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[Display omitted] • CoS x –graphene were decorated on Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets via electrodeposition process. • CoS x –graphene@Ni(OH) 2 exhibited the evolution of porous nanoplatelets structures. • CoS x –graphene@Ni(OH) 2 exhibited the highest specific capacitance of 1618 F∙g−1 at 1 A∙g−1. • CoS x –graphene@Ni(OH) 2 revealed better cyclic stability than pure Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets. In the present work, binder-free CoS x –graphene nanoplatelets porous structures were coated on Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets using a one-step electrodeposition process. The graphene was produced from the electroreduction of CO 2 ∗ intermediates during the electrodeposition of CoS x. The surface morphology and interfacial bonding states of CoS x –graphene@Ni(OH) 2 were sensitive to the deposition time and Co–to–thiourea molar ratio (M r). The interface reconstruction between CoS x –graphene NCs and Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets improved the pseudocapacitance performance, which was investigated at different M r and varying deposition times. Raman spectra verified the presence of graphene and CoS x mixed phases in all heterostructure electrodes, where CoS 2 was dominant at M r = 0.2. An XPS analysis indicated the evolution of various interfacial bonding states (C O, C O, Co O Ni, and S O) between Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets and CoS x -graphene nanoplatelets, revealing the improvement in the interfacial synergy and concentration of electroactive sites. The hybrid CoS x -graphene@Ni(OH) 2 NCs at M r = 0.2 exhibited the highest capacitance of 2116 F∙g−1 at 2 mV∙s−1 and 1618 F∙g−1 at 1 A∙g−1 compared with bare Ni(OH) 2 , which achieved 1212 F∙g−1 at 2 mV∙s−1 and 882.88 F∙g−1 at 1 A∙g−1, and other NCs. Bare Ni(OH) 2 nanosheets retained only capacitance retention of 25 % after 2000 cycles, which improved to 70 % in all CoS x -graphene@Ni(OH) 2 nanoplatelets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Smoothing effect is found more pronounced for W/Si multilayer growth than Si film. • Smoothing effect is damped in the case of strongly corrugated nanograting comparing to the flat substrate. • New method is provided to predict and control the layer growth on periodic nanostructures. Coating nano/micro-structured elements with a single or multi-layered film can greatly enhance their functionality. The experimental enhancement, however, is significantly limited by the smoothing and distortion of the structural profile after coating. This requires a comprehensive understanding of the layer growth behavior on nanoscale non-isotropic surface with a proper model to analyze and predict the structure evolution. Here, a simplified linear growth model with single free parameter was successfully used for analysis of the smoothening of grating grooves. The model enables a quantitative description of the evolution of surface morphology from substrate to the top surface with sub-nanometer accuracy. Based on this, the smoothing behavior of single-Si layer and W/Si multilayer growth on nanoscale gratings (period ∼ 40 nm) and flat substrates were studied experimentally, for applications in X-ray optics. The smoothing effect of the W/Si multilayer coating is more pronounced than that of the single Si layer for both substrate types. The corrugated nanogratings suppressed the smoothing effect as compared to the flat isotropic surface. These works provide new guidance to predict and control the growth of layers on nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The nanoporous promotes the HER by offering more active sites. • Modified electronic structure by Mo 2 C and Fe synergistic coupling effect provides the active sites for HER. • Nanoporous free-standing structure promotes the HER by enhancing conductivity and specific surface area. Optimizing structure and surface morphologies in electrocatalyst design are important to enhance the intrinsic activity of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Mo-based phosphides and carbides have been confirmed as the widely-reported catalysts for HER. However, the origin of their enhanced catalytic activity is not fully clarified. Herein, the np-FeMoC and np-FeMoP with a self-supporting nanoporous structure were prepared using the melt-spinning and dealloying methods. Benefiting from the self-supporting electrode, nanoporous structure, abundant active species, low charge-transfer resistance and electron synergy, the np-FeMoC exhibits good catalytic performance. The np-FeMoC performs a low overpotential of 50.8 mV at 10 mA cm−2 current density for HER in 1 M KOH. This value is 2.7 times lower than that of the np-FeMoP sample, indicating a synergistic effect between Mo 2 C and Fe. From XPS and in-situ Raman results, it was observed that the dissolution of Mo 2 C occurs accompanied by dynamic evolution during the HER process on the np-FeMoC surface. This work unveils the intrinsic activity of Mo-based carbide and phosphide, providing valuable guidance for reasonable exploit of high-performance HER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Janus membrane with heterogeneous wettability top surface for fog collection. • Spray coating strategy to prepare surfaces with heterogeneous wettability. • Paraffin loading on the morphology and permeability is systematically investigated. • The mechanism of drop one-way penetration on the Janus membrane is revealed. • The unique fog deposition-grow-sucking collection and mechanism investigated. To alleviate the global water scarcity crisis, fog harvesting has seen considerable development as a promising strategy. However, the current main challenge lies in achieving efficient fog deposition, timely transport of water droplets, and storage. Here, inspired by clusters of cactus trichomes and sponges, a Janus membrane with heterogeneous wettability top surface (JM-HWTS) is proposed. The JM-HWTS was obtained by spraying paraffin wax particles (hydrophobic) on the copper mesh top surface (superhydrophilic). The relationship between the loading amount of paraffin particles and the surface morphology, water permeability, and one-way penetration ability of the sample was clarified. Compared to fog collection surfaces with single hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties, the proposed JM-HWTS system significantly increased fog collection efficiency. For JM-HWTS, the fog will first deposit into water droplets on the hydrophobic front side, then grow up, and finally be sucked into the hydrophilic back side. This unique cyclic fog collection method is the key to efficient fog collection. The JM-HWTS exhibits excellent water-collection efficiency, enabling efficient capture of fog and rapid directional delivery of droplets. This work will significantly complement the fog collection and water droplet storage fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Boron doping affects the surface morphology and roughness of the exfoliated silicon samples. • Boron doping affects the aggregation of damage, the width of the damage band, the size and density of stick cavities under the same implantation and annealing parameters. • The surface modification after exfoliation is related to the diffusion of hydrogen and the defect evolution at lower temperatures. Ultra-thin silicons can be obtained using SMART CUT technology, but there is a lack of systematic research on the effect of boron doping. This paper reports the effects of boron doping on surface modification and defect evolution. Monocrystalline silicon samples with different concentrations of boron doping were implanted to 3.5 × 1017H+/cm2 using a 1.52 MeV High Intensity Proton Implanter (HIPI) and annealed at 300, 400, and 550 ℃. The annealed samples were analyzed by non-contact optical profilometry, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM. The results show that appropriate boron doping can reduce the surface roughness of the exfoliated samples; excessive boron doping leads to a significant increase in surface roughness (∼525 nm) and produces a step-like morphology. Boron doping leads to changes in the type, concentration and dissociation temperature of hydrogenated defects during implantation. These changes result in the width of damage band changes vary with doping concentration. The density and diameter of the hydrogenated extended defects also changed, which results in the surface modification of samples, such as the change of the surface morphology and substrate roughness. In the end of the paper, the paper discusses the correlation between surface morphology and internal damage for different concentrations of boron doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanophase-separated ternary PdAgCu nanotubes are synthesized by a facile method. • The surface morphology of PdAgCu nanotubes could be tuned from smooth to rough. • The mass activity of S-PdAgCu NTs for FAOR can reach up to 4307 mA mg Pd -1. • The enhanced performance is derived from the synergistic effect and dense surface. Herein, a facile strategy for the preparation of PdAgCu ternary nanotubes (NTs) is introduced by using Cu nanowires (NWs) as sacrificial templates along with an acid-leaching treatment. Since the phase separation between Ag and Cu, the obtained PdAgCu NTs is made up of various nanosphases including pure Ag, Cu, bimetallic PdCu and PdAg nanoalloys, instead of PdAgCu trimetallic nanoalloys. By adjusting the types of solvents during synthesis, the surface morphology of PdAgCu NTs can be tuned from smooth (S-PdAgCu NTs) to rough (R-PdAgCu NTs). Both S-PdAgCu NTs and R-PdAgCu NTs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performances for formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR). Remarkably, the mass activity of S-PdAgCu NTs for FAOR can reach up to 4307 mA mg Pd -1 at peak potential, which is 8.5 times higher than that of commercial Pd (506 mA mg Pd -1). The impressively enhanced activity should be ascribed to the synergistic effect of Pd with Cu or Ag and the multi-phase interface engineering, which is resulting from the tight position relationships among different monometallic or bimetallic alloy nanophases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Amorphous (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 films have been fabricated at RT using PLD and alloy targets.. • The effect of indium content on the characteristics of (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 films and the performance of MSM solar-blind PDs has been explored in detail • The excessive indium atoms incorporated into the film leads to the formation of In-rich nano-clusters, which may be attributed to the segregation phenomenon because of the solid solubility limitation for indium in Ga 2 O 3. • The moderate indium content of (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 can enhance the PDs performance. In this study, bandgap engineering of amorphous (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 alloy films fabricated at room temperature using pulsed laser deposition and alloy targets with different indium contents from 0 % to 50 % have been investigated. The effect of indium content on the characteristics of (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 films and the performance of metal–semiconductor-metal solar-blind photodetectors have been explored in detail. The moderate number of indium atoms introduced into Ga 2 O 3 can obtain a flat surface morphology and adjusted bandgap to enhance the performance of solar-blind photodetector. When the excessive indium atoms were incorporated into the film, the obviously In enriched (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 alloy nano-clusters are observed on the film surface despite of the low growth temperature. It can be attributed to the segregation phenomenon because of the solid solubility limitation for indium in Ga 2 O 3. Both of dark current and photocurrent of (In x Ga 1- x) 2 O 3 photodetector increase with the incremental indium content mainly attributed to enhanced oxygen deficiency. As a result, the solar-blind photodetector can achieve an optimal performance using a balanced indium content of 20 % with an extremely low dark current of 4.4 × 10-12 A, a responsivity of 10.8 mA/W, a substantial on/off current ratio of 1.5 × 104 and a short rise/decay time of 0.33 s/0.54 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Alleviated the restacking issue of MXene by laser direct writing. • Elucidated the mechanism of how MXene layer-structure effects its performance. • Achieved a high areal capacitance of 145.2 mF cm−2 at 20 mV s−1. • Demonstrated a 51 % improvement at 1000 mV s−1 compared to common MXene films. MXene is a novel two-dimensional material that demonstrates immense potential in the field of energy storage due to its high surface area and conductive properties. However, MXene films prepared through traditional methods tend to form dense stacking structures which reduce the electrochemical reaction and performance. In this work, laser direct writing technology is adopted to expand the interlayer spacing through rapidly vaporizing interlayer water within MXene films, thereby optimizing the restacking structure for enhanced performance. Following laser writing, the thickness of MXene film can reach a maximum of 31.2 µm, approximately 16 times that of the primitive MXene film. The mechanism behind the expansion of MXene is studied and elucidated by observing the evolution of the surface morphology and change in chemical composition. The laser written MXene film-based supercapacitors demonstrate a high areal capacitance of 145.2 mF cm−2 at a scan rate of 20 mV s−1, indicating a 28 % improvement compared to primitive MXene film, while 51 % improvement at 1000 mV s−1. At a power density of 2 mW·cm−2, the areal energy density reaches the highest of 26.28 µWh cm−2. The excellent performance, easy availability and good flexibility of the fabricated supercapacitors offer significant application potential in integrating portable electronic products and wearable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A standardized contact angle measurement method for porous powder materials. • Effect of laminating treatment on structure and wettability of PCN is investigated in detail. • The contact angle data is stable and reproducible. • Oil contact angle data of PCN are reported explicitly. • The method provided can solve the dilemma of PCN wettability data confusion. The wettability of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) is an important surface chemical factor affecting its catalytic and separation performance. However, due to the amphipathic characteristics of hydrophilic/lipophilic and porous powder properties, the contact angle (CA) of PCN measured by the common sessile drop method will be interfered by the substrate, resulting in randomness of the results. Herein, the pristine PCNs obtained by thermal polycondensation of different precursors in air or nitrogen atmosphere were used as the wettability research object. The CA of the PCNs was measured by a modified sessile drop method after the traditional powders were replaced by pressed-tablet samples. The influence of sample mass and applied pressure on specific surface area, pore volume, surface morphology and CA of the pressed-tablet samples was investigated carefully, and the optimal experimental conditions were determined. When the sample mass was 0.15 g and the applied pressure was 10 MPa, the measured water CA of PCNs was between 27 ∼ 34°, and the diiodomethane CA is between 24 ∼ 29°. The measurement results showed considerable stability and reproducibility. This improved CA measurement method provides a simple and standardized way to accurately explore the surface chemistry of PCN, and has the potential to be applied to other hydrophilic and/or oleophilic porous powder materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In 2 O 3 sensors could detect a minimum concentration of 100 ppb of NO 2 and H 2 S gases. • The thickness of In 2 O 3 film is found to be very critical for high sensing response. • Room temperature detection of NO 2 and H 2 S gases is achieved with high sensitivity. • Maximum sensing responses of 58 and 68 % towards 5 ppm of NO 2 and H 2 S gases are obtained. • In 2 O 3 films are found to be highly selective towards NO 2 and H 2 S gases. • The sensor exhibits a sensing response time of 36 s for NO 2 and 18 s for H 2 S gases. • In 2 O 3 sensors could detect a minimum concentration of 100 ppb of NO 2 and H 2 S gases. In this work, the room-temperature dual gas sensing characteristics of indium oxide (In 2 O 3) thin films towards NO 2 and H 2 S have been studied. In 2 O 3 thin films were synthesized by the thermal oxidation of indium metal films of various thicknesses in the range of 50–250 nm deposited by thermal evaporation method. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD) revealed the change in preferred orientation of In 2 O 3 thin films corresponding to varying thickness, while field-emission electron microscopy studies showcased evolving surface morphologies from individual grains to granular network with respect to the increase in film thickness. Investigations were made on the ability of In 2 O 3 thin films to detect various low concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) gases at ambient temperature. In 2 O 3 thin films synthesized using 100 nm thick In films exhibited good sensing response of around 58 and 68 % towards NO 2 and H 2 S gases of 5 ppm respectively, at room temperature (27 °C) with the response time of 36 and 18 s. Remarkably, the lower experimental detection limit of these toxic gases could be extended up to 100 ppb. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a large presence of surface oxygen is observed on the In 2 O 3 thin film. The sensor has demonstrated remarkable sensing abilities, including strong selectivity, quick sensing response, and good repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sb 2 S 3 has drawn significant attention due to its high light absorption coefficient (>105 cm−1), low-toxic, earth-abundant composition elements. Notably, its bandgap (1.7 eV), which theoretically grants it an efficiency of 30 %. This renders Sb 2 S 3 a suitable candidate for top cell in tandem solar cell. Herein, a back surface optimization strategy is developed by introducing Ag on the back surface, leading to improved film surface morphology and reduced barriers at the back contact. The device based on FTO/SnO 2 /CdS/Sb 2 S 3 /Carbon structure achieve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.51 %. [Display omitted] • A novel fabrication strategy for modifying back contact is developed. • The improved conductivity of the film, coupled with the elevated VBM, leads to a reduction in the back contact barrier. • The optimization of the film surface morphology results in a reduction in the generation of leakage current. • The production cost of employing carbon is much lower than Au. Antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3) has drawn significant attention due to its excellent photoelectric properties. However, the photon conversion efficiency of Sb 2 S 3 solar cell is limited by its magnificent value band offset between absorber layer and carbon electrode. Herein, a back surface optimization strategy is developed to reduce the barrier at the back contact. By introducing Ag at back contact before post-selenization process, the Valence-Band Maximum (VBM) of Sb 2 S 3 is elevated under the action of spin–orbit interaction between Sb-5 s orbit and Ag-d orbit, leading to improve the extraction of holes. Consequently, the electrical conductivity of the film undergoes a significant improvement, rising from 1.20 × 10-5 to 1.59 × 10-5 S/cm. Additionally, the film surface morphology is refined, exhibiting a reduction in roughness from 17.1 nm to 13.6 nm, which leads to less leak current generated. Finally, the device based on FTO/SnO 2 /CdS/Sb 2 S 3 /Carbon structure achieved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.51 %, representing a 16 % improvement compared to the device without Ag treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ab initio modelling predicts morphology and surface speciation of PuO 2 nanoparticles. • Nanoparticle shapes as a function of temperature and partial pressure of gasses. • H 2 O and CO 2 co-adsorption has a significant impact on the surface composition. • Step toward more realistic models for adsorbates and actinide oxides. Among the most pressing challenges faced by the UK nuclear industry is how to safely handle its large stockpile of plutonium dioxide. In particular, understanding how the exposed surfaces interact with the environment is critical to establishing the chemical reactivity and determining suitable processing and storage conditions. In this work, we apply an ab initio modelling approach to predict the morphology and surface speciation of stoichiometric and oxygen deficient PuO 2 nanoparticles as a function of temperature and in the presence of individually- and co-adsorbed H 2 O and CO 2. We find that co-adsorption of the two species has a significant impact on the surface composition, resulting in the equilibrium particle morphology being strongly dependent on the storage conditions. This work provides valuable insight into the behaviour of nanoparticulate PuO 2 in the presence of ubiquitous small molecules and marks an important step toward more realistic models extendable to other adsorbates and actinide oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Varying doses of gamma ray irradiation have been imposed to SnO 2 microwire arrays (MWAs) thin films UV photodetectors. • Low doses (≤500krad) of gamma ray irradiation led to enhanced photocurrent and responsivity, whereas high doses resulted in significant degradation of the photoelectric response. • The fabricated SnO 2 MWAs UV photodetectors demonstrated resilience to gamma ray irradiation doses up to 500krad, which could be used for long-term space missions. • The fabricated SnO2 MWAs UV photodetectors exhibits promise for low doses gamma radiation detection. In this study, the gamma ray irradiation-induced photoelectric responses of SnO 2 microwire arrays (MWAs) UV photodetectors were investigated and compared with the unirradiated state. The corresponding surface morphology, crystal structure, and XPS spectrum were analyzed. Results indicated that low doses (≤500krad) of gamma ray irradiation led to enhanced photocurrent and responsivity, whereas high doses resulted in significant degradation of the photoelectric response. At a radiation dose of 300krad, a photocurrent of 264 μA and a responsivity of 1.83 A/W were realized under 365 nm UV light illumination at a bias voltage of 5 V. These values represent an increase of 34.6 % and 44.1 %, respectively, compared with the unirradiated sample. Surprisingly, the fabricated SnO 2 MWAs UV photodetectors demonstrated resilience to gamma ray irradiation doses up to 500krad, which is equivalent to the radiation dose accumulated by satellites in low-Earth orbit over 20 years. Our findings suggested that the fabricated SnO 2 microwire arrays (MWAs) UV detector has the potential to be used for long-term space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sustainable electrochemical mechanical polishing (ECMP) was proposed for 4H-SiC wafer. • A solid electrolyte of polystyrene sulfonic acid/polyvinyl alcohol was used. • Material removal rate (MRR) increased linearly with the current density during ECMP. • A uniform surface morphology with a roughness of less than 1 nm was achieved. • ECMP using PSS/PVA achieved high MRR and efficient roughness reduction. Large-diameter single-crystal silicon carbide (SiC) wafers with good surface quality are desirable to dramatically improve the performance of SiC-based power electronic devices. However, the preparation of such wafers using a strong oxidative polishing slurry has the limitations of low material removal rate (MRR) and high environmental impact. Electrochemical–mechanical polishing (ECMP) initiates surface removal by electrochemical oxidation without using harsh chemicals, making it an alternative with low environmental impact to conventional polishing. Herein, we propose the use of polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS), a hydrocarbon-based polymer electrolyte without perfluoro compounds, for ECMP. The SiC surface was effectively oxidized by ECMP using PSS. The effects of the polyelectrolyte crosslinking treatment on the lifetime of polyelectrolyte-incorporated nonwoven cloths were investigated. The optimum electrolytic and mechanical conditions yielded high MRRs of 37 and 14 µm/h for 2- and 4-inch SiC wafers. Moreover, the surface morphologies of the growth face and nonfacet areas was discussed. The wafer-scale evaluation demonstrated the roughness reduction to 0.85 nm Sa (average) after 15-min ECMP of the 4-inch wafer. The polishing-induced residual stress was investigated using microscale and wafer-scale Raman mapping. Overall, the proposed ECMP process offers significant advantages in terms of speed, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TiAl 3 /Au ohmic contact confers distinct advantages characterized by non-etching processes and the small area islands. This configuration facilitates direct contact between gold (Au) and the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), thereby enhancing electron transmission efficiency and consequently achieving notably low ohmic contact resistance. Upon comparative analysis with the conventional Ti/Al/Ni/Au ohmic contact, the TiAl 3 /Au ohmic contact demonstrates superior performance. [Display omitted] • TiAl 3 /Au ohmic contact exhibits better surface morphology and roughness during rapid temperature annealing. • Different annealing times and temperatures effectively affect the contact resistance of ohmic contacts. • The ohmic contact formation mechanism of TiAl 3 /Au was studied on AlGaN/GaN heterojunction. • AlGaN/GaN HEMTs fabricated with TiAl3/Au ohmic contacts have lower on-resistance, higher saturation current, and transconductance value. The advent of an era characterized by intelligent, interconnected systems of AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) electronic devices is underway. Within this context, the performance of ohmic contacts in HEMTs bears substantive influence on the electrical characteristics of power devices, notably impacting parameters such as on-resistance and output current. Therefore, the improvement of ohmic contacts attributes in AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices has perennially constituted a focal point of considerable industry. Based on the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure, a novel TiAl 3 /Au ohmic contact has been successfully developed for HEMTs. A low contact resistance of 0.23 Ω·mm (2.33 × 10-6 Ω·cm2) is obtained, which proposes a new interface contact for AlGaN/GaN heterojunction. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) illustrates that the contact mechanism for low resistance is direct contact with two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) through the substitution of the TiN compound with a smaller area Au dominated penetration. Concurrently, in contrast to TiN, Au exhibits a diminished capacity for Ga dissolution, thereby substantiating its efficacy in preserving the structural integrity of the crystal lattice. In addition, the reduction of Al can impede the diffusion notably, further showing the smooth surface morphology of the electrode with atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. The ohmic contacts of HEMTs are individually fabricated with Ti/Al/Ni/Au and TiAl 3 /Au configurations. The HEMTs with TiAl 3 /Au ohmic contacts demonstrate superior DC characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Acetic acid treatment introduces micrometer-sized micropits on the sapphire substrate. • The micropits promote the formation of nucleation sites. • The micropits reduce surface energy and facilitate the transition to vertical growth mode. • WS 2 bilayers and Moiré superlattices were obtained on acid-pretreated substrates. • WS 2 bilayers have higher valley polarization and carrier mobility than monolayers. The bilayer (BL) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), with their elevated carrier mobility and narrowed bandgap, are advantageous for future electronic applications in comparison with their monolayer (ML) counterparts. Here, we introduce a facile and efficient approach for the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of BL WS 2. The method involves an acetic acid sonication treatment to modify the substrate surface morphology and the surface energy, which regulates the nucleation processes and shapes the growth mode of WS 2 crystals. Further modifications to the growth conditions yield high-quality ML and BL WS 2 films. A comparative study confirms the superior valley polarization and higher carrier mobility of BL WS 2 compared with its ML counterpart. Additionally, a minor twist angle existed between the upper and lower layers, featuring a Moiré superlattice. This work reveals the role of surface morphology and surface energy in the growth of TMDs. Simultaneously, it offers insights into the controlled preparation of vertically stacked homo- and heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Smooth and flat La 0.7 Ca 0.18 Sr 0.12 MnO 3 films were prepared by spin coating method. • MnO 6 distortion was controlled by introducing internal strain via pre-sintering. • Electrical transport properties enhanced by optimizing pre-sintering temperature. • Film showed a temperature coefficient of resistivity of 10.82 %/K at 302.03 K. • La 0.7 Ca 0.18 Sr 0.12 MnO 3 film proves potential for uncooled bolometer applications. Perovskite manganites La x (Ca 1- y Sr y) 1- x MnO 3 have drawn the plentiful attention owing to their distinctive physical properties. Their unique properties make them an ideal candidate for high-sensitivity and uncooled bolometric applications. Optimized La 0.7 Ca 0.18 Sr 0.12 MnO 3 (LCSMO) films were grown on (0 0 l) LaAlO 3 substrate at different pre-sintering temperature (T ps) via sol–gel spin coating method. According to the test results of microstructure, internal strain, Mn ion valences and surface morphology, electrical transport properties are restricted by MnO 6 octahedron distortion and film crystallinity affected by the change in T ps. The microstructure growth was improved and the surface morphology tended to grow in a cross-like structure with high crystallinity by optimizing T ps. Double exchange mechanism and internal strain were enhanced with the increase in T ps. Thereby, due to the enlarging Mn O Mn bond angle and enhancing Mn O covalency, the temperature (T k) corresponding to temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) was increased gradually as T ps increased. The TCR value of LCSMO film reached a maximum value (10.82 %/K) and T k reached room temperature (302.03 K) at T ps = 1123 K. The theoretical foundation of the pre-sintering effect has been supplemented, helping to understand the influence of pre-sintering on film growth and electrical transport properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layered oxide Li 1.2 Mn 0.54 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 O 2 with little lattice oxygen vacancies and abundant surface oxygen vacancies are synthesized. [Display omitted] • Swing-like non-isothermal sintering technique is adopted to stabilize the lattice oxygen. • NH 3 is employed to introduce the surface oxygen vacancies. • The layered oxide with controllable oxygen vacancies is synthesized. • Spinel phase is found in the surface of layered oxide. Li-rich Mn-Based layered oxide is defined as a potential cathode material for its high specific capacity while several significant drawbacks such as inferior cycling stability and voltage decay limit its wide application. In this work, a suite of characterization techniques is employed to comprehensively investigate the crystal structure, surface morphology and chemical state of materials. The results suggest the successful preparation of layered oxide with controllable oxygen vacancies. Specifically, 1) Surface oxygen vacancies can act as a deterrent to irreversible oxygen release, consequently suppressing the voltage decay. 2) Stable lattice oxygen can enhance structural stability during cycling. 3) Swing-like sintering methodology and inducing surface oxygen vacancies technique are connected to synthesize the layered oxide with little lattice oxygen vacancies and abundant surface oxygen vacancies. The as-prepared cathode exhibits a commendable capacity retention of 85 %, and managed to alleviate the voltage attenuation significantly to 3.81 mV/cycle over 150 cycles at 0.5C. This concept of pre-constructing controllable oxygen vacancies provides important groundwork for developing Li-rich cathode with mitigated voltage decay and enhanced cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optimal growth condition for FeRh thin films. • Observation of magnetic domain during the FeRh phase transition. • Magnetic domain evolution depending on FeRh crystal quality. • Domain nucleation and domain growth dominant phase transition in FeRh thin films. • Correlation between topography and magnetic domain evolution in FeRh phase transition. FeRh undergoes a first-order magnetic phase transition, transitioning from a low-temperature antiferromagnetic state to a high-temperature ferromagnetic state around 370 K. This magnetic phase transition is profoundly affected by external parameters, such as composition and strain, which can be precisely controlled by varying growth conditions. Here, we present an investigation of FeRh thin films grown under various conditions, including annealing time and sputtering gun power. FeRh film grown at the optimal conditions yields a sharp and steep transition behavior, with maximal magnetization change between the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. Magnetic force microscopy reveals that the optimal film displays directional domain growth, aligned with the crystallographic direction, while the non-optimal film shows random domain nucleation. Furthermore, we observe that the optimal film exhibits no significant correlation between surface morphology and magnetic domains, in contrast to the non-optimal film, where the surface morphology and magnetic domains are closely correlated. Our results highlight the critical interplay between growth conditions and film quality, emphasizing the importance of film optimization in the study of FeRh's magnetic phase transition. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into the magnetic properties of FeRh, paving the way for future technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Monocrystal SiC films can be heterogeneous integrated by Crystal-Ion-Slicing technique. • H+ implantation induced defects evolution: detachment, aggregation, growth, and concatenation. • Different cleavage behaviors appeared under different thermal excitation. • Cleavage behaviors influenced the surface morphology of exfoliated SiC films. The Silicon Carbide (SiC) composite substrate fabricated by crystal-ion-slicing (CIS) technology can be an excellent material platform to realize a variety of microelectronic device functions. The difference in the surface morphology of the exfoliated films under different thermal excitation conditions was found in research. In order to explore the different cleavage behaviors resulting the differences, the basic models of defect evolution during the fabrication of SiC film by CIS technique is established based on AFM, Raman, XRD and TEM material characterizations, which can be divided into detachment, aggregation, growth, and concatenation stages. Combining the molecular dynamics simulation results and defect evolution models, the difference of the cleavage behavior leading to different surface topography under different anneal thermal excitations can be attributed to the different H 2 bubble nucleation rate. The work in this paper investigates the fundamental physicochemical phenomena of defect evolution and crystal cleavage in CIS technology, and guides the improvement of heat treatment process, which is beneficial to achieve neat cleavage for the transfer of SiC single crystal film and to realize available heterogeneous integration of SiC single crystal film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Superhydrophilicity of metals after laser treatment in air is due to porous structure. • Porosity is formed due to the re-deposition of ablation products on the surface. • The method for fabricating biphilic and anisotropic surfaces is presented. This research investigates the impact of the surrounding environment on the characteristics of copper, nickel and tin during nanosecond laser processing. By comparing the results of processes conducted in vacuum and air, we conclude that changes in wetting properties cannot be solely attributed to development of surface microstructure. To elucidate this phenomenon, we conducted model experiments using a tin target. Laser processing parameters for the tin target were established, involving deep cavity melting without ablation, resulting in highly evolved material morphology. Under these conditions, laser processing in air did not lead to metal hydrophilization. Therefore, our study demonstrates that the primary cause of changes in material wetting properties during nanosecond laser processing is the re-deposition of ablation products onto the material surface. These products form a nanoporous layer that enhances wicking capabilities and subsequently serves as a sorbent for various impurities, gradually leading to the hydrophobization of most commonly used materials. The proposed mechanism opens the possibility for the development of new methods to create materials with biphilic and anisotropic wetting properties. The key insight lies in the control of the thickness of the nanoporous layer, as it emerges as a pivotal factor dictating wettability properties and wicking capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The surface chemical composition of β-Ga 2 O 3 films is discussed in depth. • The component of O 1s with the binding energy around 531.8 eV is attributed to surface lattice O atoms. • The defects inside the β-Ga 2 O 3 films were analyzed by HRTEM. β gallium oxide (β-Ga 2 O 3) is an ultrawide bandgap semiconductor with great potential for solar-blind ultraviolet detection, power devices, and gas sensing. However, the understanding of the surface properties of β-Ga 2 O 3 remains insufficient. Here, epitaxial growth of β-Ga 2 O 3 films was carried by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on sapphire substrates. The surface chemical composition, surface layer crystalline properties, and surface morphology of the β-Ga 2 O 3 films were discussed and analyzed in detail. By comparing the atomic ratios of O/Ga, the surface morphology, and the crystalline properties of the films, we attribute the component of O 1s with the binding energy around 531.8 eV to surface lattice O atoms. Moreover, the one-dimensional defects inside the surface layers and the near-interface regions of the films were observed at atomic scale by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). By comparing the lattice fringes of different facets, the geometric phase uniformity, and the distribution of strain, we found that the crystalline quality of the surface layers is much higher than the near-interface regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The relationship between anti-icing and anti-condensation properties was studied. • The coating surfaces with cavities-pore combined structures were prepared. • Surfaces with cavity-pore combined structures displayed good anti-icing properties. • Surfaces with uniform porosity presented notable anti-condensation performance. To address the issues caused by ice accretion, researchers have made various attempts to obtain anti-icing surfaces, among which superhydrophobic surfaces have been approved to be an ideal candidate for anti-icing applications. Although extensive research has been conducted to date, the relationship between the anti-icing performance and the anti-condensation performance of superhydrophobic surfaces has yet to be investigated. In this study, superhydrophobic coatings with different surface microstructures were prepared. Tuning of surface morphology was conducted by controlling molar ratio of SiO 2 nanoparticles and polyester powders. The superhydrophobic coatings with uniform surface microstructures exhibit anti-condensation performance. Superhydrophobic coatings with cavities-pore combined surface structures demonstrated superior anti-icing performance to other coatings. The relationship between the anti-icing and anti-condensation performance was investigated. It is verified that the anti-condensation performance of the superhydrophobic surface do not have a simple correlation with the anti-icing performance. Furthermore, the coatings present oil repellency, durable superhydrophobicity and anti-fouling properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi–liquid layer (QLL) on the hydrate surface is discovered to possess multilayered structures. The regions of QLL near gaseous interface exhibit fluidity, while the majority at QLL–hydrate interface behaves similarly to bound water. [Display omitted] • Evaluating surface structure characteristics of nano-thick hydrate QLL by AFM measurement and MD simulation. • QLL fluidity increases with a steeper hydrate surface and higher temperature. • QLL distribution is related to the surface morphology of polycrystal hydrate. • QLL exhibits interface–dependent behavior, with outermost layer demonstrating highest instability. The surface structural characteristics of clathrate hydrates play a significant role in mass transfer, interfacial properties, and mechanical stability during the hydrate growth process. However, the microstructure of hydrate surfaces remains unclear and controversial. In this study, a modified Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) system was employed to confirm the presence of a quasi–liquid layer (QLL) on the solid tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate surface. Subsequently, sensitivity analyses were conducted on factors affecting the instability (fluidity) of QLL, including relative position, inclination angle, environmental temperature, and surface morphology. The results indicate that higher temperatures enhance the instability of the QLL surface, and altering the slope of the hydrate surface leads to an increase in the average thickness of the QLL due to the driving forces of gravity and surface tension, resulting in increased fluidity. Additionally, the surface morphological structure formed by Oswald ripening in polycrystalline THF hydrates affects the thickness of QLL. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations reveal that water molecules on the hydrate surface exhibit a multilayered structure, with the QLL region near the gas phase showing greater instability, while the region closer to the hydrate exhibits solid–phase characteristics, consistent with experimental findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The interfacial bonds between the selected anionic collectors and zircon surfaces are mainly ionic bonds and H-bonds. • The weak interfacial interactions play important roles in the alteration of surface hydrophobicity. • The unevenly distributed colloids-like adsorption and the monolayer adsorption can result in high hydrophobicity and good flotation results. • Monoalkyl phosphates can bond with two zirconium sites on zircon and form a monolayer. Zircon is the primary mineral that contains the critical metals zirconium and hafnium. However, the extraction of pure zircon from its natural ore is challenging. The inadequate understanding of the interaction mechanisms between traditional flotation collectors, namely n-octyl phosphonic acid (nOPA), octyl-hydroxamic acids (OHA), and oleic acid (OL), with zircon, has hindered the development of highly selective flotation reagents. Therefore, a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS), Zeta potential tests, contact angle measurements, and flotation tests was employed to elucidate the mechanism of collector adsorption on surface morphology and the chemical bonding interactions at the interface. The AFM, XPS, and DRIFTS results consistently demonstrate that all three reagents can chemically bond with zircon surfaces. nOPA exhibits stronger interactions with zircon compared to OL and OHA, as it coordinates with two zirconium sites to form a monolayer. Zeta potential and contact angle measurements reveal that the surface morphology and weak adsorption, which is driven by weak interactions, contribute to an improvement in hydrophobicity. Flotation results further validate that the three reagents can selectively float zircon in specific pH ranges. The interfacial bonding interactions, which are influenced by weak interactions, play significant roles in the flotation of zircon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Super-flat and uni-oriented cobalt film achieved via one-step electrodeposition using benzenesulfinic acid (BNS). • The highly electron-donating sulfite group in BNS enhances adsorption and cathodic polarization. • Progressive nucleation with BNS leads to a more uniform and compact cobalt film morphology. • Selective adsorption of BNS on cobalt planes promotes preferential orientation of (0 0 2) crystal plane growth. • Obvious crystal growth of the film is observed after annealing, leading to a desired electrical property. A precise control of the microstructure of electrodeposited cobalt film is crucial for attaining the desired and reproducible electrical performance in edge nanoelectronic devices. Here we realize the super-flat and uni-oriented cobalt film through a one-step electrodeposition process using benzenesulfinic acid (BNS) as additive. We find that the unsaturated sulfite group in BNS plays a key role in the super-flat cobalt electroplating. Molecular activity analysis and electrochemical test results suggested that the electron donating ability of the sulfite group was higher than that of the sulfonate group, resulting in stronger adsorption of BNS on the cobalt surface and enhanced cathodic polarization. Nucleation model fitting and surface morphology evolution studies revealed that the cobalt nucleation with BNS shifted to progressive nucleation from instantaneous nucleation in the additive-free electrolyte, leading to a more uniform and compact film morphology. Furthermore, equilibrium adsorption calculations indicated that the selective and strong adsorption of BNS on cobalt planes was responsible for the preferential orientation of the (0 0 2) crystal plane growth. After annealing, cobalt films prepared with BNS exhibited substantial grain growth and impurity diffusion, which further improved the electrical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A double-layer structure film of PI and PEEK was successfuly prepared. • The surface of PI film was treated with atmospheric plasma to improve the interface adhesion. • Materials Studio (MS) software was used to investigate the active groups' grafting mechanism. Due to the increase of service temperature, the bond strength of polyimide composite film will decrease significantly, the continuity of the lapped structure is broken. Therefore, this study proposed a double-layer structure consisting of a polyimide (PI) substrate and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) coating. The PI/PEEK interface adhesion was improved by using atmospheric plasma treatment. The surface wettability, surface chemical structure, surface element analysis, surface morphology and surface roughness of PI films were studied, respectively. The Materials Studio (MS) was used to model the active groups' grafting mechanism after plasma treatment. The results shown that the surface free energy increased obviously from 27.65 mJ/m2 to 66.93 mJ/m2. Reactive groups containing oxygen, such as C = O, C–O, were generated on the surface of PI film due to etching and addition reactions during the plasma process. The mechanical properties of PI films had little change after plasma treatment. The inorganic particles on the surface of the PI film were exposed by plasma etching, which would increase the adhesion between the PI film and the PEEK coating. MS simulated the sequence, relative energy change, and energy barrier of the three functional groups, revealing that the reactivity sequence of the three groups was: –OH > –COOH > –CO–. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The surface changes during the malachite sulfidization process at the microscale were explored using various advanced techniques. • The in-situ change in malachite surface morphology after reagents adsorption was directly observed using AFM. • The effect of sulfide film formation on the interaction force between malachite particles and bubbles was determined. With the gradual depletion of copper sulfide resources, efficient flotation technologies for the recovery of copper oxide minerals, such as malachite, have received significant attention. Although sulfidization plays a critical role in malachite flotation, the fundamental theory of sulfidization flotation remains uncertain in the context of practical industrial applications. In this study, evolution of the sulfide product morphology on the malachite surface was observed after treatment with various concentrations of sodium sulfide. In addition, the valence states and phase compositions of the sulfide products were investigated using different X-ray techniques. Furthermore, the evolution of the malachite surface morphology after the formation of a sulfide film was investigated, as were the interaction forces between the malachite and bubbles under the action of butyl xanthate. As a result, it was possible to directly observe the growth process of the sulfide film on the malachite surface, and the presence of Cu(I) was confirmed in the sulfide products. Moreover, the compositions of the sulfide products were investigated using X-ray techniques. The obtained results demonstrated that the sulfide film facilitated the formation of butyl xanthate product layers on the malachite surface, whilst also enhancing the interfacial interaction forces between the malachite and the bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Substrate grain boundaries cause graphene to bulge and the friction in the bulge region increases. • A two-stage rise in friction occurs when the tip comes into contact with bulged graphene. • The first stage has a fast rise in friction and the mechanism of action is the fold theory. • The second stage has a slow rise in friction and the mechanism of action is the quality evolution theory. The characteristics of graphene's surface morphology and frictional behavior can be significantly impacted by the underlying substrate material, particularly in the domain of nanofriction. This study observed that the grain boundaries present in polycrystalline substrates like stainless steel induce bulging in graphene, which, in turn, impacts its nanofriction behavior. While graphene exhibits low friction when tightly adsorbed on stainless steel grains, the phenomenon of graphene bulging leads to an increase in frictional force. Additionally, this study revealed that the process of contact between the tip and the bulging graphene gives rise to a two-stage frictional rise, wherein the rate of frictional rise and the underlying mechanism differs between the stages. The first stage of the frictional rise was explained using the fold theory, considering the contact area as the reference quantity. Using the tip atomic force statistics as a reference quantity, the second stage of frictional rise can be explained by quality evolution theory. Through a combination of experimental observations and theoretical analyses, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the nano frictional behavior exhibited by graphene on stainless-steel substrates. The mechanism of action of the entire process of frictional changes caused by graphene bulging is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar absorber Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) films were uniformly deposited on Si/Mo substrates via a facile, cost-effective chemical bath deposition (CBD) by using ribonucleic acid (RNA) nucleobase uracil as the functional building block. The functional sites of uracil, i.e., C O and N H, played a critical role in the complexation of metals via uracil-quartet functional architectures. Stable metal–uracil complexes significantly affected the growth kinetics, enhancing the uniform delivery of multimetal components into films and suppressing the undesirable formation of CuS particles. CZTS films obtained with the addition of 0.05 and 0.5 M uracil exhibited a smooth surface morphology and significantly improved photoconductive performance. The developed RNA-nucleobase-mediated CBD method demonstrates promise as multicomponent compound absorber films, including CZTS and CuInGaSe 2 , in cost-effective solar cells. Unlabelled Image • Facile, cost-effective chemical bath deposition of solar absorber Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 films. • Uniform deposition of smooth and stoichiometric Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 films. • Utilization of RNA nucleobase uracil as an effective functional building block. • A novel synthesis route for various promising multicomponent compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a femtosecond laser patterning method based on the control of surface reflectance. This laser patterning method is based on the laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS), and we first studied how the LIPSS pattern evolves and the corresponding surface reflectance changes as process parameters are varied in a large process window. It was found that the reflectance of stainless steel can be changed from 66% to 5%, and by choosing the proper parameters, elegant patterns can be fabricated. Using the method, a multi-faceted ball was successfully fabricated by employing 22 surface reflectance values. The mechanism behind the reflectance change and the effect of the shield gas on the surface morphology and patterning quality were also investigated. • Developed a LIPSS-based femtosecond laser patterning method. • Surface reflectance can be controlled from 66% to 5% for stainless steel. • Multi-faceted ball shapes were fabricated using 23 reflectance values. • Changes in surface morphology and reflectance were studied systematically. • Effect of shield gas was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable materials are of great interest for the development of temporary implants. While most works have focused on Mg-based materials, recently, zinc and zinc based alloys are attracting increasing attention in this field. In this work, large scale area of flower structure zinc oxide nanotube (ZnO NT) layers were manufactured on the surface of pure zinc via anodic oxidation. Surface morphology and composition were characterized with SEM, XRD and XPS. The length of ZnO NTs was approximately 18 μm. Electrochemical tests in SBF solution showed that ZnO NT layers enhanced the electrochemical activity of pure zinc, from the perspective of degradation rate, the Zn/ZnO NT composite is more suitable for bone fixation compared with pure zinc. Immersion tests demonstrate that more Ca/P deposition occurs on the surface of ZnO NT samples, indicating a better biocompatibility compared with pure zinc. In addition, ZnO NTs have a large number of potential applications, such as use for drug release, or based on their catalytic and semiconductive properties. • One step fabrication of large scale area and uniform ZnO nanotube layers via anodic oxidation • Growth of flower structured ZnO nanotube with a length of single nanotubes of ca.18 μm demonstrated • ZnO nanotube layers improve the electrochemical behavior and bio-activity of pure zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atom probe tomography was used to analyze self-assembled monolayer of octanethiol and (1H,1H,2H,2H) perfluoro decanethiol (PFDT) in a mixed and unmixed state on a gold surface. The first part of this report, we have analyzed the two SAMs with a direct comparison, whereas in the second part, a binary mixture of these two SAMs (with a 1:1 ratio) are analyzed. Au was taken as a metal substrate in both cases. It has been observed that, although having similar structure and belongs from the same SAMs group, the sequence of evaporation of both chains appeared significantly different molecular fractions in the first case, while in the mixed phase condition the two SAMs chains were arranged in a patchy domain by forming a small nanoscale cluster on the gold surface. Primarily, this study gives an overall understanding of evaporation sequence and surface morphology of the SAMs in an unmixed and mixed condition on the gold substrate, which may lead to the further design process in various applications. • Two types of Self assembled monolayer named octane thiol and (1H,1H,2H,2H) perfluoro decanethiol (PFDT) has been taken for the study. • The overall analysis is mainly done by Laser assisted Atom probe tomography (APT) machine. • Both the SAMs investigated individually as well as in a mixed condition by APT machine. • A difference in sequence of evaporation has been noticed between two chain in a separate phase condition. • While in the mixed phase condition the two SAMs chains were arranged in a patchy domain on the gold surface. • Primarily, this study gives an overall understanding of evaporation sequence and surface morphology of the SAMs in an unmixed and mixed condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiO thin films with different annealing temperature and films thickness were fabricated by magnetron sputtering on the Pt/TiO x /SiO 2 /Si substrates. The XRD results show the crystallinity of films can be improved with the annealing temperature and films thickness increased. While the preferential orientation is affected by annealing temperature and films thickness. The SEM results show that the average size of the needle like grains shape increases gradually from 42.4 nm to 72.5 nm and the grains of films are seen to be more uniform, with a smoother and finer morphology with film thickness increasing. XPS measurements show that two valence states of Ni2+ and Ni3+ exist in NiO films with the Ni2+/ Ni3+ ratio 1.01. However, the Ni3+ refers to the structure that contains Ni2+ ions with holes and not to Ni 2 O 3 phase as observed from the XRD results and the O1s XPS spectra, making the grains conductive due to plenty of holes. It results the grains have a key contribution to dielectric behavior. The frequency domain spectroscopy shows the films thickness and annealing temperature have a significance influence on the dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent. And the preferential orientation of NiO films play a non-negligible impact on the dielectric performance due to the polarized NiO (111) plane. • The NiO thin films with different annealing temperature and films thickness were fabricated by magnetron sputtering on the Pt/TiO x /SiO 2 /Si substrates. • The effect of films thickness on the surface morphology, preferential orientation and dielectric property were discussed. • The preferential orientation of NiO films play a non-negligible impact on the dielectric performance due to the polarized NiO (111) plane. • The NiO films undergo a texture transition from (220) to (111) crystallographic orientation with the annealing temperature rising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the layer-by-layer deposition characteristic of fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, parts produced via FDM have typical low surface quality and do not satisfy the requirements for end-use applications. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the surface quality of parts produced via FDM. In this study, laser polishing technology was employed to enhance the surface quality of aluminum fiber/polylactide acid (Al/PLA) composite parts produced via FDM. The surface roughness, surface morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, and tensile properties were investigated. With optimal polishing parameters, the laser polishing process removed the defects formed during the FDM process. The surface roughness was reduced from the initial value of 5.64 μm to 0.32 μm (Ra). The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that there was a remarkable improvement in the storage modulus (E ′), loss modulus (E "), and glass transition temperature of Al/PLA composite specimens after laser polishing. The re-melted and polished surface of the specimens also led to improvement in the tensile strength and Young's modulus. Lastly, the fracture morphologies were observed, and the possible strengthening mechanism was also discussed. These results indicate that laser polishing can be an efficient method for the surface polishing of FDM-printed parts. Unlabelled Image • Laser polished additive manufactured Al/PLA has higher surface quality and many defects are removed. • A maximum reduction in Al/PLA surface roughness of over 93% is achieved at optimized polishing settings. • Laser polishing effectively improves the dynamic mechanical properties and tensile properties of the FMD Al/PLA. • The strengthening mechanism induced by laser polishing is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a Nitrogen-doped carbon-coated nickel-rich Li[Ni 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 ]O 2 (NCM811) cathode material is reported using a dry solid state method followed by a calcination process. The crystal structure, surface morphology, and electrochemical performance of the nitrogen-doped carbon-coated LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 (NC@NCM811) are determined for use as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. In this study, dopamine hydrochloride is used to produce nitrogen-doped carbon (NC), which was coated in-situ over the NCM811 particle surface. The surface coating of NC over the NCM811 particles is confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, elemental mapping, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Through optimal coating of NC, the rate capability and capacity retention of the coated material are enhanced compared with the pristine NCM811 material. Based on the electrochemical results, the reversible capacity of 0.2 wt% NC@NCM811 is 171 mAh g−1, while those for the 0.1 and 0.3 wt% coated materials are 142 mAh g−1 and 158 mAh g−1, respectively. The enhanced electrochemical performance of NC@NCM811 is potentially due to the reduced and direct exposure of the electrode and electrolyte, thereby decreasing parasitic reactions during electrochemical cycling. • N and C coated NCM811 is prepared and reported as cathode material for Li-ion battery. • NC-NCM811 shows improved capacity retention, reversibility and retention. • Presence of N and C mitigates the surface decompositions with electrolyte and electrode. • Occurrence of N and C is found to influence the overall electrochemical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ultrasound sonication time to the mean particle size, crystallite dimensions and specific surface area of naproxen sodium (NNa) active ingredient. The sonication time effect of ultrasound on the surface morphology, crystallinity, molecular structures and saturation solubility of NNa active ingredient have been examined using UV–vis spectroscopy, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. It has been determined that different ultrasound sonication time duration has changed the surface morphology and crystal structure of the drug active substances. It has been observed that ultrasonic sonication time doesn't have a linear correlation with the increase on the surface area and decrease on the particle size. On the contrary, it has been detected that optimum sonication time has a great effect on decreasing the particle size of drug active substances and increasing the surface area, therefore increasing the saturation solubility. • The effect of ultrasound sonication time on the specific surface area of NNa active ingredient were investigated. • The different sonication time has changed the surface morphology and crystal structure of the drug active substances. • The optimum sonication time has a great effect on decreasing the particle size and increasing the surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shot peening is a well-established surface treatment commonly used to improve mechanical properties of material's surfaces. Studies have shown notable enhancement of fatigue strength, wear, scratch and corrosion resistance and fretting properties as a result of an intensive shot peening treatment, the so-called severe shot peening. Nevertheless, this process has some drawbacks including quite high surface roughness and possible embedment of shot residuals at the treated surface, which can have adverse effects depending on the final application. In this paper, electropolishing has been evaluated as a cleaning post-treatment for shot peened surfaces of 316L stainless steel. For this purpose, electropolishing voltage has been varied with the aim of obtaining clean and smoother surfaces without sacrificing the mechanical improvements produced by shot peening. The treated surfaces have been characterized considering surface roughness, morphology, wettability, residual stresses and microhardness evolution after various shot peening treatments combined with electropolishing using different parameter set-ups to identify the most promising combinations. Unlabelled Image • Peened surfaces are rough with embedded residual shots, adverse for some applications. • Electropolishing selectively produces bright, clean and smooth surfaces. • An effective electropolishing cleaning treatment was suggested for peened surfaces. • Mechanical improvement produced by shot peening were maintained after electropolishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surface functionalization system targeted for iron-based materials is developed by combining two biodegradable components, iron oxide nanostructured arrays and polycaprolactone (PCL) coatings. Iron oxide nanoporous and nanotubular arrays are superior surface functionalization matrices, while their stability and cytocompatibility can be further improved by PCL coatings, the morphology of which can modify the drug release behavior. The biodegradation behavior of this system was investigated firstly by electrochemical tests, and further biodegradation information (including the surface morphology and chemical composition) was collected from samples used in a long-term in vitro cytocompatibility test over 21 days of incubation with human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). Moreover, the drug release behavior of these arrays coated with various PCL coatings was studied using tetracycline as a model drug. Experimental results demonstrate that PCL coatings can endow iron oxide nanostructured arrays a proper biodegradation behavior with bioactive degradation products on the surface, also leading to high cytocompatibility characterized by the production of collagen type I and cell distribution on the PCL-coated samples. Furthermore, with the barrier effect of PCL, the whole functionalization system shows sustainable drug release behavior. Unlabelled Image • Surface functionalization system composed of nanostructured arrays and PCL coatings. • PCL coatings with different morphologies and various roughness are fabricated. • Degradation behavior of this system can be tailored by the morphology of PCL coating. • PCL coatings improve the cytocompatibility of nanostructured arrays significantly. • Drug release behavior can also be modified by PCL coatings with different properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were formed, respectively in three silicate-based, phosphate-based and aluminate-based electrolytes on niobium, with the aim to explore the relationships between electrolyte composition, dielectric breakdown behavior and corresponding corrosion resistance. The initial growth stages of the anodic coatings were studied, and result shows that an impedance falling stage (from about 200 V to 400 V) starts at the emergence of spark discharge accompanied with the surface morphology evolution from compact to porous. The PEO coatings were characterized through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) methods. Results show the coatings fabricated in (NaPO 3) 6 electrolyte provide the best corrosion resistance. It attributes to the effective thickness of the compact inner layer rather than the entire thickness of the coating that decrease diffusion of corrosion medium. Unlabelled Image • Porous oxide formation at spark occurrence explained coating impedance decrease. • The sustained inner and outer growth of the coating caused impedance rebounding. • Coatings produced in (NaPO 3) 6 electrolyte exhibited the prior corrosion resistance. • The outstanding corrosion resistance depends on inner barrier layers of PEO coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important element that allows the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) photovoltaic assemblies to achieve high efficiency is the photoelectrode. In this kind of solar devices photoanode is mostly in the form of a meso-porous oxide layer composed of nanostructures with attached dye molecules through bonds between the hydroxyl group of the oxide material and the carboxylic group in the dye structure. It is responsible for the separation of charge carriers, which plays the most important role in the photovoltaic effect. The used dyes should be characterized by: higher dye excitation energy than the edge of the oxide semiconductor, the wide absorption spectrum, presence of groups that allow permanent bonding to the surface, resistance to photodegradation and photocorrosion, lower level of the basic state than the redox potential of the electrolyte allowing dye regeneration, thermal and electrochemical stability. Nowadays the most commonly used dyes are ruthenium, osmium, copper, iridium complexes as well as porphyrins and phthalocyanines. The work involved the production of two types of photoelectrodes, containing TiO 2 nanoparticles and TiO 2 nanoparticle/nanowire. The nanowires of TiO 2 have been produced with use electrospinning method. The both photoelectrodes have been obtained by screen printing method ensuring dimensional accuracy and repeatability of production. In order to determine the properties of photoanodes, topographical studies were performed using atomic force microscope (AFM), allowing through RMS Ra roughness coefficients determination to quantify of surface of the electrodes, qualitative studies of chemical composition using Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), X-ray structural studies, and investigations of optical properties in the wavelength range 200 to 800 nm. The I-V characteristics of dye sensitized solar cells were measured using PV Test Solutions Tadeusz Zdanowicz Solar Cell I-V Tracer System and Keithley 2410 source meter under Standard Test Conditions (AM 1.5, 100 W/m2). The research confirmed that the use of selected method of producing TiO 2 nanowires and the method of photoelectrode production allows to obtain a large specific surface area as well as homogeneity of the electrodes. Investigations of optical properties indicate good absorption of the dye used to the semiconductor TiO 2 layer, both composed of nanoparticles and the nanoparticle/nanowire system. Obtained cell efficiency results at 4.5–5% make photovoltaic structures promising from the point of view of further development and further application. • The material selected for testing and the method of production allows to achieve high efficiency of the photovoltaic device. • The structures produced are characterized by repeatability of energy conversion efficiency. • The obtained efficiencies are comparable with the efficiency obtained for other structures with a more complex structure. • Researches proves possibilities to increase efficiency by applying the additional treatment of the generated photoanodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work builds varied nanostructures on the boron-doped diamond (BDD) film by changing the surface status of the silicon (Si) substrate in a facile method and investigates the influence mechanism of surface morphology of the substrate on the capacitive performance of the formed Si/BDD electrode. The BDD electrodes with different nanostructures are synthesized by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique on the etched Si wafers, which are etched in HF (5 M)/AgNO 3 (0.035 M) aqueous solution (55 °C) from 0 to 50 min. Results show that it forms surface structures and contents of doped boron atom and sp 2-C bonds of BDD electrode on the Si substrates with etching time varied. The varying structures and compositions may induce changes in capacitive performance of the BDD electrode. In 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 aqueous solution, sample D at etching time of 30 min obtained the biggest capacitance of 103 mF/cm2 at current density of 0.1 mA/cm2. In particular, the capacitance is 27 times higher than that of sample A without etching. Sample D also has retention of 80% after 3000 cycles, indicating a dependable stability of the electrode. A mechanism is then proposed how surface morphology of Si substrate affects the capacitance properties of the Si/BDD electrode. Unlabelled Image • Boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode with nanostructure was synthesized in a facile method. • Capacitance of electrode at etching time of 30 min was 27 times higher than the bare one. • Superior cycling durability of 80% retention after 3000 cycles was observed. • Influence of substrate surface morphology on capacitive behavior of formed BDD electrode was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stability of functionalized surfaces is an often-neglected topic in phase-change heat transfer research. Here, we examine the chemical and morphological changes of textured surfaces on the molecular and atomic level after the critical heat flux incipience during saturated pool-boiling of water. SEM imaging, EDS, AES and XPS analyses are used to examine the surface changes. Copper samples were laser textured via ablation using a nanosecond fiber laser under air or argon atmosphere. Multiscale microcavities, which serve as preferential nucleation sites, were produced on the samples, which exhibited significantly enhanced heat transfer performance in pool-boiling tests. Repeated formation of a vapor film and accompanying temperatures of up to 320 °C during the tests resulted in changes of the surface chemistry and nanomorphology. It was determined that Cu (II) oxide and hydroxide transform into Cu (I) oxide and Cu metal as a result of repeated low-temperature annealing of the surface when a vapor film is formed during the transition towards film boiling. This additionally causes a wettability transition of the functionalized surfaces from hydrophilic towards hydrophobic. Both effects importantly influence the solid-liquid-vapor interface during phase-change heat transfer. Overall, surfaces functionalized via laser texturing exhibited significantly enhanced stability and boiling heat transfer performance. Unlabelled Image • Copper surfaces are modified using nanosecond laser-texturing • Pool boiling heat transfer on textured surfaces is significantly enhanced • A shift in boiling curves after the first CHF incipience is observed and investigated • Surface chemical composition is analyzed and correlated with boiling behavior • Conversion of CuO and Cu(OH) 2 into Cu 2 O and Cu as a result of CHF onset is detected [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silk samples were treated by air, air/Ar and air/O 2 plasma at atmospheric-pressure to modify their physical-morphological and chemical properties for pigment ink-jet printing. By testing multiple ambient gas and different discharging time, it was concluded that the mixture of argon and especially oxygen made the plasma treatment more sufficient for enhancing the ink-jet printing performance. Unexpectedly, scanning electron microscope (SEM) reveals that there is no remarkable difference on surface morphology between original and modified samples. According to the result of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the oxygen-containing radicals formed in plasma were introduced into the polymer chains of silk. Contact angle measurement indicates modified silk substrates are more hydrophilic than unmodified one. The bleeding resistance, color strength, shade and chroma of samples were investigated with the aim of evaluating the direct print properties of fabric. The anti-bleeding property of silk could be directly observed by the video zoom microscope. The color strength study proves that the modified sample has deeper color, darker shade and larger saturation. The recession experiments prove that the decline of the oxygen-containing groups started since the silk sample has been exposed to air. Nevertheless, the surface hydrophilicity of modified silk may reduce but not as completely ineffective as untreated sample. Unlabelled Image • The modification effect of atmospheric-pressure plasma is obviously strengthened after adding small amount of oxygen or argon with air. • Some hydrophilic polar groups, such as C－O, C=O and N－C=O, generated during plasma discharging were introduced onto fiber surface. • The active species in the plasma hit the surface of the fibers and reacted with silk molecules, making the fabrics more wettable. • The printing performance of silk was verified to be superior by the higher distinct printing edge and color yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Favorable osteogenic activity and antibacterial ability are highly desired for hard tissue repair and replacement materials. However, as a typical implant material, nearly equiatomic nickel‑titanium (NiTi) alloy exhibits poor osteogenic and antibacterial capacities despite its good biocompatibility and unique mechanical properties. In this work, nickel‑titanium‑oxygen (Ni-Ti-O) nanopores (NPs) coatings incorporated with magnesium (NP-Mg) are fabricated on the NiTi alloy by anodization and hydrothermal treatment (HT). The results show the amount of loaded Mg can be regulated by the NPs length (1.8 and 10.4 μm) and the hydrothermal duration (1 and 5 h). In addition, the surface morphology of the coatings transform to nanosheets after HT for 1 h and to NPs with small diameter after HT for 5 h. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) cultured on NP-Mg-coated NiTi alloy show better proliferation and osteogenic differentiation than that of pristine and as-anodized specimens. Antibacterial experiments show although HT reduces Ni ion release and increase corrosion resistance, the NP-Mg coatings yet maintain potent antibacterial activity especially against adherent bacteria. The NPs coating with thickness of 10.4 μm and HT for 5 h shows favorable osteogenic activity, antibacterial ability, little Ni ion release, and good corrosion resistance thus is a promising candidate to functionalize the surface of the NiTi alloy for orthopedic applications. • Mg has been successfully incorporated into Ni-Ti-O nanopore layers on NiTi alloy. • The layers show favorable osteogenic ability because of Mg2+ release and nanoporous structure. • The layers can release Ni2+ and Mg2+ to kill bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, water droplet behavior on hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces with different morphologies and geometries has been investigated using molecular dynamics method. The contact angle and potential energy of water droplet on nanostructured surfaces has been evaluated as criteria of hydrophobicity. Results show that surface morphology, distance between columns, void fraction and the growth angle are the main parameters that significantly influence surface hydrophobicity. Wetting transition from Cassie-Baxter state to Wenzel state of simulated structures show that contact the angle decreases with increasing the distance between the columns. Superhydrophobic thin films with different shapes and dimensions, namely tetragonal helical sculptured, gecko feet and lotus leaves were designed and simulated. A contact angle of 155.7° for tetragonal helical sculptured structure is achieved. Interestingly, gecko feet and lotus leaves structures show oscillatory behavior of potential energy curves. It implies that these surfaces are more hydrophobic than other simulated films. Unlabelled Image • Hydrophobicity of conical, lotus leaves, gecko feet and tetragonal helical morphologies was investigated using MD simulation. • Contact angle and potential energy of water droplet were evaluated as criteria of hydrophobicity or super- hydrophobicity • In conical and columnar morphologies hydrophobicity is increased with height of both conical and columnar structures. • In agreement with experimental results, hydrophobicity of tilted nano-cones is increased by increasing deposition angle. • The 155.7° contact angle of the simulated helical tetragonal structure is in good agreement with experimental reports. • Oscillatory behavior in potential energy curves of lotus leaves and gecko feet structures reveal these are super-hydrophobic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to prepare porous Zn-Ni coating with high infrared emissivity at a lower current density (1 A/cm2) by using dynamic hydrogen bubble template (DHBT) method. Three types of ceramic micro-particles (Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 and TiO 2) are introduced into the electrolyte to investigate their effects on the surface morphology and infrared emissivity of Zn-Ni coating. The results show that uniform porous coatings can be obtained when these micro-particles are added into the electrolyte. The suspended micro-particles in electrolyte can prevent the H 2 bubbles from rising up and escaping from the cathode, which is beneficial to the formation of porous structure, especially the insulating micro-particles, Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2. The uniform porous structure containing ceramic micro-particles is beneficial to improve infrared emissivity. In addition, the infrared emissivity of porous composite coating is also significantly dependents on the type of ceramic particles inside pores. Among the three types of micro-particles, TiO 2 micro-particles have the greatest effect on the improvement of infrared emissivity which is increased from 0.83 to 0.91 when TiO 2 micro-particles are deposited into the Zn-Ni coating. • Uniform porous Zn-Ni coating can be obtained by the addition of ceramic micro-particles at lower current density (1 A/cm2). • The incorporation of ceramic micro-particles in Zn-Ni coating is beneficial to improve infrared emissivity. • Among different types of ceramic micro-particles(Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 and TiO 2), TiO 2 improve the infrared emissivity effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based platforms for biological studies have received significant attention given that cellulose is ubiquitous, biocompatible, and can be readily organized into tunable fibrous structures. In the latter form, effect of complexity in surface morphologies (roughness, porosity and fiber organization) on cell-substrate interaction has not been thoroughly explored. We infer that altering the properties of a fibrous material should lead to significant changes in cellular microenvironment and direct the deposition of structurally analogous extracellular matrix (fiber-fiber templating) like collagen. Here, we elucidate the effect of varying paper roughness and surface chemistry on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts via organization of excreted collagen. Collagen intensity was found to increase linearly with paper porosity, indicating a 3D culture platform. The intensity, however, decays over time due to biodegradation of the substrate. Stability can be improved by introducing fluorinated alkyl silanes to yield hydrophobic paper. This process concomitantly transforms the substrate to a 2D-like scaffold where collagen is predominantly assembled on the surface, thus changing the cellular microenvironment. Altering surface energy also led to fluctuations in collagen intensity and organization over time for smooth (calendered) paper substrates. We infer that the increased roughness improves collagen adsorption through capillary driven petal effect. In general, the influence of the substrate simultaneously affects its ability to host collagen and guide orientation. These findings offer insights into the effects of secondary structures and chemistry of fibrous polymeric materials on cell culture, which we propose as vital parameters when using paper-based platforms. Unlabelled Image • Collagen secreted from NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells increases linearly with paper porosity. • Paper transitions from 3D to 2D cell culture scaffold when rendered hydrophobic. • Hydrophobic paper relies on capillary driven petal effect for collagen adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to investigate the geometric effect of nanostructured substrates on adsorptive behavior of potassium stearate monolayers. A typical protective coating, diamond-like carbon (DLC), was employed as adsorptive substrates. For the substrates with square grooves, complete penetration of molecules can only occur under large width and small depth. The occurrence of partial penetration would make monolayer atoms away from substrate surfaces and therefore induce weak substrate-molecules interactions. Compared with the square groove bottoms, monolayers are much more strongly adsorbed to the groove concave corners. For substrates with triangle and semi-circle grooves, complete penetrations are achieved in both cases and thus monolayer atoms can interact with the whole groove surface. The effect of substrate morphology on monolayer adsorption would be sufficiently weakened by the decrease of geometric size, and the surface adsorptivity of semi-circle grooves with large radius is similar to that of the smooth surface. The results indicate that the substrates with triangle grooves have better adsorptivity than other morphologies. • Size effect of nanostructured diamond-like carbon substrates on adsorption of potassium stearate monolayers was studied using MD simulation. • Geometric size of surface morphologies and amorphous atomic arrangement will significantly influence the molecular adsorption. • The monolayer-to-substrate adhesion at concave corners is much stronger than other positions within grooves. • Complete penetration of monolayers is achieved in all the morphology sizes for triangle grooves and semi-circle grooves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the melanin and marine mussel binders, the super-adhesion polydopamine (PDA) plays a unique role in the surface modification of materials. In this work, dopamine was coated on silk fabric in a short time by rapid oxidative polymerization, and Fe2+ was wrapped by using the reactive groups on the surface of polydopamine (PDA) as a secondary platform. The hydrophobic, flame retardant and UV resistant properties of the treated fabric were investigated. The surface morphology, crystal form, composition and carbon residue morphology of the treated silk fabric were analyzed. The PDA coating and Fe2+ mineralization wrap changed the morphological structure of the silk fabric, giving the fabric superhydrophobicity, flame retardancy and UV shielding ability. In particular, the wrapped Fe2+ mineralization formed micro-nano particles and a rough structure on the surface of silk fibers, endowing silk fabric with superhydrophobicity. The PDA coating also increased the carbonization property of the fabric during combustion. Furthermore, the formation of metal salts by combustion of mineralized materials was helpful to prevent heat and gas sources, thus making silk fabric have good flame retardancy, showing potential applications as multifunctional advanced textiles. • Polydopamine is coated on the fabric by rapid oxidative polymerization. • Environmentally friendly flame retardant was successfully finished onto the fabric. • Finished fabric has multi-functional: superhydrophobic, flame retardant, UV resistant. • Flame retardant properties of the finished fabric have excellent stability. • Provides new idea for the preparation of multifunctional textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]