Azo compounds are widely used in many applications, and photoelectrochemical synthesis provides a promising green route for producing them under mild conditions. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China reported that Cs⁺-induced surface reconstruction of BiVO₄ photoanodes can stabilize the electrode interface, accelerate charge transfer, and promote efficient photoelectrochemical synthesis of azobenzene under illumination.

Chemist Focuses on Developments Paving the Way to the Quantum Internet – European Research Council is Founding “Hilbert Molecules” Project with roughly EUR 2.5 million

Since Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895, X-ray imaging has become an indispensable tool in modern medical diagnosis, industrial non-destructive testing, security screening, and even cultural heritage preservation. In X-ray imaging systems, detection methods fall into two main categories: direct and indirect. Direct detection uses semiconductor materials to convert X-ray photons directly into electrical signals, offering fast response and high spatial resolution, but it is often expensive and complex to manufacture. Indirect detection employs a “scintillator + photodetector” structure: X-rays are first absorbed by a scintillator material and converted into visible or ultraviolet light, which is then captured by a photodiode or CCD/CMOS sensor and transformed into electrical signals. Indirect detection dominates the current X-ray imaging market because of its mature technology, controllable cost, and excellent compatibility with existing sensors.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites have emerged as promising optoelectronic materials. However, their practical and rational design is hindered by poor understanding of the relationship between the screening environment and excitonic properties. In a new study, researchers developed a new method to isolate the effects of the screening environment, offering a new predictive model for excitonic properties of 2D perovskites. This will contribute to more stable and tunable optoelectronic technologies.

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have found out how plant cells respond to stress. If their energy supply is disrupted by heat, drought, or saline soils, chloroplasts – the cells’ powerhouses – send an intracellular distress signal by forming tiny, finger-like projections. This signal specifically activates protection programs, which help to limit damage. The results of the study clearly show for the first time what the function of these previously mysterious structures is, and present an approach for making crops more resilient to climate stress.Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have found out how plant cells respond to stress. If their energy supply is disrupted by heat, drought, or saline soils, chloroplasts – the cells’ powerhouses – send an intracellular distress signal by forming tiny, finger-like projections. This signal specifically activates protection programs, which help to limit damage. The results of the study clearly show for the first time what the function of these previously mysterious structures is, and present an approach for making crops more resilient to climate stress.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers developed a silica capsule–based technology that enables easy separation and reuse of colorants from plastics, overcoming limitations of conventional recycling. This approach allows repeated upcycling into high-quality, vividly colored materials with significantly lower energy consumption.