News & Views |
Featured
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Correspondence |
Advanced materials provide solutions towards a sustainable world
- Lars Hultman
- , Sara Mazur
- & Magnus Berggren
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Feature |
Controlling supramolecular gels
Kinetic trapping in supramolecular gels leads to varied morphologies and macroscopic properties. Emily R. Draper and Dave J. Adams discuss subtle experimental effects that can lead to reproducibility issues in these systems.
- Emily R. Draper
- & Dave J. Adams
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Feature |
Open computational materials science
The materials modelling community is emerging as a champion for reproducible and reusable science. Aron Walsh discusses how FAIR databases, collaborative codes and transparent workflows are advancing this movement.
- Aron Walsh
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Feature |
Better standards are needed for membrane materials
Tae Hoon Lee and Zachary P. Smith argue that some of the most exciting materials that could be used for gas separations are metastable or crystalline, with properties that are altered by sample preparation and testing, but there are no widely accepted standards.
- Tae Hoon Lee
- & Zachary P. Smith
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Feature |
Lifting the fog in ferroelectric thin-film synthesis
Frustrated by reproducibility in electrical measurements on ferroelectric films, Lane Martin, Jon-Paul Maria and Darrell Schlom discuss tactics to reliably synthesize ‘good’ ferroelectric samples, especially in the search for superior materials and device heterostructures.
- Lane W. Martin
- , Jon-Paul Maria
- & Darrell G. Schlom
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Feature |
Thermoelectric measurements
Joseph Heremans and Joshua Martin discuss the reproducibility of thermoelectric measurements and conclude that the uncertainty on the figure of merit zT is of the order of 15–20%.
- Joseph P. Heremans
- & Joshua Martin
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Editorial |
Trust but verify
With a continuing increase in scientific studies, there is a growing awareness of the need to reproduce scientific results.
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Editorial |
In praise of peer review
Peer review has long been established as the gold standard for scientific publishing, but changes in the publishing ecosystem should not influence author response to the views of their peers.
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Editorial |
A measure of disruption
A measure of the impact of scientific papers indicates that they are on average becoming less disruptive — this could reflect changes in the scientific community.
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Correspondence |
Tackling overpublishing by moving to open-ended papers
- Andrew R. Akbashev
- & Sergei V. Kalinin
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Why it Matters |
Characterizing ancient materials
Zhu-Jun Wang and Zhi Liu discuss how advanced characterization technologies have helped to understand ancient man-made materials and human history.
- Zhu-Jun Wang
- & Zhi Liu
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Comment |
Material science as a cornerstone driving battery research
Materials and surface sciences have been the driving force in the development of modern-day lithium-ion batteries. This Comment explores this journey while contemplating future challenges, such as interface engineering, sustainability and the importance of obtaining high-quality extensive datasets for enhancing data-driven research.
- Jean-Marie Tarascon
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Editorial |
Materials at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic
Materials scientists have played a key role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic from the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools to the rapid prototyping of ventilators.
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News & Views |
Reassembled nanoprecipitates resisting radiation
Outstanding resistance to destructive radiation damage in structural alloys is realized by ultra-high-density reversible nanoprecipitate inclusions, and the improvement is attributed to the reordering process of low-misfit superlattices in highly supersaturated matrices.
- Yanwen Zhang
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Why it Matters |
Quantum engineers in high demand
Gabriele Rainò, Lukas Novotny and Martin Frimmer discuss the approach they are pursuing at ETH Zürich to provide students with an education in quantum engineering.
- Gabriele Rainò
- , Lukas Novotny
- & Martin Frimmer
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Why it Matters |
Young scholars benefit from collaboration
Suhas Eswarappa Prameela, K. T. Ramesh and Tim Weihs highlight how students and postdocs can develop their competencies and skills during research collaboration.
- Suhas Eswarappa Prameela
- , K. T. Ramesh
- & Timothy P. Weihs
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Why it Matters |
Building on trust and vision
Olga Malinkiewicz, founder of Saule Technologies, discusses her transition from academia to industry.
- Olga Malinkiewicz
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Why it Matters |
Politics should listen to science, not hide behind it
Scientists can provide governments with essential knowledge to take informed decisions, but cannot decide on their behalf, according to Carlo Rovelli.
- Carlo Rovelli
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News & Views |
Echoes from quantum confinement
The discovery of intrinsic quantum confinement effects in the form of oscillations in the optical absorption of formamidinium lead triiodide thin films is a vivid example of the surprising physical properties of these hybrid organic–inorganic materials.
- Alejandro R. Goñi
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Comment |
Materials science approaches in the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies
The COVID-19 pandemic has reignited efforts to develop materials science innovations aimed at stopping viral infections. One of the greatest opportunities lies in developing broad-spectrum antiviral technologies that work against many viruses, which could be the key to thwarting outbreaks in the future.
- Nam Joon Cho
- & Jeffrey S. Glenn
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Why it Matters |
Sipping a bit of science
Laura Benzonana and Nikos Sgantzis reflect on their experience as organizers for Pint of Science in Greece.
- Laura Benzonana
- & Nikolaos Sgantzis
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Why it Matters |
Understanding scientists is key for science
Stuart Higgins reflects on his experience as both a scientist and a producer of the podcast Scientists not the Science.
- Stuart G. Higgins
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Editorial |
Plight of UK research post-Brexit
As the negotiation deadline approaches, the impact of Brexit on research in the United Kingdom is already being felt.
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Editorial |
Creativity rush
Creativity in science seems to have evolved over the centuries from mainly a solitary effort to a more collaborative one.
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Editorial |
Let’s talk about it
We are launching a new column to talk about science with our readers from a broader perspective. Our first topic is mental health in academia.
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Why it Matters |
On research culture and mental health
Donata Iandolo and Gonçalo Silva on the need for an open discussion on mental health in academia.
- Donata Iandolo
- & Gonçalo Silva
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Editorial |
Be part of the chain
There is room for improvement in materials sustainability, provided we examine carefully the whole value chain.
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Correspondence |
The materials science imperative in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals
- Saleem H. Ali
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Correspondence |
Unrealistic techno-optimism is holding back progress on resource efficiency
- Julian M. Allwood
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Editorial |
Across the Universe
Highly sophisticated materials properties and engineering efforts are crucial for the success of missions for space exploration and settlement.
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Comment |
Materials for space exploration and settlement
Space missions require materials that can preserve functional integrity under extreme conditions of heat, impact and radiation. This Comment outlines the materials properties needed for some of the most ambitious space missions and presents the design and testing principles before their incorporation.
- Tommaso Ghidini
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Editorial |
Upping the ante
Lessons learnt from Horizon 2020 and a determination to become a world-class hub for entrepreneurship form the basis of the European Commission’s ambitious Research and Innovation budget.
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Perspective |
Materials challenges for the Starshot lightsail
This Perspective explores the optical, mechanical and thermal properties required to successfully design an ultralight spacecraft that can reach Proxima Centauri b, which is the goal of the Starshot Breakthrough Initiative.
- Harry A. Atwater
- , Artur R. Davoyan
- & Joeson Wong
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Editorial |
Trump’s materials world
US research funding sees both winners and losers as the Trump administration outlines its agenda.
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Editorial |
Behind the art
Art historians have joined forces with material scientists in order to better understand the objects of interest but also develop better conservation treatments and preservation approaches.
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Interview |
Science at the museum
Carl Heron and Joanne Dyer from the British Museum in London talk to Nature Materials about the research activities at the museum and how scientists can impact cultural heritage.
- Maria Maragkou
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Editorial |
Ticking all the boxes
Nature Materials is extending editorial policies regarding transparency of reported data in manuscripts from the physical and life sciences.
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Editorial |
En Marche!
Researchers and their institutions must play their full part in ensuring that the exciting changes now sweeping France succeed.
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Editorial |
Science takes to the streets
Opinion was divided about what the global Marches for Science were about. But it's time to abandon the notion that science should be apolitical.
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Editorial |
Dealing with data
Nature Materials now requests that all original research articles contain a Data Availability Statement declaring the accessibility of the data and where it can be found.