Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhongyong Wang, Alexander D. Christodoulides, Lingyun Dai, Yang Zhou, Rui Dai, Yifei Xu, Qiong Nian, Junlan Wang, Jonathan A. Malen, Robert Y. Wang
Summary: Colloidal nanocrystal assemblies show promise for various applications, but using them in actual devices can be challenging. This study finds that colloidal PbS nanocrystal superlattices with long-range order have higher thermal conductivities and Young's moduli compared to comparatively disordered nanocrystal films. The improved properties are attributed to enhanced ligand-ligand interactions in the superlattices.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Philippe B. Green, Ona Segura Lecina, Petru P. Albertini, Anna Loiudice, Raffaella Buonsanti
Summary: This study presents a method to overcome the limitations of ligand exchange by growing an amorphous alumina shell using colloidal atomic layer deposition (c-ALD). The researchers demonstrate that c-ALD can create colloidally stable composite materials by trapping organic chromophores around the nanocrystal core. This approach allows for unique triplet energy transfer and the assembly of a triplet exciton funnel structure, which cannot be achieved through traditional ligand exchange procedures.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Li, Kai Gao, Guangting Han, Rongyue Wang, Hongliang Li, Peizhi Guo
Summary: This article corrects the solvothermal synthesis of MnFe2O4 colloidal nanocrystal assemblies and their magnetic and electrocatalytic properties.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin Zhang, Haoxuan Ding, Shu Yang, Hualin Yang, Xiaoqing Yang, Bosheng Li, Xueting Xing, Yaojie Sun, Guangxin Gu, Xiaorui Chen, Jianzhi Gao, Minghu Pan, Lifeng Chi, Quanmin Guo
Summary: Chirality transfer plays a vital role in the structure and functionality of biological systems. By adjusting the kinetic factors, such as deposition rate and heat treatment, different chiral 2D assemblies can be synthesized on the Au(111) surface from achiral molecules, resulting in enantiomeric entities. The results demonstrate that chirality transfer and induction in biological assemblies can be controlled by altering the kinetic factors, providing insights and practical approaches for the design of complex biomolecular superstructures.
Article
Polymer Science
Lei Wang, Jun-Zhe Zhan, Wen-Kai Zhong, Lei Zhu, Guan-Qing Zhou, Tian-Yu Hao, Ye-Cheng Zou, Zhen-Hua Wang, Gang Wei, Yong-Ming Zhang, Feng Liu
Summary: This study investigates the influence of processing solvent on the morphology and performance of organic photovoltaic devices. The results demonstrate that chloroform processing solvent can achieve optimal power conversion efficiency by forming a fibrillar network morphology that facilitates exciton dissociation, charge transport and extraction. The addition of chloronaphthalene leads to over-crystallization and lower device efficiency. Chlorobenzene and toluene suppress crystallization, resulting in decreased short-circuit current and fill factor.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Huilei Quan, Zhiming Zhong, Tianyu Hao, Kang An, Wenkai Zhong, Cheng Wang, Feng Liu, Lei Ying, Fei Huang
Summary: Sequential casting (SC) can improve the film morphology of donor:acceptor blend layers and enhance the performance of organic photodetectors (OPDs). In this study, a refined fibrillar multiphase morphology is achieved by SC in an NT812:IEICO-4F blend film, leading to improved charge generation and collection, reduced trap states, and enhanced charge block capability. As a result, the OPD exhibits high external quantum efficiency and low dark/noise current, achieving a maximum special detectivity of 5 x 10(13) Jones at 860 nm. Similar enhancements are observed in OPD devices based on other blend systems with similar fibrillar refinement, providing guidelines for film structure manipulation towards high OPD performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peiyang Gu, Xiaobo Luo, Shiyuan Zhou, Danfeng Wang, Zhongyu Li, Yu Chai, Yuzhe Zhang, Shaowei Shi, Thomas P. Russell
Summary: Stabilizing liquids through supramolecular assembly has become a topic of significant interest, especially for the development of soft, liquid-based devices. This approach allows for the manipulation of the liquid's shape beyond its equilibrium state. In this article, recent advancements in structuring liquids using non-covalent interactions are highlighted, along with discussions on the relationship between structure and properties. Potential limitations and future directions for research on structured liquids based on supramolecular assembly are also discussed.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kang An, Wenkai Zhong, Feng Peng, Wanyuan Deng, Ying Shang, Huilei Quan, Hong Qiu, Cheng Wang, Feng Liu, Hongbin Wu, Ning Li, Fei Huang, Lei Ying
Summary: By integrating a wide bandgap polymer and two non-fullerene acceptors with different thermal and morphological properties, the authors achieved high efficiency and long-term stability in organic solar cells, effectively addressing the issue of energetic traps accumulation caused by thermal stress. This research provides insight into improving efficiency and stability in organic solar cells based on non-fullerene acceptors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yutao Dong, Mehrdad Abbasi, Jun Meng, Lazarus German, Corey Carlos, Jun Li, Ziyi Zhang, Dane Morgan, Jinwoo Hwang, Xudong Wang
Summary: Amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2) film coating by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a promising strategy to extend the photoelectrode lifetime for solar fuel generation. In this work, it is revealed that residual chlorine (Cl) ligands are detrimental to the silicon (Si) photoanode lifetime. Post-ALD in-situ water treatment effectively improves the film stoichiometry and preserves the amorphous phase, leading to a substantially improved lifetime for the protected Si photoanode.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Panpan Guan, Yecheng Zou, Ming Zhang, Wenkai Zhong, Jinqiu Xu, Jianlong Lei, Han Ding, Wei Feng, Feng Liu, Yongming Zhang
Summary: In this study, the morphology evolution of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) proton exchange membranes (PEMs) was investigated using in situ synchrotron scattering. A stream-reservoir morphology was observed, which facilitates efficient proton transport. The short-side-chain (SSC) PFSA PEMs prepared under morphology optimization showed significantly improved proton conductivity and mechanical properties, making them suitable for high-temperature low-humidity fuel cell applications. These findings contribute to the understanding of the structure-property relationship of PFSAs and have important implications for the development of high-performance PEMs.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ian M. Hill, Victor Hernandez, Bohao Xu, Josiah A. Piceno, John Misiaszek, Adrian Giglio, Emily Junez, Jiajun Chen, Paul D. Ashby, Robert S. Jordan, Yue Wang
Summary: Complex 3D geometry and high conductivity have been mutually exclusive characteristics for conducting polymers. However, this study reveals that the reduced conductivity in 3D-printed forms of PEDOT:PSS can be overcome by addressing the ink formulation strategy and lateral phase separation. By optimizing these factors, a significant enhancement in conductivity to 1200 S/cm, higher than the typical 2D-processed PEDOT:PSS, has been achieved.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ziyi Zhang, Yutao Dong, Corey Carlos, Xudong Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates a strategy to modify the surface ligands on ultrathin Ni(OH)(2) nanosheets, which significantly improves their catalytic properties for alkaline ethanol oxidation reactions (EORs). Chemisorbed octadecylamine ligands can create an alcoholophilic layer on the nanosheet surface, promoting alcohol diffusion and adsorption, thereby enhancing the activity and selectivity of EORs over the oxygen evolution reaction. These non-noble-metal-based 2D electrocatalysts and surface ligand engineering showcase a promising strategy for achieving high-efficiency electrocatalysis of EORs in many practical electrochemical processes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuchen Fu, Sai Zhao, Yulong Fan, Yannis Yan Lum Ho, Yufeng Wang, Dangyuan Lei, Peiyang Gu, Thomas P. Russell, Yu Chai
Summary: Nanoparticles can undergo phase transfer from the aqueous phase to the organic phase via a single-aggregation-single pathway, challenging the conventional idea that aggregation inhibits NP transfer. Charged amphiphilic polymers effectively act as chaperons for the NP transfer and offer a unique way to manipulate the dispersion and distribution of NPs in two immiscible liquids. In addition, intentionally jamming the NP-polymer assembly at the liquid/liquid interface can inhibit the transfer process.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
Nhat Nguyen, Bryce Herrington, Kayetan Chorazewicz, Szu-Fan (Paul) Wang, Ruthi Zielinski, John Turner, Paul D. Ashby, Ufuk Kilic, Eva Schubert, Mathias Schubert, Ronald A. Parrott, Allen A. Sweet, Robert Streubel
Summary: Metal-organic decomposition epitaxy is an economical wet-chemical method for synthesizing high-quality low-spin-damping films. This study investigates the temperature dependence of ferromagnetic resonances and associated quantities of yttrium iron garnet nanofilms. The quality factor for out-of-plane and in-plane resonances is significantly higher than that offered by commercial devices based on complementary metal-oxide semiconductor voltage-controlled oscillators.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Corey Carlos, Jun Li, Ziyi Zhang, Kevin Jordan Berg, Yizhan Wang, Xudong Wang
Summary: Recent studies have found a correlation between the out-of-plane piezoelectric property and in-plane strains in nanometer-thick 2D ZnO nanosheets. Using in situ strain-correlated piezoresponse force microscopy, it was observed that the configuration of in-plane strains, whether tensile or compressive, greatly influences the measured piezoelectric coefficient. Comparisons of the out-of-plane piezoresponse under tensile and compressive strains approaching 0.50% showed a significant variation in the measured piezoelectric property. These findings highlight the importance of in-plane strain in the quantification and application of 2D piezoelectric materials.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhuomin Zhang, Xuemu Li, Zehua Peng, Xiaodong Yan, Shiyuan Liu, Ying Hong, Yao Shan, Xiaote Xu, Lihan Jin, Bingren Liu, Xinyu Zhang, Yu Chai, Shujun Zhang, Alex K. -Y. Jen, Zhengbao Yang
Summary: Piezoelectric biomaterials have gained attention for their potential applications in biological systems. However, their weak effect and challenges in domain alignment limit their practical use. Here, a new strategy using nanoconfinement and in-situ poling is presented, resulting in large-scale, high performance β-glycine nanocrystalline films with enhanced piezoelectric properties. The findings offer a general approach for constructing high-performance piezoelectric bio-organic materials for biomedical devices.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Supeng Pei, Kangwei Xu, Xiaojun Xu, Guipeng Liu, Jialu Ma, Yingge Zhang, Yecheng Zou, Feng Liu, Yongming Zhang, Yongfeng Zhou
Summary: An effective bifunctional inorganic filler, TM-CeO2, was designed to enhance the stability and proton conductivity of PFSA-based proton exchange membranes. The composite membranes exhibited excellent mechanical strength, chemical stability, and proton conductivity. The introduction of TM and CeO2 provided proton conductivity and alleviated chemical deterioration, resulting in higher power density and lower decay rate in PEMFCs.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ziyi Zhang, Maciej P. Polak, Corey Carlos, Yutao Dong, Dane Morgan, Xudong Wang
Summary: Two-dimensional ferromagnetic materials with strong room-temperature ferromagnetism have been synthesized using an ionic layer epitaxy strategy. The ferromagnetic strength of the NiOOH nanosheets can be controlled by adjusting the surfactant monolayer density and annealing process, offering a promising pathway for achieving strong ferromagnetism in two-dimensional materials for spintronic applications.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Sai Zhao, Yuchen Fu, Haowu Cao, Yu Chai
Summary: Liquid interface manipulation is a technology that regulates mass transfer and charge transportation to improve energy conversion efficiency. Methods like structured liquids and emulsions have been used in various applications such as hydrovoltaics, triboelectric nanogenerators, all-liquid batteries, and water desalination.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
