Research articles

Push-pull dye molecules self-assemble into two 2D Kagomé nanoarchitectures composed of a single or two chiral Baravelle spiral triangular trimer enantiomers. Only one of the two nanoarchitectures is able to trap coronene molecules.

ReRAM devices based on halide perovskites have recently emerged as a new class of data storage device, where the switching materials used in these devices have attracted huge attention in recent years. In this study, we compare the resistive switching characteristics of ReRAM devices based on a quasi-2D halide perovskite, (PEA)₂Cs₃Pb₄I₁₃, to those based on 3D CsPbI₃. Astonishingly, the ON/OFF ratio of the (PEA)₂Cs₃Pb₄I₁₃-based memory devices was much higher than that of the CsPbI₃ device. Also this device retained a high ON/OFF current ratio for two weeks under ambient conditions, whereas the CsPbI₃ device degraded rapidly and showed unreliable memory properties after five days. We strongly believe that quasi-2D halide perovskites have potential in resistive switching memory based on their high ON/OFF ratio and long-term stability.

Quantum Dot: Shell cross-linking endows stability: Simple and facile cross-linking chemistry was employed to form the robust network shell on the quantum dot (QD) surface without altering the photoluminescence property of pristine QDs. The resulting shell cross-linked QDs exhibited exceptional tolerance against heat or chemical oxidations. And the exterior brush in QDs can be readily tunable and provide the miscibility with host polymer matrix, resulting in well-defined QD-nanocomposite films. This encapsulation strategy can be generally applicable to many other nanoparticles that are vulnerable to various external stimuli.

In this work, we developed a novel hybrid hydrogel system consisting of glycerol-modified PVA hydrogel reinforced by a 3D printed PCL-graphene composite scaffold. The biocompatible hybrid hydrogel shows desirable mechanical properties matching those of natural load-bearing cartilage, while providing drug release and on-demand photothermal conversion functions. These promising properties may allow their potential applications in load-bearing cartilage repair/replacement and treatment of severe arthritis.

HAADF images of Zn-Sb-Bi (ZSB4) film annealed at 300 °C with heterojunction networks having spinodal-like decomposition morphologies. We reported a controllable multi-state in Bi-Zn₂Sb₃ alloys, including amorphous, intermediate metastable and stable phases, which is a promising candidate for multilevel storage technology. The detailed microstructural investigation confirmed the existence of spinodal-like decomposition caused by Bi-doping, and this can account for the crystallization behaviors and p–n type conversion in Zn-Sb-Bi. The results may offer a new insight into the design of novel chalcogenide-based materials for broad applications in various areas, for example, the ability to form p–n junctions could improve the performance of phase-change memory and thermoelectric devices and allow the direct electronic control of nonlinear optical devices.

Selective Growth of α-form Zinc Phthalocyanine Nanowires for High Water Dispersibility: Metastable α-form zinc phthalocyanine nanowires can be dominantly obtained by increasing the flow rate of carrier gas during physical vapor transport process, which leads to increased water dispersibility and opens the possibility of zinc phthalocyanine nanowires for practical cancer thrapy applications.

In this study, a novel hybrid antibacterial system (HAS) based on graphene oxide (GO) 2D materials for co-delivery of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and sulfadiazine (SD) was fabricated. The antibacterial activity of HAS was enhanced over 3 times due to triple synergy: capping effect of GO, puncture effect of Ag NPs, and inhibitory effect of SD. This study provides new insights into the design and fabrication of antibiosis systems and multifunctional materials and broadens the biomedical applications of 2D materials.

The light-trapping layer increases the travel distance of the light within the photoanode. By adapting light-trapping layers at dye-sensitized solar cells, we increased light absorption in the photoanode with pot shape light-trapping layer. Also we introduced three-dimensional angled array to maximize the photoanode projection area. By using these concepts we achieved 8.5% efficiency at submodule with 5% efficiency cells.

A surface heterojunction is formed in the dandelion-like LTO, resulting in significant enhancement of the photocatalytic performance.

Achieving both high energy and high power densities in one hybrid energy-storage device is highly challenging, yet critically important for many applications. Here, the authors demonstrate that the inherent limitations of batteries and supercapacitors can be solved by developing a quaternary hybrid superstructure electrode using a high-energy biotemplate.

A series of FeO-CeO₂ nanocomposite catalysts (FeCe-x) were successfully fabricated by hydrogen reduction of hydroxide precursors at temperatures (x) between 200–600 °C. A FeCe-300 catalyst with a Fe:Ce ratio of 2-1 exhibited excellent performance for photothermal CO₂ hydrogenation to CO (CO selectivity = 99.87%, CO production rate 19.61 mmol h⁻¹ g_cat⁻¹, excellent stability). The FeO phase was effective in promoting the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS, CO₂ + H₂ → CO + H₂O). Catalysts prepared at higher reduction temperatures contained both Fe⁰ and FeO, with the Fe⁰ catalyzing the Sabatier reaction (CO₂ + 4H₂ → CH₄ + 2H₂O) and thus lowering FeCe-x catalyst selectivity to CO.

To enhance supercurrent of iron-chalcogenide (FST) superconductor thin films, we induced nanostrain in FST thin films. The nanostrain was generated around nanoscale defects which were formed by the inserted a trace amount of oxide artificially inside FST matrix during the growth of FST thin film using sequential pulsed laser deposition. In particular, the critical current density (J_c) of the nanostrained FST thin films was significantly improved without dominant degradation of critical transition temperature.

Hybrid films with WO₃·H₂O nanoparticles-embedded chitosan on amorphous WO₃ films are newly designed for multi-functional devices with electrochromic energy storage performances.

The authors demonstrate that the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) and pure spin current relaxation in Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ (Py) are strong magnetization orientation dependent through longitudinal spin-Seebeck effect measurement in YIG/Cu/Py/Ir₂₅Mn₇₅ spin valve heterostructure. With the relative orientation of the magnetization of YIG and Py varying from perpendicular (⊥) to collinear (||), it has been found that the detected ISHE amplitude in 10 nm Py increases by 80%. Besides, the spin-diffusion length λ_sf varies from \(\lambda _{{\mathrm{sf}}}^ \bot\) = 1.0 ± 0.1 nm to \(\lambda _{{\mathrm{sf}}}^\parallel\) = 2.8 ± 0.5 nm and the effective spin Hall angle \(\theta _{{\mathrm{SH}}}^{{\mathrm{eff}}}\left( \bot \right)/\theta _{{\mathrm{SH}}}^{{\mathrm{eff}}}\left( \parallel \right) = 1.5\).

New self-healing zwitterionic polymer networks are prepared and the healing efficiency is quantified by 3D plotting, as well as volume calculation of the damaged surface after tactile profile scans. The results are complemented by comprehensive investigations of the mechanical, viscoelastic, and thermal properties in order to identify structure-property relationships.

Topologically electronic state receives great attention during the past decades, owing to their topologically protected metallic edge states. Topological phase transition between nontrivial and trivial states is thus intriguing for not only information storage but also for dissipationless information transport, which is usually driven by pressure or gate voltage. Triggering topological phase transition without physical contact fascinates the scientific community. Due to contrast band topology, the trivial and nontrivial topological materials possess different optical responses. Based on this, a novel non-contacting optical illumination scheme is predicted by first-principles calculations to drive topological phase transition in IV–VI semiconductors.

An electret can be created in a complex transition metal oxide LaMnO₃ by tip-induced electric fields with a considerable surface height change via solid-state electrochemical amorphization. The surface charge density of the formed electret area reaches ~400 nC cm⁻² and persists without significant charge reduction for more than a year. Our finding opens a new horizon for multifunctional transition metal oxides by providing an electric counterpart to permanent magnets.