w wang

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 04 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02115-8

The properties of metal–organic framework glasses can be modulated by additives, but understanding how they modify the glass network is challenging. Now, alkali-modifier sites in MOF glasses have been identified, and the impact of both modifier content and identity on the processing temperatures and hierarchical porosity has been examined.

Lead doping influences the thermoelectric properties of AgSbTe₂ in four key aspects: enhancing stability via weakening Sb-Te anti-bonds and suppressing Ag defect formation; shifting the Fermi level deeper into the valence band and facilitating multivalent bands transport to boost electrical transport; flattening the valence band maximum, preserving a high Seebeck coefficient; and inhibiting phonon transport, drastically lowering the lattice thermal conductivity. These synergistic optimizations culminate in a peak ZT of 2.0 in AgSb_0.96Pb_0.04Te₂ at 623 K .

ABSTRACT

AgSbTe₂ is a promising mid-temperature thermoelectric (TE) material but has instability and limited performance from binary decomposition and vacancies. In this study, we report that Pb doping synergistically optimizes both electronic and phonon transport properties, resulting in a peak ZT of 2.0 at 623 K for p-type AgSb_0.96Pb_0.04Te₂—one of the highest values ever achieved for this material family. Pb²⁺ substituting Sb³⁺ induces lattice expansion and elevates Ag vacancy formation energy (from −0.133 to 0.024 eV), suppressing Ag₂Te precipitation and stabilizing the matrix. Electronically, Pb doping gives rise to a new valence band, pushing the Fermi level deeper into the valence band and enabling multiband transport. This combination leads to an enhanced electrical conductivity (276 S cm⁻¹ at 623 K), while retaining a moderate Seebeck coefficient (260 µV K⁻¹), yielding a maximum power factor of 18.14 µW cm⁻¹ K⁻². Phonon transport is inhibited by Pb-induced dislocations (enhancing phonon scattering) and lattice softening (lowering acoustic/optical phonon frequencies, promoting mode coupling), resulting in an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity (κ _L) of 0.27 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ (near the diffusion limit). This work clarifies bivalent cation doping (Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Sn²⁺) tuning TE performance via crystal structure, band, and phonon modulation.

Nature, Published online: 11 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09941-9

Aluminium redox catalysis is achieved with a low-valent aluminium species, carbazolylaluminylene, enabling cyclotrimerization of alkynes and producing diverse benzene derivatives.

A millimeter-sized luminescent metal–organic framework (MOF) single crystal is developed as a robust, reusable sensor for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Unlike conventional sensing conducted by MOF powders, the single crystal enables easy usage, improved stability, and enhanced luminescence response, facilitating practical PFAS detection via well-defined host–guest interactions.

Abstract

Rapid and quantitative detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains a critical challenge in environmental monitoring due to their low light absorption capacities. Luminescent sensing based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) enables analyte-specific optical responses through well-defined host–guest interactions, though conventional MOF powders as sensing materials face limitations in practical deployment for their stabilities and recyclable capacities. Herein, we report a millimeter-sized luminescent MOF single crystal that functions as a reusable sensor for PFAS, exhibiting an enhanced-type luminescence response upon analyte binding. In contrast to MOF powders, which often suffer from suspension instability and material loss during recycling, the single-crystal format offers robust structural integrity, direct handling, and facile recovery. The sensor exhibits exponential luminescence responses toward five commonly encountered PFAS and retains its sensing performance for 10 cycles. This work presents a durable and scalable luminescent platform for PFAS detection and underscores the role of dimensional control in advancing MOF-based sensing technologies.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 07 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41557-025-01953-2

Metal–organic frameworks are typically assembled using discrete organic linkers and inorganic nodes. Now it has been shown that combining covalent organic chains and layers as infinite building units with metal clusters results in compartmentalized frameworks with well-defined pores.