The limits of flatness

Nature Materials, Published online: 02 February 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-023-01471-xThe limits of flatness

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Orthogonal electric fields turn on and turn off symmetry in BiFeO₃ superlattices

Nature Materials, Published online: 02 February 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01413-zWhen BiFeO3 layers are confined between TbScO3 layers in an epitaxial superlattice, crystallographically orthogonal voltages can induce reversible, non-volatile switching between polar and antipolar states in BiFeO3. This symmetry switch also leads to marked changes...

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Exceptionally clean single-electron transistors from solutions of molecular graphene nanoribbons

Nature Materials, Published online: 02 February 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01460-6Molecular graphene nanoribbons hold promise for quantum experiments in single-electron transistors but require improvements in their debundling. Here, the authors demonstrate ultra-clean transport devices by enhancing nanoribbon solubility via bulky groups on the nanoribbon...

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Simple connections take the prize

Nature Materials, Published online: 02 February 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-023-01480-wClick chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry have finally been recognized with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

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Bose–Fermi mixtures in 2D solid-state superstructures

Nature Materials, Published online: 02 February 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01469-xTwo studies explore strongly correlated states of Bose–Fermi excitonic complexes realized in two distinct solid-state platforms, setting the stage for tabletop quantum simulators.

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A bioadhesive robot to activate muscles

Nature Materials, Published online: 02 February 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01470-4Soft actuators composed of a tough bioadhesive/elastomer shell encapsulating a stimuli-responsive metallic spring provide in situ mechanical stimulation of skeletal muscles to promote muscle tissue rehabilitation and prevent atrophy.

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A TLR7-nanoparticle adjuvant promotes a broad immune response against heterologous strains of influenza and SARS-CoV-2

Nature Materials, Published online: 30 January 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01464-2A nanoparticle-based adjuvant incorporating a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist elicits cross-reactive antibodies for both dominant and subdominant epitopes and enhances immune responses against multiple variants of influenza and SARS-CoV-2.

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Charge transport in mixed metal halide perovskite semiconductors

Nature Materials, Published online: 26 January 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01448-2The study of the inherent charge transport behaviour of 3D lead halide perovskite is challenging, owing to entanglement with ionic migration effects and dipolar disorder instabilities. Here, the authors circumvented both challenges and found that ion migration is much...

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Nanocrystal phononics

Nature Materials, Published online: 26 January 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01438-4Colloidal nanocrystals can form into periodic superlattices exhibiting collective vibrations from the correlated motion of the nanocrystals. This Perspective discusses such collective vibrations and their as-of-yet untapped potential applications for phononic crystals,...

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Inhibiting collective cation migration in Li-rich cathode materials as a strategy to mitigate voltage hysteresis

Nature Materials, Published online: 26 January 2023; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01467-zThe high energy densities of Li-rich cathodes are promising for Li-ion batteries, but voltage hysteresis limits their practical implementation. Voltage hysteresis is shown to be related to collective migration of metal ions, and isolating migration leads to high-capacity...

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