Focus 26 January 2021

Devices

Electronic and photonic technologies have revolutionised our world and fortified many areas of our modern life. Fundamental and applied research spanning from atoms to devices leading to new technology development, including quantum, atomic, spintronic, optics, nuclear, plasma, superconductors, and low-dimensional materials based devices, is crucial to ensure continuous solutions to existing and future global challenges.

Featured articles

Memristive tonotopic mapping with volatile resistive switching memory devices

Processing spatiotemporal information calls for the construction of hardware systems with computing capability comparable to biological neural networks. Inspired by human cochlea, Milozzi et al. develop neuromorphic circuits for memristive tonotopic mapping via volatile resistive switching memory devices.
- Alessandro Milozzi
- Saverio Ricci
- Daniele Ielmini
ArticleOpen Access1 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
A modular organic neuromorphic spiking circuit for retina-inspired sensory coding and neurotransmitter-mediated neural pathways

The distinctive interdependence in mixed ionic-electronic conductors emulates retinal pathway. Here, the authors develop a modular organic neuromorphic spiking circuit to replicate the interdependent functions of receptors, neurons and synapses that are chemically modulated by neurotransmitters.
- Giovanni Maria Matrone
- Eveline R. W. van Doremaele
- Yoeri van de Burgt
ArticleOpen Access3 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
A bionic self-driven retinomorphic eye with ionogel photosynaptic retina

Luo et al. report a self-driven hemispherical retinomorphic eye that employs ionogel heterojunctions as photoreceptors. This photoreceptor exhibits broadband photosynapse, high conformability, retinal transplantation, and visual restoration for re-time optical imaging and motion tracking.
- Xu Luo
- Chen Chen
- Wei Huang
ArticleOpen Access10 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Strain-insensitive viscoelastic perovskite film for intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic vision-adaptive transistors

Wearable neuromorphic optoelectronics require stretchable photosensitive materials and multifunctional integration. Here, authors develop intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic vision-adaptive transistors for skin-like neuromorphic vision systems.
- Chengyu Wang
- Yangshuang Bian
- Yunlong Guo
ArticleOpen Access10 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Highly efficient multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence material toward a BT.2020 deep-blue emitter

The realization of a BT.2020 blue emitter is challenging due to the spectral redshift associated with π-extension. Here, the authors report a multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter, exhibiting ultrapure deep-blue narrow emission and CIEy ≤ 0.05 exceeding 20% efficiency.
- Junki Ochi
- Yuki Yamasaki
- Takuji Hatakeyama
ArticleOpen Access2 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Deuteration-enhanced neutron contrasts to probe amorphous domain sizes in organic photovoltaic bulk heterojunction films

The use of conventional X-ray scattering techniques is challenging to detect donor-acceptor contrast within amorphous intermixing regions. Here, the authors apply neutron scattering and targeted deuteration to enhance the contrast by one order of magnitude and reveal short-range aggregations of d-Y6.
- Guilong Cai
- Yuhao Li
- Xinhui Lu
ArticleOpen Access30 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Ultraviolet light blocking optically clear adhesives for foldable displays via highly efficient visible-light curing

The slow curing speed of UV-based methods to produce UV-blocking optically clear adhesive (OCA) for display panels poses a barrier to commercialization. Here, authors introduce a visible-light driven photo-initiating system for rapid production of OCAs, demonstrating efficient UV-blocking ability.
- Yonghwan Kwon
- Seokju Lee
- Min Sang Kwon
ArticleOpen Access2 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Harnessing strong aromatic conjugation in low-dimensional perovskite heterojunctions for high-performance photovoltaic devices

The large organic cations in low-dimensional perovskite often introduces carrier mobility anisotropy and impedes charge transport. Here, authors report perovskite heterojunction with strong aromatic conjugated perovskites, realizing certified efficiency of over 25% in stable perovskite solar cells.
- Bo Li
- Qi Liu
- Zonglong Zhu
ArticleOpen Access29 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Modified t-butyl in tetradentate platinum (II) complexes enables exceptional lifetime for blue-phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes

It has been challenging to realize efficient and stable blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes. Here, authors explore the effect of substitution position in platinum(II) dopants with suppressed metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer features, resulting in prolonged lifetime in the devices.
- Young Hun Jung
- Gyeong Seok Lee
- Jang Hyuk Kwon
ArticleOpen Access6 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Quantitative, high-sensitivity measurement of liquid analytes using a smartphone compass

Smartphone cameras have been widely used for analysis purposes, but the use of magnetometers in smartphones is limited in this regard. In this study, the authors present a smartphone analyte sensor platform that utilizes the built in magnetometer to directly translate signals through analyte-responsive magnetic-hydrogel composites.
- Mark Ferris
- Gary Zabow
ArticleOpen Access30 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Integrated mechanical computing for autonomous soft machines

Many mechanical computation platforms developed till date lack a rational design strategy and have limited computational functions, such as stand-alone single logic gates, or deformation/transition behaviors. Byun at al. have reported a systematic design principle for integrated mechanical computing that enables the electronics-free design of autonomous and intelligent soft machines, which are seamlessly integrated.
- Junghwan Byun
- Aniket Pal
- Metin Sitti
ArticleOpen Access4 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Full integration of highly stretchable inorganic transistors and circuits within molecular-tailored elastic substrates on a large scale

Developing integrated stretchable metal-oxide transistors and circuits is challenging. Here, Kang et al. leveraged molecular-tailored elastic substrates for enhanced adhesion, thus achieving high performance and logical operation across various circuits under high strain.
- Seung-Han Kang
- Jeong-Wan Jo
- Sung Kyu Park
ArticleOpen Access1 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Ultrafast piezocapacitive soft pressure sensors with over 10 kHz bandwidth via bonded microstructured interfaces

Piezocapacitive pressure sensors are typically limited by the slow response-relaxation speed for detecting dynamic stimuli. Here, Zhang et al. utilize the electrode-dielectric interface and bonded micro-structured interface for energy dissipation and reduce the response and relaxation time to 0.04 ms.
- Yuan Zhang
- Xiaomeng Zhou
- Chuan Fei Guo
ArticleOpen Access8 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Exciton engineering of 2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites by synergistically tuning the intra and interlayer structures

Guo et al. report enhanced emission and photoconductivity in 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites by synergistically tuning the intra and interlayer structure via pressure. A structure descriptor considering both intra- and interlayer is then introduced for screening perovskite with desired properties.
- Songhao Guo
- Willa Mihalyi-Koch
- Xujie Lü
ArticleOpen Access8 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Onion-like multicolor thermally activated delayed fluorescent carbon quantum dots for efficient electroluminescent light-emitting diodes

Shi et al. report the synthesis of multicolour thermally activated delayed fluorescent carbon dots with 3D onion-like configuration to stabilise the triplet state and reduce the singlet-triplet energy gap. LEDs with EQE of 6.0–9.9% are achieved, a step further for efficient and stable displays.
- Yuxin Shi
- Yang Zhang
- Louzhen Fan
ArticleOpen Access8 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Multilevel design and construction in nanomembrane rolling for three-dimensional angle-sensitive photodetection

Zhang et al. report a quasistatic multilevel finite element model to predict the 3D structures assembled by 2D nanomembranes, validated by large-scale, high-yield, and configurable fabrication. 3D Si/Cr photodetectors assisted by neural network are employed to resolve the incident light angle.
- Ziyu Zhang
- Binmin Wu
- Yongfeng Mei
ArticleOpen Access9 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Two-dimensional lead halide perovskite lateral homojunctions enabled by phase pinning

Hong et al. report 2D perovskite lateral homojunction consists of ordered and disordered phases, achieved by organic cation doping induced phase pinning, built upon which they develop tuneable optical properties under external stimuli and directional exciton diffusion in the homojunctions.
- Huilong Hong
- Songhao Guo
- Yongping Fu
ArticleOpen Access11 Apr 2024 Nature Communications
Synergistic morphology and feedback control for traversal of unknown compliant obstacles with aerial robots

Vehicle control systems typically take compliant objects, such as vegetation, as obstacles to be avoided, hindering locomotion through busy mediums. Here, authors present a traversal strategy that considers a drone’s morphology and an obstacle’s compliance to decide between circumventing it or pushing it aside.
- Emanuele Aucone
- Christian Geckeler
- Stefano Mintchev
ArticleOpen Access26 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
CMOS plus stochastic nanomagnets enabling heterogeneous computers for probabilistic inference and learning

Designing energy-efficient and scalable hardware capable of accelerating Monte Carlo algorithms is highly desirable for probabilistic computing. Here, Singh et al. combine stochastic magnetic tunnel junction-based probabilistic bits with versatile field programmable gate arrays to achieve this goa
- Nihal Sanjay Singh
- Keito Kobayashi
- Kerem Y. Camsari
ArticleOpen Access27 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Ferroelectric compute-in-memory annealer for combinatorial optimization problems

Yin et al. realize a FeFET based compute-in-memory annealer as an efficient combinatorial optimization solver through algorithm-hardware co-design with a FeFET chip, matrix lossless compression, and a multi-epoch simulated annealing algorithm.
- Xunzhao Yin
- Yu Qian
- Kai Ni
ArticleOpen Access18 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Biomimetic nanocluster photoreceptors for adaptative circular polarization vision

All-in-one multi-task photoperception is desirable for artificial vision systems. Wen et al. present wafer-scale high density integration of artificial photoreceptors that combine photoadaptation and circular polarized light vision, enabled by chiral-nanocluster-conjugated molecule heterostructures.
- Wei Wen
- Guocai Liu
- Yunqi Liu
ArticleOpen Access16 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Highly parallel and ultra-low-power probabilistic reasoning with programmable gaussian-like memory transistors

Probabilistic inference hardware prevents overconfidence. Lee et al. report a Gaussian-like memory transistor using p-n junction coupled with separate floating gate, offering precise control of the Gaussian outputs, simplified circuit design, and low power consumption for inference computing.
- Changhyeon Lee
- Leila Rahimifard
- Sung Gap Im
ArticleOpen Access18 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
High-performance ferroelectric field-effect transistors with ultra-thin indium tin oxide channels for flexible and transparent electronics

Using Zr-doped HfO2 and ultra-thin indium tin oxide, Li et al. develop flexible field-effect transistors with a memory window of 2.78 V and bending reliability to enable high-performance back-end-of-line compatible wearable devices.
- Qingxuan Li
- Siwei Wang
- Lin Chen
ArticleOpen Access27 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Assessing intra- and inter-molecular charge transfer excitations in non-fullerene acceptors using electroabsorption spectroscopy

The performance of Y6-containing donor-acceptor active layers in organic solar cells is highly related to the charge-transfer nature in Y6 aggregates. Here, authors study charge-transfer characteristics of excitations of isolated and aggregated Y6 molecules through electroabsorption spectroscopy.
- Sudhi Mahadevan
- Taili Liu
- Sai-Wing Tsang
ArticleOpen Access16 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Decreasing exciton dissociation rates for reduced voltage losses in organic solar cells

The device’s electroluminescence efficiency is vital to reduce non-radiative voltage losses and boost organic solar cell performance. Here, the authors demonstrate that this efficiency is influenced not only by the decay of charge transfer states but also by the dissociation of singlet states.
- Hongbo Wu
- Hao Lu
- Zheng Tang
ArticleOpen Access27 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Strain regulates the photovoltaic performance of thick-film perovskites

The power conversion efficiencies of thick-film perovskite solar cells lag behind those with nanometre film thickness. Here, the authors rule out the restrictions of carrier lifetime on device performance and reveal the critical role of lattice strain in micron-scale thick perovskite films.
- Pengju Shi
- Jiazhe Xu
- Rui Wang
ArticleOpen Access22 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Pushing the thinness limit of silver films for flexible optoelectronic devices via ion-beam thinning-back process

The use of thin silver films with nanometric thickness for optoelectronic devices is essential for high transparency, flexibility, and electrical properties. Ma et al. report a thinning-back process with a flood ion beam, to further reduce film thickness down to 4.5 nm.
- Dongxu Ma
- Ming Ji
- Huigao Duan
ArticleOpen Access13 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Triboelectric micro-flexure-sensitive fiber electronics

Fiber electronics for monitoring micro-physiological activities are limited by their sensitivity at micro-flexure deformation. Here, Lin et al. report a micro-flexure-sensitive fiber with nanofiber buckling and ion conduction mechanism. Wearable biomechanical feedback system is demonstrated using the woven textile.
- Shaomei Lin
- Weifeng Yang
- Hongzhi Wang
ArticleOpen Access15 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Height-renderable morphable tactile display enabled by programmable modulation of local stiffness in photothermally active polymer

The controllability of deformation height in reconfigurable touch displays currently limits their deliverable information. Hwang et al. present a light-triggered morphable tactile display enabling generation of refreshable, height-adjustable, and latchable 3D topologies with varying textures on a thin film surface.
- Inwook Hwang
- Seongcheol Mun
- Sungryul Yun
ArticleOpen Access22 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
A detachable interface for stable low-voltage stretchable transistor arrays and high-resolution X-ray imaging

Pixel size, power consumption, and stability of stretchable optoelectronic devices limit their application in digital imaging. Bian et al. developed a universal detachable interface technique for damage-free micropattern, reproducible transfer and ideal heterocontact of intrinsically stretchable electrodes.
- Yangshuang Bian
- Mingliang Zhu
- Yunlong Guo
ArticleOpen Access23 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Universal growth of perovskite thin monocrystals from high solute flux for sensitive self-driven X-ray detection

Liu et al. report a universal solution growth method for perovskite thin monocrystals by improving the mass transfer in the high solute flux system. The approach is applied to 29 types of perovskites with growth velocity up to 27.2 µm min^-1 and enables efficient self-driven X-ray detectors.
- Da Liu
- Yichu Zheng
- Yu Hou
ArticleOpen Access16 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Hardware implementation of memristor-based artificial neural networks

Memristors hold promise for massively-parallel computing at low power. Aguirre et al. provide a comprehensive protocol of the materials and methods for designing memristive artificial neural networks with the detailed working principles of each building block and the tools for performance evaluation.
- Fernando Aguirre
- Abu Sebastian
- Mario Lanza
Review ArticleOpen Access4 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Cross-layer transmission realized by light-emitting memristor for constructing ultra-deep neural network with transfer learning ability

Parallel information transmission components and hardware strategies are still lacking in neural networks. Here, the authors propose a strategy to use light emitting memristors with negative ultraviolet photoconductivity and intrinsic parallelism to construct direct information cross-layer modules.
- Zhenjia Chen
- Zhenyuan Lin
- Huipeng Chen
ArticleOpen Access2 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
3D-integrated multilayered physical reservoir array for learning and forecasting time-series information

A wide reservoir computing system is an advanced architecture. However, its hardware implementation remains elusive due to the lack of 3D architecture framework. Choi et al. demonstrate such hardware made of a multilayered 3D stacked memristive crossbar array for efficient learning and forecasting.
- Sanghyeon Choi
- Jaeho Shin
- Gunuk Wang
ArticleOpen Access6 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Neuromorphic antennal sensory system

Artificial sensory systems are often limited in structure and functionality. Here, Jiang et al. report a neuromorphic antennal sensory system that achieves spatiotemporal perception of vibrotactile and magnetic stimuli, showcasing biomimetic perceptual intelligence.
- Chengpeng Jiang
- Honghuan Xu
- Wentao Xu
ArticleOpen Access7 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Tuning polymer-backbone coplanarity and conformational order to achieve high-performance printed all-polymer solar cells

All-polymer solar cells comprising both polymeric donors and acceptors offer better morphological and mechanical stability, and a broader processing window for printing. Here, the authors report a polymer acceptor based on bithiazole linker with more coplanar and ordered molecular conformation.
- Yilei Wu
- Yue Yuan
- Zhenan Bao
ArticleOpen Access9 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
The first demonstration of entirely roll-to-roll fabricated perovskite solar cell modules under ambient room conditions

The translation of perovskite solar cells to large-area devices fabricated by industry-relevant manufacturing methods remains a critical challenge. Here, authors report solar modules with serially-interconnected cells produced entirely by industrial roll-to-roll printing under ambient conditions.
- Hasitha C. Weerasinghe
- Nasiruddin Macadam
- Doojin Vak
ArticleOpen Access12 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Polymer-acid-metal quasi-ohmic contact for stable perovskite solar cells beyond a 20,000-hour extrapolated lifetime

The development of robust quasi-ohmic contact with minimal resistance, exceptional stability and cost-effectiveness is crucial for practical application of perovskite solar cells. Here, authors report a polymer-acid-metal structure as the contact and realize long photo-thermal-operational stability.
- Junsheng Luo
- Bowen Liu
- Yicheng Zhao
ArticleOpen Access5 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Efficient all-small-molecule organic solar cells processed with non-halogen solvent

The development of non-halogen solvent processed all-small-molecule organic solar cells was challenging. Here, the authors employ a small molecule donor with strong aggregation property to improve molecular pre-aggregation in tetrahydrofuran, realizing ternary device with efficiency of 16.1%.
- Wei Gao
- Ruijie Ma
- Gang Li
ArticleOpen Access2 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Selenium substitution for dielectric constant improvement and hole-transfer acceleration in non-fullerene organic solar cells

Dielectric constant of non-fullerene acceptors plays a critical role in organic solar cells in terms of exciton dissociation and charge recombination. Here, authors report selenium substitution on central core of acceptors to improve dielectric constant, realizing devices with efficiency of 19.0%.
- Xinjun He
- Feng Qi
- Wallace C. H. Choy
ArticleOpen Access7 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Intragrain impurity annihilation for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

The detrimental effects of intragrain impurity nanoclusters on the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells remain unexplored. Here, the authors study the intragrain impurity annihilation by in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy and adopt a laser stimulus to heal such impurity.
- Songhua Cai
- Zhipeng Li
- Yuanyuan Zhou
ArticleOpen Access14 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
High-performance bifacial perovskite solar cells enabled by single-walled carbon nanotubes

The suboptimal optical transmittance of back electrodes and complex fabrication process hindered development of bifacial perovskite solar cells. Here, authors apply single-walled carbon nanotubes as front and back electrodes, achieving power generation density of 36% and bifaciality factor of 98%.
- Jing Zhang
- Xian-Gang Hu
- Wei Zhang
ArticleOpen Access12 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Mixed tin-lead perovskites with balanced crystallization and oxidation barrier for all-perovskite tandem solar cells

The disparity in crystallization processes between tin- and lead-based perovskites has been a dominant factor contributing to high defect densities. Here, authors employ a functional molecule to inhibit tin oxidation, realizing monolithic all-perovskite tandems with certified efficiency over 27%.
- Jin Zhou
- Shiqiang Fu
- Weijun Ke
ArticleOpen Access14 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Tri-system integration in metal-oxide nanocomposites via in-situ solution-processed method for ultrathin flexible transparent electrodes

Fabricating flexible transparent electrodes with robust operational stability alongside electrical and mechanical properties is challenging. Here, Kim et al. develop ultrathin flexible transparent electrodes using in-situ solution-processing and unveil interface dynamics of the integrated tri-system.
- John Jinwook Kim
- Kojima Shuji
- Wallace C. H. Choy
ArticleOpen Access7 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Water-dispersible X-ray scintillators enabling coating and blending with polymer materials for multiple applications

Water dispersible X-ray scintillators are highly desirable for multiple application scenarios. Zhang et al report the synthesis of new X-ray scintillator nanocrystals anchored on the surface of water dispersible halloysite nanotubes, enabling radiation exposure monitoring, flexible scintillator screens, and information encryption.
- Hailei Zhang
- Bo Zhang
- Richard Hoogenboom
ArticleOpen Access6 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Frequency-selective perovskite photodetector for anti-interference optical communications

Signal transmission without the interference from ambient light is prerequisite for optical communications. Min et al. design an asymmetric 2D-3D-2D perovskite photodetector with frequency-selective photoresponse for real-time high fidelity optical communications under strong light interference.
- Liangliang Min
- Haoxuan Sun
- Liang Li
ArticleOpen Access7 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Photooxidation driven formation of Fe-Au linked ferrocene-based single-molecule junctions

Metal-metal interfaces hold promise as contacting moieties for single-molecule devices with tunable functionality, yet the direct bonding has remained a challenge. Here, Lee et al. report the formation of Fe-Au bond without chemical ligand support in ferrocene-based molecular junctions.
- Woojung Lee
- Liang Li
- Latha Venkataraman
ArticleOpen Access16 Feb 2024 Nature Communications

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