Photostimulated Pyrothermoelectric Coupling in Two-Dimensional Tin Monoselenide Enabling Zero-Biased Multimodal Transducers.

Despite the advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) and portable devices, the development of zero-biased sensing systems for the dual detection of light and gases remains a challenge. As an emerging technology, direct energy conversion driven by intriguing physical properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials can be realized in nanodevices or a zero-biased integrated system. In this study, we unprecedentedly attempted to exploit the photostimulated pyrothermoelectric coupling of two-dimensional SnSe for use in zero-biased multimodal transducers for the dual detection of light and gases. We synthesized homogeneous, large-area 6 in SnSe multilayers via a rational synthetic route based on the thermal decomposition of a solution-processed single-source precursor. Zero-biased SnSe transducers for the dual monitoring of light and gases were realized by exploiting the synergistic coupling of the photostimulated pyroelectric and thermoelectric effects of SnSe. The extracted photoresponsivity at 532 nm and NO2 gas responsivity of the SnSe-based transducers corresponded to 1.07 × 10-6 A/W and 13263.6% at 0 V, respectively. To bring universal applicability of the zero-biased SnSe transducers, the wide operation bandwidth photoelectrical properties (visible to NIR) and dynamic current responses toward two NO2/NH3 gases were systematically evaluated.

Multiarray Gas Sensors Using Ternary Combined Ti3C2Tx MXene-Based Nanocomposites.

This paper reports chemiresistive multiarray gas sensors through the synthesized ternary nanocomposites, using a one-pot method to integrate two-dimensional MXene (Ti3C2Tx) with Ti-doped WO3 (Ti-WO3/Ti3C2Tx) and Ti3C2Tx with Pd-doped SnO2 (Pd-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx). The gas sensors based on Ti-WO3/Ti3C2Tx and Pd-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx exhibit exceptional sensitivity, particularly in detecting 70% at 1 ppm acetone and 91.1% at 1 ppm of H2S. Notably, our sensors demonstrate a remarkable sensing performance in the low-ppb range for acetone and H2S. Specifically, the Ti-WO3/Ti3C2Tx sensor demonstrates a detection limit of 0.035 ppb for acetone, and the Pd-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx sensor shows 0.116 ppb for H2S. Simultaneous measurements with Ti-WO3/Ti3C2Tx- and Pd-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx-based sensors enable the evaluation of both the concentration and type of unknown target gases, such as acetone or H2S. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations are performed to clarify the role of Ti and Pd doping in enhancing the performance of Ti-WO3/Ti3C2Tx and Pd-SnO2/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites. Theoretical simulations contribute to a deeper understanding of the doping effects, providing essential insights into the mechanisms underlying the enhanced gas response of the gas sensors. Overall, this work provides valuable insights into the gas-sensing mechanisms and introduces a novel approach for high-performance multiarray gas sensing.

Edge-Rich 3D Structuring of Metal Chalcogenide/Graphene with Vertical Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Constructing pertinent nanoarchitecture with abundant exposed active sites is a valid strategy for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen generation. However, the controllable approach of an ideal architecture comprising vertically standing transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs) nanosheets on a 3D graphene network remains challenging despite the potential for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this study, we fabricated edge-rich 3D structuring photocatalysts involving vertically grown TMDs nanosheets on a 3D porous graphene framework (referred to as 3D Gr). 2D TMDs (MoS2 and WS2)/3D Gr heterostructures were produced by location-specific photon-pen writing and metal-organic chemical vapor deposition for maximum edge site exposure enabling efficient photocatalytic reactivity. Vertically aligned 2D Mo(W)S2/3D Gr heterostructures exhibited distinctly boosted hydrogen production because of the 3D Gr caused by synergetic impacts associated with the large specific surface area and improved density of exposed active sites in vertically standing Mo(W)S2. The heterostructure involving graphene and TMDs corroborates an optimum charge transport pathway to rapidly separate the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, allowing more electrons to contribute to the photocatalytic hydrogen generation reaction. Consequently, the size-tailored heterostructure showed a superior hydrogen generation rate of 6.51 mmol g-1 h-1 for MoS2/3D graphene and 7.26 mmol g-1 h-1 for WS2/3D graphene, respectively, which were 3.59 and 3.76 times greater than that of MoS2 and WS2 samples. This study offers a promising path for the potential of 3D structuring of vertical TMDs/graphene heterostructure with edge-rich nanosheets for photocatalytic applications.

Artificial Q-Grader: Machine Learning-Enabled Intelligent Olfactory and Gustatory Sensing System.

Portable and personalized artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sensors mimicking human olfactory and gustatory systems have immense potential for the large-scale deployment and autonomous monitoring systems of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In this study, an artificial Q-grader comprising surface-engineered zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films is developed as the artificial nose, tongue, and AI-based statistical data analysis as the artificial brain for identifying both aroma and flavor chemicals in coffee beans. A poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)/ZnO thin film transistor (TFT)-based liquid sensor is the artificial tongue, and an Au, Ag, or Pd nanoparticles/ZnO nanohybrid gas sensor is the artificial nose. In order to classify the flavor of coffee beans (acetic acid (sourness), ethyl butyrate and 2-furanmethanol (sweetness), caffeine (bitterness)) and the origin of coffee beans (Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Colombia-decaffeine), rational combination of TFT transfer and dynamic response curves capture the liquids and gases-dependent electrical transport behavior and principal component analysis (PCA)-assisted machine learning (ML) is implemented. A PCA-assisted ML model distinguished the four target flavors with >92% prediction accuracy. ML-based regression model predicts the flavor chemical concentrations with >99% accuracy. Also, the classification model successfully distinguished four different types of coffee-bean with 100% accuracy.

Wafer-Scale Atomic Assembly for 2D Multinary Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Visible and NIR Photodetection.

The tunable properties of 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDs) materials are extensively investigated for high-performance and wavelength-tunable optoelectronic applications. However, the precise modification of large-scale systems for practical optoelectronic applications remains a challenge. In this study, a wafer-scale atomic assembly process to produce 2D multinary (binary, ternary, and quaternary) TMDs for broadband photodetection is demonstrated. The large-area growth of homogeneous MoS2, Ni0.06Mo0.26S0.68, and Ni0.1Mo0.9S1.79Se0.21 is carried out using a succinct coating of the single-source precursor and subsequent thermal decomposition combined with thermal evaporation of the chalcogen powder. The optoelectrical properties of the multinary TMDs are dependent on the combination of heteroatoms. The maximum photoresponsivity of the MoS2-, Ni0.06Mo0.26S0.68-, and Ni0.1Mo0.9S1.79Se0.21-based photodetectors is 3.51 × 10-4, 1.48, and 0.9 A W-1 for 532 nm and 0.063, 0.42, and 1.4 A W-1 for 1064 nm, respectively. The devices exhibited excellent photoelectrical properties, which is highly beneficial for visible and near-infrared (NIR) photodetection.

Atomic Layer Deposition-A Versatile Toolbox for Designing/Engineering Electrodes for Advanced Supercapacitors.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has become the most widely used thin-film deposition technique in various fields due to its unique advantages, such as self-terminating growth, precise thickness control, and excellent deposition quality. In the energy storage domain, ALD has shown great potential for supercapacitors (SCs) by enabling the construction and surface engineering of novel electrode materials. This review aims to present a comprehensive outlook on the development, achievements, and design of advanced electrodes involving the application of ALD for realizing high-performance SCs to date, as organized in several sections of this paper. Specifically, this review focuses on understanding the influence of ALD parameters on the electrochemical performance and discusses the ALD of nanostructured electrochemically active electrode materials on various templates for SCs. It examines the influence of ALD parameters on electrochemical performance and highlights ALD's role in passivating electrodes and creating 3D nanoarchitectures. The relationship between synthesis procedures and SC properties is analyzed to guide future research in preparing materials for various applications. Finally, it is concluded by suggesting the directions and scope of future research and development to further leverage the unique advantages of ALD for fabricating new materials and harness the unexplored opportunities in the fabrication of advanced-generation SCs.

Mesoporous Metal Fluoride Nanocomposite Films with Tunable Optical Properties Derived from Precursor Instability.

The precisely tailored refractive index of optical materials is the key to utilizing and manipulating light during its propagation through the matrix, thereby improving their application performances. In this paper, mesoporous metal fluoride films with engineered composition (MgF2 :LaF3 ) are demonstrated to achieve finely tunable refractive indices. These films are prepared using a precursor-derived one-step assembly approach via the simple mixing of precursor solutions (Mg(CF3 OO)2 and La(CF3 OO)3 ); then pores are formed simultaneously during solidification owing to the inherent instability of La(CF3 OO)3 . The mesoporous structures are realized through Mg(CF3 OO)2 and La(CF3 OO)3 ions, which interacted with each other based on their electrostatic forces, providing a wide range of refractive indices (from 1.37 to 1.16 at 633 nm). Furthermore, it is systematically several MgF2(1-x) -LaF3(x) layers with different compositions (x = 0.0, 0.3, and 0.5) to form the graded refractive index coating that is optically consecutive between the substrate and the air for broadband and omnidirectional antireflection. An average transmittance of ≈98.03% (400-1100 nm) is achieved with a peak transmittance of ≈99.04% (at 571 nm), and the average antireflectivity is maintained at ≈15.75% even at an incidence of light of 65° (400-850 nm).

Spectro-Microscopic Perceptions into Oxidation Behavior of Large-Scale Molybdenum Disulfide and its Photoelectrical Correlation.

Despite the encouraging properties and research of 2D MoS2 , an ongoing issue associated with the oxidative instability remains elusive for practical optoelectronic applications. Thus, in-depth understanding of the oxidation behavior of large-scale and homogeneous 2D MoS2 is imperative. Here the structural and chemical transformations of large-area MoS2 multilayers by air-annealing with altered temperature and time via combinatorial spectro-microscopic analyses (Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy) are surveyed. The results gave indications pertaining to temperature- and time-dependent oxidation effects: i) heat-driven elimination of redundant residues, ii) internal strain stimulated by the formation of MoO bonds, iii) deterioration of the MoS2 crystallinity, iv) layer thinning, and v) morphological transformation from 2D MoS2 layers to particles. Photoelectrical characterization of the air-annealed MoS2 is implemented to capture the link between the oxidation behavior of MoS2 multilayers and their photoelectrical properties. The photocurrent based on MoS2 air-annealed at 200 °C is assessed to be 4.92 µA, which is 1.73 times higher than that of pristine MoS2 (2.84 µA). The diminution in the photocurrent of the photodetector based on MoS2 air-annealed above 300 °C in terms of the structural, chemical, and electrical conversions induced by the oxidation process is further discussed.

Production of ginsenoside compound K from American ginseng extract by fed-batch culture of Aspergillus tubingensis.

Compound K (C-K), one of the most bioactive ginsenoside, is produced by hydrolyzing the glycoside moieties of protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type glycosylated ginsenosides in the ginseng extract. To enhance the biotransformation of PPD-type ginsenosides in American ginseng extract (AGE) into C-K, the optimization of the feed type, concentration, and period for the carbon source sucrose and the reactant AGE was performed in fed-batch fermentation of Aspergillus tubingensis using a fermenter. The concentration (3.94 g/L) and productivity (27.4 mg/L/h) of C-K after feed optimization in fed-batch fermentation increased 3.1-fold compared to those (1.29 g/L and 8.96 mg/L/h) in batch fermentation, and a molar conversion of 100% was achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first trial of fed-batch fermentation to convert ginseng extract into deglycosylated ginsenoside and the highest reported C-K concentration and productivity using ginseng extract via fermentation. After ethanol and resin treatments, C-K solids with purities of 59% and 96% were obtained from the fermentation broth as food- and pharmaceutical-grade products, respectively.

Facile fabrication of gas sensors based on molybdenum disulfide nanosheets and carbon nanotubes by self-assembly.

The rising importance of gas detection has prompted rigorous research on flexible and transparent high-performance gas sensors. We demonstrated a sensor for NO2 detection at room temperature, in which our device was fabricated via screen printing on a flexible substrate, and MoS2 and single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) were coated on a specific area by the self-assembly method. This fabrication process is rapid, facile, and cost-effective. The proposed sensor enables precise and stable NO2 gas sensing from 50 ppb to 100 ppm. This method should also be applicable to the selective detection of other gases.

Self-Formation of a Ru/ZnO Multifunctional Bilayer for the Next-Generation Interconnect Technology via Area-Selective Atomic Layer Deposition.

This study suggests a Ru/ZnO bilayer grown using area-selective atomic layer deposition (AS-ALD) as a multifunctional layer for advanced Cu metallization. As a diffusion barrier and glue layer, ZnO is selectively grown on SiO2 , excluding Cu, where Ru, as a liner and seed layer, is grown on both surfaces. Dodecanethiol (DDT) is used as an inhibitor for the AS-ALD of ZnO using diethylzinc and H2 O at 120 °C. H2 plasma treatment removes the DDT adsorbed on Cu, forming inhibitor-free surfaces. The ALD-Ru film is then successfully deposited at 220 °C using tricarbonyl(trimethylenemethane)ruthenium and O2 . The Cu/bilayer/Si structural and electrical properties are investigated to determine the diffusion barrier performance of the bilayer film. Copper silicide is not formed without the conductivity degradation of the Cu/bilayer/Si structure, even after annealing at 700 °C. The effect of ZnO on the Ru/SiO2 structure interfacial adhesion energy is investigated using a double-cantilever-beam test and is found to increase with ZnO between Ru and SiO2 . Consequently, the Ru/ZnO bilayer can be a multifunctional layer for advanced Cu interconnects. Additionally, the formation of a bottomless barrier by eliminating ZnO on the via bottom, or Cu, is expected to decrease the via resistance for the ever-shrinking Cu lines.

Dual Catalytic and Self-Assembled Growth of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Through Simultaneous Predeposition Process.

The recent introduction of alkali metal halide catalysts for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has enabled remarkable two-dimensional (2D) growth. However, the process development and growth mechanism require further exploration to enhance the effects of salts and understand the principles. Herein, simultaneous predeposition of a metal source (MoO3 ) and salt (NaCl) by thermal evaporation is adopted. As a result, remarkable growth behaviors such as promoted 2D growth, easy patterning, and potential diversity of target materials can be achieved. Step-by-step spectroscopy combined with morphological analyses reveals a reaction path for MoS2 growth in which NaCl reacts separately with S and MoO3 to form Na2 SO4 and Na2 Mo2 O7 intermediates, respectively. These intermediates provide a favorable environment for 2D growth, including an enhanced source supply and liquid medium. Consequently, large grains of monolayer MoS2 are formed by self-assembly, indicating the merging of small equilateral triangular grains on the liquid intermediates. This study is expected to serve as an ideal reference for understanding the principles of salt catalysis and evolution of CVD in the preparation of 2D TMDs.

Wafer-Scale Production of Two-Dimensional Tin Monoselenide: Expandable Synthetic Platform for van der Waals Semiconductor-Based Broadband Photodetectors.

A synthetic platform for industrially applicable two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors that addresses the paramount issues associated with large-scale production, wide-range photosensitive materials, and oxidative stability has not yet been developed. In this study, we attained the 6 in. scale production of 2D SnSe semiconductors with spatial homogeneity using a rational synthetic platform based on the thermal decomposition of solution-processed single-source precursors. The long-range structural and chemical homogeneities of the 2D SnSe layers are manifested using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. Furthermore, the capability of the SnSe-based photodetectors for broadband photodetection is distinctly verified. The photoresponsivity and detectivity of the SnSe-based photodetectors are 5.89 A W-1 and 1.8 × 1011 Jones at 532 nm, 1.2 A W-1 and 3.7 × 1010 Jones at 1064 nm, and 0.14 A W-1 and 4.3 × 109 Jones at 1550 nm, respectively. The minimum rise times for the 532 and 1064 nm lasers are 62 and 374 µs, respectively. The photoelectrical analysis of the 5 × 5 SnSe-based photodetector array reveals 100% active devices with 95.06% photocurrent uniformity. We unequivocally validated that the air and thermal stabilities of the photocurrent yielded from the SnSe-based photodetector are determined to be >30 d in air and 160 °C, respectively, which are suitable for optoelectronic applications.

Transcript-specific selective translation by specialized ribosomes bearing genome-encoded heterogeneous rRNAs in V. vulnificus CMCP6.

Ribosomes composed of genome-encoded heterogeneous rRNAs are implicated in the rapid adaptation of bacterial cells to environmental changes. A previous study showed that ribosomes bearing the most heterogeneous rRNAs expressed from the rrnI operon (I-ribosomes) are implicated in the preferential translation of a subset of mRNAs, including hspA and tpiA, in Vibrio vulnificus CMCP6. In this study, we show that HspA nascent peptides were predominantly bound to I-ribosomes. Specifically, I-ribosomes were enriched more than two-fold in ribosomes that were pulled down by immunoprecipitation of HspA peptides compared with the proportion of I-ribosomes in crude ribosomes and ribosomes pulled down by immunoprecipitation of RNA polymerase subunit ß peptides in the wild-type (WT) and rrnI-completed strains. Other methods that utilized the incorporation of an affinity tag in 23S rRNA or chimeric rRNA tethering 16S and 23S rRNAs, which generated specialized functional ribosomes in Escherichia coli, did not result in functional I-ribosomes in V. vulnificus CMCP6. This study provides direct evidence of the preferential translation of hspA mRNA by I-ribosomes.

Specialised ribosomes as versatile regulators of gene expression.

The ribosome has long been thought to be a homogeneous cellular machine that constitutively and globally synthesises proteins from mRNA. However, recent studies have revealed that ribosomes are highly heterogeneous, dynamic macromolecular complexes with specialised roles in translational regulation in many organisms across the kingdoms. In this review, we summarise the current understanding of ribosome heterogeneity and the specialised functions of heterogeneous ribosomes. We also discuss specialised translation systems that utilise orthogonal ribosomes.

Highly Photosensitive Lead Sulfide Thin Films Grown by H2 S Free MOCVD Using a Single Source Metal-Organic Precursor.

High-quality lead sulfide (PbS) films are deposited on selected substrate chemistries by an H2 S-free metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) process using a single-source metal-organic complex (Pb(dmampS)2 ). The complex is synthesized via a salt metathesis reaction between PbCl2  and lithium 1-(dimethylamino)-2-methylpropane-2-thiolate (Li(dmampS)) in diethyl ether. Subsequent film deposition is conducted by a simple thermolysis process in the absence of H2 S, yet chemical and structural analysis confirm chemically stoichiometric and homogenous films. Mechanistic studies with electron impact mass spectroscopy (EIMS) and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS) suggest the selective cleavage of C-S bonds in the complex as the reason for the facile PbS formation with negligible impurity incorporation. The high crystallinity, low hole concentrations, and charge transport properties comparable and in many cases superior to films produced by atomic layer deposition (ALD) testify to the quality of the films. Lastly, rigid and flexible photodetectors fabricated with the PbS films exhibit considerably high photocurrents, reliable switching characteristics, and high sensitivity over a broad spectral bandwidth, highlighting the potential for realizing practical broadband photodetectors.

Increased Production of Ginsenoside Compound K by Optimizing the Feeding of American Ginseng Extract during Fermentation by Aspergillus tubingensis.

The ginsenoside compound K (C-K) is widely used in traditional medicines, nutritional supplements, and cosmetics owing to its diverse pharmacological activities. Although many studies on C-K production have been conducted, fermentation is reported to produce C-K with low concentration and productivity. In the present study, addition of an inducer and optimization of the carbon and nitrogen sources in the medium were performed using response surface methodology to increase the C-K production via fermentation by Aspergillus tubingensis, a generally recognized as safe fungus. The optimized inducer and carbon and nitrogen sources were 2 g/l rice straw, 10 g/l sucrose, and 10 g/l soy protein concentrate, respectively, and they resulted in a 3.1-fold increase in the concentration and productivity of C-K (0.22 g/l and 1.52 mg/l/h, respectively) compared to those used before optimization without inducer (0.071 g/l and 0.49 mg/l/h, respectively). The feeding methods of American ginseng extract (AGE), including feeding timing, feeding concentration, and feeding frequency, were also optimized. Under the optimized conditions, A. tubingensis produced 3.96 mM (2.47 g/l) C-K at 144 h by feeding two times with 8 g/l AGE at 48 and 60 h, with a productivity of 17.1 mg/l/h. The concentration and productivity of C-K after optimization of feeding methods were 11-fold higher than those before the optimization (0.22 g/l and 1.52 mg/l/h, respectively). Thus, the optimization for the feeding methods of ginseng extract is an efficient strategy to increase C-K production. To our knowledge, this is the highest reported C-K concentration and productivity via fermentation reported so far.

Impact of a Diverse Combination of Metal Oxide Gas Sensors on Machine Learning-Based Gas Recognition in Mixed Gases.

A challenge for chemiresistive-type gas sensors distinguishing mixture gases is that for highly accurate recognition, massive data processing acquired from various types of sensor configurations must be considered. The impact of data processing is indeed ineffective and time-consuming. Herein, we systemically investigate the effect of the selectivity for a target gas on the prediction accuracy of gas concentration via machine learning based on a support vector machine model. The selectivity factor S(X) of a gas sensor for a target gas "X" is introduced to reveal the correlation between the prediction accuracy and selectivity of gas sensors. The presented work suggests that (i) the strong correlation between the selectivity factor and prediction accuracy has a proportional relationship, (ii) the enhancement of the prediction accuracy of an elemental sensor with a low sensitivity factor can be attained by a complementary combination of the other sensor with a high selectivity factor, and (iii) it can also be boosted by combining the sensor having even a low selectivity factor.

Strategic Customization of Polymeric Nanocomposites Modified by 2D Titanium Oxide Nanosheet for High-k and Flexible Gate Dielectrics.

Organic polymer-based dielectrics with intrinsic mechanical flexibility and good processability are excellent candidates for the dielectric layer of flexible electronics. These polymer films can become even more rigid and electrically robust when modified through cross-linking processes. Moreover, the composites formed by dispersing nanoscale inorganic fillers in a polymer matrix can exhibit further improved polarization property. However, these strategies can be challenging as homogeneous dispersion of nanomaterials in the matrix is difficult to achieve; thus, degradation of electrically insulating properties of nanocomposite layers is often observed. Here, a high-k, pinhole-free, and flexible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based nanocomposite dielectric is presented, incorporating 2D TiO2 nanosheets (NSs) for the first time. Despite the attractive dielectric constant, exceptional flexibility, and electrically insulating property of PVA-TiO2 nanocomposites, only few studies on these materials have been reported. The organic/inorganic nanosheet hybrid layer, which reaches an unprecedentedly high dielectric constant of 43.8 (more than four times higher than that of cross-linked PVA), also exhibits an outstanding leakage current density as low as 10-9 A cm-2 . Furthermore, the repeated bending tests for nanocomposite capacitors reveal their capability of operating without any deterioration of their performances even after 1000 iterations of bending cycles at a bending radius of 3 mm.