Nature Nanotechnology provides a forum for the publication of top-quality research papers in all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Coverage in Nature Nanotechnology extends from basic research in physics, chemistry and biology through to the development of new devices and technologies for applications in a wide range of industrial sectors. Organic, inorganic and hybrid materials are all covered.
Updated: 1 hour 13 min ago
Inversion of supramolecular chirality by photo-enhanced secondary nucleation
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 11 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01882-8
By controlling the contribution of secondary nucleation in the self-assembly of chiral photoswitch molecules using light, it is possible to preferentially generate metastable aggregates, thereby reversing the supramolecular chirality.
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From small batteries to big claims
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 11 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01906-3
In battery research, the areas of the electrodes and cell dimensions affect the energy storage performance. Here the authors discuss the factors that influence the reliability of electrochemical measurements and battery performance in lithium-ion cells with different electrode areas.
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Reversible shuffle twinning yields anisotropic tensile superelasticity in ceramic GeSe
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 10 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01902-7
In situ mechanical testing and simulations unveil a reversible shuffle twinning mechanism enabled by bond switching, which gives rise to anisotropic tensile superelasticity in GeSe ceramics.
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Li<sup>+</sup>(ionophore) nanoclusters engineered aqueous/non-aqueous biphasic electrolyte solutions for high-potential lithium-based batteries
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 08 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01898-0
Aqueous and non-aqueous Li-based electrolyte solutions have narrow electrochemical stability windows, which hinder the operation of batteries at high cell potentials. Here, to circumvent this limitation, the authors propose the combined use of tailored aqueous and non-aqueous electrolyte solutions in various Li-based cell configurations.
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When relaxor films go ultrathin
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01875-7
Revealing the intrinsic size effect on relaxor ferroelectric films is crucial for informed device engineering for high-density energy storage or acoustic actuators.
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Investigating the effect of heterogeneities across the electrode|multiphase polymer electrolyte interfaces in high-potential lithium batteries
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01885-5
X-ray synchrotron measurements reveal heterogeneities at electrode|electrolyte interfaces of lithium metal batteries operating at high potentials. Here the authors demonstrate the rearrangement of ionically conductive phases in polymer electrolytes that lead to battery performance degradation.
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Enhanced Majorana stability in a three-site Kitaev chain
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 31 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01894-4
A three-site Kitaev chain, constructed from three semiconducting quantum dots coupled by superconducting segments in a hybrid InSb/Al nanowire, shows enhanced robustness of edge zero-energy modes against variations in the coupling strengths or electrochemical potentials compared with a chain containing only two quantum dots.
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Asymmetric photooxidation of glycerol to hydroxypyruvic acid over Rb–Ir catalytic pairs on poly(heptazine imides)
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 31 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01897-1
The authors present a photocatalytic method to selectively oxidize glycerol to hydroxypyruvic acid over rubidium–iridium catalytic pairs on poly(heptazine imides) under visible-light illumination.
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Nanopores take on the challenge of rare-earth detection
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 27 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01891-7
Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA) modified with nitrilotriacetic acid achieves direct and simultaneous discrimination of rare-earth elements, suggesting the potential use of nanopore sensing in geological exploration.
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Pt catalyst protected by graphene nanopockets enables lifetimes of over 200,000 h for heavy-duty fuel cell applications
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 24 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01895-3
A graphene-nanopocket-protected pure Pt nanocatalyst has been reported for heavy-duty-vehicle fuel cells that deliver high power density, high efficiency and exceptional durability with >200,000-h projected lifetime.
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Nanoscale C–H/C–D mapping of organic materials using electron spectroscopy
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 24 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01893-5
Carbon–hydrogen and carbon–deuterium bonding in organic polymers were mapped in real space with single-nanometre spatial resolution using a monochromated transmission electron microscope.
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RNA origami nanotubes push the boundaries of confinement
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01880-w
Single-stranded RNA origami tiles transcribed and folded inside giant liposomes generate micrometre-long filaments that deform the membrane, showcasing the potential of RNA nanotechnology in building functional synthetic cells for mimicking the function of cytoskeletal proteins.
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Zeolite-confined Cu single-atom clusters stably catalyse CO to acetate at 1 A cm<sup>−</sup><sup>2</sup> beyond 1,000 h
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01892-6
A zeolite-confined Cu single-atom cluster was developed for the electrochemical CO reduction application, which can achieve stable CO-to-acetate conversion at an industrial current density of 1 A cm−2 at 2.7 V with a high acetate Faraday efficiency for over 1,000 h at atmospheric pressure.
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Time-resolved sensing of electromagnetic fields with single-electron interferometry
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01888-2
In an interferometer using the ballistic propagation of electrons in a quantum Hall conductor, the phase of a single-electron wavefunction can act as a sensor for the detection of fast electric fields of small amplitude.
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Genetic encoding and expression of RNA origami cytoskeletons in synthetic cells
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01879-3
This study introduces RNA origami nanotubes as self-assembling cytoskeleton mimics for synthetic cells. Expressed in vesicles from DNA templates, these RNA structures reach micrometre lengths, deform membranes and exhibit different phenotypes.
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Exciton dressing by extreme nonlinear magnons in a layered semiconductor
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01890-8
In the layered magnetic semiconductor CrSBr, excitons can strongly couple to nonlinear magnons. This coupling enables tunable magnon frequency mixing, parametric amplification and excitons dressed with up to 20 harmonics of magnons.
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Nanoscale high-entropy surface engineering promotes selective glycerol electro-oxidation to glycerate at high current density
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01881-9
A high-entropy nanosurface is engineered for selective glycerol electro-oxidation to a high-value-added glycerate at an industrial current density, demonstrating the effectiveness of tailoring catalytic sites by the construction of high-entropy surfaces for electrochemical catalysis.
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The pathways for nanoparticle transport across tumour endothelium
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 17 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01877-5
Tumour endothelial cell macropinocytosis is the dominant mechanism for nanoparticle entry into the tumour. Enhanced nanoparticle tumour accumulation may be due to upregulated macropinocytosis membrane ruffling compared with most healthy tissues.
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Kramers versus Kramers makes a stable qubit
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 14 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01876-6
In a gate defined quantum dot in Bernal bilayer graphene, a combination of spin and valley protection diminishes spin relaxation drastically and yields a lifetime of 38 seconds.
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Electrically activating two-dimensional antiferromagnets
Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 14 March 2025; doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01884-6
A transistor made from bilayer A-type antiferromagnet CrPS4 provides control over the spin polarization at the Fermi level and magnetoelectric readout.
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