Tuning Electronic and Functional Properties in Defected MoS Films by Surface Patterning of Sulphur Atomic Vacancies.

Defects are inherent in transition metal dichalcogenides and significantly affect their chemical and physical properties. In this study, surface defect electrochemical nanopatterning is proposed as a promising method to tune in a controlled manner the electronic and functional properties of defective MoS₂ thin films. Using parallel electrochemical nanolithography, MoS₂ thin films are patterned, creating sulphur vacancy-rich active zones alternated with defect-free regions over a centimetre scale area, with sub-micrometre spatial resolution.

Recycled or Bio-Based Solvents for the Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles: Characterization and Validation in Organic Solar Cells.

Among solution-processable metal oxides, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle inks are widely used in inverted organic solar cells for the preparation, at relatively low temperatures (<120 °C), of highly efficient electron-transporting layers. There is, however, a recent interest to develop more sustainable and less impacting methods/strategies for the preparation of ZnO NPs with controlled properties and improved performance. To this end, we report here the synthesis and characterization of ZnO NPs obtained using alternative reaction solvents derived from renewable or recycled sources.

Core-shell graphene oxide-polymer hollow fibers as water filters with enhanced performance and selectivity.

Commercial hollow fiber filters for micro- and ultrafiltration are based on size exclusion and do not allow the removal of small molecules such as antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that a graphene oxide (GO) layer can be firmly immobilized either inside or outside polyethersulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone hollow fiber (Versatile PES®, hereafter PES) modules and that the resulting core-shell fibers inherits the microfiltration ability of the pristine PES fibers and the adsorption selectivity of GO. GO nanosheets were deposited on the fiber surface by filtration of a GO suspension through a PES cartridge (cut-off 0.

AC parallel local oxidation of silicon.

Here, we present a suitable advancement of parallel local oxidation nanolithography, demonstrating its feasibility in alternate current mode (AC-PLON). For demonstration, we fabricated model structures consisting of an array of parallel nanostripes of electrochemical SiO with a controlled roughness. Besides, we proved the repeatability of AC-PLON and its integrability with conventional parallel local oxidation nanolithography.

Polydopamine Nanoparticle-Coated Polysulfone Porous Granules as Adsorbents for Water Remediation.

Water purification technologies possibly based on eco-sustainable, low cost, and multifunctional materials are being intensively pursued to resolve the current water scarcity and pollution. In this scenario, polysulfone hollow porous granules (PS-HPGs) prepared from scraps of the industrial production of polysulfone hollow fiber membranes were recently introduced as adsorbents and filtration materials for water and air treatment. Here, we report the functionalization of PS-HPGs with polydopamine (PD) nanoparticles for the preparation of a new versatile and efficient adsorbent material, namely, PSPD-HPGs.

Silver route to cuprate analogs.

The parent compound of high-[Formula: see text] superconducting cuprates is a unique Mott insulator consisting of layers of spin-[Formula: see text] ions forming a square lattice and with a record high in-plane antiferromagnetic coupling. Compounds with similar characteristics have long been searched for without success. Here, we use a combination of experimental and theoretical tools to show that commercial [Formula: see text] is an excellent cuprate analog with remarkably similar electronic parameters to [Formula: see text] but larger buckling of planes.

Highly Ordered Organic Ferroelectric DIPAB-Patterned Thin Films.

Ferroelectric molecular compounds present great advantages for application in electronics because they combine high polarization values, comparable to those of inorganic materials, with the flexibility and low-cost properties of organic ones. However, some limitations to their applicability are related to the high crystallinity required to deploy ferroelectricity. In this article, highly ordered ferroelectric patterned thin films of diisopropylammonium bromide have been successfully fabricated by a lithographically controlled wetting technique.

Long-Lived Photoinduced Polarons in Organohalide Perovskites.

The long diffusion length of charge carriers in the CHNHPbI perovskite is one of the most relevant properties for explaining the high photovoltaic efficiency of perovskite solar cells. As a possible mechanism for the large diffusion length of electrons and holes, several authors suggested a reduced coulomb attraction of the carriers due to the formation of polarons. Here we performed continuous wave far-infrared photoinduced absorption (PIA) experiments on CHNHPbI; spectral changes are associated with local deformation of the lattice around the photogenerated long-lived charges, a typical signature of photoinduced polarons.

Vibrational Response of Methylammonium Lead Iodide: From Cation Dynamics to Phonon-Phonon Interactions.

The dynamic evolution of the vibrational interactions in the prototypical CH NH PbI was studied through a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation with a focus on the interactions between the organic cations and the inorganic cage. To date, no clear picture has emerged on the critical and fundamental interactions between the two perovskite components, despite the relevance of phonons to the electronic properties of several classes of perovskites. For the first time, we have monitored the IR and nonresonant Raman response in the broad frequency range 30-3400 cm and in the temperature interval 80-360 K.

Silk fibroin film from golden-yellow Bombyx mori is a biocomposite that contains lutein and promotes axonal growth of primary neurons.

The use of doped silk fibroin (SF) films and substrates from Bombyx mori cocoons for green nanotechnology and biomedical applications has been recently highlighted. Cocoons from coloured strains of B. mori, such as Golden-Yellow, contain high levels of pigments that could have a huge potential for the fabrication of SF based biomaterials targeted to photonics, optoelectronics and neuroregenerative medicine.

Surface induces different crystal structures in a room temperature switchable spin crossover compound.

We investigated the influence of surfaces in the formation of different crystal structures of a spin crossover compound, namely [Fe(L)2] (LH: (2-(pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine), which is a neutral compound thermally switchable around room temperature. We observed that the surface induces the formation of two different crystal structures, which exhibit opposite spin transitions, i.e.

Structural and electronic properties of organo-halide lead perovskites: a combined IR-spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics investigation.

Organo-halide lead perovskites are revolutionizing the photovoltaic scenario, with efficiencies exceeding 15%. The orientational dynamics disorder of the methylammonium cations (MA) is one of the most peculiar features of these materials. Here, we perform ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and IR spectroscopic measurements on lead halide hybrid perovskites to elucidate the rotational motion of the MA cations in these systems and its effects on the structural and electronic properties of hybrid perovskites.

A nanostructured conductive bio-composite of silk fibroin-single walled carbon nanotubes.

Silk fibroin (SF), a protein core fibre from the silkworm Bombyx mori, has huge potential to become a sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable material platform that can pave the way towards the replacement of plastic in the fabrication of bio-derived materials for a variety of technological and biomedical applications. SF has remarkable mechanical flexibility, controllable biodegradability, biocompatibility and is capable of drug/doping inclusion, stabilization and release. However, the dielectric properties of SF limit its potential as a direct bioelectronic interface in biomedical devices intended to control the bioelectrical activity of the cell for regenerative purposes.

Innovative multifunctional silk fibroin and hydrotalcite nanocomposites: a synergic effect of the components.

Novel hybrid functional materials are formed by combining hydrotalcite-like compounds and silk fibroin (SF-HTlc) via an environmental friendly aqueous process. The nanocomposites can be prepared with different weight ratio of the constituting components and preserve the conformational properties of the silk protein and the lamellar structure of hydrotalcites. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy analyses show a good dispersion degree of the inorganic nanoparticles into the organic silk matrix.

N-type perylene-based organic semiconductors for functional neural interfacing.

The bioelectrical signalling within neural networks has to be monitored in real-time and localized in space in order to unravel the mechanisms behind pathologies and diseases of the nervous systems. Organic materials have significant potential for bio-functional neural interfacing given that their "soft" nature offers better mechanical compatibility with the nerve tissues than conventional semiconductors, and their flexibility allows realization of the non-planar forms typically required for biomedical implants. The integration of living cells into organic semiconductors is an important step towards the development of bio-organic electronic transducers of cellular activity from neurons.

A transparent organic transistor structure for bidirectional stimulation and recording of primary neurons.

Real-time stimulation and recording of neural cell bioelectrical activity could provide an unprecedented insight in understanding the functions of the nervous system, and it is crucial for developing advanced in vitro drug screening approaches. Among organic materials, suitable candidates for cell interfacing can be found that combine long-term biocompatibility and mechanical flexibility. Here, we report on transparent organic cell stimulating and sensing transistors (O-CSTs), which provide bidirectional stimulation and recording of primary neurons.

WITHDRAWN: Silk fibroin films are a bio-active interface for neuroregenerative medicine.

Ahead of print article withdrawn by publisher

Thin deposits and patterning of room-temperature-switchable one-dimensional spin-crossover compounds.

We present a study on thin deposits and patterning of 1-D spin-crossover compounds Fe(II)-(L)(2)H](ClO(4))(3)·MeOH [L = 4'-(4'''-pyridyl)-1,2':6'1''-bis- (pyrazolyl) pyridine] (1) that exhibit a reversible, thermally driven spin transition at room temperature. Micrometric rodlike crystals of 1 on silicon surfaces are achieved by drop casting and solvent annealing. We observed that the crystallinity of thin deposits and spin-transition properties critically depends on the deposition procedure.

Template evaporation method for controlling anatase nanocrystal size in ordered macroporous TiO2.

The importance of pure-phase titanium oxide materials as catalysts, sensors, and photonic band-gap materials has been growing steadily. Recently, more attention has been focused on nanostructured titanium oxide showing controlled and periodic porosity on a nanometric scale. The nanocrystal size control of porous nanostructured titanium oxide in an anatase form is a crucial step for the organic template method.