Shape-Tunable BaTiO3 Crystals Presenting Facet-Dependent Optical and Piezoelectric Properties.

BaTiO3 octahedra, edge-, and corner-truncated cubes, and cubes with four tunable sizes from 132 to 438 nm are synthesized by a solvothermal growth approach. Acetic acid treatment can cleanly remove BaCO3 impurity. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectra help to confirm the particles have a tetragonal crystal structure. The crystals also exhibit size- and facet-dependent bandgap shifts. BaTiO3 octahedra show larger piezoelectric, ferroelectric, and pyroelectric effects than truncated cubes and cubes. The measured dielectric constant differences should be associated with their various facet-dependent behaviors. Piezoelectric nanogenerators fabricated from BaTiO3 octahedra consistently show the best performance than those containing truncated cubes and cubes. In particular, a nanogenerator with 30 wt.%-incorporated octahedra displays an open-circuit voltage of 23 V and short-circuit current of 324 nA. The device performance is also highly stable. The maximum output power reaches 3.9 µW at 60 MΩ. The fabricated nanogenerator can provide sufficient electricity to power light-emitting diodes. This work further demonstrates that various physical properties of semiconductor crystals show surface dependence.

Advanced wearable biosensors for the detection of body fluids and exhaled breath by graphene.

Given the huge economic burden caused by chronic and acute diseases on human beings, it is an urgent requirement of a cost-effective diagnosis and monitoring process to treat and cure the disease in their preliminary stage to avoid severe complications. Wearable biosensors have been developed by using numerous materials for non-invasive, wireless, and consistent human health monitoring. Graphene, a 2D nanomaterial, has received considerable attention for the development of wearable biosensors due to its outstanding physical, chemical, and structural properties. Moreover, the extremely flexible, foldable, and biocompatible nature of graphene provide a wide scope for developing wearable biosensor devices. Therefore, graphene and its derivatives could be trending materials to fabricate wearable biosensor devices for remote human health management in the near future. Various biofluids and exhaled breath contain many relevant biomarkers which can be exploited by wearable biosensors non-invasively to identify diseases. In this article, we have discussed various methodologies and strategies for synthesizing and pattering graphene. Furthermore, general sensing mechanism of biosensors, and graphene-based biosensing devices for tear, sweat, interstitial fluid (ISF), saliva, and exhaled breath have also been explored and discussed thoroughly. Finally, current challenges and future prospective of graphene-based wearable biosensors have been evaluated with conclusion. Graphene is a promising 2D material for the development of wearable sensors. Various biofluids (sweat, tears, saliva and ISF) and exhaled breath contains many relevant biomarkers which facilitate in identify diseases. Biosensor is made up of biological recognition element such as enzyme, antibody, nucleic acid, hormone, organelle, or complete cell and physical (transducer, amplifier), provide fast response without causing organ harm.