Articles in 2016

Planar gradient metamaterials are a promising development, overcoming the limitations of both bulk and planar optics, and have been widely investigated in various domains. This Review summarizes recent progress made in the theoretical modelling, experimental implementation and design of functional devices that utilize these materials.

Implantable neuroprostheses communicate with the nervous system to provide diagnosis or therapy to the injured body. In this review, we discuss materials-based approaches to overcome the physical and mechanical mismatch at the tissue–implant interface and to design long-term neurointegrated prostheses.

Covalent organic frameworks are crystalline porous polymers with precisely ordered polygon architectures. In this Review we summarize recent advances in the design principles and synthetic reactions, highlight the current status in structural construction and functionality design, and predict challenging issues and future directions.

Reducing or even eliminating the need for precious-metal catalysts is crucial for the commercialization of clean energy technologies and various important industrial processes. Carbon materials have recently been shown to be cost-effective and efficient metal-free catalysts in clean energy generation and storage, environmental protection and chemical production.

Nanomedicine may have a delivery problem. Rigorous, realistic and holistic rethinking is needed to improve nanomedicine performance and increase patient benefit in cancer therapy.

Phosphorene is a 2D material exhibiting remarkable mechanical, electronic and optical properties. In this Review, we survey fabrication techniques and discuss theoretical and experimental findings, exploring phosphorene from its fundamental properties to its implementation in devices.

The energy extrema of an electronic band are referred to as valleys. In 2D materials, two distinguishable valleys can be used to encode information and explore other valleytronic applications.

Field-effect transistors (FETs) with semiconducting channels made from 2D materials are known to have fewer problems with short-channel effects than devices comprising 3D semiconductors. In this Review, a mathematical framework to evaluate the performance of FETs is outlined with a focus on the properties of 2D materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, phosphorene and silicene.

Heavy fermion systems are ideally suited to study strong electronic correlations. These fascinating materials are characterized by a clear separation of the relevant energy scales and may exhibit quantum critical points, non-Fermi-liquid behaviour and unconventional superconductivity coexisting or competing with magnetism.