Materials chemistry articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    The neurotoxicity of organophosphate compounds damages nerve system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) expression, but it is difficult to overcome the deactivation of AChE. Here, the authors report the design of Lewis acid sites in metal-organic frameworks as AChE mimics for effective neuroprotection.

    • Weiqing Xu
    • , Xiaoli Cai
    •  & Chengzhou Zhu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The development of efficient adsorbents to capture iodine originating from radioactive wastes is of importance. Here, the authors synthesize hexacationic imidazolium organic cages and study the crucial role of the counter anions for iodine capture and the iodine binding modes at the molecular level on the solid state.

    • Jian Yang
    • , Shao-Jun Hu
    •  & Qing-Fu Sun

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Due to the complexity of living systems, it is challenging to identify the factors influencing the formation of native heterogeneous structures. Here, the authors employ flexible polymer networks with embedded stiff cellulose nanocrystals to simulate heterogeneous core-sheath structures interrelated with the divergence of Deborah number.

    • Dan Xu
    • , Yang Yang
    •  & Kai Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    3D ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOF) are used in the fabrication of membranes breaking the trade-off between ion conductivity and ion selectivity is challenging. Here, the authors report the fabrication of a 3D sulfonic acid-functionalized iCOF membrane for efficient and selective ion transport, using dual acid-mediated interfacial polymerization

    • Tianhao Zhu
    • , Yan Kong
    •  & Zhongyi Jiang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Three-dimensional structures with micro-/nanoscale features can be produced by two-photon polymerization lithography but suffering from a non-uniform shrinkage. Here, the authors report a poly(vinyl alcohol)-assisted pick-and-place process to uniformly heat shrink three-dimensional micro-/nano-architected materials printed by two-photon polymerization lithography.

    • Tomohiro Mori
    • , Hao Wang
    •  & Joel K. W. Yang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The mechanical and thermal properties of semicrystalline polymers are governed by the hierarchical structure comprising lamellar crystals, but the tilt angles of the molecular chains in the lamellae and their origin remains controversial. Here, the authors report a direct determination of molecular chain orientation in the lamellar crystals of high-density polyethylene using electron-diffraction based imaging with nanometre-scale positional resolution.

    • Shusuke Kanomi
    • , Hironori Marubayashi
    •  & Hiroshi Jinnai

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Designing optoelectronic synapses having a multispectral color-discriminating ability is crucial for neuromorphic visual system. Here, the authors propose an strategy to introduce RGB color-discriminating synaptic functionality into a 2-terminals memristor regardless of switching medium and design a color image-recognizing CNN and light-programmable reservoir computing.

    • Jongmin Lee
    • , Bum Ho Jeong
    •  & Hui Joon Park

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Dispersion of colloidal particles in water or oil is desired for industrial and environmental applications but it often strongly depends on indispensable assistance of chemical surfactants or introduction of nanoprotrusions onto the particle surface. Here, the authors demonstrate the omnidispersity of hydrophilic-hydrophobic heterostructure particles, synthesized by a surface heterogeneous nanostructuring strategy.

    • Yongyang Song
    • , Jiajia Zhou
    •  & Shutao Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The performance of membrane desalination of seawater is hampered by fouling. Here the authors develop smart gating hybrid membranes by surface coating with polymer-embedded thermosalient crystals. These membranes enhance pure water flux by over 40% in saltwater desalination by osmotic distillation.

    • Elvira Pantuso
    • , Ejaz Ahmed
    •  & Gianluca Di Profio

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The nanoparticle-polymer interface plays a key role in nanoparticle-polymer composites but understanding the structures and properties of the interfacial region remains challenging. Here, the authors directly observe the presence of two interfacial polymer layers around a nanoparticle in polar polymers with different polar molecular conformations from the bulk polymer leading to an enhancement in polarity-related properties of polymer nanocomposites

    • Xinhui Li
    • , Shan He
    •  & Ce-Wen Nan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Chiral receptors with an endo-functionalized cavity for chiral recognition are of interest in the field of molecular recognition. Here, the authors develop chiral naphthotubes containing a bis-thiourea endo-functionalized cavity to effectively recognize neutral chiral molecules with high enantioselectivity.

    • Song-Meng Wang
    • , Yan-Fang Wang
    •  & Liu-Pan Yang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Embolization is one of the most promising strategies for clinical disease treatments, however, the existing embolic materials normally have poor embolization effectiveness. Here, the authors report Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplets by programming the self-assembly of Janus particles at the lipiodol-water interface to achieve highly efficient renal embolization.

    • Sijian Tao
    • , Bingquan Lin
    •  & Jun-Bing Fan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Effective energy transfer and suppressed dopant aggregation is critical for realizing efficient organic light-emitting diodes. Here, the authors report six host materials capable of exhibiting enhanced thermal stability and film-formation behavior, demonstrating efficiency of over 30% at 1000 cd/m2.

    • Dongmin Park
    • , Seokwoo Kang
    •  & Soo Young Park

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Fibrous networks constructed from high aspect ratio protein building blocks are ubiquitous in nature, but the functional advantage of such building blocks over globular proteins is not understood. Here, using shear rheology and small-angle neutron scattering, the authors characterise the mechanical and structural properties of photochemically crosslinked protein L and fibrin networks and show that aspect ratio is a crucial property that defines network architecture and mechanics.

    • Matt D. G. Hughes
    • , Sophie Cussons
    •  & Lorna Dougan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The 3D/4D printing of shape memory polymers to create shape-morphing structures typically goes through a hot programming step possessing limited reconfigurability. Here the authors introduce a cold-programmed grayscale digital light processing-based 3D printing to encode different configurations during the 3D printing of shape-morphing structures.

    • Liang Yue
    • , Xiaohao Sun
    •  & H. Jerry Qi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Among additive manufacturing methods vat photopolymerization (VP) is desired owing to improved efficiency, excellent surface finish, and printing resolution at the micron-scale but the major portion of resins available for VP are based on systems with limited or negligible recyclability. Here, the authors describe an approach that enables the printing of a resin that is amenable to re-printing with retained properties and appearance.

    • Xabier Lopez de Pariza
    • , Oihane Varela
    •  & Haritz Sardon

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Achieving rapid, robust, and universal hydrogel adhesion poses challenges for nanoparticle-based glues. Here, the authors present nanohesives that can adhere to diverse surfaces without pre-treatment based on hydrogel mechanics design and interface chemistry modification.

    • Zhao Pan
    • , Qi-Qi Fu
    •  & Shu-Hong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with adjustable porosity and tunable functionality have attracted considerable attention, but the directional control of intermolecular and intramolecular motion of TPE-based ligands in the non-interpenetrated flexible MOFs has not yet been studied. Here, the authors report a non-interpenetrated tetraphenylethylene-based MOF with anisotropic flexibility.

    • Sha-Sha Meng
    • , Ming Xu
    •  & Zhi-Yuan Gu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Manipulating the internal interactions within biological fibers to tune macroscopic properties is important but challenging, and can limit applications. Here, the authors report the use of dynamic imine chemistry for engineering molecular interactions and forming strong and tough protein fibers.

    • Jing Sun
    • , Haonan He
    •  & Kai Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Phase separation is driven by the component activity, elasticity, or composition of a homogeneous mixture. Here the authors, develop heterogeneous colloidal suspensions exhibiting both liquid-liquid phase separation of polymers and liquid crystal phase separation of nanoparticles controlled by the trade-off between thermodynamics and kinetics.

    • Han Tao
    • , Carlo Rigoni
    •  & Guang Chu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Underwater adhesive proteins greatly inspired the development of underwater glue but except for specific proteins it is believed that abundant common proteins cannot be converted into underwater glue. Here, the authors demonstrate, using bovine serum albumin as model protein, that unfolded common proteins exhibit high affinity to surfaces and strong internal cohesion via amyloid-like aggregation in water.

    • Yongchun Liu
    • , Ke Li
    •  & Peng Yang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The exogenous excitation requirement and electron-hole pair recombination are the key factors limiting the application of catalytic therapies. Here, the authors address these limitations by designing a tumor microenvironment-specific self-triggered thermoelectric nanoheterojunction with a self-built-in electric field that facilitates charge separation for cancer treatment.

    • Xue Yuan
    • , Yong Kang
    •  & Dong Ming

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is imperative but challenging to develop nanomaterials that can combat drug-resistant bacteria and biofilm related infections in diverse antibacterial scenarios. Here, the authors report Janus nanoparticles integrating biocompatible dextran and photothermal nanoparticles for biofilm-targeted antibacterial therapy to achieve effective and versatile elimination of drug-resistant biofilms.

    • Zhiwen Liu
    • , Kangli Guo
    •  & Fu-Jian Xu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Covalent organic frameworks are used in capture of radioactive ions but achieving high separation factors remains challenging. Here, the authors design an ionic COF its neutral non-ionic to better understand the role of different N sites on the selective capture of Th(IV) and report remarkable separation factors ranging from 102 to 105.

    • Xiaojuan Liu
    • , Feng Gao
    •  & Guoan Ye

  • Article
    | Open Access

    To correlate the microstructure of flexible covalent organic frameworks with their flexibility is challenging. Here, the authors visually track the deformation behaviors of single covalent organic framework particles with dark-field microscopy discovering that their flexibility is dictated by the pedal motion around rigid imine bonds.

    • Hongbin Chi
    • , Yang Liu
    •  & Yi He

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Light-driven actuators have great potential in different types of applications but is still challenging to apply them in flying devices owing to their slow response, small deflection and force output. Here, the authors report a rotary flying photoactuator with fast rotation and rapid response.

    • Dan Wang
    • , Zhaomin Chen
    •  & Metin Sitti

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The dynamic regulation of supramolecular chirality in non-equilibrium systems can provide valuable insights into molecular self-assembly in living systems. Here, the authors demonstrate the use of chemical fuels for regulating self-assembly pathway, which thereby controls the supramolecular chirality of a non-equilibrium assembled system.

    • Jingjing Li
    • , Yihan Cui
    •  & Chun-Sen Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Green cryogels are highly desirable for soft devices but often formed as crystalline-crosslinked networks due to lack of control of the freezing process. Here, the authors demonstrate a strategy to obtain multifunctional cryogels by total amorphization of the polymer using anti-freeze salts to lower the freezing point of the precursor solution.

    • Xiansheng Zhang
    • , Hongwei Yan
    •  & Yanzhi Xia

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Here authors use iDPC-STEM to directly image the rotation of linkers in MOFs, demonstrating an approach to study the local flexibility. They show that the dynamic properties of UiO-66-X are likely correlated to their macroscopic properties of CO2 uptake.

    • Boyang Liu
    • , Xiao Chen
    •  & Tiefeng Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Porous crystals with molecular recognition sites in the inner pores are promising for achieving functional control, where the local binding of effectors triggers a distortion which propagates throughout the structure. Here the authors report that the structure of a porous molecular crystal can be allosterically controlled by local adsorption of effectors within low-symmetry nanochannels with multiple molecular recognition sites.

    • Ryunosuke Hayashi
    • , Shohei Tashiro
    •  & Mitsuhiko Shionoya

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The use and characterization of graphene quantum dots is limited by their pronounced tendency to form aggregates. Here, the authors synthesize rod-shaped motifs of nanographenes with up to 132 sp2 carbon atoms that are fully individualized, which allows the precise description of their intrinsic photophysical properties.

    • Daniel Medina-Lopez
    • , Thomas Liu
    •  & Stephane Campidelli

  • Article
    | Open Access

    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
    | Open Access

    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

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