Light- and magnetically actuated FePt microswimmers

Externally controlled microswimmers offer prospects for transport in biological research and medical applications. This requires biocompatibility of the swimmers and the possibility to tailor their propulsion mechanisms to the respective low Reynolds number environment. Here, we incorporate low amounts of the biocompatible alloy of iron and platinum (FePt) in its $$\hbox {L1}_{{0}}$$ L1 0 phase in microstructures by a versatile one-step physical vapor deposition process. We show that the hard magnetic properties of $$\hbox {L1}_{{0}}$$ L1 0 FePt are beneficial for the propulsion of helical micropropellers with rotating magnetic fields. Finally, we find that the FePt coatings are catalytically active and also make for Janus microswimmers that can be light-actuated and magnetically guided.

Correction: Wen et al. Fabrication of Dense Gadolinia-Doped Ceria Coatings via Very-Low-Pressure Plasma Spray and Plasma Spray–Physical Vapor Deposition Process. Coatings 2019, 9, 717

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A new approach for controlling the crystal phase of NiPc in ionic liquids

α-NiPc and β-NiPc are obtained via a physical vapor deposition process which uses high density and low density ionic liquids (ILs) as substrates, respectively.

A high-performance fully nanostructured individual CdSe nanotube photodetector with enhanced responsivity and photoconductive gain

Single-crystalline CdSe nanotubes with a perfect hollow tubular architecture and higher surface-to-volume ratio were synthesized via a simplified one-step ambient pressure physical vapor deposition process and utilized to fabricate an individual CdSe nanotube photodetector with enhanced responsivity and photoconductive gain.

The phase, morphology and surface characterization of Ti–Mo alloy films prepared by magnetron sputtering

Magnetron sputtering is a physical vapor deposition process which allows the formation of metastable materials because of the particle bombardment process.