ACS Nano最新文献

Electric fields often lead to the opening of pores by activating statistical defects in lipid bilayer membranes. These electropores are ubiquitous in biology and are widely used in biotechnology and medicine. Our understanding of electropores has been limited by the poor time resolution of experiments, causing a discrepancy in the observed time scale of electropores. Here, using high-resolution ionic current measurements, we have characterized the μs–ms duration Å-nm scale single pores in the vertical bilayer membranes. Our experiments on over 2500 membranes revealed highly nonexponential kinetics of pores due to the dynamic heterogeneity of defects, and we were able to resolve the population of hydrophobic and hydrophilic pores, which were postulated before in theory but rarely resolved in experiments. Such dynamic heterogeneity of defects is likely a general feature of lipid membranes for selectively translocating diverse sets of molecules across cellular compartments on different time scales without requiring a receptor channel.

DNA molecular circuits offer significant promise for biomedical applications by combining computational functionality with inherent biocompatibility. However, their operational logic fundamentally differs from electronic systems as they utilize the physical presence or absence of DNA strands rather than voltage levels to encode information. This distinction creates a critical barrier for implementing single-rail NOT gates. Consequently, existing systems typically employ dual-rail architectures that increase the complexity and elevate leakage risks. To address this limitation, we developed optically and thermally controlled NOT gates that perform rapid logical inversion while maintaining compatibility with both polymerase-driven and toehold-mediated circuit systems. We validated these gates in multilayer computational networks and demonstrated their practical utility across diverse biosensing applications, including molecular diagnostics and live-cell imaging. This work establishes a robust platform for scalable DNA computing with direct translational potential in biological environments.

The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) governs key electrochemical properties in batteries. While additive-driven SEI engineering constitutes the most promising strategy for tailoring interfacial composition, the impact of specific additives on SEI’s dynamic evolution remains unresolved. Herein, we performed operando neutron reflectometry (NR) to quantitatively resolve the SEI’s structural dynamics under cycling conditions. Employing model additives with well-defined decomposition mechanisms, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and vinylene carbonate (VC), we establish a robust operando NR framework that enables transferable mechanistic insights for emerging additive systems. Our data reveal contrasting SEI architectures: FEC produces a thin, inorganic-rich SEI (LiF-dominant) that enhances mechanical integrity and cycling stability, while VC yields a flexible organic-dominated SEI which mitigates stress-induced microcracking. These findings provide atomically resolved design principles for advanced electrolyte additives via operando interfacial analysis, advancing high-energy-density Li-ion batteries and beyond.

Sodium-ion batteries hold promise for grid-scale energy storage thanks to abundant resources and superior safety, but their wide-temperature operation is hindered by sluggish electronic–ionic transport and structural instability of cathode materials. Herein, a cation-intermixing strategy driven by stoichiometric regulation is proposed for Na_2+2xFe_2–x(SO₄)₃ cathodes, which can simultaneously enhance structural stability, improve charge transfer, and facilitate Na⁺ transport kinetics. Specifically, derived Fe vacancies and concomitant Na⁺ insertion reconstruct the electronic environment, strengthening Fe–O bonds to stabilize the crystal framework while optimizing Fe 3d electron energy level distribution to facilitate charge transfer. This alteration concurrently widens Na⁺ migration channels and reduces diffusion barriers, enabling rapid ion transport. Consequently, the Na_2.48Fe_1.76(SO₄)₃ cathode (x = 0.24 in Na_2+2xFe_2–x(SO₄)₃, with a Na/Fe molar ratio of 1.4) with optimal cation intermixing exhibits exceptional wide-temperature performance. It delivers 85.9% capacity retention following 3000 cycles at 30 C (25 °C) and 88.3% following 4000 cycles at 1 C (−20 °C). Even at an ultrahigh 100 C (60 °C), it still retains 83.2% relative to its capacity measured at 25 °C and 0.1 C. This work provides a stoichiometry-driven approach to designing superior-performance sulfate-based cathodes for wide-temperature sodium-ion batteries.