Chemistry articles within Communications Materials

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• Article
  23 September 2021 | Open Access

  Moisture tolerant solar cells by encapsulating 3D perovskite with long-chain alkylammonium cation-based 2D perovskite

  Moisture resistance is vital for commercializing perovskite solar cells. Here, long-chain alkylammonium cation-based 2D perovskites are used to coat 3D perovskite, enabling stable performance for six months with only a 20 % drop in power conversion efficiency.

  • Bhushan P. Kore
  • , Wei Zhang
  •  & James M. Gardner

• Article
  17 September 2021 | Open Access

  Viscoelastic behavior of chemically fueled supramolecular hydrogels under load and influence of reaction side products

  The mechanical properties of out-of-equilibrium, chemically fueled supramolecular materials are largely unexplored. Here, the effect of applied load and the concentration of reaction side products on the viscoelastic properties of chemically fueled supramolecular hydrogels is investigated.

  • Martin Kretschmer
  • , Benjamin Winkeljann
  •  & Oliver Lieleg

• Article
  03 August 2021 | Open Access

  Reducing crystallinity in solid polymer electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries via statistical copolymerization

  Polyethylene oxide is a common solid polymer electrolyte for solid-state lithium metal batteries. Here, statistical copolymerization is shown to be an effective approach to reduce its crystallinity, enabling a high ionic conductivity during room temperature battery operation.

  • Vincent St-Onge
  • , Mengyang Cui
  •  & Jerome P. Claverie

• Article
  20 July 2021 | Open Access

  Travelling colourful patterns in self-organized cellulose-based liquid crystalline structures

  Cellulose is a naturally occurring system of interest for its chiral macromolecular structure. Here, colourful structural patterns are observed in a cellulose-based lyotropic cholesteric system, attributed to conformational self-adjustment of the cellulose chain to its environment.

  • Pedro E. S. Silva
  • , Ricardo Chagas
  •  & Maria Helena Godinho

• Article
  13 July 2021 | Open Access

  Organic photostimulated luminescence associated with persistent spin-correlated radical pairs

  Materials that display photostimulated luminescence are attractive for multiple applications. Here, photostimulated luminescence is demonstrated in an all-organic blend film, in which a dopant molecule functions as both an electron trap and a light emitter.

  • Manabu Sakurai
  • , Ryota Kabe
  •  & Takashi Tachikawa

• Article
  01 July 2021 | Open Access

  Electron dynamics of tip-tunable oxygen species on TiO₂ surface

  Oxygen species on a TiO2 surface exist in different redox states, which can be switched between by electron tunneling with an atomic force tip. Here, a fast experimental setup enables statistically significant tunneling rates to be determined, revealing changes in electronic structure.

  • Yuuki Adachi
  • , Ján Brndiar
  •  & Lev Kantorovich

• Article
  21 June 2021 | Open Access

  Manipulation of parity and polarization through structural distortion in light-emitting halide double perovskites

  Halide perovskites recently attracted wide attention for light emitting applications. Here, octahedral distortion in halide double perovskites Cs₂AgMCl₆, induced by the mixture of trivalent M-cations Bi³⁺, In³⁺, and Sb³⁺, gives rise to enhanced white light emissivity and longer photoluminescence lifetimes.

  • Tamilselvan Appadurai
  • , Ravi Kashikar
  •  & Aravind Kumar Chandiran

• Article
  18 June 2021 | Open Access

  The moment of initial crystallization captured on functionalized nanoparticles

  Understanding the mechanism of supercooling suppression by crystallization seeds is important for designing semiclathrate hydrates for latent heat storage materials. Here, we show that 10-30 nm cluster formation around silver nanoparticles promotes crystallization of supercooled aqueous solutions.

  • Hironobu Machida
  • , Takeshi Sugahara
  •  & Izumi Hirasawa

• Article
  18 June 2021 | Open Access

  Adaptive bidirectional extracellular electron transfer during accelerated microbiologically influenced corrosion of stainless steel

  Microbiologically influenced corrosion is a major source of degradation of metals. Here, extracellular electron transfer is studied during pitting corrosion of stainless steel in the presence of an electroactive bacterium and a riboflavin electron shuttle, revealing bidirectional electron transfer.

  • Ziyu Li
  • , Weiwei Chang
  •  & Xiaogang Li

• Article
  18 June 2021 | Open Access

  Origin and control of ionic hydration patterns in nanopores

  The redistribution of water molecules when an ion passes through a nanopore is known to create complex patterns. Here, an analytical model accurately predicts the patterns when an ion passes through a graphene nanopore, and reveals the physical origins of the patterns.

  • Miraslau L. Barabash
  • , William A. T. Gibby
  •  & Peter V. E. McClintock

• Article
  11 June 2021 | Open Access

  Physical and chemical imaging of adhesive interfaces with soft X-rays

  Understanding adhesion mechanisms for polymer composites is challenging due to the bonded interface being buried. Here, soft X-rays are used to probe the chemical and physical nature of the interface, revealing multiscale factors that influence the adhesion mechanism and bond strength.

  • Hiroyuki Yamane
  • , Masaki Oura
  •  & Takaki Hatsui

• Article
  24 May 2021 | Open Access

  Fast in-situ X-ray scattering reveals stress sensitivity of gypsum dehydration kinetics

  Understanding the dehydration of gypsum is important for fluid-triggered earthquakes, and for its use in the construction industry. Here, x-ray scattering reveals that a small elastic load substantially accelerates dehydration kinetics, and is far more effective than applying heat.

  • Christoph Eckart Schrank
  • , Oliver Gaede
  •  & Andrzej P. Radliński

• Article
  21 May 2021 | Open Access

  Effect of different monomer precursors with identical functionality on the properties of the polymer network

  Understanding how monomers contribute to the properties of polymers is crucial. Here, molecular simulations reveal that polymer networks composed of chemically different monomers have several universal properties, and near-universal elastic moduli.

  • Ariana Torres-Knoop
  • , Verena Schamboeck
  •  & Ivan Kryven

• Article
  11 May 2021 | Open Access

  Residual polymer stabiliser causes anisotropic electrical conductivity during inkjet printing of metal nanoparticles

  Inkjet printed metal nanoparticles are known to have lower electrical conductivity than those produced by traditional approaches. Here, anisotropic electrical conductivity is attributed to organic residuals from the metal nanoparticle ink, reducing conductivity.

  • Gustavo F. Trindade
  • , Feiran Wang
  •  & Clive J. Roberts

• Review Article
  29 March 2021 | Open Access

  Intrinsic differences and realistic perspectives of lithium-sulfur and magnesium-sulfur batteries

  Magnesium-sulfur batteries offer several advantages compared to lithium-sulfur batteries, including a more stable anode and lower material costs. Here, the challenges and prospects for both classes of batteries are discussed, including their outlook for practical energy and cost levels.

  • Georg Bieker
  • , Verena Küpers
  •  & Martin Winter

• Article
  19 March 2021 | Open Access

  Machine learning autonomous identification of magnetic alloys beyond the Slater-Pauling limit

  Finding materials with large magnetization is highly desirable for technological applications. Here, a machine learning autonomous search and automated combinatorial synthesis reveal that multi-element alloys with Ir and Pt impurities have a magnetization exceeding the Slater-Pauling limit of Fe₇₅Co₂₅.

  • Yuma Iwasaki
  • , Ryohto Sawada
  •  & Masahiko Ishida

• Article
  24 February 2021 | Open Access

  Transient morphology of lithium anodes in batteries monitored by in operando pulse electron paramagnetic resonance

  Knowing the morphology of lithium anodes is important for designing batteries with long service life. Here, pulse electron paramagnetic resonance is used to monitor pulsed plating of lithium on a timescale of 100 ms, revealing transient morphology changes after the charging pulse ended.

  • Conrad Szczuka
  • , Jörg Ackermann
  •  & Josef Granwehr

• Article
  09 February 2021 | Open Access

  Molecular mechanisms of cell cryopreservation with polyampholytes studied by solid-state NMR

  Cellular cryopreservation is an important tool in modern biology. Here, previously reported polyampholyte cryoprotectants are studied by solid-state NMR, revealing the molecular mechanisms at play.

  • Kazuaki Matsumura
  • , Fumiaki Hayashi
  •  & Suong-Hyu Hyon

• Article
  28 January 2021 | Open Access

  Calcium-free double-layered cuprate superconductors with critical temperature above 100 K

  High-temperature superconductivity at above 100 K in cuprates is typically realized in materials containing multilayered CuO₂ planes separated by calcium. Here, critical temperatures of over 100 K are achieved in calcium-free double-layered cuprates, attributed to strontium-separated CuO₂ planes.

  • Hiroki Ninomiya
  • , Kenji Kawashima
  •  & Hiroshi Eisaki

• Article
  08 January 2021 | Open Access

  Flexible organic thin-film transistor immunosensor printed on a one-micron-thick film

  Flexible sensors that respond to chemical stimuli in the body are promising for personal health monitoring. Here, a flexible immunosensor is printed onto a 1 μm-thick film, which can detect an immunological protein marker.

  • Tsukuru Minamiki
  • , Tsuyoshi Minami
  •  & Shizuo Tokito

• Article
  04 January 2021 | Open Access

  Shaping and silane coating of a diamine-grafted metal-organic framework for improved CO₂ capture

  Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising for CO₂ capture. Here, the Mg₂(dobpdc) MOF is synthesized as micron-sized beads with a silane coating resulting in > 11 wt% CO₂ absorption, which is retained after three days in a humid environment at 140 °C.

  • Jong Hyeak Choe
  • , Jeoung Ryul Park
  •  & Chang Seop Hong

• Article
  25 November 2020 | Open Access

  Infrared response in photocatalytic polymeric carbon nitride for water splitting via an upconversion mechanism

  Photocatalysts with broad-spectrum light activation are needed for high efficiency water splitting. Here, an upconversion process in oxygen-doped carbon nitride nanosheets contributes to enhanced photocatalytic activity under both visible and infrared light.

  • Zhengyuan Jin
  • , Xiantao Jiang
  •  & Yu-Jia Zeng

• Article
  10 November 2020 | Open Access

  Misfit phase (BiSe)_1.10NbSe₂ as the origin of superconductivity in niobium-doped bismuth selenide

  Recently, Nb-doping of topological insulator Bi₂Se₃ has attracted much attention as a way to pursue topological superconductivity. Here, in contrast to previous reports, superconductivity in Nb_xBi₂Se₃ is found to arise from the misfit phase (BiSe)_1.10NbSe₂ and not from Nb intercalation into Bi₂Se₃.

  • Machteld E. Kamminga
  • , Maria Batuk
  •  & Simon J. Clarke

• Article
  04 November 2020 | Open Access

  Controlled steric selectivity in molecular doping towards closest-packed supramolecular conductors

  Anion-exchange doping allows high carrier densities in organic semiconductors but can be limited by host-guest steric effects. Here, these are analyzed, and high doping efficiency is realized for a specific combination of a polymer with sparse side-chains and a large dopant, forming a close-packed structure.

  • Shinya Kohno
  • , Yu Yamashita
  •  & Shun Watanabe

• Article
  02 October 2020 | Open Access

  Improved gravimetric energy density and cycle life in organic lithium-ion batteries with naphthazarin-based electrode materials

  Replacing metal electrodes in lithium-ion batteries with organic materials reduces environmental impact and might lead to high gravimetric capacity. Here, organic electrodes containing a naphthazarin-dimer skeleton achieve an initial capacity of 416 mAh g⁻¹ and energy density of 1.1 Wh g⁻¹ in a lithium-ion battery.

  • Masaru Yao
  • , Noboru Taguchi
  •  & Tetsu Kiyobayashi

• Article
  21 September 2020 | Open Access

  Proton-assisted electron transfer and hydrogen-atom diffusion in a model system for photocatalytic hydrogen production

  The chemical pathways by which photocatalytic hydrogen production occurs remain to be fully understood. Here, a model system is studied, composed of single atoms deposited on quantum dots, attached to a primary photocatalyst.

  • Yuanzheng Zhang
  • , Yunrong Dai
  •  & Michael R. Hoffmann

• Article
  12 August 2020 | Open Access

  Stabilization of a honeycomb lattice of IrO₆ octahedra by formation of ilmenite-type superlattices in MnTiO₃

  Atomically thin films are ideal candidate materials for realizing clean, long sought-after, Kitaev spin liquids. Here, a two-dimensional IrO₆ honeycomb lattice is stabilized within a MnTiO₃ ilmenite superlattice, inducing a suppression of antiferromagnetic order that suggests potential spin-liquid behavior.

  • Kei Miura
  • , Kohei Fujiwara
  •  & Atsushi Tsukazaki

• Article
  30 July 2020 | Open Access

  Integrating multiple materials science projects in a single neural network

  Traditionally, machine learning for materials science is based on database-specific models and is limited in the number of predictable parameters. Here, a versatile graph-based neural network can integrate multiple data sources, allowing the prediction of more than 40 parameters simultaneously.

  • Kan Hatakeyama-Sato
  •  & Kenichi Oyaizu

• Article
  10 July 2020 | Open Access

  Fluctuation X-ray diffraction reveals three-dimensional nanostructure and disorder in self-assembled lipid phases

  Emergent nanoscale order in organic materials is typically characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering. Here, angular fluctuations in the diffraction patterns are used to probe the 3D structure of self-assembled lipid membranes, revealing previously inaccessible details on the phase geometry.

  • Andrew V. Martin
  • , Alexander Kozlov
  •  & Connie Darmanin

• Article
  11 June 2020 | Open Access

  Instantaneous fibrillation of egg white proteome with ionic liquid and macromolecular crowding

  The applicability of protein fibrils as functional biomaterials is limited due to low scalability of production process, slow kinetics, and requirement of expensive purified proteins. Here, instantaneous production of protein fibrils from egg white proteome using cholinium tosylate as a fibrillation agent is shown, with the obtained fibrils displaying enhanced mechanical stiffness and cytocompatibility.

  • Pankaj Bharmoria
  • , Dibyendu Mondal
  •  & Mara G. Freire

• Article
  22 May 2020 | Open Access

  Hysteresis-less and stable perovskite solar cells with a self-assembled monolayer

  Common issues facing perovskite solar cells are current-voltage hysteresis and degradation during illumination. Here, a self-assembled monolayer is applied to an SnO₂ electron transport layer, helping to achieve hysteresis-less behavior and limited degradation after 1,000 hours of illumination.

  • Ganbaatar Tumen-Ulzii
  • , Toshinori Matsushima
  •  & Chihaya Adachi

• Article
  23 March 2020 | Open Access

  The +2 oxidation state of Cr incorporated into the crystal lattice of UO₂

  Uranium dioxide is commonly doped with chromium to improve its performance as a nuclear fuel. Here, with the aid of ab initio simulations and re-evaluation of experimental data, the oxidation state of chromium in the uranium dioxide lattice is identified as +2, not the widely believed +3.

  • Mengli Sun
  • , Joshua Stackhouse
  •  & Piotr M. Kowalski

• Article
  02 March 2020 | Open Access

  Nano-layer deposition of metal oxides via a condensed water film

  Nano-scale coatings are important for controlling the functional behavior of surfaces. Here, a deposition process in liquid hydrocarbons is reported for metal oxides, in which a thin water coating on the substrate reacts with chemical precursors, forming a nano-scale layer.

  • Ahmed M. Jasim
  • , Xiaoqing He
  •  & Yangchuan Xing