Reviews & Analysis

This Review provides an overview of experimental and theoretical methods for the understanding of thermal transport, summarizes recent progress in materials with ultrahigh (or low) thermal conductivities, and outlines strategies for the engineering of extreme thermal conductivity materials.

This Review highlights the progress that has been made in the development of diagnostic tools for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the fight against COVID-19.

Triple ionic–electronic conductors can be used in electrochemical devices, including fuel cells, membrane reactors and electrolysis cells. Current understanding in single-phase conductors including defect formation and conduction mechanisms are now discussed.

Magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene plays host to many interesting phenomena, including superconductivity. This Review highlights key research results in the field, points toward important open questions, and comments on the place of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene in the strongly correlated quantum matter world.

This Review highlights the recent emergence of stem-cell-derived embryo models for the purpose of advancing our understanding of mammalian embryology as well as their potential uses in regenerative and reproductive medicine.

This Review provides an overview of bioengineering technologies that can be harnessed to facilitate the culture, self-organization and functionality of human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids.

Exhaust emissions catalysts can be used for the removal of harmful pollutants. This Review explores synthesis routes and materials for advanced catalysts, and identifies grand challenges for the transformation of pollutants.

This Review summarizes recent progress in exploring the intrinsic magnetism of atomically thin van der Waals materials, manipulation of their magnetism by tuning the interlayer coupling, and device structures for spin- and valleytronic applications.

The development of perovskite emitters, their use in light-emitting devices, and the challenges in enhancing the efficiency and stability, as well as reducing the potential toxicity of this technology are discussed in this Review.

This Review highlights approaches used to generate somatic cell-derived organoids for modelling epithelial tissue to understand disease progression and how they are employed in preclinical drug screening.

Thermoplasmonics is based on the use of plasmonic nanoparticles as sources of heat remotely controlled by light. This Review discusses its current applications and challenges in a broad range of scientific fields, from nanomedicine to hot-electron chemistry and nanofluidics.

Electrochemical capacitors can store electrical energy harvested from intermittent sources and deliver energy quickly, but increased energy density is required for flexible and wearable electronics and larger equipment. Progress in materials and devices and key perspectives in this field are outlined.

This Review provides an overview of the advances in materials and device design that are enabling the realization of implantable electronic interfaces for long-term, multiplexed recording and stimulation of the brain and nervous system.

Organic semiconductors are making their way into applications ranging from display technology to flexible electronics and biomedical applications. This Review discusses current understanding of charge carrier transport in these materials and strategies to improve their performance.

Progress in utilizing spin current as a probe of quantum materials,—including topological insulators, superconductors, spin liquids, magnonic systems and spin superfluidity,—is reviewed.

Solid-state batteries are attractive due to their potential safety, energy-density and cycle-life benefits. Recent progress in understanding inorganic solid electrolytes considering multiscale ion transport, electrochemical and mechanical properties, and processing are discussed.

From optoelectronic to biomedical and energy storage applications, the interest in organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors is expanding. This Review describes current understanding of the processes occurring in these materials and their structure–property relations.

Spatially resolved electron microscopy techniques, such as cathodoluminescence and electron energy-loss spectroscopy can provide high space, energy and time resolutions for the structural and optical characterization of materials; this Review discusses recent progress and future directions in the field of nanophotonics.

This Review covers the basic physics of thermal emission, ways to engineer the thermal field radiated by hot objects in the far field and applications, such as thermophotovoltaics, radiative cooling, camouflage and privacy.

Integrating 3D bulk materials with 2D layered materials can harness promising properties and unique functions. This Review discusses the progress in the fabrication, physical coupling and potential applications of 3D/2D hybrid heterostructures.