Chemical and topographical patterns combined with solution shear for selective-area deposition of highly-aligned semiconducting carbon nanotubes

Selective shear deposition of polymer-wrapped semiconducting carbon nanotubes (s-CNTs) into densely packed, highly aligned arrays of s-CNTs using removable chemical and topographical patterns.

Hierarchical Co-doped SnS2@Ni(OH)2 double-shell crystalline structure on carbon cloth with gradient pore distribution for superior capacitance

Hierarchical Co-doped SnS2@Ni(OH)2 double-shell nanosheet arrays are coated on carbon cloth, the vertically aligned arrays with gradient pore distribution can facilitate the charge/ion transfer rate, thus improve the energy storage performance.

Electrospun Filaments Embedding Bioactive Glass Particles with Ion Release and Enhanced Mineralization

Efforts in tissue engineering aim at creating scaffolds that mimic the physiological environment with its structural, topographical and mechanical properties for restoring the function of damaged tissue. In this study we introduce composite fibres made by a biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) matrix embedding bioactive silica-based glass particles (SBA2). Electrospinning is performed to achieve porous PLLA filaments with uniform dispersion of bioactive glass powder. The obtained composite fibres show in aligned arrays significantly increased elastic modulus compared with that of neat polymer fibres during uniaxial tensile stress. Additionally, the SBA2 bioactivity is preserved upon encapsulation as highlighted by the promoted deposition of hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) upon immersion in simulated body fluid solutions. HCA formation is sequential to earlier processes of polymer erosion and ion release leading to acidification of the surrounding solution environment. These findings suggest PLLA-SBA2 fibres as a composite, multifunctional system which might be appealing for both bone and soft tissue engineering applications.

Scratch to sensitize: scratch-induced sensitivity enhancement in semiconductor thin-film sensors

Nanoscale scratches were produced with mechanical abrasion to enhance the chemical sensitivity of thin-film-type semiconductor sensors; ZnO sensor devices with well-aligned arrays of scratches exhibited superior performance.

Characterization of contact resistances in ceramic-coated vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays

End- and side-contact resistances between carbon nanotubes and contacts are easily probed in vertically aligned arrays.