Towards a Better Prediction of Cell Settling on Nanostructure Arrays—Simple Means to Complicated Ends

Vertical arrays of nanostructures (NSs) are emerging as promising platforms for probing and manipulating live mammalian cells. The broad range of applications requires different types of interfaces, but cell settling on NS arrays is not yet fully controlled and understood. Cells are both seen to deform completely into NS arrays and to stay suspended like tiny fakirs, which have hitherto been explained with differences in NS spacing or density. Here, a better understanding of this phenomenon is provided by using a model that takes into account the extreme membrane deformation needed for a cell to settle into a NS array. It is shown that, in addition to the NS density, cell settling depends strongly on the dimensions of the single NS, and that the settling can be predicted for a given NS array geometry. The predictive power of the model is confirmed by experiments and good agreement with cases from the literature. Furthermore, the influence of cell‐related parameters is evaluated theoretically and a generic method of tuning cell settling through surface coating is demonstrated experimentally. These findings allow a more rational design of NS arrays for the numerous exciting biological applications where the mode of cell settling is crucial.     

Hydrothermal Reaction Mechanism and Pathway for the Formation of K2Ti6O13 Nanowires

Calculations and detailed first principle and thermodynamic analyses have been performed to understand the formation mechanism of K₂Ti₆O₁₃ nanowires (NWs) by a hydrothermal reaction between bulk Na₂Ti₃O₇ crystals and a KOH solution. It is found that direct ion exchange between K⁺ and Na⁺ plus H⁺ interactions with [TiO₆] octahedra in Na₂Ti₃O₇ promote the formation of an intermediate H₂K₂Ti₆O₁₄ phase. The large lattice mismatch between this intermediate phase and the bulk Na₂Ti₃O₇ structure, and the large energy reduction associated with the formation of this intermediate phase, drive the splitting of the bulk crystal into H₂K₂Ti₆O₁₄ NWs. However, these NWs are not stable because of large [TiO₆] octahedra distortion and are subject to a dehydration process, which results in uniform K₂Ti₆O₁₃ NWs with narrowly distributed diameters of around 10 nm.     

A brief semi-quantitative discussion on electrical conductance through resonant states in metallic electrochemical nanowires

Some aspects of electrical conduction through resonant states in metallic electrochemical nanowires are briefly discussed in a semi-quantitative way by means of concepts associated with electron gas, conductance quantization, and Fermi energy level. Aspects related to some experimental data are also discussed.     

The aligned Si nanowires growth using MW plasma enhanced CVD

New and simple modification of vapor-liquid-solid process for Si nanowires growth based on microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition that uses solid-state Si target as a source of Si atoms was developed. The method was temperature and pressure controlled evaporation of solid phase of Si source in hydrogen microwave plasma. Aligned growth of Si nanowires was performed in local electric field by applying of constant negative bias to substrate holder. Deposited Si nanowires were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Correlation between photoluminescence spectra and Si nanowires properties were studied.     

Nanowire‐Based Electrochemical Biosensors

We review recent advances in biosensors based on one‐dimensional (1‐D) nanostructure field‐effect transistors (FET). Specifically, we address the fabrication, functionalization, assembly/alignment and sensing applications of FET based on carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires and conducting polymer nanowires. The advantages and disadvantages of various fabrication, functionalization, and assembling procedures of these nanosensors are reviewed and discussed. We evaluate how they have been used for detection of various biological molecules and how such devices have enabled the achievement of high sensitivity and selectivity with low detection limits. Finally, we conclude by highlighting some of the challenges researchers face in the 1‐D nanostructures research arena and also predict the direction toward which future research in this area might be directed.     

A Simple Hydrothermal Route to Large‐Scale Synthesis of Uniform Silver Nanowires

This paper describes the preparation of uniform silver nanowires by reducing freshly prepared silver chloride with glucose at 180 °C for 18 hours in the absence of any surfactants or polymers. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated that the silver nanowires are about 100 nm in diameter and up to 500 μm in length. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that the silver nanowires grow perpendicularly to the Ag(200) plane. The silver nanowires are believed to grow through a solid–solution–solid process. Some influential factors on the growth of silver nanowires are also discussed.     

La0.8Ca0.2MnO3纳米线的制备及表征

利用Sol-gel法结合氧化铝模板技术制备了La0.8Ca0.2MnO3纳米线, 并研究了两种热处理方法对 La0.8Ca0.2MnO3纳米线结构和形貌的影响. 快速升温到800 ℃得到的La0.8Ca0.2MnO3纳米线较粗, 其直径大于氧化铝模板的孔径, 而经过缓慢升温到400 ℃预处理再升温到800 ℃得到的La0.8Ca0.2MnO3纳米线, 其直径和氧化铝模板的孔径相当, 都约为35 nm. X射线衍射和透射电镜分析结果表明, 两种方法得到的 La0.8Ca0.2MnO3纳米线都是具有钙钛矿结构的属于单斜晶系的多晶材料.     

A novel chemical route to SiO2 nanowires

A white substance was got by directly heating TiSi powder on Ti foil, under Ar+O ₂ atmosphere. ED, EDX, SEM and HRTEM studies reveal that the white substance consists of amorphous SiO ₂ nanowires of smooth surface and uniform diameter (40-90 nm). X-ray-induced luminescent emission experiment shows that two broad peaks are at 430 and 570 nm. A one-dimensional growth mechanism, on the basis of the one-dimensional thermal flow during nanowire formation, is discussed.     

ZnO纳米线的电化学制备研究

High-quality ZnO nanowires have been synthesized at relatively low temperature via one-step electrochemical anodization technique. In this method, Zn sheet acted as the anode and Pb sheet served as the counter electrode, and the complex solution of HF-C₂H₅OH-H₂O was used as electrolyte. ZnO nanowires were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results show that the nanowires were wurtzite crystalline ZnO, and the ZnO nanowires with the diameters of 70 nm and 30～40 nm were obtained by adjusting preparation conditions, respectively.