Living organisms have a hierarchical structure ranging from macro to nano with complex time-evolving dynamics, and there are certain areas where surface science and nanotechnology can contribute. In ...this review, how soft nanotechnology has been evolved in the field of surface and vacuum society is described with historical background over the last two decades, which includes self-assembled monolayers and supported (and tethered) bilayers as a model of cell membrane. Recent topics in the field of nanobiotechnology are also reported.
Abstract
Field-induced ionic motions in all-inorganic CsPbBr
3
perovskite quantum dots (QDs) strongly dictate not only their electro-optical characteristics but also the ultimate optoelectronic ...device performance. Here, we show that the functionality of a single Ag/CsPbBr
3
/ITO device can be actively switched on a sub-millisecond scale from a resistive random-access memory (RRAM) to a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC), or vice versa, by simply modulating its bias polarity. We then realize for the first time a fast, all-perovskite light-emitting memory (LEM) operating at 5 kHz by pairing such two identical devices in series, in which one functions as an RRAM to electrically read the encoded data while the other simultaneously as an LEC for a parallel, non-contact optical reading. We further show that the digital status of the LEM can be perceived in real time from its emission color. Our work opens up a completely new horizon for more advanced all-inorganic perovskite optoelectronic technologies.
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•A brief history and underlying mechanism of the surface-plasmon (SP)-enhanced light emissions were presented.•Enhancements of the spontaneous emission rates of the excited states ...were discussed by the terms of the coupling states between an exciton and SP.•Recent progress and current problems regarding device applications of plasmonic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were reviewed.•Future possibilities of SP-enhanced light emissions were discussed to extend the wavelength regions from deep ultraviolet (UV) to infrared (IR).
Coupling between surface plasmons (SPs) and excitons can be used to enhance the emission efficiencies of light-emitting materials and devices. This approach had been theoretically predicted and, in 2004, was experimentally demonstrated by our group for enhancing the visible emission from InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs). Exciton–SP coupling increases the spontaneous emission rates of the excited states, causes a relative reduction in nonradiative relaxation, and ultimately increases the internal quantum efficiencies (IQEs) of such devices. Here, we present a brief history of the increases in emission efficiency that have been achieved and the underlying mechanism thereof. This method has the potential to enable the development of high-efficiency light-emitting diodes (LEDs), eventually leading to the replacement of fluorescent lights with solid-state light sources. After the initial discovery of this phenomenon, many device structures were proposed and reported; however, their emission efficiencies have thus far remained insufficient for practical application. Here, we also present recent progress on device applications and the current problems that must be solved. Finally, we explain the future possibilities regarding the extension of SP-enhanced light emission over a broader wavelength region, from the deep ultraviolet (UV) to the infrared (IR).
This study proposes a methodology for the fabrication of two-dimensional assembled colloidal nanocrystals based on the classical theory for the surface excess of a short-chain alcohol (butanol) in an ...aqueous mixture and Rayleigh-Bénard-Marangoni convection caused by temperature and/or surface tension gradients due to the volatilization of butanol at the air-water interface. When polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified anisotropic silver nanoprisms dispersed in butanol were added into the water phase, the nanoprisms were guided to the air-water interface
via
adsorbed butanol together with free butanol and formed dense two-dimensional assemblies through the lateral attraction between nanoprisms as the adsorbed butanol was volatilized. The obtained dense film composed of silver nanoprisms exhibited surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity, and in particular, the activity was largely enhanced by low-pressure plasma treatment. A SERS-based invisible printing platform that could only be recognized by
x
-
y
SERS mapping was demonstrated with the patterned nanoprism films.
This study proposes a methodology for the fabrication of two-dimensional assemblies of asymmetric Ag nanoprisms based on the classical theory for the surface excess of butanol in an aqueous mixture and Rayleigh-Bénard-Marangoni convection.
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•Coordinations of citrates on Au and Ag NPs are confirmed by FTIR and MO calculations.•Citrate forms an ionic bond with Ag NPs while it forms a unidentate bond with Au NPs.•LSPR ...excited on nanoparticles enhances IR vibration mode perpendicular to the surface.
In this paper, we report different coordinations of citrates on gold (AuNP) and silver (AgNP) nanoparticles, as determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and molecular orbital (MO) calculations. AuNPs and AgNPs are found to have completely different interactions with the carboxylate anchoring groups, as indicated by their unique asymmetric stretching vibrations in the FTIR spectra. The νas (COO−) of citrate exhibits a high-frequency shift resulting from the formation of a unidentate coordination on AuNPs, whereas this vibration exhibits a low-frequency shift as a result of ionic bond formation on AgNPs, as predicted from the MO calculations of the corresponding metal complex salts. The enhancement in the IR signals when their vibration direction was perpendicular to the nanoparticle surface revealed the influence of localized surface plasmons excited on the metal nanoparticles.
Size control is critical in the synthesis of quantum-confined semiconductor nanocrystals, otherwise known as quantum dots. The achievement of size-uniformity and narrow spectral line-width in quantum ...dots conventionally relies on a very precise kinetic control of the reactions, where reaction time plays a significant role in defining the final crystal sizes and distribution. Here, we show that synthesis of quantum-confined perovskite nanostrips could be achieved through a thermodynamically controlled reaction, using a low-temperature and ligand-rich approach. The nanostrip growth proceeds through an initial one-dimensional (1D) nanorod stage, followed by the lateral widening of the rod to form a two-dimensional (2D) nanostrip. The spectral characteristics of the final product remain unchanged after prolonged reaction, indicating no signs of crystal ripening and confirming the thermodynamic nature of this reaction. The CsPbBr3 perovskite nanostrips were highly uniform and emit at a deep-blue wavelength of 462 nm with a remarkably narrow line-width of 13 nm. This corresponds to color coordinates of (0.136, 0.049) on the CIE 1931 color space, which fulfils the stringent Rec. 2020 standard for next-generation color displays. The well-passivated nanostrips also possess negligible defects and provide a near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield at 94%. Crucially, the achievement of blue emission through a pure-halide perovskite circumvents the problems of spectral instability that are frequently experienced in mixed-halide perovskite systems. The convenience and scalability of our thermodynamic approach, coupled with the excellent optical attributes, would likely enable these quantum-confined perovskite systems to be the preferred method toward color control in trichromatic display applications.
A rapid and simple cancer detection method independent of cancer type is an important technology for cancer diagnosis. Although the expression profiles of biological molecules contained in cancer ...cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered candidates for discrimination indexes to identify any cancerous cells in the body, it takes a certain amount of time to examine these expression profiles. Here, we report the shape distributions of EVs suspended in a solution and the potential of these distributions as a discrimination index to discriminate cancer cells. Distribution analysis is achieved by low-aspect-ratio nanopore devices that enable us to rapidly analyze EV shapes individually in solution, and the present results reveal a dependence of EV shape distribution on the type of cells (cultured liver, breast, and colorectal cancer cells and cultured normal breast cells) secreting EVs. The findings in this study provide realizability and experimental basis for a simple method to discriminate several types of cancerous cells based on rapid analyses of EV shape distributions.
We propose a unique random metal nanohemisphere on mirror (NHoM) structure to tune the surface plasmon (SP) resonance in a flexible manner. The SP resonance peak was split into two peaks owing to the ...strong coupling between the SP mode in the metal nanohemisphere and the mirror image mode generated in the metal substrate. This phenomenon is based on the fact that the strong coupling and the induced electromagnetic effects are similar to those pertaining to the Rabi splitting, Fano resonance, and electromagnetically induced transparency, thus providing quantum effect analogies. These phenomena have recently attracted increased attention and have been studied with nanocavities fabricated with top-down nanotechnologies. Compared with previous reports, NHoM structures can be fabricated in a much easier manner and are tunable in rather wider wavelength regions without nanofabrication technologies. The SP resonance peaks were enhanced, sharpened dramatically, and tuned flexibly, based on the optimization of the thickness of the spacer layer between the metal hemisphere and metal substrate. Experimental results were reproduced and were explained based on finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. These phenomena have never been observed previously on similar nanosphere on mirror (NSoM) because nanohemispherical structures were required. The NHoM nanocavity structure has a quality factor >200 that is surprisingly high for the localized SP mode of nanoparticles. Flexible tuning of the SP resonance with the use of NHoM is envisaged to lead to the development of new applications and technologies in the field of plasmonics and nanophotonics.
Abstract
Controlling the fast electrophoresis of nano-objects in solid-state nanopores is a critical issue for achieving electrical analysis of single-particles by ionic current. In particular, it is ...crucial to slow-down the translocation dynamics of nanoparticles. We herein report that a focused electric field and associated water flow in a surround-gate nanopore can be used to trap and manipulate a nanoscale object. We fine-control the electroosmosis-induced water flow by modulating the wall surface potential via gate voltage. We find that a nanoparticle can be captured in the vicinity of the conduit by balancing the counteracting electrophoretic and hydrodynamic drag forces. By creating a subtle force imbalance, in addition, we also demonstrate a gate-controllable motion of single-particles moving at an extremely slow speed of several tens of nanometers per second. The present method may be useful in single-molecule detection by solid-state nanopores and nanochannels.
This paper proposes a simple, effective, non-scanning method for the visualization of a cell-attached nanointerface. The method uses localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excited homogeneously ...on a two-dimensional (2D) self-assembled gold-nanoparticle sheet. The LSPR of the gold-nanoparticle sheet provides high-contrast interfacial images due to the confined light within a region a few tens of nanometers from the particles and the enhancement of fluorescence. Test experiments on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells with fluorescence-labeled actin filaments revealed high axial and lateral resolution even under a regular epifluorescence microscope, which produced higher quality images than those captured under a total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope. This non-scanning-type, high-resolution imaging method will be an effective tool for monitoring interfacial phenomena that exhibit relatively rapid reaction kinetics in various cellular and molecular dynamics.
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