Dielectric thin films of high- and low-refractive index are the essential components for optical coatings. To achieve high sputtering rates and superior film quality, the authors have developed novel conductive SiO2:Si and ZnO:Zn composites that become conductive once the doped silicon and metal Zn reach a critical ratio. The sputtering characteristics of the composite targets in direct current and radio-frequency (RF) plasma discharge are quite different from the corresponding element targets. The optical properties of the RF sputtered SiO2 and ZnO films from the composite targets is comparable with the films obtained from RF sputtering of pure oxide targets.

We propose a device to secure random data in analog format, so that it is taken off the digital grid. Such action will turn off the means by which remote hackers violate security. A physical “rock” manufactured through 3D printing technology, constructed on the basis of high-grade randomness, which is packed into the comprising materials of that rock. The rock functions as an oracle, and does not allow any massive copy of its content. Thus, a major claim of this Prospective is that materials science and engineering may hold the keys to the future of cryptography.

Increasing fluorination of organosilyl nitrile solvents improves ionic conductivities of lithium salt electrolytes, resulting from higher values of salt dissociation. Ionic conductivities at 298 K range from 1.5 to 3.2 mS/cm for LiPF6 salt concentrations at 0.6 or 0.7 M. The authors also report on solvent blend electrolytes where the fluoroorganosilyl (FOS) nitrile solvent is mixed with ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate. Ionic conductivities of the FOS solvent/carbonate blend electrolytes increase achieving ionic conductivities at 298 K of 5.5–6.3 mS/cm and salt dissociation values ranging from 0.42 to 0.45. Salt dissociation generally decreases with increasing temperature.

A review of the literature offers an explanation for the large anomalous electro-optic (e.o.) effect reported by Fujiwara et al. in 1994. It is based on the large e.o. coefficient of ordered water at an interface measured in recent years >1000 pm/V. More broadly, the concept of water-based photonics, where water could be a new platform material for devices and systems, is introduced, suggesting that liquid states of matter can allow ready shaping and exploitation of many processes in ways not previously considered. This paper is a commentary on the significance of this new understanding and the broader interest of water in photonics, particularly its consideration as a new platform material.

Cation doping is a practical way of engineering the optical properties of one-dimensional semiconductor nanomaterials, such as their band gap. We have grown zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods doped with sodium cations (Na+) using a hydrothermal method at temperatures as low as 60 °C. We have investigated the effect of different concentrations of Na+ on structural and optical properties and morphology of the ZnO nanostructures. We have also simulated and discussed the chemical route of formation of doped and undoped ZnO nanorods. We found that, for low-temperature hydrothermal doping of ZnO nanorods with Na+, the optimum concentration ratio of zinc to sodium precursors is 1:10.

A broadband magnetoelectric energy harvester, consisting of Fe1−xGax (Galfenol) as the magnetostrictor and a relaxor ferroelectric single crystal as the piezoelectric, has been designed and optimized. Finite element analysis (FEA) has been employed to show that either a linear displacement or a 180° rotation of a magnet is sufficient to achieve maximum stroke from the Galfenol rod, which induces a rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase transition in Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 that produces a large jump in voltage. A rotational design based on a pendulum with an unbalanced mass was fabricated and used to confirm the validity of our FEA model.

In this paper new materials and substrate approaches are discussed which have potential to provide (Al)GaN buffers with a better crystal quality, higher critical electrical field, or thickness and have the potential to offer co-integration of GaN switches at different reference potentials, while maintaining lower wafer bow and maintaining complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility. Engineered silicon substrates, silicon on insulator (SOI) and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)-matched substrates have been investigated and benchmarked with respect to each other. SOI and CTE-matched offer benefits for scaling to higher voltage, while a trench isolation process combined with an oxide interlayer substrate allows co-integration of GaN components in a GaN-integrated circuit (IC).

The time-dependent pyramidal or conical indentation of viscoelastic–plastic materials, such as glassy polymers, is examined by a flexible, Kelvin-like model. The model equation is simply solved numerically for a wide range of material properties and indentation loading sequences. The flexibility of the model is demonstrated by generating typical indentation responses for a metal, a ceramic, an elastomer, and a glassy polymer. Polymer indentation is further examined under ramp, hold, and cyclic loading conditions, including adhesive effects. The model and approach should be particularly useful in identifying the various deformation components contributing to observed instrumented indentation phenomena.

Contact guidance is vital to many physiological processes, yet is still poorly understood. This is partly due to the variability of experimental platforms, making comparisons difficult. To combat this, a multiplexed approach was used to fabricate topographical cues on single quartz coverslips for high-throughput screening. Furthermore, this method offers control of surface roughness and protein adsorption characterization, two critical aspects to the in vitro environment often overlooked in contact guidance platforms. The quartz surface can be regenerated, is compatible with versatile microscopy modes, and can scale up for manufacturing offering a novel platform that could serve as a potential standard assay.

The development of more sustainable construction materials is a crucial step toward the reduction of CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change issues and minimize environmental impacts of the associated industries. Therefore, there is a growing demand for bio-based binders which are not only safer toward human and environmental health but also facilitate cleaner disposal of the construction materials and enable their compostability. Here, we summarize the most relevant bio-based polymers and molecules with applications in the construction sector. Due to the biologic nature of these materials, the existing biotechnologic processes, including synthetic biology, for their development and production have been evaluated.

The authors design six alumina hybrid structures consisting of stretching-dominated plates and different space-filling lattices comprised of hollow tubes and perform finite element simulations to study mechanical and failure behaviors of such hybrid structures. The authors investigate the effects of three geometrical parameters on the stiffness and failure of these hybrid structures and further compare their advantages and disadvantages. The authors find that the failure modes of these hybrid structures can be tuned by altering cell unit type and geometrical parameters. Among these hybrid structures, the ones with effective support from the lattice unit cells in the stretching direction exhibit better specific stiffness and strength. By varying the lattice and plate thickness, the authors find that the relations between stiffness/failure strength and density follow a power law. When intrinsic material failure occurs, the power law exponent is 1; when buckling failure arises, the power law exponent is 3. However, by varying tube thickness, their relations follow unusual power relations with the exponent changing from nearly 0 to nearly infinity. In addition, the hybrid structures also exhibit defect insensitivity. This study shows that such hybrid structures are able to greatly expand the design space of architectured cellular materials for engineering applications.

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) enhances mechanical performance of cement composites via short-circuit diffusion (SCD). CNCs transport water along their hydrophilic surface into the unhydrated cement cores to induce extra hydration. It is important to characterize CNC distribution because it determines the SCD pathways. This study for the first time, employs virtual environment dynamic atomic force microscopy, an atomic force microscopy computational tool to investigate CNC distribution in both fresh and hardened cement pastes. The methods not only provide insights in a static context (hardened sample), but also offer opportunities to evaluate the interaction of CNCs with calcium-silicate-hydrate growth during the kinetic early ages of hydration.

This article reviews the semiconductor and metal-based nanohybrid-sensitized photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for hydrogen generation from water. The nanoscale hybridization of sensitizers in the photoanode can enhance light harvesting, interfacial charge transfer, charge separation, and induce a catalytic effect in dependence on the kind of the components and interfacial junction state. Subsequent to the introduction, second and third sections present the basic structure and design of the nanohybrid-sensitized PEC cell. Fourth section deals with the effect of the interfacial bond between quantum dots and TiO2 on the electron injection process. Fifth section mainly describes the formation of heteroepitaxial junction between the components of nanohybrids. In the sixth section, the state-of-the-art nanohybrid-sensitized PEC cells are treated with a particular emphasis placed on the interface state.

Fullerite derivatives synthesized with a catalytic polymerization reaction at a relatively low-pressure range of 0.5–4 GPa show unique mechanical properties: elastic recovery is 98% and hardness possibly approaches 100 GPa. Structure of the samples is also unique: one composes from fragments of C60 molecules linked by the covalent bonds. To obtain the homogeneous crack-free samples, we synthesized B4C–fullerite derivatives composite which show a 550 MPa flexural stress, a 2250 MPa compressive strength, and a 28 GPa hardness and have density of 2.2 g/cm3.

Due to the lack of an effective and noninvasive screening tool, the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently difficult. For the early diagnosis of CRC, we have developed Fe3O4-Dye800-single chain fragment variable (ScFv)egfr/vegfr nanoprobes. ScFvegfr/vegfr (ScFv2) conjugated onto Fe3O4 nanoprobes efficiently recognized CRC tumors in vitro and in vivo. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging modalities such as Dye800 were utilized simultaneously with magnetic resonance to enhance detection efficiency. Fe3O4-Dye800-ScFv2 successfully detected tiny CRC tumors; the synergistic ScFv2 successfully enhanced CRC targeting. Thus, Fe3O4-Dye800-ScFv2 nanoprobes may represent a new molecular imaging strategy for the early detection of CRC.

We present the synthesis and the characterization of a novel cellulose-based electroactive hydrogel obtained through a simple water-based process. Its swelling and electroactive properties are here studied especially in low salinity water solutions. By combining smart materials and three-dimensional printing technique, we assessed that hydrogels can be shaped as natural algae and their motion can be controlled with electric signals to mimic natural seaweed movements under the effect of water flow. This could constitute a first step toward the development of hybrid habitats where artificial smart algae could cohabit with real living organisms or microorganisms.

Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were doped with vanadium using a novel, facile, and inexpensive method. The TiO2 NPs were dispersed in a vanadyl oxalate solution prepared by dissolving vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) in oxalic acid. A short heat treatment at 400 °C applied to the dried mixture resulted in the doping of TiO2 with a net measured decrease of its band gap by about 0.5 eV, making this important semiconductor material usable in the visible light spectrum.

In this work, effects of heat treatment on the heterojunction between MoOx and ZnO quantum dots (QDs) are analyzed possibly for the first time. Solution-processed and thermal deposition technique is used for the growth of MoOx over the ZnO QDs and compared for the electrical analysis. The absorption and photoluminescence properties of ZnO QDs and MoOx have been analyzed for the optical behavior. Further, the heat-treated heterojunctions are analyzed for built-in potential (0.25 V), carrier density (~2.9 × 1018 cm−3), and responsivity (3.93 mAW−1). The heterojunction of solution-processed MoOx and ZnO QDs shows better stability after heat treatment compared with other devices.

In this study, Mg-substituted tricalcium phosphate (Mg-TCP) nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions of Mg-calcite mesocrystals from echinoderm skeletons. Following the biomineralization of echinoderms, Mg-calcite powder was synthesized via the solid-state transition of Mg-amorphous calcium carbonate prepared by a wet-chemical precipitation method, which can also be used to fabricate Mg-TCP. We illustrated that Mg-calcite with a certain level of Mg substitution led to the formation of Mg-TCP through the ion-exchange reactions in the hydrothermal system. Therefore, this study provides a new pathway for the synthesis of Mg-TCP nanoparticles.

The authors prepared a micro-structured, thermosensitive hydrogel with N-isopropylacrylamide microgels with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32 °C dispersed on a matrix of N-isopropylacrylamide-co-dimethylacrylamide with an LCST at 40 °C. Incubation of the hydrogel at 33 °C in a solution of fluorescein-albumin induced loading of the protein. The protein was not loaded at a temperature below the LCST of the microgels (4 °C), suggesting that the shrinkage of the microgels followed by the formation of micropores within the hydrogel matrix is a prerequisite for protein loading. A sustained and complete release of the loaded protein was obtained at 37 °C.