Advanced Materials Interfaces最新文献

The fabrication of next-generation semiconductor and quantum devices with complex 3D architectures requires etching processes that enable highly anisotropic profiles while minimizing plasma-induced damage. However, conventional plasma processes face fundamental limitations, including plasma-induced damage and limited control over etch anisotropy. In particular, fluorine-rich plasmas such as CF₄ inherently struggle to achieve vertical profiles due to insufficient sidewall passivation. This study demonstrates that vertical etch profiles can be achieved under ultra-low electron temperature (ULET) conditions in fluorine-rich Ar/CF₄ plasma. Under conventional high electron temperature (T_e) conditions without radio-frequency (rf) bias power, Ar/CF₄ plasma produces isotropic profiles characterized by undercut and a rounded trench bottom. When T_e is reduced to ≈ 0.5 eV, the profile transitions from isotropic to anisotropic, resulting in suppressed undercut and a flattened trench bottom. This transition is attributed to enhanced sidewall passivation, driven by an increased CF_x/F ratio at low-T_e conditions. Moreover, applying moderate rf bias (7 W) to the ULET plasma improves the vertical etch rate and anisotropy without distortion. However, excessive bias power (>18 W) leads to electron heating, which reintroduces distortion. These findings establish T_e as a decisive parameter and demonstrate that ULET plasma enables highly anisotropic etching with minimized distortion in fluorine-rich chemistries.

Carbon-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by a facile carbothermal treatment at different temperatures. The synthesis was conducted in a rotary tube furnace under an acetylene/nitrogen gas flow. A detailed analysis of the morphology of the particles revealed a layered graphene structure surrounding the TiO₂ core with a temperature-dependent shell thickness of 1–1.5 nm. The material exhibits a significant shift in the Raman E_g(1) mode toward higher wavenumbers. High carbon contents were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This led to the conclusion that in addition to the carbon in the shell, carbon is also incorporated into the TiO₂ structure. Substitutional doping in favor of titanium or oxygen atoms could be excluded based on XPS measurements due to the absence of Ti–C bonds and the lack of changes in lattice parameters of the unit cell or microstrain. An interstitial incorporation of carbon is therefore most likely. Either the incorporation of carbon or the carbon shell suppressed the phase transition from anatase to the thermodynamically stable rutile which is expected above 600$��{}^{\circ }�C�$. Additionally, the process inhibits the crystallite growth at higher treatment temperatures.

Nanohybrids

Cy3-labeled LNA–miRNA gold nanoprobes are physically adsorbed onto MoS₂ nanosheets via sulfur vacancies and edge sites. Upon laser excitation, plasmonic gold nanoparticles amplify Raman scattering, yielding sharp Cy3-spectral peaks that reveal precise probe functionalization and sensitive miRNA detection. More details can be found in the Research Article by Faith Mokobi Zablon, Kristen Dellinger, Shyam Aravamudhan, and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/admi.202500528).

Size selection of liquid-dispersed 2D nanomaterials is a prerequisite for size-dependent studies in earlier-stage research and for their targeted application in commercial settings. Centrifugation is the most widespread method for reliably sorting suspensions of polydisperse 2D nanosheets according to size. However, whilst centrifugation is effective, no a priori models are available to predict the outcome of centrifugation, making time-consuming iterative experiments necessary. Here, we present a simple model for the behavior of 2D nanosheets during centrifugation and benchmark its predictions against experiments. This model uses simple expressions, specific to 2D particles, for the hydrodynamic radius, effective density, and viscous resistance to generate the equation of motion of individual nanosheet during centrifugation. Critically, the equation of motion is then used to predict nanosheet size distributions within centrifugation products. This in turn leads to equations for easily measurable properties such as mean and maximum nanosheet sizes obtained during centrifugation-based fractionation. Comparison with experimental data demonstrates the robustness of this model for a range of 2D materials and solvent systems, and its ability to describe quite subtle effects. These results will enable more tailored size selection of nanosheets for specific applications and offer new mechanistic insights to optimize exfoliation conditions.

Hydrogels, known for their biocompatibility and responsiveness to external stimuli, are promising candidates for wearable sensors and electronics. However, conventional hydrogels exhibit low thermal conductivity (0.2–0.6 W/m·K), which limits efficient heat dissipation and leads to performance degradation during continuous operation, such as in long-term wearable health monitors. Moreover, their weak mechanical and environmental stability further constrains their broader applications. In this study, we introduce a multiscale structural engineering approach that leverages the dynamics of pores, crystallization, and hydrogen bonding. Inspired by the design motifs of natural materials such as spider silk, we enhance the thermal conductivity of hydrogels to 1.5 W/m·K. This multiscale structural strategy also improves their mechanical strength and environmental resilience. Our findings provide a blueprint for understanding the process–structure–property relationships and offer a design framework for expanding the practical applications of hydrogels.

Self-catalyzed AlGaAs nanowires (NWs) offer advantageous properties, including lattice matching to GaAs, a wide range of electronic bandgaps, and monolithic integration with the mature Si platform due to elastic strain relaxation. However, the growth of self-catalyzed AlGaAs NWs is typically characterized by morphological challenges, such as branching and tapering. Here, we comprehensively investigate the optimization of the group III growth rate and V/III ratio. We demonstrate the growth of AlGaAs NWs using a Ga/Al alloy droplet as a co-catalyst, achieving minimal branching and NW uniformity with up to 40% nominal Al content. Embedding a single GaAs segment in an optimized NW structure results in QD-like properties, including strong spatially localized emission at room temperature. Our findings demonstrate the control of branching events in self-catalyzed AlGaAs NWs, highlighting their potential for applications including nanolasers and quantum light emitters.

The exceptional biomechanical performance of the intervertebral disc (IVD) arises from its complex hierarchical structure, where interlamellar and radial fiber networks play critical roles in load transfer and mechanical resilience. However, the precise contribution of these fiber networks remains incompletely understood. Here, we present a biomimetic strategy that replicates these native interfacial architectures using silk-based suture reinforcement, forming annulus fibrosus–nucleus pulposus (AF–NP) constructs designed to emulate native IVD functionality. Mechanical testing revealed that suture-reinforced laminates achieved superior shear resistance (0.87 ± 0.06 MPa) while reducing modulus variability from 43% to 4%, indicating enhanced interlamellar cohesion. Radial fibers further improved compressive performance, limiting radial expansion and maintaining internal pressurization under load. Finite element modeling demonstrated that radial fibers redistributed interfacial stresses, reduced peak stress concentrations, and enhanced circumferential fiber activation, promoting more uniform load distribution. These findings establish that interlamellar and radial fibers are essential for maintaining IVD structural integrity and optimizing load distribution. Our biomimetic design offers a robust framework for developing next-generation IVD repair and replacement constructs, providing insights that may advance clinical strategies for IVD degeneration and improve the durability of soft tissue implants.

Surfaces play a central role in catalytic processes, and understanding the transformation of ruthenium metal into ruthenium oxide during annealing is essential for tailoring functional catalytic interfaces. In this study, we systematically investigate ≈22 nm thick Ru metal films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 300°C, focusing on their chemical composition, structural evolution, and surface hydration behavior following post-deposition annealing in air from 400 to 600°C. Lab-based and synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveal a gradual conversion from metallic Ru to fully oxidized Ru⁴⁺ with increasing annealing temperature, accompanied by a corresponding increase in lattice oxygen. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows amorphous Ru oxide phases at 400°C and 500°C that evolve into crystalline RuO₂ at 600°C, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicates enhanced grain growth and surface roughening upon annealing. Ambient-pressure XPS (AP-XPS) under controlled H₂O vapor environments (1–17 Torr) demonstrates that samples annealed at 400°C and 500°C exhibit initially high hydroxyl coverage that decreases with increasing water vapor pressure, concurrent with a rise in molecular H₂O adsorption. In contrast, the crystalline RuO₂ surface formed at 600°C maintains stable hydroxylation and supports increased water uptake. Overall, this work provides fundamental insight into Ru oxide–H₂O interactions and establishes design principles for engineering oxide surfaces optimized for electrocatalytic applications.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a leading photovoltaic technology, with efficiencies now exceeding 28%. However, their commercialization is hindered by poor long-term stability against moisture, oxygen, heat, and UV radiation. A promising solution is presented by graphene and its functionalized derivatives, e.g., graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and so forth, due to their exceptional electrical, mechanical, and barrier properties. In this review, the application of these graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) to enhance PSC stability is systematically examined. The integration of GBNs into all key device components—including transparent electrodes, electron and hole transport layers (ETLs/HTLs), interfacial layers, and encapsulation coatings—is analyzed. Key findings show that GBNs significantly improve device performance and durability. For instance, rapid electron extraction is facilitated by GBN-modified ETLs, while robust moisture resistance is provided by graphene-based HTLs and encapsulants, enabling high PCE retention (>90%) under harsh conditions. Recent advancements are summarized in this paper, highlighting how functionalized graphene derivatives are critical enablers for the development of commercially viable, stable next-generation PSCs.