Articles in 2009

Switching between n- and p-type conduction in a semiconductor can be done through doping. A fundamentally different behaviour has now been observed in Ag₁₀Te₄Br₃, as a transition from ionic to electronic conduction is achieved simply by heating, which could be used for switches or in novel electronic devices.

Tailoring the properties of polymer nanocomposites—polymers incorporating nanoparticles—is essential to develop biomedical, or even electronic, applications. It is now shown that accurate control of the nanoparticle concentration in nanocomposites prepared from athermal mixtures considerably varies the physical properties with respect to the host polymer.

A synthetic tool that uses living polymerizations driven by epitaxial crystallization is shown to create a range of complex micelle architectures made from diblock copolymers. Platelet micelles act as initiators for the formation of scarf-like structures with micellar tassels of controlled length, grown from specific locations.

Cancer vaccines developed so far typically rely on cell manipulation techniques in the laboratory followed by re-introduction of the cells into the patient. Now, a polymeric material is shown to program and control the trafficking of immune cells in situ, resulting in specific and protective anti-tumour properties.

Mucus presents a formidable barrier to nanoparticle drug-delivery systems, but adding a coating of polymer molecules helps them sneak through the net.

Joseph Michels, a managing director at One Equity Partners, talks to Nature Materials about making private equity investments in high-tech companies in times of recession.

In semiconductor quantum dots, the electronic wave functions are squeezed into small areas. Stretching them in a controllable yet simple way profoundly affects their properties and can give them characteristics important for practical applications.

Using self-assembly and electrodeposition, complementary organic and inorganic building blocks are combined to form a lamellar hybrid that is an efficient photoconductor.

A simple nanoimprinting method creates arrays of ferroelectric polymer structures suitable for low-cost, non-volatile memories.

The financial crisis teaches us about the consequences of ignoring risks. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes for the continuing crises in energy and climate.