Kotaro Ito, Kazuhisa Tamura, Keisuke Shimizu, Norifumi L. Yamada, Kenta Watanabe, Kota Suzuki, Ryoji Kanno and Masaaki Hirayama
{"title":"Degradation of a lithium cobalt oxide cathode under high voltage operation at an interface with an oxide solid electrolyte†","authors":"Kotaro Ito, Kazuhisa Tamura, Keisuke Shimizu, Norifumi L. Yamada, Kenta Watanabe, Kota Suzuki, Ryoji Kanno and Masaaki Hirayama","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00251A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00251A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Lithium (de)intercalation of layered rocksalt-type cathodes in high-voltage regions is of great importance for achieving a high energy density in lithium batteries. The reversible capacity of LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small> at high voltages is not well known because of oxidative side reactions with the electrolyte species. In this study, a model thin-film battery was fabricated using an epitaxially grown LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small> cathode and an amorphous Li<small><sub>3</sub></small>PO<small><sub>4</sub></small> solid electrolyte to suppress oxidative degradation. The film battery operated stably at high voltages, ranging up to 4.6 V, without severe side reactions of LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small> and Li<small><sub>3</sub></small>PO<small><sub>4</sub></small>, resulting in a reversible capacity greater than 200 mA h g<small><sup>−1</sup></small>. However, the charge–discharge capacities of the battery decreased with cycling at 4.7 V. <em>In situ</em> synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies revealed an irreversible structural change in LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small> at 3.0 V after charging at 4.7 V. Structural degradation occurred both in the bulk and surface regions of the LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small> film, indicating intrinsic irreversibility of the crystal structure changes of highly delithiated LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small>, although the LiCoO<small><sub>2</sub></small>/electrolyte interface remained stable.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 790-799"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00251a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicholas T. Boileau, Benjamin King, Sparsh Kapar, Ali Najafi Sohi, Joseph G. Manion, Michel Godin and Benoît H. Lessard
{"title":"Microfluidic-organic thin film transistor coupled platform for simple solution exposure†","authors":"Nicholas T. Boileau, Benjamin King, Sparsh Kapar, Ali Najafi Sohi, Joseph G. Manion, Michel Godin and Benoît H. Lessard","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00269A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00269A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Efforts to combine organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) within microfluidic networks to create sensitive, versatile, and low-cost sensors for rapid chemical analysis have been limited by the need for complex equipment and by the sensitivity of OTFTs to common processing techniques used in traditional microfluidic fabrication. We designed and validated a robust, easy to use, and simple to manufacture prototype microfluidic–OTFT pressure coupled system. Our design enables multiple OTFT architectures to be combined with microfluidic analyte delivery, eliminates common processing steps that can alter OTFT performance, and only requires easily-accessible equipment. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the exposure of aluminium chloride phthalocyanine (AlClPc) based OTFTs to different solutions of sodium fluoride (NaF). This work could accelerate the design of more versatile, rapid, and reliable OTFT based liquid chemical sensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 771-778"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00269a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oliver Olsson, Marika Gugole, Jolie C. Blake, Maxim Chukharkin and Andreas Dahlin
{"title":"Electrochromic active matrix with plasmonic metasurfaces†","authors":"Oliver Olsson, Marika Gugole, Jolie C. Blake, Maxim Chukharkin and Andreas Dahlin","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00266G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00266G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Reflective pixels made by plasmonic metasurfaces and tuned by electrochromics exhibit significant potential to be used as flexible, polychromatic, electronic paper. This is attributed to their high reflectivity, low power consumption, and ultrathin dimensions. However, to date, only single pixels of electrochromics combined with plasmonics have been demonstrated. To make a graphical display, pixels in a matrix are required. A matrix configuration that has been successful for emissive displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCD) and organic light emitting-diodes (OLED) is the active matrix. Active matrix configurations consist of thin-film transistors (TFT) in an array where the transistors block unwanted signals. In this study, we demonstrate the suitability of a commercial, flexible TFT array as a substrate for depositing plasmonic metasurfaces in a red, green, and blue subpixel configuration. The conjugated polymer PProDOT-Me<small><sub>2</sub></small> can be directly polymerized onto selected pixels from a monomer solution and individual pixels can be controlled. We demonstrate the ability of the TFT array to function both in an electrochemical 3-electrode setup and as a 2-electrode flexible device.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 719-727"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00266g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ronal Edgardo Castellanos-Pineda, Agustin Baron-Jaimes, Mario Alejandro Millán-Franco, Marina Elizabeth Rincón and Oscar Andrés Jaramillo-Quintero
{"title":"CdS-carbon black hybrid nanocomposite buffer layer for antimony sulfide solar cells†","authors":"Ronal Edgardo Castellanos-Pineda, Agustin Baron-Jaimes, Mario Alejandro Millán-Franco, Marina Elizabeth Rincón and Oscar Andrés Jaramillo-Quintero","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00235G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00235G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hydrothermal synthesis of antimony sulfide (Sb<small><sub>2</sub></small>S<small><sub>3</sub></small>) has emerged as a suitable method to fabricate Sb<small><sub>2</sub></small>S<small><sub>3</sub></small> solar cells. Conventionally, a CdS film is essential to obtain homogeneous and high-quality Sb<small><sub>2</sub></small>S<small><sub>3</sub></small> films, which in turn improves the photovoltaic performance of Sb<small><sub>2</sub></small>S<small><sub>3</sub></small> devices. However, the CdS film also requires a post-treatment process to achieve the desired electronic conductivity. Herein, we report a hybrid nanocomposite buffer layer consisting of CdS and carbon black nanoparticles synthesized on a TiO<small><sub>2</sub></small> film by a one-pot chemical bath deposition route. This method enables high electrical conductivity of the buffer layer with low roughness and n-type nature. Thus, devices based on the nanocomposite buffer layer improve the junction quality at the buffer layer/Sb<small><sub>2</sub></small>S<small><sub>3</sub></small> interface, reducing the trap state recombination. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of the Sb<small><sub>2</sub></small>S<small><sub>3</sub></small> solar cell increases from 4.95 to 6.03%. Such improvement demonstrates that using the nanocomposite buffer layer is a facile and efficient approach to reduce the need for a post-treatment process of CdS.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 741-747"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00235g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nishant Jain, Johannes Schmidt, Oliver Görke, David Karl, Aleksander Gurlo and Franziska Schmidt
{"title":"Surface modification of bioactive glasses for successful incorporation with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)†","authors":"Nishant Jain, Johannes Schmidt, Oliver Görke, David Karl, Aleksander Gurlo and Franziska Schmidt","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00273J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00273J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Bioactive glass (BG)–polymer composites are promising materials for bone grafting in bone tissue regeneration. BG provides rigidity and can initiate bone growth, whereas the polymer matrix provides flexibility and biocompatibility. However, due to the complex composition of BG, incorporation into the polymer matrix is difficult and often leads to unwanted porosity and low interface strength between both components. In this study, we investigate the surface treatment of commercially available micronized melt-derived BG with varying compositions (45S5 and 1393) to improve its incorporation into a poly(lactic-<em>co</em>-glycolic acid) (PLGA) matrix by improving surface roughness, surface charge and active sites on the BG. The surfaces of BG are modified by treatment in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 3 days prior to composite production. This leads to the formation of carbonated hydroxyapatite on the surface of both BG types, as demonstrated by XRD, FTIR, XPS and EDX. This also leads to a change in surface texture and an increase in specific surface area from initially 3 to 116 m<small><sup>2</sup></small> g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> and from 2 to 65 m<small><sup>2</sup></small> g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> for 45S5 and 1393, respectively. Subsequently, composite PLGA–BG microspheres are fabricated using a probe-ultrasonication assisted solid-in-oil-in-water emulsion method. Additionally, the surface interaction of bioactive glasses with PLGA is discussed in detail.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 748-758"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00273j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexander Bonkowski, John A. Kilner and Roger A. De Souza
{"title":"Oxygen grain-boundary diffusion in (La,Sr)FeO3−δ perovskite-oxides probed by molecular-dynamics simulations†","authors":"Alexander Bonkowski, John A. Kilner and Roger A. De Souza","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00263B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00263B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Faster grain-boundary diffusion of oxygen has been observed experimentally in polycrystalline samples of Fe-based perovskite oxides at low temperatures, but this behaviour is at present not well understood. In our study, the influence of grain boundaries on oxygen diffusion is studied by means of classical atomistic simulation techniques. Oxygen tracer diffusion coefficients are determined for monocrystalline and polycrystalline simulation cells of orthorhombic La<small><sub>0.9</sub></small>Sr<small><sub>0.1</sub></small>FeO<small><sub>3−<em>δ</em></sub></small> and cubic La<small><sub>0.6</sub></small>Sr<small><sub>0.4</sub></small>FeO<small><sub>3−<em>δ</em></sub></small> by molecular-dynamics simulations at temperatures in the range 1000 ≤ <em>T</em>/K ≤ 2000. In particular, the effects of different oxygen nonstoichiometries <em>δ</em> and of equilibrium (as opposed to random) defect distributions were examined. Our results indicate, that the disrupted structures of the grain boundaries hinder oxygen diffusion; that Sr accumulation within grain-boundary regions does not produce faster diffusion; but that faster grain-boundary diffusion is observed when <em>δ</em> is decreased substantially with a consequent decrease in the rate of lattice diffusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 699-710"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00263b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christian Fischer, Florian Born and Andreas Terfort
{"title":"Enhancement of replacement lithography by combination of photocleavable groups with ultrashort thiolates†‡","authors":"Christian Fischer, Florian Born and Andreas Terfort","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00248A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00248A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The radiation-induced replacement lithography of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is one of the most flexible patterning techniques in nanotechnology as it not only permits a localized substitution, but also a variation in chemistry when applied in a sequential manner. While it typically proceeds by weakening of the molecule–substrate interactions, we present here an approach in which the molecules within the SAM are cleaved, leaving behind a SAM consisting of ultrashort molecules (thioglycolic acid), which are labile enough to be efficiently replaced with a different kind of molecule. The key of this process was the introduction of a photocleavable <em>ortho</em>-nitrobenzyl (ONB) group carrying hexyl groups, which result in primary SAMs stable enough to withstand the carefully chosen replacement conditions. The primary SAMs were characterized by ellipsometry, infrared reflection spectroscopy (IRRAS) and contact angle goniometry, showing a somewhat surprising conformation of the SAM constituents in which the molecular dipole moment is arranged parallel to the surface. This causes the system carrying only one hexyl group to be more stable than the one with two hexyl groups. Upon irradiation with light of 365 nm, the former molecule becomes easily exchanged by (deuterated) dodecanethiol, as could be quantified by IRRAS, with an exchange yield of >80% at an area dose of 48 J cm<small><sup>−2</sup></small>. As a proof of principle, irradiation was performed with differently patterned masks, demonstrating the viability of the method for lithography.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 759-770"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00248a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Max Taras, Jean-Francois Bergamini, Paula A. Brooksby, Philippe Hapiot, Corinne Lagrost and Yann R. Leroux
{"title":"Patterned organic layers on gold surfaces prepared by electro-grafting of photolabile-protected aryl diazonium salts†","authors":"Max Taras, Jean-Francois Bergamini, Paula A. Brooksby, Philippe Hapiot, Corinne Lagrost and Yann R. Leroux","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00208J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00208J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The electroreduction of aryl diazonium salts is a powerful technique for functionalizing many surfaces. To widen the use of aryl diazonium salts in many more applications, new strategies allowing their use with classical photolithography techniques are essential. Herein, we describe the synthesis and properties of an aryl diazonium salt protected by a photolabile group. The photolabile protecting groups allow the facile patterning of an organic layer on gold substrates by photolithography upon exposure to soft UV light (365 nm). The resulting patterned films are characterized using optical microscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM).</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 734-740"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00208j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefanie Dietl, Padryk Merkl and Georgios A. Sotiriou
{"title":"Prevention of uropathogenic E. coli biofilm formation by hydrophobic nanoparticle coatings on polymeric substrates†","authors":"Stefanie Dietl, Padryk Merkl and Georgios A. Sotiriou","doi":"10.1039/D3LF00241A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LF00241A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Biofilms in infections are a major health-care challenge and strategies to reduce their formation on medical devices are crucial. Fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings based on hydrocarbon adsorption on rare-earth oxides constitutes an attractive strategy, but their capacity to prevent biofilm formation has not been studied. Here, we explore a scalable and reproducible nanofabrication process for the manufacture of such superhydrophobic coatings and study their antibiofilm activity against clinically-relevant uropathogenic <em>E. coli</em>. These coatings reduce bacterial biofilm formation and prevent biofouling with potential applications preventing medical device related infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 4","pages":" 667-670"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d3lf00241a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141561097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kosuke Ishibashi, Shimpei Ono, Jun Kamei, Koju Ito and Hiroshi Yabu
{"title":"Rare-metal-free high-performance water-activated paper battery: a disposable energy source for wearable sensing devices†","authors":"Kosuke Ishibashi, Shimpei Ono, Jun Kamei, Koju Ito and Hiroshi Yabu","doi":"10.1039/D4LF00039K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LF00039K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Lightweight, thin paper-based devices are attracting attention due to their portability, lower metal and plastic use, and smaller environmental impact when discarded. For example, paper-based thin diagnostic devices can be mass-produced and their environmental impact after disposal is low, making them promising rapid diagnostic devices for diseases and infectious diseases, especially in developing countries. This report describes a high-performance paper battery activated by water composed of a Mg–air battery with a neutral electrolyte and a safe, high-performance pigment-based electrocatalyst. The paper battery was fabricated by bonding Mg foil to paper and forming a cathode catalyst and gas diffusion layer (GDL) directly on the opposite surface. The fabricated paper battery achieved an OCV of 1.8 V, a 1.0 V current density of 100 mA cm<small><sup>−2</sup></small>, and a maximum output of 103 mW cm<small><sup>−2</sup></small>. The safety of materials used in the paper battery was also examined. Furthermore, applications of the battery in wearable sensing devices, such as a pulse oximeter (SpO<small><sub>2</sub></small> sensor) and a GPS logger, were also demonstrated.</p>","PeriodicalId":101138,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Interfaces","volume":" 3","pages":" 435-442"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/lf/d4lf00039k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140919188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}