Featured
-
-
Article |
A strain-absorbing design for tissue–machine interfaces using a tunable adhesive gel
Biocompatibility is a limiting factor in the use of electronic sensors in physiological applications. Here, the authors present a flexible and conductive polymer gel as an adhesive interface material for electronic biosensors, also demonstrating in vivoheart attachment and monitoring.
- Sungwon Lee
- , Yusuke Inoue
- & Takao Someya
-
Article |
Bottom-up formation of endohedral mono-metallofullerenes is directed by charge transfer
An understanding of the formation mechanism of endohedral metallofullerenes may pave the way towards targeted synthesis of these nanomaterials. Here, the authors investigate their bottom-up synthesis and determine that charge transfer plays a key role in their formation.
- Paul W. Dunk
- , Marc Mulet-Gas
- & Harold W. Kroto
-
Article |
High electron mobility in thin films formed via supersonic impact deposition of nanocrystals synthesized in nonthermal plasmas
Surface defects in nanomaterials can trap electrons and thereby limit the performance of electronic devices. Thimsen et al. show that the conductivity of films comprising ZnO nanocrystals can be increased by coating with Al2O3.
- Elijah Thimsen
- , Melissa Johnson
- & Eray S. Aydil
-
Article |
Coherent two-dimensional photocurrent spectroscopy in a PbS quantum dot photocell
Two-dimensional photocurrent spectroscopy can identify coherent electronic dynamics and offers promise for studies of numerous material systems. Karki et al. now show that the method can be used to study ultrafast carrier processes in lead sulphide quantum dots, such as multiple exciton generation.
- Khadga J. Karki
- , Julia R. Widom
- & Andrew H. Marcus
-
Article |
Enabling complex nanoscale pattern customization using directed self-assembly
Block copolymers are frequently used as self-assembling materials for nanoscale patterns, but controlling assembly for complex patterning is challenging. Here, the authors integrate masking features into organic–inorganic guide patterns, enabling precise pattern customization by directed self-assembly.
- Gregory S. Doerk
- , Joy Y. Cheng
- & Daniel P. Sanders
-
Article |
Ultralight nanofibre-assembled cellular aerogels with superelasticity and multifunctionality
Materials with ultra-low densities can display a range of useful properties, ranging from compressibility to sound absorption. Here, the authors report the fabrication of ultra-lightweight materials by the assembly of electrospun nanofibres into an aerogel and examine the mechanical properties.
- Yang Si
- , Jianyong Yu
- & Bin Ding
-
Article |
Steric engineering of metal-halide perovskites with tunable optical band gaps
The performance of solar cells based on metal-halide perovskites has improved rapidly in recent years. First principles calculations and experiments performed by Filip et al.suggest new routes to controlling the band gap of these materials, which could enable further improvements in their performance.
- Marina R. Filip
- , Giles E. Eperon
- & Feliciano Giustino
-
Article
| Open AccessAtomic electric fields revealed by a quantum mechanical approach to electron picodiffraction
Advances in electron microscopy are enabling ever smaller features to be probed, with the measurement of atomic electric fields standing as a major challenge. Towards that aim, Müller et al.present a simplified theoretical approach for enhancing the resolution in differential phase contrast microscopy.
- Knut Müller
- , Florian F. Krause
- & Andreas Rosenauer
-
Article |
Nanoscale infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive probe of extraterrestrial samples
Infrared spectral mapping offers the non-destructive analyses of samples; however, the spatial resolution is restricted to >10 microns. Here, the authors present a new infrared technique capable of sub-micron scale mineral identification, demonstrated using a chondrule and a cometary dust grain.
- Gerardo Dominguez
- , A. S. Mcleod
- & D. N. Basov
-
Article |
Bio-optimized energy transfer in densely packed fluorescent protein enables near-maximal luminescence and solid-state lasers
Mammalian and bacteria cells producing fluorescent proteins (FP) have been recently proposed as living sources of laser light. Here, Gather and Yun demonstrate efficient lasing in the solid state form of FPs and observed Förster resonance energy transfer between molecules in blends of different FPs.
- Malte C. Gather
- & Seok Hyun Yun
-
Article
| Open AccessSynthetic fossilization of soft biological tissues and their shape-preserving transformation into silica or electron-conductive replicas
Imaging biological tissues has long been an issue, particularly with regard to manipulation and dissection for SEM. Here, the authors present a simple technique for the stabilization of biological tissues via a synthetic fossilization process, requiring minimal expertise or equipment and involving few steps.
- Jason L. Townson
- , Yu-Shen Lin
- & Bryan Kaehr
-
Article |
Kinetically tuned dimensional augmentation as a versatile synthetic route towards robust metal–organic frameworks
The synthesis of ultra-stable, single crystalline metal–organic frameworks is challenging. Here, the authors describe a kinetically tuned augmentation synthetic route for the preparation of a range of robust crystalline materials from preformed trimetallic components.
- Dawei Feng
- , Kecheng Wang
- & Hong-Cai Zhou
-
Article |
Photocatalytic colour switching of redox dyes for ink-free light-printable rewritable paper
Printing text and images is a significant cause of paper and ink waste, leading to an increased focus on reusable alternatives. Here, the authors show that films of commercial dyes can be photoactivated with UV light and catalysts and, with an appropriate stabilizer, can be used as a rewritable display system.
- Wenshou Wang
- , Ning Xie
- & Yadong Yin
-
Article |
Soft epitaxy of nanocrystal superlattices
Epitaxial crystal growth is widely used in electronics for the rational design of efficient devices. Here, Rupich et al. find a universal law for island size scaling, which outlines similarities and differences between self-assembly of nanocrystals and atomic epitaxial growth.
- Sara M. Rupich
- , Fernando C. Castro
- & Dmitri V. Talapin
-
Article |
Optical transmission enhacement through chemically tuned two-dimensional bismuth chalcogenide nanoplates
Recent studies have shown that the electronic properties of two-dimensional bismuth chalcogenides can be modified by chemical intercalation. Here, Yao et al. demonstrate that the optical transmission in bismuth chacogenide nanoplates can be tuned by intercalation of copper atoms.
- Jie Yao
- , Kristie J. Koski
- & Yi Cui
-
Article
| Open AccessX-ray imaging of chemically active valence electrons during a pericyclic reaction
X-ray scattering experiments give details of the electrons in a system, although typically this is dominated by core and inert valence electrons. Here, the authors report a method to follow changes in the chemically active valence electrons, and use it to study the reaction mechanism of a pericyclic reaction.
- Timm Bredtmann
- , Misha Ivanov
- & Gopal Dixit
-
Article |
Sponge-like molecular cage for purification of fullerenes
Mixtures of various size fullerenes are available as a component of fullerene soot, but isolating pure fullerenes is a challenging task. Here, the authors use a porphyrin-based supramolecular cage that encapsulates fullerenes with high selectivity and releases C60by a simple washing technique.
- Cristina García-Simón
- , Marc Garcia-Borràs
- & Xavi Ribas
-
Article
| Open AccessInclusion flotation-driven channel segregation in solidifying steels
A long-term problem in the casting of alloys such as steels is macrosegregation, which are variations in composition of the cast material. Here, the authors observe that the formation and flotation of oxide-based inclusions from light metals represent a mechanism through which macrosegregation occurs in steels.
- Dianzhong Li
- , Xing-Qiu Chen
- & Yiyi Li
-
Article |
Wavefront modulation and subwavelength diffractive acoustics with an acoustic metasurface
Metasurfaces are subwavelength structures that manipulate impinging waves into desired output waveforms, but building them for acoustic applications remains challenging. Exploiting tapered labyrinthine structures, Xie et al.present an acoustic metasurface that manipulates sound waves in a variety of ways.
- Yangbo Xie
- , Wenqi Wang
- & Steven A. Cummer
-
Article |
Atomically resolved tomography to directly inform simulations for structure–property relationships
Atom probe tomography is known to be an important tool for probing atomic-scale chemical distribution in various materials. Now, Moody and colleagues demonstrate an approach by which atom probe data can be used to directly inform first-principles calculations, for the determination of local properties.
- Michael P. Moody
- , Anna V. Ceguerra
- & Simon P. Ringer
-
Article |
Strain and structure heterogeneity in MoS2 atomic layers grown by chemical vapour deposition
Large-size monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has recently been produced via chemical vapour deposition (CVD), yet its structures and physical properties are yet to be fully explored. Here, the authors study the growth-induced strain in CVD-grown MoS2 and strain-based bandgap engineering of MoS2.
- Zheng Liu
- , Matin Amani
- & Jun Lou
-
Article |
Concentration and chemical-state profiles at heterogeneous interfaces with sub-nm accuracy from standing-wave ambient-pressure photoemission
Heterogeneous chemical processes are vital for many applications, but the crucial interfaces involved are difficult to probe experimentally with elemental and chemical-state specificity. Here, the authors present a photoelectron spectroscopy-based method for studying such interfaces with sub-nanometre accuracy and under realistic pressure conditions
- Slavomír Nemšák
- , Andrey Shavorskiy
- & Charles S. Fadley
-
Article |
Nanoscale visualization of redox activity at lithium-ion battery cathodes
It is important as well as challenging to map out redox activity at battery electrodes. Here, the authors present a scanning electrochemical cell microscope approach, which allows redox activity and ion flux processes at battery electrodes to be visualized with high space and time resolution.
- Yasufumi Takahashi
- , Akichika Kumatani
- & Tomokazu Matsue
-
Article |
Microwave purification of large-area horizontally aligned arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes
Creating large-area horizontally aligned arrays of purely semiconducting tubes is one of the most daunting technical challenges in carbon nanotube electronics. Here, the authors introduce an approach using microwave radiation with microstrip antenna structures and demonstrate its effectiveness.
- Xu Xie
- , Sung Hun Jin
- & John A. Rogers
-
Article |
Resonant Raman spectroscopy of twisted multilayer graphene
Stacking of two-dimensional materials in heterostructures is known to yield interesting electronic structures. Here, the authors study shear modes via Raman spectroscopy in twisted multilayer graphene, finding that the interlayer coupling at the interface is weaker than in Bernal-stacked systems.
- Jiang-Bin Wu
- , Xin Zhang
- & Ping-Heng Tan
-
Article |
High-resolution nanotransfer printing applicable to diverse surfaces via interface-targeted adhesion switching
There is an ongoing need for high resolution, versatile and simplistic nanoscale lithography and transfer. Here the authors report a solvent-assisted nanotransfer printing route, which allows for the easy release of 8–20 nm scale features on to a range of substrates.
- Jae Won Jeong
- , Se Ryeun Yang
- & Yeon Sik Jung
-
Article |
Gram-scale synthesis of single-crystalline graphene quantum dots with superior optical properties
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have a wide range of potential applications, yet current cutting methods produce GQDs in low amounts and with poor optical properties. Here, the authors demonstrate, via a facile molecular fusion route, the synthesis of GQDs at the gram-scale and report excellent optical properties.
- Liang Wang
- , Yanli Wang
- & Minghong Wu
-
Article |
Ordered three-dimensional interconnected nanoarchitectures in anodic porous alumina
Three-dimensional nanostructures have numerous applications and are normally fabricated via templating strategies. Here, the authors present a current-limited hard anodization approach for tunable, homogeneous anodic aluminium oxide, which can be used to template a range of periodic nanowire networks.
- Jaime Martín
- , Marisol Martín-González
- & Olga Caballero-Calero
-
Article |
Towards intrinsic charge transport in monolayer molybdenum disulfide by defect and interface engineering
Impurities in molybdenum disulfide are known to reduce charge mobility to below its intrinsic limit. Here, the authors demonstrate that impurities are associated with lattice defects and that a chemical route can repair sulfur vacancies and improve interface quality with a substrate, enhancing device performance.
- Zhihao Yu
- , Yiming Pan
- & Xinran Wang
-
Article |
Growth and modelling of spherical crystalline morphologies of molecular materials
Micro- and nanostructures have many potential applications, such as in optoelectronic devices and in the pharmaceutical industry. Here, the authors present a spherical, smooth and yet crystalline morphology found in molecular films deposited via guard flow-enhanced organic vapour jet printing.
- O. Shalev
- , S. Biswas
- & M. Shtein
-
Article |
Diffusion driven layer-by-layer assembly of graphene oxide nanosheets into porous three-dimensional macrostructures
There has been significant research into the preparation of nanosheets, but less on their assembly into functional macroscale architectures. Here, the authors present a diffusion-driven layer-by-layer assembly of graphene oxide into various three-dimensional structures.
- Jianli Zou
- & Franklin Kim
-
Article |
Surfactant-assisted chemical vapour deposition of high-performance small-diameter GaSb nanowires
Antimonide nanowires may have useful applications as semiconductors in optoelectronics. Here, the authors use a sulfur surfactant to produce high-performance GaSb nanowires via chemical vapour deposition, achieving very thin and uniform nanowires with diameters as small as 20 nm.
- Zai-xing Yang
- , Ning Han
- & Johnny C. Ho
-
Article |
Stimuli-sensitive intrinsically disordered protein brushes
Polymer brush surface coatings are important biomaterials for the reduction of biomolecule and cell adhesion. Here, the authors use a recombinantly expressed, intrinsically disordered protein to form a stimuli-responsive and enzyme-active polymer brush surface.
- Nithya Srinivasan
- , Maniraj Bhagawati
- & Sanjay Kumar
-
Article |
Thermally robust and porous noncovalent organic framework with high affinity for fluorocarbons and CFCs
There is significant research into using metal-organic frameworks for gas storage and separation, however, discrete molecule-based systems are rarer. Here, the authors report a small organic molecule that organizes into a relatively stable noncovalent organic framework, capable of adsorbing greenhouse species.
- Teng-Hao Chen
- , Ilya Popov
- & Ognjen Š. Miljanić
-
Article |
Temperature-dependent elastic anisotropy and mesoscale deformation in a nanostructured ferritic alloy
Nanostructured ferritic alloys offer many attractive properties that make them suitable for use in extreme environments. Here, the authors use neutron diffraction to determine single-crystal elastic constants of nanoscale ferrite grains, observing a large temperature-induced elastic anisotropy.
- G.M. Stoica
- , A.D. Stoica
- & D. Ma
-
Article |
Engineering polar discontinuities in honeycomb lattices
It has been predicted that when a polar discontinuity occurs in honeycomb lattices, wires of electrons or holes would appear. Here, the authors suggest different and realistic routes to engineer such wires in current two-dimensional materials, and validate these with first-principles calculations.
- Marco Gibertini
- , Giovanni Pizzi
- & Nicola Marzari
-
Article
| Open AccessA hybrid absorption–adsorption method to efficiently capture carbon
Common approaches for carbon dioxide capture include absorption in amine solutions or adsorption in porous materials. Here, the authors combine these two strategies and report carbon dioxide capture in a slurry of metal-organic frameworks in glycol-2-methylimidazole, which has advantages of both techniques.
- Huang Liu
- , Bei Liu
- & Wenchuan Wang
-
Article |
Dry-air-stable lithium silicide–lithium oxide core–shell nanoparticles as high-capacity prelithiation reagents
Anode prelithiation is used to treat the initial capacity loss and low Coulombic efficiency in lithium-ion batteries, but existing methods are not effective. Here, the authors report lithium silicide–lithium oxide core–shell nanoparticles as a promising prelithiation reagent.
- Jie Zhao
- , Zhenda Lu
- & Yi Cui
-
Article |
Bottom-up approach for the low-cost synthesis of graphene-alumina nanosheet interfaces using bimetallic alloys
Graphene-dielectric interfaces play a crucial role in many electronic devices, but electronic properties of graphene are inevitably degraded when the interfaces are produced. Omiciuolo et al.solve this problem using a low-cost approach based on epitaxial growth of graphene on dielectric alloys.
- Luca Omiciuolo
- , Eduardo R. Hernández
- & Alessandro Baraldi
-
Article |
Tuning the band structure and superconductivity in single-layer FeSe by interface engineering
Individual layers of FeSe grown on SrTiO3 superconduct at far higher temperatures than in bulk, but the effect of the film-substrate interface is poorly understood. Peng et al. find that modifying this interface has a significant non-trivial effect on the superconducting characteristics of FeSe films.
- R. Peng
- , H. C. Xu
- & D. L. Feng
-
Article |
Real-time QEXAFS spectroscopy measures rapid precipitate formation at the mineral–water interface
Geochemical reactions at the mineral–water interface are complicated, yet a molecular-scale understanding of their kinetics is critical. Here, Siebecker et al.conduct real-time measurements in a flow-through cell to show the rapid formation of layered double hydroxides at a clay mineral surface.
- Matthew Siebecker
- , Wei Li
- & Donald Sparks
-
Article |
Rational design of all organic polymer dielectrics
The selection of polymeric dielectric materials for energy storage applications is not trivial, as several criteria must be satisfied simultaneously. Here, Sharma et al.present a high-throughput hierarchical strategy using the band gap and dielectric constant to screen and identify good candidates.
- Vinit Sharma
- , Chenchen Wang
- & Rampi Ramprasad
-
Article |
Cephalopod-inspired design of electro-mechano-chemically responsive elastomers for on-demand fluorescent patterning
Cephalopods change colour by mechanically activating chromatophores via muscle contraction. Here, the authors use a similar concept for flexible displays, where electric field control over elastomer strain allows activation of mechanophores and provides on-demand and variable fluorescent patterns.
- Qiming Wang
- , Gregory R. Gossweiler
- & Xuanhe Zhao
-
Article |
Atomically resolved imaging of highly ordered alternating fluorinated graphene
Chemical derivatives of graphene are typically disordered or corrugated, impairing attempts to utilize them in monolayer devices. Here, the authors show that chair-C2F graphene is a stable material displaying long-range order, with functionalization on only one face in a given domain.
- Reza J. Kashtiban
- , M Adam Dyson
- & Jeremy Sloan
-
Article
| Open AccessSelf-propagating high-temperature synthesis for compound thermoelectrics and new criterion for combustion processing
The existing methods to synthesize thermoelectric materials remain constrained to multi-step processes that are usually time and energy consuming. Here, Su et al.use a fast, one-step combustion approach to synthesize various compounds, which holds promise for scalable industrial processing.
- Xianli Su
- , Fan Fu
- & Ctirad Uher
-
Article |
Sculpting carbon bonds for allotropic transformation through solid-state re-engineering of –sp2 carbon
Inter-allotropic transformation of carbon is of immense fundamental and technological interest, but requires extreme conditions. Here, the authors report a method to transform single-walled carbon nanotubes into other carbon structures with high reproducibility by controlling alternating-voltage pulses.
- Hyun Young Jung
- , Paulo T. Araujo
- & Yung Joon Jung
-
Article |
In situ liquid-cell electron microscopy of silver–palladium galvanic replacement reactions on silver nanoparticles
Galvanic replacement reactions are a useful route to transform nanoparticles into complex hollow structures. Here, the authors use liquid-cell electron microscopy to investigate the process in situand probe the effects of the electron beam on the galvanic-type processes.
- E. Sutter
- , K. Jungjohann
- & P. Sutter
-
Article |
Controlled thermal oxidative crosslinking of polymers of intrinsic microporosity towards tunable molecular sieve membranes
Organic frameworks with well-defined micropore structures are attractive materials for mass transfer and catalytic applications. Here, the authors demonstrate that polymers of intrinsic microporosity can be thermal-oxidatively crosslinked yielding robust materials with high molecular-sieving selectivity.
- Qilei Song
- , Shuai Cao
- & Easan Sivaniah
-
Article |
Colossal resistance switching and band gap modulation in a perovskite nickelate by electron doping
Orbital occupancy by electrons has a large effect on electronic properties of correlated oxides. Here, the authors report a chemical doping strategy of a perovskite nickelate, leading to the observation of a new insulating phase and a reversible resistivity modulation greater than eight orders of magnitude.
- Jian Shi
- , You Zhou
- & Shriram Ramanathan