Flexible nanohybrid substrates utilizing gold nanocubes/nano mica platelets with 3D lightning-rod effect for highly efficient bacterial biosensors based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

In this study, gold nanocubes (AuNCs) were quickly synthesized using the seed-mediated growth method and reduced onto the surface of two-dimensional (2D) delaminated nano mica platelets (NMPs), enabling the development of AuNCs/NMPs nanohybrids with a 3D lightning-rod effect. First, the growth-solution amount can be changed to easily adjust the AuNCs average-particle size within a range of 30-70 nm. The use of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium chloride as a protective agent allowed the surface of AuNCs and nanohybrids to be positively charged.

Application of Nanohybrid Substrates with Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembling Properties to High-Sensitivity Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection.

The present study was conducted to prepare and investigate large-area, high-sensitivity surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Organic/inorganic nanohybrid dispersants consisting of an amphiphilic triblock copolymer (hereafter referred to simply as "copolymer") and graphene oxide (GO) were used to stabilize the growth and size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Ion-dipole forces were present between the AuNPs and copolymer dispersants, while the hydrogen bonds between GO and the copolymer prevented the aggregation of GO, thereby stabilizing the AuNP/GO nanohybrids.

PSPS: A Step toward Tamper Resistance against Physical Computer Intrusion.

Cyberattacks are increasing in both number and severity for private, corporate, and governmental bodies. To prevent these attacks, many intrusion detection systems and intrusion prevention systems provide computer security by monitoring network packets and auditing system records. However, most of these systems only monitor network packets rather than the computer itself, so physical intrusion is also an important security issue.

Reducing Contact Time of Droplets Impacting Superheated Hydrophobic Surfaces.

Reducing the contact time (t ) of a droplet impacting a solid surface is crucial in various fields. Superhydrophobic (SHB) surfaces are used to reduce t at room temperature. However, at high temperatures, SHB surfaces cannot achieve t reduction because of the failure of the coating materials or the Leidenfrost (LF) effect.

Thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of single copper nanowires.

Copper nano-interconnects are ubiquitous in semiconductor devices. The electrical and thermal properties of copper nanowires (CuNWs) profoundly affect the performance of electronics. In contrast to the intensively studied electrical properties of CuNWs, the thermal conductivities of CuNWs have seldom been examined.

Heat Transfer of Semicrystalline Nylon Nanofibers.

Polymers are generally regarded as thermal insulators. The efficient heat transfer observed in the low-dimensional polymers in the literature mainly result from the larger crystallinity or improved polymer chain orientation in the low-dimensional polymers. However, the role of the amorphous domain on heat transfer in polymers remains unexplored.

Ultrafast Diameter-Dependent Water Evaporation from Nanopores.

Evaporation from nanopores plays an important role in various natural and industrial processes that require efficient heat and mass transfer. The ultimate performance of nanopore-evaporation-based processes is dictated by evaporation kinetics at the liquid-vapor interface, which has yet to be experimentally studied down to the single nanopore level. Here we report unambiguous measurements of kinetically limited intense evaporation from individual hydrophilic nanopores with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic top outer surfaces at 22 °C using nanochannel-connected nanopore devices.

Elongated Bouncing and Reduced Contact Time of a Drop in the Janus State.

Fast drop bouncing is desired in numerous applications. However, it has never been realized on a superheated surface with concurrent contact boiling and the Leidenfrost effect (the so-called Janus thermal state). This is presumably because of the increased drop adhesion as a result of bubbling on a Janus surface.

Control of Ice Formation.

Ice formation is a catastrophic problem affecting our daily life in a number of ways. At present, deicing methods are costly, inefficient, and environmentally unfriendly. Recently, the use of superhydrophobic surfaces has been suggested as a potential passive anti-icing method.

Silicon Nanowires for Solar Thermal Energy Harvesting: an Experimental Evaluation on the Trade-off Effects of the Spectral Optical Properties.

Silicon nanowire possesses great potential as the material for renewable energy harvesting and conversion. The significantly reduced spectral reflectivity of silicon nanowire to visible light makes it even more attractive in solar energy applications. However, the benefit of its use for solar thermal energy harvesting remains to be investigated and has so far not been clearly reported.

Scale effect on dropwise condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces.

Micro/nano (two-tier) structures are often employed to achieve superhydrophobicity. In condensation, utilizing such a surface is not necessarily advantageous because the macroscopically observed Cassie droplets are usually in fact partial Wenzel in condensation. The increase in contact angle through introducing microstructures on such two-tier roughened surfaces may result in an increase in droplet departure diameter and consequently deteriorate the performance.

A solar-thermal energy harvesting scheme: enhanced heat capacity of molten HITEC salt mixed with Sn/SiO(x) core-shell nanoparticles.

We demonstrated enhanced solar-thermal storage by releasing the latent heat of Sn/SiO(x) core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a eutectic salt. The microstructures and chemical compositions of Sn/SiO(x) core-shell NPs were characterized. In situ heating XRD provides dynamic crystalline information about the Sn/SiO(x) core-shell NPs during cyclic heating processes.

Specific heat capacity of molten salt-based alumina nanofluid.

There is no consensus on the effect of nanoparticle (NP) addition on the specific heat capacity (SHC) of fluids. In addition, the predictions from the existing model have a large discrepancy from the measured SHCs in nanofluids. We show that the SHC of the molten salt-based alumina nanofluid decreases with reducing particle size and increasing particle concentration.

Thermodynamic investigations using molecular dynamics simulations with potential of mean force calculations for cardiotoxin protein adsorption on mixed self-assembled monolayers.

Understanding protein adsorption onto solid surfaces is of critical importance in the field of bioengineering, especially for applications such as medical implants, diagnostic biosensors, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering. This study proposed the use of molecular dynamics simulations with potential of mean force (PMF) calculations to identify and characterize the mechanisms of adsorption of a protein molecule on a designed surface. A set of model systems consisting of a cardiotoxin (CTX) protein and mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces were used as examples.

Evaporation-induced cavitation in nanofluidic channels.

Cavitation, known as the formation of vapor bubbles when liquids are under tension, is of great interest both in condensed matter science as well as in diverse applications such as botany, hydraulic engineering, and medicine. Although widely studied in bulk and microscale-confined liquids, cavitation in the nanoscale is generally believed to be energetically unfavorable and has never been experimentally demonstrated. Here we report evaporation-induced cavitation in water-filled hydrophilic nanochannels under enormous negative pressures up to -7 MPa.

Nanowires for enhanced boiling heat transfer.

Boiling is a common mechanism for liquid-vapor phase transition and is widely exploited in power generation and refrigeration devices and systems. The efficacy of boiling heat transfer is characterized by two parameters: (a) heat transfer coefficient (HTC) or the thermal conductance; (b) the critical heat flux (CHF) limit that demarcates the transition from high HTC to very low HTC. While increasing the CHF and the HTC has significant impact on system-level energy efficiency, safety, and cost, their values for water and other heat transfer fluids have essentially remained unchanged for many decades.

Enhanced thermal conductivity of nanofluids diagnosis by molecular dynamics simulations.

Molecular Dynamics simulations are performed to calculate the thermal conductivity of nanofluids, and to understand the fundamental physics of the enhancement of thermal conductivity observed in experiments. Based on the analysis, intermolecular interactions between copper-copper atoms, layer structure surrounding nanoparticles, convection effect induced by the Brownian motion of copper atoms, as well as particle-particle interactions are identified and confirmed on the enhancement using Green-Kubo method in thermal conductivity.

Design of passive mixers utilizing microfluidic self-circulation in the mixing chamber.

This paper proposes the design of a passive micromixer that utilizes the self-circulation of the fluid in the mixing chamber for applications in the Micro Total Analysis Systems (microTAS). The micromixer with a total volume of about 20 microL and consisting of an inlet port, a circular mixing chamber and an outlet port was designed. The device was actuated by a pneumatic pump to induce self-circulation of the fluid.