The latest research from Nature Materials March 2021

[Nature Materials]( [] Advertisement [First Issue Now Online!]( Biophysics Reviews (BPR) is a new journal featuring authoritative reviews and original research covering all areas of biophysics. BPR publishes studies of high quality and general interest to the biophysics community. [Read the first issue now]( [AIP]( TABLE OF CONTENTS --------------------------------------------------------------- March 2021 Volume 20, Issue 3 [Current issue]( [Editorial](#_20_3-1) [Comment](#_20_3-2) [Obituary](#_20_3-3) [News & Views](#_20_3-4) [Perspectives](#_20_3-5) [Review Articles](#_20_3-6) [Articles](#_20_3-7) [Amendments & Corrections](#_20_3-8) Advertisement [AIP]( [Special Topics - Capturing New Insights into Materials, Devices, and Technologies]( We are currently accepting submissions to our Special Topics, including: Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Materials and Devices; Novel Epitaxy of Functional Materials; Engineering and Understanding of Thermal Conduction in Materials; and Phenomena of Hydrides. Submit your research today! [Learn more]( Advertisement npj Computational Materials | Quality Research Read about significant advances in computational approaches of designing new materials [Read the articles ]( [computational materials]( [] Editorial [ ] [Light on quantum advantage]( doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00953-0 Chinese researchers demonstrate quantum computational advantage with photons at room temperature. [] Comment [ ] [Towards data-driven next-generation transmission electron microscopy]( Steven R. Spurgeon, Colin Ophus, Lewys Jones, Amanda Petford-Long, Sergei V. Kalinin et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00833-z Electron microscopy touches on nearly every aspect of modern life, underpinning materials development for quantum computing, energy and medicine. We discuss the open, highly integrated and data-driven microscopy architecture needed to realize transformative discoveries in the coming decade. [] Obituary [ ] [John Meurig Thomas (1932–2020)]( Richard Catlow & Graham Hutchings doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00940-5 Sir John Meurig Thomas, who was one of the leading materials and catalytic scientists of his generation, sadly died in November 2020, aged 87. [] News & Views [ ] [Stress fibres and the cortex work in tandem]( Guillaume Charras doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00944-1 Stress fibres form a fully integrated meshwork with the submembranous contractile actin cortex that generates and propagates traction forces across the entire cell. [ ] [Shaking up topology with light]( N. S. Sirica & R. P. Prasankumar doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00938-z A light-induced topological phase transition is realized in the Dirac semimetal ZrTe5 by coherently driving symmetry-breaking phonons. [ ] [Coming alive]( Philip Ball doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00949-w [ ] [Nanodevices for cancer vaccination]( Hongjun Li & Zhen Gu doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00941-4 An elaborate DNA origami tubular nanodevice encapsulating antigens and adjuvants protects mice from cancer through tumour-specific immunomodulation. [ ] [Actuators powered by water hydrogen bonds]( Panče Naumov doi:10.1038/s41563-021-00948-x Nanoporous tripeptide crystals mechanically deform upon water evaporation due to the strengthening of the water hydrogen bonding inside the pores, which causes the distortion of the surrounding supramolecular network, creating stresses that extend through the crystal lattice and result in actuation. [ ] [No free lunch for non-fullerene acceptors]( Justin M. Hodgkiss doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00836-w Non-fullerene acceptors have successfully overcome energy losses that were thought to be unavoidable in organic solar cells based on fullerene derivatives. However, it is now shown that they have limits too. [ ] [Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction turns electric]( Javier Junquera doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00845-9 Using group theory and first principles calculations, it is shown that an analogue of the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction that allows the antisymmetric exchange spin coupling in magnets exists in ferroelectrics. [] Perspectives [ ] [The topology of electronic band structures]( Prineha Narang, Christina A. C. Garcia & Claudia Felser doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00820-4 This Perspective provides a broad introduction to topological materials science, with a particular focus on semimetals. [] Review Articles [ ] [Triple ionic–electronic conducting oxides for next-generation electrochemical devices]( Meagan Papac, Vladan Stevanović, Andriy Zakutayev & Ryan O’Hayre doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00854-8 Triple ionic–electronic conductors can be used in electrochemical devices, including fuel cells, membrane reactors and electrolysis cells. Current understanding in single-phase conductors including defect formation and conduction mechanisms are now discussed. [] Articles [ ] [Atomistic insights into metal hardening]( Luis A. Zepeda-Ruiz, Alexander Stukowski, Tomas Oppelstrup, Nicolas Bertin, Nathan R. Barton et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00815-1 In contrast with conventional views, ultra-large-scale atomistic simulations show that the staged character of strain hardening of metals originates from crystal rotation, whereas the dislocation behaviours remain the same across all the stages. [ ] [Identifying carbon as the source of visible single-photon emission from hexagonal boron nitride]( Noah Mendelson, Dipankar Chugh, Jeffrey R. Reimers, Tin S. Cheng, Andreas Gottscholl et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00850-y Comparison of hexagonal boron nitride samples grown with different techniques and with varying carbon-doping content provides evidence that the defects emitting single photons in the visible range are carbon related. [ ] [A light-induced phononic symmetry switch and giant dissipationless topological photocurrent in ZrTe5]( Liang Luo, Di Cheng, Boqun Song, Lin-Lin Wang, Chirag Vaswani et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00882-4 Femtosecond optical pulses are used to generate coherent phonons that break inversion symmetry and drive anisotropic terahertz photocurrents in the topological material ZrTe5. [ ] [Room-temperature antiskyrmions and sawtooth surface textures in a non-centrosymmetric magnet with S4 symmetry]( Kosuke Karube, Licong Peng, Jan Masell, Xiuzhen Yu, Fumitaka Kagawa et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00898-w Antiskyrmions had only been observed in a few Heusler compounds with D2d symmetry. Here a new material, Fe1.9Ni0.9Pd0.2P, in a different symmetry class (S4 symmetry) is reported to host antiskyrmions, as well as sawtooth surface textures and skyrmions. [ ] [Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-like interaction in ferroelectrics and antiferroelectrics]( Hong Jian Zhao, Peng Chen & Laurent Bellaiche doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00821-3 The Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) enables coupling of magnetic spins and is responsible for non-collinear phenomena such as skyrmions. Here, using first-principles simulations and group theory analysis, it is demonstrated that an electric DMI exists and is analogous to the magnetic DMI. [ ] [Endothermic reaction at room temperature enabled by deep-ultraviolet plasmons]( Canhui Wang, Wei-Chang D. Yang, David Raciti, Alina Bruma, Ronald Marx et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00851-x Metallic nanoparticles used to harvest energy from a light source typically result in reduced chemical reaction temperature. Endothermic reactions requiring higher activation energy can now be initiated at room temperature using localized surface plasmons in the deep-UV range. [ ] [Unlocking anionic redox activity in O3-type sodium 3d layered oxides via Li substitution]( Qing Wang, Sathiya Mariyappan, Gwenaëlle Rousse, Anatolii V. Morozov, Benjamin Porcheron et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00870-8 Sodium ion batteries could be an attractive alternative to Li-ion technology but designing high energy density and moisture stable Na-based cathodes is challenging. Adjusting synthesis conditions and stoichiometry, an O3-type NaLi1/3Mn2/3O2 phase with anionic redox activity is reported. [ ] [Gas-sieving zeolitic membranes fabricated by condensation of precursor nanosheets]( Mostapha Dakhchoune, Luis Francisco Villalobos, Rocio Semino, Lingmei Liu, Mojtaba Rezaei et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00822-2 Zeolite membranes can be used for gas molecular sieving, but synthesis requires complex hydrothermal treatment. Here, single layers of zeolite precursor RUB-15 are exfoliated followed by a condensation reaction, forming zeolite membranes with H2/CO2 selectivity of 20 to 100 in a facile process. [ ] [Synergistically integrated phosphonated poly(pentafluorostyrene) for fuel cells]( Vladimir Atanasov, Albert S. Lee, Eun Joo Park, Sandip Maurya, Ehren D. Baca et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00841-z Phosphonated polymers have been proposed as anhydrous proton conductors for fuel cells but anhydride formation of phosphonic acid functional groups lowers conductivity. A synergistically integrated phosphonated poly(pentafluorostyrene) is shown to maintain high protonic conductivity above 200 °C. [ ] [Intrinsic efficiency limits in low-bandgap non-fullerene acceptor organic solar cells]( Safakath Karuthedath, Julien Gorenflot, Yuliar Firdaus, Neha Chaturvedi, Catherine S. P. De Castro et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00835-x A systematic analysis of a series of donor–acceptor organic blends shows that in solar cells based on low-bandgap non-fullerene acceptors an ionization energy offset of about 0.5 eV is required to ensure efficient charge separation. [ ] [Dynamic multimodal holograms of conjugated organogels via dithering mask lithography]( Jongwon Oh, Dahye Baek, Tae Kyung Lee, Dongwon Kang, Hyeri Hwang et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00866-4 Periodic patterns with varying cross-linking densities are realized in conjugated polydiacetylene films, creating multiple holographic images—all dynamically responsive to exposure to various solvents—simultaneously in the same polymeric structures. [ ] [Cofactor-free oxidase-mimetic nanomaterials from self-assembled histidine-rich peptides]( Qing Liu, Kaiwei Wan, Yingxu Shang, Zhen-Gang Wang, Yiyang Zhang et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00856-6 Self-assembling, histidine-rich peptides with similar catalytic functions as those of haem-dependent peroxidases are reported. These findings may have implications for the design of cofactor-free catalytic nanomaterials. [ ] [Mechanistic insights of evaporation-induced actuation in supramolecular crystals]( Roxana Piotrowska, Travis Hesketh, Haozhen Wang, Alan R. G. Martin, Deborah Bowering et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-0799-0 Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations show that the dehydration-induced actuation of nanoporous tripeptide crystals is a result of pore contraction caused by the strengthening of the water hydrogen-bonding network inside the pore, which creates mechanical stress that deforms the crystal lattice. [ ] [Stress fibres are embedded in a contractile cortical network]( Timothée Vignaud, Calina Copos, Christophe Leterrier, Mauricio Toro-Nahuelpan, Qingzong Tseng et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00825-z The mechanism of stress fibre assembly by the coalescence of actin filaments in the cell cortex has now been found to account for the transmission of mechanical forces throughout the entire cell along stress fibres. [ ] [A DNA nanodevice-based vaccine for cancer immunotherapy]( Shaoli Liu, Qiao Jiang, Xiao Zhao, Ruifang Zhao, Yuanning Wang et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-0793-6 A DNA nanodevice vaccine has been developed and utilized to stimulate a tumour-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in vivo, leading to the inhibition of tumour growth as well as prevention of metastasis. [] Amendments & Corrections [ ] [Publisher Correction: A DNA nanodevice-based vaccine for cancer immunotherapy]( Shaoli Liu, Qiao Jiang, Xiao Zhao, Ruifang Zhao, Yuanning Wang et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00824-0 [ ] [Author Correction: Stress fibres are embedded in a contractile cortical network]( Timothée Vignaud, Calina Copos, Christophe Leterrier, Mauricio Toro-Nahuelpan, Qingzong Tseng et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00862-8 [ ] [Author Correction: Stress fibres are embedded in a contractile cortical network]( Timothée Vignaud, Calina Copos, Christophe Leterrier, Mauricio Toro-Nahuelpan, Qingzong Tseng et al. doi:10.1038/s41563-020-00874-4 [ ] [Author Correction: Mechanistic insights of evaporation-induced actuation in supramolecular crystals]( Roxana Piotrowska, Travis Hesketh, Haozhen Wang, Alan R. G. 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