Article
Chemistry, Physical
Runkeng Liu, Zhenyu Liu
Summary: This study elucidated the characteristics of ultra-thin water film evaporation through simulation, revealing the phenomenon of self-pumping water transport through nanopores induced by the driving force of the evaporation meniscus. Additionally, it was demonstrated that coating the nanopores with hydrophobic carbon nanotubes (CNT) is a feasible strategy to reduce water loss through evaporation and increase evaporation flux.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wangying Xu, Chuyu Xu, Zhibo Zhang, Weicheng Huang, Qiubao Lin, Shuangmu Zhuo, Fang Xu, Xinke Liu, Deliang Zhu, Chun Zhao
Summary: Water-induced nanometer-thin crystalline indium praseodymium oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) with improved performance and durability by Pr doping were successfully reported. The optimized In-Pr-O TFT demonstrated state-of-the-art electrical performance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yilei Zhang, Zhengang Lu, Jiubin Tan
Summary: Designing an ultra-thin microwave absorber with tunable absorption and broadband optical transparency is a challenging task. This work presents a visible-infrared transparent ultra-thin frequency-tunable microwave absorber based on a nanometer-thick patterned vanadium dioxide (VO2) film. The absorber achieves a thermally peak absorption frequency modulation range of 15.42-12.99GHz, while having an ultra-thin thickness of only 0.071 of the central wavelength in this range. Additionally, the absorber exhibits high optical transparency from 380 to 6000 nm, making it suitable for various optical and intelligent platform applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianqiang Ma, Sien Wang, Xiao Wan, Dengke Ma, Yue Xiao, Qing Hao, Nuo Yang
Summary: This study investigates the 3D morphological evolution of a membrane with periodic nanopores by thermal annealing, and proposes a new model to explain the mechanism behind this evolution. The study provides guidance for the production of nanoporous membranes.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Jingfei Liu, Yuanbing Li, Shujing Li, Pan Chen
Summary: In this work, a novel nano alumina-silica insulation board (NAIB) was prepared using dry preparation technology, with nano materials as raw materials. The NAIB exhibited high porosity, small pore size, low bulk density, good volumetric stability, and low thermal conductivity.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhong Tian, Han Yan, Qing Peng, Lin Jay Guo, Shengjun Zhou, Can Ding, Peng Li, Qi Luo
Summary: This study investigated the effect of aluminum doping on the surface morphology of ultra-thin silver films, revealing that Al-doped silver films exhibited smaller surface roughness at various substrate temperatures. The addition of aluminum dopants promoted the immobilization of silver atoms on SiO2 substrate, resulting in a smoother surface attributed to the reduced mean free path of silver due to the cage effect by the aluminum dopant.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wangying Xu, Chuyu Xu, Liping Hong, Fang Xu, Chun Zhao, Yu Zhang, Ming Fang, Shun Han, Peijiang Cao, Youming Lu, Wenjun Liu, Deliang Zhu
Summary: In this study, we successfully grew ultra-thin In-Yb-O thin films using a vacuum-free aqueous solution method for the first time, and investigated the influence of Yb addition on the properties of In2O3. The results show that Yb dopant effectively suppresses oxygen vacancy defects, leading to improved electrical performance and stability of the thin-film transistors. The eco-friendly ultra-thin In-Yb-O films present a great opportunity for future electronic applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Carolyn J. Moll, Jan Versluis, Huib J. Bakker
Summary: Urea molecules at charged aqueous interfaces exhibit unique solvation properties, with the ability to serve as a probe for local electric fields. The addition of ionic surfactants induces specific vibrational bands in HD-VSFG spectra, providing insights into the orientation of urea molecules at the interface.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Myeongki Cho, Gyeong G. Jeon, Mingyu Sang, Tae Soo Kim, Jungmin Suh, So Jeong Shin, Min Jun Choi, Hyun Woo Kim, Kyubeen Kim, Ju Young Lee, Jeong Yeon Noh, Jong H. Kim, Jincheol Kim, Nochang Park, Ki Jun Yu
Summary: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered attention as a promising alternative to conventional photovoltaics due to their high power conversion efficiency. However, their long-term stability has been compromised by moisture. This study proposes a room temperature thin-film encapsulation strategy using a superior water molecule barrier to protect and maintain the efficiency of PSCs.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arjun Ashoka, Nicolas Gauriot, Aswathy Girija, Nipun Sawhney, Alexander J. Sneyd, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Jooyoung Sung, Christoph Schnedermann, Akshay Rao
Summary: The authors present a quantitative ultrafast interferometric pump-probe microscopy technique that can track photoexcitations with sub-10 nm spatial precision and 15 fs temporal resolution. The study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of singlet exciton fission in pentacene films and reveals the expansion and change in exciton density in different crystal directions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Xiang Liu, Jintao Wang, Lu Huang, Jingyue Zhang, Changhong Xu, Lin Tong, Dan Guo
Summary: Water is a significant cause of lubrication failure, mainly due to the scour displacing effect and emulsification leading to a reduction in film thickness, exacerbating the lubrication failure of mechanical components.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Zhe Wang, Jinyan Zhao, Gang Niu, Nan Zhang, Kun Zheng, Yi Quan, Lingyan Wang, Jian Zhuang, Genshui Wang, Xin Li, Henghui Cai, Ming Liu, Zhuangde Jiang, Yulong Zhao, Wei Ren
Summary: In this work, high-quality (0.94-x%)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.06BaTiO3-x%NaNbO3 thin films were successfully deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by sol-gel method. The BNT-6BT-6NN thin films showed an optimized strain response, which is attributed to a synergistic reaction of active domain switching and reversible electric-field-induced phase transition.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Optics
Xi Zeng, Jackson Lontchi, Maria Zhukova, Lionel Fourdrinier, Israr Qadir, Yi Ren, Esko Niemi, Guoli Li, Denis Flandre
Summary: This study demonstrates a highly broadband photo-sensitive In2S3/CIGS heterojunction photodiode with excellent photoresponsivity and detectivity. Additionally, the CIGS photodiode shows outstanding performance under weak light conditions as well.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qianwei Huang, Zibin Chen, Matthew J. Cabral, Feifei Wang, Shujun Zhang, Fei Li, Yulan Li, Simon P. Ringer, Haosu Luo, Yiu-Wing Mai, Xiaozhou Liao
Summary: The failure of polarization reversal induced by cyclic electric loading in ferroelectric materials has been a long-standing challenge that negatively impacts their application in devices where reliability is critical. While space charges or injected charges are believed to dominate ferroelectric degradation, the physics behind this phenomenon remains unclear. Through in-situ biasing transmission electron microscopy, the researchers discovered a change in charge distribution in thin ferroelectrics during cyclic electric loading, with charge accumulation at domain walls being the main reason for the formation of c domains.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yanhong Sun, Wenjie Chen, Jinli Lu, Changlong Wang
Summary: In this study, experimental investigation on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a thin liquid film in micro circular tubes with an inner diameter of 0.5 mm was conducted. The results showed that the temperature and pressure fluctuation was consistent with the generation of bubble clusters, providing insights into the mechanism of flow boiling instability. The characteristics of void fraction, such as the duration of bubbles and liquid slugs, were obtained from the dynamic distribution diagram of the liquid film thickness, and the experimental data showed a good agreement with the homogeneous model. The temporary variation of the thin liquid film offered an opportunity to probe the physics of bubble dynamics and instability during flow boiling.
THERMAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRESS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenhui Wang, See Wee Chee, Hongwei Yan, Ivan Erofeev, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: The growth pathways of LDH nanosheets can be controlled by tuning precursor concentrations, and they mainly grow through monomer addition and coalescence.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Utkarsh Anand, Tanmay Ghosh, Zainul Aabdin, Siddardha Koneti, XiuMei Xu, Frank Holsteyns, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: Researchers have found that the wetting process of water on a surface patterned with a dense array of nanopillars occurs in two stages: first, an ultra-thin precursor water film forms on the surface, and then capillary action by the nanopillars pulls the water, increasing the overall thickness of the water film.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tanmay Ghosh, Eva-Corinna Fritz, Deepan Balakrishnan, Ziyu Zhang, Nandi Vrancken, Utkarsh Anand, Hong Zhang, N. Duane Loh, XiuMei Xu, Frank Holsteyns, Christian A. Nijhuis, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: The fabrication of densely packed high-aspect-ratio (HAR) vertical semiconductor nanostructures faces challenges such as pattern collapse induced by capillary forces. A solution-phase deposition method using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) has been demonstrated to greatly reduce pattern collapse in vertical silicon (Si) nanopillars, providing an effective way to prevent drying-induced collapse in micro- and nanofabrication processes.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tanmay Ghosh, Xiangwen Liu, Wenming Sun, Meiqi Chen, Yuxi Liu, Yadong Li, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: This study investigates the structural changes of bimetallic Ni-Rh nanoparticles during a CO oxidation reaction using operando transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal that, under O-2-rich conditions, a Ni core partially transforms into NiO, forming a highly active (Ni+NiO)-Rh hollow nanocatalyst. Under O-2-poor conditions, Rh NPs alloy with the surface of the core, resulting in significantly lower activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenhui Wang, Tanmay Ghosh, Hongwei Yan, Ivan Erofeev, Kun Zhang, Kian Ping Loh, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite films have superior optoelectronic properties and are potential candidate materials for photoelectric devices. While solution-based processing is the most cost-effective and scalable approach, the impact of process parameters on film quality and nanoscale details is unknown.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tanmay Ghosh, Juan Manuel Arce-Ramos, Wen-Qing Li, Hongwei Yan, See Wee Chee, Alexander Genest, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: Nanoparticle catalysts are widely used in energy systems and chemical production. This study provides atomic-scale insights into the dynamic surface properties of nanoparticles under reactive conditions, which play a crucial role in designing high-performance catalysts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yingying Jiang, Martial Duchamp, Shi Jun Ang, Hongwei Yan, Teck Leong Tan, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: The two most common crystal structures in metals and metal alloys are body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic (fcc) structures. The phase transitions between these structures are important in the production of durable and functional metal alloys. However, the details of these phase transitions are largely unknown due to the challenges associated with probing these processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Khakimjon Saidov, Ivan Erofeev, Hongwei Yan, Zainul Aabdin, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: This study describes the dynamics of the grain boundary (GB) and triple junction (TJ) system in a nanocrystalline Co film using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. The observations reveal that the evolution of GB involves the destabilization and displacement of TJs, followed by GB relaxation within the new TJ geometry mediated by atomic-scale disconnection dynamics. These findings advance our understanding of grain evolution in metal nanostructures and have implications for engineering their properties.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingying Jiang, Alvin M. H. Lim, Hongwei Yan, Hua Chun Zeng, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: This study uses gas-cell transmission electron microscopy to investigate the changes of PdCu alloy nanoparticles during CO oxidation reaction. It is found that the selective oxidation of Cu leads to the segregation of Cu and the formation of Pd-CuO nanoparticles. These segregated nanoparticles are highly stable and exhibit high activity for CO conversion into CO2. The findings suggest that the segregation of Cu from Cu-based alloys during redox reactions has a positive impact on catalytic activity. Therefore, direct observation of reactions under relevant conditions is crucial for understanding and designing high-performance catalysts.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Salim El Kazzi, Ya Woon Lum, Ivan Erofeev, Saumitra Vajandar, Sergej Pasko, Simonas Krotkus, Ben Conran, Oliver Whear, Thomas Osipowicz, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: In order to maintain the scaling trends in CMOS technology, thinner barrier/liner systems are needed for metal interconnects in back-end-of-line (BEOL) fabrication. However, reducing the thickness of traditional systems is challenging. Ultrathin two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) films can be an alternative, but their growth processes are not BEOL-compatible. In this study, by using plasma-free metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), a BEOL-compatible tungsten disulfide (WS2) film is grown, which shows clear advantages over current diffusion barrier/liner systems used in Cu-interconnects.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gamze Yilmaz, Tong Yang, Kane Jian Hong Lim, See Wee Chee, Lei Shen, Utkur Mirsaidov, Michel Bosman, Ghim Wei Ho
Summary: This study presents an in-situ modification and transformation of cyanide-bridged nickel-iron organometallic hybrid into the preferential Fe2P phase, which exhibits high electrochemical surface area, low Tafel slope, and low overpotential for the oxygen evolution reaction, as well as bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for overall water splitting.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenhui Wang, Ivan Erofeev, Ya He, Fangqi Yang, Hongwei Yan, Jiong Lu, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: In this study, the formation process of hollow PdCu nanoparticles from Cu2O template nanoparticles is revealed using in situ liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that a polycrystalline PdCu shell forms on the template surface via a galvanic replacement reaction, while the template undergoes anisotropic etching.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zainul Aabdin, Tanmay Ghosh, Antoine Pacco, Sanoj Raj, Hue Thi Bich Do, Khakimjon Saidov, Weng Weei Tjiu, Utkarsh Anand, Petr Kral, Frank Holsteyns, Michel Bosman, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: This study demonstrates the ability to control the etching direction of silicon crystal planes through mechanical agitation of the etchant. Through molecular dynamics simulations, it was found that the Si(OH)4 etch byproducts have a higher affinity to the Si {110} planes, leading to the switching of the etch anisotropy.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Utkarsh Anand, Tanmay Ghosh, Zainul Aabdin, Nandi Vrancken, Hongwei Yan, XiuMei Xu, Frank Holsteyns, Utkur Mirsaidov
Summary: A machine learning-based approach was developed to accurately identify collapsed nanostructures, and a method to reverse pattern collapse was demonstrated, providing a versatile platform for the high-yield fabrication of high-aspect-ratio nanoscale semiconductor devices.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Daria V. Andreeva, Maxim Trushin, Anna Nikitina, Mariana C. F. Costa, Pavel V. Cherepanov, Matthew Holwill, Siyu Chen, Kou Yang, See Wee Chee, Utkur Mirsaidov, Antonio H. Castro Neto, Kostya S. Novoselov
Summary: The study focuses on creating membranes with tuneable permeability for water and ions using two-dimensional self-assembled heterostructures of graphene oxide and polyamine macromolecules, regulated by specific interactions between membrane components and ions.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.
