Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
George Cordoyiannis, Marta Lavric, Vasileios Tzitzios, Maja Trcek, Ioannis Lelidis, George Nounesis, Samo Kralj, Jan Thoen, Zdravko Kutnjak
Summary: Recent experimental studies have focused on the nanoparticle-driven stabilization of chiral liquid-crystalline phases, showcasing the importance of understanding interactions of nanoparticles with defects and potential technological applications. The role of nanoparticle core composition, size, shape, and surface coating on stabilization effects have been demonstrated, along with comparisons to other related studies in the literature. Key mechanisms underlying the stabilization process are summarized, with prospects for future research briefly discussed.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhengwu Fang, Boyang Li, Susheng Tan, Scott Mao, Guofeng Wang
Summary: This study reveals the atomic-scale migration behavior of a typical shear-coupled mixed tilt-twist GB (MGB) in Au nanocrystals. Two distinct migration patterns were observed, mediated by GB disconnections with different crystallographic parameters. The study also found that excess GB sliding and GB plane reorientation accommodate the GB migration. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing the ductility of metallic nanocrystals through controlling GB migration.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kamil Orzechowski, Martyna Tupikowska, Olga Strzezysz, Ting-Mao Feng, Wei-Yuan Chen, Liang-Ying Wu, Chun-Ta Wang, Eva Oton, Michal M. Wojcik, Maciej Baginski, Piotr Lesiak, Wiktor Lewandowski, Tomasz R. Wolinski
Summary: It has been demonstrated that small achiral gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) decorated with liquid crystal-like ligands can enhance the chiral twist and thermal stability of blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs). The functionalization of Au NPs plays a critical role in the phase sequence of BPLCs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
P. Romero-Hasler, E. A. Soto-Bustamante, C. Parry-Mix, B. I. Ostrovskii
Summary: A series of 4-alkyloxyphenyl 4-(6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyloxy))benzoate monomers were synthesized and characterized. The study reveals the presence of both the nematic and monolayered orthogonal smectic A phase in the M6En series. It was found that monomers with a terminal chain length of five to twelve carbon atoms exhibit a wide temperature range of stable smectic A phase and a narrow intervening nematic phase at higher temperatures. The phase diagram and mesogenic properties of the M6En series are discussed in relation to the molecular structure of these monomers.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Damian Pociecha, Natasa Vaupotic, Magdalena Majewska, Ewan Cruickshank, Rebecca Walker, John M. D. Storey, Corrie T. Imrie, Cheng Wang, Ewa Gorecka
Summary: Achiral mesogenic molecules can self-assemble into liquid crystalline smectic phases with simple or double-helical structures, exhibiting photonic bandgap phenomenon when the helix pitch is comparable to the wavelength of visible light during phase transition.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaojiang Long, Weihao Wang, Wanli Zhang, Guangzhao Wang, Wenxi Zhao
Summary: In this study, shock-induced sliding behavior of (0 0 1) twist grain boundaries in Cu bicrystal was investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The sliding of grain boundaries is found to be produced by transverse particle motion in the constituent grains and is resisted by the viscosity of the grain boundaries. The magnitude of sliding is determined by the angle between the [1 0 0] direction in the grain and the shock direction.
RESULTS IN PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adam Juhasz, Gyongyi Gombar, Egon F. Varkonyi, Marek Wojnicki, Ditta Ungor, Edit Csapo
Summary: Fluorescent gold nanoclusters have been successfully used as fluorescent markers for imaging of cells and tissues, and their potential role in drug delivery monitoring is coming to the fore. In addition, the development of biosensors using structure-tunable fluorescent nanoclusters is also a prominent research field. The primary motivation of this article is to carry out a series of tests to partially fill the scientific gap in the thermodynamic characterization of the interaction between nanoclusters and relevant biomolecules/proteins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Akanksha Khare, Rahul Uttam, Sandeep Kumar, Ravindra Dhar
Summary: Composite systems are promising options for novel charge transporting materials. By doping gold nanoparticles in DLC, the conductivity is increased while maintaining the integrity of the hexagonal structure, indicating the potential applicability of the nanocomposite systems as charge transport layers in portable electronic devices.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Lixuan Liu, Kun Ye, Zhiyan Jia, Tianyu Xue, Anmin Nie, JianYong Xiang, CongPu Mu, Bochong Wang, Fusheng Wen, Kun Zhai, Zhisheng Zhao, Yongji Gong, Zhongyuan Liu, Yongjun Tian
Summary: This study demonstrates the selective functionalization of high-density grain boundaries in polycrystalline 1L WS2 films with complementary DNA receptors using gold nanoparticle linkers. The biosensor showed highly sensitive and selective detection of RNA sequences from the novel coronavirus, highlighting the immense potential of AuNP-decorated GB-rich 2DLMs in designing ultra-sensitive biosensing platforms.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Can Cui, Qiang Yu, Wei Wang, Weiwei Xu, Lijie Chen
Summary: This paper investigates the mechanical properties of different twist grain boundary structures in copper through molecular dynamics simulations, with a focus on the <111> Sigma 3 GB structure which exhibits the highest tensile strength and lowest grain boundary energy. The study also reveals that the tensile strength increases with the twist angle for <001> and <101> twist GB structures, but has limited influence on almost all <111> twist GB structures, except for Sigma 3.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Richard J. Mandle
Summary: The discovery of the twist-bend nematic phase (N-TB) has significant implications in the field of liquid crystals, providing a fresh impetus to the design and characterization of dimeric and oligomeric liquid crystalline materials. This review highlights the developments in this area, focusing on how molecular features relate to the incidence of the N-TB phase.
Article
Optics
Ali Vahedi, Mohammad Kouhi
Summary: The study used modeling and simulation to demonstrate that liquid crystal surface plasmon resonance biosensors have different responses to temperature changes, and can detect variations in biological agents through shifts in surface plasmon resonance angles. The sensitivity increasing rate in homeotropic alignment was found to be higher than in homogeneous alignment, and sensors based on 5CB and 5PCH had greater sensitivity compared to E7 and E44 liquid crystals.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Wang, Jinqiao Lu, Zilong Wang, Jie Huang, Le Wang, Qiang Chen, Yunfeng Li, Yongxing Jin, Pei Liang
Summary: The optical properties of aluminum nanoparticles were simulated and calculated using the finite-difference time-domain method. The research provided a comprehensive explanation of how the dielectric coefficients of the substrate affect the surface plasmon resonance effect. It was found that the surface plasmon resonance of the aluminum nanoparticle structure is highly sensitive to the particle size and height.
Review
Polymer Science
Yao Gao, Weiping Ding, Jiangang Lu
Summary: This review discusses the use of the templating technique to improve the issues of twist structure liquid crystals (TSLCs) and presents various photonic applications of TSLCs with polymer templates. The remaining challenges and future perspectives of templated TSLCs are also proposed.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Carolina Baruffi, Christian Brandl
Summary: High radiation damage resistance is increasingly important for functional materials in harsh environments. Diamond cubic carbon, with its high radiation damage resistance, is a unique material that can be used in radiation environments. The interaction between point defects and interfaces, such as grain boundaries, increases resistance to radiation damage. Grain boundaries act as sinks for point defects and can be used to control the segregation of point defects, thereby preventing material degradation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sasa Harkai, George Cordoyiannis, Adam L. Susser, Bryce S. Murray, Andrew J. Ferris, Brigita Rozic, Zdravko Kutnjak, Charles Rosenblatt, Samo Kralj
Summary: Topological line defects, such as disclinations, are widely observed in various physical systems, including nematic liquid crystals. Understanding their properties and stability can lead to applications in photonics, detectors, and information storage devices.
LIQUID CRYSTALS REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luka Mesarec, Ales Iglic, Samo Kralj
Summary: In this study, we numerically investigate the ordering profiles and topological defect configurations in thin nematic liquid crystalline shells controlled by local distortion of the liquid crystalline order. It is found that the geometry of the shell and the spatial variation of the local Gaussian curvature strongly influence the manipulations.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aleksander Zidansek, Arbresha Holbl, Amid Ranjkesh, George Cordoyiannis, Zdravko Kutnjak, Samo Kralj
Summary: This mini-review discusses bicomponent systems consisting of a liquid crystalline phase and a component that randomly disrupts the liquid crystal order. It explores the impact of different types of random perturbations on the orientational and translational order. The study focuses on systems where porous matrices or aerosil nanoparticles serve as sources of perturbation. The results show that the interplay between liquid crystal elastic forces, interfacial forces, and randomness determines the resulting behavior, characterized by long-range, quasi long-range, or short-range order. The dominance of random-field-like phenomena or interfacial effects is demonstrated, although they are often strongly intertwined in experimental systems.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. Skarlatos, A. Martinez-de-Guerenu, D. J. Badiola, I Lelidis
Summary: The experimental magnetic susceptibility curves of soft steel grades, such as IF and LC steels, can be explained using mean-field theory and universal scaling functions. The behavior near the coercive field can be approximated by a Lorentzian function, as confirmed by experimental data from IF and ELC steels subjected to isothermal annealing.
JOURNAL OF MAGNETISM AND MAGNETIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jus Polansek, Arbresha Holbl, Szymon Starzonek, Aleksandra Drozd-Rzoska, Sylwester J. Rzoska, Samo Kralj
Summary: This article discusses historical dependence behavior in domain-type configurations formed in continuous symmetry-breaking phase transitions. Domains can be arrested due to topological defects formed at domain walls, while random-field disorder and system stiffness affect domain arrestment. The interactions and structural excitations in the established domain-type patterns can be described using random matrices and eigenvectors. The characteristics of the eigenvectors will determine the behavior of the system, which can exhibit glass-type structure or critical-like phase behavior.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Apostolos Koutsioukis, Georgios Florakis, Nikolaos Samartzis, Spyros N. N. Yannopoulos, Michalis Stavrou, Dionysia Theodoropoulou, Nikolaos Chazapis, Stelios Couris, Argiris Kolokithas-Ntoukas, Georgios Asimakopoulos, Dimitrios P. P. Gournis, Vasileios Tzitzios, Elias Sakellis, Stylianos F. F. Tombros, Sotirios Kokkalas, Vasilios Georgakilas
Summary: This article describes a green procedure for the liquid exfoliation of natural hematite and magnetite, resulting in the formation of stable dispersions of hematene and magnetene, respectively. The ultrathin exfoliated nanoplatelets show promising efficiency in optical limiting experiments, making them highly attractive for opto-electronics and photonics applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boxiao Fu, Vasileios Tzitzios, Qiancheng Zhang, Brian Rodriguez, Michael Pissas, Maria Veronica Sofianos
Summary: In this study, manganese mono-boride nanoflakes were synthesized using a simple one-pot chemical reduction method at room temperature. The influence of specific surface area and boron content on the magnetic and electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoflakes was investigated. The sample with the highest specific surface area and boron content showed the best magnetic and electrocatalytic properties in the HER, while the sample with the lowest specific surface area and boron content exhibited the best electric conductivity and electrocatalytic properties in the OER.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arbresha Holbl, Luka Mesarec, Jus Polansek, Ales Iglix, Samo Kralj
Summary: We studied general mechanisms for stabilizing localized assemblies of topological defects. Physical fields represent fundamental entities in nature and are of interest to all branches of physics. The cores of defects are energetically costly and unfavorable, but thermotropic nematic liquid crystals provide an ideal experimental platform for studying defects and have potential applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Iosif Tantis, Smita Talande, Vasileios Tzitzios, Georgia Basina, Vishal Shrivastav, Aristides Bakandritsos, Radek Zboril
Summary: This review focuses on recent advances in electrochemical energy storage (EES) technologies related to 2D crystals originating from non-layered 3D solids (non-van der Waals; nvdW) and their influence on the materials' features. The methods and challenges in top-down and bottom-up strategies towards nvdW 2D sheets and their applications in EES are discussed. Moreover, the opportunities and challenges of nvdW 2D systems in various applications are highlighted.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Crystallography
Sasa Harkai, Charles Rosenblatt, Samo Kralj
Summary: In this study, we numerically investigate the reconfiguration process of colliding 1/2 strength disclinations in an achiral nematic liquid crystal. We find that under certain initial conditions, these disclinations undergo reconfiguration at critical angles, leading to the formation of new defect structures.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Niki Karouta, Yannis V. Simos, Georgia Basina, Konstantinos Spyrou, Mohammed Subrati, Alexandra V. Chatzikonstantinou, Mohamed Amen Hammami, Vasileios Tzitzios, Saeed M. Alhassan, Yasser Al Wahedi, Alexios P. Douvalis, George C. Hadjipanayis, Konstantinos Tsamis, Evangelia Dounousi, Georgios S. Markopoulos, Sofia Bellou, Vasilios Georgakilas, Dimitrios Peschos, Zili Sideratou, Haralambos Stamatis, Dimitrios P. Gournis, Emmanuel P. Giannelis
Summary: This study presents a new strategy for designing highly hydrophilic and functional nanoparticles through a haircut reaction. The as-synthesized SPIONs, modified by oleylamine molecules, exhibit high hydrophilicity, dispersibility in water, and functionality. These functional nanoparticles show selective cytotoxic effects against cancer cells and have the potential to be developed into a new generation of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. Kyrou, M. Ambrozic, D. Tsiourvas, S. Kralj, S. B. Atata, I. Lelidis
Summary: The impact of surface functionalized hydrophobic core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the phase behavior and order of 4-cyano-4'-octylbiphenyl (8CB) liquid crystal compound was experimentally investigated. Polarized optical microscopy, polarized micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to probe the orientational order of the nanocomposite system. The non-monotonic variation of thermodynamic quantities was observed due to the dispersion quality of the dopant, partial-aggregation phenomena, and/or nanoparticle organization.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dejvid Cresnar, Nikita Derets, Maja Trcek, Gregor Skacej, Andraz Resetic, Marta Lavric, Valentina Domenici, Bostjan Zalar, Samo Kralj, Zdravko Kutnjak, Brigita Rozic
Summary: With the increasing environmental awareness, the focus of scientific studies has shifted towards finding more environmentally friendly heat-management techniques. Recently, the caloric properties of soft materials, such as liquid crystals and liquid crystal elastomers, have attracted attention due to their large caloric effects. Measurements have shown that these soft materials can exhibit significant caloric effects at much lower fields compared to solid caloric materials, making them promising candidates for new heat-management devices.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stefanos Basim Atata, Ioannis Lelidis
Summary: The influence of functionalized core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on the properties of liquid crystal compound 4-cyano-4'-octylbiphenyl (8CB) is explored through electrooptical measurements. The size effects of quantum dots with two different diameters are investigated. The dispersion quality of the nanoparticles within the mixtures and the phase stability of the resulting anisotropic soft nanocomposites are evaluated. Deviations from linear behavior in the phase stability lines are observed in the temperature-mass fraction phase diagrams. The birefringence, threshold voltage of the Freedericksz transition, and electrooptic switching times of the nanocomposite systems are measured as functions of temperature, mass fraction, and diameter of the quantum dots.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ioannis Lelidis, Giovanni Barbero
Summary: This article investigates the phenomenon of adsorption on surfaces, both with and without the presence of an external electric field. It presents a simple interpretation of the adsorption coefficient and desorption time in Langmuir's isotherm model. A new model for electrosorption is proposed, which explicitly considers the applied external voltage and the reaction field resulting from the adsorbed charges. The validity of the model is assessed by analyzing experimental data from various research groups.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
