Beachcombing for bioscience - p165

doi:10.1038/nmat2138

Recent developments in bioscience are reported in a business-oriented publication, called SciBX, a joint venture by Nature Publishing Group and Biocentury.

Full Text - Beachcombing for bioscience | PDF (175 KB) - Beachcombing for bioscience

Operating mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells - p167

Qibing Pei & Alan J. Heeger

doi:10.1038/nmat2128

Full Text - Operating mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells | PDF (133 KB) - Operating mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells

Operating mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells - p168

George G. Malliaras, Jason D. Slinker, John A. DeFranco, Michael J. Jaquith, William R. Silveira, Yu-Wu Zhong, Jose M. Moran-Mirabal, Harold G. Craighead, Héctor D. Abruña & John A. Marohn

doi:10.1038/nmat2129

Full Text - Operating mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells | PDF (133 KB) - Operating mechanism of light-emitting electrochemical cells

Down to the wire and beyond... - p169

doi:10.1038/nmat2139

Full Text - Down to the wire and beyond... | PDF (355 KB) - Down to the wire and beyond...

Organic electronics: Complexity made simple - pp171 - 172

Natalie Stingelin-Stutzmann

doi:10.1038/nmat2121

Simplification in large-area manufacturing of complex organic electronics is a critical step towards ubiquitous, flexible, portable applications; why not make the molecules do the work?

Full Text - Organic electronicsComplexity made simple | PDF (335 KB) - Organic electronicsComplexity made simple

Polymer therapeutics: Reservoir drugs - pp172 - 174

Lori Setton

doi:10.1038/nmat2130

Peptide-functionalized polymer nanoparticles target and bind to articular cartilage tissue, making them promising drug-delivery vehicles.

Full Text - Polymer therapeuticsReservoir drugs | PDF (402 KB) - Polymer therapeuticsReservoir drugs

Granular matter: Sticky sand - pp174 - 175

Arshad Kudrolli

doi:10.1038/nmat2131

The mechanical properties of granular matter are affected by the addition of liquid — however, over a wide range, the actual amount of liquid is unimportant. Now, imaging techniques look inside the wet granular pile, or 'sandcastle', to help solve this puzzle.

Full Text - Granular matterSticky sand | PDF (185 KB) - Granular matterSticky sand

Material witness: Green-sky thinking - p176

Philip Ball

doi:10.1038/nmat2134

Full Text - Material witnessGreen-sky thinking | PDF (96 KB) - Material witnessGreen-sky thinking

Fullerides: Competition fix - pp176 - 177

Olle Gunnarsson

doi:10.1038/nmat2135

The complex electronic properties of alkali-doped fullerides derive from the interplay between competing interactions. Fine control of the doping levels and thickness of fulleride films makes it possible to tune relevant parameters.

Full Text - FulleridesCompetition fix | PDF (132 KB) - FulleridesCompetition fix

Molecular spintronics using single-molecule magnets - pp179 - 186

Lapo Bogani & Wolfgang Wernsdorfer

doi:10.1038/nmat2133

Theoretical work has highlighted the potential of using devices in which spin-polarized carries are injected in single molecular magnets, and a few experiments have shown promising results. The challenges are great, but the advantages compared with more conventional strategies may be considerable, and future research promises to be intriguing and rewarding.

Abstract - | Full Text - Molecular spintronics using single-molecule magnets | PDF (1,322 KB) - Molecular spintronics using single-molecule magnets

Morphological clues to wet granular pile stability - pp189 - 193

M. Scheel, R. Seemann, M. Brinkmann, M. Di Michiel, A. Sheppard, B. Breidenbach & S. Herminghaus

doi:10.1038/nmat2117

Mixing granular materials such as sand with a liquid leads to stiffening, but the mechanical properties are surprisingly independent of the amount of liquid. This phenomenon is shown to result from the particular organization of the liquid into open structures within the granular pile.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Morphological clues to wet granular pile stability | PDF (1,062 KB) - Morphological clues to wet granular pile stability | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Granular materials and particle technology | Computation, modelling and theory

See also: News and Views by Kudrolli

Tuning fulleride electronic structure and molecular ordering via variable layer index - pp194 - 197

Yayu Wang, Ryan Yamachika, Andre Wachowiak, Michael Grobis & Michael F. Crommie

doi:10.1038/nmat2100

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Tuning fulleride electronic structure and molecular ordering via variable layer index | PDF (698 KB) - Tuning fulleride electronic structure and molecular ordering via variable layer index

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Molecular electronics | Nanoscale materials

See also: News and Views by Gunnarsson

Collapse of magnetic moment drives the Mott transition in MnO - pp198 - 202

Jan Kune, Alexey V. Lukoyanov, Vladimir I. Anisimov, Richard T. Scalettar & Warren E. Pickett

doi:10.1038/nmat2115

The precise mechanism of the insulator-to-metal transition in MnO has been unravelled by a computational approach that shows that the transition is a result of the simultaneous collapse of the magnetic moment.

Abstract - | Full Text - Collapse of magnetic moment drives the Mott transition in MnO | PDF (305 KB) - Collapse of magnetic moment drives the Mott transition in MnO | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Magnetic materials | Computation, modelling and theory

Zero-field optical manipulation of magnetic ions in semiconductors - pp203 - 208

R. C. Myers, M. H. Mikkelsen, J.-M. Tang, A. C. Gossard, M. E. Flatté & D. D. Awschalom

doi:10.1038/nmat2123

Controlling and monitoring individual spins is desirable for building spin-based devices. The optical manipulation of the spin of manganese ions in gallium arsenide is now possible. The spins of a small number of ions can be oriented by selecting the polarization of a laser beam. Reduction of the ion concentration enables control of single manganese spins.

Abstract - | Full Text - Zero-field optical manipulation of magnetic ions in semiconductors | PDF (721 KB) - Zero-field optical manipulation of magnetic ions in semiconductors | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Semiconductors | Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials | Magnetic materials

Direct imaging of the spatial and energy distribution of nucleation centres in ferroelectric materials - pp209 - 215

Stephen Jesse, Brian J. Rodriguez, Samrat Choudhury, Arthur P. Baddorf, Ionela Vrejoiu, Dietrich Hesse, Marin Alexe, Eugene A. Eliseev, Anna N. Morozovska, Jingxian Zhang, Long-Qing Chen & Sergei V. Kalinin

doi:10.1038/nmat2114

Abstract - | Full Text - Direct imaging of the spatial and energy distribution of nucleation centres in ferroelectric materials | PDF (2,956 KB) - Direct imaging of the spatial and energy distribution of nucleation centres in ferroelectric materials | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Ceramics | Electronic materials | Characterisation and analytical techniques

Contact-induced crystallinity for high-performance soluble acene-based transistors and circuits - pp216 - 221

D. J. Gundlach, J. E. Royer, S. K. Park, S. Subramanian, O. D. Jurchescu, B. H. Hamadani, A. J. Moad, R. J. Kline, L. C. Teague, O. Kirillov, C. A. Richter, J. G. Kushmerick, L. J. Richter, S. R. Parkin, T. N. Jackson & J. E. Anthony

doi:10.1038/nmat2122

Crystallization of acenes into high-mobility structures for transistors is achieved by pretreating the substrate in the region where crystallization is required. Cross-talk is prevented between devices by the amorphous material produced on the untreated region.

Abstract - | Full Text - Contact-induced crystallinity for high-performance soluble acene-based transistors and circuits | PDF (607 KB) - Contact-induced crystallinity for high-performance soluble acene-based transistors and circuits | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Surface and thin films

See also: News and Views by Stingelin-Stutzmann

Direct access to thermally stable and highly crystalline mesoporous transition-metal oxides with uniform pores - pp222 - 228

Jinwoo Lee, M. Christopher Orilall, Scott C. Warren, Marleen Kamperman, Francis J. DiSalvo & Ulrich Wiesner

doi:10.1038/nmat2111

Abstract - | Full Text - Direct access to thermally stable and highly crystalline mesoporous transition-metal oxides with uniform pores | PDF (946 KB) - Direct access to thermally stable and highly crystalline mesoporous transition-metal oxides with uniform pores | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Porous materials | Design synthesis and processing

Mechanical gas capture and release in a network solid via multiple single-crystalline transformations - pp229 - 235

Brett D. Chandler, Gary D. Enright, Konstantin A. Udachin, Shane Pawsey, John A. Ripmeester, David T. Cramb & George K. H. Shimizu

doi:10.1038/nmat2101

Abstract - | Full Text - Mechanical gas capture and release in a network solid via multiple single-crystalline transformations | PDF (1,299 KB) - Mechanical gas capture and release in a network solid via multiple single-crystalline transformations | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Porous materials | Design synthesis and processing

Silver-nanoparticle-embedded antimicrobial paints based on vegetable oil - pp236 - 241

Ashavani Kumar, Praveen Kumar Vemula, Pulickel M. Ajayan & George John

doi:10.1038/nmat2099

Abstract - | Full Text - Silver-nanoparticle-embedded antimicrobial paints based on vegetable oil | PDF (630 KB) - Silver-nanoparticle-embedded antimicrobial paints based on vegetable oil | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Composites | Biomedical materials | Nanoscale materials

Wrap–bake–peel process for nanostructural transformation from -FeOOH nanorods to biocompatible iron oxide nanocapsules - pp242 - 247

Yuanzhe Piao, Jaeyun Kim, Hyon Bin Na, Dokyoon Kim, Ji Seon Baek, Mi Kyeong Ko, Jung Hee Lee, Mohammadreza Shokouhimehr & Taeghwan Hyeon

doi:10.1038/nmat2118

A three-step synthetic method that involves silica coating, heat treatment and removal of the silica layer is reported for the preparation of hollow iron oxide nanocapsules. The magnetite nanocapsules made by this simple wrap-bake-peel process show potential as drug-delivery vehicles and MRI contrast agents.

Abstract - | Full Text - Wrap–bake–peel process for nanostructural transformation from -FeOOH nanorods to biocompatible iron oxide nanocapsules | PDF (1,394 KB) - Wrap–bake–peel process for nanostructural transformation from -FeOOH nanorods to biocompatible iron oxide nanocapsules | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Biomedical materials | Nanoscale materials

Biofunctional polymer nanoparticles for intra-articular targeting and retention in cartilage - pp248 - 254

Dominique A. Rothenfluh, Harry Bermudez, Conlin P. O'Neil & Jeffrey A. Hubbell

doi:10.1038/nmat2116

The extracellular matrix of dense, avascular tissues presents a barrier to polymer-based therapeutics, such as drugs encapsulated within polymeric particles. Jeffrey Hubbell and colleagues now show that biomolecular binding of sufficiently small polymer nanoparticles can transform the matrix of cartilage tissue from a barrier into a reservoir, considerably improving the bioavailability of drugs in the matrix.

Abstract - | Full Text - Biofunctional polymer nanoparticles for intra-articular targeting and retention in cartilage | PDF (611 KB) - Biofunctional polymer nanoparticles for intra-articular targeting and retention in cartilage | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Polymers | Biomedical materials

See also: News and Views by Setton