Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiding Song, Nan Wang, Mohamed M. Fadlallah, Shuxia Tao, Ya Yang, Zhong Lin Wang
Summary: Efficient conversion of mechanical energy in our surrounding environment into electric power has become a promising strategy for meeting the ever-increasing energy consumption of small and distributed electronics. The direct current output induced by nanoscale contact electrification is closely related to the concentration of oxygen vacancy defect states on the surface of ZnO nanowires. Under optimized conditions, an ultrahigh current density of similar to 10(8) A m(-2) is obtained, which is several orders of magnitude higher than conventional contact electrification.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Byung I. Kim, Ryan D. Boehm, Harrison Agrusa
Summary: This study analyzed ten downward portions in the large oscillatory force-distance curve to understand the behavior of a nanoscale water meniscus confined between a sharp probe and a flat substrate in air. The analysis revealed that each downward portion occurs due to a coil-to-bridge transition of self-assembled water chains. These findings provide new insights into the unique properties of water.
Review
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Jiawen Zhang, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: Interactions involving chemical reagents, solid particles, gas bubbles, liquid droplets, and solid surfaces in complex fluids play a crucial role in determining the macroscopic performance and efficiency of related engineering processes. Understanding these intermolecular and surface interactions is of both fundamental and practical importance, improving production technologies and providing valuable insights into the development of new materials.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Li Xu, Jingyu Wang, Aiting Zhang, Yuxia Pang, Dongjie Yang, Hongming Lou, Xueqing Qiu
Summary: Quantitative analysis of the intermolecular forces between lignin and cellulases at different temperatures revealed that increasing temperature improves adsorption capacity and total intermolecular forces. Hydrophobic forces and van der Waals forces contribute to long-range attractions, while electrostatic forces exhibit repulsive effects. Short-range forces including hydrogen bonding and 7L-7L stacking stabilize the non-specific binding of enzymes to lignin. Increasing temperature reduces hydrogen bond number and increases the relative contribution of long-range forces. The study also highlights the importance of hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and steric effects in driving adsorption capacity and glucose yields.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jungeun Song, Malkeshkumar Patel, Sara Evelyn Johannesson, Kayoung Cho, JaeHong Park, Joondong Kim, Dong-Wook Kim
Summary: Global climate change has led to an increased reliance on photovoltaic technology for urban energy needs. Transparent photovoltaic devices offer not only electric energy, but also improve thermal efficiency in buildings. This study investigates the photovoltaic characteristics of NiO/ZnO wide-bandgap oxide transparent photovoltaic heterojunctions with Ag nanowire top electrodes, focusing on the contributions of surface plasmon excitation in AgNWs. The results show that the AgNW-based top electrodes enhance wavelength-selective absorption and the effective collection of photocarriers in transparent photovoltaic devices.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Irem Demir, Ines Luechtefeld, Claude Lemen, Etienne Dague, Pascal Guiraud, Tomaso Zambelli, Cecile Formosa-Dague
Summary: Studying the interactions between bubbles and bio-surfaces is a challenge, but a new method can be used to understand and engineer bubble-(bio)surfaces interactions.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ranveer Singh, Heecheol Shin, Sanghee Nah, Ji-Yong Park, Hyungtak Seo
Summary: Researchers fabricated a ZnO/Al2O3/silver-nanowires heterostructure and studied the tunneling dynamics of hot carriers via the Al2O3 layer, as well as observed broad light absorption in the heterostructure. This study provides an effective approach for improving the hot carrier injection efficiency in wide band gap materials for use in photovoltaics and photocatalysis applications.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Damla Yesilpinar, Bertram Schulze Lammers, Alexander Timmer, Zhixin Hu, Wei Ji, Saeed Amirjalayer, Harald Fuchs, Harry Moenig
Summary: Dedicated methods in atomic force microscopy provide fundamental insights into atomic interactions by measuring threshold forces needed to move single adsorbed atoms or molecules. However, the chemical and structural properties of the probe-tip can significantly influence the results, emphasizing the importance of establishing atomically defined contacts.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Prachi Ghoderao, Sanjay Sahare, Shern-Long Lee, Prashant Sonar
Summary: Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is a powerful technique that allows for the observation and analysis of nanoscale materials and biological molecules through the use of sharp probes that scan the sample surface. This method, which includes scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), provides valuable insights into the properties and behavior of these materials at a molecular level. This review highlights the applications of SPM in biomolecule imaging and the study of physiological processes, as well as the challenges and potential solutions in biological sample preparation. It also discusses the recent advancements in STM and AFM applications on biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates, and their potential applications in fields like drug delivery and biosensors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhengyu Xu, Qingtai Li, Yaying Huang, Kaiqiang Guo, Bin Xue, Yi Cao, Yiran Li
Summary: Nonspecific interactions play a significant role in various physiological processes and require effective control in scientific and biomedical applications. This study introduces Y-shape PEG as a promising candidate for minimizing nonspecific binding, demonstrated through single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence staining imaging experiments. The results indicate that Y-shape PEG effectively blocks nonspecific interactions and offers potential applications in surface modification and adhesives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jingyi Wang, Jiawen Zhang, Sijia Li, Dengfeng Liu, Akhilesh Bhambhani, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: This article highlights the importance of characterizing the morphology and intermolecular interactions of RNA and lipid molecules using atomic force microscopy (AFM), as well as the application of AFM in this field. The first section introduces the use of AFM imaging to obtain high-resolution morphologies and nanostructures of RNA molecules in air and liquid, and discusses the application of AFM force spectroscopy to understand the nanomechanical properties and molecular interactions of RNA molecules. The second section focuses on the studies of lipid and RNA-lipid complexes using AFM, including sample preparation and factors influencing their morphology and structure. The future perspectives and challenges in the characterization of RNA and lipid using AFM techniques are also discussed.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangxiang Sun, Yumei Yu, Ahmed S. M. Saleh, Xinyu Yang, Jiale Ma, Wenhao Li, Dequan Zhang, Zhenyu Wang
Summary: This study investigated the influence of constant heating treatment on the structural and adsorption properties of chicken myofibrillar proteins (MPs). The results showed that heat treatment increased the exposure of sulfhydryl groups and improved the hydrophobicity of MPs' surface. The particle size distribution, alpha-helix and beta-sheet structures, as well as the formation of aggregates, viscosity, surface roughness, and zeta potential of MPs were significantly affected by heat treatments. Additionally, the binding interactions between MPs and flavors of spices varied depending on the nature of MPs, flavor compounds, and heat treatment duration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuyao Zhang, Xiaoying Zhu, Xin Li, Baoliang Chen
Summary: This study used atomic force microscopy force spectroscopy to quantitatively determine the molecular interactions between typical amines and the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, revealing that the interactions were influenced by pH and peaked at pH 7.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Diego Alonso Aldave, Guillermo Lopez-Polin, Consuelo Moreno, Felix Zamora, Pablo Ares, Julio Gomez-Herrero
Summary: Metallic nanowires with high conductivity, flexibility, and cold-weldability are ideal for nanocircuits. This study presents a method for forming electrical contacts with gold nanowires based on all-dry deterministic transfer, which improves fabrication and preserves sample conditions. Atomic force microscopy is used for manipulating the nanowires, resulting in low contact resistances. The technique has potential applications in studying electrical transport in heterogeneous samples and twisted layers of 2D materials.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Keivan Asadi, Junghoon Yeom, Hanna Cho
Summary: Investigating internal resonance (IR) mechanisms in micro/nanoresonators reveals that intermodal coupling between second and third flexural modes in asymmetric structures provides an optimal condition for strong IR, with high energy transfer to the resonated mode. This study introduces design strategies that can be easily integrated into typical micro/nanoelectromechanical systems, offering potential for paradigm-shifting applications in micro/nanosystems.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2021)