Nanoscience and technology articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Indium arsenide quantum dots are promising materials for short-wavelength infrared emissive applications. Here, the authors investigate the kinetics of indium arsenide nanocrystal growth and design large quantum dots with narrow emission wavelengths which can be used for through-skull fluorescence imaging.

    • Daniel Franke
    • , Daniel K. Harris
    •  & Moungi G. Bawendi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ambient chemical transformations between nanoparticles are poorly explored in materials science. Here, the authors find that two atomically precise, isomorphic clusters of gold and silver can convert between each other in solution through a series of alloy clusters, preserving structure, topology, and metal-ligand stoichiometry.

    • K. R. Krishnadas
    • , Ananya Baksi
    •  & Thalappil Pradeep

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vertical integration of two-dimensional materials can open unprecedented possibilities towards design of efficient optoelectronic devices. Here, the authors investigate the photoresponse properties of a graphene/MoS2/graphene heterostructure, revealing promising quantum efficiency performances.

    • Woo Jong Yu
    • , Quoc An Vu
    •  & Xiangfeng Duan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The interplay between dark and bright excitons has a significant impact on the optical properties of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides. Here, the authors perform computational and experimental studies which unveil the microscopic origin of the excitonic coherence lifetime in WS2 and MoSe2.

    • Malte Selig
    • , Gunnar Berghäuser
    •  & Andreas Knorr

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Most microelectronic devices today exploit the electronic properties of semiconductors. Here, the authors demonstrate a microelectronic device for free-space electrons by using the enhanced fields in a microstructured metal surface to induce effective photoemission.

    • Ebrahim Forati
    • , Tyler J. Dill
    •  & Dan Sievenpiper

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Scalable quantum information processing requires controllable high-coherence qubits. Here, the authors present superconducting flux qubits with broad frequency tunability, strong anharmonicity and high reproducibility, identifying photon shot noise as the main source of dephasing for further improvements.

    • Fei Yan
    • , Simon Gustavsson
    •  & William D. Oliver

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Analysis of the mechanical properties of two-dimensional materials is important for device development. Here, the authors report a microscopic method for measuring the adhesion of graphene on top of highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, which exploits atomic-scale blisters formed upon neon atom intercalation.

    • Jun Wang
    • , Dan C. Sorescu
    •  & Petro Maksymovych

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The wettability properties of graphene hold promise for the realisation of flow control devices. Here, the authors demonstrate that the degree of water penetration through a nickel mesh coated with graphene can be controlled electrically, enabling dynamic locomotion of water droplets.

    • Rassoul Tabassian
    • , Jung-Hwan Oh
    •  & Il-Kwon Oh

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding stimuli responsiveness on a molecular level can help with the rational design of nanomaterials with sharp responses. Here, Gao and co-workers have shown the molecular pathway of the supramolecular self-assembly of a series of ultra-pH sensitive block copolymers.

    • Yang Li
    • , Tian Zhao
    •  & Jinming Gao

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Probing individual impurities will become increasingly important as devices shrink towards the nanoscale. Here Rashidi et al., introduce a method based on time-resolved scanning tunnelling spectroscopy of surface dangling bonds to investigate the dynamics of individual dopants in silicon.

    • Mohammad Rashidi
    • , Jacob A. J. Burgess
    •  & Robert A. Wolkow

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The organization of supramolecular peptide polymers determines their properties; however, controlling their dimensions still remains a problem. Here, Gazitet al. show the spontaneous elongation and shortening of these polymers at an individual nano-assembly level by using a microfluidic platform.

    • Zohar A. Arnon
    • , Andreas Vitalis
    •  & Ehud Gazit

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nanomedicine efficacy in a clinical setting depends on the pharmacological properties of the therapeutic nanoparticles. Here, the authors exemplify an accelerated translational strategy from small-scale screening to clinical scale-up for an orally-dosed aqueous paediatric HIV nanomedicine.

    • Marco Giardiello
    • , Neill J. Liptrott
    •  & Andrew Owen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Voltage control of magnetism in ferromagnetic semiconductor is appealing for spintronic applications, which is yet hindered by compound formation and low Curie temperature. Here, Nie et al. report electric-field control of ferromagnetism in MnxGe1−xnanomeshes with a Curie temperature above 400 K and controllable giant magnetoresistance.

    • Tianxiao Nie
    • , Jianshi Tang
    •  & Kang L. Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Van der Waals heterostructures enable fabrication of materials with engineered functionalities. Here, the authors demonstrate precise control over the interaction between layers by application of pressure with a scanning tunnelling microscopy tip.

    • Matthew Yankowitz
    • , K. Watanabe
    •  & Brian J. LeRoy

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cavity optomechanics enables measurement of torque at levels unattainable by previous techniques, but the main obstacle to improved sensitivity is thermal noise. Here the authors present cryogenic measurement of a cavity-optomechanical torsional resonator with unprecedented torque sensitivity of 2.9 yNm/√Hz.

    • P. H. Kim
    • , B. D. Hauer
    •  & J. P. Davis

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Two-dimensional materials show remarkable lubrication properties, yet chemical modifications may hinder such capabilities. Here, the authors show that when graphene is aligned on a Ge(111) substrate, ultra-low friction can be preserved even after graphene fluorination or oxidation.

    • Xiaohu Zheng
    • , Lei Gao
    •  & Xi Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Fracture and related processes are typically considered detrimental, but have also attracted interest in more constructive roles. Here authors demonstrate ordered fragmentation at submicron scales of a metal oxide/hydroxide thin film by introducing preferential sites for fracture on the underlying substrate.

    • L. Guo
    • , Y. Ren
    •  & S. Y. Chiam

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Low repetition rate lasers are suitable for studying nonlinear optical phenomena, while near-field microscopy allows high spatial resolution for nanomaterial characterisation. Here, Wang et al. enable scattering-type near-field microscopy with low repetition rate lasers through phase-domain sampling.

    • Haomin Wang
    • , Le Wang
    •  & Xiaoji G. Xu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The efficiency of a catalyst relies on the stability of intermediates on its surface. Here, the authors find that van der Waals interactions between acetate adsorbates on Au(110) provide a small but necessary energy contribution to stabilize the acetate and drive restructuring of the Au surface.

    • Fanny Hiebel
    • , Bonggeun Shong
    •  & Cynthia M. Friend

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Single spin defects can allow high-resolution sensing of molecules under an applied magnetic field. Here, the authors propose a protocol for three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging with angstrom-level resolution exploiting the dipolar field of a spin qubit, such as a diamond nitrogen-vacancy.

    • V. S. Perunicic
    • , C. D. Hill
    •  & L.C.L. Hollenberg

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Visualizing surface plasmon polaritons at buried interfaces has remained elusive. Here, the authors develop a methodology to study the spatiotemporal evolution of buried near-fields within complex heterostructures, enabling the characterization of the next generation of plasmonic devices.

    • Tom T. A. Lummen
    • , Raymond J. Lamb
    •  & F. Carbone

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The thermoelectric effect can be used to explore electronic properties. Here, the authors show experimentally that Cd3As2exhibits a negative magnetic thermopower which reverses sign at high field, and relate it to the chiral anomaly, a signature of Weyl fermions.

    • Zhenzhao Jia
    • , Caizhen Li
    •  & Xiaosong Wu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It has been suggested that strong field enhancement for high harmonic generation may be achievable with nano-antennas. Here, the authors show relevant field enhancement using a metal-sapphire nanostructure that provides a solid tip as the high harmonic emitter, replacing commonly used gaseous atoms.

    • Seunghwoi Han
    • , Hyunwoong Kim
    •  & Seung-Woo Kim

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Electron microscopy can reveal a material’s chemical structure down to the atomic level, but has so far been blind to isotopic differences. Here the authors are able to map isotope concentrations in graphene by measuring the probability of ejecting atoms, demonstrating a ‘mass spectrometer in the microscope’.

    • Toma Susi
    • , Christoph Hofer
    •  & Jani Kotakoski

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Non-collinear magnetization textures which are established by chiral exchange interactions have recently provided a route to novel phenomena and device concepts. Here, the authors demonstrate the effects of symmetry breaking on non-collinear magnetization by lateral confinement.

    • Jeison A. Fischer
    • , Leonid M. Sandratskii
    •  & Stuart S. P. Parkin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Silk protein fibres are exceptionally strong, owing to their high β-sheet nanocrystal content. Here, the authors use an electron beam to guide silk β-sheet crystals through structural transitions, and visualize the changes by infrared near-field optics, achieving close to molecular-level resolution.

    • Nan Qin
    • , Shaoqing Zhang
    •  & Tiger H. Tao

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Alcohol-water mixtures are characterized by the existence of segregated clusters, whose dynamics are too fast to be investigated in bulk solution. Here, Voïtchovsky et al. show the formation of stable two-dimensional water-alcohol wire-like structures via H-bonds on graphite surface at room temperature.

    • Kislon Voïtchovsky
    • , Daniele Giofrè
    •  & Michele Ceriotti

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Conventional electronics use electrons as charge carriers whereas biological systems use ions, confounding integration of electronics with biology. Here the authors show voltage-regulated flow of protons across a supported lipid bilayer using the ion channel Gramicidin A and the voltage-gated ion channel Alamethicin.

    • Zahra Hemmatian
    • , Scott Keene
    •  & Marco Rolandi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Assembling multiple biological components into synthetic lipid vesicles is a limiting step in the manufacture of biomimetic cell-like structures. Here the authors use fusogenic proteoliposomes of opposite charge for fast assembly of a minimal electron transport chain consisting of F1F0 ATP-synthase and the proton pump bo3-oxidase.

    • Robert R. Ishmukhametov
    • , Aidan N. Russell
    •  & Richard M. Berry

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Differences in the intensity of the left- and right-circularly polarized components of light can provide useful information about the chirality of electromagnetic radiation. Here, the authors demonstrate a monolithic photodetector that translates this difference in incident radiation directly into a voltage

    • Feng Lu
    • , Jongwon Lee
    •  & Mikhail A. Belkin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The experimental determination of band structure of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is a challenging task, and often must be theoretically predicted. Here, the authors separate SWCNTs in high purity and experimentally determine their excitonic band structures using circular dichroism spectra.

    • Xiaojun Wei
    • , Takeshi Tanaka
    •  & Hiromichi Kataura

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The dependence of the Cu-catalysed methanol synthesis on the structure of the Cu surface is a matter of debate. Here the authors show that activity falls for Cu and Cu-Zn particles below 8 nm and propose this is due to the absence of certain atomic configurations on the smaller particle surfaces.

    • Roy van den Berg
    • , Gonzalo Prieto
    •  & Krijn P. de Jong

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The energy harvesting potential of triboelectric nanogenerators is currently limited by their output power. Here, the authors design a triboelectric nanogenerator inspired by lightning generation, featuring an electric double layer that delivers impressive charge separation and electric potential.

    • Jinsung Chun
    • , Byeong Uk Ye
    •  & Jeong Min Baik

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Impurities and vacancies are commonly found within the crystalline lattice of transition metal dichalcogenides, however they are usually seen as detrimental for their optical properties. Here, the authors demonstrate that sulfur vacancies in MoS2can give rise to a near-infrared emission peak.

    • F. Fabbri
    • , E. Rotunno
    •  & G. Salviati

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Tests of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem aim at showing that the measurement statistics of a single qutrit are incompatible with noncontextual realism. Here, the authors use a superconducting qutrit with deterministic readouts to violate a noncontextuality inequality, ruling out several loopholes.

    • Markus Jerger
    • , Yarema Reshitnyk
    •  & Arkady Fedorov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    De novosynthesis is the primary way to tune the emission colour of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals. Here, the authors introduce post-synthetic cation exchange as a strategy to access multiple colours of luminescent nanocrystals, preserving the size and morphology of the original template.

    • Sanyang Han
    • , Xian Qin
    •  & Xiaogang Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Unusual properties arise in transition metal dichalcogenides as dimensionality decreases. Here, the authors introduce a templated growth approach to precisely control the width of MoS2nanowires on a substrate, allowing them to reveal a relationship between size and electronic properties.

    • Hai Xu
    • , Shuanglong Liu
    •  & Kian Ping Loh

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is challenging to characterize the mechanical properties of soft surfaces owing to the coupling between surface deformation and elasticity of bulk materials. Here, Inoue et al. use motile cytoskeletal filaments as active probes, whose direction reflects the stress field experienced by the surface.

    • Daisuke Inoue
    • , Takahiro Nitta
    •  & Akira Kakugo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Molecular electronics holds promise to overcome scaling limits of conventional technologies, but is currently limited to low frequency operation. Here, Trasobares et al. show radio frequencies of up to 17.8 GHz in a molecular diode based on ferrocenyl undecanethiol self-assembled monolayers on gold nanodots.

    • J. Trasobares
    • , D. Vuillaume
    •  & N. Clément

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Zeolite crystal with porous structure is predicted to be a good membrane material for water purification, but experiments show water uptake orders of magnitude smaller than the theory. Here, Fasano et al. attribute this disagreement to the additional diffusion resistance induced by surface defects.

    • Matteo Fasano
    • , Thomas Humplik
    •  & Pietro Asinari

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The stochastic nature of single-molecule charge transport measurements requires collection of large data sets to capture their full complexity. Here, the authors adopt strategies from machine learning for the unsupervised classification of single-molecule charge transport data without a prioriassumptions.

    • Mario Lemmer
    • , Michael S. Inkpen
    •  & Tim Albrecht

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ferroelectric orders hardly exist in liquid or ice state of water, despite its enormous molecular electrical polarizability. Here, Gorshunov et al. report incipient ferroelectricity in chains of interacting water molecules by placing them in the structural channels of a beryl crystal.

    • B. P. Gorshunov
    • , V. I. Torgashev
    •  & M. Dressel

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Interface transparency between 2D semiconductors and superconductors is a longstanding problem, seriously hindering potential applications. Here, using a new hybrid system, Kjaergaard et al. report quantized conductance doubling and a hard superconducting gap measured via a quantum point contact, indicating a near pristine interface.

    • M. Kjaergaard
    • , F. Nichele
    •  & C. M. Marcus

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