Quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) van der Waals (vdW) materials represent an emerging frontier in nanoscience, yet the synthesis of their metastable phases remains a significant challenge. Now, researchers at Beijing Institute of Technology have developed a kinetically-controlled anion-exchange (KCAE) strategy that, for the first time, produces uniform, wafer-scale (1-inch) films of W₆Te₆ — a metastable quasi-1D material previously inaccessible by conventional methods. By first converting a tungsten film into a stable WS₂ template with vertically aligned grains, then carefully controlling tellurization, the team creates a kinetic barrier that traps the system in the W₆Te₆ phase, preventing it from racing to the thermodynamically stable WTe₂. The method is also compatible with standard photolithography, enabling pre-patterned W₆Te₆ nanostructures.

ABSTRACT: Strengthening the stability of metal-oxygen bonds in catalysts is imperative for the advancement of efficient and durable electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, using a mild boron-reduction strategy, a self-supported electrode with robust Co-B bonds was constructed. The Co-B@Co(OH)₂–Ru/NF (Co-B@CRN) electrode demonstrates low overpotentials for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, 20 mV) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER, 160 mV) at 10 mA cm⁻². Furthermore, long-term stability was achieved for over 400 h at 10 mA cm⁻² and 270 h at 200 mA cm⁻², respectively. For overall water splitting, the assembled electrolyzer exhibited a low voltage of 1.40 V at 10 mA cm⁻², with stable operation maintained for over 240 h. Detailed X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) characterization verified the mixed valence state of Co and the Co-B coordination environment. Further electronic analysis indicated strong hybridization between Co d-orbitals and B p-orbitals. The B bonding induced a downward shift in the d-band center at the Co site, thereby significantly suppressing metal leaching during catalysis and stabilizing electronic structure regulation. This research shows that the boron reduction strategy offers an effective dynamic regulation mechanism for the electronic structures and coordination environments of transition metals, enabling a highly efficient and stable overall water splitting process.

Steric hindrance of long-chain ligands leads to abundant unpassivated dangling bonds on quantum dots (QDs), which significantly impair the efficiency and operational stability of QD light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), especially in ultra-small pixel devices. Professors Fushan Li and Hailong Hu at Fuzhou University have pioneered a "ligand reconstruction" strategy using zirconium acetylacetonate (Zr(acac)₄) to precisely repair the surface defects of QDs. This reconstruction strategy markedly enhances the efficiency and operational stability of QLEDs, and the resultant record-breaking performance metrics lay a solid foundation for the commercialization of high-resolution, high-performance QLED technology.

Climate-driven changes in vegetation are already reshaping air quality across East Asia, according to a new study. Researchers found significant changes in biogenic emissions that drive the formation of ground-level ozone and biogenic secondary organic aerosols by replacing two-decade-old vegetation data with recent satellite observations. The findings show that updating vegetation information alone can substantially change air pollution estimates, highlighting the importance of keeping atmospheric models current as ecosystems continue to respond to climate change.