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2D diamond is expected to show superior properties compared to bulk diamond, but its synthesis remains challenging. Here, the authors report a high-temperature high-pressure method to fabricate thermally stable 2D diamond via laser-heating of few-layer graphene in a diamond anvil cell, providing relevant insights into the 2D graphene-diamond transformation mechanisms.

The mechanical reliability and scalability of flexible perovskite solar cells remain challenging. Mingzhu He et al. design β-cyclodextrin derivatives to reinforce grain boundaries, enhancing both the efficiency and stability of cells and modules.

High-pressure diamond anvil cell experiments reveal that compression strengthening of nanocrystalline nickel increases as its grain sizes decrease to 3 nanometres, owing to dislocation hardening and suppression of grain boundary plasticity.

Sustained catalytic performance wound benefit the applications of nanozymes, but the catalytic activity of some nanozymes depletes with time. Here the authors report Prussian blue nanozymes that exhibit self-increasing catalytic activity and elucidate the underlying catalytic mechanisms.

It is a challenge to control composition gradient of ferroelectric films. Here, the authors develop a solution epitaxy strategy to produce compositionally-graded ferroelectric films with excellent dielectric stability and high pyroelectric property.

The authors develop lattice defect engineering through Cu doping to realize a high figure of merit in n-type polycrystalline PbSe, finding that Cu induced interstitial defects and nanoprecipitates simultaneously optimize electron and phonon transport properties.

Using systematic satellite observations of land surface temperature and soil moisture during soil dry-downs, the spatially-explicit global distribution of the critical soil moisture threshold of plant water stress and its drivers is uncovered.

Li et al. report the sublattice decoupling in Rb₆Re₆S₈I₈ upon compression, in which [Rb₆I₂]⁴⁺ framework can be selectively amorphized while the [Re₆S₈I₆]^4- clusters keep in ordered state, leading to emission-to-photocurrent switching at 15 GPa, which can retain when back to ambient condition.

Engineering Cu to achieve high catalytic selectivity towards carbon monoxide at high current density is challenging. Here, the authors report an Cu-Sb single-atom alloy catalyst that catalyzes CO₂ reduction at a current density of 500 mA cm⁻² with CO FE of ca. 91%.

Here, the authors present a Co-N4 single-atom catalyst with pendant amine group in the second sphere, which shifts the oxygen reduction reaction selectivity toward hydrogen peroxide production.

How to melt and quench the largest subclass of MOFs, metal carboxylate frameworks, into glasses is a major challenge. Here, the authors develop a strategy by grafting the zwitterions onto the carboxylate ligands and incorporating organic acids into the framework channels to realize the glass formation.

Electrolytic water splitting under harsh conditions is limited by poor lifespan of the electrodes. Here, authors report alternating electrolysis approaches that realize prompt and periodic repair of a Ni electrode via the co-action of Co²⁺ and Na⁺ ions, leading to prolonged operation times.

While single atom catalysis offers high efficiency for materials use, different possible atomic configurations yield differing activities. Here, authors modulate single-atom Os coordinations to show a volcano relationship between oxidation state and H₂ evolution electrocatalytic activities.

Developing low-temperature solution epitaxy and elucidating its underlying mechanisms is highly desired for low-cost fabrication of single-crystal ferroelectric films. Here, the authors show that a polarization screening between ferroelectrics and substrates can tailor the interface energy and drive the solution epitaxy of polarization-gradient ferroelectric oxide films, demonstrating a remarkable photovoltaic effect.

High-performance fibers are promising materials in the impact protection field but fabricating fibers with high strength and high toughness is challenging. Here, the authors polymerize carbon nanotubes into aramid fibers to simultaneously improve strength and toughness.

Recent experiments have indicated that YbMgGaO₄ may be a quantum spin liquid with spinon Fermi surfaces but additional evidence is needed to support this interpretation. Shen et al. show weak magnetic fields cause changes in the excitation continuum that are consistent with spin liquid predictions.

Grain of indica rice accumulates more toxic cadmium (Cd) than japonica, but the underlying genetic basis is unclear. Here, the authors show that natural variation of OsCd1 contributes to divergence in grain Cd accumulation and transferring japonica allele to indica rice leads to reduced Cd accumulation.

Blood vessels respond to injury by thickening the supportive smooth muscle layer in a process known as neointima formation. Here the authors describe a novel regulatory pathway of neointima formation that involves a transcription factor, Interferon Regulating Factor 9, and its downstream target, the deacetylase SIRT1.

The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is known to regulate differentiation and function of immune cells. Here the authors show that IRF8 is upregulated in the hypertrophic heart in humans and mice, where it suppresses cardiac remodelling by inhibiting calcineurin signalling.

TRAF1 is an intracellular signalling molecule that has diverse biological functions. In this study, the authors show that TRAF1 is expressed in mice soon after they have suffered a stroke and that increased TRAF1 expression increases susceptibility to ischaemia-induced apoptosis and brain injury.

Analyses of genetic variation and population structure based on over 3,000 cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) genomes reveal subpopulations that correlate with geographic location and patterns of introgression consistent with multiple rice domestication events.

A spin excitation continuum across a large region of the Brillouin zone that persists at near-zero temperatures provides evidence for a quantum spin liquid state with a spinon Fermi surface in YbMgGaO₄.

Inspired by squid-skin, a micropatterned thermochromic hydrogel to realize the concurrent control of smart solar transmittance and rapid visible-light stealth at all-working temperatures is proposed.

Soft Material Helps Cancer-Cell Capture: Soft polystyrene (PS) polymer nanotube substrate has been developed to realize rapid and highly efficient breast cancer-cell capture from whole-blood samples with high cell viability, by integrating the soft nature of PS with specific capture agents and surface structures to mimic the cell microenvironment. It is anticipated that this soft material-based substrate will provide a potentially optimal candidate for high-quality breast cancer-cell capture and detection technologies, and open a new view to design cell-material interfaces for advanced cell-based diagnostic and therapeutic platforms.