Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Di, Tianshi Qin
Summary: Incorporating plasmonic ZrN@TiO2 nanostructures into the photoanode of DSSC can efficiently improve the photovoltaic performance, showing potential applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yong Wang, Qingzhe Zhang, Yongchen Wang, Lucas Besteiro, Yannan Liu, Haiyan Tan, Zhiming M. Wang, Alexander O. Govorov, Jin Z. Zhang, Jason K. Cooper, Jing Zhao, Guozhu Chen, Mohamed Chaker, Dongling Ma
Summary: The study presents a seed-mediated approach to synthesize ultrastable Cu-based nanoparticles with a thin, completely covered shell, achieving uniform plasmonic Cu-Au core-shell NPs with significantly enhanced chemical stability. The critical role of the external crystalline Au layer in achieving superior stability was identified through in-depth characterizations and analysis. These NPs demonstrate high photothermal efficiency and chemical stability for solar steam generation, offering potential in catalysis, electronics, and optics.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yinan Fan, Adrien Girard, Michael Waals, Caroline Salzemann, Alexa Courty
Summary: Bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles composed of silver and platinum were synthesized and their optical properties were studied through UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and calculations. The particles showed higher catalytic activity compared to monometallic silver and platinum nanoparticles in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. This study highlights the potential of these bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles in plasmonic catalysis.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Olga A. Baturina, Albert Epshteyn, Asher C. Leff, Andrew P. Purdy, Todd Brintlinger, Blake S. Simpkins, Eva Y. Santiago, Alexander O. Govorov
Summary: TiN and ZrN refractory transition metal nitride nanoparticles have shown potential as alternatives to noble metals in plasmonic applications. This study focuses on the optical properties and photocatalytic activity of ZrN NPs, finding that ZrN/TiO2 activity is influenced by surface oxidation and agglomeration of ZrN. The interaction between ZrN and TiO2 interfaces and the promotion/inhibition mechanisms of TiO2 photocatalytic activity by ZrN and TiN NPs are proposed and discussed.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Katharine Hunter, Himashi P. Andaraarachchi, Uwe R. Kortshagen
Summary: The addition of an inorganic silicon nitride (SiNx) shell on silicon QDs can significantly enhance the quantum yield and carrier lifetime, improving the optical properties of the core-shell nanocrystals.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Diptiranjan Paital, Tarun Bansal, Saumyakanti Khatua
Summary: The development of efficient and stable photocatalytic systems is crucial for the advancement of renewable energy technologies. We report on the synthesis of Au@MnOx core-shell nanoparticles that exhibit efficient electrochemical water oxidation reaction at a low onset overpotential requirement. Under visible light excitation, the Au@MnOx catalyst shows improved activity, lower overpotential requirement, and generates a photocurrent of 128 mu A/cm(2) at 1 V applied potential. The nanoparticles also demonstrate good stability under prolonged photoexcitation up to 2000 s.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuanyuan Li, Xiaoyu Liu, Tianyuan Liang, Wenjie Liu, Jiyang Fan
Summary: The study shows that SiC quantum dots with small dimensions can naturally oxidize at a lower temperature to form core/shell and heteroepitaxial SiC/SiO2 quantum dots. The surface silica layer enhances the quantum efficiency by improving the carrier potential barrier and reducing the nonradiative transition rate, making it suitable for nanoscale electronic and photonic devices.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Ning Liu, Tengfei Hu, Jingxian Zhang, Duan Yusen, Zhen Wang, Shaoming Dong
Summary: Si3N4 ceramics are attractive casing materials for electronics devices under the 5th generation mobile communication technology due to their outstanding comprehensive properties. However, a single color is insufficient for most consumers. Therefore, a typical strategy involving the formation of core-shell structures using the Nd2O3-MgO-YAG system is proposed to achieve rich color. Scanning transmission electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry results confirm the presence of core-shell structures in the silicon nitride matrix, with a porous core and an Nd-enriched liquid phase shell. The Nd-rich core-shell structure acts as a color center, giving the silicon nitride a cyan or blue appearance.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jiamin Xu, Ming Fu, Chengyu Ji, Anthony Centeno, Dong Kuk Kim, Koen Evers, Sandrine E. M. Heutz, Rupert Oulton, Mary P. Ryan, Fang Xie
Summary: This study reports on the light amplification of NaGdF4:Yb,Er,Ce@NaGdF4:Yb,Nd@NaGdF4 core-shell-shell downconversion nanoparticles (CSS-DCNPs) in the near-infrared second biological window (NIR-II: 1000-1700 nm) using plasmonic nanostructures. The fluorescence emissions at 1000 nm, 1060 nm, and 1527 nm induced by Yb3+, Nd3+, and Er3+, respectively, are enhanced through a precisely controlled plasmonic metallic nanostructure. Further enhancement of the 1527 nm emission is observed under a 980 nm laser excitation. The observed fluorescence enhancement is attributed to enhanced excitation and an increased radiative decay rate.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. Mozafari, Sh Nasresfahani, M. H. Sheikhi, H. Agharezaei
Summary: Embedding plasmonic metal nanostructures into semiconductor materials can enhance the performance of photodetectors, as demonstrated by the development of a high-performance broadband photodetector based on the new core-shell nanostructure Ag@PbS. This nanostructure showed excellent photodetecting performance, fast response time, and operational reliability.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qian Li, Feiliang Chen, Jianbin Kang, Juan Su, Feng Huang, Pidong Wang, Xiu Yang, Yidong Hou
Summary: A proposal involving spontaneously formed nanoparticles on metal electrodes to create unbreakable security tags for electronics is suggested to ensure credibility and traceability, offering a practical solution to combat counterfeit electronics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aaron Bayles, Shu Tian, Jingyi Zhou, Lin Yuan, Yigao Yuan, Christian R. Jacobson, Corbin Farr, Ming Zhang, Dayne F. Swearer, David Solti, Minghe Lou, Henry O. Everitt, Peter Nordlander, Naomi J. Halas
Summary: This study introduces Al@TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles as active photocatalysts for hot electron-mediated H-2 dissociation reaction and hot hole-mediated methanol dehydration. The research indicates that the photocatalytic mechanism involves plasmonic hot carrier generation and subsequent transfer into the TiO2 layer. The Al@TiO2 antenna-reactor offers an earth-abundant solution for the future design of visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ke Luo, Kaiqiang Wang, Min-Cheol Lim, Ki-Baek Jeong, Young-Rok Kim
Summary: This study reports a simple and green approach for fabricating gold-shelled starch microbeads that exhibit significant broadband absorption. By controlling the concentration of gold seeds, the diameter of the resulting particles can be adjusted, allowing for size-controllable core-shell plasmonic particles with excellent SERS activity. The method offers an effective means of large-scale production and can be applied to various highly sensitive analytical systems.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mario Kupresak, Xuezhi Zheng, Raj Mittra, Zvonimir Sipus, Guy A. E. Vandenbosch, Victor V. Moshchalkov
Summary: This study investigates the fluorescence of a fluorophore in the presence of a nano core-shell topology using different models. The results show significant differences in fluorescence rates between nonclassical effects and the classical approach, and optimal fluorescence enhancements are found for different parameters.
ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Da-Hua Wei, Tei-Kai Lin, Yuan-Chang Liang, Huang-Wei Chang
Summary: Monodispersed FePt core and FePt-Au core-shell nanoparticles were chemically synthesized with controllable surface-functional properties. The size of the nanoparticles could be tuned by the initial concentration of gold acetate, and FePt-Au NPs showed a red shift in surface plasmon resonance compared to pure Au NPs. Surface modification using mercaptoacetic acid gave the NPs hydrophilic properties and potential applications in biomedical engineering research.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ariana Nushin Sabzeghabae, Carla Berrospe-Rodriguez, Chaolumen Wu, Lorenzo Mangolini, Guillermo Aguilar
Summary: Titanium nitride nanoparticles with distinguished optical and photothermal properties have attracted research interest. It has been found that the nonlinear absorption coefficient of these nanoparticles increases linearly with concentration. Clusters of nanoparticles require higher concentrations compared to freestanding nanoparticles to exhibit similar nonlinear absorption properties. The optical limiting threshold for titanium nitride nanoparticles is lower compared to cluster solutions, influenced by the collective scattering of nanoparticles and high reverse saturable absorption.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Subhajit Ghosh, Fariborz Kargar, Nick R. R. Sesing, Zahra Barani, Tina T. T. Salguero, Dong Yan, Sergey Rumyantsev, Alexander A. A. Balandin
Summary: This study discusses low-frequency electronic noise in quasi-1D (TaSe4)(2)I Weyl semimetal nanoribbons. It is found that the noise spectral density follows the 1/f type and scales with the square of the current. The noise level increases by an order of magnitude near the temperature of 225 K and shows Lorentzian features. These changes are attributed to the charge-density-wave phase transition. The results provide insights into the electron transport in quasi-1D topological Weyl semi-metals and its potential applications as downscaled interconnects.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brandon Wagner, Pankaj Ghildiyal, Prithwish Biswas, Mahbub Chowdhury, Michael R. R. Zachariah, Lorenzo Mangolini
Summary: Non-thermal plasma processing is used to modify the surface of magnesium nanoparticles with silicon to enhance interfacial reactions and ignition pathways. This results in a nanostructured thermite system at the single particle level, reducing the ignition temperature and combustion kinetics. The intermetallic reaction within the magnesium/silicon system reduces the ignition threshold significantly, from approximately 740°C to approximately 520°C for particles coated via the in-flight plasma process.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zahra Barani, Tekwam Geremew, Megan Stokey, Nicholas Sesing, Maedeh Taheri, Matthew J. Hilfiker, Fariborz Kargar, Mathias Schubert, Tina T. Salguero, Alexander A. Balandin
Summary: This study demonstrates a unique class of quantum composites based on polymers with fillers composed of a van der Waals quantum material. These composites reveal multiple charge-density-wave quantum condensate phases. Typically, materials exhibiting quantum phenomena are crystalline, pure, and have few defects. However, in this research, the macroscopic charge-density-wave phases of the filler particles are successfully preserved even after multiple composite processing steps. The prepared composites display strong charge-density-wave phenomena at temperatures even above room temperature and show potential for advanced applications in energy storage and electronics.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
A. Rehman, G. Cywinski, W. Knap, J. Smulko, A. A. Balandin, S. Rumyantsev
Summary: We investigated the low-frequency electronic noise in ZrS3 van der Waals semiconductor nanoribbons. The test structures were field-effect-transistors with an off n-channel and a high on-to-off ratio. The noise in ZrS3 nanoribbons showed a 1/f(gamma) spectral density with gamma = 1.3-1.4. We used light illumination to determine that the noise is due to generation-recombination caused by deep levels, and determined the energies of the defects acting as carrier trapping centers in ZrS3 nanoribbons.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Subhajit Ghosh, Dinusha Herath Mudiyanselage, Sergey Rumyantsev, Yuji Zhao, Houqiang Fu, Stephen Goodnick, Robert Nemanich, Alexander A. Balandin
Summary: In this study, we investigated the low-frequency electronic noise in beta-(AlxGa1-x)(2)O-3 Schottky barrier diodes. The noise spectrum exhibited 1/f behavior with Lorentzian bulges at intermediate current levels. The normalized noise spectral density was determined to be around 10(-12) cm(2)/Hz at a current density of 1 A/cm(2) and a frequency of 10 Hz. We observed random telegraph signal noise at intermediate currents, which was attributed to defects near the Schottky barrier.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Physics, Applied
Andrea C. C. Ferrari, Alexander A. A. Balandin
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kefu Wang, R. Peyton Cline, Joseph Schwan, Jacob M. Strain, Sean T. Roberts, Lorenzo Mangolini, Joel D. Eaves, Ming Lee Tang
Summary: Hybrid structures formed between organic molecules and inorganic quantum dots can achieve unique photophysical transformations. By converting a chemical linker from a carbon-carbon single bond to a double bond, we access a strong coupling regime where excited carriers spatially delocalize across both molecules and quantum dots. This strong coupling leads to a higher efficiency and lower threshold intensity in a photon upconversion system compared to a weakly coupled system.
Article
Physics, Applied
Steven Herzberg, Suveen N. Mathaudhu, Lorenzo Mangolini
Summary: The use of low-temperature plasma allows for the synthesis of amorphous silicon carbonitride (SiCN) nanoparticles, which can be sintered into bulk samples with high thermal stability. By adjusting precursor flow rates, the composition of the nanoparticles can be controlled, resulting in high resistance to crystallization even at high sintering temperatures. This study suggests that low-temperature plasma synthesis has great potential for producing structural materials for harsh environments.
PLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zahra Ebrahim Nataj, Youming Xu, Dylan Wright, Jonas O. Brown, Jivtesh Garg, Xi Chen, Fariborz Kargar, Alexander A. Balandin
Summary: In this study, the authors investigate the thermal conductivity of graphene composites at different temperatures. They find that the thermal conductivity can be both higher and lower than that of pure epoxy, depending on the graphene filler loading and temperature. They explain this counter-intuitive trend by the increasing effect of thermal boundary resistance at cryogenic temperatures and the anomalous thermal percolation threshold.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Feiyu Xu, Brandon Wagner, Pankaj Ghildiyal, Lorenzo Mangolini, Michael R. Zachariah
Summary: The thermal oxidation of sub-10-nm silicon nanoparticles was studied to compare the oxidation behavior of crystalline and amorphous silicon particles. Nonisothermal kinetic analysis showed that amorphous silicon nanoparticles have a significantly lower activation energy for oxidation compared to crystalline particles. In situ heating diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy revealed that backbond oxidation of higher hydrides and the presence of surface O3Si-H and Si-OH species contribute to the low temperature oxidation behavior of amorphous silicon nanoparticles.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Brandon Wagner, Minseok Kim, Mahbub Chowdhury, Emmanuel Vidales Pasos, Kimberly Hizon, Pankaj Ghildiyal, Michael R. Zachariah, Lorenzo Mangolini
Summary: The hydrogenation of metal nanoparticles provides a pathway to adjust their combustion characteristics. Hydrogenated magnesium nanoparticles can promote their combustion process by releasing hydrogen. The study synthesized hydrogenated magnesium particles using a new method and found that a careful balance between the dissociation of molecular hydrogen and heating of the nanoparticles is crucial in the production process.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanbing Zhu, Evan R. Antoniuk, Dylan Wright, Fariborz Kargar, Nicholas Sesing, Austin D. Sendek, Tina T. Salguero, Ludwig Bartels, Alexander A. Balandin, Evan J. Reed, Felipe H. da Jornada
Summary: This study utilizes machine learning techniques to discover new compositions of 1D van der Waals materials, and predicts their properties and synthesis methods. The existence of MoI3, a material with exotic magnetic properties, was experimentally confirmed, and other potentially synthesizable compounds were identified.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Jonas O. Brown, Maedeh Taheri, Fariborz Kargar, Ruben Salgado, Tekwam Geremew, Sergey Rumyantsev, Roger K. Lake, Alexander A. Balandin
Summary: This study investigates the temperature dependence of current fluctuations in thin films of quasi-two-dimensional 1T-TaS2 van der Waals material. The current fluctuations appear prominently at electric fields corresponding to transitions between charge-density-wave phases and at the onset of charge density wave domain depinning. The depinning threshold field, ED, increases monotonically with decreasing temperature and film thickness, indicating surface pinning of charge density waves.
APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Subhajit Ghosh, Dinusha Herath Mudiyanselage, Fariborz Kargar, Yuji Zhao, Houqiang Fu, Alexander A. Balandin
Summary: This study investigates the temperature dependence of low-frequency electronic noise in NiOx/beta-Ga2O3 p-n heterojunction diodes. The results show that the noise spectral density follows a 1/f-type behavior at room temperature, but exhibits Lorentzian components at higher temperatures and current levels. Interestingly, the noise shows a non-monotonic dependence on temperature near T = 380 K. Raman spectroscopy reveals material changes above this temperature, leading to reduced noise. The normalized noise spectral density of these diodes is determined to be on the order of 10(-14) cm(2) Hz(-1) (f = 10 Hz) at 0.1 A cm(-2) current density. In terms of noise level, NiOx/beta-Ga2O3 p-n diodes perform excellently for new technology and occupy an intermediate position among devices with different ultra-wide-bandgap semiconductors. These findings contribute to the understanding of the electronic properties of NiOx/beta-Ga2O3 heterojunctions and promote the development of noise spectroscopy as a quality assessment tool for new electronic materials and device technologies.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)