Zhaoqian Liu

Biocompatible and freestanding anatase TiO2 nanomembrane with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Biocompatible and freestanding TiO2 nanotube membranes with improved photocatalytic activity were fabricated through a water-vapour-assisted annealing treatment at relatively low temperatures. Photoluminescence results and structure characterization prove that the obtained TiO2 nanotube membranes not only possess an enhanced anatase crystallinity from water molecule-intermediated dissolution-precipitation reactions, but are also covered with abundant hydroxyl groups which are hardly influenced by external disturbances. The anatase crystallinity, the superficial hydroxyl groups and the nanotubular morphology of the membrane treated with water vapour thus lead to enhancement in photocatalytic activity. This new approach is simple and time-saving, opening up new opportunities in various areas, including tissue-engineering, watersplitting, dye-sensitized solar cells and photocatalysis.

Novel techniques for modifying microtube surfaces with various periodic structures ranging from nano to microscale

Two dimensional (2-D) structured membranes have been well developed and widely studied to find potential applications in broad realms like optics, mechanics, fluidics, and electronics. In this work, the authors have successfully combined the top–down patterning techniques with the roll-up process to convert various structured flat membranes into three dimensional (3-D) microtubes with textured tube-walls. These 3-D textured microtubes may exhibit novel properties different from the original 2-D films and, thus, can be applied in wider research disciplines such as modern material sciences, biology, electrochemistry, etc. Depending on the parameters of the periodic templates including nanoscale porous anodic alumina and microscale imprinted templates in this work, the authors can curve these textured films into 3-D microtubes with structures on the tube-walls by the rolled-up nanotechnique. The specially designed microtubes here have the potential of interesting optical, electrical, and mechanical character...

Spectral detection of regenerated silk fibroin on a two dimensional metallic photonic crystal based SPR biosensor

We propose a novel metallic photonic crystal structured SPR biosensor for regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) measurements. The sensor is fabricated by Electron Beam Lithography with a special polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) peeling off process after metal deposition instead of conventional lift-off. The as prepared RSF film is coated on the sensor and the transmission spectra for the SPR signal of the sensor with and without the RSF coating are compared. The red shift and the intensity change of the SPR resonance peak prove the existence of the RSF film. Attentuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis also serves as a support. The high sensitivity and fast response of the SPR biosensor enables the possibility of online / in vivo detection for tissue engineering and other medical procedures.