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2D Ta-based transition metal dichalcogenides have been predicted to host highly confined plasmons, but their observation has been lacking. Here, the authors report momentum-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements of 2H-TaS₂ monolayers and bilayers, showing plasmon resonances with lateral confinement up to 300 and group velocity down to ~10⁻⁴c at large wave vectors.

Heterogeneous single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer high atom utilization and well-defined active sites but face challenges in multi-stage cross-couplings due to limited coordination and reactivity. Here, the authors introduce SACs on reducible carriers, enabling adaptive coordination to bypass oxidative addition in cross-couplings.

One-dimensional molecular arrays on graphene field-effect transistors can be reversibly switched between different periodic charge states by tuning the graphene Fermi level via a back-gate electrode and by manipulating individual molecules, allowing them to function as a nanoscale shift register.

Strain engineering has been proposed as a promising strategy for manipulating the electronic properties of graphene. This scanning tunnelling microscopy study demonstrates the feasibility of controlling strain patterns in graphene down to the nanoscale.

In this work Qiu et al. demonstrate that the application of van der Waals technology to STM/STS will dramatically expand the capabilities of the latter, allowing STM/STS to investigate the structure, electronic properties and magnetism of 2D magnetic insulators at the atomic scale.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has quickly become the predominant circulating variant, due to the high transmissibility and immune escape. Here, the authors develop a trimeric protein vaccine candidate and show a sustained humoral immune response, and protection from challenge (Omicron and Delta) in various animal models.

The alloying of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride results in tunable electronic properties that can be used for solid state devices. Lu et al. identify atomic-scale mechanisms of alloying boron–carbon–nitrogen on ruthenium as a model system, which allow for potentially greater control of properties.

Models relying on ___domain-specific knowledge suffer from inductive bias. Here, the authors introduce a framework combining electron configuration with stacked generalization, achieving high accuracy and efficiency in predicting compound stability.

It is difficult to control the geometric phase of particles as they undergo quantum tunnelling. Now tuning of the geometric phase of electron spin is demonstrated in tunnelling in a multilayer van der Waals antiferromagnet.

Geometrically well-defined graphene quantum dots can be synthesized by using ruthenium as a catalyst to open up C₆₀ molecules.

SARS-CoV-2 evolves into new subtypes necessitating further vaccine development. Here the authors generate a trivalent vaccine with Receptor Binding Domains from Delta, BA.5 and XBB.1.5 variants and characterize immunogenicity and protection in mice and safety in a phase I vaccine trial in humans.

Copper catalysts are widely studied for electrochemical CO2 conversion, but their structural changes during reactions require further investigation. Here the authors propose that Cu undergoes transformation through alkali cation-induced cathodic corrosion when exposed to sufficiently negative potentials in the presence of alkali cations in the electrolyte.

High-throughput cytometry generates complex single-cell data with challenging manual gating process. Here, authors introduce UNITO, a framework that transforms cell classification into image segmentation, outperforming existing methods in identifying cytometric subpopulations across diverse datasets.

A versatile hydrothermal approach in an operando acidic environment created ferromagnetic single-atom spin catalysts (SASCs). Ni-based SASC exhibits a giant magnetic field enhancement of OER activity, boosting both water and saline water electrolysis.

Designing catalysts with uniform, site-specific selectivity and activity is a significant challenge. This study introduces design principles for topological-single-atom catalysts that utilize electronic shielding to protect surfaces and control reaction pathways, achieving high selectivity without compromising activity.

Scanning tunnelling microscopy of doped RuCl₃ shows distinct charge orderings at the lower and upper Hubbard bands, which can be attributed to a correlation-driven honeycomb hole crystal composed of hole-rich Ru sites and a rotational-symmetry-breaking paired electron crystal composed of electron-rich Ru–Ru bonds.

One-dimensional quantum magnets hosting correlated π-spins and collective quantum behaviour are synthesized through a combination of elegant precursor design and on-surface synthesis, highlighting the potential of designing π-electron-based quantum spin systems for future quantum technologies.

The design of open-shell nanographenes is commonly limited to systems featuring a single magnetic origin. Now a strategy that combines topological frustration and electron–electron interactions has been developed to generate a butterfly-shaped nanographene that hosts four highly entangled π-spins and exhibits both ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic coupling.

A chemist-intuited atomic robotic probe is developed that enables autonomous site-selective manipulation of magnetic nanographenes with atomic precision and aids in reaction mechanism elucidation through the incorporation of learned knowledge and artificial intelligence, leading to the intelligent synthesis of these materials.

The development of single-molecule electronics calls for precise tuning of the electronic properties of individual molecules that go beyond two-terminal control. Here, Wickenburg et al. show gate-tunable switch of charge states of an isolated molecule using a graphene-based field-effect transistor.

Janus graphene nanoribbons with localized states on a single zigzag edge are fabricated by introducing a topological defect array of benzene motifs on the opposite zigzag edge, to break the structural symmetry.

A recombinant vaccine that targets the receptor-binding ___domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 induces a potent antibody response in immunized mice, rabbits and non-human primates, and protects primates from infection with the virus.

The intratumor microbiota in pancreatic cancer has been described as pro-tumorigenic. Here the authors modify the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with a gallium-polyphenol network and chitosan nanocoating, showing accumulation in pancreatic lesions and modulation of the intratumor microbiota, eliciting anti-tumor immune response in preclinical models.

We developed a technique to fabricate atomically precise quantum antidots with unprecedented robustness and tunable quantum hole states through self-assembled single vacancies in a two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide.

A swallowable X-ray dosimeter detects the absolute absorbed radiation dose alongside changes in pH and temperature in the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits.

Inorganic perovskite tandem solar cells using ligand evolution strategy achieve record efficiencies and durability, maintaining 80% of their initial efficiency under light/heat stresses, guiding the development of high-efficiency, stable inorganic perovskite tandem solar cells.

The fabrication of singly dispersed metal cluster catalysts with atomic-level control of dopants is a long-standing challenge. Here, the authors report a strategy for the synthesis of a precisely doped single cluster catalyst which shows exceptional activity for electrochemical dinitrogen reduction.

It was recently found that a certain nickelate compound, La₃Ni₂O₇, at moderately high pressures has a superconducting phase that persists to above liquid nitrogen temperatures. Here, by studying the parent phase at ambient pressure, Chen et al uncover rich magnetic properties and show the vital role of the strong bonding of the inter-layer Ni orbitals in the magnetic and electronic excitations.

Placement of charge centres with atomic precision on graphene allows exploration of new types of confinement of charge carriers. Here, the authors fabricate atomically precise arrays of point charges on graphene and observe the onset of a frustrated supercritical regime.

A general versatile approach combining wet-chemistry impregnation and two-step annealing is devised for the scalable synthesis of a library of ultra-high-density single-atom catalysts with drastically enhanced reactivity.

Heterogeneous geminal-atom catalysts, which pair single-atom sites in specific coordination and spatial proximity, offer a new avenue for the sustainable manufacture of fine chemicals.

Lei et al. show that intranasal immunisation with their vaccine candidate is able to broadly protect mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection, including Omicron variants.

A mild electrochemical exfoliation method has been developed to obtain large-size two-dimensional superconductor monolayers with high crystallinity and production yield, which enables the easy fabrication of twisted van der Waals heterostructures and printed films.

The mechanisms underlying how colorectal cancer (CRC) cells utilize lipids to suppress anti-tumor immunity remain unclear. Here, the authors show that tumor cell-intrinsic ATP6V0A1 drives RABGEF1-dependent cholesterol absorption and thus triggers paracrine TGF-β1/SMAD3 signaling to inactive memory CD8⁺ T cells in CRC.

Pseudo-Landau levels in strained graphene modify not only the local density of states, but also the transport through a Hall bar device.

Dry reforming of methane is an attractive route to convert greenhouse gases into valuable syngas. Here, the authors demonstrate design strategy to prepare efficient catalysts towards activation of both C–H and C = O bonds and provide atomic-level insights into interfacial synergistic catalysis.

It is challenging to design photosensitizers (PS) with high quantum yields generating singlet oxygen due to severe aggregation between the hydrophobic PSs. Here they develop organoplatinum(II) metallatocage-based PS to overcome these challenges and show excellent antitumor effect.

SOSS–INTAC stimulates promoter-proximal termination of transcription and attenuates R-loops associated with paused RNA polymerase II to prevent R-loop-induced genome instability.

How extramedullar cytokines regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis is unclear. Here, the authors show that the cytokine leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 regulates HSC expansion and mobilisation via tumour necrosis factor and interaction with CD209a in macrophages.

Platinum is the most active catalyst for cathodic hydrogen evolution, however it is inefficient for anodic oxygen evolution. Here, authors examine Pt single sites in cobalt hydrogen phosphate as oxygen evolution catalysts in water splitting electrolyzers.