New Approach to Structure–Property Correlations of Different Films of Sorbitan Esters and Their Self-Assembly into Viscoelastic Monolayers

This publication is focused on the structural origin of viscoelasticity in Langmuir monolayers. To improve the understanding of the structural origin of viscoelasticity of surfactant films, we systematically studied interfacial films of different sorbitan esters with saturated (Span 60 and 65) and unsaturated (Span 80 and 85) paraffin chains by means of surface rheology, Langmuir isotherms, X-ray reflectometry (XRR), and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The results of two-dimensional shear rheological measurements revealed the existence of temporarily cross-linked networks. In dynamic BAM experiments, we observed a swinging motion of the monolayers as a result of a sudden externally initiated mechanical perturbation. The viscoelastic film response, which relaxed with time as the external force vanished, could be traced back to the presence of foam-like supramolecular structures that interlinked solid-condensed domains. The temperature dependence of the elastic response implied that the solid domains decomposed at temperatures close to the bulk melting point of Span 60 and Span 65. We concluded that insoluble surfactants formed solid domains at the interface, which were linked with each other by nonsolid areas, giving viscoelastic films. These newly discovered insights into coherent film formations could provide new opportunities for designing mechanically stable surfactant interfaces.     

Preparation of N‐doped graphene powders by cyclic voltammetry and a potential application of them: Anode materials of Li‐ion batteries

Nowadays, doped graphenes are attracting much interest in the field of Li‐ion batteries since it shows higher specific capacity than widely used graphite. However, synthesis methods of doped graphenes have secondary processes that requires much energy. In this study, in situ synthesis of N‐doped graphene powders by using of cyclic voltammetric method from starting a graphite rod in nitric acid solution has been discussed for the first time in the literature. The N‐including functional groups such as nitro groups, pyrrolic N, and pyridinic N have been selectively prepared as changing scanned potential ranges in cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical performance as anode material in Li‐ion batteries has also been covered within this study. N‐doped graphene powders have been characterized by electrochemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic methods. According to the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman results, N‐doped graphene powders have approximately 16 to 18 graphene rings in their main structure. The electrochemical analysis of graphene powders synthesized at different potential ranges showed that the highest capacity was obtained 438 mAh/g after 10 cycles by using current density of 50 mA/g at N‐GP4. Furthermore, the sample having higher defect size shows better specific capacity. However, the more stable structure due to oxygen content and less defect size improves the rate capabilities, and thus, the results obtained at high current density indicated that the remaining capacity of N‐GP1 was higher than the others.     

A novel proximity graph: Circular neighborhood cell graph for histopathological tissue image analyzing

The cell is the smallest unit of living beings, which has structural and functional properties. Almost all cell behaviors are regulated by various intracellular reactions initiated by the signaling. The signaling and the distance between cells influence each other. Thus, cell-location-based modeling and analyzing of histopathological tissues provide important information to the expert. In literature, methods such as distance-based threshold, K-Nearest Neighbor, Voronoi graphs, Delaunay triangulation, and colored graph have been used. However, circular neighborhood relationships of cells have not been considered by any CAD system so far despite of its crucial impact. Thus, we developed the circular neighborhood cell-graph. Histopathological images of liver were classified by using features extracted from T-Distance, K-Nearest Neighbor, Voronoi, Delaunay, and the proposed cell-graph. Then, the classification performances of the methods were compared. Experimental results show that liver tissue images can be classified with accuracy of 95.7% by using the features provided by the proposed cell-graph model.     

High-performance a-IGZO-based flexible TTFT with stacked dielectric layers via ultrathin high-κ SrTiO3 buffer layer grown on HfO2

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In this study, ITO-coated PET was used as the substrate to create a flexible and transparent structure. a-IGZO (amorphous InGaZnO4) is...     

3D Microstructures of Liquid Crystal Networks with Programmed Voxelated Director Fields

The shape-shifting behavior of liquid crystal networks (LCNs) and elastomers (LCEs) is a result of an interplay between their initial geometrical shape and their molecular alignment. For years, reliance on either one-step in situ or two-step film processing techniques has limited the shape-change transformations from 2D to 3D geometries. The combination of various fabrication techniques, alignment methods, and chemical formulations developed in recent years has introduced new opportunities to achieve 3D-to-3D shape-transformations in large scales, albeit the precise control of local molecular alignment in microscale 3D constructs remains a challenge. Here, the voxel-by-voxel encoding of nematic alignment in 3D microstructures of LCNs produced by two-photon polymerization using high-resolution topographical features is demonstrated. 3D LCN microstructures (suspended films, coils, and rings) with designable 2D and 3D director fields with a resolution of 5 µm are achieved. Different shape transformations of LCN microstructures with the same geometry but dissimilar molecular alignments upon actuation are elicited. This strategy offers higher freedom in the shape-change programming of 3D LCN microstructures and expands their applicability in emerging technologies, such as small-scale soft robots and devices and responsive surfaces.     

A two-dimensional material for high capacity supercapacitors: S-doped graphene

In this work, sulfur-doped graphene-coated electrodes are prepared by cyclic voltammetry in different potential ranges and different cycles (from 10 to 50) for selective modification of electrodes by different functional groups. The prepared electrodes are characterized by spectroscopic, microscopic and electrochemical methods. In scanning electron microscopic analysis, formation of graphene layers and their porous structure have been determined. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric analyses are also used in electrochemical characterization of the electrodes. Then, the prepared sulfur-doped graphene-coated electrodes by using cyclic voltammetry in one-step and low cost are used as electrode materials of supercapacitor for the first time in the literature. Since the mesoporous structure of the electrodes prepared in lower potential ranges increases, specific capacitance of the electrodes increases from 74 to 1833 mF cm⁻² with 10 mA cm⁻² current density. This result shows that specific capacitances of prepared electrodes are higher than those of the electrodes prepared with metal-doped in the literature.     

Active vibration suppression of a flexible structure using sliding mode control

In this paper, sliding mode control (SMC) is designed and applied to an elastic structure to suppress some of its vibration modes. The system is an elastic beam clamped on one end and the designed controller uses only the deflection measurement of the free end. The infinite dimensional mathematical model of the beam is reduced to an ordinary differential equation set to represent the behavior of required modes. Since the states of the finite dimensional model are not physically measurable quantities, an observer is designed to estimate these states by measuring the tip deflection of the beam. The performance of the observer is important because the observed states are used in the SMC design. In this study, by using the output information, an observer is designed and tested to estimate the states of the finite dimensional model of the beam. Then the designed SMC is applied to the experimental beam system which gives satisfactory suppressed vibrations.     

An Optically Responsive Soft Etalon Based on Ultrathin Cellulose Hydrogels

Stimuli‐responsive optical etalons are an exciting class of next‐generation sensors because they are scalable, cost‐effective and offer tunability of their optical response across the entire UV–vis–NIR wavelength range. In this study, double‐network cellulose hydrogels are used as a soft, responsive medium and are incorporated into Fabry–Pérot optical etalons. The thin cellulose hydrogel layer can be solution processed. The hygroscopic hydrogel undergoes both refractive index and thickness changes in response to changes in humidity. This leads to strong changes in reflection due to optical interference within the metal–insulator–metal (MIM) cavity. The response can be optimized by adjusting the chemical crosslinker ratio. These flexible MIM structures provide a robust platform for optically based chemical sensors.     

Trilayer Nanomesh Films with Tunable Wettability as Highly Transparent,Flexible, and Recyclable Electrodes

Metallic mesh materials are promising candidates to replace traditional transparent conductive oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) that is restricted by the limited indium resource and its brittle nature. The challenge of metal based transparent conductive networks is to achieve high transmittance, low sheet resistance, and small perforation size simultaneously, all of which significantly relate to device performances in optoelectronics. In this work, trilayer dielectric/metal/dielectric (D/M/D) nanomesh electrodes are reported with precisely controlled perforation size, wire width, and uniform hole distribution employing the nanosphere lithography technique. TiO₂/Au/TiO₂ nanomesh films with small hole diameter (≤700 nm) and low thickness (≤50 nm) are shown to yield high transmittance (>90%), low sheet resistance (≤70 Ω sq^?1), as well as outstanding flexural endurance and feasibility for large area patterning. Further, by tuning the surface wettability, these films are applied as easily recyclable flexible electrodes for electrochromic devices. The simple and cost‐effective fabrication of diverse D/M/D nanomesh transparent conductive films with tunable optoelectronic properties paves a way for the design and realization of specialized transparent electrodes in optoelectronics.