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Structural inversion asymmetry in magnetic materials leads to a dissipative chiral damping mechanism. This mechanism is evidenced in the field-driven domain-wall motion in perpendicularly magnetized asymmetric Pt/Co/Pt trilayers.
The efficient design of nanoporous materials crucially depends on understanding the mass transfer mechanism. Using micro-imaging techniques we now show that apparently identical crystals can exhibit different uptake rates.
The electronic interaction between deposited metal nanoparticles and their support material can influence their functionality. Here, a quantification of the charge transfer between platinum nanoparticles and a ceria support is presented.
The quasi-one-dimensional bismuth iodide β-Bi4I4 is theoretically predicted and experimentally confirmed to exhibit a (1;110) Z2 strong topological insulator phase.
The thermoelectric response of a fullerene–gold electrode single-molecule junction has been studied in a scanning tunnelling microscope. The junction exhibits positive and negative thermopower, dependent on molecule orientation and applied pressure.
The insertion of a few unit-cell-thick EuTiO3 layers at the interface between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 leads to the formation of an electric-field-tunable quasi-two-dimensional electron system where ferromagnetism and superconductivity coexist.
The interaction between graphene and the spins of molecular magnets grown on it has been studied. The coupling between graphene phonons, spins and Dirac fermions modifies—and may be used for controlling—the quantum spin dynamics.
Neutron scattering measurements provide evidence for strong coupling between stripe spin fluctuations, nematicity and superconductivity in single-crystalline FeSe.
Solvent-free, supersoft and superelastic polymer melts and networks made from bottlebrush macromolecules can display low modulus, high strain at break, and extraordinary elasticity.
A modified chemical vapour deposition set-up allowing extremely localized injection of carbon precursors on a Cu–Ni substrate is used for the fast growth of large-area single-crystalline monolayers of graphene.
The search for new materials that can improve the energy density of Li-ion batteries is technologically important. An electrochemically active compound with the composition Li4Mn2O5 exhibits an unprecedented discharge capacity of 355 mAh g−1.
Porous materials functionalized with catalytic metals typically possess single catalytic functionalities. The hierarchical ordering of porous silica for directed transport between compartmentalized catalytic regions is presented.
In polymer-based nanocomposites the polymeric phase is often confined between stiff inorganic phases. The effect of this confinement on mechanical properties is assessed.
Molybdenum disulphide is a promising non-precious catalyst for hydrogen evolution because it contains active edge sites and an inert basal plane. Introducing sulphur vacancies and strain now leads to activation and optimization of the basal plane.
A hydrogel-design strategy achieves transparent and conductive bonding of synthetic hydrogels to a variety of non-porous surfaces, with interfacial toughness values over 1,000 J m−2.
Band structures with Fermi arcs characteristic of Weyl semimetals are observed on NbP and TaP. By studying NbP, TaP and TaAs, the evolution of the Fermi surface with the spin–orbit coupling is reported.
Aggregations of fire ants are viscoelastic with identical elastic and viscous moduli, and exhibit shear-thinning behaviour when deformed beyond the linear regime.
Although rechargeable batteries that use light electropositive metal anodes are attractive, electrodeposition of calcium has proved difficult. Calcium plating at moderate temperatures using conventional organic electrolytes has now been demonstrated.