Lessons in science education - p243

doi:10.1038/nmat2409

Strong science education is an important part of any modern education. To ensure scientific progress, however, students need to aspire to academic careers.

Full Text - Lessons in science education | PDF (176 KB) - Lessons in science education

Hands-on inspiration for science - pp245 - 247

Christoph Renner

doi:10.1038/nmat2410

To counter the decreasing interest in scientific studies, the PhysiScope at the University of Geneva conveys scientific excitement to teenagers by offering an entertaining and practical way to discover physics.

Full Text - Hands-on inspiration for science | PDF (642 KB) - Hands-on inspiration for science

Our choice from the recent literature - p248

doi:10.1038/nmat2411

Full Text - Our choice from the recent literature | PDF (185 KB) - Our choice from the recent literature

Nanoparticle Assembly: Anisotropy unnecessary - pp249 - 250

Christopher Y. Li

doi:10.1038/nmat2416

Anisotropic assembly of isotropic nanoparticles is observed in a polymer nanocomposite system and leads to considerable improvements in mechanical properties. The relatively simple sample preparation process means the approach could be used for large-scale manufacture of nanocomposites.

Full Text - Nanoparticle AssemblyAnisotropy unnecessary | PDF (143 KB) - Nanoparticle AssemblyAnisotropy unnecessary

See also: Article by Akcora et al.

Material witness: Natural waterproofing - p250

Philip Ball

doi:10.1038/nmat2412

Full Text - Material witnessNatural waterproofing | PDF (105 KB) - Material witnessNatural waterproofing

Complex oxides: A tale of two enemies - pp251 - 252

Hidenori Takagai

doi:10.1038/nmat2414

A large modulation of magnetic moments in superconductor/ferromagnet superlattices raises intriguing questions about the interaction between these competing states.

Full Text - Complex oxidesA tale of two enemies | PDF (139 KB) - Complex oxidesA tale of two enemies

See also: Letter by Hoppler et al.

Nanomedicine: Veni, vidi, vici and then... vanished - pp252 - 253

Victor S.-Y. Lin

doi:10.1038/nmat2413

Non-toxicity in multifunctional inorganic nanoparticles is rare. However, with careful engineering of silicon-based nanoparticles they can be used in vivo as imaging and drug-delivery agents and later degraded and cleared without toxic effects.

Full Text - NanomedicineVeni, vidi, vici and then... vanished | PDF (142 KB) - NanomedicineVeni, vidi, vici and then... vanished

See also: Letter by Park et al.

Superconductivity: Commonalities in phase and mode - pp253 - 255

Yasutomo J. Uemura

doi:10.1038/nmat2415

Muon and neutron experiments on the new FeAs-based superconductors reveal phase diagrams and spin excitation modes with striking similarities to a wide range of other unconventional superconductors.

Full Text - SuperconductivityCommonalities in phase and mode | PDF (183 KB) - SuperconductivityCommonalities in phase and mode

See also: Letter by Luetkens et al. | Letter by Drew et al.

A way forward along domain walls - p255

Hélène Béa & Patrycja Paruch

doi:10.1038/nmat2417

Full Text - A way forward along domain walls | PDF (75 KB) - A way forward along domain walls

Electron and X-ray microscopy - p259

Fabio Pulizzi

doi:10.1038/nmat2424

Full Text - Electron and X-ray microscopy | PDF (234 KB) - Electron and X-ray microscopy

Is science prepared for atomic-resolution electron microscopy? - pp260 - 262

Knut W. Urban

doi:10.1038/nmat2407

Abstract - | Full Text - Is science prepared for atomic-resolution electron microscopy? | PDF (309 KB) - Is science prepared for atomic-resolution electron microscopy?

Structure and bonding at the atomic scale by scanning transmission electron microscopy - pp263 - 270

David A. Muller

doi:10.1038/nmat2380

Abstract - | Full Text - Structure and bonding at the atomic scale by scanning transmission electron microscopy | PDF (837 KB) - Structure and bonding at the atomic scale by scanning transmission electron microscopy

Electron tomography and holography in materials science - pp271 - 280

Paul A. Midgley & Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski

doi:10.1038/nmat2406

Abstract - | Full Text - Electron tomography and holography in materials science | PDF (955 KB) - Electron tomography and holography in materials science

Near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure microscopy of organic and magnetic materials - pp281 - 290

Harald Ade & Herman Stoll

doi:10.1038/nmat2399

Abstract - | Full Text - Near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure microscopy of organic and magnetic materials | PDF (1,106 KB) - Near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure microscopy of organic and magnetic materials

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of strain at the nanoscale - pp291 - 298

Ian Robinson & Ross Harder

doi:10.1038/nmat2400

Abstract - | Full Text - Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of strain at the nanoscale | PDF (695 KB) - Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of strain at the nanoscale

X-ray imaging beyond the limits - pp299 - 301

Henry N. Chapman

doi:10.1038/nmat2402

Abstract - | Full Text - X-ray imaging beyond the limits | PDF (408 KB) - X-ray imaging beyond the limits

The electronic phase diagram of the LaO_1-xF_xFeAs superconductor - pp305 - 309

H. Luetkens, H.-H. Klauss, M. Kraken, F. J. Litterst, T. Dellmann, R. Klingeler, C. Hess, R. Khasanov, A. Amato, C. Baines, M. Kosmala, O. J. Schumann, M. Braden, J. Hamann-Borrero, N. Leps, A. Kondrat, G. Behr, J. Werner & B. Büchner

doi:10.1038/nmat2397

In non-conventional superconductors, it is usually found that superconductivity emerges in the vicinity of a critical point where antiferromagnetic order gradually disappears—corresponding to a second-order transition. Investigation of the newly discovered iron pnictide superconductors challenges this picture, showing an abrupt, first-order transition.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - The electronic phase diagram of the LaO1-xFxFeAs superconductor | PDF (2,242 KB) - The electronic phase diagram of the LaO1-xFxFeAs superconductor | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Superconductors

See also: News and Views by Uemura

Coexistence of static magnetism and superconductivity in SmFeAsO_1-xF_x as revealed by muon spin rotation - pp310 - 314

A. J. Drew, Ch. Niedermayer, P. J. Baker, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, T. Lancaster, R. H. Liu, G. Wu, X. H. Chen, I. Watanabe, V. K. Malik, A. Dubroka, M. Rössle, K. W. Kim, C. Baines & C. Bernhard

doi:10.1038/nmat2396

In non-conventional superconductors, the competition of magnetic order and superconductivity seems to be a key element for the origin of superconductivity. Investigation of the newly discovered iron-pnictides superconductors challenges this picture, showing a coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Coexistence of static magnetism and superconductivity in SmFeAsO1-xFx as revealed by muon spin rotation | PDF (1,936 KB) - Coexistence of static magnetism and superconductivity in SmFeAsO1-xFx as revealed by muon spin rotation | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Superconductors

See also: News and Views by Uemura

Giant superconductivity-induced modulation of the ferromagnetic magnetization in a cuprate–manganite superlattice - pp315 - 319

J. Hoppler, J. Stahn, Ch. Niedermayer, V. K. Malik, H. Bouyanfif, A. J. Drew, M. Rössle, A. Buzdin, G. Cristiani, H.-U. Habermeier, B. Keimer & C. Bernhard

doi:10.1038/nmat2383

Oxide heterostructures offer new functionality based on the interaction of order parameters across the heterostructure interfaces. In particular, it is now demonstrated that superconducting layers can induce giant modulations of magnetization in adjacent ferromagnetic layers.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Giant superconductivity-induced modulation of the ferromagnetic magnetization in a cuprate–manganite superlattice | PDF (10,408 KB) - Giant superconductivity-induced modulation of the ferromagnetic magnetization in a cuprate–manganite superlattice | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Magnetic materials | Superconductors

See also: News and Views by Takagai

High-energy cathode material for long-life and safe lithium batteries - pp320 - 324

Yang-Kook Sun, Seung-Taek Myung, Byung-Chun Park, Jai Prakash, Ilias Belharouak & Khalil Amine

doi:10.1038/nmat2418

Layered lithium nickel-rich oxides are attractive as cathodes for rechargeable lithium batteries. A concentration-gradient material based on manganese nickel cobalt oxide showing high capacity and thermal stability could prove advantageous for batteries used in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - High-energy cathode material for long-life and safe lithium batteries | PDF (5,369 KB) - High-energy cathode material for long-life and safe lithium batteries | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Materials for energy

Ternary Pt/Rh/SnO₂ electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to CO₂ - pp325 - 330

A. Kowal, M. Li, M. Shao, K. Sasaki, M. B. Vukmirovic, J. Zhang, N. S. Marinkovic, P. Liu, A. I. Frenkel & R. R. Adzic

doi:10.1038/nmat2359

The development of a direct ethanol fuel cell has been hampered by ethanol's inefficient and slow oxidation. A ternary electrocatalyst consisting of platinum and rhodium deposited on carbon-supported tin dioxide nanoparticles is now shown to oxidize ethanol to carbon dioxide with high efficiency by splitting C–C bonds at room temperature.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Ternary Pt/Rh/SnO2 electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to CO2 | PDF (2,477 KB) - Ternary Pt/Rh/SnO2 electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to CO2 | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Catalytic materials | Materials for energy | Nanoscale materials | Surface and thin films

Biodegradable luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles for in vivo applications - pp331 - 336

Ji-Ho Park, Luo Gu, Geoffrey von Maltzahn, Erkki Ruoslahti, Sangeeta N. Bhatia & Michael J. Sailor

doi:10.1038/nmat2398

Nanomaterials that can circulate in the body hold great potential to diagnose and treat disease, but suffer from problems such as toxicity. Porous silicon nanoparticles have now been engineered to concomitantly image tumours or organs within the body, deliver therapeutics and resorb in vivo into benign components that clear renally.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Biodegradable luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles for in vivo applications | PDF (1,422 KB) - Biodegradable luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles for in vivo applications | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Biomedical materials | Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials | Nanoscale materials | Porous materials

See also: News and Views by Lin

Hidden order in URu₂Si₂ originates from Fermi surface gapping induced by dynamic symmetry breaking - pp337 - 341

S. Elgazzar, J. Rusz, M. Amft, P. M. Oppeneer & J. A. Mydosh

doi:10.1038/nmat2395

What drives a phase transition in the heavy-fermion compound URu₂Si₂ is one of the major unsolved problems in condensed-matter physics. Numerical calculations now demonstrate how antiferromagnetic ordering leads to a symmetry breaking that alters the material's band structure and therefore its electronic properties.

Abstract - | Full Text - Hidden order in URu2Si2 originates from Fermi surface gapping induced by dynamic symmetry breaking | PDF (3,533 KB) - Hidden order in URu2Si2 originates from Fermi surface gapping induced by dynamic symmetry breaking | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Magnetic materials | Computation, modelling and theory

Ferroelectricity and polarity control in solid-state flip-flop supramolecular rotators - pp342 - 347

Tomoyuki Akutagawa, Hiroyuki Koshinaka, Daisuke Sato, Sadamu Takeda, Shin-Ichiro Noro, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Reiji Kumai, Yoshinori Tokura & Takayoshi Nakamura

doi:10.1038/nmat2377

Molecular rotors have seen considerable interest as functional molecules on surfaces or for applications as memory devices. However, it is now shown that molecular rotation may also be used to induce ferroelectricity in a molecule.

Abstract - | Full Text - Ferroelectricity and polarity control in solid-state flip-flop supramolecular rotators | PDF (833 KB) - Ferroelectricity and polarity control in solid-state flip-flop supramolecular rotators | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Molecular electronics

Cloning polymer single crystals through self-seeding - pp348 - 353

Jianjun Xu, Yu Ma, Wenbing Hu, Matthias Rehahn & Günter Reiter

doi:10.1038/nmat2405

Polymer crystals have a range of melting temperatures, therefore simultaneous melting and crystallization can take place. New crystals are seeded from some of the initial crystalline material, and as the orientation of the second-generation material is correlated with the starting crystal, orientated arrays of polymer crystals are produced.

Abstract - | Full Text - Cloning polymer single crystals through self-seeding | PDF (1,405 KB) - Cloning polymer single crystals through self-seeding

Subject Category: Polymers

Anisotropic self-assembly of spherical polymer-grafted nanoparticles - pp354 - 359

Pinar Akcora, Hongjun Liu, Sanat K. Kumar, Joseph Moll, Yu Li, Brian C. Benicewicz, Linda S. Schadler, Devrim Acehan, Athanassios Z. Panagiotopoulos, Victor Pryamitsyn, Venkat Ganesan, Jan Ilavsky, Pappanan Thiyagarajan, Ralph H. Colby & Jack F. Douglas

doi:10.1038/nmat2404

Anisotropic superstructures produced by the self-assembly of spherical nanoparticles are realized. Uniformly grafting polymer chains onto inorganic spherical nanoparticles produces particles with amphiphile-like behaviour. Mixing these with monodisperse polymer facilitates the self-assembly of numerous anisotropic nanocomposites.

Abstract - | Full Text - Anisotropic self-assembly of spherical polymer-grafted nanoparticles | PDF (979 KB) - Anisotropic self-assembly of spherical polymer-grafted nanoparticles | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanoscale materials | Computation, modelling and theory | Polymers

See also: News and Views by Li

Highly conductive 40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres - p359

Nunzio Tuccitto, Violetta Ferri, Marco Cavazzini, Silvio Quici, Genady Zhavnerko, Antonino Licciardello & Maria Anita Rampi

doi:10.1038/nmat2401

Full Text - Highly conductive 40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres | PDF (80 KB) - Highly conductive 40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres