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Material characteristics and applications of transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors
Transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors have unique electron transport properties that are not seen in conventional amorphous semiconductors, and are attractive for use in thin-film transistors as a basis for the next generation of flat-panel displays. Research into these materials has revealed some of the physical features responsible for their useful electronic structures.
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The design and utility of polymer-stabilized iron-oxide nanoparticles for nanomedicine applications
Superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles have a range of specific applications in the emerging field of nanomedicine, including their use in drug delivery and as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. The addition of a polymer layer stabilizes these nanoparticles for biological applications, and allows functionalization for the encapsulation of therapeutic agents.
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Zero-gap materials for future spintronics, electronics and optics
Materials having a zero-energy band gap exhibit some fascinating and superior electronic properties compared to materials with a non-zero energy gap. As the details of the electronic and spin structures of these materials become clearer, so do the range of potential applications, from spintronics and electronics, to optics and sensors.
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Featured Highlights:
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Dye-sensitized photovoltaics: Tailor made
Tailored molecules boost the efficiency of a class of dye-sensitized solar cells.
Nature Mater.
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Metal–organic nanotubes: Enter the dragons
A metal–organic cadmium complex assembles into a unique single-walled nanotube array.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
Latest Highlights:
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Nanomaterials: Tuned in
Size-tunable nanodots and nanorings can now be synthesized using a simple route.
Chem. Commun.
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Organic polymer films: White light emission
Polymer nanoparticles containing green and red fluorescent dyes are mixed with a blue-light emitting polymer to produce white light.
Chem. Commun.
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Molecular dynamics: DNA takes a stretch
A two-trap optical tweezers system determines the binding energetics of drug–DNA interactions.
ChemPhysChem
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Ferroelectrics: Nanoregions team together
The nanostructure of an electromechanical material may be the source of its strong response to an electric field.
Phys. Rev. Lett.
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Multiferroics: Magnetic puzzle solved
The spin and orbital configurations of LuFe2O4 are solved by X-ray spectroscopy and theoretical modeling.
Phys. Rev. Lett.
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Metal-oxide supercapacitors: Pumped up
Nickel-cobalt oxide aerogels offer an economic route to enhanced power storage devices.
Adv. Mater.
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Quantum dots: Nano-tin soldiers
Tin-sulfide nanoparticles give scientists a new weapon in the war against cancer.
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
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Quantum computing: Flipping spins
Scientists in China are working on clever ways to prolong the storage of quantum information by electron spin.
Nature
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Lithium batteries: Long-life nanotubes
Long-life silicon nanotube anodes for lithium-based batteries provide higher capacity than commercial graphite anodes.
Nano Lett.
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Photonic crystals: Drop to switch
Mechanically actuated photonic crystal waveguides are promising as active photonic switches.
Appl. Phys. Lett.
