Nature ion channels play significant role in the living organisms, which can translocate physiological relevant ions across the cell membranes as demand. To simulate and replace the function of nature channels, researchers are encouraged to develop artificial channels using simple and smart supramolecular structures. Inspired by the complementary hydrogen bonding interactions of DNA/RNA, a team of researchers from East China University of Science and Technology reported a simple synthetic supermolecule system to form stable ion channels in the lipid membranes, and the efficient transport of K⁺ triggers apoptosis of cancer cells. It represents one of the few examples of using complementary hydrogen bonding interactions to construct effective ion channels and offers new perspectives in the developments of anticancer drugs.

High-voltage lithium metal batteries (HVLMB) are appealing candidates for next-generation high-energy rechargeable batteries, but practical applications are still limited by the severe capacity degradation, attributed to the poor interfacial stability and compatibility between the electrode and electrolyte. To address these issues, preparing an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with outstanding performance in stabilizing the traditional anode electrolyte is considerably important.

A novel flexible COF-based porous liquid, COF-301-PL, has been synthesized by researchers at the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, CAS. COF-301-PL exhibits remarkable dynamic tunability. High-pressure CO₂ adsorption experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrate that its cavities can adapt dynamically to changes in CO₂ pressure, leading to significantly enhanced CO₂ capture and catalytic performance. This research opens up new avenues for the design and development of porous liquids with functional properties.

How can the shrinkage of the interconnection interface resulting from the surface tension at heterogeneous nanomaterials be suppressed? Hui Wan and coworkers from Wuhan University demonstrated a laser-induced thermocompression bonding strategy in IJEM and successfully bonded Cu nanowires with a diameter of 200 nm to Au pads. Their work represents an important step towards interconnect packaging and integration of nanodevices.