Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ting-Yun Wang, Chi-Lin Mo, Chun-Yi Chou, Chun-Ho Chuang, Miin-Jang Chen
Summary: In this paper, the concept and method of monolayer engineering by atomic layer deposition (ALD) were proposed and implemented to improve the crystallinity and ferroelectricity of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) thin films. By substituting one ZrO2 for one HfO2 atomic layer, a high ferroelectric remnant polarization (P-r) of 15 mu C/cm(2) was achieved in the HZO thin film with a thickness of only 4 nm at a low annealing temperature of 370 degrees C. This study demonstrates that monolayer engineering by ALD enables atomic tailoring to enhance the material and physical properties of nanoscale thin films.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Georg Schoenweger, Niklas Wolff, Md Redwanul Islam, Maike Gremmel, Adrian Petraru, Lorenz Kienle, Hermann Kohlstedt, Simon Fichtner
Summary: This study investigates the ferroelectric switching characteristics of sub-5 nm thin Al0.74Sc0.26N films grown on different substrates. Significant progress has been made compared to previous wurtzite-type ferroelectrics, including record low switching voltages of 1 V, larger coercive field to breakdown field ratio on silicon substrates, and the first demonstration of true ferroelectric domains in wurtzite-type materials on the atomic scale. These findings pave the way for achieving analog switching necessary for neuromorphic computing in highly scaled devices.
Article
Polymer Science
Sahori Imai, Masato Arakawa, Yohei Nakanishi, Mikihito Takenaka, Hiroyuki Aoki, Makoto Ouchi, Takaya Terashima
Summary: Microphase separation behavior of copolymers bearing quaternary ammonium cations and hydrophobic groups was studied. Sub-5 nm lamellar structures comprising cationic layers and hydrophobic layers were formed by annealing under humid conditions. The domain spacing could be controlled by tuning the length and composition of the hydrophobic groups. Transparent or translucent polymer materials containing small lamellar structures were obtained.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ashok Kumar Mahato, Saikat Bag, Himadri Sekhar Sasmal, Kaushik Dey, Indrajit Giri, Mercedes Linares-Moreau, Carlos Carbonell, Paolo Falcaro, E. Bhoje Gowd, Ratheesh K. Vijayaraghavan, Rahul Banerjee
Summary: Using the residual crystallization (RC) method along with interfacial crystallization (IC) as a rate-controlling tool, and two different crystallization pathways - fiber-to-film (F-F) and sphere-to-film (S-F), high surface area, crystallinity, and conductivity COF thin films have been successfully synthesized.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Austin W. Keller, Emanuele Marino, Di An, Steven J. Neuhaus, Katherine C. Elbert, Christopher B. Murray, Cherie R. Kagan
Summary: Patterning materials with nanoscale features opens up various research opportunities. This study demonstrates the use of colloidal lithography to transfer an anisotropic pattern of discrete features onto substrates with critical dimensions below 5 nm.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Michele Pirro, Xuanyi Zhao, Bernard Herrera, Pietro Simeoni, Matteo Rinaldi
Summary: This study analyzes the impact of substrate-RF application on the material properties of doped aluminum nitride and demonstrates the possibility of modifying leakage, breakdown, coercive fields, and polarization charge by adjusting the lattice cell. This provides a potential solution to alleviate the limitations of the material.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ahmad Shakil, Ahmad Amiri, Huan Tang, Andreas A. Polycarpou
Summary: The study examines the tribological properties of ultra-thin nitrogen-doped carbon overcoat protective film for magnetic disks at elevated temperatures. The NCOC films show durable performance even after exposure to annealing, with changes in both chemical and mechanical properties.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi-Chin Lai, Yu-Chieh Chiu, Kai-Wen Chuang, Balaji Ramachandran, I-Feng Wu, Ying-Chih Liao
Summary: In this study, a water transfer method was developed to fabricate thin-film patterns on 3D curvilinear surfaces. By suspending crystalline silver nanoplates in ethanol with a surfactant and spreading the suspension over the water surface, a self-assembled thin film was generated. The thin film could be effectively transferred to object surfaces with nanometer thickness and exhibited superior conductivity without thermal sintering.
Article
Physics, Applied
Hongyin Pan, Chenyu Wang, Zexu Zhang, Yingying Li, Xinke Hou, Wei Zheng, Xianghong Liu, Yong Wan, Jun Zhang
Summary: This study presents a high-performance gas sensor fabricated by plasma-etching an NiO thin film deposited by atomic layer deposition. Ar plasma treatment effectively adjusts the electronic and chemical characteristics of p-type NiO films to improve sensor response to toxic gases. A NiO film with a thickness of 40 nm exhibits the greatest gas sensing performance.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Urvashi Bothra, Pramiti Hui, Wen Liang Tan, Eliot Gann, Hariprasad Venugopal, Chandramouli Subramaniam, Amelia C. Y. Liu, Christopher R. McNeill, Dinesh Kabra
Summary: Improvement in the efficiency of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) is mainly attributed to non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). However, NFAs exhibit an anisotropic chemical structure, resulting in over-sized aggregation, which can affect the exciton dissociation and charge transport. This study investigates the composition and local molecular ordering in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) blend films of the polymer donor and NFAs by manipulating the drying kinetics of the film formation. The researchers found that the molecules are oriented differently at the edge and at the center of these domains, a feature that has not been observed previously in spin-coated films containing NFAs.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Johannes Hertel, Caroline Schwinge, Lukas Gerlich, Maik Wagner-Reetz
Summary: In this study, the thermoelectric properties of Ru2Si3 thin films were characterized, showing exceptionally high Seebeck coefficients close to room temperature in dependency of adjustable oxide nanoskins formed via rapid thermal processing.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingchao Xiao, Jie Liu, Chuan Liu, Guangchao Han, Yanjun Shi, Chunlei Li, Xi Zhang, Yuanyuan Hu, Zitong Liu, Xike Gao, Zhengxu Cai, Ji Liu, Yuanping Yi, Shuai Wang, Dong Wang, Wenping Hu, Yunqi Liu, Henning Sirringhaus, Lang Jiang
Summary: Bulk heterojunctions in organic photovoltaic devices have complex structures, but highly-ordered organic p-n junctions are desirable for studying the nature of organic heterojunctions. By using a design rationale, the authors successfully fabricated p-n heterojunctions based on monolayer molecular crystals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jingze Li, Jiaxin Ma, Liu Hong, Cheng Yang
Summary: This study successfully decorated copper nanoparticles on molybdenum disulfide nanosheets, forming CuNPs/MoS2 composite with superior antibacterial performances. The synthesized composite demonstrated almost 100% bacterial kill towards both Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus, and the bactericidal effect could last for at least 6 hours. The antibacterial properties of CuNPs/MoS2 were attributed to the synergism of photodynamic generated hydroxyl radical, oxidative stress without reactive oxygen species production and the release of Cu ions.
Article
Biophysics
Qiuxiang He, Longhua Tang
Summary: This article reviews the fabrication methods and applications of nanogap electrodes in the field of biological/chemical sensing. It outlines the challenges of nanogap electrodes in single molecule sensing/sequencing and suggests future directions for sensing perspectives.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jeonghee Park, Zhe Wu, Jiho Park, Jonguk Kim, Bongjin Kuh, Jongmyeong Lee, Seungwoo Hwang, Seungwu Han
Summary: In order to address endurance failures caused by etching damage in 3D cross-point memory, a non-patterning filling method is proposed, which involves the reflow fill of carbon-doped GST films into confined cells. This method successfully resolves endurance failures caused by voiding and allows for the preservation of the properties of GST phase-change materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Christian C. M. Sproncken, Berta Gumi-Audenis, Sanam Foroutanparsa, Jose Rodrigo Magana, Ilja K. Voets
Summary: By modulating the pH, weak polyelectrolytes can be complexed to achieve temporal control over their coassembly. In this study, oppositely charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(sodium methacrylate) were mixed in a (bi)sulfite buffer, resulting in the formation of nanoscopic complex coacervates. The addition of formaldehyde triggered the formaldehyde-sulfite clock reaction, which affected the polyelectrolyte assembly by changing their charge density and inducing chemical modifications on the polymer. Interestingly, core-shell polymeric nanoparticles were produced, which remained colloidally stable for months.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roderick P. Tas, Marco M. R. M. Hendrix, Ilja K. Voets
Summary: Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have been found to bind ice and lower freezing temperatures, making them crucial for the survival of organisms in icy environments. However, there is still debate over the mechanisms through which they function. In this study, subzero nanoscopy was used to observe the dynamics of individual AFPs binding to ice crystals. The results provided experimental evidence for the adsorption-inhibition paradigm and highlighted the importance of reversible binding to ice in the overall model of AFP activity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sean J. D. Lugger, Lorena Ceamanos, Dirk J. Mulder, Carlos Sanchez-Somolinos, Albert P. H. J. Schenning
Summary: In recent years, there have been significant advances in the additive manufacturing of stimuli-responsive materials, also known as 4D printing, with liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) playing a crucial role. However, the time-consuming nature and challenging polymerization process of photo-crosslinking in LCE fabrication is a hurdle, particularly for light-responsive materials. This research introduces the first light-fueled supramolecular LCEs suitable for direct ink writing (DIW) of soft actuators, eliminating the need for photopolymerization. These responsive supramolecular materials enable the fabrication of 3D-printed objects through the thermoreversible interplay of hydrogen-bonding physical cross-links. The printed supramolecular LCE exhibits reversible shape changes in response to light and can bend and lift a load. By incorporating azobenzene, the actuators can be triggered by both photothermal and photochemical stimuli in air and water. The DIW process allows for the printing of complex responsive objects, as exemplified by re-entrant honeycomb and spiral director structures. This approach of printing light-responsive supramolecular soft actuators paves the way for the application of smart and sustainable materials in additive manufacturing without the requirement of photo-crosslinking.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Amit S. Pawbake, Ruchita T. Khare, Joshua O. Island, Eduardo Flores, Jose R. Ares, Carlos Sanchez, Isabel J. Ferrer, Mahendra Pawar, Otakar Frank, Mahendra A. More, Herre S. J. van der Zant, Andres Castellanos-Gomez, Dattatray J. Late
Summary: The field emission properties of TiS3 nanosheets and nanoribbons synthesized from bulk titanium were investigated. The nanosheets exhibited enhanced field emission behavior with a low turn-on field and delivered a large emission current density at a relatively low applied electric field. The superior field emission performance of TiS3 nanosheets over nanoribbons makes them a propitious field emitter for vacuum nanoelectronics devices.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Regina Pamplona, Sandra Gonzalez-Lana, Pilar Romero, Ignacio Ochoa, Rafael Martin-Rapun, Carlos Sanchez-Somolinos
Summary: The mechanical microenvironment is crucial for the evolution of colorectal cancer. Gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA)-based hydrogels were prepared and characterized using two different mechanisms: freeradical photopolymerization and photo-induced thiol-ene reaction. These hydrogels demonstrated a wide range of finely tuned mechanical properties that covered a spectrum from healthy tissue to colorectal cancer stages.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jillian M. Buriak, Deji Akinwande, Natalie Artzi, C. Jeffrey Brinker, Cynthia Burrows, Warren C. W. Chan, Chunying Chen, Xiaodong Chen, Manish Chhowalla, Lifeng Chi, William Chueh, Cathleen M. Crudden, Dino Di Carlo, Sharon C. Glotzer, Mark C. Hersam, Dean Ho, Tony Y. Hu, Jiaxing Huang, Ali Javey, Prashant V. Kamat, Il-Doo Kim, Nicholas A. Kotov, T. Randall Lee, Young Hee Lee, Yan Li, Luis M. Liz-Marzan, Paul Mulvaney, Prineha Narang, Peter Nordlander, Rahmi Oklu, Wolfgang J. Parak, Andrey L. Rogach, Mathieu Salanne, Paolo Samori, Raymond E. Schaak, Kirk S. Schanze, Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Sara Skrabalak, Ajay K. Sood, Ilja K. Voets, Shu Wang, Shutao Wang, Andrew T. S. Wee, Jinhua Ye
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sanam Foroutanparsa, Mariska Bruls, C. Elizabeth P. Maljaars, Roderick P. Tas, Ilja K. Voets
Summary: The acid-induced destabilization of casein micelles leads to milk coagulation, which is important for yogurt formation. The resulting protein network is formed by the aggregation and reconfiguration of casein micelles, with the release of a portion of caseins. The organization and distribution of individual alpha s1- and beta-caseins within this complex network and their dependence on yogurt composition and processing are still unknown.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Bas W. A. Boegels, Bichlien H. Nguyen, David Ward, Levena Gascoigne, David P. Schrijver, Anna-Maria Makri Pistikou, Alex Joesaar, Shuo Yang, Ilja K. Voets, Willem J. M. Mulder, Andrew Phillips, Stephen Mann, Georg Seelig, Karin Strauss, Yuan-Jyue Chen, Tom F. A. de Greef
Summary: DNA, as a data storage medium, has the advantages of durability and high information density. This study proposes a thermoconfined polymerase chain reaction technology that enables multiplexed, repeated random access to DNA files within microcapsules. The technology utilizes biotin-functionalized oligonucleotides localized inside thermoresponsive, semipermeable microcapsules, which are permeable at low temperatures and prevent molecular crosstalk during amplification at high temperatures. The results show that this technology outperforms non-compartmentalized DNA storage, reducing amplification bias and enabling sample pooling and data retrieval by microcapsule barcoding. Therefore, the thermoresponsive microcapsule technology provides a scalable, sequence-agnostic approach for repeated random access to archival DNA files.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Robbert J. de Haas, Jannick van Ossenbruggen, Jeffrey van der Hoeven, Roel J. Timmermans, Roderick P. Tas, Ilja K. Voets, Renko de Vries
Summary: Solid interfacing biomaterials are crucial for bionanotechnology and biosensing applications. Flat solenoidal proteins are suitable scaffolds for designing solid-binding proteins, and a variant called RiSiBP-6 has been developed through mutation and shown to bind strongly to silica surfaces. The fusion of sfGFP-RiSiBP-6 allows for the functional display of a monolayer of sfGFP cargo on silica surfaces, indicating the potential of flat solenoidal proteins as scaffolds for solid-binding protein design.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lorena Montesino, Jesus I. Martinez, Carlos Sanchez-Somolinos
Summary: The use of green and far-red light to control liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) actuators shows promise for reconfigurable and biomedical applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Lorena Ceamanos, Dirk J. Mulder, Zehra Kahveci, Maria Lopez-Valdeolivas, Albert P. H. J. Schenning, Carlos Sanchez-Somolinos
Summary: This paper presents the successful development of photomechanical actuators using 4D printing technology, which demonstrate effective response and reversible contraction in a biological buffer. These actuators show potential for application in microfluidics and biomedical engineering, as they are not affected by salt and can operate under physiological conditions.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Regina Pamplona, Sandra Gonzalez-Lana, Pilar Romero, Ignacio Ochoa, Rafael Martin-Rapun, Carlos Sanchez-Somolinos
Summary: In this study, gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA)-based hydrogels were prepared and characterized via two different mechanisms. The stiffness of the crosslinked scaffolds was precisely controlled by adjusting the irradiation times, while the thiol chemistry incorporation increased stiffness. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels successfully covered a wide range from healthy tissue to colorectal cancer stages.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sandra Gonzalez-Lana, Teodora Randelovic, Jesus Ciriza, Maria Lopez-Valdeolivas, Rosa Monge, Carlos Sanchez-Somolinos, Ignacio Ochoa
Summary: The tissue microenvironment is crucial for tissue homeostasis and disease progression, but there has been a lack of adequate biomimetic models for in vitro simulation. However, microfluidic technology has allowed the recreation of these complex microenvironments using hydrogels, cells, and microfluidic devices. Despite the advancements, there are limitations such as the collapse of 3D structures when contractile cells exert forces.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Van Dang Tran, Hong-Cuong Truong, Thanh Vinh Nguyen, Philippe Leclere, Thanh-Tung Duong, Thi Hang Bui, Van Quy Nguyen
Summary: The piezoelectric properties of PVDF and KBT electrospun composite nanofibers were studied for their potential application in Piezoelectric generator (PEG) devices. The PVDF-KBT composite exhibited significantly enhanced piezoelectric responses compared to pure PVDF, showcasing its potential as a sustainable energy solution for recharging portable electronic devices.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)