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Nguindjel AD, Franssen SCM, Korevaar PA. Reconfigurable Droplet-Droplet Communication Mediated by Photochemical Marangoni Flows. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:6006-6015. [PMID: 38391388 PMCID: PMC10921405 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Droplets are attractive building blocks for dynamic matter that organizes into adaptive structures. Communication among collectively operating droplets opens untapped potential in settings that vary from sensing, optics, protocells, computing, or adaptive matter. Inspired by the transmission of signals among decentralized units in slime mold Physarum polycephalum, we introduce a combination of surfactants, self-assembly, and photochemistry to establish chemical signal transfer among droplets. To connect droplets that float at an air-water interface, surfactant triethylene glycol monododecylether (C12E3) is used for its ability to self-assemble into wires called myelins. We show how the trajectory of these myelins can be directed toward selected photoactive droplets upon UV exposure. To this end, we developed a strategy for photocontrolled Marangoni flow, which comprises (1) the liquid crystalline coating formed at the surface of an oleic acid/sodium oleate (OA/NaO) droplet when in contact with water, (2) a photoacid generator that protonates sodium oleate upon UV exposure and therefore disintegrates the coating, and (3) the surface tension gradient that is generated upon depletion of the surfactant from the air-water interface by the uncoated droplet. Therefore, localized UV exposure of selected OA/NaO droplets results in attraction of the myelins such that they establish reconfigurable connections that self-organize among the C12E3 and OA/NaO droplets. As an example of communication, we demonstrate how the myelins transfer fluorescent dyes, which are selectively delivered in the droplet interior upon photochemical regulation of the liquid crystalline coating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Déborah
C. Nguindjel
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Stan C. M. Franssen
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A. Korevaar
- Institute for Molecules and
Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
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2
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Li J, Xia Y, Song X, Chen B, Zare RN. Continuous ammonia synthesis from water and nitrogen via contact electrification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318408121. [PMID: 38232282 PMCID: PMC10823170 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318408121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
We synthesized ammonia (NH3) by bubbling nitrogen (N2) gas into bulk liquid water (200 mL) containing 50 mg polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles (~5 µm in diameter) suspended with the help of a surfactant (Tween 20, ~0.05 vol.%) at room temperature (25 °C). Electron spin resonance spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that water acts as the proton donor for the reduction of N2. Moreover, isotopic labeling of the N2 gas shows that it is the source of nitrogen in the ammonia. We propose a mechanism for ammonia generation based on the activation of N2 caused by electron transfer and reduction processes driven by contact electrification. We optimized the pH of the PTFE suspension at 6.5 to 7.0 and employed ultrasonic mixing. We found an ammonia production rate of ~420 μmol L-1 h-1 per gram of PTFE particles for the conditions described above. This rate did not change more than 10% over an 8-h period of sustained reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Health and Environment, Jianghan University, Wuhan430056, China
| | - Yu Xia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Health and Environment, Jianghan University, Wuhan430056, China
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Xiaowei Song
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Bolei Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Health and Environment, Jianghan University, Wuhan430056, China
| | - Richard N. Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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3
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Han X, Tan S, Jin R, Jiang L, Heng L. Noncontact Charge Shielding Knife for Liquid Microfluidics. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:6420-6427. [PMID: 36898132 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Multibehavioral droplet manipulation in a precise and programmed manner is crucial for stoichiometry, biological virus detection, and intelligent lab-on-a-chip. Apart from fundamental navigation, merging, splitting, and dispensing of the droplets are required for being combined in a microfluidic chip as well. Yet, existing active manipulations including strategies from light to magnetism are arduous to use to split liquids on superwetting surfaces without mass loss and contamination, because of the high cohesion and Coanda effect. Here, we demonstrate a charge shielding mechanism (CSM) for platforms to integrate with a series of functions. In response to attachment of shielding layers from the bottom, the instantaneous and repeatable change of local potential on our platform achieves the desired loss-free manipulation of droplets, with a wide-ranging surface tension from 25.7 mN m-1 to 87.6 mN m-1, functioning as a noncontact air knife to cleave, guide, rotate, and collect reactive monomers on demand. With further refinement of the surface circuit, the droplets, just as the electron, can be programmed to be transported directionally at extremely high speeds of 100 mm s-1. This new generation of microfluidics is expected to be applied in the field of bioanalysis, chemical synthesis, and diagnostic kit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education Department, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shengda Tan
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education Department, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Rongyu Jin
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education Department, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education Department, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Liping Heng
- Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education Department, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
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4
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Yang S, LaCour RA, Cai YY, Xu J, Rosen DJ, Zhang Y, Kagan CR, Glotzer SC, Murray CB. Self-Assembly of Atomically Aligned Nanoparticle Superlattices from Pt-Fe 3O 4 Heterodimer Nanoparticles. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:6280-6288. [PMID: 36912558 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Multicomponent nanoparticle superlattices (SLs) promise the integration of nanoparticles (NPs) with remarkable electronic, magnetic, and optical properties into a single structure. Here, we demonstrate that heterodimers consisting of two conjoined NPs can self-assemble into novel multicomponent SLs with a high degree of alignment between the atomic lattices of individual NPs, which has been theorized to lead to a wide variety of remarkable properties. Specifically, by using simulations and experiments, we show that heterodimers composed of larger Fe3O4 domains decorated with a Pt domain at one vertex can self-assemble into an SL with long-range atomic alignment between the Fe3O4 domains of different NPs across the SL. The SLs show an unanticipated decreased coercivity relative to nonassembled NPs. In situ scattering of the self-assembly reveals a two-stage mechanism of self-assembly: translational ordering between NPs develops before atomic alignment. Our experiments and simulation indicate that atomic alignment requires selective epitaxial growth of the smaller domain during heterodimer synthesis and specific size ratios of the heterodimer domains as opposed to specific chemical composition. This composition independence makes the self-assembly principles elucidated here applicable to the future preparation of multicomponent materials with fine structural control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengsong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - R Allen LaCour
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yi-Yu Cai
- Department of Electrical and System Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Electrical and System Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniel J Rosen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Yugang Zhang
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratories, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Cherie R Kagan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Electrical and System Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Sharon C Glotzer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Christopher B Murray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Electrical and System Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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5
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Tang P, Tan W, Li F, Xue S, Ma Y, Jing P, Liu Y, Zhu J, Yan X. A Pseudocapacitor Diode Based on Ion-Selective Surface Redox Effect. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209186. [PMID: 36564639 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Supercapacitor diode (CAPode) is a novel device that integrates ion diode functionality into a conventional electrical double-layer capacitor and is expected to have great applications in emerging fields such as signal propagation, microcircuit rectification, logic operations, and neuromorphology. Here, a brand new pseudocapacitor diode is reported that has both high charge storage (50.2 C g-1 at 20 mV s-1 ) and high rectification (the rectification ratio of 0.79 at 200 mV s-1 ) properties, which is realized by the ion-selective surface redox reaction of spinel ZnCo2 O4 in aqueous alkaline electrolyte. Furthermore, an application of the integrated device is demonstrated in the logic gate of circuit system to realize the logic operations of "AND" and "OR". This work not only expands the types of CAPodes, but also provides a train of thought for constructing high-performance capacitive ionic diodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Tang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Wuyang Tan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Fangzhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
- School of Materials, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
| | - Shan Xue
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yihui Ma
- South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Pengwei Jing
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yanghui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
- School of Materials, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xingbin Yan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China
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6
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Chen X, Wu T, Huang D, Zhou J, Zhou F, Tu M, Zhang Y, Li B, Li Y, Jiang L. Optothermally Programmable Liquids with Spatiotemporal Precision and Functional Complexity. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2205563. [PMID: 35918709 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202205563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Due to the intrinsic lack of spatial order and self-supported shape, liquids are often incompatible with precision manufacturing/processing and are potentially limited for advanced functionality. Herein, an optothermal strategy is developed to fully command phase-separated liquids with unprecedented spatiotemporal addressability. Specifically, a laser is focused onto an Au film to create a hot spot that locally demixes a temperature-responsive solution to produce a single optothermal droplet. Spatial precision is assured by the well-defined thermal field and temporal accuracy guaranteed by the fast heating and response rate. Time-multiplexed laser foci are deployed to engineer the thermal landscape as desired, which in turn dictates the formation/dissolution, positioning, shaping, and dynamic reconfiguration of the phase-separated liquids. Further, laser foci are programmed to orchestrate the liquid patterns in a time-continuous manner to produce liquid animations on the microscale with high fidelity. While focused lasers are routinely used to manipulate solid particles or to microfabricate solid materials, the current strategy embraces the merits of liquids and features functional complexity in information encryption, payload transportation, and reaction localization. The strategy is further applicable in scenarios such as subcellular organization of biomolecular condensates and programmable modulation of non-equilibrium systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Chen
- Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Tianli Wu
- Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Danmin Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jiajia Zhou
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Fengxiang Zhou
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Mei Tu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Baojun Li
- Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Yuchao Li
- Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 511443, China
| | - Lingxiang Jiang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
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7
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Zhang F, Zhang Z, Liu R, Wei J, Yang Z. Functional Droplets Stabilized by Interfacially Self‐Assembled Chiral Nanocomposites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202206520. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202206520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Zongze Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Rongjuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Zhijie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
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8
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Zhang F, Zhang Z, Liu R, Wei J, Yang Z. Functional Droplets Stabilized by Interfacially Self‐Assembled Chiral Nanocomposites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202206520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Zhang
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Zongze Zhang
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Rongjuan Liu
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Zhijie Yang
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 27 Shanda Nanlu 250100 Jinan CHINA
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