Adaptive Radiative Thermal Management Using Transparent, Flexible Ag Nanowire Networks.

Effective heat management is critical for improving energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Passive radiative heat management systems rely on specific materials and design configurations to naturally modulate temperature, enhance system reliability, and decrease operational costs by modulating infrared light. However, their static nature proves insufficient in dynamic settings experiencing significant temperature fluctuations.

Development of Antibacterial Hydrogels Based on Biopolymer Aloe Vera/Gelatin/Sodium Alginate Composited With SM-AgNPs Loaded Curcumin-Nanoliposomes.

To address the rising prevalence of bacterial infections and the need for innovative therapeutic solutions, this study has developed a novel antibacterial hydrogel composite composed of Aloe vera, gelatin, sodium alginate, and Sterculia monosperma-silver nanoparticles (SM-AgNPs) loaded curcumin-nanoliposomes (NLPs). The aloe vera/gelatin/sodium alginate hydrogels (AGS) are prepared using different weight ratios of Aloe vera, gelatin, and sodium alginate, aiming to optimize mechanical properties and biocompatibility for biomedical applications. The incorporation of SM-AgNPs and curcumin-loaded NLPs enhanced the hydrogels' antibacterial properties.

Surface Plasmon Modulation in CuP Nanocrystals.

We demonstrate modulation of the surface plasmon resonance in nonstoichiometric copper phosphide nanocrystals using spectroelectrochemical methods. Application of an anodic potential resulted in a blue-shift of the surface plasmon resonance and an incremental increase in its extinction coefficient. Conversely, upon application of a cathodic potential, the surface plasmon band red-shifted and reduced in intensity.

Ultrafast Nanodrum-on-Chip Pixels.

Environmentally friendly, ultrafast display pixels of micrometer sizes are fabricated with nanometer-thick gold films and Si/SiO wafers. The color displayed is due to both the plasmon response of the gold film and the optical interference from the Fabry-Peerot cavity formed by the underlying silicon substrate, the semitransparent gold film and the air gap between them. When an electric potential is applied to the gold film, the electrostatic force induces an attraction between the gold film and the silicon wafer.

A Shear-Thinning, Self-Healing, Dual-Cross Linked Hydrogel Based on Gelatin/Vanillin/Fe /AGP-AgNPs: Synthesis, Antibacterial, and Wound-Healing Assessment.

A shear-thinning and self-healing hydrogel based on a gelatin biopolymer is synthesized using vanillin and Fe as dual crosslinking agents. Rheological studies indicate the formation of a strong gel found to be injectable and exhibit rapid self-healing (within 10 min). The hydrogels also exhibited a high degree of swelling, suggesting potential as wound dressings since the absorption of large amounts of wound exudate, and optimum moisture levels, lead to accelerated wound healing.

Molecular Chemistry in Cavity Strong Coupling.

The coherent exchange of energy between materials and optical fields leads to strong light-matter interactions and so-called polaritonic states with intriguing properties, halfway between light and matter. Two decades ago, research on these strong light-matter interactions, using optical cavity (vacuum) fields, remained for the most part the province of the physicist, with a focus on inorganic materials requiring cryogenic temperatures and carefully fabricated, high-quality optical cavities for their study. This review explores the history and recent acceleration of interest in the application of polaritonic states to molecular properties and processes.

SERS Endoscopy for Monitoring Intracellular Drug Dynamics.

Understanding the dynamics and distribution of medicinal drugs in living cells is essential for the design and discovery of treatments. The tools available for revealing this information are, however, extremely limited. Here, we report the application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) endoscopy, using plasmonic nanowires as SERS probes, to monitor the intracellular fate and dynamics of a common chemo-drug, doxorubicin, in A549 cancer cells.

Spectroelectrochemistry of CdSe/CdZnS Nanoplatelets.

We report an unexpected enhancement of photoluminescence (PL) in CdSe-based core/shell nanoplatelets (NPLs) upon electrochemical hole injection. Moderate hole doping densities induce an enhancement of more than 50% in PL intensity. This is accompanied by a narrowing and blue-shift of the PL spectrum.

Materials design of vertically coupled plasmonic arrays.

Plasmonic metasurfaces have important applications in life science, optics, and catalysis. However, their industrial usage is limited by the challenges of high throughput nanofabrication. A promising solution is the transfer of a pattern into a substrate using block copolymers, nanostructured stamps or molds to create binary, three dimensional templates, which can then be decorated with plasmonically active metals.

Andrographolide stabilized-silver nanoparticles overcome ceftazidime-resistant Burkholderia pseudomallei: study of antimicrobial activity and mode of action.

Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes melioidosis, a deadly but neglected tropical disease. B.

Autotuning of Vibrational Strong Coupling for Site-Selective Reactions.

Site-selective chemistry opens new paths for the synthesis of technologically important molecules. When a reactant is placed inside a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity, energy exchange between molecular vibrations and resonant cavity photons results in vibrational strong coupling (VSC). VSC has recently been implicated in modified chemical reactivity at specific reactive sites.

Enhanced wound healing properties of guar gum/curcumin-stabilized silver nanoparticle hydrogels.

Biocompatible materials that act as scaffolds for regenerative medicine are of enormous interest. Hydrogel-nanoparticle composites have great potential in this regard, however evaluations of their wound healing and safety in vivo in animal studies are scarce. Here we demonstrate that a guar gum/curcumin-stabilized silver nanoparticle hydrogel composite is an injectable material with exceptional wound healing and antibacterial properties.

Lithography-free synthesis of periodic, vertically-aligned, multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays.

Until now, the growth of periodic vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (VA-MWCNT) arrays was dependent on at least one lithography step during fabrication. Here, we demonstrate a lithography-free fabrication method to grow hexagonal arrays of self-standing VA-MWCNTs with tunable pitch and MWCNT size. The MWCNTs are synthesized by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) from Ni catalyst particles.

Selective crystallization vibrational strong coupling.

The coupling of (photo)chemical processes to optical cavity vacuum fields is an emerging method for modulating molecular and material properties. Recent reports have shown that strong coupling of the vibrational modes of solvents to cavity vacuum fields can influence the chemical reaction kinetics of dissolved solutes. This suggests that vibrational strong coupling might also effect other important solution-based processes, such as crystallization from solution.

Frequency Shift Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Sensing: An Ultrasensitive Multiplex Assay for Biomarkers in Human Health.

The sensitive and selective detection of biomarkers for human health remains one of the grand challenges of the analytical sciences. Compared to established methods (colorimetric, (chemi) luminescent), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an emerging alternative with enormous potential for ultrasensitive biological detection. Indeed even attomolar (10 M) detection limits are possible for SERS due to an orders-of-magnitude boosting of Raman signals at the surface of metallic nanostructures by surface plasmons.

Modulation of Prins Cyclization by Vibrational Strong Coupling.

Light-molecule strong coupling has emerged within the last decade as a new method to control chemical reactions. A few years ago it was discovered that chemical reactivity could be altered by vibrational strong coupling (VSC). Only a limited number of reactions have been investigated under VSC to date, including solvolysis and deprotection reactions.

Frequency Shift Raman-Based Sensing of Serum MicroRNAs for Early Diagnosis and Discrimination of Primary Liver Cancers.

Frequency shift surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) achieves multiplex microRNA sensing for early serological diagnosis of, and discrimination between, primary liver cancers in a patient cohort for whom only biopsy is effective clinically. Raman reporters microprinted on plasmonic substrates shift their vibrational frequencies upon biomarker binding with a dynamic range allowing direct, multiplex assay of serum microRNAs and the current best protein biomarker, α-fetoprotein. Benchmarking against current gold-standard polymerase chain reaction and chemiluminescence methods validates the assay.

Voltage-Controlled Switching of Strong Light-Matter Interactions using Liquid Crystals.

We experimentally demonstrate a fine control over the coupling strength of vibrational light-matter hybrid states by controlling the orientation of a nematic liquid crystal. Through an external voltage, the liquid crystal is seamlessly switched between two orthogonal directions. Using these features, for the first time, we demonstrate electrical switching and increased Rabi splitting through transition dipole moment alignment.

Surface Density-of-States Engineering of Anatase TiO by Small Polyols for Enhanced Visible-Light Photocurrent Generation.

Enhancement of visible-light photocurrent generation by sol-gel anatase TiO films was achieved by binding small polyol molecules to the TiO surface. Binding ethylene glycol onto the surface, enhancement factors up to 2.8 were found in visible-light photocurrent generation experiments.

Energy Transfer between Spatially Separated Entangled Molecules.

Light-matter strong coupling allows for the possibility of entangling the wave functions of different molecules through the light field. We hereby present direct evidence of non-radiative energy transfer well beyond the Förster limit for spatially separated donor and acceptor cyanine dyes strongly coupled to a cavity. The transient dynamics and the static spectra show an energy transfer efficiency approaching 37 % for donor-acceptor distances ≥100 nm.

A highly sensitive SERS-based platform for Zn(ii) detection in cellular media.

We report a highly sensitive and selective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based detection of aqueous Zn(ii) ions (limit of detection 10 M). Spectral changes for a silver nanoparticle-bound Raman reporter upon Zn(ii) chelation constitutes the assay, which is applied to drinking water and to measurements of cellular uptake of Zn(ii).

Field-Controlled Charge Separation in a Conductive Matrix at the Single-Molecule Level: Toward Controlling Single-Molecule Fluorescence Intermittency.

The fluorescence intermittency or "blinking" of single molecules of ATTO647N (ATTO) in the conductive matrix polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) is described in the presence of an external applied electric field. It is shown that due to the energy distribution of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of PVK, which is energetically close to the HOMO of ATTO, sporadic electron transfer occurs. As a result, the on/off dynamics of blinking can be influenced by the electric field.

High-Efficiency Second-Harmonic Generation from Hybrid Light-Matter States.

We report a novel approach to modify the second order nonlinear optical (NLO) susceptibility of organic nanofiber crystals by hybridization with the optical modes of microcavities in the strong coupling regime. The wavelength dependence of the SHG efficiency displays two intense peaks corresponding to the so-formed light-matter hybrid states. Our results demonstrate an enhancement of the resonant SHG efficiency of the lower polariton by 2 orders of magnitude for the collectively coupled molecules as compared to that of the same material outside the microcavity.

Quantum Strong Coupling with Protein Vibrational Modes.

In quantum electrodynamics, matter can be hybridized to confined optical fields by a process known as light-matter strong coupling. This gives rise to new hybrid light-matter states and energy levels in the coupled material, leading to modified physical and chemical properties. Here, we report for the first time the strong coupling of vibrational modes of proteins with the vacuum field of a Fabry-Perot mid-infrared cavity.