News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeff Tollefson
Summary: Russia's invasion has resulted in a temporary increase in prices, but it could potentially drive a long-term shift towards sustainability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yan Kou, Keyan Sun, Jipeng Luo, Feng Zhou, Haibo Huang, Zhong-Shuai Wu, Quan Shi
Summary: This study introduces an intrinsically flexible PCM film with solid-solid phase transition performance and exceptional mechanical flexibility, suitable for wearable thermal management. The PCM film displays adjustable phase transition enthalpy and temperature, long-term cycling stability up to 1000 cycles, along with remarkable shape tailorability and foldability. When integrated into wearable devices with a flexible graphene film as a thermal source, the flexible PCM film exhibits superior temperature control behaviors and excellent electro-thermal and photo-thermal energy conversion performance, showing great potential for next-generation flexible thermal management electronics.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jonas Hedlund, Mojtaba Sinaei Nobandegani, Liang Yu
Summary: The study found that surface barriers in MFI and CHA membranes may be a surface diffusion process with higher activation energy, with other possible mechanisms not ruled out. For pure components at low concentration in MFI zeolite, the barrier is proportional to the product of the molecular weight and heat of desorption; while at high concentration, the barriers of the components become more similar due to interaction effects.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Xiaoguang Zhang, Haojie Zhang, Qianwei Liang, Jianying Zhao, Dean Pan, Jie Ma
Summary: Phase change energy storage technology (PCEST) can enhance energy utilization efficiency and address the issue of fossil energy depletion. Phase change materials (PCMs) play a crucial role in the development of PCEST. Solid waste is considered a valuable resource and has garnered significant attention for its comprehensive utilization. By encapsulating PCMs, solid wastes and their products can form stable PCMs (FS-PCMs) to overcome the problem of PCM leakage during usage. This review article examines the research on solid waste-based FS-PCMs, encompassing preparation strategies, application solutions, and future research recommendations, which can serve as references for related research and applications, and promote the advancement of solid waste-based FS-PCMs.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Matthew Brahlek, Maria Gazda, Veerle Keppens, Alessandro R. Mazza, Scott J. McCormack, Aleksandra Mielewczyk-Gryn, Brianna Musico, Katharine Page, Christina M. Rost, Susan B. Sinnott, Cormac Toher, Thomas Z. Ward, Ayako Yamamoto
Summary: High entropy oxides are an exciting new field that allows for the design of highly customized functional behaviors that do not have traditional counterparts. The study and application of these materials bring together scientists and engineers from different disciplines. Understanding a material's crystallinity, composition, and mixing length scales is critical in determining its true definition.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Golnoosh Abdeali, Ahmad Reza Bahramian
Summary: This article discusses the utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) and the use of phase change slurries (PCS) and phase change emulsions (PCEs) in thermal energy storage (TES). It explores the impact of various variables on energy consumption and provides recommendations for optimizing energy consumption processes.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jongbae Kim, Taejong Paik
Summary: The monoclinic-phase VO2(M) has been extensively studied for energy-saving smart windows. Its reversible insulator-metal transition property obstructs infrared radiation in the solar spectrum and aids in managing indoor temperature. The fabrication of flexible thermochromic VO2(M) thin films has great potential for practical applications in smart windows and emerging technologies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dingyu Lu, Xiaofeng Xu, Xuelai Zhang, Wenhao Xie, Yintao Gao
Summary: This study selected a low-temperature eutectic phase change material to experimentally investigate the hysteresis characteristics of phase transformation. The results showed that increasing the heating temperature reduced the phase transition hysteresis, while decreasing the cooling temperature increased the hysteresis.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Eduardo Benarroch
Summary: Axonal loss is a significant issue in neurologic disorders and efforts have been made to prevent it. Studies using Wld(s) mutant mouse model have provided important insights into the mechanisms of axon death. Mitochondria play a critical role in the initiation of axonal degeneration. The basic pathways for axon injury are relevant in a wide range of neurologic disorders, and identifying central regulators and biomarkers of this process may lead to potential therapeutic targets for axonal protection.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raagya Arora, Umesh Waghmare, C. N. R. Rao
Summary: This study investigates various 2D lattices of Group IV chalcogenides to understand the nature of metavalent bonding (MVB). It is found that honeycomb lattices adhere to the 8-N rule and exhibit covalent bonding, while square and orthorhombic structures display in-plane MVB driven by p-p orbital interactions, with cationic lone pairs inducing out-of-plane puckering.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pai Li, Feng Ding
Summary: In this study, a machine learning force field was trained to explore the atomic-level explanation of herringbone reconstruction on the Au(111) surface. It was found that the lattice deformation in deeper layers of Au plays a critical role in the herringbone reconstruction, and the herringbone reconstruction is energetically favored over stripe reconstruction when the slab thickness exceeds 12 atomic layers. Additionally, the study revealed the high stability of herringbone reconstruction at high temperatures, and a slight strain can induce a transition from herringbone to stripe pattern, consistent with experimental observations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Federico Baltar, Xose A. Alvarez-Salgado, Javier Aristegui, Ronald Benner, Dennis A. Hansell, Gerhard J. Herndl, Christian Lonborg
Summary: The text discusses the transformation and sequestration of organic carbon produced in the sunlit surface ocean into the ocean's interior, focusing on the refractory dissolved organic carbon (rDOC). It emphasizes the importance of defining rDOC operationally and highlights the various factors influencing its persistence, including intrinsic and extrinsic properties. The text also suggests specific research questions aimed at stimulating further research on the nature, dynamics, and role of rDOC in carbon sequestration under future scenarios of climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sufei Cui, Wei Wu, Chao Liu, Yi Wang, Qiming Chen, Xingrong Liu
Summary: A simple and versatile method was developed to graft titanate coupling agents on the surface of graphene aerogels, improving the interface compatibility and thermal conductivity between graphene aerogels and epoxy resin. The modified aerogels exhibited high thermal conductivity in three-dimensional graphene epoxy composites.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Bo Yang, Xuelai Zhang, Jun Ji, Yize Zhao, Miaomiao Jiang
Summary: Phase change film (PCF) as a novel application form of energy storage phase change material (PCM) has great potential for applications in highly flexible and space-constrained fields. This article reviews the progress of research on PCF preparation methods, evaluates its advantages and disadvantages, and summarizes the energy storage properties, thermal response properties, and flexibility of PCF. The potential applications of PCF in energy storage fields are also discussed.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY STORAGE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Eduardo Benarroch
Summary: Detection of cytosolic DNA triggers an innate immune response that leads to neuroinflammation. The cGAS-STING pathway mediates immunosurveillance, but excessive activation can lead to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
Article
Physics, Applied
Milos Krbal, Alexander V. Kolobov, Paul Fons, Yuta Saito, George Belev, Safa Kasap
Summary: This study investigates the structural transformation from an amorphous phase to a one-dimensional vdW crystal and identifies a unique feature associated with vdW bonds using x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The researchers believe that this approach can be applied to study other one-dimensional vdW solids.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Takumi Fukuda, Ryota Kaburauchi, Yuta Saito, Kotaro Makino, Paul Fons, Keiji Ueno, Muneaki Hase
Summary: In this study, coherent phonon spectroscopy is used to investigate the relationship between structural phase transitions and photo-thermal effects in polymorphic MoTe2 single crystals. The results show that increasing excitation density leads to tellurium segregation, but no structural phase transition is observed among the polymorphs of MoTe2. However, higher photon-energy excitation is found to suppress tellurium segregation.
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI-RAPID RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Robert E. Simpson, Joel K. W. Yang, Juejun Hu
Summary: The objective of this Opinion is to stimulate new research into materials that can meet the needs of tomorrow's programmable photonics components. Herein, we argue that the common telluride phase change materials, which have been successfully applied in data technologies, are unsuitable for most emerging programmable photonics applications. We believe that newer phase change materials with wider bandgaps, such as Sb2S3, Sb2Se3, and Ge2Sb2Se4Te (GSST), can be optimized to meet the demands of holographic displays, optical neural network memories, and beam steering devices.
OPTICAL MATERIALS EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Parvathi S. Nair, Hongtao Wang, Jonathan Trisno, Qifeng Ruan, Soroosh Daqiqeh Rezaei, Robert E. Simpson, Joel K. W. Yang
Summary: Additive manufacturing has been widely used in various fields, and this study demonstrates a simple modification to achieve high-resolution fabrication of mesoscale optical components using a low-cost resin printer.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ting Yu Teo, Xiaoxuan Ma, Ernest Pastor, Hao Wang, Jonathan K. George, Joel K. W. Yang, Simon Wall, Mario Miscuglio, Robert E. Simpson, Volker J. Sorger
Summary: The study demonstrated a passive all-chalcogenide all-optical perceptron scheme utilizing the nonlinear response of Ge2Sb2Te5 to femtosecond laser pulses. By testing different laser excitations, the designed NLAF showed a sigmoidal response with a dynamic range of -9.7 dB. The perceptron efficiently dissipated heat using AlN material and set nonvolatile weights through Sb2S3-tuned MZIs, achieving energy-efficient all-optical neural classifications at rates greater than 1 GHz.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chunqi Zheng, Robert E. Simpson, Kechao Tang, Yujie Ke, Arash Nemati, Qing Zhang, Guangwei Hu, Chengkuo Lee, Jinghua Teng, Joel K. W. Yang, Junqiao Wu, Cheng-Wei Qiu
Summary: Phase change materials (PCMs) enable the manipulation of electrons, photons, polaritons, and phonons at the nanoscale, offering new opportunities for reconfigurable, active nanodevices. This review focuses on the applications of PCMs in nonvolatile electrical memory, tunable metamaterials, and multifunctional emissivity control in the infrared (IR) spectrum. The article also discusses multiphysical nanodevices for electronic, photonic, and thermal management, and outlines emerging trends and valuable applications in all-optical neuromorphic devices, thermal data storage, and encryption.
Article
Optics
Li Lu, Sander F. G. Reniers, Yunzheng Wang, Yuqing Jiao, Robert E. Simpson
Summary: This paper presents the design and demonstration of an Sb2S3-reconfigurable InP membrane Mach-Zehnder interferometer on a silicon substrate. Laser induced crystallisation of Sb2S3 enables interference control and on/off switching in the waveguide. Damage to the waveguide structure occurs during laser reamorphisation and reversible switching of the Sb2S3 layer, but simulations show that transition metal di-chalcogenide two-dimensional crystal layers can prevent thermal damage. Combining Sb2S3 with InP waveguides appears to be a feasible approach for achieving low-loss reprogrammable waveguide components.
Article
Optics
Behrad Gholipour, Stephen R. Elliott, Maximilian J. Mueller, Matthias Wuttig, Daniel W. Hewak, Brian E. Hayden, Li Yifei, Seong Soon Jo, Rafael Jaramillo, Robert E. Simpson, Junji Tominaga, Cui Yihao, Avik Mandal, Benjamin J. Eggleton, Martin Rochette, Mohsen Rezaei, Imtiaz Alamgir, Hosne Mobarok Shamim, Robi Kormokar, Arslan Anjum, Gebrehiwot Tesfay Zeweldi, Tushar Sanjay Karnik, Juejun Hu, Safa O. Kasap, George Belev, Alla Reznik
Summary: Alloys of sulfur, selenium and tellurium, known as chalcogenide semiconductors, provide a versatile and controllable material platform for a range of photonic applications. They have nonlinear optical and photoconductive properties, wide transmission windows, and various dielectric and plasmonic properties across different frequencies. The roadmap collection emphasizes the critical role of chalcogenide semiconductors in traditional and emerging photonic technologies, and showcases the potential of this field through selected socio-economically important research areas.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-PHOTONICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Takayuki Shima, Hiromitsu Furukawa
Summary: In this study, a thin platinum (Pt) oxide film was successfully deposited on a polypropylene substrate, and a portion of the film was removed and reduced using laser scanning with a commercially available apparatus. The resulting Pt film, which is electrically isolated from the surroundings, was demonstrated to have potential as a thermometer by measuring its resistance as a function of temperature near room temperature. These findings indicate the feasibility of preparing a device structure (thermometer) using a Pt oxide film on a flexible substrate.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Takayuki Shima, Hiromitsu Furukawa, Yuki Okamoto, Wataru Iwasaki, Masaaki Ichiki
Summary: The method of using NIR light to detect microplastics in water can help reduce the negative impact on the environment and living organisms. This method combines a flow cell to minimize the drying and manual placement steps in the measurement process. The material of the microplastics was successfully identified by comparing the absorbance spectrum with reference data, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Roman Svoboda, Lenka Durcikova, Jan Prikryl, Keisuke Hamano, Paul J. Fons, Milos Krbal
Summary: The formation kinetics of 2D-layered InSe crystalline phase in thin amorphous InSe films was investigated using various analytical techniques. The results showed that the formation process involves two steps, with the reorganization of the amorphous phase followed by the formation of the crystalline phase. The presence of defects and imperfections in the films was found to significantly slow down both processes. A two-step approach for the preparation of highly layered flexible 2D InSe ceramics is suggested.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ting Yu Teo, Nanxi Li, Landobasa Y. M. Tobing, Amy Sen Kay Tong, Doris Keh Ting Ng, Zhihao Ren, Chengkuo Lee, Lennon Yao Ting Lee, Robert E. Simpson
Summary: This study demonstrates the influence of (ZnS)(0.8-)(SiO2)(0.2) capping layers on the performance of Sb2S3 and Ag-doped Sb2S3 integrated photonic devices. At least 30 nm of capping material is necessary to protect the material from sulfur loss. The capping layer can be used to tune the PCM crystallization temperature and reduce device footprint.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sichao Li, Robert E. Simpson, Sunmi Shin
Summary: Researchers used a new measurement platform to quantify thermal signals in a Ge2Sb2Te5/SiO2 nanoribbon structure. They were able to separate and quantify the radiated and conducted heat transfer mechanisms. The thermal emission from the Ge2Sb2Te5/SiO2 nanoribbons was enhanced by 3.5x compared to that of a bare SiO2 nanoribbon. This enhancement was directly due to polaritonic heat transfer enabled by the large and lossless dielectric permittivity of Ge2Sb2Te5 at mid-IR frequencies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuta Saito, Shogo Hatayama, Wen Hsin Chang, Naoya Okada, Toshifumi Irisawa, Fumihiko Uesugi, Masaki Takeguchi, Yuji Sutou, Paul Fons
Summary: This article reports on the growth of thin crystalline films of the metastable phase GeTe2. Direct observation by transmission electron microscopy revealed a Te-Ge-Te stacking with van der Waals gaps. Moreover, electrical and optical measurements demonstrated that the films exhibited semiconducting properties suitable for electronic applications. Feasibility studies involving device structures also highlighted the potential of GeTe2 as an electronic material.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shogo Hatayama, Yuta Saito, Kotaro Makino, Noriyuki Uchida, Yi Shuang, Shunsuke Mori, Yuji Sutou, Milos Krbal, Paul Fons
Summary: This study annealed amorphous Mo-Te films to obtain crystalline phase, while eliminating excess Te through sublimation. It also investigated the crystallization mechanism and developed a method for large-area MoTe2 film deposition.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
