Identified as one of the key issues of nanoscience which has potential to shape future scientific research, self-assembly is the most promising approach to make breakthroughs in nanoelectronics, spintronics, and molecular nanotechnology.
Focusing on this dynamic new field, “Self-assembly of nanostructures and nanomaterials II” explores the physics of nanostructures and nanomaterials, new synthesis approaches, properties dependent on size, shape and composition and also:
This Thematic Series covers the synthesis and fabrication of inorganic and organic nanostructures and nanomaterials, as well as their properties and applications. Various manuscripts are also dedicated to the fundamentals of self-assembly with regard to crystal growth, nanopatterning, nanocharacterization and quantum properties, encompassing chemical processing and lithographic techniques for the synthesis and self-organization of 0-D, 1-D, and 2-D nanostructures, as well as special nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, nanomembranes, graphene and ordered mesoporous oxides. Finally, new insights into short-term and future/futuristic device applications are also revealed.
Figure 1: The structure of the Zn-tetraphenylporphyrin molecule. The main inner cavity of the porphyrin (ring...
Figure 2: Filled (black lines) and empty (red lines) states acquired on freshly prepared Fe(001)-p(1×1)O for ...
Figure 3: Energy of molecular levels near the interface between Fe(001)-p(1×1)O and the (a) 20 ML thick Zn-TP...
Scheme 1: Synthetic scheme of AgNP-3MPS nanoparticles (synthesis a).
Figure 1: Characterization of AgNP-3MPS nanoparticles in H2O (synthesis a): (a) UV–vis spectrum; (b) DLS meas...
Figure 2: Absorption spectrum of AgNP-3MPS nanoparticles (synthesis b). The SPR exhibits a sharp peak at 404 ...
Figure 3: a) STM morphology measurements of AgNP-3MPS (synthesis b) and b) the height profile of one nanopart...
Figure 4: DLS of the AgNP-3MPS solution (synthesis b). The hydrodynamic diameter was <2RH> = 5 ± 2 nm.
Figure 5: SPR absorption spectroscopy of the AgNP-3MPS solution (synthesis b) taken immediately after the syn...
Figure 6: Absorption spectra of the AgNP-3MPS (synthesis b) solution with 1 ppm ion concentration.
Figure 7: a) Absorption spectra of the AgNP-3MPS system (synthesis b) as a function of the Ni2+ concentration...
Figure 8: Normalized intensity, absorption maximum (λmax) and FWHM as a function of the nickel ion concentrat...
Figure 9: Model of the interaction of AgNP-3MPS and metal ions.
Scheme 1: Reaction scheme for Pt-DEA nanoparticles.
Figure 1: 1 UV–vis spectra in H2O of: K2PtCl4 (red); DEA (green); Pt-DEA (black).
Figure 2: 2 Influence of Pt/DEA molar ratio: DLS results in water.
Figure 3: 3 Influence of Pt/reducing agent molar ration in the formation of Pt-DEA nanoparticles: DLS results...
Figure 4: FTIR spectrum of Pt-DEA (Pt/DEA 1:1) nanoparticles (film).
Figure 5: Far-IR spectrum of Pt-DEA (Pt/DEA 1:1) nanoparticles (Nujol).
Figure 6: FESEM images of Pt-DEA nanoparticles (Pt/DEA 1:0.25).
Figure 7: Sketch of the aggregation phenomenon together with DLS data of Pt-DEA nanoparticles (Pt/DEA 1:0.33)...
Figure 1: (a) Bulk magnetic FeRh phase diagram. Notice that metamagnetic transitions in bulk B2 FeRh are expe...
Figure 2: Stable shape for a face-centred cubic (fcc) truncated octahedron (a) and a body-centred cubic (bcc)...
Figure 3: Size histogram (a), TEM observations (b) and corresponding EDX analysis (c) of annealed mass-select...
Figure 4: HRTEM images for as-prepared (a) and annealed (b) FeRh nanoparticles with their respective FFT corr...
Figure 5: Simulated X-ray scattering curves for CsCl-type (B2) phase (a) FeRh and (b) FeCo nanoparticles with...
Figure 6: Anomalous scattering f′ and f″ coefficients as a function of photon energy for Fe, Co and Rh elemen...
Figure 7: Measured X-ray scattering at 7.108 keV on annealed FeCo nanoparticles with 5 nm in diameter.
Figure 8: (a) ZFC/FC and m(H) experimental data for mass-selected as-prepared FeCo clusters with 4.3 nm in di...
Figure 9: XMCD signal of as-prepared mass-selected FeCo samples at Co L2,3 edge (a) with their corresponding ...
Figure 10: XMCD signals at Fe L2,3 edge (left) and at Rh M2,3 edge (right) measured at 3 K under 5 T before (t...
Figure 11: Magnetization curves obtained from XMCD signals measured at 3 K as a function of the applied magnet...
Figure 1: CV in H3PO4 at different EC potential ranges (scan rate = 150 mV/s). a) First (continuous line) and...
Figure 2: Optical microscopy image (magnification 50×) acquired ex situ on a) pristine graphite and b) graphi...
Figure 3: AFM topography images of the HOPG surface after the activation of the electrochemical process in H3...
Figure 4: AFM topography images of the HOPG surface a) before EC treatment in phosphoric acid and b) after a ...
Figure 5: Raman spectra (excitation wavelength of 457.9 nm) of the HOPG sample subjected to 15 CV cycles in t...
Figure 6: Spectral subtraction of the spectrum of the pristine HOPG from the Raman spectra of: A-region (red ...
Figure 7: Spectral subtraction of the spectrum of the pristine graphite from the Raman spectra of the A regio...
Figure 1: (a) SEM images of the slat section of the graphene/PMMA interface; (b) SEM image of the graphene su...
Figure 2: (a) Sketch of the setup used for bending tests; F represents the force produced by the screw S used...
Figure 3: Sketch of the setup used for the thermographic analysis of the PMMA/nanocomposite sample.
Figure 4: Sketch of the top view of the sample; A1, A2 are the (10 × 10 mm) areas on the sample monitored by ...
Figure 5: Comparison of the IRT temperature changes. The measurements were performed on various composite mat...
Figure 6: Electrical current variation due to the mechanical stress as measured on a PMMA/graphene sample.
Figure 7: Time dependence of the electrical current for PMMA/graphene. A constant voltage bias V = 5 V is app...
Figure 8: Schematic view of strain induced degenerate vibrational modes E2g shown on the left. The uniaxial s...
Figure 9: Dependence of the normalized electric resistance variation ΔR/R0 on strain ε. The bars indicate the...
Figure 1: SEM images (20,000× magnification, scale bar 1 µm) of tAPA substrates (thickness ≈500 nm), a) as-pr...
Figure 2: Raman spectra of thiols a) in powder form (with their molecular structures); b) in flat film form, ...
Figure 3: Raman spectra of lipids in powder form on flat Au substrates, with their molecular structures.
Figure 4: Raman spectra of the thiol-SLB systems on both flat Au and tAPA–Au: a) MbA and DOTAP, b) AT and POP...
Figure 5: a,b) QCM-D measurements of shift in frequency and dissipation of a) DOTAP on MbA substrate, and b) ...
Figure 1: Geometry, LDA band-structure and DOS of the different (zigzag and armchair) GNR arrays reported in ...
Figure 2: Loss properties of intrinsic graphene (a), i.e., an example of infinite-width GNR, and the undoped ...
Figure 3:
Macroscopic permittivity (, Equation 6) and EL function (ELOSS, Equation 8) at room temperature for the GNR arrays of Figure 1 ...
Figure 4: EL function of Equation 8 at room temperature for the GNR-arrays considered in the main text, e.g., 10ZGNR (a...
Figure 5: EL function of three positively doped 5AGNRs (ΔEF = 0.2 eV) separated by an in-plane vacuum distanc...
Figure 6: EL function of three negatively doped 5AGNR (ΔEF = −0.2 eV), characterized by a C–C bond length acc...
Figure 1: Plan view TEM micrographs of AuNPs electroless deposited on a Si substrate by immersion for 3 s in ...
Figure 2: Gold electroless deposition on Si(100) after an DHF pretreatment of 10 s (a) and 240 s (b); root me...
Figure 3: AFM z-scan of Si sample with AuNPs before (a) and after (b) a postdeposition bake in HF for 70 s, w...
Figure 4: Plan view TEM of Si sample with Au islands obtained with 20 s immersion in the plating solution (a)...
Figure 5: Diffraction profile of sample with AuNPs from a 20 s deposition for the grazing incidence (red, upp...
Figure 6: Au (200) peak as measured by XRD in Bragg–Brentano geometry of (a) as-deposited sample and (b) the ...
Figure 1: SEM images of a Ti film (70 nm thick) after etching for (a) 60 and (b) 150 s. Images of a Ti film (...
Figure 2: Cross-view TEM image of Ti (430-190).
Figure 3: MB degradation under UV light irradiation for five samples: MB (black squares), MB with Ti (70-60) ...
Figure 4: Transmittance (a) and reflectance (b) measurements in the range of 200–800 nm. The vertical lines m...
Figure 5: Fitting of the transmittance and reflectance spectra of Ti (430-190).
Figure 1: Schematic representation of the sample preparation steps: (a) laser irradiation of the Ti foil in o...
Figure 2: Left: Photograph of the irradiated sample. Middle: low-magnification SEM image of the surface after...
Figure 3: RBS spectra of the TiOx film and the Ti target. Arrows indicate signals coming from titanium and ox...
Figure 4: XRD spectra of the TiOx/Ti film and the Ti foil (before irradiation). The main characteristic peaks...
Figure 5: Absorbance spectra of the TiOx/Ti film in the IR, visible and UV spectral range.
Figure 6: UV discoloration of methylene blue (MB) dye in the presence of TiOx/Ti/Pt foil. The discoloration o...
Figure 1: (a) Schematic including an optical image of a MoS2 transistor with the SiO2/Si backgate and Ni/Au s...
Figure 2: Semilog scale plot (a) and linear scale plot (b) of the transfer characteristics (ID−VG) measured a...
Figure 3: (a) Semilog scale plot of the transfer characteristics (ID−VG) in the subthreshold regime at differ...
Figure 4: (a) Linear scale plot of ID (left axis) and of the transconductance gm (right axis) at VDS = 0.1 V ...
Figure 5: (a) Temperature dependence of the field effect mobility extracted from the linear region of the ID−V...
Figure 6: Output characteristics ID−VDS for different gate bias values from −56 to 0 V at different temperatu...
Figure 7: (a) On-resistance Ron vs 1/(VG−Vth,lin) at different temperatures. (b) Temperature dependence of RC....
Figure 8: (a) Output characteristics (ID−VDS) for different gate bias values from −56 to 0 V at T = 298 K. (b...
Figure 1: (a) Principle of operation and (b) energy level diagram of a typical DSSC.
Figure 2: Photograph of mallow and henna powders.
Figure 3: (a) FTIR spectrum of mallow. (b) Scopoletin molecule.
Figure 4: (a) FTIR spectrum of henna. (b) Lawsone molecule.
Figure 5: UV–vis measurements of henna and mallow dye solutions.
Figure 6: SEM images of ZnO NRs (a) before immersion in dye, (b) cross-section view of ZnO NRs, (c) after imm...
Figure 7: SEM images of ZnO NWs (a) cross-section view of ZnO NWs (b) before immersion in dye and (c) after i...
Figure 8: (a) SEM images of ZnO NWs after the deposition of the TiO2 layer by sputtering. (b) Energy level di...
Figure 9: The ZnO NR absorbance measurements, as deposited in forming gas and in nitrogen for 45 minutes and ...
Figure 10: The ZnO NR absorbance measurements before and after immersion in dye for 23 h, in the first concent...
Figure 11: Current–voltage measurements (a) assembled cells with ZnO NWs as a layer in the photoanode side wit...
Figure 1: (a) AFM morphology image and (b) micro-Raman spectra of the as transferred graphene on SiO2 substra...
Figure 2: (Top) Comparison of the in situ Raman spectra of a Gr sample as transferred and subsequently treate...
Figure 3: (Top) Comparison of the in situ Raman spectra of a Gr sample as transferred and subsequently treate...
Figure 4: Correlation map of the 2D and G peak positions measured at room temperature in the Gr/SiO2/Si sampl...
Figure 5: In situ Raman spectra of MoS2 before thermal treatments (bottom), after thermal treatment in O2 at ...
Figure 6: MoS2 flake after the thermal treatment up to 430 °C in O2; optical microscopy (left) and AFM (right...
Figure 7: Ex situ Raman spectra of MoS2 before thermal treatment (bottom line), after thermal treatment in O2...
Figure 1: Scheme of the sputtering process with glancing angle deposition and rotating substrate.
Figure 2: (a) Photograph, (b) AFM images, and (c) SEM images (upper row: top view, lower row: fracture cross ...
Figure 3: (a) Diameter distribution obtained from top-view SEM images for the Au samples prepared onto Si sub...
Figure 4: Reflectance spectra of nanostructured Au samples exhibiting black color (a) and golden color (b). F...
Figure 5: (a) Photograph of two samples prepared onto MgO substrates: a continuous Au thin film prepared with...
Figure 1: (a) Typical SEM image showing the morphology of the as-collected sample; EFTEM images obtained at (...
Figure 2: HAADF-STEM micrographs of a SiNS with two connected SiNWs, acquired at (a) 0°, (b) 35° and (c) 70° ...
Figure 3: (a) Volume reconstruction of the system formed of (b) a SiNS and (c) two SiNWs having a Fe nanopart...
Figure 4: STEM-EDX spectra acquired at the points indicated in the BF STEM image in the insets: (a) SiNWs gro...
Figure 1: Cross-sectional (a) and top (b) view of densely packed ZnO NCs grown at 90 °C for 180 min (scale ba...
Figure 2: High-resolution core-level Zn 2p and O 1s XPS spectra of pristine (A) ZnO NCs and ZnO NCs after 25 ...
Figure 3: The optical absorptance spectra of as-grown ZnO nanocolumns and NCs treated in H-plasma for 1, 5, 1...
Figure 4: The optical absorptance spectra of as-grown ZnO nanocolumns and NCs treated in O-plasma for 1, 5, 1...
Figure 1: Impact sensitivity of RDX as a function of RDX type and particle diameter, adapted from [6].
Figure 2: Empirical diagram of the evaporation of a water drop, adapted from [107]
Figure 3: SFE installation as patented and used in this present work
Figure 4: Schematic cross-sections of the nozzle and its heating system; from left to right, rear view, longi...
Figure 5: System for the product recovery: the cyclonic separator for vacuum (orange) and the interchangeable...
Figure 1: a) Comparison between tapping mode atomic force microscopy (tAFM) morphologies of low temperature (...
Figure 2: a) Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (tAFM) morphology of the PEN surface and b) a schematic rep...
Figure 3: a) Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (tAFM) morphology and b) schematic illustration of the alum...
Figure 4: a) Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (tAFM) morphology and b) schematic illustration of the grap...
Figure 5: a) Id–Vd characteristics at different back gate bias values and b) Id–Vg transfer characteristic fo...
Figure 6: Transfer conductance, gm, of the Gr-FET, calculated from the Id vs Vg transfer characteristic.
Figure 1: a) Glow-discharge peak intensity monitored in the region of 328–367 nm, an energy region in which w...
Figure 2: The color of the plasma corresponding to the six increasing values of the input flux described in Figure 1 ...
Figure 3: 3D plot constructed to optimize sputter deposition. Each point of the grid corresponds to a sample ...
Figure 4: Critical temperature Tc of NbN as a function of the N2 flux and of the of N2/Nb peak ratio. In the ...
Figure 5: Spectrum of the emission lines. Details of AlN for different values of N2 flux (starting from 0 and...
Figure 6: Resistivity of AlN film as a function of N2/Ar gas flux and Ar/N2 peak ratio. The rf power was fixe...
Figure 7: Film voltages as a function of the time obtained varying the current density and compliance voltage...
Figure 8: Optical microscopy images at 100× magnification of a) sample 1 in a) and b) sample 6. The upper par...
Figure 9: Scheme of the oxidized film grown on NbN. The total thickness of the oxide (TEXT + TINT) is higher ...
Figure 10: Auger electron spectroscopy of the initial NbN sample before and after anodization. A soft surface ...
Figure 11: a) Current–voltage characteristic for NbN Josephson junction and b) diffraction pattern obtained me...
Figure 12: A section of our samples indicating the layers of the fabrication steps and their relative thicknes...
Figure 1: a) Normalized absorption of nanosphere and nanoprism solutions. b) TEM image of the synthetized nan...
Figure 2: Real and imaginary optical indices of PVP of 40,000 and 55,000 g·mol−1 average molar weight, fitted...
Figure 3: (a) Optical indices n and k, (b) reflectance measured and calculated by TMM for heterogeneous layer...
Figure 4: AFM topography of the nanospheres on a substrate.
Figure 1: Viability of SAOS-2 cells incubated with HPHT NDs for three concentrations as a function of the mea...
Figure 2: Viability of SAOS-2 cells incubated with HPHT NDs at three concentrations as a function of the mean...
Figure 3: Viability of SAOS-2 cells incubated with NDs at three concentrations as a function of ND type and s...
Figure 4: Viability of SAOS-2 cells incubated with NDs for three concentrations as a function of ND type and ...
Figure 5: Phase contrast images of photoluminescent NDs (AR-40, 100 µg/mL) incubated with SAOS-2 cells after ...