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Self-assembling subnanometer pores with unusual mass-transport properties
Molecular systems with rigid macrocyclic backbones self-assemble into synthetic nanopores that mimic the mass-transport characteristics of biological channels. Zhouet al. produce self-assembling hydrophobic nanopores that mediate highly selective transmembrane ion transport and highly efficient transmembrane water permeability.
- Xibin Zhou
- , Guande Liu
- & Bing Gong
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| Open AccessDynamic spin polarization by orientation-dependent separation in a ferromagnet–semiconductor hybrid
Integration of ferromagnetic and semiconducting elements is important for future devices capable of both processing and storing information. Korenevet al. describe a novel spin-separation effect in a ferromagnet/semiconductor quantum well hybrid and show the optical readout of hysteresis loops.
- V.L. Korenev
- , I.A. Akimov
- & M. Bayer
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| Open AccessAccelerated single photon emission from dye molecule-driven nanoantennas assembled on DNA
Downsizing antennas to the nanoscale is a promising way to manipulate light emission from fluorescent sources. Bussonet al. used a short DNA strand to position a lone fluorescent molecule between two gold particles with nanometre resolution, achieving enhanced decay rates and single photon emission.
- Mickaël P. Busson
- , Brice Rolly
- & Sébastien Bidault
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Microporous metal-organic framework with potential for carbon dioxide capture at ambient conditions
Metal-organic frameworks are promising candidates for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide. Chen and co-workers report a metal-organic framework that exhibits high uptake of carbon dioxide at ambient conditions, and is a potentially useful adsorbent for post-combustion carbon dioxide capture.
- Shengchang Xiang
- , Yabing He
- & Banglin Chen
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Efficient power extraction in surface-emitting semiconductor lasers using graded photonic heterostructures
Photonic crystal semiconductor lasers normally operate in a non-radiative mode, characterized by reduced losses but also low surface emission. Using graded photonic heterostructures, Xuet al. boost power extraction by forcing laser emission in a mode with higher radiation efficiency.
- Gangyi Xu
- , Raffaele Colombelli
- & David A. Ritchie
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Realizing a robust practical Majorana chain in a quantum-dot-superconductor linear array
Majorana fermions—the particles renowned for being their own antiparticles—have been proposed as candidates for storing qubits for quantum computers. Sau and Das Sarma propose a method for creating stable Majorana fermions in an array of quantum dots.
- Jay D. Sau
- & S. Das Sarma
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| Open AccessComplete experimental toolbox for alignment-free quantum communication
Quantum communication promises important advances in information and communication technology, yet it suffers from alignment sensitivity. Here, an alignment-free approach is demonstrated using liquid crystal devices, allowing for broader applications, including satellites.
- Vincenzo D'Ambrosio
- , Eleonora Nagali
- & Fabio Sciarrino
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Evidence for charge–vortex duality at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface
Vortex–charge duality is a model that has been proposed for describing the superconducting to insulator transition in disordered thin films. Mehtaet al. report experimental evidence for this duality in the two-dimensional electron gas that arises in LaAlO3/SrTiO3heterostructures.
- M.M. Mehta
- , D.A. Dikin
- & V. Chandrasekhar
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Exploring the wavefront of hard X-ray free-electron laser radiation
X-ray free-electron lasers offer a wealth of possibilities for future diffraction studies, but variations in successive pulses mean the wavefront is not well defined. Rutishauseret al. use grating interferometry to characterize the wavefronts shot to shot, both in situand under operating conditions.
- Simon Rutishauser
- , Liubov Samoylova
- & Christian David
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Dynamics of multiple phases in a colossal-magnetoresistive manganite as revealed by dielectric spectroscopy
Correlated electron oxide materials have rich phase diagrams with magnetic or electronic properties. Using a p-n junction configuration, Shenget al. explore the dielectric response of different phases in manganite thin films and uncover their dynamic transport properties.
- Zhigao Sheng
- , Masao Nakamura
- & Yoshinori Tokura
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| Open AccessTwo-dome structure in electron-doped iron arsenide superconductors
The iron pnictides are a class of superconductors that have received widespread interest in recent years. By doping the prototypical material LaFeAsO with hydrogen, this study reveals the existence of a second superconducting dome at higher doping ranges, which arises due to orbital fluctuations.
- Soshi Iimura
- , Satoru Matsuishi
- & Hideo Hosono
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Photoinduced handedness switching in terahertz chiral metamolecules
Chiral metamaterials present interesting ways to manipulate and distinguish between different circular polarizations of light. Zhanget al. realize chiral metamaterials that exhibit photoinduced switching between left- and right-handed circular polarization interactions at terahertz frequencies.
- Shuang Zhang
- , Jiangfeng Zhou
- & Xiang Zhang
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Towards a quantum representation of the ampere using single electron pumps
Single electron pumps have been proposed as potential candidates for redefining the ampere. This study reports measurements of the quantized current flowing through a semiconductor electron pump with a precision that makes a substantial step towards establishing a direct metric for electrical currents.
- S.P. Giblin
- , M. Kataoka
- & D.A. Ritchie
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Gate-defined quantum confinement in suspended bilayer graphene
The ability to manipulate single charges is a key requisite for novel nanoelectronic devices. Allenet al. show how to electrostatically confine electrons in suspended bilayer graphene quantum dots by local control of the graphene band structure.
- M. T. Allen
- , J. Martin
- & A. Yacoby
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Electronic origin of high-temperature superconductivity in single-layer FeSe superconductor
The exact mechanism for superconductivity in iron-based superconductors remains elusive, but is thought to involve complex interactions between many orbitals. Using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, Liuet al. report the electronic structure of the single-layer parent compound FeSe.
- Defa Liu
- , Wenhao Zhang
- & X.J. Zhou
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Tunable conductivity threshold at polar oxide interfaces
The SrTiO3/LaAlO3 system is widely studied because it forms a two-dimensional electron gas at the interface. This study investigates the effects of diluting the LaAlO3 layer with SrTiO3, and finds that the threshold thickness required for the onset of conductivity scales inversely with the fraction of LaAlO3, suggesting an intrinsic origin for the electron gas.
- M.L. Reinle-Schmitt
- , C. Cancellieri
- & P.R. Willmott
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| Open AccessRobust spin crossover and memristance across a single molecule
Switches made up of single molecules form the basis for the concept of molecular electronics. Miyamachiet al.demonstrate that an iron-based spin crossover molecule can be switched between different spin states, provided it is decoupled from a metallic substrate by a thin insulating layer.
- Toshio Miyamachi
- , Manuel Gruber
- & Wulf Wulfhekel
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Absorption imaging of a single atom
Absorption imaging relies on the capture of photons by an object to create intensity contrasts, allowing for the visualization of small quantum systems. Streedet al. demonstrate the first absorption imaging of an isolated ytterbium ion, with contrast at the limit of semiclassical theory.
- Erik W. Streed
- , Andreas Jechow
- & David Kielpinski
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Stereoselectivity and electrostatics in charge-transfer Mn- and Cs-TCNQ4 networks on Ag(100)
The crystallization of a racemate on a surface can lead to crystals with a unit cell containing both enantiomers, or to the separation of enantiomers into crystals of single-handedness. This study shows that manganese co-absorbed with a quinone derivative leads to achiral islands, while co-absorption with caesium gives chiral islands.
- Nasiba Abdurakhmanova
- , Andrea Floris
- & Klaus Kern
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Field-directed sputter sharpening for tailored probe materials and atomic-scale lithography
Scanning probe microscopy and related techniques rely on the availability of very sharp tips. Here, a sharpening technique based on field-directed sputtering is demonstrated, resulting in ultrasharp metallic tips for use in scanning tunnelling microscopy as well as atomic-scale lithographic experiments.
- S.W. Schmucker
- , N. Kumar
- & J.W. Lyding
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Optically rewritable patterns of nuclear magnetization in gallium arsenide
Controlling nuclear spin patterns is important to manage decoherence and control electron spin currents in spintronic devices. This study demonstrates the optical creation of rewritable patterns of nuclear polarization in gallium arsenide without ferromagnets, lithographic patterning or field gradients.
- Jonathan P. King
- , Yunpu Li
- & Jeffrey A. Reimer
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Spatial complexity due to bulk electronic nematicity in a superconducting underdoped cuprate
Recent investigations of high-temperature superconductors suggest rotational symmetry is broken in the pseudogap and superconducting states. This theoretical study examines experimental data obtained for a cuprate system known as Dy-Bi2212, and concludes the nematic state extends into the bulk.
- B. Phillabaum
- , E.W. Carlson
- & K.A. Dahmen
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Critical thickness for ferromagnetism in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures
The interface within heterostructures consisting of LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 has been reported to give rise to magnetism, in addition to a two-dimensional electron gas. Kalisky et al. observe that magnetism can occur only above a critical thickness, and that it occurs in heterogeneous patches.
- Beena Kalisky
- , Julie A. Bert
- & Kathryn A. Moler
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An ultrafast nickel–iron battery from strongly coupled inorganic nanoparticle/nanocarbon hybrid materials
Fast rechargeable batteries made from low-cost and abundant electrode materials are attractive for energy storage. Wanget al. develop an ultrafast Ni–Fe battery with carbon/inorganic hybrid electrodes in which the charge and discharge rates are nearly 1,000-fold higher than traditional Ni–Fe batteries.
- Hailiang Wang
- , Yongye Liang
- & Hongjie Dai
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Three-dimensional nanonetworks for giant stretchability in dielectrics and conductors
Stretchable electronics based on conducting polymers offer new opportunities for designing flexible technologies. Parket al. build three-dimensional nanostructures from elastomers soaked with liquid metal to produce stretchable conductors with greatly improved strain properties over solid films.
- Junyong Park
- , Shuodao Wang
- & Seokwoo Jeon
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| Open AccessDeep-tissue focal fluorescence imaging with digitally time-reversed ultrasound-encoded light
Fluorescence imaging is important for biomedical research and applications, but the turbidity of biological material prohibits deep tissue study. By combining ultrasound-encoding with digital time-reversal, Wanget al.perform focussed fluorescence imaging at a tissue depth of 2.5mm.
- Ying Min Wang
- , Benjamin Judkewitz
- & Changhuei Yang
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| Open AccessFano interference governs wave transport in disordered systems
Understanding localization and delocalization phenomena is important for studying wave propagation in many types of disordered photonic systems. Here, a theoretical study of one-dimensional photonic crystal structures reveals the importance of Fano interference in wave transport in the presence of disorder.
- Alexander N. Poddubny
- , Mikhail V. Rybin
- & Yuri S. Kivshar
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| Open AccessLight–matter interaction in a microcavity-controlled graphene transistor
Graphene's remarkable properties make it ideal for optoelectronic devices, and its two-dimensional nature enables its integration with photonic structures. By combining a graphene transistor with a planar microcavity, Engelet al. control the spectrum of the photocurrent and the light emitted by the device.
- Michael Engel
- , Mathias Steiner
- & Ralph Krupke
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Electric dipoles on magnetic monopoles in spin ice
Spin ice is a state of matter that occurs in certain rare earth magnets with a pyrochlore structure. Here it is shown theoretically that, in conjunction with the magnetic monopoles observed in previous experiments, spin ice can also host electric dipoles.
- D.I. Khomskii
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Dynamic Jahn–Teller effect in the parent insulating state of the molecular superconductor Cs3C60
Expanded alkali fullerides are molecular superconductors with a Mott parent insulating state. Kluppet al.use infrared spectroscopy to detect the molecular Jahn–Teller distortion of fulleride ions and establish its relevance to strongly correlated superconductivity.
- Gyöngyi Klupp
- , Péter Matus
- & Kosmas Prassides
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| Open AccessLifetime blinking in nonblinking nanocrystal quantum dots
Nanocrystal quantum dots can exhibit photoluminescence blinking, where the intensity of the emitted light fluctuates due to random charging and discharging. Gallandet al.study thick shell nanocrystals and find that the photoluminescence lifetime can also undergo blinking, without intensity changes.
- Christophe Galland
- , Yagnaseni Ghosh
- & Victor I. Klimov
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| Open AccessRobust absolute magnetometry with organic thin-film devices
Magnetometers based on organic magnetoresistance are limited by narrow sensitivity ranges, degradation and temperature fluctuations. Bakeret al. demonstrate a magnetic resonance-based organic thin film magnetometer, which overcomes these drawbacks by exploiting the metrological nature of magnetic resonance.
- W.J. Baker
- , K. Ambal
- & C. Boehme
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| Open AccessAtomic scale dynamics of ultrasmall germanium clusters
Ultrasmall clusters of atoms form the building blocks of many nanoscale materials. Using a combination of aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy and numerical simulations, this study uncovers the geometry of these clusters in three dimensions.
- S. Bals
- , S. Van Aert
- & G. Van Tendeloo
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| Open AccessUsing light transmission to watch hydrogen diffuse
Understanding hydrogen diffusion in metals is a challenge because of limited access to spatial evolution of the concentration profiles. Using time- and spatially resolved optical measurements, Palssonet al. determine the diffusion rate of hydrogen by directly monitoring its transit through a vanadium thin film.
- Gunnar K. Pálsson
- , Andreas Bliersbach
- & Björgvin Hjörvarsson
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Enantioselective synthesis of a chiral nitrogen-doped buckybowl
Nitrogen-doped fullerenes and carbon nanotubes have been produced, but the synthesis of nitrogen-doped buckybowls, is an unsolved challenge. Tanet al. report an enantioselective synthesis of triazasumanene, and show that nitrogen doping leads to deeper bowl structures than in all-carbon buckybowls.
- Qitao Tan
- , Shuhei Higashibayashi
- & Hidehiro Sakurai
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Direct printing of nanostructures by electrostatic autofocussing of ink nanodroplets
Ink-jet printing methods are an attractive approach to nanofabrication, where electrohydrodynamic control allows for flexible and cheap fabrication. Here, a new approach is presented using electrostatic nanodroplet autofocussing to produce high aspect ratio nanoscale structures like plasmonic nanoantennas.
- P. Galliker
- , J. Schneider
- & D. Poulikakos
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| Open AccessDirect observation of prompt pre-thermal laser ion sheath acceleration
High-intensity laser-plasma ion generation is promising as a compact proton source for applications like ion beam therapy. Using a femtosecond table-top laser system, Zeilet al. show that protons efficiently gain energy in the pre-thermal intra-pulse phase of the generation process.
- K. Zeil
- , J. Metzkes
- & U. Schramm
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Anomalous high capacitance in a coaxial single nanowire capacitor
Devices made up of nanowires offer promise for a range of electronic, photonic and energy applications. Liuet al. fabricate a miniature capacitor by employing a thin layer of Cu2O as a separator between layers of carbon and copper.
- Zheng Liu
- , Yongjie Zhan
- & Pulickel M. Ajayan
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Observation of topologically protected bound states in photonic quantum walks
Topological phases are unusual states of matter whose properties are robust against small perturbations. Using a photonic quantum walk system, Kitagawaet al. simulate one-dimensional topological phases and reveal novel topological phenomena far from the static or adiabatic regimes.
- Takuya Kitagawa
- , Matthew A. Broome
- & Andrew G. White
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| Open AccessValley-selective circular dichroism of monolayer molybdenum disulphide
The monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide molybdenum disulphide has recently attracted attention owing to its distinctive electronic properties. Cao and co-workers present numerical evidence suggesting that circularly polarized light can preferentially excite a single valley in the band structure of this system.
- Ting Cao
- , Gang Wang
- & Ji Feng
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Electric-field control of magnetic domain-wall velocity in ultrathin cobalt with perpendicular magnetization
The manipulation of domain walls in magnetic materials is attracting interest because of its potential use in memory devices. Chibaet al. demonstrate that the velocity of domain walls in perpendicularly magnetized films can be changed by more than an order of magnitude by applying an electric field.
- D. Chiba
- , M. Kawaguchi
- & T. Ono
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Digital quantum simulation of the statistical mechanics of a frustrated magnet
Geometrically frustrated spin systems are a class of statistical mechanical models that have received widespread attention, especially in condensed matter physics. This study experimentally demonstrates a quantum information processor that can simulate the behaviour of such frustrated spin system.
- Jingfu Zhang
- , Man-Hong Yung
- & Jonathan Baugh
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| Open AccessA polychromatic approach to far-field superlensing at visible wavelengths
Metamaterial lenses enable super-resolution imaging of structures, beating the diffraction limit. Lemoultet al. propose a resonant metalens based on plasmonic nanorods that uses polychromatic light to achieve sub-diffraction limit focusing and imaging in the visible spectral region.
- Fabrice Lemoult
- , Mathias Fink
- & Geoffroy Lerosey
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Orbital switching in a frustrated magnet
Thed orbitals of transition metal compounds influence their crystallographic and physical properties. This study reports a unique structural transition in single crystals of the S=1/2 kagomé antiferromagnet, volborthite, whereby an unpaired electron 'switches' from one dorbital to another upon cooling.
- Hiroyuki Yoshida
- , Jun-ichi Yamaura
- & Zenji Hiroi
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Twisted optical metamaterials for planarized ultrathin broadband circular polarizers
Three-dimensional optical metamaterials provide a range of exciting features, such as broadband circular dichroism, yet their fabrication is challenging. Here, a broadband optical circular polarizer is presented based on twisted stacks of metasurfaces, avoiding the issues of three-dimensional fabrication.
- Y. Zhao
- , M.A. Belkin
- & A. Alù
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| Open AccessUltra-low-loss optical delay line on a silicon chip
Fibre-optic waveguides are used to provide timing delays for different sensing and signal processing applications, but their transfer to on-chip platforms is a challenge. Here low-loss delay lines based on whispering-gallery spiral waveguides up to 27 m long are produced, presenting a scalable alternative.
- Hansuek Lee
- , Tong Chen
- & Kerry J. Vahala
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Unsupported boron–carbon σ-coordination to platinum as an isolable snapshot of σ-bond activation
σ-Complexes of transition metals are key intermediates in metal-mediated bond activation, but have traditionally been isolable only when chelating or when one of the participating atoms is hydrogen. Here, a complex is isolated with an unsupported borirene ligand bound not through the unsaturated C=C bond, but exclusively via a B–C single bond.
- Holger Braunschweig
- , Peter Brenner
- & Alfredo Vargas
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Logic gates based on ion transistors
Transistors based on ions, as opposed to electrons, offer the promise of bridging the gap between technological and biological systems. Tybrandtet al. present logic gates based on ion bipolar junction transistors that operate at concentrations compatible with biological systems.
- Klas Tybrandt
- , Robert Forchheimer
- & Magnus Berggren
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Robust classification of salient links in complex networks
Methods to study the structure of complex networks often rely on case-sensitive parameters that have limited applications. In this study, a new method—link salience—is used to classify network elements based on a consensus estimate of all nodes, finding generic topological features in many empirical networks.
- Daniel Grady
- , Christian Thiemann
- & Dirk Brockmann