Materials Advances最新文献

{"title":"Biocompatible and low-cost iodine-doped carbon dots as a bifunctional fluorescent and radiocontrast agent for X-ray CT imaging†","authors":"Timur Sh. Atabaev, Dinara Askar, Zarina Baranchiyeva, Balnur A. Zhainsabayeva, Timur Elebessov, Moon Sung Kang, Bakyt Duisenbayeva, Ellina A. Mun, Tri Thanh Pham and Dong-Wook Han","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00823E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00823E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Carbon dot-based radiocontrast agents have recently sparked the interest of researchers owing to their better contrasting capabilities, simple synthesis protocols, high colloidal stability, and good biocompatibility. In this study, we propose for the first time the synthesis of iodine-doped carbon dots (I-CDs) using low-cost reagents such as citric acid (C<small>₆</small>H<small>₈</small>O<small>₇</small>), urea (CH<small>₄</small>N<small>₂</small>O) and potassium iodide (KI). The as-prepared I-CDs demonstrated excellent colloidal stability (with a zeta potential value of −64.7 mV), excitation-dependent fluorescent properties (with a maximum quantum yield of ∼8.9%), and a mean iodine concentration of ∼4.67 wt%. Notably, the as-prepared I-CDs displayed greater X-ray attenuation efficiency (42.87 HU mL mg<small>⁻¹</small>) as compared to the commercially employed iopromide radiocontrast agent (30.98 HU mL mg<small>⁻¹</small>). Furthermore, ATPase activity, cytotoxicity analysis with HeLa, NHDF, HEK293, and A549 cell lines, and live-cell imaging experiments of the <em>Drosophila</em> neuroblasts in intact brain lobes suggested high biocompatibility and nontoxicity of the prepared I-CDs. Overall, biocompatible and low-cost I-CDs show great promise as bifunctional radiocontrast and fluorescent agents for biomedical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 22","pages":" 9000-9006"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00823e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142598764","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}

{"title":"Improved performance of a SWCNT/ZnO nanostructure-integrated silicon thin-film solar cell: role of annealing temperature","authors":"Nandang Mufti, Olga Dilivia Ardilla, Erma Surya Yuliana, Retno Fitri Wulandari, Ahmad Taufiq, Henry Setiyanto, Muhammad Aziz, Ali Aqeel Salim, Risa Suryana and Wilman Septina","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00726C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00726C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Efficiency improvement of heterogeneous silicon thin-film solar cells (SiTFSCs) remains challenging. Thus, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NCs) were integrated into Si thin films using the spray-spin coating approach to realize such solar cells. The effect of various annealing temperatures (100–175 °C) on the solar cells’ efficiency, structure, morphology, and absorbance was assessed. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the existence of highly crystalline wurtzite and hexagonal structures corresponding to ZnO and graphite with maximum nanocrystallite sizes of 51.92 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images of the samples showed uniform surface morphology without any aggregation. In addition, with the increase of the annealing temperature from 100 to 175 °C, the efficiency, porosity, optical absorbance bands, and band gap energy of the films were increased from 17.0–18.6%, 70–74.8%, 246–326 nm, and 2.0–2.5 eV, respectively. It was asserted that by controlling the annealing temperature, the overall performance of the proposed SWCNT/ZnO NC-integrated SiTFSC can be enhanced, contributing to the further advancement of high-performance Si-based photovoltaics.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 22","pages":" 9018-9031"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00726c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142598766","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}

{"title":"A mass spectrometrical surface chemistry study of aluminum nitride ALD from tris-dimethylamido aluminum and ammonia†","authors":"Pamburayi Mpofu, Houyem Hafdi, Jonas Lauridsen, Oscar Alm, Tommy Larsson and Henrik Pedersen","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00922C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00922C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Dialkylamido compounds, such as tris-dimethylamido aluminum (TDMAA, Al(NMe<small>₂</small>)<small>₃</small>) and tetrakis-dimethylamido titanium (TDMAT, Ti(NMe<small>₂</small>)<small>₄</small>) are interesting precursors for depositing nitrides using atomic layer deposition (ALD) due to their high volatility and reactivity at low temperatures. In this study, we explored surface chemistry using mass spectrometry and discovered that the surface mechanisms involved β-hydride elimination and ligand decomposition, as well as transamination and hydrogenation reactions which facilitate ligand exchange. This is mainly based on the –N(Me)<small>₂</small> and HN(Me)<small>₂</small> detected during both TDMAA and NH<small>₃</small> pulses, and CH<small>₄</small> signals detected during the NH<small>₃</small> pulse stage. The expected reductive elimination of the two dimethylamido ligands, <em>via</em> a direct nitrogen–nitrogen coupling reaction was not observed, suggesting that it is less thermodynamically favorable compared to reduction by NH<small>₃</small>. Arrhenius analysis between 150 and 300 °C found activation energies (<em>E</em><small>_a</small>) = 27–30 kJ mol<small>⁻¹</small> and pre-exponential factors (<em>A</em>) = 3–5 s<small>⁻¹</small> for the reaction between TDMAA and NH<small>₃</small>.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 23","pages":" 9259-9269"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00922c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142694708","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}

{"title":"Bifunctional molybdenum and vanadium materials: semiconductor properties for advanced electronics and catalytic efficiency in linalool oxidation†","authors":"Josipa Sarjanović, Mateja Cader, Edi Topić, Marta Razum, Dominique Agustin, Mirta Rubčić, Luka Pavić and Jana Pisk","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00790E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00790E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Polynuclear and mononuclear molybdenum(<small>VI</small>) complexes, coordinated with water or methanol, were synthesized using acyl-hydrazone ligands, derived from the reactions of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde with formic – (H<small>₂</small>L<small>¹</small>) or acetic acid hydrazide (H<small>₂</small>L<small>²</small>). Characterization of the complexes was conducted utilizing advanced spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. Crystal and molecular structures of ligand H<small>₂</small>L<small>²</small>, and complexes [MoO<small>₂</small>(L<small>¹</small>)(H<small>₂</small>O)], [MoO<small>₂</small>(L<small>²</small>)(MeOH)], together with (Hpy)<small>₂</small>Mo<small>₈</small>O<small>₂₆</small> were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The thermogravimetry provided insights into the thermal stability and decomposition patterns of the complexes. <em>In situ</em> solid-state impedance spectroscopy was employed, revealing correlations between the electrical properties and the thermal and structural transformations of Mo complexes. This multifaceted approach enabled a profound understanding of the interplay between structure, thermal behaviour, and electrical characteristics. The polynuclear complex [MoO<small>₂</small>(L<small>¹</small>)]<small>_<em>n</em></small> exhibited remarkable conductivity, achieving values up to 10<small>⁻⁸</small> (Ω cm)<small>⁻¹</small> at room temperature. This performance, compared to previously reported vanadium-based analogues, highlights its considerable potential for integration into electronic device manufacturing. Additionally, the catalytic efficiency of these newly synthesized molybdenum complexes was evaluated in linalool oxidation, alongside previously reported vanadium compounds, further demonstrating their promising applications in catalysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 23","pages":" 9391-9402"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00790e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142694720","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}

{"title":"Exploring the chemistry and composition of black soldier fly eumelanin, a material for a circular economy†","authors":"A. B. Mostert, S. Mattiello, S. Li, G. Perna, M. Lasalvia, P. F. Ambrico, J. V. Paulin, J. V. M. Lima, C. F. O. Graeff, J. W. Phua, M. Matta, A. J. Surman, R. Gunnella and M. Ambrico","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00825A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00825A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Eumelanin is a black-brown biopigment that provides photoprotection and pigmentation in mammals, insects, and invertebrates. It can be obtained by oxidative polymerisation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) and its 2-carboxylic acid (DHICA). Due to its unique physical and chemical properties and its biocompatibility, eumelanin is a promising biomaterial for applications in energy storage, biomedicine, and sensing. However, poor solubility in water and lack of sustainable and low-cost sources of eumelanin have so far limited the full exploitation of this biomaterial. Insect farming is rapidly emerging as an alternative source of eumelanin. Unlike other types of eumelanin, BSF eumelanin, which is extracted from the exoskeleton of the black soldier fly (BSF, <em>Hermetia illucens</em>), is water-dispersible; however, its fundamental chemical properties are not completely understood. Here, we report the characterisation of BSF eumelanin using various spectroscopy techniques. Contrary to what is known about other insect eumelanins, which are believed to contain exclusively DHI, our results indicate that BSF eumelanin may contain both DHI and DHICA moieties. We discuss the potential reasons for this discrepancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 22","pages":" 8986-8999"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00825a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142598763","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}

{"title":"Light-induced spiking response in proteinoid–actin–kombucha system","authors":"Panagiotis Mougkogiannis, Anna Nikolaidou and Andrew Adamatzky","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00791C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00791C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study examines the spiking response of a proteinoid–actin–kombucha system when exposed to varying frequency of yellow light pulses. The objective is to understand the frequency-dependent characteristics of this system's response and explore the possibility of using light pulses to regulate and manipulate how it functions. The kombucha samples, which contained proteinoid–actin complexes, were exposed to several stimulation conditions. These settings included no light (blank) and yellow light pulses at frequencies of 2 Hz, 4 Hz, 10 Hz, 20 Hz, and 100 Hz. The spiking response was analyzed in terms of potential (mV) over time (s), and the characteristics of the response, such as amplitude and period, were examined. The findings indicate that the spiking patterns and characteristics fluctuate according on the stimulation frequency, with higher frequencies generally leading to more distinct and numerous spikes compared to lower frequencies and the absence of stimulation. The skewness and kurtosis values of the potential data indicate different levels of asymmetry and tail tendency in the probability distributions, which further supports the fact that the response is based on frequency. The study emphasises the capacity to manipulate and regulate the functions of the proteinoid–actin–kombucha system using light pulses, hence creating opportunities for future usage in several domains, including biosensors and biocomputing.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 22","pages":" 9061-9091"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00791c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142598774","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}

{"title":"Theoretical predictions of alkali hexazirconate (A2Zr6O13, A = Li, Na, And K) as candidates for alkali ion batteries†","authors":"José. R. Fernández-Gamboa, Frederik Tielens and Yohandys A. Zulueta","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00254G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00254G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >As the demand for advanced energy storage materials continues to grow, it is essential to conduct new research to discover alternative materials for use in batteries. Therefore, this work delves into the potential of new materials for use as alternative electrodes for Li-ion and alkali ion batteries, specifically alkali hexazirconates such as A<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small> (where A represents Li, Na, and K). Utilizing advanced atomistics simulations, our objective is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their structural, electronic, and mechanical properties. The results indicate the insulating behavior of A<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small> materials, with calculated lattice parameters closely aligned with previous studies. Mechanical property analysis reveals greater susceptibility of Li<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small> and Na<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small> to compression along the <em>x</em> and <em>y</em> axes than along the <em>z</em>-axis. Furthermore, their ductile behavior and Young's modulus, in alignment with lithium and sodium hexazirconates, suggests their potential in alkaline ion batteries. Electrochemical performance shows Li<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small> and Na<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small> present two stable phases during charge and discharge, leading to a plateau in the open cell voltage profile at 1.3 and 2.9 V and theoretical capacity of 69.68 mA h g<small>⁻¹</small> and 66.89 mA h g<small>⁻¹</small>, respectively. Comparative analysis unearths distinctions in mechanical and electronic properties among Li, Na, and K variants, aiding in the precise tailoring of materials. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the potential of alkali hexazirconates such as A<small>₂</small>Zr<small>₆</small>O<small>₁₃</small>as alternative electrode materials, showcasing notable mechanical stability and derived properties rendering them promising candidates for advancements in energy storage applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 23","pages":" 9330-9339"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00254g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142694713","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}

{"title":"A MoS2 quantum dot functionalized TiO2 nanotube array for selective detection of xylene at low temperature","authors":"Radha Bhardwaj and Arnab Hazra","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00783B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00783B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Xylene is among the most complex volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is significant in many applications. Xylene as an efficient breath marker of lung cancer raises the concern of discrimination between compounds having chemically similar nature like benzene, toluene, <em>etc.</em> For highly stable and selective detection of xylene, in this study, we report a 0D–1D nanocomposite, <em>i.e.</em> a MoS<small>₂</small> quantum dot (QD) functionalized TiO<small>₂</small> nanotube array. The nanocomposite synthesis involves a hydrothermal reaction between MoS<small>₂</small> QDs and the 1D TiO<small>₂</small> nanotube array which is synthesized by anodic oxidation of titanium foil. The Au/MoS<small>₂</small>–TiO<small>₂</small> nanotube/Ti structured sandwich type sensor exhibited selective xylene detection with a high response magnitude of 188% (50 ppm xylene) which is many times higher than those of the pure MoS<small>₂</small> QD and TiO<small>₂</small> nanotube sensors at a relatively low operating temperature, <em>i.e.</em> 75 °C. It also displayed a fast response time (35 s) and maximum recoverability, with a lower detection limit (LOD) of 33 ppb. Notably, the highest selectivity of detection towards xylene over benzene and toluene makes the sensor potential for environmental and breath VOC monitoring. Additionally, the long-term stability of the sensor was apparent from the stable sensing behavior even after 1 month.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 23","pages":" 9383-9390"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00783b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142694719","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}

{"title":"Tandem NiO–Ni(OH)2/VS2 nanosheets: a robust photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution†","authors":"Mona S. NourEldien, Mostafa Y. Nassar, Islam M. Ibrahim and Hisham M. Aly","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00789A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00789A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The utilization of hydrogen as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels is gaining momentum due to its environmental compatibility and recyclability. In this study, we present a novel approach employing a NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> hybrid decorated on VS<small>₂</small> nanosheets, synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method, for enhancing the photocatalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from a methanol–water mixture under visible light irradiation. The synthesized samples underwent comprehensive characterization <em>via</em> XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XPS, BET, optical bandgap determination, and electrochemical analyses including CV, LSV, Tafel slope, and EIS Nyquist plot. Characterization results revealed that the presence of a minor quantity of NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> effectively restrained the growth of VS<small>₂</small> crystallites, leading to a reduction in average crystallite size with increasing NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> content. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> on VS<small>₂</small> and the oxidation states of V<small>⁴⁺</small> and Ni<small>²⁺</small> cations. Notably, the photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> served as an excellent co-catalyst for enhancing H<small>₂</small> production over VS<small>₂</small>, with the H<small>₂</small> production rate of 41642.2 μmol g<small>⁻¹</small> h<small>⁻¹</small> achieved with a loading of 0.8 mol% of NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> to VS<small>₂</small>, surpassing the pristine VS<small>₂</small> by over fourfold. The enhanced H<small>₂</small> production activity was attributed to the accumulation of NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small> particles on the VS<small>₂</small> surface, facilitating efficient movement of photoexcitons and minimizing photogenerated electron–hole pair recombination, thereby reducing hydrogen production overpotential and enhancing catalytic hydrogen generation. The outstanding performance and durability of the NiO–Ni(OH)<small>₂</small>/VS<small>₂</small> photocatalyst suggest its potential as a cost-effective and promising candidate for hydrogen evolution reaction photocatalysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 22","pages":" 9107-9123"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00789a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142598776","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}

{"title":"Terrylene on monolayer WS2: coverage-dependent molecular re-orientation and interfacial electronic energy levels†","authors":"Qiang Wang, Sifan You, Björn Kobin, Patrick Amsalem, Fengshuo Zu, Rongbin Wang, Andreas Opitz, Stefan Hecht, Lifeng Chi and Norbert Koch","doi":"10.1039/D4MA00688G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00688G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The electronic, optical, and functional properties of van der Waals heterostructures comprising organic and two-dimensional inorganic semiconductors depend on the structure of the molecular assembly at and near the interface. Despite the rising interest in such heterostructures, very little is known about the, potentially complex, interplay between the structure and resulting (opto)electronic properties. Herein, we demonstrate with photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy experiments a coverage dependence of the molecular assembly of terrylene deposited onto monolayer WS<small>₂</small> (with sapphire serving as the substrate) and show how this impacts interfacial electronic properties. Up to monolayer coverage, terrylene molecules adapt a flat-lying orientation, which changes to an inclined orientation for higher coverages. This re-orientation is accompanied with a reduction in terrylene ionization energy by over 400 meV and an accordingly larger energy level offset of frontier energy levels of the two semiconductors and shift of the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level away from the WS<small>₂</small> valence band. This can, for instance, reduce the charge-separation efficiency of the heterostructure with molecular multilayer coverage compared to that with only monolayer coverage. Furthermore, the modification of monolayer WS<small>₂</small> excitonic features through molecular film deposition was evaluated using optical spectroscopy, yielding effective dielectric constants for a series of Rydberg excitons and exciton binding energies for bare and terrylene-covered monolayer WS<small>₂</small> supported by sapphire. Altogether, these findings allow a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the (opto)electronic properties of this prototypical van der Waals heterostructure.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 24","pages":" 9604-9612"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/ma/d4ma00688g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142790275","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}