Tailoring physical functionalities of complex oxides by vertically aligned nanocomposite thin-film design

AbstractSelf-assembled nanocomposite thin films couple two materials into a single film, typically, in the form of vertically aligned nanopillars embedded in a matrix film. High-density vertical heterointerfaces provide a great platform for engineering new physical properties and novel multifunctionalities, as well as for nanoscale device integration. Tremendous research efforts have been devoted to developing different nanocomposite systems. In this article, we summarize recent progress on vertically aligned nanocomposite thin films for enhanced functionalities such as ferroelectricity, tunable magnetoresistance, multiferroicity, dielectricity, magnetic anisotropy, perpendicular exchange bias, novel electrical/ionic properties, interfacial conduction, and resistive switching. Using specific examples, we discuss how and why the fundamental physical properties can be significantly tuned/improved in vertically aligned nanocomposites. Finally, we propose future research directions to achieve further enhanced performance as well as practical devices.

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Strain-driven nanodumbbell structure and enhanced physical properties in hybrid vertically aligned nanocomposite thin films

Applied Materials Today ◽

10.1016/j.apmt.2019.05.012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

pp. 204-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Xing Sun ◽

Qiang Li ◽

Jijie Huang ◽

Meng Fan ◽

Bethany X. Rutherford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thin Films ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Nanocomposite Thin Films ◽

Vertically Aligned

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Experiments on and Numerical Modeling of the Capture and Concentration of Transcription-Translation Machinery inside Vesicles

Artificial Life ◽

10.1162/artl_a_00187 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 445-463 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Fabio Mavelli ◽

Pasquale Stano

Keyword(s):

Lipid Vesicles ◽

Future Research ◽

Partition Functions ◽

Research Directions ◽

Open Questions ◽

Synthetic Cells ◽

Measurable Rate ◽

Future Research Directions ◽

Minimal Cells ◽

Fundamental Physical

Synthetic or semi-synthetic minimal cells are those cell-like artificial compartments that are based on the encapsulation of molecules inside lipid vesicles (liposomes). Synthetic cells are currently used as primitive cell models and are very promising tools for future biotechnology. Despite the recent experimental advancements and sophistication reached in this field, the complete elucidation of many fundamental physical aspects still poses experimental and theoretical challenges. The interplay between solute capture and vesicle formation is one of the most intriguing ones. In a series of studies, we have reported that when vesicles spontaneously form in a dilute solution of proteins, ribosomes, or ribo-peptidic complexes, then, contrary to statistical predictions, it is possible to find a small fraction of liposomes (<1%) that contain a very large number of solutes, so that their local (intravesicular) concentrations largely exceed the expected value. More recently, we have demonstrated that this effect (spontaneous crowding) operates also on multimolecular mixtures, and can drive the synthesis of proteins inside vesicles, whereas the same reaction does not proceed at a measurable rate in the external bulk phase. Here we firstly introduce and discuss these already published observations. Then, we present a computational investigation of the encapsulation of transcription-translation (TX-TL) machinery inside vesicles, based on a minimal protein synthesis model and on different solute partition functions. Results show that experimental data are compatible with an entrapment model that follows a power law rather than a Gaussian distribution. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of origin of life, highlighting open questions and possible future research directions.

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