Nanostructuring Materials for Solar-to-Hydrogen Conversion
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bio-inspired↗
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Tuning proton transfer and catalytic properties in triple junction nanostructured catalyts
Not Available
Chu, Yuanyuan↗
Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors Based on Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
Taking advantages of exceptional attributes, such as easy-to-operate, economical, sensitive, portable, and simple-to- construct, considerable attention has been devoted to the integration of recognition elements with electronic elements to develop electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Recent decades tremendous amounts of attention have been witnessed in this active area. Various electrochemical devices such as amperometric sensors, electrochemical impedance sensors, electrochemical luminescence sensors as well as photoelectrochemical sensors, provide wide applications of detecting chemical and biological targets in terms of electrochemical change of electrode interfaces. With remarkable achievements in nanotechnology and nanoscience, nanomaterial-based electrochemical signal amplifications have great potential of improving both in sensitivity and selectivity for electrochemical sensors and biosensors. First of all, it is well known that the electrode materials play a critical role in the construction of high-performance electrochemical sensing platforms for detecting target molecules through various analytical principles. Furthermore, in addition to electrode materials, functional nanomaterials can not only produce a synergic effect among catalytic activity, conductivity and biocompatibility to accelerate the signal transduction, but also amplify biorecognition events by specifically designed signal tags, leading to highly sensitive biosensing. Sig-nificantly, extensive research on construction of functional electrode materials, coupled with numerous electrochemical methods, is advancing wide applications of electrochemical devices. For example, Walcarius et al. highlighted the recent advances of nano-objects, nano-engineered and/or nanostructured materials for the rational design of bio-functionalized electrodes and related (bio)sensing systems.1 The attractiveness of such nanomaterials relies on their ability to act as effective immobilization matrices, and their intrinsic and unique features as described above. These features combined with the functioning of biomolecules contribute to the improvement of bioelectrode performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Our group recently presented a general overview of nanomaterial-enhanced paper-based biosensors including lateral-flow test-strip, and paper microfluidic devices.2With different kinds of nanoparticles (NPs), paper-based biosensor devices have shown great potential in the enhancement of sensitivity and specificity of disease diagnosis in developing countries. This review focuses on recent advances in electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on nanomaterials and nanostructures during 2013 to 2014. The aim of this effort is to provide the reader with a clear and concise view of new advances in areas ranging from electrode engineering, strategies for electrochemical signal amplification, and novel electroanalytical techniques used to the miniaturization and integration of the sensors. Moreover, the authors have attempted to highlight areas of latest and significant development of enhanced elec-trochemical nanosensors and nanobiosensors that inspire broader interests across various disciplines. Electrochemical sensors for small molecules, enzyme-based biosensors, genosensors, immunosensors and cytosensors are reviewed herein (Figure 1). Such novel advances are important for the development of electrochemical sensors as that open up new avenues and methods for future research. Readers interested in the general principles of electrochemical sensors and electrochemical methods are recommended to refer to other excellent literature for a broad scope on this area.3-4 However, due to the explosion of publications in this active field, we do not claim that this review includes all of the published works in the past two years. Due to the large activity in this field we apologize to the authors of excellent work, which is unintentionally left out.
Zhu, Chengzhou↗
Electrolyte-phobic Surface for the Next-Generation Nanostructured Battery Electrodes
Nanostructured electrodes are among the most important candidates rationally designed to enable high capacity battery chemistry. Nanostructures can solve issues such as the volume change and mechanical fragmentations. However, the high surface area they usually possess would decrease the Coulombic efficiencies, since the side chemical reactions scale with surface area. Moreover, electrodes comprised of nanomaterials have significant intakes of liquid electrolytes, which reduces the overall energy density and increases the cost of the battery. Here we present a new strategy of limiting effective surface area by introducing an “electrolyte-phobic surface”. In this study, a porous Si anode functions as a model material to demonstrate this concept. Silicon boasts high theoretical capacity, but experiences large volume change during its lithiation and delithiation processes. Porous Si can address this volume change problem with the buffer effect of its inner pores. However, porous silicon shows low initial Coulombic efficiencies and high irreversible lithium loss, owing to its intrinsic high surface area. In this report, a covalently linked perfluorinated surface coating layer on porous Si particles serves as an electrolyte-phobic protection layer, minimizing the accessible surface area for the electrolytes, decreasing the side reactions between the electrolyte and Si surface, and thus significantly enhancing the initial Coulombic efficiencies, up to ~88% compared to ~60% for the pristine porous silicon. Meanwhile, the electrolyte-phobic protection layer of Si particles keeps the silicon surface compatible with the conventional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder, which helps to stabilize the Si electrode for long-term battery cycling.
Qian, Chenxi↗
Stable Unassisted Solar Water Splitting on Semiconductor Photocathodes Protected by Multifunctional GaN Nanostructures
Producing hydrogen by unassisted solar water splitting is one essential step to make direct solar fuel conversion a viable energy source. To date, however, there has been no demonstration of stable photoelectrodes for high efficiency photoelectrochemical water splitting. In this work, we report that a GaInP2/GaAs/Ge triple-junction (3J) photocathode protected by multi-functional GaN nanostructures can enable both efficient and relatively stable solar water splitting. A 12.6% solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency is measured without any external bias. Of particular importance, we demonstrate relatively stable solar water splitting for 80 hours in three-electrode configuration and 57 hours in two-electrode measurement at zero bias. This is the best reported stability for multi-junction semiconductor photocathodes in two-electrode configuration to our knowledge. Here, the multifunctional GaN nanostructure significantly reduces the charge transfer resistance at semiconductor/electrolyte interface and protects III-V materials against corrosion. Such multi-functional GaN photocatalytic nanostructures provide a new pathway to improve the performance of conventional photoelectrodes to achieve both efficient and stable unassisted solar water splitting.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Jumping-Droplet-Enhanced Condensation on Scalable Superhydrophobic Nanostructured Surfaces
When droplets coalesce on a superhydrophobic nanostructured surface, the resulting droplet can jump from the surface due to the release of excess surface energy. If designed properly, these superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces can not only allow for easy droplet removal at micrometric length scales during condensation but also promise to enhance heat transfer performance. However, the rationale for the design of an ideal nanostructured surface as well as heat transfer experiments demonstrating the advantage of this jumping behavior are lacking. Here, we show that silanized copper oxide surfaces created via a simple fabrication method can achieve highly efficient jumping-droplet condensation heat transfer. We experimentally demonstrated a 25% higher overall heat flux and 30% higher condensation heat transfer coefficient compared to state-of-the-art hydrophobic condensing surfaces at low supersaturations (<1.12). This work not only shows significant condensation heat transfer enhancement but also promises a low cost and scalable approach to increase efficiency for applications such as atmospheric water harvesting and dehumidification. Furthermore, the results offer insights and an avenue to achieve high flux superhydrophobic condensation.
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
Formation and transfer of GaAsN nanostructure layers
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charge transport↗
Morphology, structure, and chemistry of nanoclusters in a mechanically alloyed nanostructured ferritic steel
Nanostructured ferritic steels have excellent high temperature creep properties and radiation tolerance due to the presence of a high density of Ti-Y-O-enriched nanoclusters. The morphology of the nanoclusters is found to be consistent with a truncated rhombic dodecahedron defined by the {l_brace}100{r_brace} and {l_brace}110{r_brace} planes in the Fe matrix. The derived symmetry and the compositional information indicate that the nanoclusters are inconsistent with the cubic Y2Ti2O7 or the polymorphs of Y2TiO5 phase. Possible structural models are discussed.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Temperature effect of elastic anisotropy and internal strain development in advanced nanostructured alloys: An in-situ synchrotron X-ray investigation
Nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs) are a promising structural material for advanced nuclear systems due to their exceptional radiation tolerance and high-temperature mechanical properties. Their remarkable properties result from the ultrafine ultrahigh density Y-Ti-O nanoclusters dispersed within the ferritic matrix. In this work, we performed in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction tests to study the tensile deformation process of the three types of NFAs: 9YWTV, 14YWT-sm13, and 14YWT-sm170 at both room temperature and elevated temperatures. A technique was developed, combining Kroner’s model and X-ray measurement, to determine the intrinsic monocrystal elastic-stiffness constants, and polycrystal Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the NFAs. Temperature dependence of elastic anisotropy was observed in the NFAs. An analysis of intergranular strain and strengthening factors determined that 14YWT-sm13 had a higher resistance to temperature softening compared to 9YWTV, attributed to the more effective nanoparticle strengthening during high-temperature mechanical loading.
Gan, Yingye↗
Integrated three-dimensional photonic nanostructures for achieving near-unity solar absorption and superhydrophobicity
In this paper, we proposed and realized 3D photonic nanostructures consisting of ultra-thin graded index antireflective coatings (ARCs) and woodpile photonic crystals. The use of the integrated ARC and photonic crystal structure can achieve broadband, broad-angle near unity solar absorption. The amorphous silicon based photonic nanostructure experimentally shows an average absorption of ∼95% for λ = 400–620 nm over a wide angular acceptance of θ = 0°–60°. Theoretical studies show that a Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) based structure can achieve an average absorption of >95% for λ = 400–870 nm. Furthermore, the use of the slanted SiO{sub 2} nanorod ARC surface layer by glancing angle deposition exhibits Cassie-Baxter state wetting, and superhydrophobic surface is obtained with highest water contact angle θ{sub CB} ∼ 153°. These properties are fundamentally important for achieving maximum solar absorption and surface self-cleaning in thin film solar cell applications.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
High-coercivity magnetism in nanostructures with strong easy-plane anisotropy
Here, we report the fabrication of a rare-earth-free permanent-magnet material Co 3 Si in the form of nanoparticles and investigate its magnetic properties by experiments and density-functional theory (DFT). The DFT calculations show that bulk Co 3 Si has an easy-plane anisotropy with a high K 1 ≈ -64 Merg/cm 3 (-6.4 MJ/m 3 ) and magnetic polarization of 9.2 kG (0.92 T). In spite of having a negative anisotropy that generally leads to negligibly low coercivities in bulk crystals, Co 3 Si nanoparticles exhibit high coercivities (17.4 kOe at 10K and 4.3 kOe at 300 K). This result is a consequence of the unique nanostructure made possible by an effective easy-axis alignment in the cluster-deposition method and explained using micromagnetic analysis as a nanoscale phenomenon involving quantum-mechanical exchange interactions.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
Fabrics coated with lubricated nanostructures display robust omniphobicity
The development of a stain-resistant and pressure-stable textile is desirable for consumer and industrial applications alike, yet it remains a challenge that current technologies have been unable to fully address. Traditional superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by the lotus plant, are characterized by two main components: hydrophobic chemical functionalization and surface roughness. While this approach produces water-resistant surfaces, these materials have critical weaknesses that hinder their practical utility, in particular as robust stain-free fabrics. For example, traditional superhydrophobic surfaces fail (i.e., become stained) when exposed to low-surface-tension liquids, under pressure when impacted by a high-velocity stream of water (e. g., rain), and when exposed to physical forces such as abrasion and twisting. We have recently introduced slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), a self-healing, pressure-tolerant and omniphobic surface, to address these issues. Herein we present the rational design and optimization of nanostructured lubricant-infused fabrics and demonstrate markedly improved performance over traditional superhydrophobic textile treatments: SLIPS-functionalized cotton and polyester fabrics exhibit decreased contact angle hysteresis and sliding angles, omni-repellent properties against various fluids including polar and nonpolar liquids, pressure tolerance and mechanical robustness, all of which are not readily achievable with the state-of-the-art superhydrophobic coatings.
Shillingford, C↗
Fundamental behavior of electric field enhancements in the gaps between closely spaced nanostructures
Not Available
McMahon, Jeffrey M.↗
Advanced Oxide Dispersion Strengthened and Nanostructured Ferritic Alloys
Nanostructured ferritic alloy is a subcategory of oxide dispersion strengthened steels intended for advanced reactor applications. The complex ultrafine grained microstructure of an advanced nanostructured ferritic alloy, as determined by electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, is summarised. Three distinct populations of precipitates were observed: 20–50 nm Ti(N,O,C), 5–10 nm diameter Y2Ti2O7/Y2TiO5 and 1–4 nm diameter Ti,Y,O enriched nanoclusters. The first two populations were predominantly located along grain boundaries together with Cr, W and C segregation. A dense population of nanoclusters was observed both in the grain interior as well as on the grain boundaries. These nanoclusters are highly tolerant to high dose irradiation at elevated temperatures.
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
Laser Irradiation of Metal Oxide Films and Nanostructures: Applications and Advances
Not provided.
Chemistry↗
Self‐Templating Approaches to Hollow Nanostructures
Abstract This current research progress on the fabrication of hollow nanostructures by using self‐templating methods is reviewed. After a brief introduction to the unique properties and applications of hollow nanostructures and the three general fabrication routes, the discussions are focused on the five main self‐templating strategies, including galvanic replacement, the Kirkendall effect, Ostwald ripening, dissolution–regrowth, and the surface‐protected hollowing process. Some newly developed synthetic routes are selected and discussed in detail. In conclusion, a summary and the perspectives on the directions that might lead the future development of this exciting field are presented.
Feng, Ji↗
Manipulating Adsorption-Insertion Mechanisms in Nanostructured Carbon Materials for High-Efficiency Sodium Ion Storage
Hard carbon is one of the most promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, but the low coulombic efficiency is still a key barrier. In this paper we synthesized a series of nanostructured hard carbon materials with controlled architectures. Using a combination of in-situ XRD mapping, ex-situ NMR, EPR, electrochemical techniques and simulations, an “adsorption-intercalation” (A-I) mechanism is established for Na ion storage. During the initial stages of Na insertion, Na ions adsorb on the defect sites of hard carbon with a wide adsorption energy distribution, producing a sloping voltage profile. In the second stage, Na ions intercalate into graphitic layers with suitable spacing to form NaCx compounds similar to the Li ion intercalation process in graphite, producing a flat low voltage plateau. The cation intercalation with a flat voltage plateau should be enhanced and the sloping region should be avoided. Guided by this knowledge, non-porous hard carbon material has been developed which has achieved high reversible capacity and coulombic efficiency to fulfill practical application.
Qiu, Shen↗