Photoinduced charge transfer within polyaniline-encapsulated quantum dots decorated on graphene.

A new method to enhance the stability of quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution by encapsulating them with conducting polymer polyaniline was reported. The polyaniline-encapsulated QDs were then decorated onto graphene through π-π interactions between graphene and conjugated polymer shell of QDs, forming stable polyaniline/QD/graphene hybrid. A testing electronic device was fabricated using the hybrid in order to investigate the photoinduced charge transfer between graphene and encapsulated QDs within the hybrid. The charge transfer mechanism was explored through cyclic voltammetry and spectroscopic studies. The hybrid shows a clear response to the laser irradiation, presenting a great advantage for further applications in optoelectronic devices.

Chemo-sensors development based on low-dimensional codoped Mn2O3-ZnO nanoparticles using flat-silver electrodes.

BACKGROUND: Semiconductor doped nanostructure materials have attained considerable attention owing to their electronic, opto-electronic, para-magnetic, photo-catalysis, electro-chemical, mechanical behaviors and their potential applications in different research areas. Doped nanomaterials might be a promising owing to their high-specific surface-area, low-resistances, high-catalytic activity, attractive electro-chemical and optical properties. Nanomaterials are also scientifically significant transition metal-doped nanostructure materials owing to their extraordinary mechanical, optical, electrical, electronic, thermal, and magnetic characteristics. Recently, it has gained significant interest in manganese oxide doped-semiconductor materials in order to develop their physico-chemical behaviors and extend their efficient applications. It has not only investigated the basic of magnetism, but also has huge potential in scientific features such as magnetic materials, bio- & chemi-sensors, photo-catalysts, and absorbent nanomaterials. RESULTS: The chemical sensor also displays the higher-sensitivity, reproducibility, long-term stability, and enhanced electrochemical responses. The calibration plot is linear (r2 = 0.977) over the 0.1 nM to 50.0 µM 4-nitrophenol concentration ranges. The sensitivity and detection limit is ~4.6667 µA cm-2 µM-1 and ~0.83 ± 0.2 nM (at a Signal-to-Noise-Ratio, SNR of 3) respectively. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report for detection of 4-nitrophenol chemical with doped Mn2O3-ZnO NPs using easy and reliable I-V technique in short response time. CONCLUSIONS: As for the doped nanostructures, NPs are introduced a route to a new generation of toxic chemo-sensors, but a premeditate effort has to be applied for doped Mn2O3-ZnO NPs to be taken comprehensively for large-scale applications, and to achieve higher-potential density with accessible to individual chemo-sensors. In this report, it is also discussed the prospective utilization of Mn2O3-ZnO NPs on the basis of carcinogenic chemical sensing, which could also be applied for the detection of hazardous chemicals in ecological, environmental, and health care fields.

Recent advancements of graphene in biomedicine.

Graphene, as a rising star in the field of nanomaterials, possesses a unique planar structure and exceptional electronic, mechanical, and optical properties. The material has attracted tremendous interest not only for its intrinsic properties but also promising application opportunities in a wide range of technologies and markets. This review specifically summarizes recent research advancements of graphene in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine. The bio-application opportunities lie in the unique attributes of graphene, i.e., (1) its nano-scale structure that allows for bio-compatibility, (2) biofunctionalization of graphene for biological recognition, (3) its mechanical, electronic and optical properties for bioimaging and external stimulus driven therapeutics, and (4) its functionalities for tissue and genetic engineering. The review mainly highlights eight subjects including (1) biocompatibility, cytotoxicity and biofunctionalization, (2) antibacterial activity, (3) biosensing and immunosensing, (4) bioimaging, (5) genetic engineering, (6) drug delivery, (7) cancer phototherapy, and (8) tissue engineering. Perspectives and future challenges in this rapidly developing area are also discussed.

Flexible organic light-emitting diodes with transparent carbon nanotube electrodes: problems and solutions.

We study in detail here the application of transparent, conductive carbon single-wall nanotube (SWNT) networks as electrodes in flexible organic light-emitting diodes (FOLEDs). Overall comparisons of these networks to the commonly used electrodes poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and indium tin oxide (ITO) are made, and SWNT networks are shown to have excellent optical and superior mechanical properties. The effects of protruding nanotubes, rough surface morphology, and SWNT network-adjacent layer dewetting are shown to be problematic, and approaches for addressing these issues are identified. The mechanical properties of SWNT networks and ITO are compared, and SWNT networks are shown to exhibit more durable sheet conductance under bending, which leads to bendable FOLEDs. We demonstrated FOLEDs with SWNT network anodes that exhibit outstanding light output and meet display requirements. SWNT-based FOLEDs show comparable lifetime performances to ITO-based devices. The promise and the remaining challenges for implementing SWNT networks in organic light-emitting diodes are discussed.

A method of fabricating highly transparent and conductive interpenetrated carbon nanotube-parylene networks.

We report a method of fabrication of free standing and ultra-thin carbon nanotube-parylene-C interpenetrating networks. The network is highly transparent, highly flexible, and more conductive than transparent nanotube/polymer composites. Scanning electron microscope imaging reveals that the interpenetrated networks are dense and pinhole free compared to bare nanotube networks. We found that parylene-C coats along carbon nanotubes and links them together, increasing both the mechanical robustness of the film, and the electrical stability under UV radiation. This method is universal for fabricating interpenetrating networks of other nanoscale materials such as nanowires and nanofibers.

Surface-modified nanotube anodes for high performance organic light-emitting diode.

In this work, we reported high performance OLED devices with transparent and conductive carbon nanotube anodes after modification. The modifications include IMRE proprietary PEDOT:PSS composite top coating (PS(C)), concentrated HNO(3) acid soaking, and polymer encapsulation. For PS(C)-modified nanotube thin film anode, we achieved maximum luminescence of approximately 9000 cd/m(2), close to ITO-based OLED device performance, and high efficiency of approximately 10 cd/A, similar with ITO-based OLED device. The performance is approximately 30 to 450 times better than that achieved for OLED devices using CNT anodes by others. In addition, we also investigate the mechanical property, work function, sheet resistance, and surface morphology of modified carbon nanotube thin-film anodes.

Charge transport in interpenetrating networks of semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotube network field effect transistors (CNTN-FETs) are promising candidates for low cost macroelectronics. We investigate the microscopic transport in these devices using electric force microscopy and simulations. We find that in many CNTN-FETs the voltage drops abruptly at a point in the channel where the current is constricted to just one tube. We also model the effect of varying the semiconducting/metallic tube ratio. The effect of Schottky barriers on both conductance within semiconducting tubes and conductance between semiconducting and metallic tubes results in three possible types of CNTN-FETs with fundamentally different gating mechanisms. We describe this with an electronic phase diagram.

Printable thin film supercapacitors using single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Thin film supercapacitors were fabricated using printable materials to make flexible devices on plastic. The active electrodes were made from sprayed networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) serving as both electrodes and charge collectors. Using a printable aqueous gel electrolyte as well as an organic liquid electrolyte, the performances of the devices show very high energy and power densities (6 W h/kg for both electrolytes and 23 and 70 kW/kg for aqueous gel electrolyte and organic electrolyte, respectively) which is comparable to performance in other SWCNT-based supercapacitor devices fabricated using different methods. The results underline the potential of printable thin film supercapacitors. The simplified architecture and the sole use of printable materials may lead to a new class of entirely printable charge storage devices allowing for full integration with the emerging field of printed electronics.

A tunable photosensor.

A pyrene-modified beta-cyclodextrin (pyrenecyclodextrin)-decorated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) field-effect transistor (FET) device was fabricated, which can serve as a tunable photosensor to sense a fluorescent adamantyl-modified Ru complex (ADA-Ru). When the light is on (I = 40 W m(-2) and lambda = 280 nm), the transfer curve of the pyrenecyclodextrin-SWNT/FET device shifts toward a negative gate voltage by about 1.6 V and its sheet resistance increases quickly, indicating a charge-transfer process from the pyrenecyclodextrins to the SWNTs. In contrast, the transfer curve of the pyrenecyclodextrin-SWNT/FET device in the presence of the ADA-Ru complex shifts toward a positive gate voltage by about 1.9 V and its sheet resistance decreases slowly when the light is on (I = 40 W m(-2) and lambda = 490 nm), showing a charge-transfer process from the pyrenecyclodextrin-SWNT hybrids to the ADA-Ru complex. Because these photoresponse processes are recoverable following the removal of the light, the present photosensor exhibits a promising application in the area of tunable light detection.

Organic light-emitting diodes having carbon nanotube anodes.

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films on flexible PET (polyethyleneterephthalate) substrates are used as transparent, flexible anodes for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). For polymer-based OLEDs having the structure: SWNT/PEDOT-PSS:MeOH/TFB (poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-N-(4-butylphenyl)diphenylamine)) + TPD-Si(2) (4,4'-bis[(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)phenylamino]biphenyl) /BT (poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole))/CsF/Al, a maximum light output of 3500 cd/m(2) and a current efficiency of 1.6 cd/A have been achieved. The device operational lifetime is comparable to that of devices with Sn-doped In(2)O(3) (ITO)/PET anodes. The advantages of this novel type of anode over conventional ITO are discussed.

Bioinspired detection of light using a porphyrin-sensitized single-wall nanotube field effect transistor.

Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) field effect transistors (FETs), functionalized noncovalently with a zinc porphyrin derivative, were used to directly detect a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) within a donor/acceptor (D/A) system. We report here that the SWNTs act as the electron donor and the porphyrin molecules as the electron acceptor. The magnitude of the PET was measured to be a function of both the wavelength and intensity of applied light, with a maximum value of 0.37 electrons per porphyrin for light at 420 nm and 100 W/m2. A complete understanding of the photophysics of this D/A system is necessary, as it may form the basis for applications in artificial photosynthesis and alternative energy sources such as solar cells.

Electronic detection of the enzymatic degradation of starch.

[reaction: see text] The enzymatic degradation of starch can be monitored electronically using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as semiconducting probes in field-effect transistors (FETs). Incubation of these devices in aqueous buffer solutions of amyloglucosidase (AMG) results in the removal of the starch from both the silicon surfaces and the side walls of the SWNTs in the FETs, as evidenced by direct imaging and electronic measurements.

Charge transfer from ammonia physisorbed on nanotubes.

We report the use of nanotube field-effect transistor devices for chemical sensing in a conducting liquid environment. Detection of ammonia occurs through the shift of the gate voltage dependence of the source-drain current. We attribute this shift to charge transfer from adsorbed ammonia molecules, with the amount of charge estimated to be as small as 40 electrons for the smallest shift detected. Using the concentration dependence of the response as an adsorption isotherm, we are able to measure the amount of charge transfer to be 0.04 electron per ammonia molecule.