Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuji Yamagishi, Hiroaki Kominami, Kei Kobayashi, Yuki Nomura, Emiko Igaki, Hirofumi Yamada
Summary: In this study, the molecular-scale solvation structures at the electrolyte-mica interface were measured using FM-AFM. The effective size of molecular assemblies formed at the interface increased with increasing ion concentrations, as shown by both experimental results and molecular dynamics simulations.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Wenting Wang, Wenhao Zhang, Xiqi Wu, Kaidi Zhang, Yuhang Chen
Summary: The study investigates the interfacial properties between thin films and elastomers by analyzing the interface adhesion between a graphite nanoflake and an elastic polymer. The relationship among interface adhesion, elastic strain energy, and buckle surface area is established, providing a promising approach to characterize the interfacial properties of multilayer samples. Various methods are applied to introduce buckles, and the uncertainty in measuring the interface adhesion is discussed.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Szilvia Klebert, Sandor Tilajka, Lorand Romanszki, Miklos Mohai, Emilia Csiszar, Zoltan Karoly
Summary: The study demonstrates that short-term atmospheric cold plasma treatment significantly affects the surface chemistry and properties of polyester fabrics, such as increased wettability and moisture absorption, and slightly increased surface roughness. However, prolonged treatment may lead to a decrease in tensile strength and have detrimental effects on the fabric.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shintaro Sugiura, Yuki Shintani, Daisuke Mori, Sayuri L. Higashi, Aya Shibata, Yoshiaki Kitamura, Shin-ichiro Kawano, Koichiro M. Hirosawa, Kenichi G. N. Suzuki, Masato Ikeda
Summary: The artificial construction of multicomponent supramolecular materials has attracted attention due to their orthogonally assembled architectures. In this study, we combined peptide-based self-assembled fibrous nanostructures with globular DNA nanoflowers to develop unique hybrid materials. Fluorescence imaging was used to dissect the orthogonally constructed architectures. By utilizing the distinct functions of peptides and DNA, these materials show promising opportunities for bioapplications as a soft matrix.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nan Guan, Yao Wang, Bo Wen, Xingya Wang, Jun Hu, Lijuan Zhang
Summary: Surface nanobubbles play a crucial role in various fields, and understanding their formation process and influencing factors is important for their applications and control. In this study, the formation of nanobubbles on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces was investigated through ethanol-water exchange, revealing that the exchange rate has a significant effect on the size and number density of nanobubbles.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhe Chen, Seong H. Kim
Summary: This study used atomic force microscopy to investigate the effect of water and n-pentanol adsorption on the nanoscale friction of graphite. The results showed that as the humidity increases, friction on the basal plane increases, while friction at the step edge first increases and then decreases. Additionally, adsorption of n-pentanol decreases friction on both the basal plane and step edge.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Binyu Zhao, Youquan Jia, Yi Xu, Elmar Bonaccurso, Xu Deng, Guenter K. Auernhammer, Longquan Chen
Summary: Researchers have investigated the microscopic wetting phenomena of water on nonwetting nanoporous surfaces, characterizing the nanoscopic morphology and effective stiffness of liquid-air interfaces inside nanopores. They found that the nanomenisci exhibit apparent elastic deformation and size-dependent effective stiffness, and correlated these properties with the wetting behavior of water droplets on structured surfaces.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shannon W. Boettcher, Meikun Shen, Aaron J. Kaufman, Jiawei Huang, Celsey Price
Summary: This study reveals the heterogeneity in charge carrier selectivity of semiconductor photocatalyst particles using a combination of ex situ and in situ conducting atomic force microscopy experiments and new test structures. The presence of the water/electrolyte interface is found to be critical for inducing hole selectivity, and pH-dependent measurements suggest the importance of negative surface charge on the semiconductor in inducing hole selectivity.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhe Chen, Seong H. Kim
Summary: It has been discovered that nanoscale super-lubricity between amorphous silica tip and graphite basal plane can be tuned by physisorbing various molecules. This finding enables on-demand control of friction.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2022)
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
A. Schon, E. Kaminska, F. Schelter, E. Ponkkonen, E. Korytiakova, S. Schiffers, T. Carell
Summary: By formulating electrolyte with a non-polar solvent, ion pairs and aggregates prevail under normal concentrations and give rise to anion-derived interphases on graphite electrodes with superior electrochemical performances.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu-Xing Yao, Xiang Chen, Chong Yan, Xue-Qiang Zhang, Wen-Long Cai, Jia-Qi Huang, Qiang Zhang
Summary: The research reveals a weakly solvating electrolyte that improves the performance of Li-ion batteries by forming unique anion-derived interfaces, demonstrating fast-charging and long-term cycling characteristics.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pierre H. A. Vaillant, Vaishnavi Krishnamurthi, Caiden J. Parker, Rashad Kariuki, Salvy P. Russo, Andrew J. Christofferson, Torben Daeneke, Aaron Elbourne
Summary: By using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the structure of the interface between liquid metals (LMs) and LM oxide is investigated. The results reveal distinct sub-oxide nanostructured layering in room-temperature liquid metals, providing important insights into the behavior of LM systems at interfaces.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Simone Benaglia, Manuel R. Uhlig, Jose Hernandez-Munoz, Enrique Chacon, Pedro Tarazona, Ricardo Garcia
Summary: This study demonstrates that the generation of 3D maps is dependent on the polarization of the tip, with differently charged tips revealing different density distributions. Experimental data reproduce key findings of the theory.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
D. Gutnik, A. Kleinbichler, P. J. Imrich, M. J. Cordill, A. Lassnig
Summary: Quantification of adhesion between thin films and their substrates is crucial for reliable multi-material components. Metal-polymer interfaces are challenging to quantify due to their unique properties. In this study, the adhesion of a 150 nm WTi film to polyimide was determined experimentally, and two models were compared for quantification.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Michael J. Holle, Heath E. Misak, Rizwan A. Malik, Ibrahim M. Alarifi, Ramazan Asmatulu
Summary: The research project focuses on the interrelationship between the rigidity, wear rate, and heat generation of three carbon brushes in a starter generator. The study found that increasing brush stiffness can reduce wear rate, but also lead to an increase in the internal temperature of the starter generator. The findings suggest that brush stiffness is a key factor in determining the additional temperature in the starter generator.
ADVANCED COMPOSITES AND HYBRID MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rebekah Chua, Jans Henke, Surabhi Saha, Yuli Huang, Jian Gou, Xiaoyue He, Tanmoy Das, Jasper van Wezel, Anjan Soumyanarayanan, Andrew T. S. Wee
Summary: Thinning crystalline materials to two dimensions leads to a variety of electronic phases, but the confinement of charge order to only 2D remains challenging. By studying monolayer VSe2, two CDWs with distinct origins were discovered, highlighting the importance of emergent interactions in 2D materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shan Lin, Zhiwen Wang, Qinghua Zhang, Shengru Chen, Qiao Jin, Hongbao Yao, Shuai Xu, Fanqi Meng, Xinmao Yin, Can Wang, Chen Ge, Haizhong Guo, Chi Sin Tang, Andrew T. S. Wee, Lin Gu, Kui-juan Jin, Hongxin Yang, Er-Jia Guo
Summary: This study demonstrates the synthesis of high-quality single-phase chromium oxynitride thin films using in-situ nitrogen doping, which exhibits robust ferromagnetic and insulating state. By increasing nitrogen content, the crystal structure changes and saturation magnetization decreases significantly. The authors also achieve a large and controllable exchange bias field in the chromia heterostructures through synthetic anion engineering, reflecting potential applications in modern magnetic sensors and read heads.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Qiao Jin, Zhiwen Wang, Qinghua Zhang, Yonghong Yu, Shan Lin, Shengru Chen, Mingqun Qi, He Bai, Amanda Huon, Qian Li, Le Wang, Xinmao Yin, Chi Sin Tang, Andrew T. S. Wee, Fanqi Meng, Jiali Zhao, Jia-Ou Wang, Haizhong Guo, Chen Ge, Can Wang, Wensheng Yan, Tao Zhu, Lin Gu, Scott A. Chambers, Sujit Das, Timothy Charlton, Michael R. Fitzsimmons, Gang-Qin Liu, Shanmin Wang, Kui-Juan Jin, Hongxin Yang, Er-Jia Guo
Summary: Heterointerfaces play an important role in the discovery of novel electronic and magnetic states. This study successfully synthesized and characterized Cr2O3-CrN superlattices and observed room-temperature ferromagnetic spin ordering at the interfaces between these two antiferromagnets. The findings provide insights into the unexpected properties of oxide-nitride interfaces and offer possibilities for exploring hidden phases in low-dimensional quantum heterostructures.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. W. Zeng, X. M. Yin, C. J. Li, L. E. Chow, C. S. Tang, K. Han, Z. Huang, Y. Cao, D. Y. Wan, Z. T. Zhang, Z. S. Lim, C. Z. Diao, P. Yang, A. T. S. Wee, S. J. Pennycook, A. Ariando
Summary: Nickel-based complex oxides have been widely studied as a possible analog of high-temperature superconductors. The recent discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelate thin films has provided important insights into the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. However, challenges still remain in material synthesis, perfect diamagnetism has not been directly demonstrated, and the role of interface and strain in the superconducting properties is not well understood.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Fauzi Sahdan, Arramel, Sharon Lim Xiaodai, Hong Wang, Muhammad Danang Birowosuto, Sow Chorng Haur, Kah-Wee Ang, Andrew Thye Shen Wee
Summary: This study demonstrates a direct surface conversion from VSe2 to VO2 using laser exposure in ambient conditions, revealing a first-order metal-insulator transition. The researchers also observed enhanced photoluminescence intensity and peak shifts at the transition temperature, suggesting a correlation with the band structure transformation. Additionally, an electrically induced metal-insulator transition was observed in a lateral VSe2-VOx heterojunction device.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
W. Xu, G. S. Jung, W. Zhang, A. T. S. Wee, J. H. Warner
Summary: The atomic structure of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides with faceted edges, grown using chemical vapor deposition, was investigated using aberration-corrected annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Triangular edge structures with zigzag terminations were observed, exhibiting near-atomic sharpness. DFT calculations suggested that the atomic-scale sharpness at these edges remained stable, even under different growth conditions.
MATERIALS TODAY NANO
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qilong Wu, Meysam Bagheri Tagani, Lijie Zhang, Jing Wang, Yu Xia, Li Zhang, Sheng-Yi Xie, Yuan Tian, Long-Jing Yin, Wen Zhang, Alexander N. Rudenko, Andrew T. S. Wee, Ping Kwan Johnny Wong, Zhihui Qin
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate the electronic tuning ability at the WSe2/Au interface using twist engineering. By changing the twist angle, we are able to modulate the carrier doping in WSe2 from intrinsic p-type to n-type. We further achieve an n-p-n-type WSe2 homojunction by achieving a strong coupling interface. Additionally, we find that germanium intercalation can recover the intrinsic doping of WSe2. Our findings reveal the influence of twist angle and intercalation on interface doping.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haijiao Lu, Yi-Ming Zhao, Sandra Elizabeth Saji, Xinmao Yin, Ary Wibowo, Chi Sin Tang, Shibo Xi, Pengfei Cao, Mike Tebyetekerwa, Borui Liu, Marc Heggen, Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski, Antonio Tricoli, Andrew T. S. Wee, Hieu T. Nguyen, Qing-Bo Yan, Zongyou Yin
Summary: In this study, a room-temperature strategy was developed to achieve efficient nitrogen photofixation by assembling two-dimensional CoO-Co3O4 composite materials on reduced graphene oxide. The study revealed that the photoreaction-induced cation oxidation could be reversely triggered by photo-reactivating Co3O4, thereby maintaining excellent catalytic activity.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dingguan Wang, Zishen Wang, Wei Liu, Arramel, Siying Zhong, Yuan Ping Feng, Kian Ping Loh, Andrew Thye Shen Wee
Summary: The study investigates molecular clusters formed on Au(111) with diverse halogen bonds, revealing the presence of three distinct halogen bonds among the clusters. The real-space atomic information of these clusters is acquired using non-contact atomic force microscopy and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yang Chen, Shuhang Qian, Kai Wang, Xiangyuan Xing, Andrew Wee, Kian Ping Loh, Bing Wang, Dong Wu, Jiaru Chu, Andrea Alu, Peixiang Lu, Cheng-Wei Qiu
Summary: Valleytronics, a promising technology for energy-efficient signal transport on chip, faces challenges in achieving high-fidelity, high-directionality, and room-temperature valley transport. In this study, a nanophotonic circuit is demonstrated to unidirectionally route valley indices using the chirality of photons, with 98% valley fidelity and a circulation directionality of 0.44 +/- 0.04 at room temperature. This research opens up possibilities for large-scale valleytronic networks and hybrid spin-valley-photon ecosystems at the nanoscale.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Chi Sin Tang, Shengwei Zeng, Caozheng Diao, Jing Wu, Shunfeng Chen, Mark B. H. Breese, Chuanbing Cai, Thirumalai Venkatesan, Ariando Ariando, Andrew T. S. Wee, Xinmao Yin
Summary: The effects of atomic-scale disorder and charge (de)localization are of great importance in condensed matter systems and provide insights into the role of strong and weak correlations. In this study, researchers found that 2D free electrons were localized in the specific hybridized states at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. The localization of 2D electrons could be induced through temperature reduction or ionic liquid gating. Interfacial hybridization was found to play a crucial role in regulating the localization effects. This study not only highlights the importance of interfacial hybridization but also offers a new approach for device fabrication in amorphous film systems.
APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yihe Wang, Chenqiang Hua, Shuo Sun, Jian Gou, Sisheng Duan, Andrew T. S. Wee, Miao Zhou, Yu Li Huang, Wei Chen
Summary: This study investigates the competition mechanism among a series of 0D-2D allotropes during adsorption, using low-dimensional phosphorus (P) as a prototype. The study finds that the formation of allotropes is significantly influenced by bond angle, coordination number, and atomic density. The comprehensive understanding of the evolution of elemental allotropes in low dimensions could guide the construction of polymorphic quantum materials with novel functionalities.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jian Gou, Hua Bai, Xuanlin Zhang, Yu Li Huang, Sisheng Duan, A. Ariando, Shengyuan A. Yang, Lan Chen, Yunhao Lu, Andrew Thye Shen Wee
Summary: Conventional ferroelectric compounds require at least two constituent ions for polarization switching. However, in a black phosphorus-like bismuth layer, a single-element ferroelectric state is observed, with concurrent ordered charge transfer and regular atom distortion between sublattices. The Bi atoms in the black phosphorous-like Bi monolayer exhibit a weak and anisotropic sp orbital hybridization, leading to the inversion-symmetry-broken buckled structure and charge redistribution. The in-plane electric polarization is induced in the Bi monolayer, which is experimentally visualized through scanning probe microscopy.
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
T. J. Whitcher, A. D. Fauzi, C. Diao, X. Chi, A. Syahroni, T. C. Asmara, M. B. H. Breese, A. H. Castro Neto, A. T. S. Wee, M. A. Majidi, A. Rusydi
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alfian Noviyanto, Ratih Amalia, Pramitha Yuniar Diah Maulida, Mudzakkir Dioktyanto, Bagas Haqi Arrosyid, Didik Aryanto, Lei Zhang, Andrew T. S. Wee, Arramel
Summary: In this study, manganese oxide nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method with different temperatures and NaOH concentrations. The results showed that temperature and NaOH concentration played important roles in determining the particle size, crystallinity, and oxygen vacancy occupancy of the manganese oxide nanoparticles.
