A University of Iowa-led chemistry team has isolated an atypical form of the rare-earth metal terbium – under normal environmental conditions. The breakthrough could make terbium and similar metals easier to separate and study, potentially expanding their use in quantum technologies, electronics, medicine, and other applications. Results published in the journal Nature Communications.

Hard carbon (HC) anodes are promising for sodium-ion batteries, yet achieving high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), large plateau contribution, and fast charge-transfer kinetics remains challenging due to insufficient control of micro–nanostructure and interphase chemistry. Here, we present a precursor-level molecular engineering strategy that simultaneously regulates sodium desolvation and interphase chemistry in HC. An iodine-mediated oxidative cross-linking process converts starch into spherical HC with uniformly distributed ultramicropores and carbonyl-rich surfaces. These nanoconfined pores are proposed to act as molecular sieves, preferentially excluding bulky solvent molecules while allowing PF₆⁻-coordinated Na⁺ access, thereby favoring anion-enriched electrolyte structures under confinement. Surface carbonyls exhibit strong PF₆⁻ affinity, which may promote fluorine-rich inorganic interphases on pore surfaces. The synergistic effects of anion-selective adsorption and confined desolvation are suggested to favor thin and robust NaF-rich interphases at external surfaces and within nanoconfined pore regions, contributing to reversible interfacial reactions and rapid Na⁺ storage kinetics. Consequently, the HC delivers an ICE of 88.4%, a reversible capacity of 352.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C, excellent rate capability (288.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 5C), and 95.6% capacity retention over 200 cycles. This work offers a molecular-level design paradigm integrating efficiency, capacity, and kinetics in HC anodes.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction offers a promising route to convert CO₂ into valuable fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity. However, most current systems rely on high-purity CO₂ feeds, whereas practical carbon sources such as industrial flue gas and air contain much lower CO₂ concentrations together with impurities including O₂, SO_x and NO_x. A team of scientists has reviewed recent advances in electrochemical capture and conversion of dilute CO₂. The review highlights two major strategies, integrated CO₂ capture and conversion and direct electrolysis of dilute CO₂, and discusses how catalyst design and electrolyzer engineering can work together to move the technology toward practical applications. Their work is published in the journal Industrial Chemistry & Materials on July 15, 2026.

The eight-electron transfer pathway required for CH4 formation in eCO₂RR is kinetically slow, which leads to poor reaction selectivity. In this work, a CuZn-BDC-NH2 precursor was synthesized via a facile solvothermal method, and a series of CuZn@C materials were prepared by calcination under varying temperature conditions (700°C, 800°C, 900°C) utilizing the high-temperature volatility of Zn. Among them, the CuZn800@C sample demonstrates the best CH4 electro-reduction performance, achieving a methane Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 64.5% and a partial current density of -429.1 mA/cm² at a potential of -1.7 V vs. RHE, along with excellent stability, showing only a slight performance decline after a 24-hour test. Through in situ infrared spectroscopy and DFT calculations, electrocatalytic mechanism investigations reveal that Zn and Cu form a tandem reaction system. Zn sites promote water splitting to provide protons, while Cu sites reduce the energy barrier for *CO hydrogenation. Moreover, Zn and Cu can constitute dual active sites that enhance CO₂ adsorption, thereby boosting subsequent reactions. This work develops a new strategy for designing high performance Cu-based methanation catalysts.

Driven by the global carbon neutrality goals, lithium demand has surged sharply. Salt-lake brines suffer from an extremely high Mg²⁺/Li⁺ ratio, which severely hinders conventional Li extraction technologies. Inspired by biological potassium ion channels, researchers developed a bioinspired nanofiltration membrane with an asymmetric charge structure. This novel membrane overcomes the long-standing selectivity-permeability trade-off that has plagued traditional nanofiltration membranes, delivering exceptional Mg²⁺/Li⁺ separation performance. It successfully produces battery-grade lithium carbonate from simulated high-magnesium salt lake brines, laying a robust foundation for the large-scale, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable exploitation of salt lake lithium resources.

Researchers in China have developed a cobalt-free electrode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by doping calcium into a layered iron-based perovskite. The new material, Sm_0.9Ca_0.1BaFe₂O_5+δ (SCBF), shows significantly improved oxygen kinetics and electron conductivity, delivering a peak power density of 2.14 W·cm⁻² at 800 °C –the highest among reported iron-based SOFC cathodes.

Wearable sensors that can heal themselves after damage are critical for the next generation of human-machine interfaces. Researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) have developed a sea cucumber-inspired ionotronic hydrogel that combines room-temperature self-healing, strong adhesion, and highly sensitive pressure sensing. The hydrogel can stretch to over ten times its original length, heal autonomously after cuts and punctures, and detect pressures ranging from gentle touches to firm grips. Integrated into a smart tactile glove, the sensor enables real-time tactile sensing, object-shape recognition, and directional-intent decoding for game control, demonstrating its potential for wearable electronics and seamless human-machine interaction.

Two-dimensional semiconductors could enable highly scaled, low-power electronic devices, but their performance is often limited by damaged metal–semiconductor interfaces and severe Fermi-level pinning. Researchers at Beijing Institute of Technology have developed a reactive phase-transformed contact strategy that protects the semiconductor during metal deposition and subsequently converts the protective layer into a conductive PdTe₂ electrode. The approach reduces contact resistance in MoTe₂ transistors and restores ambipolar transport in WSe₂ devices, offering a scalable pathway toward high-performance 2D electronics.