Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stephanie L. Moffitt, Chuntian Cao, Maikel F. A. M. Van Hest, Laura T. Schelhas, Hans-Georg Steinrueck, Michael F. Toney
Summary: In this study, the existence of vertically heterogeneous thermally induced structural relaxation in amorphous In-Zn-O (a-IZO) thin films was observed using in situ X-ray reflectivity, which has not been previously observed. Thermal annealing was found to influence the electrical performance of the films. These findings are important for the development of a-IZO-based devices.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Thomas B. Sobyra, Tyler S. Mathis, Yury Gogotsi, Paul Fenter
Summary: MXenes, a family of two-dimensional materials, are attractive for energy storage and other technologies due to their high-rate charging capabilities. In situ and operando X-ray reflectivity were used to characterize the ion intercalation process and structural changes in MXene films. Negative potential sweeps resulted in contraction of interlayer spacing and loss of electron density, likely due to Li+ ion insertion and water removal, with a continuous and discrete changes associated with capacitive charge and pseudocapacitive charging process, respectively.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonas E. Warias, Franziska Reise, Svenja C. Hoevelmann, Rajendra P. Giri, Michael Roehrl, Jule Kuhn, Malte Jacobsen, Kuntal Chatterjee, Thomas Arnold, Chen Shen, Sven Festersen, Andrea Sartori, Philipp Jordt, Olaf M. Magnussen, Thisbe K. Lindhorst, Bridget M. Murphy
Summary: Following the reaction of biological membranes to external stimuli provides important insights into cellular function. In this study, model membranes composed of self-assembled lipid monolayers containing photoswitchable azobenzene glycolipids were used to investigate the structural response during isomerization. The results demonstrate that azobenzene glycolipids can act as a bidirectional switch in DPPC monolayers, causing reproducible changes in surface pressure and layer thickness, indicating monolayer reorientation and providing a tool to explore membrane structure-function relationships in depth.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cindy Y. Zheng, Yudong Yao, Junjing Deng, Soenke Seifert, Alexa M. Wong, Byeongdu Lee, Chad A. Mirkin
Summary: This study investigates the assembly of DNA-functionalized nanocubes in microscale square trenches on a DNA-functionalized substrate. The superlattices formed by the nanocubes are characterized using microfocus small-angle X-ray scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the nanocubes form cubic superlattices with square-prism morphology and an out-of-plane orientation to maximize DNA bonding. The study also uses X-ray ptychography to observe the internal structures of the superlattices and reveals that there may be subsurface grain boundaries in the SEM images. The study provides insights into the effect of lateral confinement on nanoparticle crystallization and demonstrates the use of X-ray ptychography in studying nanoparticle crystallization.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Livia Alexandra Dinu, Cosmin Romanitan, Martino Aldrigo, Catalin Parvulescu, Florin Nastase, Silviu Vulpe, Raluca Gavrila, Pericle Varasteanu, Andreea Bianca Serban, Rihem Noumi, Olga M. Ishchenko
Summary: This paper introduces the area-selective wet etching (ASWE) method as a new approach to selectively pattern a 6.8 nm-thick zirconium-doped hafnium oxide (HZO) thin film and improve the performance of a metal ferroelectric metal (MFM)-like structure. The importance of selectively covering areas with HZO instead of full-coverage wafers is emphasized for the microwave performance of low-voltage tunable high-frequency components. Various non-destructive investigation tools are used to study the impact of the ASWE method on morpho-structural properties.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shruti Gupta, Mangalika Sinha, R. Dhawan, R. Jangir, A. Bose, P. Gupta, M. K. Swami, Mohammed H. Modi
Summary: In this study, a 20 nm thick Ru film sputtered on a Si substrate was annealed at different temperatures in an oxygen environment. The characterization using X-ray reflectivity and X-ray diffraction techniques revealed that Ru oxidation did not occur below 400 degrees C. At 400 degrees C, oxidation of the Ru film started, and at 500 degrees C, both Ru and RuO2 phases co-existed. At a higher temperature of 600 degrees C, the Ru film completely oxidized into the RuO2 phase and an intermixed layer of Ru and Si was observed at the film-substrate interface.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sung Soo Ha, Bonjae Koo, In Hwa Cho, Jaemyung Kim, Jin-Woo Kim, Woo Chul Jung, Do Young Noh
Summary: SrTi0.5Fe0.5 O3-delta (STF) is a promising cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells due to its excellent ionic and electronic conductivity. The strain-state in epitaxial STF thin films on LaAlO3 (001) was investigated, revealing two groups of compressively strained domains mixed horizontally in the film plane. The lattice strain gradually relaxed with increasing film thickness, and it is conjectured that segregated Sr diffused to the surface to form SrO(x) islands.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF SOLIDS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Mohammed H. Modi, Rajkumar Gupta, Praveen K. Yadav, Shruti Gupta, C. Mukherjee, Mourad Idir
Summary: In this study, the soft x-ray optical properties of off-stoichiometric boron carbide thin films were investigated using angle dependent x-ray reflectivity and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The optical constants in the boron K edge region were determined using energy dependent soft x-ray reflectivity, and the fine features corresponding to sigma* and pi* resonances were observed. The results show that the electronic transitions corresponding to sigma* resonance significantly increase the delta value, while the pi* transitions are related to the off-stoichiometric nature of the boron carbide.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alfred Larsson, Giulio D'Acunto, Mariya Vorobyova, Giuseppe Abbondanza, Ulrich Lienert, Zoltan Hegedus, Alexei Preobrajenski, Lindsay R. Merte, Josefin Eidhagen, Anna Delblanc, Jinshan Pan, Edvin Lundgren
Summary: The surface chemistry and thickness distribution of three Ni superalloys were investigated using synchrotron X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and X-ray Reflectivity. The results showed variations in the composition and thickness of the oxide, hydroxide, and sub-surface layer, which were correlated with the thermodynamic properties of the metal elements in the alloys.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shiben Hu, Kuankuan Lu, Honglong Ning, Rihui Yao, Yanfen Gong, Zhangxu Pan, Chan Guo, Jiantai Wang, Chao Pang, Zheng Gong, Junbiao Peng
Summary: A systematic study was conducted on the physical properties of amorphous Indium-Gallium-Zinc Oxide (a-IGZO) films prepared under various deposition conditions, revealing the significant impact of process parameters on film densities and defect states, ultimately affecting the performance of thin-film transistors (TFT) devices. By optimizing the deposition conditions of the IGZO film, high-performance TFT with specific characteristics was demonstrated.
Article
Physics, Applied
G. Maity, R. P. Yadav, R. Singhal, I. Sulania, A. K. Mittal, Dhirendra. K. Chaudhary, D. Kanjilal, Shiv. P. Patel
Summary: The study investigates the effects of film thickness on scaling law and surface properties of SnTe thin films. It is found that crystallinity of the films increases with thickness, and the thicker sample has a rougher surface. Fractal analysis reveals irregularity of surfaces, with parameters indicating quasi-3D island/mound growth type with rapid roughening behavior and anomalous scaling. The results suggest that thicker, higher crystalline films may be more suitable for advanced mid-infrared detector applications.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Susanne Dogan-Surmeier, Florian Gruber, Steffen Bieder, Patrick Schlenz, Michael Paulus, Christian Albers, Eric Schneider, Nicola Thiering, Christian Maurer, Metin Tolan, Philipp Wollmann, Steffen Cornelius, Christian Sternemann
Summary: Large area manufacturing processes of thin films require precise control of various properties. Hyperspectral imaging is demonstrated as a novel and cost-efficient tool for real-time quality control. The application of this technology on a multilayer system shows its capability for large-scale industrial applications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Optics
T. J. Davis, L. Ospina-rozo, D. Stuart-Fox, A. Roberts
Summary: This paper discusses the application of a coupled mode theory based on Takagi-Taupin equations to describe electromagnetic scattering from distorted periodic arrays, particularly in the context of light scattering. By extending the method to include perturbations in the permittivity tensor, the approach can analyze various shapes of arrays and materials, and achieve good agreement with reflectance measurements by extracting structural information from microscopy data.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Berit H. H. Goodge, Benjamin Geisler, Kyuho Lee, Motoki Osada, Bai Yang Wang, Danfeng Li, Harold Y. Y. Hwang, Rossitza Pentcheva, Lena F. F. Kourkoutis
Summary: Nickel-based superconductors provide an experimental platform for exploring cuprate-like superconductivity. However, superconductivity in nickelates has only been observed in thin films, which raises questions about the polar interface between substrate and film. In this study, the authors investigate the interface between Nd1-xSrxNiO2 and SrTiO3 using advanced characterization techniques and theoretical calculations, revealing the formation of a single intermediate Nd(Ti,Ni)O-3 layer and its role in reducing interface charge density. Understanding the complex interface structure is important for the future synthesis of nickelate films on other substrates and in vertical heterostructures.
Article
Optics
T. J. Davis, L. Ospina-Rozo, D. Stuart-Fox, A. Roberts
Summary: In this study, a coupled mode theory based on Takagi-Taupin equations is applied to the analysis of light scattering from beetles. The method is extended to include perturbations in the permittivity tensor, allowing for the study of helicoidal arrays in scarab beetles and optically anisotropic layered materials. By extracting structural information from transmission electron microscopy data, including characteristic disorder parameters, the authors achieve good agreement with spectral specular and non-specular reflectance measurements.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nikita Denisov, Shanshan Qin, Johannes Will, Bojana Nedic Vasiljevic, Natalia V. Skorodumova, Igor A. Pasti, Bidyut Bikash Sarma, Benedict Osuagwu, Tadahiro Yokosawa, Johannes Voss, Janis Wirth, Erdmann Spiecker, Patrik Schmuki
Summary: This paper describes the photoinduced destabilization of Pt single atoms (SAs) on the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a benchmark photocatalyst. The SAs agglomerate into clusters and nanoparticles under illumination in aqueous solutions. The kinetics of this process depend on the presence of sacrificial hole scavengers and the intensity of light used. Despite the aggregation and reduction of the SAs, the overall photocatalytic hydrogen evolution remains largely unaffected.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Si-Ming Wu, Imgon Hwang, Benedict Osuagwu, Johannes Will, Zhenni Wu, Bidyut Bikash Sarma, Fu-Fei Pu, Li-Ying Wang, Zdenek Badura, Giorgio Zoppellaro, Erdmann Spiecker, Patrik Schmuki
Summary: Anchoring single platinum atoms on titanium dioxide nanosheets with lattice incorporated fluorine species can achieve uniform dispersion and high efficiency in photocatalytic hydrogen production. The fluorine-stabilized platinum atoms exhibit remarkable photocatalytic activity, with a high production rate and excellent stability in long-term reactions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aashutosh Mistry, Venkat Srinivasan, Hans-Georg Steinrueck
Summary: Current flowing through the electrolyte involves the motion of ions and solvent, concentration profiles, and the electric field. Traditionally, understanding electrolyte transport relied on macroscopic voltage measurements, but recent advances in imaging and spectroscopic techniques allow direct probing of velocity and concentration profiles. This detailed information opens up exciting opportunities, from verifying theories about transport in Li-ion electrolytes to new approaches for measuring and quantifying transport in complex electrolytes. This paper discusses these emerging directions.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shanshan Qin, Johannes Will, Hyesung Kim, Nikita Denisov, Simon Carl, Erdmann Spiecker, Patrik Schmuki
Summary: We disperse Pt single atoms on TiO2 thin films and evaluate the photocatalytic H-2 generation. We find that a minuscule loading of Pt single atoms is sufficient to achieve maximized H-2 production rate under common illumination intensities. The overall reaction rate is determined by charge carrier generation, rather than the density of co-catalytic sites.
ACS ENERGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Maciej Jankowski, Valentina Belova, Yuriy Chushkin, Federico Zontone, Matteo Levantino, Theyencheri Narayanan, Oleg Konovalov, Annalisa Pastore
Summary: The Complex System and Biomedical Sciences (CBS) group at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble specializes in studying various materials and systems, including soft and hard condensed matter, nanomaterials, and biological materials. They use scattering techniques such as X-ray diffraction and reflectivity to explore the structure and dynamics of different systems. With the recent upgrade of the ESRF storage ring, the facility has become the world's first high-energy synchrotron of the 4th generation, offering new experimental opportunities for nanoscale research. This contribution discusses the impact of the upgrade on selected beamlines in the CBS group and presents recent scientific activities after the facility reopening.
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B-BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valentina Belova, Maciej Jankowski, Mehdi Saedi, Irene M. N. Groot, Gilles Renaud, Oleg V. Konovalov
Summary: This study demonstrates the possibility of using X-ray reflectivity to visualize the surface with a heterogeneous electron density due to a partial coverage by another nanometrically thin material with μm spatial resolution. The sample needs to be convexly bent to reflect the collimated incident beam onto a magnified image recorded by a position-sensitive detector. By utilizing small, intense, and parallel beams, spatially resolved X-ray reflectivity can be recorded with a frame rate of 0.1-1 kHz. The application of this method for in situ characterization of single-layer graphene domains during their chemical vapor deposition on a naturally curved surface of a liquid copper drop is also demonstrated.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hsiao-Ping Hsu, Manjesh K. Singh, Yu Cang, Heloise Therien-Aubin, Markus Mezger, Ruediger Berger, Ingo Lieberwirth, George Fytas, Kurt Kremer
Summary: A new method for creating nanoporous polymer membranes with well defined pore diameters is introduced, which involves mechanical deformation and quenching of highly entangled polymer films. The approach is validated using polystyrene films and does not require chemical processing, supporting substrate, or self-assembly. The resulting membranes exhibit stable properties and impressive elasticity, with pore diameters on the order of ten polymer reptation tube diameters.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vladimir M. Kaganer, Oleg Konovalov, Gabriele Calabrese, David van Treeck, Albert Kwasniewski, Carsten Richter, Sergio Fernandez-Garrido, Oliver Brandt
Summary: GaN nanowires grown on Ti films sputtered on Al2O3 were studied using X-ray diffraction and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. Different crystallites, including Ti, TiN, Ti3O, Ti3Al, and Ga2O3, were observed in the Ti film. The GaN nanowires exhibited a high degree of epitaxial orientation with the substrate due to the topotaxial crystallites in the Ti film. The size distributions and relative fractions of different side facets of the nanowires were determined using the Monte Carlo method and GISAXS.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nicholas J. Weadock, Tyler C. Hemamala, Julian A. Vigil, Aryeh Gold-Parker, Ian C. Smith, Ballal Ahammed, Matthew J. Krogstad, Feng Ye, David Voneshen, Peter M. Gehring, Andrew M. Rappe, Hans-Georg Steinrueck, Elif Ertekin, Hemamala I. Karunadasa, Dmitry Reznik, Michael F. Toney
Summary: This study determines the true structure of two hybrid lead-halide perovskites using single-crystal diffuse scattering, neutron inelastic spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. The research reveals a remarkable collective dynamics that induces longer-range intermolecular correlations and may increase charge carrier lifetimes and affect halide migration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Valerie A. Niemann, Marten Huck, Hans-Georg Steinrueck, Michael F. Toney, William A. Tarpeh, Sharon E. Bone
Summary: This study investigated the fouling of RO membranes by calcium and silicon under realistic feed conditions using mu-X-ray fluorescence (mu-XRF) mapping and mu-X-ray absorption near-edge fine structure (mu-XANES) spectroscopy. The results showed that both calcium and silicon were abundant in the fouling layer. Additionally, organic compounds were closely related to the presence of calcium and silicon on the RO membrane. These findings provide important insight into the mechanism of RO membrane fouling.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tim Pruessner, Dennis Meinderink, Siqi Zhu, Alejandro G. Orive, Charlotte Kielar, Marten Huck, Hans-Georg Steinrueck, Adrian Keller, Guido Grundmeier
Summary: This study investigates the molecular adhesion of a pilus-derived peptide that promotes the formation of biofilms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results suggest that the interaction between the peptide and the surface is mainly mediated by coordination and hydrogen bonding.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dario Gomez Vazquez, Travis P. Pollard, Julian Mars, Ji Mun Yoo, Hans-Georg Steinrueck, Sharon E. Bone, Olga Safonova, Michael F. Toney, Oleg Borodin, Maria R. Lukatskaya
Summary: By using coordinating anions like acetate, a WIS-like Zn coordination environment can be achieved even in relatively dilute conditions, enabling prolonged cycling of Zn metal anodes.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Roberta Ruffino, Maciej Jankowski, Oleg Konovalov, Francesco Punzo, Nunzio Tuccitto, Giovanni Li-Destri
Summary: We investigated the effect of nanoscale curvature on the structure of thermally equilibrated P3HT ultrathin films using GIXRD and AFM. The results demonstrate that nanoscale curvature reduces the polymer crystalline fraction and the crystal length, and the crystal anisotropy shows a marked dependence on the substrate curvature.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sebastian W. Krauss, Mirco Eckardt, Johannes Will, Erdmann Spiecker, Renee Siegel, Martin Dulle, Ralf Schweins, Brian Pauw, Juergen Senker, Mirijam Zobel
Summary: The isotopic effect of exchanging H2O with D2O can impact the formation mechanism and colloidal stability of nanoparticles. The equilibrium and dynamics of ligand clusters in solution are changed by the exchange, affecting the size and crystallinity of the nanoparticles. In D2O, the colloidal stability of CdS nanoparticles covered by complexes is significantly reduced.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sebastian W. Krauss, Mirco Eckardt, Johannes Will, Erdmann Spiecker, Renee Siegel, Martin Dulle, Ralf Schweins, Brian Pauw, Juergen Senker, Mirijam Zobel
Summary: This study investigates the impact of heavy water (D2O) on CdS nanoparticle formation and colloidal stability. The results suggest that the isotopic effect of D2O influences nanoparticle formation by altering the equilibria and dynamics of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) clusters in solution. Despite the stabilizing effect of EDTA in normal water, the colloidal stability of CdS nanoparticles is significantly reduced in heavy water.