1
|
Huang J, Chen X, Huang S, Nasiri N. Vapor-Tailored Nanojunctions in Ultraporous ZnO Nanoparticle Networks for Superior UV Photodetection. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2402558. [PMID: 39032147 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
High quality nanojunctions are known to effectively improve the conductivity and structural robustness of ultraporous nanoparticle networks, surpassing the performance of natural van der Waals interfaces. Nevertheless, the traditional approach of forming these junctions by thermal annealing is incompatible with thermolabile polymers and slender metal electrodes found in modern wearable technologies. Herein, we present a low temperature, solvent vapor-based method to rapidly elicit high-quality metal-oxide nanojunctions in a fast, effortless, inexpensive, and easily scalable process; capable of generating necked interparticle interfaces in a matter of minutes. When applied to ultraporous-based ZnO Ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors, the vapor-tailoring process produces an incredible 128,000-fold improvement in responsivity (6.6 A.W-1) over untreated structures (51.2 µA.W-1), and a 5300-fold improvement in responsivity over thermally annealed structures; all while maintaining exceptionally low dark currents of 140 pA at a low bias voltage of 1 V. Most importantly, the exceptional performance enabled by room temperature synthesis suggests high potential adaptability of this process toward wearable UV sensors, shedding lights on the strategy of modifying weakly bonded porous nanostructures for improved physical properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Huang
- NanoTech Laboratory, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Ibaraki, 567-0047, Japan
- Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Xiaohu Chen
- NanoTech Laboratory, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
- Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Shujuan Huang
- Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| | - Noushin Nasiri
- NanoTech Laboratory, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
- Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen X, Bagnall D, Nasiri N. Highly Porous ZnO/CNT Hybrid Microclusters for Superior UV Photodetection. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:27614-27626. [PMID: 38722974 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The formation of nanoscale junctions among nanoparticles in self-assembled nanostructures is crucial for improving both interfacial conductivity and structural integrity. However, the inherent reliance on weak van der Waals forces to hold nanoparticles together poses challenges in developing commercially viable devices due to their inefficient carrier transport characteristics. This study presents the successful integration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into highly porous nanomicrocluster arrays of ZnO, resulting in the formation of cohesive and crack-free highly porous ZnO/CNT heterojunction films. This integration marks a significant improvement in UV photodetection performance, demonstrating a record-high photocurrent to dark current ratio of 3.3 × 106 and an exceptional responsivity of 18.5 A/W at a low bias of 0.5 V and under an ultra low light density of 25 μW/cm2. These findings underscore the efficacy of this high-performance structure as a versatile and scalable platform technology for the rapid, cost-effective fabrication of hybrid photodetectors in wearable and portable devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohu Chen
- NanoTech Laboratory, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
- Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Darren Bagnall
- Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Noushin Nasiri
- NanoTech Laboratory, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
- Smart Green Cities Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
John AT, Tricoli A. Flame assisted synthesis of nanostructures for device applications. ADVANCES IN PHYSICS: X 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/23746149.2021.1997153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alishba T John
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Chemistry, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hegner KI, Wong WSY, Vollmer D. Ultrafast Bubble Bursting by Superamphiphobic Coatings. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2101855. [PMID: 34365676 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202101855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Controlling bubble motion or passively bursting bubbles using solid interfaces is advantageous in numerous industrial applications including flotation, catalysis, electrochemical processes, and microfluidics. Current research has explored the formation, dissolution, pinning, and rupturing of bubbles on different surfaces. However, the ability to tune and control the rate of bubble bursting is not yet achieved. Scaling down surface-induced bubble bursting to just a few milliseconds is important for any application. In this work, the hierarchical structure of superamphiphobic surfaces is tuned in order to rapidly rupture contacting bubbles. Surfaces prepared using liquid flame spray show ultrafast bubble bursting (down to 2 ms) and superior durability. The coatings demonstrate excellent mechanical and chemical stability even in the presence of surface-active species. Air from the ruptured bubble is absorbed into the aerophilic Cassie-state. Long-term applicability is demonstrated by preventing the accumulation of air in the plastron via a connection of the plastron to the environment. The times recorded for bubble rupture and complete reorganization of air are reduced by approximately a factor of 3 compared to previously reported values. The concept is utilized to passively control surfactant-rich foam in froth flotation. Material collection efficiency increased by more than 60 times compared to controls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina I Hegner
- Physics at Interfaces, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - William S Y Wong
- Physics at Interfaces, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Doris Vollmer
- Physics at Interfaces, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ghildiyal P, Biswas P, Herrera S, Mulholland GW, Yang Y, Abbaschian R, Zachariah MR. Magnetic-Field Directed Vapor-Phase Assembly of Low Fractal Dimension Metal Nanostructures: Experiment and Theory. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:4085-4091. [PMID: 33884876 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c03463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While gas-phase synthesis techniques offer a scalable approach to production of metal nanoparticles, directed assembly is challenging due to fast particle diffusion rates that lead to random Brownian aggregation. This work explores an electromagnetic-levitation technique to generate metal nanoparticle aggregates with fractal dimension (Df) below that of diffusion limited assembly. We demonstrate that in addition to levitation and induction heating, the external magnetic field is sufficient to compete with random Brownian forces, which enables the formation of altered fractals. Ferromagnetic metals (Fe, Ni) form chain-like aggregates, while paramagnetic Cu forms compact nanoparticle aggregates with higher Df values. We have also employed a Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the necessary field strength to form linear chains in the gas phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Ghildiyal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Prithwish Biswas
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Steven Herrera
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - George W Mulholland
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Yong Yang
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Reza Abbaschian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Michael R Zachariah
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lee J, Hogan CJ. Computational predictions of porosities, pore size distributions, and conductivities of aerosol deposited particulate films. POWDER TECHNOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.09.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
7
|
Chen X, Seto T, Kortshagen UR, Hogan CJ. Size and structural characterization of Si nanocrystal aggregates from a low pressure nonthermal plasma reactor. POWDER TECHNOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
8
|
Fusco Z, Taheri M, Bo R, Tran-Phu T, Chen H, Guo X, Zhu Y, Tsuzuki T, White TP, Tricoli A. Non-Periodic Epsilon-Near-Zero Metamaterials at Visible Wavelengths for Efficient Non-Resonant Optical Sensing. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:3970-3977. [PMID: 32343590 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials offer unique properties for applications including optical clocking, nonlinear optics, and telecommunication. To date, the fabrication of ENZ materials at visible wavelengths relies mostly on the use of periodic structures, providing some manufacturing and material challenges. Here, we present the engineering of nonperiodic sodium tungsten bronzes (NaxWO3) metamaterials featuring ENZ properties in the visible spectrum. We showcase their use as efficient optical sensors, demonstrating a nonresonant sensing mechanism based on refractive index matching. Our optimized ENZ metamaterials display an unconventional blue-shift of the transmittance maximum to increasing refractive index of the surrounding environment, achieving sensitivity as high as 150 nm/RIU. Our theoretical and experimental investigations provide first insights on this sensing mechanism, establishing guidelines for the future engineering and implementation of efficient ENZ sensors. The unique optoelectronic properties demonstrated by this class of tunable NaxWO3 materials bear potential for various applications ranging from light-harvesting to optical photodetectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zelio Fusco
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Mahdiar Taheri
- Laboratory of Advanced Nanomaterials for Sustainability, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Renheng Bo
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Thanh Tran-Phu
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Hongjun Chen
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Xuyun Guo
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Zhu
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
| | - Takuya Tsuzuki
- Laboratory of Advanced Nanomaterials for Sustainability, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Thomas P White
- Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bo R, Zhang F, Bu S, Nasiri N, Di Bernardo I, Tran-Phu T, Shrestha A, Chen H, Taheri M, Qi S, Zhang Y, Mulmudi HK, Lipton-Duffin J, Gaspera ED, Tricoli A. One-Step Synthesis of Porous Transparent Conductive Oxides by Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Aluminum-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:9589-9599. [PMID: 32019296 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b19423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) are highly desirable for numerous applications ranging from photovoltaics to light-emitting diodes and photoelectrochemical devices. Despite progress, it remains challenging to fabricate porous TCOs (pTCOs) that may provide, for instance, a hierarchical nanostructured morphology for the separation of photoexcited hole/electron couples. Here, we present a facile process for the fabrication of porous architectures of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), a low-cost and earth-abundant transparent conductive oxide. Three-dimensional nanostructured films of AZO with tunable porosities from 10 to 98% were rapidly self-assembled from flame-made nanoparticle aerosols. Successful Al doping was confirmed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. An optimal Al-doping level of 1% was found to induce the highest material conductivity, while a higher amount led to partial segregation and formation of aluminum oxide domains. A controllable semiconducting to conducting behavior with a resistivity change of more than 4 orders of magnitudes from about 3 × 102 to 9.4 × 106 Ω cm was observed by increasing the AZO film porosity from 10 to 98%. While the denser AZO morphologies may find immediate application as transparent electrodes, we demonstrate that the ultraporous semiconducting layers have potential as a light-driven gas sensor, showing a high response of 1.92-1 ppm of ethanol at room temperature. We believe that these tunable porous transparent conductive oxides and their scalable fabrication method may provide a highly performing material for future optoelectronic devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renheng Bo
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Fan Zhang
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
- Department of Applied Chemistry , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an 710072 , China
- College of Energy Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Shulin Bu
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Noushin Nasiri
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
- School of engineering , Macquarie University , Sydney , New South Wales 2109 , Australia
| | - Iolanda Di Bernardo
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Thanh Tran-Phu
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Aabhash Shrestha
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Hongjun Chen
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Mahdiar Taheri
- Labotatory of Advanced Nanomaterials for Sustainability, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Shuhua Qi
- Department of Applied Chemistry , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an 710072 , China
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Energy Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Hemant Kumar Mulmudi
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| | - Josh Lipton-Duffin
- Institute for Future Environments (IFE) and Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF) , Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , Level 6, P Block, Gardens Point campus, 2 George St. Brisbane , Queensland 4000 , Australia
| | | | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering , Australian National University , Canberra 2601 , Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Benetti G, Gandolfi M, Van Bael MJ, Gavioli L, Giannetti C, Caddeo C, Banfi F. Photoacoustic Sensing of Trapped Fluids in Nanoporous Thin Films: Device Engineering and Sensing Scheme. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:27947-27954. [PMID: 30039696 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b07925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Accessing fluid infiltration in nanogranular coatings is an outstanding challenge, of relevance for applications ranging from nanomedicine to catalysis. A sensing platform, allowing quantifying the amount of fluid infiltrated in a nanogranular ultrathin coating, with thickness in the 10-40 nm range, is here proposed and theoretically investigated by multiscale modeling. The scheme relies on impulsive photoacoustic excitation of hypersonic mechanical breathing modes in engineered gas-phase-synthesized nanogranular metallic ultrathin films and time-resolved acousto-optical read-out of the breathing modes frequency shift upon liquid infiltration. A superior sensitivity, exceeding 26 × 103 cm2/g, is predicted upon equivalent areal mass loading of a few ng/mm2. The capability of the present scheme to discriminate among different infiltration patterns is discussed. The platform is an ideal tool to investigate nanofluidics in granular materials and naturally serves as a distributed nanogetter coating, integrating fluid sensing capabilities. The proposed scheme is readily extendable to other nanoscale and mesoscale porous materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Claudia Caddeo
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali (CNR-IOM) Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria , I-09042 Monserrato , Cagliari , Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nasiri N, Mukherjee S, Panneerselvan A, Nisbet DR, Tricoli A. Optimally Hierarchical Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Coatings for Superior Prosthesis Biointegration. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:24840-24849. [PMID: 29969013 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b08029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bone osteogenesis is a complex phenomenon dependent on numerous microenvironmental cues, with their synchrony regulating cellular functions, such as mechanical signaling, survival, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as controlled regional specification of skeletal progenitor cell fate. Therefore, obtaining a mechanistic understanding of cellular response to a microenvironment is now coming into intense focus, which will facilitate the design of programmable biomaterials for regenerative medicine. State-of-the-art nanomaterial synthesis and self-assembly processes yield complex structures that mimic surface properties, composition, and partially the morphology of the extracellular matrix. However, determining key structural properties that control cell attachment has been challenging and contradictory results are reported regarding the mechanisms and roll of nanostructured materials. Here, we significantly improve osteogenesis on bioinert substrates, demonstrating an exemplary organic-inorganic interface for superior prosthesis biointegration. We identify critical microscale hierarchical features that drastically enhance the cellular response to the same nanoscale architecture. It was observed that hierarchical morphologies, with a porosity above 80%, promote early-stage osteoinduction, as indicated by extensive coating ingrowth and nanofilopodia formation. We determined that cellular integration was mediated by two-way recognition of specific nano- and microtopographical cues between the host tissue and cellular microenvironment. This has allowed us to detail a set of determinant features for the nanofabrication of advanced prosthesis coatings that may ultimately improve implant longevity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noushin Nasiri
- Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, Faculty of Science , University of Technology Sydney , Sydney , NSW 2007 , Australia
| | - Shayanti Mukherjee
- The Ritchie Centre , Hudson Institute of Medical Research , Clayton 3168 , Australia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fusco Z, Rahmani M, Bo R, Verre R, Motta N, Käll M, Neshev D, Tricoli A. Nanostructured Dielectric Fractals on Resonant Plasmonic Metasurfaces for Selective and Sensitive Optical Sensing of Volatile Compounds. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1800931. [PMID: 29862583 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201800931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the understanding and fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures have led to a plethora of unprecedented optoelectronic and optochemical applications. Plasmon resonance has found widespread use in efficient optical transducers of refractive index changes in liquids. However, it has proven challenging to translate these achievements to the selective detection of gases, which typically adsorb non-specifically and induce refractive index changes below the detection limit. Here, it's shown that integration of tailored fractals of dielectric TiO2 nanoparticles on a plasmonic metasurface strongly enhances the interaction between the plasmonic field and volatile organic molecules and provides a means for their selective detection. Notably, this superior optical response is due to the enhancement of the interaction between the dielectric fractals and the plasmonic metasurface for thickness of up to 1.8 μm, much higher than the evanescent plasmonic near-field (≈30 nm) . Optimal dielectric-plasmonic structures allow measurements of changes in the refractive index of the gas mixture down to <8 × 10-6 at room temperature and selective identification of three exemplary volatile organic compounds. These findings provide a basis for the development of a novel family of dielectric-plasmonic materials with application extending from light harvesting and photocatalysts to contactless sensors for noninvasive medical diagnostics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zelio Fusco
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Mohsen Rahmani
- Nonlinear Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Renheng Bo
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Ruggero Verre
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Nunzio Motta
- Institute for Future Environments and School of Chemistry, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia
| | - Mikael Käll
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Dragomir Neshev
- Nonlinear Physics Centre, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, ACT, 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Exploring the Optical and Morphological Properties of Ag and Ag/TiO₂ Nanocomposites Grown by Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition. NANOMATERIALS 2017; 7:nano7120442. [PMID: 29236058 PMCID: PMC5746932 DOI: 10.3390/nano7120442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nanocomposite systems and nanoparticle (NP) films are crucial for many applications and research fields. The structure-properties correlation raises complex questions due to the collective structure of these systems, often granular and porous, a crucial factor impacting their effectiveness and performance. In this framework, we investigate the optical and morphological properties of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) films and of Ag NPs/TiO2 porous matrix films, one-step grown by supersonic cluster beam deposition. Morphology and structure of the Ag NPs film and of the Ag/TiO2 (Ag/Ti 50-50) nanocomposite are related to the optical properties of the film employing spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). We employ a simple Bruggeman effective medium approximation model, corrected by finite size effects of the nano-objects in the film structure to gather information on the structure and morphology of the nanocomposites, in particular porosity and average NPs size for the Ag/TiO2 NP film. Our results suggest that SE is a simple, quick and effective method to measure porosity of nanoscale films and systems, where standard methods for measuring pore sizes might not be applicable.
Collapse
|
14
|
Wong WSY, Liu G, Tricoli A. Superamphiphobic Bionic Proboscis for Contamination-Free Manipulation of Nano and Core-Shell Droplets. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2017; 13. [PMID: 28134486 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201603688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Manipulation of nanoliter droplets is a key step for many emerging technologies including ultracompact microfluidics devices, 3D and flexible electronic printing. Despite progress, contamination-free generation and release of nanoliter droplets by compact low-cost devices remains elusive. In the present study, inspired by butterflies' minute manipulation of fluids, the authors have engineered a superamphiphobic bionic proboscis (SAP) layout that surpasses synthetic and natural designs. The authors demonstrate the scalable fabrication of SAPs with tunable inner diameters down to 50 µm by the rapid gas-phase nanotexturing of the outer and inner surfaces of readily available hypodermic needles. Optimized SAPs achieve contamination-free manipulation of water and oil droplets down to a liquid surface tension of 26.56 mN m-1 and a volume of 10 nL. The unique potential of this layout is showcased by the rapid and carefully controlled in-air synthesis of core-shell droplets with well-controlled compositions. These findings provide a new low-cost tool for high-precision manipulation of nanoliter droplets, offering a powerful alternative to established thermal- and electrodynamic-based devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William S Y Wong
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Guanyu Liu
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Nasiri N, Bo R, Fu L, Tricoli A. Three-dimensional nano-heterojunction networks: a highly performing structure for fast visible-blind UV photodetectors. NANOSCALE 2017; 9:2059-2067. [PMID: 28116395 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr08425g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Visible-blind ultraviolet photodetectors are a promising emerging technology for the development of wide bandgap optoelectronic devices with greatly reduced power consumption and size requirements. A standing challenge is to improve the slow response time of these nanostructured devices. Here, we present a three-dimensional nanoscale heterojunction architecture for fast-responsive visible-blind UV photodetectors. The device layout consists of p-type NiO clusters densely packed on the surface of an ultraporous network of electron-depleted n-type ZnO nanoparticles. This 3D structure can detect very low UV light densities while operating with a near-zero power consumption of ca. 4 × 10-11 watts and a low bias of 0.2 mV. Most notably, heterojunction formation decreases the device rise and decay times by 26 and 20 times, respectively. These drastic enhancements in photoresponse dynamics are attributed to the stronger surface band bending and improved electron-hole separation of the nanoscale NiO/ZnO interface. These findings demonstrate a superior structural design and a simple, low-cost CMOS-compatible process for the engineering of high-performance wearable photodetectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noushin Nasiri
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia.
| | - Renheng Bo
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia.
| | - Lan Fu
- Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bo R, Nasiri N, Chen H, Caputo D, Fu L, Tricoli A. Low-Voltage High-Performance UV Photodetectors: An Interplay between Grain Boundaries and Debye Length. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:2606-2615. [PMID: 28032752 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b12321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Accurate detection of UV light by wearable low-power devices has many important applications including environmental monitoring, space to space communication, and defense. Here, we report the structural engineering of ultraporous ZnO nanoparticle networks for fabrication of very low-voltage high-performance UV photodetectors. A record high photo- to dark-current ratio of 3.3 × 105 and detectivity of 3.2 × 1012 Jones at an ultralow operation bias of 2 mV and low UV-light intensity of 86 μW·cm-2 are achieved by controlling the interplay between grain boundaries and surface depletion depth of ZnO nanoscale semiconductors. An optimal window of structural properties is determined by varying the particle size of ultraporous nanoparticle networks from 10 to 42 nm. We find that small electron-depleted nanoparticles (≤40 nm) are necessary to minimize the dark-current; however, the rise in photocurrent is tampered with decreasing particle size due to the increasing density of grain boundaries. These findings reveal that nanoparticles with a size close to twice their Debye length are required for high photo- to dark-current ratio and detectivity, while further decreasing their size decreases the photodetector performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renheng Bo
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| | - Noushin Nasiri
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| | - Hongjun Chen
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| | - Domenico Caputo
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, Sapienza University of Rome , Rome, Italy
| | - Lan Fu
- Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wong WSY, Liu G, Nasiri N, Hao C, Wang Z, Tricoli A. Omnidirectional Self-Assembly of Transparent Superoleophobic Nanotextures. ACS NANO 2017; 11:587-596. [PMID: 28027438 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b06715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Engineering surface textures that are highly transparent and repel water, oil, and other low surface energy fluids can transform our interaction with wet environments. Despite extensive progress, current top-down methods are based on directional line-of-sight fabrication mechanisms that are limited by scale and cannot be applied to highly uneven, curved, and enclosed surfaces, while bottom-up techniques often suffer from poor optical transparency. Here, we present an approach that enables the rapid, omnidirectional synthesis of flexible and up to 99.97% transparent superhydrophobic and -oleophobic textures on many variable surface types. These features are obtained by the spontaneous formation of a multi re-entrant morphology during the controlled self-assembly of nanoparticle aerosols. We also develop a mathematical model to explain and control the self-assembly dynamics, providing important insights for the rational engineering of functional materials. We envision that our findings represent a significant advance in imparting superoleophobicity and superamphiphobicity to a so-far inapplicable family of materials and geometries for multifunctional applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William S Y Wong
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Guanyu Liu
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Noushin Nasiri
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Chonglei Hao
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Zuankai Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mayon YO, Duong T, Nasiri N, White TP, Tricoli A, Catchpole KR. Flame-made ultra-porous TiO 2 layers for perovskite solar cells. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:505403. [PMID: 27875335 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/50/505403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We report methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) solar cells with an ultra-porous TiO2 electron transport layer fabricated using sequential flame aerosol and atomic layer depositions of porous and compact TiO2 layers. Flame aerosol pyrolysis allows rapid deposition of nanostructured and ultra-porous TiO2 layers that could be easily scaled-up for high-throughput low-cost industrial solar cell production. An efficiency of 13.7% was achieved with a flame-made nanostructured and ultra-porous TiO2 electrode that was coated with a compact 2 nm TiO2 layer. This demonstrates that MAPbI3 solar cells with a flame-made porous TiO2 layer can have a comparable efficiency to that of the control MAPbI3 solar cell with the well-established spin-coated porous TiO2 layer. The combination of flame aerosol and atomic layer deposition provides precise control of the TiO2 porosity. Notably, the porosity of the as-deposited flame-made TiO2 layers was 97% which was then fine-tuned down to 87%, 56% and 35% by varying the thickness of the subsequent compact TiO2 coating step. The effects of the decrease in porosity on the device performance are discussed. It is also shown that MAPbI3 easily infiltrates into the flame-made porous TiO2 nanostructure thanks to their high porosity and large pore size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yahuitl Osorio Mayon
- Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Bldg. 32, Acton 2601, ACT, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nasiri N, Ceramidas A, Mukherjee S, Panneerselvan A, Nisbet DR, Tricoli A. Ultra-Porous Nanoparticle Networks: A Biomimetic Coating Morphology for Enhanced Cellular Response and Infiltration. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24305. [PMID: 27076035 PMCID: PMC4830967 DOI: 10.1038/srep24305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthopedic treatments are amongst the most common cause of surgery and are responsible for a large share of global healthcare expenditures. Engineering materials that can hasten bone integration will improve the quality of life of millions of patients per year and reduce associated medical costs. Here, we present a novel hierarchical biomimetic coating that mimics the inorganic constituent of mammalian bones with the aim of improving osseointegration of metallic implants. We exploit the thermally-driven self-organization of metastable core-shell nanoparticles during their aerosol self-assembly to rapidly fabricate robust, ultra-porous nanoparticle networks (UNN) of crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp). Comparative analysis of the response of osteoblast cells to the ultra-porous nanostructured HAp surfaces and to the spin coated HAp surfaces revealed superior osseointegrative properties of the UNN coatings with significant cell and filopodia infiltration. This flexible synthesis approach for the engineering of UNN HAp coatings on titanium implants provides a platform technology to study the bone-implant interface for improved osseointegration and osteoconduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noushin Nasiri
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Anthony Ceramidas
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Shayanti Mukherjee
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Anitha Panneerselvan
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - David R Nisbet
- Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu G, Wong WSY, Nasiri N, Tricoli A. Ultraporous superhydrophobic gas-permeable nano-layers by scalable solvent-free one-step self-assembly. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:6085-6093. [PMID: 26932674 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr09000h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Superhydrophobic materials with excellent humidity tolerance, high porosity and light transmittance are being investigated for numerous applications including moisture-sensitive catalysts and perovskite solar cells. Here, we report the one-step solvent-free synthesis of ultraporous superhydrophobic nano-layers by the on-the-fly functionalization of nanoparticle aerosols. Short exposure of surfaces to hot Mn3O4, ZnO and TiO2 aerosols results in ultraporous nanoparticle networks with repulsive dewetting state approaching ideal Cassie-Baxter superhydrophobicity. In addition to showcasing sliding angles of ca. 0° and very low contact angle hysteresis of 3° ± 2°, these optimal nano-layers have up to 98% porosity and pore size of several micrometres, a key feature to enable efficient penetration of gases to the substrate surface. The stability of this ultraporous superhydrophobic morphology is demonstrated by rapidly applying Moses effect-functionality to substrates that parts water up to 5 mm high. This scalable synthesis method offers a flexible and rapid approach for the production of numerous moisture-resistant devices including gas sensors, catalysts and perovskite solar cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanyu Liu
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2001 Australia.
| | - William S Y Wong
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2001 Australia.
| | - Noushin Nasiri
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2001 Australia.
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Research School of Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2001 Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zhang T, Costigan P, Varshney N, Tricoli A. Disposable micro stir bars by photodegradable organic encapsulation of hematite–magnetite nanoparticles. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra22082c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a novel method to synthesize microscale stirring bars by the anisotropic assembly of magnetite nanoparticles to overcome diffusion-limited mixing in micro-vessels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Zhang
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory
- Research School of Engineering
- Australian National University
- Canberra
- Australia
| | - Paul Costigan
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory
- Research School of Engineering
- Australian National University
- Canberra
- Australia
| | - Nitin Varshney
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory
- Research School of Engineering
- Australian National University
- Canberra
- Australia
| | - Antonio Tricoli
- Nanotechnology Research Laboratory
- Research School of Engineering
- Australian National University
- Canberra
- Australia
| |
Collapse
|