Reviews & Analysis

Most materials expand when they are heated, but some contract instead. A record value of this effect — known as negative thermal expansion — has now been observed in magnetic nanocrystals.

Effective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes can be created by adding functional groups to carbon nanotubes.

The interplay between angular momentum, electron spin and magnetism at the nanoscale could have applications in spintronics, transducers and actuators, as well as fundamental research.

Producing large quantities of designer DNA nanostructures at low cost has been a long-standing challenge in nanobiotechnology. It is now possible with the aid of bacteria.

Carbon nanotubes are usually produced in samples that contain a mixture of different diameters and electronic properties; this is a problem for applications in nanoelectronics but is advantageous when generating ultrashort laser pulses.

Two teams of researchers have exploited defects in diamond to demonstrate a new approach to magnetic sensing and imaging at the nanoscale.

A new mathematical approach could lead to a better understanding of how events at the cellular level are related to the way the body functions.

As the evolution of new strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics continues, a nanomechanical approach to understanding the interactions between them could help efforts to develop new antibiotics.

Ion channels can be attached to certain types of protein receptors in cells to make a detector–switch pair that could be used in various sensing and screening applications.

Composites containing ultralong single-walled carbon nanotubes can be integrated with transistors to make stretchable and flexible electronic devices.

The mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes have not matched theoretical predictions in the past. New measurements have now confirmed that nanotubes are indeed as strong as theory suggests.

A catalytic reaction occurring on a single gold nanoparticle can be monitored directly with surface plasmon spectroscopy.

Nanoscale formulations of selenium can effectively capture mercury vapours from spills that could otherwise contaminate the air of homes and offices.

Two independent teams have shown that it is possible to produce stable suspensions of single-layer graphene from graphite crystals using chemical techniques.

Researchers have used a vibrating carbon nanotube to set a new record for nanomechanical mass sensing. Could this approach — currently being pursued by three independent groups — lead to a new type of mass spectrometer?