Out-of-plane polarization induces a picosecond photoresponse in rhombohedral stacked bilayer WSe₂

• Guixian Liu,
• Yufan Wang,
• Zhoujuan Xu,
• Zhouxiaosong Zeng,
• Lanyu Huang,
• Cuihuan Ge and
• Xiao Wang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1362–1368, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.109

• intrinsic photoresponse time of approximately 3 ps. The ultrafast response time remains consistent across varying detection powers, demonstrating environmental stability and highlighting the potential in optoelectronic applications. Our study presents an effective strategy for enhancing the response time of

• depolarization fields, providing a promising platform for highly integrated devices [1][2][3]. The emergence of ferroelectricity at the atomic scale in vdW ferroelectrics has garnered significant interest because of its potential applications in various fields [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Through

• photogenerated carriers and have the potential to advance related device applications. Results and Discussion Out-of-plane polarization of 3R WSe2 Precisely controlling the stacking angle of two monolayers in TMDs can modify the symmetry and induce unique physical properties. Depending on the stacking order

Investigation of Hf/Ti bilayers for the development of transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters

• Victoria Y. Safonova,
• Anna V. Gordeeva,
• Anton V. Blagodatkin,
• Dmitry A. Pimanov,
• Anton A. Yablokov and
• Andrey L. Pankratov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1353–1361, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.108

• is possible to fabricate microcalorimeters with δE less than 1 eV using these films. Keywords: hafnium; microcalorimeter; neutrino; superconducting transition width; superconductivity; TES; Introduction Over the last two decades, cryogenic microcalorimeters have found applications in various fields

• , for example, for the detection of dark matter, as single-photon detectors (X-ray, visible, and infrared ranges) [1], and the detection of individual excimers [2]. One of the new applications is the detection of the recoil energy of 4He atoms evaporated from a superfluid condensate (helium II). This

• based on a transition-edge sensor (TES) are the most common concept [5]. The developed detectors have an energy resolution of the order of a few electronvolts, which is insufficient for many important applications. At present, the work on increasing the sensitivity of TES-based microcalorimeters is

Hymenoptera and biomimetic surfaces: insights and innovations

• Vinicius Marques Lopez,
• Carlo Polidori and
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1333–1352, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.107

• surfaces. We highlight recent advancements and outline potential strategic pathways, evaluating their current functions and applications while suggesting promising avenues for further investigations. By studying these fascinating and biologically diverse insects, researchers could develop innovative

• also offers innovative solutions and technological applications. The order Hymenoptera, which includes sawflies, wasps, ants, and bees, is one of the most diverse groups in the class Insecta, with over 153,000 described species [5] and an estimated 1 million species yet to be discovered [6

• , scientists and engineers can develop innovative materials and devices that mirror the efficiency and functionality of Hymenopteran anatomy. Here we describe the structural adaptations on the surfaces of the body of Hymenoptera (Figure 2) with potential biomimetic applications. By analyzing their unique

Nanoarchitectonics with cetrimonium bromide on metal nanoparticles for linker-free detection of toxic metal ions and catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar and
• Raja Gopal Rayavarapu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1312–1332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.106

• +, Cr3+, and Hg2+ at 0.5 OD, while efficiently degrading 4-NP within 5 min at 1 OD. This study emphasizes the importance of tailoring parameters of CTAB-capped nanoparticles for specific sensing and catalytic applications, offering potential solutions for environmental remediation and human health

• protection. Keywords: catalysis; CTAB; heavy metal; nanoparticles; 4-nitrophenol; sensing; Introduction Metal nanoparticles are widely used for a great number of applications owing to their excellent optochemical properties and high surface-to-volume ratio in comparison to bulk materials. Noble metal (gold

• high strength to nanoparticles, the use of such nanoparticles is limited in sensing, catalysis, and biomedical applications because of post-synthesis functionalization, morphology, and toxicity [6][7][8]. CTAB is a resilient molecule on the nanoparticle surface because of its micellar structure and

Interaction of graphene oxide with tannic acid: computational modeling and toxicity mitigation in C. elegans

• Romana Petry,
• James M. de Almeida,
• Francine Côa,
• Felipe Crasto de Lima,
• Diego Stéfani T. Martinez and
• Adalberto Fazzio

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1297–1311, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.105

• ; toxicity mitigation; Introduction Graphene oxide (GO) has many potential applications in electronics, advanced materials, bio-medicine, energy, agriculture, and environmental technology [1][2][3]. It consists of a graphene sheet with surface oxygen functional groups such as epoxide, ketone, hydroxy

• processes is missing. Tannic acid (TA) is an environmentally abundant and commercially available polyphenol with relevant industrial and technological applications [17][18][19][20]. TA’s structure comprises five digallic acid units ester-linked to a glucose core. These pyrogallol hydroxy groups participate

• characteristics made TA attractive to nanomaterial synthesis and functionalization for applications in nanomedicine, sensors, electronics, and composites [25][26][27]. In these different fields, TA has been applied in green alternative methods of GO synthesis and physicochemical modifications (e.g., reduction and

Mn-doped ZnO nanopowders prepared by sol–gel and microwave-assisted sol–gel methods and their photocatalytic properties

• Cristina Maria Vlăduț,
• Crina Anastasescu,
• Silviu Preda,
• Oana Catalina Mocioiu,
• Simona Petrescu,
• Jeanina Pandele-Cusu,
• Dana Culita,
• Veronica Bratan,
• Ioan Balint and
• Maria Zaharescu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1283–1296, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.104

• photocatalysts; water depollution; Introduction Over the past decades, significant research has been focused on designing and preparing nanostructures of various shapes and sizes, which exhibit unique properties and potential applications [1]. Considerable advancements have been made in synthesizing

• -efficient than conventional heating methods [12][13][14]. This approach is particularly advantageous in technology applications, as it significantly reduces reaction times from days to mere hours or minutes and enables the production of nanocrystalline oxides in the form of powders and films on various

• semiconductor with many versatile and attractive applications in optical, optoelectronic, and photocatalytic fields [35][36][37]. The doping of ZnO with Mn can lead to the development of multifunctional nanostructures, such as room-temperature ferromagnetic materials with potential applications in spintronics

New design of operational MEMS bridges for measurements of properties of FEBID-based nanostructures

• Bartosz Pruchnik,
• Krzysztof Kwoka,
• Ewelina Gacka,
• Dominik Badura,
• Piotr Kunicki,
• Andrzej Sierakowski,
• Paweł Janus,
• Tomasz Piasecki and
• Teodor Gotszalk

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1273–1282, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.103

• resolution of actuation is limited by the background noise of 200 fm/Hz0.5), which is a promising feature for future applications of opMEMS as an experimental platform, for example, for studying quantum phenomena such as electron tunnelling or field emission, which are exponentially dependent on the distance

Functional morphology of cleaning devices in the damselfly Ischnura elegans (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

• Silvana Piersanti,
• Gianandrea Salerno,
• Wencke Krings,
• Stanislav Gorb and
• Manuela Rebora

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1260–1272, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.102

• increased inertia that counteracts the initially dominant adhesion, effectively dislodging attached pollen and dust. The same authors also developed an elastomeric bioinspired stiffness-gradient catapult and demonstrated its potential in practical applications, thus confirming that studies on the functional

The role of a tantalum interlayer in enhancing the properties of Fe₃O₄ thin films

• Hai Dang Ngo,
• Vo Doan Thanh Truong,
• Van Qui Le,
• Hoai Phuong Pham and
• Thi Kim Hang Pham

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1253–1259, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.101

• promising applications. High-quality Fe3O4 thin films are a must to achieve the goals. In this report, Fe3O4 films on different substrates (SiO2/Si(100), MgO(100), and MgO/Ta/SiO2/Si(100)) were fabricated at room temperature with radio-frequency (RF) sputtering and annealed at 450 °C for 2 h. The

• K [1], as well as its high spin polarization with only one spin at the Fermi level, even at room temperature [2][3][4][5][6]. Fe3O4 thin films are an issue of interest and have extensive applications in Li-ion batteries, spin Seebeck devices, supercapacitors, spin Hall magnetoresistance, and the

Dual-functionalized architecture enables stable and tumor cell-specific SiO₂NPs in complex biological fluids

• Iris Renata Sousa Ribeiro,
• Raquel Frenedoso da Silva,
• Romênia Ramos Domingues,
• Adriana Franco Paes Leme and
• Mateus Borba Cardoso

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1238–1252, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.100

• of pivotal relevance for obtaining more reliable results and open possibilities for developing NPs that are increasingly efficient and suitable for medical applications. Ensuring that a platform efficiently functions for in vitro assays is a crucial step in predicting in vivo effects. Our system

Enhanced catalytic reduction through in situ synthesized gold nanoparticles embedded in glucosamine/alginate nanocomposites

• Chi-Hien Dang,
• Le-Kim-Thuy Nguyen,
• Minh-Trong Tran,
• Van-Dung Le,
• Nguyen Minh Ty,
• T. Ngoc Han Pham,
• Hieu Vu-Quang,
• Tran Thi Kim Chi,
• Tran Thi Huong Giang,
• Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu and
• Thanh-Danh Nguyen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1227–1237, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.99

• nanocomposite as a versatile catalyst with promising applications across various industrial sectors. Keywords: catalysis; gold nanoparticles; organic dyes; organometallic nanocomposites; reduction; Introduction Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have garnered significant attention because of their exceptional

• physicochemical properties and diverse potential chemical applications [1][2][3]. The conventional synthesis of AuNPs typically involves the chemical reduction of Au3+ ions using various reducing agents and stabilizers [4][5]. However, many of these chemicals are highly reactive, posing risks to both the

• ) and the cross-linker [17]. These materials find wide applications in drug delivery [18] and the encapsulation of nanometals [19][20]. Reduction of metallic ions can be achieved using various agents, including plant extracts [21]. This reduction typically involves two steps, namely, the loading of

Realizing active targeting in cancer nanomedicine with ultrasmall nanoparticles

• André F. Lima,
• Giselle Z. Justo and
• Alioscka A. Sousa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1208–1226, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.98

• actively targeted usNPs, revealing increased tumor accumulation and retention compared to non-targeted counterparts. In this review, we explore actively targeted inorganic usNPs, highlighting their biological properties and behavior, along with applications in both preclinical and clinical settings

• modalities of actively targeted usNPs and their current applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment. 2 Inorganic ultrasmall NPs in cancer nanomedicine Important classes of inorganic usNPs under investigation for cancer nanomedicine include metallic usNPs (gold, silver), oxide and sulfide usNPs (silica

• function as a more conventional NP platform in nanomedicine applications [18][21][22][38][39][40]. In diagnostic applications, usNPs have been employed in diverse imaging modalities, including optical imaging [41][42], X-ray computer tomography [43], photoacoustic imaging [41][44], magnetic resonance

AI-assisted models to predict chemotherapy drugs modified with C₆₀ fullerene derivatives

• Jonathan-Siu-Loong Robles-Hernández,
• Dora Iliana Medina,
• Katerin Aguirre-Hurtado,
• Marlene Bosquez,
• Roberto Salcedo and
• Alan Miralrio

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1170–1188, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.95

• , central nervous system and cardiac disorders, and autoimmune diseases [16]. In recent years, nanomaterials have attracted the attention of different scientific communities by providing them with new solutions for drug delivery [19][20]. These nanotechnological applications have made it possible to obtain

• is also possible to modify pristine fullerenes by adding polar functional groups (e.g., –COOH, –OH, or –NH2), to improve water solubility, antioxidant properties, and even biological activity [25]. For instance, polyhydroxy fullerenes (PHFs) exhibit properties suitable for biomedical applications

• obtaining an additional electron. Methods First, 42 drugs related to chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer were proposed. Although the most notable fullerene derivatives for biological applications are those with several hydrophilic groups, the carboxylic acid derivative C60–COOH has been studied as

Quantum-to-classical modeling of monolayer Ge₂Se₂ and its application in photovoltaic devices

• Anup Shrivastava,
• Shivani Saini,
• Dolly Kumari,
• Sanjai Singh and
• Jost Adam

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1153–1169, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.94

• 2004, the unique properties of two-dimensional materials have sparked intense research interest regarding their use as alternative materials in various photonic applications. Transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers have been proposed as transport layers in photovoltaic cells, but the promising

• -scale production more feasible [9]. Also, the mechanical robustness and flexibility of the 2D materials will give extra room to design the PSCs for a wide range of applications areas [10]. The high carrier mobility and enhanced optoelectronic characteristics can improve the device performance of

• materials, rendering them viable for PV applications were discussed in [20]. Because of the advantages of 2D materials, tremendous efforts have been made to invent highly stable and efficient solar cells based on 2D materials. A number of remarkable works have been recently reported using numerous 2D

Introducing third-generation periodic table descriptors for nano-qRASTR modeling of zebrafish toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles

• Supratik Kar and
• Siyun Yang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1142–1152, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.93

• development of nanotechnology, more and more MONPs including zinc, iron, titanium, and copper are being explored in therapeutic applications such as drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, bioelectronics, and tissue engineering applications [4][5][6]. Simultaneously, many of these particles also presented

• strong antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, and photocatalytic activities [7][8][9]. Besides the medical field, they are also commonly used in commercial products such as fuel cells and plastics, and environmental applications such as analysis, sensing, remediation, and

• newly created MONPs, particularly those used in biomedical applications, necessitates the implementation of safety-by-design strategies for these materials. The potential to lower development timeframes, costs associated with experiments, and late-stage attrition, in addition to ethical, societal, and

Direct electron beam writing of silver using a β-diketonate precursor: first insights

• Katja Höflich,
• Krzysztof Maćkosz,
• Chinmai S. Jureddy,
• Aleksei Tsarapkin and
• Ivo Utke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1117–1124, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.90

• the growth of silver particles on the surface. While these effects complicate the application for 3D printing, the unique deposit structure with a thin, compact silver film beneath the deposit body is interesting from a fundamental point of view and may offer additional opportunities for applications

• challenges in device design and fabrication. Accordingly, various methods to improve purity during [15][16][17][18] or after deposition [18][19][20][21][22] were developed. For plasmonic applications, a metallic surface layer with a thickness exceeding the skin depth is sufficient to obtain the desired

Recent updates in applications of nanomedicine for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis

• Damai Ria Setyawati,
• Fransiska Christydira Sekaringtyas,
• Riyona Desvy Pratiwi,
• A’liyatur Rosyidah,
• Rohimmahtunnissa Azhar,
• Nunik Gustini,
• Gita Syahputra,
• Idah Rosidah,
• Etik Mardliyati,
• Tarwadi and
• Sjaikhurrizal El Muttaqien

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1105–1116, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.89

• regenerative medicine. Aiming to improve the treatment outcomes, new nanomedicinal drugs and formulations have been reported on an almost daily basis for targeting various diseases. Until now, most nanomedicine applications have focused primarily on drug delivery and theranostic nanoplatforms for cancer

• first FDA-approved nanodrug (1995) achieving improved therapeutic efficacy through passive targeting via the EPR effect [9]. The clinical applications of nanomedicine then shifted to other diseases, legitimating nanomedicine as a strategy to increase the therapeutic activity. This is supported by the

• pharmacologically inactive with minimal toxicity [58]. The increasing trend of liposomal formulations translated into clinical applications highlights the potency of liposomes as nanocarriers. Wang and co-workers utilized a phosphatidylserine for constructing curcumin-loaded lipid-based nanocarriers [59

Unveiling the potential of alginate-based nanomaterials in sensing technology and smart delivery applications

• Shakhzodjon Uzokboev,
• Khojimukhammad Akhmadbekov,
• Ra’no Nuritdinova,
• Salah M. Tawfik and
• Yong-Ill Lee

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1077–1104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.88

• . Current biomedical and pharmaceutical science has one focus on developing nanoparticle-based sensors, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles. Alginate is a widely used biopolymer in a variety of applications. The hydrogel-forming characteristic, the chemical structure with hydroxy and carboxylate moieties

• , biocompatibility, biodegradability, and water solubility of alginate have expanded opportunities in material and biomedical sciences. Recently, research on alginate-based nanoparticles and their applications has begun. These materials are gaining popularity because of their wide usage potential in the biomedical

• and pharmaceutical fields. Many review papers describe applications of alginate in the drug delivery field. The current study covers the structural and physicochemical properties of alginate-based nanoparticles. The prospective applications of alginate-based nanomaterials in various domains are

Effect of wavelength and liquid on formation of Ag, Au, Ag/Au nanoparticles via picosecond laser ablation and SERS-based detection of DMMP

• Sree Satya Bharati Moram,
• Chandu Byram and
• Venugopal Rao Soma

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1054–1069, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.86

• implications for developing more efficient and stable SERS substrates for chemical detection applications. Keywords: dimethyl methyl phosphonate; laser material interaction; metal nanoparticles; picosecond laser ablation; SERS; thiram; Introduction Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are versatile materials widely

• interest in many applications, such as photoelectronic devices, biochemical sensors, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, due to their high purity NPs as well as an easy method for altering the structures, NPs/NSs sizes, and morphology by tuning the laser parameters and surrounding

• acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), carbon nanotubes, and chemiresistive sensors. SERS-active substrates encounter obstacles in translation toward practical applications, primarily due to the difficulty of sample collection. As a result, there is a persistent need for

Interface properties of nanostructured carbon-coated biological implants: an overview

• Mattia Bartoli,
• Francesca Cardano,
• Erik Piatti,
• Stefania Lettieri,
• Andrea Fin and
• Alberto Tagliaferro

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1041–1053, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.85

• can be achieved through several processes. Among them, the production of specialized coatings based on carbon-based materials stands very promising. The use of carbon coatings allows one to simultaneously fine-tune tribological, mechanical, and chemical properties. Here, we review applications of

• applications [4] as active species or as drug delivery platforms using tailored carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [5][6], fullerenes [7][8], carbon dots (CDs) [9][10], and graphene-related materials (i.e., graphene oxide (GO) [11], reduced graphene oxide (rGO) [12], and nanographite (nG) [13]). Furthermore, the

• carefully to ensure reproducible production protocols. The next section briefly overviews all nanosized carbon materials since a deep understanding of each material is of capital importance for a comprehensive understanding of their applications at biological interfaces. Graphene and graphene-related

Bolometric IR photoresponse based on a 3D micro-nano integrated CNT architecture

• Yasameen Al-Mafrachi,
• Sandeep Yadav,
• Sascha Preu,
• Jörg J. Schneider and
• Oktay Yilmazoglu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1030–1040, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.84

• applications [3]. The device resistance perpendicular to the CNT orientation is mainly determined by the high junction resistances of the neighboring aligned CNTs [4]. This configuration allows for high device resistance, low thermal conductivity, and high temperature coefficient of resistance, thus, enabling

• customized specific requirements for various applications. While the thermal conductivity along the CNT orientation is large, it decreases dramatically in the perpendicular direction [5]. This thermal behavior varies significantly depending on structure, density, and fabrication of the CNTs. Single-walled

• thermal sensing solutions and sets the stage for transformative advances in non-cryogenic IR microbolometer and thermal detector technology. The following sections provide a comprehensive overview of the 3D micro-nano design, fabrication methods, performance characteristics, and potential applications

Ca_n neutral clusters: a two-step G₀W₀ and DFT benchmark

• Sunila Bakhsh,
• Sameen Aslam,
• Muhammad Khalid,
• Muhammad Sohail,
• Sundas Zafar,
• Sumayya Abdul Wadood,
• Kareem Morsy and
• Muhammad Aamir Iqbal

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1010–1016, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.82

• properties and their potential applications, such as developing theoretical models and designing functional materials. The ground-state structures of Ca clusters (n = 2–20). The binding energies of ground-state Ca clusters (n = 2–20) in comparison with reported data [1][11][13][17]. The second difference in

Atomistic insights into the morphological dynamics of gold and platinum nanoparticles: MD simulations in vacuum and aqueous media

• Evangelos Voyiatzis,
• Eugenia Valsami-Jones and
• Antreas Afantitis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 995–1009, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.81

• category of engineered NPs is comprised of metal and metal oxide NPs, which rank among the highest in production volume. They have already found widespread applications in technological advancements such as photovoltaics, catalysis, gas sensors, fuel cells, and adsorbents [7][8]. This prevalence is

• spectrum of possible applications, NPs have the potential to profoundly influence society [14]. Despite the numerous studies and advances [15][16][17][18][19][20], the rational design of NPs, especially the prediction of their structural modifications in industrial processes, such as rapid heating or

• shown. In most applications, NPs suspended in biological fluids and aqueous solutions can serve as a proxy system that is easy to control [86]. The NPs are either bare or coated with a corona, the coverage of which may fluctuate, again leaving the NP surface exposed to the solvent [87]. Thus, it is

Recent progress on field-effect transistor-based biosensors: device perspective

• Billel Smaani,
• Fares Nafa,
• Mohamed Salah Benlatrech,
• Ismahan Mahdi,
• Hamza Akroum,
• Mohamed walid Azizi,
• Khaled Harrar and
• Sayan Kanungo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 977–994, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.80

• encompasses an overview of emerging FET-based biosensors and useful guidelines to reach the best device dimensions, favorable design, and realization of FET-based biosensors. Consequently, it furnishes researchers with a detailed perspective on design considerations and applications for future generations of

• the electrical characteristics of the device. In this context, due to diversities in the transduction and applications of FET-biosensors, the primary design improvisation involves novel device architectures for FET dedicated to biosensing applications. Therefore, an extensive and systematic review on

• emerging structures of FET-based biosensors is important for the design of future nanoscale FET-biosensors for different applications. There are a few reviews published regarding FET-based biosensors [56][57][58][59]. Most of these works are focused on the materials-based performance optimization of FET

Beyond biomimicry – next generation applications of bioinspired adhesives from microfluidics to composites

• Dan Sameoto

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 965–976, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.79

• and hope that “if we build it, they will come”. Perhaps we should expand our concept on what could be the desirable end applications for such materials and focus efforts on finding better end applications in which these materials can truly shine; a few of those applications like microfluidics and

• composites are highlighted in this article. It is time for a next generation of research to look beyond biomimicry and look towards re-engineering applications to make use of these materials’ unique properties in economically viable ways. Keywords: adhesion; biomimicry; composites; gecko; robotics, soft

• Herbert Kroemer, and Kroemer’s Nobel lecture that year included the statement that “the principal applications of any sufficiently new and innovative technology always have been – and will continue to be – applications created by that technology” [5]. I often come back to that statement by Dr. Kroemer and