Chemical physics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Understanding molecular structure and dynamics through strong-field laser interactions holds great promise. The authors use quantum calculations to show how bonds and angles evolve in an OCS molecule ionized six times by a 7 fs, 800 nm laser pulse, accurately predicting our experimental results.

Photolysis and ion migration under electrical bias cause intrinsic instability in halide perovskite solar cells. By harnessing materials that both capture and confine iodide and polyiodide ions at the perovskite surface, the stability of devices under ultraviolet irradiation, thermal–light conditions or reverse bias can be greatly increased.

Surface heterogeneities lead to friction between droplets and solid surfaces, limiting the performance of the latter in a number of applications. A combination of friction force measurements and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations now sheds light on the influence of molecular scale heterogeneities on droplet friction.

Electric fields offer an easy means to manipulate liquid metal droplets. Now, directed droplet transfer between immersed electrodes is achieved in an alkaline electrolyte without electrical short circuit.

A promising pathway towards the laser cooling of a molecule containing a radioactive atom has been identified. The unique structure of such a molecule means that it can act as a magnifying lens to probe fundamental physics.

An article in Nature Chemistry discovers that the two light-controlled isomers of azobenzene also have very different rupture forces.