Advanced Materials Interfaces最新文献

Self-organized neuromorphic nanogranular networks that mimic the switching dynamics of biological neural networks are promising for next-generation brain-inspired computing architectures. Despite recent advances, strategies to lower their switching threshold, and understanding of the influence of light on their switching dynamics, which are key aspects for energy-efficient and multifunctional device operation, remains limited. Here, a strategy is introduced to lower the switching threshold, and the optical sensitivity of the nanoparticle networks (NPNs) is explored. Silver (Ag) NPNs are fabricated via surfactant-free deposition from a gas aggregation cluster source. One network is coated with poly(1,3,5-trivinyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-cyclosiloxane) (pV3D3) using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), producing Ag/pV3D3 NPN with enhanced morphological stability and a significantly reduced switching threshold of 0.5 V compared to uncoated Ag NPNs (3 V). Time-series measurements showed indications that the switching activity of Ag/pV3D3 NPNs can be modulated by visible light, with blue light irradiation showing the largest enhancement in switching events compared to the dark, unilluminated state. These findings establish a pathway toward low-power, light-tunable, self-organized nanogranular networks for neuromorphic computing applications.

A sol–gel-based soft-templating strategy for the synthesis of a hexagonal rare-earth orthoferrite and characterization of its structural, optical, electronic, and magnetic properties are reported. Specifically, the work aims to show that amphiphilic block copolymers as structure-directing agents (SDAs) are suitable for the production of metastable h-LuFeO₃, a phase that is not observed without SDA. The ability of the polymer SDA used herein to self-organize into superstructures while remaining compatible with inorganic building blocks, known as the evaporation-induced self-assembly process (EISA), resulted in a honeycomb-like network of open pores. In contrast to conventional epitaxy, it is demonstrated that the h-LuFeO₃ can be readily deposited as polycrystalline thin films on both silicon and quartz substrates by facile dip coating. The formation mechanism of the mesoporous material during calcination in air is investigated using various physicochemical characterization techniques. This revealed that certain reaction intermediates are produced that promote the formation of the hexagonal phase. Density functional theory calculations support the experimentally derived properties and further provide information on the electronic band structure. Overall, this study demonstrates a novel synthetic approach for producing ordered mesoporous and ferromagnetic LuFeO₃ thin films in the hexagonal rather than the orthorhombic phase due to the presence of a polymer SDA during synthesis.

Light-induced direct patterning allows intricate spatiotemporal control over microscopic structures and has even been extended to functional inorganic materials. However, while sol–gel-based materials such as silica maintain structural continuity, photoinduced precipitation of salts such as carbonates and phosphates typically suffers from a granular nature and produces loose particle assemblies. In this study, UV-induced release of phosphoric acid from an organic precursor is exploited for locally modulating supersaturation levels. This allows for controlled interplay between photogeneration and precursor supply, for the precipitation of structurally continuous, non-granular barium phosphate from solution. Based on these insights, nanoscopic thin films with controllable thickness are deposited in an illuminated spot. By moving the light beam, this approach is extended to direct writing based on user-defined patterns. Moreover, by triggering photoinduced mineralization within organic templates, complex morphologies can be replicated with high fidelity. This versatility and precision will open new opportunities for the design of functional, biologically relevant inorganic materials.

Ion migration-based voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) is a promising mechanism for energy-efficient spintronic devices. However, no established methods currently correlate dielectric properties with VCMA efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that VCMA efficiency can be predicted prior to full device implementation by detecting redox activity at the ferromagnet/oxide interface using conventional capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. We compare two HfO₂ with different chemical properties, one grown by thermal ALD (T-HfO₂) and the other by plasma-enhanced ALD (P-HfO₂), integrated as the gate dielectric on Ta/CoFeB/MgO/AlO_x structure. Results show that P-HfO₂ exhibits strong frequency dispersion and capacitance enhancement characteristic of redox-active electrochemical capacitors, along with significantly enhanced VCMA, whereas T-HfO₂ does not. These findings establish a direct correlation between dielectric C–V behavior and VCMA efficiency. We propose that standard C–V analysis can serve as a practical and predictive tool for evaluating and optimizing dielectric materials in VCMA-based spintronic applications.

Decellularized small intestinal submucosa (SIS) mesh used for the treatment of abdominal wall defects often suffers from a high risk of recurrence due to early degradation and poor neovascularization. Currently, improving the functionality of SIS meshes remains a huge challenge. Herein, a multifunctional SIS mesh is designed by modifying it with protocatechualdehyde (PCA), a polyphenolic molecule, combining with magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) for full-thickness abdominal wall defect repair in a rat model. The prepared SIS/PCA/Mg meshes exhibit significantly prolonged degradation cycle, excellent biocompatibility, and antioxidant property and effectively promote the M2 polarization of macrophages. In addition, this mesh can remarkably inhibit the growth of bacteria, which is beneficial for preventing postoperative infections. More importantly, in vivo experiments also confirm that the SIS/PCA/Mg mesh can significantly enhance the repair of full-thickness abdominal wall defects in rats by reducing inflammation, promoting macrophage M2 polarization, and collagen deposition and neovascularization. As a result, the newly developed multifunctional SIS/PCA/Mg mesh shows an attractive prospect for scarless abdominal wall defect reconstruction.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has been widely used in various applications, including water treatment, and its surface properties, including wetting and micro/nano structure, are factors that influence its antifouling properties. Superhydrophilic surfaces minimize interactions with hydrophobic pollutants, and changing fabrication parameters can modify the wetting properties of LIG. Fabrication of nanoparticle-LIG composites increases the functionality of the material and enhances catalytic or antibacterial activities of related surfaces; however, less is known for nanoparticle-LIG composites that modulate fouling. Here, we show SiO₂-doped LIG by lasing polyethersulfone-diatomaceous earth membrane composites, which resulted in superhydrophilic surfaces with enhanced anti-adhesion and anti-bio-adhesion performance. The diatomaceous earth converted to crystalline SiO₂ that is uniformly coated on the LIG surface during the laser treatment. Increased surface oxygen-containing functional groups are also observed, which enhanced the hydrophilicity of the LIG composite. Anti-adhesion properties of the hydrophilic SiO₂-LIG are exemplified by a reduced binding of methylene blue and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, representing an organic pollutant and bacterial adhesion, respectively. The variable surface properties of silica nanocomposite surfaces might be useful in water treatment membranes, but silica-doped LIG might also lead to uses in other applications, such as sensing or semiconductors, if the electronic properties of the material can be altered.

Preselection of cancer-specific hypermethylated DNA (hmDNA) from a background of total DNA is important for developing urine-based cancer diagnostics. The challenge relates to the low concentration of hmDNA in absolute measures and compared to normal DNA derived from healthy cells. Here, a micropillar-structured microfluidic chip is developed for the selective enrichment of hmDNA from DNA isolated from cultured cervical cancer cells. During hmDNA enrichment, hmDNA binds at the surface-immobilized methyl binding domain 2 protein receptors, which is the capture coating for hmDNA, followed by the elution of surface-bound DNA. The ratio of hmDNA to non-methylated DNA in the enriched DNA mixtures is assessed using synthetic DNA by applying a digest with methyl-sensitive restriction enzymes to the enriched DNA mixtures, followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The hmDNA level in the enriched DNA mixture increased from 1% prior to enrichment to 30% afterward. The enrichment method enables selective enrichment of DNA isolated from the cervical cancer cell line, as confirmed by qPCR, which targets a hypermethylated gene associated with cervical cancer. Upon further development, this platform for selective hmDNA enrichment could be applied to urine samples to allow for simple and accurate methylation-based cancer detection.

In this work, we examine ways to advance sustainability in material packaging by applying scalable, dual-layer coating techniques for generating thin biopolymer barrier films on paper substrates. Unbleached kraft paper and supercalendered glassine paper are used as substrates, and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and chitosan (CS) are used for coatings. CNC and CS are applied on the substrates using single-layer (multi-pass) or dual-layer slot die coating on a roll-to-roll (R2R), with similar grammage coated under the same conditions. The effect of CNC suspension pH is also examined. Coated papers are characterized to determine oxygen permeability (OP) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) at 50% and 80% RH as well as mechanical properties. Single-layer multi-pass coated paper exhibits improved OP and WVTR compared to coated kraft paper. Glassine paper coated with a coat weight of 20.6 ± 1.0 g/m² of CNC at a suspension pH of 3 has the lowest OP value of 3.9 ± 1.0 cm³·µm/m²/d/kPa. The use of dual-layer slot die coating produces similar OP values at a large coat weight as single-layer multi-pass coating. We demonstrate the viability of scalable fabrication of multilayer renewable bioproducts for packaging by using processes amenable to sequential or simultaneous coating on a R2R.

Silicon nano/microstructures have attracted significant interest for their applications in electronics, sensors, and energy devices. However, conventional photolithography-based fabrication processes face challenges such as high cost, procedural complexity, and limited scalability for large-area patterning. In this study, we propose a novel and cost-effective fabrication method to precisely create silicon nano/microstructures by utilizing metal mask patterning based on electrospinning. The palladium (Pd) nanocluster patterns, with linewidths below 1 µm formed by electrospinning, act either as catalysts or protective masks depending on the etching environment. Under acidic conditions, Pd acts as a catalyst for metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE), forming semicircular silicon structures along the nanofiber patterns. In alkaline environments, the porous nature of the Pd clusters allow partial penetration of the etchant, enabling anisotropic etching and lift-off effects that produce pyramid-shaped microgrooves with crystallographic angles of 54.74°. This process achieves structures with 5–10 µm linewidths and feature spacing as narrow as 1 µm. Conducted under atmospheric pressure and without the need for expensive equipment, this technique presents strong potential for next-generation microelectronic and biosensing applications.

Transition metal sulfides have been widely investigated as electrocatalysts for both the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. Here, we synthesized copper, nickel, cobalt, and iron sulfides using a facile successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) occurring in porous transparent titanium dioxide nanotubes. Nanotubes are fabricated by anodization of a titanium layer sputtered onto indium tin oxide-coated glass slides. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed the presence of copper oxides and sulfides, cobalt oxides and sulfides, nickel oxides and sulfides as well as iron oxides. Although the walls of the titania nanotubes are modified using 5 mm aqueous solutions containing the metal and sulfide ions, the initial transparency has been preserved. According to microscopic studies and elemental analysis, the sulfides are uniformly distributed on the walls forming a metal oxide/metal sulfide heterojunction. Among all investigated materials, titania overgrown by cobalt oxide and sulfide exhibits the highest current density of 28 mA cm⁻² recorded at +2.1 V vs. RHE during oxygen evolution, while the non-modified electrode reached only 1.5 mA cm⁻². Taking into account both the high transparency and activity toward oxygen evolution, the investigated electrodes are an important element for a semitransparent tandem device for overall water splitting.