Advanced Materials Interfaces最新文献

To the increasing demand for textiles that are both health-conscious and environmentally friendly, this study investigates the production of antimicrobial textiles using a binder-free, plasma-assisted dip-coating technique. Silver-doped Zinc Oxide (Ag–ZnO) nanocomposites are synthesized and applied to cotton-polyester (CVC) and cotton-black viscose (CBV) blend-knit fabrics. Silver doping reduced the ZnO crystallite size to 25.97 nm and modified its surface energy and growth characteristics. X-ray diffraction confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO along with distinct silver peaks, verifying successful doping without structural distortion. FTIR analysis showed strong Zn─O and Ag─O bonding, while FESEM revealed uniform nanoparticle coverage (40–80 nm) across both fabric types. Antibacterial efficacy, tested via the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, showed inhibition zones of up to 17 mm for E. coli and 15 mm for S. aureus. Notably, significant antibacterial activity remained after 10 home laundering cycles with detergent. CFU demonstrated a potent antibacterial response against E. coli. Therefore, better tensile characteristics and sufficient elongation are found in the bundle fiber strength test, indicating increased comfort and durability. The enhanced comfort behavior and effective moisture management are further highlighted by the micro-drop wicking test, which revealed superior moisture absorption and spreading ability.

Low-dimensional materials hold great promises for exploring emergent physical phenomena, nanoelectronics, and quantum technologies. Their synthesis often depends on catalytic metal films, from which the synthesized materials must be transferred to insulating substrates to enable device functionality and minimize interfacial interactions during quantum investigations. Conventional transfer methods, such as chemical etching or electrochemical delamination, degrade material quality, limit scalability, or prove incompatible with complex device architectures. Here, a scalable, etch-free transfer technique is presented, employing Field's metal (51% In, 32.5% Bi, and 16.5% Sn by weight) as a low-melting-point mechanical support to gently delaminate low-dimensional materials from metal films without causing damage. Anchoring the metal film during separation prevents tearing and preserves material integrity. As a proof of concept, atomically precise graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are transferred from Au(111)/mica to dielectric substrates, including silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and single-crystalline lanthanum oxychloride (LaOCl). Comprehensive characterization confirms the preservation of structural and chemical integrity throughout the transfer process. Wafer-scale compatibility and device integration are demonstrated by fabricating GNR-based field-effect transistors (GNRFETs) that exhibit room-temperature switching with on/off current ratios exceeding 10³. This method provides a scalable and versatile platform for integrating low-dimensional materials into advanced low-dimensional materials-based technologies.

In this study, we establish an accurate growth diagram—describing the phase, composition, and atomic stacking of Ge-Sb-Te alloys (GST)—that can be used as a prediction tool for thin film deposition. This framework for epitaxy at the atomic scale allows for designing tailored crystalline GST phases with precise atomic layer stacking configurations. By leveraging insights into phase stability, we optimize growth conditions to achieve high-quality, bidimensional GST structures of different compositions (Ge₂Sb₂Te₅, Ge₃Sb₂Te_6, and Ge₁Sb₂Te₄) and phases (ordered-cubic and trigonal). Moreover, we examine the influence of structural anisotropies and interface effects on the low-temperature magneto-transport properties. The orientational ordering of the vacancy layers and their evolution into van der Waals gaps alters the electrical conduction dramatically, plausibly also in the presence of the topological surface states and their coupling with the bulk states. In addition, we examine the reversible transition between two stable resistance states in a memory cell for the GST precisely tailored by the growth using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). Its textured structure favors low power consumption, making it a promising candidate for phase-change memory technology.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) offer a unique platform for bridging molecular design and nanoscale functionality owing to their tunable structures. Beyond their intrinsic electronic properties, PAHs exhibit significant potential for directed self-assembly, enabling the formation of ordered nanostructures with tailored functionalities. Here, we report the on-surface self-assembly of quantum dot-like nanostructures and nanoribbons from two closely related PAH molecules, C₉₆H₂₄(C₁₂H₂₅)₆ (C96-A) and C₉₆H₃₀ (C96), deposited on Au(111) via molecular beam epitaxy. Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) reveal a structural evolution from ordered single molecules to extended nanoribbons, with the latter exhibiting a narrow electronic bandgap of 0.8 eV. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates a single carbon chemical environment, while near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy confirms a flat-lying molecular orientation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate the experimental findings and provide insight into the self-assembly mechanisms. These results highlight the potential of engineered PAHs for the bottom-up fabrication of nanoscale electronic materials.

Porous cellulose and nanocellulose materials, such as foams and aerogels, are widely used in numerous applications due to their large surface area, sorption capacity, mechanical resilience, and overall versatility. Additionally, porous cellulose materials provide extensive interaction sites that can facilitate a variety of chemical processes. Herein, ultrathin nanocellulose model surfaces with a 2D open-pore structure are presented that mimic the complexity of porous cellulose fiber materials. A sacrificial templating approach is used by spin coating a mixture of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNFs) and polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles onto a silicon wafer, followed by selective nanoparticle dissolution. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy reveal an ultrathin TOCNF layer with hierarchical morphology and spherical open pores (70 nm diameter), with a root mean square roughness of 19 nm. The surface coverage of nanoparticles is controlled primarily by changing the TOCNF concentration, and to a lesser extent, the ratio between PS nanoparticles and TOCNFs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy supports the complete removal of the PS template, leaving behind a pure TOCNFs layer. Open-pore structured nanocellulose model surfaces provide a tool to investigate interfacial phenomena in porous materials constructed from fibers and/or nanocelluloses, thus advancing the engineering of functional porous cellulose-based materials.

Slippery surfaces that minimize contact line pinning and enable high droplet mobility have emerged as promising solutions for enhancing condensation and anti-icing performance. Among them, lubricant-infused surfaces (LIS) and liquid-like surfaces (LLS) are two dominant design strategies that achieve dynamic liquid repellency via fundamentally different mechanisms. This review distills what works, why it works, and how to make it last. We clarify the distinct mechanisms: liquid–liquid interfacial transport in LIS versus tethered-chain mobility in LLS and connect these to application-level outcomes: stable dropwise condensation (including low-surface-tension fluids), low ice adhesion, and delayed frost propagation. We identify durability as the rate-limiting barrier and clarify the primary failure pathways: lubricant loss in LIS (via cloaking, wetting-ridge–mediated entrainment, and frost wicking) and molecular or structural degradation in LLS (including chain scission, entanglement, and interfacial heterogeneity). From these insights, we extract design rules for LIS and LLS: employing closed-cell and hierarchical reservoirs to immobilize lubricants under shear; defining lubricant's property windows, such as viscosity and miscibility, that suppress cloaking while retaining mobility; and optimizing grafting-density and molecular-weight regimes to preserve LLS segmental dynamics while ensuring coverage. We further highlight emerging, application-ready solutions, such as active and passive lubricant replenishment schemes, stimuli- and phase-change–responsive systems, hybrid LIS/LLS stacks, and fluorine-free chemistries. Finally, we outline critical future directions to ensure commercial success, focusing on overcoming economic barriers and meeting environmental regulations. Together, these insights provide a roadmap for engineering scalable, long-lived slippery surfaces that translate interfacial physics into robust performance across next-generation energy, water, and anti-icing systems.

Poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a biocompatible and safe polymer, making it an ideal material for fabricating microspheres for drug delivery. In this study, naringin, which a role in bone modification, is used as the active pharmaceutical ingredient, and PLLA is employed as the drug carrier to fabricate naringin-loaded PLLA microspheres, thereby creating a long-acting, sustained-release drug delivery system. The ideal microspheres are prepared by stirring at 200 revolutions per minute for 8 hours. Compared to other microsphere materials, PLLA microspheres achieved an encapsulation efficiency of up to 70%. Moreover, this study provides the first demonstration of acid-enhanced sustained naringin release via PLLA microspheres, which ensures continuous drug release for over 35 days, with a release rate of 50%. The kinetics of drug release confirmed the sustained release profile of the system. In vitro experiments revealed that naringin-loaded PLLA microspheres maintained a cell survival rate of over 95% for L929 cells, significantly higher than that of free naringin. Furthermore, naringin-loaded microspheres effectively promoted the growth and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). These findings highlight the potential application of naringin-loaded PLLA microspheres in bone repair, offering a promising strategy for sustained drug delivery in biomedical applications.

The transition to 3D device architectures is a rapidly advancing trend in microelectronics. As a result, several manufacturing technologies have has to rapidly evolve to meet the challenge of more complex structures, whilst maintaining the high precision needed for functional devices. Currently, plasma etching of thin films on high aspect ratio 3D structures, like multidimensional piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (piezoMEMS), has not been sufficiently studied. This work studies plasma etching of multidimensional structures using aluminum nitride (AlN) and molybdenum (Mo) thin films as the etched material, to determine the isotropicity of the etching and damage to exposed vertical thin films. The etching process is characterized through horizontal and vertical etch rate, and the surface roughness of the films. Chemical etching and ion milling are> found to contribute to the isotropic etching of Mo, however, low volatility products appeared to act as a mask, partially protecting sidewall films from ion milling. Conversely, etching of AlN appeared to be entirely anisotropic, further showing that low volatility ions prevent isotropic ion milling. This work provides the first look into patterning multidimensional piezoMEMS structures and acts as a base for future optimization of similar processes.

Graphene-based flexible strain sensors have attracted significant interest for next-generation wearable electronics due to their exceptional electromechanical properties. Their sensitivity can be further enhanced by incorporating metal and metal oxide nanoparticles into the graphene framework. However, existing fabrication approaches are often complex and expensive. We present a laser-assisted, scalable, and cost-effective strategy to construct 3D porous graphene architectures uniformly embedded with iron oxide nanoparticles. The process involves fiber laser irradiation of iron-nitrate-treated laser-induced graphene (LIG), which yields hierarchical nanostructures with a markedly enhanced piezoresistive response. The resulting sensors exhibit an ultrahigh gauge factor (GF = 635), fast response time (40 ms), excellent mechanical durability (over 5000 cycles), and a broad sensing range (up to 11%). Structural characterization confirms the effective and homogeneous integration of iron oxide nanoparticles within the graphene matrix. These results highlight the potential of this laser-fabricated nanocomposite platform for high-performance, flexible sensing systems in wearable and soft robotic applications.

High-voltage cathodes such as LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ (LNMO) offer promising energy density but suffer from interfacial degradation accelerated at elevated voltages and temperatures. Here, we present a comprehensive comparative study of three Li₃PO₄ coating methods (precipitation, sol–gel, and dry sol–gel routes) applied to commercial LNMO powders. Coating quality and intimacy are systematically assessed using a correlative, multitechnique approach including ⁷Li and ³¹P solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical testing. A key insight from this study is the use of ssNMR relaxation behavior as a sensitive probe of coating intimacy to the active phase. The methodology is validated on commercial LNMO and reproduced in a lab-synthesized LNMO to demonstrate reproducibility across particle morphologies. Among all methods, the sol–gel route produced a uniform ∼20 nm coating with optimal surface contact, translating to improved rate capability and outstanding high-temperature cycling stability (87% retention after 100 cycles at 50 °C compared to 29% for the non-coated LNMO), while retaining rate capability. These findings establish a practical framework for designing robust interfacial coatings in high-voltage lithium-ion battery materials.