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The development of reliable, highly sensitive hydrogen sensors is crucial for the safe implementation of hydrogen-based energy systems. This paper proposes a novel way to enhance the performance of hydrogen sensors through integrating Pd-SnO2 nanofilms on the substrate with silicon nanowires (SiNWs). The samples were fabricated via a simple and cost-effective process, mainly consisting of metal-assisted chemical etching (MaCE) and electron beam evaporation. Structural and morphological characterizations were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experimental results showed that, compared to those without SiNW structure or decorative Pd nanoparticles, the Pd-decorated SnO2 nanofilm integrated on the SiNW substrates exhibited significantly improved hydrogen sensing performance, achieving a response time of 9 s at 300 °C to 1.5% H2 and a detection limit of 1 ppm. The enhanced performance can be primarily attributed to the large surface area provided by SiNWs, the efficient hydrogen spillover effect facilitated by Pd nanoparticles, and the abundant oxygen vacancies present on the surface of the SnO2 nanofilm, as well as the Schottky barrier formed at the heterojunction interface between Pd and SnO2. This study demonstrates a promising approach for developing high-performance H2 sensors characterized by ultrafast response times and ultralow detection limits.

Tungsten oxide (WO3) thin films with various thicknesses of approximately 36, 72, 108, and 180 nm were prepared using radio frequency sputtering method. Film thickness can be controlled at nanoscale. In addition, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were utilized for investigating morphologies and microstructures of as‐prepared WO3 thin films. Moreover, optical properties of the WO3 nanofilms were characterized using ultraviolet‐visible‐near infrared spectroscopy. Transmittance of WO3 films changed during the electrochemical cycles. WO3 films with various thicknesses give various transmittance modulation between colored and bleached states. WO3 films with a thickness of approximately 108 nm had the largest transmittance modulation among various film thicknesses, about 66% measured at 550 nm. Results showed that the value of transmittance of colored samples decreased with increasing film thickness. However, transmittance of bleached samples was not influenced significantly by their thickness.

The accurate detection of biological substances such as proteins has always been a hot topic in scientific research. Biomimetic sensors seek to imitate sensitive and selective mechanisms of biological systems and integrate these traits into applicable sensing platforms. Molecular imprinting technology has been extensively practiced in many domains, where it can produce various molecular recognition materials with specific recognition capabilities. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), dubbed plastic antibodies, are artificial receptors with high-affinity binding sites for a particular molecule or compound. MIPs for protein recognition are expected to have high affinity via numerous interactions between polymer matrices and multiple functional groups of the target protein. This critical review briefly describes recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and application of MIP-based sensor platforms used to detect proteins.

Supercapacitors are indispensable for next-generation energy storage, achieving high energy density and long-term durability remains a formidable challenge. Conventional CoS suffers from poor conductivity, while Ti3C2 faces severe restacking. Herein, we report a novel synthesis strategy that integrates metal–organic framework (MOF) growth with electrostatic self-assembly to construct heterojunction of CoS nanotubes coated with ultrathin Ti3C2 nanofilms. Material characterization via SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS systematically confirms the heterostructure formation, and chemical composition. This rational design synergistically leverages CoS high pseudocapacitance and Ti3C2 metallic conductivity while the heterostructure mitigates restacking, enhances charge transfer, and stabilizes interfacial interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal strengthened OH− adsorption at the Co–Ti interface (Ead = 1.106 eV). Consequently, the CoS/Ti3C2@CC delivers a remarkable specific capacitance of 1034.21 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. Assembled into a supercapacitor, CoS/Ti3C2@CC//AC achieves a high energy density of 74.22 Wh kg−1 at 800 W kg−1, maintaining 89.13% initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles. Significantly, it exhibits a remarkably low leakage current (0.23 μA) and ultra-prolonged voltage retention (47.14% after 120 h), underscoring exceptional durability. This work pioneers a rational heterostructure engineering strategy by integrating MOF-derived architectures with conductive MXene nanofilms, offering critical insights for the development of ultra-durable supercapacitors. A novel CoS/Ti3C2@CC electrode featuring a Co–Ti heterointerface enables enhanced Faradaic kinetics in alkaline media, while the resulting supercapacitor demonstrates superior energy density and practical viability. [Display omitted] •A vertically aligned CoS nanotube arrays integrated with ultrathin Ti3C2 films-based electrode is successfully fabricated.•The CoS/Ti3C2@CC electrode delivers a remarkable specific capacitance of 1034.21 F g−1 at 1 A g−1.•The assembled supercapacitor demonstrates exceptional durability with 47.14 % voltage retention after 120 h.•Interfacial charge redistribution at the Co–Ti heterojunction boosts redox kinetics.

Achieving surface design and control of biomaterial scaffolds with nanometer- or micrometer-scaled functional films is critical to mimic the unique features of native extracellular matrices, which has significant technological implications for tissue engineering including cell-seeded scaffolds, microbioreactors, cell assembly, tissue regeneration, etc. Compared with other techniques available for surface design, layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technology has attracted extensive attention because of its integrated features of simplicity, versatility, and nanoscale control. Here we present a brief overview of current state-of-the-art research related to the LbL self-assembly technique and its assembled biomaterials as scaffolds for tissue engineering. An overview of the LbL self-assembly technique, with a focus on issues associated with distinct routes and driving forces of self-assembly, is described briefly. Then, we highlight the controllable fabrication, properties, and applications of LbL self-assembly biomaterials in the forms of multilayer nanofilms, scaffold nanocoatings, and three-dimensional scaffolds to systematically demonstrate advances in LbL self-assembly in the field of tissue engineering. LbL self-assembly not only provides advances for molecular deposition but also opens avenues for the design and development of innovative biomaterials for tissue engineering.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, as one of important polymeric materials with extensively scientific interests and technological applications, shows five crystalline polymorphs with α, β, γ, δ and ε phases obtained by different processing methods. Among them, β phase PVDF presents outstanding electrical characteristics including piezo-, pyro-and ferroelectric properties. These electroactive properties are increasingly important in applications such as energy storage, spin valve devices, biomedicine, sensors and smart scaffolds. This article discusses the basic knowledge and character methods for PVDF fabrication and provides an overview of recent advances on the phase modification and recent applications of the β phase PVDF are reported. This study may provide an insight for the development and utilization for β phase PVDF nanofilms in future electronics.

Mesoporous gold (Au) films with tunable pores are expected to provide fascinating optical properties stimulated by the mesospaces, but they have not been realized yet because of the difficulty of controlling the Au crystal growth. Here, we report a reliable soft-templating method to fabricate mesoporous Au films using stable micelles of diblock copolymers, with electrochemical deposition advantageous for precise control of Au crystal growth. Strong field enhancement takes place around the center of the uniform mesopores as well as on the walls between the pores, leading to the enhanced light scattering as well as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which is understandable, for example, from Babinet principles applied for the reverse system of nanoparticle ensembles. The selective growth of mesoporous gold thin films with control over the porosity is a challenging task. Here, the authors report a soft-templating method allowing the growth of tunable, mesoporous gold films and examine their optical properties

Robust polymeric nanofilms can be used to construct gas-permeable soft electronics that can directly adhere to soft biological tissue for continuous, long-term biosignal monitoring. However, it is challenging to fabricate gas-permeable dry electrodes that can self-adhere to the human skin and retain their functionality for long-term (>1 d) health monitoring. We have succeeded in developing an extraordinarily robust, self-adhesive, gas-permeable nanofilm with a thickness of only 95 nm. It exhibits an extremely high skin adhesion energy per unit area of 159 μJ/cm². The nanofilm can self-adhere to the human skin by van der Waals forces alone, for 1 wk, without any adhesive materials or tapes. The nanofilm is ultradurable, and it can support liquids that are 79,000 times heavier than its own weight with a tensile stress of 7.82 MPa. The advantageous features of its thinness, self-adhesiveness, and robustness enable a gas-permeable dry electrode comprising of a nanofilm and an Au layer, resulting in a continuous monitoring of electrocardiogram signals with a high signal-to-noise ratio (34 dB) for 1 wk.

Introduction: Poor interfacial bonding between the fibers and resin matrix in fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) is a significant drawback of the composites. To enhance the mechanical properties of FRC, fibers were modified by depositing SiO2 nanofilms via the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. This study aims to evaluate the effect of ALD treatment of the fibers on the mechanical properties of the FRCs.Methods: The quartz fibers were modified by depositing different cycles (50, 100, 200, and 400) of SiO2 nanofilms via the ALD technique and FRCs were proposed from the modified fibers. The morphologies, surface characterizations of nanofilms, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility of FRCs were systematically investigated. Moreover, the shear bond strength (SBS) of FRCs to human enamel was also evaluated.Results: The SEM and SE results showed that the ALD-deposited SiO2 nanofilms have good conformality and homogeneity. According to the results of FTIR and TGA, SiO2 nanofilms and quartz fiber surfaces had good chemical combinations. Three-point bending tests with FRCs showed that the deposited SiO2 nanofilms effectively improved FRCs’ strength and Group D underwent 100 deposition cycles and had the highest flexural strength before and after aging. Furthermore, the strength of the FRCs demonstrated a crescendo-decrescendo tendency with SiO2 nanofilm thickness increasing. The SBS results also showed that Group D had outstanding performance. Moreover, the results of cytotoxicity experiments such as cck8, LDH and Elisa, etc., showed that the FRCs have good cytocompatibility.Conclusion: Changing the number of ALD reaction cycles affects the mechanical properties of FRCs, which may be related to the stress relaxation and fracture between SiO2 nanofilm layers and the built-up internal stresses in the nanofilms. Eventually, the SiO2 nanofilms could enhance the FRCs’ mechanical properties and performance to enamel by improving the interfacial bonding strength, and have good cytocompatibility.

In the realm of sensing technologies, the appeal of sensors lies in their exceptional detection ability, high selectivity, sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and minimal sample usage. Notably, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based sensors have emerged as focal points of interest spanning from clinical to environmental applications. These sensors offer a promising avenue for rapid, selective, reusable, and real-time screening of diverse molecules. The preparation technologies employed in crafting various polymer formats, ranging from microparticles to nanomaterials, wield a profound influence. These techniques significantly impact the assembly of simplified sensing systems, showcasing remarkable compatibility with other technologies. Moreover, they are poised to play a pivotal role in the realization of next-generation platforms, streamlining the fabrication of sensing systems tailored for diverse objectives. This review serves as a comprehensive exploration, offering concise insights into sensors, the molecular imprinting method, and the burgeoning domain of MIP-based sensors along with their applications. Delving into recent progress, this review provides a detailed summary of advances in imprinted-particle- and gel-based sensors, illuminating the creation of novel sensing systems. Additionally, a thorough examination of the distinctive properties of various types of MIP-based sensors across different applications enriches the understanding of their versatility. In the concluding sections, this review highlights the most recent experiments from cutting-edge studies on MIP-based sensors targeting various molecules. By encapsulating the current state of research, this review acts as a valuable resource, offering a snapshot of the dynamic landscape of MIP-based sensor development and its potential impact on diverse scientific and technological domains.