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| Open AccessRevealing the molecular structure of single-molecule junctions in different conductance states by fishing-mode tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
The conductance of single-molecule junctions is affected by the structure of the molecule and how it is bound to the electrodes, which may be examined using Raman spectroscopy. Liuet al. have developed 'fishing-mode' tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, which allows the simultaneous determination of conductance and Raman spectra.
- Zheng Liu
- , Song-Yuan Ding
- & Zhong-Qun Tian
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| Open AccessLarge-scale single-chirality separation of single-wall carbon nanotubes by simple gel chromatography
Large-scale separation of single-wall carbon nanotubes into populations of single chirality is a significant challenge in the practical application of nanotubes. Now, using multicolumn gel chromatography, the large-scale separation of 13 different carbon nanotube species is achieved.
- Huaping Liu
- , Daisuke Nishide
- & Hiromichi Kataura
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Two-dimensional enzyme diffusion in laterally confined DNA monolayers
Little is known about the effects of molecular crowding and confinement on biomolecule function. Castronovoet al. investigate the reactions of restriction enzymes with DNA confined in bushy matrices and find that the enzymes enter at the side of the matrix before diffusing two-dimensionally.
- Matteo Castronovo
- , Agnese Lucesoli
- & Giacinto Scoles
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| Open AccessReversible temperature regulation of electrical and thermal conductivity using liquid–solid phase transitions
Temperature-controlled regulation of thermal conductivity is difficult to achieve because thermal properties do not change significantly through solid-state phase transitions. Here temperature control of thermal conductivities is demonstrated using liquid–solid phase transitions in a nanoparticle suspension.
- Ruiting Zheng
- , Jinwei Gao
- & Gang Chen
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Size and mechanics effects in surface-induced melting of nanoparticles
Melting-related phenomena are of fundamental and applied interest, but the melting theory is poorly understood. Levitas and Samani develop an advanced phase-field theory of melting coupled to mechanics that resolves existing contradictions and reveals the features of melting phenomena.
- Valery I Levitas
- & Kamran Samani
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Article
| Open AccessGapless spin liquid of an organic triangular compound evidenced by thermodynamic measurements
Frustrated magnetic systems can form an exotic quantum spin-liquid ground state, in which strongly correlated spins fluctuate in the spin lattices. Here, the low-temperature electronic state of a charge-transfer compound is found to form a gapless spin liquid.
- Satoshi Yamashita
- , Takashi Yamamoto
- & Reizo Kato
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| Open AccessThe Meissner effect in a strongly underdoped cuprate above its critical temperature
In the pseudogap state of cuprates, although diamagnetic signals have been detected, a Meissner effect has never been observed. Morenzoni and colleagues probe the local diamagnetic response in the normal state of an underdoped layer showing that a 'barrier' layer exhibits a Meissner effect.
- Elvezio Morenzoni
- , Bastian M. Wojek
- & Ivan Božović
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| Open AccessQuantum interference of large organic molecules
Observing superposition states of mesoscopic quantum systems is an ongoing challenge. Gerlichet al. report quantum interference of large tailor-made organic compounds, demonstrating delocalization and the quantum wave nature of entire molecules composed of up to 430 atoms.
- Stefan Gerlich
- , Sandra Eibenberger
- & Markus Arndt
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The lifetime of the deviations from bulk behaviour in polymers confined at the nanoscale
Monitoring the impact of annealing on nanometre-thick polymer layers provides new insight into the changes in the performance of macromolecular materials. Here, the authors present results showing a correlation between the deviations from bulk behaviour and the growth of an irreversibly adsorbed layer.
- Simone Napolitano
- & Michael Wübbenhorst
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Adhesive water networks facilitate binding of protein interfaces
The formation of hydrophilic protein–protein interactions cannot be explained by charge–charge interactions. Here, molecular simulations reveal that water forms an adhesive hydrogen-bonded network between proteins, stabilizing intermediate states before the bound complex forms.
- Mazen Ahmad
- , Wei Gu
- & Volkhard Helms
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Rationally tuned micropores within enantiopure metal-organic frameworks for highly selective separation of acetylene and ethylene
Separation of acetylene and ethylene is an important industrial challenge, which may be aided by selectively adsorbant materials. In this study, a metal-organic framework material is reported, which allows highly selective separation of acetylene and ethylene.
- Sheng-Chang Xiang
- , Zhangjing Zhang
- & Banglin Chen
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Vibrational dynamics and surface structure of amorphous selenium
Defining the structure of amorphous solids is a challenge because of their lack of structural order. In this study, the authors combine experiment and theory to analyse the surface of amorphous selenium, and show that the differences between surface and bulk are attributable to a particular type of coordination defect.
- T. Scopigno
- , W. Steurer
- & T. Wagner
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular decoding using luminescence from an entangled porous framework
Distinguishing closely related molecules using chemosensor materials is a continuing challenge. Here, an entangled porous coordination polymer is developed, which confines volatile organic compounds, and allows photoluminescence-based distinction of structurally similar aromatic molecules.
- Yohei Takashima
- , Virginia Martínez Martínez
- & Susumu Kitagawa
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| Open AccessSingle-molecule identification via electric current noise
Molecular fluctuations are a source of noise that can impede single-molecule identification. Here, quantum-fluctuation-induced inelastic noise is observed as current fluctuations in individual molecules, suggesting that inelastic noise could be used as a molecular signature.
- Makusu Tsutsui
- , Masateru Taniguchi
- & Tomoji Kawai
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A microscopic view on the Mott transition in chromium-doped V2O3
The spatial scale over which metal–insulator transitions happen is not known, despite the importance of this phenomenon in basic and applied research. The authors show that in chromium-doped V2O3, with decreasing temperature, microscopic metallic domains coexist with an insulating background.
- S. Lupi
- , L. Baldassarre
- & M. Marsi
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| Open AccessUnveiling thermal transitions of polymers in subnanometre pores
Understanding the thermal transitions of confined polymers is important for the design of molecular scale devices. In this study, unusual thermal transitions are observed in polyethylene glycol chains incorporated in nanochannels of porous coordination polymers.
- Takashi Uemura
- , Nobuhiro Yanai
- & Susumu Kitagawa
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Enhanced proton transport in nanostructured polymer electrolyte/ionic liquid membranes under water-free conditions
One challenge in the development of proton exchange fuel cells is the requirement for durable, high-conductivity electrolytes. The authors show that incorporating ionic liquids into synthetic block co-polymer electrolytes results in nanostructured membranes with much higher conductivities than currently available.
- Sung Yeon Kim
- , Suhan Kim
- & Moon Jeong Park
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Self-assembled aggregates formed by single-molecule magnets on a gold surface
The spontaneous ordering of molecules into two-dimensional arrays is usually a result of directional intermolecular interactions. Here, it is shown that electrospray-deposited Mn12(acetate)16forms filamentary aggregates driven by anisotropic interactions, which are a consequence of the complex shape of the molecule.
- Alex Saywell
- , Graziano Magnano
- & Peter H. Beton
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| Open AccessControlling spins in adsorbed molecules by a chemical switch
Chemical systems with switchable molecular spins could allow the development of materials with controllable spintronic properties. Here, the authors show that nitric oxide coordination to cobalt(II)tetraphenylporphyrin on a nickel surface, followed by thermal dissociation, leads to off-on spin switching.
- Christian Wäckerlin
- , Dorota Chylarecka
- & Nirmalya Ballav