Techniques and instrumentation articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nanoscale processes may directly impact macroscopic mechanical behaviour. Here authors describe a ‘phase-transformation strengthening’ mechanism in nickel-based high temperature alloys, allowing suppression of deleterious deformation processes at elevated temperatures by specific alloying elements.

    • T. M. Smith
    • , B. D. Esser
    •  & M. J. Mills

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Robust coherent diffractive imaging generally requires many exposures that may damage samples. Here, the authors develop a single-shot X-ray imaging method applicable to general samples for materials and biological sciences, also enabling imaging of dynamic processes, using a pulsed X-ray laser.

    • Fucai Zhang
    • , Bo Chen
    •  & Ian K. Robinson

  • 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

    Doping can introduce structural distortions in a molecular crystal in the form of polar domains. Here, the authors combine pyroelectric measurements and computation to reveal the molecular structure of such domains in centrosymmetric α-glycine crystals doped with L-amino acids.

    • E. Meirzadeh
    • , I. Azuri
    •  & I. Lubomirsky

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic resonance imaging is a promising non-invasive approach to visualize paramagnetic materials in devices, but the short lifetime of signals currently limits its use. Here, the authors develop an approach which overcomes this hurdle to spectroscopically image lithiation fronts during battery operation.

    • Mingxue Tang
    • , Vincent Sarou-Kanian
    •  & Elodie Salager

  • 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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    The origins of non-periodic growth features observed in irregular eutectics have been a source of controversy. Here authors use time-resolved X-ray microtomography during eutectic growth of an alloy to show how competing models can be extended and reconciled.

    • Ashwin J. Shahani
    • , Xianghui Xiao
    •  & Peter W. Voorhees

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Tomographic imaging of graphite-based anodes is challenging due to weak X-ray attenuation contrast. Here, the authors use operando propagation-based phase contrast tomography and digital volume correlation to study the electrochemical activity and microstructural dynamics in (silicon−) graphite electrodes.

    • Patrick Pietsch
    • , Daniel Westhoff
    •  & Vanessa Wood

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Size and molecular composition of biological nanoparticles dictate their function, but cannot be simultaneously determined accurately. Here, Höök and others have subjected constrained biological nanoparticles on a lipid bilayer to hydrodynamic flow to quantify accurately both size and emission intensity.

    • Stephan Block
    • , Björn Johansson Fast
    •  & Fredrik Höök

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mesoscopic electrical circuits are an ideal platform to explore quantum phenomena, but this requires cooling the electrons to very low temperature, which is challenging. Here, the authors employ three different in situthermometers to report electronic quantum transport at 6mK in a micrometer-scale circuit.

    • Z. Iftikhar
    • , A. Anthore
    •  & F. Pierre

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Zero-knowledge proofs can be used to prove that a statement is true without revealing why it is. Here the authors demonstrate a non-electronic fast neutron radiography technique to confirm that two objects are identical without revealing any details about their design or composition.

    • Sébastien Philippe
    • , Robert J. Goldston
    •  & Francesco d’Errico

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Imaging buried interfaces is necessary to assess the quality of electronic devices and their degradation mechanisms. Here, Hirohata et al. use energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy to image buried defects in an inorganic lateral spin-valve device, at the nanometre scale and non-destructively.

    • Atsufumi Hirohata
    • , Yasuaki Yamamoto
    •  & Andrew J. Vick

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It has been predicted that electron beam probes may allow for the imaging of magnetism with atomic-scale resolution. Here, the authors demonstrate a scanning transmission electron microscopy method capable of resolving magnetic contrast from individual atomic planes.

    • Ján Rusz
    • , Shunsuke Muto
    •  & Claus M. Schneider

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Competing phases in layered complex oxides are believed to be relevant for emergent phenomena, which still await to be witnessed. Here, Stone et al. report direct atomic-scale imaging of a multitude of polar phases in Ruddlesden-Popper oxide thin films, exhibiting diverse phenomena in a single structure.

    • Greg Stone
    • , Colin Ophus
    •  & Venkatraman Gopalan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The performance of catalytic materials is determined by small-scale chemical and structural variations over large volumes. Here the authors report a correlative spectroscopy approach capable of visualizing processes over multiple length scales, and model the effects of poisoning on mass transport.

    • Yijin Liu
    • , Florian Meirer
    •  & Bert M. Weckhuysen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The use of ptychography with electrons has been limited. Here, Yang et al. demonstrate that the combination of Z-contrast and phase imaging reveals the structure of complex nanomaterials. This practical tool can be used to solve the structure of a beam-sensitive carbon nanostructure at atomic-resolution.

    • H. Yang
    • , R. N. Rutte
    •  & P. D. Nellist

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) requires a uniform B1+ radiofrequency field. Here the authors present plug-n-play MRF, a technique that enables multiparametric imaging with heterogeneous B1+fields, and demonstrate its utility in the presence of RF distortion caused by a metallic orthopaedic implant.

    • Martijn A. Cloos
    • , Florian Knoll
    •  & Daniel K. Sodickson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Semiconductor nanowires with precisely controlled structure can be grown by self-assembly using the vapor-liquid-solid process. Here, the authors report a more local growth control strategy using an electric field applied during growth to control nanowire diameter and growth direction.

    • Federico Panciera
    • , Michael M. Norton
    •  & Frances M. Ross

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The only known compound of sodium and hydrogen is ionic NaH, but theory predicts the existence of polyhydrides at high pressure. Here, the authors report observations of the formation of polyhydrides above 40 GPa and 2000 K, supporting the idea of multicentre bonding in a material with unusual stoichiometry.

    • Viktor V. Struzhkin
    • , Duck Young Kim
    •  & Alexander F. Goncharov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Fractional excitations in quantum spin systems lead to exotic particles predicted in theory but difficult to observe in experiments. Here, Glamazda et al. report the dynamical Raman response of β- and γ-Li2IrO3is dominated by thermal damping of fermionic excitations, suggesting the emergence of Majorana fermions from spin fractionalization.

    • A. Glamazda
    • , P. Lemmens
    •  & K. -Y. Choi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Quantized magnetoelectric coupling, which induces exotic magneto-optical phenomena, awaits to be evidenced in topological insulators. Here, Okada et al. demonstrate Faraday and Kerr rotations of magnetic topological insulator surfaces in quantum anomalous Hall states by terahertz magneto-optics, indicating topological magnetoelectric effect.

    • Ken N. Okada
    • , Youtarou Takahashi
    •  & Yoshinori Tokura

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Black phosphorus is an allotrope of phosphorous that, like graphite, can be exfoliated to create two-dimensional materials. Here, the authors use Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to investigate the anomalous behaviour of phonons near different black phosphorus edges.

    • H. B. Ribeiro
    • , C. E. P. Villegas
    •  & C. J. S. de Matos

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is a sensitive technique capable of detecting single molecules via their vibrational fingerprints. Here, the authors demonstrate improved sensitivity with photo-induced enhanced Raman spectroscopy applied to trace-level detection of explosives and other analytes.

    • Sultan Ben-Jaber
    • , William J. Peveler
    •  & Ivan P. Parkin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    MoS2 nanostructures are potentially useful in electronic applications. Here, Fei et al. show using in situ electron microscopy that MoS2grows in a vertical manner at low temperature, then rotates to horizontal structures, and finally develops in size by merging adjacent flakes at high temperature.

    • Linfeng Fei
    • , Shuijin Lei
    •  & Yu Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Scaling of photonic devices requires materials with sufficiently strong elecro-optic effects. Here, Schoen et al.demonstrate and analyze single electrically induced switching events that can operate in the visible with a small active volume using electron energy loss in a scanning transmission electron microscope.

    • David T. Schoen
    • , Aaron L. Holsteen
    •  & Mark L. Brongersma

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Enhancement techniques are a viable route to improve the intrinsically weak Raman scattering intensity. Here the authors demonstrate Purcell enhancement of Raman scattering in a tunable, high-finesse microcavity and use it for Raman imaging of individual carbon nanotubes

    • Thomas Hümmer
    • , Jonathan Noe
    •  & David Hunger

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Graphitic carbon nitride is a promising hydrogen evolution photocatalyst, although there is limited understanding of its mechanistic operation. Here, the authors employ molecular heptazine-based model catalysts to identify catalytically relevant defects and to rationally design a highly active carbon nitride photocatalyst.

    • Vincent Wing-hei Lau
    • , Igor Moudrakovski
    •  & Bettina V. Lotsch

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Domain wall between gapped graphene bilayers is believed to host one-dimensional topological states, which is yet waiting for direct evidences. Here, Yin et al.report images of the AB-BA stacked bilayer graphene domain wall, providing direct evidence for topological edge states in such system.

    • Long-Jing Yin
    • , Hua Jiang
    •  & Lin He

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Probing topological orders in many-body systems remains a major challenge, which requires bulk-edge correspondence. Here, Grusdt et al.present an approach to show that fractional charges can be directly probed in the bulk of fractional quantum Hall systems using mobile impurities through interferometric measurements.

    • F. Grusdt
    • , N. Y. Yao
    •  & E. Demler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Robust attachment between living tissues and inert materials is challenging to achieve. Here, Hwang and co-workers look at the molecular level between tissue and embedded byssal threads of Atrina pectinata and how this affects tenacity, toughness, and robustness.

    • Hee Young Yoo
    • , Mihaela Iordachescu
    •  & Dong Soo Hwang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    With growing concerns over the sustainability of petroleum-based polymers, poly(limonene carbonate) is offered as a renewable alternative. Here, Greiner and co-workers have managed to tune the properties of poly(limonene carbonate) by carrying out several different chemical modifications.

    • O. Hauenstein
    • , S. Agarwal
    •  & A. Greiner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Peptide arrays are used in areas such as measuring protein-protein interactions, but achieving high density in synthesis is challenging. Here, the authors report a method for the combinatorial synthesis of high density peptides arrays by laser driven sequential transfer of monomers onto acceptor surfaces.

    • Felix F. Loeffler
    • , Tobias C. Foertsch
    •  & Alexander Nesterov-Mueller

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Imaging of inorganic dispersions in organic-inorganic composites is typically performed using electron microscopy. Here, the authors show that surfactants with attached aggregation-induced emission fluorophores allow simple fluorescence imaging of the spatial distribution of the inorganic filler dispersion.

    • Weijiang Guan
    • , Si Wang
    •  & Ben Zhong Tang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Two-color X-ray pulses with controlled time delay allow exciting one site of a molecule and then probing a different site of the same molecule with femtosecond resolution. Here, the authors use this hetero-site pump-probe technique to study charge redistribution and dissociation of the xenon difluoride molecule.

    • A. Picón
    • , C. S. Lehmann
    •  & S. H. Southworth

  • Article
    | Open Access

    As perovskite-based solar cells are reaching high efficiency, issues of stability and end-of-life become predominant. Here, Kim et al. selectively dissolve the perovskite layer and reuse the electron transport layer to fabricate devices with efficiency and stability comparable to those of the original solar cells.

    • Byeong Jo Kim
    • , Dong Hoe Kim
    •  & Hyun Suk Jung

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Atomic force microscopy typically employs hard tips to map the surface topology of a sample, with sub-nanometre resolution. Here, the authors instead develop softer hydrogel probes, which show potential for multifunctional measurement capabilities beyond that of conventional systems.

    • Jae Seol Lee
    • , Jungki Song
    •  & Jungchul Lee

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