Clivia Sotomayor-Torres

Orthotropic Piezoelectricity in 2D Nanocellulose

The control of electromechanical responses within bonding regions is essential to face frontier challenges in nanotechnologies, such as molecular electronics and biotechnology. Here, we present Iβ-nanocellulose as a potentially new orthotropic 2D piezoelectric crystal. The predicted in-layer piezoelectricity is originated on a sui-generis hydrogen bonds pattern. Upon this fact and by using a combination of ab-initio and ad-hoc models, we introduce a description of electrical profiles along chemical bonds. Such developments lead to obtain a rationale for modelling the extended piezoelectric effect originated within bond scales. The order of magnitude estimated for the 2D Iβ-nanocellulose piezoelectric response, ~pm V−1, ranks this material at the level of currently used piezoelectric energy generators and new artificial 2D designs. Such finding would be crucial for developing alternative materials to drive emerging nanotechnologies.

A Hooke׳s law-based approach to protein folding rate.

Kinetics is a key aspect of the renowned protein folding problem. Here, we propose a comprehensive approach to folding kinetics where a polypeptide chain is assumed to behave as an elastic material described by the Hooke׳s law. A novel parameter called elastic-folding constant results from our model and is suggested to distinguish between protein with two-state and multi-state folding pathways. A contact-free descriptor, named folding degree, is introduced as a suitable structural feature to study protein-folding kinetics. This approach generalizes the observed correlations between varieties of structural descriptors with the folding rate constant. Additionally several comparisons among structural classes and folding mechanisms were carried out showing the good performance of our model with proteins of different types. The present model constitutes a simple rationale for the structural and energetic factors involved in protein folding kinetics.

Optomechanical coupling in the Anderson-localization regime

Optomechanical crystals, purposely designed and fabricated semiconductor nanostructures, are used to enhance the coupling between the electromagnetic field and the mechanical vibrations of matter at the nanoscale. However, in real optomechanical crystals, imperfections open extra channels where the transfer of energy is lost, reducing the optomechanical coupling efficiency. Here, we quantify the role of disorder in a paradigmatic one-dimensional optomechanical crystal with full phononic and photonic band gaps. We show how disorder can be exploited as a resource to enhance the optomechanical coupling beyond engineered structures, thus providing a new tool set for optomechanics.

A hybrid organic–inorganic layered TiO2 based nanocomposite for sunlight photocatalysis

A novel hybrid nanocomposite constituted of single TiO2 nanosheets sandwiched between stearic acid self-assembled monolayers was synthesized and tested in the photodegradation of methylene blue under sunlight. The product showed better photocatalytic performance than anatase under similar conditions, which may be further improved through sensitization with cadmium sulfide.

Self-Assembled Nanofeatures in Complex Three-Dimensional Topographies via Nanoimprint and Block Copolymer Lithography Methods

Achieving ultrasmall dimensions of materials and retaining high throughput are critical fabrication considerations for nanotechnology use. This article demonstrates an integrated approach for developing isolated sub-20 nm silicon oxide features through combined “top-down” and “bottom-up” methods: nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and block copolymer (BCP) lithography. Although techniques like those demonstrated here have been developed for nanolithographic application in the microelectronics processing industry, similar approaches could be utilized for sensor, fluidic, and optical-based devices. Thus, this article centers on looking at the possibility of generating isolated silica structures on substrates. NIL was used to create intriguing three-dimensional (3-D) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) topographical arrays that guided and confined polystyrene-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PS-b-PDMS) BCP nanofeatures in isolated regions. A cylinder forming PS-b-PDMS BCP system was successfully etched using a one-step etching process to create line-space arrays with a period of 35 nm in confined POSS arrays. We highlight large-area (>6 μm) coverage of line-space arrays in 3-D topographies that could potentially be utilized, for example, in nanofluidic systems. Aligned features for directed self-assembly application are also demonstrated. The high-density, confined silicon oxide nanofeatures in soft lithographic templates over macroscopic areas illustrate the advantages of integrating distinct lithographic methods for attaining discrete features in the deep nanoscale regime.