Multilayered Nanostructures Integrated with Emerging Technologies

Surface and interface functionalization are crucial steps to introduce new functionalities in numerous applications, as faster dynamics occur on surfaces rather than bulk. Within this context, the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique is a versatile methodology to controllably form organized nanostructures from the spontaneous adsorption of charged molecules. It enables the assembly of multilayered LbL films on virtually any surface using non-covalent molecular interactions, allowing the nanoengineering of interfaces and creation of multifunctional systems with distinct building blocks (polymers, clays, metal nanoparticles, enzymes, organic macromolecules, etc.). Several applications require thin films on electrodes for sensing/biosensing, and here we explore LbL films deposited on interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) that were 3D-printed using the fusing deposition modeling (FDM) technique. IDEs covered with LbL films can be used to form multisensory systems employed in the analysis of complex liquids transforming raw data into specific patterns easily recognized by computational and statistical methods. We extend the FDM 3D-printing methodology to simplify the manufacturing of electrodes and microchannels, thus integrating an e-tongue system in a microfluidic device. Moreover, the continuous flow within microchannels contributes to faster and more accurate analysis, reducing the amount of sample, waste, and costs

High-temperature oxidation behaviour of nanostructure surface layered austenitic stainless steel

The present study investigates the high-temperature oxidation behaviour of nanostructure surface layered AISI 304L stainless steel. A severely deformed layer of ∼300 μm thickness, consisting of nanoscale grains (∼40 nm size) in the topmost region, is successfully developed using the surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) process. The SMATed layer is substantially stable up to 700 °C; however, the surface hardness is reduced by ∼37% at 800 °C for 25 h oxidation duration. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the considerable difference in the chemistry and elemental distribution across the oxide scale of SMATed and non-SMATed specimens. Adherent, denser, and thinner scale, dominated by nanocrystals of Cr- and Mn-rich oxides, is formed on the SMATed steel. However, the Fe-oxide dominated scale containing micro-crystals is found on the non-SMATed specimens, which shows noticeable exfoliation. A high density of grain boundaries and lattice defects in the SMATed layer display admirable reactive diffusion properties of Cr and Mn during oxidation of steel, instigating the formation of a protective oxide scale. The SMATed specimens exhibit multiple zones in the oxide scale: (i) Cr/Mn depleted outer layer, (ii) Cr-/Mn-rich inner layer, and (iii) gradually decreasing Cr/Mn region

Water enabled self-healing polymeric coating with reduced graphene oxide-reinforcement for sensors

Intrinsic self-healing materials have received significant attention due to the characteristic recovery after damage properties through reversible dynamic covalent and non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, functional recovery with reliable mechanical properties are highly keen as protective coatings, specifically for devices and sensors vulnerable to abrasion in severe environments. Here, we present a functional hierarchical nanostructure capable of multiple micro-sized healings, with enhanced mechanical hardness due to the incorporation of graphene oxide (rGO) nanoplatelets. A self-healing multilayered nanocomposite formed by poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was easily assembled by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The addition of the rGO nanoplatelets in the LbL nanostructure resulted in a 13-fold increase in hardness (0.4 ± 0.1 GPa) when compared to the (PEI/PAA) architecture (0.03 ± 0.01 GPa). In addition, the nanocomposite presents an enhanced insulating electrical behavior (∼ 4.10−8 S/cm) despite the addition of the rGO nanoplatelets. Raman and Zeta Potential analysis indicated a possible wrapping of the rGOs by PEI, justifying the observed insulating electrical characteristics. The nanocomposite presents good hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 136°, interesting to extend the lifetime and protect underlying layers from humidity, degradation, and encrustation. Therefore, we propose an attractive hydrophobic, electrically insulating, and mechanically resistant multifunctional coating for high-performance electronic interfaces from minor cuts and abrasions, dispensing maintainer intervention.BT/Biocatalysi