Advanced Materials Interfaces最新文献

Halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) offer high efficiency at low production costs, making them a promising solution for future photovoltaic technologies. Optimizing charge transport layers is crucial, with porous TiO₂ widely used as electron transport layers (ETLs) due to their suitable energy band alignment, transparency, and abundance. However, their performance depends strongly on crystallinity, requiring high-temperature processing (>450 °C), which increases costs and limits their applicability on flexible substrates. Low-temperature wet-chemical methods face scalability issues due to material waste and hazardous solvents. Therefore, plasma-based technologies provide a scalable, eco-friendly alternative for fabricating oxide-based ETLs. This study presents a plasma-based synthesis of TiO₂ layers using remote plasma-assisted vacuum deposition (RPAVD) and soft plasma etching (SPE) at temperatures below 200 °C, enabling precise control over microstructure and porosity. The resulting nanocolumnar and aerogel-like TiO₂ films are antireflective and enhance optical and electronic properties, leading to improved PSC efficiency (champion PCE = 14.6%) comparable to high-temperature processed devices. The devices are based on a 3D organometal perovskite with mixed cations (MA, FA, Cs, Rb) and halides (I, Br), with a nominal composition of (Rb_0.03Cs_0.03FA_0.69MA_0.25)(PbI₃)_0.83(PbBr₃)_0.17. Our results highlight the potential of RPAVD+SPE for producing low-temperature ETLs, offering a feasible, industrially scalable solution for flexible, high-performance photovoltaics.

Plastic contamination in marine and drinking water is a major concern in environmental research. Particularly, detection and identification of micro and nanometric particles remain as important challenges, and so, several emergent methods are currently being investigated. Here, an optoelectronic platform is presented for trapping and accumulating micro/nano-plastics dispersed in water. The system exploits the photo-induced electric fields generated by visible light in LiNbO₃:Fe crystals. When light is focused on the crystal, the photogenerated electric field triggers successive ejection of tiny droplets from the aqueous sample. These droplets reach the illuminated surface and evaporate leaving behind accumulated particles. Efficient accumulation of polystyrene microparticles is achieved down to 1 µg L⁻¹. The influence of plastic concentration and illumination time are characterized. Moreover, the method is further validated at the nanoscale using 140 nm diameter polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles. Its functionality in saline water dispersions is also confirmed although exhibiting a lower efficiency. Finally, the platform´s versatility is demonstrated by accumulating other plastic contaminants such as polyethylene (PE) and polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), and a mix of PE and PS. The resulting accumulation spots serve as suitable samples for plastic identification by Raman spectroscopy. Overall, these results highlight the potential of optoelectronic lithium niobate platforms for micro/nano-plastics capture, accumulation and Raman identification.

GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are essential for high-volume data transmission and energy conversion because of their high breakdown voltages and power density. By vertically stacking multiple 2D electron gases (2DEGs), it is possible to take advantage of the high electron mobility of these heterostructures while increasing the sheet carrier density. Using AlScN as the barrier material can further augment device performance by increasing the sheet charge carrier densities and reducing channel resistance. Given the possibility of lattice-matching of AlScN with GaN, strain-free layers can be grown. Here, the successful growth of multichannel heterostructures with different period combinations by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is reported for the first time. A five-period multilayer structure exhibits carrier densities of 2.5 × 10¹³ cm⁻², mobility above 1900 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, and sheet resistance as low as 129 Ω sq⁻¹.

Chronic non-healing wounds, exacerbated by aging, diabetes, and other factors, severely compromise patients' quality of life and impose substantial socioeconomic burdens, thus emerging as a critical public health challenge. Conventional strategies focusing on single-component modification or simple delivery systems fail to address the complex interplay among growth factor delivery, microenvironmental responsiveness, and tissue repair. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) mapped matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) dynamics during healing, guiding therapeutic design. A multifunctional glutathione-modified hydrogel (GCDGTV) is developed, composed of gelatin, dopamine-grafted carboxymethyl chitosan, and an MMP-responsive VEGF fusion protein. GCDGTV features two key innovations: glutathione's thiol chemistry enables precise loading and controlled release of VEGF, while the specific expression of MMPs in the wound microenvironment triggers on-demand VEGF release, dynamically aligning growth factor delivery with the healing process. Additionally, GCDGTV exhibits tissue-matched mechanical properties, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial functions. In a rat skin injury model, GCDGTV demonstrated remarkable therapeutic efficacy, significantly accelerating wound closure, promoting angiogenesis, and enhancing collagen deposition. Compared with traditional approaches, GCDGTV offers an integrated system that simultaneously optimizes mechanical support, bioactive molecule delivery, and microenvironmental responsiveness, offering a promising strategy for chronic wound treatment and paving the way for the precision-driven development of regenerative medicine.

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an established technique for specific detection of fingerprint spectra of molecules at lowest concentrations. In particular, the application of silver-based SERS substrates is promising due to their favorable physical properties for enhancing Raman signals. However, the silver substrates are prone to deterioration over time. In this study, the prevention of such degradation is explored by passivating the silver SERS substrates with aromatic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The SAMs of biphenyl-4-thiol and 4′-nitro-4-biphenylthiol molecules are prepared by vapor deposition in vacuum and characterized in situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ex situ with SERS. After exposing these samples for up to ten months to ambient conditions, a comparative analysis is conducted using both techniques. Furthermore, the substrates are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrate an enhanced stability of the passivated substrate compared to the bare substrates. In addition, the presence of amine groups in the SAMs paves the way toward specific chemical and biochemical functionalization of the SERS substrates for analytic purposes.

Nanoscaling interstitial metal hydrides offers opportunities for hydrogenation applications by enhancing kinetics, increasing surface area, and allowing for tunable properties. The introduction of interfaces impacts hydrogen absorption properties and distribution heterogeneously, making it, however, challenging to examine the multiple concurrent mechanisms, especially at the atomic level. Here, the effect of proximity on interstitial hydrogen in ultrathin single-crystalline vanadium films is demonstrated by comparing hydride formation in identically strained Fe/V- and Cr/V-superlattices. Pressure concentration and excess resistivity isotherms show higher absolute solubility of hydrogen, higher critical temperature, and concentration in a Cr/V-superlattice. Direct measurements of hydrogen site location and thermal vibrations show identical site occupation of octahedral z at room temperature with a vibrational amplitude of 0.20–0.25 Å over a wide range of hydrogen concentrations. These findings are consistent with a more extended region of hydrogen depletion in the vicinity of Fe compared to Cr, which showcases an inverse of the hydrogen spillover effect. Advancing the understanding of interface effects resolves previously puzzling differences in the hydrogen loading of Fe/V- and Cr/V-superlattices and is relevant for advancing both catalysis and storage.

Electrospun nanomesh electrodes offer excellent mechanical conformity and breathability for skin-integrated electronics. However, conventional randomly oriented structures exhibit isotropic behavior, limiting functional adaptability. Here, a geometry-driven approach is presented to achieve electromechanical anisotropy by aligning fibers within free-standing, monolayer nanomesh electrodes. Through parylene vapor coating and gold evaporation, devices are fabricated that respond distinctly when strained parallel or perpendicular to the fiber alignment. Under parallel strain, the mesh undergoes direct fiber elongation and gold fracture, resulting in a high gauge factor ideal for strain sensing. Conversely, perpendicular strain induces pore elongation and maintains inter-fiber connections, stabilizing resistance change and enabling use as a stretchable interconnect. These anisotropic behaviors are maintained under extreme conditions, with no elastomeric support and full metallic coverage. Quantitative analysis of pore aspect ratio dynamics reveals that deformation mode—fiber or pore-driven—is governed by strain direction, explaining the trade-off between sensitivity and mechanical durability. The breathable, elastomer-free design ensures skin compatibility for long-term use, while parylene passivation effectively shields the electrode from ionic interference caused by sweat and biofluids. This work introduces a tunable, dual-functional nanomesh platform optimized for electronic-skin applications, offering a unified solution for both sensing and interconnection demands in wearable electronics.

This study explores the embedment of TiO₂ nanoparticles, WO_2.72 nanoparticles, or TiO₂/WO_2.72 nanocomposites into PES membranes to improve dead-end ultrafiltration of natural spring water, using dye rejection, antifouling, and photocatalytic degradation capabilities as performance indicators. TiO₂, WO_2.72, or TiO₂/WO_2.72 are incorporated into the PES matrix at different ratios (1, 1.5, and 2 wt.%). The prepared materials are characterized using several techniques, including XPS, XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, BET, UV–vis DRS, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations show that WO_2.72 strongly adsorbs methyl orange (MO) dye compared to TiO₂ surfaces. The high adsorption energy (−6.89 eV) of the WO_2.72 surface and MO facilitates subsequent photocatalytic degradation. The adsorption energy for TiO₂ is −1.52 eV, indicating a lower affinity for MO. Thus, TiO₂/WO_2.72 nanocomposites are inferred to have a higher affinity for MO than TiO₂ nanoparticles. Experimental data corroborate that the nanocomposite outperformed either nanoparticle alone. When treating real spring water, TiO₂/WO_2.72 modified membranes show a substantial enhancement in water flux, dye rejection, and antifouling, and rejected over 99% of both bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Congo red dye (CR). The fluorescence excitation emission matrix (FEEM) of natural spring water confirms the presence of tryptophan-like, fulvic acid-like, and humic acid-like substances, while the UV₂₅₄ absorbance confirms their reduction after treatment with 2 wt.% TiO₂/WO_2.72 membrane. The bare PES and 2 wt.% (TiO₂ and WO_2.72) modified membranes show resistance to organic fouling. Overall, modification of PES (dead-end ultrafiltration) membranes with TiO₂/WO_2.72 nanocomposite presents a remarkable improvement in rejection ability, antifouling properties, and photocatalytic degradation capabilities. This enhancement makes TiO₂/WO_2.72 nanocomposites a potential membrane additive to achieve reactive membranes for sustainable water purification solutions.

Nanotoroids possess unique topological structures and properties, holding great promise for applications in diverse fields. Solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly (SEIS) of polymers is an effective way of producing novel nanostructures on substrates, while the formation of polymer nanotoroids is rarely reported. Herein, a first example regarding the formation of well-defined polypeptide nanotoroids on a hydrophilic substrate via SEIS is presented. On the substrates covered by a thin film of polypeptide solution, the polypeptides self-assemble into nanorods with the evaporation of solvent. With further solvent evaporation, the solution breaks into small droplets. At the boundary of droplets, the nanorods are exposed to air, which increases their interfacial energy. As a result, these nanorods curve into nanotoroids. The size of the nanotoroids is readily adjusted in a relatively large range by initial polymer concentrations. A low affinity between the polypeptides and the substrates is essential for the nanorods curving into nanotoroids. The information gained in this work can not only enhance the understanding of both the characteristics of polymers and substrates on the SEIS behaviors, but also provide a novel route toward the construction of polymer nanotoroids on substrates.

Y. Bu, W. Zhang, S. Martin-Saldaña, et al.: Plant-Inspired Multifunctional Bioadhesive with Self-Healing Adhesion Strength to Promote Wound Healing. Adv. Mater. Interfaces. 10, 2201599 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202201599

Corresponding authors:

Shichun Lu: [email protected]

Abhay Pandit: [email protected]

In the title of the article published as ADMI. 2023; 10: 202201599, https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202201599, both Figure [3a-2] and Figure [3a-4] are identical. The correct Figure 3a–4 needs to be added to Figure 3.

We apologize for this error.