Article
Robotics
Varun Sridhar, Filip Podjaski, Yunus Alapan, Julia Kroeger, Lars Grunenberg, Vimal Kishore, Bettina Lotsch, Metin Sitti
Summary: In this study, we propose two-dimensional poly(heptazine imide) (PHI) carbon nitride microparticles as light-driven microswimmers. These microswimmers demonstrate high-speed movement in high ionic concentrations and biological media and exhibit controlled drug release capabilities.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cagatay M. Oral, Martina Ussia, Martin Pumera
Summary: In this study, enzyme-immobilized self-propelled zinc oxide microrobots were proposed to effectively remove antibiotics released into water bodies. The presence of laccase enzyme on the microrobot surfaces enhanced the removal of antibiotics via oxidation. This concept provides an environmentally friendly strategy for the removal of released antibiotics from water bodies.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Eric Tan Kai Chiang, Tomoaki Mashimo
Summary: In millimeter-scale ultrasonic motors, the choice between bending and three-wave vibration modes depends on the length of the stator. The bending mode is advantageous for longer stators (2 mm), while using the three-wave mode performs higher efficiency on shorter stators (1 mm).
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Yanan Zhao, Wanying Song, Jiaqi Xu, Tianli Wu, Zhiyong Gong, Yuchao Li, Baojun Li, Yao Zhang
Summary: Light-driven micro motors with high spatial resolution have been modified with fluorescence materials to combine biosensing functionality. However, these fluorescence micro motors are driven and excited by UV or visible lights, which may cause photo-damage. The proposed upconversion fluorescence micro motors (UCFMs) are constructed by lanthanide (NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+) doped micro rods and can be driven and excited by near-infrared lights. These UCFMs hold great potential for applications in precise biosensing, single-cell biomedical analysis, and targeted drug delivery.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shaoming Fu, Dongmei Fu, Dazhi Xie, Lu Liu, Bin Chen, Yicheng Ye, Daniela A. Wilson, Fei Peng
Summary: This study presents a highly controllable swarm of test-tube shaped gold-copper micromotors that can be driven and aggregated under near-infrared irradiation. The high temperature in the swarm center, generated by the photothermal properties, can be utilized for tumor phototherapy. This research not only provides a controllable platform for tumor treatment, but also sheds new light on the collective and cooperative behavior of micromotors.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xia Peng, Mario Urso, Martina Kolackova, Dalibor Huska, Martin Pumera
Summary: This study investigates the use of magnetic biohybrid microrobots for the dynamic removal of micro/nanoplastics from aquatic environments. The microrobots, modified with Fe3O4 nanoparticles, show efficient capture and removal of micro/nanoplastics through magnetic actuation and electrostatic interactions. The microrobots also prove to be reusable and have hormesis stimulation effects on algae growth. This eco-friendly and low-cost strategy offers a promising solution for addressing micro/nanoplastics pollution.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Robotics
Rudolf Yoga Hutama, Mohamed M. Khalil, Tomoaki Mashimo
Summary: The study introduces a millimeter-scale rolling microrobot powered by a micro ultrasonic motor and a micro planetary gear train. This microrobot, one of the smallest and most powerful at the millimeter scale, demonstrates excellent torque and speed performance. Experimental results show that the microrobot exhibits good locomotion performance on planes with various slopes.
IEEE ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huan Wang, Bin-Bin Xu, Yong-Lai Zhang, Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Shaofeng Liu, Linhan Lin, Qi-Dai Chen, Yuebing Zheng, Hong-Bo Sun
Summary: The femtosecond laser-directed bubble microprinting (FsLDBM) technique enables printing of nanomaterials on solid-state substrates and remote manipulation of micromachines, expanding its applications. By utilizing Marangoni convection, evaporation flow, and capillary force, the technique achieves magnetic encoding, long-distance delivery, and printing processes effectively.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiao Chen, Xiaoyong Ding, Yilin Liu, Jing Li, Wenjuan Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Zhongwei Gu
Summary: Visible light-driven Cu2O@CdSe micromotors with excellent removal performance and effective motion regulation show promising applications in micro environmental remediation.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Saurabh Shivalkar, Pavan Kumar Gautam, Shrutika Chaudhary, Sintu Kumar Samanta, Amaresh Kumar Sahoo
Summary: Autonomously propelled micro/nanobots, with their unique architecture and engineering aspects, hold great promise for biomedical applications and water treatment. They can efficiently absorb or degrade toxic chemicals from polluted water, making them suitable for large scale water treatment, particularly industrial effluents.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huaide Jiang, Xiaoli He, Ming Yang, Chengzhi Hu
Summary: In this study, visible light-driven micromotors were fabricated that could swim in an environment with relatively high salinity. The energy bandgap of hydrothermally synthesized rutile TiO2 was tuned to generate photogenerated electron-hole pairs under visible light. Platinum nanoparticles and polyaniline were decorated onto the surface of TiO2 microspheres to facilitate the micromotors swimming in ion-rich environments. These micromotors exhibited electrophoretic swimming in NaCl solutions with concentrations as high as 0.1 M, achieving a velocity of 0.47 μm/s without the need for additional chemical fuels. The results demonstrated high biocompatibility of photophoretic micromotors and their potential for practical applications in various fields.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qianxian Yang, Houyang Xu, Hantao Wen, He Zhao, Xiaoya Liu, Yuepeng Cai, Hong Wang, Renfeng Dong
Summary: This study presents a highly efficient light-driven cuprous oxide @ graphene oxide micromotor, achieving enhanced photocatalytic performance by doping Cu2O with GO. It can be propelled with various biocompatible fuels at speeds over 3 times faster than conventional Cu2O micromotors, extending the excitation wavelength to near-infrared light. This novel strategy of improving micromotor performance via GO doping offers potential applications in biological environments.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wanyuan Li, Changjin Wu, Ze Xiong, Chaowei Liang, Ziyi Li, Baiyao Liu, Qinyi Cao, Jizhuang Wang, Jinyao Tang, Dan Li
Summary: This study reports a self-driven magnetorobot that uses ion-exchange resin to dynamically remove and separate micro/nanoplastics from nonmarine waters. The magnetorobot demonstrates sustainable removal efficiency of over 90% and is applicable to various plastic compositions, sizes, shapes, and nonmarine water samples.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez, Jan Vyskocil, Filip Novotny, Martin Pumera
Summary: Researchers have developed a new type of light-driven micromotor using a sandwich-like structure with two different functional layers, which can achieve movement and simultaneous photodegradation of harmful substances. This micromotor based on two-dimensional materials has potential applications in environmental protection and treatment of hazardous substances.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Kohei Kikuchi, Mudassir Hussain, Tomoaki Mashimo
Summary: This paper presents a submillimeter-scale rotary piezoelectric ultrasonic motor with the smallest stator reported to date. The fabrication processes and physical phenomena of these micro-robots have been a challenge for their development. Through micromachining technologies and a micromanipulator, tiny components and adhesives of sub-milligram order can be controlled and manufactured, respectively. Various experiments were conducted to understand the submillimeter-scale physical behaviors, such as the admittance and quality factor, and submillimeter-scale ultrasonic motors were successfully built and characterized.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yinghong Wu, Yijie Mu, Yang Luo, Carlo Menon, Zhiwen Zhou, Paul K. Chu, Shien-Ping Feng
Summary: The study introduces the Hofmeister effect and electrostatic interaction to enhance the conductivity of organohydrogels, highlighting the significant influence of the Hofmeister effect on physical properties and the crucial role of lithium and sodium bonds formed by electrostatic interaction. By synergistically enhancing these two mechanisms, highly ionic conductive organohydrogels are achieved for various electronic applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chang Liu, Qikai Li, Sijia Wang, Weishu Liu, Nicholas X. Fang, Shien-Ping Feng
Summary: The research frontier of harvesting low-grade heat as a source of electrical power for self-powered wearable devices has shown promise, but current attainable thermopowers and constraints of rigid or complicated thermoelectric systems have hindered progress. By assembling porous electrodes and hybrid hydrogel, an ultrahigh thermopower of 19.32 mV K-1 was achieved on a stretchable thermoelectric module. This design provides an effective strategy to increase thermopower by regulating ion transport, resulting in high output power density, tailorable architecture, and excellent stretchability showcased in a thermoelectric wristband for body heat recovery.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Cong Chen, Jinwei Gao, Shien-Ping Feng
Summary: This article systematically reviews the role of precursor solutions and antisolvents in the formation process of perovskite films, and reveals the fundamental factors affecting the width of the perovskite film-processing window. The article provides an overview of current strategies for enlarging the processing window and discusses the challenges in developing perovskite solar modules with a wide processing window and future perspectives.
INTERNATIONAL MATERIALS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jiayan Liu, Nana Liu, Gu Li, Yuqi Wang, Zhen Wang, Zhen Zhang, Dongdong Xu, Yue Jiang, Xingsen Gao, Xubing Lu, Shien-Ping Feng, Guofu Zhou, Jun-Ming Liu, Jinwei Gao
Summary: The poor interfacial contact and imperfections between the charge transport layer and perovskite film can lead to carrier recombination, inefficient charge collection, and inferior stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To address this issue, a cinnamate-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (Cin-CNCs) interfacial layer was introduced between SnO2 and the perovskite active layer. This improved the carrier transport ability, crystal growth, and long-term stability of PSCs. The results showed enhanced interfacial contact, cascade energy alignment, desirable perovskite film morphology, reduced interfacial defects, and suppressed charge recombination.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Songcheng Peng, Ping Xia, Ting Wang, Lan Lu, Peng Zhang, Min Zhou, Feng Zhao, Shiqi Hu, Ji Tae Kim, Jianbei Qiu, Qingyuan Wang, Xue Yu, Xuhui Xu
Summary: Three-dimensional stress imaging is achieved for sharp arbitrary targets using advanced 3D printing and fluoride nanocrystal-based ink, leading to the observation of fascinating mechano-luminescence. The optical function of the 3D-printed fluoride nanocrystals sheds light on the understanding of the ubiquitous force relevant to natural and engineering processes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jongcheon Bae, Chanbin Yoo, Seonghyeon Kim, Jinhyuck Ahn, Ho Hyung Sim, Je Hyeong Kim, Jung Hyun Kim, Seog-Young Yoon, Ji Tae Kim, Seung Kwon Seol, Jaeyeon Pyo
Summary: Structural colors are produced by diffraction of light from microstructures. This study demonstrates three-dimensional printing of structural colors by direct writing of nanowire gratings using polymer ink. Precise and flexible coloration is achieved, and direct integration at a low cost is made possible. This method has potential applications in various fields such as strain sensors, reflective displays, spectrometers, anticounterfeiting, biological assays, and environmental sensors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Heekwon Lee, Zhuoran Wang, Qing Rao, Sanghyeon Lee, Xiao Huan, Yu Liu, Jihyuk Yang, Mojun Chen, Dong-Keun Ki, Ji Tae Kim
Summary: This article reports a 3D printed micro-thermoelectric device that allows for direct 4D thermometry at the microscale. The device consists of freestanding thermocouple probe networks fabricated by bi-metal 3D printing, with excellent spatial resolution. It demonstrates that the developed 4D thermometry can explore the dynamics of heating and cooling processes on microscale subjects such as microelectrodes or water meniscus. The use of 3D printing opens up possibilities for realizing a wide range of on-chip, freestanding microsensors or microelectronic devices without design restrictions by manufacturing processes.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hossam A. E. Omr, Raghunath Putikam, Mahmoud Kamal Hussien, Amr Sabbah, Tsai-Yu Lin, Kuei-Hsien Chen, Heng-Liang Wu, Shien-Ping Feng, Ming-Chang Lin, Hyeonseok Lee
Summary: Here, we present SnS/g-C3N4 crystallized and nanostructured photocatalysts for efficient and selective CO2 conversion to CH4. By engineered thermal evaporation and decoration of g-C3N4 through a simple dipping method, the limitations of bulk SnS-based photocatalysts are overcome. The SnS/g-C3N4 nanostructured photocatalysts achieve a superior methane production rate of 387.5 μmol m-2 h-1 (c.a. 122.33 μmol g-1 h-1) with an apparent quantum yield of c.a. 9.7% at 520 nm with engineered lengths. Moreover, they show 100% selective production toward CH4 and stable operation for over 10 hours.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gu Li, Zhen Wang, Yuqi Wang, Zhengchi Yang, Pengyu Dong, Yancong Feng, Yue Jiang, Shien-Ping Feng, Guofu Zhou, Jun-Ming Liu, Jinwei Gao
Summary: This study introduces a simple and effective co-solvent engineering strategy to obtain pinhole-free and defect-less perovskite film without the use of anti-solvents. The addition of a co-solvent with strong coordination capacity and weak interaction with the main solvent allows for the fabrication of uniform and compact perovskite polycrystalline films. With the optimal co-solvent N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and without the use of anti-solvent, a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22% has been achieved. This strategy provides guidance for co-solvent selection in anti-solvent free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and promotes their commercial application.
Review
Engineering, Manufacturing
Shiqi Hu, Xiao Huan, Yu Liu, Sixi Cao, Zhuoran Wang, Ji Tae Kim
Summary: The increasing demand for highly integrated and customized modern optoelectronics has raised the requirements for nanofabrication methods with high resolution, freeform, and mask-free. Meniscus-on-demand 3D printing is a high-resolution additive manufacturing technique that utilizes the ink meniscus formed on a printer nozzle, making it suitable for fabricating micro/nanoscale 3D architectures. It offers a resolution of up to 100 nm for solution-processed 3D patterning, providing a great platform for scientific studies and practical applications. This review presents recent advancements in meniscus-on-demand 3D printing, discussing its historical perspective, theoretical background, printable materials, and potential applications in electronics and photonics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXTREME MANUFACTURING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shien-Ping Feng, Yuanhang Cheng, Hin-Lap Yip, Yufei Zhong, Patrick W. K. Fong, Gang Li, Annie Ng, Cong Chen, Luigi Angelo Castriotta, Fabio Matteocci, Luigi Vesce, Danila Saranin, Aldo Di Carlo, Puqun Wang, Jian Wei Ho, Yi Hou, Fen Lin, Armin G. Aberle, Zhaoning Song, Yanfa Yan, Xu Chen, Yang (Michael) Yang, Ali Asgher Syed, Ishaq Ahmad, Tiklun Leung, Yantao Wang, JingYang Lin, Alan Man Ching Ng, Yin Li, Firouzeh Ebadi, Wolfgang Tress, Giles Richardson, Chuangye Ge, Hanlin Hu, Masoud Karimipour, Fanny Baumann, Kenedy Tabah, Carlos Pereyra, Sonia R. Raga, Haibing Xie, Monica Lira-Cantu, Mark Khenkin, Iris Visoly-Fisher, Eugene A. Katz, Yana Vaynzof, Rosario Vidal, Guicheng Yu, Haoran Lin, Shuchen Weng, Shifeng Wang, Aleksandra B. Djurisic
Summary: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are highly promising in terms of power conversion efficiency, but commercialization still faces unresolved problems and obstacles. This article provides a concise summary of outstanding issues, challenges, and progress made in addressing them, offering expert viewpoints across various topics related to PSC commercialization. It aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers in the field and facilitate discussions to overcome the outstanding challenges in this fast-developing area.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhenyu Wang, Mingyang Zhang, Jing Hu, Zhiqiang Li, Wenda Zhang, Junjun Zhang, Zhiqiang Wang, Xutao Guo, Chunliu Yan, Huimin Yuan, Muqing Li, Yingzhi Li, Xiaowei Sun, Zhenghe Xu, Shien-Ping Feng, Zhouguang Lu
Summary: Copper single atom sites (SAs) loaded into polymeric carbon nitride (CN) framework through one-step thermal polymerization method can enhance visible light absorption and accelerate the mobility of charge carriers. The valence band of the obtained photocatalysts shift more negative with Cu loading, resulting in stronger reduction potential for CO2 photocatalytic conversion. This work proposes a facile and eco-friendly way to modify CN photocatalyst and enhances CO2 photocatalytic activity considerably.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shiqi Hu, Xiao Huan, Jihyuk Yang, Huanqing Cui, Wei Gao, Yu Liu, Siu Fung Yu, Ho Cheung Shum, Ji Tae Kim
Summary: This study reports vertically stacked luminescent heterojunction micropixels, which are capable of constructing high-resolution, multiplexed anticounterfeiting labels. By modulating the lengths of the subpixels, full-scale color synthesis for individual pixels is achieved. This design not only improves pixel density and security level, but also provides a versatile manufacturing platform for 3D display devices.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gangqiang Peng, Qianfeng Zheng, Geng Luo, Dawei Zheng, Shien-Ping Feng, Ubaid Khan, Abdul Rehman Akbar, Haimei Luo, Fude Liu
Summary: Using three-dimensional current collectors (3DCC) as frameworks for lithium metal anodes (LMAs) is a promising approach to inhibit dendrite growth. This study reports that gradient lithiophilic structures can induce uniform lithium deposition within the interior of the 3DCC, greatly suppressing dendrite formation, as confirmed by COMSOL simulations and experimental results.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Han, Haoxiang Wei, Yanjun Du, Zhigang Li, Shien-Ping Feng, Baoling Huang, Dongyan Xu
Summary: This article reports on the development of ultrasensitive flexible thermal sensor arrays based on an iTE hydrogel composed of polyquaternium-10 (PQ-10) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The PQ-10/NaOH iTE hydrogel achieves high thermopower through the selective thermal diffusion of ions. Flexible thermal sensor arrays are patterned on flexible printed circuit boards, enabling high sensitivity in perceiving spatial thermal signals.
