Diameter-dependent phase selectivity in 1D-confined tungsten phosphides.

Topological materials confined in 1D can transform computing technologies, such as 1D topological semimetals for nanoscale interconnects and 1D topological superconductors for fault-tolerant quantum computing. As such, understanding crystallization of 1D-confined topological materials is critical. Here, we demonstrate 1D template-assisted nanowire synthesis where we observe diameter-dependent phase selectivity for tungsten phosphides.

Nanomolding of Two-Dimensional Materials.

Lateral confinement of layered, two-dimensional (2D) materials has uniquely enabled the exploration of several topological phenomena in electron transport due to the well-defined nanoscale cross-sections and perimeters. At present, research on laterally confined 2D materials is constrained by the lack of synthesis methods that can reliably and controllably produce nanostructures with narrow widths and high aspect ratios. We demonstrate the use of thermomechanical nanomolding (TMNM) to fabricate nanowires of six layered materials (Te, InSe, BiTe, BiSe, GaSe, and SbTe) with widths of 40 nm and aspect ratios above 100.

Scalable Route to Colloidal NiCoS Nanoparticles with Low Dispersity Using Amino Acids.

The thiospinel group of nickel cobalt sulfides (NiCoS) are promising materials for energy applications such as supercapacitors, fuel cells, and solar cells. Solution-processible nanoparticles of NiCoS have advantages of low cost and fabrication of high-performance energy devices due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, which increases the electrochemically active surface area and shortens the ionic diffusion path. The current approaches to synthesize NiCoS nanoparticles are often based on hydrothermal or solvothermal methods that are difficult to scale up safely and efficiently and that preclude monitoring the reaction through aliquots, making optimization of size and dispersity challenging, typically resulting in aggregated nanoparticles with polydisperse sizes.

Wafer-Scale Fabrication of 2D Nanostructures via Thermomechanical Nanomolding.

With shrinking dimensions in integrated circuits, sensors, and functional devices, there is a pressing need to develop nanofabrication techniques with simultaneous control of morphology, microstructure, and material composition over wafer length scales. Current techniques are largely unable to meet all these conditions, suffering from poor control of morphology and defect structure or requiring extensive optimization or post-processing to achieve desired nanostructures. Recently, thermomechanical nanomolding (TMNM) has been shown to yield single-crystalline, high aspect ratio nanowires of metals, alloys, and intermetallics over wafer-scale distances.

Two-Dimensional Violet Phosphorus P: A Large Band Gap Phosphorus Allotrope.

The discovery of novel large band gap two-dimensional (2D) materials with good stability and high carrier mobility will innovate the next generation of electronics and optoelectronics. A new allotrope of 2D violet phosphorus P was synthesized via a salt flux method in the presence of bismuth. Millimeter-sized crystals of violet-P were collected after removing the salt flux with DI water.

Synergizing Electron and Heat Flows in Photocatalyst for Direct Conversion of Captured CO.

We report a ternary hybrid photocatalyst architecture with tailored interfaces that boost the utilization of solar energy for photochemical CO reduction by synergizing electron and heat flows in the photocatalyst. The photocatalyst comprises cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecules assembled on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that are decorated with nearly monodispersed cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs). The CdS QDs absorb visible light and generate electron-hole pairs.

Topological Metal MoP Nanowire for Interconnect.

The increasing resistance of copper (Cu) interconnects for decreasing dimensions is a major challenge in continued downscaling of integrated circuits beyond the 7 nm technology node as it leads to unacceptable signal delays and power consumption in computing. The resistivity of Cu increases due to electron scattering at surfaces and grain boundaries at the nanoscale. Topological semimetals, owing to their topologically protected surface states and suppressed electron backscattering, are promising candidates to potentially replace current Cu interconnects.

Efficient electrocatalytic valorization of chlorinated organic water pollutant to ethylene.

Electrochemistry can provide an efficient and sustainable way to treat environmental waters polluted by chlorinated organic compounds. However, the electrochemical valorization of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA) is currently challenged by the lack of a catalyst that can selectively convert DCA in aqueous solutions into ethylene. Here we report a catalyst comprising cobalt phthalocyanine molecules assembled on multiwalled carbon nanotubes that can electrochemically decompose aqueous DCA with high current and energy efficiencies.

Enhanced Li-ion diffusion and electrochemical performance in strained-manganese-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles.

Efforts to improve energy storage depend greatly on the development of efficient electrode materials. Recently, strain has been employed as an alternate approach to improve ion mobility. While lattice strain has been well-researched in catalytic applications, its effects on electrochemical energy storage are largely limited to computational studies due to complexities associated with strain control in nanomaterials as well as loss of strain due to the phase change of the active material during charging-discharging.

Palladium-catalyzed direct β-arylation of ketones with diaryliodonium salts: a stoichiometric heavy metal-free and user-friendly approach.

We herein report a new protocol for the Pd-catalyzed β-arylation of ketones without stoichiometric heavy metals. Widely accessible diaryliodonium salts are used as both the oxidant and aryl source. This tandem redox catalysis merges ketone dehydrogenation and conjugate addition without an additional oxidant or reductant.