Zinc gluconate in oral supplements associates with plasma proteins to form renal-tumour-accumulating ZnO nanoparticles, which have antitumoural immune activity and can also be used for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents.

The authors report on their observation of magnetic polymorphs in CrSBr using phase-sensitive second harmonic generation.

The shape of biological matter is central to their function and interaction with other cellular components. A combination of DNA origami nanorafts with biogenic pores reversibly controls the shape and permeability of lipid vesicles at the microscale.

Anode-free batteries contain no active material at the negative electrode when manufactured, and this can enable them to have high energy density. This Perspective presents a critical overview of the mechanisms governing the behaviour of anode-free solid-state batteries and provides guidance to improve this type of battery.

Studies based on correlated operando characterization techniques reveal the coexistence of copper metal, oxide and hydroxide phases during the electrochemical reduction of nitrates to ammonia, providing insights into electrocatalyst evolution during reaction and related catalytic performance.

Current-driven dynamic atomic rearrangements in layered In₂Se₃ are visualized. The authors identify an intralayer ‘unzipping’ and interlayer ‘zipping’ phase-transition pathway in which bond formation across the van der Waals gaps drives bond cleavage within covalent layers.

Double-sided epitaxy of van der Waals materials through atomic membranes is demonstrated, enabling electrons to resonantly tunnel between aligned topological insulator surfaces with the conservation of energy, momentum and spin helicity.

Cathodic corrosion of platinum is investigated using operando high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy matched with density functional calculations. Platinum hydrides are found to be reaction intermediates in conditions at which these species are expected to be unstable.

Solid-state electrolyte reduction and Li dendrite growth limit the stability of all-solid-state Li metal batteries. Here the authors show that reductive electrophiles gain electrons and metal cations from metal–nucleophile materials on contact, allowing the electrochemical formation of a dense, electron-blocking film that improves the stability of both the anode and high-voltage cathode.

The authors report Bose–Einstein condensation of a two-magnon bound state in Na₂BaNi(PO₄)₂. This should stimulate further work on these types of geometrically frustrated materials.

Improved thermoelectric refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures may lead to enhanced technologies and better research capabilities.

High-purity samples are essential for quantum matter research. This Comment discusses interesting directions and relevant considerations in growth techniques, particularly molecular beam epitaxy, to improve the quality and expand the variety of thin-film quantum materials.

Jürgen Rödel, Franz Faupel and Stefan Klein discuss how scientific societies can aid in the transition for a more sustainable society.

Dan Matuszak, Chief Technology Officer at the Aviation Climate Taskforce, talks to Nature Materials about the challenges and opportunities for sustainable fuels research for air travel, and how linking researchers together may aid breakthroughs.

Mass air travel connects countries and allows building of research or academic communities, but more sustainable fuels need to be produced to address carbon emissions.

Studies are shedding light on the mechanical properties of cellular tissues and their implications for biological processes.