Materials science articles from across Nature Portfolio

Thermal stability in high-nickel cathodes has been a long-standing concern due to the lack of standardized assessments. Now, research identifies key factors that trigger thermal runaway and introduces a thermal stability index to help guide the development of safer cathodes.

The number and performance of p-type two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors has been limited. Now, non-layered 2D β-Bi₂O₃ single crystals are synthesized on a SiO₂/Si substrate using a vapour–liquid–solid–solid growth method. Field-effect transistors based on 2D β-Bi₂O₃ crystals exhibit high hole mobility, on/off current ratio and air stability.

Understanding the behaviour of viscous liquids close to the glass transition is a century-old problem. The microscopic underpinnings of their mechanical response have now been made clearer by a unified percolation description, in both two and three dimensions.

Hydrogels have potential in a number of applications, but for many, mechanical robustness is required. Here, the authors report the preparation of a PVA/PEG hydrogel with a cartilage-inspired structure, with high compressive strength and low coefficient of friction, amongst other properties.

Phase transitions are important in self-assembly process, but multiple, sequential transitions are challenging to achieve. Here, the authors report the development of the formation of wormlike micelles, which change phase following dilution to give gel-sol-gel-sol transitions.

Polar skyrmions are a topological polarization texture. While they have now been detected in numerous material systems, near universally these have required careful strain engineering. Here, Xue, Zhang, Zheng, Tong, Wang and coauthors observe polar skyrmions in the van der Waals ferroelectric CuInP2S6, without strain-engineering.

Thermal stability in high-nickel cathodes has been a long-standing concern due to the lack of standardized assessments. Now, research identifies key factors that trigger thermal runaway and introduces a thermal stability index to help guide the development of safer cathodes.

The number and performance of p-type two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors has been limited. Now, non-layered 2D β-Bi₂O₃ single crystals are synthesized on a SiO₂/Si substrate using a vapour–liquid–solid–solid growth method. Field-effect transistors based on 2D β-Bi₂O₃ crystals exhibit high hole mobility, on/off current ratio and air stability.

The recent advances in defect engineering of perovskites involving non-destructive ion-substitution mechanisms have shown great promise when it comes to fine-tuning the bandgap of blue light-emitting perovskites. This S_N2-like mechanism is highlighted and discussed here.

A network of two polymers plus sulfuric acid allows a hydrogel to keep its elasticity and softness at extreme temperatures.

Understanding the behaviour of viscous liquids close to the glass transition is a century-old problem. The microscopic underpinnings of their mechanical response have now been made clearer by a unified percolation description, in both two and three dimensions.

The fabrication of perovskite photovoltaics often relies on hazardous solvents that limit their implementation in manufacturing. Now, researchers develop a green solvent system for fabrication of large-area perovskite solar modules using industrially viable and scalable deposition methods, which achieve high power conversion efficiencies.