Wearable, stable, highly sensitive hydrogel–graphene strain sensors

• Jian Lv,
• Chuncai Kong,
• Chao Yang,
• Lu Yin,
• Itthipon Jeerapan,
• Fangzhao Pu,
• Xiaojing Zhang,
• Sen Yang and
• Zhimao Yang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 475–480, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.47

• human skin has impeded further integration as a wearable sensing component [7]. Hydrogels, with mechanical properties like biological tissues and consisting of three-dimensional polymer networks that can retain a large amount of water, can serve as ideal vehicles for wearable devices [8][9]. Several

• foil using the silver epoxy. The size of the graphene/hydrogel sensor is 5 × 30 mm. Characterization of the hydrogel and graphene/hydrogel: The mechanical properties of the hydrogel were characterized in an electronic universal testing machine (CMT6503, Sans, Shenzhen, China). A field-emission scanning

• extra water in the graphene dispersion without removing the water inside the hydrogel, thus maintaining the mechanical properties of the material. The graphene layer serves to significantly increase the resistance change of the hydrogel under strain because of the spacing variations among graphene

Gold nanoparticles embedded in a polymer as a 3D-printable dichroic nanocomposite material

• Lars Kool,
• Anton Bunschoten,
• Aldrik H. Velders and
• Vittorio Saggiomo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 442–447, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.43

• way, 3D objects. Results: In this paper we show how to fabricate a 3D-printable nanocomposite composed of dichroic gold nanoparticles and a 3D-printable polymer. The minute amount of gold nanoparticles used for obtaining the dichroic effect does not influence the mechanical properties of the polymer

• envision a drastic change in the mechanical properties between pure PVA and AuNP–PVA. To test this, we 3D-printed dog-bone-shaped strips of plastic (2.5 × 0.4 × 0.1 cm) and tested the elastic modulus (Young’s modulus) using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The pure PVA and the AuNP–PVA, as expected, did

Nanocomposite–parylene C thin films with high dielectric constant and low losses for future organic electronic devices

• Marwa Mokni,
• Gianluigi Maggioni,
• Abdelkader Kahouli,
• Sara M. Carturan,
• Walter Raniero and
• Alain Sylvestre

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 428–441, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.42

• greatly improved mechanical properties and thermal stability in comparison to pure PPXC films [48]. In a recent study, these properties, and especially thermal and UV stability, were further improved by combining nanosilica/titania particles with parylene C [49]. As shown in other works [50][51], parylene

Scanning probe microscopy for energy-related materials

• Rüdiger Berger,
• Benjamin Grévin,
• Philippe Leclère and
• Yi Zhang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 132–134, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.12

• interfaces is therefore essential. Furthermore, these interface phenomena are strongly linked to material properties such as grain size, roughness, mechanical properties and work function. In an attempt to address the diversity of phenomena on the nanoscale, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) methods play an

Bidirectional biomimetic flow sensing with antiparallel and curved artificial hair sensors

• Claudio Abels,
• Antonio Qualtieri,
• Toni Lober,
• Alessandro Mariotti,
• Lily D. Chambers,
• Massimo De Vittorio,
• William M. Megill and
• Francesco Rizzi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 32–46, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.4

• signal detection capability of superficial neuromasts strongly depends on the hydrodynamics of the boundary layer and the mechanical properties of the cupula [11]. Caused by its viscosity, water close to a body’s surface moves slower than the flow stimulus, which creates a spatial gradient of flow

• 2 μm encapsulation layer to all sides of the cantilever beams as well as the flow sensor substrate (including circuitry). This process tunes the mechanical properties (flexural stiffness) of the artificial hair sensor, as described in [46]. Experimental methodology Three different experiments were

Characterization and influence of hydroxyapatite nanopowders on living cells

• Przemyslaw Oberbek,
• Tomasz Bolek,
• Adrian Chlanda,
• Seishiro Hirano,
• Sylwia Kusnieruk,
• Julia Rogowska-Tylman,
• Ganna Nechyporenko,
• Viktor Zinchenko,
• Wojciech Swieszkowski and
• Tomasz Puzyn

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 3079–3094, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.286

• 100 nm can exhibit properties (including toxicological) different from those of non-nanoscale (bulk) materials [4]. Interest in the use of nanomaterials for biomedical applications is constantly growing due to their unique physical, chemical, biological and mechanical properties [5][6]. However

• regenerative medicine. The use of nanosized hydroxyapatites in biomedical applications is constantly growing due to their good mechanical properties and enhanced efficiency of gene transfection in drug delivery. Calcium phosphates are sensitive to the preparation conditions [11][12][13][14][15]. They can be

Hydrogen-induced plasticity in nanoporous palladium

• Markus Gößler,
• Eva-Maria Steyskal,
• Markus Stütz,
• Norbert Enzinger and
• Roland Würschum

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 3013–3024, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.280

• ][2][3], resistance [4][5][6], magnetic moment [5][7], optical transmission [8] and selective chemical transport [9] have been reported in recent years, apart from the mechanical properties described below. Dealloying, a selective dissolution process, has become an established technique to produce

• element for hydrogen-sensing applications [23]. The mechanical properties of nanoporous samples have been extensively studied in the literature, especially for the model system of nanoporous gold (npAu). Reports on potential-controlled creep [24], fracture [25] and strength [26] in npAu add to the list of

• of equations might serve as a starting point for a detailed theoretical treatment of the mechanical properties of npPd in the future. Current I (black) and corresponding strain ε (red) as functions of the applied potential U during a single voltammetric cycle for nanoporous palladium recorded at a

Layered calcium phenylphosphonate: a hybrid material for a new generation of nanofillers

• Kateřina Kopecká,
• Ludvík Beneš,
• Klára Melánová,
• Vítězslav Zima,
• Petr Knotek and
• Kateřina Zetková

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2906–2915, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.269

• also incompletely exfoliated particles, containing up to 20 layers. Dynamic mechanical properties The effect of the exfoliation on the mechanical properties was studied by comparing the free films containing the same amount of the filler (0.5 wt %), both unexfoliated (CaPhP_a_0.5) and exfoliated

• content in order to maintain the mechanical properties of the polymer, it will not meet the criteria for the flame retardancy with CaPhP alone. However, even a small improvement could be useful in combination with other flame retardants. This feature will be further investigated. Conclusion The aim of

• profile of the particles was measured by AFM with a Dimension ICON instrument, Bruker, Germany, in peak force mode with a ScanAsyst tip. The dynamic mechanical properties were measured with a Discovery hybrid rheometer, DHR2, TA Instruments. The experiment was performed in tension mode with a deformation

Disorder in H⁺-irradiated HOPG: effect of impinging energy and dose on Raman D-band splitting and surface topography

• Lisandro Venosta,
• Noelia Bajales,
• Sergio Suárez and
• Paula G. Bercoff

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2708–2717, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.253

• et al. [15] investigated the multi-wavelength Raman spectra of a variety of hydrogenated amorphous carbon materials, which allowed them to estimate values for their bond structure, hydrogen content and mechanical properties. A remarkable conclusion is that UV Raman spectroscopy allows for the

Friction reduction through biologically inspired scale-like laser surface textures

• Johannes Schneider,
• Vergil Djamiykov and
• Christian Greiner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2561–2572, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.238

• the side of the textured bearing steel when it is paired with a much softer material like PEEK, whereas significant changes should be seen when the textured 100Cr6 samples are investigated after being run against alumina. At the same time, the mechanical properties of both contact materials need to be

Nanocellulose: Recent advances and its prospects in environmental remediation

• Katrina Pui Yee Shak,
• Yean Ling Pang and
• Shee Keat Mah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2479–2498, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.232

• deal of attention as materials for environmental remediation due to their impressive mechanical properties and superior adsorption capability. However, the need for non-renewable sources such as fossil fuel to produce CNTs remains a challenge. As of late, research progression in environmental science

• merely fibre shredding [32]. The occurrence of fibre shredding during mechanical disintegration of dry cellulose pulp tends to produce nanocellulose with poor mechanical properties. For improved delamination of nanofibrils, an aqueous medium is employed during mechanical disintegration to loosen

Evidence of friction reduction in laterally graded materials

• Roberto Guarino,
• Gianluca Costagliola,
• Federico Bosia and
• Nicola Maria Pugno

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2443–2456, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.229

• Kingdom 10.3762/bjnano.9.229 Abstract In many biological structures, optimized mechanical properties are obtained through complex structural organization involving multiple constituents, functional grading and hierarchical organization. In the case of biological surfaces, the possibility to modify the

• insights provided by the two different approaches, after having tuned the SBM parameters in order to have a precise match of the frictional force curve obtained by FEM, in terms of slope and static friction threshold. The results show that grading of the mechanical properties can reduce the global static

• computational cost than that required by FEM simulations. Therefore, it can be adopted for a rapid, initial estimation of static friction values. These results suggest that it is possible to realize bio-inspired materials with a gradient in the mechanical properties, imitating the graded Young’s moduli found in

Hydrothermal-derived carbon as a stabilizing matrix for improved cycling performance of silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion full cells

• Mirco Ruttert,
• Florian Holtstiege,
• Jessica Hüsker,
• Markus Börner,
• Martin Winter and
• Tobias Placke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2381–2395, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.223

• consider that there are many potential modifications of the synthesis process that could affect the mechanical properties of the carbon matrix. By changing the temperature, holding time, heating rate or stirring rate, the morphology and particle size of the formed carbon can be adjusted, which might lead

Block copolymers for designing nanostructured porous coatings

• Roberto Nisticò

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2332–2344, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.218

• introduced without the loss of the mechanical properties (provided by the macroporous substrate) [21][22][23][24][25]. Interestingly, devices based on this technology have found commercial application in separation processes involving complex matrices, such as in the clarification of beverages (i.e., milk

Nanoscale characterization of the temporary adhesive of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

• Ana S. Viana and
• Romana Santos

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2277–2286, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.212

• functional amyloid, suggesting that among its proteinaceous constituents there are most likely proteins with amyloid quaternary structures or rich in β-sheets. These results extend our knowledge on sea urchin adhesive composition and mechanical properties essential for the engineering of biomimetic adhesives

• only been studied in P. lividus and was found to be composed of proteins and neutral sugars [18]. Although sea urchin tube feet and adhesive secretions have been extensively studied, its topography and mechanical properties at the nanoscale have never been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the

Electrospun one-dimensional nanostructures: a new horizon for gas sensing materials

• Muhammad Imran,
• Nunzio Motta and
• Mahnaz Shafiei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2128–2170, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.202

• applications in numerous areas, including healthcare, energy storage, biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and defence/security. Their enhanced specific surface area, superior mechanical properties, nanoporosity and improved surface characteristics (in particular, uniformity and stability) have made them

• composites, are fabricated in various assemblies (e.g., as mixed nanocomposites, double-layers, core–shell or hollow forms) using the electrospinning technique [37]. These electrospun nanofibers exhibit enhanced specific surface area, superior mechanical properties, nanoporosity and improved surface

Fabrication of photothermally active poly(vinyl alcohol) films with gold nanostars for antibacterial applications

• Mykola Borzenkov,
• Maria Moros,
• Claudia Tortiglione,
• Serena Bertoldi,
• Nicola Contessi,
• Silvia Faré,
• Angelo Taglietti,
• Agnese D’Agostino,
• Piersandro Pallavicini,
• Maddalena Collini and
• Giuseppe Chirico

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2040–2048, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.193

• resulting films displayed good mechanical properties and a pronounced photothermal effect under NIR irradiation. The local photothermal effect triggered by NIR irradiation of the PVA-GNS films is highly efficient at killing bacteria, therefore providing an opportunity to develop new types of protective

• immersion in water for four days at room temperature the films lose 12 ± 2% of their initial weight. As previously reported, non-crosslinked PVA films under the same conditions dissolve completely [20]. To investigate the mechanical properties, tensile studies were performed on two types of PVA-GNS films

• (GNSs coated with SH-PEG-OCH3 and SH-PEG-COOH) and on the PVA film without GNSs, as a comparison. The two different GNS coatings were selected to study the possible modification of the mechanical properties of the films induced by the presence of PEGylated GNSs, in particular when coated with PEG

Metal-free catalysis based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials: a photoelectron spectroscopy point of view

• Mattia Scardamaglia and
• Carla Bittencourt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2015–2031, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.191

• characteristics in structure and properties, such as high aspect ratio, good mechanical properties and extraordinary electronic properties. The one atom thick two-dimensional planar structure of a graphene sheet makes it superior to CNTs for certain applications because it facilitates the electron transport [22

• ], a key feature of a working electrode. Therefore, graphene may be used in many fields where CNTs have been already used. The excellent mechanical properties, low reactivity and high stability [23] ensure a long-time use as a catalyst under working conditions. Another very important property of

Recent highlights in nanoscale and mesoscale friction

• Andrea Vanossi,
• Dirk Dietzel,
• Andre Schirmeisen,
• Ernst Meyer,
• Rémy Pawlak,
• Thilo Glatzel,
• Marcin Kisiel,
• Shigeki Kawai and
• Nicola Manini

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1995–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.190

• have shown that electrical fields can be used to change frictional properties by orders of magnitude [179]. Molecular layers can be studied relatively to their frictional, adhesive and elastic properties and how can these mechanical properties be controlled by external means. In the future, we may be

Biomimetic and biodegradable cellulose acetate scaffolds loaded with dexamethasone for bone implants

• Aikaterini-Rafailia Tsiapla,
• Varvara Karagkiozaki,
• Veroniki Bakola,
• Foteini Pappa,
• Panagiota Gkertsiou,
• Eleni Pavlidou and
• Stergios Logothetidis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1986–1994, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.189

• synthetic polymeric scaffolds exhibit controllable degradation, good mechanical properties and can be modified easily, they cannot be as bioactive as natural polymers. Moreover, due to their hydrophobicity they hinder significant cellular growth and subsequent tissue formation [14]. Therefore, cellulose

• acetate (CA) is used in this work. CA is derived from a natural polymer and is biocompatible, biodegradable, nonirritant and nontoxic. Moreover, it has excellent mechanical properties and there are potential applications, for instance as films, membranes, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug-delivery

Defect formation in multiwalled carbon nanotubes under low-energy He and Ne ion irradiation

• Santhana Eswara,
• Jean-Nicolas Audinot,
• Brahime El Adib,
• Maël Guennou,
• Tom Wirtz and
• Patrick Philipp

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1951–1963, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.186

• improved mechanical properties which is similar to the one of collagen found in nature [7]. Vacancy formation and interconnections forming between CNTs have also been observed in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations during the irradiation of SWCNTs supported by silica [8]. MD simulations have been used to

• [11]. Besides modification of the mechanical properties, ion irradiation can also be used to change the shape of CNTs: suspended SWCNTs get straightened under ion irradiation [12]. Similarly, for a sheet of several layers of graphene suspended on a TEM grid, the initial roughness disappears under 30

Synthesis of hafnium nanoparticles and hafnium nanoparticle films by gas condensation and energetic deposition

• Irini Michelakaki,
• Nikos Boukos,
• Dimitrios A. Dragatogiannis,
• Spyros Stathopoulos,
• Costas A. Charitidis and
• Dimitris Tsoukalas

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1868–1880, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.179

• mechanical properties can be formed, without any additional treatment. It is shown that these films can be patterned on the substrate in sub-micrometer dimensions using conventional lithography while their porosity can be well controlled. The fabrication and experimental characterization of hafnium

• morphologies and properties of the NTFs [40]. This method, named here energetic nanoparticle deposition, was first introduced by Haberland two decades ago [41]. Herein, we apply this method in order to produce porous Hf NTFs with good mechanical properties. By controlling the kinetic energy of the

• nanoparticles upon landing on the substrate, we tune the porosity and the mechanical properties of the porous NTFs. The mechanical properties of the NTFs were investigated by nanoidentation measurements. We demonstrate this method with Hf nanoparticles but it can be applied to any metallic nanoparticles. We

Preparation of micro/nanopatterned gelatins crosslinked with genipin for biocompatible dental implants

• Reika Makita,
• Tsukasa Akasaka,
• Seiichi Tamagawa,
• Yasuhiro Yoshida,
• Saori Miyata,
• Hirofumi Miyaji and
• Tsutomu Sugaya

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1735–1754, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.165

• that had too high a viscosity, making the molding process more difficult. A reaction temperature of 37 °C and a reaction time of 3 days have previously been described as being suitable conditions [51][52]. As required, the mechanical properties of crosslinked gelatins can be changed by altering the

Nanocomposites comprised of homogeneously dispersed magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles and poly(methyl methacrylate)

• Sašo Gyergyek,
• David Pahovnik,
• Ema Žagar,
• Alenka Mertelj,
• Rok Kostanjšek,
• Miloš Beković,
• Marko Jagodič,
• Heinrich Hofmann and
• Darko Makovec

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1613–1622, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.153

• mechanical properties, exceptional optical clarity as well as being biologically inert [15][16]. In order to preserve the unique properties of the nanoparticles they should be homogeneously dispersed within the polymer matrix. The surface of the magnetic nanoparticles is generally hydrophilic and thus not

Predicting the strain-mediated topological phase transition in 3D cubic ThTaN₃

• Chunmei Zhang and
• Aijun Du

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1399–1404, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.132

• limited and mainly focused on pressure-induced phase transition [3]. Therefore, a systematic study of the electron structure of ThTaN3 in a certain phase is highly desired. Topological insulators (TIs) have attracted much attention due to their distinct quantum mechanical properties, which makes them