The fluidic memristor as a collective phenomenon in elastohydrodynamic networks

Fluid flow networks are ubiquitous and can be found in a broad range of contexts, from human-made systems such as water supply networks to living systems like animal and plant vasculature. In many cases, the elements forming these networks exhibit a highly non-linear pressure-flow relationship. Although we understand how these elements work individually, their collective behavior remains poorly understood. In this work, we combine experiments, theory, and numerical simulations to understand the main mechanisms underlying the collective behavior of soft flow networks with elements that exhibit negative differential resistance. Strikingly, our theoretical analysis and experiments reveal that a minimal network of nonlinear resistors, which we have termed a 'fluidic memristor', displays history-dependent resistance. This new class of element can be understood as a collection of hysteresis loops that allows this fluidic system to store information, and it can be directly used as a tunable resistor in fluidic setups. Our results provide insights that can inform other applications of fluid flow networks in soft materials science, biomedical settings, and soft robotics, and may also motivate new understanding of the flow networks involved in animal and plant physiology.

Production of Noble-Metal Nanohelices Based on Nonlinear Dynamics in Electrodeposition of Binary Copper Alloys

Spatiotemporal pattern formation is dynamic self-organization widely observed in nature and drives various functions. Among these functions, chirality plays a central role. The relationship between dynamic self-organization and chirality has been an open question; therefore, the production of chiral nanomaterials by dynamic self-organization has not been achieved. Here, we show that the confinement of a two-dimensional spatiotemporal micropattern via the electrodeposition of a binary Cu alloy into a nanopore induces mirror symmetry breaking to produce a helical nanostructure of the noble-metal component although it is still not yet possible to control the handedness at this stage. This result suggests that spatiotemporal symmetry breaking functions as a mirror symmetry breaking if cylindrical pores are given as the boundary condition. This study can be a model system of how spatiotemporal symmetry breaking plays a role in mirror symmetry breaking, and it proposes a new approach to producing helical nanomaterials through dynamic self-organization.

Mechanism and Phenomenology of an Oscillating Chemical Reaction

Chemical reactions, which are far from equilibrium, are capable of displaying oscillations in species concentrations and hence in colour, electrode potential, pH and/or temperature. The oscillations arise from the interplay between positive and negative kinetic feedback. Mechanisms for such reactions are presented, along with the rich phenomenology that these systems exhibit, from complex oscillations and chemical waves, to stationary concentration patterns. This review will focus on the Belousov-Zhabotinksy reaction but reference to other reactions will be made where appropriate.

Two-site H2O2 photo-oxidation on haematite photoanodes

H2O2 is a sacrificial reductant that is often used as a hole scavenger to gain insight into photoanode properties. Here we show a distinct mechanism of H2O2 photo-oxidation on haematite (α-Fe2O3) photoanodes. We found that the photocurrent voltammograms display non-monotonous behaviour upon varying the H2O2 concentration, which is not in accord with a linear surface reaction mechanism that involves a single reaction site as in Eley-Rideal reactions. We postulate a nonlinear kinetic mechanism that involves concerted interaction between adions induced by H2O2 deprotonation in the alkaline solution with adjacent intermediate species of the water photo-oxidation reaction, thereby involving two reaction sites as in Langmuir-Hinshelwood reactions. The devised kinetic model reproduces our main observations and predicts coexistence of two surface reaction paths (bi-stability) in a certain range of potentials and H2O2 concentrations. This prediction is confirmed experimentally by observing a hysteresis loop in the photocurrent voltammogram measured in the predicted coexistence range.

Electrochemically induced phase separation and in situ formation of mesoporous structures in ionic liquid mixtures

Liquid-liquid phase separation is mainly dependent on temperature and composition. Electric fields have also been shown to influence demixing of binary liquid mixtures. However, a puzzling behavior that remains elusive is the electric field-induced phase separation in ion-containing solvents at low voltages, as predicted by Tsori and Leibler. Here, we report the first experimental study of such a phenomenon in ionic liquid-silane mixtures, which not only results in phase separation at the electrode-electrolyte interface (EEI) but also is accompanied by deposition of porous structures of micrometer size on the electrode. This multiscale phenomenon at the EEI was found to be triggered by an electrochemically induced process. Using several analytical methods, we reveal the involved mechanism in which the formation of new Si-N bonds becomes unstable and eventually decomposes into the formation of silane-rich and silane-poor phases. The deposition of porous structures on the electrode surface is therefore a realization of the silane-rich phase. The finding of an electrochemically induced phase separation not only brings a paradigm shift in understanding the EEI in ionic liquids but also provides alternative strategies toward designing porous surfaces.

Transmission Surface Diffraction for Operando Studies of Heterogeneous Interfaces

Processes at material interfaces to liquids or to high-pressure gases often involve structural changes that are heterogeneous on the micrometer scale. We present a novel in situ X-ray scattering technique that uses high-energy photons and a transmission geometry for atomic-scale studies under these conditions. Transmission surface diffraction gives access to a large fraction of reciprocal space in a single acquisition, allowing direct imaging of the in-plane atomic arrangement at the interface. Experiments with focused X-ray beams enable mapping of these structural properties with micrometer spatial resolution. The potential of this new technique is illustrated by in situ studies of electrochemical surface phase transitions and deposition processes.

The adsorption of quinizarin on boron-doped diamond

The voltammetric response of the quinone species 'quinizarin' (QZ) and its electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen are studied at a boron doped diamond electrode (BDD). It is demonstrated that, contrary to the widespread belief that adsorption of organic molecules on BDD is minimal, not only does QZ readily adsorb to the electrodes surface but this adsorption is also influenced at low surface coverages by the pre-exposure of the electrode to organic solvents. Furthermore, the nature of this adsorbed QZ species is investigated and a potential dependent phase transition is observed. This is to the authors knowledge the first system to exhibit a phase transition of an adsorbed species on a boron doped diamond surface. At low scan rates the system is found to oscillate; these oscillations are ascribed to the presence of a 'negative differential resistance'.

The electrochemistry of quinizarin revealed through its mediated reduction of oxygen

After 35 years the hunt for improved anthracycline antibiotics is unabated but has yet to achieve the levels of clinical success desired. Electrochemical techniques provide a large amount of kinetic and thermodynamic information, but the use of such procedures is hindered by issues of sensitivity and selectivity. This work demonstrates how by harnessing the mechanism of catalytic reduction of oxygen by the quinone functionality present within the anthracycline structure it is possible to study the reactive moiety in nanomolar concentration. This methodology allows electrochemical investigation of the intercalation of quinizarin into DNA and, in particular, the quinone oxidation and degradation mechanism. The reversible reduction of the quinizarin, which in the presence of oxygen leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species, is found to occur at -0.535 V (vs. SCE) pH 6.84 and the irreversible oxidation leading to the molecules degradation occurs at +0.386 V (vs. SCE) pH 6.84.

Quantitative Modeling of the Oscillatory Electrooxidation of Hydrogen on Pt in the Presence of Poisons

A quantitative model of oscillations observed during hydrogen oxidation on platinum in the presence of electrosorbing metal ions and specifically adsorbing anions is presented and the model predictions are compared with experiments. Mass and charge balances of all reactants lead in a first step to a seven variable model which is governed by reaction steps that have been widely studied. We demonstrate that attractive interactions between metal and halide ions on the electrode surface, which were recently reported, are crucial for the observed dynamics. The model parameters were almost exclusively taken out of the literature. The model is then reduced to its minimal form without losing dynamic features arriving at a four variable system. Experimental time series of three of the four variables of the model and measured bifurcation diagrams are presented. It is shown that the integrated time evolution and the calculated bifurcation diagrams of the model agree almost quantitatively with the experiment.

Nanopatterning of transition metal surfaces via electrochemical dimple array formation

Nanoscale surface patterning is of great importance for applications ranging from catalysts to biomaterials. We show the formation of ordered nanoscale dimple arrays on titanium, tungsten, and zirconium during electropolishing, demonstrating versatility of a process previously only reported for tantalum. This is a rare example of an electrochemical pattern formation process that can be translated to other materials. The dimpled surfaces have been characterized with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical conditions were optimized for each material. While conditions for titanium and tungsten resemble those for tantalum, zirconium requires a different type of electrolyte. Given the appropriate electropolishing chemistry, formation of these patterns should be possible on any metal surface. The process is very robust on homogeneous surfaces, but sensitive to inhomogeneities in chemical composition, such as in the case of differentially etched alloys. An alternative process for some materials such as platinum is the coating of a dimpled substrate with a thin film of the required material.

Nanoprecipitation-assisted ion current oscillations

Nanoscale pores exhibit transport properties that are not seen in micrometre-scale pores, such as increased ionic concentrations inside the pore relative to the bulk solution, ionic selectivity and ionic rectification. These nanoscale effects are all caused by the presence of permanent surface charges on the walls of the pore. Here we report a new phenomenon in which the addition of small amounts of divalent cations to a buffered monovalent ionic solution results in an oscillating ionic current through a conical nanopore. This behaviour is caused by the transient formation and redissolution of nanoprecipitates, which temporarily block the ionic current through the pore. The frequency and character of ionic current instabilities are regulated by the potential across the membrane and the chemistry of the precipitate. We discuss how oscillating nanopores could be used as model systems for studying nonlinear electrochemical processes and the early stages of crystallization in sub-femtolitre volumes. Such nanopore systems might also form the basis for a stochastic sensor.

Potential Oscillations in Galvanostatic Electrooxidation of Formic Acid on Platinum: A Time-Resolved Surface-Enhanced Infrared Study

The mechanism of temporal potential oscillations that occur during galvanostatic formic acid oxidation on a Pt electrode has been investigated by time-resolved surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). Carbon monoxide (CO) and formate were found to adsorb on the surface and change their coverages synchronously with the temporal potential oscillations. Isotopic solution exchange (from H13COOH to H12COOH) and potential step experiments revealed that the oxidation of formic acid proceeds dominantly through adsorbed formate and the decomposition of formate to CO2 is the rate-determining step of the reaction. Adsorbed CO blocks the adsorption of formate and also suppresses the decomposition of formate to CO2, which raises the potential to maintain the applied current. The oxidative removal of CO at a high limiting potential increases the coverage of formate and accelerates the decomposition of formate, resulting in a potential drop and leading to the formation of CO. This cycle repeats itself to give the sustained temporal potential oscillations. The oscillatory dynamics can be explained by using a nonlinear rate equation originally proposed to explain the decomposition of formate and acetate on transition metal surfaces in UHV.

Macroscopically Uniform Nanoperiod Alloy Multilayers Formed by Coupling of Electrodeposition with Current Oscillations

The electrodeposition from an acidic solution containing Cu(2+), Sn(2+), and a cationic surfactant gave a negative differential resistance (NDR) and a current oscillation in a narrow potential region of about 20 mV lying slightly more negative than the onset potential for Sn-Cu alloy deposition. Scanning Auger microscopic inspection has indicated that alloy films deposited during the oscillation have a clear alternate multilayer structure composed of two alloy layers of different compositions. The multilayer had the period of thickness of 40-90 nm and was uniform over a macroscopically wide area of about 1 mm x 1 mm. Detailed investigations have revealed that the NDR arises from adsorption of a cationic surfactant (acting as an inhibitor for diffusion of metal ions) on the alloy surface, and the oscillation comes from coupling of the NDR with the ohmic drop in the electrolyte.

Metal Latticeworks Formed by Self-Organization in Oscillatory Electrodeposition

Strikingly well-ordered Sn latticeworks, standing perpendicular to the substrate, are formed spontaneously in oscillatory electrodeposition. Cooperation of various processes, such as needle formation by autocatalytic crystal growth, cuboid formation under a reaction-limited condition, and autocatalytic oxidation at closest-packed surfaces, enabled the self-organization of the latticeworks. The mechanism is generally applicable to deposition of other metals such as Zn, Pb, and Cu. The present work has opened a promising, unique field toward the formation of highly ordered 3-D micro- or nanostructures at solid surfaces.

Traveling fronts of copper deposition

We report the experimental observation of traveling fronts during the electroless deposition of copper on passive steel substrates. The low-carbon steel samples are passivated in nitric acid prior to the plating experiment, thus creating a thin, protective oxide layer on the steel surface. The deposition experiments are carried out from slightly acidic (pH 3.2) copper sulfate solution and copper nitrate solution with the latter showing front propagation only in the presence of chloride ions. For up to 30 s, fronts propagate with constant velocities in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm/s depending on the experimental conditions. This phase of constant-speed propagation gives way to accelerating fronts and very rapid, spatially unstructured deposition. Front-mediated plating is observed over a wide range of cupric ion concentration and constitutes a striking and unexpected example for pattern formation in electrochemical systems.