The enhanced near-field amplitude of localized surface plasmon resonance in the proximity metal nanoparticles can boost photocatalytic activity neighboring semiconductor, which has been proven and attracted wide interest recently. Since energy strongly depends on particle size shape, interparticle spacing, dielectric property surrounding medium, it is available to improve semiconductor by designing synthesizing targeted or assembled nanostructures. In this paper, we propose a Au/TiO2/Au...

An artificial periodic roughness-gradient conical copper wire (PCCW) can be fabricated by inspiration from cactus spines and wet spider silks. PCCW harvest fog on points of the surface air transports drops for a long distance without external force, which is attributed to dynamic as-released energy generated drop deformation in coalescence, addition both gradients geometric curve (inducing Laplace pressure) roughness difference). It found that ability collection related various tilt-angle...

Fog harvesting is a useful technique for obtaining fresh water in arid climates. The wire meshes currently utilized fog suffer from dual constraints: coarse cannot efficiently capture microscopic droplets, whereas fine clogging issues. Here, we design and fabricate harvesters comprising an array of vertical wires, which call "fog harps". Under controlled laboratory conditions, the fog-harvesting rates harps with three different diameters were compared to conventional equivalent dimensions....

Smart anisotropic-unidirectional spreading is displayed on a wettable-gradient-aligned fibrous surface due to synergetic directing effect from the aligned structure and ratio of hydrophilic components. As service our authors readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by authors. Such materials are peer reviewed may be re-organized for online delivery, but not copy-edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising (other than missing files) should addressed Please note:...

Direct air capture (DAC) is a promising carbon mitigation technology and will likely be part of extensive removal portfolio. Adsorptive DAC an appropriate option for to utilize low-grade heat because its desirable regeneration temperature adaptability integrated with renewables. Building indoor environment CO2 concentrations above 1000 ppm provides another suitable scenario DAC. Herein, using temperature-vacuum swing adsorption (TVSA) presented analyzed by integrating various sources in...

Abstract Fog harvesting is useful for passively collecting fresh water in arid regions, but the efficiency of current mesh‐based harvesters compromised by their poor drainage. Inspired linear needles redwood trees, “fog harps” are developed whose array vertical wires enables an unobstructed drainage pathway. A full‐scale (1 m 2 frame) fog harp fabricated winding a stainless steel wire around spinning aluminum frame featuring threaded rods. The field tested full year at local farm...

It has recently been demonstrated that harps harvest substantively more fog water than conventional mesh nets, but the optimal design for remains unknown. Here, we systematically vary key parameters of a scale-model harp, wire material, pitch, and length, to find combination. We found stainless steel not only be best hydrophilic material also nearly as effective Teflon-coated wires. The choice pitch was coupled smallest collected most short hampered by tangling taller harps. Accordingly, use...

In arid yet foggy regions, fog harvesting is emerging as a promising approach to combat water scarcity. The mesh netting used by current harvesters suffers from inefficient drainage, which severely constrains the collection efficiency. Recently, it was demonstrated that harps can significantly enhance vertical wire array does not obstruct drainage pathway. However, fabrication limitations resulted in very low shade coefficient of 18% for initial harp prototype and field testing...

The circulating flu viruses merging with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic raises a more severe threat that promotes infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 associated higher mortality rates. Here, we conjugated recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) spike protein onto inactivated influenza A virus (Flu) to develop virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine two-hit protection. This double-hit (Flu-RBD) not only induced protective immunities against but also remained functional as vaccine. Flu core improved...

Anti‐icing abilities are achieved on surfaces of micropillar arrays with nanohairs that fabricated by methods soft replication and crystal growth, i.e., different the similar nanohairs, same arrays. It is demonstrated an optimal array contributes excellent anti‐icing or antifogging property at low temperature below zero. As a result, longest icing delay time effectively up to ≈9839 s −10 °C surface. for surface in humidity, condensed droplets merge into each other, meanwhile jump off easily....

A unique water collection ability is revealed in green bristlegrass bristle that attributed to a barb array similar the ratchet structure arranged on cone groove surface of bristle. The multi-level geometric gradients are formed dominate coalescence and directionally transport tiny droplets condensed water.

Abstract Directional control of droplets on a surface is an important issue for tasks long-range liquid-transport, self-cleaning and water repellency. However, it still challenging to the structure motions in orientations so as shedding-off droplets. Herein, we report novel dynamic magnetic responsive wall (DMRW) array PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) -based surface. The walls can easily tilt through effect external magnet because material DMRW. be shed off directionally Particularly, with shape...

The anisotropic adhesion behavior of the gecko is closely related to their feet and comprised keratinous hairs, setae, where van der Waals forces permit attachment detachment during locomotion. Previous research either achieved only isotropic behaviors or involved complicated photolithography method. Here, we reported a simple way achieve gecko-inspired adhesives, consisting micropillars with asymmetrically tilted orientation via 3D printing technique. adhesive structured polymer pillars...

Directional driving of a droplet can be achieved on gradient‐exhibiting, nanostructured microhump (GNMH) surface at low temperature and high humidity. The GNMH is fabricated using commercial carbon fiber plate with an array microscale hump structures; nanotechniques are used to form varying nanostructures the array, producing micro‐ surface. different result in wettability gradient along surface, enabling transport help vibration—even or In contrast, simply surfaces microstructured that also...

Abstract The transpiration cycle in trees is powered by a negative water potential generated within the leaves, which pumps up dense array of xylem conduits. Synthetic can mimic this cycle, but have been confined to pumping across single microcapillary or microfluidic channels. Here, we fabricated tall synthetic where ascends an large diameter conduits, enable at same macroscopic scale as natural trees. An 19 tubes millimetric were embedded inside nanoporous ceramic disk on one end, while...

Over the past decade, synthetic trees have been engineered to mimic transpiration cycle of natural plants, but leaves are prone dry out beneath a critical relative humidity. Here, we create large-area whose process is remarkably stable over wide range humidities, even without stomatal chambers atop nanopores leaf. While water menisci cannot initially withstand Kelvin stress subsaturated air, they self-stabilized by locally concentrating vapor within top layers that dried up. Transpiration...

During urethral catheterization, sliding friction can cause discomfort and even hemorrhaging. In this report, we use a lubricant-impregnated polydimethylsiloxane coating to reduce the of catheter. Using pig urethra attached microforce testing system, found that catheter reduces during insertion by more than factor two. This suggests slippery, surfaces have potential enhance patient comfort safety catheterization.

Photon bunching, a feature of classical thermal fields, has been widely exploited to implement ghost imaging. Here we show that spatial photon antibunching can be experimentally observed via low-pass filtering the intensities two light beams from beamsplitter correlation system. Through suitable choice filter thresholds, minimum measured normalized anti-correlation function, i.e., dip, lower than 0.2, while its full-width-at-half-maximum much narrower corresponding positive peak. Based on...

Solar steam generation from a porous evaporator is promising approach for harvesting fresh water. Parasitic heat loss can be reduced by using 3D that extends above the free surface; however, capillary rise constrains height of such structures to centimeter scale. Here, we demonstrate solar synthetic tree, which uses transpiration instead pump water up insulating tubes any desired height. A nanoporous ceramic disk coated with graphite was used leaf, attached upper end vertical array plastic...

A filtered ghost imaging (GI) protocol is proposed that enables the Rayleigh diffraction limit to be exceeded in an intensity correlation system; a super-resolution reconstructed image achieved by low-pass filtering of measured intensities. In lensless GI experiment performed with spatial bandpass filtering, resolution can exceed bound more than factor 10. The depends on bandwidth filter, and relationship between two investigated discussed. combination compressed sensing programming, not...