Characterization and analytical techniques articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Probing inevitable defects in two- dimensional materials is challenging. Here, the authors tackle this issue by using tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) to obtain distinctly different Raman features of edge defects in atomically thin MoS2, and further probe their unique electronic properties as well as identify the armchair and zigzag edges.

    • Teng-Xiang Huang
    • , Xin Cong
    •  & Bin Ren

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Polar-faceted nanocrystals often have complex atomic surface configurations that are very difficult to characterize. Here, the authors are able to determine detailed structural information about the polar facets of ceria nanocubes by using 17O and 1H solid-state NMR spectroscopy, in combination with density functional theory calculations.

    • Junchao Chen
    • , Xin-Ping Wu
    •  & Luming Peng

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The shape and energy of frontier orbitals determine the reactivity of molecular systems. Combining orbital tomography based on photoelectron spectroscopy with electron diffraction and DFT, the authors investigate a complex multi-configurational adsorbate system revealing adsorptions geometries and hierarchy and geometry of molecular orbitals.

    • Pavel Kliuiev
    • , Giovanni Zamborlini
    •  & Luca Castiglioni

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Micro- and nanomechanical resonators play a crucial role in sensing applications. Here, the authors demonstrate electrically tunable modal coupling in capacitive microelectromechanical gyroscopic ring resonators that allows for improving the performance micro/nano-sensors relying on precise control of the degree of modal coupling.

    • Xin Zhou
    • , Chun Zhao
    •  & Ashwin A. Seshia

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Semiconductor nanowires are promising materials for miniaturized devices, but a thorough understanding of their growth mechanism is necessary for controlled synthesis. Here, the authors use in situ spectroscopy and microscopy to measure the composition of the catalyst droplet as a function of different growth parameters during Au-seeded GaAs nanowire growth.

    • Carina B. Maliakkal
    • , Daniel Jacobsson
    •  & Kimberly A. Dick

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Versatile methods that can predictably assemble nanocrystals into large, well-ordered superlattices are rare. Here, the authors develop such a method–evaporation-driven poor-solvent enrichment–and rigorously determine the effect of various experimental parameters on the size, morphology, and mesoscopic order of the superlattices, giving the approach high predictive power.

    • Zhong-Peng Lv
    • , Martin Kapuscinski
    •  & Lennart Bergström

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Graphene oxide sheets have been used as a model system to study how the mechanical properties of individual 2D building blocks scale to their bulk form. Here the authors show that the modulus of multilayer graphene oxide films can be enhanced if some of the sheets are weakened by introducing in-plane porosity.

    • Lily Mao
    • , Hun Park
    •  & Jiaxing Huang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Many ligand-binding assays still rely on signals that scale linearly with probe concentration. The authors present lasing detection probes with a dye-labelled virus as the gain medium to optically amplify the signal, which could enable much higher signals than for fluorescent quantification.

    • John E. Hales
    • , Guy Matmon
    •  & Gabriel Aeppli

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Electron diffraction can be used to determine nanocrystal structures, but is unsuitable for locating hydrogen atoms. Here the authors combine electron diffraction, solid-state NMR and first-principles calculations to resolve the crystal structures and hydrogen-bonding networks of L-histidine and cimetidine form B.

    • Candelaria Guzmán-Afonso
    • , You-lee Hong
    •  & Yusuke Nishiyama

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Currently, it is difficult to reach high momenta with narrow energy resolution via laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Here, Sie et al. develop a time-resolved XUV based ARPES setup which can access the first Brillouin zone of all materials with narrow energy resolution.

    • Edbert J. Sie
    • , Timm Rohwer
    •  & Nuh Gedik

  • Review Article
    | Open Access

    Memristor as the fourth basic element of electric circuits has drawn substantial attention for developing future computing technologies. Sun et al. report the progress and the challenges facing researchers on understanding memristive switching, and advocate continuous studies using a synergistic approach.

    • Wen Sun
    • , Bin Gao
    •  & Huaqiang Wu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    3D electron crystallography enables structure determination of submicron-sized crystals, but obtaining complete data is difficult due to preferred orientations. Here the authors develop sample supports that allow sampling nanocrystals with full data completeness, and demonstrate this with ZSM-5 zeolites.

    • Julian T. C. Wennmacher
    • , Christian Zaubitzer
    •  & Tim Gruene

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Here the authors probe a model electrolyte of a Li-ion battery for insights into the composition and concentration variation using ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy. The work highlights the necessity to stabilize the liquid phases and to differentiate surface and bulk compositions in the measurements.

    • Julia Maibach
    • , Ida Källquist
    •  & Maria Hahlin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ferroelectric fatigue degrades ferroelectric properties upon polarization cycling, but its underlying chemistry is poorly understood. Here, the authors show by multimodal chemical imaging that fatigue in PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 thin films is associated with Cu + ions migration from the electrode into the film structure.

    • Anton V. Ievlev
    • , Santosh KC
    •  & Olga S. Ovchinnikova

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The larger particulates from reactor Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have received sparse attention compared to the Unit 2 particulate. Here the authors perform the higher-resolution and 3-dimentional analysis of several high-density micron-scale fragments, from within a larger Unit 1-derived representative ejecta particle.

    • Peter G. Martin
    • , Marion Louvel
    •  & Thomas B. Scott

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The understanding of relaxor ferroelectrics is hindered by the complexity of nanoscale perturbations of their structure. Here, a data set of independent techniques treated on common footing provides a multiscale description of atomic order which reconciles conflicting models derived from single methods.

    • M. Eremenko
    • , V. Krayzman
    •  & I. Levin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Interfacial water plays a crucial role in mediating hydrophobic interactions. Here, the authors directly image the interfacial water organization in graphene, few-layer MoS2 and WSe2 through 3D-AFM technique to unveil that the distance between adjacent layers is about 0.30 nm larger than theoretically predicted values.

    • Manuel R. Uhlig
    • , Daniel Martin-Jimenez
    •  & Ricardo Garcia

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Much remains unresolved about the mechanisms of nanoparticle melting. Here, by observing and simulating individual gold nanoclusters at atomic level as they are heated inside an electron microscope, the authors find that the particle surface melts before the interior. Their experimental results in combination with the atomistic simulations confirm the coexistence of a liquid shell and solid core during melting, as well as size-dependent melting point suppression.

    • D. M. Foster
    • , Th. Pavloudis
    •  & R. E. Palmer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Entropic ligands can dramatically improve the solubility of nanocrystals, but it is not known how these mixed ligand systems actually arrange and interact on a particle surface. Here, the authors use advanced solid-state NMR techniques to understand the partitioning and dynamics of entropic mixed ligand shells on CdSe nanocrystals, and relate this molecular picture to the particles’ macroscopic solubility behavior.

    • Zhenfeng Pang
    • , Jun Zhang
    •  & Xiaogang Peng

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In vitro testing of implant materials bioactivity is important and the current methods take time. Here, the authors report on the development of a faster titration based method for assessing the mineralization activity of materials and validate the method in vitro and in vivo using titanium surfaces.

    • Weitian Zhao
    • , David Michalik
    •  & Paul Bowen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Semiconductor-core optical fibres are of interest for their non-linear optical and electro-optical properties. Here, GaSb/Si composite-core optical fibres were fabricated and a CO2 laser was used to facilitate controlled GaSb segregation within the silicon. This has implications for embedding light sources in IR-transmitting fibers

    • S. Song
    • , K. Lønsethagen
    •  & U. J. Gibson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Determining the spatial arrangement of molecules on a nanoparticle’s surface is key to understanding its interactions. Here, the authors use dSTORM imaging and probabilistic modelling to map the distribution of fluorophores on a nanoparticle, finding that ligand coverage is heterogeneous and highly variable between individual particles.

    • R. A. J. Post
    • , D. van der Zwaag
    •  & R. W. van der Hofstad

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is desirable to improve spatiotemporal control of light generated by synchrotron user facilities or table-top X-ray sources. Here the authors demonstrate manipulation of hard X-rays using microelectro mechanical systems (MEMS) oscillators on timescales of 300 ps, approaching the synchrotron pulse width.

    • Pice Chen
    • , Il Woong Jung
    •  & Jin Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Developing portable, disposable and cost-effective electronics for multifunctional sensing is desirable. Here, the authors present origami-based hierarchical electronics with time-space-resolved high-discriminative pattern recognition (TSR-HDPR) features for multifunctional detection of complex physical and chemical stimuli.

    • Min Zhang
    • , Jiaxing Jeccy Sun
    •  & Hossam Haick

  • Article
    | Open Access

    State‐of‐the‐art aerosol nanoparticle techniques are limited by the shortcomings of removing the nanoparticles from their original environment. Here, the authors apply small angle X‐ray scattering as an in‐situ measurement technique, enabling the measurement of the primary particles and the aggregates.

    • P. S. Bauer
    • , H. Amenitsch
    •  & P. M. Winkler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Chemiluminescence is known in solution, but has remained undetected in macroscopic crystalline solids so far. Here the authors demonstrate direct transduction of heat into light by thermochemiluminescence in a centimeter-size lophine hydroperoxide crystal.

    • Stefan Schramm
    • , Durga Prasad Karothu
    •  & Panče Naumov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Experimental structural insight into hydration shells around nanoparticles is challenging. Here the authors use X-ray scattering and pair distribution function analysis to reveal interatomic distances in the very first adsorbed water layer as well as extended restructured layers out to 15 Å, with a bulk-like signature.

    • Sabrina L. J. Thomä
    • , Sebastian W. Krauss
    •  & Mirijam Zobel

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The residual strains in the mixed halide perovskite thin films and their effects on the solar cell devices are less understood. Here Zhu et al. study the impact of the gradient in-plane strain on the carrier dynamics of the strained perovskite films and optimize the device efficiency.

    • Cheng Zhu
    • , Xiuxiu Niu
    •  & Qi Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vertical charge transport through homogeneous WSe2 layers can be effectively tuned by the layer number and contacting metals deposited. Here, the authors report WSe2 vertical diodes with superior device performance characteristics based on variable WSe2 thickness and gadolinium and platinum contact metals.

    • Ghazanfar Nazir
    • , Hakseong Kim
    •  & Suyong Jung

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Alignment and orientation of the molecules allows studying the photon-molecule interactions in greater detail. Here the authors demonstrate the three-dimensional orientation of SO2 molecules in using COLTRIMS and orthogonally polarized laser pulses but in the absence of DC field.

    • Kang Lin
    • , Ilia Tutunnikov
    •  & Jian Wu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The rare noble gas isotope 39Ar is the ideal tracer to investigate the ventilation of the deep ocean in the time range of 50 to 1000 years. Here the authors constrain transit time distributions in the eastern Tropical Atlantic with 39Ar-measurements done on a sample size of 5 L of water utilising modern atom-optical techniques.

    • Sven Ebser
    • , Arne Kersting
    •  & Markus K. Oberthaler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nanoparticles are often used as nanothermometers by measuring their luminescence from upconverted energy under illumination. The authors uncover the artificial appearance of a temperature rise at high excitation intensities due to effects involving higher energy states.

    • Andrea D. Pickel
    • , Ayelet Teitelboim
    •  & Chris Dames

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Characterization of nanoparticles is a complex and important problem for the vast number of applications that require them. Here, the authors present a method to uncover the two-dimensional distribution of length and diameter of anisotropic nanoparticles like gold nanorods with a single measurement by combining spectroscopic and sedimentation data.

    • Simon E. Wawra
    • , Lukas Pflug
    •  & Wolfgang Peukert

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Carbonate-based electrolytes can impart advantages in lithium sulfur batteries, but performance is often limited by incompatibility with sulfur-based cathodes. Here the authors elucidate a mechanism for conversion of sulfur to lithium sulfide and demonstrate improved performance in a Li-S cell.

    • Xia Li
    • , Mohammad Banis
    •  & Xueliang Sun

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Determining the arrangement of ligands on a nanoparticle is challenging, given the limitations of existing characterization tools. Here, the authors describe an accessible method for resolving ligand shell morphology that uses simple MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry measurements in conjunction with an open-access Monte Carlo fitting program.

    • Zhi Luo
    • , Yanfei Zhao
    •  & Francesco Stellacci

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Fourier transform spectrometers are generally limited to slow scanning rates at high resolution. Here the authors demonstrate highly efficient Fourier transform spectroscopy using a dynamic phase-control technique that enables fast acquisition without compromising bandwidth or resolution.

    • Kazuki Hashimoto
    •  & Takuro Ideguchi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Enabling concurrent, high throughput analysis of single nano particles would greatly increase the capacity to study size, composition and inter and intra particle population variance. Here, the authors present a comprehensive platform for single particle automated Raman trapping analysis without any target modification.

    • Jelle Penders
    • , Isaac J. Pence
    •  & Molly M. Stevens

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Characterizing plasmonic coupling has proven elusive. Here, the authors obtain a spectrally resolved deflection map related to a focused electron beam, which has excited a surface plasmon resonance, and relate this deflection to the spectral component of the induced electric and magnetic fields pertaining to the mode.

    • J. Krehl
    • , G. Guzzinati
    •  & A. Lubk

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