Article
Chemistry, Physical
Peng Li, Muan Yu, Kang Gao, Kuo Chen, Xiujie Yang, Haixiang Sun, Yingfei Hou, Q. Jason Niu
Summary: The polyethyleneimine (PEI)/graphene oxide (GO) film prepared by ultrasonic atomization-assisted technology shows excellent hydrogen barrier properties and saves time and waste liquid compared to traditional methods. The optimal conditions for film preparation were found to be a GO concentration of 0.9 mg ml-1, a spray time of 8 s for PEI and 20 s for GO, a pH of 10 for PEI and 4 for GO, and 25 layers of assembled film. The hydrogen transmission rate of the PEI/GO composite film was significantly lower, by 92.38%, than that of the PET substrate film.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Chao-Hua Xue, Mi-Mi Du, Xiao-Jing Guo, Bing-Ying Liu, Ren-Xuan Wei, Hui-Gui Li, Meng-Chen Huang, Fu-Quan Deng, Shun-Tian Jia
Summary: The superhydrophobic photothermal conversion fabric, constructed by layer-by-layer self-assembly of carbon nanotubes on fibers and post-treatment with polydimethylsiloxane, exhibits high photothermal conversion capability and roughening structures on the fiber surface. It can rapidly heat up under sunlight, possesses excellent superhydrophobicity, stability to various substances, and self-cleaning property to ensure durability of photothermal conversion efficiency.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zehan Hong, Wenyan Zhou, Hongbing Deng, Qilin Huang
Summary: This study successfully fabricated monolayer and three-layer nanofiber films for encapsulating curcumin using cellulose acetate nanofibers. The three-layer film showed the best flexibility, surface hydrophobicity, and thermal stability, making it suitable for food packaging applications. The release behavior of curcumin in the nanofiber films followed a first-order model driven by concentration gradient and exhibited potential for sustained release.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Dong Hyup Kim, Ahram Suh, Geonhyeong Park, Dong Ki Yoon, So Youn Kim
Summary: Nanoscratch-directed self-assembly (DSA) is introduced as a simple and scalable strategy to achieve highly aligned block copolymer (BCP) nanopatterns over a large area, allowing versatile nanofabrication for various functional nanomaterials.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kaelyn Leake, Jose Martinez, Alexander Stensland, Hank Yochum
Summary: This paper introduces a novel modification to the traditional layer by layer process, adding three-dimensional control to the technique. By irradiating the substrate with laser light during the polycation and/or polyanion dipping cycles, polymer thin films with controlled thicknesses can be fabricated. The results show that the laser modification method can alter the height and absorbance of the thin films.
Article
Polymer Science
Peng Li, Congcong Miao, Kang Gao, Hongxue Xie, Kuo Chen, Tengteng Xie, Shengchao Zhao, Haixiang Sun, Xiujie Yang, Yingfei Hou, Q. Jason Niu
Summary: Graphene oxide (GO) can be self-assembled with various polymer materials layer by layer to prepare composite materials with excellent barrier properties. However, the process is cumbersome and time-consuming. In this article, GO/polyethyleneimine(PEI) hydrogen barrier films were successfully prepared by ultrasonic-assisted layer-by-layer self-assembly technology. Results show that the ultrasonic-assisted method not only reduced the immersion time from several minutes to 10 s, but also increased the density of the material packing to reduce the channels through which hydrogen molecules can diffuse while improving the horizontal orientation of the GO sheet to prolong the diffusion paths of gas molecules. Finally, the hydrogen transmission rate of 20-bilayer films assembled under ultrasonic conditions is equivalent to that of 30-bilayer films assembled without ultrasonic conditions, which greatly shortens the film-making period. Therefore, the ultrasonic-assisted method has a good prospect in the preparation of gas barrier films.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jun Zhang, Yuxue Ou, Jia Yang, Baoqiang Xu, Shaoyuan Li, Bin Yang, Wenhui Ma, Chengsong Cao
Summary: The study prepared antimony sulfide thin films through low-temperature plasma sulfidation of antimony metal layers, optimizing process parameters to achieve smooth, pinhole-free films with good photocurrent response and suitable band gaps. Characterization was done using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to confirm the properties and structures of the thin films.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yizhou Zhang, Ruiqi Dong, Uri R. Gabinet, Ryan Poling-Skutvik, Na Kyung Kim, Changyeon Lee, Omar Q. Imran, Xunda Feng, Chinedum O. Osuji
Summary: A lyotropic liquid crystal mesophase has been developed to fabricate submicron films with 1-nm-scale pores, which exhibit excellent molecular weight cutoffs and water permeabilities, making them promising for nanofiltration applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tomasz Suszko, Witold Gulbinski, Karol Zaleski, Grzegorz Greczynski, Jerzy Morgiel, Vasilina Lapitskaya
Summary: Thin films of NiCr-C were deposited by pulse magnetron sputtering, and their structure, chemical composition, and magnetic properties were investigated using various characterization techniques. The results showed that amorphisation and carbon segregation occurred with increasing carbon content. The self-assembly processes during the coating growth led to the formation of nanostructures with metallic columns surrounded by carbon sheaths. The resulting films exhibited weak ferromagnetism parallel to the column axis and superparamagnetism perpendicular to the columns.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmed Ali, Medhat Ibrahim, A. Hassen
Summary: In this study, di-indium tri-sulfuric (In2S3) thin films were fabricated by annealing indium thin films in a sulfur environment, and the effects of annealing temperature and pressure on their structure, morphology, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were investigated. The optimal annealing conditions were found to be 550 degrees C and 100 Torr, providing a new good growth method for In2S3 thin films for various applications.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Petr Tananaev, Artem Shelaev, Yevgeniy Sgibnev, Daria Kulikova, Svetlana Efremova, Artem Voennov, Alexander Baryshev
Summary: Metal organic decomposition (MOD) is a simple and inexpensive method for manufacturing optical grade polycrystalline thin films. This study presents a new MOD method and discusses a chemical route for fabricating thin porous oxide films with a thickness of more than 100 nm.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Houmei You, Kewei Zhang, Xiangkun Zhang, Huiping Ding, Yiwen Shen, Yongjun Feng, Jinpeng Hou, Weiliang Tia
Summary: This research describes the fabrication of multilayer ordered vermiculite-based luminescent thin films and demonstrates their potential application in optical devices. The study shows that luminescent films with high luminous properties and optical stability can be achieved by layer-by-layer assembly of CdTe quantum dots on vermiculite.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Golrokh Akhgar, Qile Li, Iolanda Di Bernardo, Chi Xuan Trang, Chang Liu, Ali Zavabeti, Julie Karel, Anton Tadich, Michael S. Fuhrer, Mark T. Edmonds
Summary: Understanding the air stability of MnBi2Te4 thin films is crucial for electronic devices. After exposure to air, a 2 nm thick oxide layer forms on the surface, protecting the underlying layers. The samples still exhibit metallic conduction and minimal doping. This research opens up new possibilities for handling and preparing MnBi2Te4 devices.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sara Gullace, Veronica Montes-Garcia, Victor Martin, David Larios, Valentina Girelli Consolaro, Fernando Obelleiro, Giuseppe Calogero, Stefano Casalini, Paolo Samori
Summary: The development of a reliable and label-free SERS sensing platform based on metal nanoparticles thin-film, grown layer-by-layer mediated by polyelectrolytes, shows high analytical enhancement factor and efficiency in detecting chemical substances. The study of NP composition, size, and deposition steps on the substrate's performance reveals the significant role of the interlayer in regulating hot spots and improving overall SERS efficiency. This research opens up possibilities for future high-performance sensing applications using plasmonic platforms.
Review
Automation & Control Systems
Yan Deng, Yue Zhao, Jianguo Zhang, Tatsuo Arai, Qiang Huang, Xiaoming Liu
Summary: Magnetic microrobots have attracted significant attention in the biomedical field due to their wireless actuation, strong controllability, fast response, and minimal environmental impact. Microassembly, a fabrication method that creates complex structures with small-scale modules, allows for precise control over the position and orientation of each magnetic module, enabling the creation of magnetic microrobots with arbitrary 3D geometries and magnetization profiles. This review summarizes recent advanced assembly-based fabrication methods for magnetic microrobots, including contact mechanical and noncontact field forces. The principles, fabrication processes, advantages, and disadvantages of each assembly-based method are discussed, along with the existing challenges and future development of magnetic microrobot fabrication by assembly. It is expected that this review will serve as a methodological reference and inspire new ideas for the manufacturing of powerful magnetic microrobots in future biomedical applications.
ADVANCED INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
(2023)