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One-dimensional molecular arrays on graphene field-effect transistors can be reversibly switched between different periodic charge states by tuning the graphene Fermi level via a back-gate electrode and by manipulating individual molecules, allowing them to function as a nanoscale shift register.

The two-dimensional structure of graphene is known to impart high strength, but can be hard to synthesize without grain boundaries. Here, the authors find that strength increases with grain boundary mismatch, which results from low atomic-scale strain in the carbon–carbon bonds at the boundary.

The atomic structure of graphene edges is critical in determining their physical and chemical properties, but they are typically far from ideal. Here, the authors fabricate atomically perfect graphene edges via electron beam mechanical rupture or tearing in high vacuum conditions.

Graphene nanoribbons show promise for high-performance field-effect transistors, however they often suffer from short lengths and wide band gaps. Here, the authors use a bottom-up synthesis approach to fabricate 9- and 13-atom wide ribbons, enabling short-channel transistors with 10⁵ on-off current ratio.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have similar surface crystallography and mechanical properties. It is now shown that the interlayer sliding friction in multilayer CNTs and BNNTs is, however, different: whereas the telescopic sliding of semi-metallic multiwalled CNTs is known to be vanishingly small, multiwalled insulating BNNTs exhibit ultrahigh interlayer friction that is proportional to the contact area—a result ascribed to the ionic character of boron nitride.

COMPLEXES of manganese(ii) with bipyridine (bpy) have the potential to act as catalysts for oxidation of alkanes and alkenes when the complex is oxidized in acidic conditions^1–6. But their catalytic activity in solution is limited by their catalase activity⁷—their tendency to decompose H₂O₂. Because of their polynuclear nature such complexes cannot induce epoxidation of alkenes, and other epoxidation catalysts suffer from self-oxidation and side reactions^8–11. Moreover, all of these homogeneous catalytic processes require phase-transfer conditions. Here we report that, when encapsulated in the supercages of zeolites X and Y, cis-[Mn(bpy)₂]²⁺ complexes can catalyse selective epoxidation of alkenes without complications from competing processes such as self-oxidation or catalase activity. Epoxidation of cycloalkenes is followed by acid-catalysed ring-opening, carbon–carbon bond cleavage and formation of alkenedioic acids (Fig. 1). All of the various intermediates in the process can be obtained selectively by controlling the reaction conditions and zeolite acidity. Thus this supramolecular system provides a clean, one-step heterogeneous catalytic route to useful industrial products.

Cell-type-resolved spatial proteomics of the skin from patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis reveals that it is driven by JAK/STAT signaling, leading to successful treatment of this potentially fatal condition in patients using JAK inhibitors.

Using a graphene quantum dot creation and a wavefunction mapping technique, quantum scars are directly visualized for Dirac electrons with a scanning tunnelling microscope.

The development of single-molecule electronics calls for precise tuning of the electronic properties of individual molecules that go beyond two-terminal control. Here, Wickenburg et al. show gate-tunable switch of charge states of an isolated molecule using a graphene-based field-effect transistor.

The malate shuttle is understood to control the NAD⁺/NADH balance. Here the authors show that GOT1, a central enzyme in the malate shuttle, rather promotes antiviral CD8⁺ T cell responses by detoxifying ammonia.

Placement of charge centres with atomic precision on graphene allows exploration of new types of confinement of charge carriers. Here, the authors fabricate atomically precise arrays of point charges on graphene and observe the onset of a frustrated supercritical regime.

Due to the crystal symmetry of single-layer transition metal dichalcogenides and the fact that the conduction and valence band edges are at the zone-edge K points, the 2p exciton states are split. A two-colour pump–probe scheme is used to drive the 1s–2p exciton transition, and then probe the changes in absorption near the spectral position of the 1s line to measure the splitting energy.

Vaccination represents a mainstay in preventing infection but, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), this therapeutic approach can carry the risk of triggering a relapse. Hartung and colleagues review the safety of vaccines against various infections in patients with MS, and discuss the issue of vaccine efficacy in the context of disease-modifying MS drugs.

Detecting individual low-atomic-number atoms is extremely challenging using conventional transmission electron microscopy. This paper reports the direct imaging in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) of atomic carbon and hydrogen using graphene as a substrate which provides a near-invisible background. The approach could be used for the direct study at the atomic level of organic species such as biomolecules.

Nanoscale mechanical resonators can make precision measurements of force, position and mass. Atomic resolution in mass sensing at room temperature has now been demonstrated with a carbon nanotube-based resonator that essentially operates as a mass spectrometer. The atomic equivalent of shot noise has also been detected.

Inelastic light scattering spectroscopy is a powerful tool in materials science to probe elementary excitations. In a quantum-mechanical picture, these excitations are generated by the incident photons via intermediate electronic transitions. It is now shown that it is possible to manipulate these intermediate 'quantum pathways' using electrostatically doped graphene. A surprising effect is revealed where blocking one pathway results in an increased intensity, unveiling a mechanism of destructive quantum interference between different Raman pathways. The study refines understanding of Raman scattering in graphene and indicates the possibility of controlling quantum pathways to produce unusual inelastic light scattering phenomena.

Graphene microribbons behave as tunable metamaterials at terahertz frequencies.

Individual grain boundaries are imaged using a scanning plasmon interferometry technique, revealing mechanistic insights on electronic transport and plasmon propagation in graphene.

The use of monolayers of hexagonal boron nitride as the cationic diffusion barrier and graphene aerogel mixed with spiro-OMeTAD as the hole transport layer allows the fabrication of graded bandgap perovskite solar cells with high efficiency.

Inorganic nanowires composed of gold(I) cyanide can be grown directly on pristine graphene, aligning themselves with the zigzag lattice directions of the graphene, and then used as templates to create graphene nanoribbons with zigzag-edged directions.

Visible light can induce writing and erasing of charge doping in graphene/boron nitride heterostructures while maintaining high carrier mobility.

s-SNOM is a powerful tool, but it is less sensitive to in-plane variations. Here the authors present a method to improve this with a metallic microdisk antenna, which they demonstrate by probing in-plane phonon responses.

The range of immunomodulatory therapies to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) has widened markedly in recent years, and MS treatments have become more efficient. This improvement in efficacy has been accompanied by an increased risk of treatment-associated infections. In this Review, Winkelman et al. discuss the modes of action of the currently available MS therapies and detail the specific infections associated with each treatment. They consider how this information can influence the daily clinical use of MS therapies, so as to minimize the associated infectious risk.

When superconducting discs are deposited on graphene they induce local superconducting islands. The phase coupling between the islands can be controlled by a gate. Quantum phase fluctuations kill the superconductivity and lead to a metallic state, however, at higher magnetic fields superconductivity can return.

The specificity in myogenic transcription is poorly defined. Here, Jin et al. describe Ebf3 as a regulator of terminal muscle differentiation in the diaphragm and show that Ebf factors cooperate with the myogenic regulatory factor MyoD in the induction of muscle-specific genes.

Although intrinsic superconductivity in graphene has not been demonstrated yet, superconductivity in this material can be induced by the proximity effect. The deposition of metallic nanoparticles on a graphene layer allows the status of graphene to be tuned from insulating to superconducting. This metal–graphene hybrid material can therefore be seen as a model system to elucidate the properties of inhomogeneous superconductors.

The bandgap of bilayer graphene can be tuned with an electric field and topological valley polarized modes have been predicted to exist at its domain boundaries; here, near-field infrared imaging and low-temperature transport measurements reveal such modes in gapped bilayer graphene.

Most patients who present with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) are diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Trebst et al. use case studies of patients without NMO who presented with spinal lesions to show the variety of different etiologies that can underlie LETM. The authors highlight the diagnostic indicators and difficulties encountered in making differential diagnoses in these patients.