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Separating ethylene from ethane is highly challenging as they have very similar physical properties. Here, a metal–organic framework is reported that, owing to its pore size and rigidity, adsorbs ethylene but almost completely excludes ethane under ambient conditions.
DNA-based nanodevices with decision-making and information-processing capabilities have been developed. Here, a DNA-based molecular navigation system that explores a DNA origami maze for all possible solutions is reported.
Computational screening of materials for solar to fuel conversion technologies has mostly focused on bulk properties. A finite temperature study of WO3 now clarifies the role of defects and excess surface charges for optimizing oxide photoabsorbers.
Solar energy is widely used for fuel production and energy storage, but the majority of photoelectrochemical cells cannot operate without an external power source. A device for simultaneous and direct production of renewable fuels and electrical power is now proposed.
A technique of autoperforation is presented to fabricate colloidal microparticles with functional polymer composite enveloped by two sheets of 2D materials. The particles can work as electronic devices with good stability in harsh environment.
Topologically protected edge states can be observed when combining two Si-based phononic crystals of opposite phases, as well as on-chip elastic wave splitting via partition of edges states at the intersection of topological channels.
Physical confinement of macrophages is shown to down-regulate pro-inflammatory gene transcription, lowering pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and phagocytic potential.
Ferroelectric hafnia occurs only in a thin-film orthorhombic phase that needs wake-up cycling to induce ferroelectricity. Here, by growing thin-film Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 under strain, a polar rhombohedral phase is achieved that does not require cycling.
Semiconducting metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can be of interest for optoelectronics, but charge transport property is rarely elucidated. Here, a π–d conjugated 2D MOF shows band-like charge transport, with room-temperature mobility of 220 cm2 V–1 s–1.
The 1T′ phase of MoS2 monolayers, as well as the 2H phase and their heterophase bilayers, can be grown directly by tuning the potassium concentration in the reaction atmosphere. The pure 1T′ phase demonstrates in-plane anisotropic properties.
A protein-based material with temperature-modulated mechanical properties and function is achieved by the rational incorporation of structural ordering and disordering elements into its polypeptide sequence.
Liquid repellent coatings are important for several applications. Now, a coating that repels ultralow surface tension liquids and simultaneously shows robustness and transparency is reported.
Remote atomic interaction of crystalline materials through 2D materials is presented to depend on the polarity of both the 2D interlayers and underlying substrates, providing insights for the epitaxial growth of various materials on 2D crystals.
Protocells are synthetic cell-like entities that mimic distinct cellular functions. A synthetic prototissue based on an interlinked protein–polymer protocells community that shows reversible contractibility is now reported.
Ultrafast water transport in the surface of Sarracenia trichome is reported and demonstrated in synthetic bioinspired materials, where nano- and microchannels induce high-speed sliding of droplets on top of a thin water film.
The electromechanical properties of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites are not well characterized. Here, a large electrostrictive strain of 1% is measured, suggesting both new electromechanical applications and implications for photovoltaics.
Bimetallic nanoparticles with tailored structure constitute a desirable model system for catalysts. PtAu nanoparticles with Pt single-atom surface sites, prepared by a colloidal method, exhibit unprecedented electrocatalytic activity for formic acid oxidation.