Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing Ai, Xueliang Zhang, Te Bai, Qing Shen, Peter Oleynikov, Yingying Duan, Osamu Terasaki, Shunai Che, Lu Han
Summary: This study presents a general approach based on three-dimensional electron diffraction tomography for determining chiral hierarchical mesostructures, providing more precise and comprehensive identification.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yuri Hong, Khoi Phuong Dao, Taehyun Kim, Sumin Lee, Yongdae Shin, YongKeun Park, Dong Soo Hwang
Summary: The study introduces a direct imaging-based method using real-time 3D quantitative phase imaging to quantify coacervate, which retrieves protein concentration and volume by measuring the refractive index tomograms of individual coacervates. Compared to conventional fluorescence techniques, the method shows more accurate detections of protein concentrations in droplets. Its simplicity, directness, real-time capability, and quantitative analysis make it potentially versatile in protein analyses and quantifications for coacervation studies in vitro and in vivo.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Optics
Patrick Ledwig, Francisco E. Robles
Summary: This study demonstrates a 3D refractive index tomography with a large field of view in opaque, arbitrarily thick scattering samples, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods. The approach is theoretically analyzed, simulated, and experimentally validated, showing significant potential for biomedical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jong Woo Choi, Jeong Tae Kim, Sung Hwan Hong, Hae Jin Park, Elyorjon Jumaev, Ki Buem Kim
Summary: This study investigates the effects of Zr contents on the microstructure, phase, mechanical properties, and deformation behavior of CoCuFeNi medium entropy alloy (MEA). The addition of Zr increases the mechanical properties and work-hardening rate of the alloy, and changes the slope of the stress-strain curve through a phase transformation mechanism.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chenyang Lan, Juhyeong Kim, Svenja Ulferts, Fernando Aprile-Garcia, Sophie Weyrauch, Abhinaya Anandamurugan, Robert Grosse, Ritwick Sawarkar, Aleks Reinhardt, Thorsten Hugel
Summary: This study quantifies the formation of NELF protein clusters in stressed cells and finds a broad distribution of pre-condensate cluster sizes. The formation of NELF protein clusters can be explained as non-classical nucleation with a surprisingly flat free-energy landscape.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dominika Gorniewicz, Hubert Przygucki, Mateusz Kopec, Krzysztof Karczewski, Stanislaw Jozwiak
Summary: High-entropy alloys (HEA) are a group of modern materials that have been intensively developed due to their superior properties and potential applications. The molecular orbitals theory is proposed for predicting phase formation during material processing, and the designed TiCoCrFeMn alloy successfully exhibited the assumed phase structure.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yunlong Xue, Haohua Sun, Na Feng, Chenglin Kang, Liang Yuan, Bin Gan
Summary: This study investigates the effects of pre-existing twins on the mechanical properties of Laves phase alloys by introducing twins into the alloy. The results show that the pre-existing twins not only promote twin growth but also react with dislocations, leading to a decrease in the mechanical properties of the alloy.
MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Fabian Garmroudi, Michael Parzer, Alexander Riss, Nikolas Reumann, Bernhard Hinterleitner, Kazuki Tobita, Yukari Katsura, Kaoru Kimura, Takao Mori, Ernst Bauer
Summary: Heusler compounds with Fe2V1-xTaxAl1-ySiy composition have shown high thermoelectric power factors due to band convergence and band gap opening by V/Ta substitution. Investigation on solubility limits of Ta and Si within the L21 phase revealed significant hindrance by Al/Si substitution. Different annealing conditions affect microstructure and thermoelectric properties, with additional annealing leading to phase segregation and impurity precipitate growth, impacting Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoyu Yao, Fang Liu, Shulin Yang, Dongyan Liu, Dan Jia, Wenru Sun
Summary: The addition of cobalt promotes intergranular Laves precipitation and refines grains in 718 family alloys. It also increases the volume fraction of gamma ' and decreases the volume fraction of gamma '' precipitation. Cobalt influences the precipitation of gamma '-Ni3Al and gamma ''-Ni3Nb by affecting the solubility of Al and Nb in the Upsilon matrix and the composition of Nb-rich and Al-poor Laves phase precipitates.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yunlong Zhang, Ruolin Li, Mengqi Cong, Yi Chen, Liang Cheng, Bin Zhu, Lishuai Xie
Summary: The effect of hypo-stoichiometry on hydrogenation properties of Laves phase dominated multiphase alloys was investigated in this study. The annealing treatment increased the content of Laves phase and Zr3V3O, while decreasing that of V-BCC and alpha-Zr, as well as expanding the lattice for each phase. The alloys showed easy activation and fast hydrogenation kinetics. The hydrogen absorption capacity and formation enthalpy increased while equilibrium pressure decreased with the decrease in hypo-stoichiometry.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junwei Wang, Jan Schwenger, Andreas Stroebel, Patrick Feldner, Patrick Herre, Stefan Romeis, Wolfgang Peukert, Benoit Merle, Nicolas Vogel
Summary: Colloidal supraparticles are finite, spherical assemblies of many primary particles. Their mechanical properties are found to be size-dependent, with deformation resistance inversely scaling with primary particle diameter. Engineering supraparticles to dissipate more energy via deformation of primary particles can enhance stability.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Francesco Pace, Noemi Frusciante
Summary: In this study, the phase-space analysis of Quintessence models with two potentials is presented. The models show new scaling solutions and attractor solutions, which are of interest for addressing the coincidence problem and cosmic acceleration.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Huansheng He, Jingwen Zhang, Liming Yu, Qiuzhi Gao, Chenxi Liu, Zongqing Ma, Huijun Li, Yongchang Liu, Hui Wang
Summary: This study systematically investigated the microstructure evolution and creep deformation behavior of G115 steels with Cu-rich phases at elevated temperatures. The results showed that the Cu-rich phases played a vital role in retarding microstructural degeneration and improving creep strength, which is of great significance for the application and improvement of steel materials.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhuocheng Xie, Dimitri Chauraud, Achraf Atila, Erik Bitzek, Sandra Korte-Kerzel, Julien Guenole
Summary: Synchro-Shockley dislocations, as zonal dislocation, play a crucial role in the plasticity of Laves phases at high temperatures. The motion of these dislocations involves localized transition events, and their activation volumes contribute to the temperature and strain rate sensitivity of the Peierls stress. However, the thermally activated behavior of synchro-Shockley dislocation motion is not well understood. This study investigates the transition mechanisms of these dislocations at different shear and normal strain levels, and reveals that the motion of synchro-Shockley dislocations is sensitive to shear, but requires thermal assistance for shear-insensitive events, indicating their inhibition at low temperatures.
SCRIPTA MATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonathan Schwartz, Chris Harris, Jacob Pietryga, Huihuo Zheng, Prashant Kumar, Anastasiia Visheratina, Nicholas A. Kotov, Brianna Major, Patrick Avery, Peter Ercius, Utkarsh Ayachit, Berk Geveci, David A. Muller, Alessandro Genova, Yi Jiang, Marcus Hanwell, Robert Hovden
Summary: The authors demonstrate real-time tomography with dynamic 3D tomographic visualization integrated in tomviz, enabling rapid interpretation of specimen structure and obtaining high-quality tomograms in a short period of time.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yogesh Shelke, Susana Marin -Aguilar, Fabrizio Camerin, Marjolein Dijkstra, Daniela J. Kraft
Summary: Colloidal molecules with anisotropic shapes and interactions have been utilized as model systems to understand the behavior of real molecules and develop materials with desired properties. By using electrostatic self-assembly, we have demonstrated that the shape of cubic particles plays a crucial role in achieving high yields of distinct colloidal molecules across a wide range of size ratios. Our protocol is not affected by the specific choice of colloidal particle material and can be extended to other templating particle shapes, significantly expanding the library of colloidal molecules that can be obtained with high yield and purity.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
W. Q. Boon, M. Dijkstra, R. van Roij
Summary: Chemical reactions responsible for charging of solids in water are investigated theoretically, and it is found that the equilibration of surface charge contains important information on reaction mechanisms and ion valency. A nonlinear differential equation is constructed to describe surface charging by combining Langmuir kinetics and Poisson-Boltzmann theory. The relaxation rates at late-time and short-time reveal information on charge valency and ad- or desorption mechanism, and an inflection point during equilibration distinguishes single-ion reactions from two-ion reactions, suggesting a Coulombic ion-surface interaction as an autocatalytic feedback mechanism.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nuno A. M. Araujo, Liesbeth M. C. Janssen, Thomas Barois, Guido Boffetta, Itai Cohen, Alessandro Corbetta, Olivier Dauchot, Marjolein Dijkstra, William M. Durham, Audrey Dussutour, Simon Garnier, Hanneke Gelderblom, Ramin Golestanian, Lucio Isa, Gijsje H. Koenderink, Hartmut Loewen, Ralf Metzler, Marco Polin, C. Patrick Royall, Andela Saric, Anupam Sengupta, Cecile Sykes, Vito Trianni, Idan Tuval, Nicolas Vogel, Julia M. Yeomans, Iker Zuriguel, Alvaro Marin, Giorgio Volpe
Summary: Self-organisation is the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal structures and patterns from the interaction of smaller individual units. Confinement can mediate and control self-organisation by limiting the translational and rotational degrees of freedom, acting as a catalyst or inhibitor. By constraining the self-organisation process in soft-matter systems, confinement can actively steer the emergence or suppression of collective phenomena in space and time.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jesus Mosquera, Da Wang, Sara Bals, Luis M. Liz-Marzan
Summary: Gold nanorods (Au NRs) are highly promising tools in nanotechnology due to their strong interaction with electromagnetic radiation, tunable resonance frequency, and easy preparation. Surfactants play a critical role in controlling the size, shape, and stability of Au NRs, but the interaction between Au NRs and surfactants is not well understood. This article reviews the current knowledge on these interactions and explores methods for synthesizing and modifying Au NRs.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yunhan Zhang, Giuliana Giunta, Haojun Liang, Marjolein Dijkstra
Summary: Leveraging the anisotropic shape of DNA-functionalized nanoparticles allows for shape-directed crystallization of various superlattice structures. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we observe the self-assembly of different phases (SC, pBCT, and d-pBCT) in a binary mixture of cubic gold nanoparticles functionalized with complementary DNA strands. We investigate the impact of DNA strand length, grafting density, and rigidity on the self-assembly behavior and find that longer and flexible DNA strands can induce a phase transformation from SC to pBCT due to increased entropy.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matteo Monai, Kellie Jenkinson, Angela E. M. Melcherts, Jaap N. Louwen, Ece A. Irmak, Sandra Van Aert, Thomas Altantzis, Charlotte Vogt, Ward van der Stam, Tomas Duchon, Bretislav Smid, Esther Groeneveld, Peter Berben, Sara Bals, Bert M. Weckhuysen
Summary: Reducible supports can affect the performance of metal catalysts through the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI), where suboxide overlayers are formed upon reduction. Thin TiOx overlayers on nickel/titanium dioxide catalysts were completely removed during carbon dioxide hydrogenation at 400 degrees C, while partial reexposure of nickel occurred after 600 degrees C reduction, forming interfacial sites in contact with TiOx and promoting carbon-carbon coupling. This challenges the conventional understanding of SMSIs and calls for detailed operando investigations of nanocatalysts at the single-particle level to revisit static models of structure-activity relationships.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huai Chen, Yangyang Xiong, Jun Li, Jehad Abed, Da Wang, Adrian Pedrazo-Tardajos, Yueping Cao, Yiting Zhang, Ying Wang, Mohsen Shakouri, Qunfeng Xiao, Yongfeng Hu, Sara Bals, Edward H. H. Sargent, Cheng-Yong Su, Zhenyu Yang
Summary: This study reports an epitaxial growth method to construct Co single atoms on Si for light-driven CO2 reduction to syngas. By improving the dispersion of active sites and the efficient harvest of photons, the cobalt-on-silicon single-atom catalysts achieved a 10% external quantum efficiency for CO2-to-syngas conversion, with tunable H2/CO ratio between 0.8 and 2. This photocatalyst also achieved a turnover number of 2 x 10(4) for visible-light-driven CO2 reduction over 6 hours, which is over ten times higher than previously reported single-atom photocatalysts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Simone Ciarella, Massimiliano Chiappini, Emanuele Boattini, Marjolein Dijkstra, Liesbeth M. C. Janssen
Summary: We present a machine-learning approach to predict the non-Markovian dynamics of supercooled liquids using static averaged quantities as input and output. Our method outperforms particle propensity-based techniques and is more applicable in experimental contexts where particle resolved information is not available. Our deep neural network can accurately predict the self intermediate scattering function of binary mixtures based on their static structure factor, and the model shows some transferability to lower temperatures or similar systems. Furthermore, we develop an evolutionary strategy that parameterizes the memory function of supercooled liquids as the sum of two stretched exponentials, corresponding to two dominant relaxation modes.
MACHINE LEARNING-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yogesh Shelke, Fabrizio Camerin, Susana Marin-Aguilar, Ruben W. Verweij, Marjolein Dijkstra, Daniela J. Kraft
Summary: In this study, flexible colloidal molecules with an in situ controllable motion range and bond directionality were created by assembling spherical particles onto cubes functionalized with complementary surface-mobile DNA. The size ratio of the sphere-to-cube varied to obtain colloidal molecules with different coordination numbers, and it was found that they exhibited a constrained range of motion above a critical size ratio. The confinement of the spheres on the surface of the cube and the probability to change facet were quantified, and temperature was identified as an extra control parameter to switch between full and constrained flexibility.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aarya Prabhakaran, Zhiya Dang, Rohan Dhall, Fabrizio Camerin, Susana Marin-Aguilar, Balaji Dhanabalan, Andrea Castelli, Rosaria Brescia, Liberato Manna, Marjolein Dijkstra, Milena P. P. Arciniegas
Summary: Manipulating nano-objects through heating is an effective approach to modify the structure and optoelectronic properties of semiconducting materials. In this study, temperature-sensitive CsPbBr(3) perovskite nanoplatelets were synthesized and their structural evolution was observed at the nanoscale using in situ heating transmission electron microscopy. The morphological changes, starting from self-assembly into ribbons and ultimately forming randomly dispersed nanosheets on a substrate, were identified and supported by molecular dynamics simulations. The merging paths of the nanoplates within the ribbons were found to be influenced by the random orientation of the initial ribbons and the mobility of ligands, enabling the creation of structures with tunable emission ranging from blue to green.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Grayson Johnson, Moon Young Yang, Chang Liu, Hua Zhou, Xiaobing Zuo, Diane A. Dickie, Sihan Wang, Wenpei Gao, Bukuru Anaclet, Frederic A. Perras, Fuyan Ma, Chenjie Zeng, Da Wang, Sara Bals, Sheng Dai, Zhen Xu, Guoliang Liu, William A. Goddard III, Sen Zhang
Summary: A scalable and generalized approach to synthesizing superstructures assembled from atomically precise nanoclusters has been reported, with a detailed description of the self-assembly mechanism. The chemical tuning of surface ligands controls superstructure disassembly and reassembly, enabling the synthesis of multicomponent superstructures. This research is promising for the preparation of superstructures for use in electronics, plasmonics, magnetics, and catalysis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giuliana Giunta, Gerardo Campos-Villalobos, Marjolein Dijkstra
Summary: Colloidal nanoparticles can self-assemble into superstructures with distinctive properties. This study proposes a machine-learning approach to construct effective coarse-grained many-body interaction potentials for investigating the self-assembly behavior of complex colloidal systems. The key advantage of this method is its generality.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tor Sewring, Marjolein Dijkstra
Summary: Using Onsager-Straley's theory, this study investigates the cholesteric pitch of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions. The research reveals that the twisting of chiral bundles significantly affects the helical twisting of the cholesteric phase. Moreover, the average particle length and length polydispersity have a substantial impact on strongly twisted bundles but minimal effects on weakly twisted ones.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mark J. J. Mangnus, Vincent R. M. Benning, Bettina Baumgartner, P. Tim Prins, Thomas P. van Swieten, Ayla J. H. Dekker, Alfons van Blaaderen, Bert M. Weckhuysen, Andries Meijerink, Freddy T. Rabouw
Summary: This study investigates the influence of solvent and gas environments on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of lanthanide-doped nanocrystals, and explains the changes in PL spectrum and excited-state lifetimes using energy transfer mediated by molecular vibrations. EVET-mediated quenching holds promise for probing the local chemical environment of nanocrystals dispersed in a liquid or exposed to gaseous molecules.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mark J. J. Mangnus, Vincent R. M. Benning, Bettina Baumgartner, P. Tim Prins, Thomas P. van Swieten, Ayla J. H. Dekker, Alfons van Blaaderen, Bert M. Weckhuysen, Andries Meijerink, Freddy T. Rabouw
Summary: The photoluminescence of lanthanide-doped nanocrystals can be quenched by energy transfer to nearby molecular vibrations, which is often undesired but can provide information about molecular vibrations in the local environment. This study investigates the influence of solvent and gas environments on the photoluminescence properties of NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+ upconversion nanocrystals and relates the changes to quenching by electronic-to-vibrational energy transfer. The results suggest that EVET-mediated quenching can be used as a mechanism to probe the local chemical environment in liquid and gas-phase systems.