DJL

A novel discrete [Ag₂₁{S₂P(OiPr)₂}₁₂](PF₆) nanocluster has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and also NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ³¹P), ESI mass spectrometry, and other analytic techniques (XPS, EDS, UV/Vis spectroscopy). The Ag₂₁ skeleton has an unprecedented silver-centered icosahedron that is capped by eight additional metal atoms. The whole framework is protected by twelve dithiophosphate ligands. According to the spherical Jellium model, the stability of monocationic nanocluster can be described by an 8-electron superatom with 1S² 1P⁶ configuration, as confirmed by DFT calculations.

Silver super skeleton: A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of a novel [Ag₂₁{S₂P(OiPr)₂}₁₂](PF₆) nanocluster shows an unprecedented silver-centered icosahedron with additional eight capping silver atoms to generate an Ag₂₁ metal skeleton. DFT calculations indicate that this stable monocationic nanocluster is an eight-electron superatom.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are valuable biomarkers for monitoring the status of cancer patients and drug efficacy. However, the number of CTCs in the blood is extremely low, and the isolation and detection of CTCs with high efficiency and sensitivity remain a challenge. Here, we present an approach to the efficient capturing and simple quantification of CTCs using quantum dots and magnetic beads. Anti-EpCAM antibody-conjugated quantum dots are used for the targeting and quantification of CTCs, and quantum-dot-attached CTCs are isolated using anti-IgG-modified magnetic beads. Our approach is shown to result in a capture efficiency of about 70%–80%, enabling the simple quantification of captured CTCs based on the fluorescence intensity of the quantum dots. The present method can be used effectively in the capturing and simple quantification of CTCs with high efficiency for cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

The use of anti-EpCAM-QDs and anti-IgG-MBs enables efficient capture and simple quantification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Anti-EpCAM-QDs target the CTCs, followed by their isolation using anti-IgG-MBs. The number of captured CTCs can be readily quantified by measuring the fluorescence intensity.

Stretchable electronics are attracting intensive attention due to their promising applications in many areas where electronic devices undergo large deformation and/or form intimate contact with curvilinear surfaces. On the other hand, a plethora of nanomaterials with outstanding properties have emerged over the past decades. The understanding of nanoscale phenomena, materials, and devices has progressed to a point where substantial strides in nanomaterial-enabled applications become realistic. This review summarizes recent advances in one such application, nanomaterial-enabled stretchable conductors (one of the most important components for stretchable electronics) and related stretchable devices (e.g., capacitive sensors, supercapacitors and electroactive polymer actuators), over the past five years. Focusing on bottom-up synthesized carbon nanomaterials (e.g., carbon nanotubes and graphene) and metal nanomaterials (e.g., metal nanowires and nanoparticles), this review provides fundamental insights into the strategies for developing nanomaterial-enabled highly conductive and stretchable conductors. Finally, some of the challenges and important directions in the area of nanomaterial-enabled stretchable conductors and devices are discussed.

Recent progress with regard to nano­material-enabled stretchable conductors and related stretchable devices is reviewed (e.g., capacitive sensors, supercapacitors and electroactive polymer actuators). Focusing on carbon nanomaterials (e.g., carbon nanotubes and graphene) and metal nanomaterials (e.g., metal nanowires and nanoparticles), this review provides fundamental insights into the strategies for developing nanomaterial-enabled highly conductive and stretchable conductors.

Anisotropic Fe₃O₄ octahedrons are obtained via a simple solvothermal synthesis with appropriate sizes for various technological applications. A complete suite of materials characterization methods confirms the magnetite phase for these structures, which exhibit substantial saturation magnetization and intriguing morphologies for a wide range of applications.

A simple direct-writing technique can be used to fabricate a stretchable UV–vis–NIR nanowire photodetector (NWPD) consisting of PbS quantum dot (QD)–poly(3-hexylthiopehene) (P3HT) hybrid NWs. The hybrid NWPD shows superior sensitivity and response speed in the UV–vis to NIR range. The stretchable UV–vis–NIR NWPD shows a nearly identical photoresponse under extreme (up to 100%) and repeated (up to 100 cycles) stretching conditions.

An optical anisotropic nature of black phosphorus (BP) is revealed by angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy (ARPRS), and for the first time, an all-optical method was realized to identify the crystal orientation of BP sheets, that is, the zigzag and armchair directions. We found that Raman intensities of A_g¹, B_2g, and A_g² modes of BP not only depend on the polarization angle α, but also relate to the sample rotation angle θ. Furthermore, their intensities reach the local maximum or minimum values when the crystalline orientation is along with the polarization direction of scattered light (e_s). Combining with the angle-resolved conductance, it is confirmed that A_g² mode intensity achieves a relative larger (or smaller) local maximum under parallel polarization configuration when armchair (or zigzag) direction is parallel to e_s. Therefore, ARPRS can be used as a rapid, precise, and nondestructive method to identify the crystalline orientation of BP layers.

A compass to precisely identify the zigzag and armchair directions of black phosporus (BP) sheets is provided by angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy. The Raman modes of BP show periodic variation (90° or 180°) with the sample rotation angle. Under parallel polarization, the A_g² mode intensity achieves the larger (or smaller) local maximum when the armchair (or zigzag) direction is along the polarization direction of scattered light.

Responsive graphene oxide sheets form non-covalent networks with optimum rheological properties for 3D printing. These networks have shear thinning behavior and sufficiently high elastic shear modulus (G′) to build self-supporting 3D structures by direct write assembly. Drying and thermal reduction leads to ultra-light graphene-only structures with restored conductivity and elastomeric behavior.