Switchable narrow nonlocal conducting polymer plasmonics.

Dynamically switchable surface plasmons in conducting polymers constitute an emerging route towards intelligent metasurfaces, but polymer plasmons have so far suffered from weak resonances with low quality factors (Q < 1-2). Here, we address this by nonlocal coupling of individual poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanoantennas through collective lattice resonances (CLR) in periodic arrays (with resonance wavelengths around 2.0-4.

Ultranarrow Semiconductor WS Nanoribbon Field-Effect Transistors.

Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted significant attention for their potential to develop high-performance, energy-efficient, and nanoscale electronic devices. Despite notable advancements in scaling down the gate and channel length of TMD field-effect transistors (FETs), the fabrication of sub-30 nm narrow channels and devices with atomic-scale edge control still poses challenges. Here, we demonstrate a crystallography-controlled nanostructuring technique to fabricate ultranarrow tungsten disulfide (WS) nanoribbons as small as sub-10 nm in width.

Quantum trapping and rotational self-alignment in triangular Casimir microcavities.

Casimir torque, a rotational motion driven by zero-point energy minimization, is a problem that attracts notable research interest. Recently, it has been realized using liquid crystal phases and natural anisotropic substrates. However, for natural materials, substantial torque occurs only at van der Waals distances of ~10 nm.

Eco-Friendly Iron-Humic Nanofertilizers Synthesis for the Prevention of Iron Chlorosis in Soybean () Grown in Calcareous Soil.

Iron deficiency is a frequent problem for many crops, particularly in calcareous soils and iron humates are commonly applied in the Mediterranean basin in spite of their lesser efficiency than iron synthetic chelates. Development and application of new fertilizers using nanotechnology are one of the potentially effective options of enhancing the iron humates, according to the sustainable agriculture. Particle size, pH, and kinetics constrain the iron humate efficiency.

Gold Decoration and Photoresistive Response to Nitrogen Dioxide of WS Nanotubes.

Composites of WS nanotubes (NT-WS ) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared using aqueous HAuCl solutions and subjected to surface analysis. The obtained materials were jointly characterized by X-ray photoelectron (XPS), Raman scattering (RSS), and ultraviolet photoelectron (UPS) spectroscopies. Optical extinction spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscopy regime (STEM-EELS) were also employed to study plasmon features of the nanocomposite.

Strong light-matter interaction in tungsten disulfide nanotubes.

Transition metal dichalcogenide materials have recently been shown to exhibit a variety of intriguing optical and electronic phenomena. Focusing on the optical properties of semiconducting WS2 nanotubes, we show here that these nanostructures exhibit strong light-matter interaction and form exciton-polaritons. Namely, these nanotubes act as quasi 1-D polaritonic nano-systems and sustain both excitonic features and cavity modes in the visible-near infrared range.

Facile chemical routes to mesoporous silver substrates for SERS analysis.

Mesoporous silver nanoparticles were easily synthesized through the bulk reduction of crystalline silver(I) oxide and used for the preparation of highly porous surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrates. An analogous procedure was successfully performed for the production of mesoporous silver films by chemical reduction of oxidized silver films. The sponge-like silver blocks with high surface area and the in-situ-prepared mesoporous silver films are efficient as both analyte adsorbents and Raman signal enhancement mediators.

Silver Eco-Solvent Ink for Reactive Printing of Polychromatic SERS and SPR Substrates.

A new reactive ink based on a silver citrate complex is proposed for a photochemical route to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy active substrates with controllable extinction spectra. The drop-cast test of the ink reveals homogeneous nucleation of silver and colloid particle growth originating directly from photochemical in situ reduction in droplets, while the following evaporation of the deposited ink produces small nano- and micron-size particles. The prepared nanostructures and substrates were accurately characterized by electron microscopy methods and optical extinction spectroscopy.

Key Roles of Size and Crystallinity of Nanosized Iron Hydr(oxides) Stabilized by Humic Substances in Iron Bioavailability to Plants.

Availability of Fe in soil to plants is closely related to the presence of humic substances (HS). Still, the systematic data on applicability of iron-based nanomaterials stabilized with HS as a source for plant nutrition are missing. The goal of our study was to establish a connection between properties of iron-based materials stabilized by HS and their bioavailability to plants.