Reviews & Analysis

This PrimeView features the four different experimental setups for quantum imaging with correlated photon pairs, including biphoton imaging, quantum ghost imaging, heralded imaging, and undetected photon imaging.

This Primer provides an introduction to quantum imaging with correlated photon pairs, from core concepts to experimental realizations. It discusses potential advantages over classical imaging, practical design issues, and the emerging applications and challenges that will shape future progress of the field.

This PrimeView highlights the breadth of applications for FluidFM in biological and materials research.

Fluidic force microscopy combines atomic force microscopy with microfluidic probes to enable measurement and manipulation of materials at sub-micrometre resolution. In this Primer, Zambelli et al. discuss the principles of fluidic force microscopy and applications in biological research and nanotechnology.

This PrimeView highlights the future integration of artificial intelligence in electrophoretic deposition.

Electrophoretic deposition is a micropatterning method that utilizes suspension properties and kinetic parameters for film control. This Primer discusses innovative electrode design to enhance resolution and multimaterial integration, addresses limitations and suggests future optimization strategies across diverse applications.

This PrimeView highlights variability in laser capture microdissection experiments that can impact reproducibility both within and across experiments.

Laser capture microdissection is a technique that uses a highly precise laser to isolate and collect specific cells from a tissue sample. In this Primer, Liotta et al. discuss the use of laser capture microdissection in clinical research and its potential in future personalized therapies.

This PrimeView outlines the key sample-preparation workflows involved in analysing eukaryotic cells with cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET).

Cryogenic electron tomography provides unparalleled insights into cell biology and disease. When combined with light microscopy, it enables precise localization of regions of interest and direct correlation with high-resolution structural data, allowing detailed investigation of cellular components and dynamic processes.

This PrimeView highlights the various applications of lidar in the environment, from snow depth mapping to riverbed geomorphology.

Light detection and ranging (lidar) is an active remote sensing technology that produces foundational geospatial datasets across natural systems. This Primer introduces core lidar technological components, concepts and applications for assessment of vegetation, topography, bathymetry and glaciology. Current methods, outlooks and considerations for acquiring and processing lidar data are introduced.

This PrimeView highlights the variety of information that can be obtained using spectroelectrochemistry depending on the mode of operation.

This Primer discusses key principles and experiments in quantitative ultraviolet–visible spectroelectrochemistry experiments with a focus on data-rich set-ups. The authors demonstrate the various data outputs of these experiments using worked examples and discuss the practical applications of quantitative ultraviolet–visible spectroelectrochemistry in the study of energy materials.

In frontal polymerization, a self-sustaining reaction is driven by the heat generated by the reactive front. This PrimeView features the experimental process of frontal polymerization, including a variety of initiators and monomers to select for the reaction.

Frontal polymerization is a self-sustaining, energy-efficient technique for rapidly converting monomers into polymers. This Primer explores frontal polymerization mechanisms, experimental set-up, applications and future directions, offering practical guidance for researchers and highlighting its potential for the design of sustainable, high-performance materials.

This PrimeView outlines the use of ptychography to obtain high-resolution images for applications across the life sciences, materials sciences and industry.

Ptychography computationally reconstructs high-resolution images from overlapping diffraction patterns, recovering both amplitude and phase information. This Primer covers the technique’s principles, diverse wavelength implementations from optical to electron regimes, advanced reconstruction strategies and applications ranging from live cell imaging to atomic-resolution materials characterization.

This PrimeView outlines the principles of atomic layer deposition and highlights its widespread applications — from devices to displays to solar cells.

Atomic layer deposition is a surface-controlled chemical vapour deposition method that — depositing materials one atomic layer at the time — grants a high degree of control on the film thickness. This technique can be used to obtain high-quality films with remarkable conformity and uniformity.