Determination of the radii of coated and uncoated silicon AFM sharp tips using a height calibration standard grating and a nonlinear regression function

• Perawat Boonpuek and
• Jonathan R. Felts

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1200–1207, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.99

• nanostructured materials, for example, graphene, carbon nanotubes, nanoscale semiconductors, biomaterials, and molecules. Mechanical properties such as surface stiffness, adhesion, friction, electrostatics, and electrowetting can be measured [1][2][3][4]. In contact mode scanning, the contact area between the

Hierarchically patterned polyurethane microgrooves featuring nanopillars or nanoholes for neurite elongation and alignment

• Lester Uy Vinzons,
• Guo-Chung Dong and
• Shu-Ping Lin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1157–1168, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.96

• ; Introduction The surface features of biomaterials at the micro- and the nanoscale play a crucial role in modulating tissue responses and in determining the functional and temporal efficacy of implants [1]. Micro- and nanoscale surface structures affect cellular functions through micro- and nanometer-sized cell

Elasticity, an often-overseen parameter in the development of nanoscale drug delivery systems

• Agnes-Valencia Weiss and
• Marc Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1149–1156, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.95

• article, we discuss examples highlighting the influence of elasticity in nanoscale biological interactions focusing on mucosal delivery and on tumor targeting. Besides this, we discuss the influence of different measurement settings using atomic force microscopy for the determination of mechanical

• provides different possibilities of measuring forces at the nanoscale. This can be the acquisition of single force–distance curves on a specific spot after locating the particle in an imaging mode or the creation of whole maps using quantitative imaging modes [20][21][22]. An example is shown for lysozyme

A multi-resistance wide-range calibration sample for conductive probe atomic force microscopy measurements

• François Piquemal,
• Khaled Kaja,
• Pascal Chrétien,
• José Morán-Meza,
• Frédéric Houzé,
• Christian Ulysse and
• Abdelmounaim Harouri

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1141–1148, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.94

• resistances at the nanoscale has attracted recent attention for developing microelectronic components, memory devices, molecular electronics, and two-dimensional materials. Despite the decisive contribution of scanning probe microscopy in imaging resistance and current variations, measurements have remained

• restricted to qualitative comparisons. Reference resistance calibration samples are key to advancing the research-to-manufacturing process of nanoscale devices and materials through calibrated, reliable, and comparable measurements. No such calibration reference samples have been proposed so far. In this

• than 1% for a reduced range from 1 MΩ to 50 GΩ. Our findings break through the long-standing bottleneck in C-AFM measurements, providing a universal means for adopting calibrated resistance measurements at the nanoscale in the industrial and academic research and development sectors. Keywords

Sulfur nanocomposites with insecticidal effect for the control of Bactericera cockerelli

• Lany S. Araujo-Yépez,
• Juan O. Tigrero-Salas,
• Vicente A. Delgado-Rodríguez,
• Vladimir A. Aguirre-Yela and
• Josué N. Villota-Méndez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1106–1115, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.91

• development of new nanoinsecticides to combat pests in a more productive, cost-effective, and eco-friendly way [8][12]. Nanoscale agricultural products are developed using nanotechnology, such as nanopesticides, nanoinsecticides, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles, to reduce the use of toxic chemicals [14

Density functional theory study of Au-fcc/Ge and Au-hcp/Ge interfaces

• Olga Sikora,
• Małgorzata Sternik,
• Benedykt R. Jany,
• Franciszek Krok,
• Przemysław Piekarz and
• Andrzej M. Oleś

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1093–1105, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.90

• heterostructure considered here, including the hcp phase of gold, is the most interesting one from the perspective of investigating new phases in nanoscale structures and their possible applications. It is, however, also the most challenging interface for our ab initio calculations. The mutual position of the

Dual-heterodyne Kelvin probe force microscopy

• Benjamin Grévin,
• Fatima Husainy,
• Dmitry Aldakov and
• Cyril Aumaître

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1068–1084, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.88

• ; intermodulation; KPFM; nc-AFM; surface photovoltage; time-resolved measurements; Introduction Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is a well-known variant of AFM that allows probing at the nanoscale the electrostatic landscape on the surface of a sample by measuring the so-called contact potential difference

• applications of KPFM are extremely broad. It is now used by physicists, chemists, and biologists to characterize the nanoscale electronic/electrostatic properties of an ever-expanding range of materials, interfaces, and devices, in ambient conditions, under ultrahigh vacuum, or at the liquid–substrate

• development of KPFM-based approaches specifically designed to investigate photogeneration mechanisms and charge dynamics at the nanoscale in photovoltaic and optoelectronic materials is an active research area. In photoassisted KPFM, the idea is to probe the surface photovoltage (SPV), which is the

Spatial mapping of photovoltage and light-induced displacement of on-chip coupled piezo/photodiodes by Kelvin probe force microscopy under modulated illumination

• Zeinab Eftekhari,
• Nasim Rezaei,
• Hidde Stokkel,
• Jian-Yao Zheng,
• Andrea Cerreta,
• Ilka Hermes,
• Minh Nguyen,
• Guus Rijnders and
• Rebecca Saive

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1059–1067, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.87

• mechanical oscillation of the piezoelectric membrane with vertical atomic resolution in real-time. This technique offers the opportunity to measure concurrently the optoelectronic and mechanical response of the device at the nanoscale. Furthermore, time-dependent atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to

• ] is a powerful and versatile technique to study fundamental and functional characteristics of materials and devices at the nanoscale, with application in physics, materials science, engineering, and biology. It can operate in either static (contact mode) or dynamic (tapping and noncontact mode) modes

• be used to measure contact potential difference (CPD) between the tip and the sample [18][19][20]. In particular, time-dependent KPFM [21][22][23] allows us to determine temporal changes of CPD and understand the dynamic behavior of functional devices at the nanoscale. Kelvin probe force microscopy

Exploring internal structures and properties of terpolymer fibers via real-space characterizations

• Michael R. Roenbeck and
• Kenneth E. Strawhecker

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1004–1017, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.83

• . Stiffness maps also revealed bands of high stiffness spanning hundreds of nanometers laterally (i.e., left-to-right in each map), along with slightly elevated topographical ribbons. To assess the repeatability of these measurements, we analyzed several nanoscale maps in other representative regions of

• Technora®) [8][19]. These average values coincide very closely with the modes of each distribution from our nanoscale AFM measurements. Discussion In this study we have, for the first time, isolated and directly characterized the internal structures of Technora® fibers using AFM. Here we elaborate and

• terms of the Technora® nanostructure, our measurements directly reveal two key motifs: (i) the presence of nanoscale fibrils that are well aligned with respect to the fiber axis and form a branched network and (ii) nanoscale domains with high local transverse stiffness. Through WAXD studies, Ferreira et

Nanoarchitectonics of photothermal materials to enhance the sensitivity of lateral flow assays

• Elangovan Sarathkumar,
• Rajasekharan S. Anjana and
• Ramapurath S. Jayasree

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 988–1003, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.82

• analytes using LFAs. One of the promising strategies is to enhance the photothermal properties of nanomaterials to generate heat after light irradiation, followed by a temperature measurement to detect and quantify the analyte concentration. Recently, it has been observed that the nanoscale architecture of

• materials, including size, shape, and nanoscale composition, plays a significant role in enhancing the photothermal properties of nanomaterials. In this review, we discuss the nanoarchitectonics of nanomaterials regarding enhanced photothermal properties and their application in LFAs. Initially, we discuss

• various important photothermal materials and their classification along with their working principle. Then, we highlight important aspects of the nanoscale architecture (i.e., size, shape, and composition) to enable maximum light-to-heat conversion efficiency. Finally, we discuss some of the recent

Fragmentation of metal(II) bis(acetylacetonate) complexes induced by slow electrons

• Janina Kopyra and
• Hassan Abdoul-Carime

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 980–987, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.81

• Nowadays, organometallic complexes receive particular attention because of their use in the design of pure nanoscale metal structures. In the present work, we present results obtained from a series of studies on the degradation of metal(II) bis(acetylacetonate)s induced by low-energy electrons. These slow

• attachment. The reported data may contribute to a better understanding of the physical chemistry underlying the electron–molecule interactions, which is crucial for potential applications of these molecular systems in the deposition of nanoscale structures. Keywords: dissociative electron attachment; gas

• phase; metal(II) bis(acetylacetonate); negative ions; organometallic complexes; Introduction Nowadays, organometallic compounds are used in many applications. They receive great interest in the field of nanoscale technologies [1][2][3]. For example, in nanoscale design processes, the combination of an

Isolation of cubic Si₃P₄ in the form of nanocrystals

• Polina K. Nikiforova,
• Sergei S. Bubenov,
• Vadim B. Platonov,
• Andrey S. Kumskov,
• Nikolay N. Kononov,
• Tatyana A. Kuznetsova and
• Sergey G. Dorofeev

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 971–979, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.80

• , and UV–vis spectrophotometry. For the isolated cubic Si3P4 phase, a cell parameter of a = 5.04 Å was determined, and the bandgap was estimated to be equal to 1.25 eV. Because of the nanoscale dimensions of the obtained Si3P4 nanoparticles, the product may exhibit several exceptional properties as a

• engineering communities [1]. Materials based on compounds of Earth-abundant elements are extensively sought for. With regard to the Si–P system, novel compounds are still discovered, and research on nanoscale forms of silicon phosphides is ongoing. For instance, nanocrystalline cubic SiP was formed as

• facile lithium transport and possess a promising capacity of 2700 and 862/737 mA·h·g−1, respectively [16][17]. In the case of the synthesized nanoscale particles, a high level of Li mobility can be reached because of their developed surface and the interconnected ordered network of silicon vacancies with

Prediction of cytotoxicity of heavy metals adsorbed on nano-TiO₂ with periodic table descriptors using machine learning approaches

• Joyita Roy,
• Souvik Pore and
• Kunal Roy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 939–950, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.77

• metals, upon release and emission, may interact with different environmental components, which may lead to co-exposure to living organisms. Nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) can adsorb heavy metals. The current idea is that nanoparticles (NPs) may act as carriers and facilitate the entry of heavy

• metals into organisms. Thus, the present study reports nanoscale quantitative structure–activity relationship (nano-QSAR) models, which are based on an ensemble learning approach, for predicting the cytotoxicity of heavy metals adsorbed on nano-TiO2 to human renal cortex proximal tubule epithelial (HK-2

• have been used in different industries, and the market is developing rapidly [2]. According to a recent analysis, approximately 1300 consumer products containing NPs were marketed in 2012. As a common metal oxide nanoparticle material, nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) has been evaluated for

Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles for target-specific drug delivery of chemotherapeutics

• Mamta Kumari,
• Amitabha Acharya and
• Praveen Thaggikuppe Krishnamurthy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 912–926, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.75

• of nanoscale chemotherapeutics is accomplished by two different approaches, namely the exploitation of leaky tumor vasculature (EPR effect) and the surface modification of nanoparticles (NPs) with various tumor-homing peptides, aptamers, oligonucleotides, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Because of

Ni, Co, Zn, and Cu metal-organic framework-based nanomaterials for electrochemical reduction of CO₂: A review

• Ha Huu Do and
• Hai Bang Truong

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 904–911, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.74

• augmentation of MOF properties can be accomplished by converting pristine MOFs into nanoscale materials. A diverse array of MOF nanomaterials has been reported, encompassing single-atom nanocatalysts (SACs), hetero-atom-doped nanomaterials, and MOF nanofiber-based aerogels, among others, as highlighted by

Two-dimensional molecular networks at the solid/liquid interface and the role of alkyl chains in their building blocks

• Suyi Liu,
• Yasuo Norikane and
• Yoshihiro Kikkawa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 872–892, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.72

• explained by the nonlinearity of the entropy term in the Gibbs free energy. 3.2 Pore size The fabrication of nanoscale porous networks has attracted attention owing to their ability to accommodate guest molecules in the confined pores. Modification of the alkyl chain length facilitated the tuning of the

• [72], (“Alkyl chain length effects on double-deck assembly at a liquid/solid interface” by Y. Fang et al., Nanoscale, Vol. 10, Issue 31, © 2018); permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. This content is not subject to CC BY 4.0. (a–c) Representative STM images of physisorbed

Biomimetics on the micro- and nanoscale – The 25th anniversary of the lotus effect

• Matthias Mail,
• Kerstin Koch,
• Thomas Speck,
• William M. Megill and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 850–856, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.69

A wearable nanoscale heart sound sensor based on P(VDF-TrFE)/ZnO/GR and its application in cardiac disease detection

• Yi Luo,
• Jian Liu,
• Jiachang Zhang,
• Yu Xiao,
• Ying Wu and
• Zhidong Zhao

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 819–833, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.67

• electrospinning were controlled at 25 °C and 40% RH, respectively. Fabrication of wearable flexible nanoscale heart sound sensors Figure 2 illustrates the process of creating a wearable, flexible nanoscale heart sound sensor with a sandwich structure. First, a rectangular composite nanofilm measuring 4.5 cm in

• completely immersed. After letting it stand for two days, the flexible nanoscale heart sound sensor is ready for use. Figure 3 displays the actual sensor produced. Figure 3a and Figure 3b show, respectively, photos of the front and the back side of the sensor, and Figure 3c and Figure 3d show photos of the

• signal, which is then amplified by the power amplifier and delivered to the speaker to convert the electrical signal into an acoustic signal. A flexible nanoscale heart sound sensor is placed 1 cm above the speaker, and its electrodes are connected to the charge amplifier and then to the oscilloscope

Nanostructured lipid carriers containing benznidazole: physicochemical, biopharmaceutical and cellular in vitro studies

• Giuliana Muraca,
• María Esperanza Ruiz,
• Rocío C. Gambaro,
• Sebastián Scioli-Montoto,
• María Laura Sbaraglini,
• Gisel Padula,
• José Sebastián Cisneros,
• Cecilia Yamil Chain,
• Vera A. Álvarez,
• Cristián Huck-Iriart,
• Guillermo R. Castro,
• María Belén Piñero,
• Matias Ildebrando Marchetto,
• Catalina Alba Soto,
• Germán A. Islan and
• Alan Talevi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 804–818, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.66

• volume of distribution (Vd) of 0.56 L/kg, and reactive products of its metabolism [13]. Such Vd and low permeability values across biological barriers could result in difficulties for BNZ to reach intracellular amastigotes. The encapsulation of BNZ within nanoscale pharmaceutical carriers has been

• proposed as a strategy to reduce toxicity and improve efficacy [13]. Incorporation of drugs into nanoscale vehicles could result in changes in its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, which in turn could translate into improved efficacy and diminished BNZ toxicity. For example, BNZ-loaded

• intrinsic toxicity of our nanoscale vehicle on T. cruzi may be linked to a modification of glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs). Glycosylphosphatidylinositols are the main anchor complexes used by protozoans to bind to cell surface proteins. It covalently attaches to the C terminus of a protein connecting

Silver-based SERS substrates fabricated using a 3D printed microfluidic device

• Phommachith Sonexai,
• Minh Van Nguyen,
• Bui The Huy and
• Yong-Ill Lee

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 793–803, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.65

• NPs. The SEM image of PS@Ag reveals the presence of nanoscale gaps between the Ag NPs, which act as hot spots with a high electric field intensity when exposed to laser irradiation (Figure S10c). To confirm the distribution of chemical elements on the SERS substrate, energy-dispersive X-ray

Silver nanoparticles loaded on lactose/alginate: in situ synthesis, catalytic degradation, and pH-dependent antibacterial activity

• Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu,
• T. Lan-Anh Vo,
• T. Thu-Trang Ho,
• Kim-Phuong T. Dang,
• Van-Dung Le,
• Phan Nhat Minh,
• Chi-Hien Dang,
• Vinh-Thien Tran,
• Van-Su Dang,
• Tran Thi Kim Chi,
• Hieu Vu-Quang,
• Radek Fajgar,
• Thi-Lan-Huong Nguyen,
• Van-Dat Doan and
• Thanh-Danh Nguyen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 781–792, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.64

• methods for their treatment [44][45]. In recent years, catalytic degradation using oxidizing and reducing agents such as H2O2 and NaBH4 has been frequently reported [46][47][48]. Plasmonic nanoscale metal particles have demonstrated enhanced catalytic performance in conjunction with NaBH4. The surface of

• the nanoscale metal particles served as an absorbent of dyes and BH4− ions. Subsequently, an electron transfer process occurs from BH4− (electron donor) to the dyes (electron acceptor) (Figure 6). As a result, the catalytic efficacy of metal NPs is significantly influenced by factors such as the

In situ magnesiothermic reduction synthesis of a Ge@C composite for high-performance lithium-ion batterie anodes

• Ha Tran Huu,
• Ngoc Phi Nguyen,
• Vuong Hoang Ngo,
• Huy Hoang Luc,
• Minh Kha Le,
• Minh Thu Nguyen,
• My Loan Phung Le,
• Hye Rim Kim,
• In Young Kim,
• Sung Jin Kim,
• Van Man Tran and
• Vien Vo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 751–761, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.62

• robustness, for example, a higher resistance to pulverization than Si, the durability of Ge-based anode is not sufficient for practical applications [14]. To overcome this limitation, nanoscale control and composite design are two effective strategies [15][16][17][18][19]. In addition to various Ge

Nanoarchitectonics for advanced applications in energy, environment and biology: Method for everything in materials science

• Katsuhiko Ariga

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 738–740, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.60

• . Nanotechnology has enabled the observation and analysis of the properties of objects at the nanoscale level, down to molecules and atoms. Then, by understanding and creating new nanostructures it became possible to create materials with unprecedented high functionality. Society has brought about amazing progress

• at the nanoscale level while including various materials chemistry fields, as initiated by nanotechnology. This concept is defined as nanoarchitectonics (Figure 1) [1][2]. Nanoarchitectonics can also be considered a post-nanotechnology concept [3]. Nanotechnology was proposed by Richard Feynman in

• the 20th century [4][5] whereas nanoarchitectonics was proposed by Masakazu Aono in the early 21st century [6]. Nanoarchitectonics is a methodology for architecting functional material systems from components at the nanoscale (i.e., atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials) following the footsteps of

Cross-sectional Kelvin probe force microscopy on III–V epitaxial multilayer stacks: challenges and perspectives

• Mattia da Lisca,
• José Alvarez,
• James P. Connolly,
• Nicolas Vaissiere,
• Karim Mekhazni,
• Jean Decobert and
• Jean-Paul Kleider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 725–737, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.59

• containing numerous layers and interfaces [1]. The capability to conduct local investigations at the nanoscale level that provide information on the electrical properties of materials and along physical interfaces is becoming crucial for solar photovoltaic device efficiency improvement [2]. Electrical

• measurements based on scanning probe microscopy (SPM) allow for the analysis of two-dimensional (2D) features at the surface and along a physical cross section of nanoscale semiconductor structures. Among the wide variety of SPM techniques available [3], Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is an application

Current-induced mechanical torque in chiral molecular rotors

• Richard Korytár and
• Ferdinand Evers

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 711–721, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.57

• , specifically the velocity–current characteristics and threshold currents. Our results can support the design of nanoscale mechanical devices. Model Model geometry (kinematics) Our classical model contains a particle (mass m) moving on a rigid path, which can rotate around an axis, see left part of Figure 1

• of the rotor, but not its frequency. Hence, there is no net torque. Such devices can rotate under a particle current, but they cannot do work. Although they cannot operate as motors, these rotors can serve in nanoscale information storage and processing. The information readout can be performed in