Much has been done to search for highly efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is critical to a range of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical processes. A new, high-temperature solution-phase method for the synthesis of ultrathin WS2 nanoflakes is now reported. The resulting product possesses monolayer thickness with dimensions in the nanometer range and abundant edges. These favorable structural features render the WS2 nanoflakes highly active and durable catalysts for the HER in acids. The catalyst exhibits a small HER overpotential of approximately 100 mV and a Tafel slope of 48 mV/decade. These ultrathin WS2 nanoflakes represent an attractive alternative to the precious platinum benchmark catalyst and rival MoS2 materials that have recently been heavily scrutinized for the electrocatalytic HER.

COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic and has claimed over 2 million lives worldwide. Although the genetic sequences of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have high homology, the clinical and pathological characteristics of COVID-19 differ significantly from those of SARS. How and whether SARS-CoV-2 evades (cellular) immune surveillance requires further elucidation. In this study, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to major histocompability complex class Ι (MHC-Ι) down-regulation both in vitro and in vivo. The viral protein encoded by open reading frame 8 (ORF8) of SARS-CoV-2, which shares the least homology with SARS-CoV among all viral proteins, directly interacts with MHC-Ι molecules and mediates their down-regulation. In ORF8-expressing cells, MHC-Ι molecules are selectively targeted for lysosomal degradation via autophagy. Thus, SARS-CoV-2–infected cells are much less sensitive to lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Because ORF8 protein impairs the antigen presentation system, inhibition of ORF8 could be a strategy to improve immune surveillance.

Reversible electrochemical storage of alkali metal ions is the basis of many secondary batteries. Over years, various electrode materials are developed and optimized for a specific type of alkali metal ions (Li , Na , or K ), yet there are very few (if not none) candidates that can serve as a universal host material for all of them. Herein, a facile solvothermal method is developed to prepare VS nanosheet assemblies. Individual nanosheets are featured with a few atomic layer thickness, and they are hierarchically arranged with minimized stacking. Electrochemical measurements show that VS nanosheet assemblies enable the rapid and durable storage of Li , Na , or K ions. Most remarkably, the large reversible specific capacity and great cycling stability observed for both Na and K are extraordinary and superior to most existing electrode materials. The experimental results of this study are further supported by density functional theory calculations showing that the layered structure of VS has large adsorption energy and low diffusion barriers for the intercalation of alkali metal ions.

Active and durable electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction are of critical importance to the commercial viability of direct methanol fuel cell technology. Unfortunately, current methanol oxidation electrocatalysts fall far short of expectations and suffer from rapid activity degradation. Here we report platinum–nickel hydroxide–graphene ternary hybrids as a possible solution to this long-standing issue. The incorporation of highly defective nickel hydroxide nanostructures is believed to play the decisive role in promoting the dissociative adsorption of water molecules and subsequent oxidative removal of carbonaceous poison on neighbouring platinum sites. As a result, the ternary hybrids exhibit exceptional activity and durability towards efficient methanol oxidation reaction. Under periodic reactivations, the hybrids can endure at least 500,000 s with negligible activity loss, which is, to the best of our knowledge, two to three orders of magnitude longer than all available electrocatalysts.