jinzhitong

Nature Physics, Published online: 30 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01635-7

Topological states characterized by Chern numbers are usually considered to be the global properties of a material. Now a spatial patchwork of different Chern insulator states is imaged in twisted bilayer graphene.

Nature Photonics, Published online: 30 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41566-022-01021-y

Strained NbOI2 flakes with a thickness of 20 nm exhibit a record SHG absolute conversion efficiency of >0.2% and an effective bulk-like nonlinear susceptibility of 1.1 × 10−9 m V−1 at the fundamental wavelength of 1,050 nm. The spatial profile of the polarized second-harmonic generation response can be tuned by the fundamental wavelength.

Nature Nanotechnology, Published online: 30 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41565-022-01159-4

Superconducting diodes, which can operate without dissipation losses at low temperature, usually require a magnetic field to function. A well-designed multilayer device now shows a reversible, non-volatile superconducting diode effect.

Nature Materials, Published online: 23 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01291-5

A competitive-chemical-reaction-based growth mechanism by controlling the kinetic parameters can easily realize the growth of transition metal chalcogenides and transition metal phosphorous chalcogenides with different compositions and phases.

Nature Materials, Published online: 23 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01301-6

A general method by controlling reaction kinetics is proposed to synthesize 67 kinds of two-dimensional crystal with custom-made phases and compositions, in particular, Fe- and Cr-based (layered and non-layered) chalcogenides and phosphorous chalcogenides, which show interesting ferromagnetism and superconductivity properties.

Nature Materials, Published online: 27 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01282-6

Hafnium dioxide is of technological interest as it is compatible with silicon; however, previous work indicates that a nanometre grain size is required to generate ferroelectricity. Here ferroelectric Y-doped HfO2 thin films with high crystallinity are grown with large crystal grain sizes, indicating that ferroelectricity is intrinsic.

Nature Materials, Published online: 29 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01306-1

Excitonic states with hybrid dimensionality in layered silicon diphosphide exhibit interesting features such as linearly dichroic photoluminescence and unusually strong exciton–phonon coupling.

Nature Materials, Published online: 29 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01299-x

Ultrathin CrSBr, a two-dimensional magnet, has been shown to exhibit very rich magnetic behaviours, from an unexpected magnetic order to optical emissions coupled to its magnetic state. This material has great potential for use in ultra-compact spintronics devices.

Nature, Published online: 22 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04768-0

Developments, challenges and opportunities in using two-dimensional materials for the next generation of non-volatile spin-based memory technologies are reviewed, and possible disruptive improvements are discussed.

Nature, Published online: 29 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04846-3

By intercalating layered 2D atomic crystals with selected chiral molecules, a new class of chiral molecular intercalation superlattices is reported, demonstrating highly ordered structures and achieving high tunnelling magnetoresistance and spin polarization ratios.

Nature Synthesis, Published online: 15 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s44160-022-00105-5

Reversible alkyne metathesis proves its worth in the bulk synthesis of γ-graphyne, an sp–sp2-hybridized carbon allotrope. The ability to synthesize graphynes in bulk is an important step towards harnessing the properties of these graphene-like allotropes.

Nature Electronics, Published online: 09 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41928-022-00777-z

Lattice distortions induced by ripples in two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide can reduce electron–phonon scattering, leading to improved charge carrier mobility and enhanced transistor performance.

Nature Energy, Published online: 13 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41560-022-01046-1

Tong et al. form a 2D perovskite layer with two large organic cations to improve the structural and optoelectronic properties of Sn–Pb perovskites, and eventually the performance of single-junction and tandem solar cells.

Nature Energy, Published online: 16 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41560-022-01035-4

Demonstration of scalability, manufacturability and outdoor operation is key to the deployment of perovskite solar cells. Now, Pescetelli et al. fabricate a large number of perovskite solar modules, assemble them in panels and integrate them in an outdoor 4.5 m2 solar farm infrastructure whose operation is monitored over 12 months.

Nature Energy, Published online: 16 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41560-022-01037-2

In a step towards the industrialization of perovskite photovoltaics based on 2D materials, the fabrication of numerous perovskite modules and panels and their integration into a standalone solar farm is demonstrated. Outdoor field tests provide insight into device performance under real-life conditions over 8 months.

Nature Materials, Published online: 16 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01285-3

Distinct electronic and optical properties emerge from quantum confinement in low-dimensional materials. Here, combining optical characterization and ab initio calculations, the authors report an unconventional excitonic state and bound phonon sideband in layered silicon diphosphide.

Nature Materials, Published online: 16 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01275-5

The authors show that an out-of-plane antidamping spin–orbit torque can produce a sizeable change in the switching dynamics of a magnetic layer with perpendicular anisotropy.

Nature Materials, Published online: 16 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41563-022-01277-3

The authors use scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy to visualize the electronic structure of mirror twin boundaries, revealing a Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid.

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2022; doi:10.1038/d41586-022-01568-4

Two-dimensional materials made of carbon have been limited to monolayers of atoms, such as graphene. Sheets composed of connected buckyballs — spherical clusters of atoms — have now been made by peeling layers from a crystal.

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04771-5

Using an interlayer bonding cleavage strategy, a two-dimensional monolayer fullerene network is prepared; its moderate bandgap makes it a potential candidate for use in two-dimensional electronic devices.

Nature, Published online: 15 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04715-z

High-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy are used to provide evidence for unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene.

Nature, Published online: 08 June 2022; doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04689-y

Diffractive imaging of an important class of battery electrodes during cycling shows that lattice strain is a crucial yet overlooked factor that contributes to voltage fade over time.