Scattered elastic waves provide non-invasive diagnostics and dynamic characterization of metamaterials, but extracting information from small-size samples is challenging. Here, convolutional neural networks are used to interpret diffracted waves, revealing how sample-edge scattering provides the most significant information on macroscopic metamaterial properties.

Understanding the effects of fast neutrons on high-temperature superconductors is important for their application in fusion reactors. Here, a combined experimental and theoretical study reveals that ion irradiation disrupts superconductivity by introducing defects within the copper-oxygen planes.

Quadruple perovskites are characterized by competing long-range spin interactions that result in complex magnetic structures. Here, the authors synthesize and characterize the magnetic behaviour of CaCo₃Ti₄O₁₂, suggesting that the observed magnetic structures arise from different ways to avoid frustration in underlying kagome lattices.

Mass spectrometry titration is useful for studying the chemistry of electrodes and electrolytes in batteries, giving insight into their failure mechanisms. Here, a protocol is established for reproducibly quantifying inactive lithium in anode-free lithium-metal batteries via mass spectrometry titration.

Probing the growth and evolution of phase-coexistence in complex materials is key to understanding electronic phase transitions. Here, a combination of THz time-domain spectroscopy and DC transport provides a way to probe coexistence of metallic and insulating clusters in a disorder-controlled metal-insulator transition.

Optical nanoantennas based on organic plasmonics are promising for their higher degree of tunability over metallic nanostructures. Here, nanodisks of polythiophene-based semiconducting polymers provide nanooptical antennas with resonances that are tunable over a 1000 nm wavelength range and can be switched off or on by doping modulation.

Celebrating one year of publishing at Communications Materials

A collaboration with the materials community