Ferroelectric phase stability is a pivotal challenge for fluorite-structure ferroelectrics. Using electron microscopy, a ferroelastically protected reversible polar-to-non-polar phase transition in ZrO₂ is observed and the critical strain state to break the reversibility is measured.

A light-induced polar electronic state is generated in Cr₂O₃; the symmetry reduction occurs on an ultrafast timescale, ruling out contributions from the lattice or spins.

Non-layered transition metal carbides (TMCs) and layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) can form various heterostructure configurations through chemical conversion. This Review highlights the progress in the fabrication and control of TMC/TMD heterostructures and the exotic properties arising from these interfaces.

Molecular materials for computing progress intensively but the performance and reliability still lag behind. Here the authors assess the current state of computing with molecular-based materials and describe two issues as the basis of a new computing technology: continued exploration of molecular electronic properties and process development for on-chip integration.

Combining resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy, an elementary excitation in hexagonal-boron-nitride-based single-photon emitters has been demonstrated, giving rise to multiple regular harmonics that can explain the wide frequency range of these emitters.

The authors report diode-like resistance in a non-magnetic topological insulator in the quantum Hall regime.

The turn-off time is generally faster than the turn-on time in accumulation mode organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), but the mechanism is less understood. Here the authors find different transient behaviours of turn-on and turn-off in accumulation mode OECTs, and ion transport is the limiting factor of device kinetics.

Ion exchange is a powerful method to access metastable materials for energy storage, but identifying lithium and sodium interchange in layered oxides remains challenging. Using such model materials, vacancy level and corresponding lithium preference are shown to be crucial for ion exchange pathway accessibility.

The authors report a modulation of the magnon spin current by electric polarization reversal.

Electric current pulses are used to move antiskyrmions, by coupling them with a helical track.

The scientific community has become more aware of issues surrounding reproducibility. We should remain cognizant that as we develop better understanding we can revise our knowledge of a problem and scientific findings that are considered valid today might not be in the future.

Misalignment-induced moiré patterns and chirality in two-dimensional materials offer vast opportunities for manipulating their properties, but they face challenges in synthesis and structural control.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry acknowledged work that paved the way to a nanotechnology worthy of the name.

M. I. Eremets, V. S. Minkov, A. P. Drozdov and P. P. Kong discuss the substantial progress made in discovering and developing near-room-temperature superconductivity in hydrogen-rich materials. They focus on achieving reproducibility under the challenging experimental conditions of megabar pressures.

With a continuing increase in scientific studies, there is a growing awareness of the need to reproduce scientific results.