Polarization-dependent plasmonic heating in epitaxially grown multilayered metal-organic framework thin films embedded with Ag nanoparticles.

The development of metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films with various functionalities has paved the way for research into a wide variety of applications. MOF-oriented thin films can exhibit anisotropic functionality in the not only out-of-plane but also in-plane directions, making it possible to utilize MOF thin films for more sophisticated applications. However, the functionality of oriented MOF thin films has not been fully exploited, and finding novel anisotropic functionality in oriented MOF thin films should be cultivated.

Infrared crystallography for framework and linker orientation in metal-organic framework films.

Pore alignment and linker orientation influence diffusion and guest molecule interactions in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and play a pivotal role for successful utilization of MOFs. The crystallographic orientation and the degree of orientation of MOF films are generally determined using X-ray diffraction. However, diffraction methods reach their limit when it comes to very thin films, identification of chemical connectivity or the orientation of organic functional groups in MOFs.

Controlling the alignment of 1D nanochannel arrays in oriented metal-organic framework films for host-guest materials design.

Controlling the direction of molecular-scale pores enables the accommodation of guest molecular-scale species with alignment in the desired direction, allowing for the development of high-performance mechanical, thermal, electronic, photonic and biomedical organic devices (host-guest approach). Regularly ordered 1D nanochannels of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been demonstrated as superior hosts for aligning functional molecules and polymers. However, controlling the orientation of MOF films with 1D nanochannels at commercially relevant scales remains a significant challenge.

Thermo-responsive wettability surface roughness change on polymer-coated titanate nanorod brushes toward fast and multi-directional droplet transport.

A novel approach for thermo-responsive wettability has been accomplished by surface roughness change induced by thermal expansion of paraffin coated on titanate nanostructures. The surface exhibits thermo-responsive and reversible wettability change in a hydrophobic regime; the surface shows superhydrophobicity with contact angles of ∼157° below 50 °C and ∼118° above 50 °C due to a decrease of surface roughness caused by thermally-expanded paraffin at higher temperatures. Reversible wettability change of ∼40° of a contact angle allows for fast and multi-directional droplet transport.

Wrist flexible heart pulse sensor integrated with a soft pump and a pneumatic balloon membrane.

To monitor health and diagnose disease in the early stage, future healthcare standards will likely include the continuous monitoring of various vital data. One approach to collect such information is a wearable and flexible device, which detects information from the skin surface. An important dataset is heart pulse information.

Copper chloride as a conversion-type positive electrode for rechargeable aluminum batteries.

Copper chloride (CuCl) was investigated for the first time as conversion-type positive electrode material in a rechargeable Al battery. The electrode was reversibly charged and discharged in an electrolyte solution of AlCl, dipropylsulfone, and toluene (1 : 10 : 5 molar ratio). The initial discharge capacity was about 370 mA h (g-CuCl) at 0.

Toward Flexible Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Sensors for Point-of-Care Diagnostics.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy provides a noninvasive and highly sensitive route for fingerprint and label-free detection of a wide range of molecules. Recently, flexible SERS has attracted increasingly tremendous research interest due to its unique advantages compared to rigid substrate-based SERS. Here, the latest advances in flexible substrate-based SERS diagnostic devices are investigated in-depth.

High rate capability by sulfur-doping into LiFePO matrix.

Enhanced electrochemical performance of LiFePO for Li-ion batteries has been anticipated by anion doping at the O-site rather than cation doping at the Fe-site. We report on the electrochemical performance of S-doped LiFePO nanoparticles synthesized by a solvothermal method using thioacetamide as a sulfur source. S-doping into the LiFePO matrix expands the lattice due to the larger ionic radius of S than that of O.