@misc{21137, author = {Naik, Suyash}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Data associated with Keratins coordinate tissue spreading }}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-21137}, year = {2026}, } @unpublished{22276, abstract = {Tissue tension is a key determinant of tissue shape, and its regulation is essential for both morphogenesis and the maintenance of tissue integrity. During zebrafish embryogenesis, the enveloping layer (EVL) – an epithelial monolayer covering the blastoderm – undergoes extensive spreading that is driven by pulling forces exerted at its margin and more than doubles its surface area. Yet whether and how the EVL actively regulates its tissue tension during this process remains unclear. Here, we show that the EVL maintains constant tissue tension while spreading, and that it achieves this by reducing apical cell contractility in response to the same pulling forces that drive its spreading. We identify a mechanosensitive pathway underlying this response, mediated by the scaffold/adaptor protein Kibra regulating the activity of atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) at the apical domain of EVL cells. Under low mechanical stretch, Kibra forms condensates at the base of actin-based apical projections, where it activates Myosin II to increase apical contractility through aPKC downregulation. As mechanical stretch increases, apical projections disassemble, Kibra condensates dissolve, and aPKC activity rises. Elevated aPKC activity in turn reduces apical contractility by reducing Myosin II activity, thereby maintaining constant tissue tension despite increased mechanical stretch. Together, these findings reveal a mechanosensitive mechanism that enables robust adaptation of tissue tension to changing mechanical stretch, ensuring efficient tissue spreading and morphogenesis.}, author = {Hino, Naoya and Kapoor, Tushna and Gubbala, Uday R and Hannezo, Edouard B and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J}, keywords = {Epithelial spreading, tissue tension, mechanosensation, aPKC, Kibra, zebrafish}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Apical domain mechanosensation regulates tissue tension homeostasis}}, year = {2026}, } @article{22333, abstract = {RNA polymerase II (Pol II) must be assembled in the cytoplasm before it enters the nucleus, where it transcribes protein-coding genes. Although transcription by Pol II is intensively studied, how this central multi-subunit enzyme is made and the role of dedicated assembly factors remains unclear. Here, we report the integrative structural analysis of a native human Pol II from the cytoplasm captured near the end of biogenesis. The complex contains Gdown1 and three biogenesis factors – RPAP2 and the critical small GTPases GPN1 and GPN3. Cryo-EM analysis of the complex reveals how Gdown1 and RPAP2 associate with Pol II and prevent the premature association of transcription factors. Further biochemical and cryo-EM analysis reveals how RPAP2 tethers GPN1–GPN3 to the complex and how the assembly of the RPAP2–GPN1–GPN3 complex is controlled by GTP hydrolysis. The combined results uncover a network of interactions that chaperone cytoplasmic Pol II to prevent aberrant interactions, reveal a molecular switch regulating biogenesis factor association, and suggest a general mechanism for the action of GPN-loop GTPase family of enzymes.}, author = {Hlavata, Annamaria and Neuditschko, Benjamin and Schellhaas, Ulla and Plaschka, Clemens and Herzog, Franz and Bernecky, Carrie A}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Structure of cytoplasmic RNA polymerase II}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-75416-8}, year = {2026}, } @article{20851, abstract = {High-voltage disordered spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 is a promising cathode material for high power density in lithium-ion batteries. However, it suffers from poor cycle life associated with the rock-salt phase transformation. This study presents a straightforward synthesis approach to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 through a synergistic solid-state modification with LiF and AlF3. This dual modification promotes rapid Li⁺ diffusion, enables near-complete delithiation/lithiation, approaching the theoretical capacity of disordered LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, and, more importantly, effectively mitigates the formation of the rock-salt phase, thereby enhancing structural stability, as confirmed by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD). As a result, the optimized LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (10 mg AlF3 + 30 mg LiF) delivers high reversible capacities of 142.1, 139.1, 129.2, 121.6, 110.3, 93.5, and 76.1 mAh∙g−1 at 0.2C, 0.5C, 1.0C, 2.0C, 3.0C, 4.0C, and 5.0C, respectively. Full cells using graphite as the anode and a high-loading cathode exhibit excellent cycling performance. They retain 80% of their capacity after 200 cycles at 0.5C within a voltage window of 3.5–4.9 V with cathode loading of 11 mg∙cm−2. The findings of this study will significantly advance high-power LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 materials, offering improved battery life and thereby enhancing their potential for practical applications.}, author = {Chang, Xingqi and Escudero, Carlos and Black, Ashley P. and Horta, Sharona and Martínez, Elías and Lu, Xuan and Llorca, Jordi and Ibáñez, Maria and Biendicho, Jordi Jacas and Cabot, Andreu}, issn = {2198-3844}, journal = {Advanced Science}, keywords = {disordered spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO), generation 3b batteries, operando SXRD, operando XAS, rock-salt, solid-state synthesis}, number = {11}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Mitigating the rock-salt phase transformation in disordered LNMO through synergetic solid-state AlF3/LiF modifications}}, doi = {10.1002/advs.202515962}, volume = {13}, year = {2026}, } @article{20191, abstract = {High-entropy alloys (HEAs) show great potential for catalyzing complex multi-step reactions, but optimizing their parameters, i.e., composition, but also their crystallinity and morphology, remains a significant challenge. In this study, FeCoNiMoW HEAs are synthesized into either amorphous nanosheets (HEANS) or crystalline nanoparticles (HEANP), which are then used to catalyze the lithium–sulfur (Li–S) reaction of Li–S batteries (LSBs). Evaluations in symmetric cells, coin cells, and pouch cells reveal that HEANS significantly enhance LSB performance, achieving initial discharge capacities up to 1632 mAh g−1. The batteries also exhibit excellent cycling stability over 1000 cycles at 3Cand maintain high-rate performance up to 10C with a capacity of 614 mAh g−1. Comprehensive in situ analyses and density functional theory calculations demonstrate that amorphous HEANS provide more active sites, better ionic conductivity and stronger chemical interactions with lithium polysulfides (LiPS). These properties effectively suppress the shuttle effect, promote the complete S8 → Li2S conversion by reducing the impedance of the solid-electrolyte interphase, and accelerate the Li2S4 → Li2S2 step by lowering the nucleation energy barrier. Overall, this study highlights the superior catalytic properties of amorphous 2D HEAs in LSBs and offers new insights into the mechanisms of LiPS conversion.}, author = {He, Ren and Lee, Seungho and Ding, Yang and Huang, Chen and Lu, Xuan and Zheng, Lirong and Yu, Ao and Zhang, Chaoyue and Li, Canhuang and Bi, Xiaoyu and Li, Yaqiang and Liao, Yaqi and Li, Junshan and Ostovari Moghaddam, Ahmad and Yernar, Salimov and Xu, Ying and Ibáñez, Maria and Zhang, Chaoqi and Yang, Linlin and Zhou, Yingtang and Cabot, Andreu}, issn = {1616-3028}, journal = {Advanced Functional Materials}, keywords = {amorphous, high entropy alloy, in situ electrochemical impedance spec-troscopy, in situ Raman, Li–S batteries}, number = {5}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Amorphous high entropy alloy nanosheets enabling robust Li–S batteries}}, doi = {10.1002/adfm.202513859}, volume = {36}, year = {2026}, } @article{21037, abstract = {The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains a critical bottleneck in fuel cells and metal-air batteries due to the lack of highly efficient electrocatalysts. Here, we report a simple strategy for synthesizing a palladium-based heterostructured electrocatalyst supported on a carbon nitride matrix (PdH-Pd@CN), which exhibits remarkable ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.91 V and excellent durability in 0.1 M KOH. Within the heterostructure, hydrogen intercalation expands the Pd lattice, while interstitial hydrogen doping facilitates charge transfer from Pd to H owing to their electronegativity difference. These synergistic effects modulate the electronic structure, thereby enhancing both activity and stability. When employed in Zn-air batteries, PdH-Pd@CN delivers a maximum power density of 176 mW cm− (Liu et al., 2025) and capacity of 805 mAh g− (Sun et al., 2021) Zn. These findings demonstrate the strong potential of PdH-Pd@CN as an efficient ORR electrocatalyst for next-generation metal-air batteries and related energy technologies.}, author = {Shi, Changwei and Horta, Sharona and Ibáñez, Maria and Kallio, Tanja and Martínez-Alanis, Paulina R. and Wang, Xiang and Cabot, Andreu}, issn = {0009-2509}, journal = {Chemical Engineering Science}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Hydrogen induced palladium-based heterojunction electrocatalysts to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction performance}}, doi = {10.1016/j.ces.2026.123348}, volume = {324}, year = {2026}, } @article{21721, abstract = {Swimming bacteria move through a fluid by actuating their moving body parts. They are force-free and can be described as hydrodynamic force dipoles: pushers or pullers. This modelling description is broadly used in biological physics and active matter research, and it has successfully predicted, for example, the superfluid behaviour of suspensions of pushers or the bend instability and emergence of turbulent flows in active nematics. However, this description accounts only for the translational motion of the swimming body and neglects the effects of hydrodynamic torque dipoles, which are relevant to bacteria with rotary motor-driven flagella, such as swimming Escherichia coli. Here we show that the torque dipole of confined swimming E. coli can power the persistent rotation of symmetric discs. The torque dipole leads to a traction force on the discs, an additive mechanism that is both contactless and independent of the orientation of the bacteria. Our results indicate that the torque dipole of swimming E. coli is notable in confined geometries, which is relevant to bacterial transport through porous materials, biofilms and the development of chiral fluids.}, author = {Grober, Daniel B and Dhar, Tanumoy and Saintillan, David and Palacci, Jérémie A}, issn = {1745-2481}, journal = {Nature Physics}, pages = {620--627}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{The hydrodynamic torque dipole from rotary bacterial flagella powers symmetric discs}}, doi = {10.1038/s41567-026-03189-4}, volume = {22}, year = {2026}, } @article{22608, abstract = {For tissues to spread, they must deform while staying intact. How spreading tissues balance flexibility with integrity is not yet well understood. Here, we show that keratin intermediate filaments adapt tissue mechanical resilience to the stresses arising in epithelial tissues during spreading. By analyzing the expansion of the enveloping cell layer (EVL) over the yolk cell in zebrafish embryos in vivo, we find that keratin network maturation in EVL cells is promoted by stresses building up within the spreading tissue. Through genetic interference and tissue rheology experiments, complemented by a vertex model with mechanochemical feedback, we demonstrate that stress-induced keratin network maturation in the EVL increases tissue viscosity, to prevent tissue rupture. Further, keratins are required in the yolk cell for mechanosensitive actomyosin network contraction and flow, the forces pulling the EVL. These dual mechanosensitive functions of keratins enable a balance between pulling force production and EVL mechanical resilience, ensuring uniform and robust tissue spreading.}, author = {Naik, Suyash and Keta, Yann-Edwin and Pranjic-Ferscha, Kornelija and Hannezo, Edouard B and Henkes, Silke and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Keratins coordinate tissue spreading by balancing spreading forces with tissue material properties}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-72366-z}, volume = {17}, year = {2026}, } @article{22645, abstract = {Nanocrystal superlattices are commonly formed by changing concentration, solvent conditions, or particle surface chemistry. Although effective, these approaches alter multiple contributions to the interparticle potential simultaneously, making it difficult to isolate the interactions responsible for ordering or to control assembly in chemically complex environments. Here, we show that oligomeric species present in a nanocrystal reaction medium drive superlattice formation through a depletion mechanism. Using PbTe nanocrystals as a model system, we identify Pb–oleate oligomers in the crude reaction mixture, characterize their solution structure, and quantify their contribution to the interparticle potential, establishing depletion as the dominant short-range interaction governing spontaneous body-centered cubic superlattice formation. We then confirm the depletion origin of ordering by showing that varying depletant concentration predictably shifts the order–disorder boundary and produces a thermally reversible transition between dispersed and ordered states ─ behavior that is inconsistent with van der Waals or ligand-mediated mechanisms but is a direct consequence of depletion control. Having established and validated the mechanism, we demonstrate that the same depletion framework can be deliberately activated in purified dispersions and transferred across nanocrystal systems of different composition and shape, including anisotropic and binary assemblies. These results establish precursor-derived depletion as a general and chemically grounded mechanism for nanocrystal superlattice formation, and show that collective ordering can be programmed through the surrounding medium rather than through particle surface modification.}, author = {Lee, Seungho and Balazs, Daniel and Rayaroth Puthiyaveettil, Aiswarya and Horta, Sharona and Goodrich, Carl Peter and Engel, Michael and Cherniukh, Ihor and Ibáñez, Maria}, issn = {1520-5126}, journal = {Journal of the AmericanChemical Society}, number = {29}, pages = {31245--31252}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Reaction medium asan architect of nanocrystal superlattices}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.6c07859}, volume = {148}, year = {2026}, } @article{22148, abstract = {How the twin-arginine translocase (Tat) system transports fully folded substrate proteins across cellular membranes without disrupting membrane integrity has been a fundamental question in cell biology for decades. The Tat system, found in prokaryotes and plant organelles, recognizes a cargo signal peptide via a conserved twin-arginine motif. The multi-subunit Tat complex facilitates the proton-motive-force-dependent translocation process, yet its overall architecture has remained unknown. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) trimeric TatB₃C₃ complex with bound substrate SufI, assembled in vivo. The complex adopts an unusual, wide-open, bowl-shaped architecture with a polar inner cavity. Unexpectedly, the cargo is engaged in a dual-contact mode: while the signal peptide binds inside one TatBC unit, the folded domain docks tightly onto an adjacent unit, possibly performing a proofreading function. This structure provides a mechanistic framework for substrate engagement and suggests the direct involvement of the entire Tat complex in substrate translocation.}, author = {Zhao, Ziyu and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {1097-4164}, journal = {Molecular Cell}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Structure of E. Coli twin-arginine translocase (Tat) complex with bound cargo}}, doi = {10.1016/j.molcel.2026.05.026}, year = {2026}, } @article{22734, abstract = {Silver selenide (Ag2Se) is a promising near-room-temperature thermoelectric material, but its narrow stoichiometric window and β–α phase transition complicate reproducible microstructure control. Here, we present a mismatch-assisted microstructure engineering strategy in which Ag2Se particles are treated with polyanionic ZnSe complexes and consolidated through the β–α transition to introduce ZnSe nanoprecipitates, Ag2Se/ZnSe interfaces, and local strain fields. The crystallographic mismatch between ZnSe and Ag2Se, together with the Zn2+/Ag+ size difference, amplifies phase-transition-induced deformation and promotes high-density dislocations with periodic strain modulations. This defect architecture suppresses grain coarsening, removes excess Ag, limits Ag-interstitial formation, and reduces lattice thermal conductivity through lattice softening and multiscale phonon scattering. Ag2Se–4%ZnSe nanocomposites achieve a peak zTmax of 1.13 at 369 K and a zTavg of 1.08 from 300 to 380 K, demonstrating mismatch-driven defect engineering through the β–α phase transition as a route for optimizing Ag2Se-based thermoelectrics.}, author = {Liu, Yu and Kleinhanns, Tobias and Spadaro, Maria Chiara and Genç, Aziz and Horta, Sharona and Navita, Navita and Costanzo, Tommaso and Dutkiewicz, Ewelina and Arbiol, Jordi and Hong, Min and Ibáñez, Maria}, issn = {2380-8195}, journal = {ACS Energy Letters}, number = {8}, pages = {5752--5762}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Exploiting mismatch strain and the β–α phase transition for microstructural engineering in thermoelectric Ag2Se}}, doi = {10.1021/acsenergylett.6c01499}, volume = {11}, year = {2026}, } @phdthesis{22684, abstract = {Contact electrification (CE) is a simple yet elusive phenomenon that occurs when two materials come into contact and separate, leaving behind net electrical charge. Despite its ubiquity, the microscopic origin of CE remains unclear. In this thesis, we investigate CE from three complementary perspectives: developing a quantitative method to measure charge at the nanoscale, exploring the dynamic behavior of charge on insulating surfaces, and uncovering the role of mechanical history in forming a triboelectric series. In the first part, we establish a rigorous framework for converting qualitative Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) voltage maps into quantitative charge density distributions. Using finite element method (FEM) simulations, we determine the point-spread function of the KPFM tip–sample geometry and demonstrate that the true surface charge can be reconstructed by numerical deconvolution. This procedure enables the recovery of both the magnitude and sign of charge density with high fidelity, resolving nanoscale features that are otherwise obscured. Applying the method to contact-charged SiO$_2$ surfaces, we show that existing analytical approximations, such as parallel plate or spherical models, can miscalculate charge magnitude by orders of magnitude. Our hybrid FEM/KPFM approach therefore provides a fast and general method to convert qualitative KPFM signals into quantitative charge data, enabling nanoscale charge mapping under realistic experimental conditions. In the second part, we study the temporal stability of CE-induced charges and identify the key material factors that determine whether KPFM can capture meaningful charge patterns. Through time-resolved experiments combining a custom-built transfer system with both microscopic and macroscopic measurements, we demonstrate that only the best insulators, such as SiO$_2$, preserve CE charge long enough for stationary imaging. For less conductive polymers, such as PDMS, charge decays within the duration of a single KPFM scan due to bulk conduction. Using a simple capacitor-based model, we reproduce the observed decay dynamics and confirm that the transferred charge decays characteristic to the sample's bulk conductivity. Further, we always observe homogeneous charge transfer. In the third part, we address the question: can we form a triboelectric series with identical materials? Using controlled repetitive contact experiments, we show that nominally identical materials can progressively order themselves into a triboelectric series, where surfaces with more contact history charge negatively relative to fresher ones. By constructing a minimal model based on this ``contact bias'', we replicate the evolution from random to ordered charging observed in experiments. Supporting surface analyses, including atomic force microscopy, reveal that repeated contact induces nanoscale morphological changes, suggesting a mechanism tightly coupled to mechanical strain. These results highlight the crucial role of surface history and nanoscale mechanics in dictating charge transfer, motivating further exploration of mechanisms such as mechanochemical bond cleavage and flexoelectric polarization.}, author = {Pertl, Felix}, isbn = {978-3-99078-083-1}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {107}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Experimental probing of nanoscale charge features and surface morphology changes during tribocharging}}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-22684}, year = {2026}, } @article{21762, abstract = {Bacteria, like eukaryotes, use conserved cytoskeletal systems for intracellular organization. The plasmid-encoded ParMRC system forms actin-like filaments that segregate low–copy number plasmids. In multicellular cyanobacteria such as Anabaena sp., we found that a chromosomally encoded ParMR system has evolved into a cytoskeletal system named CorMR with a function in cell shape control rather than DNA segregation. Live-cell imaging, in vitro reconstitution, and cryo–electron microscopy revealed that CorM formed dynamically unstable, antiparallel double-stranded filaments that were recruited to the membrane by CorR through an amphipathic helix conserved in multicellular cyanobacteria. CorMR filaments were regulated by MinC, which excluded them from the poles and division plane. Comparative genomics indicated that the repurposing of ParMR and Min systems coevolved with cyanobacterial multicellularity, highlighting the evolutionary plasticity of cytoskeletal systems in bacteria.}, author = {Springstein, Benjamin L and Javoor, Manjunath and Megrian, Daniela and Hajdu, Roman and Hanke, Dustin M. and Zens, Bettina and Weiss, Gregor L. and Schur, Florian Km and Loose, Martin}, issn = {1095-9203}, journal = {Science}, number = {6795}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{Repurposing of a DNA segregation machinery into a cytoskeletal system controlling cell shape}}, doi = {10.1126/science.aea6343}, volume = {392}, year = {2026}, } @phdthesis{22744, author = {Javoor, Manjunath}, isbn = {978-3-99078-090-9 }, issn = {2663-337X}, keywords = {Actin cytoskeleton, Cell migration, cryo-electron tomography}, pages = {121}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria }, title = {{Large-scale imaging of cellular actin networks at single filament resolution using montage cryo-electron tomography}}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-22744}, year = {2026}, } @article{18778, abstract = {Transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) can be repressed by noncoding RNA, including the human RNA Alu. However, the mechanism by which endogenous RNAs repress transcription remains unclear. Here we present cryogenic-electron microscopy structures of Pol II bound to Alu RNA, which reveal that Alu RNA mimics how DNA and RNA bind to Pol II during transcription elongation. Further, we show how distinct domains of the general transcription factor TFIIF control repressive activity. Together, we reveal how a noncoding RNA can regulate mammalian gene expression.}, author = {Tluckova, Katarina and Kaczmarek, Beata M and Testa Salmazo, Anita P and Bernecky, Carrie A}, issn = {1545-9985}, journal = {Nature Structural & Molecular Biology}, pages = {607--612}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Mechanism of mammalian transcriptional repression by noncoding RNA}}, doi = {10.1038/s41594-024-01448-7}, volume = {32}, year = {2025}, } @article{18853, abstract = {Electrolyte additives are extensively validated effective in mitigating dendrite growth and parasitic reactions in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Nonetheless, the mechanisms by which additives influence the formation and characteristics of the inorganic solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) are not yet fully elucidated. Herein, we investigate how Zn(CF3COO)2 additives influence solvation structure and elucidate the mechanism by which these additives promote the dual reduction of anions. Through cryo-transmission electron microscopy analysis, we identified the SEI as a highly amorphous ZnS/ZnF2 phase. This amorphous hybrid SEI demonstrates exceptional stability, mechanical robustness, and high Zn2+ conductivity, effectively mitigating parasitic reactions and enhancing Zn plating/stripping reversibility. Even under elevated current densities, the Zn anode exhibits ultra-stable longevity and ultra-high reversibility. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms governing solvation structure modulation that lead to the formation of amorphous hybrid SEI, underscoring their efficacy in enhancing the performance and durability of AZIBs.}, author = {Zeng, Guifang and Sun, Qing and Horta, Sharona and Martínez-Alanis, Paulina R. and Wu, Peng and Li, Jing and Wang, Shang and Ibáñez, Maria and Tian, Yanhong and Ci, Lijie and Cabot, Andreu}, issn = {1754-5706}, journal = {Energy and Environmental Science}, number = {4}, pages = {1683--1695}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, title = {{Modulating the solvation structure to enhance amorphous solid electrolyte interface formation for ultra-stable aqueous zinc anode}}, doi = {10.1039/d4ee03750b}, volume = {18}, year = {2025}, } @article{19037, abstract = {We present a novel, portable sensor platform that enables concurrent monitoring of surface mass and charge density variations at thin biointerfaces. This platform combines a coplanar-gated field-effect transistor (FET) architecture with grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (SPR), yielding an integrated disposable sensor chip prepared by nanoimprint and maskless photolithography techniques. The sensor chip design is suitable for scalable production and relies on reduced graphene oxide (rGO), serving as the FET’s semiconductor material for the electronic readout, and a metallic gate electrode surface that is corrugated with a multi-diffractive structure for optical probing with resonantly excited surface plasmons. Together with its integration in a compact instrumentation this results in a form factor optimized solution for dual-mode investigations without compromising the optical or electronic sensor performance. A poly-L-lysine (PLL) – based thin linker layer was deployed at the sensor surface to covalently attach azide-conjugated biomolecules by using incorporated “clickable” dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) moieties. Interestingly, the dual-mode measurements allow elucidating the role of the globular nature of the PLL chains when increasing the density of DBCO attached to their backbone, leading to PLL folding and internalization of DBCO moieties, and thus reducing the coupling yield for the used DNA oligomers. We envision that this platform can be employed to studying a range of other biointerface architectures and biomolecular interaction phenomena, which are inherently tied to mass and charge density variations.}, author = {Hasler, Roger and Livio, Pietro A. and Bozdogan, Anil and Fossati, Stefan and Hageneder, Simone and Montes-García, Verónica and Movilli, Jacopo and Moazzenzade, Taghi and Loohuis, Luna and Reiner-Rozman, Ciril and Tamayo, Adrián and Fiedler, Christine and Ibáñez, Maria and Kleber, Christoph and Huskens, Jurriaan and Dostalek, Jakub and Samorì, Paolo and Knoll, Wolfgang}, issn = {1558-1748}, journal = {IEEE Sensors Journal}, number = {7}, pages = {10521--10529}, publisher = {IEEE}, title = {{Dual electronic and optical monitoring of biointerfaces by a grating-structured coplanar-gated field-effect transistor}}, doi = {10.1109/jsen.2025.3533113}, volume = {25}, year = {2025}, } @article{19364, abstract = {Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) are pivotal in modern heat management but face limitations in efficiency and manufacturing scalability. We address these challenges by using an extrusion-based 3D printing technique to fabricate high-performance thermoelectric materials. Our ink formulations ensure the integrity of the 3D-printed structure and effective particle bonding during sintering, achieving record-high figure of merit (zT) values of 1.42 for p-type bismuth antimony telluride [(Bi,Sb)2Te3] and 1.3 for n-type silver selenide (Ag2Se) materials at room temperature. The resulting TEC demonstrates a cooling temperature gradient of 50°C in air. Moreover, this scalable and cost-effective method circumvents energy-intensive and time-consuming steps, such as ingot preparation and subsequently machining processes, offering a transformative solution for thermoelectric device production and heralding a new era of efficient and sustainable thermoelectric technologies.}, author = {Xu, Shengduo and Horta, Sharona and Lawal, Abayomi Q and Maji, Krishnendu and Lorion, Magali and Ibáñez, Maria}, issn = {1095-9203}, journal = {Science}, number = {6736}, pages = {845--850}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{Interfacial bonding enhances thermoelectric cooling in 3D-printed materials}}, doi = {10.1126/science.ads0426}, volume = {387}, year = {2025}, } @article{19629, abstract = {The SiOx anode exhibits a high specific capacity and commendable durability for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its practical application is hindered by significant volumetric fluctuations during lithiation/delithiation, alongside a metastable nature, which induces mechanical instability and irreversible lithium consumption, ultimately impairing long-term capacity retention in full-battery cell configurations. In this study, we present a phase-engineering approach designed to improve the structural stability of SiOx anodes for LIB applications. By incorporating lithium fluoride, amorphous SiOx undergoes partial transformation into a quartz-like phase, which enhances mechanical integrity and mitigates irreversible lithium loss. This modified anode demonstrates significantly improved stability and prolonged cycle lifespan. Through a combination of multiscale simulations and in situ characterizations, we elucidate the stabilization mechanisms conferred by the quartz phase, providing critical insights into the role of SiOx’s crystal structure in influencing degradation pathways. This work introduces an accessible and efficient method for controlling the crystallinity of SiOx, offering a practical solution to enhance the durability of high-energy-density LIBs.}, author = {Li, Jing and Zeng, Guifang and Horta, Sharona and Martínez-Alanis, Paulina R. and Jacas Biendicho, Jordi and Ibáñez, Maria and Xu, Bingang and Ci, Lijie and Cabot, Andreu and Sun, Qing}, issn = {1936-086X}, journal = {ACS Nano}, number = {16}, pages = {16096--16109}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Crystallographic engineering in micron-sized SiOx anode material toward stable high-energy-density Lithium-Ion batteries}}, doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c03074}, volume = {19}, year = {2025}, } @article{19779, abstract = {The transverse thermoelectric (Nernst) effect is a powerful probe for studying the electronic and structural properties of materials. In this study, we employ transverse thermoelectric measurements to investigate the ferroelectric distortion in the topological crystalline insulator (TCI) Pb0.60Sn0.40Te, a compound derived from PbTe and SnTe, known for their exceptional thermoelectric performance and distinct ferroelectric properties. By leveraging Nernst measurements, we provide direct evidence of ferroelectric distortion in this TCI, corroborated by Shubnikov–de Haas quantum oscillations that confirm the presence of two topologically nontrivial Fermi pockets. Density functional theory calculations show that these pockets originate from the L and T points in the Brillouin zone of the distorted structure within the TCI phase. Raman spectroscopy further identifies a structural phase transition below 50 K, consistent with the quantum oscillation observations. This observation is further substantiated by temperature-dependent synchrotron X-ray pair distribution function analysis and transmission electron microscopy, which confirm the local off-centering of cations at low temperature. These findings underscore the potential of transverse thermoelectric measurements in unveiling ferroelectric distortions and their role in modulating topological quantum states, opening new directions for research into the synergy between ferroelectricity and topological phases.}, author = {Negi, Pranav and He, Bin and Ukolov, Denis and Horta, Sharona and Maji, Krishnendu and Mao, Ning and Peshcherenko, Nikolai and Yanda, Premakumar and Yao, Mengyu and Dutta, Moinak and Robredo, Iñigo and Iraola, Mikel and Vergniory, Maia G. and Lemmens, Peter and Zhang, Yang and Shekhar, Chandra and Ibáñez, Maria and Felser, Claudia and Roychowdhury, Subhajit}, issn = {1520-5126}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {22}, pages = {18704--18711}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Evidence of ferroelectric distortions in topological crystalline insulators via transverse thermoelectric measurements}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.5c01700}, volume = {147}, year = {2025}, }