Nature Communications最新文献

The age-dependent transition of metastable, liquid-like protein condensates to amyloid fibrils is an emergent phenomenon in numerous neurodegeneration-linked protein systems. A key question is whether the thermodynamic driving forces underlying phase separation and maturation to amyloid fibrils are distinct and separable. Here, we address this question using an engineered version of microtubule-associated protein Tau, which forms biochemically-active condensates. These metastable protein condensates rapidly convert to amyloid fibrils under quiescent, cofactor-free conditions. In particular, the interfaces of condensates promote fibril nucleation, impairing condensate activity in recruiting tubulin and catalyzing microtubule assembly. Remarkably, a small molecule metabolite, L-arginine, selectively impedes age-dependent amyloid formation in a valence and chemistry-specific manner without perturbing phase separation. By enhancing condensate viscoelasticity, L-arginine counteracts the age-dependent decline in condensate activity. These results provide a proof-of-principle demonstration that small molecule metabolites can enhance the metastability of protein condensates and delay the formation of amyloid fibrils, thereby preserving biochemical function.

Surface precipitation phase transition is conducive to devastating snowstorms and avalanches yet remains a global challenge due to the scarcity of surface observations. Here, we present the Real-time Precipitation Phase-Intensity Collaborative Retrieval Network (RePPIC-Net), a hybrid AI framework that quantifies surface precipitation phase from satellite observations. By integrating real-time 3D atmospheric physics fields from the AI-driven FuXi model with operational geostationary satellite observations through a hierarchical architecture, our system enables real-time monitoring of surface precipitation phase, as opposed to at least 4-hour latency of current operational systems. Validated against ground stations in China, RePPIC-Net achieves a Critical Success Index for Phase and Detection of 0.1574 (snowfall) and 0.3147 (rainfall) for 0.1-5 mm/h precipitation, outperforming 4-hour latency operational products' respective scores of 0.1001 and 0.3064. The real-time precipitation phase discrimination capability of RePPIC-Net allows the development of a satellite-based surface precipitation phase nowcasting system, meeting the need for 1-3 hour global surface precipitation phase transition warnings. RePPIC-Net provides a replicable blueprint for AI-powered real-time weather monitoring, filling a gap in wintertime weather disaster warnings.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising for next-generation field-effect transistors (FETs), but their integration into complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) logic is hindered by improper threshold voltages ($V_{th}$), leading to excessive power consumption. While past efforts have focused on improving gate electrostatics and near-ideal subthreshold swing ($SS$), systematic $V_{th}$ engineering in 2D FETs remains unexplored. Here, we investigate high-κ van der Waals (vdW) dielectrics including metal oxyhalides such as LaOBr, BiOBr, and BiOCl, and bimetallic thiophosphates such as LiInP₂S₆ (LIPS), LiInP₂Se₆ (LIPSe) and CuInP₂S₆ (CIPS), and demonstrate that bimetallic thiophosphates enable programmable and non-volatile $V_{th}$ tuning in both n-type monolayer MoS₂ and p-type bilayer WSe₂ FETs. Leveraging ion-mediated $V_{th}$ tuning, we realize 2D CMOS inverters with nearly three orders of magnitude reduction in static power while maintaining high switching speed. Combining experiments with industry-compatible SPICE modeling, we identify an optimal $V_{th}$ window that minimizes power with negligible delay overhead, enabling built-in power gating and improved power-performance-area metrics without additional sleep transistors.

The exceptional energy-harvesting efficiency of lead-halide perovskites arises from unusually long photocarrier diffusion lengths and recombination lifetimes that persist even in defect-rich, solution-grown samples. Paradoxically, perovskites are also known for having very short exciton decay times. Here, we resolve this apparent contradiction by showing that key optoelectronic properties of perovskites can be explained by localized flexoelectric polarization confined to interfaces between domains of spontaneous strain. Using birefringence imaging, electrochemical staining, and zero-bias photocurrent measurements, we visualize the domain structure and directly probe the associated internal fields in nominally cubic single crystals of methylammonium lead bromide. We demonstrate that localized flexoelectric fields spatially separate electrons and holes to opposite sides of domain walls, exponentially suppressing recombination. Domain walls thus act as efficient mesoscopic transport channels for long-lived photocarriers, microscopically linking structural heterogeneity to charge transport and offering mechanistically informed design principles for perovskite solar-energy technologies.

Direct photocatalytic conversion of methanol into high-value multi-carbon chemicals through precisely controlled C - C coupling represents an extremely appealing but challenging goal. Herein, we demonstrate the efficient photoredox-driven dehydrocoupling of methanol into divergent synthesis of ethylene glycol and glycolaldehyde concomitantly with H₂ production by structural regulation of atomically dispersed Ni species. We showcase distinctly different reaction pathway for divergent C - C coupling of methanol over two types of atomically dispersed Ni cocatalyst-decorated SiO quantum dots, namely those with single Ni atoms (Ni₁-SiO/SiO₂) and Ni clusters (Ni_n-CdS/SiO₂). The Ni₁-CdS/SiO₂ generates ethylene glycol with 90% selectivity by a radical homo-coupling pathway, whereas the Ni_n-CdS/SiO₂ achieves 96% selectivity towards glycolaldehyde by a radical addition-elimination pathway. This work not only offers a fascinating nonpetroleum route for the divergent C-C coupling synthesis of ethylene glycol and glycolaldehyde but also underscores the broad vista of modulating non-selective radicals toward selective transformation of methanol into multi-carbon products.

Wide-bandgap mixed-halide perovskite photovoltaic modules show strong potential for portable chargers, building-integrated photovoltaics, agrivoltaics, and tandem systems, but large-area processing exacerbates crystallization heterogeneity, surface defects, and halide phase segregation. Conventional spin-coating passivation fails to deliver uniform interfacial control at scale. Here, an industrially inspired solution-soaking quenching technique is introduced, in which hot blade-coated wide-bandgap perovskite films ( ~ 30 cm²) are immersed in cold SrI₂/isopropanol. It enables rapid surface reconstruction and uniform surface passivation, enhances photoluminescence uniformity, improves crystallinity, reduces roughness, and stabilizes halides via gradient Sr²⁺ incorporation. These effects mitigate tensile stress, optimize energy-level alignment, and suppress light-induced phase separation. Methylammonium-free wide-bandgap small-area (0.04 cm²) devices achieve efficiencies up to 22.03%, while a 10.13 cm² module delivers 20.32% efficiency with excellent operational stability. The method is versatile across wide-bandgap perovskite compositions and enables practical applications including portable chargers, semitransparent modules (18.41% bifacial equivalent efficiency), and >27% efficient all-perovskite tandem windows.

Challenging to engineer in synthetic glues, wet adhesion is critical for many technical and biomedical applications. Mussels, however, have evolved underwater glues that adhere effectively onto slippery seashore surfaces. Past research on mussel adhesion highlights the importance of the post-translationally modified amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), found in abundance in mussel glue proteins. Yet, DOPA alone is insufficient to match native adhesion in synthetic mimics. Here, we provide evidence that a previously uncharacterized histidine-rich protein (mefp-12) plays a crucial role in the formation, curing, and performance of mussel glue. Biochemical analysis localizes mefp-12 within vesicles of the mussel glue secretory glands, while AI-assisted modeling of its sequence predicts Zn-stabilized coiled coil conformation and several domains resembling zinc-finger motifs. In vitro investigation of a His-rich α-helical peptide from mefp-12 shows Zn- and pH-dependent liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), coalescence, and spreading over the substrate. Exposure to seawater pH induces subsequent self-organization of the fluid condensates into solid nanoporous networks resembling the structure of the native mussel glue. Based on these findings we gain a deeper mechanistic understanding of mussel glue formation and function that challenges the dominant DOPA-centric paradigm, providing inspiration for design of bio-inspired wet adhesives.