Materials chemistry articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Selective nanofiltration membranes with accurate molecular sieving offer a solution to recover rare metals and other valuable elements from brines but this demands the development of membranes with precise sub-nanometer pores surpassing those available today. Here, the authors report a scalable approach for membrane fabrication in which functionalized macrocycles are seamlessly oriented via supramolecular interactions during the interfacial polycondensation on a polyacrylonitrile support layer.

    • Shanshan Hong
    • , Maria Di Vincenzo
    •  & Suzana P. Nunes

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Supramolecular polymeric materials have exhibited attractive features such as self-healing, reversibility and stimuli-responsiveness but because of the weak bonding nature of most noncovalent interactions, constructing supramolecular polymer materials with high robustness remains challenging. Here, the authors describe the construction of highly robust stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymer networks by using only a tiny amount of metallacycles as the supramolecular crosslinkers.

    • Lang He
    • , Yu Jiang
    •  & Shijun Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The extrusion-based three-dimensional printing of polymers, metals, and composites requires elevated temperatures and may lead to diverse undesirable defects on printed parts. Here, the authors develop a vapor-induced phase separation printing technique to construct polymeric, metallic, and composite parts by using a polymer as a binder.

    • Marc Sole-Gras
    • , Bing Ren
    •  & Yong Huang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The construction of three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks for gas separation is challenging due to the similar physicochemical properties of the gas mixture. Here, the authors report functional three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks by fine-tunning the pore environment with pyridine units to achieve effective separation of ethane from ethylene.

    • Yang Xie
    • , Wenjing Wang
    •  & Cheng Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    This study introduces a Eu(II) single molecule magnet that exhibits slow magnetic relaxation at low temperatures. These results highlight the importance of the lanthanide ion’s crystal field in unlocking the magnet-like properties of Eu(II).

    • Dylan Errulat
    • , Katie L. M. Harriman
    •  & Muralee Murugesu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is challenging to achieve multicolor long-lived room temperature phosphorescence in intrinsic polymers, especially for white afterglow. Here, the authors report a strategy to obtain pure white afterglow micro-crosslinked polymers by covalently coupling different conjugated chromophores with precursors through a simple and rapid one-pot reaction.

    • Qingao Chen
    • , Lunjun Qu
    •  & Chaolong Yang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Porous coordination polymers (PCPs) are commonly used in gas separation processes but developing PCPs that work at high temperatures and feature both high uptake capacity and selectivity remains challenging. Here, the authors report diffusion-rate sieving of propylene/propane at 300 K by constructing a PCP whose global and local dynamics cooperatively govern the adsorption process via gate opening for propylene and diffusion regulation for propane.

    • Yan Su
    • , Ken-ichi Otake
    •  & Cheng Gu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Carbaporphyrin dimers, known for their interesting photophysical properties and application in metal-organic chemistry, generally contain two identical subunits. Here, the authors highlight the benefits that can accrue from breaking the inherent symmetry of carbaporphyrin dimers and details a new approach to creating heterobimetallic complexes.

    • Haodan He
    • , Jiyeon Lee
    •  & Xian-Sheng Ke

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The hydration of tricalcium aluminate is an important initial step in the structural build-up of Portland cement. Here the authors use ab initio and accelerated dynamics to describe the reactions and dynamics of this process at the molecular level.

    • Xing Ming
    • , Wen Si
    •  & Zongjin Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Laser-induced graphene (LIG) can be obtained via a practically convenient approach, but its amorphous characteristics limit its applications. Here, the authors report a flash Joule heating strategy to improve the crystalline quality and conductivity of LIG, leading to strain sensors with enhanced sensitivity.

    • Le Cheng
    • , Chi Shun Yeung
    •  & Ruquan Ye

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The realization of a BT.2020 blue emitter is challenging due to the spectral redshift associated with π-extension. Here, the authors report a multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter, exhibiting ultrapure deep-blue narrow emission and CIEy ≤ 0.05 exceeding 20% efficiency.

    • Junki Ochi
    • , Yuki Yamasaki
    •  & Takuji Hatakeyama

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Radioiodine capture from nuclear fuel waste and contaminated water sources is of environmental importance but technically challenging. Here, the authors report covalent organic frameworks with antiparallel eclipsed stacked structures with dynamic adsorption performance for iodine pollutants under various conditions.

    • Yinghui Xie
    • , Qiuyu Rong
    •  & Xiangke Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cocrystal engineering is a promising strategy for constructing multifunctional materials. Here, the authors describe nucleic-acid-base cocrystal systems with different colors of phosphorescence from their monomeric counterparts and high-temperature phosphorescence with antimicrobial effects and data encryption applications.

    • Wenqing Xu
    • , Guanheng Huang
    •  & David Lee Phillips

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Near-infrared small molecule dyes are attractive in biophotonics, but generally rely on expanded aromatic structures to achieve this redshift. Here the authors report the use of a ground state antiaromatic strategy for 14 aminofluorene dyes, and their use in imaging kidney injury.

    • Kui Yan
    • , Zhubin Hu
    •  & Fan Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Organic co-crystals are useful in the fabrication of functional materials, but it is challenging to achieve structural diversity of co-crystals. Here, the authors report nine sets of macrocycle cocrystals with diverse structures and stoichiometric ratios giving different luminescence properties.

    • Bin Li
    • , Lingling Liu
    •  & Chunju Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Starting from simple building blocks with specific molecular packing geometries, here, the authors synthesized structurally complex covalent organic framework COF-305 with nine different stereoisomers of its constituents showing specific sequences on topologically equivalent sites.

    • Lei Wei
    • , Xinyue Hai
    •  & Yingbo Zhao

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mask-free multi-photon lithography allows the straightforward fabrication of nanostructures, but high precision and good resolution can be challenging to achieve. Here, the authors report a combination of photo-inhibition and chemical quenchers for improved lithography performance.

    • Lingling Guan
    • , Chun Cao
    •  & Xu Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Biocompatible afterglow materials have potential in imaging applications, but are challenging to prepare. Here the authors report the development of carbon nanodots with near-infrared afterglow, and demonstrate their use in imaging for tumour resection.

    • Guang-Song Zheng
    • , Cheng-Long Shen
    •  & Chong-Xin Shan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Currently polyamide membranes fabricated by interfacial polymerization are limited by inherently negative charge as well as narrow charge tailoring window restricting the application of these membranes. Here, the authors report a facile ionic liquid-decoupled bulk/interfacial diffusion strategy to fabricate polyamide membranes which can transform on-demand from inherently negative to highly positive and near-neutral charge.

    • Bian-Bian Guo
    • , Chang Liu
    •  & Zhi-Kang Xu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Common stereolithography-based 3D printing relies on photopolymerization using photoinitiators. Here, the authors replace the conventional photoinitiators with low-cost, widely used thermal initiators to achieve 3D-printed objects.

    • Doron Kam
    • , Omri Rulf
    •  & Shlomo Magdassi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The efficient separation of iso-butene, an important raw material in chemical industry, remains challenging due to similar molecular properties of C4 olefins. Here, the authors report a sulfate-pillared adsorbent for the molecular sieving of iso-C4H8 from C4H6 and n-C4H8 with good benchmark uptake ratios and Henry’s selectivities.

    • Junhui Liu
    • , Hanting Xiong
    •  & Jun Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The separation and purification of C6 cyclic hydrocarbons by thermal distillation is an energy intensive process which may be replaced by alternative energy-efficient adsorptive techniques. Here, the authors report a chain-like coordination polymer which facilitates complete separation of benzene, cyclohexene, and cyclohexane via an ideal molecular sieving mechanism.

    • Feng Xie
    • , Lihang Chen
    •  & Jing Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In thermally stimulated phosphorescent materials a thermal stimulus inevitably quenches the emission due to intensive non radiative transition. Here, the authors report an abnormal thermally stimulated phosphorescence behavior in organic phosphors and show enhancement of phosphorescence and change of the emission color upon temperature increase.

    • He Wang
    • , Huili Ma
    •  & Zhongfu An

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Dielectric constant of non-fullerene acceptors plays a critical role in organic solar cells in terms of exciton dissociation and charge recombination. Here, authors report selenium substitution on central core of acceptors to improve dielectric constant, realizing devices with efficiency of 19.0%.

    • Xinjun He
    • , Feng Qi
    •  & Wallace C. H. Choy

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Reactive chiral systems have attracted much attention in biology, optoelectronics, and photonics; however, a comprehensive understanding of these systems remains incomplete. Here the authors show the reversible chirality of AuAgx-cys coordination polymers induced by pH changes.

    • Bing Ni
    • , Dustin Vivod
    •  & Helmut Cölfen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Water dispersible X-ray scintillators are highly desirable for multiple application scenarios. Zhang et al report the synthesis of new X-ray scintillator nanocrystals anchored on the surface of water dispersible halloysite nanotubes, enabling radiation exposure monitoring, flexible scintillator screens, and information encryption.

    • Hailei Zhang
    • , Bo Zhang
    •  & Richard Hoogenboom

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Discovery of 2D materials with useful electronic properties is challenging. Here, the authors use DFT to design a stable semiconducting 2D carbon allotrope for optoelectronic applications that has light charge carriers and unusual secondary bandgap.

    • Zhenzhe Zhang
    • , Hanh D. M. Pham
    •  & Rustam Z. Khaliullin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Color construction of black carbon fibers is a challenge due to their stable physicochemical properties. Here, the authors demonstrate the tunable structural color of carbon fibers endowed by the dynamic growth of carbon spheres using glucose.

    • Sijie Zhou
    • , Chunhua Zhang
    •  & Weilin Xu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Graphene oxide is in demand for various applications - however, this is complicated by changing physicochemical properties over time. Here, the authors show the intrinsic, metastable, and transient states of graphene oxide colloids upon ripening.

    • Hayato Otsuka
    • , Koki Urita
    •  & Katsumi Kaneko

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Environmentally adaptive hydrogels have great potential as soft robotics but achieving self-regulated reversal shape deformation in homogenous hydrogels under a constant stimulus is challenging. Here, the authors report responsive hydrogels functionalized with two photoswitchable spiropyrans that exhibit self-regulated transient deformation reversal when subjected to constant illumination.

    • Kexin Guo
    • , Xuehan Yang
    •  & Chuang Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Organic afterglow materials have potential in self-monitoring applications but it is challenging to design materials with desired properties. Here, the authors report the development of a lifetime tunable organic afterglow system for use in mechanical self-monitoring 3D printed structures.

    • Rongjuan Huang
    • , Yunfei He
    •  & Wei Huang

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