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Materials synthetic biology merges synthetic biology with materials science for the redesign of living systems into smart materials. This Review discusses how synthetic-biology tools can be applied for the engineering of self-organizing functional materials and programmable hybrid living materials.
Germanium is a promising material to build quantum components for scalable quantum information processing. This Review examines progress in materials science and devices that has enabled key building blocks for germanium quantum technology, such as hole-spin qubits and superconductor–semiconductor hybrids.
Neural networks can capture nonlinear relationships in high-dimensional spaces and are powerful tools for photonic-system modelling. This Review discusses how deep neural networks can serve as surrogate electromagnetic solvers, inverse modelling tools and global device optimizers.
In photonics, the introduction of order and disorder has traditionally been treated separately. However, recent developments in nanofabrication and design strategies have enabled the use of materials that lie between the extremes of order and disorder that can yield innovative optical phenomena. This Review surveys the basics and recent achievements of engineered disorder in photonics.
Large discrete 2D metallosupramolecules bridge the gap between small metallopolygons and infinite 2D metallopolymers, and are emerging platforms for the investigation of the structure–property–function relationships of 2D materials. This Review focuses on the design, synthesis and characterization of 2D metallosupramolecules, and presents a perspective on the future research directions.
The materials research landscape is being transformed by the infusion of approaches based on machine learning. This Review discusses the emerging materials intelligence ecosystems and the potential of human–machine partnerships for fast and efficient virtual materials screening, development and discovery.
The influx and efflux of water in biological structures leads to reversible deformation, which has important functions in plants (for example, in seed protection and dispersal) and animals (for example, in the recovery of the strength and shape of feathers, and for reversible changes in silk and hair). Here the authors review the main hydration-induced deformation mechanisms and highlight applications inspired by these processes.
In this Review, the authors analyse the fundamental concepts that govern the photocatalytic performance of organic polymer photocatalysts and discuss the challenges and future of the field of ‘soft photocatalysis’.
Polymer mechanochemistry converts mechanical forces in materials to chemical reactions through the response of functional groups known as mechanophores. This Review discusses the colorimetric, mechanical, chemical and electronic responses of mechanophores that may be useful in materials for strain sensing and strengthening, soft devices and additive manufacturing.
Supported isolated metal atoms and subnanometric metal clusters are emerging catalytic materials. This Review discusses the influence of confining subnanometric metal species in zeolites and metal–organic frameworks on their geometric and electronic structures and catalytic performance.
Metamaterials provide a platform to leverage optical signals for performing specific-purpose computational tasks with ultra-fast speeds. This Review surveys the basic principles, recent advances and promising future directions for wave-based-metamaterial analogue computing systems.
Materials science provides tools and technologies for the protection against viral infections, as well as for the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of viral diseases. This Review discusses present and future directions in antiviral materials-science research, with a focus on COVID-19.
This Review discusses non-metallic charge carriers for aqueous batteries, investigating fundamental mechanisms of charge storage and electrode interactions, as well as battery design and performance.
Cellulose nanocrystals are rigid rod-shaped nanoparticles that show promise as additives in composites, emulsions, foams and biomedical devices and as rheological modifiers. In this Review, the authors guide end users towards selecting cellulose sources and production routes that optimize the performance of cellulose nanocrystals in their intended application.
Artificial intelligence can be used to facilitate the 3D printing of functional materials and devices directly on target surfaces, such as human bodies. This Review surveys ex situ and in situ artificial-intelligence-assisted 3D printing of multifunctional materials and its combination with surgical robots to enable autonomous medical care and smart biomanufacturing.
Several key industries routinely use metal printing to make complex parts that are difficult to produce by conventional manufacturing. Here, we show that a synergistic combination of metallurgy, mechanistic models and machine learning is driving the continued growth of metal printing.
π-Conjugated polymers possess a wide range of useful electronic and optical properties. This Review focuses on the preparation of self-assembled nanoparticles from these materials and their applications in areas such as optoelectronics, biomedical imaging and therapy, photocatalysis and sensing.
The dynamic epigenetic landscape directs gene expression patterns that regulate cellular form and function. Designer cell culture materials have shed light on how materials cues influence cellular plasticity through the epigenome and directed tissue-fabrication approaches that drive biological activities.
Nanopore sensors enable the solution-based analysis of nucleic acids, proteins and other biomolecules at the single-molecule level. This Review discusses new fabrication and sensing strategies — including field-effect transistors, quantum tunnelling and optical methods — that enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of nanopores.
