Advanced Materials Interfaces最新文献

Thermoresponsive polymer coatings have attracted considerable attention for applications in materials science, biotechnology, and surface engineering. Materials exhibiting upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior remain comparatively underexplored in comparison to lower critical solution temperature (LCST), particularly in the form of structured thin films. The present work illustrates the use of poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethylureido glycinamide) (PMEGA) as a versatile UCST-responsive platform for the fabrication of surface-attached hydrogel coatings with controlled architecture and functionality. This polymer, with straightforward monomer synthesis, exhibits a well-defined UCST transition in aqueous solution. Based on thiol–ene click chemistry, the herein presented strategy displays the tunable engineering of homogeneous and microstructured hydrogel films by the cross-linking and grafting (CLAG) approach. This method enables the fabrication of hydrogel coatings with precisely controlled thicknesses, as well as the generation of well-defined micropatterns via UV-induced photolithography like for photoresist. Importantly, the thermoresponsive swelling behavior of the surface-grafted hydrogels can be adjusted by adjusting UV irradiation parameters, providing direct control over the UCST response in confined geometries. Overall, the combination of straightforward polymer synthesis, scalable thin-film processing, and tunable thermo-responsive properties opens new opportunities for the development of advanced functional coatings and microstructured surfaces.

To leverage the synergistic benefits of sunlight-responsive metalloporphyrin complexes and conductive MXene materials, a Schottky heterojunction comprising tin-porphyrin (SnTCPP) nanoparticles (NPs) and Nb₂C MXene was rationally constructed. Notably, the SnTCPP NPs-Nb₂C Schottky heterojunctions demonstrate exceptional sunlight-driven catalytic activity toward tetracycline antibiotics and ofloxacin degradation, achieving a removal efficiency of up to 99.9% within 60 min of irradiation in both model wastewater and natural water. The unique energy structure of SnTCPP NPs-Nb₂C facilitates rapid charge transfer while inhibiting the recombination of photogenerated carriers, thereby enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species, such as holes and superoxide anion radicals, which are the key factors driving tetracycline antibiotics and ofloxacin degradation. Ultrafast spectroscopic results unveil efficient Schottky junction-mediated ultrafast charge transfer and separation at the SnTCPP NPs-Nb₂C interface. The integrated DFT and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated the sequential cleavage of tetracycline's functional groups, including the dimethylamino group, phenolic moiety, and tetracyclic ring structure, ultimately leading to the mineralization of tetracycline into harmless small molecules. Notably, the high degradation efficiency can be maintained over multiple consecutive recycling cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity. These studies pave the way for the rational design of next-generation sunlight-driven heterojunction catalysts for environmental pollutant remediation.

Organic semiconductor devices based on planar (PHJ) and bulk (BHJ) heterojunctions have attracted considerable interest in recent decades. This work reports the preparation and characterization of heterojunctions based on a Zn(salen)-type complex (ZnL) and lutetium bis-phthalocyanine (LuPc₂), either as ZnL/LuPc₂ bilayers or ZnL:LuPc₂ mixed films deposited on indium tin oxide interdigitated electrodes. Morphological, optical, and electrical properties were investigated by AFM, PeakForce TUNA nanoconductivity mapping, Raman and UV–vis spectroscopy, as well as current–voltage and impedance measurements. Bilayer films exhibited a uniform rough surface, whereas mixed films showed pillar-like or alveolar structures. Raman and AFM analyses revealed homogeneous mixed films containing distinct ZnL and LuPc₂ domains. PeakForce TUNA demonstrated that the pillar-like features correspond to highly conductive LuPc₂ domains dispersed within a less conductive ZnL matrix, evidencing heterogeneous conductive pathways at the nanoscale. Thermal annealing induced significant changes in the optical and electrical properties of both bilayer and mixed films. The potential of these materials as conductometric ammonia sensors was also examined. At 90 ppm NH₃, as-prepared mixed films showed a tenfold higher relative response (−40%) than bilayers (−4.1%). Annealing further enhanced sensor performance for both systems.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding

Ultralight MXene/silver composite foams deliver exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding in a sub-millimeter, flexible format. Built on highly porous etched melamine foam, the films reach a shielding efficiency of 81.4 dB while enabling rapid Joule heating. Their low weight, thermal stability, and mechanical resilience make them ideal for aerospace, medical, and next-generation communication systems. More information can be found in the Research Article by Paul W. Leu and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/admi.70564).

We propose a protocol for the fabrication of hybrid materials with high adsorption capacity toward aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by alkaline activation of halloysite clay nanotubes filled within a chitosan matrix. First, chitosan/halloysite nanocomposite films with variable composition have been prepared by aqueous casting method. Interestingly, the films have exhibited compactness and robustness although the large halloysite contents (≥30 wt.%) as demonstrated by the elastic modulus and the tensile strength values, which range between 1635–4475 MPa and 5.46–26.5 MPa, respectively. The mesoscopic properties (thermal stability, wettability, and tensile resistance) of the chitosan/halloysite films have been correlated with their morphologies. Then, the chitosan/halloysite films have been immersed in NaOH solution to achieve the alkaline activation of the clay nanotubes. Their successful conversion to geopolymeric materials has been proved by thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR/Raman spectroscopies. Finally, we have investigated the adsorption capacities of chitosan/halloysite (50:50) composite (before and after geopolymerization) toward dodecane vapors and phenol dispersed in water. The geopolymerization process has enhanced hydrocarbon removal by ca. 220% and ca. 50% for dodecane and phenol, respectively. This work highlights that chitosan/halloysite composite films can be easily converted to porous geopolymers suitable for decontamination purposes in vapor and aqueous phases.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for thermochemical energy storage, yet the role of the flexibility of the framework in governing water adsorption and transport is not adequately understood at the atomistic level. In this work, we employ quantum assisted neural network-based molecular dynamics simulations (DeepMD) to systematically investigate the water uptake, adsorption enthalpies, diffusion coefficients, and structural correlations of a hydrophilic MOF (ZIF-90) with both rigid and flexible frameworks. The simulated results showed that the flexible ZIF-90 exhibits a nearly constant heat of adsorption between –46 and –64 kJ/mol in a wide water loading range (4, 8, 16, 25 and 40 per unit cell), in good agreement with the experimental findings, whereas the rigid framework shows a sharp variation. Similarly, diffusion analysis consistently reveals higher water mobility in the flexible framework, particularly at low and intermediate loadings. The radial distribution functions for key atom pairs (Zn–Ow, O–Hw, O–Ow) show excellent agreement with previous experimental and computational reports, which further validates our simulations. Overall, these findings provide molecular-level insights into the interplay between framework flexibility, adsorption energetics, and transport properties, offering guidance for the rational design of porous materials for thermal energy storage applications.

Z. Ganieva, D. Kovács, Z. Osváth, et al.,“Region-Selective Growth of Cu₂O Shell on Gold Nanoprisms,” Advanced Materials Interfaces, 12, no. 16, (2025): e00512, https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202500512.

In Figure 2a the unit of the x-axis label “Time (s)” was incorrect. This should have read “Time (min)” as shown below in the correct version of Figure 2.

Figure 2. Time-dependent spectroscopy data obtained for the AMBI treatment (a), and TEM images demonstrating a slight rounding of the tips after the 2 h long heat treatment at 60°C (b).

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MXenes, as emerging multifunctional nanomaterials, have attracted the attention of the scientific community in recent years for environmental remediation, including adsorptive cleanup of radio-contaminants due to their important characteristic profile, such as large surface area and structural diversity. Thus, this study aims to review MXenes as functional nanosorbents for the adsorptive elimination of radio-contaminants from simulated radio-wastewater. The goal was to explore research advances, identify trends, provide critical insights, highlight challenges, and underscore interesting future research hotspots. Notably, it was discovered that MXenes have an adsorption capacity of 7.76–1376.75 mg/g, with functionalized MXenes taking the lead, while the number of active sites plays a key role. Furthermore, the key mechanisms governing the adsorption operation were complexation/chelation/coordination, chemisorption, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction. Overfitting of isotherm and kinetics models was suspected. Findings from cyclic stability studies (reusability up to 2–8 times) and the effect of co-existing pollutants further showed that MXenes have potential for practical uses. Lastly, challenges, research gaps, and potential avenues for further study were discussed. The review work led to an inference that MXene-based adsorption techniques can eco-efficiently remove radio-pollutants from water and nuclear wastewater if given adequate attention.

K. Turner, G. Colston, K. Stokeley et al., “Effect of Mesa Sidewall Angle on 4H-Silicon Carbide Trench Filling Epitaxy Using Trichlorosilane and Hydrogen Chloride”, Advanced Materials Interfaces, 11, (2024): 2400466, https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400466.

[In Figure 7 of the “Effect of HCl on Trench Filling” section, the epilayer thickness data displayed in the plot labeled “top” was incorrect, as it was a duplicate of the plot labeled “bottom”. The corrected top epilayer thickness is now shown.]

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Robust polymer nanofilms are increasingly important for applications that require mechanically strong yet compliant membranes with nanoscale thickness and intimate interfacial contact. While biological membranes naturally combine flexibility, adaptability, and adhesion, achieving these features in synthetic nanomembranes remains challenging. Here, we report a one-step strategy for the synthesis of centimeter-scale, freestanding nanofilms via redox-confined interfacial polymerization at a liquid-liquid interface. Oxidative coupling of a multifunctional thiol monomer is spatially restricted to the aqueous-organic interface, yielding continuous membranes with precisely tunable thicknesses ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers. Structural and surface analyses reveal uniform network formation across all film thicknesses, consistent with a diffusion-controlled growth mechanism. The resulting nanofilms exhibit high Young's modulus (425 MPa) and tensile strength (38 MPa), solid-like viscoelastic behavior, and intrinsic adhesion to artificial skin despite the absence of dedicated bioadhesive functionalization. Together, these results establish redox-confined interfacial polymerization as a versatile fabrication route to mechanically robust, freestanding nanomembranes with potential relevance for wearable sensing platforms, therapeutic interfaces, separation membranes, and other applications requiring strong ultrathin films with intrinsic adhesion.