Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Planar fault transformation and unfaulting of interstitial dislocation loops in irradiated L12-Ni3Al

Cheng Chen, Fanchao Meng, Jun Song

Summary: This study systematically investigated the unfaulting mechanism of single-layer interstitial dislocation loops in irradiated L12-Ni3Al. The unfaulting routes of the loops were uncovered and the symmetry breaking during the unfaulting processes was further elucidated. A continuum model was formulated to analyze the energetics of the loops and predict the unfaulting threshold.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

High dielectric temperature stability in the relaxor ferroelectric thin films via using a multilayer heterostructure

Jie Zhang, Xiaoyang Chen, MingJian Ding, Jiaqiang Chen, Ping Yu

Summary: This study enhances the compositional inhomogeneity of relaxor ferroelectric thin films to improve their dielectric temperature stability. The prepared films exhibit a relatively high dielectric constant and a very low variation ratio of dielectric constant over a wide temperature range.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Size-effects in tensile fracture of rejuvenated and annealed metallic glass

Akib Jabed, Golden Kumar

Summary: This study demonstrates that cryogenic rejuvenation promotes homogeneous-like flow and increases ductility in metallic glass samples. Conversely, annealing has the opposite effect, resulting in a smoother fracture surface.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

High-resolution reconstruction-based investigation of multi-scale lamellar microstructures by coupled crystal plasticity and in-situ experiment

Xutao Huang, Yinping Chen, Jianjun Wang, Gang Lu, Wenxin Wang, Zan Yao, Sixin Zhao, Yujie Liu, Qian Li

Summary: This study aims to establish a novel approach to better understand and predict the behavior of materials with multi-scale lamellar microstructures. High-resolution reconstruction and collaborative characterization methods are used to accurately represent the microstructure. The mechanical properties of pearlite are investigated using crystal plasticity simulation and in-situ scanning electron microscopy tensile testing. The results validate the reliability of the novel strategy.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

A physics-constrained neural network for crystal plasticity modelling of FCC materials

Guowei Zhou, Yuanzhe Hu, Zizheng Cao, Myoung Gyu Lee, Dayong Li

Summary: In this work, a physics-constrained neural network is used to predict grain-level responses in FCC material by incorporating crystal plasticity theory. The key feature, shear strain rate of slip system, is identified based on crystal plasticity and incorporated into the loss function as physical constitutive equations. The introduction of physics constraints accelerates the convergence of the neural network model and improves prediction accuracy, especially for small-scale datasets. Transfer learning is performed to capture complex in-plane deformation of crystals with any initial orientations, including cyclic loading and arbitrary non-monotonic loading.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

A rational proton compensation strategy of polyaniline-MnO2 hybrid structure for promoting dual ion storage of Zn-ion battery

Xiaoyu Chen, Ranran Zhang, Hao Zou, Ling Li, Qiancheng Zhu, Wenming Zhang

Summary: Polyaniline-manganese dioxide composites exhibit high conductivity, long discharge platform, and stable circulation, and the specific capacity is increased by providing additional H+ ions to participate in the reaction.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Five-fold twin structures in sputter-deposited nickel alloy films

Ilias Bikmukhametov, Garritt J. Tucker, Gregory B. Thompson

Summary: Depositing a Ni-1at. % P film can facilitate the formation of multiple quintuple twin junctions, resulting in a five-fold twin structure and a pentagonal pyramid surface topology. The ability to control material structures offers opportunities for creating novel surface topologies, which can be used as arrays of field emitters or textured surfaces.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Heterogeneous distribution of isothermal ω precipitates prevents brittle fracture in aged β-Ti alloys

Xin Ji, Yan Chong, Satoshi Emura, Koichi Tsuchiya

Summary: A heterogeneous microstructure in Ti-15Mo-3Al alloy with heterogeneous distributions of Mo element and omega(iso) precipitates has achieved a four-fold increase in tensile ductility without a loss of tensile strength, by blocking the propagation of dislocation channels and preventing the formation of micro-cracks.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Machine-learning-aided density functional theory calculations of stacking fault energies in steel

Amit Samanta, Prasanna Balaprakash, Sylvie Aubry, Brian K. Lin

Summary: This study proposes a combined large-scale first principles approach with machine learning and materials informatics to quickly explore the chemistry-composition space of advanced high strength steels (AHSS). The distribution of aluminum and manganese atoms in iron is systematically explored using first principles calculations to investigate low stacking fault energy configurations. The use of an automated machine learning tool, DeepHyper, speeds up the computational process. The study provides insights into the distribution of aluminum and manganese atoms in systems containing stacking faults and their effects on the equilibrium distribution.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

On the co-nucleation of adjoining twin pairs at grain boundaries in hexagonal close-packed materials

Darshan Bamney, Laurent Capolungo

Summary: This work investigates the formation of adjoining twin pairs (ATPs) at grain boundaries (GBs) in hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals, focusing on the co-nucleation (CN) of pairs of deformation twins. A continuum defect mechanics model is proposed to study the energetic feasibility of CN of ATPs resulting from GB dislocation dissociation. The model reveals that CN is preferred over the nucleation of a single twin variant for low misorientation angle GBs. Further analysis considering GB character and twin system alignment suggests that CN events could be responsible for ATP formation even at low m' values.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Sharp/diffuse antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition regulated by atomic displacement ordering

Bing Han, Zhengqian Fu, Guoxiang Zhao, Xuefeng Chen, Genshui Wang, Fangfang Xu

Summary: This study investigates the behavior of electric-field induced antiferroelectric to ferroelectric (AFE-FE) phase transition and reveals the evolution of atomic displacement ordering as the cause for the transition behavior changing from sharp to diffuse. The novel semi-ordered configuration results from the competing interaction between long-range displacement modulation and compositional inhomogeneity, which leads to a diffuse AFE-FE transition while maintaining the switching field.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Tailored nanocrystalline Niobium coatings on steel substrates for superior resistance to micro-crack initiation

Chuanzheng Li, Di Zhang, Zhutian Xu, Liliang Wang, Peiyun Yi, Linfa Peng, Xinmin Lai

Summary: This study improves the resistance to micro-crack initiation of Niobium (Nb) coatings by tuning the substrate bias voltages during unbalanced magnetron sputtering. With the tailored nanocrystalline microstructure, intergranular nano-pinholes and amorphous phases can be eliminated effectively, resulting in compact and homogenous nanocrystalline grains with appropriate intragranular defects. As a result, large plastic deformation can be accommodated to avoid fracture of the Nb coatings.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Tailoring the chemical environments and magnetic moments of the interstitials of high-entropy alloys

Zhiling Luo, Bo Li, Wang Gao, Qing Jiang

Summary: Interstitial defects are crucial for the irradiation performance of high-entropy alloys. This study reveals the role of chemical bonding and magnetic effects in the formation of interstitials in high-entropy alloys and provides guidance for designing advanced alloys with optimal irradiation resistance.

SCRIPTA MATERIALIA (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Design and preparation of multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability for alcoholic liver injury alleviation

Zheng Hua, Xuedi Zhang, Shanghua Xing, Jiaxuan Li, Duo Liang, Yannan Chen, A. M. Abd El-Aty, Bei-Wei Zhu, Donghong Liu, Mingqian Tan

Summary: In this study, multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability were designed and prepared. The results showed that the astaxanthin nanoparticles exhibited significant antioxidative activity and increased accumulation in the liver, indicating their potential for ameliorating alcoholic liver injury.

MATERIALS TODAY NANO (2024)

Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Pump-probe response and four-wave mixing in quantum dot exciton-biexciton - metal nanoparticle hybrid

Spyridon G. Kosionis, Emmanuel Paspalakis

Summary: In this study, we theoretically investigate the pump-probe response and the four-wave mixing spectrum in a hybrid system composed of a semiconductor quantum dot and a spherical metal nanoparticle. Using a density matrix methodology, we calculate the absorption/gain, dispersion, and four-wave mixing spectra, and analyze their spectral characteristics. We also apply the metastate theory and the dressed-state picture to predict the positions of the spectral resonances.

PHYSICA E-LOW-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS & NANOSTRUCTURES (2024)

Article Biophysics

A wearable and flexible lactic-acid/O2 biofuel cell with an enhanced air-breathing biocathode

Zepeng Kang, Yuanming Wang, Haiyan Song, Xueli Wang, Job Zhang, Zhiguang Zhu

Summary: By designing a wearable and flexible lactic-acid/O2 EBFC with an air-breathing biocathode, the limitations of biocathode are effectively solved. The optimal performance conditions are determined through experiments, and the EBFC is successfully applied to power a low-power device.

BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS (2024)

Article Biophysics

The use of biological fluids in microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs): Recent advances, challenges and future perspectives

Lais Canniatti Brazaca, Amanda Hikari Imamura, Rodrigo Vieira Blasques, Jessica Rocha Camargo, Bruno Campos Janegitz, Emanuel Carrilho

Summary: The use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (muPADs) for medical diagnosis is a growing trend due to their low cost, easy use, simple manufacturing, and potential for application in low-resource settings. This review focuses on the advances in muPADs for medical diagnostics, discussing their use in detecting various biomarkers in common human biofluids. The challenges of biomarker detection in each sample are examined, along with innovative techniques to overcome these limitations. The commercialization difficulties of muPADs are also considered, along with future trends such as wearable devices and integrated platforms.

BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS (2024)

Article Biophysics

Controllable self-assembled DNA nanomachine enable homogeneous rapid electrochemical one-pot assay of lung cancer circulating tumor cells

Chengxin Liu, Xu Shen, Li Yan, Runlian Qu, Yue Wang, Yaqin He, Zixuan Zhan, Piaopiao Chen, Feng Lin

Summary: In this study, a homogeneous rapid electrochemical aptasensor was developed to quantitatively detect CTCs in lung cancer patients. The aptasensor utilized a DNA nanosphere structure and a complementary aptamer to specifically detect mucin 1 as a marker for CTCs. The assay exhibited high specificity and sensitivity, and the results were consistent with other detection methods.

BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS (2024)

Article Biophysics

Facile synthesis of dual-ligand europium-metal organic gels for ratiometric electrochemiluminescence detecting I27L gene

Wenjie Dai, Gaoxu Chen, Xiaoyan Wang, Shujun Zhen, Chengzhi Huang, Lei Zhan, Yuanfang Li

Summary: In this study, a novel metal organic gel (MOG) with dual electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties was prepared by simple mixing. The MOG exhibited strong and stable anodic and cathodic ECL signals. By utilizing this MOG, an ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) biosensor was constructed for ultrasensitive detection of a specific gene. The study developed a straightforward technique for obtaining a single luminescent material with dual signals and expanded the analytical application of MOGs in the realm of ECL.

BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS (2024)

Article Biophysics

Development of a peptide microarray-based metal-enhanced fluorescence assay for ultrasensitive detection of multiple matrix metalloproteinase activities by using a gold nanorod-polymer substrate

Minghong Jian, Xudong Sun, Hua Zhang, Xiaotong Li, Shasha Li, Zhenxin Wang

Summary: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are attractive biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment, but their low abundance in biological samples, especially in the early stages of tumors, makes it challenging to precisely analyze MMP activities. In this study, a peptide microarray-based metal-enhanced fluorescence assay (PMMEFA) is proposed as a sensitive and specific method to simultaneously detect MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -9, and -13 activities. The PMMEFA showed excellent sensitivity and was capable of detecting MMP activities in various matrices.

BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS (2024)