Reviews & Analysis

Under specific conditions, molecular monolayers dissipate power more than they heat up at one end of a molecular junction, validating theoretical predictions of Peltier cooling.

Negative capacitance effect in a ferroelectric-based gate stack provides an effective solution for hysteresis-free steep-slope  operation in a MoS₂ field-effect transistor.

Tunnel junctions fabricated over a large area provide a platform for efficient generation and utilization of hot carriers.

Nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel and nintedanib induce synthetic lethality in endometrial cancer cells.

The microstate of geometrically frustrated two-dimensional arrays of strongly interacting nanomagnets is controlled by means of topological defect-driven magnetic writing, to the extent that elusive configurations such as the ground state and negative-temperature states are realized.

Integration of 2D semiconductor optoelectronics with silicon photonics opens a new path for on-chip point-to-point optical communications.

Thermally activated escape underlies processes in chemistry, physics and biology. Experiments with levitated nanoparticles now confirm the underlying theory in the hitherto unmapped turnover regime.

Lipid-motif-decorated DNA nanocapsules filled with photoresponsive polymers are capable of delivering signalling molecules into target organisms for biological perturbations at high spatiotemporal resolution.

The unique photoresponse of a porous silicon nanowire can be harnessed to make a highly efficient photon-gated transistor with an on–off ratio comparable to that of a conventional electronic switch.

A macroscopically homogeneous emulsion with bicontinuous microstructure is created by simple shaking of a mixture containing polymers, nanoparticles and two immiscible fluids.

Large DNA molecules are rapidly loaded into nanoscale wells from dilute solution for single-molecule sequencing.

Size matters when it comes to developing next-generation precision medications and diagnostic tools.

A thermally activated micromechanical switch delivers an electrical readout signal only when irradiated by a narrowband mid-infrared light, thanks to a metamaterial element that converts light into heat.

A superlattice of gold nanoparticles shows stable lasing at different frequencies.

Nanoparticles that capture antigens produced in situ by tumours induce the 'abscopal' effect, improving the treatment of distant cancer lesions.

An improved industrial manufacturability has been achieved for a hybrid water-treatment membrane that exhibits high water permeance, prolonged high salt and dye rejection under cross-flow conditions and better resistance to chlorine treatment.

The use of time-resolved X-ray microscopy allows a direct visualization of the magnetization switching for nanomagnets under the effect of spin–orbit torques.

One-dimensional microwave Bragg gratings make it possible to coherently control donor nuclear spins in silicon by purely electrical means.