Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “interfacial structures”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Strain-relaxed tetragonal MAPbI 3 results in efficient mesoporous solar cells

In mesoporous organo-halide perovskite solar cells, the coexistence of tetragonal phase and cubic phase in the perovskite layer is found to result in strained crystal structure at the mesoporous TiO 2 (mp-TiO 2 )/perovskite heterointerface. This results in structural defects pinholes, grain boundaries, and interfacial porosity which is detrimental towards photovoltaic performance and device stability. The strain at the interface originates from the lattice mismatch between the mp-TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) and perovskite. Here, a transformative approach is demonstrated to realize relaxed and high purity tetragonal phase MAPbI 3 (RP) near the mp-TiO 2 interface region. This approach involves inserting a ~2 nm lattice matched buffer layer of cubic CsPbBr 3 between mp-TiO 2 NPs and MAPbI 3 , which serves as a template for epitaxial growth for top MAPbI 3 . As a result, the solar cell with relaxed MAPbI3 shows a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.12% with significantly enhanced environmental, light, and thermal stability.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Protein Adhesion on Semi-Fluorinated Polystyrene Surfaces in Static and Dynamic Measurements

Reducing protein adhesion is a critical strategy in fouling-resistant material innovation, with broad applications spanning biomedical and healthcare devices, biosensors, industrial and environmental systems, and other important technological domains. Here, in this study, we elucidated protein adhesion behavior on polystyrene-based thin films by neutron reflectometry (NR) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), using both lysozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as model proteins. To this end, semifluorinated polystyrene thin films with gradient wettability and surface energy were fabricated through dry processing using plasma oxidation and gas-phase deposition. Although it is believed that a fully fluorinated alkyl chain offers extremely low surface energy, thus rejecting foulants, and has been used in many fouling-resistant surface designs, enhanced protein–surface interactions were observed consistently in NR and QCM-D results, due to the combined effects of surface morphology and chemistry. On the contrary, depositing shorter fluorinated silane onto a hydrophilic PS surface contributed to a more homogeneous nanoscale fluorine coating, resulting in less initial protein adsorption and improved surface recovery. Comparative analysis of proteins with different sizes on the nanopatterned semifluorinated surface revealed the influence of molecular characteristics on surface interactions. Lysozyme, being smaller and more compact, showed faster adsorption kinetics and higher surface coverage but largely reversible binding, whereas BSA, with its larger and more flexible structure, formed broader and more stable interfacial layers. This study fills the gap in understanding protein adhesion within the range of hydrophobicity (water contact angle ∼90°), as current strategies often associate with extreme hydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces due to hydration or low-surface-energy rejection mechanisms, respectively. It also provides in-depth insights into current combinatorial fouling-resistant surface design.

Yuan, Yue [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), O↗
DOE OSTI2019

Minireview - Microtubules and Tubulin Oligomers: Shape Transitions and Assembly by Intrinsically Disordered Protein Tau and Cationic Biomolecules

In this minireview, which is part of a special issue in honor of Jacob N. Israelachvili’s remarkable research career on intermolecular forces and interfacial science, we present studies of structures, phase behavior, and forces in reaction mixtures of microtubules (MTs) and tubulin oligomers with either intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) Tau, cationic vesicles, or the polyamine spermine (4+). Bare MTs consist of 13 protofilaments (PFs), on average, where each PF is made of a linear stack of αβ-tubulin dimers (i.e., tubulin oligomers). We begin with a series of experiments which demonstrate the flexibility of PFs toward shape changes in response to local environmental cues. First, studies show that MT-associated protein (MAP) Tau controls the diameter of microtubules upon binding to the outer surface, implying a shape change in the cross-sectional area of PFs forming the MT perimeter. The diameter of a MT may also be controlled by the charge density of a lipid bilayer membrane that coats the outer surface. We further describe an experimental study where it is unexpectedly found that the biologically relevant polyamine spermine (+4e) is able to depolymerize taxol-stabilized microtubules with efficiency that increases with decreasing temperature. This MT destabilization drives a dynamical structural transition where inside-out curving of PFs, during the depolymerization peeling process, is followed by reassembly of ring-like curved PF building blocks into an array of helical inverted tubulin tubules. We finally turn to a very recent study on pressure–distance measurements in bundles of MTs employing the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)-osmotic pressure technique, which complements the surface-forces-apparatus technique developed by Jacob N. Israelachvili. Furthermore, these latter studies are among the very few which are beginning to shed light on the precise nature of the interactions between MTs mediated by MAP Tau in 37 °C reaction mixtures containing GTP and lacking taxol.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dimolybdenum Paddlewheel Complexes with Cation Binding Sites as Electrolyte Additives to Manipulate the Solid-Electrolyte Interphase at Lithium Metal Anodes

The use of electrolyte additives at millimolar loadings to control the surface chemistry of lithium metal anodes (LMAs) is a leading strategy to improve lithium metal batteries and promote electrosynthetic reactions. Whereas previous studies employed either inorganic or organic additives, in this study, we report the first organometallic additive, Mo 2 (mea) 4 [1, mea = 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)acetate], a dimolybdenum paddlewheel complex that is stable under Li plating conditions and features cation binding sites in the second coordination sphere that promote reversible Li + coordination. Binding of Li + ions to 1 induces immobilization of cationically charged aggregates (or products thereof) into the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), imparting multiple beneficial functions. The modified SEI was found to protect the LMA against parasitic side reactions, produce modest but measurable improvements to Li plating properties (e.g., overpotential, surface structure, and Coulombic efficiency), and improve interfacial charge transport properties. Furthermore, the most notable benefit to battery cycling performance appears in calendar aging tests, which show that the presence of the additive protects the LMA from parasitic side reactions that would otherwise decrease overall cell cycling efficiency over time. Collectively, these data disclose a tactic for designing electrolyte additives using principles of organometallic synthesis.

Additives↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dynamic Evolution of Palladium Single Atoms on Anatase Titania Support Determines the Reverse Water–Gas Shift Activity

Research interest in single-atom catalysts (SACs) has been continuously rising. However, the lack of understanding of the dynamic behaviors of SACs during applications hinder catalyst development and mechanistic understanding. Herein, we report on the evolution of active sites over Pd/TiO 2 -anatase SAC (Pd 1 /TiO 2 ) in the reverse water-gas shift (rWGS) reaction. Combining kinetics, in-situ characterization, and theory, we show that at T ≥ 350 °C, the reduction of TiO 2 by H 2 alters the coordination environment of Pd, creating Pd sites with partially cleaved Pd-O interfacial bonds and a unique electronic structure that exhibit high intrinsic rWGS activity through the carboxyl pathway. The activation by H 2 is accompanied by the partial sintering of single Pd atoms (Pd 1 ) into disordered, flat, ~1 nm diameter clusters (Pd n ). The highly active Pd sites in the new coordination environment under H 2 are eliminated by oxidation, which, when performed at high temperature, also re-disperses Pd n and facilitates the reduction of TiO 2 . In contrast, Pd 1 sinters into crystalline, ~5 nm particles (Pd NP ) during CO treatment, deactivating Pd 1 /TiO 2 . During the rWGS reaction, the two Pd evolution pathways co-exist. The activation by H 2 dominates, leading to the increasing rate with time-on-stream, and steady-state Pd active sites similar with the ones formed under H 2 . Finally, this work demonstrates how the coordination environment and nuclearity of metal sites on a SAC evolve during catalysis and pre-treatments, and how their activity is modulated by these behaviors. These insights on SAC dynamics and structure-function relationship are valuable to mechanistic understanding and catalyst design.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Suppressing electrolyte-lithium metal reactivity via Li + -desolvation in uniform nano-porous separator

Lithium reactivity with electrolytes leads to their continuous consumption and dendrite growth, which constitute major obstacles to harnessing the tremendous energy of lithium-metal anode in a reversible manner. Considerable attention has been focused on inhibiting dendrite via interface and electrolyte engineering, while admitting electrolyte-lithium metal reactivity as a thermodynamic inevitability. Here, we report the effective suppression of such reactivity through a nano-porous separator. Calculation assisted by diversified characterizations reveals that the separator partially desolvates Li + in confinement created by its uniform nanopores, and deactivates solvents for electrochemical reduction before Li 0 -deposition occurs. The consequence of such deactivation is realizing dendrite-free lithium-metal electrode, which even retaining its metallic lustre after long-term cycling in both Li-symmetric cell and high-voltage Li-metal battery with LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 as cathode. The discovery that a nano-structured separator alters both bulk and interfacial behaviors of electrolytes points us toward a new direction to harness lithium-metal as the most promising anode.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

First-principles calculations of metal surfaces. I. Slab-consistent bulk reference for convergent surface properties

The first-principles computation of the surfaces of metals is typically accomplished through slab calculations of finite thickness. The extraction of a convergent surface formation energy from slab calculations is dependent upon defining an appropriate bulk reference energy. I describe a method for an independently computed, slab-consistent bulk reference that leads to convergent surface formation energies from slab calculations that also provides realistic uncertainties for the magnitude of unavoidable nonlinear divergence in the surface formation energy with slab thickness. In conclusion, the accuracy is demonstrated on relaxed, unreconstructed low-index aluminum surfaces with slabs with up to 35 layers.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Origin of insulating and nonferromagnetic SrRuO 3 monolayers

The electro-magnetic properties of ultrathin epitaxial ruthenate films have long been the subject of debate. Here we combine experimental with theoretical investigations of (SrTiO 3 ) 5 -(SrRuO 3 ) n -(SrTiO 3 ) 5 (STO 5 -SRO n -STO 5 ) heterostructures with n = 1 and 2 unit cells, including extensive atomic-resolution scanning-transmission-electron-microscopy imaging, electron-energy-loss-spectroscopy chemical mapping, as well as transport and magneto-transport measurements. The experimental data demonstrate that the STO 5 -SRO 2 -STO 5 heterostructure is nearly stoichiometric, metallic, and ferromagnetic with T C ~ 128 K, even though it lacks the characteristic bulk-SRO octahedral tilts and matches the cubic STO structure. In contrast, the STO 5 -SRO 1 -STO 5 heterostructure features Ru-Ti intermixing in the RuO 2 layer, also without octahedral tilts, but is accompanied by a loss of metallicity and ferromagnetism. Density-functional-theory calculations show that stoichiometric n = 1 and n = 2 heterostructures are metallic and ferromagnetic with no octahedral tilts, while non-stoichiometry in the Ru sublattice in the n = 1 case opens an energy gap and induces antiferromagnetic ordering. Furthermore, the results indicate that the observed non-stoichiometry is the cause of the observed loss of metallicity and ferromagnetism in the n = 1 case.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Epitaxial growth of hexagonal BaNi O 3–δ thin films on SrTi O 3 (111) substrates

Transition metal oxides containing nickel species in oxidation states higher than 3+ often exhibit high catalytic activity, which makes them promising for applications as advanced electrocatalysts for water splitting and fuel cells. Here, we examine the structure and properties of BaNiO 3 (BNO) thin films, containing formally Ni 4+ , grown on SrTiO 3 (111) substrates using oxygen-plasma–assisted molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements reveal that BNO films have a hexagonal structure with $c$- and $a$-axes of mixed textures showing epitaxial relationships BNO (0001) ∥ SrTiO 3 (111) and BNO (10$\overline{1}$0) ∥ SrTi O 3 (111), respectively. The formation of the $a$-axis texture is dominant due to the smaller lattice mismatch with the substrate. Here, density functional theory calculations confirm that the hexagonal BNO film with the $a$-axis texture is energetically more favorable than the competing $c$-axis texture. Detailed spectroscopy data analysis indicates that hexagonal BNO films contain mixtures of Ni 2+ , Ni 3+ , and Ni 4+ species, with Ni 4+ being dominant. Our study provides insights into stabilizing Ni 4+ in complex oxides, which is important for further exploration of the potential of materials containing Ni 4+ .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

From Powder to Power: Tailored Pre-Milling Strategy that Optimizes Microstructure for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a critical role in enabling large-scale electrolytic hydrogen production and advancing future technologies and fuel production. Among non-precious metals, NiMo-based catalysts are particularly attractive due to their capability to promote both water dissociation and hydrogen adsorption in alkaline media. However, conventional NiMo catalysts often suffer from incomplete alloying, particle aggregation, weak metal–support interactions, and surface oxidation, which significantly limit active site utilization, electronic conductivity, and long-term stability. Herein, we report a scalable, solid-state, two-step ball milling strategy for constructing an efficient NiMo/C catalyst for the HER. Pre-milling the metal precursors prior to carbon incorporation promotes efficient solid-state activation, leading to the formation of uniformly alloyed, ultrafine, and defect-rich Ni–Mo nanoparticles with robust metal–carbon interfacial anchoring. Benefiting from this integrated structural design, the optimized NiMo/C catalyst exhibits low overpotentials and Tafel slopes, reduced charge-transfer resistance, and excellent durability under alkaline conditions. Comprehensive structural and surface analysis reveal that the enhanced HER performance can be attributed to the synergistic interplay of homogeneous Ni–Mo alloying, uniform nanoparticle dispersion on a defect-rich carbon scaffold, enhanced accessibility of catalytically active sites, and optimized electronic coupling that stabilizes the catalyst surface. This work highlights the two-step solid-state ball milling strategy as a simple, robust, and scalable route for the preparation of effective and durable non-precious metal HER electrocatalysts, offering practical insights toward large-scale and inexpensive hydrogen production.

Yang, Xiaoxuan [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORN↗
DOE OSTI2022

Spin orbit torque in ferromagnet/topological-quantum-material heterostructures

The main objective of this proposal was to investigate the spin-orbital driven phenomena in topological insulator (TI)/ferromagnet (FM) or transition metal (TM) heterostructures. In particularly, we tried to utilize the spin-momentum locking properties on the surface of TIs to achieve ideal spin-orbit torques (SOTs). In practice, we found that the surface properties have been greatly modified, resulting in much more complicated magneto-transport behaviors than what is expected in SOT-driven magnetotransport. Through systematic and extended investigations, we start to unravel that the nonlinear magnetotransport properties, which was, in the past, mainly attributed to SOT-driven phenomena, can be used to infer the modification of the electronic band structures of TIs and spin textures in FMs which are closely related with charge-spin interconversion phenomena. Regarding the band structures In TIs, we find under electrostatic perturbations imposed by deposition of nonmagnetic TMs, the quantum well states formed on the surface of TIs develop substantial Rashba spin-splitting, which is detected as a bilinear magnetoresistance (BMR). Under magnetic perturbations, the nonlinear planar Hall effect (NPHE) in the topological surface states is greatly enhanced, possibly reflecting the modified surface band structure due to time-reversal symmetry breaking. In a double HM/FM heterostructure where the magnetic anisotropy can be robustly tuned, we observed second-harmonic Hall voltage responses corresponding to domain wall structures with fixed chirality, stabilized by interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). In addition, in the linear transport regime, we utilized inverse-SHE-induced anomalous Hall effect in Pt to probe the exchange bias on the surface of a doped magnetic insulator Tm 3 Fe 5 O 12 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2003

Membrane peptides and their role in protobiological evolution

How simple membrane peptides performed such essential protocellular functions as transport of ions and organic matter across membranes separating the interior of the cell from the environment, capture and utilization of energy, and transduction of environmental signals, is a key question in protobiological evolution. On the basis of detailed, molecular-level computer simulations we explain how these peptides fold at water-membrane interfaces, insert into membranes, self-assemble into higher-order structures and acquire functions. We have investigated the interfacial behavior and folding of several peptides built of leucine and glutamine residues and have demonstrated that many of them tend to adopt ordered structures. Further, we have studied the insertion of an alpha-helical peptide containing leucine (L) and serine (S) of the form (LSLLLSL)3 into a model membrane. The transmembrane state is metastable, and approximately 15 kcal mol(-1) is required to insert the peptide into the membrane. Investigations of dimers formed by (LSLLLSL)3 and glycophorin A demonstrate how the favorable free energy of helix association can offset the unfavorable free energy of insertion, leading to self-assembly of peptide helices in the membrane. An example of a self-assembled structure is the tetrameric transmembrane pore of the influenza virus M2 protein, which is an efficient and selective voltage-gated proton channel. Our simulations explain the gating mechanism and provide guidelines how to re-engineer the channel to act as a simple proton pump. In general, emergence of integral membrane proteins appears to be quite feasible and may be easier to envision than the emergence of water-soluble proteins.

Models, Chemical↗
NASA NTRS2017

Material Characterization for the Analysis of Skin/Stiffener Separation

Test results show that separation failure in co-cured skin/stiffener interfaces is characterized by dense networks of interacting cracks and crack path migrations that are not present in standard characterization tests for delamination. These crack networks result in measurable large-scale and sub-ply-scale R curve toughening mechanisms, such as fiber bridging, crack migration, and crack delving. Consequently, a number of unknown issues exist regarding the level of analysis detail that is required for sufficient predictive fidelity. The objective of the present paper is to examine some of the difficulties associated with modeling separation failure in stiffened composite structures. A procedure to characterize the interfacial material properties is proposed and the use of simplified models based on empirical interface properties is evaluated.

Davila, Carlos G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Atomic Dynamics of Multi‐Interfacial Migration and Transformations

Redox-induced interconversions of metal oxidation states typically result in multiple phase boundaries that separate chemically and structurally distinct oxides and suboxides. Directly probing such multi-interfacial reactions is challenging because of the difficulty in simultaneously resolving the multiple reaction fronts at the atomic scale. Using the example of CuO reduction in H 2 gas, a reaction pathway of CuO → monoclinic m-Cu 4 O 3 → Cu 2 O is demonstrated and identifies interfacial reaction fronts at the atomic scale, where the Cu 2 O/m-Cu 4 O 3 interface shows a diffuse-type interfacial transformation; while the lateral flow of interfacial ledges appears to control the m-Cu 4 O 3 /CuO transformation. Together with atomistic modeling, it is shown that such a multi-interface transformation results from the surface-reaction-induced formation of oxygen vacancies that diffuse into deeper atomic layers, thereby resulting in the formation of the lower oxides of Cu 2 O and m-Cu 4 O 3 , and activate the interfacial transformations. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the lively dynamics at the reaction fronts of the multiple interfaces and have substantial implications for controlling the microstructure and interphase boundaries by coupling the interplay between the surface reaction dynamics and the resulting mass transport and phase evolution in the subsurface and bulk.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing anomalous Hall effect with suppressed ferromagnetism in the SrTiO 3 -confined bilayer heterostructure of ultrathin SrRuO 3 and SrIrO 3

Ferromagnetism is an essential ingredient for anomalous Hall effect. SrRuO 3 is a representative ferromagnetic oxide that exhibits anomalous Hall effect even down to the monolayer confinement limit. Paramagnetic metal SrIrO 3 , on the other hand, becomes an antiferromagnetic insulator when confined to a monolayer. Here, in this study, we show that, by forming a confined bilayer structure of SrRuO 3 and SrIrO 3 monolayers with SrTiO 3 spacers, the anomalous Hall effect is significantly enhanced while the ferromagnetism as well as the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are suppressed. These effects originate from interfacial Ru–Ir hybridization that modifies the electronic structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level. Our work demonstrates that confined bilayer heterostructure is an useful design for exploring the synergistic combination of interfacial coupling and quantum confinement of complex oxides.

anomalous hall effect↗
DOE OSTI2026

A mild calcium carbonate treatment improves moisture resistance and mechanical/interfacial properties of jute and hemp fibers

Natural fibers are attractive, sustainable reinforcements, but often exhibit high moisture uptake and weak bonding with polymer matrices. In this study, jute and hemp were treated by immersion in aqueous calcium carbonate (CaCO3) suspensions (10–40?wt.%, 1.5?h, room temperature) and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), moisture sorption testing, single-fiber tensile testing, and bundle pull-out testing. SEM showed granular CaCO3 deposition on fiber surfaces, with particulates bridging surface voids and microcracks. At 40 wt.% CaCO3, equilibrium moisture uptake decreased to ~5% (hemp) and ~3% (jute), while tensile strength increased to ~904 MPa (hemp) and ~960 MPa (jute). Apparent interfacial shear strength from pull-out testing increased up to ~1.35 MPa (hemp) and ~0.56 MPa (jute). These results indicate that CaCO3 deposition is a mild, scalable surface treatment that improves moisture resistance, fiber tensile strength, and interfacial load transfer relevant to semi-structural composite applications, including interior and secondary automotive components.

Calcium carbonate treatment↗
DOE OSTI2023

Visualizing the Effect of Oxidation on Magnetic Domain Behavior of Nanoscale Fe 3 GeTe 2 for Applications in Spintronics

Magnetic van der Waals (vdW) materials offer an opportunity to design heterostructures that will lead to exotic functionalities that arise from interfacial interaction. In addition to coupling to different vdW materials, the naturally oxidized surface layer of a vdW material also forms a heterostructure with its bulk film, giving rise to intriguing phenomena. Here, we directly observe the impact of oxidation on the magnetic domains, namely, magnetic stripe domain and skyrmions, in a nanoscale Fe 3 GeTe 2 flake using cryo Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. After the Fe 3 GeTe 2 is exposed to ambient conditions, partial oxidation leads to an increase in the density of skyrmions even under zero magnetic field. Complete oxidation leads to a loss of the magnetic domain structure. We observe a gradual change in Fe 3 GeTe 2 from single crystal to amorphous as the oxidation increases. The oxidized Fe 3 GeTe 2 primarily consists of iron oxide, which could be antiferromagnetic in nature. We hypothesize that the interfacial interaction between these surface antiferromagnetic oxides and the bulk ferromagnetic Fe 3 GeTe 2 , as well as the effect of interfacial roughness, leads to the increase in Néel skyrmion creation. Furthermore, this work opens a path to harness controlled oxidation as a build block to create dense skyrmion lattices without the need for an external magnetic field, leading to potential future applications in spintronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reversible Binding Interfaces Made of Microstructured Polymer Brushes

The polymer brush architecture of the end-tethered polymer molecules is one of the most widely used efficient methods to regulate interfacial interactions in colloidal systems found in live matter and manufactured materials. Emerging applications of polymer brush structures require solutions to new tasks in the control of interfacial interactions. The rapid development of live cell manufacturing relies on scalable and efficient cell harvesting methods. Stimuli-responsive surfaces made of surface-grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) can bind and detach the adherent cell upon changes in temperature and have been used for cell growth and harvesting. The applications are limited by the requirement to satisfy a range of PNIPAM coating characteristics that depend on the dimensions of the integrin complex in the cell membrane and the basal surface. The analysis of the microstructured surfaces, when adhesive and disjoining functions of the microdomains are decoupled, shows that many limitations of PNIPAM one-component coatings can be avoided by using a much broader range of structural characteristics of the microstructured interfaces composed of alternating disjoining PNIPAM domains and adhesive polymeric domains with cell-affinity functional groups. Temperature-controlled reversible adhesion to such microstructured interfaces is studied here experimentally with model systems of solid spherical particles and by employing simulations for solid and soft membranes interacting with the microstructured surfaces to mimic interactions with soft and solid disk-like particles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗