By regulating coordination angles of two carbazole-pyridine ligands (L1, L2) and building blocks (E1(OTf)₂, E2(OTf)₂), successfully obtained four architectures: a molecular-tweezer-like compound, a snowflake-shaped fold assembly, an 8₁₈ knot, and a closed three-link chain. SC-XRD validated the structures and showed that the ligand angle determines whether the assembly is interlocked or folded. NMR and ESI-TOF-MS verified solution-phase formation and purity. Furthermore, the closed three-link chain exhibits high photothermal conversion performance. Its efficiency is directly influenced by π–π stacking interactions, and EPR experiments further confirm that the radical character of the building blocks also contributes to the photothermal properties.

Researchers have developed a membrane-based strategy that separates complex light naphtha into valuable chemical streams at the molecular level. By mildly etching a metal–organic framework membrane with tannic acid, the team created complementary membranes that sort hydrocarbons by size and chemical affinity. The membrane cascade separated a 15-component petroleum mixture into three product streams while potentially reducing energy consumption by about 91% compared with conventional distillation.

Can chemical processes be designed based solely on the properties of the molecules involved? Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Groß, Head of the Institute of Thermodynamics and Thermal Process Engineering (ITT) at the University of Stuttgart believes this is possible. He and his team plan to investigate this question as part of an ERC Advanced Grant, which Groß has now been awarded by the European Research Council (ERC).

The integration of luminescent nanomaterials into scalable semiconductor platforms is vital for on-chip photonics. This study demonstrates an approach to fabricate fluorescent nanostructures by hybridising carbon dots (CDs) with semiconductor nanowires (NWs) grown on Si. By coupling the tuneable chemistry of CDs with the tailored optoelectronics of semiconductor NWs, this study establishes a scalable host–guest architecture for engineering nanoscale light sources to promote applications in integrated photonic circuits and sensing.

A research team found that scent compounds in household cleaning products — conventional and botanical essential oil-based — quickly react in the air, forming invisible nanoparticles that can travel deep into the lungs if inhaled. Several simple changes can reduce a person’s exposure while cleaning. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2026.

Researchers have captured in real time the “birth moment” at which the performance of a next-generation memory material is determined. The key lies in controlling oxygen vacancies, microscopic defects created when oxygen atoms are missing from their normal positions.