Homopolymer Nanolithography

Future progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology necessitates further development of versatile, labor‐, and cost‐efficient surface patterning strategies. A new approach to nanopatterning is reported, which utilizes surface segregation of a smooth layer of an end‐grafted homopolymer in a poor solvent. The variation in polymer grafting density yields a range of surface nanostructures, including randomly organized pinned spherical micelles, worm‐like structures, networks, and porous films. The capability to use the polymer patterns for site‐specific deposition of small molecules, polymers, or nanoparticles is shown. This versatile strategy enables patterning of curved surfaces with direct access to the substrate and no need in changing polymer composition to realize different surface patterns.     

不同形貌Ti-O基纳米结构的可控制备与形成机制探讨

利用碱辅助水热法实现了Ti-O基纳米管、纳米带和纳米结构微球的合成,通过TEM、SEM等手段对所制备的纳米结构进行表征。当采用商品级锐钛矿TiO2为原料,热水处理温度为180℃、碱的浓度为10mol/L,热处理48h时可以得到Ti-O基纳米带。纳米带宽度为50~200nm,长度达到几十微米甚至一百多微米;产物产率高,质量好,结晶良好,表面洁净,无缺陷。当热处理温度为120℃时,可以得到Ti-O基纳米管,纳米管的长度为200~500nm,外径在20~50nm之间。当所用前驱体的粒径较小时,容易形成较细或者较窄的纳米带或者纳米线,当在选用前驱体的粒径较大时,可以生成纳米结构微球。     

无模板法可控合成多层次结构二氧化钛微球

以1,4-二氧六环为溶剂,采用溶剂热法成功实现无模板法可控合成二氧化钛多层次结构微球。通过系统改变反应体系中浓盐酸与四异丙醇钛(TTIP)相对物质的量比能够有效调控二氧化钛形貌。当浓盐酸与TTIP物质的量比控制在0(或0.7或0.9)、1.8、3.6与5.7时,所得产物分别为纳米颗粒构建二氧化钛微球、纳米棒修饰二氧化钛微球、纳米棒花菜结构以及纳米棒海胆结构。在成功进行形貌调控的基础上,进一步探讨了二氧化钛多种结构的形成机理,并对其光催化产氢性能进行了表征。研究发现,在这4种结构中,纳米棒修饰二氧化钛微球具有最佳的光催化性能,这可能是由于同时存在金红石和锐钛矿两种晶型而形成异质结结构所导致。     

Sub‐Micron Anisotropic InP‐based III–V Semiconductor Material Deep Etching for On‐Chip Laser Photonics Devices

Two InP‐based III–V semiconductor etching recipes are presented for fabrication of on‐chip laser photonic devices. Using inductively coupled plasma system with a methane free gas chemistry of chlorine and nitrogen at a high substrate temperature of 250 °C, high aspect ratio, anisotropic InP‐based nano‐structures are etched. Scanning electron microscopy images show vertical sidewall profile of 90° ± 3°, with aspect ratio as high as 10. Atomic Force microscopy measures a smooth sidewall roughness root‐mean‐square of 2.60 nm over a 3 × 3 μm scan area. The smallest feature size etched in this work is a nano‐ring with inner diameter of 240 nm. The etching recipe and critical factors such as chamber pressure and the carrier plate effect are discussed. The second recipe is of low temperature (?10 °C) using Cl₂ and BCl₃ chemistry. This recipe is useful for etching large areas of III–V to reveal the underlying substrate. The availability of these two recipes has created a flexible III–V etching platform for fabrication of on‐chip laser photonic devices. As an application example, anisotropic InP‐based waveguides of 3 μm width are fabricated using the Cl₂ and N₂ etch recipe and waveguide loss of 4.5 dB mm^?1 is obtained.

     

Nanostructured Li3V2(PO4)3 Cathodes

To further increase the energy and power densities of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), monoclinic Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ attracts much attention. However, the intrinsic low electrical conductivity (2.4 × 10^?7 S cm^?1) and sluggish kinetics become major drawbacks that keep Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ away from meeting its full potential in high rate performance. Recently, significant breakthroughs in electrochemical performance (e.g., rate capability and cycling stability) have been achieved by utilizing advanced nanotechnologies. The nanostructured Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ hybrid cathodes not only improve the electrical conductivity, but also provide high electrode/electrolyte contact interfaces, favorable electron and Li⁺ transport properties, and good accommodation of strain upon Li⁺ insertion/extraction. In this Review, light is shed on recent developments in the application of 0D (nanoparticles), 1D (nanowires and nanobelts), 2D (nanoplates and nanosheets), and 3D (nanospheres) Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ for high‐performance LIBs, especially highlighting their synthetic strategies and promising electrochemical properties. Finally, the future prospects of nanostructured Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ cathodes are discussed.     

Shrinkable Nanotubes for Duplex Formation of Short Nucleotides

Molecular monolayer nanotubes produced by self‐assembly of an amphiphile modified with a 2‐nitrobenzyl group as a photoresponsive unit are able to encapsulate dinucleotides via electrostatic attraction. Upon photoirradiation, the 18 nm inner diameter of the nanotubes shrinks to less than 2 nm as a result of photochemical cleavage of the 2‐nitrobenzyl group in the amphiphile. This shrinking of the nanotube channels leads to a propulsive release of the dinucleotides into the bulk solution and simultaneously accelerates formation of the dinucleotide duplexes. The larger nanotube channels without photoirradiation merely release each dinucleotide into the bulk solution, indicating that the squeezing via transportation in the narrow nanotube channels is necessary for duplex formation. In addition to the size effect, water with a lower polarity confined within the narrow nanotube channels helps to stabilize the energetically unfavorable hydrogen‐bonded base pair between the dinucleotides. This system should enable researchers to perform biological reactions that occur only in specific environments and conditions in living organisms.     

Ultraviolet Photoluminescence of Carbon Nanospheres and its Surface Plasmon‐Induced Enhancement

Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used in versatile applications ranging from photoelectronic devices to biomedical imaging. In the development of new UV light sources, in this study, stable UV emission at ≈350 nm is unprecedentedly obtained from carbon nanospheres (CNSs). The origin of the UV fluorescence is comprehensively investigated via various characterization methods, including Raman and Fourier transform infrared analyses, with comparison to the visible emission of carbon nanodots. Based on the density functional calculations, the UV fluorescence is assigned to the carbon nanostructures bonded to bridging O atoms and dangling –OH groups. Moreover, a twofold enhancement in the UV emission is acquired for Au‐carbon core‐shell nanospheres (Au‐CNSs). This remarkable modification of the UV emission is primarily ascribed to charge transfer between the CNSs and the Au surface.