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Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanofabrication and Nanomanufacturing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 14124

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anming Hu

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Guest Editor

Department of Mechanical Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Interests: nanomaterials; metals; smart materials; materials for environment and energy; light sensitive materials; biomass materials; materials for welding and joinning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Wilhelm Pfleging

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Guest Editor

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
Interests: lithium-ion battery; energy storage materials; electrochemical analyses; laser technology, laser materials processing; laser ablation; micro/nanostructuring; laser-induced forward transfer; surface functionalization; laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; material science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Craig B. Arnold

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Guest Editor

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Interests: materials processing and fabrication; with applications in energy; optoelelectronics; sensing and nanotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, the large-scale manufacturing of nanomaterials and nanostructures, and their assemblies into components, devices, and systems are of great interest. It is our pleasure to invite you to submit an article to this Special Issue of Nanomaterials, on the topic of "Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment".

This Special Issue will focus on two novel fields. First, the invited papers can explore the relationship between scalable nanofabrication and precise manufacturing. They include functional devices that require the scalability of nanostructures, precision manufacturing is a growing market, and applications where the macroscopic manufacturing requires a manufacturing precision down to a sub-micrometer scale in either 2D surface engineering or 3D structure controls through additive manufacturing. Secondly, the invited papers will cover cutting-edge applications of nanofabrication and nanomaterials in electronics, energy, and the environment. These applications will be the driving force for the sustainable development of nanofabrication. We predict that nanofabrication will continue to be an important field for economic development and technological revolution through integrating modern precision manufacturing and addressing emergent applications in the aforementioned fields. Thus, the success of merging nanofabrication and precision manufacturing is contingent upon implementing functional devices based on nanofabrication and nanomaterials.

Dr. Anming Hu
Dr. Wilhelm Pfleging
Prof. Dr. Craig B. Arnold
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Nanomaterials 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 2900 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

nanofabrication
laser-based processing
precision manufacturing
nanojoining
portable/wearable electronics
energy devices
batteries and supercapacitors
environmental monitoring and remedy
optoelectronics
sensing
nanoelectronics

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 2732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Laser-Textured Cu Foil with Deep Ablation on Si Anode Performance in Li-Ion Batteries

by Jingbo Wang, Li Cao, Songyuan Li, Jiejie Xu, Rongshi Xiao and Ting Huang

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(18), 2534; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13182534 - 11 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 898

Abstract

Si is a highly promising anode material due to its superior theoretical capacity of up to 3579 mAh/g. However, it is worth noting that Si anodes experience significant volume expansion (>300%) during charging and discharging. Due to the weak adhesion between the anode coating and the smooth Cu foil current collector, the volume-expanded Si anode easily peels off, thus damaging anode cycling performance. In the present study, a femtosecond laser with a wavelength of 515 nm is used to texture Cu foils with a hierarchical microstructure and nanostructure. The peeling and cracking phenomenon in the Si anode are successfully reduced, demonstrating that volume expansion is effectively mitigated, which is attributed to the high specific surface area of the nanostructure and the protection of the deep-ablated microgrooves. Moreover, the hierarchical structure reduces interfacial resistance to promote electron transfer. The Si anode achieves improved cycling stability and rate capability, and the influence of structural features on the aforementioned performance is studied. The Si anode on the 20 μm-thick Cu current collector with a groove density of 75% and a depth of 15 μm exhibits a capacity of 1182 mAh/g after 300 cycles at 1 C and shows a high-rate capacity of 684 mAh/g at 3 C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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20 pages, 7998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Properties of Laser-Printed Multilayer Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Ulrich Rist, Viktoria Falkowski and Wilhelm Pfleging

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(17), 2411; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13172411 - 25 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1045

Abstract

New electrode architectures promise huge potential for improving batteries’ electrochemical properties, such as power density, energy density, and lifetime. In this work, the use of laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) was employed and evaluated as a tool for the development of advanced electrode architectures. For this purpose, it was first confirmed that the printing process has no effect on the transferred battery material by comparing the electrochemical performance of the printed anodes with state-of-the-art coated ones. For this, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was used as a binder and n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent, which is reported to be printable. Subsequently, multilayer electrodes with flake-like and spherical graphite particles were printed to test if a combination of their electrochemical related properties can be realized with measured specific capacities ranging from 321 mAh

\cdot

g⁻¹ to 351 mAh

\cdot

g⁻¹. Further, a multilayer anode design with a silicon-rich intermediate layer was printed and electrochemically characterized. The initial specific capacity was found to be 745 mAh

\cdot

g⁻¹. The presented results show that the LIFT technology offers the possibility to generate alternative electrode designs, promoting research in the optimization of 3D battery systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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11 pages, 4304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ag Sinter Bonding to Si Substrate via Temporal Formation and Decomposition of Ag Carboxylate

by Tomoki Matsuda, Rei Kawabata, Takuya Okamoto and Akio Hirose

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(16), 2292; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13162292 - 09 Aug 2023

Viewed by 726

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the in situ sinter bonding of Ag microparticle pastes to a Si substrate via the temporal formation and decomposition of Ag carboxylate on the surface of Ag microparticles. This was proposed via the investigation of Ag sinter bonding using the redox reaction between Ag₂O and ethylene glycol, which achieved a bonding strength above 30 MPa even for the bonding temperature at 220 °C. Thermal analysis was used to identify the product of the redox reaction between Ag₂O and ethylene glycol and determine the bonding temperature because the final reaction facilitates the interfacial sinter bonding with the substrate. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance results indicated the in situ formation of Ag salts of carboxylic acids, such as Ag oxalate on the surface of Ag microparticles. Therefore, the sinter bonding process enabled by the in situ formation and subsequent decomposition of these Ag salts was investigated using Ag microparticles and oxalic acid. Observations of the surface and interfacial morphology of the Ag particles after heating revealed the formation of Ag nanoparticles on the surfaces of the microparticles and the formation of sintering necks between the particles. The bonding experiments demonstrated a significant increase in strength with the addition of oxalic acid to the Ag paste due to the enhanced interfacial sinter bonding with the substrate. The in situ formation and decomposition of Ag salts are promising strategies for improving sintered bonds in electronic devices because they can provide enhanced localized sinter bonding using stable insert materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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11 pages, 3248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Stabilization of Li₇P₃S₁₁ Solid-State Electrolytes through Laser-Based Processing

by Yannick Eatmon, Joseph W. Stiles, Shuichiro Hayashi, Marco Rupp and Craig Arnold

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(15), 2210; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13152210 - 29 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1065

Abstract

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) that employ solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) have the potential to replace more conventional batteries that employ liquid electrolytes due to their inherent safety, compatibility with lithium metal and reputable ionic conductivity. Li₇P₃S₁₁ is a promising SSE with reported ionic conductivities in the order of 10 mS/cm. However, its susceptibility to degradation through oxidation and hydrolysis limits its commercial viability. In this work, we demonstrate a laser-based processing method for SSEs to improve humidity stability. It was determined that laser power and scanning speed greatly affect surface morphology, as well as the resulting chemical composition of Li₇P₃S₁₁ samples. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that laser treatment can produce SSEs with higher ionic conductivities than pristine counterparts after air exposure. Further examination of chemical composition revealed an optimal laser processing condition that reduces the rate of P

_{2}

_{7}

^{4 -}

degradation. This work demonstrates the ability of laser-based processing to be used to improve the stability of SSEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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16 pages, 3846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Femtosecond Laser-Induced Nano-Joining of Volatile Tellurium Nanotube Memristor

by Yongchao Yu, Pooran Joshi, Denzel Bridges, David Fieser and Anming Hu

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050789 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1513

Abstract

Nanowire/nanotube memristor devices provide great potential for random-access high-density resistance storage. However, fabricating high-quality and stable memristors is still challenging. This paper reports multileveled resistance states of tellurium (Te) nanotube based on the clean-room free femtosecond laser nano-joining method. The temperature for the entire fabrication process was maintained below 190 °C. A femtosecond laser joining technique was used to form nanowire memristor units with enhanced properties. Femtosecond (fs) laser-irradiated silver-tellurium nanotube-silver structures resulted in plasmonic-enhanced optical joining with minimal local thermal effects. This produced a junction between the Te nanotube and the silver film substrate with enhanced electrical contacts. Noticeable changes in memristor behavior were observed after fs laser irradiation. Capacitor-coupled multilevel memristor behavior was observed. Compared to previous metal oxide nanowire-based memristors, the reported Te nanotube memristor system displayed a nearly two-order stronger current response. The research displays that the multileveled resistance state is rewritable with a negative bias. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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11 pages, 5258 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Laser-Induced Forward Transferred Optical Scattering Nanosilica for Transparent Displays

by Ruo-Zhou Li, Mingqing Yang, Lvjiu Guo, Ke Qu, Tong Jian, Ying Yu and Jing Yan

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(20), 3674; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12203674 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

Laser printing has become a promising alternative for large-scale fabrication of functional devices. Here, laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) of nanosilica was successfully achieved using a lower-cost nanosecond laser with a center wavelength of 1064 nm. To enhance the light absorption of silica, a small amount of graphene oxide (GO) was added to the fumed silica. Investigations were conducted to give an insight into the role of GO in the LIFT process. Pattern deposition was achieved with a minimum line width of 221 μm. The scattering can be tuned from ~2.5% to ~17.5% by changing the laser fluence. The patternable transparent display based on laser transferred nanosilica (LTNS) film was also demonstrated, showing its capability to deliver information on multiple levels. This LIFT based technique promotes fast, flexible, and low-cost manufacturing of scattering-based translucent screens or patterns for transparent displays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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13 pages, 7574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Shear Strength and Microstructure Formation of Joined Ni Superalloys Using Ni Nanopastes

by Benjamin Sattler, Susann Hausner and Guntram Wagner

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(18), 3204; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12183204 - 15 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1366

Abstract

By using Ni nanoparticles, the bonding of Ni base superalloys can be achieved with shear strengths well above 200 MPa in a joining process at comparatively low temperatures between 675 °C and 975 °C. This is enabled due to the high surface-to-volume ratio of nanoparticles, which leads to distinctly lower melting and sintering temperatures than those of the corresponding bulk material. The nanoparticles in this study are employed in high-metal nanopastes, whereby different chemical compositions of the pastes and different sizes of Ni nanoparticles were investigated. The results for the joining of Ni base superalloys showed that both size and composition had a significant influence on the achievable strengths. In addition, an extensive examination was conducted to reveal the influence of the process parameters joining temperature, holding time and joining pressure on the shear strengths as well as microstructure. It was shown that the temperature exerted the most influence on the strengths and the microstructure. The joining pressure also had a significant influence. The holding time, on the other hand, did not have a major influence on the strengths and in some cases even showed an unexpected behavior, as the values decreased for some combinations with longer holding time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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13 pages, 5798 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Temperature Tribological Performance of Steel/Copper Friction Pairs Lubricated with a Modified C-WS₂-(Fe₃O₄ + TiN) Nanoadditives in Non-Copper Coated Solid Wires

by Hong Li, Jing Zhu, Zisong Chen, Zhuoxin Li and Bo Meng

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(12), 2091; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12122091 - 17 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1255

Abstract

In this study, four kinds of nanoparticles, graphite, WS₂, Fe₃O₄, and TiN, were used as lubricating additives for steel/copper friction pairs to solve the problem of welding contact tube wear with non-copper-coated solid wire at high temperature. The single and composite nanoparticles have excellent dispersion stability in absolute ethanol under the action of the compound surfactant NaSTA + OA + PVP (i.e., sodium stearate, oleic acid, and polyvinylpyrrolidone). The tribological test results showed that the maximum decrement, with reference to the average coefficient of friction and wear volumes, were measured with nanoparticle concentration in 1:1:1 ratio at 300 °C. Compared with dry friction, the average friction coefficient and wear volume are reduced by 74.3% and 84.8%, respectively, which may be attributed to the formation of a stable tribo-film mainly composed of C–O, Fe₂O₃, WO₃, TiO₂, TiN_xO_y composite on the worn surface. Therefore, it is considered that the combined lubrication effects of the ball-bearing effect, repairing of worn surfaces, and the tribo-film resulted in the lowest friction and wear. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 12817 KiB

Open AccessReview

Laser Interference Lithography—A Method for the Fabrication of Controlled Periodic Structures

by Ri Liu, Liang Cao, Dongdong Liu, Lu Wang, Sadaf Saeed and Zuobin Wang

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(12), 1818; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13121818 - 07 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3222

Abstract

A microstructure determines macro functionality. A controlled periodic structure gives the surface specific functions such as controlled structural color, wettability, anti-icing/frosting, friction reduction, and hardness enhancement. Currently, there are a variety of controllable periodic structures that can be produced. Laser interference lithography (LIL) is a technique that allows for the simple, flexible, and rapid fabrication of high-resolution periodic structures over large areas without the use of masks. Different interference conditions can produce a wide range of light fields. When an LIL system is used to expose the substrate, a variety of periodic textured structures, such as periodic nanoparticles, dot arrays, hole arrays, and stripes, can be produced. The LIL technique can be used not only on flat substrates, but also on curved or partially curved substrates, taking advantage of the large depth of focus. This paper reviews the principles of LIL and discusses how the parameters, such as spatial angle, angle of incidence, wavelength, and polarization state, affect the interference light field. Applications of LIL for functional surface fabrication, such as anti-reflection, controlled structural color, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), friction reduction, superhydrophobicity, and biocellular modulation, are also presented. Finally, we present some of the challenges and problems in LIL and its applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Scalable Fabrication Techniques for Nanostructures and Nanomaterials Facing Cutting-Edge Applications in Electronics, Energy, and Environment)

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