1
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Zhang L, Wang K, Zhao X, Yang G, Jiang Y, Yang F. Directional growth and reconstruction of ultrafine uranium oxide nanorods within single-walled carbon nanotubes. Chem Sci 2024:d4sc03415e. [PMID: 39263658 PMCID: PMC11382540 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc03415e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the atomic structures and dynamic evolution of uranium oxides is crucial for the reliable operation of fission reactors. Among them, U4O9-as an important intermediate in the oxidation of UO2 to UO2+x -plays an important role in the nucleation and conversion of uranium oxides. Herein, we realize the confined assembly of uranyl within SWCNTs in liquid phase and reveal the directional growth and reconstruction of U4O9 nanorods in nanochannels, enabled by in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) e-beam stimulation. The nucleation and crystallization of U4O9 nanorods in nanochannels obey the "non-classical nucleation" mechanism and exhibit remarkably higher growth rate compared to those grown outside. The rapid growth process is found to be accompanied by the formation and elimination of U atom vacancies and strain, aiming to achieve the minimum interfacial energy. Eventually, the segments of U4O9 nanorods in SWCNTs merge into single-crystal U4O9 nanorods via structural reconstruction at the interfaces, and 79% of them exhibit anisotropic growth along the specific 〈11̄0〉 direction. These findings pave the way for tailoring the atomic structures and interfaces of uranium oxides during the synthesis process to help improve the mechanical properties and stability of fission reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 China
| | - Guoping Yang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, East China University of Technology Nanchang 330013 China
| | - Yulong Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen Guangdong 518055 China
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2
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Lee JH, Loh ND, Yeo ZY, Ong YK, Balakrishnan D, Limpo CMA, Datta A, Cetin C, Ning S, Wong C, Shi J, Hou F, Lin J, Minamikawa T, Ito T, Kamisuki H, Pennycook S, Matsudaira P, Özyilmaz B. Engineering a Hierarchy of Disorder: A New Route to Synthesize High-Performance 3D Nanoporous All-Carbon Materials*. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2402628. [PMID: 38670114 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202402628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
A new nanoporous amorphous carbon (NAC) structure that achieves both ultrahigh strength and high electrical conductivity, which are usually incompatible in porous materials is reported. By using modified spark plasma sintering, three amorphous carbon phases with different atomic bonding configurations are created. The composite consisted of an amorphous sp2-carbon matrix mixed with amorphous sp3-carbon and amorphous graphitic motif. NAC structure has an isotropic electrical conductivity of up to 12 000 S m-1, Young's modulus of up to ≈5 GPa, and Vickers hardness of over 900 MPa. These properties are superior to those of existing conductive nanoporous materials. Direct investigation of the multiscale structure of this material through transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and machine learning-based electron tomography revealed that the origin of the remarkable material properties is the well-organized sp2/sp3 amorphous carbon phases with a core-shell-like architecture, where the sp3-rich carbon forms a resilient core surrounded by a conductive sp2-rich layer. This research not only introduces novel materials with exceptional properties but also opens new opportunities for exploring amorphous structures and designing high-performance materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Hak Lee
- Center for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore
| | - N Duane Loh
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
- Centre for Bio-imaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Zhen Yuan Yeo
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
- Centre for Bio-imaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Yong Kang Ong
- Center for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Deepan Balakrishnan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
- Centre for Bio-imaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Carlos Maria Alava Limpo
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Abhik Datta
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
| | - Cagdas Cetin
- Center for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Shoucong Ning
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Clarissa Wong
- Center for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
| | - Jian Shi
- Centre for Bio-imaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Fuchen Hou
- Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Quantum Functional Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Junhao Lin
- Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Quantum Functional Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Tadahiro Minamikawa
- Chemical Device Department Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Yasu-shi, Shiga, 520-2393, Japan
| | - Tomonori Ito
- Chemical Device Department Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Yasu-shi, Shiga, 520-2393, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kamisuki
- Chemical Device Department Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Yasu-shi, Shiga, 520-2393, Japan
| | - Stephen Pennycook
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
| | - Paul Matsudaira
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
- Centre for Bio-imaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Barbaros Özyilmaz
- Center for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117546, Singapore
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117551, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117575, Singapore
- Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117544, Singapore
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3
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Xue J, Wang S, Wang Z, Luan C, Li Y, Chen X, Yu K. Pathway of Room-Temperature Formation of CdSeS Magic-Size Clusters from Mixtures of CdSe and CdS Samples. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2402121. [PMID: 38634202 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The synthetic application of prenucleation-stage samples of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) is in its infancy. It is shown that when two prenucleation-stage samples of binary CdSe and CdS are mixed, ternary CdSeS magic-size clusters (MSCs) grow at room temperature in dispersion. As the amount of the CdS sample increases, the optical absorption of the CdSeS MSCs blueshifts from ≈380 to ≈360 nm. It is proposed that the cluster in the CdSe sample reacts with the CdS monomer from the CdS sample. The monomer substitution reaction of CdSe by CdS can proceed continuously; thus, CdSeS MSCs with tunable compositions are obtained. The present study provides compelling evidence that clusters formed in the prenucleation stage of QDs. The clusters are precursor compounds (PCs) of MSCs, transforming at room temperature with the thermoneutrality principle of isodesmic reactions. The nucleation and growth of QDs follows a multi-step non-classical instead of one-step classical nucleation model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Xue
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Shasha Wang
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Chaoran Luan
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yang Li
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Chen
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
| | - Kui Yu
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, P. R. China
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4
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Lee JW, Lee B, Park CH, Heo JH, Lee TY, Lee D, Bae J, Sundharbaabu PR, Yeom WK, Chae S, Lim JH, Lee SW, Choi JS, Bae HB, Choi JY, Lee EH, Yoon DS, Yeom GY, Shin H, Lee JH. Monolithic DNApatite: An Elastic Apatite with Sub-Nanometer Scale Organo-Inorganic Structures. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2406179. [PMID: 39003621 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202406179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Hydroxyapatite (HA) exhibits outstanding biocompatibility, bioactivity, osteoconductivity, and natural anti-inflammatory properties. Pure HA, ion-doped HA, and HA-polymer composites are investigated, but critical limitations such as brittleness remain; numerous efforts are being made to address them. Herein, the novel self-crystallization of a polymeric single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA) without additional phosphate ions for synthesizing deoxyribonucleic apatite (DNApatite) is presented. The synthesized DNApatite, DNA1Ca2.2(PO4)1.3OH2.1, has a repetitive dual phase of inorganic HA crystals and amorphous organic ssDNA at the sub-nm scale, forming nanorods. Its mechanical properties, including toughness and elasticity, are significantly enhanced compared with those of HA nanorod, with a Young's modulus similar to that of natural bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Woong Lee
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoungsang Lee
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Hyun Park
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Hyuk Heo
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Yoon Lee
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongtak Lee
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jina Bae
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Won Kyun Yeom
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Sudong Chae
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hyuk Lim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Won Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Seok Choi
- Analysis Center for Research Advancement, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Bin Bae
- Analysis Center for Research Advancement, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Young Choi
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ho Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Sung Yoon
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun Young Yeom
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Shin
- Department of Energy Science, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Heon Lee
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of MetaBioHealth, SKKU, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
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5
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Hong J, Su X. Electrosynthesis of Unusual Nonfcc Palladium Hydride Nanoparticles. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18586-18591. [PMID: 38949127 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Intercalation of hydrogen into the palladium atomic layers during the growth of Pd nanoparticles can lead to the synthesis of unique palladium hydride phases. Here, we discover an unusual nonfcc palladium hydride nanoparticle, a structure that is not face-centered cubic (fcc), formed through coreduction of water molecules and Pd ions in solution. Crystal structure determination based on atomic electron tomography points to potential triclinic unit cells, indicating the presence of more than one nonfcc phase, with some of those being a stack of loosened and distorted close-packed layer of atoms. The probability of finding the nonfcc phase in single-crystalline particles varies depending on the number and distribution of contact area with other particles. Roughly half of the isolated and one side-coalesced single-crystal particles exhibit a nonfcc structure, while fcc dominates multiple side-coalesced single crystals as well as polycrystal particles. These observations suggest a coalescence-induced phase transition from a nonfcc to a stable fcc structure, due to the metastable nature of the nonfcc phases. While hydrogen is proven to be a key component for the synthesis of the nonfcc structure, there was limited formation of the unusual phase in a H2 gas bubbling system. Thus, electrochemical pathways can be promising for the in situ creation and study of unique metastable nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoung Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Materials and Science Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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6
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Zheng W, Kang J, Niu K, Ophus C, Chan EM, Ercius P, Wang LW, Wu J, Zheng H. Reversible phase transformations between Pb nanocrystals and a viscous liquid-like phase. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn6426. [PMID: 38896628 PMCID: PMC11186508 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn6426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Phase transformations have been a prominent topic of study for both fundamental and applied science. Solid-liquid reaction-induced phase transformations can be hard to characterize, and the transformation mechanisms are often not fully understood. Here, we report reversible phase transformations between a metal (Pb) nanocrystal and a viscous liquid-like phase unveiled by in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy. The reversible phase transformations are obtained by modulating the electron current density (between 1000 and 3000 electrons Å-2 s-1). The metal-organic viscous liquid-like phase exhibits short-range ordering with a preferred Pb-Pb distance of 0.5 nm. Assisted by density functional theory and molecular dynamics calculations, we show that the viscous liquid-like phase results from the reactions of Pb with the CH3O fragments from the triethylene glycol solution under electron beam irradiation. Such reversible phase transformations may find broad implementations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zheng
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Jun Kang
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center, Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Kaiyang Niu
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Colin Ophus
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Emory M. Chan
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Peter Ercius
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Lin-Wang Wang
- Institute of Semiconductors, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Junqiao Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Haimei Zheng
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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7
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Yoko A, Omura Y, Ninomiya K, Nishibori M, Fujita T, Kasai H, Nishibori E, Chiba N, Seong G, Tomai T, Adschiri T. Fusion Growth and Extraordinary Distortion of Ultrasmall Metal Oxide Nanoparticles. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:16324-16331. [PMID: 38810220 PMCID: PMC11177307 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasmall metal oxide nanoparticles (<5 nm) potentially have new properties, different from conventional nanoparticles. The precise size control of ultrasmall nanoparticles remains difficult for metal oxide. In this study, the size of CeO2 nanoparticles was precisely controlled (1.3-9.4 nm) using a continuous-flow hydrothermal reactor, and the atomic distortion that occurs in ultrasmall metal oxides was explored for CeO2. The crystalline nanoparticles grow rapidly like droplets via coalescence, although they reach a critical particle size (∼3 to 4 nm), beyond which they grow slowly and change shape through ripening. In the initial growth stage, the ultrasmall nanoparticles exhibit disordered atomic configurations, including stacking faults. In ultrasmall CeO2 nanoparticles (<3 to 4 nm), unusual electron localization occurs on Ce 4f orbitals (Ce3+) as a result of O disordering, regardless of O vacancy concentration. This behavior differs from ordinary electron localization caused by the presence of O vacancies. The ultrasmall metal oxides have extraordinary distortion states, making them promising for use in nanotechnology applications. Furthermore, the proposed synthesis method can be applied to various other metal oxides and allows exploration of their properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Yoko
- WPI-Advanced
Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- International
Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Yuki Omura
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Technical
Research Institute, Toppan Holdings Inc., Saitama 345-8508, Japan
| | - Kakeru Ninomiya
- International
Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
| | - Maiko Nishibori
- International
Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Tomoki Fujita
- Department
of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus 8000, Denmark
| | - Hidetaka Kasai
- Department
of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and Tsukuba Research
Center for Energy Materials Science, University
of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Eiji Nishibori
- Department
of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences and Tsukuba Research
Center for Energy Materials Science, University
of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Chiba
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Gimyeong Seong
- Department
of Environmental & Energy Engineering, The University of Suwon, Gyeonggi-do 18323, Republic
of Korea
| | - Takaaki Tomai
- Institute
of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Frontier
Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Adschiri
- WPI-Advanced
Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- New
Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku
University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
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8
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Nagaoka Y, Schneider J, Jin N, Cai T, Liu Y, Wang Z, Li R, Kim KS, Chen O. Dynamic Transformation of High-Architectural Nanocrystal Superlattices upon Solvent Molecule Exposure. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:13093-13104. [PMID: 38690763 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The cluster-based body-centered-cubic superlattice (cBCC SL) represents one of the most complicated structures among reported nanocrystal assemblies, comprised of 72 truncated tetrahedral quantum dots per unit cell. Our previous report revealed that truncated tetrahedral quantum dots within cBCC SLs possessed highly controlled translational and orientational order owing to an unusual energetic landscape based on the balancing of entropic and enthalpic contributions during the assembly process. However, the cBCC SL's structural transformability and mechanical properties, uniquely originating from such complicated nanostructures, have yet to be investigated. Herein, we report that cBCC SLs can undergo dynamic transformation to face-centered-cubic SLs in response to post-assembly molecular exposure. We monitored the dynamic transformation process using in situ synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering, revealing a dynamic transformation involving multiple steps underpinned by interactions between incoming molecules and TTQDs' surface ligands. Furthermore, our mechanistic study demonstrated that the precise configuration of TTQDs' ligand molecules in cBCC SLs was key to their high structural transformability and unique jelly-like soft mechanical properties. While ligand molecular configurations in nanocrystal SLs are often considered minor features, our findings emphasize their significance in controlling weak van der Waals interactions between nanocrystals within assembled SLs, leading to previously unremarked superstructural transformability and unique mechanical properties. Our findings promote a facile route toward further creation of soft materials, nanorobotics, and out-of-equilibrium assemblies based on nanocrystal building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutaka Nagaoka
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Jeremy Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Na Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Tong Cai
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Yuzi Liu
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Zhongwu Wang
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Ruipeng Li
- National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Kyung-Suk Kim
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Ou Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
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9
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Câmpean ȘI, Beșchea GA, Tăbăcaru MB, Năstase G. Revealing isochoric water nucleation: a visual study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10086. [PMID: 38698151 PMCID: PMC11066048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61053-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The phenomena of water freezing at constant volume, or isochoric, is becoming more and more fascinating. However, because the system is subjected to extremely high pressures, it is exceedingly challenging to investigate it visually. Fewer properties have been found visually up till now, but many have been found through other means. Nevertheless, we were able to design a reactor so that it could be observed through a microscope as water was frozen and thawed at constant volume, reaching temperatures as low as - 12 °C and pressures up to 129 MPa. In this study, we observed critical characteristics visually, focusing on the location of the ice nucleus, its shape, and dynamics. Phase transitions from liquid to solid state are essential mechanisms in the physical sciences. The creation of ice stands as the quintessential and pervasive example of nucleation, playing a central role in diverse disciplines such as geology, biology, aviation, and climate research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ștefan-Ioan Câmpean
- Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
| | - George-Andrei Beșchea
- Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
| | - Maria-Bianca Tăbăcaru
- Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania
| | - Gabriel Năstase
- Department of Building Services, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brasov, Brasov, Romania.
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10
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Cho YC, Lee S, Wang L, Lee YH, Kim S, Lee HH, Lee JJ, Lee GW. Impact of molecular symmetry on crystallization pathways in highly supersaturated KH 2PO 4 solutions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3117. [PMID: 38600081 PMCID: PMC11006877 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47503-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Solute structure and its evolution in supersaturated aqueous solutions are key clues to understand Ostwald's step rule. Here, we measure the structural evolution of solute molecules in highly supersaturated solutions of KH2PO4 (KDP) and NH4H2PO4 (ADP) using a combination of electrostatic levitation and synchrotron X-ray scattering. The measurement reveals the existence of a solution-solution transition in KDP solution, caused by changing molecular symmetries and structural evolution of the solution with supersaturation. Moreover, we find that the molecular symmetry of H2PO4- impacts on phase selection. These findings manifest that molecular symmetry and its structural evolution can govern the crystallization pathways in aqueous solutions, explaining the microscopic origin of Ostwald's step rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chan Cho
- Frontier of Extreme Physics, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooheyong Lee
- Frontier of Extreme Physics, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- Applied Measurement Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Lei Wang
- Frontier of Extreme Physics, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hee Lee
- Frontier of Extreme Physics, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongheun Kim
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Hwi Lee
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - John Jonghyun Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Geun Woo Lee
- Frontier of Extreme Physics, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
- Applied Measurement Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Liu C, Lin O, Pidaparthy S, Ni H, Lyu Z, Zuo JM, Chen Q. 4D-STEM Mapping of Nanocrystal Reaction Dynamics and Heterogeneity in a Graphene Liquid Cell. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:3890-3897. [PMID: 38526426 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c05015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Chemical reaction kinetics at the nanoscale are intertwined with heterogeneity in structure and composition. However, mapping such heterogeneity in a liquid environment is extremely challenging. Here we integrate graphene liquid cell (GLC) transmission electron microscopy and four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy to image the etching dynamics of gold nanorods in the reaction media. Critical to our experiment is the small liquid thickness in a GLC that allows the collection of high-quality electron diffraction patterns at low dose conditions. Machine learning-based data-mining of the diffraction patterns maps the three-dimensional nanocrystal orientation, groups spatial domains of various species in the GLC, and identifies newly generated nanocrystallites during reaction, offering a comprehensive understanding on the reaction mechanism inside a nanoenvironment. This work opens opportunities in probing the interplay of structural properties such as phase and strain with solution-phase reaction dynamics, which is important for applications in catalysis, energy storage, and self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Oliver Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Saran Pidaparthy
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Haoyang Ni
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Zhiheng Lyu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jian-Min Zuo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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12
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Chen G, Gallegos MJ, Soetrisno DD, Vekilov PG, Conrad JC. A minimal colloid model of solution crystallization nucleates crystals classically. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2575-2583. [PMID: 38415982 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01609a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
A fundamental assumption of the classical theories of crystal nucleation is that the individual molecules from the "old" phase associate to an emerging nucleus individually and sequentially. Numerous recent studies of crystal nucleation in solution have revealed nonclassical pathways, whereby crystal nuclei are hosted and fed by amorphous clusters pre-formed in the solution. A sizable knowledge gap has persisted, however, in the definition of the molecular-level parameters that direct a solute towards classical or nonclassical nucleation. Here we construct a suspension of colloid particles of hydrodynamic diameter 1.1 μm and monitor their individual motions towards a quasi-two-dimensional crystal by scanning confocal microscopy. We combine electrostatic repulsion and polymer-induced attraction to obtain a simple isotropic pair interaction potential with a single attractive minimum of tunable depth between 1.2kBT and 2.7kBT. We find that even the smallest aggregates that form in this system structure as hexagonal two-dimensional crystals and grow and maturate by the association and exchange of single particles from the solution, signature behaviors during classical nucleation. The particles in the suspension equilibrate with those in the clusters and the volume fractions of suspensions at equilibrium correspond to straightforward thermodynamic predictions based on depth of the interparticle attraction. These results demonstrate that classical nucleation is selected by particles interacting with a minimal potential and present a benchmark for future modifications of the molecular interactions that may induce nonclassical nucleation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Chen
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204-4004, USA.
| | - Mariah J Gallegos
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204-4004, USA.
| | - Diego D Soetrisno
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204-4004, USA.
| | - Peter G Vekilov
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204-4004, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, 3585 Cullen Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204-5003, USA
| | - Jacinta C Conrad
- William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, 4226 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77204-4004, USA.
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13
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Yang Z, Wu S, Gao Y, Kou D, Lu K, Chen C, Zhou Y, Zhou D, Chen L, Ge J, Li C, Zeng J, Gao M. Unveiling the Biologically Dynamic Degradation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles via a Continuous Flow System. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301479. [PMID: 38009499 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Nanomaterials are increasingly being employed for biomedical applications, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their degradation behavior and potential toxicity in the biological environment. This study utilizes a continuous flow system to simulate the biologically relevant degradation conditions and investigate the effects of pH, protein, redox species, and chelation ligand on the degradation of iron oxide nanoparticles. The morphology, aggregation state, and relaxivity of iron oxide nanoparticles after degradation are systematically characterized. The results reveal that the iron oxide nanoparticles degrade at a significantly higher rate under the acidic environment. Moreover, incubation with bovine serum albumin enhances the stability and decreases the dissolution rate of iron oxide nanoparticles. In contrast, glutathione accelerates the degradation of iron oxide nanoparticles, while the presence of sodium citrate leads to the fastest degradation. This study reveals that iron oxide nanoparticles undergo degradation through various mechanisms in different biological microenvironments. Furthermore, the dissolution and aggregation of iron oxide nanoparticles during degradation significantly impact their relaxivity, which has implications for their efficacy as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents in vivo. The results provide valuable insights for assessing biosafety and bridge the gap between fundamental research and clinical applications of iron oxide nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Yang
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
| | - Shuwang Wu
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yun Gao
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Dandan Kou
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Kuan Lu
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
| | - Can Chen
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
| | - Dandan Zhou
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jianxian Ge
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Cang Li
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Jianfeng Zeng
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Suzhou Xinying Biomedical Technology Co. Ltd., Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Mingyuan Gao
- Center for Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiological Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China
- Suzhou Xinying Biomedical Technology Co. Ltd., Suzhou, 215000, China
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14
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Smith JG, Sawant KJ, Zeng Z, Eldred TB, Wu J, Greeley JP, Gao W. Disproportionation chemistry in K 2PtCl 4 visualized at atomic resolution using scanning transmission electron microscopy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi0175. [PMID: 38335285 PMCID: PMC10857378 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The direct observation of a solid-state chemical reaction can reveal otherwise hidden mechanisms that control the reaction kinetics. However, probing the chemical bond breaking and formation at the molecular level remains challenging because of the insufficient spatial-temporal resolution and composition analysis of available characterization methods. Using atomic-resolution differential phase-contrast imaging in scanning transmission electron microscopy, we have visualized the decomposition chemistry of K2PtCl4 to identify its transient intermediate phases and their interfaces that characterize the chemical reduction process. The crystalline structure of K2PtCl4 is found to undergo a disproportionation reaction to form K2PtCl6, followed by gradual reduction to crystalline Pt metal and KCl. By directly imaging different Pt─Cl bond configurations and comparing them to models predicted via density functional theory calculations, a causal connection between the initial and final states of a chemical reaction is established, showcasing new opportunities to resolve reaction pathways through atomistic experimental visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G. Smith
- Future Material Innovation Center, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Kaustubh J. Sawant
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Zhenhua Zeng
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Tim B. Eldred
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Jianbo Wu
- Future Material Innovation Center, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Center of Hydrogen Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Jeffrey P. Greeley
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Wenpei Gao
- Future Material Innovation Center, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
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15
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Sun Y, Zhang X, Huang R, Yang D, Kim J, Chen J, Ang EH, Li M, Li L, Song X. Revealing microscopic dynamics: in situ liquid-phase TEM for live observations of soft materials and quantitative analysis via deep learning. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:2945-2954. [PMID: 38236129 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04480g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In various domains spanning materials synthesis, chemical catalysis, life sciences, and energy materials, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods exert a profound influence. These methodologies enable the real-time observation and manipulation of gas-phase and liquid-phase reactions at the nanoscale, facilitating the exploration of pivotal reaction mechanisms. Fundamental research areas like crystal nucleation, growth, etching, and self-assembly have greatly benefited from these techniques. Additionally, their applications extend across diverse fields such as catalysis, batteries, bioimaging, and drug delivery kinetics. However, the intricate nature of 'soft matter' presents a challenge due to the unique molecular properties and dynamic behavior of these substances that remain insufficiently understood. Investigating soft matter within in situ liquid-phase TEM settings demands further exploration and advancement compared to other research domains. This research harnesses the potential of in situ liquid-phase TEM technology while integrating deep learning methodologies to comprehensively analyze the quantitative aspects of soft matter dynamics. This study centers on diverse phenomena, encompassing surfactant molecule nucleation, block copolymer behavior, confinement-driven self-assembly, and drying processes. Furthermore, deep learning techniques are employed to precisely analyze Ostwald ripening and digestive ripening dynamics. The outcomes of this study not only deepen the understanding of soft matter at its fundamental level but also serve as a pivotal foundation for developing innovative functional materials and cutting-edge devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Sun
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Rui Huang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Dahai Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Juyeong Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, South Korea
| | - Junhao Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Edison Huixiang Ang
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Mufan Li
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Pecking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lin Li
- Beijing Shunce Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing, 102629, China
| | - Xiaohui Song
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
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16
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Xu R, Wang Z, Yang Y, Gu C, Luan C, Wang S, Chen X, Yu K. Formation and Transformation of CdS Clusters during the Prenucleation Stage and in a Dilute Dispersion at Room Temperature. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:1294-1302. [PMID: 38230964 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The formation and transformation of colloidal semiconductor clusters remain poorly understood. With CdS as a model system, we show that, in the reaction of cadmium myristate (Cd(MA)2) and S powder in 1-octadecene (ODE), clusters form in the prenucleation stage of quantum dots (QDs). Called precursor compounds (PCs), the clusters can transform to magic-size clusters (MSCs) in reaction at a relatively high temperature (MSC-322 displaying optical absorption peaking at 322 nm) or in a dispersion at room temperature (MSC-360). When the reaction temperature is increased, PC-360 forms at 140 °C, while PC-322 and MSC-322 form at 180 °C. In a dispersion of cyclohexane and octylamine, MSC-322 transforms to MSC-360 via MSC-345. The MSC-345 to MSC-360 transformation displays continuous and discontinuous shifts in the optical absorption. The PCs and MSCs are a group of isomers. The present findings bring insight into the cluster formation and isomerization in the prenucleation stage of QDs and in a dispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongkuan Xu
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yusha Yang
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Cheng Gu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Chaoran Luan
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Shanling Wang
- Analytical & Testing Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Chen
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Kui Yu
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
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17
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Koo K, Li Z, Liu Y, Ribet SM, Fu X, Jia Y, Chen X, Shekhawat G, Smeets PJM, Dos Reis R, Park J, Yuk JM, Hu X, Dravid VP. Ultrathin silicon nitride microchip for in situ/operando microscopy with high spatial resolution and spectral visibility. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj6417. [PMID: 38232154 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Utilization of in situ/operando methods with broad beams and localized probes has accelerated our understanding of fluid-surface interactions in recent decades. The closed-cell microchips based on silicon nitride (SiNx) are widely used as "nanoscale reactors" inside the high-vacuum electron microscopes. However, the field has been stalled by the high background scattering from encapsulation (typically ~100 nanometers) that severely limits the figures of merit for in situ performance. This adverse effect is particularly notorious for gas cell as the sealing membranes dominate the overall scattering, thereby blurring any meaningful signals and limiting the resolution. Herein, we show that by adopting the back-supporting strategy, encapsulating membrane can be reduced substantially, down to ~10 nanometers while maintaining structural resiliency. The systematic gas cell work demonstrates advantages in figures of merit for hitherto the highest spatial resolution and spectral visibility. Furthermore, this strategy can be broadly adopted into other types of microchips, thus having broader impact beyond the in situ/operando fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunmo Koo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Zhiwei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Internaional Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Yukun Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Internaional Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Stephanie M Ribet
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Internaional Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Xianbiao Fu
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ying Jia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Xinqi Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Gajendra Shekhawat
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Paul J M Smeets
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Roberto Dos Reis
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Jungjae Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Min Yuk
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaobing Hu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Vinayak P Dravid
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- The NUANCE Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Internaional Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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18
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Mahato P, Mandal K, Agrawal S, Chopra D, Mukherjee S. In Situ Crystallization, Differential Growth, and Multicolor Emission of Silver Nanoclusters. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:461-470. [PMID: 38189786 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The real-time monitoring of the stepwise growth process of the molecular crystal reveals a conclusive understanding of the morphological evolution, which otherwise remains elusive during the conventional crystallization processes. Herein, we report the in situ crystallization of silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) with special emphasis on their differential growth and multicolor emissive properties. A subtle variation of the methanol (MeOH) proportion in the reaction mixture induces the differential growth of these AgNCs, and thereby, a dramatic modulation in their optical properties was observed. Additionally, by increasing the temperature of the reaction (from a low temperature ice bath to 25 °C), an uncontrolled formation of AgNCs along with metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was observed, which was primarily induced by accelerating the reaction kinetics. We hope that this investigation comprehensively uncovers the serious bottlenecks of the conventional crystallization processes by showcasing systematic monitoring of structural evolution to the higher-ordered crystalline state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paritosh Mahato
- Department of Chemistry Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Koushik Mandal
- Department of Chemistry Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sameeksha Agrawal
- Department of Chemistry Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Deepak Chopra
- Department of Chemistry Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Saptarshi Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
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19
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Ramamoorthy RK, Yildirim E, Rodriguez-Ruiz I, Roblin P, Lacroix LM, Diaz A, Parmar R, Teychené S, Viau G. Sub-millisecond microfluidic mixers coupled to time-resolved in situ photonics to study ultra-fast reaction kinetics: the case of ultra-small gold nanoparticle synthesis. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:327-338. [PMID: 38088259 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00778b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
We report a continuous microreactor platform achieving sub-millisecond homogeneous reagent mixing (∼300 μs) for a time-resolved study on the synthesis of ultra-small gold nanoparticles (NPs). The microreactor (coupled with small angle X-ray scattering, UV-vis, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy for in situ and in operando characterizations), operates within mixing time frames below system characteristic times, providing a unique opportunity to deepen the comprehension of reaction and phase transition pathways with unprecedented details. The microreactor channel length can be approximated to a given reaction time when operated in continuous mode and steady state. As a result, the system can be statically investigated, eliminating technique-dependent probing time constraints and local inhomogeneities caused by mixing issues. We have studied Au(0) NP formation kinetics from Au(III) precursors complexed with oleylamine in organic media, using triisopropylsilane as a reducing agent. The existence of Au(III)/Au(I) prenucleation clusters and the formation of a transient Au(I) lamellar phase under certain conditions, before the onset of Au(0) formation, have been observed. Taking advantage of the high frequency time-resolved information, we propose and model two different reaction pathways associated with the presence or absence of the Au(I) lamellar phase. In both cases, non-classical pathways leading to the formation of NPs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kumar Ramamoorthy
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano-Objets UMR 5215 INSA, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 135 avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse cedex 4, France.
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, INP, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
- Fédération de Recherche FeRMAT, CNRS, INP, INSA, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Ezgi Yildirim
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano-Objets UMR 5215 INSA, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 135 avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse cedex 4, France.
| | - Isaac Rodriguez-Ruiz
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, INP, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Pierre Roblin
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, INP, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Lise-Marie Lacroix
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano-Objets UMR 5215 INSA, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 135 avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse cedex 4, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 103 boulevard Saint Michel, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ana Diaz
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Rohan Parmar
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, INP, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Sébastien Teychené
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, CNRS, INP, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Guillaume Viau
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano-Objets UMR 5215 INSA, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 135 avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse cedex 4, France.
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20
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Poonoosamy J, Obaied A, Deissmann G, Prasianakis NI, Kindelmann M, Wollenhaupt B, Bosbach D, Curti E. Microfluidic investigation of pore-size dependency of barite nucleation. Commun Chem 2023; 6:250. [PMID: 37974009 PMCID: PMC10654916 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-01049-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The understanding and prediction of mineral precipitation processes in porous media are relevant for various energy-related subsurface applications. While it is well known that thermodynamic effects can inhibit crystallization in pores with sizes <0.1 µm, the retarded observation of mineral precipitation as function of pore size is less explored. Using barite as an example and based on a series of microfluidic experiments with well-defined pore sizes and shapes, we show that retardation of observation of barite crystallite can already start in pores of 1 µm size, with the probability of nucleation scaling with the pore volume. In general, it can be expected that mineralization occurs preferentially in larger pores in rock matrices, but other parameters such as the exchange of the fluids with respect to reaction time, as well as shape, roughness, and surface functional properties of the pores may affect the crystallization process which can reverse this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Poonoosamy
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Abdulmonem Obaied
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Guido Deissmann
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nikolaos I Prasianakis
- Laboratory for Waste Management, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Kindelmann
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C 2): Materials Science and Technology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Bastian Wollenhaupt
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Dirk Bosbach
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Enzo Curti
- Laboratory for Waste Management, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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21
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Riporto F, Dhouib A, Gheata A, Beauquis S, Molina E, Guené-Girard S, Galez C, Bornet A, Gautier-Luneau I, Gerber-Lemaire S, Monnier V, Le Dantec R, Mugnier Y. Nonclassical Nucleation and Crystallization of LiNbO 3 Nanoparticles from the Aqueous Solvothermal Alkoxide Route. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2306417. [PMID: 37968253 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The exact molecular reaction pathway and crystallization mechanisms of LiNbO3 nanoparticles under solvothermal conditions are derived through extensive time- and temperature-resolved experiments allowing to track all the transient molecular and solid species. Starting with a simple mixing of Li/Nb ethoxides, water addition is used to promote condensation after ligand exchange with different co-solvents including alcohols and glycols of variable carbon-chain length. A nonclassical nucleation scheme is first demonstrated after the identification of new octanuclear complexes with a {Li4 Nb4 O10 } core whose solvophobic interactions mediate their aggregation, thus, resulting in a colloidal gel at room-temperature. Upon heating, a more or less frustrated aggregation-mediated crystallization process is then evidenced leading to LiNbO3 nanocrystals of adjustable mean size between 20 and 100 nm. Such a fine control can be attributed to the variable Nb-OR (R = alkoxy/glycoxy ligand) binding interactions at the surface of crystalline intermediates. Demonstration of such a nonclassical nucleation process and crystallization mechanism for LiNbO3 not only sheds light on the entire growth process of multifunctional nanomaterials with non-perovskite crystalline structures, but also opens new avenues for the identification of novel bimetallic oxoclusters involved in the formation of several mixed oxides from the aqueous alkoxide route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Riporto
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, SYMME, Annecy, F-74000, France
| | - Ameni Dhouib
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, SYMME, Annecy, F-74000, France
| | - Adrian Gheata
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Group for Functionalized Biomaterials, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | | | - Emilie Molina
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, SYMME, Annecy, F-74000, France
| | - Simon Guené-Girard
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, Institut Néel, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Christine Galez
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, SYMME, Annecy, F-74000, France
| | - Aurélien Bornet
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Platform, EPFL SB ISIC-NMRP, Batochime, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | | | - Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Group for Functionalized Biomaterials, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Monnier
- Univ Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, CNRS, INL, UMR5270, Ecully, 69130, France
| | - Ronan Le Dantec
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, SYMME, Annecy, F-74000, France
| | - Yannick Mugnier
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, SYMME, Annecy, F-74000, France
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22
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Xu C, Chaudhuri S, Held J, Andaraarachchi HP, Schatz GC, Kortshagen UR. Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis in Glycerol by Low-Pressure Plasma-Driven Electrolysis: The Roles of Free Electrons and Photons. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:9960-9968. [PMID: 37903417 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Low-temperature plasmas in and in contact with liquids have emerged as a catalyst-free approach for the selective, electrode-free, and green synthesis of novel materials. For the synthesis of nanomaterials, short-lived solvated electrons have been proposed to be the critical reducing species, while the role of ultraviolet (UV) photons from plasma is less explored. Here, we demonstrate that UV radiation contributes ∼70% of the integral plasma effect in synthesizing silver (Ag) nanoparticles within a glycerol solution. We suggest that the UV radiation causes C-H bond cleavage of the glycerol molecules, with an experimentally and theoretically determined threshold photon energy of only 5 eV. The photon-induced dissociation leads to the formation of glycerol fragmentation radicals, causing the reduction of Ag+ ions to Ag neutrals, enabling nanoparticle formation in the liquid phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Subhajyoti Chaudhuri
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Julian Held
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Himashi P Andaraarachchi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - George C Schatz
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Uwe R Kortshagen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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23
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Chen A, Dissanayake TU, Sun J, Woehl TJ. Unraveling chemical processes during nanoparticle synthesis with liquid phase electron microscopy and correlative techniques. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:12830-12846. [PMID: 37807847 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03723a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) has enabled unprecedented direct real time imaging of physicochemical processes during solution phase synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. LPTEM primarily provides images of nanometer scale, and sometimes atomic scale, metal nanoparticle crystallization processes, but provides little chemical information about organic surface ligands, metal-ligand complexes and reaction intermediates, and redox reactions. Likewise, complex electron beam-solvent interactions during LPTEM make it challenging to pinpoint the chemical processes, some involving exotic highly reactive radicals, impacting nanoparticle formation. Pairing LPTEM with correlative solution synthesis, ex situ chemical analysis, and theoretical modeling represents a powerful approach to gain a holistic understanding of the chemical processes involved in nanoparticle synthesis. In this feature article, we review recent work by our lab and others that has focused on elucidating chemical processes during nanoparticle synthesis using LPTEM and correlative chemical characterization and modeling, including mass and optical spectrometry, fluorescence microscopy, solution chemistry, and reaction kinetic modeling. In particular, we show how these approaches enable investigating redox chemistry during LPTEM, polymeric and organic capping ligands, metal deposition mechanisms on plasmonic nanoparticles, metal clusters and complexes, and multimetallic nanoparticle formation. Future avenues of research are discussed, including moving beyond electron beam induced nanoparticle formation by using light and thermal stimuli during LPTEM. We discuss prospects for real time LPTEM imaging and online chemical analysis of reaction intermediates using microfluidic flow reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Thilini U Dissanayake
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | - Jiayue Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Taylor J Woehl
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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24
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Wang T, Wang Z, Wang S, Chen X, Luan C, Yu K. Thermally-Induced Isomerization of Prenucleation Clusters During the Prenucleation Stage of CdTe Quantum Dots. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202310234. [PMID: 37581340 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202310234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of prenucleation clusters in the prenucleation stage of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) has remained unexplored. With CdTe as a model system, we show that substances form and isomerize prior to the nucleation and growth of QDs. Called precursor compounds (PCs), the prenucleation clusters are relatively optically transparent and can transform to absorbing magic-size clusters (MSCs). When a prenucleation-stage sample at 25, 45, or 80 °C is dispersed in a mixture of cyclohexane (CH) and octylamine (OTA) at room temperature, either MSC-371, MSC-417, or MSC-448 evolves with absorption peaking at 371, 417, or 448 nm, respectively. We propose that PC-371 forms at 25 °C, and isomerizes to PC-417 at 45 °C and to PC-448 at 80 °C. The PCs and MSCs are quasi isomers. Relatively large and small amounts of OTA favor PC-371 and PC-448 in dispersion, respectively. The present findings suggest the existence of PC-to-PC isomerization in the QD prenucleation stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinghui Wang
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Shanling Wang
- Analytical and Testing Center, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Chen
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Chaoran Luan
- Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Tissue-orientated Property of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Kui Yu
- Engineering Research Center in Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Sichuan University, 610065, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
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25
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Juelsholt M, Aalling-Frederiksen O, Lindahl Christiansen T, Kjær ETS, Lefeld N, Kirsch A, Jensen KMØ. Influence of the Precursor Structure on the Formation of Tungsten Oxide Polymorphs. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:14949-14958. [PMID: 37658472 PMCID: PMC10520979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c01659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding material nucleation processes is crucial for the development of synthesis pathways for tailormade materials. However, we currently have little knowledge of the influence of the precursor solution structure on the formation pathway of materials. We here use in situ total scattering to show how the precursor solution structure influences which crystal structure is formed during the hydrothermal synthesis of tungsten oxides. We investigate the synthesis of tungsten oxide from the two polyoxometalate salts, ammonium metatungstate, and ammonium paratungstate. In both cases, a hexagonal ammonium tungsten bronze (NH4)0.25WO3 is formed as the final product. If the precursor solution contains metatungstate clusters, this phase forms directly in the hydrothermal synthesis. However, if the paratungstate B cluster is present at the time of crystallization, a metastable intermediate phase in the form of a pyrochlore-type tungsten oxide, WO3·0.5H2O, initially forms. The pyrochlore structure then undergoes a phase transformation into the tungsten bronze phase. Our studies thus experimentally show that the precursor cluster structure present at the moment of crystallization directly influences the formed crystalline phase and suggests that the precursor structure just prior to crystallization can be used as a tool for targeting specific crystalline phases of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Juelsholt
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | | | | | - Emil T. S. Kjær
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Niels Lefeld
- Institute
of Inorganic Chemistry and Crystallography, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse/NW2, D-28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Andrea Kirsch
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Kirsten M. Ø. Jensen
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
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26
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Jiang Y, Lim AMH, Yan H, Zeng HC, Mirsaidov U. Phase Segregation in PdCu Alloy Nanoparticles During CO Oxidation Reaction at Atmospheric Pressure. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302663. [PMID: 37377354 PMCID: PMC10477843 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Bimetallic nanoparticle (NP) catalysts are widely used in many heterogeneous gas-based reactions because they often outperform their monometallic counterparts. During these reactions, NPs often undergo structural changes, which impact their catalytic activity. Despite the important role of the structure in the catalytic activity, many aspects of how a reactive gaseous environment affects the structure of bimetallic nanocatalysts are still lacking. Here, using gas-cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it is shown that during a CO oxidation reaction over PdCu alloy NPs, the selective oxidation of Cu causes the segregation of Cu and transforms the NPs into Pd-CuO NPs. The segregated NPs are very stable and have high activity for the conversion of CO into CO2 . Based on the observations, the segregation of Cu from Cu-based alloys during a redox reaction is likely to be general and may have a positive impact on the catalytic activity. Hence, it is believed that similar insights based on direct observation of the reactions under relevant reactive conditions are critical both for understanding and designing high-performance catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Jiang
- Department of PhysicsNational University of SingaporeSingapore117551Singapore
- Centre for BioImaging SciencesDepartment of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingapore117557Singapore
| | - Alvin M. H. Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringCollege of Design and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119260Singapore
| | - Hongwei Yan
- Department of PhysicsNational University of SingaporeSingapore117551Singapore
- Centre for BioImaging SciencesDepartment of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingapore117557Singapore
| | - Hua Chun Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringCollege of Design and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore119260Singapore
| | - Utkur Mirsaidov
- Department of PhysicsNational University of SingaporeSingapore117551Singapore
- Centre for BioImaging SciencesDepartment of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingapore117557Singapore
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research CentreNational University of SingaporeSingapore117546Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringNational University of SingaporeSingapore117575Singapore
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27
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Liu S, Han X, Ophus C, Zhou S, Jiang YH, Sun Y, Zhao T, Yang F, Gu M, Tan YZ, Sun SG, Zheng H, Liao HG. Observing ion diffusion and reciprocating hopping motion in water. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf8436. [PMID: 37506205 PMCID: PMC10381929 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf8436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
When an ionic crystal dissolves in solvent, the positive and negative ions associated with solvent molecules release from the crystal. However, the existing form, interaction, and dynamics of ions in real solution are poorly understood because of the substantial experimental challenge. We observed the diffusion and aggregation of polyoxometalate (POM) ions in water by using liquid phase transmission electron microscopy. Real-time observation reveals an unexpected local reciprocating hopping motion of the ions in water, which may be caused by the short-range polymerized bridge of water molecules. We find that ion oligomers, existing as highly active clusters, undergo frequent splitting, aggregation, and rearrangement in dilute solution. The formation and dissociation of ion oligomers indicate a weak counterion-mediated interaction. Furthermore, POM ions with tetrahedral geometry show directional interaction compared with spherical ions, which presents structure-dependent dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xinbao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Colin Ophus
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Shiyuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - You-Hong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Tiqing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuan-Zhi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Shi-Gang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Haimei Zheng
- Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hong-Gang Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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28
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Ma H, Kang S, Lee S, Park G, Bae Y, Park G, Kim J, Li S, Baek H, Kim H, Yu JS, Lee H, Park J, Yang J. Moisture-Induced Degradation of Quantum-Sized Semiconductor Nanocrystals through Amorphous Intermediates. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37399231 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating the water-induced degradation mechanism of quantum-sized semiconductor nanocrystals is an important prerequisite for their practical application because they are vulnerable to moisture compared to their bulk counterparts. In-situ liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy is a desired method for studying nanocrystal degradation, and it has recently gained technical advancement. Herein, the moisture-induced degradation of semiconductor nanocrystals is investigated using graphene double-liquid-layer cells that can control the initiation of reactions. Crystalline and noncrystalline domains of quantum-sized CdS nanorods are clearly distinguished during their decomposition with atomic-scale imaging capability of the developed liquid cells. The results reveal that the decomposition process is mediated by the involvement of the amorphous-phase formation, which is different from conventional nanocrystal etching. The reaction can proceed without the electron beam, suggesting that the amorphous-phase-mediated decomposition is induced by water. Our study discloses unexplored aspects of moisture-induced deformation pathways of semiconductor nanocrystals, involving amorphous intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeonjong Ma
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Kang
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghan Lee
- Department of Physics, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Gisang Park
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Bae
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyuri Park
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoon Kim
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Shi Li
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayeon Baek
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongseung Kim
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Sung Yu
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
- Energy Science and Engineering Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoonkyung Lee
- Department of Physics, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Jungwon Park
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Engineering Research, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoong Yang
- Department of Energy Science and Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
- Energy Science and Engineering Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
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29
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Chao HY, Venkatraman K, Moniri S, Jiang Y, Tang X, Dai S, Gao W, Miao J, Chi M. In Situ and Emerging Transmission Electron Microscopy for Catalysis Research. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37327473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Catalysts are the primary facilitator in many dynamic processes. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these processes has vast implications for a myriad of energy systems. The scanning/transmission electron microscope (S/TEM) is a powerful tool not only for atomic-scale characterization but also in situ catalytic experimentation. Techniques such as liquid and gas phase electron microscopy allow the observation of catalysts in an environment conducive to catalytic reactions. Correlated algorithms can greatly improve microscopy data processing and expand multidimensional data handling. Furthermore, new techniques including 4D-STEM, atomic electron tomography, cryogenic electron microscopy, and monochromated electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) push the boundaries of our comprehension of catalyst behavior. In this review, we discuss the existing and emergent techniques for observing catalysts using S/TEM. Challenges and opportunities highlighted aim to inspire and accelerate the use of electron microscopy to further investigate the complex interplay of catalytic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Yun Chao
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, One Bethel Valley Road, Building 4515, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6064, United States
| | - Kartik Venkatraman
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, One Bethel Valley Road, Building 4515, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6064, United States
| | - Saman Moniri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Yongjun Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xuan Tang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Sheng Dai
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wenpei Gao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Jianwei Miao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Miaofang Chi
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, One Bethel Valley Road, Building 4515, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6064, United States
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30
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Biegel M, Schikarski T, Cardenas Lopez P, Gromotka L, Lübbert C, Völkl A, Damm C, Walter J, Peukert W. Efficient quenching sheds light on early stages of gold nanoparticle formation. RSC Adv 2023; 13:18001-18013. [PMID: 37323457 PMCID: PMC10265400 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra02195e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation mechanism of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by fast NaBH4 induced reduction of the precursors is still under debate. In this work we introduce a simple method to access intermediate species of Au NPs by quenching the solid formation process at desired time periods. In this way, we take advantage of the covalent binding of glutathione on Au NPs to stop their growth. By applying a plethora of precise particle characterization techniques, we shed new light on the early stages of particle formation. The results of in situ UV/vis measurements, ex situ sedimentation coefficient analysis by analytical ultracentrifugation, size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry supported by mobility classification and scanning transmission electron microscopy suggest an initial rapid formation of small non-plasmonic Au clusters with Au10 as the main species followed by their growth to plasmonic Au NPs by agglomeration. The fast reduction of gold salts by NaBH4 depends on mixing which is hard to control during the scale-up of batch processes. Thus, we transferred the Au NP synthesis to a continuous flow process with improved mixing. We observed that the mean volume particle sizes and the width of the particle size distribution decrease with increasing flow rate and thus higher energy input. Mixing- and reaction-controlled regimes are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Biegel
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Tobias Schikarski
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Paola Cardenas Lopez
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Lukas Gromotka
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Christian Lübbert
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Andreas Völkl
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Cornelia Damm
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Johannes Walter
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - Wolfgang Peukert
- Institute of Particle Technology (LFG), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Cauerstrasse 4 91058 Erlangen Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particles Systems (FPS), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Haberstraße 9a 91058 Erlangen Germany
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31
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Dai Z, Wang G, Xiao F, Lei D, Dou X. Amorphous Copper-Based Nanoparticles with Clusterization-Triggered Phosphorescence for Ultrasensing 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2300526. [PMID: 36929680 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Amorphous metal-based nanostructures have attracted great attention recently due to their facilitative electron transfer and abundant reactive sites, whereas it remains enigmatic as to whether amorphous copper-based nanoparticles (CuNPs) can be achieved. Here, for synthesizing amorphous CuNPs, glutathione is adopted as a ligand to inhibit the nucleation and crystallization process via its electrostatic repulsion. By subtly tailoring the solvent polarity, not only can amorphous glutathione-functionalized CuNPs (GSH-CuNPs) with phosphorescent performance be achieved after transferring the non-conjugation of GSH ligand to through-space conjugation, namely clusterization-triggered emission, but also the phosphorescence-off of GSH-CuNPs toward 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) can be realized by the photoinduced electron-transfer process through the hydrogen bond channel, which is established between carboxyl and amino groups of GSH-CuNPs with the nitryl group of TNT. Benefitting from the intrinsic superiorities of the amorphous CuNPs, desired phosphorescence and detection performances of GSH-CuNPs toward airborne TNT microparticulates are undoubtedly realized, including high quantum yield (13.22%), excellent specificity in 33 potential interferents, instantaneous response, and ultralow detection limit (1.56 pg). The present GSH-CuNPs are expected to stretch amorphous metal-based nanostructures and deepen the insights into amorphous materials for optical detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuohua Dai
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Explosives Safety Science, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830000, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangfa Wang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Explosives Safety Science, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830000, China
| | - Fangfang Xiao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Explosives Safety Science, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830000, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Da Lei
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Explosives Safety Science, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830000, China
| | - Xincun Dou
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Explosives Safety Science, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830000, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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32
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Yang M, Liu Y, Mo Y. Lithium crystallization at solid interfaces. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2986. [PMID: 37225679 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38757-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the electrochemical deposition of metal anodes is critical for high-energy rechargeable batteries, among which solid-state lithium metal batteries have attracted extensive interest. A long-standing open question is how electrochemically deposited lithium-ions at the interfaces with the solid-electrolytes crystalize into lithium metal. Here, using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, we study and reveal the atomistic pathways and energy barriers of lithium crystallization at the solid interfaces. In contrast to the conventional understanding, lithium crystallization takes multi-step pathways mediated by interfacial lithium atoms with disordered and random-closed-packed configurations as intermediate steps, which give rise to the energy barrier of crystallization. This understanding of multi-step crystallization pathways extends the applicability of Ostwald's step rule to interfacial atom states, and enables a rational strategy for lower-barrier crystallization by promoting favorable interfacial atom states as intermediate steps through interfacial engineering. Our findings open rationally guided avenues of interfacial engineering for facilitating the crystallization in metal electrodes for solid-state batteries and can be generally applicable for fast crystal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghao Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yunsheng Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yifei Mo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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33
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Bañuelos JL, Borguet E, Brown GE, Cygan RT, DeYoreo JJ, Dove PM, Gaigeot MP, Geiger FM, Gibbs JM, Grassian VH, Ilgen AG, Jun YS, Kabengi N, Katz L, Kubicki JD, Lützenkirchen J, Putnis CV, Remsing RC, Rosso KM, Rother G, Sulpizi M, Villalobos M, Zhang H. Oxide- and Silicate-Water Interfaces and Their Roles in Technology and the Environment. Chem Rev 2023; 123:6413-6544. [PMID: 37186959 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial reactions drive all elemental cycling on Earth and play pivotal roles in human activities such as agriculture, water purification, energy production and storage, environmental contaminant remediation, and nuclear waste repository management. The onset of the 21st century marked the beginning of a more detailed understanding of mineral aqueous interfaces enabled by advances in techniques that use tunable high-flux focused ultrafast laser and X-ray sources to provide near-atomic measurement resolution, as well as by nanofabrication approaches that enable transmission electron microscopy in a liquid cell. This leap into atomic- and nanometer-scale measurements has uncovered scale-dependent phenomena whose reaction thermodynamics, kinetics, and pathways deviate from previous observations made on larger systems. A second key advance is new experimental evidence for what scientists hypothesized but could not test previously, namely, interfacial chemical reactions are frequently driven by "anomalies" or "non-idealities" such as defects, nanoconfinement, and other nontypical chemical structures. Third, progress in computational chemistry has yielded new insights that allow a move beyond simple schematics, leading to a molecular model of these complex interfaces. In combination with surface-sensitive measurements, we have gained knowledge of the interfacial structure and dynamics, including the underlying solid surface and the immediately adjacent water and aqueous ions, enabling a better definition of what constitutes the oxide- and silicate-water interfaces. This critical review discusses how science progresses from understanding ideal solid-water interfaces to more realistic systems, focusing on accomplishments in the last 20 years and identifying challenges and future opportunities for the community to address. We anticipate that the next 20 years will focus on understanding and predicting dynamic transient and reactive structures over greater spatial and temporal ranges as well as systems of greater structural and chemical complexity. Closer collaborations of theoretical and experimental experts across disciplines will continue to be critical to achieving this great aspiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Leobardo Bañuelos
- Department of Physics, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Eric Borguet
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Gordon E Brown
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Randall T Cygan
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - James J DeYoreo
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Patricia M Dove
- Department of Geosciences, Department of Chemistry, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, United States
| | - Marie-Pierre Gaigeot
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, CNRS, LAMBE UMR8587, 91025 Evry-Courcouronnes, France
| | - Franz M Geiger
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Julianne M Gibbs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G2Canada
| | - Vicki H Grassian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Anastasia G Ilgen
- Geochemistry Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, United States
| | - Young-Shin Jun
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Nadine Kabengi
- Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Lynn Katz
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - James D Kubicki
- Department of Earth, Environmental & Resource Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Johannes Lützenkirchen
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung─INE, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Christine V Putnis
- Institute for Mineralogy, University of Münster, Münster D-48149, Germany
| | - Richard C Remsing
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Kevin M Rosso
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
| | - Gernot Rother
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Marialore Sulpizi
- Department of Physics, Ruhr Universität Bochum, NB6, 65, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mario Villalobos
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales y del Suelo, LANGEM, Instituto De Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Huichun Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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Fritsch B, Körner A, Couasnon T, Blukis R, Taherkhani M, Benning LG, Jank MPM, Spiecker E, Hutzler A. Tailoring the Acidity of Liquid Media with Ionizing Radiation: Rethinking the Acid-Base Correlation beyond pH. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:4644-4651. [PMID: 37167107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Advanced in situ techniques based on electrons and X-rays are increasingly used to gain insights into fundamental processes in liquids. However, probing liquid samples with ionizing radiation changes the solution chemistry under observation. In this work, we show that a radiation-induced decrease in pH does not necessarily correlate to an increase in acidity of aqueous solutions. Thus, pH does not capture the acidity under irradiation. Using kinetic modeling of radiation chemistry, we introduce alternative measures of acidity (radiolytic acidity π* and radiolytic ion product KW*), that account for radiation-induced alterations of both H+ and OH- concentration. Moreover, we demonstrate that adding pH-neutral solutes such as LiCl, LiBr, or LiNO3 can trigger a significant change in π*. This provides a huge parameter space to tailor the acidity for in situ experiments involving ionizing radiation, as present in synchrotron facilities or during liquid-phase electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birk Fritsch
- Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Cauerstraße 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering, Electron Devices (LEB), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 6, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Micro- and Nanostructure Research (IMN) and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Körner
- Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Cauerstraße 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thaïs Couasnon
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Roberts Blukis
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mehran Taherkhani
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering, Electron Devices (LEB), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 6, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Liane G Benning
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin, 12249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael P M Jank
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering, Electron Devices (LEB), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 6, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISB, Schottkystraße 10, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Erdmann Spiecker
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Micro- and Nanostructure Research (IMN) and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Cauerstraße 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Hutzler
- Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK-11), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Cauerstraße 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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35
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Iida Y, Hiratsuka T, Miyahara MT, Watanabe S. Mechanism of Nucleation Pathway Selection in Binary Lennard-Jones Solution: A Combined Study of Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Free Energy Analysis. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:3524-3533. [PMID: 37027488 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
The nucleation process, which is the initial step in particle synthesis, determines the properties of the resultant particles. Although recent studies have observed various nucleation pathways, the physical factors that determine these pathways have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations in a binary Lennard-Jones system as a model solution and found that the nucleation pathway can be classified into four types depending on microscopic interactions. The key parameters are (1) the strength of the solute-solute interaction and (2) the difference between the strengths of the like-pair and unlike-pair interactions. The increment of the former alters the nucleation mechanism from a two-step to a one-step pathway, whereas that of the latter causes quick assembly of solutes. Moreover, we developed a thermodynamic model based on the formation of core-shell nuclei to calculate the free energy landscapes. Our model successfully described the pathway observed in the simulations and demonstrated that the two parameters, (1) and (2), define the degree of supercooling and supersaturation, respectively. Thus, our model interpreted the microscopic insights from a macroscopic point of view. Because the only inputs required for our model are the interaction parameters, our model can a priori predict the nucleation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuya Iida
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Tatsumasa Hiratsuka
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Minoru T Miyahara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Satoshi Watanabe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
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36
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Scarabelli L, Sun M, Zhuo X, Yoo S, Millstone JE, Jones MR, Liz-Marzán LM. Plate-Like Colloidal Metal Nanoparticles. Chem Rev 2023; 123:3493-3542. [PMID: 36948214 PMCID: PMC10103137 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The pseudo-two-dimensional (2D) morphology of plate-like metal nanoparticles makes them one of the most anisotropic, mechanistically understood, and tunable structures available. Although well-known for their superior plasmonic properties, recent progress in the 2D growth of various other materials has led to an increasingly diverse family of plate-like metal nanoparticles, giving rise to numerous appealing properties and applications. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the solution-phase growth of colloidal plate-like metal nanoparticles, including plasmonic and other metals, with an emphasis on mechanistic insights for different synthetic strategies, the crystallographic habits of different metals, and the use of nanoplates as scaffolds for the synthesis of other derivative structures. We additionally highlight representative self-assembly techniques and provide a brief overview on the attractive properties and unique versatility benefiting from the 2D morphology. Finally, we share our opinions on the existing challenges and future perspectives for plate-like metal nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Scarabelli
- NANOPTO Group, Institue of Materials Science of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Muhua Sun
- National Center for Electron Microscopy in Beijing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolu Zhuo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Optoelectronic Materials and Chips, School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Sungjae Yoo
- Research Institute for Nano Bio Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jill E Millstone
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Matthew R Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Materials Science & Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, 43009 Bilbao, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Cinbio, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
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37
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Jabbari V, Sawczyk M, Amiri A, Král P, Shahbazian-Yassar R. Unveiling growth and dynamics of liposomes by graphene liquid cell-transmission electron microscopy. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:5011-5022. [PMID: 36790028 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr06147c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Liposome is a model system for biotechnological and biomedical purposes spanning from targeted drug delivery to modern vaccine research. Yet, the growth mechanism of liposomes is largely unknown. In this work, the formation and evolution of phosphatidylcholine-based liposomes are studied in real-time by graphene liquid cell-transmission electron microscopy (GLC-TEM). We reveal important steps in the growth, fusion and denaturation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes. We show that initially complex lipid aggregates resembling micelles start to form. These aggregates randomly merge while capturing water and forming small proto-liposomes. The nanoscopic containers continue sucking water until their membrane becomes convex and free of redundant phospholipids, giving stabilized PC liposomes of different sizes. In the initial stage, proto-liposomes grow at a rate of 10-15 nm s-1, which is followed by their growth rate of 2-5 nm s-1, limited by the lipid availability in the solution. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to understand the structure of micellar clusters, their evolution, and merging. The liposomes are also found to fuse through lipid bilayers docking followed by the formation of a hemifusion diaphragm and fusion pore opening. The liposomes denaturation can be described by initial structural destabilization and deformation of the membrane followed by the leakage of the encapsulated liquid. This study offers new insights on the formation and growth of lipid-based molecular assemblies which is applicable to a wide range of amphiphilic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Jabbari
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. rsyassar@uic
| | - Michal Sawczyk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Azadeh Amiri
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. rsyassar@uic
| | - Petr Král
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Physics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Reza Shahbazian-Yassar
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. rsyassar@uic
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38
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Xu Z, Ou Z. Direct Imaging of the Kinetic Crystallization Pathway: Simulation and Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:2026. [PMID: 36903141 PMCID: PMC10004038 DOI: 10.3390/ma16052026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The crystallization of materials from a suspension determines the structure and function of the final product, and numerous pieces of evidence have pointed out that the classical crystallization pathway may not capture the whole picture of the crystallization pathways. However, visualizing the initial nucleation and further growth of a crystal at the nanoscale has been challenging due to the difficulties of imaging individual atoms or nanoparticles during the crystallization process in solution. Recent progress in nanoscale microscopy had tackled this problem by monitoring the dynamic structural evolution of crystallization in a liquid environment. In this review, we summarized several crystallization pathways captured by the liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy technique and compared the observations with computer simulation. Apart from the classical nucleation pathway, we highlight three nonclassical pathways that are both observed in experiments and computer simulations: formation of an amorphous cluster below the critical nucleus size, nucleation of the crystalline phase from an amorphous intermediate, and transition between multiple crystalline structures before achieving the final product. Among these pathways, we also highlight the similarities and differences between the experimental results of the crystallization of single nanocrystals from atoms and the assembly of a colloidal superlattice from a large number of colloidal nanoparticles. By comparing the experimental results with computer simulations, we point out the importance of theory and simulation in developing a mechanistic approach to facilitate the understanding of the crystallization pathway in experimental systems. We also discuss the challenges and future perspectives for investigating the crystallization pathways at the nanoscale with the development of in situ nanoscale imaging techniques and potential applications to the understanding of biomineralization and protein self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangying Xu
- Qian Weichang College, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Zihao Ou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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39
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Guo M, Jones MJ, Goh R, Verma V, Guinn E, Heng JYY. The Effect of Chain Length and Conformation on the Nucleation of Glycine Homopeptides during the Crystallization Process. CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2023; 23:1668-1675. [PMID: 36879769 PMCID: PMC9983003 DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.2c01229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
To explore the effect of chain length and conformation on the nucleation of peptides, the primary nucleation induction time of glycine homopeptides in pure water at different supersaturation levels under various temperatures has been determined. Nucleation data suggest that longer chains will prolong the induction time, especially for chains longer than three, where nucleation will occur over several days. In contrast, the nucleation rate increased with an increase in the supersaturation for all homopeptides. Induction time and nucleation difficulty increase at lower temperatures. However, for triglycine, the dihydrate form was produced with an unfolded peptide conformation (pPII) at low temperature. The interfacial energy and activation Gibbs energy of this dihydrate form are both lower than those at high temperature, while the induction time is longer, indicating the classical nucleation theory is not suitable to explain the nucleation phenomenon of triglycine dihydrate. Moreover, gelation and liquid-liquid separation of longer chain glycine homopeptides were observed, which was normally classified to nonclassical nucleation theory. This work provides insight into how the nucleation process evolves with increasing chain length and variable conformation, thereby offering a fundamental understanding of the critical peptide chain length for the classical nucleation theory and complex nucleation process for peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Guo
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial
College London, South Kensington
Campus, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Marie J. Jones
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial
College London, South Kensington
Campus, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Racheal Goh
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial
College London, South Kensington
Campus, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Vivek Verma
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial
College London, South Kensington
Campus, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Emily Guinn
- Synthetic
Molecule Design and Development, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana46221, United States
| | - Jerry Y. Y. Heng
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Imperial
College London, South Kensington
Campus, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Institute
for Molecular Science and Engineering, Imperial
College London, South Kensington
Campus, LondonSW7 2AZ, U.K.
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40
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Choi BK, Kim J, Luo Z, Kim J, Kim JH, Hyeon T, Mehraeen S, Park S, Park J. Shape Transformation Mechanism of Gold Nanoplates. ACS NANO 2023; 17:2007-2018. [PMID: 36692347 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c07256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Shape control is of key importance in utilizing the structure-property relationship of nanocrystals. The high surface-to-volume ratio of nanocrystals induces dynamic surface reactions on exposed facets of nanocrystals, such as adsorption, desorption, and diffusion of surface atoms, all of which are important in overall shape transformation. However, it is difficult to track shape transformation of nanocrystals and understand the underlying mechanism at the level of distinguishing events on individual facets. Herein, we investigate changes of individual surface-exposed facets during diverse shape transformations of Au nanocrystals using liquid phase TEM in various chemical potentials and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The results reveal that the diffusion of surface atoms on nanocrystals is the governing factor in determining the final structure in shape transformation, causing the fast transformation of unstable facets to truncated morphology with minimized surface energy. The role of surface diffusion introduced here can be further applied to understanding the formation mechanism of variously shaped nanocrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Back Kyu Choi
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongwon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhen Luo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois60607, United States
| | - Joodeok Kim
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hyun Kim
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeghwan Hyeon
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Shafigh Mehraeen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois60607, United States
| | - Sungho Park
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungwon Park
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Engineering Research, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul08826, Republic of Korea
- Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, 145, Gwanggyo-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do16229, Republic of Korea
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41
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Mathiesen JK, Quinson J, Blaseio S, Kjær ETS, Dworzak A, Cooper SR, Pedersen JK, Wang B, Bizzotto F, Schröder J, Kinnibrugh TL, Simonsen SB, Theil Kuhn L, Kirkensgaard JJK, Rossmeisl J, Oezaslan M, Arenz M, Jensen KMØ. Chemical Insights into the Formation of Colloidal Iridium Nanoparticles from In Situ X-ray Total Scattering: Influence of Precursors and Cations on the Reaction Pathway. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:1769-1782. [PMID: 36631996 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Iridium nanoparticles are important catalysts for several chemical and energy conversion reactions. Studies of iridium nanoparticles have also been a key for the development of kinetic models of nanomaterial formation. However, compared to other metals such as gold or platinum, knowledge on the nature of prenucleation species and structural insights into the resultant nanoparticles are missing, especially for nanoparticles obtained from IrxCly precursors investigated here. We use in situ X-ray total scattering (TS) experiments with pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to study a simple, surfactant-free synthesis of colloidal iridium nanoparticles. The reaction is performed in methanol at 50 °C with only a base and an iridium salt as precursor. From different precursor salts─IrCl3, IrCl4, H2IrCl6, or Na2IrCl6─colloidal nanoparticles as small as Ir∼55 are obtained as the final product. The nanoparticles do not show the bulk iridium face-centered cubic (fcc) structure but show decahedral and icosahedral structures. The formation route is highly dependent on the precursor salt used. Using IrCl3 or IrCl4, metallic iridium nanoparticles form rapidly from IrxClyn- complexes, whereas using H2IrCl6 or Na2IrCl6, the iridium nanoparticle formation follows a sudden growth after an induction period and the brief appearance of a crystalline phase. With H2IrCl6, the formation of different Irn (n = 55, 55, 85, and 116) nanoparticles depends on the nature of the cation in the base (LiOH, NaOH, KOH, or CsOH, respectively) and larger particles are obtained with larger cations. As the particles grow, the nanoparticle structure changes from partly icosahedral to decahedral. The results show that the synthesis of iridium nanoparticles from IrxCly is a valuable iridium nanoparticle model system, which can provide new compositional and structural insights into iridium nanoparticle formation and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jette K Mathiesen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.,Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej Bldg. 312, 2800Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Quinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.,Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Åbogade 40, 8200Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Sonja Blaseio
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt Str. 35a, 38106Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Emil T S Kjær
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Alexandra Dworzak
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt Str. 35a, 38106Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Susan R Cooper
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Jack K Pedersen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Baiyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Francesco Bizzotto
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012Bern, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Schröder
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tiffany L Kinnibrugh
- X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois60439, United States
| | - Søren B Simonsen
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej Bldg. 310, 2800Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Luise Theil Kuhn
- Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark, Fysikvej Bldg. 310, 2800Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jacob J K Kirkensgaard
- Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958Frederiksberg C, Denmark.,Niels-Bohr-Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Jan Rossmeisl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Mehtap Oezaslan
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt Str. 35a, 38106Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Matthias Arenz
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kirsten M Ø Jensen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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42
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Ni B, González-Rubio G, Cölfen H. How a Facet of a Nanocrystal Is Formed: The Concept of the Symmetry Based Kinematic Theory. Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202200480. [PMID: 36121760 PMCID: PMC10098540 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202200480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Conventional nanocrystal (NC) growth mechanisms have overwhelmingly focused on the final exposed facets to explain shape evolution. However, how the final facets are formed from the initial nuclei or seeds, has not been specifically interrogated. In this concept paper, we would like to concentrate on this specific topic, and introduce the symmetry based kinematic theory (SBKT) to explain the formation and evolution of crystal facets. It is a crystallographic theory based on the classical crystal growth concepts developed to illustrate the shape evolution during the NC growth. The most important principles connecting the basic NC growth processes and morphology evolution are the preferential growth directions and the properties of kinematic waves. On the contrary, the final facets are just indications of how the crystal growth terminates, and their formation and evolution rely on the NC growth processes: surface nucleation and layer advancement. Accordingly, the SBKT could even be applied to situations where non-faceted NCs such as spheres are formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Ni
- Physical Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Helmut Cölfen
- Physical Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78457, Konstanz, Germany
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43
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Huang B, Tang T, Chen SH, Li H, Sun ZJ, Zhang ZL, Zhang M, Cui R. Near-infrared-IIb emitting single-atom catalyst for imaging-guided therapy of blood-brain barrier breakdown after traumatic brain injury. Nat Commun 2023; 14:197. [PMID: 36639379 PMCID: PMC9839749 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier breakdown, as a prominent feature after traumatic brain injury, always triggers a cascade of biochemical events like inflammatory response and free radical-mediated oxidative damage, leading to neurological dysfunction. The dynamic monitoring the status of blood-brain barrier will provide potent guidance for adopting appropriate clinical intervention. Here, we engineer a near-infrared-IIb Ag2Te quantum dot-based Mn single-atom catalyst for imaging-guided therapy of blood-brain barrier breakdown of mice after traumatic brain injury. The dynamic change of blood-brain barrier, including the transient cerebral hypoperfusion and cerebrovascular damage, could be resolved with high spatiotemporal resolution (150 ms and ~ 9.6 µm). Notably, the isolated single Mn atoms on the surface of Ag2Te exhibited excellent catalytic activity for scavenging reactive oxygen species to alleviate neuroinflammation in brains. The timely injection of Mn single-atom catalyst guided by imaging significantly promoted the reconstruction of blood-brain barrier and recovery of neurological function after traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Huang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, 430070, Wuhan, China
| | - Shi-Hui Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Li
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 430079, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 430079, Wuhan, China.
| | - Zhi-Lin Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China.
| | - Mingxi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, 430070, Wuhan, China.
| | - Ran Cui
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China.
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44
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Nguyen QN, Wang C, Shang Y, Janssen A, Xia Y. Colloidal Synthesis of Metal Nanocrystals: From Asymmetrical Growth to Symmetry Breaking. Chem Rev 2022; 123:3693-3760. [PMID: 36547384 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanocrystals offer a unique platform for tailoring the physicochemical properties of solid materials to enhance their performances in various applications. While most work on controlling their shapes revolves around symmetrical growth, the introduction of asymmetrical growth and thus symmetry breaking has also emerged as a powerful route to enrich metal nanocrystals with new shapes and complex morphologies as well as unprecedented properties and functionalities. The success of this route critically relies on our ability to lift the confinement on symmetry by the underlying unit cell of the crystal structure and/or the initial seed in a systematic manner. This Review aims to provide an account of recent progress in understanding and controlling asymmetrical growth and symmetry breaking in a colloidal synthesis of noble-metal nanocrystals. With a touch on both the nucleation and growth steps, we discuss a number of methods capable of generating seeds with diverse symmetry while achieving asymmetrical growth for mono-, bi-, and multimetallic systems. We then showcase a variety of symmetry-broken nanocrystals that have been reported, together with insights into their growth mechanisms. We also highlight their properties and applications and conclude with perspectives on future directions in developing this class of nanomaterials. It is hoped that the concepts and existing challenges outlined in this Review will drive further research into understanding and controlling the symmetry breaking process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quynh N. Nguyen
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia30332, United States
| | - Chenxiao Wang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia30332, United States
| | - Yuxin Shang
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia30332, United States
| | - Annemieke Janssen
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia30332, United States
| | - Younan Xia
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia30332, United States
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia30332, United States
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45
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Abstract
Nucleation and growth are critical steps in crystallization, which plays an important role in determining crystal structure, size, morphology, and purity. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of nucleation and growth is crucial to realize the controllable fabrication of crystalline products with desired and reproducible properties. Based on classical models, the initial crystal nucleus is formed by the spontaneous aggregation of ions, atoms, or molecules, and crystal growth is dependent on the monomer's diffusion and the surface reaction. Recently, numerous in situ investigations on crystallization dynamics have uncovered the existence of nonclassical mechanisms. This review provides a summary and highlights the in situ studies of crystal nucleation and growth, with a particular emphasis on the state-of-the-art research progress since the year 2016, and includes technological advances, atomic-scale observations, substrate- and temperature-dependent nucleation and growth, and the progress achieved in the various materials: metals, alloys, metallic compounds, colloids, and proteins. Finally, the forthcoming opportunities and challenges in this fascinating field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices for Special Environments, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics & Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Electronic Information Materials and Devices, 40-1 South Beijing Road, Urumqi830011, China.,Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Francis Leonard Deepak
- Nanostructured Materials Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Av. Mestre Jose Veiga, 4715-330Braga, Portugal
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46
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Zhao Y, Zhang Q, Ma J, Yi R, Gou L, Nie D, Han X, Zhang L, Wang Y, Xu X, Wang Z, Chen L, Lu Y, Zhang S, Zhang L. Directional growth of quasi-2D Cu2O monocrystals on rGO membranes in aqueous environments. iScience 2022; 25:105472. [DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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47
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Han X, Wu G, Ge Y, Yang S, Rao D, Guo Z, Zhang Y, Yan M, Zhang H, Gu L, Wu Y, Lin Y, Zhang H, Hong X. In situ Observation of Structural Evolution and Phase Engineering of Amorphous Materials during Crystal Nucleation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2206994. [PMID: 36222376 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The nucleation pathway determines the structures and thus properties of formed nanomaterials, which is governed by the free energy of the intermediate phase during nucleation. The amorphous structure, as one of the intermediate phases during nucleation, plays an important role in modulating the nucleation pathway. However, the process and mechanism of crystal nucleation from amorphous structures still need to be fully investigated. Here, in situ aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) is employed to conduct real-time imaging of the nucleation of ultrathin amorphous nanosheets (NSs). The results indicate that their nucleation contains three distinct stages, i.e., aggregation of atoms, crystallization to form lattice-expanded nanocrystals, and relaxation of the lattice-expanded nanocrystals to form final nanocrystals. In particular, the crystallization processes of various amorphous materials are investigated systematically to form corresponding nanocrystals with unconventional crystalline phases, including face-centered-cubic (fcc) Ru, hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) Rh, and a new intermetallic IrCo alloy. In situ electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis unveils that the doped carbon in the original amorphous NSs can migrate to the surface during the nucleation process, stabilizing the obtained unconventional crystal phases transformed from the amorphous structures, which is also proven by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Geng Wu
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yiyao Ge
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Shaokang Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, P. R. China
| | - Dewei Rao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyan Guo
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Muyu Yan
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Haoran Zhang
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Lin Gu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P.R. China
| | - Yuen Wu
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Yue Lin
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Hong Kong Branch of National Precious Metals Material Engineering Research Center (NPMM), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518057, P. R. China
| | - Xun Hong
- Center of Advanced Nanocatalysis (CAN), Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China
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48
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Bultema LA, Bücker R, Schulz EC, Tellkamp F, Gonschior J, Miller RD, Kassier GH. The effect of secondary electrons on radiolysis as observed by in liquid TEM: The role of window material and electrical bias. Ultramicroscopy 2022; 240:113579. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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49
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Zhao H, Zhu Y, Ye H, He Y, Li H, Sun Y, Yang F, Wang R. Atomic-Scale Structure Dynamics of Nanocrystals Revealed By In Situ and Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022:e2206911. [PMID: 36153832 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanocrystals are of great importance in material sciences and industry. Engineering nanocrystals with desired structures and properties is no doubt one of the most important challenges in the field, which requires deep insight into atomic-scale dynamics of nanocrystals during the process. The rapid developments of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), especially environmental TEM, reveal insights into nanocrystals to digest. According to the considerable progress based on in situ electron microscopy, a comprehensive review on nanocrystal dynamics from three aspects: nucleation and growth, structure evolution, and dynamics in reaction conditions are given. In the nucleation and growth part, existing nucleation theories and growth pathways are organized based on liquid and gas-solid phases. In the structure evolution part, the focus is on in-depth mechanistic understanding of the evolution, including defects, phase, and disorder/order transitions. In the part of dynamics in reaction conditions, solid-solid and gas-solid interfaces of nanocrystals in atmosphere are discussed and the structure-property relationship is correlated. Even though impressive progress is made, additional efforts are required to develop the integrated and operando TEM methodologies for unveiling nanocrystal dynamics with high spatial, energy, and temporal resolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofei Zhao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yuchen Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Huanyu Ye
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yang He
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yifei Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Rongming Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Magneto-Photoelectrical Composite and Interface Science, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
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50
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Durelle M, Charton S, Gobeaux F, Chevallard C, Belloni L, Testard F, Trépout S, Carriere D. Coexistence of Transient Liquid Droplets and Amorphous Solid Particles in Nonclassical Crystallization of Cerium Oxalate. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:8502-8508. [PMID: 36066503 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Crystallization from solution often occurs via "nonclassical" routes; that is, it involves transient, non-crystalline states like reactant-rich liquid droplets and amorphous particles. However, in mineral crystals, the well-defined thermodynamic character of liquid droplets and whether they convert─or not─into amorphous phases have remained unassessed. Here, by combining cryo-transmission electron microscopy and X-ray scattering down to a 250 ms reaction time, we unveil that crystallization of cerium oxalate involves a metastable chemical equilibrium between transient liquid droplets and solid amorphous particles: contrary to the usual expectation, reactant-rich droplets do not evolve into amorphous solids. Instead, at concentrations above 2.5 to 10 mmol L-1, both amorphous and reactant-rich liquid phases coexist for several tens of seconds and their molar fractions remain constant and follow the lever rule in a multicomponent phase diagram. Such a metastable chemical equilibrium between solid and liquid precursors has been so far overlooked in multistep nucleation theories and highlights the interest of rationalizing phase transformations using multicomponent phase diagrams not only when designing and recycling rare earths materials but also more generally when describing nonclassical crystallization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Durelle
- CEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ. Montpellier, 30207 Marcoule, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, NIMBE, LIONS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sophie Charton
- CEA, DES, ISEC, DMRC, Univ. Montpellier, 30207 Marcoule, France
| | - Frédéric Gobeaux
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, NIMBE, LIONS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Corinne Chevallard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, NIMBE, LIONS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Luc Belloni
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, NIMBE, LIONS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Fabienne Testard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, NIMBE, LIONS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Sylvain Trépout
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, CNRS UMS2016, Inserm US43, Université Paris-Saclay, Multimodal Imaging Center, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - David Carriere
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, NIMBE, LIONS, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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