Molecules self-assembling in solution may pass through multiple phases and morphologies before reaching a thermodynamically stable state. Here we demonstrated this effect in tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), an organic molecule often used as an electron acceptor in charge transfer complex compounds. We showed that it self-assembles in a wide range of crystal habits, from nanocoils to polyhedral crystals. Scanning electron microscopy imaging on freeze-dried samples revealed the crystal growth of TCNQ starting from seed-shaped nucleation sites, progressing through flower-like structures and finally forming polyhedral micro-crystals. These results are supplemented by absorption spectroscopy as well as x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) characterization of a powder sample.

Tissue engineering holds great promise for advancing cancer research and achieving the goals of the Cancer Moonshot by providing better models for basic research and testing novel therapeutics. This paper focuses on the use of hydrogel biomaterials due to their unique ability to entrap cells in three-dimensional (3D) matrix that mimics tissues and can be programmed with physical and chemical cues to recreate key aspects of tumor microenvironments. The chemistry of some commonly used hydrogel platforms is discussed, and important examples of their use in tissue engineering 3D cancer models are highlighted. Challenges and opportunities for future research are also discussed.

This paper aims to obtain an analytical expression for the ratio of unloading work of indentation (Wu) to total loading work of indentation (Wt) (work recovery ratio of indentation) in instrumented spherical indentation. The expanding cavity model and Lamé solution are used. Three typical stress–strain relations (elastic-perfectly plastic, linear hardening, and power-law hardening) are analyzed. The results of finite-element method coincide with the expressions. The expressions show that the work recovery ratio of indentation is just related to plastic parameters. Furthermore, elastic work (We) are obtained, and it is proved that We should be distinguished from Wu in spherical indentation.

[6,6]-Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl esters (PCBM) have emerged in recent years as important building blocks for photovoltaic devices. However, the potential of PCBM itself as a photocatalyst has not been reviewed. Here, we demonstrate PCBM nanoparticles (NPs) fabricated by the reprecipitation method as suitable photocatalysts for an effective visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation for organic dyes. An enhanced catalytic performance of PCBM can be achieved by a simple annealing process. The present PCBM NPs outperform the state-of-the-art P25 TiO2 and therefore highlights its potential as promising small molecule organic semiconductor photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity and good long-term stability.

Impedance spectroscopy was conducted on colloidal ITO thin films that had been subjected to alternating oxygen and argon plasma treatments, followed by air annealing from 150 to 750 °C. An equivalent circuit consisting of an RC element nested within another RC element, featuring a negative resistance and a negative capacitance, fitted the data well. These results are interpreted as being due to surface plasmons that are a function of the presence of nanoporous ITO-rich regions surrounded by isolated ITO nanoparticles coated with an amorphous polymer that intertwines with the ITO-rich regions as a function of annealing treatment.

We develop a simple model to compute the energy-dependent decay factors of metal-induced gap states in metal/insulator interfaces considering the collective behavior of all the bulk complex bands in the gap of the insulator. The agreement between the penetration length obtained from the model (considering only bulk properties) and full first-principles simulations of the interface (including explicitly the interfaces) is good. The influence of the electrodes and the polarization of the insulator are analyzed. The method simplifies the process of screening materials to be used in Schootky barriers or in the design of giant tunneling electroresistance and magnetoresistance devices.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is synthesized through a micellar dispersion that allows incorporation of biomolecules into this conductive polymer layer. A PEDOT:κ-carrageenan (κC) system was obtained by electrodeposition and it was compared with a standard PEDOT:sodium dodecyl sulfate electrode coat. The electrochemical behavior and the oxidation level after 1000 cycles were studied through cyclic voltammetry and μRaman spectroscopy. The oxidation ratio in the PEDOT increased while electrochemical activity decreased in both cases. Moreover, the PEDOT:κC system allowed the immobilization of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, which retained its activity. The unique combination of properties is a key feature in the bioelectronics field.

We report a breakthrough in the field of electrolyte additives for use in lithium ion batteries. Batteries containing maleimide (0.1 wt%) as an electrolyte additive absorbed moisture (H2O) from a high-humidity atmosphere. When compared with batteries without the maleimide and absorbed moisture, the capacity of batteries with the “binary additive” showed improvements of 7.4% and 5.2% in a 0.1C/0.1C cycle test, and 394% and 174% in high-power 3C rate tests conducted at room temperature and 55 °C, respectively. Thus, this innovative additive formation can effectively reduce the requirement for anhydrous conditions during the fabrication and operation of lithium ion batteries.

Polymers with stable radical groups are promising materials for organic electronic devices due to their unique redox activity. Block copolymers with one redox active block could be used in nanostructured devices for electronic applications. We report on the synthesis and characterization of such multifunctional block copolymers in which phase separation on the 10 nm (half pitch) scale is achieved by using fluorinated blocks. Fluorination of one block increases the degree of phase separation and leads to smaller accessible domain sizes. Block copolymers with 60%, 80% and 90% of a stable radical containing block and either fluorinated or non-fluorinated second blocks were made by atom transfer radical polymerization, and their microstructure formation as a function of fluorine content is described after solvent vapor or thermal annealing. Electrical characterization of such a partly fluorinated block copolymer shows their potential for electronic devices.

The goal of this work was to provide antimicrobial activity to polypropylene by covalent immobilization of lysozyme. The first step was the grafting of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate through “grafting-from” method by means of γ-rays. Then those chemical groups were activated to allow the immobilization of lysozyme by Schiff bases. The activity of lysozyme showed an improvement by the remaining double bonds from the grafting. Finally, the presence of lysozyme was confirmed by the hydrolysis of Micrococcus lysodeikticus at different temperatures, pH values, and cycles. The new materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, contact angle, and by the surface morphology.

The authors report on strong exciton–photon coupling in all-metal microcavities containing functionalized anthradithiophene (ADT) in host poly(methyl methacrylate) matrices for a wide range of ADT concentrations. Angle-resolved reflectance of polycrystalline films revealed Rabi splittings up to 340 meV. Angle-resolved photoluminescence in films with low ADT concentrations (dominated by “isolated” ADT molecules) showed Rabi splittings which scaled with the square root of oscillator strength. When “aggregated” and “isolated” ADT molecules coexisted in film, cavities preferentially coupled to “isolated” molecules due to an anisotropic distribution of aggregates. As a solution-processable high-performance organic semiconductor, ADT shows promise as an (opto)electronic polaritonic material.

Binder-free three-dimensional Co3O4 electrodes are fabricated by an economical and scalable one-step flame combustion method, namely Reactive Spray Deposition Technology. The electrodes are composed of porous nanostructured Co3O4 uniformly distributed throughout the conductive substrate. In the absence of any further optimization on the processing conditions, the as-synthesized electrodes demonstrate high capacitance of 567 F g−1 at 1.5 A g−1, excellent rate capability, and stable cycling performance with a capacity retention ratio of 96.7% after 1000 charge/discharge cycles from the three-electrode half-cell testing. This study presents the pathway to a significantly simplified manufacturing process of three-dimensional electrodes with the desirable porous nanostructure.

Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) models of complex materials and biomolecules are increasingly being constructed using molecular dynamics (MD). A KMC model contains a catalog of states and kinetic pathways, which enables study of the dynamics. The completeness of the catalog is crucial to the model accuracy and is linked to the quality of the MD data used for model construction. Therefore, quantifying the uncertainty due to missing states and pathways is important. A review on computational procedures available for on-the-fly KMC model construction using MD, uncertainty measurement, and algorithms for guiding further MD sampling in an accelerated manner is presented.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer which currently does not have a cure. Its invasive nature and heterogeneity makes its complete surgical removal impossible. Hence, a targeted treatment is critically needed to effectively eradicate this cancer. In this work, the authors report the synthesis of hollow TiO2 nanospheres (HTiO2NS) and their functionalization with folic acid (FA) and zinc (II) tetranitrophthalocyanine (ZnPc) to achieve cell selectivity and light absorption in the visible range. In vitro cytotoxicity of the functionalized HTiO2NS against M059K cell line (Human GBM cancer cells) was tested. In vitro generation of reactive oxygen species by HTiO2NS–FA–ZnPc nanostructures under UV irradiation was detected by fluorescence probing. To identify HTiO2NS–FA–ZnPc cell localization, the nanoparticles were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate dye and visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Results illustrate that HTiO2NS–FA–ZnPc nanostructures have the potential to be used for targeted photodynamic therapy for the treatment of GBM cancer.

The influence of Ag-doping on the crystallographic structure, magnetic properties, and magnetocaloric effects of Mn1−xAgxCoGe (0.01 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.10) is reported. A transformation of crystal structure from orthorhombic to hexagonal was observed at room temperature. Doping Ag in Mn sites results in a first-order magnetostructural transition near room temperature. A Curie-temperature window of 90 K was obtained between the Curie temperatures of the austenite (Ni2In-type) and martensite (TiNiSi-type) phases. Large magnetic entropy change values of ~22.0 and 9.4 J/kg/K, and refrigerant capacity of 308 and 272 J/kg, were found for x = 0.06 and 0.05, respectively, for μ0ΔH = 5 T.

Nickel oxide-based materials have attracted significant interest for a variety of energy conversion applications although many of their structures remain unresolved. In this study, Density Functional Theory+U (DFT+U) and hybrid DFT calculations are used to analyze the properties of crystalline nickel oxyhydroxide (β-NiOOH) with hydrogen (H) vacancies. Hydrogen vacancies are found to lower the band gap without creating states inside the band gap. Inter-layer crossing is a possible transport pathway, while intra-layer transport is inhibited. Bulk modulus is not influenced by H vacancies in the crystal. β-NiOOH with H vacancies exhibits good electronic properties, essential for solid electrolytes and anodes in solid oxide fuel cells.

This study presents in situ detection of Zn2+ using a novel two-step square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV)-based needle-type microsensor for citrus plant applications. A double-barrel bismuth/platinum (Bi/Pt) microelectrode was fabricated with a solid metal tip (~110 µm), which was durable enough to penetrate the thick skin of the citrus leaves and sensitive enough to detect ppb changes in Zn2+ concentration using SWASV. The microelectrode tip size was also determined to reduce mass transport limitation and improve limit of detection. Overall, the developed Bi/Pt microelectrode successfully measured Zn2+ concentrations within the vascular bundle of citrus plants.

Nanostructured carbon materials, especially activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, have been widely studied for supercapacitor applications. To maximize the efficacy of these materials for electrochemical energy storage, a detailed understanding of the relationship between the nanostructure of these materials and their performance as supercapacitors is required. A fundamental structural parameter obtained from the Raman spectra of these materials, the in-plane correlation length or nanocrystalline domain size, is found to correlate with the electrochemical capacitance, regardless of other morphological features. This correlation for a common nanostructural characteristic is believed to be the first result of its kind to span several distinct nanostructured carbon morphologies, including graphene–carbon nanotubes hybrid materials, and may allow more effective nanoscale engineering of supercapacitor electrode materials.

Herein, the authors report our pioneering demonstration of the anisotropic thermal properties of black phosphorus (BP) nanoflakes. The nanoflakes were produced using a scotch tape-based mechanical exfoliation technique. Their thickness was characterized using Atomic Force Microscopy The anisotropic direction of the nanoflakes was determined by the Raman Spectroscopy equipped with a polarized laser. Then, a temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy method was utilized to study the thermal transport properties of the BP nanoflakes. The results indicated that the thermal conductivities of zigzag BP and armchair nanoflakes are 30.6 and 12.6 W/m·K, respectively. This fundamental thermal study gives insight into the future fabrication of nanoscale electronic devices with thermal properties that can be well controlled.

A simple method was used to electrodeposit a metallic coating on vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays, herein referred to as turfs, creating an open cell, core–shell foam. The foam exhibited highly elastic behavior, approaching the amount of elastic recovery in compression of a pure CNT turf. The turfs were pre-treated with an acid bath, and were electroplated at low voltages with nickel and copper. This simple method can be expanded to prepare a large variety of nanostructured foams (e.g., the carbon support can be changed, the metal deposited selected and its thickness controlled) while maintaining their mechanical robustness.