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Materials science and chemistry encompasses experimental and computational research that aims to understand and exploit relationships between structures and properties of materials. On this page, we highlight exciting research in materials design, fabrication, physicochemical characterization, and functional properties.
Precise and scalable patterning is essential for the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in solid-state electronics and photonics. Here, the authors report on resistance-free, direct photo- and electron-beam lithography of MOF films using crosslinking chemistry.
2D metallic single crystals are sought after for nanophotonic applications, but their synthesis remains challenging. Here, the authors report an atomic level precision etching method to fabricate large-area crystalline gold flakes with nanometre thickness, showing enhanced plasmonic and nonlinear optical properties.
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) can be obtained via a practically convenient approach, but its amorphous characteristics limit its applications. Here, the authors report a flash Joule heating strategy to improve the crystalline quality and conductivity of LIG, leading to strain sensors with enhanced sensitivity.
The properties of lipid membranes are intimately controlled by their complex heterogeneous structure. Here, the authors use phase-resolved sum-frequency generation microscopy to fully determine the hierarchical lipid packing from the molecular to the mesoscopic scale.
Metal-elastomer nanophases are critical for stretchable electronics but face mixing challenges. This study introduces a kinetic method for precise mixing, yielding gyrified nanophases with improved durability and strain-invariant conductivity, which holds promise for resilient stretchable devices.
In situ corrosion monitoring is essential to unveil corrosion mechanisms and safeguard materials’ health. Here, the authors develop a radionuclide tracing based in situ corrosion monitoring technique that can monitor corrosion attack depth and corrosion product transport in flowing molten salts.
SERS-based chemical taxonomy is attractive for practical SERS applications where the identity and concentration of analytes are unknown. Here, the authors demonstrate a machine learning framework for classifying “unknown” molecules that lie outside the boundaries of the models used.
In liquid-phase TEM, microfluidic reactors are used to monitor nanoscale (electro)chemical dynamics in liquid environments. Here, the authors develop a reactor design with accelerated mass transport, facilitating quantitative in-situ and in-operando studies.
Area selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD) has been recently proposed as a controlled growth method, but the patterning resolution and selectivity require improvements. Here, the authors report a superlattice-based AS-ALD method to deposit various materials onto 2D MoS2-MoSe2 lateral superlattices, with a minimum half-pitch size of ~ 10 nm.
Reactive chiral systems have attracted much attention in biology, optoelectronics, and photonics; however, a comprehensive understanding of these systems remains incomplete. Here the authors show the reversible chirality of AuAgx-cys coordination polymers induced by pH changes.
Achieving spatiotemporal control of photochromic upconversion from a single lanthanide emitter remains challenging. Here, the authors present a conceptual model enabling such control of Er3+ photochromic upconversion via interfacial energy transfer in a core-shell nanostructure.
A new carbonate phase calcium carbonate hemihydrate was recently discovered and characterized, but exclusively as a synthetic material. Here the authors find that it exists in nature, albeit transiently, on the surface of growing nacre and coral skeletons, and show that 2 amorphous and 2 metastable crystalline nano-minerals form before biominerals settle into their stable crystals.
Surface averaging techniques offer only limited access to the electrostatic potentials of nanostructures, which are determined by shape, material, and environment. Here, the authors quantify these potentials for gold and silver adatom chains, explaining the mechanisms of dipole formation.
The nature of the molecule-metal interface is crucial for many technological applications. Here, the authors show that the photostability of the material can be sensitive to room light when coated with a single molecular layer, with implications for devices and processes.
Zero thermal expansion materials play an increasingly important role in modern high-precision applications, but they are relatively scarce. Here, the authors achieve an isotropic zero thermal expansion with a very high toughness by manipulating chemical partitioning in chemically complex alloys.
Photoactive pure-iodine all-inorganic colloidal perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are attractive for optoelectronic applications, however their synthesis at room temperature is challenging. Here the authors report a room temperature strongly confined strategy to synthesize CsSnxPb1-xI3 QDs.
The reconstruction of rutile TiO2 (110) impacts its surface chemistry and catalytic properties. Here, the authors offer a detailed understanding of the asymmetric surface reconstruction of TiO2 (110)-(1×2) through a combination of STEM and DFT calculations.
InP/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are promising candidates for advanced light-emitting diodes, but low emission efficiency due to oxidation hampers applications. Here, the authors provide insight into the structural defects that form on individual QDs during UV-facilitated oxidation.
Graphene oxide is in demand for various applications - however, this is complicated by changing physicochemical properties over time. Here, the authors show the intrinsic, metastable, and transient states of graphene oxide colloids upon ripening.
High-resolution X-ray imaging requires a high radiation dose. Here, the authors achieve low-dose 3D imaging by increasing the XEPL intensity using a double-shell nanostructure with two heterogeneous interfaces.
Phosphor-glass composites can serve as efficient and stable photonic converters, but their synthesis generally requires harsh and time-consuming procedures. Here, the authors report an alternative synthesis route that requires only a few seconds and is based on particle self-stabilization.
2D bilayers have recently attracted significant attention due to fundamental properties like interlayer excitons and interfacial ferroelectricity. Here, the authors report a density functional theory approach to identify 2586 stable homobilayer systems and calculate their stacking-dependent electronic, magnetic and vibrational properties.
Surgery is a primary therapeutic modality for treating melanoma, but it is challenging to tackle tumor recurrence/metastasis and postsurgical wounds. Here the authors report a sprayable hydrogel capable of long-lasting and controllable oxygen supply for preventing tumor recurrence/metastasis and simultaneously promoting wound healing during the postsurgical treatment of melanoma.
The optical properties of nanoalloys are complex and difficult to describe. Here, the authors use density functional and Mie theory to calculate the extinction of Au-Co and other nanoalloys of interest for quantum optics, magnetooptics, catalysis, and metamaterials.
Microplastics research is often based on commercial model particles. Here, the authors show that nominally identical particles may differ significantly in their properties and thus in their interactions with cells.
Resorbable bioelectronic devices have potential as tools for monitoring physiological parameters, but short functional lifetimes have slowed translation. Here, the authors report succinate-based copolyesters with barrier properties able to extend the functional lifetime of devices.
Functionalizing inorganic organogels is a challenge and can have a negative impact on their mechanical properties. Here, the authors present nanowire-based organogels based on highly charged polyoxometalate cluster units that are mechanically tuned and loaded with fluorescent dyes.
Janus particles commonly exhibit a high-symmetry patch, constraining the range of possible assemblies. Here, the authors devise a synthetic approach to fine-tune the patch symmetry in Janus particles and showcase the assembly of these particles into chiral colloidal clusters.
The critical nucleus, which considered a key step in the formation of clathrate hydrates, has not yet been empirically confirmed. Here, the authors probe the critical nucleus size in clathrate formation of tetrahydrofuran and thus provide mechanistic insights.
The physical properties of devices made of printed nanosheets and nanowires are determined by their intrinsic nanostructured network morphology. Here, the authors use FIB-SEM nanotomography to quantitatively analyze printed nanostructured networks via 3D reconstructions.
Precise coupling of different or even contradictory material properties and biological characteristics is needed for tissue engineering but challenging. Here the authors report an all-in-one guided bone regeneration membrane that asymmetrically combines stiffness and flexibility, ingrowth barrier and ingrowth guiding, alongside anti-bacteria and cell-activation.
Polymersomes, as analogues of liposomes, have interesting physical and chemical properties, but have not yet been translated into clinical or industrial applications. Here, the authors report the development of a continuous flow process for the production of polymersomes at scale.
The inorganic minerals are believed to exert a critical catalytic role in the prebiotic time, but biominerals (e.g., bones) in modern living organisms are known mainly for their physical property-related functions. Here the authors identify natural ferritin iron core as a superoxide dismutase-like nanozyme exhibiting species-related activity and elucidate its specific catalytic mechanism.
Aerogels attract considerable attention in various emerging fields in recent decades, but low density and weak mechanical performance make their configuration-editing capability challenging. Here the authors establish an efficient twice-coagulated strategy to fabricate configuration-editable tough aerogels enabled by transformable gel precursors.
Superblack materials could innovate light-centered technologies, however, advances in superblack materials have been constrained by their complex and costly fabrication routes. Here, the authors report a simple top-down strategy, guided by computational methods, to develop robust superblack materials following metal-free wood delignification and carbonization.
Cellulose nanocrystals are very attractive as a matrix material for plasmonic nanoparticles, but controlling particle orientation for patterning is challenging. Here, the authors prepare annular ring patterns with quadrants of aligned gold nanorods for photothermal applications.
Here, the authors demonstrate that a secondary electron electron-beam-induced current imaging technique in a scanning transmission electron microscope can be applied to spatially resolve the atomic scale electron density in an encapsulated WSe2 monolayer.
The entanglement of fibrous elements produces flexible structures with enhanced strength and resilience to abrasion. Here, the authors report the weaving of organic crystals into flexible and robust patches with plain, twill, and satin topologies of arbitrary porosity, expanding one-dimensional crystals into flexible, two-dimensional planar structures with potential for future applications in flexible electronics.
Urethral repair can be carried out using hydrogels, but the harsh microenvironment hinders the repair. Here, the authors report the development of a 4D hydrogel dressing that can provide an early-vascularised and later-antifibrogenic microenvironment to assist in scarless reconstruction.
Methods for generating macroscopic chiral matter struggle with limited scalability. Here, the authors show two vacuum filtration methods - twist stacking and mechanical rotation - to align carbon nanotubes into chiral structures at wafer scale with tunable circular dichroism.
Flexible electronic hydrogels that allow conformal tissue integration, online precision diagnosis, and simultaneous tissue regeneration are desired for advancing the treatment of myocardial infarction. Here, the authors report a chronological adhesive hydrogel patch integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functions through mechanophysiological monitoring and electrocoupling therapy.
The identification of individual proteins is highly desirable in diagnostics. Here, the authors report on DNA-origami assembled dimers of gold nanorod with accessible hotspots to capture and identify single proteins from solution by SERS.
Dynamic mapping of charge motion across multiple length- and timescales is essential for understanding a variety of phenomena. Here, the authors introduce sparse scanning KPFM, which enables fast nanoscale charge mapping at 3 frames per second to track ion migration.
The characteristics of the pores are vital for controlling the performance of covalent organic frameworks, but obtaining different chemical environments in different pores is challenging. Here, the authors report the development of covalent organic frameworks with differing pore environments.
Exploring laser powder bed fusion in manufacturing, the authors demonstrate a machine learning-based method to optimize processing conditions achieving materials with relative density greater than 98% and experimentally verify its generality for multiple distinct powder materials.
Encapsulated liquids are important for several microreactor applications, including (bio)chemistry in confined spaces. Here, the authors report on oil-infused particle shells that allow control of shell thickness, stability, and permeability for applications in crystal growth and cell cultivation.
Understanding the topological arrangement and transition dynamics of mesoscale assemblies is complicated by their molecular complexity. Here, the authors use DNA origami nanosprings to show that mesoscale helical handedness is dictated by backbone torque rather than achiral orientation.
Dissipative structures are governed by non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Here, the authors describe a size-dependent transition from active droplets to active spherical shells—a dissipative structure that arises from reaction diffusion gradients.
The assembly of nanoparticles into macroscopic materials forms the basis for various advanced material applications. Here, the authors develop macroscopic materials that are both recastable and mechanically robust, despite being composed purely of carbon dots.
Among additive manufacturing methods vat photopolymerization (VP) is desired owing to improved efficiency, excellent surface finish, and printing resolution at the micron-scale but the major portion of resins available for VP are based on systems with limited or negligible recyclability. Here, the authors describe an approach that enables the printing of a resin that is amenable to re-printing with retained properties and appearance.
The 2D carbon allotrope graphdiyne possesses a direct band gap, high charge carrier mobility, and uniformly distributed pores. Here, the authors report the surfactant-free growth of graphdiyne hollow microspheres and investigate the origin of their SERS activity.
Photothermal solution heating with nanoscale heat sources is an efficient alternative to conventional heating methods. Here, the authors use silica-encapsulated gold nanoparticles to drive the colloidal synthesis of iron oxide, silver, and palladium nanoparticles at lower temperatures.