The Effects of Contact Interface on the Friction Characteristics of Self-assembly Monolayers

The effects of different contact interfaces on the friction characteristics of OTS self-assembled monolayers were investigated by a universal micro-tribometer in different sliding velocities. The results indicate that there exist lower friction coefficients between OTS SAMs and Ti, Ni and Cu films deposited on GCr15 steel balls than those between OTS SAMs and GCr15 steel ball. The friction coefficient between OTS SAMs and Ti film is the largest, and the friction coefficient between OTS SAMs and Cu film is the least in these three films, which depends on the intrinsic characteristics of the materials. The friction coefficients between OTS SAMs and GCr15 steel ball and three nanometer films increase with the sliding velocity increasing, which can be explained by the relaxation characteristics of OTS molecules.

Factors resisting protein adsorption on hydrophilic/hydrophobic self-assembled monolayers terminated with hydrophilic hydroxyl groups

The hydroxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayer(OH-SAM),as a surface resistant to protein adsorption,exhibits substantial potential in applications such as ship navigation and medical implants,and the appropriate strategies for designing anti-fouling surfaces are crucial.Here,we employ molecular dynamics simulations and alchemical free energy calculations to systematically analyze the factors influencing resistance to protein adsorption on the SAMs terminated with single or double OH groups at three packing densities(∑=2.0 nm^(-2),4.5 nm^(-2),and 6.5 nm^(-2)),respectively.For the first time,we observed that the compactness and order of interfacial water enhance its physical barrier effect,subsequently enhancing the resistance of SAM to protein adsorption.Notably,the spatial hindrance effect of SAM leads to the embedding of protein into SAM,resulting in a lack of resistance of SAM towards protein.Furthermore,the number of hydroxyl groups per unit area of double OH-terminated SAM at ∑=6.5 nm^(-2) is approximately 2 to 3 times that of single OH-terminated SAM at ∑=6.5 nm^(-2) and 4.5 nm^(-2),consequently yielding a weaker resistance of double OH-terminated SAM towards protein.Meanwhile,due to the structure of SAM itself,i.e.,the formation of a nearly perfect ice-like hydrogen bond structure,the SAM exhibits the weakest resistance towards protein.This study will complement and improve the mechanism of OH-SAM resistance to protein adsorption,especially the traditional barrier effect of interfacial water.

Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect with Tunable Chern Numbers in High-Temperature 1T-PrN_(2) Monolayer

Quantum anomalous Hall(QAH) insulators have highly potential applications in spintronic device. However,available candidates with tunable Chern numbers and high working temperature are quite rare. Here, we predict a 1T-PrN_(2) monolayer as a stable QAH insulator with high magnetic transition temperature of above 600 K and tunable high Chern numbers of C = ±3 from first-principles calculations. Without spin-orbit coupling(SOC),the 1T-PrN_(2) monolayer is predicted to be a p-state Dirac half metal with high Fermi velocity. Rich topological phases depending on magnetization directions can be found when the SOC is considered. The QAH effect with periodical changes of Chern number(±1) can be produced when the magnetic moment breaks all twofold rotational symmetries in the xy plane. The critical state can be identified as Weyl half semimetals. When the magnetization direction is parallel to the z-axis, the system exhibits high Chern number QAH effect with C = ±3.Our work provides a new material for exploring novel QAH effect and developing high-performance topological devices.

Orbital-Ordering Driven Simultaneous Tunability of Magnetism and Electric Polarization in Strained Monolayer VCl_(3)

Two-dimensional(2D)van der Waals magnetic materials have promising and versatile electronic and magnetic properties in the 2D limit,indicating a considerable potential to advance spintronic applications.Theoretical predictions thus far have not ascertained whether monolayer VCl_(3) is a ferromagnetic(FM)or anti-FM monolayer;this also remains to be experimentally verified.We theoretically investigate the influence of potential factors,including C_(3) symmetry breaking,orbital ordering,epitaxial strain,and charge doping,on the magnetic ground state.Utilizing first-principles calculations,we predict a collinear type-Ⅲ FM ground state in monolayer VCl_(3) with a broken C_(3) symmetry,wherein only the former two of three t_(2g)orbitals(a_(1g),e_(g2)^(π)and e_(g1)^(π))are occupied.The atomic layer thickness and bond angles of monolayer VCl_(3) undergo abrupt changes driven by an orbital ordering switch,resulting in concomitant structural and magnetic phase transitions.Introducing doping to the underlying Cl atoms of monolayer VCl_(3) without C_(3) symmetry simultaneously induces in-and out-of-plane polarizations.This can achieve a multiferroic phase transition if combined with the discovered adjustments of magnetic ground state and polarization magnitude under strain.The establishment of an orbital-ordering driven regulatory mechanism can facilitate deeper exploration and comprehension of magnetic properties of strongly correlated systems in monolayer VCl_(3).

Self-assembly of perovskite nanocrystals:From driving forces to applications

Self-assembly of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals(NCs)into superlattices can exhibit unique collective properties,which have significant application values in the display,detector,and solar cell field.This review discusses the driving forces behind the self-assembly process of perovskite NCs,and the commonly used self-assembly methods and different self-assembly structures are detailed.Subsequently,we summarize the collective optoelectronic properties and application areas of perovskite superlattice structures.Finally,we conclude with an outlook on the potential issues and future challenges in developing perovskite NCs.

Alcohol solvent effect on the self-assembly behaviors of lignin oligomers

The interactions between lignin oligomers and solvents determine the behaviors of lignin oligomers self-assembling into uniform lignin nanoparticles(LNPs).Herein,several alcohol solvents,which readily interact with the lignin oligomers,were adopted to study their effects during solvent shifting process for LNPs’production.The lignin oligomers with widely distributed molecular weight and abundant guaiacyl units were extracted from wood waste(mainly consists of pine wood),exerting outstanding self-assembly capability.Uniform and spherical LNPs were generated in H_(2)O-n-propanol cosolvent,whereas irregular LNPs were obtained in H_(2)O-methanol cosolvent.The unsatisfactory self-assembly performance of the lignin oligomers in H_(2)O-methanol cosolvent could be attributed to two aspects.On one hand,for the initial dissolution state,the distinguishing Hansen solubility parameter and polarity between methanol solvent and lignin oligomers resulted in the poor dispersion of the lignin oligomers.On the other hand,strong hydrogen bonds between methanol solvent and lignin oligomers during solvent shifting process,hindered the interactions among the lignin oligomers for self-assembly.

Chitosan/Sodium Alginate Multilayer pH-Sensitive Films Based on Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly for Intelligent Packaging

The abuse of plastic food packaging has brought about severe white pollution issues around the world.Developing green and sustainable biomass packaging is an effective way to solve this problem.Hence,a chitosan/sodium alginate-based multilayer film is fabricated via a layer-by-layer(LBL)self-assembly method.With the help of superior interaction between the layers,the multilayer film possesses excellent mechanical properties(with a tensile strength of 50 MPa).Besides,the film displays outstanding water retention property(blocking moisture of 97.56%)and ultraviolet blocking property.Anthocyanin is introduced into the film to detect the food quality since it is one natural plant polyphenol that is sensitive to the pH changes ranging from 1 to 13 in food when spoilage occurs.It is noted that the film is also bacteriostatic which is desired for food packaging.This study describes a simple technique for the development of advanced multifunctional and fully biodegradable food packaging film and it is a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging.

Layer by Layer Self-assembly Fiber-based Flexible Electrochemical Transistor

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxyethiophene)-polystyrene sulfonic acid(PEDOT:PSS)/polyallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride modified reduced graphene oxide(PDDA-rGO)was layer by layer self-assembled on the cotton fiber.The surface morphology and electric property was investigated.The results confirmed the dense membrane of PEDOT:PSS and the lamellar structure of PDDA-rGO on the fibers.It has excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties.The fiber based electrochemical transistor(FECTs)prepared by the composite conductive fiber has a maximum output current of 8.7 mA,a transconductance peak of 10 mS,an on time of 1.37 s,an off time of 1.6 s and excellent switching stability.Most importantly,the devices by layer by layer self-assembly technology opens a path for the true integration of organic electronics with traditional textile technologies and materials,laying the foundation for their later widespread application.

The lipase monolayer film self-assembly on the negatively charged poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate

The PET-CO2- film was prepared and the lipase was assembled on the surface of the PET-CO2- substrate The structure at the surface and activity of lipase/PET monolayer were studied by ATR-FTIR and AFM, and other methods.

Self-assembly to monolayer graphene film with high electrical conductivity

Monolayer chemically converted graphene （CCG） nanosheets can be homogeneously self-assembled onto silicon wafer modified by 3-aminopr- opyl triethoxysilane （APTES） to form very thin graphene film. The CCG film was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM and AFM. Results show that CCG sheets formed monolayer film after assembled onto silicon wafer and there is a very tight chemical bond between sheets and wafer. Furthermore, the electrical measurements revealed that the monolayer graphene film has an excellent electrical conductivity.

Colloidal monolayer self-assembly and its simulation via cellular automaton model

A wafer-scale colloidal monolayer consisting of SiO2 spheres is fabricated by a method combining spin coating and thermal treatment for the first time. Moreover, a new cellular automaton model describing the self-assembly process of the colloidal monolayer is introduced. Rather than simulate molecular self-assembly to establish the most energetically favored position, we reconstruct the self-assembly of the colloidal monolayer by adjusting several simple transition rules of a cellular automaton. This model captures the main self-assembly characteristics of SiO2 spheres, including experimental processing time, morphology, and some statistics. It possesses the advantage of less calculation and higher efficiency, paving a new way to simulate a mesoscopic system.

Monolayer MoS_(2)Fabricated by In Situ Construction of Interlayer Electrostatic Repulsion Enables Ultrafast Ion Transport in Lithium-Ion Batteries

High theoretical capacity and unique layered structures make MoS_(2)a promising lithium-ion battery anode material.However,the anisotropic ion transport in layered structures and the poor intrinsic conductivity of MoS_(2)lead to unacceptable ion transport capability.Here,we propose in-situ construction of interlayer electrostatic repulsion caused by Co^(2+)substituting Mo^(4+)between MoS_(2)layers,which can break the limitation of interlayer van der Waals forces to fabricate monolayer MoS_(2),thus establishing isotropic ion transport paths.Simultaneously,the doped Co atoms change the electronic structure of monolayer MoS_(2),thus improving its intrinsic conductivity.Importantly,the doped Co atoms can be converted into Co nanoparticles to create a space charge region to accelerate ion transport.Hence,the Co-doped monolayer MoS_(2)shows ultrafast lithium ion transport capability in half/full cells.This work presents a novel route for the preparation of monolayer MoS_(2)and demonstrates its potential for application in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.

Combination therapy to overcome ferroptosis resistance by biomimetic self-assembly nano-prodrug

Ferroptosis has emerged as a potent form of no-apoptotic cell death that offers a promising alternative to avoid the chemoresistance of apoptotic pathways and serves as a vulnerability of cancer.Herein,we have constructed a biomimetic self-assembly nano-prodrug system that enables the co-delivery of gefitinib(Gefi),ferrocene(Fc)and dihydroartemisinin(DHA)for the combined therapy of both ferroptosis and apoptosis.In the tumor microenvironment,this nano-prodrug is able to disassemble and trigger drug release under high levels of GSH.Interestingly,the released DHA can downregulate GPX4 level for the enhancement of intracellular ferroptosis from Fc,further executing tumor cell death with concomitant chemotherapy by Gefi.More importantly,this nano-prodrug provides highly homologous targeting ability by coating related cell membranes and exhibits outstanding inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis,as well as no noticeable side-effects during treatments.This simple small molecular self-assembled nano-prodrug provides a new reasonably designed modality for ferroptosis-combined chemotherapy.

Attachment of tyrosinase on mixed self-assembled monolayers for the construction of electrochemical biosensor

A mixed self-assembled monolayers （SAMs） of thioctic acid （T-COOH） and thioctic acid amide （T-NH2） were used to immobilize tyrosinase for fabricating biosensor. The results showed that the mixed SAMs prepared from solution at the ratio of 1：4 provided an excellent microenvironment for enzymatic reaction between tyrosinase and substrate. The biosensor exhibited a fast response and high sensitivity for sensing substrate.

Characterization of Self-assembled Monolayers on Gold Electrode Using Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance

The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) is used to investigate the characteristics of the thiolated self-assembled monolayer(SAM) on gold surface.A 5MHz QCM element serves as both the mass-sensitive sensor and the working electrode of the electrochemical system.The 6-mecapto-1-hexanol and and the 16-mer oligonucleotide with a mercaptohexyl group at the 5'-phosphate end are utilized to form the SAM on the gold electrode.The frequency response of the QCM during cyclic voltammetry (CV) scanning and cbronoamperometry are recorded together with the electrochemical current.The experimental results indicates that the frequency response is more sensitive to the surface coverage.Therefore,the response of the EQCM reveals more details of the SAM on gold electrode.It is especially useful for analysing the immobilization quality,such as probe orientation and coverage,of the SAM.

Preparation and Characterization of SrTiO_3 Thin Film on Functional Organic Self-Assembled Monolayers

SrTiO3 thin film was successfully prepared on the functionalized organic self-assembled monolayers（SAMs） by the Liquid Phase Deposition（LPD） method.The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）,atomic force microscope（AFM）,scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and metallographic microscope.Measurement of contact angle showed that the hydrophobe substrate was changed into hydrophile by UV irradiation.AFM photographs of octadecyl-trichloro-silane self-assembled monolayer（OTS-SAM） surface approved that UV irradiation did change the morphology of OTS monolayer and provided evidence for the conversion of hydrophilic characteristic.Photographs of Metallographic Microscope showed that OTS-SAM had an active effect on the deposition of SrTiO3 thin film.XRD and SEM indicated that the thin film was of pure cubic phase SrTiO3 and composed of nanosized grains with a size in the range of 100-500 nm.The formation mechanism of the SrTiO3 film was proposed.

Electrochemical Behavior and Determination of Trifluoperazine at Decanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayer Modified Gold Electrodes

The electrochemical behavior of trifluoperazine at decanethiol self-assembledmonolayer (SAM) modified gold electrodes (i. e. C_(10) H_(21) SH/Au) has been studied,Trifluoperazine can effectively accumulate on C_(10) H_(21) SH/Au electrodes and generate asensitive anodic peak at about 0.63 V (vs. SCE) in 0.05 mol/L pH 9.4 Na_2 B_4 O_7 buffer solution.Under the selected conditions, the anodic peak current was linear to trifluoperazine concentrationin the range of 5.0 X 10^(-7)-3.O X 10^(-3) mol/Lwith correlation coefficient of 0.997, thedetection limit was 3.0 X 10^(-5) mol/L. This method was applied to the determination oftrifluoperazine in drug samples and the recovery was 97.3%-104.0% It was found that sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) could make the anodic peak current increase. In the presence of SDS, the peak at about0.63 V turned into two peaks, resulting from the change of the electrochemical mechanism.

The Molecular Recognition Characteristics of ω-MercaptoMethoxy Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Self-assembled Monolayer at Gold Electrode and the Detection of Dopamine in Serum

Self assembled monolayers (SAMs) of to-mercapto methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)(MPEG) on gold electrode were used as a means to detect dopamine. Dopamine (DA) had good response at the MPEG film electrode and ascorbic acid (AA) was repelled from the SAMs. TheMPEG film is a biocompatible film, there was no adsorption of biosample and no inactivation atelectrode surface when it was used to detect DA in biosamples.

Nonlinear Photocurrent Responses in Janus WSSe Monolayer

Janus WSSe monolayer is a novel two-dimensional(2D)material that breaks the out-of-plane mirror symmetry and has a large built-in electric field.These features lead to sizable Rashba spin-orbit coupling and enhanced nonlinear optical properties,making it a promising material platform for various spintronic and optoelectronic device applications.In recent years,nonlinear photocurrent responses such as shift and injection currents were found to be closely related to the quantum geometry and Berry curvature of materials,indicating that these responses can serve as powerful tools for probing the novel quantum properties of materials.In this work,we investigate the second-order nonlinear photocurrent responses in a Janus WSSe monolayer theoretically based on first-principles calculations and the Wannier interpolation method.It is demonstrated that the Janus WSSe monolayer exhibits significant out-of-plane nonlinear photocurrent coefficients,which is distinct from the nonJanus structures.Our results also suggest that the second-order nonlinear photocurrent response in the Janus WSSe monolayer can be effectively tuned by biaxial strain or an external electric field.Thus,the Janus WSSe monolayer offers a unique opportunity for both exploring nonlinear optical phenomena and realizing flexible 2D optoelectronic nanodevices.