Nanoscale materials articles within Communications Materials

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• Article
  28 May 2024 | Open Access

  Anisotropic charge transport at the metallic edge contact of ReS₂ field effect transistors

  In-plane anisotropy of electrical conductance in 2D materials is an important element in engineering 2D devices. Here, the charge transport anisotropy at the metal contacts of hBN-encapsulated ReS₂ field-effect transistors is investigated, revealing a substantial contact anisotropy ratio of up to 70 at 77 K.

  • Hyokwang Park
  • , Myeongjin Lee
  •  & Won Jong Yoo

• Article
  25 May 2024 | Open Access

  Mastering thermal transport across carbon nanotube contacts through morphological control

  Thermally conductive nanomaterials are promising for applications in thermal management. Here, morphological control of the van der Waals contact between carbon nanotubes, by adjustment of contact positions, overlapping length, and crossing angles, allows the authors to elucidate the interfacial thermal transport and optimize heat flow at the nanoscale.

  • Dawei Li
  • , Koji Takahashi
  •  & Qin-Yi Li

• Article
  30 April 2024 | Open Access

  Superlattice assembly strategy of small noble metal nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

  Self-assembly of small nanoparticles is difficult to control and the resultant structures have weak stability. Here, a general centimeter-scale superlattice assembly strategy for noble metal nanoparticles of less than 15 nm is used to yield stable hexagonal close-packed monolayers.

  • Chang Yao
  • , Wuwen Yan
  •  & Liangbao Yang

• Article
  24 April 2024 | Open Access

  Narrow bandgap silver mercury telluride alloy semiconductor nanocrystal for self-powered midwavelength-infrared photodiode

  Infrared colloidal quantum dots are interesting due to their low-cost fabrication and wavelength tunability for optoelectronic applications. Here, air-stable low-noise mid-infrared photodiode devices are fabricated using hole-doped Ag-HgTe nanocrystals.

  • Haemin Song
  • , So Young Eom
  •  & Kwang Seob Jeong

• Article
  16 April 2024 | Open Access

  Isolated flat band in artificially designed Lieb lattice based on macrocycle supramolecular crystal

  Isolated flat bands can host strongly correlated electronic phases due to the enhancement of the Coulomb interaction. Here, an isolated flat band is realized and visualized in a 2D supramolecular crystal based on self-assembled square-shaped macrocycle molecules on Ag(111) surface arranged in a Lieb lattice.

  • Cheng-Yi Chen
  • , En Li
  •  & Nian Lin

• Article
  15 April 2024 | Open Access

  Transistors with ferroelectric Zr_XAl_1−XO_Y crystallized by ZnO growth for multi-level memory and neuromorphic computing

  Ferroelectric field-effect transistors are interesting for their non-destructive readout characteristic and energy efficiency but are difficult to integrate on silicon platforms. Here, ferroelectricity in Zr_XAl_1−XO_Y generated by compressive strain in contact with ZnO is demonstrated, showing promising multi-level memory and synaptic weight performance for neuromorphic computing devices.

  • Md Mobaidul Islam
  • , Arqum Ali
  •  & Jin Jang

• Article
  28 March 2024 | Open Access

  Local tuning of Rydberg exciton energies in nanofabricated Cu₂O pillars

  Rydberg excitons in cuprous oxide feature giant optical nonlinearities that may be exploited in quantum applications if suitably confined. Here, the authors show how exciton confinement can be realised by focused-ion-beam etching of Cu2O crystals without noticeable degradation of excitonic properties.

  • Anindya Sundar Paul
  • , Sai Kiran Rajendran
  •  & Hamid Ohadi

• Article
  19 March 2024 | Open Access

  Visualizing thickness-dependent magnetic textures in few-layer Cr₂Ge₂Te₆

  Magnetic ordering in 2D materials represents a promising platform for data storage, computing, and sensing. Here, nanometer scale imaging of few-layer Cr₂Ge₂Te₆ reveals its thickness-dependent magnetic textures such as labyrinth domains and skyrmionic bubbles.

  • Andriani Vervelaki
  • , Kousik Bagani
  •  & Martino Poggio

• Article
  16 March 2024 | Open Access

  Locally controlled MOF growth on functionalized carbon nanotubes

  Metal-organic frameworks are versatile materials but typically suffer from poor electrical conductivity. Here, a patterning technique allows controlled metal-organic framework growth on predefined areas of functionalized carbon nanotube for increased conductivity.

  • Marvin J. Dzinnik
  • , Necmettin E. Akmaz
  •  & Rolf J. Haug

• Article
  11 March 2024 | Open Access

  Continuous iron spreading on carbon-shell composite nanotubes for electromagnetic wave absorption

  The high aspect ratio of nanotubes makes them effective for electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. Here, a carbon shell is synthesized on the surface of iron-based nanotubes, achieving a composite with electromagnetic properties and impedance that are suitable for electromagnetic shielding.

  • Yuanyuan Zhang
  • , Yining Li
  •  & Jiantang Jiang

• Article
  28 February 2024 | Open Access

  Complex chemistry of carbon nanotubes toward efficient and stable p-type doping

  Doped carbon nanotubes are essential for molecular electronic and energy devices. Here, protonic acids and lithium salts are employed as hole dopants and stabilizers, respectively, to induce thermally stable p-doped states in carbon nanotubes.

  • Kaho Kawasaki
  • , Ikuyo Harada
  •  & Kenji Ishida

• Article
  22 February 2024 | Open Access

  Three-dimensional distribution of individual atoms in the channels of beryl

  Single atom detection in nanoporous materials is challenging due to their sensitivity to electron irradiation. Here, the three-dimensional atomic occupancy of natural beryl is quantitatively analysed using high-angle annular dark-field imaging in a scanning transmission electron microscope and statistical analysis.

  • Daniel Knez
  • , Christian Gspan
  •  & Ferdinand Hofer

• Article
  25 January 2024 | Open Access

  Transient co-tuning of atomic Fe and nanoparticle facets for self-relaying Fenton-like catalysis

  Fenton-like catalysts are used for degrading refractory organic pollutants but the synthesis of dual active sites is difficult to control. Here, carbon-assisted flash Joule heating synthesis results in a structure with single atoms and high-index facets for antibiotic and medical micropollutant removal from water.

  • Jiewen Luo
  • , Xiangdong Zhu
  •  & Fengchang Wu

• Article
  05 January 2024 | Open Access

  Nano-assembled open quantum dot nanotube devices

  Suspended carbon nanotubes are ideal for hosting long-lived quantum states but mechanically integrating nanotubes into circuits is challenging. Here, by engineering a transparent metal-nanotube interface, the authors can reach the open quantum dot regime and integrate the nanotube within the circuit with a 200 nm precision.

  • Tim Althuon
  • , Tino Cubaynes
  •  & Wolfgang Wernsdorfer

• Article
  03 January 2024 | Open Access

  Unlocking the potential of ordinary Portland cement with hydration control additive enabling low-carbon building materials

  Ordinary Portland cement is a commonly used construction material but contributes to high carbon emissions. Here, a hydration control additive can modify the kinetics of ordinary Portland cement to increase its strength, potentially reducing the amount of cement needed.

  • Xuerun Li
  • , Harald Grassl
  •  & Joachim Dengler

• Article
  14 December 2023 | Open Access

  Unidirectional alignment and orientation pinning mechanism of h-BN nucleation on Ir(111) via reactive probe atomic force microscopy

  The epitaxial growth of large-scale single-crystalline 2D materials requires precise control over crystallographic orientation and morphology during the initial stages of nucleation. Here, noncontact atomic force microscopy and density functional theory provide atomic-scale mechanistic insights into the nucleation of hexagonal boron nitride on Ir(111).

  • Jinliang Pan
  • , Tongwei Wu
  •  & Xiaohui Qiu

• Article
  16 November 2023 | Open Access

  Anticounterfeiting tags based on randomly oriented MoS_x clusters enabled by capillary and Marangoni flow

  There is an ongoing need for new anticounterfeiting technologies. Here, the combined effects of capillary and Marangoni flow create randomly oriented MoS_x clusters on a surface, which are used as anticounterfeiting tags.

  • Changgyun Moon
  • , Pavan Pujar
  •  & Sunkook Kim

• Article
  07 November 2023 | Open Access

  Hybrid microstructure of smectite clay gels revealed using neutron and synchrotron X-ray scattering

  The nematic sol-gel transition microstructure of swelling clays is not well understood. Here, the microstructure of a smectite clay suspension is probed with ultra-small angle neutron/X-ray scattering, uncovering the structural order of these nematic gels.

  • Mohammad Shoaib
  • , Shaihroz Khan
  •  & Erin R. Bobicki

• Article
  30 October 2023 | Open Access

  Interfacial interaction promoted titanium oxide-based organic-inorganic nanoheterojunctions by chiral host-guest binding

  Achieving close contact between organic and inorganic components in nanostructures is critical for performance. Here, the interfacial interaction in titanium oxide-based organic-inorganic nanoheterojunctions is promoted by host-guest interactions, which are obtained through chiral recognition.

  • Juexin Huang
  • , Jingyi Xia
  •  & Chuanliang Feng

• Article
  18 October 2023 | Open Access

  Stress–strain relationships and yielding of metal-organic framework monoliths

  Mechanical characterizations of metal-organic framework monoliths are often overlooked. Here, the stress-strain behaviour of ZIF-8 and MIL-68 monoliths was investigated with flat punch nanoindentation, micropillar compression and Raman microspectroscopy.

  • Michele Tricarico
  • , Cyril Besnard
  •  & Jin-Chong Tan

• Article
  11 October 2023 | Open Access

  Design and evaluation of multi-core raspberry-like platinum nanoparticles for enhanced photothermal treatment

  Platinum nanoparticles are promising candidates for enhancing radiotherapy sensitivity. Here, platinum-based nanomaterials with a multi-core structure show efficient near-infrared photothermal treatment on glioblastoma tumoroids with good biostability.

  • Erwann Guénin
  • , Alexandre Fromain
  •  & Claire Wilhelm

• Article
  27 September 2023 | Open Access

  Enhancing hydrogel toughness by uniform cross-linking using modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

  Macro cross-linkers are used to develop tough hydrogels but their uneven cross-linking and resultant hydrogel inhomogeneity restrict improvement. Here, uniform cross-linking is achieved using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-grafted acrylated polyethylene glycol to enhance hydrogel toughness.

  • Sirawit Pruksawan
  • , Jeremy Weixiong Reuben Lim
  •  & FuKe Wang

• Article
  05 September 2023 | Open Access

  MXene-reduced graphene oxide sponge-based solar evaporators with integrated water-thermal management by anisotropic design

  Water-thermal management is difficult to coordinate in solar evaporators, limiting their performance. Here, hierarchical MXene-reduced graphene oxide sponges with anisotropic thermal conductivity and axial-directional channels integrate water-thermal management for rapid and continuous evaporation.

  • Zonglin Liu
  • , Renjie Ding
  •  & Xiaodong He

• Article
  15 August 2023 | Open Access

  Imaging Fermi-level hysteresis in nanoscale bubbles of few-layer MoS₂

  Nanobubbles are sources of charge trapping that influence the performance and stability of devices based on 2D materials. Here, Kelvin probe force microscopy is used to study the origin and mechanism of charge trapping in nanobubbles of MoS₂ on a SiO₂ substrate.

  • Dohyeon Jeon
  • , Haesol Kim
  •  & Taekyeong Kim

• Article
  04 August 2023 | Open Access

  Magnetic super-structure and active surface role in the onset of magnetic excitons revealed in TbCu₂ nanoparticles

  Antiferromagnetic materials are receiving renewed interest for their potential use in spintronics and information technology. Here, neutron scattering experiments reveal that TbCu₂, a collinear antiferromagnet, can host spiral-like magnetic superstructures both in bulk form and small nanoparticle ensembles.

  • Elizabeth M. Jefremovas
  • , María de la Fuente Rodríguez
  •  & Luis Fernández Barquín

• Article
  04 August 2023 | Open Access

  Impact of exposing lithium metal to monocrystalline vertical silicon nanowires for lithium-ion microbatteries

  Lithiation and de-lithiation of lithium-ion microbatteries pose a challenge for adoption due to their extreme volume change and active lithium loss. Here, the surface morphologies of a monocrystalline vertical silicon nanowire-based lithium microbattery were investigated against performance.

  • Andam Deatama Refino
  • , Egy Adhitama
  •  & Hutomo Suryo Wasisto

• Article
  18 July 2023 | Open Access

  Blue light emitting piezoelectric few-layered borophene nanosheets for flexible nanogenerators

  Borophene has unusual anisotropic characteristics which give it potential use in piezoelectric applications. Here, we synthesized few layered borophene and explored their properties in piezoelectric nanogenerator devices.

  • Charu Sharma
  • , Manoj Kumar Gupta
  •  & N. Sathish

• Article
  13 July 2023 | Open Access

  Pre-ceramic polymer-assisted nucleation and growth of copper sulfide nanoplates

  It is difficult to control nanoparticle dispersion and size in preceramic polymer composites which require additional processing. Here, a pre-ceramic polymer assists in stable nanoparticle formation and serves as a surface graft for controlled dispersion in a one-pot copper sulfide synthesis.

  • Patricia A. Loughney
  • , Kara L. Martin
  •  & Vicky Doan-Nguyen

• Article
  25 April 2023 | Open Access

  Quantization condition of strongly correlated electrons in oxide nanostructures

  Quantized states in strongly correlated oxide nanostructures are crucial for designing quantum devices in future electronics. Here, in situ ARPES measurements in SrTi_1–xV_xO₃ reveal that the electron mean free path is a key parameter for controlling and designing quantized states in these structures.

  • Tatsuhiko Kanda
  • , Daisuke Shiga
  •  & Hiroshi Kumigashira

• Article
  08 March 2023 | Open Access

  Structural and optical properties of gold nanosponges revealed via 3D nano-reconstruction and phase-field models

  Accurate predictions of nanosponge properties are challenging as it requires detailed knowledge of their chaotic structure. Here, a procedure for their accurate 3D reconstruction is presented using focused ion beam tomography with simulations to create models with adjustable geometric properties.

  • Malte Grunert
  • , Sebastian Bohm
  •  & Peter Schaaf

• Article
  06 March 2023 | Open Access

  Prolonged photostability in hexagonal boron nitride quantum emitters

  Hexagonal boron nitride is a promising host for single-photon quantum emitters, but irreversible loss of emission by photobleaching hinders its practical use. Here, the mechanistic investigation of hBN emitters reveals two distinct photobleaching lifetimes, suggesting a way to mitigate the shorter, environmentally sensitive, bleaching process.

  • Sylvia Xin Li
  • , Takeo Ichihara
  •  & Michael S. Strano

• Article
  07 February 2023 | Open Access

  Origin of electrically induced defects in monolayer MoS₂ grown by chemical vapor deposition

  Defects are detrimental to the performance of MoS₂ field-effect transistors. Here, the origin of defects from prolonged high-field operation is attributed to long-term electrical stress in the transistor ON state, which weakens the Mo-S bonds of the original crystal.

  • Ansh Ansh
  • , Utpreksh Patbhaje
  •  & Mayank Shrivastava

• Article
  26 January 2023 | Open Access

  High-speed hybrid complementary ring oscillators based on solution-processed organic and amorphous metal oxide semiconductors

  Solution-processable organic thin-film transistors are needed for device applications. Here, solution-processed organic semiconductors and amorphous metal oxide semiconductors are integrated into a transistor, with five-stage complementary ring oscillators demonstrated.

  • Xiaozhu Wei
  • , Shohei Kumagai
  •  & Jun Takeya

• Article
  16 January 2023 | Open Access

  Influence of point defects and multiscale pores on the different phonon transport regimes

  Structural features control the thermal conductivity of a material by modulating phonon scattering. Here, simulations and theory reveal the effect that atomic-scale defects and pores have on the crossover of thermal transport regimes in graphene.

  • Han Wei
  • , Yue Hu
  •  & Hua Bao

• Article
  05 January 2023 | Open Access

  Effective medium theory for the low-temperature heat capacity of a metasolid plate

  Modeling artificial nanostructures in terms of effective materials parameters is important for gaining physical insight into their behavior and facilitating their optimization. Here, an analytical effective medium theory for the heat capacity of holey phononic crystals is derived, revealing the effect of the emergent anisotropic elastic response of the metasolid.

  • Tuomas A. Puurtinen
  •  & Ilari J. Maasilta

• Article
  13 December 2022 | Open Access

  Order−disorder interfaces in a graphitic carbon nitride-nanoclay composite for improved photodynamic antibiotics

  Photodynamic antibiotics are attractive for treating bacterial and fungal infections. Here, polar interactions between graphitic carbon nitride and a nanoclay enhance light absorption and singlet oxygen yield, leading to improved wound healing in a rat model.

  • Dongyue Wang
  • , Qihang Zhao
  •  & Huaming Yang

• Article
  12 November 2022 | Open Access

  Point-defect avalanches mediate grain boundary diffusion

  Grain boundary self-diffusion mechanisms are not well understood, especially at intermediate temperatures most relevant to engineering applications. Here, molecular dynamics simulations at intermediate temperatures reveal strongly intermittent grain boundary diffusion behavior and finite size effects arising from thermally activated point defect avalanches

  • Ian Chesser
  •  & Yuri Mishin

• Article
  10 November 2022 | Open Access

  Qubits based on merons in magnetic nanodisks

  Merons are spin textures with a half-unit topological charge found in chiral magnetic materials. Here, the authors show that merons with nanometer-scale size are stable and can be used to perform quantum computing gate operations by applying a magnetic field or spin-polarized current.

  • Jing Xia
  • , Xichao Zhang
  •  & Motohiko Ezawa

• Article
  09 November 2022 | Open Access

  Machine-learning for designing nanoarchitectured materials by dealloying

  Nanoporous metals produced by metal agent dealloying are attractive for multiple applications. Here, a machine learning-augmented framework is reported for predicting, synthesizing and characterizing ternary systems for dealloying.

  • Chonghang Zhao
  • , Cheng-Chu Chung
  •  & Yu-chen Karen Chen-Wiegart

• Article
  17 October 2022 | Open Access

  Non-wetting of condensation-induced droplets on smooth monolayer suspended graphene with contact angle approaching 180 degrees

  Superhydrophobic behavior of liquid droplets on a surface typically results from chemical and surface topography considerations. Here, contact angles approaching 180° are observed for condensation-induced droplets on suspended monolayer graphene.

  • Haidong Wang
  • , Daniel Orejon
  •  & Khellil Sefiane

• Article
  30 August 2022 | Open Access

  Electrokinetic Janus micromotors moving on topographically flat chemical patterns

  Ionic selectivity in microfluidics is challenging due to the differing length scales between ions and channels. Here, a model system emulates ionic transport at the microscale with electrokinetic spherical Janus micromotors moving over surfaces with spatially varying charge.

  • Tao Huang
  • , Vyacheslav Misko
  •  & Larysa Baraban

• Article
  25 August 2022 | Open Access

  Disentangling the electronic structure of an adsorbed graphene nanoring by scanning tunneling microscopy

  Scanning tunneling microscopy is a powerful tool for determining the electronic structure of surface adsorbates. Here, carbon monoxide functionalized tips enable more accurate probing of the molecular states of graphene nanorings adsorbed on a gold surface.

  • Jose Martinez-Castro
  • , Rustem Bolat
  •  & F. Stefan Tautz

• Article
  08 July 2022 | Open Access

  Optimizing vortex pinning in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x superconducting films up to high magnetic fields

  Optimizing the microstructure of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x coated conductors across the magnetic field–temperature phase diagram is important for strengthening vortex pinning and thereby enhancing the critical current. Here, a systematic microstructural investigation identifies the most relevant vortex pinning contributions in a broad range of temperatures and magnetic fields.

  • Ferran Vallès
  • , Anna Palau
  •  & Teresa Puig

• Article
  21 June 2022 | Open Access

  Tracking the evolution of materials and interfaces in perovskite solar cells under an electric field

  Stable performance is a key requirement for solar cell devices. Here, spectroscopy combined with depth profiling reveals I₂ and PbI₂ are distributed evenly in a perovskite solar cell under an electric field, while the electric field itself promotes chemical heterogeneity and device degradation.

  • Juntao Hu
  • , Peng Chen
  •  & Zheng-Hong Lu

• Article
  17 June 2022 | Open Access

  Three-dimensional in situ imaging of single-grain growth in polycrystalline In₂O₃:Zr films

  Understanding grain morphology and kinetics of solid-phase crystallization is important for controlling the functional properties of polycrystalline materials. Here, in situ coherent X-ray diffraction imaging and transmission electron microscopy elucidate quantitatively the kinetics of a single-grain growth in Zr-doped In₂O₃ films.

  • Dmitry Dzhigaev
  • , Yury Smirnov
  •  & Michael Elias Stuckelberger

• Article
  04 May 2022 | Open Access

  Experimentally measuring weak fracture toughness anisotropy in graphene

  Graphene is known to display a number of attractive mechanical properties. Here, anisotropy in the fracture toughness of graphene is investigated by in-situ mechanical testing, revealing weak anisotropy between armchair and zigzag directions.

  • Shizhe Feng
  • , Ke Cao
  •  & Zhiping Xu

• Article
  03 May 2022 | Open Access

  Ferrofluidic aqueous two-phase system with ultralow interfacial tension and micro-pattern formation

  Ferrofluids are magnetic liquids interesting for the periodic patterns they form in external magnetic fields. Here, an aqueous two-phase system based on polyethylene glycol and dextran achieves an ultralow interfacial tension of ~ 1 μN m⁻¹, resulting in micro-patterns with periodicities of ~ 200 μm.

  • Carlo Rigoni
  • , Grégory Beaune
  •  & Jaakko V. I. Timonen

• Article
  20 April 2022 | Open Access

  Kinetics and energetics of metal halide perovskite conversion reactions at the nanoscale

  Metal halide to perovskite phase conversion is a facile approach for synthesizing high-quality perovskite semiconductors for optoelectronic applications. Here, these reactions are investigated at the nanoscale via in-situ x-ray scattering, revealing links between reaction kinetics, structure and composition.

  • Neha Arora
  • , Alessandro Greco
  •  & M. Ibrahim Dar

• Article
  19 April 2022 | Open Access

  Identifying chemically similar multiphase nanoprecipitates in compositionally complex non-equilibrium oxides via machine learning

  Characterizing fission products in uranium dioxide nuclear fuel is important for predicting its long-term properties. Here, machine learning is used to mine microscopy images of precipitates and nanoscale gas bubbles in high-burn-up fuels, providing detailed structural insight of nanoscale fission products.

  • Keyou S. Mao
  • , Tyler J. Gerczak
  •  & Philip D. Edmondson

• Article
  12 April 2022 | Open Access

  Proximity-induced superconductivity in (Bi_1−xSb_x)₂Te₃ topological-insulator nanowires

  Topological insulator nanowires are interesting because, in the presence of superconductivity, they may host elusive Majorana fermions. Here, superconductivity in (Bi_1−xSb_x)₂Te₃ topological-insulator nanowires is realized by using palladium diffusion, providing a tunable platform for Majorana zero modes.

  • Mengmeng Bai
  • , Xian-Kui Wei
  •  & Yoichi Ando