
Alkaline electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been a hot topic in energy catalysis and engineering. Theoretically, intensifying OH adsorption on electrocatalyst is vital for promoting water dissociation and thus...
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By connecting CoTPyP blocks with transition metal nodes, a class of bimetallic 2D MOFs are designed and synthesized. The prepared CoTPyP-M MOFs enhanced the utilization of sulfur and smoothed the lithium deposition/stripping process. The central Co sites display strong interactions with sulfur species through Co−S and Li−N bonds, facilitating the cleavage of S−S bond from both ends and promoting their conversion kinetics in Li−S batteries.

Abstract

Developing the highly efficient catalysts is a great challenge for accelerating the redox reactions in Li−S batteries. Inspired by the single-atom catalysts and metalloproteins, it makes full use of the advantages of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as electrocatalysts. Herein, a series of 2D metal-bonded metalloporphyrin MOFs are prepared with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-pyridyl) cobalt porphyrin (CoTPyP) as building blocks and transition metals (M═Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) as nodes, respectively. The crystalline structures of the bimetallic 2D MOFs are confirmed by UV–vis spectra and X-ray diffraction analyses. According to DFT calculation, the peripheral metal nodes optimize the electronic state of Co in porphyrin core. Especially, CoTPyP-Mn facilitates the cleavage of S−S bond from both ends and promotes their conversion kinetics through Co−S and Li−N bonds. The Li−S cells with CoTPyP-Mn show the initial specific capacity of 1339 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C. The capacity decay rate is only 0.0442% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 2 C. This work achieves the rational control of the central Co d electron state through the peripheral regulation and enriches the application of MOFs in accelerating the redox kinetics in Li−S batteries.

Chemically bonded conductive metal-organic framework/polyoxometalate composites are synthesized as a high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst through a conserved ligand replacement strategy. Excellent performances with a H2O2 production rate of 9.51 mol gcat −1 h−1 and 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid yield of 96.8% are achieved in an integrated electrolysis system of two-electron oxygen reduction reaction coupling with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction.

Abstract

The design of bifunctional and high-performance electrocatalysts that can be used as both cathodes and anodes for the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) and biomass valorization is attracting increasing attention. Herein, a conserved ligand replacement strategy is developed for the synthesis of highly ordered conductive metal-organic frameworks (Ni-HITP, HITP = 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11-hexaiminotriphenylene) with chemically confined phosphotungstic acid (PW12) nanoclusters in the nanopores. The newly formed Ni−O−W bonds in the resultant Ni-HITP/PW12 electrocatalysts modulate the electronic structures of both Ni and W sites, which are favorable for cathodic 2e− ORR to H2O2 production and anodic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) to 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), respectively. In combination with the deliberately retained conductive frameworks and ordered pores, the dual-functional Ni-HITP/PW12 composites enable a H2O2 production rate of 9.51 mol gcat −1 h−1 and an FDCA yield of 96.8% at a current density of 100 mA cm−2/cell voltage of 1.38 V in an integrated 2e− ORR/HMFOR system, significantly improved than the traditional 2e− ORR/oxygen evolution reaction system. This work has provided new insights into the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts and electrocatalytic systems for the green synthesis of valuable chemicals.

This is a quasi-dry transfer technique assisted by water vapor intercalation (WVI), which can be effectively used to fabricate high-quality twisted heterostructures, including monolayer/few-layer graphene and 2D quasicrystal-like heterostructure. It also enables the fabrication of suspended 2DMs and high-performance devices. This technique features excellent scalability, advancing fundamental research on 2DMs, and the fabrication of quantum devices with outstanding performance.

Abstract

Transfer technique has become an indispensable process in the development of two-dimensional materials (2DMs) and their heterostructures, as it determines the quality of the interface and the performance of the resulting devices. However, how to flexibly and conveniently fabricate two-dimensional (2D) twisted heterostructures with high-quality interfaces has always been a formidable challenge. Here, a quasi-dry transfer technique assisted by water vapor intercalation (WVI) is developed, which can be flexibly used to fabricate twisted heterostructures. This method leverages a charged hydrophilic surface to facilitate WVI at the interface, enabling the clean and uniform detachment of 2DMs from the substrate. Using this method, the twisted monolayer/few-layer graphene and 2D quasicrystal-like WS2/MoS2, highlighting the surface/interface cleanness and angle-controlled transfer method is successfully fabricated. Besides, suspended structures of these 2DMs and heterostructures are fabricated, which offers substantial convenience for studying their intrinsic physical properties. Further, a high-performance hBN/graphene/hBN superlattice device with the mobility of ≈199,000 cm2 V−1 s−1 at room temperature is fabricated. This transfer technique ingeniously combines the advantages of dry transfer and wet transfer. Moreover, it features excellent scalability, providing crucial technical support for future research on the fundamental physical properties of 2DMs and the fabrication of quantum devices with outstanding performance.

A fluorinated olefin-linked triazine covalent organic framework photocatalyst is developed. The adjacent fluorine atom-olefinic bond forms p–π conjugation and expedites triplet excitons for activating O2 to 1O2 while accelerating charge separation, thus leading to high-efficiency photocatalytic O2 reduction to H2O2 and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural photo-oxidation upgrading.

Abstract

High-efficiency production of triplet states in covalent organic framework photocatalysts is crucial for high-selectivity oxygen (O2) reduction to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Herein, fluorine and partial fluorine atoms are incorporated into an olefin-linked triazine covalent organic framework (F-ol-COF and HF-ol-COF), in which the adjacent fluorine (F) atoms-olefinic bond forms p-π conjugation that induces spin-polarization under irradiation, thus expediting triplet excitons for activating O2 to singlet oxygen (1O2) and contributing to a high H2O2 selectivity (91%). Additionally, the feasibility of coupling H2O2 production with the valorization of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is exhibited. The F-ol-COF demonstrates a highly stable H2O2 yield rate of 12558 µmol g−1 h−1 with the HMF-to-functionalized furan conversion yield of 95%, much higher than the partially fluorinated COF (HF-ol-COF) and the non-fluorinated COF (H-ol-COF). Mechanistic studies reveal that F-incorporation promotes charge separation, intensifies the Lewis acidity of the carbon atoms on the olefinic bond as active sites for O2 adsorption, and provides highly concentrated holes at the triazine unit for HMF oxidation upgrading. This study suggests the attractive potential of rational design of porous-crystalline photocatalysts for high-efficiency photocatalytic O2 reduction to H2O2 and biomass upgrading.