We investigate the radiation response of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin-film transistors fabricated with 23 nm silicon oxynitride gate dielectric layers, for total ionizing doses (TIDs) of Co-60 gamma irradiation up to 2 Mrad(Si). Irradiations with ±1 MV/cm across the gate dielectric have little effect on the threshold voltage, yielding shifts of less than ±0.25 V and no detrimental effect on SWCNT mobility or maximum drain current. This illustrates the need to consider the total device material composition when investigating the radiation response of carbon nanoelectronics and substantiates the applicability of SWCNT-based nanoelectronics for use in high TID environments.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have received intensive attentions owing to the abundant and inexpensive sodium (Na) resource. Layered vanadium oxides are featured with various valence states and corresponding compounds, and through multi-electron reaction they are capable to deliver high Na storage capacity. The rational construction of unique structures is verified to improve their Na storage properties. This perspective provides an overview of recent advances in layered vanadium oxide for SIBs, with a particular focus on construction of novel nanostructures, and mechanism studies via in situ characterization. Finally, we predict possible breakthroughs and future trends that lie ahead for high-performance layered vanadium oxides SIBs cathode.

Different sized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been synthesized by an inexpensive wet chemical method using bird charcoal as a precursor. Obtained GQDs found to have luminescence and visible light absorption. These GQDs are further coupled with titanium dioxide (TiO2) to form TiO2–GQDs nanocomposites. GQD nanostructures exhibit band gap tunability and have the potential to enhance the photoabsorption in TiO2. The hybrid combination of the nanomaterials decrease the recombination of charge carriers, increase charge carrier mobility, and improve the overall photoconversion efficiency. The composites exhibit higher photocatalytic activity and rate constants value than pure TiO2.

Flexible piezoelectric generators (PEGs) present a unique opportunity for renewable and sustainable energy harvesting. Here, we present a low-temperature and low-energy deposition method using solvent evaporation-assisted three-dimensional printing to deposit electroactive poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-trifluoroethylene (TrFE) up to 19 structured layers. Visible-wavelength transmittance was above 92%, while ATR-FTIR spectroscopy showed little change in the electroactive phase fraction between layer depositions. Electroactivity from the fabricated PVDF-TrFE PEGs showed that a single structured layer gave the greatest output at 289.3 mV peak-to-peak voltage. This was proposed to be due to shear-induced polarization affording the alignment of the fluoropolymer dipoles without an electric field or high temperature.

The formation of silver nanostructures (AgNSs) with different crystals morphology in porous SiO2/p-Si templates by the electroless wet-chemical method at temperatures between 20 and 50 °C and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was investigated. It was found that optimized dendritic silver architectures contain a significant number of localized “hot spots.” We show that well-reproducible AgNSs provide a significantly enhanced Raman signal of Nile blue dye molecules up to 10−6 M by using different excitation wavelengths (473, 532, and 633 nm). Based on our observations, the well-organized AgNSs can act as efficient surfaces for SERS as well as (bio)-sensor applications.

Among various material nanoarchitectures, the nanotube geometry has received incredible attention due to the unique properties provided by its high surface area as well as nanoscale wall thickness and the availability of a variety of techniques to fabricate them. Since the beginning of this century, anodization has emerged as one of the most effective techniques for the fabrication of functional oxide nanotubes. Oxide nanotubes of a number of metals and alloys have been developed using this versatile technique. We review here the research activities on anodic nanotubes of various binary, ternary, and multinary materials and their selected applications.

Biosilica from living diatom microalgae has recently attracted the interest of the scientific community and found several applications in bio-nanotechnology. Among silica-maker organisms, diatom microalgae represent the most attractive marine microorganisms, featuring highly hierarchical, nanotextured and porous silica walls. These biologic structures, known as “frustules” are also chemically addressable via simple chemical synthesis. In this work, we propose new diatom-based hybrid materials consisting of biosilica extracted from living Thalassiosira weissflogii coated with polydopamine (PDA) films. The adhesion properties of the PDA were exploited to decorate the silica surface with silver nanoparticles. These multifunctional heterostructures can be useful for applications ranging from bioelectronics to biomedicine.

In vitro electrophysiology using microelectrode arrays (MEAs) plays an important role in understanding fundamental biologic processes, screening potential drugs and assessing the toxicity of chemicals. Low electrode impedance and ability to sustain viable cultures are the key technology requirements. We show that MEAs consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and coated with poly-L-lysine satisfy these requirements. Hippocampal cell cultures, maintained for 3–6 weeks on these MEAs, give high quality recordings of neural activity. This enables the observation of drug-induced activity changes, which paves the way for using these devices in in vitro drug screening and toxicology applications.

Mn-doped bismuth oxide bromide microspheres have been prepared by the hydrothermal method. The resultant composite microspheres exhibited higher photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, attributing to the improvement of the photo-absorption property and the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. The holes and O2•− are the main active species in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation, rather than •OH.

In-doped tin (II) sulfide nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized by ultrasonication method and their optical and photovoltaic properties, have been investigated. FESEM images show NPs which have a flower-like morphology that sizes are <100 nm. Optical energy band gap estimation of tin sulfide NPs with the Tauc plot method had shown an increase with minimum of indium concentration and then decreases with higher concentration of indium. Photovoltaic experiment shows the highly photovoltaic efficiency of tin sulfide NPs with indium doping, can be obtained.

Colloidal quantum dot photovoltaic devices have improved from initial, sub-1% solar power conversion efficiency to current record performance of over 7%. Rapid advances in materials processing and device physics have driven this impressive performance progress. The highest-efficiency approaches rely on a fabrication process that starts with nanocrystals in solution, initially capped with long organic molecules. This solution is deposited and the resultant film is treated using a solution containing a second, shorter capping ligand, leading to a cross-linked, non-redispersible, and dense layer. This procedure is repeated, leading to the widely employed layer-by-layer solid-state ligand exchange. We will review the properties and features of this process, and will also discuss innovative pathways to creating even higher-performing films and photovoltaic devices.

There is an increasing interest in the generation of well-defined nanoparticles (NPs) not only because of their size-related particular properties, but also because they are promising building blocks for more complex materials in nanotechnology.

Here, we will shortly introduce the gas-phase synthesis technology that has evolved rapidly in the last years and allows the fabrication of complex NPs with controllable and tuneable chemical composition and structure while keeping very good control over the size distribution. We will also address some limitations of the technology (stability over time, production yield, etc.) and discuss possible solutions.

Paper-based cell culture platforms have emerged as a promising approach for a myriad of biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, disease models, cancer research, biotechnology, high-throughput testing, biosensing, and diagnostics. Paper enables the generation of highly flexible, biocompatible, inexpensive, porous, and three-dimensional (3D) constructs and devices. These systems have been used to culture mammalian cells, bacteria, algae, and fungi. Studies have shown that paper is an exceptional material for applications in life sciences, materials sciences, engineering, and medicine. Paper has been employed for creating biomimetic cell culture environments by folding or stacking it into the desired 3D shapes and structures. This review discusses the use of paper-based platforms for cellular applications and provides a diverse range of examples.

Focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) is capable of producing metal-containing nanostructures with lateral resolution on the sub-nanometer scale. Practical application of this nanofabrication technique has been hindered by ligand-derived contamination from precursors developed for thermal deposition methods. Mechanistic insight into FEBID through surface science studies and gas-phase electron–molecule interactions has begun to enable the design of custom FEBID precursors. These studies have shown that precursors designed to decompose under electron irradiation can produce high-purity FEBID deposits. Herein, we highlight the progress in FEBID precursor development with several examples that incorporate this mechanism-based design approach.

When ultrafine-grained (UFG) samples are deformed plastically, it is necessary to consider the role of grain boundaries even at the micrometer scale in sample size. We report here the occurrence of intensive grain boundary sliding (GBS) at room temperature in micro-pillars of a UFG aluminum alloy having an unusually high strain rate sensitivity. A consequence of this GBS is that the intermittent flow with detrimental strain avalanches characterizing micro-sized conventional crystals is not present in UFG materials, thereby illustrating a potential for effectively applying these UFG materials in micro-devices.

Robust superhydrophobic surfaces can improve the performance of various applications. Considerable research has focused on developing superhydrophobic surfaces, but in these studies, superhydrophobicity was attained using polymeric materials, which deteriorate under harsh environments. Recently, it has been shown that rare-earth oxide ceramics are hydrophobic and since they are ceramics, they withstand harsh environments including high temperature. Here we fabricate a superhydrophobic surface by texturing a ceria pellet using laser ablation. We demonstrate water repellency by showing an impinging water droplet bouncing off the surface. This study extends the possibility of producing robust superhydrophobic ceramics using accessible techniques for industrial applications.

We provide insights pertaining the dependence of undercooling in the formation of graphite, nanodiamonds, and Q-carbon nanocomposites by nanosecond laser melting of diamond-like carbon (DLC). The DLC films are melted rapidly in a super-undercooled state and subsequently quenched to room temperature. Substrates exhibiting different thermal properties—silicon and sapphire, are used to demonstrate that substrates with lower thermal conductivity trap heat flow, inducing larger undercooling, both experimentally and theoretically via finite element simulations. The increased undercooling facilitates the formation of Q-carbon. The Q-carbon is used as nucleation seeds for diamond growth via laser remelting and hot-filament chemical vapor deposition.

Large volume fractions of Mn–Ni–Si (MNS) precipitates formed in irradiated light water reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels cause severe hardening and embrittlement at high neutron fluence. A new equilibrium thermodynamic model was developed based on the CALculation of PHAse Diagrams (CALPHAD) method using both commercial (TCAL2) and specially assembled databases to predict precipitation of these phases. Good agreement between the model predictions and experimental data suggest that equilibrium thermodynamic models provide a basis to predict terminal MNS precipitation over wider range of alloy compositions and temperatures, and can also serve as a foundation for kinetic modeling of precipitate evolution.

In this study, based on the collection process, three-dimensional aligned fiber scaffolds from gelatin and zein protein were manufactured using Forcespinning®. The homogeneous blending of gelatin:zein (1:4) showed improved tensile and good hydrophobic properties (water contact angle of 115 °C). Cell viability, adhesion, proliferation, and drug release were measured. The cell viability was studied with human fibroblasts and a low cytotoxic effect was observed. Berberine drug release was measured and sustained release rate was observed over 15 days. The morphologic features, prolonged drug release, and cytotoxicity results suggest that these fibers could be appropriate for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the most intensely studied and clinically used adult stem cell type. Conventional long-term cultivation of MSCs as a monolayer is known to result in a reduction of their functionality and viability. In addition, large volumes of cell culture medium are required to obtain cell quantities needed for their clinical use. In this proof of concept study, we cultivated human MSCs within a three-dimensional nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) hydrogel. We show that NFC is biocompatible with human MSCs, and represents a feasible approach to upscaling of their culture.