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An emerging topic of research into conducting polymers revolves around their integration with living tissue. Using an organic electronic ion pump enables cell responses to be controlled, providing an intriguing avenue to further this area.
Controlled assembly of nanoparticles can increase their utility for a large range of applications. Selectively functionalizing the ends of hydrophilic nanorods with hydrophobic polymers is an elegant way to do this, as solvent composition provides structure control.
Nanoscale phase separation into a perfect two-dimensional chessboard structure is observed in a class of perovskite-based lithium-ion conductors. The periodicity can be controlled by varying the composition, which is an intriguing advance in materials design.
The mammalian sense of taste has an exquisite ability to differentiate subtle variations in flavour. An artificial tongue has now been developed with the ability to amplify and sense analytes that before may have gone unnoticed.
Interfaces between gold nanoparticle films and semiconductor substrates are found to behave like nearly ideal Schottky diodes. Moreover, the detailed electronic structure of the interfaces can be tuned by electrochemical charge-transfer.
The positive aspect of negative refraction is to open new possibilities for squeezing light into tight spaces. Now, a metallic nanostructure pushes all-angle negative refraction into the visible spectrum.
Metallo-porphyrin molecules play an important role in biological systems. The demonstration of substrate-induced switching of their magnetization suggests the possibility of their use in molecular spintronics devices.
Interfaces between certain insulating perovskite oxides show unexpected properties, such as high conductivity and magnetism. Oxygen vacancies seem to be important in these structures, but the puzzle is far from being understood.
Many living organisms contain silica structures. A biomimetic synthesis process that uses a peptide as a template gives an opportunity for making a new kind of silica structure and understanding the details of how it forms.
Polyelectrolyte gels are currently used as superabsorbers for polar solvents, such as water. Designing them so that the polyelectrolyte chains and their counterions don't get too close to each other makes them useful for absorbing less-polar solvents, too.
Ferromagnetic clusters within magnetic semiconductors have long been regarded as the bane of semiconductor spintronics. However, they can actually be used to tailor desirable spintronic functionality.
The opportunity to power devices remotely from a thin flexible sheet on the floor or walls sounds futuristic. Combining the unique attributes of organic electronics with high-resolution printing methods has made it possible.
