February 2010
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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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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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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Manganites: Controlling the competition
Stacks of alternating high-resistance and low-resistance manganite may perform well as field-switchable devices.
Adv. 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.
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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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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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Molecular wires: Miniature coaxial cables
A chemical insulation approach produces highly insulated molecular wires with strong fluorescence.
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
research highlights
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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. -
Nanomaterials: Tuned in
Size-tunable nanodots and nanorings can now be synthesized using a simple route.
Chem. Commun. -
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. -
Metal-oxide supercapacitors: Pumped up
Nickel-cobalt oxide aerogels offer an economic route to enhanced power storage devices.
Adv. Mater. -
Quantum dots: Nano-tin soldiers
Tin-sulfide nanoparticles give scientists a new weapon in the war against cancer.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. -
Photonic crystals: Drop to switch
Mechanically actuated photonic crystal waveguides are promising as active photonic switches.
Appl. Phys. Lett.
