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The study of biomineralization processes in molluscs can help to understand the properties of the final composites. Here, Hovden et al. have studied the early stages of nacre formation using high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, giving new insight into nacre formation.

A simulation approach is used to ascertain the limitations on the structural and chemical information that atomic-resolution electron tomography can determine from noisy electron images.

The authors report a crossover from easy-plane to easy-axis magnetic anisotropy in monolayer RuCl₃, which they attribute to an in-plane distortion of the Cl atoms observed in electron diffraction that modify the non-Kitaev exchange terms. The results are useful for overcoming the challenge of realizing a quantum spin liquid.

Enhancing and optimizing the performance and durability of nanocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction is crucial for fuel-cell applications. A class of Pt–Co nanocatalysts consisting of ordered Pt₃Co intermetallic cores with a 2–3 atomic-layer-thick platinum shell now exhibit a large increase in mass activity and specific activity when compared with disordered alloy nanoparticles.

Charge-lattice coupling plays a central role in the exotic behaviors of multiferroic complex oxides, such as manganites, however, obtaining a microscopic picture is challenging. Here, Savitzky et al. map periodic lattice displacement fields at the picometer scale to study local order-disorder competition.

By carefully inducing twists or lattice stacking offsets between two adjacent van der Waals crystals, a superlattice potential can be introduced. This Moire lattice offers an incredibly rich physics, ranging from superconductivity to exotic magnetism, depending on van der Waals materials in question. Here, Du et al. study the magnetic domains in twisted CrI₃, and show that despite this domain structure, spin fluctuations are spatially homogenous.

A moiré potential may play a role in determining the magnetic properties of a two-dimensional homo or heterostructure. Now, non-collinear spin structures are observed in twisted double bilayer CrI₃, providing a platform to engineer unusual magnetic textures.

The authors demonstrate 3D chemical imaging of organic and inorganic materials near or below one-nanometer resolution using multi-modal electron tomography, by fusing elastic and inelastic scattering signals.

Stabilizing charge density wave states in low-dimensional systems is challenging. Here, the authors stabilize an ordered incommensurate charge density wave at elevated temperatures via endotaxial synthesis of TaS₂ polytype heterostructures, where charge density wave layers are encapsulated within metallic layers.

Hierarchical structural materials combine organic and inorganic components to withstand mechanical impact but the nanomechanics that govern the superior properties are not well investigated. Here, the authors observe nanoscale recovery of heavily deformed nacre that restores its mechanical strength using high-resolution electron microscopy.

In twisted 2D materials, spontaneous lattice reconstructions mean that twist angle alone provides an incomplete description. Here, using electron diffraction, the authors show that the displacement field in twisted bilayer graphene can be described as a superposition of three periodic lattice distortion (PLD) waves with wavevectors oriented at 120° from each other, forming a “torsional" PLD.

High-throughput electron tomography has been challenging due to time-consuming alignment and reconstruction. Here, the authors demonstrate real-time tomography with dynamic 3D tomographic visualization integrated in tomviz, an open-source 3D data analysis tool.

Correlated quantum states in free-standing two-dimensional materials are susceptible to defects and thermal disorder. Here, the authors demonstrate two-dimensional ordered charge density wave states above room temperature in clean interleaved polytype heterostructures of a van der Waals material.

Stacking and twisting two-dimensional materials has led to the observation of a variety of electronic phenomena. Now, magnetic behaviour that is distinct from anything seen in individual layers is induced by a moiré pattern in double bilayer chromium triiodide.

Surface magnetic order could precede bulk order, but detecting such a separation necessitates experimental probes sensitive to both surface and bulk phase transitions. Here, using second harmonic generation, the authors propose that this situation is realized in a van der Waals antiferromagnet CrSBr.

van der Waals magnets can be arranged into twisted heterostructures, with the twisting leading to the formation of new magnetic phases. Here, Li, Sun, and coauthors show via NVcentre based magnetometry small angle twisted double trilayer CrI₃ exhibits a co-existing, hybrid magnetic phase with distinct phase transition temperatures.

Self-limited assembly of 'imperfect' chiral nanoparticles enables formation of bowtie-shaped microparticles with size monodispersity and continuously variable chirality to be used for printing photonically active metasurfaces.

A robotic method enables rapid manufacturing of complex van der Waals solids.

An investigation of the structural and transport properties of bilayer graphene as a function of the twist angle between the layers reveals atomic-scale reconstruction for twist angles smaller than a critical value.

A single-phase multiferroic material is constructed, in which ferroelectricity and strong magnetic ordering are coupled near room temperature, enabling direct electric-field control of magnetism.