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The front cover of this special issue is contributed by Y. F. Zhang, Z. F. Liu, and co‐workers, who describe the synthesis and interface properties of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride heterostructures. Both in‐plane (h‐BN‐G) and vertically stacked (G/h‐BN) heterostructures have attracted intense attention for energy‐band engineering and device performance optimization for graphene. On page 32,...
Nanoparticles (NPs) coated with a monolayer of ligands can be recognized by different components of the immune system, opening new doors for the modulation ofimmunological responses. By the use of different physical or chemical properties at the NP surface (such as charge, functional groups, and ligand density), NPs can be designed to have distinct cellular uptake, cytokine secretion, and immunogenicity,...
The self‐assembly of small organic molecules interacting via non‐covalent forces is a viable approach towards the construction of highly ordered nanostructured materials. Among various molecular components, natural and unnatural nucleobases can undergo non‐covalent self‐association to form supramolecular architectures with ad hoc structural motifs. Such structures, when decorated with appropriate...
Photosynthesis that occurs in plants involves both the oxidation of water and the reduction of carbon dioxide. Plants carry out these reactions with ease, by involving electron‐transport chains. In this article, hydrogen generation by the reduction of water in the laboratory by using semiconductor nanostructures through artificial photosynthesis is examined. Dye‐sensitized photochemical generation...
Supramolecular chemistry provides a tool for the formation of highly ordered structures by means of noncovalent interactions. Soft supramolecular nanoparticles are self‐assembled nanoassemblies based on small building blocks and stabilized by basic noncovalent interactions, selective host–guest interactions, or a combination of different interaction types. This review provides an overview of the existing...
Conventional thin‐film diffusion barriers consist of 3D bulk films with high chemical and thermal stability. The purpose of the barrier material is to prevent intermixing or penetration from the two materials that encase it. Adhesion to both top and bottom materials is critical to the success of the barrier. Here, the effectiveness of a single atomic layer of graphene as a solid‐state diffusion barrier...
Research on in‐plane and vertically‐stacked heterostructures of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) have attracted intense attentions for energy band engineering and device performance optimization of graphene. In this review article, recent advances in the controlled syntheses, interfacial structures, and electronic properties, as well as novel device constructions of h‐BN and graphene heterostructures...
Ionic liquids (ILs) have become particularly attractive recently because they have demonstrated themselves to be important construction units in the broad fields of chemistry and materials science, from catalysis and synthesis to analysis and electrochemistry, from functional fluids to clean energy, from nanotechnology to functional materials. One of the greatest issues that determines the performance...
Layered metal nanoparticle (NP) assemblies provide highly porous and conductive composites of unique electrical and optical (plasmonic) properties. Two methods to construct layered metal NP matrices are described, and these include the layer‐by‐layer deposition of NPs, or the electropolymerization of monolayer‐functionalized NPs, specifically thioaniline‐modified metal NPs. The layered NP composites...
Near‐infrared (NIR) organic materials are of great importance for both fundamental research and practical applications. While much effort has been taken to covalently design and synthesize NIR organic materials with a low energy gap, there are supramolecular approaches for tuning the energy gap to noncovalently fabricate NIR organic assemblies and materials. In this concept article, we summarize and...
In the present article, the successful coassembly of spherical 6.2 nm maghemite (γ‐Fe2O3) nanocrystals and giant polyoxometalates (POMs) such as 2.9 nm {Mo132} is demonstrated. To do so, colloidal solutions of oleic acid‐capped γ‐Fe2O3 and long‐chain alkylammonium‐encapsulated {Mo132} dispersed in chloroform are mixed together and supported self‐organized binary superlattices are obtained upon the...
Combinations of 2D materials with different physical properties can form heterostructures with modified electrical, mechanical, magnetic, and optical properties. The direct observation of a lateral heterostructure synthesis is reported by epitaxial in‐plane graphene growth from the step‐edge of hexagonal BN (h‐BN) within a scanning transmission electron microscope chamber. Residual hydrocarbon in...
A graphene thermoacoustic loudspeaker with a thin polymer mesh is fabricated using screen‐printing. An experiment with substrates of various free‐standing areas shows that a higher sound pressure level can be achieved as compared to previously reported graphene thermoacoustic loudspeakers. Moreover, a modified equation to predict the sound pressure level of the thermoacoustic loudspeaker with a thin...
Poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA) copolymers containing (R)‐ or (S)‐MPA as minor chiral pendant can be forced to selectively adopt the right‐ o left‐handed helix, in the presence of small amounts of Na+ or Ag+ (“Sergeants and Soldiers Effect”) by addition of a donor cosolvent. The helical sense depends exclusively on the chiral monomer/donor cosolvent ratio, and this allows a perfect on/off tuning of the...
A novel methodology for the isothermal amplification of Leishmania DNA using labeled primers combined with the advantages of magnetic purification/preconcentration and the use of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) tags for the sensitive electrochemical detection of such amplified DNA is developed. Primers labeled with AuNPs and magnetic beads (MBs) are used for the first time for the isothermal amplification...
Bioinspired hierarchical structures on the surface of vertical light‐emitting diodes (VLEDs) are fabricated by S.‐J. Park and co‐workers based on combining a self‐assembled dip‐coating process and nanopatterning transfer method using thermal release tape. These novel surfaces reduce the total internal reflection and grant additional antifouling abilities to VLEDs. On page 161, this provides a guideline...
Monolayer MoS2 is synthesized on hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) flakes with a simple, high‐yield method. Monolayer MoS2 on h‐BN exhibits improved optical quality. Combining the theoretical and experimental analysis, it is concluded that the enhanced photoluminescence and Raman intensities of monolayer MoS2 probably originate from the relatively weak doping effect from the h‐BN substrate rather than...
A CdS/reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/ZnO nanowire array (NWAs) heterostructure is designed, which exhibits enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity compared to pure ZnO, RGO/ZnO, and CdS/ZnO. The enhancement can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the high electron mobility of ordered 1D ZnO NWAs, extended visible‐light absorption of CdS nanocrystals, and the formed type II band alignment...
Rectangular DNA origami functionalized with thiols in each of the four corners immobilizes by self‐assembly between lithographically patterned gold nanodots on a silicon oxide surface.