Research Highlight |
Featured
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Article |
Suppressed thermal transport in silicon nanoribbons by inhomogeneous strain
We report on a method for inducing uncontaminated and precise inhomogeneous strain in nanoscale silicon ribbons and its use for determining physical effects in these strained materials, in particular, an increase in the range and control of thermal conductivity.
- Lin Yang
- , Shengying Yue
- & Peng Gao
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Research Briefing |
Quantum tunnelling of electrons brings ultrafast optical microscopy to the atomic scale
The oscillating electromagnetic fields that carry light can cause electrons to tunnel back and forth through a potential energy barrier. Remarkably, this alternating current can coherently emit measurable light waves — an unexpected process that can be exploited to build an optical microscope that undercuts existing spatial and temporal limitations.
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Article |
Long-range order enabled stability in quantum dot light-emitting diodes
Improving the long-range order of the quantum dots in perovskite LEDs can markedly enhance their operational stability.
- Ya-Kun Wang
- , Haoyue Wan
- & Liang-Sheng Liao
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Article
| Open AccessFull-colour 3D holographic augmented-reality displays with metasurface waveguides
We develop a method for providing high-quality, holographic, three-dimensional augmented-reality images in a small form factor suitable for incorporation in eyeglass-scale wearables, using high-refraction-index glass waveguides with nanoscale metasurfaces, and incorporating artificial intelligence.
- Manu Gopakumar
- , Gun-Yeal Lee
- & Gordon Wetzstein
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Article |
Label-free detection and profiling of individual solution-phase molecules
Enhanced light–molecule interactions in high-finesse fibre-based Fabry–Pérot microcavities are used to detect and profile individual unlabelled solution-phase biomolecules, leading to potential applications in the life and chemical sciences.
- Lisa-Maria Needham
- , Carlos Saavedra
- & Randall H. Goldsmith
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News Q&A |
The science of 3 Body Problem: what’s fact and what’s fiction?
Nature spoke to the sci-fi programme’s adviser and two other researchers about the portrayal of PhD scientists and their technologies.
- Sumeet Kulkarni
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-project wafers for flexible thin-film electronics by independent foundries
The iconic 6502 microprocessor designed in two key thin-film transistor technologies by independent foundries is used to demonstrate and expand the multi-project wafer approach for flexible electronics.
- Hikmet Çeliker
- , Wim Dehaene
- & Kris Myny
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Article |
One-dimensional proximity superconductivity in the quantum Hall regime
We show that domain walls in minimally twisted bilayer graphene support exceptionally robust proximity superconductivity in the quantum Hall regime.
- Julien Barrier
- , Minsoo Kim
- & A. K. Geim
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News & Views |
Nanoparticle fix opens up tricky technique to forensic applications
A technique called surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy can detect tiny quantities of compounds in solution, but has been difficult to use for quantitative analysis. A digital approach involving nanoparticles suggests a way forward.
- Peter J. Vikesland
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Article |
Corner- and edge-mode enhancement of near-field radiative heat transfer
Near-field radiative heat transfer between two coplanar silicon carbide membranes in close proximity is enhanced by the electromagnetic corner and edge modes.
- Lei Tang
- , Lívia M. Corrêa
- & Chris Dames
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Article |
Digital colloid-enhanced Raman spectroscopy by single-molecule counting
Research published in Nature shows that surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy carried out with colloids can quantify a range of molecules down to concentrations at the femtomolar level.
- Xinyuan Bi
- , Daniel M. Czajkowsky
- & Jian Ye
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Research Briefing |
Scalable, high-quality 2D telluride nanosheets for energy and catalysis applications
An innovative solid-state lithiation strategy allows the exfoliation of layered transition-metal tellurides into nanosheets in an unprecedentedly short time, without sacrificing their quality. The observation of physical phenomena typically seen in highly crystalline TMT nanosheets opens the way to their use in applications such as batteries and micro-supercapacitors.
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Article |
Direct observation of a magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystal
A magnetic-field-induced Wigner crystal in Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene was directly imaged using high-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy and its structural properties as a function of electron density, magnetic field and temperature were examined.
- Yen-Chen Tsui
- , Minhao He
- & Ali Yazdani
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Article |
Giant energy storage and power density negative capacitance superlattices
Using a three-pronged approach — spanning field-driven negative capacitance stabilization to increase intrinsic energy storage, antiferroelectric superlattice engineering to increase total energy storage, and conformal three-dimensional deposition to increase areal energy storage density — very high electrostatic energy storage density and power density are reported in HfO2–ZrO2-based thin film microcapacitors integrated into silicon.
- Suraj S. Cheema
- , Nirmaan Shanker
- & Sayeef Salahuddin
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Article |
Phase-change memory via a phase-changeable self-confined nano-filament
We present a device that can reduce the phase-change memory reset current while maintaining a high on/off ratio, fast speed and small variations, representing advances for neuromorphic computing systems.
- See-On Park
- , Seokman Hong
- & Shinhyun Choi
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Article |
Metal telluride nanosheets by scalable solid lithiation and exfoliation
Fast and scalable synthesis of a variety of transition metal telluride nanosheets by solid lithiation and hydrolysis is demonstrated and several interesting quantum phenomena were observed, such as quantum oscillations and giant magnetoresistance.
- Liangzhu Zhang
- , Zixuan Yang
- & Hui-Ming Cheng
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Article |
Graphene nanoribbons grown in hBN stacks for high-performance electronics
A strategy for the transfer-free direct growth of ultralong, high-quality graphene nanoribbons, which have desirable electronic properties, between layers of a boron nitride insulator is reported.
- Bosai Lyu
- , Jiajun Chen
- & Zhiwen Shi
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Article |
Optomechanical realization of the bosonic Kitaev chain
We report the experimental realization of a bosonic Kitaev chain in a nano-optomechanical network.
- Jesse J. Slim
- , Clara C. Wanjura
- & Ewold Verhagen
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Article
| Open AccessHigh-fidelity spin qubit operation and algorithmic initialization above 1 K
Initialization and operation of spin qubits in silicon above 1 K reach fidelities sufficient for fault-tolerant operations at these temperatures.
- Jonathan Y. Huang
- , Rocky Y. Su
- & Chih Hwan Yang
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Article |
Dual quantum spin Hall insulator by density-tuned correlations in TaIrTe4
A study reports a dual quantum spin Hall insulator in monolayer TaIrTe4, arising from the interplay of its single-particle topology and density-tuned electron correlations.
- Jian Tang
- , Thomas Siyuan Ding
- & Qiong Ma
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Article |
All-electrical skyrmionic magnetic tunnel junction
Wafer-scale realization of a nanoscale magnetic tunnel junction hosting a single, ambient skyrmion enables its large readout, efficient switching, and compatibility with lateral manipulation, and thereby provides the backbone for all-electrical skyrmionic device architectures.
- Shaohai Chen
- , James Lourembam
- & Anjan Soumyanarayanan
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Article |
High-speed and large-scale intrinsically stretchable integrated circuits
High-density, intrinsically stretchable transistors with high driving ability and integrated circuits with high operation speed and large-scale integration were enabled by a combination of innovations in materials, fabrication process design, device engineering and circuit design.
- Donglai Zhong
- , Can Wu
- & Zhenan Bao
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News |
Landmark study links microplastics to serious health problems
People who had tiny plastic particles lodged in a key blood vessel were more likely to experience heart attack, stroke or death during a three-year study.
- Max Kozlov
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Article |
Ultra-compact quasi-true time delay for boosting wireless channel capacity
A quasi-true time delay is demonstrated for a microwave device implemented in a CMOS technology to miniaturize true-time-delay components of beam-steering systems, addressing the fundamental channel-capacity limitations and increasing data transmission in wireless communications.
- Bala Govind
- , Thomas Tapen
- & Alyssa Apsel
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Article
| Open AccessDirective giant upconversion by supercritical bound states in the continuum
An experimental design consisting of a photonic-crystal nanoslab covered with upconversion nanoparticles demonstrates the phenomenon of supercritical coupling, resulting in giant enhancement of upconversion by photonic bound states in the continuum.
- Chiara Schiattarella
- , Silvia Romano
- & Gianluigi Zito
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Research Highlight |
A DNA clutch controls a golden nanomachine
The engine of a microscopic motor can be coupled or uncoupled from the rotor by means of DNA coatings that respond to a variety of stimuli.
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Research Briefing |
Ultrafast, nanoscale control of electrical currents using light
Tailoring symmetries in an innovative class of optoelectronic metasurface produces a rich landscape of tunable current patterns down to the nanoscale. These materials provide opportunities for ultrafast light-controlled charge flows that could have applications in terahertz science, information processing and other realms.
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Article
| Open AccessLight-driven nanoscale vectorial currents
Vectorial optoelectronic metasurfaces are described, showing that light pulses can be used to drive and direct local charge flows around symmetry-broken plasmonic nanostructures, leading to tunable responses in terahertz emission.
- Jacob Pettine
- , Prashant Padmanabhan
- & Hou-Tong Chen
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News & Views |
Self-assembling DNA recognizes patterns
Self-assembling DNA can process information, but the computations have been limited to digital algorithms. A self-assembling DNA system has now been designed to perform complex pattern recognition.
- Andrew Phillips
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Article |
Tuning commensurability in twisted van der Waals bilayers
Using valley-resolved scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, twisted WSe2 bilayers are studied, including incommensurate dodecagon quasicrystals at 30° and commensurate moiré crystals at 21.8° and 38.2°.
- Yanxing Li
- , Fan Zhang
- & Chih-Kang Shih
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Article
| Open AccessPattern recognition in the nucleation kinetics of non-equilibrium self-assembly
Examination of nucleation during self-assembly of multicomponent structures illustrates how ubiquitous molecular phenomena inherently classify high-dimensional patterns of concentrations in a manner similar to neural network computation.
- Constantine Glen Evans
- , Jackson O’Brien
- & Arvind Murugan
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Nature Podcast |
The science stories you missed over the holiday period
We highlight some of the Nature Briefing’s stories from the end of 2023, including a polar bear fur-inspired sweater, efforts to open OSIRIS-REx’s sample canister, and a dinosaur’s last dinner.
- Benjamin Thompson
- , Noah Baker
- & Flora Graham
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Article |
Ultrahigh-mobility semiconducting epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide
Semiconducting epigraphene aligned with single-crystal silicon carbide substrates has a band gap of 0.6 eV and room temperature mobilities 20 times larger than that of other two-dimensional semiconductors, making it suitable for nanoelectronics.
- Jian Zhao
- , Peixuan Ji
- & Walt A. de Heer
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News |
Polar bear fur-inspired sweater is thinner than a down jacket — and just as warm
The synthetic fibre is an aerogel coated with polyurethane and is flexible, washable and wearable.
- Gemma Conroy
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Research Briefing |
Atomic electron tomography reveals chemical order in medium- and high-entropy alloys
Medium- and high-entropy alloys are hugely promising materials in metallurgy and catalysis, but their atomic-scale structure — and how that relates to their properties — is not well understood. A powerful method is beginning to reveal their secrets, with hopes for engineering better materials in the future.
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Article |
Three-dimensional atomic structure and local chemical order of medium- and high-entropy nanoalloys
Atomic electron tomography is used to determine the 3D atomic positions and chemical species of medium- and high-entropy alloy nanoparticles and quantitatively characterize the local lattice distortion, strain tensor, twin boundaries, dislocation cores and chemical short-range order.
- Saman Moniri
- , Yao Yang
- & Jianwei Miao
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Article
| Open AccessDesigner phospholipid capping ligands for soft metal halide nanocrystals
Phospholipids enhance the structural and colloidal integrity of hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites and lead-free metal halide nanocrystals, which then exhibit enhanced robustness and optical properties.
- Viktoriia Morad
- , Andriy Stelmakh
- & Maksym V. Kovalenko
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Article |
Reconfigurable moiré nanolaser arrays with phase synchronization
A reconfigurable coherent moiré nanolaser array based on optical flatbands in twisted photonic graphene lattices enables arrays with phase synchronization and high spatial and spectral coherence across a range of distinct patterns.
- Hong-Yi Luan
- , Yun-Hao Ouyang
- & Ren-Min Ma
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Article |
Kerr-induced synchronization of a cavity soliton to an optical reference
The passive and electronics-free Kerr-induced synchronization of optical-frequency combs could be used in their control and stabilization and to simplify optical clock systems.
- Grégory Moille
- , Jordan Stone
- & Kartik Srinivasan
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News & Views |
Self-assembling structures close the gap to trap light
An innovative method uses the intrinsic attractive force between silicon surfaces that are separated by a tiny gap to engineer structures that can confine light — offering an ideal set-up for manipulating single photons.
- Takashi Asano
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-assembled photonic cavities with atomic-scale confinement
Silicon photonic nanocavities based on surface forces and conventional lithography and etching are developed, demonstrating pioneering technology that integrates atomic dimensions with the scalability of planar semiconductors.
- Ali Nawaz Babar
- , Thor August Schimmell Weis
- & Søren Stobbe
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Technology Feature |
Wearable biosensor measures fertility hormones in sweat
Ring-like device blends nanoelectronics and folded RNA to track hormone levels without the need for invasive blood tests.
- Amanda Heidt
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Article |
A stable atmospheric-pressure plasma for extreme-temperature synthesis
A plasma set-up consisting of a pair of carbon-fibre-tip-enhanced electrodes enables the generation of a uniform, ultra-high temperature and stable plasma (up to 8,000 K) at atmospheric pressure using a combination of vertically oriented long and short carbon fibres.
- Hua Xie
- , Ning Liu
- & Liangbing Hu
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Article |
Cascaded compression of size distribution of nanopores in monolayer graphene
Cascaded compression, in which nanopores are compressed by cycles of shrinkage and expansion, is described, leading tohigh-density nanopores in monolayer graphene with a narrow pore-size distribution, left skewness and ultrasmall tail deviation.
- Jiangtao Wang
- , Chi Cheng
- & Jing Kong
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Article
| Open AccessImaging quantum oscillations and millitesla pseudomagnetic fields in graphene
Imaging of quantum oscillations in Bernal-stacked trilayer graphene with dual gates enables high-precision reconstruction of the highly tunable bands and reveals naturally occurring pseudomagnetic fields as low as 1 mT corresponding to graphene twisting by 1 millidegree.
- Haibiao Zhou
- , Nadav Auerbach
- & Eli Zeldov
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Article
| Open AccessHopfion rings in a cubic chiral magnet
Transmission electron microscopy is used to observe three-dimensional topological solitons known as hopfions that in a chiral magnet are found to form rings around skyrmion strings, and a nucleation protocol for these rings is provided.
- Fengshan Zheng
- , Nikolai S. Kiselev
- & Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski
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Research Briefing |
Divide and conquer: exploiting entropy to grow nanoscale barrier materials
The full promise of materials structured at the nanoscale can be realized only if they can be manufactured more efficiently and at the sizes required for device integration. An innovative method takes advantage of thermodynamic and kinetic effects to control the growth of stacked 2D nanosheets that can be used for practical applications from the nanoscale to the macroscale.
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Article |
Ultralow-resistance electrochemical capacitor for integrable line filtering
A miniaturized narrow-channel in-plane electrochemical capacitor shows drastically reduced ionic resistances within both the electrode material and the electrolyte and an ultrahigh areal capacitance by downscaling the channel width with femtosecond-laser scribing.
- Yajie Hu
- , Mingmao Wu
- & Liangti Qu
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Article |
A superconducting nanowire single-photon camera with 400,000 pixels
The development of a 400,000-pixel superconducting nanowire single-photon detector array is described, improving the current state of the art by a factor of 400 and showing scalability well beyond the present demonstration.
- B. G. Oripov
- , D. S. Rampini
- & A. N. McCaughan