The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising approach for achieving carbon-neutral processes in the chemical industry. In this context, various nanostructures have been reported t...

Scientists at IMDEA Nanociencia are working on the development of materials whose properties can change as easily as we flip a switch. They focus on joining molecular switching (spin transition), elec...

Copper chalcogenides offer high charge mobility and low lattice thermal conductivity but suffer from structural instability due to dynamic Cu+ migration. Here, we report a colloidal hot-injection synt...

Thermoelectricity has long been recognized as a transformative technology for power generation and cooling, owing to its capability to convert heat directly into electricity and vice versa, thereby fa...

The development of sustainable and tunable materials is crucial for advancing modern technologies. We present a controlled synthesis of colloidal Na–Cu–S nanostructures. To overcome the reactivity difference between Na and Cu precursors toward chalcogens in a colloidal synthesis and to achieve metastable phase formation, we designed a single-source precursor for Cu and S. The decomposition of this precursor creates a Cu–S template into which Na ions diffuse to form metastable Na–Cu–S. By leveraging the reactivity of sulfur precursors, we synthesized Na3Cu4S4 (orthorhombic) and Na2Cu4S3 (monoclinic) nanocrystals with distinct properties. A mechanistic investigation reveals a predictive pathway previously unobserved in alkali-metal-based ternary chalcogenide systems. Further, computational DFT calculations demonstrate that Na3Cu4S4 exhibits metallic characteristics while Na2Cu4S3 is semiconducting, with an optimal band gap for photovoltaic applications. This research advances our understanding of ternary chalcogenide systems and establishes a framework for the rational design of complex nanomaterials.

Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 19 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41565-026-02150-zNi-decorated LiBH4 nanocomposites achieve room-temperature hydrogenation of boron, enabled by synergistic catalysis and nanostructuring that promotes H2 dissociation and B–H bond formation, a key step for practical hydrogen storage systems.

**Abstract:** This research proposes a novel methodology for enhancing bio-conversion efficiency and hydrogen production rates in Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) by dynamically adjusting electrode material nanostructure using Bayesian optimization guided by in-situ electrochemical and microbial activity measurements. Addressing a key limitation in MEC technology – the inherent trade-off between electrocatalytic activity and microbial biofilm adhesion – this approach employs a closed-loop system that iteratively refines electrode morphology, maximizing both electron transfer rates and bio-compatibility.

Nanostructuring endows metals with exceptional mechanical and functional properties, enabled by deformation incompatibilities and dense boundaries1,2. Lightweight structural metals, exemplified by titanium (Ti) alloys, possess high specific strength, corrosion resistance and versatile phase stability, rendering them particularly attractive for nanoscale structural engineering3. However, achieving fully nanostructured bulk metals remains difficult, especially for components with complex geometries required in practical applications. The formation of nanostructures in metals demands localized non-equilibrium thermodynamic and kinetic conditions, including extreme temperature, stress or compositional fields that drive the accumulation of crystalline defects to densities characteristic of nano-architectures4,5,6. Yet these conditions are rarely attainable in existing industrial metallurgical routes, as these processes inevitably drive materials towards macroscopic thermodynamic equilibrium. Established methods such as sputtering7,8, electrodeposition9,10 and severe plastic deformation11,12,13 have delivered striking proof-of-concept demonstrations of metals with nanoscale architecture and outstanding properties. However, their applicability is restricted by geometric constraints and low productivity, leaving a persistent gap between laboratory successes and industrial implementation. Bottom-up metal additive manufacturing (AM), such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), offers a practical and efficient approach to address this gap. Under programmed laser scanning strategies, metal powders are selectively melted and resolidified layer by layer, fabricating components with extreme thermal gradients,...

Silicon-based anodes offer a promising alternative to graphite in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to significantly higher energy density. However, their practical application is limited by substantial volume expansion during lithiation, which causes structural instability and continuous formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), drastically reducing initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) and capacity retention. Strategies such as silicon nanostructuring and integration with conductive carbon matrices help accommodate volume changes and improve conductivity but fall short in fully addressing lithium loss and long-term capacity fade. Prelithiation can mitigate these issues by compensating for lithium loss and stabilizing the SEI. However, conventional prelithiation methods are complex, air-sensitive, multi-step, and ex situ, often requiring reactive lithium metal or exotic lithium salt precursors. In response, this study introduces a laser-driven, solid-state, ambient, in situ prelithiation method performed concurrently with the synthesis of silicon-graphene pseudo-monolithic composite anodes. A ternary blend of phenolic resin, silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs), and common lithium salts, subjected to rapid, low-power laser irradiation, produces a self-standing, air-stable, prelithiated composite, where the resulting porous and conductive matrix encapsulates the SiNPs, while the unique laser-induced environment triggers in situ reactions that prelithiate the silicon surface and form stable covalent interfaces. The resulting lithiated anodes reveal remarkable features, delivering over 1700 mAh g−1 with negligible capacity decay (< 2%) over 2000 + cycles at 5 A g−1, 83% retention after 4500 cycles, and ICE above 97% versus non-lithiated counterparts. The anodes also display ultrafast charging capabilities, retaining up to 63% of their maximum capacity at 10 A g−1. This innovation not only advances the development of next-generation LIBs, but also establishes a framework for converting readily available and cost-effective precursor materials into high-performing electrodes, promising to reduce complexity and costs in battery manufacturing.

**Abstract:** This study proposes a novel approach to extend the coherence time of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, a critical factor for advancing quantum sensing and quantum computing. We leverage advanced diamond nanostructuring techniques combined with a machine-learning (ML) optimization pipeline to precisely engineer gradient-modified dopant environments. This targeted alteration reduces spin-dependent dephasing, demonstrated through simulations and preliminary experimental validation. The system is designed for near-term commercial implementation into high-resolution quantum sensors and robust quantum communication platforms, offering a promising pathway to surpassing current coherence limitations and broadening NV center applications.

Nature Reviews Materials, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41578-026-00945-zThe properties of nanoscale metallic systems can be amplified through nanostructuring to achieve unique performance in mechanics, robotics, catalysis and photonics. This Review highlights the key nanoscale additive manufacturing techniques used to produce such metallic systems and their distinct next-generation applications.

Ni-decorated LiBH4 nanocomposites achieve room-temperature hydrogenation of boron, enabled by synergistic catalysis and nanostructuring that promotes H2 dissociation and B–H bond formation, a key step for practical hydrogen storage systems.