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Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition)

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Composites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2025 | Viewed by 8917

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Prof. Dr. Federico Cesano

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Department of Chemistry, Turin University, 10125 Torino, Italy
Interests: composite/hybrid materials and nanomaterials; surface Science; microscopies and spectroscopies; catalysis and photocatalysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to highlighting significant findings in the field of materials based on low-dimensional systems (i.e., 0D, 1D, and 2D), as well as their assembly and mixing to make composite materials, hybrid systems and heterostructures. A variety of newly developed structures, for a fact, have attracted remarkable attention due to their unprecedented properties, surpassing those of more traditional counterparts. These low-dimensional systems are known for their large surface area and small spatial dimensions, leading to intrinsic and distinctive characteristics (electrical, optical, and magnetic properties). A shrewd combination of these structures or an arrangement in bulk materials may open new perspectives, paving the way for unprecedented uses. On this matter, significant examples come from carbon nanostructures (i.e., high-structure carbon-black, carbon nanotubes, graphene) in polymers. These nanocarbons can effectively engender new (electrical, thermal, optical) properties in polymer materials. On the other hand, contact between two materials with small sliding friction can make superlubricity possible, implying a reduction in friction of orders of magnitude compared to 3D counterparts.

The present Special Issue is primarily addressed to materials with low-dimensional structures, from their preparation to their properties and applications. Fundamental and theoretical studies contributing to the understanding of their basic principles are also welcomed.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the preparation, properties, and applications of materials containing the following:

0D (nanoparticles, quantum dots, and small molecules);
1D (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanorods, and nanowires);
2D (2D organic framework systems, 2D polymers, and few-layered materials, including graphene, graphene-like systems (i.e., graphene oxide), and graphene analogues (i.e., transition metal dichalcogenides, carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, silicene, germanene, stanene, and phosphorene);
The interplay of low-dimensional structures in materials and composites;
Materials engineering;
Van der Waals heterostructures, all-inorganic materials, and organic–inorganic hybrids.

Prof. Dr. Federico Cesano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

0D (nanoparticles, quantum dots, and small molecules)
1D (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanorods, and nanowires)
2D (2D organic framework systems, 2D polymers, and few-layered materials, including graphene, graphene-like systems (i.e., graphene oxide), and graphene analogues (i.e., transition metal dichalcogenides, carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, silicene, germanene, stanene, and phosphorene)

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Related Special Issue

Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications in Materials (20 articles)

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 10877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Temperature-Dependent Photoluminescence Dynamics of Colloidal CdS Quantum Dots Using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Networks

by Ivan Malashin, Daniil Daibagya, Vadim Tynchenko, Vladimir Nelyub, Aleksei Borodulin, Andrei Gantimurov, Alexandr Selyukov, Sergey Ambrozevich, Mikhail Smirnov and Oleg Ovchinnikov

Materials 2024, 17(20), 5056; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17205056 - 16 Oct 2024

Viewed by 894

Abstract

This study addresses the challenge of modeling temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) in CdS colloidal quantum dots (QD), where PL properties fluctuate with temperature, complicating traditional modeling approaches. The objective is to develop a predictive model capable of accurately capturing these variations using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, which are well suited for managing temporal dependencies in time-series data. The methodology involved training the LSTM model on experimental time-series data of PL intensity and temperature. Through numerical simulation, the model’s performance was assessed. Results demonstrated that the LSTM-based model effectively predicted PL trends under different temperature conditions. This approach could be applied in optoelectronics and quantum dot-based sensors for enhanced forecasting capabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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15 pages, 2937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Li-Doping and Formation of SnO₂-Based Composites with TiO₂: Applications for Perovskite Solar Cells

by Nagisa Hattori, Kazuhiro Manseki, Yuto Hibi, Naohide Nagaya, Norimitsu Yoshida, Takashi Sugiura and Saeid Vafaei

Materials 2024, 17(10), 2339; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102339 - 14 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1488

Abstract

Tin oxide (SnO₂) has been recognized as one of the beneficial components in the electron transport layer (ETL) of lead–halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its high electron mobility. The SnO₂-based thin film serves for electron extraction and transport in the device, induced by light absorption at the perovskite layer. The focus of this paper is on the heat treatment of a nanoaggregate layer of single-nanometer-scale SnO₂ particles in combination with another metal-dopant precursor to develop a new process for ETL in PSCs. The combined precursor solution of Li chloride and titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP) was deposited onto the SnO₂ layer. We varied the heat treatment conditions of the spin-coated films comprising double layers, i.e., an Li/TTIP precursor layer and SnO₂ nanoparticle layer, to understand the effects of nanoparticle interconnection via sintering and the mixing ratio of the Li-dopant on the photovoltaic performance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) measurements of the sintered nanoparticles suggested that an Li-doped solid solution of SnO₂ with a small amount of TiO₂ nanoparticles formed via heating. Interestingly, the bandgap of the Li-doped ETL samples was estimated to be 3.45 eV, indicating a narrower bandgap as compared to that of pure SnO₂. This observation also supported the formation of an SnO₂/TiO₂ solid solution in the ETL. The utilization of such a nanoparticulate SnO₂ film in combination with an Li/TTIP precursor could offer a new approach as an alternative to conventional SnO₂ electron transport layers for optimizing the performance of lead–halide perovskite solar cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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15 pages, 89702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wetting Behavior Driven by Surface Morphology Changes Induced by Picosecond Laser Texturing

by Carmelo Corsaro, Gabriele Orlando, Gabriele Costa, Mariangela Latino, Francesco Barreca, Angela Maria Mezzasalma, Fortunato Neri and Enza Fazio

Materials 2024, 17(8), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081719 - 9 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1199

Abstract

The laser surface texturing (LST) technique has recently been used to enhance adhesion bond strength in various coating applications and to create structures with controlled hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces. The texturing processing parameters can be adjusted to tune the surface’s polarity, thereby controlling the ratio between the polar and dispersed components of the surface free energy and determining its hydrophobic character. The aim of this work is to systematically select appropriate laser and scan head parameters for high-quality surface topography of metal-based materials. A correlation between texturing parameters and wetting properties was made in view of several technological applications, i.e., for the proper growth of conformal layers onto laser-textured metal surfaces. Surface analyses, carried out by scanning electron microscopy and profilometry, reveal the presence of periodic microchannels decorated with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) in the direction parallel to the microchannels. The water contact angle varies widely from about 20° to 100°, depending on the treated material (titanium, nickel, etc.). Nowadays, reducing the wettability transition time from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity, while also changing environmental conditions, remains a challenge. Therefore, the characteristics of environmental dust and its influence on the properties of the picosecond laser-textured surface (e.g., chemical bonding of samples) have been studied while monitoring ambient conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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16 pages, 7914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Growth and Dispersion Control of SnO₂ Nanocrystals Employing an Amino Acid Ester Hydrochloride in Solution Synthesis: Microstructures and Photovoltaic Applications

by Nagisa Hattori, Saeid Vafaei, Ryoki Narita, Naohide Nagaya, Norimitsu Yoshida, Takashi Sugiura and Kazuhiro Manseki

Materials 2023, 16(24), 7649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16247649 - 14 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1537

Abstract

Tin oxide (SnO₂) is a technologically important semiconductor with versatile applications. In particular, attention is being paid to nanostructured SnO₂ materials for use as a part of the constituents in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), an emerging renewable energy technology. This is mainly because SnO₂ has high electron mobility, making it favorable for use in the electron transport layer (ETL) in these devices, in which SnO₂ thin films play a role in extracting electrons from the adjacent light-absorber, i.e., lead halide perovskite compounds. Investigation of SnO₂ solution synthesis under diverse reaction conditions is crucial in order to lay the foundation for the cost-effective production of PSCs. This research focuses on the facile catalyst-free synthesis of single-nanometer-scale SnO₂ nanocrystals employing an aromatic organic ligand (as the structure-directing agent) and Sn(IV) salt in an aqueous solution. Most notably, the use of an aromatic amino acid ester hydrochloride salt—i.e., phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (denoted as L hereafter)—allowed us to obtain an aqueous precursor solution containing a higher concentration of ligand L, in addition to facilitating the growth of SnO₂ nanoparticles as small as 3 nm with a narrow size distribution, which were analyzed by means of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Moreover, the nanoparticles were proved to be crystallized and uniformly dispersed in the reaction mixture. The environmentally benign, ethanol-based SnO₂ nanofluids stabilized with the capping agent L for the Sn(IV) ions were also successfully obtained and spin-coated to produce a SnO₂ nanoparticle film to serve as an ETL for PSCs. Several SnO₂ ETLs that were created by varying the temperature of nanoparticle synthesis were examined to gain insight into the performance of PSCs. It is thought that reaction conditions that utilize high concentrations of ligand L to control the growth and dispersion of SnO₂ nanoparticles could serve as useful criteria for designing SnO₂ ETLs, since hydrochloride salt L can offer significant potential as a functional compound by controlling the microstructures of individual SnO₂ nanoparticles and the self-assembly process to form nanostructured SnO₂ thin films. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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13 pages, 4719 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tetraphenylethene-Based Cross-Linked Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Efficient Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol in Aqueous Phase

by Shengjie Li, Tianwen Ouyang, Xue Guo, Wenyue Dong, Zhihua Ma and Teng Fei

Materials 2023, 16(19), 6458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196458 - 28 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1009

Abstract

The cross-linked conjugated polymer poly(tetraphenylethene-co-biphenyl) (PTPEBP) nanoparticles were prepared by Suzuki-miniemulsion polymerization. The structure, morphology, and pore characteristics of PTPEBP nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, NMR, SEM, and nitrogen adsorption and desorption measurements. PTPEBP presents a spherical nanoparticle morphology with a particle size of 56 nm; the specific surface area is 69.1 m²/g, and the distribution of the pore size is centered at about 2.5 nm. Due to the introduction of the tetraphenylethene unit, the fluorescence quantum yield of the PTPEBP nanoparticles reaches 8.14% in aqueous dispersion. Combining the porosity and nanoparticle morphology, the fluorescence sensing detection toward nitroaromatic explosives in the pure aqueous phase has been realized. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) detection is 2.50 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, the limit of detection is 1.07 μM, and the limit of quantification is 3.57 μM. Importantly, the detection effect of PTPEBP nanoparticles toward TNP did not change significantly after adding other nitroaromatic compounds, indicating that the anti-interference and selectivity for TNP detection in aqueous media is remarkable. In addition, the spike recovery test demonstrates the potential of PTPEBP nanoparticles for detecting TNP in natural environmental water samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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10 pages, 3133 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality Assessment of Processed Graphene Chips for Biosensor Application

by Natalia M. Shmidt, Evgeniya I. Shabunina, Ekaterina V. Gushchina, Vasiliy N. Petrov, Ilya A. Eliseyev, Sergey P. Lebedev, Sergei Iu. Priobrazhenskii, Elena M. Tanklevskaya, Mikhail V. Puzyk, Alexander D. Roenkov, Alexander S. Usikov and Alexander A. Lebedev

Materials 2023, 16(16), 5628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16165628 - 15 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 996

Abstract

The quality of graphene intended for use in biosensors was assessed on manufactured chips using a set of methods including atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and low-frequency noise investigation. It is shown that local areas of residues on the graphene surface, formed as a result of the interaction of graphene with a photoresist at the initial stage of chip development, led to a spread of chip resistance (R) in the range of 1–10 kOhm and to an increase in the root mean square (RMS) roughness up to 10 times, which can significantly worsen the reproducibility of the parameters of graphene chips for biosensor applications. It was observed that the control of the photoresist residues after photolithography (PLG) using AFM and subsequent additional cleaning reduced the spread of R values in chips to 1–1.6 kOhm and obtained an RMS roughness similar to the roughness in the graphene film before PLG. Monitoring of the spectral density of low-frequency voltage fluctuation (S_U), which provides integral information about the system of defects and quality of the material, makes it possible to identify chips with low graphene quality and with inhomogeneously distributed areas of compressive stresses by the type of frequency dependence S_U(f). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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26 pages, 8676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation Study of the Mechanical Behaviour of 1D and 2D Germanium Carbide and Tin Carbide Nanostructures

by José V. Fernandes, André F. G. Pereira, Jorge M. Antunes, Bruno M. Chaparro and Nataliya A. Sakharova

Materials 2023, 16(15), 5484; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155484 - 5 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1111

Abstract

One-dimensional (nanotubes) and two-dimensional (nanosheets) germanium carbide (GeC) and tin carbide (SnC) structures have been predicted and studied only theoretically. Understanding their mechanical behaviour is crucial, considering forthcoming prospects, especially in batteries and fuel cells. Within this framework, the present study aims at the numerical evaluation of the elastic properties, surface Young’s and shear moduli and Poisson’s ratio, of GeC and SnC nanosheets and nanotubes, using a nanoscale continuum modelling approach. A robust methodology to assess the elastic constants of the GeC and SnC nanotubes without of the need for numerical simulation is proposed. The surface Young’s and shear moduli of the GeC and SnC nanotubes and nanosheets are compared with those of their three-dimensional counterparts, to take full advantage of 1D and 2D germanium carbide and tin carbide in novel devices. The obtained outcomes establish a solid basis for future explorations of the mechanical behaviour of 1D and 2D GeC and SnC nanostructures, where the scarcity of studies is evident. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Dimensional Structures for Smart Materials and Composites: Preparation, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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