Deposition and Growth of Functional Nanomaterials by LDW and MAPLE Techniques

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Crystalline Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 20944

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Barcelona, CSIC, Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
Interests: laser processing; MAPLE; hybrid nanocomposites; graphene; carbon nanotubes; laser nanostructuration; supercapacitors; photocatalysts

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Laser processing is widely used in industrial production and plays an increasingly important role in improving labor productivity and product quality, as well as lessening material consumption and pollution. Research in advanced laser manufacturing technologies allows progress in innovative ways for complex systems development based on new functional materials, opening new applications fields.

Of particular interest are the laser direct writing (LDW) and matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) methods, which allow the controlled deposition and structuration of organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials. These versatile techniques are reaching high maturity, displaying a great potential for the development of functional coatings and devices for a broad range of fields as in energy, electronics, sensing, optics, and biomedicine. LDW stands as a promising approach to the maskless patterning of a wide range of materials down to the submicron scale either by additive, ablative or chemical conversion mechanisms. This technology allows high integration, rapid prototyping, and customization. The MAPLE method, on the other hand, lacks spatial resolution but allows the gentle deposition of sensitive molecules and nanostructures, being suitable for obtaining high-quality organic and hybrid functional coatings.

This Special Issue aims to cover all of the relevant aspects of LDW and MAPLE research from the development of new experimental concepts to the transfer, chemical transformation, and high-resolution patterning of advanced nanomaterials. Accordingly, the Issue welcomes original research and review manuscripts on the following topics:

  • MAPLE deposition of functional coatings
  • Additive/ablative/chemical conversion LDW fabrication of devices
  • MAPLE/LDW transfer of nanostructures and nanocomposites
  • Challenges and trends of LDW and MAPLE technologies

Dr. Angel Perez del Pino
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 163 KiB  
Editorial
Deposition and Growth of Functional Nanomaterials by LDW and MAPLE Techniques
by Angel Perez del Pino
Crystals 2020, 10(11), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10111066 - 23 Nov 2020
Viewed by 1375
Abstract
Actual societal challenges require a vigorous progress on functional materials with improved functionalities [...] Full article

Research

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18 pages, 4713 KiB  
Article
Fast Growth of Multi-Phase MoOx Synthesized by Laser Direct Writing Using Femtosecond Pulses
by Santiago Camacho-Lopez, Miroslava Cano-Lara and Marco Camacho-Lopez
Crystals 2020, 10(7), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10070629 - 21 Jul 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2473
Abstract
Molybdenum oxide is an attractive material for application in several technology fields such as sensors, displays, and batteries, among many others. In this work, we present a reliable laser direct writing (LDW) method for synthesizing multi-phase molybdenum oxide (MoOx) on a [...] Read more.
Molybdenum oxide is an attractive material for application in several technology fields such as sensors, displays, and batteries, among many others. In this work, we present a reliable laser direct writing (LDW) method for synthesizing multi-phase molybdenum oxide (MoOx) on a single processing step. We use femtosecond laser pulses to produce up to five distinct crystalline phases of molybdenum oxide at once. We demonstrate how the laser irradiation conditions determine the MoOx stoichiometry, phase, and morphology. We show that by conveniently adjusting either the per-pulse laser fluence or the exposure time, MoOx can be obtained in nano or micro-structured form. We found that this ultrashort pulse laser processing method allows for the formation of unusual MoOx phases such as o-Mo18O52, which is rarely reported in the literature. In addition, it is possible to synthesize other sub-stoichiometric molybdenum oxide phases such as o-Mo4O11 and m-Mo8O23 all at atmospheric air conditions, with no need for demanding oxygen pressure precautions. Full article
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18 pages, 5053 KiB  
Article
Enhanced UV-Vis Photodegradation of Nanocomposite Reduced Graphene Oxide/Ferrite Nanofiber Films Prepared by Laser-Assisted Evaporation
by Albert Queraltó, Enikö György, Raluca Ivan, Ángel Pérez del Pino, Robert Frohnhoven and Sanjay Mathur
Crystals 2020, 10(4), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10040271 - 02 Apr 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3012
Abstract
Nanocomposite films of rGO/MFeO3 (M = Bi, La) nanofibers were grown by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of frozen target dispersions containing GO platelets and MFeO3 nanofibers. Electron microscopy investigations confirmed the successful fabrication of MFeO3 nanofibers by electrospinning Part of [...] Read more.
Nanocomposite films of rGO/MFeO3 (M = Bi, La) nanofibers were grown by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation of frozen target dispersions containing GO platelets and MFeO3 nanofibers. Electron microscopy investigations confirmed the successful fabrication of MFeO3 nanofibers by electrospinning Part of nanofibers were broken into shorter units, and spherical nanoparticles were formed during laser processing. Numerical simulations were performed in order to estimate the maximum temperature values reached by the nanofibers during laser irradiation. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed the formation of perovskite MFeO3 phase, whereas secondary phases of BiFeO3 could not be completely avoided, due to the high volatility of bismuth. XPS measurements disclosed the presence of metallic bismuth and Fe2+ for BiFeO3, whereas La2(CO3)3 and Fe2+ were observed in case of LaFeO3 nanofibers. High photocatalytic efficiencies for the degradation of methyl orange were achieved for nanocomposite films, both under UV and visible light irradiation conditions. Degradation values of up to 70% after 400 min irradiation were obtained for rGO/LaFeO3 nanocomposite thin layers, with weights below 10 µg, rGO platelets acting as reservoirs for photoelectrons generated at the surface of MFeO3. Full article
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8 pages, 1397 KiB  
Article
Transparent MXene-Polymer Supercapacitive Film Deposited Using RIR-MAPLE
by Alec Ajnsztajn, Spencer Ferguson, James O. Thostenson, Edgard Ngaboyamahina, Charles B. Parker, Jeffrey T. Glass and Adrienne D. Stiff-Roberts
Crystals 2020, 10(3), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10030152 - 27 Feb 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2304
Abstract
In this work, resonant infrared matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (RIR-MAPLE), a novel deposition technique, was used to produce a transparent composite electrode of polyflourene (PFO) and two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, which are part of the broader MXene family [...] Read more.
In this work, resonant infrared matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (RIR-MAPLE), a novel deposition technique, was used to produce a transparent composite electrode of polyflourene (PFO) and two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, which are part of the broader MXene family of transition metal carbides and nitrides. This deposition technique offers a facile way to vary film composition in polymer/polymer and polymer/nanoparticle films. Through this method, composite PFO and MXene films were studied across six different compositions, enabling the identification of a film composition that exhibited excellent charge storage (above 10 mF/cm2) and transparency (over 75% transmittance) when used as a supercapacitor electrode material. Thus, RIR-MAPLE shows promise as a controllable and facile deposition technique for organic/inorganic composite films for use in transparent supercapacitors, as well as in other energy storage applications. Full article
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Review

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17 pages, 4493 KiB  
Review
Laser-Induced Forward Transfer: A Method for Printing Functional Inks
by J. Marcos Fernández-Pradas and Pere Serra
Crystals 2020, 10(8), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst10080651 - 29 Jul 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 11331
Abstract
Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a direct-writing technique based in the action of a laser to print a small fraction of material from a thin donor layer onto a receiving substrate. Solid donor films have been used since its origins, but the same [...] Read more.
Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a direct-writing technique based in the action of a laser to print a small fraction of material from a thin donor layer onto a receiving substrate. Solid donor films have been used since its origins, but the same principle of operation works for ink liquid films, too. LIFT is a nozzle-free printing technique that has almost no restrictions in the particle size and the viscosity of the ink to be printed. Thus, LIFT is a versatile technique capable for printing any functional material with which an ink can be formulated. Although its principle of operation is valid for solid and liquid layers, in this review we put the focus in the LIFT works performed with inks or liquid suspensions. The main elements of a LIFT experimental setup are described before explaining the mechanisms of ink ejection. Then, the printing outcomes are related with the ejection mechanisms and the parameters that control their characteristics. Finally, the main achievements of the technique for printing biomolecules, cells, and materials for printed electronic applications are presented. Full article
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