HfO-based ferroelectric synaptic devices: challenges and engineering solutions.

HfO-based ferroelectric memories have garnered significant attention for their potential to serve as artificial synaptic devices owing to their scalability and CMOS compatibility. This review examines the key material properties and challenges associated with HfO-based ferroelectric artificial synaptic devices as well as the recent advancements in engineering strategies to improve their synaptic performance. The fundamental physics and material properties of HfO-based ferroelectrics are reviewed to understand the theoretical origin of the aforementioned technical issues in ferroelectric HfO-based synaptic devices.

Dynamic Fluid-Like Graphene with Ultralow Frictional Molecular Bearing.

Fluid-like sliding graphenes but with solid-like out-of-plane compressive rigidity offer unique opportunities for achieving unusual physical and chemical properties for next-generation interfacial technologies. Of particular interest in the present study are graphenes with specific chemical functionalization that can predictably promote adhesion and wetting to substrate and ultralow frictional sliding structures. Lubricity between stainless steel (SS) and diamond-like carbon (DLC) is experimentally demonstrated with densely functionalized graphenes displaying dynamic intersheet bonds that mechanically transform into stable tribolayers.

Janus Graphene: Scalable Self-Assembly and Solution-Phase Orthogonal Functionalization.

Orthogonal functionalization of 2D materials by selective assembly at interfaces provides opportunities to create new materials with transformative properties. Challenges remain in realizing controllable, scalable surface-selective, and orthogonal functionalization. Herein, dynamic covalent assembly is reported that directs the functionalization of graphene surfaces at liquid-liquid interfaces.

Modular Synthesis of Polymers Containing 2,5-di(thiophenyl)-N-arylpyrrole.

A modular facile route has been developed to synthesize functionalized 2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1-H-arylpyrroles from readily available starting materials. These units are compatible with various polymerization conditions and are versatile building blocks for conjugated polymers. The polymers show high thermal stability and solubility in a number of solvents.

Polyaniline Nanofiber Electrodes for Reversible Capture and Release of Mercury(II) from Water.

π-Conjugated polyaniline nanofiber networks are an attractive material platform for reversible and selective capture and release of toxic heavy metal ions from water. The nanofiber geometry facilitates fastsorption kinetics, sulfur functionalization of the backbone for improved adsorption, and electrochemical control of the oxidation (charge) state for reversible triggered sorption/desorption of metal ions. These active materials also function as sensors in that the sorption of mercury ions can be detected by analysis of cyclic voltammograms.

Insights into Magneto-Optics of Helical Conjugated Polymers.

Materials with magneto-optic (MO) properties have enabled critical fiber-optic applications and highly sensitive magnetic field sensors. While traditional MO materials are inorganic in nature, new generations of MO materials based on organic semiconducting polymers could allow increased versatility for device architectures, manufacturing options, and flexible mechanics. However, the origin of MO activity in semiconducting polymers is far from understood.

Hyperstage Graphite: Electrochemical Synthesis and Spontaneous Reactive Exfoliation.

Covalent modification of the π-electron basal planes of graphene enables the formation of new materials with enhanced functionality. An electrochemical method is reported for the formation of what is referred to as a Hyperstage-1 graphite intercalation compound (GIC), which has a very large interlayer spacing d > 15.3 Å and contains disordered interstitial molecules/ions.