Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica

What if a key breakthrough for affordable green hydrogen was sitting in a lab drawer for years, just waiting for the right team to discover it? In this episode of Papers Illuminated, we're joined by Dr. Milutin Smiljanić from the National Institute of Chemistry to explore his team's groundbreaking research on a new catalyst platform that could significantly reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen.

We dive into two of their recent papers, published in ACS Catalysis and the Chemical Engineering Journal, which detail how they engineered a solution by combining ruthenium—a much cheaper alternative to platinum—with a unique titanium oxynitride support. Their work creates a highly efficient and durable catalyst for splitting water.

🔬 Read the studies: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894725050399

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.5c02831

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Yufei Ma about a breakthrough in clean energy research. Their team has developed a new kind of catalyst made of single platinum atoms and a thin layer of molybdenum that makes splitting water into hydrogen much more efficient.

We explore how arranging atoms in just the right way can unlock record-breaking performance, why this matters for producing green hydrogen, and what it could mean for the future of renewable energy.

🔬 Read the study: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adma.202502989

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In a new episode of the podcast Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica, we're talking with Dr. Matjaž Mazaj about a groundbreaking study in the field of carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture. Together with his team of authors, he published the article "Amine‐Functionalized Triazolate‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Diluted CO₂ Capture Performance" in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The research introduces a new material called NICS-24, specifically designed for efficient CO₂ capture at low concentrations, which is crucial for improving indoor air quality. The discovery offers new insights into how these materials function in humid environments and paves the way for the further development of carbon capture technologies under real-world conditions.

🔬 Read the study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202424747

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Sara Drvarič Talian from the Department of Materials Chemistry at National Institute of Chemistry about how operando impedance spectroscopy is transforming battery research. We explore her team’s recent Nature Communications study demonstrating how real-time impedance measurements in three-electrode cells can reveal the dynamic processes inside lithium metal batteries, from lithium diffusion and surface changes to dendrite formation. Sara explains how this approach overcomes the limitations of conventional equilibrium-based impedance techniques and why tracking these processes operando is critical for understanding failure mechanisms such as internal short circuits and lithium pitting. From innovative experimental design to perspectives on safer, high-performance batteries, this conversation connects electrochemistry, materials science, and next-generation energy storage.

🔬 Read the study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57256-0

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

V tej epizodi odkrivamo, kaj se dogaja z natrijevimi ioni v notranjosti negrafitiziranega ogljika med delovanjem natrij-ionskih baterij. Z gostom Matejem Gabrijelčičem razložimo, kako raziskovalci s pomočjo napredne operando NMR spektroskopije spremljajo premikanje in nalaganje natrija v realnem času. Pri raziskavah za članek je sodelovalo 8 sodelavcev iz Odseka za kemijo materialov in Odseka za anorgansko kemijo in tehnologijo na Kemijskem inštitutu.

🔬 Članek je bil objavljen v znanstveni reviji Journal of Materials Chemistry A: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/ta/d4ta07135b

__________ In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In this episode, we talk with Gašper Šolinc from the Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology at the National Institute of Chemistry about how lipids play a surprising role in the structure and function of protein nanopores.

We explore his team’s recent Nature Communications study on the Fav protein, showing how this coral-derived nanopore interacts with over 100 lipids, including cholesterol, to stabilize its structure. These findings highlight the critical, often overlooked role of lipids in membrane protein assemblies.

From cryo-EM insights to future applications in biosensing, this conversation bridges molecular biology, nanotechnology, and synthetic bioengineering.

🔬 Read the study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58334-z

📄 Read more about the work of the Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology.: https://www.ki.si/en/departments/d11-department-of-molecular-biology-and-nanobiotechnology/

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In this episode, we talk with Sara Orehek from the Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology at the National Institute of Chemistry about how immunogenic cell death is changing the way we approach cancer treatment. We dive into a recent study that sheds light on how dying cancer cells can do more than just disappear—they can send out alarm signals that activate the immune system and teach it to fight smarter.

From the molecular mechanisms behind these death signals to the therapeutic potential of combining cell death with immune activation, this conversation explores the fascinating interface between synthetic biology, immunology, and oncology.

Whether you're curious about immune system dynamics, breakthroughs in cancer therapy, or how synthetic biology is reshaping modern medicine—this one’s for you.

🧬 The study was published in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55083-3

📄 Read more about the work of the Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology at the National Institute of Chemistry.: https://www.ki.si/en/departments/d12-department-of-synthetic-biology-and-immunology/

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In this episode, we talk with Urška Češarek from the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology at the National Institute of Chemistry about a more streamlined and efficient approach to synthesizing amino-functionalized polyethers: polymers with enhanced precision and functionality. From overcoming long-standing synthetic challenges to fine-tuning end-group chemistry, we explore how small molecular tweaks can lead to big breakthroughs in medicine and materials science.

Whether you're into polymers, precision chemistry, or just curious about how science shapes our everyday lives—this one's for you.

The study was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.4c15676

Discover more of Urška Češarek work and explore groundbreaking research from the Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology here: https://www.ki.si/en/departments/d07-department-of-polymer-chemistry-and-technology/

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In Episode 8 of the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, Klemen Mezgec from the Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology at the National Institute of Chemistry delves into groundbreaking advancements in modular protein engineering. He shares how designing modular protein building blocks paves the way for constructing high-molecular-weight structures and biomaterials with nanometer-scale precision. The discussion also explores the exciting potential applications of these findings, from creating innovative biomaterials to advancing biotechnological, biomedical, and bioengineering solutions.

The study was published in ACS Nano: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c07701

Discover more of Klemen Mezgec's work and explore groundbreaking research from the Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology here: https://www.ki.si/en/departments/d12-department-of-synthetic-biology-and-immunology/

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/

In Episode 7 of the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, Dr. Jure Borišek from the Laboratory for Cheminformatics within the Theory Department at the National Institute of Chemistry dives into how computational simulations of molecules can deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind RNA cleavage. Beyond his expertise in computational chemistry, Dr. Borišek is also a chess grandmaster, and in this episode, he draws intriguing parallels between the strategic thinking in chess and the process of scientific research.

The study was published in Angewandte Chemie: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202405819

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In the Papers Illuminated - Člankarnica podcast, together with researchers from the National Institute of Chemistry, we present interesting and accessible explanations of their latest discoveries, published in prestigious scientific journals. We invite you to follow us on social media and send us your questions, comments, and suggestions.

https://www.ki.si/o-institutu/podkast/clankarnica/