Review Articles

The emergence of new materials and cell designs is enabling the transition of aqueous batteries into competitive candidates for reliable and affordable energy storage. This Review critically examines the scientific advances that have enabled such a transition and explores future research prospects.

In perovskite solar cells, metal-oxide/perovskite interfaces suffer from a combination of issues related to interfacial defects, charge transfer, chemical stability and delamination, limiting performance. This Review discusses how molecular engineering of metal-oxide/perovskite interfaces with self-assembled monolayers can provide a solution and help to bring perovskite solar cells to market.

Mechanical force modulates the conformation and function of individual proteins, and this underpins many mechanically driven cellular processes. This Review addresses single-molecule force spectroscopy experiments conducted on proteins with a known role in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction in eukaryotic cells.

van der Waals ferroelectrics are different from conventional oxide or polymer-based ferroelectrics in terms of both crystal structure and functionality. This Review discusses the experimentally verified van der Waals ferroelectrics, their unique characteristics and their potential applications in post-Moore’s law electronics.

Hydrogels are one of the most promising materials to bridge the stark disparities between traditional machines and biological tissues for successful interfacing between humans and machines. This Review discusses the functional modes, design principles, and current and future applications of hydrogel interfaces for the merging of humans and machines.

Redox-active organic materials are a promising electrode material for next-generation batteries, owing to their potential cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. This Review compares the performance of redox-active organic materials from a practical viewpoint and discusses their potential in various post-lithium-ion-battery platforms.

The surface mucosa that lines many of our organs hosts a diverse set of biometric signals. This Review compares present skin-interfacing and mucosa-interfacing electronics to inspire hardware solutions for developing devices for personalized biosensing from the mucosa.

Introduction of guest species into archetype materials lays out a foundational pathway for creating new materials classes with desired functionalities. This Review discusses two main strategies of such applied to 2D layered materials: gating, where the guest species rest on the surface, and intercalation, where the guest species are incorporated into the host lattice.

Data-driven approaches based on high-throughput capabilities and machine learning hold promise in revolutionizing human-centred materials discovery for sustainability and decarbonization. This Review examines the strengths and limitations of different traditional and emerging approaches to demonstrate their inherent connection and highlight the evolving paradigms of materials design.

The introduction of topology into acoustic platforms enables robust sound control. This Review discusses the fundamental mechanisms, basic designs, practical realizations and promising future directions for topological acoustic systems.

Vertical nanoprobes are high-aspect-ratio nanomaterials used to manipulate and interrogate cells with high spatiotemporal resolution and limited perturbation. This Review discusses the design principles to establish effective nanoprobe biointerfaces for drug delivery, intracellular sampling and sensing, biophysical interaction and bioelectronics.

Halide perovskite light emitters hold promise for next-generation high-colour-purity displays and lighting applications. This Review surveys the outstanding scientific issues and the strategies to increase the efficiency and stability of perovskite light-emitting devices, tracing a roadmap for their mass production and commercialization.

Wearable sensors that access both biophysical and biochemical information can be used to monitor the physiological state of an individual and facilitate diagnosis. This Review examines the building blocks of wearable devices, including the substrate materials as well as the sensing, decision-making and power modules.

Polymeric particle-based therapeutics can target and modulate acute inflammatory diseases. This Review discusses targeting strategies and design mechanisms aimed at mitigating acute inflammation to prevent host tissue damage.

Mechanically and chemically induced phase transitions in 2D materials offer access to new properties, opening up paths towards future applications. This Review summarizes the theoretical models and experimental processes for inducing phase transformations in 2D materials, especially graphene to 2D diamond, and examines the associated applications.

Architected materials are a class of materials with structures intermediate in scale between atomic arrangement and bulk dimensions; this additional degree of freedom enables unique properties and functionalities. This Review describes the state of the art in architected materials that are responsive to various stimuli.

Engineers have long sought to fabricate vascular networks to deliver oxygen and nutrients within engineered human tissues for regenerative medicine applications. This Review highlights how materials advances have enabled the development of vascular engineering approaches driven by both technology and nature.

2D materials hold promise as inks for printed technologies. This Review discusses ink formulation processes, from materials selection and deposition techniques to applications, and the perspectives for the commercialization of printed devices.

Flexible self-charging power sources harvest energy from the ambient environment and simultaneously charge energy-storage devices. This Review discusses different kinds of available energy devices, power management strategies and applications of power-source integration in soft electronics.

Defects have a key role in determining the functionality of solids and can make them powerful catalysts. This Review examines defect chemistry in metal oxides and discusses the role that charged defects and polarons have in enabling photoelectrochemical reactions.