Topological Fermiology of gate-tunable Rashba electron gases.

By introducing first-order quantum phases as topological invariants, recent symmetry analysis-based theories have reinvigorated magnetic quantum oscillations as a versatile quantum probe for unfolding the Fermi surface topology along with the geometry information, i.e., topo-Fermiology.

Mechanical stress-induced autophagy is cytoskeleton dependent.

The cytoskeleton is essential for mechanical signal transduction and autophagy. However, few studies have directly demonstrated the contribution of the cytoskeleton to mechanical stress-induced autophagy. We explored the role of the cytoskeleton in response to compressive force-induced autophagy in human cell lines.

DNA Framework Programmed Conformational Reconstruction of Antibody Complementary Determining Region.

The conformation of complementary determining region (CDR) is crucial in dictating its specificity and affinity for binding with an antigen, making it a focal point in artificial antibody engineering. Although desirable, programmable scaffolds that can regulate the conformation of individual CDRs with nanometer precision are still lacking. Here, we devise a strategy to program the CDR conformation by anchoring both ends of a free CDR loop to specific sites of a DNA framework structure.

Experimental Observation of Highly Anisotropic Elastic Properties of Two-Dimensional Black Arsenic.

Anisotropic two-dimensional layered materials with low-symmetry lattices have attracted increasing attention due to their unique orientation-dependent mechanical properties. Black arsenic (b-As), with the puckered structure, exhibits extreme in-plane anisotropy in optical, electrical, and thermal properties. However, experimental research on mechanical properties of b-As is very rare, although theoretical calculations predicted the exotic elastic properties of b-As, such as the anisotropic Young's modulus and negative Poisson's ratio.

Thermodynamic Origins of Structural Metastability in Two-Dimensional Black Arsenic.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have aroused considerable research interest owing to their potential applications in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Thermodynamic stability of 2D structures inevitably affects the performance and power consumption of the fabricated nanodevices. Black arsenic (b-As), as a cousin of black phosphorus, has presented extremely high anisotropy in physical properties.

3D diversiform dynamic process of microvilli in living cells.

Microvilli are membrane protrusions involved in many membrane-associated physiological processes. Previous studies have focused on the dynamics of individual microvilli, however, the morphological classification of microvilli and the dynamics of microvillar clusters as the basic functional domain remain largely unknown. Here we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to achieve nanoscale resolution 3D microvilli images of living HeLa cells.

Probing Heterogeneous Folding Pathways of DNA Origami Self-Assembly at the Molecular Level with Atomic Force Microscopy.

A myriad of DNA origami nanostructures have been demonstrated in various intriguing applications. In pursuit of facile yet high-yield synthesis, the mechanisms underlying DNA origami folding need to be resolved. Here, we visualize the folding processes of several multidomain DNA origami structures under ambient annealing conditions in solution using atomic force microscopy with submolecular resolution.

In-Plane Phonon Anisotropy and Anharmonicity in Exfoliated Natural Black Arsenic.

Group-VA two-dimensional layered materials in a puckered honeycomb structure exhibit strong in-plane anisotropy and have emerged as new platforms for novel devices. Here, we report on systematic Raman investigations on exfoliated b-As flakes on the A and A polarization dependence on their symmetry, excitation wavelength, and flake thickness. The intensity maximums of both phonons are corrected in the b-As armchair direction under 633 nm excitation regardless of the flake thickness upon considering optical birefringence effects and interference effects.

Gate-controlled ambipolar transport in b-AsP crystals and their VIS-NIF photodetection.

As a new two-dimensional elemental layered semiconductor, black phosphorus (b-P) has received tremendous attention due to its excellent physical and chemical properties and has potential applications in the fields of catalysis, energy, and micro/nano-optoelectronic devices. However, studies have found that b-P is very unstable and will decompose within a few minutes under humid air conditions. Element doping is an effective method for adjusting the physical and chemical properties of crystals.

Factors affecting the negative Poisson's ratio of black phosphorus and black arsenic: electronic effects.

Negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) materials (when stretched longitudinally, the thickness of these materials increases along the lateral direction) are widely used in engineering because of their good resistance to shear, denting, and fracture. Observance of a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) in two-dimensional (2D) single-layer materials presently has two explanations. The first, from mechanical principles, is that it derives from the presence of a special structure (hinge structure), such as in single-layer black phosphorus (BP) or black arsenic (β-As).

In-Plane Optical and Electrical Anisotropy of 2D Black Arsenic.

Low-symmetry two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have attracted great attention because of their rich in-plane anisotropic optical, electrical, and thermoelectric properties and potential applications in multifunctional nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices. However, anisotropic 2D semiconductors with high performance are still very limited. Here, we report the systematic study of in-plane anisotropic properties in few-layered b-As that is a narrow-gap semiconductor, based on the experimental and theoretical investigations.

Na-Based monolayer photocatalysts with an extremely high intrinsic electric-field for water splitting.

A strong built-in electric field, high carrier mobility and a wide range of optical absorption values are the key parameters for photocatalysts used in water splitting. The design and preparation of photocatalysts possessing simultaneously these characteristics have always been the main tasks in the water splitting field. Here, we report a new family of 2D Na-based photocatalysts, NaAB2 (A = Al, Ga, In; B = S, Se, Te) monolayers, which may achieve this goal.

Phase-Tunable Synthesis of Ultrathin Layered Tetragonal CoSe and Nonlayered Hexagonal CoSe Nanoplates.

Multiple structural phases in transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted considerable recent interest for their tunable chemical and electronic properties. Herein, a chemical vapor deposition route to ultrathin CoSe nanoplates with tunable structure phases is reported. By precisely tailoring the growth temperature, ultrathin 2D layered tetragonal CoSe nanoplates and nonlayered hexagonal CoSe nanoplates can be selectively prepared as square or hexagonal geometries, with thickness as thin as 2.

Synthesis of Ultrathin Metallic MTe (M = V, Nb, Ta) Single-Crystalline Nanoplates.

Two-dimensional materials with intrinsic magnetism have recently drawn intense interest for both the fundamental studies and potential technological applications. However, the studies to date have been largely limited to mechanically exfoliated materials. Herein, an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition route to ultrathin group VB metal telluride MTe (M = V, Nb, Ta) nanoplates with thickness as thin as 3 nm is reported.

Black Arsenic: A Layered Semiconductor with Extreme In-Plane Anisotropy.

2D layered materials have emerged in recent years as a new platform to host novel electronic, optical, or excitonic physics and develop unprecedented nanoelectronic and energy applications. By definition, these materials are strongly anisotropic between the basal plane and cross the plane. The structural and property anisotropies inside their basal plane, however, are much less investigated.

Spin-dependent transport properties of zigzag phosphorene nanoribbons with oxygen-saturated edges.

We investigate the electronic structures and electronic transport properties of zigzag phosphorene nanoribbons with oxygen-saturated edges (O-zPNRs) by using the spin-polarized density functional theory and the nonequilibrium Green's function method. The results show that the O-zPNR is an antiferromagnetic (AFM) or ferromagnetic (FM) semiconductor with spins localized at two ribbon edges anti-parallel or parallel with each other. The electronic transmission for the single AFM or FM O-zPNR is zero when a bias voltage is applied to the two electrodes made of the same type O-zPNR.

Effect of magnetic field on electronic transport in a bilayer graphene nanomesh.

We report on the observation of an unexpected sudden increase of resistance in bilayer graphene nanomesh (GNM) in the temperature range 270 ∼ 300 K that is strongly dependent on the magnetic field strength. We conjecture that the sharp increase in resistance originates from ripple scattering as induced by substrate roughness. The observed result is evidence of extrinsic corrugation in bilayer GNM as an additional scattering source that contributes to significant resistance.

Direct Observation of High Photoresponsivity in Pure Graphene Photodetectors.

Ultrafast and broad spectral bandwidth photodetectors are desirable attributable to their unique bandstructures. Photodetectors based on graphene have great potential due to graphene's outstanding optical and electrical properties. However, the highest reported values of the photoresponsivity of pure graphene are less than 10 mA/W at room temperature, which significantly limits its potential applications.