Nanoscience and technology articles from across Nature Portfolio

A technique called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy can detect tiny quantities of compounds in solution, but has been difficult to use for quantitative analysis. A digital approach involving nanoparticles suggests a way forward.

Metal vacancies capable of generating magnetism can be created in 2D semiconductors by atomic-scale etching induced by electron-beam irradiation.

An innovative solid-state lithiation strategy allows the exfoliation of layered transition-metal tellurides into nanosheets in an unprecedentedly short time, without sacrificing their quality. The observation of physical phenomena typically seen in highly crystalline TMT nanosheets opens the way to their use in applications such as batteries and micro-supercapacitors.

The structure of a commercially important glass-ceramic ZrO₂-doped lithium aluminosilicate system during its initial nucleation stage was investigated by an X-ray multiscale analysis which enables us to observe the structure from the atomic to the nanometer scale by using diffraction, small-angle scattering, absorption, and anomalous scattering techniques. The combinatorial approach revealed that the formation of edge sharing between the ZrO_x polyhedra and (Si/Al)O₄ tetrahedra, and that the Zr-centric periodic structure in which the local structure of the Zr⁴⁺ ions resembled a cubic or tetragonal ZrO₂ crystalline phase was potentially the initial crystal nucleus for the Zr-doped lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic.

An efficient way of realising a large number of telecom single-photon emitters for quantum communication is still missing. Here, the authors use a wide-field imaging technique for fast localization of single InAs/InP quantum dots, which are then integrated into circular Bragg grating cavities featuring high single-photon purity and indistinguishability.

Pathogenic gut microbiota is responsible for a few debilitating gastrointestinal Diseases. Here, the authors develop a wireless mechanoelectronic device designed to manufacture of functional vesicles in vivo to regulate microbiome.

Oscillating neural networks promise ultralow power consumption and rapid computation for tackling complex optimization problems. Here, the authors demonstrate VO₂ oscillators to solve NP-complete problems with projected power consumption of 13 µW/oscillator.

A technique called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy can detect tiny quantities of compounds in solution, but has been difficult to use for quantitative analysis. A digital approach involving nanoparticles suggests a way forward.

Metal vacancies capable of generating magnetism can be created in 2D semiconductors by atomic-scale etching induced by electron-beam irradiation.

An innovative solid-state lithiation strategy allows the exfoliation of layered transition-metal tellurides into nanosheets in an unprecedentedly short time, without sacrificing their quality. The observation of physical phenomena typically seen in highly crystalline TMT nanosheets opens the way to their use in applications such as batteries and micro-supercapacitors.

A double-blind, randomized, controlled human exposure trial of highly purified and thin nanometre-sized graphene oxide nanosheets shows that acute inhalation of aerosolized nanoparticles is not associated with harmful effects in healthy humans.

A flexible, biodegradable and self-powered electronic bandage is designed to deliver dual-mode electrical stimulation, which can synergistically accelerate local intestinal wound healing. This approach also shows promise for reducing postoperative complications and could have broad potential for application in other tissues and organs.

An optical fibre-fed superconducting electro-optic modulator with gigahertz bandwidth and attojoule per bit electric power consumption offers a fast, efficient means to connect superconducting circuits to the room temperature environment.