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Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in medical applications due to their antibacterial and antiviral properties. Despite the extensive study of AgNPs, their toxicity and their effect on human health is poorly understood, as a result of issues such as poor control of NP properties and lack of proper characterization. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined characterization, bio-uptake, and toxicity of well-characterized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs in exposure media during exposure time using primary human cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)). AgNPs were synthesized in-house and characterized using a multimethod approach. Results indicated the transformation of NPs in RPMI medium with a change in size and polydispersity over 24 h of exposure due to dissolution and reprecipitation. No aggregation of NPs was observed in the RPMI medium over the exposure time (24 h). A dose-dependent relationship between PBMC uptake and Ag concentration was detected for both AgNP and AgNO3 treatment. There was approximately a two-fold increase in cellular Ag uptake in the AgNO3 vs the NP treatment. Cytotoxicity, using LDH and MTS assays and based on exposure concentrations was not significantly different when comparing NPs and Ag ions. Based on differential uptake, AgNPs were more toxic after normalizing toxicity to the amount of cellular Ag uptake. Our data highlights the importance of correct synthesis, characterization, and study of transformations to obtain a better understanding of NP uptake and toxicity. Statistical analysis indicated that there might be an individual variability in response to NPs, although more research is required.

Two of the limitations associated with cancer treatment are the low efficacy and the high dose-related side effects of anticancer drugs. The purpose of the current study was to fabricate biocompatible multifunctional drug-loaded nanoscale moieties for co-therapy (chemo-photothermal therapy) with maximum efficacy and minimum side effects. Herein, we report in vitro anticancerous effects of doxorubicin (DOX) loaded on gold nanorods coated with the polyelectrolyte poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS-GNRs) with and without NIR laser (808 nm, power density = 1.5 W/cm2 for 2 min) irradiation. The drug-loading capacity of PSS-GNRs was about 76% with a drug loading content of 3.2 mg DOX/mL. The cumulative DOX release significantly increased after laser exposure compared to non-irradiated samples (p < 0.05). The zeta potential values of GNRs, PSS-GNRs and DOX-PSS-GNRs were measured as 42 ± 0.1 mV, −40 ± 0.3 mV and 39.3 ± 0.6 mV, respectively. PSS-GNRs nanocomplexes were found to be biocompatible and showed higher photothermal stability. The DOX-conjugated nanocomplexes with NIR laser irradiation appear more efficient in cell inhibition (93%) than those without laser exposure (65%) and doxorubicin alone (84%). The IC50 values of PSS-GNRs-DOX and PSS-GNRs-DOX were measured as 7.99 and 3.12 µg/mL, respectively, with laser irradiation. Thus, a combinatorial approach based on chemotherapy and photothermal strategies appears to be a promising platform in cancer management.

Functionality of living cells is inherently linked to subunits with dimensions on the nanoscale. In case of osteoblasts the cell surface plays a particularly important role for adhesion and spreading which are crucial properties with regard to bone implants. Here we present a comprehensive characterization of the 3D nanomorphology of living as well as fixed osteoblastic cells using scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) which is a nanoprobing method largely avoiding forces. Dynamic ruffles are observed, manifesting themselves in characteristic membrane protrusions. They contribute to the overall surface corrugation which we systematically study by introducing the relative 3D excess area as a function of projected adhesion area. A clear anticorrelation is found upon analysis of ~40 different cells on glass as well as on amine covered surfaces. At the rim of lamellipodia characteristic edge heights between 100 nm and ~300 nm are observed. Power spectral densities of membrane fluctuations show frequency-dependent decay exponents in excess of -2 on living osteoblasts. We discuss the capability of apical membrane features and fluctuation dynamics in aiding assessment of adhesion and migration properties on a single-cell basis., 27 pages, 11 figures

The efficient entry of nanotechnology-based pharmaceuticals into target cells is highly desired to reach high therapeutic efficiencywhile minimizing the side effects. Despite intensive research, the impact of the surface coating on the mechanism of nanoparticleuptake is not sufficiently understood yet. Herein, we present a mechanistic study of cellular internalization pathways of two magneticiron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) differing in surface chemistry into A549 cells. The MNP uptake was investigated in the presenceof different inhibitors of endocytosis and monitored by spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The results revealed that theroute of MNP entry into cells strongly depends on the surface chemistry of the MNPs. While serum bovine albumin-coated MNPsentered the cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), caveolin-mediated endocytosis (CavME) or lipid rafts were preferentiallyinvolved in the internalization of polyethylene glycol-coated MNPs. Our data indicate that surface engineering can contribute toan enhanced delivery efficiency of nanoparticles.

The production of high-quality silkworm silk is of importance in sericulture in addition to the production of biomass, silk proteins, and animal feed. The distinctive properties of nanomaterials have the potential to improve the development of various sectors including medicine, cosmetics, and agriculture. The application of nanotechnology in sericulture not only improves the survival rate of the silkworm, promotes the growth and development of silkworm, but also improves the quality of silk fiber. Despite the positive contributions of nanomaterials, there are a few concerns regarding the safety of their application to the environment, in humans, and in experimental models. Some studies have shown that some nanomaterials exhibit toxicity to tissues and organs of the silkworm, while other nanomaterials exhibit therapeutic properties. This review summarizes some reports on the biological effects of nanomaterials on silkworm and how the application of nanomaterials improves sericulture.

The study of eye movements and the measurement of the resulting biopotential, referred to as electrooculography (EOG), may find increasing use in applications within the domain of activity recognition, context awareness, mobile human–computer and human–machine interaction (HCI/HMI), and personal medical devices; provided that, seamless sensing of eye activity and processing thereof is achieved by a truly wearable, low-cost, and accessible technology. The present study demonstrates an alternative to the bulky and expensive camera-based eye tracking systems and reports the development of a graphene textile-based personal assistive device for the first time. This self-contained wearable prototype comprises a headband with soft graphene textile electrodes that overcome the limitations of conventional “wet” electrodes, along with miniaturized, portable readout electronics with real-time signal processing capability that can stream data to a remote device over Bluetooth. The potential of graphene textiles in wearable eye tracking and eye-operated remote object interaction is demonstrated by controlling a mouse cursor on screen for typing with a virtual keyboard and enabling navigation of a four-wheeled robot in a maze, all utilizing five different eye motions initiated with a single channel EOG acquisition. Typing speeds of up to six characters per minute without prediction algorithms and guidance of the robot in a maze with four 180° turns were successfully achieved with perfect pattern detection accuracies of 100% and 98%, respectively.

When using the Oliver–Pharr method, the indented specimen is assumed to be a perfectly flat surface, thus ignoring the influences of surface roughness that might be encountered in experiment. For nanoindentation measurements, a flat surface is fabricated from curved specimens by mechanical polishing. However, the position of the polished curved surface cannot be controlled. There are no reliable theoretical or experimental methods to evaluate the mechanical behavior during nanoindentation of an elastic–plastic microsphere. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct reliable numerical simulations to evaluate this behavior. This article reports a systematic computational study regarding the instrumented nanoindentation of elastic–plastic microspherical materials. The ratio between elastic modulus of the microsphere and the initial yield stress of the microsphere was systematically varied from 10 to 1000 to cover the mechanical properties of most materials encountered in engineering. The simulated results indicate that contact height is unsuitable to replace contact depth for obtaining the indentation elastic modulus of microspherical materials. The extracted elastic modulus of a microsphere using the Oliver–Pharr method with the simulated unloading curve depends on the indentation depth. It demonstrates that nanoindentation on microspherical materials exhibits a “size effect”.

A dark-field scanning transmission ion microscopy detector was designed for the helium ion microscope. The detection principle is based on a secondary electron conversion holder with an exchangeable aperture strip allowing its acceptance angle to be tuned from 3 to 98 mrad. The contrast mechanism and performance were investigated using freestanding nanometer-thin carbon membranes. The results demonstrate that the detector can be optimized either for most efficient signal collection or for maximum image contrast. The designed setup allows for the imaging of thin low-density materials that otherwise provide little signal or contrast and for a clear end-point detection in the fabrication of nanopores. In addition, the detector is able to determine the thickness of membranes with sub-nanometer precision by quantitatively evaluating the image signal and comparing the results with Monte Carlo simulations. The thickness determined by the dark-field transmission detector is compared to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy measurements. Copyright © 2021, Emmrich et al.

A key application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the measurement of physical properties at sub-micrometer resolution. Methods such as force–distance curves (FDCs) or dynamic variants (such as intermodulation AFM (ImAFM)) are able to measure mechanical properties (such as the local stiffness, kr) of nanoscopic heterogeneous materials. For a complete structure–property correlation, these mechanical measurements are considered to lack the ability to identify the chemical structure of the materials. In this study, the measured attractive force, Fattr, acting between the AFM tip and the sample is shown to be an independent measurement for the local chemical composition and hence a complete structure–property correlation can be obtained. A proof of concept is provided by two model samples comprised of (1) epoxy/polycarbonate and (2) epoxy/boehmite. The preparation of the model samples allowed for the assignment of material phases based on AFM topography. Additional chemical characterization on the nanoscale is performed by an AFM/infrared-spectroscopy hybrid method. Mechanical properties (kr) and attractive forces (Fattr) are calculated and a structure–property correlation is obtained by a manual principle component analysis (mPCA) from a kr/Fattr diagram. A third sample comprised of (3) epoxy/polycarbonate/boehmite is measured by ImAFM. The measurement of a 2 × 2 µm cross section yields 128 × 128 force curves which are successfully evaluated by a kr/Fattr diagram and the nanoscopic heterogeneity of the sample is determined.

Al2O3 layers were deposited onto electrodes by atomic layer deposition. Solubility and electron-transport blocking were tested. Films deposited onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO, F:SnO2/glass) substrates blocked electron transfer to redox couples (ferricyanide/ferrocyanide) in aqueous media. However, these films were rapidly dissolved in 1 M NaOH (≈100 nm/h). The dissolution was slower in 1 M H2SO4 (1 nm/h) but after 24 h the blocking behaviour was entirely lost. The optimal stability was reached at pH 7.2 where no changes were found up to 24 h and even after 168 h of exposure the changes in the blocking behaviour were still minimal. This behaviour was also observed for protection against direct reduction of FTO.

Scanning helium-ion microscopy (HIM) is an imaging technique with sub-nanometre resolution and is a powerful tool to resolve some of the tiniest structures in biology. In many aspects, the HIM resembles a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), but the use of helium ions rather than electrons provides several advantages, including higher surface sensitivity, larger depth of field, and a straightforward charge-compensating electron flood gun, which enables imaging of non-conductive samples, rendering HIM a promising high-resolution imaging technique for biological samples. Starting with studies focused on medical research, the last decade has seen some particularly spectacular high-resolution images in studies focused on plants, microbiology, virology, and geomicrobiology. However, HIM is not just an imaging technique. The ability to use the instrument for milling biological objects as small as viruses offers unique opportunities which are not possible with more conventional focused ion beams, such as gallium. Several pioneering technical developments, such as methods to couple secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or ionoluminescence with the HIM, also offer the possibility for new and exciting research on biological materials. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of almost all currently published literature which has demonstrated the application of HIM for imaging of biological specimens. We also discuss some technical features of this unique type of instrument and highlight some of the new advances which will likely become more widely used in the years to come.

Core–shell based nanostructures are attractive candidates for photocatalysis owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, their interfacial contact effects, and their efficacy in charge-carrier separation. This study reports, for the first time, on the synthesis of mesoporous silica@nickel phyllosilicate/titania (mSiO2@NiPS/TiO2) core–shell nanostructures. The TEM results showed that the mSiO2@NiPS composite has a core–shell nanostructure with a unique flake-like shell morphology. XPS analysis revealed the successful formation of 1:1 nickel phyllosilicate on the SiO2 surface. The addition of TiO2 to the mSiO2@NiPS yielded the mSiO2@NiPS/TiO2 composite. The bandgap energy of mSiO2@NiPS and of mSiO2@NiPS/TiO2 were estimated to be 2.05 and 2.68 eV, respectively, indicating the role of titania in tuning the optoelectronic properties of the SiO2@nickel phyllosilicate. As a proof of concept, the core–shell nanostructures were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of methyl violet dye and the degradation efficiencies were found to be 72% and 99% for the mSiO2@NiPS and the mSiO2@NiPS/TiO2 nanostructures, respectively. Furthermore, a recyclability test revealed good stability and recyclability of the mSiO2@NiPS/TiO2 photocatalyst with a degradation efficacy of 93% after three cycles. The porous flake-like morphology of the nickel phyllosilicate acted as a suitable support for the TiO2 nanoparticles. Further, a coating of TiO2 on the mSiO2@NiPS surface greatly affected the surface features and optoelectronic properties of the core–shell nanostructure and yielded superior photocatalytic properties.

1D semiconductor nanowires (NWs) have been extensively studied in recent years due to the predominant mechanical flexibility caused by a large surface-to-volume ratio and unique electrical and optical properties induced by the 1D quantum confinement effect. Herein, we use a top-down two-step preparation method to synthesize AlGaN/AlN/GaN heterojunction NWs with controllable size. A single NW is transferred to a flexible poly(ethylene terephthalate) substrate and fixed by indium tin oxide electrodes to form an ohmic contact for the strain sensor. An external mechanical stress is introduced to study the performance of the fabricated piezotronic strain sensor. The gauge factor is as high as 30 under compressive or tensile stress, which indicates a high sensitivity of the strain sensor. Periodic strain tests show the high stability and repeatability of the sensor. The working mechanism of the strain sensor is investigated and systematically analyzed under compressive and tensile strain. Here, we describe a strain sensor that shows a great application potential in wearable integrated circuits, in health-monitoring devices, and in artificial intelligence.

In this work, monodisperse BiFeO3 nanoparticles with a particle diameter of 5.5 nm were synthesized by a nanocasting technique using mesoporous silica SBA-15 as a hard template and pre-fabricated metal carboxylates as metal precursors. To the best of our knowledge, the synthesized particles are the smallest BiFeO3 particles ever prepared by any method. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The phase purity of the product depends on the type of carboxylic acid used in the synthesis of the metal precursors, the type of solvent in the wet impregnation process, and the calcination procedure. By using tartaric acid in the synthesis of the metal precursors, acidified 2-methoxyethanol in the wet impregnation process and a calcination procedure with intermediate plateaus, monodisperse 5.5 nm BiFeO3 nanoparticles were successfully obtained. Furthermore, the nanoparticles were applied in photodegradation reactions of rhodamine B in aqueous solution under visible-light irradiation. Notably, the cast BiFeO3 nanoparticles demonstrated very high efficiencies and stability under visible-light irradiation, much higher than those of BiFeO3 nanoparticles synthesized by other synthetic methods. The possible mechanism in the photodegradation process has been deeply discussed on the basis of radical trapping experiments.

Lithium–oxygen batteries have attracted research attention due to their low cost and high theoretical capacity. Developing inexpensive and highly efficient cathode materials without using noble metal-based catalysts is highly desirable for practical applications in lithium–oxygen batteries. Herein, a heterostructure of NiFe and NiCx inside of N-doped carbon (NiCx-NiFe-NC) derived from bimetallic Prussian blue supported on biochar was developed as a novel self-standing cathode for lithium–oxygen batteries. The specific discharge capacity of the best sample was 27.14 mAh·cm−2 at a stable discharge voltage of 2.75 V. The hybridization between the d-orbital of Ni and s and p-orbitals of carbon in NiCx, formed at 900 °C, enhanced the electrocatalytic performance due to the synergistic effect between these components. The structure of NiCx-NiFe-NC efficiently improved the electron and ion transfer between the cathode and the electrolyte during the electrochemical processes, resulting in superior electrocatalytic properties in lithium–oxygen batteries. This study indicates that nickel carbide supported on N-doped carbon is a promising cathode material for lithium–oxygen batteries.

The tracking of body motion, such as bending or twisting, plays an important role in modern sign language translation. Here, a subtle flexible self-powered piezoelectric sensor (PES) made of graphene (GR)-doped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers is reported. The PES exhibits a high sensitivity to pressing and bending, and there is a stable correlation between bending angle and piezoelectric voltage. The sensitivity can be adjusted by changing the doping concentration of GR. Also, when the PES contacts a source of heat, a pyroelectric signal can be acquired. The positive correlation between temperature and signal can be used to avoid burns. The integrated sensing system based on multiple PESs can accurately recognize the action of each finger in real time, which can be effectively applied in sign language translation. PES-based motion-tracking applications have been effectively used, especially in human–computer interaction, such as gesture control, rehabilitation training, and auxiliary communication.

Thermoelectric generators made by large arrays of nanowires perpendicular to a silicon substrate, that is, so-called silicon nanowire forests are fabricated on large areas by an inexpensive metal-assisted etching technique. After fabrication, a thermal diffusion process is used for doping the nanowire forest with phosphorous. A suitable experimental technique has been developed for the measurement of the Seebeck coefficient under static conditions, and results are reported for different doping parameters. These results are in good agreement with numerical simulations of the doping process applied to silicon nanowires. These devices, based on doped nanowire forests, offer a possible route for the exploitation of the high power factor of silicon, which, combined with the very low thermal conductivity of nanostructures, will yield a high efficiency of the conversion of thermal to electrical energy.

Contact-resonance AFM (CR-AFM) has been used in recent years for the measurement of mechanical properties of rather stiff materials, such as ceramics or metals, but also of some polymers. Compared with other techniques providing information on the mechanical properties of a sample, notably force–distance curves, CR-AFM has a much shorter acquisition time. This compensates in part the incomplete theoretical understanding of the underlying physical phenomena and of factors influencing the measurements. A commonly used method to analyze CR data requires the determination of the relative position of the tip, the calculation of the normalized contact stiffness, and the use of a calibration sample for the calculation of the elastic modulus of the sample. In the present paper, we propose an alternative procedure, based on approximations of the equations describing the system, which allows one to determine the elastic modulus of the sample as a parameter of the fit of the CR frequency as a function of the load. After showing that CR modes including scanning under continuous contact wear and damage the sample and/or alter the surface roughness, the results of point CR measurements on bulk and thin films are presented. Though Young’s moduli of bulk polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) could be determined through the presented analysis, it is concluded that CR measurements are not appropriate for polymer samples. Major drawbacks are the bad resolution for moduli lower than ca. 10 GPa and the lack of a comprehensive physical model accounting for many factors affecting the dynamic response of a cantilever in contact with a sample.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted great interest regarding drug-delivery applications. However, their application has been limited by some inherent disadvantages. In this study, raw SWCNTs were purified with different oxidizing acids, and the resulting shortened CNTs were conjugated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polyethylenimine (PEI). The different nanocarriers, that is, CNTs-COOH (CNTs), CNTs-PEG and CNTs-PEG-PEI, were systematically characterized and evaluated in terms of drug loading, in vitro release, cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cells and cellular uptake. The results showed that all CNT carriers had a high drug loading capacity. In comparison with CNTs-COOH and CNTs-PEG, CNTs-PEG-PEI showed a more rapid drug release under acidic conditions and a higher antitumor activity. Furthermore, fluorescence detection and flow cytometry (FCM) analysis results indicated that the internalization into cells of CNTs-PEG-PEI was significantly enhanced, thus inducing tumor cell death through apoptosis more efficiently. The above series of benefits of CNTs-PEG-PEI may be attributed to their good dispersibility and comparably higher affinity to tumor cells due to the difunctionalization. In summary, the PEG- and PEI-conjugated CNTs may be used as novel nanocarriers and the findings will contribute to the rational design of multifunctional delivery vehicles for anticancer drugs.

CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior INCT – Instituto nacional de ciência e tecnologia (Antigo Instituto do Milênio) Folds naturally appear on nanometrically thin materials, also called “2D materials”, after exfoliation, eventually creating folded edges across the resulting flakes. We investigate the adhesion and flexural properties of single-layered and multilayered 2D materials upon folding in the present work. This is accomplished by measuring and modeling mechanical properties of folded edges, which allows for the experimental determination of the bending stiffness (κ) of multilayered 2D materials as a function of the number of layers (n). In the case of talc, we obtain κ ∝ n3 for n ≥ 5, indicating no interlayer sliding upon folding, at least in this thickness range. In contrast, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy measurements on edges in folded graphene flakes, 14 layers thick, show no significant strain. This indicates that layers in graphene flakes, up to 5 nm thick, can still slip to relieve stress, showing the richness of the effect in 2D systems. The obtained interlayer adhesion energy for graphene (0.25 N/m) and talc (0.62 N/m) is in good agreement with recent experimental results and theoretical predictions. The obtained value for the adhesion energy of graphene on a silicon substrate is also in agreement with previous results.

The atomic arrangement of the Si(110)-(16×2) reconstruction was directly observed using noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) at 78 K. The pentagonal structure, which is the most important building block of the reconstruction, was concluded to consist of five atoms, while only four or five spots (depending on tip bias) have been reported with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Single atoms were determined to exist near step edges between upper and lower terraces, which have not been reported using STM. These findings are key evidence for establishing an atomic model of the Si(110)-(16×2) reconstruction, which indeed has a complex structure.

The application of nanoparticle in medicine is promising for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. However, the slow progress in the field has resulted in relatively few therapies being translated into the clinic. Anisotropic synthetic protein nanoparticles (ASPNPs) show potential as a next-generation drug-delivery technology, due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functionality. Even though ASPNPs have the potential to be used in a variety of applications, such as in the treatment of glioblastoma, there is currently no high-throughput technology for the processing of these particles. Insulator-based electrokinetics employ microfluidics devices that rely on electrokinetic principles to manipulate micro- and nanoparticles. These miniaturized devices can selectively trap and enrich nanoparticles based on their material characteristics, and subsequently release them, which allows for particle sorting and processing. In this study, we use insulator-based electrokinetic (EK) microdevices to characterize ASPNPs. We found that anisotropy strongly influences electrokinetic particle behavior by comparing compositionally identical anisotropic and non-anisotropic SPNPs. Additionally, we were able to estimate the empirical electrokinetic equilibrium parameter (eEEEC) for all SPNPs. This particle-dependent parameter can allow for the design of various separation and purification processes. These results show how promising the insulator-based EK microdevices are for the analysis and purification of clinically relevant SPNPs.

The oxidation of Au/Ag alloy thin films using radio-frequency oxygen plasma was studied in this work. It was demonstrated that there is a phase separation occurring between silver and gold. In addition, it was shown that the preferential oxidation of silver resulted in a solid-state diffusion of silver toward the surface where it oxidized and formed nanoporous microspheres. The gold phase remaining in the film exhibited nanoporosity due to the injected vacancies at the metal/silver oxide interface. Based on the scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis coupled with energy dispersive X-ray mapping a mechanism was proposed based on solid-state diffusion and the Kirkendall effect to explain the different steps occurring during the oxidation process.

Based on an electrochemical method, three-dimensional arrayed nanopore structures are machined onto a Mg surface. The structured Mg surface is coated with a thin gold (Au) film, which is used as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. A rhodamine 6G (R6G) probe molecule is used as the detection agent for the SERS measurement. Different sizes of arrayed micro/nanostructures are fabricated by different treatment time using the electrochemical process. The topographies of these micro/nanostructures and the thickness of the Au film have an influence on the Raman intensity of the Mg substrate. Furthermore, when the thickness of Au film coating is held constant, the Raman intensity on the structured Mg substrates is about five times higher after a treatment time of 1 min when compared with other treatment times. The SERS enhancement factor ranges from 106 to 1.75 × 107 under these experimental conditions. Additionally, a 10−6 mol·L−1 solution of lysozyme was successfully detected using the Mg–Au nanopore substrates. Our low-cost method is reproducible, homogeneous, and suitable for the fabrication of SERS substrates.

As the application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in soft matter characterization has expanded, the use of different types of cantilevers for these studies have also increased. One of the most common types of cantilevers used in soft matter imaging is V-shaped cantilevers due to their low normal spring constant. These types of cantilevers are also suitable for nanomanipulation due to their high lateral spring constants. The combination of low normal spring constant and high lateral spring constants makes V-shaped cantilevers promising candidates for imaging soft matter. Although these cantilevers are widely used in the field, there are no studies on the static and dynamic behavior of V-shaped cantilevers in multifrequency AFM due to their complex geometry. In this work, the static and dynamic properties of V-shaped cantilevers are studied while investigating their performance in multifrequency AFM (specifically bimodal AFM). By modeling the cantilevers based on Timoshenko beam theory, the geometrical dimensions such as length, base width, leg width and thickness are studied. By finding the static properties (mass, spring constants) and dynamic properties (resonance frequencies and quality factors) for different geometrical dimensions, the optimum V-shaped cantilever that can provide the maximum phase contrast in bimodal AFM between gold (Au) and polystyrene (PS) is found. Based on this study, it is found that as the length of the cantilever increases the 2nd eigenmode phase contrast decreases. However, the base width exhibits the opposite relationship. It is also found that the leg width does not have a monotone relationship similar to length and base width. The phase contrast increases for the range of 14 to 32 µm but decreases afterwards. The thickness of a V-shaped cantilever does not play a major role in defining the dynamics of the cantilever compared to other parameters. This work shows that in order to maximize the phase contrast, the ratio of second to first eigenmode frequencies should be minimized and be close to a whole number. Additionally, since V-shaped cantilevers are mostly used for soft matter imaging, lower frequency ratios dictate lower spring constant ratios, which can be advantageous due to lower forces applied to the surface by the tip given a sufficiently high first eigenmode frequency. Finally, two commercially available V-shaped cantilevers are theoretically and experimentally benchmarked with an optimum rectangular cantilever. Two sets of bimodal AFM experiments are carried out on Au-PS and PS-LDPE (polystyrene and low-density polyethylene) samples to verify the simulation results.

Thin insulating films are commonly employed for the electronic decoupling of molecules as they enable a preservation of the intrinsic molecular electronic functionality. Here, the molecular properties of 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) adsorbed on insulating CaF2 thin films that were grown on Si(111) surfaces are studied. Scanning tunnelling microscopy is used to compare the properties of PTCDA molecules adsorbed on a partly CaF1-covered Si(111) surface with deposition on thicker CaF2/CaF1/Si(111) films. The identification of mostly single molecules on the CaF1/Si(111) interface layer is explained by the presence of atomic-size defects within this layer. Geometry-optimisation calculations using density functional theory reveal a geometry on CaF2(111) of nearly flat-lying PTCDA molecules with two oxygen atoms displaced towards calcium surface ions. This geometry is in agreement with the experimental observations.

Due to the extensive energy consumption and high population density in modern cities, the collection and use of scattered walking energy from the stream of people is crucial for the development of a green ecological city. Herein, a flexible undulated electrode-based triboelectric nanogenerator (u-TENG) was integrated to the floor to scavenge walking energy from pedestrians, promoting the ordered collection of disordered and scattered energy. Driven by the steps of human walking, the output of the as-fabricated u-TENG are an open-circuit voltage of 86 V and a short-circuit current of 6.2 μA, which are able to continuously light up 110 light-emitting diode bulbs. In addition, a self-powered location-tracking system was prepared for pedestrian volume counting and passenger tracing with the purpose of reducing energy consumption in public areas. The proposed walking energy harvesting device is flexible, feasible, and unaffected by season, climate, or location. This work not only proposes a strategy for mechanical energy harvesting in public areas, including subway stations, hospitals, shopping malls, and business streets, but also offers a novel solution for smart cities and low-carbon transportation alternatives.

The dimensions of amorphized regions in phase-change memory cells are critical parameters to design devices for different applications. However, these dimensions are difficult to be determined by direct imaging. In this work, the length of amorphized regions in multiple identical Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) line cells was extracted from electrical measurements. After each cell was programmed to an amorphous state, a sequence of increasing-amplitude post-reset voltage pulses separated by low-amplitude read DC sweeps was applied. When a post-reset voltage pulse with sufficient amplitude was applied to a given cell, the measured current and the post-pulse resistance increased drastically, indicating that the cell re-amorphized after threshold switching, melting, and quenching. The amorphized length was calculated using the measured voltage at which the threshold switching occurred and the expected drifted threshold field at that time. The measured threshold voltage values and, hence, the extracted amorphized length, generally increase linearly with the programmed resistance levels. However, significant variability arises from the intrinsically unique crystallization and amorphization processes in these devices. For example, cells programmed to an amorphous resistance of approx. 50 MΩ show threshold voltage values of 5.5–7.5 V, corresponding to amorphized length values of 290–395 nm. This unpredictable programming feature in phase-change memory devices can be utilized in hardware security applications.

Identifying the atomic structure of organic-inorganic interfaces is challenging with our current research tools. Interpreting the structure of complex molecular adsorbates from microscopy images can be difficult, and using atomistic simulations to find the most stable structures is limited to partial exploration of the potential energy surface due to the high-dimensional phase space. In this study, we present the recently developed Bayesian Optimization Structure Search (BOSS) method as an efficient solution for identifying the structure of non-planar adsorbates. We apply BOSS with density-functional theory simulations to detect the stable adsorbate structures of (1S)-camphor on the Cu(111) surface. We identify the optimal structure among 8 unique types of stable adsorbates, in which camphor chemisorbs via oxygen (global minimum) or physisorbs via hydrocarbons to the Cu(111) surface. This study demonstrates that new cross-disciplinary tools, like BOSS, facilitate the description of complex surface structures and their properties, and ultimately allow us to tune the functionality of advanced materials., 16 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables. Peer-reviewed version. Published in the Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology

We present both theoretical and experimental investigations of the proximity effect in a stack-like superconductor/ferromagnetic (S/F) superlattice, where ferromagnetic layers with different thicknesses and coercive fields are made of Co. Calculations based on the Usadel equations allow us to find the conditions at which switching from the parallel to the antiparallel alignment of the neighboring F-layers leads to a significant change of the superconducting order parameter in superconductive thin films. We experimentally study the transport properties of a lithographically patterned Nb/Co multilayer. We observe that the resistive transition of the multilayer structure has multiple steps, which we attribute to the transition of individual superconductive layers with the critical temperature, Tc, depending on the local magnetization orientation of the neighboring F-layers. We argue that such superlattices can be used as tunable kinetic inductors designed for artificial neural networks representing the information in a “current domain”.

Helium ion irradiation is a known method of tuning the electrical conductivity and charge carrier mobility of novel two-dimensional semiconductors. Here, we report a systematic study of the electrical performance of chemically synthesized monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) field-effect transistors irradiated with a focused helium ion beam as a function of increasing areal irradiation coverage. We determine an optimal coverage range of approx. 10%, which allows for the improvement of both the carrier mobility in the transistor channel and the electrical conductance of the MoS2, due to doping with ion beam-created sulfur vacancies. Larger areal irradiations introduce a higher concentration of scattering centers, hampering the electrical performance of the device. In addition, we find that irradiating the electrode–channel interface has a deleterious impact on charge transport when contrasted with irradiations confined only to the transistor channel.

Cost-efficiency, durability, and reliability of catalysts, as well as their operational lifetime, are the main challenges in chemical energy conversion. Here, we present a novel, one-step approach for the synthesis of Pt/C hybrid material by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD). The platinum loading, degree of oxidation, and the very narrow particle size distribution are precisely adjusted in the Pt/C hybrid material due to the simultaneous deposition of platinum and carbon during the process. The as-synthesized Pt/C hybrid materials are promising electrocatalysts for use in fuel cell applications as they show significantly improved electrochemical long-term stability compared to the industrial standard HiSPEC 4000. The PE-CVD process is furthermore expected to be extendable to the general deposition of metal-containing carbon materials from other commercially available metal acetylacetonate precursors.

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and excessive extracellular glutamate concentration is a characteristic feature of stroke, brain trauma, and epilepsy. Also, glutamate is a potential tumor growth factor. Using radiolabeled ʟ-[14C]glutamate and magnetic fields, we developed an approach for monitoring the biomolecular coating (biocoating) with glutamate of the surface of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. The nanoparticles decreased the initial rate of ʟ-[14C]glutamate uptake, and increased the ambient level of ʟ-[14C]glutamate in isolated cortex nerve terminals (synaptosomes). The nanoparticles exhibit a high capability to adsorb glutamate/ʟ-[14C]glutamate in water. Some components of the incubation medium of nerve terminals, that is, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) and NaH2PO4, decreased the ability of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles to form a glutamate biocoating by about 50% and 90%, respectively. Only 15% of the amount of glutamate biocoating obtained in water was obtained in blood plasma. Albumin did not prevent the formation of a glutamate biocoating. It was shown that the glutamate biocoating is a temporal dynamic structure at the surface of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Also, components of the nerve terminal incubation medium and physiological fluids responsible for the desorption of glutamate were identified. Glutamate-coated γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles can be used for glutamate delivery to the nervous system or for glutamate adsorption (but with lower effectiveness) in stroke, brain trauma, epilepsy, and cancer treatment following by its subsequent removal using a magnetic field. γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with transient glutamate biocoating can be useful for multifunctional theranostics.

2D materials such as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are widely used to decouple organic molecules from metal substrates. Nevertheless, there are also indications in the literature for a significant hybridization, which results in a perturbation of the intrinsic molecular properties. In this work we study the electronic and optical properties as well as the lateral structure of tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene (DBP) on Ni(111) with and without an atomically thin h-BN interlayer to investigate its possible decoupling effect. To this end, we use in situ differential reflectance spectroscopy as an established method to distinguish between hybridized and decoupled molecules. By inserting an h-BN interlayer we fabricate a buried interface and show that the DBP molecules are well decoupled from the Ni(111) surface. Furthermore, a highly ordered DBP monolayer is obtained on h-BN/Ni(111) by depositing the molecules at a substrate temperature of 170 °C. The structural results are obtained by quantitative low-energy electron diffraction and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. Finally, the investigation of the valence band structure by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy shows that the low work function of h-BN/Ni(111) further decreases after the DBP deposition. For this reason, the h-BN-passivated Ni(111) surface may serve as potential n-type contact for future molecular electronic devices.

The synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanorods using reverse co-precipitation of Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions in the presence of a static magnetic field is reported in this work. The phase composition and crystal structure of the synthesized material were investigated using electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the morphology of the reaction product strongly depends on the amount of OH− ions in the reaction mixture, varying from Fe3O4 nanorods to spherical Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Fe3O4 nanorods were examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy proving that they are single-crystalline and do not have any preferred crystallographic orientation along the axis of the rods. According to the data obtained a growth mechanism was proposed for the rods that consists of the dipole–dipole interaction between their building blocks (small hexagonal faceted magnetite nanocrystals), which are formed during the first step of the reaction. The study suggests a facile, green and controllable method for synthesizing anisotropic magnetic nanoparticles in the absence of stabilizers, which is important for further modification of their surfaces and/or incorporation of the nanoparticles into different media.

Helical structures can be found in nature at various length scales ranging from the molecular level to the macroscale. Due to their ability to store mechanical energy and to optimize the accessible surface area, helical shapes contribute particularly to motion-driven processes and structural reinforcement. Due to these special features, helical fibers have become highly attractive for biotechnological and tissue engineering applications. However, there are only a few methods available for the production of biocompatible helical microfibers. Given that, we present here a simple technique for the fabrication of helical chitosan microfibers with embedded magnetic nanoparticles. Composite fibers were prepared by wet-spinning and coagulation in an ethanol bath. Thereby, no toxic components were introduced into the wet-spun chitosan fibers. After drying, the helical fibers had a diameter of approximately 130 µm. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of wet-spun helices revealed that the magnetic nanoparticles agglomerated into clusters inside the fiber matrix. The helical constructs exhibited a diameter of approximately 500 µm with one to two windings per millimeter. Due to their ferromagnetic properties they are easily attracted to a permanent magnet. The results from the tensile testing show that the helical chitosan microfibers exhibited an average Young’s modulus of 14 MPa. By taking advantage of the magnetic properties of the feedstock solution, the production of the helical fibers could be automated. The fabrication of the helical fibers was achieved by utilizing the magnetic properties of the feedstock solution and winding the emerging fiber around a rotating magnetic collector needle upon coagulation. In summary, our helical chitosan microfibers are very attractive for future use in magnetic tissue engineering or for the development of biocompatible actuator systems.

Recent experiments suggest graphene-based materials as candidates in future electronic and optoelectronic devices. In this paper, we propose to investigate new photodetectors based on graphene nanomeshes (GNMs). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to gain insight into electronic and optical characteristics of various GNM structures. To investigate the device-level properties of GNMs, their current–voltage characteristics are explored by DFT-based tight-binding (DFTB) in combination with non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) methods. Band structure analysis shows that GNMs have both metallic and semiconducting properties depending on the arrangements of perforations. Also, absorption spectrum analysis indicates attractive infrared peaks for GNMs with semiconducting characteristics, making them better photodetectors than graphene nanoribbon (GNR)-based alternatives. The results suggest that GNMs can be potentially used in mid-infrared detectors with specific detectivity values that are 100-fold that of graphene-based devices and 1000-fold that of GNR-based devices. Hence, the special properties of graphene combined with the quantum feathers of the perforation makes it suitable for optical devices.

Auxins are a class of organic substances known as plant-growth regulators, which act on plant physiology, promoting its full development. However, due to the great instability of these substances among the diversity of crops and cultivation environments, it is necessary to seek more efficient modes of application, which lead to a homogeneous distribution and promote a sustained release according to the plants demand. Seed coating, using films containing a biodegradable polymer and auxins intercalated into layered compounds, emerges as a very promising approach to a new form of growth regulator application. Thus, the presented work had three aims: (i) the synthesis and characterization of an organic–inorganic hybrid material containing a layered double hydroxide (LDH) of zinc and aluminum and the synthetic auxin 1-naphthalenoacetic acid (ZnAl-NAA-LDH), (ii) the coating of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with composite films produced from mixtures of alginate polymer and ZnAl-NAA-LDH, and (iii) the evaluation of the plant response by bioassays. The hybrid ZnAl-NAA-LDH was characterized by a set of analytical techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis coupled to differential scanning calorimetry and mass spectrometry, specific surface area measurement, and scanning electron microscopy. Bioassays were performed with the seeds coated with the composite film to assess the germination rate and germination speed index of the seeds, as well as biometric analyses including measurements of root area, root fresh matter, and shoot length of the plants. The bioassay performed in soil pots showed that the alginate film containing ZnAl-NAA-LDH yields an enhancement regarding root area, fresh root matter and shoot length of plants. Thus, films produced from a mixture of alginate and the hybrid material containing the growth regulator intercalated into LDH can be a viable alternative to enhance plant development, which can be included in seed management.

Nanocrystalline and amorphous nanostructured tellurium (Te) thin films were grown and their gas-sensing properties were investigated at different operating temperatures with respect to scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses. It was shown that both types of films interacted with nitrogen dioxide, which resulted in a decrease of electrical conductivity. The gas sensitivity, as well as the response and recovery times, differed between these two nanostructured films. It is worth mentioning that these properties also depend on the operating temperature and the applied gas concentration on the films. An increase in the operating temperature decreased not only the response and recovery times but also the gas sensitivity of the nanocrystalline films. This shortcoming could be solved by using the amorphous nanostructured Te films which, even at 22 °C, exhibited higher gas sensitivity and shorter response and recovery times by more than one order of magnitude in comparison to the nanocrystalline Te films. These results were interpreted in terms of an increase in disorder (amorphization), leading to an increase in the surface chemical activity of chalcogenides, as well as an increase in the active surface area due to substrate porosity.

The global emergence of multidrug resistance of fungal infections and the decline in the discovery of new antibiotics are increasingly prevalent causes of hospital-acquired infections, among other major challenges in the global health care sector. There is an urgent need to develop noninvasive, nontoxic, and new antinosocomial approaches that work more effectively and faster than current antibiotics. In this work, we report on a biocompatible hybrid nanomaterial composed of few-layer graphene and chlorin e6 (FLG-Ce6) for the photodynamic treatment (PDT) of Candida albicans. We show that the FLG-Ce6 hybrid nanomaterial displays enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation compared with Ce6. The enhancement is up to 5-fold when irradiated for 15 min at 632 nm with a red light-emitting diode (LED). The viability of C. albicans in the presence of FLG-Ce6 was measured 48 h after photoactivation. An antifungal effect was observed only when the culture/FLG-Ce6 hybrid was exposed to the light source. C. albicans is rendered completely unviable after exposure to ROS generated by the excited FLG-Ce6 hybrid nanomaterial. An increased PDT effect was observed with the FLG-Ce6 hybrid nanomaterial by a significant reduction in the viability of C. albicans, by up to 95%. This is a marked improvement compared to Ce6 without FLG, which reduces the viability of C. albicans to only 10%. The antifungal action of the hybrid nanomaterial can be activated by a synergistic mechanism of energy transfer of the absorbed light from Ce6 to FLG. The novel FLG-Ce6 hybrid nanomaterial in combination with the red LED light irradiation can be used in the development of a wide range of antinosocomial devices and coatings.

The study of magnetohydrodynamic flow of a nanoparticle suspension under the influence of varied dimensionless parameters has been the focus of research in contemporary times. This work models the effect of magnetic field, heat generation and absorption parameter in a steady, laminar, two-dimensional boundary layer flow of a nanofluid over a permeable stretching sheet at a given surface temperature and partial slip. The highly nonlinear governing equations are solved numerically using similarity transformations with suitable boundary conditions and converted to ordinary differential equations. A computational model is setup using FORTRAN, where a relevant Adam’s predictor–corrector method is employed to solve the equations. The impact of the dimensionless parameters, including the Brownian motion, thermophoresis, magnetic field, heat generation and absorption parameters, on the velocity, temperature and nanoparticle concentration of fluid flow are analysed systematically.

In this work, surface/interface effects for pull-in voltage and viscous fluid velocity effects on the dimensionless natural frequency of fluid-conveying multiwalled piezoelectric nanosensors (FC-MWPENSs) based on cylindrical nanoshells is investigated using the Gurtin–Murdoch surface/interface theory. The nanosensor is embedded in a viscoelastic foundation and subjected to nonlinear van der Waals and electrostatic forces. Hamilton’s principle is used to derive the governing and boundary conditions and is also the assumed mode method used for changing the partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. The influences of the surface/interface effect, such as Lame’s constants, residual stress, piezoelectric constants and mass density, are considered for analysis of the dimensionless natural frequency with respect to the viscous fluid velocity and pull-in voltage of the FC-MWPENSs.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have unique properties with regard to biological and medical applications. SPIONs have been used in clinical settings although their safety of use remains unclear due to the great differences in their structure and in intra- and inter-patient absorption and response. This review addresses potential applications of SPIONs in vitro (formulations), ex vivo (in biological cells and tissues) and in vivo (preclinical animal models), as well as potential biomedical applications in the context of drug targeting, disease treatment and therapeutic efficacy, and safety studies.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is combined with polarization angle-resolved spectroscopy to investigate the nanometre-scale structural properties of core-shell silicon nanowires (crystalline Si core and amorphous Si shell), which were synthesized by platinum-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid growth and silicon overcoating by thermal chemical vapour deposition. Local changes in the fraction of crystallinity are characterized for those silicon nanowires at an optical resolution of about 300 nm. Furthermore, we are able to resolve the variations in the intensity ratios between the crystalline Si and the amorphous Si Raman peaks by applying tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, at sample positions being eight nanometers apart. The local crystallinity revealed using confocal Raman spectroscopy and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy agree well with the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements. Additionally, the polarizations of Raman scattering and the photoluminescence signal from the tip-sample nanogap are explored by combining polarization angle-resolved emission spectroscopy with tip-enhanced optical spectroscopy. Our work demonstrates the significant potential of resolving local structural properties of Si nanomaterials at the sub-10 nanometer scale using tip-enhanced Raman techniques.

The optical anisotropy of the Sb2Se3 crystals was investigated at 300 and 11 K. Excitonic features of four excitons (A, B, C, and D) were observed in the optical spectra of the Sb2Se3 single crystals and in the photoelectric spectra of the Me–Sb2Se3 structures. The exciton parameters, such as the ground (n = 1) and excited (n = 2) state positions and the binding energy (Ry), were determined. The effective mass of the electrons at the bottom of the conduction band (mc* = 0.67m0) as well as the holes at the four top valence bands (mv1* = 3.32m0, mv2* = 3.83m0, mv3* = 3.23m0 and mv4* = 3.23m0) were calculated in the Г-point of the Brillouin zone. The magnitude of the valence band splitting V1–V2 due to the spin–orbit interaction (Δso = 35 meV) and the crystal field (Δcf = 13 meV) were estimated in the Brillouin zone center. The energy splitting between the bands V3–V4 was 191 meV. The identified features were discussed based on both the theoretically calculated energy band structure and the excitonic band symmetry in the Brillouin zone (k = 0) for crystals with an orthorhombic symmetry (Рnma). The photoelectric properties of the Me–Sb2S3 structures were investigated in the spectral range 1–1.8 eV under E||c and E⟂c polarization conditions and at different applied voltages.

Bacterial contamination is a severe issue that affects medical devices, hospital tools and surfaces. When microorganisms adhere to a surface (e.g., medical devices or implants) they can develop into a biofilm, thereby becoming more resistant to conventional biocides and disinfectants. Nanoparticles can be used as an antibacterial agent in medical instruments or as a protective coating in implantable devices. In particular, attention is being drawn to photothermally active nanoparticles that are capable of converting absorbed light into heat. These nanoparticles can efficiently eradicate bacteria and biofilms upon light activation (predominantly near the infrared to near-infrared spectral region) due a rapid and pronounced local temperature increase. By using this approach new, protective, antibacterial surfaces and materials can be developed that can be remotely activated on demand. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the art regarding the application of various photothermally active nanoparticles and their corresponding nanocomposites for the light-triggered eradication of bacteria and biofilms.

We present the trapping and manipulation of a single nano-object in an aqueous medium by optically induced temporally varying temperature gradients. By real-time object tracking and control of the position of the heating laser focus, we can precisely employ thermophoretic drift to oppose the random diffusive motion. As a result, a nano-object is confined in a micrometer-sized trap. Numerical modeling gives a quantitative prediction of the effect. Traps can be dynamically created and relocated, which we demonstrate by the controlled independent manipulation of two nanoparticles.

The electronic structure of molecules on metal surfaces is largely determined by hybridization and screening by the substrate electrons. As a result, the energy levels are significantly broadened and molecular properties, such as vibrations are hidden within the spectral line shapes. Insertion of thin decoupling layers reduces the line widths and may give access to the resolution of electronic and vibronic states of an almost isolated molecule. Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to show that a single layer of MoS2 on Ag(111) exhibits a semiconducting bandgap, which may prevent molecular states from strong interactions with the metal substrate. We show that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) molecules is significantly narrower than on the bare substrate and that it is accompanied by a characteristic satellite structure. Employing simple calculations within the Franck–Condon model, we reveal their vibronic origin and identify the modes with strong electron–phonon coupling.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques have provided and continue to provide increasingly important insights into surface morphology, mechanics, and other critical material characteristics at the nanoscale. One attractive implementation involves extracting meaningful material properties, which demands physically accurate models specifically designed for AFM experimentation and simulation. The AFM community has pursued the precise quantification and extraction of rate-dependent material properties, in particular, for a significant period of time, attempting to describe the standard viscoelastic response of materials. AFM static force spectroscopy (SFS) is one approach commonly used in pursuit of this goal. It is capable of acquiring rich temporal insight into the behavior of a sample. During AFM-SFS experiments the cantilever base approaches samples with a nearly constant velocity, which is manipulated to investigate different timescales of the mechanical response. This manuscript seeks to build upon our previous work and presents an approach to extracting useful linear viscoelastic information from AFM-SFS experiments. In addition, the basis for selecting and restricting the model parameters for fitting is discussed from the perspective of applying this technique on a practical level. This work begins with a guided discussion that develops a fit function from fundamental laws, continues with conditioning a raw SFS experimental dataset, and concludes with the fit and prediction of viscoelastic response parameters such as storage modulus, loss modulus, loss angle, and compliance. These steps constitute a complete guide to leveraging AFM-SFS data to estimate key material parameters, with a series of detailed insights into both the methodology and supporting analytical choices.