Combining First-Principles Modeling and Symbolic Regression for Designing Efficient Single-Atom Catalysts in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction on MoCO MXenes.

In this study, we address the significant challenge of overcoming limitations in the catalytic efficiency for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The current linear scaling relationships hinder the optimization of the electrocatalytic performance. To tackle this issue, we investigate the potential of designing single-atom catalysts (SACs) on MoCO MXenes for electrochemical OER using first-principles modeling simulations.

p-Phenylenediamine-Bridged Binder-Electrolyte-Unified Supramolecules for Versatile Lithium Secondary Batteries.

The binder is an essential component in determining the structural integrity and ionic conductivity of Li-ion battery electrodes. However, conventional binders are not sufficiently conductive and durable to be used with solid-state electrolytes. In this study, a novel system is proposed for a Li secondary battery that combines the electrolyte and binder into a unified structure, which is achieved by employing para-phenylenediamine (pPD) moiety to create supramolecular bridges between the parent binders.

Metal-Phenolic Network-Coated Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for pH-Responsive Drug Delivery.

Although self-assembled nanoparticles (SNPs) have been used extensively for targeted drug delivery, their clinical applications have been limited since most of the drugs are released into the blood before they reach their target site. In this study, metal-phenolic network (MPN)-coated SNPs (MPN-SNPs), which consist of an amphiphilic hyaluronic acid derivative, were prepared to be a pH-responsive nanocarrier to facilitate drug release in tumor microenvironments (TME). Due to their amphiphilic nature, SNPs were capable of encapsulating doxorubicin (DOX), chosen as the model anticancer drug.

Cumulative energy analysis of thermally-induced surface wrinkling of heterogeneously multilayered thin films.

Wrinkling is a well-known example of instability-driven surface deformation that occurs when the accumulated compressive stress exceeds the critical value in multilayered systems. A number of studies have investigated the instability conditions and the corresponding mechanisms of wrinkling deformation. Force balance analysis of bilayer systems, in which the thickness of the capping layer is importantly considered, has offered a useful approach for the quantitative understanding of wrinkling.

Competitive concurrence of surface wrinkling and dewetting of liquid crystalline polymer films on non-wettable substrates.

Polymeric thin films coated on non-wettable substrates undergo film-instabilities, which are usually manifested as surface deformation in the form of dewetting or wrinkling. The former takes place in fluidic films, whereas the latter occurs in solid films. Therefore, there have rarely been reports of systems involving simultaneous deformations of dewetting and wrinkling.

Influence of Ionic Strength on the Deposition of Metal-Phenolic Networks.

Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) are a versatile class of self-assembled materials that are able to form functional thin films on various substrates with potential applications in areas including drug delivery and catalysis. Different metal ions (e.g.

Assembly of "3D" plasmonic clusters by "2D" AFM nanomanipulation of highly uniform and smooth gold nanospheres.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanomanipulation has been viewed as a deterministic method for the assembly of plasmonic metamolecules because it enables unprecedented engineering of clusters with exquisite control over particle number and geometry. Nevertheless, the dimensionality of plasmonic metamolecules via AFM nanomanipulation is limited to 2D, so as to restrict the design space of available artificial electromagnetisms. Here, we show that "2D" nanomanipulation of the AFM tip can be used to assemble "3D" plasmonic metamolecules in a versatile and deterministic way by dribbling highly spherical and smooth gold nanospheres (NSs) on a nanohole template rather than on a flat surface.

Petal-Inspired Diffractive Grating on a Wavy Surface: Deterministic Fabrications and Applications to Colorizations and LED Devices.

Interestingly, the petals of flowering plants display unique hierarchical structures, in which surface relief gratings (SRGs) are conformably coated on a curved surface with a large radius of curvature (hereafter referred to as wavy surface). However, systematic studies on the interplay between the diffractive modes and the wavy surface have not yet been reported, due to the absence of deterministic nanofabrication methods capable of generating combinatorially diverse SRGs on a wavy surface. Here, by taking advantage of the recently developed nanofabrication composed of evaporative assembly and photofluidic holography inscription, we were able to achieve (i) combinatorially diverse petal-inspired SRGs with controlled curvatures, periodicities, and dimensionalities, and (ii) systematic optical studies of the relevant diffraction modes.

Patterned Poly(dopamine) Films for Enhanced Cell Adhesion.

Engineered materials that promote cell adhesion and cell growth are important in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this work, we produced poly(dopamine) (PDA) films with engineered patterns for improved cell adhesion. The patterned films were synthesized via the polymerization of dopamine at the air-water interface of a floating bed of spherical particles.

Thermally Induced Charge Reversal of Layer-by-Layer Assembled Single-Component Polymer Films.

Temperature can be harnessed to engineer unique properties for materials useful in various contexts and has been shown to affect the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polymer thin films and cause physical changes in preassembled polymer thin films. Herein we demonstrate that exposure to relatively low temperatures (≤ 100 °C) can induce physicochemical changes in cationic polymer thin films. The surface charge of polymer films containing primary and secondary amines reverses after heating (from positive to negative), and different characterization techniques are used to show that the change in surface charge is related to oxidation of the polymer that specifically occurs in the thin film state.

Ag Nanoparticle/Polydopamine-Coated Inverse Opals as Highly Efficient Catalytic Membranes.

Polymeric three-dimensional inverse-opal (IO) structures provide unique structural properties useful for various applications ranging from optics to separation technologies. Despite vast needs for IO functionalization to impart additional chemical properties, this task has been seriously challenged by the intrinsic limitation of polymeric porous materials that do not allow for the easy penetration of waterborne moieties or precursors. To overcome this restriction, we present a robust and straightforward method of employing a dipping-based surface modification with polydopamine (PDA) inside the IO structures, and demonstrate their application to catalytic membranes via synthetic incorporation of Ag nanoparticles.