We study the structure of binary monolayers of large (3 μm diameter) very hydrophobic (A) and large (3 μm diameter) hydrophilic (B) or small (1 μm diameter) hydrophilic (C) silica particles at an octane-water interface. By tuning the composition and packing geometry of the mixed monolayer, we find that a rich variety of two-dimensional hexagonal superlattices of mixed A/B or A/C clusters are formed, stabilized by short-ranged electrostatic induced dipole interactions. The cluster structures obtained are in excellent agreement with zero temperature calculations, indicating that the self-assembly process can be effectively controlled.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.138301 | DOI Listing |
Nanomicro Lett
January 2025
Energy and Environmental Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 52851, Republic of Korea.
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are pursued due to their potential for better safety and high energy density. However, the energy density of the cathode for ASSBs does not seem to be satisfactory due to the low utilization of active materials (AMs) at high loading. With small amount of solid electrolyte (SE) powder in the cathode, poor electrochemical performance is often observed due to contact loss and non-homogeneous distribution of AMs and SEs, leading to high tortuosity and limitation of lithium and electron transport pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNano Lett
January 2025
Shanghai, China State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China.
Metal sulfide electrodes for sodium-ion batteries face trade-offs among high capacity, fast kinetics, and stability. The challenge lies in breaking and restoring metal-sulfur bonds and allowing rapid ionic transport. Here we explore the boundary of conversion- and intercalation-type metal sulfides to develop ideal sodium-ion storage materials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs more powerful high performance computing resources are becoming available, there is a new opportunity to bring the unique capabilities of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to cell-scale systems. Membranes are ubiquitous within cells and are responsible for a diverse set of essential biological functions, but building atomistic models of cell-scale membranes for MD simulations is immensely challenging because of their vast sizes, complex geometries, and complex compositions. To meet this challenge, we have developed xMAS Builder (E perimentally-Derived embranes of rbitrary hape Builder), which is designed to take experimental lipidomics and structural (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangmuir
January 2025
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Iona University, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801, United States.
Understanding the evolution of protocells, primitive compartments that distinguish self from nonself, is crucial for exploring the origin of life. Fatty acids and monoglycerides have been proposed as key components of protocell membranes due to their ability to self-assemble into bilayers and vesicles capable of nutrient exchange. In this study, we investigate the electrophysiological properties of planar bilayers composed of monoglyceride and fatty acid mixtures, using a droplet interface bilayer system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangmuir
January 2025
Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States.
Lipid membranes form the primary structure of cell membranes and serve as configurable interfaces across numerous applications including biosensing technologies, antifungal treatments, and therapeutic platforms. Therefore, the modification of lipid membranes by additives has important consequences in both biological processes and practical applications. In this study, we investigated a nicotinic-acid-based gemini surfactant (NAGS) as a chemically tunable molecular additive for modulating the structure and phase behavior of liposomal membranes.
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