Chlorine (Cl2) is one of the most important chemicals in the chemical industry, which is primarily produced by the electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (CER) in the chlor–alkali process. While platinum-group metal (PGM)-based dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) have dominated over the last half century, atomically dispersed catalysts (ADCs) have recently emerged as a promising class of CER catalysts; however, they still rely on PGMs. In this work, we prepared a series of non-PGM (Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu)-based ADCs and investigated their CER reactivity trends. Among these, the Ni ADC exhibited the best CER activity and kinetics. Notably, its CER activity exceeded those of commercial DSA and reported non-PGM-based catalysts. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses combined with density functional theory calculations revealed that the Ni–N4 motif serves as a major active site for the CER. The Ni-loading-controlled Ni ADCs confirmed the involvement of Ni–N4 sites as active sites in the formation of Cl2. Overall, our findings pave the way for extending ADC-based CER catalysts to non-PGM compositions.

Pt-based binary intermetallic materials have been a main driver advancing electrocatalysis of fuel cell electrode reactions. Incorporating a third element into binary compositions has proven effective in further enhancing the catalytic activity and durability and improving the phase stability. In this context, the adoption of ternary compositions is being increasingly recognized lately as a driving force behind the next wave of high-performance intermetallic electrocatalysts. In this Perspective, we present recent advances in the preparation and electrocatalysis of ternary intermetallic catalysts. We categorize Pt-based ternary intermetallic catalysts into two major classes: (1) Pt–TM1–TM2 systems combining two transition metals (TMs) and (2) Pt–TM–pM systems comprising a TM and a p-block metal (pM). Additionally, we discuss Pt–TM–X systems involving interstitial elements (X) and Pt-based high-entropy intermetallic structures. Under this classification, we systematically compare the activity, durability, and ordering degree of ternary Pt-based intermetallic catalysts, highlighting the superiority of ternary compositions over binary analogs. Finally, we conclude this Perspective by outlining future directions for advancing Pt-based ternary intermetallic catalysts.

Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, which enables the delivery of DNA using transfer DNA (T-DNA) binary vectors, is an essential technique in plant research. T-DNAs randomly integrate into the host genome, and multiple T-DNAs can sometimes integrate during a single transformation, necessitating the development of tools to elucidate the T-DNA insertion sites (TISs). Here, we present T-DNAreader, which identifies TISs from RNA sequencing data with high precision, sensitivity, and speed, outperforming existing tools. T-DNAreader enables the efficient and reliable identification of TISs within transcribed regions and standardizes the characterization of T-DNA-containing transgenic plants, which can be expanded to various organisms containing T-DNA.

Drug localization, release control, and penetration into solid tissues through biological tight junctions are crucial for the treatment of localized diseases with biological barriers by maximizing therapeutic efficacy of the drug and minimizing damage to normal organs. Here, we introduce a dual-phoretic wireless drug delivery system that harnesses the physical control of ion transportation: electrophoresis for controllable release and iontophoresis for directional penetration. Adjustable, pulsatile, and repeatable drug release under biological conditions is achieved using ion diodes and Zn-based electrochemical cells. Through seamless integration with iontophoretic compartments, a fourfold improvement in delivery efficiency compared to drug diffusion, reaching the core of in vivo tumor, is verified by a 3D tomographic analysis. Fully implantable and wireless operation in a simulated 2-week therapeutic scenario results in a remarkable 50% tumor reduction from the initial volume while minimizing damage to nearby normal tissue and off-target organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney.

Here, we report the synthesis of a ternary PtNiCo octahedral skeletal catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). A mixed flow of H2 and CO facilitated complete reduction, promoted Pt diffusion, and enabled the formation of octahedral PtNiCo nanoparticles (NPs). The resulting ternary skeletal catalyst, obtained after acid treatment, exhibited a mass activity (MA) of 1.64 A mgPt−1 and a specific activity (SA) of 3.73 mA cm−2, which are 7.5 and 14.3 times higher, respectively, than those of commercial Pt/C.

A two-dimensional (2D) inorganic phosphate compound, Y(HPO4)(NO3)(H2O)·2H2O (YH2H), was synthesized via a slow evaporation method and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. YH2H crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group, Pbcm and features a layered structure composed of edge-sharing YO8 polyhedra. The interlayer space is stabilized by two types of lattice water molecules, which form an extended hydrogen-bonding network critical to both structural integrity and functionality. Upon heating, YH2H undergoes a reversible two-step dehydration process, forming a contracted dehydrated phase (YH). Real-time in situ powder X-ray diffraction captured these sequential phase transitions. Notably, YH spontaneously rehydrates under ambient conditions, fully restoring the original framework. Methanol intercalation into the YH phase leads to the formation of an expanded intercalated phase (Y-MeOH), highlighting the material’s solvent-responsive interlayer tunability. The hydrogen-bond network in YH2H enables effective proton transport, yielding a proton conductivity of 2.28 × 10–4 S·cm–1 at 90 °C and 90% relative humidity. Unlike conventional proton-conducting materials, YH2H maintains conductivity under reduced or fluctuating humidity by autonomously reabsorbing water, eliminating the need for continuous external humidification. In addition to its structural and ionic responsiveness, YH2H exhibits diverse optical functionalities, including ultraviolet transparency, high birefringence, and ligand-centered phosphorescence. This multifunctionality, coupled with reversible interlayer modulation, establishes YH2H as a rare example of a fully inorganic, interlayer-engineerable 2D material with broad potential for solid-state ionic devices, photonics, and optoelectronic applications.

High-degree doping of conjugated polymers often employs a strong redox agent, which facilitates polymer ionization but results in poor environmental stability for the counter-ion. Here, we demonstrate an anion-exchange doping using a model study that systematically investigates the effect of the solvent dielectric constant on both doping and anion exchange. The dielectric constant significantly affects the initial doping of poly(2,5-bis(3-hexadecylthiophene-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (PBTTT) films using FeCl3, as well as in the subsequent anion exchange of [FeCl4]− to dodecylbenzenesulfonate ([DBS]−). A solvent with a higher dielectric constant improves the FeCl3 doping efficiency but hinders the subsequent anion exchange. Such conflicting effects can be resolved by stepwise immersion in separate solutions of FeCl3 and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA). Stepwise anion-exchange doping achieves high electrical conductivity with improved environmental stability, while also allowing for the application of desired anions that require extended time for the direct doping method, such as in Brønsted acid doping.

The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) was applied to NMC622 positive electrodes, with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) performed at quasi-equilibrium conditions determined by cutoff criteria based on relaxation rates. Below an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 3.8 V, the cutoff criterion of 0.1 mV h−1 was reached after approximately 8 hours. However, above 3.8 V, a non-saturating voltage decay was observed, increasing up to ∼0.56 mV h−1 above 4.1 V during charging steps. This persistent voltage decay upon subsequent discharging steps led to non-monotonic relaxation behavior. A pulse time of 10 minutes did not satisfy the t dependence required for GITT kinetic analysis. Instead, the initial 36-second transients were extended for chemical diffusivity evaluation, aligning with the Warburg-like response observed in EIS, consistent with the sequential reaction-diffusion assumption. GITT analysis for solid-state diffusivity is ineffective for spherical active particles dispersed in porous electrodes and performs even worse due to liquid-phase diffusion within the pores, where t+=0.3. The apparent SOC-independent chemical diffusivity obtained from GITT across both low and high OCV ranges suggests that the process is dominated by liquid-phase diffusion. The application of the physics-based three-rail transmission line model (TLM) developed by Gaberšček et al. in EIS holds practical potential for deconvoluting the two diffusion kinetics.

We propose a novel configuration that integrates a membrane contactor with solvent-driven fractional crystallization (SDFC) to recover ammonia from wastewater and produce it as solid-phase nitrogenous fertilizers. A liquid-gas membrane contactor strips ammonia from wastewater in a gaseous form, which enters a strip tank containing a binary mixture of an aqueous anion solution and an organic solvent. There, the ammonia reacts with anions, instantly protonating and forming solid-phase fertilizers. Batch SDFC experiments identified phosphate and sulfate as viable options for producing solid-phase fertilizers from the ammonia gas entering the strip tank. The hybrid system utilizing these acids produced high-grade fertilizers free from soil acidification concerns: a mixture of monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate, and pure ammonium sulfate. Ammonium sulfate crystals in the strip tank grew epitaxially, representing a unique ammonium sulfate crystallization pattern when ammonium concentration gradually increased to supersaturation. A single system run produced solid fertilizers that amounted to 81.54 and 83.84% of the initially added phosphoric and sulfuric acid, respectively. Organic solvents in the strip tank could be recycled for at least five cycles while maintaining crystallization efficiencies of 82.63%. These results highlight the potential for semi-permanent operation of the system without the need for solvent replenishment.

The most promising method for synthesizing high-quality, large-scale graphene films involves chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon-containing precursors onto Cu substrates. During graphene growth in a CVD system, the interaction between graphene and the Cu substrate leads to the formation of anisotropic Cu step bunches, driven by interfacial surface energy minimization and the release of compressive stress during thermal cooling. It is widely acknowledged that a smooth substrate is crucial for achieving high-quality graphene, as graphene strain and Cu surface roughening induce wrinkles when transferred onto a silicon wafer, which negatively impacts the quality. Here, we introduce a straightforward approach for controlling strain in graphene by engineering the Cu surface morphology through mechanical tension during the growth process. We achieve a uniform distribution of low compressive strain across the graphene layer by applying varying mechanical weights to the Cu foil. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that mechanical tension significantly reduces Cu surface roughness, providing a smoother interface for graphene growth. This work provides insights into the relationship between Cu surface structure and graphene strain, contributing to the optimization of substrate preparation for graphene synthesis and other related surface engineering applications.