Development and Application of Mobile Apps for Molecular Sensing: A Review.

Modern smartphone-based sensing devices are generally standalone detection platforms that can transduce signals (via the built-in USB port, audio jack, or camera), perform analysis through mobile applications (apps), and display results on the screen/user interface. The advancement toward this ultimate form of on-site chemical analysis and point-of-care diagnosis is tied closely with the evolution of mobile technology. Previous reviews in the field mainly focused on the physical platforms while overlooking the role of mobile apps in such devices.

Functional and versatile superhydrophobic coatings via stoichiometric silanization.

Superhydrophobic coatings have tremendous potential for applications in different fields and have been achieved commonly by increasing nanoscale roughness and lowering surface tension. Limited by the availability of either ideal nano-structural templates or simple fabrication procedures, the search of superhydrophobic coatings that are easy to manufacture and are robust in real-life applications remains challenging for both academia and industry. Herein, we report an unconventional protocol based on a single-step, stoichiometrically controlled reaction of long-chain organosilanes with water, which creates micro- to nano-scale hierarchical siloxane aggregates dispersible in industrial solvents (as the coating mixture).