Recent Advances in One‑Dimensional Micro/Nanomotors:Fabrication,Propulsion and Application

Due to their tiny size,autonomous motion and functionalize modifications,micro/nanomotors have shown great potential for environmental remediation,biomedicine and micro/nano-engineering.One-dimensional(1D)micro/nanomotors combine the characteristics of anisotropy and large aspect ratio of 1D materials with the advantages of functionalization and autonomous motion of micro/nanomotors for revolutionary applications.In this review,we discuss current research progress on 1D micro/nanomotors,including the fabrication methods,driving mechanisms,and recent advances in environmental remediation and biomedical applications,as well as discuss current challenges and possible solutions.With continuous attention and innovation,the advancement of 1D micro/nanomotors will pave the way for the continued development of the micro/nanomotor field.

On-Chip Micro Temperature Controllers Based on Freestanding Thermoelectric Nano Films for Low-Power Electronics

Multidimensional integration and multifunctional com-ponent assembly have been greatly explored in recent years to extend Moore’s Law of modern microelectronics.However,this inevitably exac-erbates the inhomogeneity of temperature distribution in microsystems,making precise temperature control for electronic components extremely challenging.Herein,we report an on-chip micro temperature controller including a pair of thermoelectric legs with a total area of 50×50μm^(2),which are fabricated from dense and flat freestanding Bi2Te3-based ther-moelectric nano films deposited on a newly developed nano graphene oxide membrane substrate.Its tunable equivalent thermal resistance is controlled by electrical currents to achieve energy-efficient temperature control for low-power electronics.A large cooling temperature difference of 44.5 K at 380 K is achieved with a power consumption of only 445μW,resulting in an ultrahigh temperature control capability over 100 K mW^(-1).Moreover,an ultra-fast cooling rate exceeding 2000 K s^(-1) and excellent reliability of up to 1 million cycles are observed.Our proposed on-chip temperature controller is expected to enable further miniaturization and multifunctional integration on a single chip for microelectronics.

Active Micro-Nano-Collaborative Bioelectronic Device for Advanced Electrophysiological Recording

The development of precise and sensitive electrophysiological recording platforms holds the utmost importance for research in the fields of cardiology and neuroscience.In recent years,active micro/nano-bioelectronic devices have undergone significant advancements,thereby facilitating the study of electrophysiology.The distinctive configuration and exceptional functionality of these active micro-nano-collaborative bioelectronic devices offer the potential for the recording of high-fidelity action potential signals on a large scale.In this paper,we review three-dimensional active nano-transistors and planar active micro-transistors in terms of their applications in electroexcitable cells,focusing on the evaluation of the effects of active micro/nano-bioelectronic devices on electrophysiological signals.Looking forward to the possibilities,challenges,and wide prospects of active micro-nano-devices,we expect to advance their progress to satisfy the demands of theoretical investigations and medical implementations within the domains of cardiology and neuroscience research.

Ignition processes and characteristics of charring conductive polymers with a cavity geometry in precombustion chamber for applications in micro/nano satellite hybrid rocket motors

The arc ignition system based on charring polymers has advantages of simple structure,low ignition power consumption and multiple ignitions,which bringing it broadly application prospect in hybrid propulsion system of micro/nano satellite.However,charring polymers alone need a relatively high input voltage to achieve pyrolysis and ignition,which increases the burden and cost of the power system of micro/nano satellite in practical application.Adding conductive substance into charring polymers can effectively decrease the conducting voltage which can realize low voltage and low power consumption repeated ignition of arc ignition system.In this paper,a charring conductive polymer ignition grain with a cavity geometry in precombustion chamber,which is composed of PLA and multiwall carbon nanotubes(MWCNT)was proposed.The detailed ignition processes were analyzed and two different ignition mechanisms in the cavity of charring conductive polymers were revealed.The ignition characteristics of charring conductive polymers were also investigated at different input voltages,ignition grain structures,ignition locations and injection schemes in a visual ignition combustor.The results demonstrated that the ignition delay and external energy required for ignition were inversely correlated with the voltages applied to ignition grain.Moreover,the incremental depth of cavity shortened the ignition delay and external energy required for ignition while accelerated the propagation of flame.As the depth of cavity increased from 2 to 6 mm(at 50 V),the time of flame propagating out of ignition grain changed from 235.6 to 108 ms,and values of mean ignition delay time and mean external energy required for ignition decreased from 462.8 to 320 ms and 16.2 to 10.75 J,respectively.The rear side of the cavity was the ideal ignition position which had a shorter ignition delay and a faster flame propagation speed in comparison to other ignition positions.Compared to direct injection scheme,swirling injection provided a more favorable flow field environment in the cavity,which was beneficial to ignition and initial flame propagation,but the ignition position needed to be away from the outlet of swirling injector.At last,the repeated ignition characteristic of charring conductive polymers was also investigated.The ignition delay time and external energy required for ignition decreased with repeated ignition times but the variation was decreasing gradually.

Research on Nanofabrication Technology of Micro-/Nano-Stereo Rapid Prototyping of PCVD

At present, the most common micro/nano-scale fabri ca tion processes include the plane silicon process based on IC technology, stereo silicon process, LIGA, quasi-LIGA based on near ultra violet deep lithography, MEMS, energy beam etching and micro/nano-machining, etc. A common problem for t hese processes is the difficulty to fabricate arbitrary form for 3-dimensional micro/nano-parts, devices or mechanisms. To develop advanced MEMS manufacturin g technology, and to achieve fabrication of true 3-dimensional parts, devices or mechanisms, this paper proposes a nanofabrication technology for rapid proto typing of 3-dimensional parts, using plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD). This process can be describes as follows: A laser beam is produced by a low power, quasi molecule laser. It enters the vac uum chamber through a window, and is focused on with the substrate surface. A ga s in the chamber is ionized by the laser beam to produce PCVD on the substrate s urface, and forms a particle of the size of Ф100 nm (its thickness is about 100 nm). When the laser beam moves along X-axis, many particles form a line. Then the laser beam moves one step in Y-axis to form a new line. A plane is complete d by many lines. Then the substrate moves in Z-axis to form new plane. Eventu ally, many planes form a 3-dimensional component. Using available CAD/CAM softw are with this process, rapid prototyping of complex components can be achieved. A nanometer precision linear motor, such as that described in Chinese national p atent (patent No. ZL 98 2 16753.9), can be used to obtain the nanometer precisio n movements in the process. The process does not require mask, can be used for v arious rapid prototyping materials, to obtain high fabrication precision (its sc ale precision is 15 nm), and larger ratio of height to width of micro/nano-stru cture. It can find widespread applications in the fabrication of micro-mechani sm, trimming IC, and fabricating minilens, etc.

Fabrication of Micro/Nano-textured Titanium Alloy Implant Surface and Its Infl uence on Hydroxyapatite Coatings

We put forward a protocolcombining laser treatment and acid etching to obtain multiscale micro/nano-texture surfaces of titanium alloy implant.Firstly,the operationalparameters of the laser were optimized to obtain an optimum current.Secondly,the laser with the optimum operationalparameters was used to fabricate micro pits.Thirdly,multiple acid etching was used to clean the clinkers of micro pits and generate submicron and nanoscale structures.Finally,the bioactivity of the samples was measured in a simulated body fluid.The results showed that the micropits with a diameter of 150 μm and depth of 50 μm were built successfully with the optimized working current of 13 A.In addition,submicron and nanoscale structures,with 0.5-2 μm microgrooves and 10-20 nm nanopits,were superimposed on micro pits surface by multiple acid etching.There was thick and dense HA coating only observed on the multiscale micro/nano-textured surface compared with polished and micro-textured surface.This indicated that the multiscale micro/nano-texture surface showed better ability toward HA formation,which increased the bioactivity of implants.

Research on Infrared Emissivity and Laser Reflectivity of Sn_(1−x)Er_(x)O_(2)Micro/Nanofibers Based on First-Principles

Sn_(1−x)Er_(x)O_(2)(x=0%,8%,16%,24%)micro/nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning combined with heat treatment using erbium nitrate,stannous chloride and polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)as raw materials.The target products were characterized by thermogravimetric analyzer,X-ray diffrotometer,fourier transform infrared spectrometer,scanning electron microscope,spectrophotometer and infrared emissivity tester,and the effects of Er^(3+)doping on its infrared and laser emissivity were studied.At the same time,the Sn_(1−x)Er_(x)O_(2)(x=0%,16%)doping models were constructed based on the first principles of density functional theory,and the related optoelectronic properties such as their energy band structure,density of states,reflectivity and dielectric constant were analyzed,and further explained the mechanism of Er^(3+)doping on SnO_(2)infrared emissivity and laser absorption from the point of electronic structure.The results showed that after calcination at 600℃,single rutile type SnO_(2)was formed,and the crystal structure was not changed by doping Er^(3+).The calcined products showed good fiber morphology,and the average fiber diameter was 402 nm.The infrared emissivity and resistivity of the samples both decreased first and then increased with the increase of Er^(3+)doping amount.When x=16%,the infrared emis-sivity of the sample was at least 0.71;and Er^(3+)doping can effectively reduce the reflectivity of SnO_(2)at 1.06μm and 1.55μm,when x=16%,its reflectivity at 1.06μm and 1.55μm are 50.5%and 40%,respectively,when x=24%,the reflectivity at 1.06μm and 1.55μm wavelengths are 47.3%and 42.1%,respectively.At the same time,the change of carrier concentration and electron transition before and after Er^(3+)doping were described by first-principle calculation,and the regulation mechanism of infrared emissivity and laser reflectivity was explained.This study provides a certain experimental and theoretical basis for the development of a single-type,light-weight and easily prepared infrared and laser compatible-stealth material.

Magnetic Field Effect and Heat Transfer of Nanofluids within Waveform Microchannel

In this research,a numerical study of mixed convection of non-Newtonian fluid and magnetic field effect along a vertical wavy surface was investigated.A simple coordinate transformation to transform wavy surface to a flat surface is employed.A cubic spline collocation numerical method is employed to analyze transformed equations.The effect of various parameters such as Reynolds number,volume fraction 0-,Hartmann number,and amplitude of wave length was evaluated in improving the performance of a wavy microchannel.According to the presented results,the sinusoidal shape of the microchannel has a direct impact on heat transfer.By increasing the microchannel wave amplitude,the Nusselt number has risen.On the other hand,increasing the heat transfer in the higher wavelength ratio corrugated channel is seen as an effective method of increasing the heat transfer,especially at higher Reynolds numbers.The results showed that with increasing Hartmann numbers,the flow line near thewall becomesmore regular and,according to the temperature gradient created,theNusselt number growth.

“Smart”micro/nano container-based self-healing coatings on magnesium alloys:A review

Coating technologies are a commonly used way to protect metals against corrosion.However,with more and more severe service environments of materials,many protective coating systems often are not environmentally friendly or toxic as in the case of chromates.Based on the world’s abundant ideal magnesium(Mg)and its alloy,the smart self-healing anticorrosive coating can autonomously restore the damaged part of the coating according to the environmental changes,strengthen the corrosion protection ability,and prolong its service life.This paper reviews the research progress of smart self-healing coatings on Mg alloys.These coatings mostly contain suitable corrosion inhibitors encapsulated into micro/nano containers.Moreover,the different self-healing mechanisms and functionalities of micro/nano containers are discussed.The micro/nano containers range from inorganic nanocontainers such as mesoporous nanoparticles(silica(SiO_(2)),titanium dioxide(TiO_(2)),etc.),over inorganic clays(halloysite,hydrotalcite-like,zeolite),to organic nanocontainers such as polymer microcapsules,nanofibers,chitosan(CS)and cyclodextrin(CD),as well as,carbon materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes and hybrids such as metal organic frameworks.The functioning of micro/nano containers can be divided in two principal groups:autonomous(based on defect filling and corrosion inhibition)and non-autonomous(based on dynamic bonds and shape memory polymers).Moreover,multi functionalities and composite applications of various micro/nano containers are summarized.At present,significant progress has been made in the preparation methods and technologies of micro/nano containers.Achieving long-term self-healing properties of coatings sensing of coating failure and early warning after self-healing function failure can be expected as the main development direction of self-healing corrosion protection coatings in the future.

Micro–Nano Water Film Enabled High‑Performance Interfacial Solar Evaporation

Interfacial solar evaporation holds great promise to address the freshwater shortage.However,most interfacial solar evaporators are always filled with water throughout the evaporation process,thus bringing unavoidable heat loss.Herein,we propose a novel interfacial evaporation structure based on the micro–nano water film,which demonstrates significantly improved evaporation performance,as experimentally verified by polypyrrole-and polydopamine-coated polydimethylsiloxane sponge.The 2D evaporator based on the as-prepared sponge realizes an enhanced evaporation rate of 2.18 kg m^(−2)h^(−1)under 1 sun by fine-tuning the interfacial micro–nano water film.Then,a homemade device with an enhanced condensation function is engineered for outdoor clean water production.Throughout a continuous test for 40 days,this device demonstrates a high water production rate(WPR)of 15.9–19.4 kg kW^(−1)h^(−1)m^(−2).Based on the outdoor outcomes,we further establish a multi-objective model to assess the global WPR.It is predicted that a 1 m^(2)device can produce at most 7.8 kg of clean water per day,which could meet the daily drinking water needs of 3 people.Finally,this technology could greatly alleviate the current water and energy crisis through further large-scale applications.

Fabrication and Characterization of Nano Silver Powder Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis

Silver powder was fabricated by spray pyrolysis, using 2%-20% AgNO3 solution, 336-500 mL/h flux of AgNO3 solution, 0.28-0.32 MPa flux of carrier gas and in the 620-820 ℃ temperature range. The effects of furnace set temperature, concentration of AgNO3 aqueous solution, flux of AgNO3 aqueous solution as well as carrier gas on the morphology and particle size distribution of silver powder, were investigated. The experimental results showed that with the high concentration of AgNO3 aqueous solution, the average grain size of silver decreased with the increasing of furnace set temperature. But the gain size distribution was not homogenous, the discontinuous grain growth occurred. With the low concentration of AgNO3 aqueous solution, the higher furnace set temperature made the nano sliver grains sintered together to grow. Nano silver powder about 100 nm was fabricated by spray pyrolysis, using 2wt% AgNO3 solutions, 336 mL/h flux of AgNO3 aqueous solution, 0.32 MPa flux of carrier gas at 720 ℃ furnace set temperature.

Fabrication of Meander and Spiral Type Micro Inductors

To obtain microstructure of magnetic devices, the thin film inductors were fabricated by the process such as thin film manufacturing, photolithography and wet etching. The frequency characteristics of these devices are measured at high frequency range. When the inductor sizes of the spiral and the meander type are same, the inductance and the quality factor of the spiral type inductor are larger than those of the meander type inductor, but the driving frequency of the spiral type inductor is lower than that of the meander type inductor.

Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Sm2O3 Doped CeO2 Reinforced Ti3AlC2 Nano Composite

The fabrication process of Sm2O3 doped CeO2 reinforced Ti3AlC2 nano composites including the nano particle dispersion process by a hetero-coagulation process was developed using in-situ synthesis and densification process of Ti3AlC2. The effects of Sm2O2 doped CeO2 nano particles on mechanical properties of Ti3AlC2 were investigated. It was found that the presence of 20SDC nano particles in Ti3AlC2 was very effective to improve the mechanical properties of Ti3AlC2 without spoiling the unique characteristics of Ti3AlC2temary carbide.

Fabrication of 4-Inch Nano Patterned Wafer with High Uniformity by Laser Interference Lithography

We report the fabrication of 4-inch nano patterned wafer by two-beam laser interference lithography and analyze the uniformity in detail. The profile of the dots array with a period of 800 nm divided into five regions is characterized by a scanning electron microscope. The average size in each region ranges from 270 nm to 320 nm,and the deviation is almost 4%, which is approaching the applicable value of 3% in the industrial process. We simulate the two-beam laser interference lithography system with MATLAB software and then calculate the distribution of light intensity around the 4 inch area. The experimental data fit very well with the calculated results. Analysis of the experimental data and calculated data indicates that laser beam quality and space filter play important roles in achieving a periodical nanoscale pattern with high uniformity and large area. There is the potential to obtain more practical applications.

Fabrication of micro-nano patterned materials mimicking the topological structure of extracellular matrix for biomedical applications

With the advent of tissue engineering and biomedicine,the creation of extracellular matrix(ECM)biomaterials for in vitro applications has become a prominent and promising strategy.These ECM materials provide physical,biochemical,and mechanical properties that guide cellular behaviors,such as proliferation,differentiation,migration,and apoptosis.Because micro-and nano-patterned materials have a unique surface topology and low energy replication process that directly affect cellular biological behaviors at the interface,the fabrication of micro-nano pattern biomaterials and the regulation of surface physical and chemical properties are of great significance in the fields of cell regulation,tissue engineering,and regenerative medicine.Herein,we provide a comprehensive review of the progress in the fabrication and application of patterned materials based on the coupling of mechanical action at the micro-and nano-meter scale,including photolithography,micro-contact printing,electron beam lithography,electrospinning,and 3D printing technology.Furthermore,a summary of the fabrication process,underlying principles,as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various technologies are reviewed.We also discuss the influence of material properties on the fabrication of micro-and nano-patterns.

Advances in micro cutting tool design and fabrication

Microcutting is a precision technology that offers flexible fabrication of microfeatures or complex three-dimensional components with high machining accuracy and superior surface quality.This technology may offer great potential as well as advantageous process capabilities for the machining of hard-to-cut materials,such as tungsten carbide.The geometrical design and dimension of the tool cutting edge is a key factor that determines the size and form accuracy possible in the machined workpiece.Currently,the majority of commercial microtools are scaled-down versions of conventional macrotool designs.This approach does not impart optimal performance due to size effects and associated phenomena.Consequently,in-depth analysis and implementation of microcutting mechanics and fundamentals are required to enable successful industrial adaptation in microtool design and fabrication methods.This paper serves as a review of recent microtool designs,materials,and fabrication methods.Analysis of tool performance is discussed,and new approaches and techniques are examined.Of particular focus is tool wear suppression in the machining of hard materials and associated process parameters,including internal cooling and surface patterning techniques.The review concludes with suggestions for an integrated design and fabrication process chain which can aid industrial microtool manufacture.

Controllable fabrication of self-organized nano-multilayers in copper–carbon films

In order to clarify the influence of methane concentration and deposition time on self-organized nano-multilayers,three serial copper-carbon films have been prepared at various methane concentrations with different deposition times using a facile magnetron sputtering deposition system. The ratios of methane concentration(CH4/Ar+CH4) used in the experiments are 20%, 40%, and 60%, and the deposition times are 5 minutes, 20 minutes, and 40 minutes, respectively.Despite the difference in the growth conditions, self-organizing multilayered copper-carbon films are prepared at different deposition times by changing methane concentration. The film composition and microstructure are investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), x-ray diffraction(XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM). By comparing the composition and microstructure of three serial films, the optimal growth conditions and compositions for self-organizing nano-multilayers in copper-carbon film are acquired. The results demonstrate that the self-organized nano-multilayered structure prefers to form in two conditions during the deposition process. One is that the methane should be curbed at low concentration for long deposition time,and the other condition is that the methane should be controlled at high concentration for short deposition time. In particular, nano-multilayered structure is self-organized in the copper-carbon film with copper concentration of 10-25 at.%.Furthermore, an interesting microstructure transition phenomenon is observed in copper-carbon films, that is, the nanomultilayered structure is gradually replaced by a nano-composite structure with deposition time and finally covered by amorphous carbon.

Fabrication and Investigation of the Magnetic Properties of Co and Co3O4 Nanoparticles

The nanoparticles exhibit some novel optical and magnetic properties, which are different from its bulk material. Cobalt oxide has been known as a semi-conductor compound of p type with a Spinel structure. Therefore, they are used as gas sensor and absorbent of solar energy. Furthermore, they are employed as an effective catalyzer in environmental clearing. In the thermal gradation method, carbonyl cobalt Co2(CO)8 is often used as a precursor, though cobalt carbonyl is very toxic and expensive. Magnetic compounds have been among interesting issues for human beings for over 4000 years. In large societies, magnetic compounds including computer disks, credit cards, speakers, coolers, automatic doors, and many other devices can be observed on a daily basis. The structure and morphology of as-prepared Co3O4 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The TEM images showed that the product nanoparticles consisted of dispersive quasi- spherical particles with a narrow size distribution ranged from 5 to 15 nm and an average size around 10 nm. The magnetic measurements confirmed that the Co3O4 nanoparticles show a little ferromagnetic behavior which could be attributed to the uncompensated surface spins and finite size effects. The ferromagnetic order of the Co3O4 nanoparticles is raised with increasing the decomposition temperature.

Preparation of UV-curable Nano-silver Antimicrobial Agent and Its Application in Non-woven Fabric

Nano-silver and waterborne polyurethane(WPU)composite emulsion was synthesized.The average diameter of silver nanoparticles(SNPs)was about 20 nm,and the average diameter of WPU was 101.32 nm.The anti-bacteria finishing of a polypropylene non-woven fabric(NWF)was carried out by ultraviolet finishing technology and the double dipping twin-roll method.The standard AATCC100 was used to test the antimicrobial activity of the samples.The results showed that the antimicrobial rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae(K.pneumoniae)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)were above 90%,which indicated that the NWF finishing had good antimicrobial activity.In addition,the thermal stability,mechanical properties,whiteness and contact angle of antimicrobial finishing nonwovens were characterized.The results showed that the performance of antimicrobial nonwovens was stable at 300℃.The breaking strength was better than that of untreated nonwovens,and the contact angle reached 119.1°.