Surface chemistry articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Configuring surfaces on-demand for desired functionalities is an ongoing challenge. Here, diverse and tailorable modifications of quartz and porous silica surfaces that are rapidly and reversibly switchable by the use of visible light are achieved via ruthenium-thioether coordination.

    • Chaoming Xie
    • , Wen Sun
    •  & Si Wu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Quasicrystals possess long range order but no translational symmetry, and rotational symmetries that are forbidden in periodic crystals. Here, a fullerene overlayer deposited on a surface of an icosahedral intermetallic quasicrystal achieves a Fibonacci square grid structure, by selective adsorption at specific sites.

    • Sam Coates
    • , Joseph A. Smerdon
    •  & Hem Raj Sharma

  • Article
    | Open Access

    One of the most dramatic effects of supramolecular assembly is the generation of homochirality in near-racemic systems. Here the authors rationalize the chiral amplification mechanism with a combined scanning tunneling microscopy and modelling study of surface-grown enantiomerically unbalanced supramolecular bilayers.

    • Hai Cao
    •  & Steven De Feyter

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although it is well known that silica can dissolve in water, the precise mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors employ sum frequency generation spectroscopy to probe the interfacial water structure reporting directly on the underlying dissolution mechanism, which appears to be auto-catalytic.

    • Jan Schaefer
    • , Ellen H. G. Backus
    •  & Mischa Bonn

  • Article
    | Open Access

    To date, the precise localisation of ligands and adhesion proteins are determined in two parallel characterization setups. Here, the authors report a self-assembled monolayer chemistry for indium tin oxide surfaces allowing single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) imaging of ligands and adhesion proteins in a single experiment.

    • Xun Lu
    • , Philip R. Nicovich
    •  & J. Justin Gooding

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In a symmetric molecule with identical functional groups, selective activation of only one site is challenging. Here, the authors show that 4,4″-diamino-p-terphenyl adsorbs asymmetrically to a metal surface, leading to a change in binding affinity of one of its amine groups.

    • Qigang Zhong
    • , Daniel Ebeling
    •  & André Schirmeisen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Radialenes have distinct structural, electronic and chemical properties from other hydrocarbons, but their synthesis remains a challenge. Here, the authors report a copper catalyzed one-step synthetic protocol of [4]radialene via the cyclotetramerization of phenylacetylene molecules upon thermal activation.

    • Qing Li
    • , Jianzhi Gao
    •  & Minghu Pan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Translating high-resolution imaging methods to the curved organic surface of a nanoparticle has been challenging. Here, the authors are able to spatially resolve the sub-molecular surface details of a silver nanocluster by comparing scanning tunneling microscopy images and simulated topography data through a pattern recognition algorithm.

    • Qin Zhou
    • , Sami Kaappa
    •  & Lansun Zheng

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Molecules can change their electronic properties when they are adsorbed on substrates, which can be useful for sensing and catalysis. Here, the authors use atomic force microscopy to show that the spin state of an iron complex can be changed upon displacing the molecule to different sites of a nitrogen-doped graphene

    • Bruno de la Torre
    • , Martin Švec
    •  & Pavel Jelínek

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Crystals with multiple structures often perform special functions in nature, inspiring the creation of synthetic analogues. Here, the authors subject polyhedral nanoparticles to two self-assembly micro-environments to realize supercrystals with dual structures, in which the order of the surface layer differs from the bulk structure.

    • Yih Hong Lee
    • , Chee Leng Lay
    •  & Xing Yi Ling

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Uptake and release of glucose is regulated by glucose-sensitive ion channels, but complexity of the system impedes investigation of the gating behavior under physiological conditions. Here the authors use a pillararene based artificial ion channel to mimic and investigate chirality driven switching of a glucose ion channel.

    • Yue Sun
    • , Fan Zhang
    •  & Haibing Li

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Deciphering absolute configuration of individual molecules directly by visual inspection remains a highly attractive goal. Here, the authors determine the absolute configuration and orientation of a single [123]tetramantane molecule adsorbed on Cu(111) using low temperature atomic force microscopy with a CO-functionalized tip.

    • Daniel Ebeling
    • , Marina Šekutor
    •  & Peter R. Schreiner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Many cell capture systems exist but the characterisation and controlled release of single cells is a challenge. Here, the authors report on the development of a duel trigger release system using a combination of photo and electro triggers to allow for light based analysis without unwanted release.

    • Stephen G. Parker
    • , Ying Yang
    •  & J. Justin Gooding

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The real-time quantitative detection of hot electrons provides critical clues to understand the origin of the enhanced catalytic performance of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs). Here, the authors investigate hot electrons generated on bimetallic PtCo NPs during H2 oxidation by measuring the chemicurrent on a catalytic nanodiode.

    • Hyosun Lee
    • , Juhyung Lim
    •  & Jeong Young Park

  • Article
    | Open Access

    While zeolites are industrially relevant as molecular sieves and catalysts, their growth mechanisms remain widely debated. Here, Rimer and colleagues probe the crystallization pathway of zeolite LTA with spatiotemporal resolution, identifying a distinctive nonclassical pathway, and demonstrating that growth is highly dependent on synthetic conditions.

    • Manjesh Kumar
    • , Madhuresh K. Choudhary
    •  & Jeffrey D. Rimer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Heteroatom doping of buckybowls is a viable route to tune their intrinsic physico-chemical properties, but their synthesis remains challenging. Here, the authors report on a combined in-solution and on-surface synthetic strategy towards the fabrication of a buckybowl containing two fused nitrogen-doped pentagonal rings.

    • Shantanu Mishra
    • , Maciej Krzeszewski
    •  & Daniel T. Gryko

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although trace compounds are known to inhibit crystal growth, the mechanisms by which they do so are unclear. Here, the authors use a microkinetic model to study the mechanisms of several inhibitors of calcite growth, finding that the processes are quite different for inorganic and organic inhibitors.

    • S. Dobberschütz
    • , M. R. Nielsen
    •  & M. P. Andersson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Characterization of adsorbed molecular layers on surfaces is the key to wide-ranging applications, but elucidating the structure and composition of such adlayers remains challenging. Here the authors develop an approach to unveil the nanoscale structure and composition of adlayers through spectrally resolved super-resolution microscopy.

    • Limin Xiang
    • , Michal Wojcik
    •  & Ke Xu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding anion-specific interactions with hydrophobic interfaces is challenging due to an absence of local structural probes. Here, the authors experimentally quantify the anisotropy of perchlorate’s polarizability at the air/water interface, a window into anion and solvation shell structure.

    • Yujin Tong
    • , Igor Ying Zhang
    •  & R. Kramer Campen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Indeno[1,2-b]fluorene (IF) is an extremely reactive polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbon with antiaromatic character, thus it has not been detected to date. Here, the authors present the successful generation and characterisation of IF both on-surface and in-solution.

    • Zsolt Majzik
    • , Niko Pavliček
    •  & Leo Gross

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The self-organization of nanocrystals into complex superlattices involves the interplay of different interactions. Here, the authors systematically reveal the effects of particle shape and ligand coverage on the assembly behavior of branched octapods into planar superlattices.

    • Andrea Castelli
    • , Joost de Graaf
    •  & Milena P. Arciniegas

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Molecular dynamics models for predicting the behavior of metallic nanostructures typically do not take into account polarization effects in metals. Here, the authors introduce a polarizable Lennard–Jones potential that provides quantitative insight into the role of induced charges at metal surfaces and related complex material interfaces.

    • Isidro Lorenzo Geada
    • , Hadi Ramezani-Dakhel
    •  & Hendrik Heinz

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The structurally different domains of a polycrystalline material may exhibit differing catalytic properties. Here, the authors directly visualize this phenomenon by observing the catalytic hydrogen oxidation that oscillates, simultaneously exhibiting different frequencies for structurally different rhodium domains.

    • Yuri Suchorski
    • , Martin Datler
    •  & Günther Rupprechter

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Deposition of single molecule magnets onto surfaces is a key step for integration in devices exploiting their magnetic bistability and quantum properties. Here, Sessoli and colleagues exploit synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy to assess the effects of molecule-surface interactions on the magnetic properties of Fe(III) SMMs.

    • Alberto Cini
    • , Matteo Mannini
    •  & Roberta Sessoli

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Intermolecular interactions have a crucial role in the adsorption of molecules on a surface, however their role in promoting phase transitions is less well known. Here, the authors report an abnormal phase transition between a high-density liquid crystal and low-density solid in the case of carbon monoxide on Cu(111), driven by intermolecular interactions and entropy.

    • Wenbin Li
    • , Longjuan Kong
    •  & Lan Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising technology for sensitive optical sensors, generally using rough metal films. Here, Liu et al. synthesize high-quality graphene quantum dot films which offer a large SERS enhancement due to a strong light-matter interaction with Van Hove singularities.

    • Donghua Liu
    • , Xiaosong Chen
    •  & Dacheng Wei

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Membrane separation technologies show promise for CO2 capture, but typically suffer from a trade-off between permeance and selectivity. Here, the authors produce hollow fiber membranes coated with graphene oxide and a CO2-philic agent that can efficiently separate CO2 from flue gas under wet conditions.

    • Fanglei Zhou
    • , Huynh Ngoc Tien
    •  & Miao Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Local hydration structures at solid-liquid interfaces are important in catalytic, electrochemical, and biological processes. Here, the authors demonstrate atomic-scale 3D hydration structures around the boundary on a heterogeneous mineral surface using atomic force microscopy experiments and molecular dynamics simulations.

    • Kenichi Umeda
    • , Lidija Zivanovic
    •  & Hirofumi Yamada

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Polyaromatic hydrocarbons can be precisely manipulated to yield ever more complex and discrete graphene analogs, such as nanographenes. Here, the authors use azomethine ylide homocoupling to insert an antiaromatic pyrazine ring into the core of a nanographene, and characterize the molecule’s unique electronic character.

    • Xiao-Ye Wang
    • , Marcus Richter
    •  & Klaus Müllen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vibrational excitations are a fingerprint of molecule–surface interactions, but knowing how they scale across materials is tricky. Here, the authors discover correlations between the vibrational frequencies of adsorbates on transition metals, developing a predictive theory to allow interpretation of complex experimental spectra.

    • Joshua L. Lansford
    • , Alexander V. Mironenko
    •  & Dionisios G. Vlachos

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Real-world surfaces exhibit spatially varying wettability, which affects water repellency and droplet behaviour on such surfaces. Here, the authors use scanning droplet adhesion microscopy to create wetting maps that visualize variations in wettability with a spatial resolution down to 10 μm.

    • Ville Liimatainen
    • , Maja Vuckovac
    •  & Robin H. A. Ras

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In situ detection of protein coronas is usually performed via optical methods, but light scattering may hamper these measurements. Here, the authors use diffusion NMR techniques to characterize protein corona formation on 19F-labeled nanoparticles in blood and other complex media.

    • Monica Carril
    • , Daniel Padro
    •  & Wolfgang J. Parak

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Shape complementarity is the primary way to control the symmetry of nanoparticle assemblies. Here, the authors introduce a governing force that dominates symmetry control of nanorod superlattices, using it to obtain an unexpected and highly thermostable tetragonal lattice.

    • Yujia Liang
    • , Yong Xie
    •  & Qian Liu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Few-layered black phosphorus has been exploited in transistors and other devices, but its poor stability under ambient conditions remains problematic. Here, a UK-Swiss collaboration show that a monolayer-thick supramolecular hydrogen-bonded network can protect a black phosphorus surface for over a month.

    • Vladimir V. Korolkov
    • , Ivan G. Timokhin
    •  & Peter H. Beton

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Charged interfaces are important in chemical systems, but the influence of charge on vibrational sum frequency spectra has only recently been considered. Here the authors show the importance of accounting for the interfacial potential-dependent χ(3) term in interpreting spectral lineshapes from charged interfaces.

    • Paul E. Ohno
    • , Hong-fei Wang
    •  & Franz M. Geiger

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Electrochemical deposition is important for industrial processes however, tracking the early stages of metallic phase nucleation is challenging. Here, the authors visualize the birth and growth of metal nuclei at electrode surfaces in real time via high-speed non-contact lateral molecular force microscopy.

    • Robert L. Harniman
    • , Daniela Plana
    •  & David J. Fermín

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Metal oxide nanocrystals can be grown with different facets exposed to give variations in reactivity, but the chemical state of these surfaces is not clear. Here, the authors make use of a phosphine probe molecule allowing the differences in surface chemistry to be mapped by NMR spectroscopy.

    • Yung-Kang Peng
    • , Yichen Hu
    •  & Shik Chi Edman Tsang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Separating immiscible liquids with small surface energy differences remains a challenge. Here, the authors develop a polarity-based strategy for the separation of multiphase mixtures of immiscible liquids, even those with surface energy differences as small as 2 mJ m-2.

    • Yang Wang
    • , Jiancheng Di
    •  & Jihong Yu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding the mechanism of CO2 reduction on a catalyst surface is essential for achieving the desired product selectivity. Here, the authors show an operando kinetic analysis of CO2 hydrogenation over a palladium catalyst in order to address the factors governing the selectivity of the process.

    • Xiang Wang
    • , Hui Shi
    •  & János Szanyi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nanocrystals display a variety of facets with different catalytic activity. Here the authors identify the most active facet of copper nanocrystals relevant to the low-temperature water gas shift reaction and further design zinc oxide-copper nanocubes with exceptionally high catalytic activity.

    • Zhenhua Zhang
    • , Sha-Sha Wang
    •  & Weixin Huang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Capture of low-abundance multiply phosphorylated peptides (MPPs) is difficult due to limitation of enrichment materials and their interactions with phosphates. Here the authors show, a smart polymer driven by specific but tunable hydrogen bonding interactions can differentially complex with MPPs, singly phosphorylated and non-modified peptides.

    • Guangyan Qing
    • , Qi Lu
    •  & Taolei Sun

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Improving platinum as an oxidation catalyst requires understanding its structure under catalytic conditions. Here, the authors discover that catalytically important surface oxides form only when Pt is exposed to high pressure and temperature, highlighting the need to study catalysts in realistic environments.

    • Matthijs A. van Spronsen
    • , Joost W. M. Frenken
    •  & Irene M. N. Groot

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Charge transfer at molecule-metal interfaces affects the overall physical and magnetic properties of organic-based devices, and ultimately their performance. Here, the authors report evidence of a pronounced charge transfer involving nickel tetraphenyl porphyrin molecules adsorbed on copper.

    • Giovanni Zamborlini
    • , Daniel Lüftner
    •  & Claus Michael Schneider

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