Laser-Material Interactions for Flexible Applications

A Photonic Atom Probe Study of Thermal Effects at the Nanosecond and Nanometer scale

The thermal effect of a subpicosecond laser pulse impinging on a nanoscale semiconductor structure is evaluated by analyzing the photoluminescence (PL) from samples characterized in situ by atom probe tomography. By examining time-resolved PL and ion time-of-flight spectra, we establish the correct time scale of transient processes─carrier recombination and carrier-phonon scattering─following a laser pulse. This approach allows for analysis of peak energies and bandwidths from temperature- and laser intensity-dependent PL spectra, enabling the estimation of an effective temperature within a few hundred picoseconds after the laser pulse. The analysis was conducted on ZnO/(Mg,Zn)O quantum well heterostructures, where the results can be readily interpreted using ZnO's specific heat capacity and its temperature dependence.

Soft Materials and Devices Enabling Sensorimotor Functions in Soft Robots

Sensorimotor functions, the seamless integration of sensing, decision-making, and actuation, are fundamental for robots to interact with their environments. Inspired by biological systems, the incorporation of soft materials and devices into robotics holds significant promise for enhancing these functions. However, current robotics systems often lack the autonomy and intelligence observed in nature due to limited sensorimotor integration, particularly in flexible sensing and actuation. As the field progresses toward soft, flexible, and stretchable materials, developing such materials and devices becomes increasingly critical for advanced robotics. Despite rapid advancements individually in soft materials and flexible devices, their combined applications to enable sensorimotor capabilities in robots are emerging. This review addresses this emerging field by providing a comprehensive overview of soft materials and devices that enable sensorimotor functions in robots. We delve into the latest development in soft sensing technologies, actuation mechanism, structural designs, and fabrication techniques. Additionally, we explore strategies for sensorimotor control, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and practical application across various domains such as healthcare, augmented and virtual reality, and exploration. By drawing parallels with biological systems, this review aims to guide future research and development in soft robots, ultimately enhancing the autonomy and adaptability of robots in unstructured environments.

Light-Material Interactions Using Laser and Flash Sources for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the progress in light-material interactions (LMIs), focusing on lasers and flash lights for energy conversion and storage applications. We discuss intricate LMI parameters such as light sources, interaction time, and fluence to elucidate their importance in material processing. In addition, this study covers various light-induced photothermal and photochemical processes ranging from melting, crystallization, and ablation to doping and synthesis, which are essential for developing energy materials and devices. Finally, we present extensive energy conversion and storage applications demonstrated by LMI technologies, including energy harvesters, sensors, capacitors, and batteries. Despite the several challenges associated with LMIs, such as complex mechanisms, and high-degrees of freedom, we believe that substantial contributions and potential for the commercialization of future energy systems can be achieved by advancing optical technologies through comprehensive academic research and multidisciplinary collaborations.

Laser-Based Selective Material Processing for Next-Generation Additive Manufacturing

The connection between laser-based material processing and additive manufacturing is quite deeply rooted. In fact, the spark that started the field of additive manufacturing is the idea that two intersecting laser beams can selectively solidify a vat of resin. Ever since, laser has been accompanying the field of additive manufacturing, with its repertoire expanded from processing only photopolymer resin to virtually any material, allowing liberating customizability. As a result, additive manufacturing is expected to take an even more prominent role in the global supply chain in years to come. Herein, an overview of laser-based selective material processing is presented from various aspects: the physics of laser-material interactions, the materials currently used in additive manufacturing processes, the system configurations that enable laser-based additive manufacturing, and various functional applications of next-generation additive manufacturing. Additionally, current challenges and prospects of laser-based additive manufacturing are discussed.

Metal Material Processing Using Femtosecond Lasers: Theories, Principles, and Applications

Metal material processing using femtosecond lasers is a useful technique, and it has been widely employed in many applications including laser microfabrication, laser surgery, and micromachining. The basic mechanisms of metal processing using femtosecond lasers are reviewed in this paper and the characteristics and theory of laser processing are considered. In addition to well-known processes, the recent progress relating to metals processing with femtosecond lasers, including metal material drilling, metal ablation thresholds, micro/nano-surface modification, printed circuit board (PCB) micromachining, and liquid metal (LM) processing using femtosecond lasers, is described in detail. Meanwhile, the application of femtosecond laser technology in different fields is also briefly discussed. This review concludes by highlighting the current challenges and presenting a forward-looking perspective on the future of the metal laser processing field.

Direct Laser Writing: From Materials Synthesis and Conversion to Electronic Device Processing

Direct Laser Writing (DLW) has been increasingly selected as a microfabrication route for efficient, cost-effective, high-resolution material synthesis and conversion. Concurrently, lasers participate in the patterning and assembly of functional geometries in several fields of application, of which electronics stand out. In this review, recent advances and strategies based on DLW for electronics microfabrication are surveyed and outlined, based on laser material growth strategies. First, the main DLW parameters influencing material synthesis and transformation mechanisms are summarized, aimed at selective, tailored writing of conductive and semiconducting materials. Additive and transformative DLW processing mechanisms are discussed, to open space to explore several categories of materials directly synthesized or transformed for electronics microfabrication. These include metallic conductors, metal oxides, transition metal chalcogenides and carbides, laser-induced graphene, and their mixtures. By accessing a wide range of material types, DLW-based electronic applications are explored, including processing components, energy harvesting and storage, sensing, and bioelectronics. The expanded capability of lasers to participate in multiple fabrication steps at different implementation levels, from material engineering to device processing, indicates their future applicability to next-generation electronics, where more accessible, green microfabrication approaches integrate lasers as comprehensive tools.

Design, tuning, and blackbox optimization of laser systems

Chirped pulse amplification (CPA) and subsequent nonlinear optical (NLO) systems constitute the backbone of myriad advancements in semiconductor manufacturing, communications, biology, defense, and beyond. Accurately and efficiently modeling CPA+NLO-based laser systems is challenging because of the complex coupled processes and diverse simulation frameworks. Our modular start-to-end model unlocks the potential for exciting new optimization and inverse design approaches reliant on data-driven machine learning methods, providing a means to create tailored CPA+NLO systems unattainable with current models. To demonstrate this new, to our knowledge, technical capability, we present a study on the LCLS-II photo-injector laser, representative of a high-power and spectro-temporally non-trivial CPA+NLO system.

Crystallization of piezoceramic films on glass via flash lamp annealing

Integration of thin-film oxide piezoelectrics on glass is imperative for the next generation of transparent electronics to attain sensing and actuating functions. However, their crystallization temperature (above 650 °C) is incompatible with most glasses. We developed a flash lamp process for the growth of piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate films. The process enables crystallization on various types of glasses in a few seconds only. The functional properties of these films are comparable to the films processed with standard rapid thermal annealing at 700 °C. A surface haptic device was fabricated with a 1 μm-thick film (piezoelectric e33,f of -5 C m-2). Its ultrasonic surface deflection reached 1.5 μm at 60 V, sufficient for its use in surface rendering applications. This flash lamp annealing process is compatible with large glass sheets and roll-to-roll processing and has the potential to significantly expand the applications of piezoelectric devices on glass.

A Flexible Wearable Sensor Based on Laser-Induced Graphene for High-Precision Fine Motion Capture for Pilots

There has been a significant shift in research focus in recent years toward laser-induced graphene (LIG), which is a high-performance material with immense potential for use in energy storage, ultrahydrophobic water applications, and electronic devices. In particular, LIG has demonstrated considerable potential in the field of high-precision human motion posture capture using flexible sensing materials. In this study, we investigated the surface morphology evolution and performance of LIG formed by varying the laser energy accumulation times. Further, to capture human motion posture, we evaluated the performance of highly accurate flexible wearable sensors based on LIG. The experimental results showed that the sensors prepared using LIG exhibited exceptional flexibility and mechanical performance when the laser energy accumulation was optimized three times. They exhibited remarkable attributes, such as high sensitivity (~41.4), a low detection limit (0.05%), a rapid time response (response time of ~150 ms; relaxation time of ~100 ms), and excellent response stability even after 2000 s at a strain of 1.0% or 8.0%. These findings unequivocally show that flexible wearable sensors based on LIG have significant potential for capturing human motion posture, wrist pulse rates, and eye blinking patterns. Moreover, the sensors can capture various physiological signals for pilots to provide real-time capturing.

Insight into the surface behavior and dynamic absorptivity of laser removal of multilayer materials

Laser-materials interaction is the fascinating nexus where laser optics, physical/ chemistry, and materials science intersect. Exploring the dynamic interaction process and mechanism of laser pulses with materials is of great significance for analyzing laser processing. Laser micro/nano processing of multilayer materials is not an invariable state, but rather a dynamic reaction with unbalanced and multi-scale, which involves multiple physical states including laser ablation, heat accumulation and conduction, plasma excitation and shielding evolution. Among them, several physical characteristics interact and couple with each other, including the surface micromorphology of the ablated material, laser absorption characteristics, substrate temperature, and plasma shielding effects. In this paper, we propose an in-situ monitoring system for laser scanning processing with coaxial spectral detection, online monitoring and identification of the characteristic spectral signals of multilayer heterogeneous materials during repeated scanning removal by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Additionally, we have developed an equivalent roughness model to quantitatively analyze the influence of surface morphology changes on laser absorptivity. The influence of substrate temperature on material electrical conductivity and laser absorptivity was calculated theoretically. This reveals the physical mechanism of dynamic variations in laser absorptivity caused by changes in plasma characteristics, surface roughness, and substrate temperature, and it provides valuable guidance for understanding the dynamic process and interaction mechanism of laser with multilayer materials.

Laser adaptive processing technology for multilayer dissimilar materials

We report a laser adaptive processing technology (LAPT) for the selective removal of Cu/Al multilayer dissimilar materials. Using the wavelength range and intensity distribution of the characteristic spectrum, the properties and content of multilayer dissimilar materials can be analyzed online based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The traditional low-speed spectral detection mode was transformed into a high-speed photoelectric detection method by using a scheme consisting of a bandpass filter with an avalanche photodetector (APD), and the in situ online detection of a 30 ns, 40 kHz high-frequency pulse signal during laser scanning was realized. Combined with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) digital control unit, online feedback and closed-loop control were achieved at the kHz level, and the adaptive intelligent control of material interfaces and laser processing parameters was achieved. This excellently demonstrated the feasibility and flexibility of LAPT for processing arbitrary multilayer dissimilar materials.

3D Graphene-Nanowire "Sandwich" Thermal Interface with Ultralow Resistance and Stiffness

Despite the recent advancements of passive and active cooling solutions for electronics, interfaces between materials have generally become crucial barriers for thermal transport because of intrinsic material dissimilarity and surface roughness at interfaces. We demonstrate a 3D graphene-nanowire "sandwich" thermal interface that enables an ultralow thermal resistance of ∼0.24 mm²·K/W that is about 1 order of magnitude smaller than those of solders and several orders of magnitude lower than those of thermal greases, gels, and epoxies, as well as a low elastic and shear moduli of ∼1 MPa like polymers and foams. The flexible 3D "sandwich" exhibits excellent long-term reliability with >1000 cycles over a broad temperature range from -55 °C to 125 °C. This nanostructured thermal interface material can greatly benefit a variety of electronic systems and devices by allowing them to operate at lower temperatures or at the same temperature but with higher performance and higher power density.

High-speed, scanned laser structuring of multi-layered eco/bioresorbable materials for advanced electronic systems

Physically transient forms of electronics enable unique classes of technologies, ranging from biomedical implants that disappear through processes of bioresorption after serving a clinical need to internet-of-things devices that harmlessly dissolve into the environment following a relevant period of use. Here, we develop a sustainable manufacturing pathway, based on ultrafast pulsed laser ablation, that can support high-volume, cost-effective manipulation of a diverse collection of organic and inorganic materials, each designed to degrade by hydrolysis or enzymatic activity, into patterned, multi-layered architectures with high resolution and accurate overlay registration. The technology can operate in patterning, thinning and/or cutting modes with (ultra)thin eco/bioresorbable materials of different types of semiconductors, dielectrics, and conductors on flexible substrates. Component-level demonstrations span passive and active devices, including diodes and field-effect transistors. Patterning these devices into interconnected layouts yields functional systems, as illustrated in examples that range from wireless implants as monitors of neural and cardiac activity, to thermal probes of microvascular flow, and multi-electrode arrays for biopotential sensing. These advances create important processing options for eco/bioresorbable materials and associated electronic systems, with immediate applicability across nearly all types of bioelectronic studies.

Laser-Patterned Hierarchical Aligned Micro-/Nanowire Network for Highly Sensitive Multidimensional Strain Sensor

Flexible multidirectional strain sensors capable of simultaneously detecting strain amplitudes and directions have attracted tremendous interest. Herein, we propose a flexible multidirectional strain sensor based on a newly designed single-layer hierarchical aligned micro-/nanowire (HAMN) network. The HAMN network is efficiently fabricated using a one-step femtosecond laser patterning technology based on a modulated line-shaped beam. The anisotropic performance is attributed to the significantly different morphological changes caused by an inhomogeneous strain redistribution among the HAMN network. The fabricated strain sensor exhibits high sensitivity (gauge factor of 65 under 2.5% strain and 462 under larger strains), low response/recovery time (140 and 322 ms), and good stability (over 1000 cycles). Moreover, this single-layer strain sensor with high selectivity (gauge factor differences of ∼73 between orthogonal strains) is capable of distinguishing multidimensional strains and exhibits decoupled responses under low strains (<1%). Therefore, the strain sensors enable the precise monitoring of subtle movements, including radial pulses and wrist bending, and the rectification of pen-holding posture. Benefitting from these remarkable performances, the HAMN-based strain sensors show potential applications, including healthcare and complex human motion monitoring.

Flexible strategy of epitaxial oxide thin films

Applying functional oxide thin films to flexible devices is of great interests within the rapid development of information technology. The challenges involve the contradiction between the high-temperature growth of high-quality oxide films and low melting point of the flexible supports. This review summarizes the developed methods to fabricate high-quality flexible oxide thin films with novel functionalities and applications. We start from the fabrication methods, e.g. direct growth on flexible buffered metal foils and layered mica, etching and transfer approach, as well as remote epitaxy technique. Then, various functionalities in flexible oxide films will be introduced, specifically, owing to the mechanical flexibility, some unique properties can be induced in flexible oxide films. Taking the advantages of the excellent physical properties, the flexible oxide films have been employed in various devices. Finally, future perspectives in this research field will be proposed to further develop this field from fabrication, functionality to device.

Microsupercapacitive Stone Module for Natural Energy Storage

Increasing accessibility of energy storage platforms through user interface is significant in realizing autonomous power supply systems because they can be expanded in multidimensional directions to enable pervasive and customized energy storage systems (ESSs) for portable and miniaturized electronics. Herein, we implemented a high-performance asymmetric microsupercapacitor (MSC) on a natural stone surface, which represents a class of omnipresent, low-cost, ecofriendly, and recyclable energy storage interface for sustainable and conveniently accessible ESSs. Highly conductive and porous Cu electrodes were robustly fabricated on a rough marble substrate via explosive reduction-sintering of cost-effective CuO nanoparticles by using instantaneous, inexpensive, and simple laser-material interaction (LMI) technology. Faradaic Fe₃O₄ and capacitive Mn₃O₄ were sequentially electroplated on the surface of the porous Cu interdigitated electrodes to demonstrate hybrid MSC with a high-potential window and specific area. Despite the irregular geometry of the stone interface, the laser-induced MSC module produced high areal energy density and power density (6.55 μWh cm^-2 and 1.2 mW cm^-2, respectively) without the use of complex integrated circuit fabrication methods, such as photolithography, vacuum deposition, or chemical etching. The fabricated MSC stone cells were successfully scaled up via serial or parallel connections to achieve the concept of a scalable energy storage wall applicable as a three-dimensional energy station inside or outside a whole-building interface. The excellent durability of the MSC wall was confirmed by harsh-impact tests, and it was attributed to the robustness of the LMI-derived Cu current collectors and electroplated MSC metal oxides. Furthermore, a natural stone substrate with high mechanical toughness could be recycled by grinding the MSC conductors and active layers, thus considerably reducing the environmental pollutants and helping to realize green electronics.

Robust metallic micropatterns fabricated on quartz glass surfaces by femtosecond laser-induced selective metallization

Quartz glass has a wide range of application and commercial value due to its high light transmittance and stable chemical and physical properties. However, due to the difference in the characteristics of the material itself, the adhesion between the metal micropattern and the glass material is limited. This is one of the main things that affect the application of glass surface metallization in the industry. In this paper, micropatterns on the surface of quartz glass are fabricated by a femtosecond laser-induced backside dry etching (fs-LIBDE) method to generate the layered composite structure and the simultaneous seed layer in a single-step. This is achieved by using fs-LIBDE technology with metal base materials (Stainless steel, Al, Cu, Zr-based amorphous alloys, and W) with different ablation thresholds, where atomically dispersed high threshold non-precious metals ions are gathered across the microgrooves. On account of the strong anchor effect caused by the layered composite structures and the solid catalytic effect that is down to the seed layer, copper micropatterns with high bonding strength and high quality, can be directly prepared in these areas through a chemical plating process. After 20-min of sonication in water, no peeling is observed under repeated 3M scotch tape tests and the surface was polished with sandpapers. The prepared copper micropatterns are 18 µm wide and have a resistivity of 1.96 µΩ·cm (1.67 µΩ·cm for pure copper). These copper micropatterns with low resistivity has been proven to be used for the glass heating device and the transparent atomizing device, which could be potential options for various microsystems.

Multi-Bandgap Monolithic Metal Nanowire Percolation Network Sensor Integration by Reversible Selective Laser-Induced Redox

Active electronics are usually composed of semiconductor and metal electrodes which are connected by multiple vacuum deposition steps and photolithography patterning. However, the presence of interface of dissimilar material between semiconductor and metal electrode makes various problems in electrical contacts and mechanical failure. The ideal electronics should not have defective interfaces of dissimilar materials. In this study, we developed a novel method to fabricate active electronic components in a monolithic seamless fashion where both metal and semiconductor can be prepared from the same monolith material without creating a semiconductor-metal interface by reversible selective laser-induced redox (rSLIR) method. Furthermore, rSLIR can control the oxidation state of transition metal (Cu) to yield semiconductors with two different bandgap states (Cu₂O and CuO with bandgaps of 2.1 and 1.2 eV, respectively), which may allow multifunctional sensors with multiple bandgaps from the same materials. This novel method enables the seamless integration of single-phase Cu, Cu₂O, and CuO, simultaneously while allowing reversible, selective conversion between oxidation states by simply shining laser light. Moreover, we fabricated a flexible monolithic metal-semiconductor-metal multispectral photodetector that can detect multiple wavelengths. The unique monolithic characteristics of rSLIR process can provide next-generation electronics fabrication method overcoming the limitation of conventional photolithography methods.

Performance characterization of transparent and conductive grids one-step-printed on curved substrates using template-guided foaming

Next-generation electronic devices require electrically conductive, mechanically flexible, and optically transparent conducting electrodes (CEs) that can endure large deformations.

Advances in laser-assisted conversion of polymeric and graphitic carbon into nanodiamond films

Nanodiamond (ND) synthesis by nanosecond laser irradiation has sparked tremendous scientific and technological interest. This review describes efforts to obtain cost-effective ND synthesis from polymers and carbon nanotubes (CNT) by the melting route. For polymers, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation triggers intricate photothermal and photochemical processes that result in photochemical degradation, subsequently generating an amorphous carbon film; this process is followed by melting and undercooling of the carbon film at rates exceeding 10⁹K s^-1. Multiple laser shots increase the absorption coefficient of PTFE, resulting in the growth of 〈110〉 oriented ND film. Multiple laser shots on CNTs result in pseudo topotactic diamond growth to form a diamond fiber. This technique is useful for fabricating 4-50 nm sized NDs. These NDs can further be employed as seed materials that are used in bulk epitaxial growth of microdiamonds using chemical vapor deposition, particularly for use with non-lattice matched substrates that formerly did not form continuous and adherent films. We also provide insights into biocompatible precursors for ND synthesis such as polybenzimidazole fiber. ND fabrication by UV irradiation of graphitic and polymeric carbon opens up a pathway for preparing selective coatings of polymer-diamond composites, doped nanodiamonds, and graphene composites for quantum computing and biomedical applications.

Study of Microwave-Induced Ag Nanowire Welding for Soft Electrode Conductivity Enhancement

Silver nanowire (AgNW)-coated thin films are widely proposed for soft electronics application due to their good conductivity, transparency and flexibility. Here, we studied the microwave welding of AgNW-based soft electrodes for conductivity enhancement. The thermal effect of the microwave to AgNWs was analyzed by dispersing the nanowires in a nonpolar solution, the temperature of which was found to be proportional with the nanowire diameters. AgNWs were then coated on a thin film and welded under microwave heating, which achieved a film conductivity enhancement of as much as 79%. A microwave overheating of AgNWs, however, fused and broke the nanowires, which increased the film resistance significantly. A soft electrode was finally demonstrated using the microwave-welded AgNW thin film, and a 1.13 µA/mM sensitivity was obtained for glucose sensing. Above all, we analyzed the microwave thermal effect on AgNWs to provide a guidance to control the nanowire welding effect, which can be used for film conductivity enhancement and applied for soft and bio-compatible electrodes.

A Flash-Induced Robust Cu Electrode on Glass Substrates and Its Application for Thin-Film μLEDs

A robust Cu conductor on a glass substrate for thin-film μLEDs using the flash-induced chemical/physical interlocking between Cu and glass is reported. During millisecond light irradiation, CuO nanoparticles (NPs) on the display substrate are transformed into a conductive Cu film by reduction and sintering. At the same time, intensive heating at the boundary of CuO NPs and glass chemically induces the formation of an ultrathin Cu₂ O interlayer within the Cu/glass interface for strong adhesion. Cu nanointerlocking occurs by transient glass softening and interface fluctuation to increase the contact area. Owing to these flash-induced interfacial interactions, the flash-activated Cu electrode exhibits an adhesion energy of 10 J m^-2 , which is five times higher than that of vacuum-deposited Cu. An AlGaInP thin-film vertical μLED (VLED) forms an electrical interconnection with the flash-induced Cu electrode via an ACF bonding process, resulting in a high optical power density of 41 mW mm^-2 . The Cu conductor enables reliable VLED operation regardless of harsh thermal stress and moisture infiltration under a high-temperature storage test, temperature humidity test, and thermal shock test. 50 × 50 VLED arrays transferred onto the flash-induced robust Cu electrode show high illumination yield and uniform distribution of forward voltage, peak wavelength, and device temperature.

Laser Cladding Induced Spherical Graphitic Phases by Super-Assembly of Graphene-Like Microstructures and the Antifriction Behavior

Laser cladding coatings with excellent wear resistance behaviors are prepared on a titanium alloy substrate with a new precursor material system comprising nanoscale B₄C and Ni60A self-fluxing alloy powder. Structural analysis reveals the existence of micron-size spherical or nearly spherical graphitic phases in the prepared coatings, which are composed of graphene-like microstructures closely associated with other reinforcement phases of high hardness such as TiC and CrB. The formation mechanism of these graphitic phases involves in situ superassembly of uncombined C atoms via repeated growth and reorientation of the graphene-like microstructures and is closely related to the laser processing parameters as well as the precursor compositions. The coexistence of these heterogeneous phases enable the obtained coatings with high wear resistance and low friction coefficient. It was found that the wear resistance of the coating has a remarkable 43.67 times enhancement than that of the titanium alloy while simultaneously showing a low friction coefficient (∼0.35). The understanding of the formation mechanism on the graphene-related novel microstructures with significantly improved mechanical properties is expected to lay the foundation for future developments and applications of graphene and its related carbon materials, such as large-scale production and further incorporation into composite materials with desired local structures.

Biomimetic and flexible piezoelectric mobile acoustic sensors with multiresonant ultrathin structures for machine learning biometrics

Flexible resonant acoustic sensors have attracted substantial attention as an essential component for intuitive human-machine interaction (HMI) in the future voice user interface (VUI). Several researches have been reported by mimicking the basilar membrane but still have dimensional drawback due to limitation of controlling a multifrequency band and broadening resonant spectrum for full-cover phonetic frequencies. Here, highly sensitive piezoelectric mobile acoustic sensor (PMAS) is demonstrated by exploiting an ultrathin membrane for biomimetic frequency band control. Simulation results prove that resonant bandwidth of a piezoelectric film can be broadened by adopting a lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) membrane on the ultrathin polymer to cover the entire voice spectrum. Machine learning-based biometric authentication is demonstrated by the integrated acoustic sensor module with an algorithm processor and customized Android app. Last, exceptional error rate reduction in speaker identification is achieved by a PMAS module with a small amount of training data, compared to a conventional microelectromechanical system microphone.

Fabrication of Silver Mesh/Grid and Its Applications in Electronics

With the development of flexible electronics, researchers have endeavored to improve the characteristics of the commonly used indium tin oxide such as brittleness, poor mechanical or chemical stability, and scarcity. Currently, many alternative materials have been considered such as conductive polymers, graphene, carbon nanotubes, metallic nanoparticles (NPs), nanowires (NWs), or nanofibers. Among them, silver (Ag) mesh/grid NPs or NWs have been considered as an excellent substitute due to the good transmittance, excellent electrical conductivity, outstanding mechanical robustness, and cost competitiveness. So far, much effort has been devoted to the fabrication of Ag mesh/grid, and many methods such as printing technology, self-assembly, electrospun, hot-pressing, and atomic layer deposition have been reported. Here printing technologies include jet printing, gravure printing, screen printing, nanoimprint lithography, microcontact printing, and flexographic printing. The solution-based self-assembly usually combines with coating, template, or mask assistance. This review summarizes the characteristics of these fabrication methods for the Ag mesh/grid with its related applications in electronics. Then the prospect and challenges of the fabrication methods are discussed, and the new preparation approaches and applications of the Ag mesh/grid are highlighted, which will be of significance for the applications in electronics such as transparent conducting electrodes, organic light-emitting diode, energy harvester, strain sensor, cells, etc.

Laser Synthesis and Microfabrication of Micro/Nanostructured Materials Toward Energy Conversion and Storage

Nanomaterials are known to exhibit a number of interesting physical and chemical properties for various applications, including energy conversion and storage, nanoscale electronics, sensors and actuators, photonics devices and even for biomedical purposes. In the past decade, laser as a synthetic technique and laser as a microfabrication technique facilitated nanomaterial preparation and nanostructure construction, including the laser processing-induced carbon and non-carbon nanomaterials, hierarchical structure construction, patterning, heteroatom doping, sputtering etching, and so on. The laser-induced nanomaterials and nanostructures have extended broad applications in electronic devices, such as light-thermal conversion, batteries, supercapacitors, sensor devices, actuators and electrocatalytic electrodes. Here, the recent developments in the laser synthesis of carbon-based and non-carbon-based nanomaterials are comprehensively summarized. An extensive overview on laser-enabled electronic devices for various applications is depicted. With the rapid progress made in the research on nanomaterial preparation through laser synthesis and laser microfabrication technologies, laser synthesis and microfabrication toward energy conversion and storage will undergo fast development.

High Yield Transfer of Clean Large-Area Epitaxial Oxide Thin Films

In this work, we have developed a new method for manipulating and transferring up to 5 mm × 10 mm epitaxial oxide thin films. The method involves fixing a PET frame onto a PMMA attachment film, enabling transfer of epitaxial films lifted-off by wet chemical etching of a Sr₃Al₂O₆ sacrificial layer. The crystallinity, surface morphology, continuity, and purity of the films are all preserved in the transfer process. We demonstrate the applicability of our method for three different film compositions and structures of thickness ~ 100 nm. Furthermore, we show that by using epitaxial nanocomposite films, lift-off yield is improved by ~ 50% compared to plain epitaxial films and we ascribe this effect to the higher fracture toughness of the composites. This work shows important steps towards large-scale perovskite thin-film-based electronic device applications.

Top-Down Direct Preparation of Orange-Yellow Dye Similar to Psittacofulvins from Commercial Polymer by Laser Writing

Laser manufacturing is a promising method for the design and preparation of high value-added materials. When the laser acts on the polymer precursors, some wonderful phenomena will always occur and accompanied by the generation of new substances. Herein, we report a top-down approach for the direct preparation of orange-yellow dye that is similar to psittacofulvins from commercial polymer resins by laser writing. Conjugated double bonds and micro-rough structures are formed simultaneously on laser-irradiated polymer substrate surfaces. The typical polyconjugated structures of psittacofulvin dyes were confirmed by micro-Raman and Raman imaging results. Temperature-dependent Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy further demonstrated the formation mechanism of laser-induced psittacofulvins dyes based on the chemical composition. Further, optical microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were carried out to characterize the physical morphologies of laser-irradiated polymer substrates. A unique advantage of preparing psittacofulvins dye using laser writing is its simple steps, and the dye can be converted directly from the appropriate precursor substrate. Interestingly, the laser-irradiated polymer substrate surface undergoes color change. This laser-induced color patterning is attractive due to the characteristics of high precision, flexibility, and maskless; any patterns can be easily designed and produced on the polymer at desired positions.

Laser-Induced Interfacial Spallation for Controllable and Versatile Delamination of Flexible Electronics

The control of interface status is greatly critical to release large-area, ultrathin flexible electronics from the donor wafer to achieve mechanical flexibility. This paper discovers a laser-induced interfacial spallation process for controllable and versatile delamination of polyimide (PI) films from transparent substrates and makes a comprehensive mechanism study of the controllability of interfacial delamination after laser irradiations. Microscopic observations show that backside irradiations will result in the formation of nanocavities around the PI-glass interface, enabling a significant decrease in interface adhesion. Theoretical calculations indicate that gas products generated from thermal decomposition of PI will cause hydrodynamic spallation of molten PI around the interface. The controllable spallation behavior benefits the formation/elimination of fibrous microconnections between the PI film and glass substrate. A substantial regulation of interfacial micromorphologies can achieve precise control of interface adhesion, mass production of functional nanostructures, and nondestructive peeling of ultrathin flexible devices. The results could be useful for the fabrication of flexible electronics and biomimetic surfaces.

Prediction of Cancer Stem Cell Fate by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Functionalized Nanoprobes

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the fundamental building blocks of cancer dissemination, so it is desirable to develop a technique to predict the behavior of CSCs during tumor initiation and relapse. It will provide a powerful tool for pathological prognosis. Currently, there exists no method of such prediction. Here, we introduce nickel-based functionalized nanoprobe facilitated surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for prediction of cancer dissemination by undertaking CSC-based surveillance. SERS profiling of CSCs of various cell lines (breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lung cancer) was compared with their cancer counterparts for the prediction of prognosis, with statistical significance of single-cell sensitivity. The single-cell sensitivity is critical as even a few CSCs are capable of initiating a tumor. Intermediate states of CSC transmutation to cancer cells and its reverse were monitored, and nanoprobe-assisted SERS profiling was undertaken. We experimentally demonstrated that the quasi-intermediate CSC states have dissimilar profiles during the transformation from cancer to CSC and vice versa enabling statistical differentiation without ambiguity. It was also observed that molecular signatures of these opposite pathways are cancer-type specific. This observation provided additional clarity to the current understanding of relatively unfamiliar quasi-intermediate states; making it possible to predict CSC dissemination for variety of cancers with ∼99% accuracy. Nano probe-based prediction of CSC fate is a powerful prediction tool for ultrasensitive prognosis of malignancy in a complex environment. Such CSC-based cancer prognosis has never been proposed before. This prediction technique has potential to provide insights for cancer diagnosis and prognosis as well as for obtaining information instrumental in designing of meaningful CSC-based cancer therapeutics.

Xenon Flash Lamp Lift-Off Technology without Laser for Flexible Electronics

This study experimentally investigated process mechanisms and characteristics of newly developed xenon flash lamp lift-off (XF-LO) technology, a novel thin film lift-off method using a light to heat conversion layer (LTHC) and a xenon flash lamp (XFL). XF-LO technology was used to lift-off polyimide (PI) films of 8.68–19.6 μm thickness. When XFL energy irradiated to the LTHC was 2.61 J/cm², the PI film was completely released from the carrier substrate. However, as the energy intensity of the XFL increased, it became increasingly difficult to completely release the PI film from the carrier substrate. Using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmittance analysis, the process mechanism of XF-LO technology was investigated. Thermal durability of the PI film was found to deteriorate with increasing XFL energy intensity, resulting in structural deformation and increased roughness of the PI film surface. The optimum energy intensity of 2.61 J/cm² or less was found to be effective for performing XF-LO technology. This study provides an attractive method for manufacturing flexible electronic boards outside the framework of existing laser lift-off (LLO) technology.

TFT Channel Materials for Display Applications: From Amorphous Silicon to Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

As the need for super-high-resolution displays with various form factors has increased, it has become necessary to produce high-performance thin-film transistors (TFTs) that enable faster switching and higher current driving of each pixel in the display. Over the past few decades, hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) has been widely utilized as a TFT channel material. More recently, to meet the requirement of new types of displays such as organic light-emitting diode displays, and also to overcome the performance and reliability issues of a-Si:H, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon and amorphous oxide semiconductors have partly replaced a-Si:H channel materials. Basic material properties and device structures of TFTs in commercial displays are explored, and then the potential of atomically thin layered transition metal dichalcogenides as next-generation channel materials is discussed.

Flexible PZT-Integrated, Bilateral Sensors via Transfer-Free Laser Lift-Off for Multimodal Measurements

Fabrication of functional devices that require a high-temperature annealing process on a thin, temperature-sensitive substrate is a long-standing, crucial issue in flexible electronics. Herein, we propose a transfer-free laser lift-off method to directly fabricate lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric sensors that commonly undergo a high-temperature annealing (∼650 °C) on ubiquitous flexible substrates, including polyimide (∼300 °C), polyethylene terephthalate (∼120 °C), and polydimethylsiloxane (∼150 °C). The method includes the steps of fabricating sensors, encapsulating a flexible substrate, and peeling off the device by melting the sacrificial PZT layer at the interface with a sapphire glass. The appropriate fluence of laser energy has been figured out to avoid inadequate stripping or damage of the device. In addition, a process window for reliable stripping of the device has been established among the laser fluence and the thickness of the sacrificial layer and the supporting substrate. Furthermore, the capability of the newly proposed technique has been verified and expanded by successfully integrating several sensors that need skillful low-temperature heating treatment on top of a flexible supporting substrate accordingly before stripping. Finally, a PZT-integrated, bilateral multimodal sensor on a PI substrate has been fabricated, and the device demonstrates excellent performance and stability toward perceiving distributed dynamic pressure and temperature stimuli, revealing its high potential for the fabrication of high-performance devices for multimodal sensing applications.

Laser-Assisted Interface Engineering for Functional Interfacial Layer of Al/ZnO/Al Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM)

In oxide-based RRAMs using reactive electrodes such as Al, the properties of spontaneously formed interfacial layers are critical factors in determining the resistive switching (RS) performance and reliability. This interfacial layer can provide the beneficial function of oxygen reservoir and series resistance, but is very labile and prone to deterioration, causing fatal reliability problems. Moreover, there are technical difficulties in manipulating and improving the functional interfacial layer due to the various interaction dynamics near the interface and the unstable thermodynamic properties of Al. In this work, laser-assisted interface engineering, which allows exquisite manipulation of the labile interfacial layer, is proposed to improve the reliability and performance of Al/ZnO/Al RRAMs. In addition to photothermal and photochemical effects, the proposed laser process enables fine control over out-diffusions of Al atoms in the vicinity of the ZnO/Al interface, forming a robust interfacial layer with a uniform morphology and abundant oxygen Frenkel pairs. This laser-engineered interfacial layer increases the R_HRS/R_LRS ratio by over 100-fold and reduces R_HRS variation with improved oxygen reservoir ability. It also appears to reduce leakage current and power consumption by acting as a stable series resistance. The correlation between structural and stoichiometric properties of the functional interfacial layer and the performance and reliability of the RRAM is explicated. The results suggest that laser-assisted interface engineering can be one of the most promising methods to implement highly reliable, high-performance Al/ZnO/Al RRAMs.

Low-Thermal-Budget Doping of 2D Materials in Ambient Air Exemplified by Synthesis of Boron-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide (GO) doping and reduction allow for physicochemical property modification to suit practical application needs. Herein, the challenge of simultaneous low-thermal-budget heteroatom doping of GO and its reduction in ambient air is addressed through the synthesis of B-doped reduced GO (B@rGO) by flash irradiation of boric acid loaded onto a GO support with intense pulsed light (IPL). The effects of light power and number of shots on the in-depth sequential doping and reduction mechanisms are investigated by ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and direct millisecond-scale temperature measurements (temperature >1600 °C, < 10-millisecond duration, ramping rate of 5.3 × 105 °C s-1). Single-flash IPL allows the large-scale synthesis of substantially doped B@rGO (≈3.60 at% B) to be realized with a thermal budget 106-fold lower than that of conventional thermal methods, and the prepared material with abundant B active sites is employed for highly sensitive and selective room-temperature NO2 sensing. Thus, this work showcases the great potential of optical annealing for millisecond-scale ultrafast reduction and heteroatom doping of GO in ambient air, which allows the tuning of multiple physicochemical GO properties.

Laser Fabrication of Graphene-Based Flexible Electronics

Recent years have witnessed the rise of graphene and its applications in various electronic devices. Specifically, featuring excellent flexibility, transparency, conductivity, and mechanical robustness, graphene has emerged as a versatile material for flexible electronics. In the past decade, facilitated by various laser processing technologies, including the laser-treatment-induced photoreduction of graphene oxides, flexible patterning, hierarchical structuring, heteroatom doping, controllable thinning, etching, and shock of graphene, along with laser-induced graphene on polyimide, graphene has found broad applications in a wide range of electronic devices, such as power generators, supercapacitors, optoelectronic devices, sensors, and actuators. Here, the recent advancements in the laser fabrication of graphene-based flexible electronic devices are comprehensively summarized. The various laser fabrication technologies that have been employed for the preparation, processing, and modification of graphene and its derivatives are reviewed. A thorough overview of typical laser-enabled flexible electronic devices that are based on various graphene sources is presented. With the rapid progress that has been made in the research on graphene preparation methodologies and laser micronanofabrication technologies, graphene-based electronics may soon undergo fast development.

The laser writing of highly conductive and anti-oxidative copper structures in liquid

Flexible conductive structures are essential for the fabrication of commercial integrated electronic devices. Developing efficient processes for manufacturing these structures with high conductivity and stability is significant. Based on a modifiable cost-effective Cu-based ionic liquid precursor, here we present an in situ laser patterning technique to manufacture flexible electrodes. The fabricated Cu structure has excellent conductivity, approximately comparable to bulk Cu, while its oxidation resistance could be further enhanced through introducing an additional carbon source to form a Cu@C microstructure. The chemical and electrical stabilities are evaluated. This method provides a possible bottom-up route for manufacturing microelectronic devices in one step, as we demonstrated through a flexible heater.

Enhanced UC and IR luminescence properties regulated by tight network structure in multicomponent glasses

Lanthanide-doped optical functional glasses have received substantial attention in recent years owing to their excellent upconversion (UC) and infrared (IR) performance pumping when used in a semiconductor laser. In this study, the luminescence properties of Ho³⁺ ions were improved through the design of components used to modulate the microenvironment of the glass. To the best of our knowledge, this is a novel approach to enhancing the UC and IR emissions, and results in up to more than 130% improvement by regulating a tight network glass structure. Herein, the specific preparation design and investigations into the thermal, structural and luminescence properties are described, the results of which indicate that such ZnO-modified germanosilicate (SG-Zn) multicomponent glasses are promising candidates in the fields of biological security marking, optical communication, and 3D volumetric displays.

Steep-Slope Threshold Switch Enabled by Pulsed-Laser-Induced Phase Transformation

Super-steep two-terminal electronic devices using NbO₂, which abruptly switch from insulator to metal at a threshold voltage (V_th), offer diverse strategies for energy-efficient and high-density device architecture to overcome fundamental limitation in current electronics. However, the tight control of stoichiometry and high-temperature processing limit practical implementation of NbO₂ as a component of device integration. Here, we demonstrate a facile room-temperature process that uses solid-solid phase transformation induced by pulsed laser to fabricate NbO₂-based threshold switches. Interestingly, pulsed laser annealing under a reducing environment facilitates a two-step nucleation pathway (a-Nb₂O₅ → o-Nb₂O_5-δ → t-NbO₂) of the threshold-enabled NbO₂ phase mediated by oxygen vacancies in o-Nb₂O_5-δ. The laser-annealed devices with embedded NbO₂ crystallites exhibit excellent threshold device performance with low off-current and high on/off current ratio. Our strategy that exploits the interactions of pulsed lasers with multivalent metal oxides can guide the development of a rational route to achieve NbO₂-based threshold switches that are compatible with current semiconductor fabrication technology.

Transparent wearable three-dimensional touch by self-generated multiscale structure

Pressure-sensitive touch panels can measure pressure and location (3D) information simultaneously and provide an intuitive and natural method for expressing one’s intention with a higher level of controllability and interactivity. However, they have been generally realized by a simple combination of pressure and location sensor or a stylus-based interface, which limit their implementation in a wide spectrum of applications. Here, we report a first demonstration (to our knowledge) of a transparent and flexible 3D touch which can sense the 3D information in a single device with the assistance of functionally designed self-generated multiscale structures. The single 3D touch system is demonstrated to draw a complex three-dimensional structure by utilizing the pressure as a third coordinate. Furthermore, rigorous theoretical analysis is carried out to achieve the target pressure performances with successful 3D data acquisition in wireless and wearable conditions, which in turn, paves the way for future wearable devices.

Touch technology holds potential for the development of smartphones and touchscreens, yet the conventional devices are usually built on separate pressure and location sensing units. Kim et al. show a flexible and transparent touch sensor capable of mapping the position and pressure at the same time.

Laser-Induced Selective Metallization on Polymer Substrates Using Organocopper for Portable Electronics

Our work proposed a facile strategy for selective fabrication of the precise metalized patterns onto polymer substrates through the laser direct structuring (LDS) technology using organocopper compounds. Copper oxalate (CuC₂O₄) and copper acetylacetonate [Cu(acac)₂] which can be used as laser sensitizers were first introduced into an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) matrix for preparing LDS materials. After the activation with 1064 nm pulsed near-infrared laser, the Cu⁰ (metal copper) was generated from CuC₂O₄ and Cu(acac)₂ and then served as catalyst species for the electroless copper plating (ECP). A series of characterizations were conducted to investigate the morphology and analyze the surface chemistry of ABS/CuC₂O₄ and ABS/Cu(acac)₂ composites. Specially, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that 58.3% Cu²⁺ in ABS/CuC₂O₄ was reduced to Cu⁰, while this value was 63.9% for ABS/Cu(acac)₂. After 30 min ECP, the conductivities of copper circuit on ABS/CuC₂O₄ and ABS/Cu(acac)₂ composites were 1.22 × 10⁷ and 1.58 × 10⁷ Ω^-1·m^-1, respectively. Moreover, the decorated patterns and near-field communication circuit were demonstrated by this LDS technology. We believe that this study paves the way for developing organocopper-based LDS materials, which have the potential for industrial applications.

Dual-Structured Flexible Piezoelectric Film Energy Harvesters for Effectively Integrated Performance

Improvement of energy harvesting performance from flexible thin film-based energy harvesters is essential to accomplish future self-powered electronics and sensor systems. In particular, the integration of harvesting signals should be established as a single device configuration without complicated device connections or expensive methodologies. In this research, we study the dual-film structures of the flexible PZT film energy harvester experimentally and theoretically to propose an effective principle for integrating energy harvesting signals. Laser lift-off (LLO) processes are used for fabrication because this is known as the most efficient technology for flexible high-performance energy harvesters. We develop two different device structures using the multistep LLO: a stacked structure and a double-faced (bimorph) structure. Although both structures are well demonstrated without serious material degradation, the stacked structure is not efficient for energy harvesting due to the ineffectively applied strain to the piezoelectric film in bending. This phenomenon stems from differences in position of mechanical neutral planes, which is investigated by finite element analysis and calculation. Finally, effectively integrated performance is achieved by a bimorph dual-film-structured flexible energy harvester. Our study will foster the development of various structures in flexible energy harvesters towards self-powered sensor applications with high efficiency.

Multifunctional Screen-Printed TiO2 Nanoparticles Tuned by Laser Irradiation for a Flexible and Scalable UV Detector and Room-Temperature Ethanol Sensor

Recently, multifunctional devices printed on flexible substrates, with multisensing capability, have found new demand in practical fields of application, such as wearable electronics, soft robotics, interactive interfaces, and electronic skin design, revealing the vital importance of precise control of the fundamental properties of metal oxide nanomaterials. In this paper, a novel low-cost and scalable processing strategy is proposed to fabricate all-printed multisensing devices with UV- and gas-sensing capabilities. This undertaken approach is based on the hierarchical combination of the screen-printing process and laser irradiation post-treatment. The screen-printing is used for the patterning of silver interdigitated electrodes and the active layer based on anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles, whereas the laser processing is utilized to fine-tune the UV and ethanol-sensing properties of the active layer. Different characterization techniques demonstrate that the laser fluence can be adjusted to optimize the morphology of the TiO₂ film by increasing the contribution from volume porosity, to improve its electrical properties and enhance its UV photoresponse and ethanol-sensing characteristics at room temperature. Furthermore, results of the UV and ethanol-sensing investigation show that the optimized UV and ethanol sensors have good repeatability, relatively fast response/recovery times, and excellent mechanical flexibility.

Wafer-Scale Fabrication of Ultrathin Flexible Electronic Systems via Capillary-Assisted Electrochemical Delamination

Electronic systems on ultrathin polymer films are generally processed with rigid supporting substrates during fabrication, followed by delamination and transfer to the targeted working areas. The challenge associated with an efficient and innocuous delamination operation is one of the major hurdles toward high-performance ultrathin flexible electronics at large scale. Herein, a facile, rapid, damage-free approach is reported for detachment of wafer-scale ultrathin electronic foils from Si wafers by capillary-assisted electrochemical delamination (CAED). Anodic etching and capillary action drive an electrolyte solution to penetrate and split the polymer/Si interface, leading to complete peel-off of the electronic foil with a 100% success rate. The delamination speed can be controlled by the applied voltage and salt concentration, reaching a maximum value of 1.66 mm s^-1 at 20 V using 2 m NaCl solution. Such a process incurs neither mechanical damage nor chemical contamination; therefore, the delaminated electronic systems remain intact, as demonstrated by high-performance carbon nanotube (CNT)-based thin-film transistors and integrated circuits constructed on a 5.5 cm × 5.0 cm parylene-based film with 4 µm thickness. Furthermore, the CAED strategy can be applied for prevalent polymer films and confers great flexibility and capability for designing and manufacturing diverse ultrathin electronic systems.

Flash-Induced Stretchable Cu Conductor via Multiscale-Interfacial Couplings

Herein, a novel stretchable Cu conductor with excellent conductivity and stretchability is reported via the flash-induced multiscale tuning of Cu and an elastomer interface. Microscale randomly wrinkled Cu (amplitude of ≈5 µm and wavelength of ≈45 µm) is formed on a polymer substrate through a single pulse of a millisecond flash light, enabling the elongation of Cu to exceed 20% regardless of the stretching direction. The nanoscale interlocked interface between the Cu nanoparticles (NPs) and the elastomer increases the adhesion force of Cu, which contributes to a significant improvement of the Cu stability and stretchability under harsh yielding stress. Simultaneously, the flash-induced photoreduction of CuO NPs and subsequent Cu NP welding lead to outstanding conductivity (≈37 kS cm-1) of the buckled elastic electrode. The 3D structure of randomly wrinkled Cu is modeled by finite element analysis simulations to show that the flash-activated stretchable Cu conductors can endure strain over 20% in all directions. Finally, the wrinkled Cu is utilized for wireless near-field communication on the skin of human wrist.

Non plasmonic semiconductor quantum SERS probe as a pathway for in vitro cancer detection

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based cancer diagnostics is an important analytical tool in early detection of cancer. Current work in SERS focuses on plasmonic nanomaterials that suffer from coagulation, selectivity, and adverse biocompatibility when used in vitro, limiting this research to stand-alone biomolecule sensing. Here we introduce a label-free, biocompatible, ZnO-based, 3D semiconductor quantum probe as a pathway for in vitro diagnosis of cancer. By reducing size of the probes to quantum scale, we observed a unique phenomenon of exponential increase in the SERS enhancement up to ~106 at nanomolar concentration. The quantum probes are decorated on a nano-dendrite platform functionalized for cell adhesion, proliferation, and label-free application. The quantum probes demonstrate discrimination of cancerous and non-cancerous cells along with biomolecular sensing of DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids in vitro. The limit of detection is up to a single-cell-level detection.

Determinative Surface-Wrinkling Microstructures on Polypyrrole Films by Laser Writing

We report a simple and efficient laser-writing strategy to fabricate hierarchical nested wrinkling microstructures on conductive polypyrrole (PPy) films, which enables us to develop advanced functional surfaces with diverse applications. The present strategy adopts the photothermal effect of PPy films to mimick the formation of hierarchical nested wrinkles observed in nature and design controlled microscale wrinkling patterns. Here, the PPy film is grown on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrate via oxidation polymerization of pyrrole in an acidic solution, accompanied by in situ self-wrinkling with wavelengths of two different scales (i.e., λ₁ and λ₂). Subsequent laser exposure of the PPy/PDMS bilayer induces a new surface wrinkling with a larger wavelength (i.e., λ₃). Owing to the retention of the initial λ₁ wrinkles, we obtain hierarchical nested wrinkles with the smaller λ₁ wrinkles nested in the larger λ₃ ones. Importantly, we realize the large-scale path-determinative fabrication of complex oriented wrinkling microstructures by controlling the relative motion between the bilayer and the laser. Combined with the induced changes in surface color, surface-wrinkling microstructures, and conductivity in the PPy films, the laser-writing strategy can find broad applications, for example, in modulation of surface wetting properties and fabrication of microcircuits, as demonstrated in this work.