March 2010

Semiconductors: Localized yet magnetic

The interplay between carrier localization and magnetism in dilute magnetic semiconductors has been revealed.

Nature Phys.

Superconductivity: Switched on

An elegant electrochemical circuit allows superconductivity to be ‘switched on’ at temperatures up to 15 K.

Nature Mater.

Magnetic tunneling junctions: Merits of asymmetry

The asymmetry of magnetic tunneling junctions could be engineered to improve device efficiency.

Nature Phys.

Nanocontainers: Responsive release

Porous silica nanoparticles release trapped guest molecules in response to multiple stimuli for applications including disease diagnostics, imaging and drug delivery.

J. Am. Chem. Soc.

Carbon nanotubes: Spinning a yarn

An efficient process makes it possible to spin kilometer-long yarns of carbon nanotubes.

DNA detection: Gold gets a color boost

Hybrid nano-materials expand the spectrum of color-based biomolecular sensors.

Crystallization: Enzymes take charge

Biomolecules provide a route to the benign synthesis of three polymorphs of titania.

Biodetection: One DNA at a time

Single-molecule nanoprobes have been prepared by DNA-templated synthesis.

Nanotube sponges: Clean it up

Carbon nanotube sponges that could find applications in environmental clean-up have been synthesized.

Heavy-electron metals: Feeling the pressure

Increasing external pressure changes ytterbium sulfide from an insulator to a heavy-electron metal.