Volume 16 Issue 3, March 2021

Selective growth of nanoporous metal–organic framework nanocrystals in the stacking defects of graphene oxide layers improves the mechanical integrity and water–solute selectivity of graphene oxide membranes.

In a simple bilayer structure, spin torque induced by a reduced crystal symmetry switches perpendicular magnetization reliably at zero magnetic field.

This Perspective reflects current understanding and future prospects of nanoscale biological recognition at the bio–nano interface and the opportunity that such insights provide for advancing nanoscale therapies. The authors describe the key mechanisms and propose a framework of principles that could guide future research efforts in the area.

Despite its high promise, there are still many challenges for CRISPR-mediated plant genetic engineering, yet nanotechnology can play an important role in lowering and possibly eliminating these challenges.

This Review presents a focused overview of nanosensor technology for ensuring the safety and quality of foods and discusses seven key challenges that are currently preventing their successful commercialization.

Successful nanomedicine approaches rely on the efficient cellular uptake of nanoparticles, yet endocytic mechanisms remain challenging to probe. In this Review the authors describe the different cellular endocytic pathways and provide a critical discussion of the available tools and systems for their study.

Spin–orbit torque in heavy metal/ferromagnet heterostructures is promising for all-electric control of magnetic memory, but has so far required an additional symmetry breaking in the design to switch perpendicular magnetization. Instead, a low symmetry at the interface can give rise to out-of-plane spin torque and switch the magnetization deterministically.

Hybrid quantum optomechanical systems interface a single two-level system with a macroscopic mechanical degree of freedom. In a microwire with a single embedded semiconductor quantum dot, not only can the wire vibration modulate the excitonic transition energy, but the optical drive of the quantum dot can also induce motion in the wire.

An ion-exchange reaction couples self-propelling ZnO nanorods and sulfonated polystyrene microbeads to create an aggregated swarm system capable of quorum sensing.

Manipulation of multiple connected quantum objects is mandatory for any scalable quantum information platform. Based on finely tuned virtual gate control, the integration of nearest-neighbour coupled semiconductor quantum dots in a 3 × 3 array enables 2D coherent spin control.

Single photons with high orbital angular momenta can act as higher order flying qubits, but efficient generation is scarce. The integration of a single quantum dot emitter into an on-chip mircoring resonator enables the generation of single photons in an orbital angular momentum superposition state.

Quantum computing requires fast and selective control of a large number of individual qubits while maintaining coherence, which is hard to achieve concomitantly. All-electrical operation of a hole spin qubit in a Ge/Si nanowire demonstrates the principle of switching from a mode of selective and fast control to idling with increased coherence.

The conductance of a six-nanometre molecular wire can be reproducibly modulated by a factor of more than 1 × 10⁴ at room temperature by enhancing destructive quantum interference amongst occupied molecular orbitals.

Graphene–insulator–metal heterostructures show three orders of magnitude enhancement of the third-harmonic generation with respect to the bare graphene case.

The ammonia was synthesized under ambient conditions via a mechanochemical method, reaching a final concentration of 82.5 vol%.

An incompletely etched Ti₂CT_x stack exhibits highly reversible hydrogen storage under near-ambient conditions by nanopump-effect-assisted weak chemisorption.

Highly stable and ultrapermeable membranes can be fabricated by the hybridization of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 and graphene oxide.

New mechanistic insights into nanoparticle–plant interactions show that specifically designed silica nanoparticles have the potential to serve as an inexpensive, highly efficient, safe and tracelessly degradable alternative for pesticides.