Design, synthesis and processing articles within Nature Chemistry

Featured

  • Perspective |

    Although the molecular formula gives valuable information on the properties of isolated molecules or conjugated polymers, it fails to accurately predict their collective behaviour in the solid state. This Perspective highlights the importance of organization across multiple length scales on the optical and electronic properties of organic semiconductors, and how device performances poorly reflect the capabilities of a given material.

    • Zachary B. Henson
    • , Klaus Müllen
    •  & Guillermo C. Bazan

  • Research Highlights |

    Single crystals of chromium silicide have been prepared that grow into highly crystalline nanowebs.

    • Anne Pichon

  • Article |

    Biological rotary motors can alter their mechanical function by changing the direction of rotary motion. Now, researchers have designed a synthetic light-driven rotary motor in which the direction of rotation can be reversed on command by changing the chirality of the molecular motor through base-induced epimerization.

    • Nopporn Ruangsupapichat
    • , Michael M. Pollard
    •  & Ben L. Feringa

  • Article |

    Although ultrasonic vibrations are known to be capable of aligning macromolecules in solution, the question of whether audible sound — which has much lower frequencies — can have such an effect is somewhat controversial. Now, however, it has been shown that supramolecular nanofibres can be preferentially aligned parallel to the propagation direction of audible sound.

    • Akihiko Tsuda
    • , Yuka Nagamine
    •  & Takuzo Aida

  • Article |

    Efficient conduction of protons on a micrometre scale is critical for the development of fuel cell membranes — a key component of clean energy sources. Now, self-assembling amphiphilic polymers have been shown to provide a nanoscale organization of proton-conducting functionalities that dramatically increases anhydrous proton conductivity.

    • Yangbin Chen
    • , Michael Thorn
    •  & S. Thayumanavan

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