Rapid In-Plane Pattern Growth for Large-Area Inverse Replication Through Electrohydrodynamic Instability of Polymer Films

Nanopatterning driven by electrohydrodynamic (EHD) instability can aid in the resolution of the drawbacks inherent in conventional imprinting or other molding methods. This is because EHD force negates the requirement of physical contact and is easily tuned. However, its potential has not examined owing to the limited size of the pattern replica (several to tens of micrometers). Thus, this study proposes a new route for large-area patterning through high-speed evolution of EHD-driven pattern growth along the in-plane axis. Through the acceleration of the in-plane growth, while selectively controlling a specific edge growth, the pattern replica area can be extended from the micro- to centimeter scale with high fidelity. Moreover, even in the case of nonuniform contact mode, the proposed rapid in-plane growth mode facilitates uniform large-scale replication, which is not possible in conventional imprinting or other molding methods.

Liquid-phase catalyst pre-seeding for controlled growth of layered MoS2 films over a large area via chemical vapor deposition

We introduce an innovative method that facilitates precise control of high-quality molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) growth, extending up to three layers, on a large scale. This scalable growth is realized by employing solution-based catalysts and precursors in conjunction with chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The catalyst not only diminishes the precursor's activation energy and melting temperature but also augments the overall reaction rate. By regulating the concentration ratio, we directly manipulate the precursor concentrations, thereby promoting clean growth. This unique control mechanism, as delineated in this study, is unprecedented. Our findings confirm that the catalyst introduction does not compromise the quality of the resulting samples. Field effect transistors (FETs) fabricated from the synthesized MoS2 display superior electrical properties; they exhibit a high carrier mobility of 32.1 cm2 V-1 s-1 and an on/off current ratio of 108, signifying their promising electrical performance. Accordingly, our findings suggest that the solution-based CVD strategy presented herein can be potentially utilized for the integration of FETs into a multitude of practical applications.

Synthesis and Electrocatalytic Applications of Layer-Structured Metal Chalcogenides Composites

Featured with the attractive properties such as large surface area, unique atomic layer thickness, excellent electronic conductivity, and superior catalytic activity, layered metal chalcogenides (LMCs) have received considerable research attention in electrocatalytic applications. In this review, the approaches developed to synthesize LMCs-based electrocatalysts are summarized. Recent progress in LMCs-based composites for electrochemical energy conversion applications including oxygen reduction reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, overall water splitting, and nitrogen reduction reaction is reviewed, and the potential opportunities and practical obstacles for the development of LMCs-based composites as high-performing active substances for electrocatalytic applications are also discussed. This review may provide an inspiring guidance for developing high-performance LMCs for electrochemical energy conversion applications.

Electrohydrodynamic Nanopatterning: A Novel Solvent-Assisted Technique for Unconventional Substrates

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-driven patterning is a pioneering lithographic technique capable of replicating and modifying micro/nanostructures efficiently. However, this process is currently restricted to conventional substrates, as it necessitates a uniform and robust electric field over a large area. Consequently, the use of nontraditional substrates, such as those that are flexible, nonflat, or have high insulation, has been notably limited. In our study, we extend the applicability of EHD-driven patterning by introducing a solvent-assisted capillary peel-and-transfer method that allows the successful removal of diverse EHD-induced structures from their original substrates. Compared with the traditional route, our process boasts a success rate close to 100%. The detached structures can then be efficiently transferred to nonconventional substrates, overcoming the limitations of the traditional EHD process. Our method exhibits significant versatility, as evidenced by successful transfer of structures with engineered wettability and patterned structures composed of metals and metal oxides onto nonconventional substrates.

Rapid Electrohydrodynamic-Driven Pattern Replication over a Large Area via Ultrahigh Voltage Pulses

Despite the prospects of electrohydrodynamic instability patterning (EHIP), poor process parameter controllability is a significant challenge in uniform large-scale nanopatterning. Herein, we introduce a EHIP process using an ultrahigh electric field (>108 V/m) to effectively accelerate the pattern growth evolution. Owing to the strong dependence on a temporal parameter (1/τm) of the field strength, our method not only reduces the completion time of pattern growth but also overcomes critical parametric restrictions on the pattern replication, thereby enhancing the replicated pattern quality in three dimensions. The pattern can be uniformly replicated over the entire film surface even without a perfectly uniform air gap, which has been severely difficult in the conventional method. To further demonstrate how straightforward yet versatile our approach is, we applied our EHIP approach to successfully replicate the densely packed nanostructures of cicada wings.

Transferring 2D TMDs through Water-Soluble Sodium Salt Catalytic Layer

This study reports a clean and damage-free transfer method that enables the ultrafast transfer of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) onto desired substrates with a remarkably high yield. We employ a water-soluble sodium salt as both a transfer sacrificial layer for facile transfer and a catalytic layer for the growth of high-quality large-area MoS2 using liquid-phase chemical vapor deposition via a catalyzed kinetic growth. We show that the pristine structural and electrical properties of the grown MoS2 can be reliably preserved by avoiding detrimental effects during the prolonged harsh-environment transfer process. We demonstrate the technological versatility of the proposed transfer method by fabricating as-transferred MoS2-based back-gated field-effect transistors (FETs). The MoS2 FETs exhibit excellent charge mobility as high as 28.7 cm2 V-1 s-1 and an on-off ratio up to ~107 at room temperature, indicating no performance degradation after the transfer process. The proposed transfer method offers universal applicability for various 2D TMDs, mechanical supporting polymers, and target substrates, thus facilitating the facile fabrication of 2D TMD-based electronics and optoelectronics.

High-Performance Flexible Energy Storage Devices Based on Graphene Decorated with Flower-Shaped MoS2 Heterostructures

MoS₂, owing to its advantages of having a sheet-like structure, high electrical conductivity, and benign environmental nature, has emerged as a candidate of choice for electrodes of next-generation supercapacitors. Its widespread use is offset, however, by its low energy density and poor durability. In this study, to overcome these limitations, flower-shaped MoS₂/graphene heterostructures have been deployed as electrode materials on flexible substrates. Three-electrode measurements yielded an exceptional capacitance of 853 F g^-1 at 1.0 A g^-1, while device measurements on an asymmetric supercapacitor yielded 208 F g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1 and long-term cyclic durability. Nearly 86.5% of the electrochemical capacitance was retained after 10,000 cycles at 0.5 A g^-1. Moreover, a remarkable energy density of 65 Wh kg^-1 at a power density of 0.33 kW kg^-1 was obtained. Our MoS₂/Gr heterostructure composites have great potential for the development of advanced energy storage devices.

Interfacial Microenvironment Modulation Enhancing Catalytic Kinetics of Binary Metal Sulfides Heterostructures for Advanced Water Splitting Electrocatalysts

Interfacial microenvironment modulation has been proven to be a promising route to fabricate highly efficient catalysts. In this work, the lattice defect-rich NiS₂ /MoS₂ nanoflakes (NMS NFs) electrocatalysts are successfully synthesized by a simple strategy. Benefiting from the abundant lattice defects and modulated interfacial microenvironment between NiS₂ and MoS₂ , the prepared NMS NFs show superior catalytic activity for water splitting. Particularly, the optimized NMS NFs (the molar ratio of Ni:Mo = 5:5) exhibit remarkable catalytic activity toward overall water splitting with a voltage of 1.60 V at 10 mA cm^-2 in alkaline media, which is lower than that of the noble-metal-based electrocatalysts (1.68 V at 10 mA cm^-2 ). The NMS NFs electrocatalysts also show exceptional long-term stability (>50 h) for overall water splitting. The density functional theory results demonstrate that the injection of NiS₂ into MoS₂ can greatly optimize the catalytic kinetics and reduce the energy barrier for hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions. The work does not only offer a promising candidate for a highly efficient water splitting electrocatalyst but also highlights that interfacial microenvironment modulation is a potential strategy to optimize the catalytic kinetics.

Fog Collection Based on Secondary Electrohydrodynamic-Induced Hybrid Structures with Anisotropic Hydrophilicity

The outcomes of the study of plant surfaces, such as rice leaves or bamboo leaves, have led to extensive efforts being devoted to fabricating anisotropic arrays of micro/nanoscale features for exploring anisotropic droplet spreading. Nonetheless, precise engineering of the density and continuity of three-phase contact lines for anisotropic wetting remains a significant challenge without resorting to chemical modifications and costly procedures. In this work, we investigated secondary electrohydrodynamic instability in polymer films for producing secondary nanosized patterns between the micrometer-sized grooves by controlling the timescale parameter, 1/τ_m (>10^-4 s^-1). We experimentally demonstrated facile morphological control of anisotropic wettability without the use of any chemical modifications. Thus, anisotropic hydrophilic surfaces fabricated by the secondary phase instability of polymer films are advantageous for both droplet condensation and removal, thereby outperforming the water collection efficiency of conventional (isotropic) hydrophilic surfaces in water harvesting applications (∼200 mg·cm^-2·h^-1) with excellent durability.

Parametric scheme for rapid nanopattern replication via electrohydrodynamic instability

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) instability patterning exhibits substantial potential for application as a next-generation lithographic technique; nevertheless, its development continues to be hindered by the lack of process parameter controllability, especially when replicating sub-microscale pattern features. In this paper, a new parametric guide is introduced. It features an expanded range of valid parameters by increasing the pattern growth velocity, thereby facilitating reproducible EHD-driven patterning for perfect nanopattern replication. Compared with conventional EHD-driven patterning, the rapid patterning approach not only shortens the patterning time but also exhibits enhanced scalability for replicating small and geometrically diverse features. Numerical analyses and simulations are performed to elucidate the interplay between the pattern growth velocity, fidelity of the replicated features, and boundary between the domains of suitable and unsuitable parametric conditions in EHD-driven patterning. The developed rapid route facilitates nanopattern replication using EHD instability with a wide range of suitable parameters and further opens up many opportunities for device applications using tailor-made nanostructures in an effective and straightforward manner.

1/τ_m-dependent electrohydrodynamic replication of a hexagonally ordered hole array nanopattern by adjusting the filling ratio. As the 1/τ_m increases, the morphology evolves into the perfectly replicated hole features with increasing filling ratio.

Ice-Templated MXene/Ag-Epoxy Nanocomposites as High-Performance Thermal Management Materials

High-performance thermal management materials are essential in miniaturized, highly integrated, and high-power modern electronics for heat dissipation. In this context, the large interface thermal resistance (ITR) that occurs between fillers and the organic matrix in polymer-based nanocomposites greatly limits their thermal conductive performance. Herein, through-plane direction aligned three-dimensional (3D) MXene/silver (Ag) aerogels are designed as heat transferring skeletons for epoxy nanocomposites. Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were in situ decorated on exfoliated MXene nanosheets to ensure good contact, and subsequent welding of ice-templated MXene/Ag nanofillers at low temperature of ∼200 °C reduced contact resistance between individual MXene sheets. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that thermal interficial resistance (R₀) of the MXene/Ag-epoxy nanocomposite was 4.5 × 10^-7 m² W^-1 K^-1, which was less than that of the MXene-epoxy nanocomposite (R_c = 5.2 × 10^-7 m² W^-1 K^-1). Furthermore, a large-scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator was employed to calculate the interfacial resistance. It was found that R_MXene = 2.4 × 10^-9 m² K W^-1, and R_MXene-Ag = 2.0 ×10^-9 m² K W^-1, respectively, indicating that the Ag NP enhanced the interfacial heat transport. At a relatively low loading of 15.1 vol %, through-plane thermal conductivity reached a value as high as 2.65 W m^-1 K^-1, which is 1225 % higher than that of pure epoxy resin. Furthermore, MXene/Ag-epoxy nanocomposite film exhibits an impressive thermal conductive property when applied on a Millet 8 and Dell computer for heat dissipation.

Flexible Supercapacitor-Type Rectifier-free Self-Charging Power Unit Based on a Multifunctional Polyvinylidene Fluoride-ZnO-rGO Piezoelectric Matrix

The development of an effective mechanical to electrical energy conversion device and its functional integration with an energy storage device for self-powered portable gadgets are cutting-edge research fields. However, the generated power and the mechanical stability of these integrated devices are still not efficient to power up portable electronics. We fabricated a rectifier-free piezoelectric nanogenerator (NG) integrated with a supercapacitor (SC). A multifunctional composite matrix was prepared by the incorporation of ultrathin (<10 nm) ZnO nanoflakes and reduced graphene oxide in polyvinylidene fluoride to enhance the piezoelectric output characteristics and mechanical stability of the device while minimizing the additional energy losses during the integration. The as-fabricated SC-based power unit through the energy conversion and storage processes showed a remarkable self-charging performance. We obtained the maximum output voltage, current density, and power density of about 44 V, 1000 nA cm^-2, and 193.6 μW cm^-2 under the applied mechanical force of 10 N, respectively. The self-charging behavior of the device showed that it can store 1.5 × 10^-3 mC within 100 s without resorting to a rectifier. We obtained the total energy density of about 10.34 mW h kg^-1 under palm impact. Our results present a step forward in the development of the NG and SC-based flexible and self-charging devices.

Synthesis and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Porous SrTiO₃/TiO₂ Composites

Porous photocatalysts have attracted significant attention for their large specific surface area, numerous surface catalytic active sites, and high photocatalytic activity. In this study, porous SrTiO₃/TiO₂ composites were successfully fabricated through a hydrothermal approach utilizing porous TiO₂ as a substrate. The as-synthesized SrTiO₃/TiO₂ composites were then characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) analysis. The results of SEM and BET indicate that such composites have a porous structure and large surface area. Compared to unadulterated TiO₂, SrTiO₃ /TiO₂ composites exhibit higher photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation of rhodamine B under UV-Vis irradiation. Additionally, it was found that when the content of SrTiO₃ reaches 20%, it achieves the maximum photodegradation efficiency of 98.6% under UV-Vis irradiation over 60 min. These results demonstrate that SrTiO₃/TiO₂ composites are a promising material in terms of environmental cleanliness.

Ultrahigh Output Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Hybrid Nanogenerators Based on ZnO Nanoflakes/Polydimethylsiloxane Composite Films

We demonstrated a hybrid nanogenerator (NG) exploiting both piezoelectric and triboelectric effects induced from ZnO nanoflakes (NFs)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite films through a facile, cost-effective fabrication method. This hybrid NG exhibited not only high piezoelectric output current owing to the enhanced surface piezoelectricity of the ZnO NFs but also high triboelectric output voltage owing to the pronounced triboelectrification of Au-PDMS contact, producing a peak-to-peak output voltage of ∼470 V, a current density of ∼60 μA·cm^-2, and an average power density of ∼28.2 mW·cm^-2. Without additional energy storage devices, the hybrid NGs with an area of 3 × 3 cm² instantaneously lit up 180 commercial green light-emitting diodes through periodic hand compression. This approach may provide an innovative design for constructing high-performance and portable energy harvesting devices with enhanced power output, scavenging ambient mechanical energy from human motions in our daily life.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane)/ZnO Nanoflakes/Three-Dimensional Graphene Heterostructures for High-Performance Flexible Energy Harvesters with Simultaneous Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Generation

Herein, we report the successful synthesis of poly(dimethylsiloxane)/ZnO nanoflakes/three-dimensional graphene (PDMS/ZnO NFs/3D Gr) heterostructures using Ni foams as the template substrate via a facile route, while adapting a rational material design for a high-performance energy-harvester application. The PDMS/ZnO NFs/3D Gr heterostructure-based hybrid energy harvester simultaneously exploits the piezoelectric effect and triboelectrification and shows peak-to-peak output voltages up to 122 V and peak-to-peak current densities up to 51 μA cm^-2, resulting in an ultrahigh power density of 6.22 mW cm^-2. Furthermore, we have evaluated the performance of the PDMS/ZnO NFs/3D Gr heterostructure-based hybrid energy harvester by demonstrating its capacity to instantaneously power up 68 commercially available light-emitting diodes without the need for an additional energy-storage device. The excellent performance of these energy harvesters suggests that PDMS/ZnO NFs/3D Gr heterostructures present a viable strategy for the development of high-performance, flexible, wearable energy-harvesting devices.

Large-Area High-Quality AB-Stacked Bilayer Graphene on h-BN/Pt Foil by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Large-area, high-quality bilayer graphene (BLG) has attracted great interest because of its immense potential for many viable applications. However, its growth is still greatly limited owing to its small size and low carrier mobility. In this article, we report the successful growth of large-area, high-quality AB-stacked BLG on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)/Pt foil by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations reveal the formation of uniform and continuous BLG films with sizes of up to 500 μm, which are 4-5 times larger than those reported elsewhere for CVD-grown BLG films. A large carrier mobility of up to 9000 cm² V^-1 s^-1 is observed for the BLG films grown on h-BN/Pt foils under ambient conditions. We also propose a plausible growth mechanism of BLG growth on h-BN/Pt foils. Our findings will contribute for the better understanding of the fundamental BLG physics and the development of BLG-based devices.

Enhanced Power Output of a Triboelectric Nanogenerator using Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Modified with Graphene Oxide and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

In this work, a new approach to modifying poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as a negative triboelectric material using graphene oxide (GO) and a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant was reported. A porous PDMS@GO@SDS composite triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) could deliver an output voltage and current of up to 438 V and 11 μA/cm², respectively. These values were 3-fold higher than those of the flat PDMS. The superior performance is attributed to the intensified negative charges on PDMS from the oxygen functional groups of GO and anionic head groups of the SDS molecules. The outstanding performance and straightforward, low-cost fabrication process of the PDMS@GO@SDS TENG would be beneficial for the further development of powerful NGs integrated into wearable electronics and self-charging power cells.

Control of Multilevel Resistance in Vanadium Dioxide by Electric Field Using Hybrid Dielectrics

We investigate the effect of electric field on VO₂ back-gated field effect transistor (FET) devices. Using hybrid dielectric layers, we demonstrate the highest resistance modulation on the order of 10² in VO₂ at a positive gate bias of 80 V (1.6 MV/cm). VO₂ FET devices are prepared on SiO₂ substrates of different thicknesses (100-300 nm) and hybrid dielectric layers of Al₂O₃/SiO₂ (500 nm). For thicknesses less than 300 nm, no electric-field effects are observed, whereas for a 300 nm thickness, a small decrease in resistance is observed under a 0.2 MV/cm electric field. Under the electrostatic effect, the carrier concentration increases in VO₂ devices, decreasing the resistance and the transition temperature from 66.75 to 64 °C. The leakage analysis shows that the interface quality of VO₂ films on hybrid dielectric layers can be further improved. These studies suggest a multilevel fast resistance switching with the electric field and give an insight into the gate-source leakage current, which limits the phase transition in VO₂ in an electric field.

Ultralow power complementary inverter circuits using axially doped p- and n-channel Si nanowire field effect transistors

We have successfully synthesized axially doped p- and n-type regions on a single Si nanowire (NW). Diodes and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) inverter devices using single axial p- and n-channel Si NW field-effect transistors (FETs) were fabricated. We show that the threshold voltages of both p- and n-channel Si NW FETs can be lowered to nearly zero by effectively controlling the doping concentration. Because of the high performance of the p- and n-type Si NW channel FETs, especially with regard to the low threshold voltage, the fabricated NW CMOS inverters have a low operating voltage (<3 V) while maintaining a high voltage gain (∼6) and ultralow static power dissipation (≤0.3 pW) at an input voltage of ±3 V. This result offers a viable way for the fabrication of a high-performance high-density logic circuit using a low-temperature fabrication process, which makes it suitable for flexible electronics.

Flexible, transparent and exceptionally high power output nanogenerators based on ultrathin ZnO nanoflakes

Novel nanogenerator structures composed of ZnO nanoflakes of less than 10 nm thickness were fabricated using a novel method involving a facile synthetic route and a rational design. The fabricated nanogenerators exhibited a short-circuit current density of 67 μA cm(-2), a peak-to-peak open-circuit voltage of 110 V, and an overall output power density exceeding 1.2 mW cm(-2), and to the best of our knowledge, these are the best values that have been reported so far in the literature on ZnO-based nanogenerators. We demonstrated that our nanogenerator design could instantaneously power 20 commercial green light-emitting diodes without any additional energy storage processes. Both the facile synthetic route for the ZnO nanoflakes and the straightforward device fabrication process present great scaling potential in order to power mobile and personal electronics that can be used in smart wearable systems, transparent and flexible devices, implantable telemetric energy receivers, electronic emergency equipment, and other self-powered nano/micro devices.

Fabrication of a nano-scale pattern with various functional materials using electrohydrodynamic lithography and functionalization

Direct patterning with inorganic based materials has been developed using electrohydrodynamic lithography. Various sizes and morphologies of inorganic patterns were successfully replicated.

Ultralow-power non-volatile memory cells based on P(VDF-TrFE) ferroelectric-gate CMOS silicon nanowire channel field-effect transistors

Nanowire-based ferroelectric-complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (NW FeCMOS) nonvolatile memory devices were successfully fabricated by utilizing single n- and p-type Si nanowire ferroelectric-gate field effect transistors (NW FeFETs) as individual memory cells. In addition to having the advantages of single channel n- and p-type Si NW FeFET memory, Si NW FeCMOS memory devices exhibit a direct readout voltage and ultralow power consumption. The reading state power consumption of this device is less than 0.1 pW, which is more than 10(5) times lower than the ON-state power consumption of single-channel ferroelectric memory. This result implies that Si NW FeCMOS memory devices are well suited for use in non-volatile memory chips in modern portable electronic devices, especially where low power consumption is critical for energy conservation and long-term use.

Mesoporous TiO₂ spheres interconnected by multiwalled carbon nanotubes as an anode for high-performance lithium ion batteries

We report on the excellent electrochemical response of lithium ion batteries that use a composite material comprised of mesoporous titanium dioxide (MTO) spheres and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the anode. The composite structure was synthesized via a combined sol-gel and solvothermal method, and the batteries exhibited unprecedented discharge capacity, cycling stability, and reversibility when compared to those based on commercially available TiO2 nanopowders and mesoporous TiO2 spheres. The inclusion of the composite structure resulted in an improvement in electronic and ionic conductivity, a larger surface area, and a colossal number of open channels in the synthesized structure that allowed for lithium ion intercalation. We achieved a Coulombic efficiency of nearly 100% and a discharge capacity as high as 316 mA h g(-1) at a rate of C/5, which is 1.9 times higher than that which is practically attainable with TiO2. Moreover, we observed a capacity loss of only 3.1% after 100 cycles, which indicates that the synthesized structure has a highly stable nature.

Low-Programmable-Voltage Nonvolatile Memory Devices Based on Omega-shaped Gate Organic Ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) Field Effect Transistors Using p-type Silicon Nanowire Channels

A facile approach was demonstrated for fabricating high-performance nonvolatile memory devices based on ferroelectric-gate field effect transistors using a p-type Si nanowire coated with omega-shaped gate organic ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)). We overcame the interfacial layer problem by incorporating P(VDF-TrFE) as a ferroelectric gate using a low-temperature fabrication process. Our memory devices exhibited excellent memory characteristics with a low programming voltage of ±5 V, a large modulation in channel conductance between ON and OFF states exceeding 10⁵, a long retention time greater than 3 × 10⁴ s, and a high endurance of over 10⁵ programming cycles while maintaining an I _ON/I _OFF ratio higher than 10².

Tunable threshold voltage of an n-type Si nanowire ferroelectric-gate field effect transistor for high-performance nonvolatile memory applications

We successfully fabricated ferroelectric-gate field effect transistor (FEFET)-based nonvolatile memory devices using an n-type Si nanowire coated with omega-shaped-gate organic ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) via a low-temperature fabrication process. Our FEFET memory devices with controllable threshold voltage via adjustment of the doping concentration exhibit excellent memory characteristics with ultra-low ON state power dissipation (≤3 nW), a large modulation in channel conductance between the ON and OFF states exceeding 10(5), a long retention time of over 3 × 10(4) s and a high endurance of over 10(5) programming cycles whilst maintaining an I ON/I OFF ratio higher than 10(3). This result may be promising for next-generation nonvolatile memory on flexible substrate applications.

High performance Si nanowire field-effect-transistors based on a CMOS inverter with tunable threshold voltage

We successfully fabricated nanowire-based complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (NWCMOS) inverter devices by utilizing n- and p-type Si nanowire field-effect-transistors (NWFETs) via a low-temperature fabrication processing technique. We demonstrate that NWCMOS inverter devices can be operated at less than 1 V, a significantly lower voltage than that of typical thin-film based complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverter devices. This low-voltage operation was accomplished by controlling the threshold voltage of the n-type Si NWFETs through effective management of the nanowire (NW) doping concentration, while realizing high voltage gain (>10) and ultra-low static power dissipation (≤3 pW) for high-performance digital inverter devices. This result offers a viable means of fabricating high-performance, low-operation voltage, and high-density digital logic circuits using a low-temperature fabrication processing technique suitable for next-generation flexible electronics.

Synthesis and properties of nanohybrid materials with SiO2 and epoxy resin

SiO2-epoxy nanohybrid materials were synthesized by hybridization of surface-modified colloidal silica nanoparticle (CS) and epoxy resin. The CS was surface-modified with either methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) or phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) followed by the solvent exchange with dimethylacetamide (DMAc) to have a homogenous dispersion in epoxy resin. Various amounts of surface-modified CS were mixed with epoxy resin. The chemical structures of surface-modified CS were investigated with FT-IR spectroscopy. The particle sizes of CS and surface-modified CS were measured with DLS. The morphology of hybrid materials analyzed using FE-SEM and AFM showed homogeneous dispersion in epoxy resin. The optical and thermal properties of the hybrid materials determined by refractive index meter and DSC were lower in RI and higher in Tg than neat epoxy resin, respectively.

Layer by layer assembly of ultrathin V₂O₅ anchored MWCNTs and graphene on textile fabrics for fabrication of high energy density flexible supercapacitor electrodes

Among transition metal oxides, vanadium oxides have received relatively modest attention for supercapacitor applications. Yet, this material is abundant, relatively inexpensive and offer several oxidation states which can provide a broad range of redox reactions suitable for supercapacitor operation. Electrochemical supercapacitors based on nanostructured vanadium oxide (V₂O₅) suffer from relatively low energy densities as they have low surface area and poor electrical conductivities. To overcome these problems, we developed a layer by layer assembly (LBL) technique in which a graphene layer was alternatively inserted between MWCNT films coated with ultrathin (3 nm) V₂O₅. The insertion of a conductive spacer of graphene between the MWCNT films coated with V₂O₅ not only prevents agglomeration between the MWCNT films but also substantially enhances the specific capacitance by 67%, to as high as ∼2590 F g(-1). Furthermore, the LBL assembled multilayer supercapacitor electrodes exhibited an excellent cycling performance of >97%, capacitance retention over 5000 cycles and a high energy density of 96 W h kg(-1) at a power density of 800 W kg(-1). Our approach clearly offers an exciting opportunity for enhancing the device performance of metal oxide-based electrochemical supercapacitors suitable for next-generation flexible energy storage devices by employing a facile LBL assembly technique.

A comparative study of supercapacitive performances of nickel cobalt layered double hydroxides coated on ZnO nanostructured arrays on textile fibre as electrodes for wearable energy storage devices

We demonstrated an efficient method for the fabrication of novel, flexible electrodes based on ZnO nanoflakes and nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxides (denoted as ZnONF/NiCoLDH) as a core-shell nanostructure on textile substrates for wearable energy storage devices. NiCoLDH coated ZnO nanowire (denoted as ZnONW/NiCoLDH) flexible electrodes are also prepared for comparison. As an electrode for supercapacitors, ZnONF/NiCoLDH exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1624 F g(-1), which is nearly 1.6 times greater than ZnONW/NiCoLDH counterparts. It also shows a maximum energy density of 48.32 W h kg(-1) at a power density of 27.53 kW kg(-1), and an excellent cycling stability with capacitance retention of 94% and a Coulombic efficiency of 93% over 2000 cycles. We believe that the superior performance of the ZnONF/NiCoLDH hybrids is due primarily to the large surface area of the nanoflake structure and the open spaces between nanoflakes, both of which provide a large space for the deposition of NiCoLDH, resulting in reduced internal resistance and improved capacitance performance. Our results are significant for the development of electrode materials for high-performance wearable energy storage devices.

Hybrid energy harvester based on nanopillar solar cells and PVDF nanogenerator

A tandem device which integrates a PVDF nanogenerator and silicon (Si) nanopillar solar cell is fabricated. The Si nanopillar solar cell was fabricated using a mask-free plasma etching technique and annealing process. The PVDF nanogenerator was stacked on top of the Si nanopillar solar cell using a spinning method. The optical properties and the device performance of nanowire solar cells have been characterized, and the dependence of device performance versus annealing time or method has been investigated. Furthermore, the PVDF nanogenerator was operated with a 100 dB sound wave and a 0.8 V peak to peak output voltage was generated. This tandem device can successfully harvest energy from both sound vibration and solar light, demonstrating its strong potential as a future ubiquitous energy harvester.

Effect of SiO2-acryl nanohybrid coating layers on transparent conducting oxide-poly(ethylene terephthalate) superstrate

SiO2-acryl nanohybrid coating layers were produced by hybridizing acrylic resin and surface-modified colloidal silica (CS) nanoparticles. First, CS nanoparticles were modified with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) by a sol-gel process. The surface-modified CS nanoparticles were then solvent-exchanged to be homogeneous in acrylic resin. The Hybrid materials were mixed in variation with the amount of surface-modified CS nanoparticles, coated with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), then finally cured by UV light to obtain a hybrid coating layer. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), particle size analysis (using a Zetasizer), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were performed to determine the morphology of the hybrid thin-films. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to investigate the thermal properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UVNis) spectroscopies, and pencil hardness were used to obtain the details of chemical structures, optical properties, and hardness, respectively. The hybrid thin films had shown to be enhanced properties compared to their urethane acrylate prepolymer (UAP) coating film.

Growth of high-crystalline, single-layer hexagonal boron nitride on recyclable platinum foil

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is gaining significant attention as a two-dimensional dielectric material, along with graphene and other such materials. Herein, we demonstrate the growth of highly crystalline, single-layer h-BN on Pt foil through a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition method that allowed h-BN to be grown over a wide area (8 × 25 mm(2)). An electrochemical bubbling-based method was used to transfer the grown h-BN layer from the Pt foil onto an arbitrary substrate. This allowed the Pt foil, which was not consumed during the process, to be recycled repeatedly. The UV-visible absorption spectrum of the single-layer h-BN suggested an optical band gap of 6.06 eV, while a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy image of the same showed the presence of distinct hexagonal arrays of B and N atoms, which were indicative of the highly crystalline nature and single-atom thickness of the h-BN layer. This method of growing single-layer h-BN over large areas was also compatible with use of a sapphire substrate.

Reversibly light-modulated dirac point of graphene functionalized with spiropyran

Graphene has been functionalized with spiropyran (SP), a well-known photochromic molecule. It has been realized with pyrene-modified SP, which has been adsorbed on graphene by π-π interaction between pyrene and graphene. The field-effect transistor (FET) with SP-functionalized graphene exhibited n-doping effect and interesting optoelectronic behaviors. The Dirac point of graphene in the FET could be controlled by light modulation because spiropyran can be reversibly switched between two different conformations, a neutral form (colorless SP) and a charge-separated form (purple colored merocyanine, MC), on UV and visible light irradiation. The MC form is produced during UV light irradiation, inducing the shift of the Dirac point of graphene toward negative gate voltage. The reverse process back to the neutral SP form occurred under visible light irradiation or in darkness, inducing a shift of the Dirac point toward positive gate voltage. The change of the Dirac point by UV and visible light was reproducibly repeated. SP molecules also improved the conductance change in the FET device. Furthermore, dynamics on conversion from MC to SP on graphene was different from that in solution and solid samples with SP-grafted polymer or that on gold nanoparticles.

Fabrication of an inorganic nano structure for a large area via electrohydrodynamic lithography (EHL)

Electrohydrodynamic lithography (EHL) is one of several unusual lithographic techniques for fabricating sub-micrometer structures over a large area. EHL uses the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) film instability induced by a laterally modulated electric field, which allows it to fabricate not only general organic structures but also structures of various components, such as diblock copolymers and inorganic materials, without contact between the resist and the stamp. Furthermore, EHL is a very special lithographic technique in that diverse structures are fabricated from one stamp via electric field modulation. The electric field is controlled by the replication time, air layer thickness, etc. A replicated inorganic structure was demonstrated from a hexagonal hole and line arrays. The heat treatment of the replicated pattern was carried out to obtain the crystalline phase, after which the samples were characterized via Raman spectroscopy. These values were ascertained using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results will be useful in providing a facile route for patterning functional metal oxides over a large area. Such a technique can be used to produce photovoltaic cells, memory devices, display devices, etc.

Stress-induced domain dynamics and phase transitions in epitaxially grown VO₂ nanowires

We demonstrate that surface stresses in epitaxially grown VO₂ nanowires (NWs) have a strong effect on the appearance and stability of intermediate insulating M₂ phases, as well as the spatial distribution of insulating and metallic domains during structural phase transitions. During the transition from an insulating M1 phase to a metallic R phase, the coexistence of insulating M₁ and M₂ phases with the absence of a metallic R phase was observed at atmospheric pressure. In addition, we show that, for a VO₂ NW without the presence of an epitaxial interface, surface stresses dominantly lead to spatially inhomogeneous phase transitions between insulating and metallic phases. In contrast, for a VO₂ NW with the presence of an epitaxial interface, the strong epitaxial interface interaction leads to additional stresses resulting in uniformly alternating insulating and metallic domains along the NW length.

Parameter optimization for positive dielectrophoretic trapping force on ZnO nanoparticles through simulation

A numerical model of an ethanol droplet system containing ZnO nanoparticles was developed using finite element analysis. The spatial, voltage, and frequency dependence of positive dielectrophoretic trapping mechanism was analyzed with all the AC electrokinetic forces incorporated into our calculation. The AC electrokinetic forces were analyzed individually, compared, and analyzed collectively. The characteristic behavior of each phenomenon was demonstrated, and dielectrophoresis was shown to be the dominant force near the edges of electrodes. Through time evolution study of the particle concentration in the collective analysis, we calculated optimal values of voltage and frequency at which the dielectrophoretic trapping mechanism is the most effective. This versatility of our numerical model promises its potential application in parameter optimization.

Synthesis and characterization of CuO nanowires by a simple wet chemical method

We report a successful synthesis of copper oxide nanowires with an average diameter of 90 nm and lengths of several micrometers by using a simple and inexpensive wet chemical method. The CuO nanowires prepared via this method are advantageous for industrial applications which require mass production and low thermal budget technique. It is found that the concentration and the quantity of precursors are the critical factors for obtaining the desired one-dimensional morphology. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images indicate the influence of thioglycerol on the dispersity of the prepared CuO nanowires possibly due to the stabilization effect of the surface caused by the organic molecule thioglycerol. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and X-ray photoemission spectrum analysis confirm clearly the formation of a pure phase high-quality CuO with monoclinic crystal structure.