August 2010

Nanostructures: Atomic attraction

Electron microscopy reveals the secret to the rapid fabrication of device-ready nanostructures using scanning tip technology.

ACS Nano

Microfabrication: Polymer nanopottery

The controlled coiling of a tiny jet of polymer solution allows the construction of microstructures that resemble the familiar clay pottery of the macro world.

Nano Lett.

Lithium-ion batteries: Seeing the potential

Electron holography provides the first-ever images of ion diffusion in rechargeable batteries.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed

Topological insulators: Another quantum leap

A novel quantum Hall effect is predicted for magnetically doped topological insulators.

Science

Solar cells: Things are getting clearer

An integrated back plane electrode provides an efficiency boost for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Flexible electronics: Zinc oxide good on paper

Arrays of zinc oxide nanowires grown on paper substrates have potential applications in flexible electronic devices.

Photonics: Golden terahertz antennas

Active metamaterial antennas make high-quality switches for terahertz radiation.

Piezoelectrics: Unleaded performance

Lead-free piezoelectrics can be made more responsive by defect engineering and electrical 'poling'.

Spintronics: Selective hybridization

The hybridization of quantum well states and surface states in ultrathin films provides strong spin selectivity with potential applications in spintronics.

Nanowire electronics: The core of the matter

A more accurate model of how dopant atoms affect core–shell nanowires shows that doping the shell is promising for nanoelectronic devices.