Nanoporous gold with networks of interconnected ligaments and highly porous structure holds stimulating technological implications in fuel cell catalysis. Current syntheses of nanoporous gold mainly revolve around de-alloying approaches that are generally limited by stringent and harsh multistep protocols. Here we develop a one-step solution phase synthesis of zero-dimensional hollow nanoporous gold nanoparticles with tunable particle size (150-1,000 nm) and ligament thickness (21-54 nm). With faster mass diffusivity, excellent specific electroactive surface area and large density of highly active surface sites, our zero-dimensional nanoporous gold nanoparticles exhibit ~1.4 times enhanced catalytic activity and improved tolerance towards carbonaceous species, demonstrating their superiority over conventional nanoporous gold sheets. Detailed mechanistic study also reveals the crucial heteroepitaxial growth of gold on the surface of silver chloride templates, implying that our synthetic protocol is generic and may be extended to the synthesis of other nanoporous metals via different templates.

A strong mutual influence of superconductors (S) and ferromagnetic (F) conductors in hybrid F͞S (Ni͞Al) nanostructures is observed. The proximity-induced conductance on the F side, DG, is 2 orders of magnitude larger than that predicted by theory. A crossover from positive to negative DG takes place upon an increase in the F͞S interface barrier resistance. Reentrance of the superconductors to the normal state reciprocated by changes on the F side has been found in low applied magnetic fields with new peaks in the differential resistance as an effect of the saturation magnetization. An analysis has been developed providing a base for a numerical description of the system.

In molecular electronics, it is critical to minimize the sources that can result in defective electrodes, such as contaminations related to the fabrication process (photoresist and organic residues) or roughening of the electrode during etching, because these defects hamper the formation of well‐organized molecular structures. Junctions based on micropores are desirable as they are scalable, but micropores are not fabricated on ultrasmooth template‐stripped electrodes, and may suffer from stray capacitances and leakage currents across the insulating matrix. A method is reported to fabricate micropores in AlOx on template‐stripped Au based on a two‐step etch process so that the Au surface is not in direct contact with photoresistance during the fabrication process. These junctions do not suffer from stray capacitances or leakage currents, enable temperature variable measurements down to 8.5 K, have excellent current retention characteristics, and are stable for at least 2 months. By analyzing the normalized differential conductance curves and detailed comparison against junctions with cone‐shaped tips of EGaIn and EGaIn stabilized in a through‐hole in polydimethylsiloxane, how the surface roughness of top electrodes affects the effective contact area, influences the symmetry of the response of the junctions, and how the electrical characteristics scale with molecular length are established.