For a wide variety of emerging quantum technologies, such as secure quantum communications and quantum computing, quantum entanglement is a prerequisite. Scientists at the Max-Planck-Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) have now demonstrated a particularly efficient way in which photons can be entangled with acoustic phonons. The researchers were able to demonstrate that this entanglement is resilient to external noise, the usual pitfall of any quantum technology to date. They recently published their research in ›Physical Review Letters‹.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo combined nuclear reaction analysis and ion channeling to locate hydrogen and deuterium atoms in titanium hydride nanofilms. They found that 11% of the hydrogen present was at octahedral sites, with the remainder at tetrahedral sites. In comparison, deuterium was only found at tetrahedral sites. This understanding will allow control of hydride nanofilm properties to discover new hydrogen-induced phenomena.

In a feature article published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, Ming Gong’s group summarized their latest progresses in exploring the effects of ions on electrocatalytic reactions, outlined the current challenges and opportunities in the study of ion effects, and provided insights into future research directions.

In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry, a strategy of ligand-protected direct hydrogen reduction was adapted to prepare zeolite-confined Pt-Pd bimetallic cluster catalysts. These catalysts efficiently catalyze hydrogen production from ammonia borane (AB) solvolysis and tandem hydrogenation of nitroarenes. Interestingly, in the tandem reaction, AB undergoes hydrolysis at the Pt sites to produce active hydrogen species, which are then transferred to the neighboring Pd sites to reduce nitroarenes.

Electrochemically or chemically in-situ interfacial protection layers have very good self-adaption features for stability and reversibility of Zn anodes, which can also be well matched to current battery manufacturing. However, the in-situ interfacial strategies are far from the practical design for effective Zn anodes. In a paper published in Science Bulletin, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis. They covered the protective mechanisms, advancements, methodologies, and future prospects related to electrochemical or chemical in-situ interface protective layers for aqueous Zn metal batteries.