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The adhesive proteins secreted by mussels are the inspiration behind a versatile approach to the surface modification of a wide range of inorganic and organic materials, resulting in the fabrication of multifunctional coatings for a variety of applications.
The structure of Nafion, the polymer electrolyte membrane used in some fuel cells, has been extensively debated over recent decades. Now, a model reveals the nanoscale arrangement that could explain the excellent transport properties of the material.
'Globalization' is familiar in the context of the international expansion of corporations, but what does it mean when applied to research and education? Nature Materials examines the visions of globalization from the Provost of Georgia Institute of Technology, the President of California Institute of Technology and the Director of New Business Development of Solvay.
Unearthed after millions of years, diamondoid molecules are being studied for their possible use in single-molecule transistors, for field-emission displays and for their downright fascinating electronic properties.
In a major departure from their humble origins as ultrathin monolayers, optical metamaterials have now advanced to three-dimensional bulk media exhibiting both electric and magnetic activity.
The 2007 Nobel prizes in both physics and chemistry stem from investigations into the properties of materials, but they share more in common than that.
