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Selected area deposition of high purity gold films onto nanoscale 3D architectures is highly desirable as gold is conductive, inert, plasmonically active, and can be functionalized with thiol chemistries, which are useful in many biological applications. Here, we show that high-purity gold coatings can be selectively grown with the Me2Au (acac) precursor onto nanoscale 3D architectures via a pulsed laser pyrolytic chemical vapor deposition process. The selected area of deposition is achieved due to the high thermal resistance of the nanoscale geometries. Focused electron beam induced deposits (FEBID) and carbon nanofibers are functionalized with gold coatings, and we demonstrate the effects that laser irradiance, pulse width, and precursor pressure have on the growth rate. Furthermore, we demonstrate selected area deposition with a feature-targeting resolutions of ~100 and 5 µm, using diode lasers coupled to a multimode (915 nm) and single mode (785 nm) fiber optic, respectively. The experimental results are rationalized via finite element thermal modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized a combinatorial library of CuxNi1−x alloy thin films via co-sputtering from Cu and Ni targets to catalyze graphene chemical vapor deposition. The alloy morphology, composition, and microstructure were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Subsequently, the CuxNi1−x alloy thin films were used to grow graphene in a CH4-Ar-H2 ambient at atmospheric pressure. The underlying rationale is to adjust the CuxNi1−x composition to control the graphene. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed that a continuous gradient of CuxNi1−x (25 at. % < x < 83 at.%) was initially achieved across the 100 mm diameter substrate (~0.9%/mm composition gradient). The XRD spectra confirmed a solid solution was realized and the face-centered cubic lattice parameter varied from ~3.52 to 3.58 A ˙ , consistent with the measured composition gradient, assuming Vegard's law. Optical microscopy and Raman analysis of the graphene layers suggest single layer growth occurs with x > 69 at.%, bilayer growth dominates from 48 at.% < x < 69 at.%, and multilayer (≥3) growth occurs for x < 48 at.%, where x is the Cu concentration. Finally, a large area of bi-layer graphene was grown via a CuxNi1−x catalyst with optimized catalyst composition and growth temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we demonstrate continuous and discrete functions in a digital microfluidic platform in a programmed manner. Digital microfluidics is gaining popularity in biological and biomedical applications due to its ability to manipulate discrete droplet volumes (nL-pL), which significantly reduces the need for a costly and precious biological and physiological sample volume and, thus, diagnostic time. Despite the importance of discrete droplet volume handling, the ability of continuous microfluidics to process larger sample volumes at a higher throughput cannot be easily reproduced by merely using droplets. To bridge this gap, in this work, parallel channels are formed and programmed to split into multiple droplets, while droplets are programmed to be split from one channel, transferred and merged into another channel. This programmable handling of channels and droplets combines the continuous and digital paradigms of microfluidics, showing the potential for a wider range of microfluidic functions to enable applications ranging from clinical diagnostics in resource-limited environments, to rapid system prototyping, to high throughput pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanism of metal oxidation processes is critical for maintaining the desired properties of metals and catalysts, as well as for designing advanced materials. In this work, we investigate the electron beam induced oxidation of silver using in situ transmission electron microscopy. The additions of Ag-O columns on {111} and {110} planes were captured with atomic resolution. Interestingly, oscillatory growth on {110} planes was observed, which resulted from the double effect of electron beam irradiation. It was found that not only thermodynamic factors but also kinetic factors played significant roles in morphology evolutions. These results can facilitate the fundamental understanding of the oxidation process of Ag and provide a promising approach for the fabrication of desired nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiferroic (MF)-magnetoelectric (ME) composites, which integrate magnetic and ferroelectric materials, exhibit a higher operational temperature (above room temperature) and superior (several orders of magnitude) ME coupling when compared to single-phase multiferroic materials. Room temperature control and the switching of magnetic properties via an electric field and electrical properties by a magnetic field has motivated research towards the goal of realizing ultralow power and multifunctional nano (micro) electronic devices. Here, some of the leading applications for magnetoelectric composites are reviewed, and the mechanisms and nature of ME coupling in artificial composite systems are discussed. Ways to enhance the ME coupling and other physical properties are also demonstrated. Finally, emphasis is given to the important open questions and future directions in this field, where new breakthroughs could have a significant impact in transforming scientific discoveries to practical device applications, which can be well-controlled both magnetically and electrically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next generation optical, electronic, biological, and sensing devices as well as platforms will inevitably extend their architecture into the 3rd dimension to enhance functionality. In focused ion beam induced deposition (FIBID), a helium gas field ion source can be used with an organometallic precursor gas to fabricate nanoscale structures in 3D with high-precision and smaller critical dimensions than focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID), traditional liquid metal source FIBID, or other additive manufacturing technology. In this work, we report the effect of beam current, dwell time, and pixel pitch on the resultant segment and angle growth for nanoscale 3D mesh objects. We note subtle beam heating effects, which impact the segment angle and the feature size. Additionally, we investigate the competition of material deposition and sputtering during the 3D FIBID process, with helium ion microscopy experiments and Monte Carlo simulations. Our results show complex 3D mesh structures measuring ~300 nm in the largest dimension, with individual features as small as 16 nm at full width half maximum (FWHM). These assemblies can be completed in minutes, with the underlying fabrication technology compatible with existing lithographic techniques, suggesting a higher-throughput pathway to integrating FIBID with established nanofabrication techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed Laser-Assisted Helium Ion Nanomachining of Monolayer Graphene - Direct-Write Kirigami Patterns. The authors (O.D. and S.J.) acknowledge support by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering Division. 1 Zhang C., Dyck O., Garfinkel D.A., Stanford M.G., Belianinov A.A., Fowlkes J.D., Jesse S., Rack P.D. Pulsed Laser-Assisted Helium Ion Nanomachining of Monolayer Graphene - Direct-Write Kirigami Patterns. [Extracted from the article]

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) has become an essential surface characterization technique in research and development. By concept, SPM performance crucially depends on the quality of the nano-probe element, in particular, the apex radius. Now, with the development of advanced SPM modes beyond morphology mapping, new challenges have emerged regarding the design, morphology, function, and reliability of nano-probes. To tackle these challenges, versatile fabrication methods for precise nano-fabrication are needed. Aside from well-established technologies for SPM nano-probe fabrication, focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) has become increasingly relevant in recent years, with the demonstration of controlled 3D nanoscale deposition and tailored deposit chemistry. Moreover, FEBID is compatible with practically any given surface morphology. In this review article, we introduce the technology, with a focus on the most relevant demands (shapes, feature size, materials and functionalities, substrate demands, and scalability), discuss the opportunities and challenges, and rationalize how those can be useful for advanced SPM applications. As will be shown, FEBID is an ideal tool for fabrication/modification and rapid prototyping of SPM-tipswith the potential to scale up industrially relevant manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising 3D nanoprinting method, used to deposit nanoscale mesh style objects, is prone to non-linear distortions which limits the complexity and variety of deposit geometries. The method, focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID), uses a nanoscale electron probe for continuous dissociation of surface adsorbed precursor molecules which drives highly localized deposition. Three dimensional objects are deposited using a 2D digital scanning pattern—the digital beam speed controls deposition into the third, or out-of-plane dimension. Multiple computer-aided design (CAD) programs exist for FEBID mesh object definition but rely on the definition of nodes and interconnecting linear nanowires. Thus, a method is needed to prevent non-linear/bending nanowires for accurate geometric synthesis. An analytical model is derived based on simulation results, calibrated using real experiments, to ensure linear nanowire deposition to compensate for implicit beam heating that takes place during FEBID. The model subsequently compensates and informs the exposure file containing the pixel-by-pixel scanning instructions, ensuring nanowire linearity by appropriately adjusting the patterning beam speeds. The derivation of the model is presented, based on a critical mass balance revealed by simulations and the strategy used to integrate the physics-based analytical model into an existing 3D nanoprinting CAD program is overviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A helium gas field ion source has been demonstrated to be capable of realizing higher milling resolution relative to liquid gallium ion sources. One drawback, however, is that the helium ion mass is prohibitively low for reasonable sputtering rates of bulk materials, requiring a dosage that may lead to significant subsurface damage. Manipulation of suspended graphene is, therefore, a logical application for He+ milling. We demonstrate that competitive ion beam-induced deposition from residual carbonaceous contamination can be thermally mitigated via a pulsed laser-assisted He+ milling. By optimizing pulsed laser power density, frequency, and pulse width, we reduce the carbonaceous byproducts and mill graphene gaps down to sub 10 nm in highly complex kiragami patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limit in computing power arising from the Von Neumann bottleneck, computational devices are being developed that mimic neuro-biological processing in the brain by correlating the device characteristics with the synaptic weight of neurons. This platform combines ionic liquid gating and electrowetting for programmable placement/connectivity of the ionic liquid. In this platform, both short-term potentiation (STP) and long-term potentiation (LTP) are realized via electrostatic and electrochemical doping of the amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (aIGZO), respectively, and pulsed bias measurements are demonstrated for lower power considerations. While compatible with resistive elements, we demonstrate a platform based on transitive amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (aIGZO) pixel elements. Using a lithium based ionic liquid, we demonstrate both potentiation (decrease in device resistance) and depression (increase in device resistance), and propose a 2D platform array that would enable a much higher pixel count via Active Matrix electrowetting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate how free surfaces, as well as supporting substrates, affect phase separation in a NiAg alloy. Bulk samples, droplets, and droplets deposited on a graphene substrate were investigated at temperatures that spanned regions of interest in the bulk NiAg phase diagram, i.e., miscible and immiscible liquid, liquid-crystal, and crystal-crystal regions. Using MD simulations to cool down a bulk sample from 3000 K to 800 K, it was found that phase separation below 2400 K takes place in agreement with the phase diagram. When free surface effects were introduced, phase separation was accompanied by a core-shell transformation: spherical droplets created from the bulk samples became core-shell nanoparticles with a shell made mostly of Ag atoms and a core made of Ni atoms. When such droplets were deposited on a graphene substrate, the phase separation was accompanied by Ni layering at the graphene interface and Ag at the vacuum interface. Thus, it should be possible to create NiAg core-shell and layer-like nanostructures by quenching liquid NiAg samples on tailored substrates. Furthermore, interesting bimetallic nanoparticle morphologies might be tuned via control of the surface and interface energies and chemical instabilities of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) has become an essential surface characterization technique in research and development. By concept, SPM performance crucially depends on the quality of the nano-probe element, in particular, the apex radius. Now, with the development of advanced SPM modes beyond morphology mapping, new challenges have emerged regarding the design, morphology, function, and reliability of nano-probes. To tackle these challenges, versatile fabrication methods for precise nano-fabrication are needed. Aside from well-established technologies for SPM nano-probe fabrication, focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) has become increasingly relevant in recent years, with the demonstration of controlled 3D nanoscale deposition and tailored deposit chemistry. Moreover, FEBID is compatible with practically any given surface morphology. In this review article, we introduce the technology, with a focus on the most relevant demands (shapes, feature size, materials and functionalities, substrate demands, and scalability), discuss the opportunities and challenges, and rationalize how those can be useful for advanced SPM applications. As will be shown, FEBID is an ideal tool for fabrication / modification and rapid prototyping of SPM-tipswith the potential to scale up industrially relevant manufacturing., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

A promising 3D nanoprinting method, used to deposit nanoscale mesh style objects, is prone to non - linear distortions which limits the complexity and variety of deposit geometries. The method, focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID), uses a nanoscale electron probe for continuous dissociation of surface adsorbed precursor molecules which drives highly localized deposition. Three dimensional objects are deposited using a 2D digital scanning pattern-the digital beam speed controls deposition into the third, or out-of-plane dimension. Multiple computer-aided design (CAD) programs exist for FEBID mesh object definition but rely on the definition of nodes and interconnecting linear nanowires. Thus, a method is needed to prevent non-linear/bending nanowires for accurate geometric synthesis. An analytical model is derived based on simulation results, calibrated using real experiments, to ensure linear nanowire deposition to compensate for implicit beam heating that takes place during FEBID. The model subsequently compensates and informs the exposure file containing the pixel-by-pixel scanning instructions, ensuring nanowire linearity by appropriately adjusting the patterning beam speeds. The derivation of the model is presented, based on a critical mass balance revealed by simulations and the strategy used to integrate the physics-based analytical model into an existing 3D nanoprinting CAD program is overviewed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) biosensors are used to perform simultaneous optical and electrical measurements in order to examine the dynamic cellular attachment, spreading, and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) as well as cytotoxic effects when exposed to cytochalasin D. A detailed description of the fabrication of these sensors is provided and their superior optical characteristics are qualitatively shown using four different microscopic images. Differential interference contrast microscopy (DICM) images were acquired simultaneously with micro-impedance measurements as a function of frequency and time. A digital image processing algorithm quantified the cell-covered electrode area as a function of time. In addition, cytotoxicity effects, produced by the toxic agent cytochalasin D, were examined using micro-impedance measurements, confocal microscopy images of stained actin-filaments, and interference reflection contrast microscopy (IRCM) capable of examining the bottom morphology of a cell. The results of this study show (1) the dynamic optical and electrical cellular characteristics using optically thin ITO biosensors; (2) qualitative agreement between cell-covered electrode area and electrical impedance during cellular attachment; (3) in vitro cytotoxicity detection of ECs due to 3 mM cytochalasin D. The present opto-electric biosensor system is unique in that a simultaneous and integrated cellular analysis is possible for a variety of living cells.