Studies of probe tip materials by atomic force microscopy: a review

• Ke Xu and
• Yuzhe Liu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1256–1267, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.104

• affects the long-range force of tip detection. Cluster extraction caused a significant increase in effective tip radius (RT) and nano-tip height (z0). They are suggesting that clusters remain attached to the tip after extraction. These findings raise the question of whether the iterations of the

• the G/Pt(111) surface obtained with the cluster tip. Image size: 3.5 × 3.5 nm2. Imaging parameters: A =14.5 nm; VCPD = +0.18 V; Δf = −5.5 Hz. Figure 1 was reproduced from [25] (© 2021 M. D. Jiménez-Sánchez et al., published by Elsevier, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution

Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015–2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications

• Aisha Kanwal,
• Naheed Bibi,
• Sajjad Hyder,
• Arif Muhammad,
• Hao Ren,
• Jiangtao Liu and
• Zhongli Lei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1068–1107, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.93

• contrast to nitrogen, phosphorus atoms are larger than carbon atoms. As a result, it has the potential to act as an n-type donor and create substitutional defects in the carbon cluster, changing the electronic and optical characteristics of CDs with great impact on polarizability, quantum yield, and

Spindle-like MIL101(Fe) decorated with Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles for enhanced degradation of chlortetracycline under visible-light irradiation

• Chen-chen Hao,
• Fang-yan Chen,
• Kun Bian,
• Yu-bin Tang and
• Wei-long Shi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1038–1050, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.91

• efficient photocatalysts for CTC degradation. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a kind of micro- or mesoporous materials established by the self-assembly of organic linkers and metal-cluster or metal-ion nodes [19]. The MOF materials possess large surface areas, high pore volume, tunability, uniform

Influence of water contamination on the sputtering of silicon with low-energy argon ions investigated by molecular dynamics simulations

• Grégoire R. N. Defoort-Levkov,
• Alan Bahm and
• Patrick Philipp

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 986–1003, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.86

• region, or to relaxation of previous displacement cascades. Due to the strong interaction between silicon and oxygen particles, Si–O products tend to be sputtered as a cluster or the oxygen migrates into the amorphous region. The other relevant reaction products (e.g., Si–OH, Si–H2, and Si–O2) are

• energy at 100 eV and argon ions were bombarding the sample one after the other, in a dynamic sputtering mode. This differs from the literature where monatomic and cluster bombardment at high energies can be found (e.g., [66][67][68]). These studies also use single ion bombardment and no dynamic

• yields. A third parameter of interest is the distribution of the sputtered clusters. Overall, several cases are observed: (i) an atom is sputtered alone, (ii) several atoms are sputtered during the same collision cascade independently of one another, and (iii) a cluster of atoms is sputtered. In Figure

Bioselectivity of silk protein-based materials and their bio-inspired applications

• Hendrik Bargel,
• Vanessa T. Trossmann,
• Christoph Sommer and
• Thomas Scheibel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 902–921, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.81

• units of the 4RepCT silk protein. The analysis using pancreatic islet cells revealed that peptides inside the protein sequence enhanced cluster formation and total number of these islets, but the viability and functionality of the clusters was enhanced on all RGD-modified substrates [176]. The multitude

Hierachical epicuticular wax coverage on leaves of Deschampsia antarctica as a possible adaptation to severe environmental conditions

• Elena V. Gorb,
• Iryna A. Kozeretska and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 807–816, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.71

• -SEM micrographs of the abaxial side of the ligule. (a) General view of the surface. (b–e) Wax projections. (f) The surface with smeared wax. GR, groove; CL, cluster of projections; SP, scale-like projection; SW, smeared wax layer. Cryo-SEM micrographs of the surfaces in the generative organs. (a–c

Alcohol-perturbed self-assembly of the tobacco mosaic virus coat protein

• Ismael Abu-Baker and
• Amy Szuchmacher Blum

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 355–362, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.30

• small hydration shell of structured water molecules. As the alcohol content increases, the hydration shells begin to overlap, leading to an extensive hydrogen bonding network and significantly reduced mobility of water molecules. Beyond this point, alcohol molecules begin to cluster together, and

Surfactant-free syntheses and pair distribution function analysis of osmium nanoparticles

• Mikkel Juelsholt,
• Jonathan Quinson,
• Emil T. S. Kjær,
• Baiyu Wang,
• Rebecca Pittkowski,
• Susan R. Cooper,
• Tiffany L. Kinnibrugh,
• Søren B. Simonsen,
• Luise Theil Kuhn,
• María Escudero-Escribano and
• Kirsten M. Ø. Jensen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 230–235, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.17

• or decahedral motifs are often observed for metals with normally close-packed structures [35]. By using the atomic simulation environment (ASE) module [36] and the cluster-mining approach developed by Banerjee et al. [35] we screened a large number of metal NP clusters, including hexagonal close

• packed (hcp), face-centred cubic (fcc), and body-centred cubic (bcc), and also structures such as icosahedrons and decahedrons. The synthesised Os NPs are best described using a small hcp cluster as seen in Figure 3 and Figures S26–S31, which agrees with the bulk hcp Os structure. As seen in Figure S39

• of Os NPs in 1:2 alcohol/water ratios and for different precursors as indicated. The PDFs can be described using a hcp model. Fit of a hcp cluster (seen in the insert) to the PDF obtained from the Os NPs formed in methanol/water from OsCl3. (a) Measured PDF of OsCl3 in methanol/water. The insert

Nanoscale friction and wear of a polymer coated with graphene

• Robin Vacher and
• Astrid S. de Wijn

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 63–73, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.4

• sliding for (a) the case without graphene, (b) the flat graphene, and (c) the crumpled graphene. Acknowledgements We are grateful to Sergio Armada for his support and discussions. Funding We acknowledge IDUN cluster at NTNU and Sigma2 (project NN9573K) for providing the computational power. This work was

Sputtering onto liquids: a critical review

• Anastasiya Sergievskaya,
• Adrien Chauvin and
• Stephanos Konstantinidis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 10–53, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.2

Topographic signatures and manipulations of Fe atoms, CO molecules and NaCl islands on superconducting Pb(111)

• Carl Drechsel,
• Philipp D’Astolfo,
• Jung-Ching Liu,
• Thilo Glatzel,
• Rémy Pawlak and
• Ernst Meyer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1–9, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.1

• heights of Fe1 and Fe2 aggregates to be h1 ≈ 0.4 Å and h2 ≈ 1.2 Å, respectively. As a verification, we then conducted the transfer of a single Fe atom from the Fe2 cluster to one surrounding Fe1 in order to form a new dimer. The result of such manipulation is shown in Figure 4e. Despite the exchange of Fe

• height of each cluster as a function of the number of atoms. Overall, our findings provide new basic insights regarding the way to achieve high-resolution STM/AFM imaging with functionalized tips, decoupling of atoms or molecules and tip-induced lateral manipulation of Fe atoms above the prototypical Pb

Heating ability of elongated magnetic nanoparticles

• Elizaveta M. Gubanova,
• Nikolai A. Usov and
• Vladimir A. Oleinikov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1404–1412, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.104

• -dipole interaction on the SAR of a dilute assembly of oriented clusters of elongated magnetite nanoparticles has also been investigated depending on the volume fraction of nanoparticles in a cluster. It has been found that the SAR of the assembly of oriented clusters decreases by approximately an order

• of magnitude with an increase in the volume fraction of nanoparticles in a cluster in the range of 0.04–0.2. Keywords: elongated magnetic nanoparticles; magnetic hyperthermia; numerical simulation; specific absorption rate; Introduction Magnetic nanoparticle assemblies have great potential for the

• with an increase in the particle volume fraction in a cluster in the range η = 0.04–0.2. Numerical Simulation In this work the magnetic properties of various assemblies of elongated spheroidal magnetite nanoparticles with different aspect ratios a/b > 1 are studied by means of numerical simulation. It

Polarity in cuticular ridge development and insect attachment on leaf surfaces of Schismatoglottis calyptrata (Araceae)

• Venkata A. Surapaneni,
• Tobias Aust,
• Thomas Speck and
• Marc Thielen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1326–1338, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.98

• Freiburg, Germany FMF, Freiburg Materials Research Center, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 21, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Cluster of Excellence livMatS@ FIT- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110 Freiburg, Germany 10.3762/bjnano

Identifying diverse metal oxide nanomaterials with lethal effects on embryonic zebrafish using machine learning

• Richard Liam Marchese Robinson,
• Haralambos Sarimveis,
• Philip Doganis,
• Xiaodong Jia,
• Marianna Kotzabasaki,
• Christiana Gousiadou,
• Stacey Lynn Harper and
• Terry Wilkins

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1297–1325, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.97

• international research efforts, such as the European Union’s NanoSafety Cluster [4] and associated research projects, such as BIORIMA [5], which has proposed a risk management framework for nanomaterials used in advanced therapeutic medicinal products and medical devices [6]. Indeed, in 2008, an iron oxide ENM

Morphology-driven gas sensing by fabricated fractals: A review

• Vishal Kamathe and
• Rupali Nagar

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1187–1208, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.88

• depicts the different stages of fractal formation and conditions that lead to a specific fractal shape. Initially, when the sol starts drying, voids are created due to effusion of gases from the sol. Thereafter, random nucleation and cluster growth takes place. After clusters form on the substrate

• , further growth into specific fractal shapes depends mainly on availability of sol flux near the growing cluster and the Marangoni effect that includes both thermal energy and diffusion aspects. With limited flux but lower diffusion, rhombohedral fractals are formed that are sparsely spaced on the

• substrate, respectively. Figure 22d illustrates the SEM image of Au–Bi2O3 fractal employed for box-counting. Figure 22e–g shows the estimation of the fractal dimensions of the fabricated cluster. Pang et al. synthesized a dendrite-like Co3O4 nanostructure composed of numerous nanorods (15–20 nm diameter and

Irradiation-driven molecular dynamics simulation of the FEBID process for Pt(PF₃)₄

• Alexey Prosvetov,
• Alexey V. Verkhovtsev,
• Gennady Sushko and
• Andrey V. Solov’yov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1151–1172, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.86

• accumulation of Pt atoms enabling the formation of larger metal clusters. The growth of the deposits can be quantified by the total number of atoms and the number of metal atoms in the largest cluster. Figure 5 shows the evolution of maximal cluster size for Edep = 205 and 300 kcal/mol as a function of

• deposition of new precursor molecules. An interplay of these phenomena results in a much faster increase of the number of atoms in the largest cluster as a function of electron fluence. The growth of Pt clusters as a function of the number of added precursor molecules follows the same trend for both values

• of Edep, but the growth rate is higher at the larger Edep. Simultaneously, a much faster growth rate as a function of electron fluence is observed for Edep = 300 kcal/mol. The similar evolution of the maximum cluster size for both values of Edep suggests that the results obtained in the two studied

Criteria ruling particle agglomeration

• Dieter Vollath

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1093–1100, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.81

• change of the free enthalpy and ΔH is the change of the enthalpy. It is obvious that the change of the binding energy, , may depend on the number of particles in an agglomerate. Since the binding energy depends on the actual arrangement of the particles in the cluster, one has to assume a new

• particles is relatively small. One of the possibilities for the exchange of energy between particles could be the van der Waals interaction. However, for particles touching each other, the van der Waals energy is not properly defined [11]. Since the real arrangement of the particles in a cluster is not

Revealing the formation mechanism and band gap tuning of Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles

• Maximilian Joschko,
• Franck Yvan Fotue Wafo,
• Christina Malsi,
• Danilo Kisić,
• Ivana Validžić and
• Christina Graf

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1021–1033, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.76

• electron beam, which caused the particles to appear larger. Consequently, the stacked deflection peaks (Figure 5b, 14.7 nm, red and green mark) correspond to a nanoparticle cluster similar to those found in Figure 4b. Chemical composition To confirm the XRD results for stibnite and to examine the

• after 30 s reaction time: (a) small, individual nanoparticles, (b) raspberry-like, larger nanoparticles, intermediate state, and (c) raspberry-like, larger nanoparticles, final state. AFM measurements of nanoparticles obtained after 30 s reaction time: (a) individual single nanoparticles and (b) cluster

• nm), and a sum-up of marked distances along the drawn line. The particle/cluster size is given as the horizontal distance (Horiz distance (L)). EDX spectra of the nanoparticles obtained after (a) 2 min and (b) 5 min of reaction time. The samples were measured on a carbon-coated copper grid on an

Prediction of Co and Ru nanocluster morphology on 2D MoS₂ from interaction energies

• Cara-Lena Nies and
• Michael Nolan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 704–724, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.56

• multiplied by n, the number of atoms in adsorbed Con or Run. 2. Binding energy with reference to a free Con or Run cluster: where Emetal_cluster is the single point energy of the Con or Run nanocluster structure in vacuum. Emonolayer* is the single point energy of the monolayer after relaxation. We chose to

• approximate metal–metal interaction energy, by applying Equation 3: 3. Metal–metal interaction energy: 4. Addition energy: where n is the number of Co or Ru atoms. This models the addition of a metal atom to an existing adsorbed cluster with (n − 1) Co or Ru atoms. Results and Discussion Ru and Co on Pristine

• according to the initial cluster adsorption structure, to avoid confusion due to any geometry rearrangements that occur. In the following sections we elaborate how factors influencing structure stability vary as the cluster size increases. Such factors include the presence or absence of metal–metal bonds

Fate and transformation of silver nanoparticles in different biological conditions

• Barbara Pem,
• Marija Ćurlin,
• Darija Domazet Jurašin,
• Valerije Vrček,
• Rinea Barbir,
• Vedran Micek,
• Raluca M. Fratila,
• Jesus M. de la Fuente and
• Ivana Vinković Vrček

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 665–679, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.53

• , the spectral evidence points to the generation of AgNPs with GSH as both the reducing and coating agent, which likely binds to the surface in its oxidised form. Similarly, Ag cluster nucleation finally leading to AgNP formation was observed also for the interaction of Ag+ with CYS [60]. Similar to our

• previous NMR observation on the CYS oxidation to cystine during Ag cluster nucleation [60], the experiments presented here also indicate the conversion of GSH to GSSG during the nucleation of Ag clusters with subsequent AgNP synthesis. Conclusion The evaluation of NP behaviour in biological media is a

Local stiffness and work function variations of hexagonal boron nitride on Cu(111)

• Abhishek Grewal,
• Yuqi Wang,
• Matthias Münks,
• Klaus Kern and
• Markus Ternes

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 559–565, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.46

• areas of the Moiré superstructure. Additionally, the cluster of values close to 0 m·N−1 suggests that the short range forces between rim and bridge sites are almost identical. Conclusion We report the electronic and mechanical characterisation of h-BN/Cu(111) using an STM/AFM. Our STM studies

Influence of electrospray deposition on C₆₀ molecular assemblies

• Antoine Hinaut,
• Sebastian Scherb,
• Sara Freund,
• Zhao Liu,
• Thilo Glatzel and
• Ernst Meyer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 552–558, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.45

• charging effects [39]. A low coverage of C60 on KBr(001) obtained after HV-ESD is shown in the topography image of Figure 3b. The KBr(001) surface presents similar large terraces and step edges as clean KBr(001). The C60 molecules are forming small cluster visible as many small dots dispersed on the

• terraces or along step edges. A zoom on such a cluster is shown in Figure 3d. The presence of these small clusters indicates a low diffusion of the C60 molecules, contrary to the TE deposition. At higher coverages, but still below one monolayer, C60 molecules form islands dispersed on the surface, as shown

• cluster of Figure 3d. The number of layers ranges from one to at least five. Moreover, the islands present a more rounded shape, compared to TE islands, and no direction favored by the sixfold symmetry is observed. The influence of HV-ESD on the surface itself can also be seen. First, monolayer-deep pits

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of water in aqueous dispersions of silver nanoparticles

• Paulina Filipczak,
• Krzysztof Hałagan,
• Jacek Ulański and
• Marcin Kozanecki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 497–506, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.40

• structuration around the AgNPs. Further molecular interpretation of the effects of this structure requires the adoption of a specific model of the water structure – continuum or cluster. The obtained results are consistent with the work from Pastorczak et al. [20], regarding the resonance Raman effect in liquid

Reconstruction of a 2D layer of KBr on Ir(111) and electromechanical alteration by graphene

• Zhao Liu,
• Antoine Hinaut,
• Stefan Peeters,
• Sebastian Scherb,
• Ernst Meyer,
• Maria Clelia Righi and
• Thilo Glatzel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 432–439, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.35

• special interaction and reconstruction of this system, the experimental results are not reproduced in all details. Therefore, a periodic 4 × 2 cell was utilized including such a cluster to relax and optimize the structure presented in Figure 3. The structure is built up by repeating KBr clusters forming

Colloidal particle aggregation: mechanism of assembly studied via constructal theory modeling

• Scott C. Bukosky,
• Sukrith Dev,
• Monica S. Allen and
• Jeffery W. Allen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 413–423, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.33

• particles, two particles combine with a single neighbor (Figure 2c), which results in a cluster of three particles with one lone particle remaining. Again, the spacing between each singlet/triplet pair is 2d. The total force, F13, on a single particle is, therefore, the sum of the contributions from