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76 items found (0 items not approved), displaying 1 to 10.[First/Prev] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 [Next/Last]

Instruments / Technical Area	Publication Details	Published
I22-Small angle scattering & Diffraction	Assembling lipid membrane scaffolds on microgel-based artificial cells through vesicle fusion onto the hydrogel network Matthew Allen , James W. Hindley , Maya I. Müller , Kexin Cai , Marina K. Kuimova , Robert V. Law , Simon D. Connell , Seraphine V. Wegner , Oscar Ces , Yuval Elani Acs Nano 1445 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c12532 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [33542] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Artificial cells assembled from materials such as hydrogels have emerged as platforms to replicate and understand biological functionalities, processes, and behaviors. However, hydrogels lack a lipid membrane, a vital property of cellular systems. Here we develop a process for the assembly of a fluid and stable lipid membrane which coats the hydrogel mesh network within the particle, through electostatically-mediated fusion of nanoscale lipid vesicles. This confers cell-mimetic and biotechnologically relevant properties upon microscale, cell sized, hydrogel artificial cells generated through microfluidics. We exploit the properties of the created membrane to augment existing hydrogel properties through permeability alteration and protection of the hydrogel from small molecule degraders. Furthermore, we show that the lipid membrane is compatible with organelle substructures within the hydrogels, which enables the exploitation of an enhanced material design space to build hydrogel artificial cells that increasingly mimic the organization of cells. This platform paves the way for producing next generation artificial cells and functional microdevices from interfaced hydrogel-lipid materials. Our technologies may underpin new opportunities for integrating membranes into hydrogel-based systems, inlcuding for drug delivery and tissue engineering.	Jan 2026
E02-JEM ARM 300CF	Atomic imaging of 2D transition metal diiodides Wendong Wang , Gareth R. Tainton , Nicholas J. Clark , James G. Mchugh , Xue Li , Sam Sullivan-Allsop , David G. Hopkinson , Oldrich Cicvárek , Francisco Selles , Rui Zhang , Joshua D. Swindell , Alex Summerfield , David J. Lewis , Vladimir I. Fal'Ko , Zdenek Sofer , Sarah Haigh , Roman Gorbachev Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c19196 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [39088] Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Transition metal diiodides such as FeI2, NiI2, and CoI2 are an emerging class of 2D magnets exhibiting rich and diverse magnetic behavior, but their study at the monolayer limit has been severely hindered by fabrication challenges due to their air-sensitivity. Here, we introduce a polymer-free method for clean, rapid, and high-yield assembly of hermetically encapsulated suspended samples of air-sensitive monolayers. Applied to diiodides, it enables atomic resolution characterization of thin samples down to the monolayer limit using transmission electron microscopy. Our imaging, combined with complementary first-principles calculations, reveals an unusually small energy barrier between alternate stable stacking polytypes in few-layer films, enabling extrinsic control of the stacking phase. We also observe stable isolated iodine vacancies that do not aggregate to form extended structures and identify and verify the stability of the various edge configurations of thin samples. These results establish the structural characteristics of these materials in the thin limit and more broadly demonstrate the utility of our transfer platform for creating atomically clean suspended van der Waals heterostructures.	Jan 2026
B18-Core EXAFS I18-Microfocus Spectroscopy	Biotic transformation of abiotically stable nanoscale UiO-66 metal-organic framework by Daphnia magna results in chronic reproductive toxicity Swaroop Chakraborty , Pankti Dhumal , Iuliia Mikulska , Sang Pham , Laura-Jayne Ellis , Dhruv Menon , Superb K. Misra , Iseult Lynch Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c16532 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [33674, 35117, 35776, 40942] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are entering water technologies on the premise that abiotic stability predicts ecological safety. We overturn this assumption by showing that UiO-66 – often regarded as chemically and structurally robust – remains intact after 7-day aging in natural borehole water yet undergoes rapid in vivo transformation in Daphnia magna. Synchrotron Microfocus X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) revealed collapse of the ordered Zr–carboxylate coordination into disordered Zr–O environments within the gut; Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) showed loss of second-shell features, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirmed loss of crystallinity with nanoscale aggregates appearing within 24 h of ingestion. Although acute immobilization was limited (48 h EC50 ≈ 26.5 μg mL–1), a sublethal, environmentally relevant exposure (10 μg mL–1) caused pronounced chronic effects: brood initiation was delayed by 3–5 days and cumulative reproduction decreased by ∼74% without mortality. We attribute these outcomes to gut-level transformation and associated energetic/physiological burdens, not captured by standard acute tests. These results show that abiotic stability does not necessarily imply biological inertness and highlight the need to integrate in vivo transformation pathways with chronic end points in environmental risk assessment for water-sector materials. This perspective provides a mechanistic basis to inform Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) MOFs before widespread deployment in water treatment.	Dec 2025
I09-Surface and Interface Structural Analysis	Ultrasensitive circularly polarized photon detectors based on chiral two-dimensional MoS2 Ye Wang , Manish Chhowalla , Yiru Zhu , Tieyuan Bian , Ziwei J. Yang , Yuanyua Zhao , Han Yan , Yang Li , Yan Wang , Feng Ding , Jun Yin Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c12182 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [35092, 30105, 33391, 32963, 38086] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Engineering chiral optical and electronic properties of materials is interesting for applications in sensing and quantum information. State-of-the-art chiral optoelectronic devices are mostly based on three-dimensional (3D) and quasi-two-dimensional (2D) materials. Here we demonstrate chiral 2D MoS2 with sub-nanometer thickness via chirality transfer from l-/d-penicillamine (l-/d-PEN). We report a giant molar ellipticity of 108 deg·cm2/dmol in monolayer solid-state films, up to 3 orders of magnitude higher than 3D chiral materials. Phototransistors with chiral 2D MoS2 channels exhibit gate-tunable circularly polarized light detection with responsivity of >102 A/W and anisotropy g-factor of 1.98, close to the theoretical maximum of 2.0. The reduced dimensionality magnifies the chirality transfer efficiency, allowing realization of ultrasensitive detectors for circularly polarized photons.	Oct 2025
B18-Core EXAFS	Intercalation of transition metals into MXenes: impact on electronic and pseudocapacitive properties Shianlin Wee , Xiliang Lian , Dario Gomez Vazquez , Mathieu Salanne , Maria R. Lukatskaya Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c06170 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [30497] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: MXenes are two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides characterized by versatile electronic and electrochemical properties. Herein, we investigate the electronic interactions between various redox-active transition metals (Ni, Co, Mn, and Zn) intercalated into the conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene host. Employing X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Bader charge analysis, we reveal that the oxidation states of the intercalated ions remain unchanged upon insertion, whereas Ti atoms within the MXene layers become progressively oxidized with increasing intercalant concentration. Consequently, the electrical resistivity of the intercalated MXenes increases. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) and density functional theory (DFT) demonstrate distinct spatial arrangements and coordination environments of the intercalated cations, significantly influencing their electronic density of states and interactions with MXene surfaces. Pseudocapacitance measurements in 0.1 M NaOH show distinct behaviors: Co exhibits significant redox activity with less participation from Ti of MXene, while Ni ions show negligible oxidation state changes with predominant Ti redox involvement. Our findings reveal the complex electronic and redox behavior of transition metal-intercalated MXenes, guiding the targeted modification of 2D material properties through careful selection of intercalant species.	Sep 2025
I06-Nanoscience (XPEEM)	Inhomogeneous magnetic anisotropy in an Fe5–xGeTe2 nanoflake observed by imaging Massimo Ghidini , Vladimir Farenkov , Yang Li , Peter J. Newton , Raffaele Pellicelli , Samer Kurdi , Nadia A. Stelmashenko , Francesco Maccherozzi , Crispin H. W. Barnes , Andrew F. May , Manish Chhowalla , Sarnjeet S. Dhesi , Neil D. Mathur Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c07836 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [31793] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Few-layer flakes of ferromagnetic Fe5–xGeTe2 with x = 0.3 (F5GT) possess a c-axis magnetocrystalline anisotropy that is large enough below ∼200 K to outcompete the easy-plane shape anisotropy, yielding distinctive magnetic microstructures with out-of-plane (OOP) magnetizations. Using photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) with magnetic contrast from X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) to study a thermally demagnetized h-BN-protected nanoflake of F5GT at 110 K, we observe a micron-scale coexistence between domains with OOP magnetizations (∼70% areal fraction) and hitherto unknown domains in which in-plane (IP) magnetization components dominate (∼30% areal fraction). The regions with dominant IP magnetization components do not correlate with small variations of flake thickness (6–10 nm) and instead arise from local changes of magnetocrystalline anisotropy due to a hitherto unidentified chemical inhomogeneity that we suggest to be a higher concentration of Fe vacancies. Our observation of micron-scale inhomogeneity would likely be missed if imaging a single flake orientation and should affect the viability and performance of van der Waals (vdW) spintronic devices with F5GT electrodes.	Jul 2025
I13-2-Diamond Manchester Imaging	Fast degradation of solid electrolyte in initial cycling processes, tracked in 3D by synchrotron X-ray computed tomography Shuai Hao , Sohrab R. Daemi , Thomas M. M. Heenan , Wenjia Du , Malte Storm , Mohamed Al-Hada , Christoph Rau , Dan J. L. Brett , Paul R. Shearing Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c17739 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [22198] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Solid-state lithium batteries are developing rapidly as a promising next-generation battery, while challenges still persist in understanding their degradation processes during cycling due to the difficulties in characterization. In this study, the 3D morphological evolution of the Li3PS4 solid electrolyte was tracked during electrochemical cycles (plating and stripping) until short circuit by utilizing in situ synchrotron X-ray computed tomography with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution. During the degradation process, cracks in the electrolyte alternately generated from the two electrode/electrolyte interfaces and propagated until shorting. The lithium dendrites filled in the electrolyte cracks but had a greatly reduced filling ratio after the first plating stage; therefore, the cell could continue working for some time after the solid electrolyte was fully fractured by cracks. The compression of the two lithium electrodes mainly occurred in initial cycles where a ca. 4–7 μm reduction in thickness was observed. The mechanical force and electric potential fields were modeled to visualize their redistributions in different stages of cycling. The release of strain energy after the first penetration and thereafter the subsequent driving forces are discussed. These results reveal a fast degradation of solid electrolyte in the initial cycles, providing insights for further modifications and improvements in solid-state batteries.	May 2025
I09-Surface and Interface Structural Analysis	Unusually high occupation of Co 3d State in magnetic weyl semimetal Co3Sn2S2 Jieyi Liu , Yiheng Yang , Jianlei Shen , Defa Liu , Gohil Singh Thakur , Charles Guillemard , Alevtina Smekhova , Houke Chen , Deepnarayan Biswas , Manuel Valvidares , Enke Liu , Claudia Felser , Tien-Lin Lee , Thorsten Hesjedal , Yulin Chen , Gerrit Van Der Laan Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c13750 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [37930] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: The physical properties of magnetic topological materials are strongly influenced by their nontrivial band topology coupled with the magnetic structure. Co3Sn2S2 is a ferromagnetic kagome Weyl semimetal displaying giant intrinsic anomalous Hall effect which can be further tuned via elemental doping, such as Ni substitution for Co. Despite significant interest, the exact valency of Co and the magnetic order of the Ni dopants remained unclear. Here, we report a study of Ni-doped Co3Sn2S2 single crystals using synchrotron-based X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy (XPEEM), and hard/soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. We confirm the presence of spin-dominated magnetism from Co in the host material, and also the establishment of ferromagnetic order from the Ni dopant. The oxygen-free photoemission spectrum of the Co 2p core levels in the crystal well resembles that of a metallic Co film, indicating a Co0+ valency. Surprisingly, we find the electron filling in the Co 3d state can reach 8.7–9.0 electrons in these single crystals. Our results highlight the importance of element-specific X-ray spectroscopy in understanding the electronic and magnetic properties that are fundamental to a heavily studied Weyl semimetal, which could aid in developing future spintronic applications based on magnetic topological materials.	Feb 2025
I05-ARPES	Holstein polarons, rashba-like spin splitting, and ising superconductivity in electron-doped MoSe2 Sung Won Jung , Matthew D. Watson , Saumya Mukherjee , Daniil V. Evtushinsky , Cephise Cacho , Edoardo Martino , Helmuth Berger , Timur K. Kim Acs Nano 18, 33359 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c07805 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [26631] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: Interaction between electrons and phonons in solids is a key effect defining the physical properties of materials, such as electrical and thermal conductivity. In transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), the electron–phonon coupling results in the formation of polarons, quasiparticles that manifest themselves as discrete features in the electronic spectral function. In this study, we report the formation of polarons at the alkali-dosed MoSe2 surface, where Rashba-like spin splitting of the conduction band states is caused by an inversion-symmetry breaking electric field. In addition, we observed a crossover from phonon-like to plasmon-like polaronic spectral features at the MoSe2 surface with increasing doping. Our findings support the concept of electron–phonon coupling-mediated superconductivity in electron-doped layered TMDC materials, as observed using ionic liquid gating technology. Furthermore, the discovered spin-splitting at the Fermi level could offer crucial experimental validation for theoretical models of Ising-type superconductivity in these materials.	Nov 2024
I09-Surface and Interface Structural Analysis	On-surface synthesis of Ni-porphyrin-doped graphene nanoribbons Matthew Edmondson , Michael Clarke , James N. O’shea , Qiang Chen , Harry L. Anderson , Alex Saywell Acs Nano DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c09188 Diamond Proposal Number(s): [33305, 33757] Open Access Show Abstract ▼ Abstract: On-surface synthesis of functional molecular structures provides a route to the fabrication of materials tailored to exhibit bespoke catalytic, (opto)electronic, and magnetic properties. The fabrication of graphene nanoribbons via on-surface synthesis, where reactive precursor molecules are combined to form extended polymeric structures, provides quasi-1D graphitic wires that can be doped by tuning the properties/composition of the precursor molecules. Here, we combine the atomic precision of solution-phase synthetic chemistry with on-surface protocols to enable reaction steps that cannot yet be achieved in solution. Our focus of this work is the inclusion of porphyrin species within graphene nanoribbons to create porphyrin-fused graphene nanoribbons. A combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy techniques is used to characterize a porphyrin-fused graphene nanoribbon formed on-surface from a linear polymer consisting of regularly spaced Ni-porphyrin units linked by sections of aryl rings which fuse together during the reaction to form graphitic regions between neighboring Ni-porphyrin units.	Nov 2024

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