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Solid-state organic materials that convert low-power visible light into higher-energy radiation have been synthesized using metal–organic frameworks. This approach could be used to make polymers that increase the efficiency of photovoltaic devices.
With Bragg coherent diffractive imaging it is now possible to image the evolution of the entire dislocation network within a microcrystal during growth and dissolution.
The structure of crystals made of DNA-bridged nanoparticles can be selectively switched between various lattices by reprogramming the DNA-mediated interactions between the nanoparticles.
Improved control over the shape of nanoparticles and the interactions between them allows the rational construction of intricate microscale assemblies.
Electron–phonon coupling has been considered as a possible mechanism behind the high superconducting critical temperature of FeSe monolayers. The doping dependence of the superconductivity casts serious doubt that it plays a decisive role.
Major strategies for the preparation and rational design of nanoporous carbon spheres as well as the investigation of their properties for energy conversion and storage, catalysis and biomedical applications are now critically reviewed.
The synthesis of crystalline quantum dots epitaxially incorporated into silicon nanowires holds promise for future device applications in various areas of opto- and quantum electronics.
A comparison of dislocation dynamics in two hexagonal close-packed metals has revealed that dislocation movement can vary substantially in materials with the same crystal structure, associated with how the dislocations relax when stationary.
Researchers develop a simple and low-cost fabrication method for the production of large-scale all-dielectric metasurfaces, which exhibit near-perfect reflectivity in the telecommunications spectral window.
Exchange bias is a magnetic phenomenon that has facilitated the ever-increasing storage density of magnetic recording systems. The finding of high tunable exchange bias in certain Heusler alloys indicates new routes for the design of rare-earth-free hard magnetic materials.
Microgel particle precursors bearing peptide substrates for human enzymes crosslink in wound sites to produce bioactive scaffolds in situ that rapidly recruit cells and promote dermal healing.
Imaging the dynamics of local phenomena in materials with resolution down to the individual grain level is poised to transform our understanding of material behaviour.
A growing body of evidence suggests that nucleation of a first dislocation in a pristine crystal is associated with a diffusion-controlled process. Understanding this is critical for strain-engineered devices at ultrahigh stresses.
Thermal vibrations in materials can be controlled via interference (in a similar way to light propagating in layered structures) to produce a thermal bandgap, an approach promising for thermoelectric applications.
