A Tianjin University team led by Professor Hu Wenbin reported a “transient assembly” strategy using millisecond-scale periodic thermal pulses to synthesize and precisely control core–shell platinum-group metal catalysts, enabling atom-level precision and ultra-fast production. The authors say the method opens a new technical pathway for platinum-group catalyst manufacturing. Results were published online in Science on July 10 (Beijing time). Platinum-group catalysts are core materials for modern energy, chemical and environmental industries.