Materials chemistry articles within Nature Communications

Featured

• Article
  05 August 2023 | Open Access

  Design of mechanical-robust phosphorescence materials through covalent click reaction

  Materials with room temperature phosphorescence that are mechanically robust are desirable, but can be challenging to obtain. Here, the authors report the combination of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chromophore molecules with layered double hydroxides for room temperature phosphorescent materials.

  • Rui Tian
  • , Shuo Gao
  •  & Chao Lu

• Article
  05 August 2023 | Open Access

  A stretchable, mechanically robust polymer exhibiting shape-memory-assisted self-healing and clustering-triggered emission

  Polymers formed with non-covalent bonds are increasingly being developed, but often show inferior mechanical properties. Here, the authors report the development of high performances polyurethane-urea elastomer with shape-memory assisted self-healing behaviour

  • Xiaoyue Wang
  • , Jing Xu
  •  & Xinrui Zhang

• Article
  01 August 2023 | Open Access

  Non-flammable solvent-free liquid polymer electrolyte for lithium metal batteries

  Although solid polymer electrolytes show promise as alternatives to organic liquid electrolytes, they are hampered by interface and ionic conduction issues. Here, the authors develop a solvent-free liquid polymer electrolyte to enhance the safety and electrochemical performance of lithium metal batteries.

  • Guo-Rui Zhu
  • , Qin Zhang
  •  & Yu-Zhong Wang

• Article
  26 July 2023 | Open Access

  Achieving tissue-level softness on stretchable electronics through a generalizable soft interlayer design

  Stretchable electronics are attractive for a range of biomedical applications, but are challenging to prepare with suitable mechanical properties. Here, the authors report the use of a soft interlayer that allows the development of stretchable electronics with tissue-like material properties.

  • Yang Li
  • , Nan Li
  •  & Sihong Wang

• Article
  26 July 2023 | Open Access

  Confining charge-transfer complex in a metal-organic framework for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction in water

  Maji and coworkers report the selective conversion of CO₂ to CH₄ under visible light by utilizing a charge transfer complex within Zr-MOF-808 pores. The complex ultimately facilitates efficient multielectron reduction at the Zr-catalytic center.

  • Sanchita Karmakar
  • , Soumitra Barman
  •  & Tapas Kumar Maji

• Article
  25 July 2023 | Open Access

  Preventing cation intermixing enables 50% quantum yield in sub-15 nm short-wave infrared-emitting rare-earth based core-shell nanocrystals

  Controlling cation intermixing in rare-earth based core-shell nanomaterials is a key strategy to improve the emission properties. Here the authors address this challenge by controlling the growth of heterogeneous structures, obtaining 50% short-wavelength infrared quantum yield in sub-15 nm Ce-doped α-NaYF4:Yb:Er@CaF₂ nanocrystals.

  • Fernando Arteaga Cardona
  • , Noopur Jain
  •  & Damien Hudry

• Article
  24 July 2023 | Open Access

  Giant uniaxial negative thermal expansion in FeZr₂ alloy over a wide temperature range

  Negative thermal expansion alloys possess an important role in regulating thermal expansion. Here, the authors report a giant uniaxial negative thermal expansion, mainly driven by high-frequency optical branches, in metallic FeZr₂ from 93 to 1078 K.

  • Meng Xu
  • , Qiang Li
  •  & Jun Chen

• Article
  22 July 2023 | Open Access

  Durable organic nonlinear optical membranes for thermotolerant lightings and in vivo bioimaging

  Organic nonlinear optical materials have potential in applications such as bioimaging, but tend to have low photoluminescent quantum yields and are prone to aggregation-caused quenching. Here, the authors report a host-guest approach for improving the luminescent properties of these materials.

  • Tian Tian
  • , Yuxuan Fang
  •  & Wu-Qiang Wu

• Article
  20 July 2023 | Open Access

  Polarization conversion in bottom-up grown quasi-1D fibrous red phosphorus flakes

  Fibrous red phosphorus (RP) has recently attracted attention due to its quasi-1D van der Waals structure and anisotropic optical properties. Here, the authors report the bottom-up growth of RP flakes via a chemical vapor transport method and their application as micro phase retarders in polarization conversion.

  • Zhaojian Sun
  • , Wujia Chen
  •  & Qingfeng Yan

• Article
  20 July 2023 | Open Access

  Order–disorder and ionic conductivity in calcium nitride-hydride

  The detailed structures of two calcium nitride-hydride phases (Ca₂NH) are explored and connected to their respective ionic conductivity. These materials have previously been investigated as a co-catalysts/support material for ammonia synthesis.

  • G. J. Irvine
  • , Ronald I. Smith
  •  & J. T. S. Irvine

• Article
  19 July 2023 | Open Access

  Biodegradable polyphosphoester micelles act as both background-free ³¹P magnetic resonance imaging agents and drug nanocarriers

  MRI agents can result in environmental pollution and organ accumulation. Here, the authors show that modifying the molecular structure of biodegradable polyphosphoesters and tailoring the polymers’ microstructure to adjust MRI relaxation times can overcome challenges in ³¹P MR imaging.

  • Olga Koshkina
  • , Timo Rheinberger
  •  & Frederik R. Wurm

• Article
  18 July 2023 | Open Access

  Liquid-in-liquid printing of 3D and mechanically tunable conductive hydrogels

  Three-dimensional conductive hydrogels have promise in bioelectronics, yet achieving the desired conductivity and mechanical properties in 3D structured hydrogels is challenging. Here, the authors report a liquid-in-liquid 3D printing process for preparation of desirable PEDOT:PSS hydrogels.

  • Xinjian Xie
  • , Zhonggang Xu
  •  & Wenqian Feng

• Article
  17 July 2023 | Open Access

  Light-triggered multi-joint microactuator fabricated by two-in-one femtosecond laser writing

  Micrometer scale soft robots integrating multiple microjoints to achieve multideformation modalities are desirable owing to their potential applications. Here the authors develop microactuators possessing multi-deformable microjoints composed of hydrogel and metal nanoparticles printed by a two-in-one femtosecond laser strategy and providing short response times and low actuation power.

  • Chen Xin
  • , Zhongguo Ren
  •  & Dong Wu

• Article
  15 July 2023 | Open Access

  Soft corrugated channel with synergistic exclusive discrimination gating for CO₂ recognition in gas mixture

  Developing porous systems with high molecular recognition performance can be challenging. Here the authors present a corrugated channel system that cooperatively responds to only CO₂ molecules over nine other similar gas molecules.

  • Yifan Gu
  • , Jia-Jia Zheng
  •  & Susumu Kitagawa

• Article
  14 July 2023 | Open Access

  Symmetry-breaking dynamics in a tautomeric 3D covalent organic framework

  Controlling the ketoenamine-enolimine tautomerism and correlating their structure to photoelectronic properties remains challenging in organic solids. Here, the authors show tautomerization in a crystalline dynamic 3D covalent organic framework (dynaCOF) through host-guest interactions leading to reversible framework deformation accompanied by chromic effects which can be used in chemosensing.

  • Yangyang Xu
  • , Tu Sun
  •  & Yue-Biao Zhang

• Article
  14 July 2023 | Open Access

  Breathing porous liquids based on responsive metal-organic framework particles

  Responsive liquid systems which exhibit a breathing behaviour and show step-shaped gas sorption isotherms, akin to the distinct oxygen saturation curve of haemoglobin in blood have been developed. Their breathing behaviour upon sorption of industrially relevant gases is demonstrated.

  • Athanasios Koutsianos
  • , Roman Pallach
  •  & Sebastian Henke

• Article
  13 July 2023 | Open Access

  Construction of room temperature phosphorescent materials with ultralong lifetime by in-situ derivation strategy

  Room temperature phosphorescence materials have been widely investigated, but promotion of the triplet exciton is still challenging. Here, the authors report an in-situ derivation strategy to promote the generation and stabilization of triplet excitons.

  • Qinglong Jia
  • , Xilong Yan
  •  & Ligong Chen

• Article
  13 July 2023 | Open Access

  Aggregation-regulated room-temperature phosphorescence materials with multi-mode emission, adjustable excitation-dependence and visible-light excitation

  Room temperature phosphorescent materials have potential in a range of applications, but it is challenging to achieve multiple emission and excitation modes. Here, the authors report the development of RTP materials with different emission modes by regulating the aggregation state.

  • Jingxuan You
  • , Xin Zhang
  •  & Jun Zhang

• Article
  13 July 2023 | Open Access

  Mesoporous multimetallic nanospheres with exposed highly entropic alloy sites

  Nanostructured materials made from multimetal alloys are attractive for catalytic applications. Here, the authors propose a soft-templating approach to prepare mesoporous PtPdRhRuCu nanospheres that feature exposed porous structures rich in highly entropic alloy sites.

  • Yunqing Kang
  • , Ovidiu Cretu
  •  & Yusuke Yamauchi

• Article
  13 July 2023 | Open Access

  The host–guest inclusion driven by host-stabilized charge transfer for construction of sequentially red-shifted mechanochromic system

  The understanding of the structure-property relationship of mechanochromic luminescent molecules remains challenging. Here, the authors elucidate the effect of host-guest interactions on the mechanochromic properties of organic molecules.

  • Dongdong Sun
  • , Yong Wu
  •  & Simin Liu

• Article
  07 July 2023 | Open Access

  Accessing parity-forbidden d-d transitions for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction driven by infrared light

  This study demonstrates the effectiveness and generality of utilizing ultrathin Cu-based hydrotalcite-like hydroxy salts as catalysts for infrared light-driven CO₂ reduction based on their d-d orbital transition mechanism.

  • Xiaodong Li
  • , Li Li
  •  & Xinliang Feng

• Article
  03 July 2023 | Open Access

  Understanding the unique S-scheme charge migration in triazine/heptazine crystalline carbon nitride homojunction

  Here, the authors reveal how interfacial electron migration occurs in S-scheme crystalline carbon nitrides by applying several dynamic in situ characterization and theoretical calculations.

  • Fang Li
  • , Xiaoyang Yue
  •  & Quanjun Xiang

• Article
  30 June 2023 | Open Access

  Innovative design of minimal invasive biodegradable poly(glycerol-dodecanoate) nucleus pulposus scaffold with function regeneration

  Minimally invasive implants have potential in treating intervertebral disc degeneration, but providing sufficient mechanical support is challenging. Here, the authors report the development of a nucleus pulposus scaffold, with properties designed to match those of native nucleus pulposus.

  • Lizhen Wang
  • , Kaixiang Jin
  •  & Yubo Fan

• Article
  30 June 2023 | Open Access

  Accelerating the prediction and discovery of peptide hydrogels with human-in-the-loop

  Accurate prediction of peptidic hydrogels could prove useful for diverse biomedical applications. Here, the authors develop a “human-in-the-loop” approach that integrates coarse-grained molecular dynamics, machine learning, and experimentation to design natural peptide hydrogels.

  • Tengyan Xu
  • , Jiaqi Wang
  •  & Huaimin Wang

• Article
  29 June 2023 | Open Access

  Hierarchical conductive metal-organic framework films enabling efficient interfacial mass transfer

  Heterogeneous reactions associated with porous films are vital in nature and industry. A hierarchical-structure-accelerated interfacial dynamic strategy is reported to improve interfacial gas transfer on conductive metal-organic framework films.

  • Chuanhui Huang
  • , Xinglong Shang
  •  & Renhao Dong

• Article
  24 June 2023 | Open Access

  Regulating the proximity effect of heterocycle-containing AIEgens

  Proximity effect (PE) can impact the behaviour of heterocyclic luminogens, but is rarely used to manipulate the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) related properties. Here, the authors systematically illustrate the impacts of PE and AIE on luminescent behaviors.

  • Jianyu Zhang
  • , Yujie Tu
  •  & Ben Zhong Tang

• Article
  24 June 2023 | Open Access

  Temperature-dependent rearrangement of gas molecules in ultramicroporous materials for tunable adsorption of CO₂ and C₂H₂

  Guest clusters within confined nanospaces have a significant impact on molecular recognition. Here authors highlight the potential to systematically control gas-cluster rearrangement, leading to tunable sorption and separation behaviour in a MOF.

  • Zhaoqiang Zhang
  • , Yinlin Chen
  •  & Dan Zhao

• Article
  23 June 2023 | Open Access

  Light-driven self-assembly of spiropyran-functionalized covalent organic framework

  Controlling the number of molecular switches and their relative positioning within porous materials is critical to their functionality and properties. Here the authors systematically control the number of spiropyran units in a covalent organic framework using a mixed-linker synthetic strategy which resulted in one photoresponsive unit per pore.

  • Gobinda Das
  • , Thirumurugan Prakasam
  •  & Ali Trabolsi

• Article
  23 June 2023 | Open Access

  Colloid driven low supersaturation crystallization for atomically thin Bismuth halide perovskite

  It is challenging to grow atomically thin non-van der Waals perovskites due to strong electronic coupling between adjacent layers. Here authors present the growth of perovskite single crystal nanosheets using a low supersaturation crystallisation strategy.

  • Lutao Li
  • , Junjie Yao
  •  & Guifu Zou

• Article
  22 June 2023 | Open Access

  Asymmetric transformation of achiral gold nanoclusters with negative nonlinear dependence between chiroptical activity and enantiomeric excess

  Atomically precise metal nanoclusters provide an ideal platform for studying chirality at the nanoscale. Here, the authors use a phosphoramidite ligand as a chiral inducer to asymmetrically transform achiral into chiral gold nanoclusters with negative nonlinear CD-ee dependence.

  • Chang Liu
  • , Yan Zhao
  •  & Man-Bo Li

• Article
  20 June 2023 | Open Access

  Voltage-driven control of single-molecule keto-enol equilibrium in a two-terminal junction system

  Keto-enol tautomerism offers a promising platform for modulating charge transport at the nanoscale. Here, the authors show that the keto-enol equilibrium can be modulated on the single-molecule scale by controlling charge injection in a two-terminal junction system.

  • Chun Tang
  • , Thijs Stuyver
  •  & Wenjing Hong

• Article
  19 June 2023 | Open Access

  Collective photothermal bending of flexible organic crystals modified with MXene-polymer multilayers as optical waveguide arrays

  Organic crystals represent potential alternatives to silicon dioxide due to their high flexibility and controllable properties. Here, the authors prepared a hybrid organic crystal material that responds mechanically to infrared light.

  • Xuesong Yang
  • , Linfeng Lan
  •  & Hongyu Zhang

• Article
  17 June 2023 | Open Access

  Morphogenesis of starfish polymersomes

  Polymeric vesicles are promising candidates for use in a range of applications including drug delivery and cell mimics, however, control over the shape is still a challenge. Here, the authors report control over local curvature formation by addition of salt ions and stimuli responsive polymer to modulate its interaction with polymeric membrane.

  • Jiawei Sun
  • , Sandra Kleuskens
  •  & Daniela A. Wilson

• Article
  14 June 2023 | Open Access

  All-organic polymeric materials with high refractive index and excellent transparency

  The easy preparation of high efractive index transparent polymers is highly desirable owing to their interesting optoelectronic applications. Here, the authors apply an organobase catalyzed polymerization of bromoalkynes and dithiophenols to produce sulfur-containing all organic high refractive index polymers with excellent optical transparency.

  • Jie Zhang
  • , Tianwen Bai
  •  & Ben Zhong Tang

• Article
  10 June 2023 | Open Access

  Site-specific fabrication of a melanin-like pigment through spatially confined progressive assembly on an initiator-loaded template

  Melanin-like materials are becoming important for surface biofunctionalization due to versatile adhesion, but are challenging to prepare in a site-specific manner. Here, the authors report a method using progressive assembly on a catalytic template, for site-specific fabrication and patterning of melanin-like pigments.

  • Haejin Jeong
  • , Jisoo Lee
  •  & Seonki Hong

• Article
  09 June 2023 | Open Access

  Energy conversion and storage via photoinduced polarization change in non-ferroelectric molecular [CoGa] crystals

  Energy harvesting by utilizing optical control has emerged as a promising solution to alleviate energy and environmental crisis. However, it is challenging to realise nano-scale energy storage and conversion in the same material. Here the authors report a nonferroelectric molecular [CoGa] crystal that uses light as an external stimulus to exhibit photoenergy conversion and energy storage properties.

  • Pritam Sadhukhan
  • , Shu-Qi Wu
  •  & Osamu Sato

• Article
  09 June 2023 | Open Access

  An approach to MOFaxanes by threading ultralong polymers through metal–organic framework microcrystals

  Mechanically interlocked architectures inspired the fabrication of numerous molecular systems, but the topological design of such architectures has not been fully explored from the nano- to the macroscopic scale. Here, the authors propose a MOFaxane, comprised of long chain molecules penetrating a microcrystal of metal– organic framework.

  • Tomoya Iizuka
  • , Hiroyuki Sano
  •  & Takashi Uemura

• Article
  08 June 2023 | Open Access

  Enantioselective synthesis of chiral quinohelicenes through sequential organocatalyzed Povarov reaction and oxidative aromatization

  Heterohelicenes are of increasing importance in materials science but organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of these molecules remains challenging. Here, the authors synthesize enantioenriched 1-(3-indol)-quino[n]helicenes through chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed Povarov reaction followed by oxidative aromatization and explore the photochemical and electrochemical properties of these compounds.

  • Chengwen Li
  • , Ying-Bo Shao
  •  & Xin Li

• Article
  08 June 2023 | Open Access

  Pore partition in two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks

  The development of ultramicroporous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) remains a daunting challenge. Here, the authors report a pore partition strategy, which allows for the segmentation of mesopores of COFs into multiple uniform ultramicroporous domains.

  • Xiaoyi Xu
  • , Xinyu Wu
  •  & Ning Huang

• Article
  07 June 2023 | Open Access

  A porous metal-organic cage liquid for sustainable CO₂ conversion reactions

  Preparation of porous liquids are fluids with the permanent porosity still requires complicated and tedious use of porous hosts and bulky liquids. Here, the authors develop a facile method to produce a porous metal-organic cage liquid by self-assembly of long polyethylene glycolimidazolium chain functional linkers, calixarene molecules and Zn ions.

  • Chang He
  • , Yu-Huang Zou
  •  & Yuan-Biao Huang

• Article
  06 June 2023 | Open Access

  Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties

  Growth constitutes a powerful method to post-modulate materials’ structures and functions without compromising their mechanical performance for sustainable use, but the process is irreversible. To address this issue, the authors here report a growing-degrowing strategy that enables thermosetting materials to either absorb or release components for continuously changing their sizes, shapes, compositions, and a set of properties simultaneously.

  • Xiaozhuang Zhou
  • , Yijun Zheng
  •  & Jiaxi Cui

• Article
  05 June 2023 | Open Access

  Ambient-conditions spinning of functional soft fibers via engineering molecular chain networks and phase separation

  Producing functional soft fibers via existing spinning methods is environmentally and economically costly due to the complexity of spinning equipment, involvement of copious solvents, intensive consumption of energy. Here, the authors report a nonsolvent vapor-induced phase separation spinning approach under ambient conditions, which resembles the native spider silk fibrillation’.

  • Songlin Zhang
  • , Mengjuan Zhou
  •  & Swee Ching Tan

• Article
  03 June 2023 | Open Access

  Multi-compartmental MOF microreactors derived from Pickering double emulsions for chemo-enzymatic cascade catalysis

  The cell-like structures and the ability of assembling catalytic species are interesting features of bioinspired multicompartment architectures but it remains a challenge to build them. Here, the authors describe a Pickering double emulsion-directed interfacial synthesis to fabricate multi-compartmented metal-organic framework microreactors. The cell-like structures and the ability of assembling catalytic species are interesting features of bioinspired multicompartment architectures but it remains a challenge to build them. Here, the authors describe a Pickering double emulsion-directed interfacial synthesis to fabricate multi-compartmented metal-organic framework microreactors.

  • Danping Tian
  • , Ruipeng Hao
  •  & Hengquan Yang

• Article
  03 June 2023 | Open Access

  On the role of history-dependent adsorbate distribution and metastable states in switchable mesoporous metal-organic frameworks

  Switchable porous materials offer adaptive voids mutating in size and shape in response to molecular stimuli. Here authors use PFG NMR to reveal the decisive role of metastable states leading to counterintuitive negative gas adsorption transitions in responsive MOFs.

  • Francesco Walenszus
  • , Volodymyr Bon
  •  & Muslim Dvoyashkin

• Article
  30 May 2023 | Open Access

  Facile conversion of water to functional molecules and cross-linked polymeric films with efficient clusteroluminescence

  Synthetic approaches that employ water to produce functional molecules and polymers with clusteroluminescence properties are highly desirable but not yet reported. Here, the authors apply a water-involved reaction and interfacial polymerization strategy to synthesize nonaromatic molecules and cross-linked polymer films that emit visible light.

  • Bo Song
  • , Jianyu Zhang
  •  & Ben Zhong Tang

• Article
  30 May 2023 | Open Access

  Polycage membranes for precise molecular separation and catalysis

  The evolution of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry requires effective and less energy intensive separation technologies but engineering materials at a large scale with tunable properties for molecular separation is challenging. Here, the authors report a thin film composite membranes prepared by the interfacial polymerization of porous organic cages.

  • Xiang Li
  • , Weibin Lin
  •  & Suzana P. Nunes

• Article
  29 May 2023 | Open Access

  Photonic crystals with rainbow colors by centrifugation-assisted assembly of colloidal lignin nanoparticles

  Photonic crystals are often prepared by assembly of particles into periodically arranged structures, but it is challenging to fabricate these materials using lignin nanoparticles. Here, the authors report the use of centrifugation to fabricate photonic crystals with rainbow structural colors.

  • Jinrong Liu
  • , Mathias Nero
  •  & Mika H. Sipponen

• Article
  27 May 2023 | Open Access

  Photoinhibiting via simultaneous photoabsorption and free-radical reaction for high-fidelity light-based bioprinting

  ‘Light-based bioprinting is employed in the fabrication of complex constructs but achieving high resolution remains challenging due to light scattering effects. Here, the authors develop a photoinhibiting additive which suppresses light scattering and demonstrate printing of functional scaffolds

  • Ning He
  • , Xiaonan Wang
  •  & Xiaoxiao Han

• Article
  26 May 2023 | Open Access

  Bidirectional thermo-regulating hydrogel composite for autonomic thermal homeostasis

  Developing materials which mimic thermal homeostasis is limited by complicated fabrication steps or unidirectional temperature transport. Here, the authors develop a homeostatic hydrogel that shows improved heat trapping at low temperatures, and enhanced evaporative cooling at high temperatures.

  • Gyeongsuk Park
  • , Hyunmin Park
  •  & Steve Park

• Article
  25 May 2023 | Open Access

  Fabricating strong and tough aramid fibers by small addition of carbon nanotubes

  High-performance fibers are promising materials in the impact protection field but fabricating fibers with high strength and high toughness is challenging. Here, the authors polymerize carbon nanotubes into aramid fibers to simultaneously improve strength and toughness.

  • Jiajun Luo
  • , Yeye Wen
  •  & Jin Zhang