Advance online publication
The latest research papers, published online ahead of print. These online versions are definitive and may be cited using the digital object identifier (DOI).
About advance online publicationLetters
Surface-chemistry-driven actuation in nanoporous gold
J. Biener, A. Wittstock, L. A. Zepeda-Ruiz, M. M. Biener, V. Zielasek, D. Kramer, R. N. Viswanath, J. Weissmüller, M. Bäumer & A. V. Hamza
Published online: 30 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2335
Nanostructured high-surface-area materials capable of converting energy into mechanical work are promising for use as actuation devices. Surface-chemistry-induced changes of the surface stress in nanoporous gold are now observed on alternate exposure to ozone and carbon monoxide.
First Paragraph - Surface-chemistry-driven actuation in nanoporous gold | Full Text - Surface-chemistry-driven actuation in nanoporous gold | PDF (686 KB) - Surface-chemistry-driven actuation in nanoporous gold
Probing interfacial equilibration in microsphere crystals formed by DNA-directed assembly
Anthony J. Kim, Raynaldo Scarlett, Paul L. Biancaniello, Talid Sinno & John C. Crocker
Published online: 30 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2338
The growth kinetics and crystallization behaviour of DNA-directed colloidal systems are not well understood. Now, using experiments and simulations, a single nucleotide mismatch in DNA strands attached to two microsphere species enables the kinetics of crystal growth and segregation as a result of crystallization to be investigated.
First Paragraph - Probing interfacial equilibration in microsphere crystals formed by DNA-directed assembly | Full Text - Probing interfacial equilibration in microsphere crystals formed by DNA-directed assembly | PDF (459 KB) - Probing interfacial equilibration in microsphere crystals formed by DNA-directed assembly | Supplementary information
Highly conductive 
40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres
Nunzio Tuccitto, Violetta Ferri, Marco Cavazzini, Silvio Quici, Genady Zhavnerko, Antonino Licciardello & Maria Anita Rampi
Published online: 16 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2332
A long-standing problem with molecular wires is their poor transport properties. Highly conductive and very long wires have now been synthesized by incorporating metal centres into rigid molecular backbones, which shows promise for their use in electronic devices.
First Paragraph - Highly conductive [sim]40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres | Full Text - Highly conductive 40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres | PDF (759 KB) - Highly conductive 40-nm-long molecular wires assembled by stepwise incorporation of metal centres | Supplementary information
Articles
Determination of spin injection and transport in a ferromagnet/organic semiconductor heterojunction by two-photon photoemission
Mirko Cinchetti, Kathrin Heimer, Jan-Peter Wüstenberg, Oleksiy Andreyev, Michael Bauer, Stefan Lach, Christiane Ziegler, Yongli Gao & Martin Aeschlimann
Published online: 23 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2334
One of the challenges posed by spin manipulation in organic semiconductors is the difficulty of measuring the spin injection from a ferromagnetic contact and the subsequent spin diffusion length. This is now elegantly achieved by a two-photon photoemission experiment.
Abstract - Determination of spin injection and transport in a ferromagnet/organic semiconductor heterojunction by two-photon photoemission | Full Text - Determination of spin injection and transport in a ferromagnet/organic semiconductor heterojunction by two-photon photoemission | PDF (399 KB) - Determination of spin injection and transport in a ferromagnet/organic semiconductor heterojunction by two-photon photoemission | Supplementary information
Direct measurement of the electronic spin diffusion length in a fully functional organic spin valve by low-energy muon spin rotation
A. J. Drew, J. Hoppler, L. Schulz, F. L. Pratt, P. Desai, P. Shakya, T. Kreouzis, W. P. Gillin, A. Suter, N. A. Morley, V. K. Malik, A. Dubroka, K. W. Kim, H. Bouyanfif, F. Bourqui, C. Bernhard, R. Scheuermann, G. J. Nieuwenhuys, T. Prokscha & E. Morenzoni
Published online: 23 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2333
One of the challenges posed by spin manipulation in organic semiconductors is the difficulty of measuring the spin polarization and the spin diffusion length. This is now elegantly achieved by a low-energy muon spin rotation.
Abstract - Direct measurement of the electronic spin diffusion length in a fully functional organic spin valve by low-energy muon spin rotation | Full Text - Direct measurement of the electronic spin diffusion length in a fully functional organic spin valve by low-energy muon spin rotation | PDF (339 KB) - Direct measurement of the electronic spin diffusion length in a fully functional organic spin valve by low-energy muon spin rotation | Supplementary information
Thermally stable Pt/mesoporous silica core–shell nanocatalysts for high-temperature reactions
Sang Hoon Joo, Jeong Young Park, Chia-Kuang Tsung, Yusuke Yamada, Peidong Yang & Gabor A. Somorjai
Published online: 23 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2329
Colloidal synthesis can help to precisely control the shape and composition of catalytic metal nanoparticles, but it has so far proved difficult to use these particles in high-temperature reactions. Core–shell structures capable of isolating Pt-mesoporous silica nanoparticles have now been shown to be catalytically active for ethylene hydrogenation and CO oxidation at high temperature.
Abstract - Thermally stable Pt/mesoporous silica core-shell nanocatalysts for high-temperature reactions | Full Text - Thermally stable Pt/mesoporous silica core–shell nanocatalysts for high-temperature reactions | PDF (994 KB) - Thermally stable Pt/mesoporous silica core–shell nanocatalysts for high-temperature reactions | Supplementary information
A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light
Xinchen Wang, Kazuhiko Maeda, Arne Thomas, Kazuhiro Takanabe, Gang Xin, Johan M. Carlsson, Kazunari Domen & Markus Antonietti
Published online: 09 November 2008; | doi:10.1038/nmat2317
Hydrogen generated from splitting water using a catalyst and solar energy is an ideal energy source. A polymeric carbon nitride photocatalyst that is thermally and chemically stable is now shown to produce hydrogen from water even in the absence of noble metal catalysts.
Abstract - A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light | Full Text - A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light | PDF (363 KB) - A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light | Supplementary information
Until print versions of AOP papers are published, they should be cited in the style "Author(s) Nature Materials advance online publication, day month year (doi:10.1038/nmatXXXXX)". Once the print version (identical to the AOP) is published, it should be cited as follows: "Author(s) Nature Materials volume, page (year); advance online publication, (doi:10.1038/nmatXXXXX)".
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