Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sajjad Husain Mir, Gaulthier Rydzek, P. M. Z. Hasan, Ekram Y. Danish, Mohammad Aslam, Ajit Khosla
Summary: Developing directed-self-assembly methods for composite nanomaterials is crucial for supporting the emergence and technological transfer of nanosciences. A new approach has been proposed to induce organized micron-sized pores in Ag+-doped PMMA composite films and membranes through topologically guided assembly on rough aluminum substrate's grains during thermal annealing. This method involves spin coating a complex solution of poly(methyl methacrylate)/CF3COOAg on aluminum foil, followed by thermal annealing at 85 degrees C to obtain a polymer-Ag+ porous thin film, which can be reduced by UV irradiation to produce a polymer-Ag film/membrane without distortion of the morphology.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fei Li, Yi-lin Liu, Gui-Gen Wang, Si-Ying Zhang, Da-Qiang Zhao, Kan Fang, Hua-Yu Zhang, Hui Ying Yang
Summary: In this study, a novel rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion hybrid capacitor with 3D porous H-MXene film (3D-PHMF) as the cathode was reported. The capacitor exhibits excellent performance, including high specific capacitance, good rate performance, and remarkable cycling stability. Furthermore, the obtained flexible cathode can be designed into a flexible quasi-solid-state device, showing outstanding flexibility and stability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiuyun Zhao, Nathiya Kalidas, Vesa-Pekka Lehto
Summary: Silicon is a highly promising anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its high capacity and safe potential. Mesoporous silicon has been widely studied for its ability to accommodate volume expansion during cycling and provide stable battery performance. This research investigates the impact of pore characteristics on battery performance by producing self-standing mesoporous silicon films without carbon additives. The study finds that porosity and surface area greatly affect specific capacity and initial Coulombic efficiency, while cycling performance is mainly determined by film thickness. The best mesoporous silicon film anode achieves stable cycling for over 450 cycles with an initial Coulombic efficiency of 81.2% and a limited specific capacity of 1200 mAh/g. This study provides valuable insights for the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Junaid Saleem, Moghal Zubair Khalid Baig, Adriaan S. Luyt, Rana Abdul Shakoor, Atef Zekri, Gordon McKay
Summary: In this study, a free-standing thin film made from polypropylene using the spin coating technique was reported. The film had lower embodied energy and carbon footprints, higher crystallinity and strength, and potential applications in various fields.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Olena Ouskova, Rafael Vergara, Nelson Tabirian, Timothy J. Bunning
Summary: Polarization selective photonic bandgaps have been demonstrated in free-standing flexible films of chiral structure. The films possess large sizes, defect-free structure, and high optical quality, making them suitable for various applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vikki Anand Varma, Jaskaran Singh, Sujin B. B. Babu
Summary: Synthesizing thin films using self assembly is an important challenge for making engineered materials for applications such as photonics and filtration. In this study, a simple model of prolate ellipsoidal particles with two directional bonds was presented and their phase behavior was examined using Monte Carlo simulation. It was found that anisotropic particles with patches can form two different types of 3D ordered structures, along with a thermodynamically stable monolayer. The phase diagram suggests that the desired 2D superstructure can be achieved through self assembly.
ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anders Henriksson, Peter Neubauer, Mario Birkholz
Summary: In recent decades, alternative protocols have been developed to form bifunctional Si-C interlayers that directly bind to the silicon surface, providing more stability and reducing electric noise in biosensor devices. Despite their complexity and the need for an inert gas atmosphere, these innovative methods are predicted to expand the applications of future silicon-based biosensors.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rehab Ramadan, Raul J. Martin-Palma
Summary: This study investigates the incorporation of silver nanoparticles into nanostructured porous silicon layers to enhance the optoelectronic performance of Si-based devices. The experimental results show a significant improvement in electrical conduction and photoresponse after the addition of metallic nanoparticles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Siham Atifi, Mehr-Negar Mirvakili, Cyan A. Williams, Melanie M. Bay, Silvia Vignolini, Wadood Y. Hamad
Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are functional materials with distinct properties that can be used in the fabrication of photonic, optoelectronic, and functional hybrid materials. By using electrophoretic deposition (EPD)-induced self-assembly, photonic films with long-range chirality can be produced on conductive, rigid, or flexible substrates within a few minutes.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Xieyu Chen, Shoujun Zhang, Kuan Liu, Yuehong Xu, Xiaohan Jiang, Haiyang LI, Xi Feng, Qingwei Wang, Yongchang Lu, Kemeng Wang, Tun Cao, Zhen Tian
Summary: In this paper, a lithography-free approach is proposed to create reconfigurable and nonvolatile THz components using the phase change material Ge2Sb2Te5. THz gratings and ultrathin THz flat lenses are designed and fabricated on ultrathin Ge2Sb2Te5 films to demonstrate the capability of the proposed method. Moreover, more complex THz devices can also be created using this method. This method provides a promising solution for realizing reconfigurable and nonvolatile THz elements.
PHOTONICS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Ali Akbar Darki, Robin Vinther Nielsen, Jens Vinge Nygaard, Aurelien Dantan
Summary: A combination of noninvasive measurements and finite element simulations accurately determines the tensile stress, elasticity modulus, and density of nanostructured thin films. The results show that highly reflective thin membranes possess high mechanical quality and are suitable for optomechanics and sensing applications. Additionally, this method provides a nondestructive approach to determine key material parameters in fragile nanostructured thin films.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jakub Szewczyk, Visnja Babacic, Adam Krysztofik, Olena Ivashchenko, Mikolaj Pochylski, Robert Pietrzak, Jacek Gapinski, Bartlomiej Graczykowski, Mikhael Bechelany, Emerson Coy
Summary: Aggregation of polydopamine (PDA) at the air/water interface leads to large surface nanometric-thin films. The presence of boric acid and Cu2+ ions significantly impacts the growth process, reducing nanoparticle size and enhancing film efficiency. Additionally, the addition of boric acid improves the mechanical properties of the films, making them exceptionally elastic.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Lauren S. Puumala, Samantha M. Grist, Jennifer M. Morales, Justin R. Bickford, Lukas Chrostowski, Sudip Shekhar, Karen C. Cheung
Summary: Silicon photonic (SiP) sensors are a promising platform for decentralized diagnostics due to their scalability, low limit of detection, and ability to integrate multiple sensors. Biofunctionalization plays a critical role in sensor performance. This review evaluates biofunctionalization strategies for SiP sensors, focusing on bioreceptor selection, immobilization strategies, and patterning techniques.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shi-Zhuang Gao, Mu Yang, Qing-Yun Xiang, Yu Wang, Huan Zhang, Yang Bai, Wen-Qing Yao, Jiang-Li Cao
Summary: This study reports a method for fabricating large-area free-standing two-dimensional (FS-2D) gold films with controllable lattice orientations via an electrochemical hydrogen-detaching method. The catalytic properties of these FS-2D gold films were characterized, and it was found that the (111)-oriented FS-2D gold with 20 nm thickness showed significantly higher catalytic conversion for the oxidation of cyclohexane compared to general catalysts. This exceptional catalytic activity could be attributed to the flexible structure of the FS-2D gold catalyst.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zheng Wang, Yan Cai, Haitao Jiang, Ziao Tian, Zengfeng Di
Summary: This article provides a comprehensive review on graphene-based silicon photonic devices and their applications in optical interconnects. Silicon photonics has the ability to integrate multiple core functions of optical interconnects into small-scale chips, offering cost-effective and scalable manufacturing capabilities. Graphene has emerged as a promising solution for traditional silicon photonics due to its exceptional electrical and optical properties, enabling pure phase modulation and ultrafast photodetection.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Gagan K. Jalandhra, Thomas G. Molley, Tzong-tyng Hung, Iman Roohani, Kristopher A. Kilian
Summary: This study developed a unique printing platform that integrates soft and hard materials concurrently through freeform printing of mineralized constructs within tunable micro-gel suspensions containing living cells. By tuning the microgel stiffness and filler content, chondrogenesis and osteogenesis can be differentially directed within the same construct, enabling the fabrication of osteochondral interfaces in a single step. This versatile one-pot biofabrication approach has the potential to aid in bone disease modeling and tissue engineering.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Duyen H. T. Nguyen, Robert H. Utama, Kristel C. Tjandra, Panthipa Suwannakot, Eric Y. Du, Maria Kavallaris, Richard D. Tilley, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: This study develops a synthetic hydrogel with ionic cross-linking to rapidly create hydrogels. The mechanical stiffness of the hydrogel can be tuned by varying the number of charged ionic groups, the length of the polymer arms, and the polymer concentration. It is demonstrated as an extracellular matrix mimic for 3D in vitro cell models.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Samuel V. Somerville, Peter B. O'Mara, Tania M. Benedetti, Soshan Cheong, Wolfgang Schuhmann, Richard D. Tilley, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: Enzymes with multiple active sites and control over the solution environment enable the formation of complex products from simple reactants. We mimic this concept using nanoparticles to facilitate the electro-chemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction. By altering the rate of CO2 delivery, the activity of the CO producing site, and the applied potential, we show that stable nanoparticles with lower CO formation activity can produce greater amounts of hydrocarbon products. This highlights the importance of the local solution environment and the stability of the catalyst in cascade reactions.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Samuel V. V. Somerville, Qinyu Li, Johanna Wordsworth, Sina Jamali, Mohammad Reza Eskandarian, Richard D. D. Tilley, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: Nanozymes mimic the selectivity of enzymes by utilizing features such as control over the arrangement of atoms in the active site and the placement of the active site down a nanoconfined substrate channel. The implementation of enzyme-inspired features has shown improvements in both activity and selectivity of nanoparticles for various catalytic and sensing applications. Controlled active sites on metal nanoparticle surfaces can be achieved through changing the composition of the surface metal or immobilizing single atoms on a metal substrate. Molecular frameworks and unique diffusional environments further enhance selectivity, while nanoconfined substrate channels offer additional control over selectivity through modifying the solution environment and transport of reactants and products.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Danielle Bennett, Xueqian Chen, Gregory J. Walker, Sacha Stelzer-Braid, William D. Rawlinson, D. Brynn Hibbert, Richard D. Tilley, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: Plasmonic nanoparticles in dimer format are used for single molecule sensing, where the interaction with hairpin DNA leads to a shift in localized surface plasmon resonance. Spectroscopy may detect this shift, but point-of-care devices require a faster analysis method. By using dark-field imaging and digital analysis, the plasmonic resonance shift of thousands of dimer structures can be measured in minutes. The challenge is separating dimers from non-specifically bound clusters to achieve accurate results. The LAB-based classifier algorithm demonstrated the highest accuracy for this digital separation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Analytical
Danielle Bennett, Xueqian Chen, Gregory J. Walker, Milad Mehdipour, Sacha Stelzer-Braid, William D. Rawlinson, D. Brynn Hibbert, Richard D. Tilley, J. Justin Gooding
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Analytical
Eric Bakker, Philippe Buhlmann, J. Justin Gooding, Robert E. Gyurcsanyi, Ernoe Pretsch
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Panthipa Suwannakot, Stephanie Nemec, Newton Gil Peres, Eric Y. Du, Kristopher A. Kilian, Katharina Gaus, Maria Kavallaris, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: Synthetic hydrogels are widely used to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the physical and biochemical cues observed in natural ECM proteins. Researchers have developed an electrostatically crosslinked PEG-based hydrogel system to create high-throughput 3D in vitro models of the cancer environment. This hydrogel system can be degraded by breaking the interaction between oppositely charged polymer chains.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Matthew J. Moore, Yuen Ting Lam, Miguel Santos, Richard P. Tan, Nianji Yang, Juichien Hung, Zihao Li, Kristopher A. Kilian, Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina, Johannes B. Pitts, Henning Menzel, Steven G. Wise
Summary: Biomimetic scaffolds that mimic the architecture and biological activity of the extracellular matrix hold great potential for soft tissue engineering. In this study, we chemically modified chitosan, a natural polysaccharide, with synthetic polymer polycaprolactone (PCL) to create chitosan-graft-polycaprolactone (CS-g-PCL). These CS-g-PCL scaffolds showed improved mechanical strength and biological properties compared to pure PCL scaffolds, including enhanced blood compatibility, cell attachment and proliferation, and decreased inflammatory response.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Ying Yang, Sanjun Fan, James A. Webb, Yuanqing Ma, Jesse Goyette, Xueqian Chen, Katharina Gaus, Richard D. Tilley, Justin Gooding
Summary: This study presents an electrochemical approach to reversible fluorescence switching of enhanced green fluorescent proteins (EGFP) on indium tin oxide coated glass. The method allows efficient switching between bright (ON) and dim (OFF) states at the single molecule level. The electrochemical fluorescence switching is fast, reversible, and can be incorporated into advanced fluorescence microscopy.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Daniel E. Hagness, Ying Yang, Richard D. Tilley, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: Affinity biosensors play a crucial role in various areas of human health, such as clinical diagnosis and pharmaceuticals, by utilizing specific binding between target analytes and biological ligands. Electrokinetic phenomena have been investigated as a viable option to improve the performance of affinity biosensors for higher sensitivity and lower detection limit.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Seyedyousef Arman, Vinicius R. R. Goncales, Ying Yang, Richard D. D. Tilley, Katharina Gaus, J. Justin Gooding
Summary: This study explores a dual optical and electrical biosensor based on cells, which provides insights into cellular events. The fabrication steps and electrical characterization of microelectrodes are described. Initial experiments show that the ability of indium tin oxide (ITO) to detect biological cells at the electrode-cell layer interface mainly depends on the size of the sensing area. The impact of conductivity on the real-time impedance signal during cell adhesion on different substrates is also explored.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashley K. Nguyen, Thomas G. Molley, Egi Kardia, Sylvia Ganda, Sudip Chakraborty, Sharon L. Wong, Juanfang Ruan, Bethany E. Yee, Jitendra Mata, Abhishek Vijayan, Naresh Kumar, Richard D. Tilley, Shafagh A. Waters, Kristopher A. Kilian
Summary: This article reports the discovery of a short peptide based on the tryptophan zipper motif, which shows multiscale hierarchical ordering and displays antimicrobial and self-healing properties. It can be used for cell delivery and bioprinting, and has important implications for supramolecular assembly of soft materials in biotechnology and medicine.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
J. Justin Gooding, Jean-Francois Masson
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.
