Hard choices - p285

doi:10.1038/nmat894

Full Text - Hard choices | PDF (413 KB) - Hard choices

From bench to business - pp287 - 289

Jonathan D. Linton & Steven T. Walsh

doi:10.1038/nmat882

The process of transferring a laboratory discovery to the marketplace can sometimes seem like a black art. It doesn't have to be.

Full Text - From bench to business | PDF (395 KB) - From bench to business

Photons, prions, skutterudites and sperm - p290

doi:10.1038/nmat896

Full Text - Photons, prions, skutterudites and sperm | PDF (168 KB) - Photons, prions, skutterudites and sperm

Irradiated materials: Defects break symmetry rules - pp291 - 292

Kai Nordlund

doi:10.1038/nmat890

Radiaton damage to graphite cores in nuclear reactors creates defects that store energy, and sometimes — more dangerously — release it. New simulations suggest that our fundamental picture of the behaviour of graphite defects was too simplistic.

Full Text - Irradiated materialsDefects break symmetry rules | PDF (152 KB) - Irradiated materialsDefects break symmetry rules

Ferromagnetic semiconductors: A giant appears in spintronics - pp292 - 294

Sankar Das Sarma

doi:10.1038/nmat883

The unusual synergy between magnetism and semiconductivity in the ferromagnetic semiconductor GaMnAs makes it an attractive material for 'spintronics'. Reports of a new giant switching effect lend it an even greater allure.

Full Text - Ferromagnetic semiconductorsA giant appears in spintronics | PDF (237 KB) - Ferromagnetic semiconductorsA giant appears in spintronics

Fuel cells: The amazing perovskite anode - pp294 - 296

Bernard A. Boukamp

doi:10.1038/nmat892

Solid-oxide fuel cells are on the verge of commercialization. But several engineering problems — including cheaper technology with a lower operation temperature — have to be solved first. A new all-ceramic anode presents a significant step forward.

Full Text - Fuel cellsThe amazing perovskite anode | PDF (597 KB) - Fuel cellsThe amazing perovskite anode

Nanoscale photonics: Nanoshells: gifts in a gold wrapper - pp296 - 297

Mark L. Brongersma

doi:10.1038/nmat891

Researchers in the field of 'nanophotonics' are attempting to fabricate the smallest possible structures with optical functionality. The ability to engineer silica–gold nanoshell particles may increase the importance of metals in a range of nanophotonic and biological applications.

Full Text - Nanoscale photonicsNanoshells: gifts in a gold wrapper | PDF (163 KB) - Nanoscale photonicsNanoshells: gifts in a gold wrapper

Actuator materials: Towards smart artificial muscle - pp297 - 299

Jacques Livage

doi:10.1038/nmat886

Intercalation of ions in vanadium oxide is a well-known process that causes this material to swell. Researchers have now used this mechanical deformation effect to build a vanadium oxide artificial muscle that is stronger than human skeletal muscle.

Full Text - Actuator materialsTowards smart artificial muscle | PDF (458 KB) - Actuator materialsTowards smart artificial muscle

Crystal structures and shape-memory behaviour of NiTi - pp307 - 311

Xiangyang Huang, Graeme J. Ackland & Karin M. Rabe

doi:10.1038/nmat884

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Crystal structures and shape-memory behaviour of NiTi | PDF (810 KB) - Crystal structures and shape-memory behaviour of NiTi

Subject Categories: Metals and alloys | Mechanical properties | Computation, modelling and theory

Epitaxy of cubic boron nitride on (001)-oriented diamond - pp312 - 315

X. W. Zhang, H.-G. Boyen, N. Deyneka, P. Ziemann, F. Banhart & M. Schreck

doi:10.1038/nmat870

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Epitaxy of cubic boron nitride on (001)-oriented diamond | PDF (634 KB) - Epitaxy of cubic boron nitride on (001)-oriented diamond

Subject Categories: Structural materials | Surface and thin films | Design synthesis and processing

V₂O₅ nanofibre sheet actuators - pp316 - 319

Gang Gu, Michael Schmid, Po-Wen Chiu, Andrew Minett, Jerôme Fraysse, Gyu-Tae Kim, Siegmar Roth, Mikhail Kozlov, Edgar Muñoz & Ray H. Baughman

doi:10.1038/nmat880

First Paragraph - | Full Text - V2O5 nanofibre sheet actuators | PDF (313 KB) - V2O5 nanofibre sheet actuators

Subject Categories: Ceramics | Electronic materials | Mechanical properties

See also: News and Views by Livage

A redox-stable efficient anode for solid-oxide fuel cells - pp320 - 323

Shanwen Tao & John T. S. Irvine

doi:10.1038/nmat871

First Paragraph - | Full Text - A redox-stable efficient anode for solid-oxide fuel cells | PDF (125 KB) - A redox-stable efficient anode for solid-oxide fuel cells

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Materials for energy

See also: News and Views by Boukamp

Enantiomeric interactions between nucleic acid bases and amino acids on solid surfaces - pp324 - 328

Q. Chen & N. V. Richardson

doi:10.1038/nmat878

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Enantiomeric interactions between nucleic acid bases and amino acids on solid surfaces | PDF (1,048 KB) - Enantiomeric interactions between nucleic acid bases and amino acids on solid surfaces

Subject Categories: Metals and alloys | Biological materials | Surface and thin films

Engineering the morphology of a self-assembling protein fibre - pp329 - 332

Maxim G. Ryadnov & Derek N. Woolfson

doi:10.1038/nmat885

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Engineering the morphology of a self-assembling protein fibre | PDF (440 KB) - Engineering the morphology of a self-assembling protein fibre

Subject Categories: Biological materials | Nanoscale materials | Design synthesis and processing

Wigner defects bridge the graphite gap - pp333 - 337

Rob H. Telling, Chris P. Ewels, Ahlam A. El-Barbary & Malcolm I. Heggie

doi:10.1038/nmat876

Abstract - | Full Text - Wigner defects bridge the graphite gap | PDF (530 KB) - Wigner defects bridge the graphite gap

Subject Categories: Mechanical properties | Materials for energy | Nanoscale materials | Computation, modelling and theory

See also: News and Views by Nordlund

DNA-assisted dispersion and separation of carbon nanotubes - pp338 - 342

Ming Zheng, Anand Jagota, Ellen D. Semke, Bruce A. Diner, Robert S. Mclean, Steve R. Lustig, Raymond E. Richardson & Nancy G. Tassi

doi:10.1038/nmat877

Abstract - | Full Text - DNA-assisted dispersion and separation of carbon nanotubes | PDF (614 KB) - DNA-assisted dispersion and separation of carbon nanotubes

Subject Categories: Biological materials | Nanoscale materials

Biology of TiO₂–oligonucleotide nanocomposites - pp343 - 346

Tatjana Paunesku, Tijana Rajh, Gary Wiederrecht, Jörg Maser, Stefan Vogt, Nataa Stojievi, Miroslava Proti, Barry Lai, Jeremy Oryhon, Marion Thurnauer & Gayle Woloschak

doi:10.1038/nmat875

Abstract - | Full Text - Biology of TiO2–oligonucleotide nanocomposites | PDF (603 KB) - Biology of TiO2–oligonucleotide nanocomposites

Subject Categories: Biological materials | Semiconductors | Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials | Nanoscale materials

Erratum - p347

doi:10.1038/nmat881

Full Text - Erratum | PDF (307 KB) - Erratum

From tips to domes - p348

doi:10.1038/nmat893

Full Text - From tips to domes | PDF (295 KB) - From tips to domes