'Nuclear' is not the question - p679

doi:10.1038/nmat2267

Whether we should expand the use of nuclear energy is not the issue. Developing next-generation nuclear technology as part of a clean-energy portfolio is.

Full Text - 'Nuclear' is not the question | PDF (224 KB) - 'Nuclear' is not the question

Nuclear energy for the future - pp680 - 682

David J. Hill

doi:10.1038/nmat2247

Nuclear energy offers a low-carbon footprint and less dependence on fossil fuel, but several materials challenges must be met to advance nuclear technology.

Full Text - Nuclear energy for the future | PDF (144 KB) - Nuclear energy for the future

Greater tolerance for nuclear materials - pp683 - 685

Robin W. Grimes, Rudy J. M. Konings & Lyndon Edwards

doi:10.1038/nmat2266

As interest in new generations of nuclear reactors is increasing worldwide, renewed research effort into new materials more tolerant to extreme conditions is crucial.

Full Text - Greater tolerance for nuclear materials | PDF (495 KB) - Greater tolerance for nuclear materials

Nuclear energy — safe and secure? - pp686 - 687

Interview with Tomihiro Taniguchi

doi:10.1038/nmat2258

The present revival in nuclear technology is prompting concerns about its safe use. Nature Materials talks to Tomihiro Taniguchi, Deputy Director General at the International Atomic Energy Agency, responsible for nuclear safety and security.

Full Text - Nuclear energy — safe and secure? | PDF (173 KB) - Nuclear energy — safe and secure?

Research highlights - p689

doi:10.1038/nmat2268

Full Text - Research highlights | PDF (213 KB) - Research highlights

Magnetic molecules: Chirality and magnetism shake hands - pp691 - 692

Laurence D. Barron

doi:10.1038/nmat2263

The synthesis of chiral magnetic molecules allows the first observation of strong magneto–chiral dichroism, where unpolarized light is absorbed differently for parallel and antiparallel propagation with respect to an applied magnetic field.

Full Text - Magnetic moleculesChirality and magnetism shake hands | PDF (198 KB) - Magnetic moleculesChirality and magnetism shake hands

Biological materials: Fishing for compliance - pp692 - 693

Klaus D. Jandt

doi:10.1038/nmat2262

Multiscale experimental and computational approaches reveal how an ancient fish protects itself with an armour of scales consisting of four different reinforcing, graded nanocomposite layers.

Full Text - Biological materialsFishing for compliance | PDF (225 KB) - Biological materialsFishing for compliance

Material witness: Old gold - p694

Philip Ball

doi:10.1038/nmat2255

Full Text - Material witnessOld gold | PDF (126 KB) - Material witnessOld gold

Condensed-matter physics: Complex oxides on fire - pp694 - 695

Yoshinori Tokura & Harold Y. Hwang

doi:10.1038/nmat2264

Oxide materials have long been known as hosts for exotic and useful physical properties. Recent advances in their design and fabrication establish the means to tailor their response for applications.

Full Text - Condensed-matter physicsComplex oxides on fire | PDF (183 KB) - Condensed-matter physicsComplex oxides on fire

Classical and quantum routes to linear magnetoresistance - pp697 - 700

Jingshi Hu & T. F. Rosenbaum

doi:10.1038/nmat2259

We are used to thinking that a macroscopic phenomenon can be described in terms of either classical physics or quantum mechanics. But sometimes it can be both. For example, it is shown that the linear magnetoresistance in InSb can be achieved by a classical or quantum route.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Classical and quantum routes to linear magnetoresistance | PDF (416 KB) - Classical and quantum routes to linear magnetoresistance

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Semiconductors | Magnetic materials

Multi-quantum-well nanowire heterostructures for wavelength-controlled lasers - pp701 - 706

Fang Qian, Yat Li, Silvija Gradeak, Hong-Gyu Park, Yajie Dong, Yong Ding, Zhong Lin Wang & Charles M. Lieber

doi:10.1038/nmat2253

Nanowire lasers have so far consisted of homogeneous semiconductor structures. The achievement of lasing from a multi-quantum-well heterostructure deposited on a nanowire demonstrates a new complexity in nanophotonic devices.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Multi-quantum-well nanowire heterostructures for wavelength-controlled lasers | PDF (2,149 KB) - Multi-quantum-well nanowire heterostructures for wavelength-controlled lasers | Supplementary information

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

Experimental visualization of lithium diffusion in Li_xFePO₄ - pp707 - 711

Shin-ichi Nishimura, Genki Kobayashi, Kenji Ohoyama, Ryoji Kanno, Masatomo Yashima & Atsuo Yamada

doi:10.1038/nmat2251

Geometric information on lithium diffusion is crucial to understanding electrode reactions for lithium ion battery applications. Combining high-temperature powder neutron diffraction and the maximum entropy method, experimental evidence for a curved one-dimensional chain for lithium motion in Li_xFePO₄ is now provided.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Experimental visualization of lithium diffusion in LixFePO4 | PDF (753 KB) - Experimental visualization of lithium diffusion in LixFePO4 | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Materials for energy | Characterisation and analytical techniques

Vertically oriented hexagonal mesoporous films formed through nanometre-scale epitaxy - pp712 - 717

Erik K. Richman, Torsten Brezesinski & Sarah H. Tolbert

doi:10.1038/nmat2257

Pores in thin films tend to lie in the plane of the substrate, which makes it impractical for applications where diffusion into the pores is necessary. Nanometre-scale epitaxy on a patterned substrate is now used to form vertically oriented pores in honeycomb-structured films.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Vertically oriented hexagonal mesoporous films formed through nanometre-scale epitaxy | PDF (1,128 KB) - Vertically oriented hexagonal mesoporous films formed through nanometre-scale epitaxy

Subject Categories: Nanoscale materials | Porous materials | Surface and thin films

Water-soluble organo-silica hybrid nanowires - pp718 - 722

Jiayin Yuan, Youyong Xu, Andreas Walther, Sreenath Bolisetty, Manuela Schumacher, Holger Schmalz, Matthias Ballauff & Axel H. E. Müller

doi:10.1038/nmat2232

Precise control over the geometry of nanoscale one-dimensional structures is challenging. Cylindrical polymer brushes have now been used to synthesize organo-silica hybrid nanowires that are not only soluble in water but also in many organic solvents.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Water-soluble organo-silica hybrid nanowires | PDF (1,347 KB) - Water-soluble organo-silica hybrid nanowires | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Nanoscale materials | Design synthesis and processing

Spin Rabi flopping in the photocurrent of a polymer light-emitting diode - pp723 - 728

D. R. McCamey, H. A. Seipel, S.-Y. Paik, M. J. Walter, N. J. Borys, J. M. Lupton & C. Boehme

doi:10.1038/nmat2252

The observation of Rabi-oscillations between single and triplet states in an organic light-emitting diode demonstrates the possibility of manipulating the spin states in organic electronic devices. The data also provide direct evidence of very slow spin-dephasing, which should prove crucial for the development of organic spintronics.

Abstract - | Full Text - Spin Rabi flopping in the photocurrent of a polymer light-emitting diode | PDF (1,990 KB) - Spin Rabi flopping in the photocurrent of a polymer light-emitting diode | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Electronic materials | Molecular electronics

Strong magneto-chiral dichroism in enantiopure chiral ferromagnets - pp729 - 734

Cyrille Train, Ruxandra Gheorghe, Vojislav Krstic, Lise-Marie Chamoreau, Nikolai S. Ovanesyan, Geert L. J. A. Rikken, Michel Gruselle & Michel Verdaguer

doi:10.1038/nmat2256

Magneto-chiral dichroism is an effect in which unpolarized light is absorbed differently for parallel and antiparallel propagation with respect to an applied magnetic field. Previous observations have only seen a rather weak demonstration of this effect. Following a challenging synthesis, strong magneto-dichroism has now been observed in enantiopure chiral ferromagnets.

Abstract - | Full Text - Strong magneto-chiral dichroism in enantiopure chiral ferromagnets | PDF (479 KB) - Strong magneto-chiral dichroism in enantiopure chiral ferromagnets

Subject Categories: Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials | Magnetic materials | Design synthesis and processing

See also: News and Views by Barron

Direct fabrication of metavanadate phosphor films on organic substrates for white-light-emitting devices - pp735 - 740

Tomohiko Nakajima, Masahiko Isobe, Tetsuo Tsuchiya, Yutaka Ueda & Toshiya Kumagai

doi:10.1038/nmat2244

In solid-state lighting, phosphors are typically used to complement the blue light of the original emitter to achieve white-light emission. The capability to deposit certain phosphors at much lower temperatures than previously enables their use on organic substrates and opens the door to fabricate large-area white-light emitters.

Abstract - | Full Text - Direct fabrication of metavanadate phosphor films on organic substrates for white-light-emitting devices | PDF (565 KB) - Direct fabrication of metavanadate phosphor films on organic substrates for white-light-emitting devices

Subject Categories: Ceramics | Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials | Design synthesis and processing

Room-temperature single-phase Li insertion/extraction in nanoscale Li_xFePO₄ - pp741 - 747

Pierre Gibot, Montse Casas-Cabanas, Lydia Laffont, Stephane Levasseur, Philippe Carlach, Stéphane Hamelet, Jean-Marie Tarascon & Christian Masquelier

doi:10.1038/nmat2245

Electrodes exhibiting single-phase lithium insertion processes can be advantageous for storage applications such as lithium-ion batteries. By modifying the particle size and ion ordering of LiFeFO₄ electrodes an unprecedented single-phase room-temperature process is observed.

Abstract - | Full Text - Room-temperature single-phase Li insertion/extraction in nanoscale LixFePO4 | PDF (921 KB) - Room-temperature single-phase Li insertion/extraction in nanoscale LixFePO4 | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Materials for energy | Nanoscale materials

Materials design principles of ancient fish armour - pp748 - 756

Benjamin J. F. Bruet, Juha Song, Mary C. Boyce & Christine Ortiz

doi:10.1038/nmat2231

The scales of a fish are its first level of defence. Now, the multilayered structure of fish scales has been analysed according to its mechanical properties and penetration resistance. This study of the four different layers provides a mechanistic understanding of evolutionary design as well as inspiring new materials for armour protection.

Abstract - | Full Text - Materials design principles of ancient fish armour | PDF (2,403 KB) - Materials design principles of ancient fish armour

Subject Categories: Biological materials | Mechanical properties

See also: News and Views by Jandt