Reviews & Analysis

DNA origami nanostructures are useful constructs for biophysical and therapeutic studies. This Review discusses how these nanostructures are functionalized with bioactive conjugates, purified and characterized, and compares the advantages and limitations of these methods in the context of different applications.

Organic solar cells that are semitransparent in the visible and strongly absorbing in the near-infrared spectral regions present unique opportunities for applications in buildings and agriculture. This Review surveys recent progress in semitransparent organic photovoltaic devices and discusses strategies to optimize their efficiency, visible transparency, lifetime and scalability.

Investigating single-molecule reactions will deepen our understanding of chemical reactions and establish new frameworks in materials science. This Review summarizes the chemical reactions occurring in single-molecule junctions, discusses how they differ from reactions in the bulk, and explores the possibility of leveraging single-molecule catalysis for large-scale synthesis.

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.

Materials for extreme environments can help to protect people, structures and the planet. Extreme temperatures in aeroplane engines, hypervelocity micrometeoroid impacts on satellites, high-speed machining of ceramics and strong radiation doses in nuclear reactors are just some examples of extreme conditions that materials need to withstand. In this Viewpoint, experts working on materials for different types of extreme environments discuss the most exciting advances, opportunities and bottlenecks in their fields.

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.

One of the most advanced and challenging topics in modern reticular chemistry is structure multivariation. This Perspective defines the fundamentals of multivariation by considering sequences of chemical species as its true essence, thereby addressing the classification of multivariate structures and presenting new concepts for their analysis and application.

Machine learning is poised to accelerate the development of technologies for a renewable energy future. This Perspective highlights recent advances and in particular proposes Acc(X)eleration Performance Indicators (XPIs) to measure the effectiveness of platforms developed for accelerated energy materials discovery.

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.