Novel fabrication techniques for ultra-thin silicon based flexible electronics

Flexible electronics offer a multitude of advantages,such as flexibility,lightweight property,portability,and high durability.These unique properties allow for seamless applications to curved and soft surfaces,leading to extensive utilization across a wide range of fields in consumer electronics.These applications,for example,span integrated circuits,solar cells,batteries,wearable devices,bio-implants,soft robotics,and biomimetic applications.Recently,flexible electronic devices have been developed using a variety of materials such as organic,carbon-based,and inorganic semiconducting materials.Silicon(Si)owing to its mature fabrication process,excellent electrical,optical,thermal properties,and cost efficiency,remains a compelling material choice for flexible electronics.Consequently,the research on ultra-thin Si in the context of flexible electronics is studied rigorously nowadays.The thinning of Si is crucially important for flexible electronics as it reduces its bending stiffness and the resultant bending strain,thereby enhancing flexibility while preserving its exceptional properties.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent efforts in the fabrication techniques for forming ultra-thin Si using top-down and bottom-up approaches and explores their utilization in flexible electronics and their applications.

An overview of thermoelectric films:Fabrication techniques,classification,and regulation methods

Thermoelectric materials have aroused widespread concern due to their unique ability to directly convert heat to electricity without any moving parts or noxious emissions.Taking advantages of two-dimensional structures of thermoelectric films,the potential applications of thermoelectric materials are diversified,particularly in microdevices.Well-controlled nanostructures in thermoelectric films are effective to optimize the electrical and thermal transport,which can significantly improve the performance of thermoelectric materials.In this paper,various physical and chemical approaches to fabricate thermoelectric films,including inorganic,organic,and inorganic–organic composites,are summarized,where more attentions are paid on the inorganic thermoelectric films for their excellent thermoelectric responses.Additionally,strategies for enhancing the performance of thermoelectric films are also discussed.

Novel photoactive material and fabrication techniques for solar cells application:nanocellulose-based graphene oxide CdS composite

In recent times,solar energy has become one of the largest available sources of renewable energy at our disposal.However,the design of highly efficient solar cells is increasingly becoming crucial as there has been a surge for economically viable alternative energy sources with the lowest cost.Significant advances have been made through different routes to make photovoltaic(PV)/solar technologies economically viable,eco-friendly and consequently scalable.As a result,cellulose nanomaterials have become one of the emerging technologies in this regard because of the advantages of high-value bio-based nanostructured materials,such as their abundance and sustainability.Nanocellulose-based photoactive nanocomposite materials can be made by integrating conducting photoactive and electroconductive materials with hydrophilic biocompatible cellulose.Inorganic nanoparticles,such as graphene/reduced graphene oxide cadmium sulphide quantum dots,amongst others,can be introduced into the nanocellulose matrix and can be applied either as charge transporters or photoactive materials in different types of solar cells.Thus,in this review,we highlight the optoelectronic properties of different photoactive materials,particularly nanocellulose-based graphene nanocomposites;their efficiencies and drawbacks were X-rayed.The effect of doping each PV material on the PV performance is also discussed.It is anticipated that the novel material would result in a reduction in the cost of solar cells,jointly enhancing their efficacy in generating environmentally friendly electricity.Since the fabrication techniques and equipment play a crucial role in the development of solar cells,the fabrication techniques of bulk-heterojunction(BHJ)cells containing a nanocellulose-based graphene composite and case studies of already fabricated BHJ PV cells with nanocellulose-based graphene composite are discussed.

Photoelectrochemical CO_(2) electrolyzers: From photoelectrode fabrication to reactor configuration

The photoelectrochemical conversion of CO_(2) into value-added products emerges as an attractive approach to alleviate climate change. One of the main challenges in deploying this technology is, however, the development and optimization of(photo)electrodes and photoelectrolyzers. This review focuses on the fabrication processes, structure, and characterization of(photo)electrodes, covering a wide range of fabrication techniques, from rudimentary to automated fabrication processes. The work also highlights the most relevant features of(photo)electrodes, with special emphasis on how to measure and optimize them. Finally, the review analyses the integration of(photo)electrodes in different photoelectrolyzer architectures, analyzing the most recent research work that comprises photocathode, photoanode,photocathode-photoanode, and tandem photoelectrolyzer configurations to ideally achieve self-sustained CO_(2) conversion systems. Overall, comprehensive guidelines are provided for future advancements in developing effective devices for CO_(2) conversion, bridging the gap towards the use of sunlight as the unique energy input and practical applications.

The journey of multifunctional bone scaffolds fabricated from traditional toward modern techniques

As a bone scaffold,meeting all basic requirements besides dealing with other bone-related issues-bone cancer and accelerated regeneration-is not expected from traditional scaffolds,but a newer class of scaffolds called multifunctional.From a clinical point of view,being a multifunctional scaffold means reducing in healing time,direct costs-medicine,surgery,and hospitalization-and indirect costs-loss of mobility,losing job,and pain.The main aim of the present review is following the multifunctional bone scaffolds trend to deal with both bone regeneration and cancer therapy.Special consideration is given to different fabrication techniques which have been applied to yield these materials spanning from traditional to modern ones.Moreover,the hierarchical structure of bone plus bone cancers and available medicines to them are introduced to familiarize the potential reader of review with the pluri-disciplinary essence of the field.Eventually,a brief discussion relating to the future trend of these materials is provided.

Low-damage photolithography for magnetically doped(Bi,Sb)_(2)Te_(3) quantum anomalous Hall thin films

We have developed a low-damage photolithography method for magnetically doped(Bi,Sb)_(2)Te_(3)quantum anomalous Hall(QAH) thin films incorporating an additional resist layer of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA). By performing control experiments on the transport properties of five devices at varied gate voltages(V_(g)s), we revealed that the modified photolithography method enables fabricating QAH devices with the transport and magnetic properties unaffected by fabrication process. Our experiment represents a step towards the production of novel micro-structured electronic devices based on the dissipationless QAH chiral edge states.

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.

Recent advances in Pt catalysts and membrane electrode assemblies fabrication for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs)have been identified as a highly promising means of achieving sustainable energy conversion.A crucial factor in enhancing the performance of PEMFCs for further potential energy applications is the advancement in the field of catalyst engineering that has led to remarkable performance enhancement in facilitating the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Subsequently,it is important to acknowledge that the techniques used in preparation of membrane electrode assemblies(MEAs),the vital constituents of PEMFCs,also possess direct and critical influence on exhibiting the full catalytic activity of meticulously crafted catalysts.Here,a succinct summary of the most recent advancements in Pt catalysts for ORR was offered and their underly catalytic mechanism were discussed.Then,both laboratory-scale and industrial-scale MEA fabrication techniques of Pt catalysts were summarized.Furthermore,a detailed analysis of the connections between materials,process,and performance in MEA fabrication was presented in order to facilitate the development of optimal catalyst layers.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of titanium-reinforced magnesium matrix composites: Review and perspective

Currently, many gratifying signs of progress have been made in magnesium(Mg) matrix composites(MMCs) by virtue of their high mechanical properties both at room and elevated temperatures. Although the commonly used reinforcements in MMCs are ceramic particles,they often provide improved yield and ultimate stresses by a significant loss in ductility. Therefore, hard metallic phases were introduced as alternative candidates for the manufacturing of MMCs, especially titanium(Ti). It has a high melting point, high Young’s modulus, high plasticity, low level of mutual solubility with Mg matrix, and closer thermal expansion coefficient to that of Mg metal than that of ceramic particles. It is highly preferable to provide both high ultimate stress and ductility in Mg matrix. However, many critical challenges for the fabrication of Ti-reinforced MMCs remain, such as Ti’s homogeneity, low recovery rate, and the optimization of interfacial bonding strength between Mg and Ti, etc. Meanwhile, different fabrication methods have various effects on the microstructures, mechanical properties, and the interfacial strength of Ti-reinforced MMCs. Hence, this review placed emphasis on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of Ti-reinforced MMCs fabricated by different techniques. The influencing factors that govern the strengthening mechanisms were systematically compared and discussed. Future research trends, key issues, and prospects were also proposed to develop Ti-reinforced MMCs.

Recent advances in the design of biosensors based on novel nanomaterials:An insight

Biosensors have acquired much importance in drug discovery,medical diagnostics,food safety,defense,security,and monitoring of environmental conditions.Furthermore,there has been great progress in the potential applications of advanced nanomaterials in biosensors.Every year there are several advances in sensing techniques that can be attributed to nanomaterials,biorecognition elements,or their related fabrication techniques.The further development of nanotechnology-based sensors provides a wide variety of opportunities to modern research.Advanced nanomaterials can provide remarkable optical,electrical,mechanical,and catalytic properties.For example,transition metals and organic polymers have been used in the fabrication of powerful,sensitive,and precise biosensors.The distinctive properties of advanced nanomaterials have been widely incorporated into biosensors.However,fabrication techniques also play important roles in the development of these devices.Therefore,we present a review of some of the advanced nanomaterials that have been widely used over the last few years and discuss their fabrication techniques.The focus of this review is to provide a directional perspective of recently fabricated advanced nanomaterial-based biosensors in the diagnosis of various diseases.

The use of hydrogel microspheres as cell and drug delivery carriers for bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration

Bone,cartilage,and soft tissue regeneration is a complex process involving many cellular activities across various cell types.Autografts remain the“gold standard”for the regeneration of these tissues.However,the use of autografts is associated with many disadvantages,including donor scarcity,the requirement of multiple surgeries,and the risk of infection.The development of tissue engineering techniques opens new avenues for enhanced tissue regeneration.Nowadays,the expectations of tissue engineering scaffolds have gone beyond merely providing physical support for cell attachment.Ideal scaffolds should also provide biological cues to actively boost tissue regeneration.As a new type of injectable biomaterial,hydrogel microspheres have been increasingly recognised as promising therapeutic carriers for the local delivery of cells and drugs to enhance tissue regeneration.Compared to traditional tissue engineering scaffolds and bulk hydrogel,hydrogel microspheres possess distinct advantages,including less invasive delivery,larger surface area,higher transparency for visualisation,and greater flexibility for functionalisation.Herein,we review the materials characteristics of hydrogel microspheres and compare their fabrication approaches,including microfluidics,batch emulsion,electrohydrodynamic spraying,lithography,and mechanical fragmentation.Additionally,based on the different requirements for bone,cartilage,nerve,skin,and muscle tissue regeneration,we summarize the applications of hydrogel microspheres as cell and drug delivery carriers for the regeneration of these tissues.Overall,hydrogel microspheres are regarded as effective therapeutic delivery carriers to enhance tissue regeneration in regenerative medicine.However,significant effort is required before hydrogel microspheres become widely accepted as commercial products for clinical use.

On the Path to High-Temperature Josephson Multi-Junction Devices

We report our progress in the high-temperature superconductor(HTS)Josephson junction fabrication process founded on utilizing a focused helium ion beam damaging technique and discuss the expected device performance attainable with the HTS multi-junction device technology.Both the achievable high value of characteristic voltage V_(C)=I_(C)R_(N)of Josephson junctions and the ability to design a large number of arbitrary located Josephson junctions allow narrowing the existing gap in design abilities for lowtemperature superconductor(LTS)and HTS circuits even with using a single YBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-x) film layer.A one-layer topology of active electrically small antenna is suggested and its voltage response characteristics are considered.

Integrated gradient tissue-engineered osteochondral scaffolds:Challenges,current efforts and future perspectives

The osteochondral defect repair has been most extensively studied due to the rising demand for new therapies to diseases such as osteoarthritis.Tissue engineering has been proposed as a promising strategy to meet the demand of simultaneous regeneration of both cartilage and subchondral bone by constructing integrated gradient tissue-engineered osteochondral scaffold(IGTEOS).This review brought forward the main challenges of establishing a satisfactory IGTEOS from the perspectives of the complexity of physiology and microenvironment of osteochondral tissue,and the limitations of obtaining the desired and required scaffold.Then,we comprehensively discussed and summarized the current tissue-engineered efforts to resolve the above challenges,including architecture strategies,fabrication techniques and in vitro/in vivo evaluation methods of the IGTEOS.Especially,we highlighted the advantages and limitations of various fabrication techniques of IGTEOS,and common cases of IGTEOS application.Finally,based on the above challenges and current research progress,we analyzed in details the future perspectives of tissue-engineered osteochondral construct,so as to achieve the perfect reconstruction of the cartilaginous and osseous layers of osteochondral tissue simultaneously.This comprehensive and instructive review could provide deep insights into our current understanding of IGTEOS.

Flexible inorganic piezoelectric functional films and their applications

Piezoelectric materials play an increasingly important role in energy harvesters,sensors,and actuators.Flexible and thin piezoelectric films have been demonstrated to provide advanced functionalities and improved performances.However,the research on flexible inorganic piezoelectric thin films has rarely been systematically summarized.Here,we summarize the recent advances in the flexible inorganic piezoelectric thin films,focusing on their structural designs,fabrication techniques,and applications in various practical scenarios.Specifically,different fabrication techniques suitable for diverse inorganic piezoelectric nanostructures are reviewed,including sol-gel,hydrothermal,electrospinning,and other techniques,and the integration process with flexible substrates is further discussed.Biomedical and industrial applications of the flexible piezoelectric thin films are emphasized.Finally,some existing challenges and future perspectives are discussed.

Composites for electric vehicles and automotive sector: A review

The automotive sector is undergoing a significant transformation to address critical challenges affecting consumers and the climate.One of the most difficult tasks is reducing the weight of vehicles in order to minimize energy consumption.A ten percent decrease in curb weight is predicted to result in a six to eight percent reduction in energy consumption.Composite materials having better strength to weight ratio are one of the finest options for planning,designing and manufacturing of the lightweight components.In automobile sector,employment of composite materials would reduce the weight of electric vehicles as well as influence their aerodynamic properties.Therefore,it would decrease the consumption of fuel as well by cutting down harmful emissions and particulate matter.Numerous developments in such technologies are studied over the last decade by automobile establishments and academic researchers.Fiber-reinforced polymers,particularly those established on glass and carbon fibers,have attracted attention of the automobile sector due to their high performance and lesser weight.This paper reviews the applications of various types of composite materials and the fabrication techniques of such composites in electric vehicles and automobiles.Furthermore,a comprehensive data breakdown of the lightweight materials statistics and figures on market analysis of high performance composite is presented.Finally,a discussion is made on the different applications of these composites.Hence,the details presented in this study should be useful for automobile companies to align with NET ZERO global mission while sustaining their businesses.

Recent advancements in biomedical application of polylactic acid/graphene nanocomposites:An overview

Polylactic acid(PLA)-graphene nanocomposites have attracted significant attention in the biomedical field because of their biodegradability,biocompatibility,and excellent mechanical properties.This review provides a comprehensive summary of the recent developments in the biomedical applications of PLA/graphene nanocomposites.The discussed applications include tissue engineering,drug delivery,biomedical imaging and sensing,antimicrobial and anticancer treatments,and photothermal and photodynamic therapies.The properties and synthesis of these nanocomposites are also addressed.This review shows that although significant advancements have been made in the development of biomedical applications for PLA/graphene nanocomposites,further research is still required to overcome the existing challenges and limitations,such as improving biocompatibility and biodegradability and optimizing synthesis and processing methods.Despite these challenges,the potential of PLA/graphene nanocomposites in the biomedical field is significant and holds promise for future advancements.

Mode and modulation characteristics for microsquare lasers with a vertex output waveguide

The mode and high-speed modulation characteristics are investigated for a microsquare laser with a side length of 16 ?m and a 2-?m-wide output waveguide connected to one vertex. The longitudinal and transverse mode characteristics are analyzed by numerical simulation and light ray model, and compared with the lasing spectra for the microsquare laser. Up to the fifth transverse mode is observed clearly from the lasing spectra. Single mode operation with the side mode suppression ratio of 41 d B is realized at the injection current of 24 m A, and the maximum output power of 0.53(0.18) m W coupled into the multiple(single) mode fiber is obtained at the current of 35 m A, for the microsquare laser at the temperature of 288 K. Furthermore, a flat small-signal modulation response is reached with the 3-d B bandwidth of 16.2 GHz and the resonant peak of 3.6 d B at the bias current of 34 m A. The K-factor of 0.22 ns is obtained by fitting the damping factor versus the resonant frequency, which implies a maximum intrinsic 3-d B bandwidth of 40 GHz.

Preparation and application of gallium-based conductive materials in the very recent years

Gallium and its alloys are a group of metallic materials with low-melting points at or around room temperature.Apart from the good electrical conductivity,the unique liquid state endows those metals with excellent compliance and self-healing capacity,which present great value in the development of flexible and stretchable electronics.Constrained by the high surface tension and low viscosity,however,liquid metals cannot be applied to some common microelectronics manufacturing technologies such as micro-electro mechanics in the preceding years,which impedes their mass production in electronic devices.To address these issues and broaden the applications of liquid metals in electronics devices,numerous efforts have been taken and great progress has been made especially in the very recent years.This review summaries the recent development of liquid metal-based conductive materials from the aspects of preparation or modification methods and their accommodative fabrication techniques in flexible electronic applications.Further outlook including expectations and challenges of liquid metal-based conductive materials are also presented.

Reply to Comments on "Structural,Optical,and Electrical Properties of Zn-Doped CdO Thin Films Fabricated by a Simplified Spray Pyrolysis Technique'' by K.Usharani and A.R.Balu published in Acta Metall.Sin.(Engl.Lett.) 28(1),64–71(2015)

Following are the comments for the queries raised by Prof. Pawel E. Tomaszewski on our published paper entitled ＂Structural, Optical, and Electrical Properties of Zn-Doped CdO Thin Films Fabricated by a Simplified Spray Pyrolysis Technique＂ by K. Usharani and A.R. Balu published in Acta Metall. Sin.

Bismuth-doped germanate glass fiber fabricated by the rod-in-tube technique

Bismuth （Bi）-doped laser glasses and fiber devices have aroused wide attentions due to their unique potential to work in the new spectral range of 1 to 1.8 μm traditional laser ions, such as rare earth, cannot reach. Current Bi-dopcd silica glass fibers have to be made by modified chemical vapor deposition at a temperature higher than 2000℃. This unavoidably leads to the tremendous loss of Bi by evaporation, since the temperature is several hundred degrees Celsius higher than the Bi boiling temperature, and, therefore, trace Bi （-50 ppm） resides within the final product of silica fiber. So, the gain of such fiber is usually extremely low. One of the solutions is to make the fibers at a temperature much lower than the boiling temperature of Bi. The challenge for this is to find a lower melting point glass, which can stabilize Bi in the near infrared emission center and, meanwhile, does not lose glass transparency during fiber fabrication. None of previously reported Bi-doped multicomponent glasses can meet the prerequisite. Here, we, after hundreds of trials on optimization over glass components, activator content, melting temperature, etc., find a novel Bi-doped gallogermanate glass, which shows good tolerance to thermal impact and can accommodate a higher content of Bi. Consequently, we successfully manu- facture the germanate fiber by a rod-in-tube technique at 850℃. The fiber exhibits similar luminescence to the bulk glass, and it shows saturated absorption at 808 nm rather than 980 nm as the incident power becomes higher than 4 W. Amplified spontaneous emissions are observed upon the pumps of either 980 or 1064 nm from ger- manate fiber.