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1. A Crystalline Mono‐Coordinate Indium(I)‐Phosphaalkenyl

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202523125  

   García‐Romero, Álvaro; Pink, Maren; Fernández, Israel; Goicoechea, Jose M (February 2026, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract The synthesis of the mono‐coordinate indium(I) compound In[C(Ad)═PTer] (Ad = 1‐adamantyl, Ter = 2,6‐Dipp₂‐C₆H₃; Dipp = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) is reported. Key to the formation of this monomeric species is the steric protection offered by the supporting phosphaalkenyl ligand which hinders aggregation. The title compound can be accessed from the reaction of (InTer)₂with the phosphaalkyne AdC≡P in an unusual redox‐neutral transformation in which the In─C bond of the (InTer)₂precursor, known to dissociate in solution, adds across the C≡P triple bond of the phosphaalkyne. This insertion reaction is reversible, as shown by the reaction of In[C(Ad)═PTer] with B(C₆F₅)₃, which affords [TerInB(C₆F₅)₃] accompanied by extrusion of AdC≡P. In contrast, the lighter analogue (GaTer)₂promotes the dimerization of the AdC≡P fragment resulting in the formation of the cluster (GaTer)₂(AdCP)₂. The formal oxidation state of In[C(Ad) = PTer] was probed by reaction with methyl‐iodide which affords the indium(III) compound In(Me)I[C(Ad) = PTer] in a formal single‐site oxidative‐addition reaction at indium. 

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2. Understanding Electrochemical Reaction Mechanisms of Sulfur in All‐Solid‐State Batteries through Operando and Theoretical Studies **

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202302363  

   Cao, Daxian; Sun, Xiao; Li, Fei; Bak, Seong‐Min; Ji, Tongtai; Geiwitz, Michael; Burch, Kenneth S.; Du, Yonghua; Yang, Guochun; Zhu, Hongli (May 2023, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract Due to its outstanding safety and high energy density, all‐solid‐state lithium‐sulfur batteries (ASLSBs) are considered as a potential future energy storage technology. The electrochemical reaction pathway in ASLSBs with inorganic solid‐state electrolytes is different from Li‐S batteries with liquid electrolytes, but the mechanism remains unclear. By combining operando Raman spectroscopy and ex situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, we investigated the reaction mechanism of sulfur (S₈) in ASLSBs. Our results revealed that no Li₂S_8,Li₂S_6,and Li₂S₄were formed, yet Li₂S₂was detected. Furthermore, first‐principles structural calculations were employed to disclose the formation energy of solid state Li₂S_n(1≤n≤8), in which Li₂S₂was a metastable phase, consistent with experimental observations. Meanwhile, partial S₈and Li₂S₂remained at the full lithiation stage, suggesting incomplete reaction due to sluggish reaction kinetics in ASLSBs. 

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3. Synthesis of 2D-NiPtTe ₂ by topotactical surface reaction of PtTe ₂ with Ni

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00527B  

   Rajapakse, Nirosha Ravinath; Ghorbani-Asl, Mahdi; Lasek, Kinga; Krasheninnikov, Arkady V; Batzill, Matthias (January 2026, Nanoscale Horizons)

   Synthesis of novel van der Waals materials are demonstrated by a topotactical reaction. Specifically, 2D-NiPtTe₂is synthesized by converting monolayer PtTe₂by reaction with vapor deposited Ni. 

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4. A room temperature rechargeable Li ₂ O-based lithium-air battery enabled by a solid electrolyte

   https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq1347  

   Kondori, Alireza; Esmaeilirad, Mohammadreza; Harzandi, Ahmad Mosen; Amine, Rachid; Saray, Mahmoud Tamadoni; Yu, Lei; Liu, Tongchao; Wen, Jianguo; Shan, Nannan; Wang, Hsien-Hau; et al (February 2023, Science)

   A lithium-air battery based on lithium oxide (Li₂O) formation can theoretically deliver an energy density that is comparable to that of gasoline. Lithium oxide formation involves a four-electron reaction that is more difficult to achieve than the one- and two-electron reaction processes that result in lithium superoxide (LiO₂) and lithium peroxide (Li₂O₂), respectively. By using a composite polymer electrolyte based on Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂nanoparticles embedded in a modified polyethylene oxide polymer matrix, we found that Li₂O is the main product in a room temperature solid-state lithium-air battery. The battery is rechargeable for 1000 cycles with a low polarization gap and can operate at high rates. The four-electron reaction is enabled by a mixed ion–electron-conducting discharge product and its interface with air. 

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5. Structure Sensitivity and Catalyst Restructuring for CO2 Electro-reduction on Copper

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59267-3  

   Cheng, Dongfang; Nguyen, Khanh-Ly C; Sumaria, Vaidish; Wei, Ziyang; Zhang, Zisheng; Gee, Winston; Li, Yichen; Morales-Guio, Carlos G; Heyde, Markus; Roldan_Cuenya, Beatriz; et al (December 2025, Nature Communications)

   Abstract Cu is the most promising metal catalyst for CO₂electroreduction (CO₂RR) to multi-carbon products, yet the structure sensitivity of the reaction and the stability versus restructuring of the catalyst surface under reaction conditions remain controversial. Here, atomic scale simulations of surface energies and reaction pathway kinetics supported by experimental evidence unveil that CO₂RR does not take place on perfect planar Cu(111) and Cu(100) surfaces but rather on steps or kinks. These planar surfaces tend to restructure in reaction conditions to the active stepped surfaces, with the strong binding of CO on defective sites acting as a thermodynamic driving force. Notably, we identify that the square motifs adjacent to defects, not the defects themselves, as the active sites for CO₂RR via synergistic effect. We evaluate these mechanisms against experiments of CO₂RR on ultra-high vacuum-prepared ultraclean Cu surfaces, uncovering the crucial role of step-edge orientation in steering selectivity. Overall, our study refines the structural sensitivity of CO₂RR on Cu at the atomic level, highlights the self-activation mechanism and elucidates the origin of in situ restructuring of Cu surfaces during the reaction. 

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