A new study presents a breakthrough in energy storage by introducing vanadium doping to lithium-rich layered oxides. This modification significantly enhances oxygen redox reversibility, improving voltage stability and boosting initial Coulombic efficiency to 91.6%. The vanadium-doped material addresses key issues in lithium-ion batteries, such as low efficiency and rapid voltage decay, making it a promising solution for next-generation battery technologies. These advancements offer a clear pathway for overcoming existing challenges in high-energy storage systems, particularly in applications like electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

As air temperatures stay elevated through fall months, people may still want clothes that cool them down while outside, especially if they live in cities that stay warmer than rural landscapes. Researchers who previously demonstrated a cooling fabric coating now report on additional tests of a treated polyester fabric in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Fabric treated with the team’s chalk-based coating kept the air underneath up to 6 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in warmer urban environments.

Atmospheric aerosol particles are essential for the formation of clouds and precipitation, thereby influencing the Earth’s energy budget, water cycle, and climate. However, the origin of aerosol particles in pristine air over the Amazon rainforest during the wet season is poorly understood. A new study, led by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, reveals that rainfall regularly induces bursts of newly formed nanoparticles in the air above the forest canopy.

In a review published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, opportunities for industrializing Photoelectrochemical CO₂ reduction (PEC-CO₂R) by minimizing reaction energy consumption to improve reaction efficiency and selectivity are explored. This review summarizes recent advancements in developing Si-based photocathodes for PEC-CO₂R.

In a paper published in Polymer Science & Technology, an international team of scientists

explores how modifying side-chain features in homopolypeptides affects their ability to form coacervates. They synthesized various polypeptide variants, revealing that changing the lengths of side-chain amino or linker segments was found either to prohibit coacervate formation or to allow adjustment of the phase transition temperature. Notably, anionic polypeptides also formed coacervates, expanding potential applications in biomimetic materials. This work paves the way for designing multifunctional polymers with tunable properties. This study is led by Timothy J. Deming (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, United States).

This study introduces a fibrous amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide material (IGZO) integrated into sensory face masks, providing real-time respiratory monitoring via a wireless flexible circuit. Enhanced surface area promotes gas diffusion, enabling precise detection of respiratory states. This innovation in wearable health monitoring highlights a promising direction for continuous physiological assessment.