Scanning Tunneling Microscopy/Spectroscopy In article number 2300413, Shern-Long Lee and co-workers summarize recent scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) studies of 3D nanoarchitectures based on the supramolecular assembly of functionalized molecules at the liquid-solid interface. The authors highlight several molecular systems with an emphasis on unique characteristics and electronic properties, providing insights into the designs of supramolecular architectures with increasing complexity and desired functionality.

Scanning Probe Microscopy

Force Spectroscopy

10.1002/smll.202370175

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High-performance solution-based silicon heterojunction solar cells using carbon nanotube with polymeric acid doping

Carbon (2021)

Rongbin Xie Hisashi Sugime Suguru Noda

Anti-reflective coating

10.1016/j.carbon.2020.12.056

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Citations (8)

Single small molecule-assembled nanoparticles mediate efficient oral drug delivery

Nano Research (2019)

Xin Yang Chao Ma Zeming Chen Jun Liu Fuyao Liu

Nanomaterials

10.1007/s12274-019-2470-0

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Citations (51)

A Paradigm Shift from 2D to 3D: Surface Supramolecular Assemblies and Their Electronic Properties Explored by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy

Small (2023)

Rongbin Xie Yi Hu Shern‐Long Lee

Abstract Exploring supramolecular architectures at surfaces plays an increasingly important role in contemporary science, especially for molecular electronics. A paradigm of research interest in this context is shifting from 2D to 3D that is expanding from monolayer, bilayers, to multilayers. Taking advantage of its high‐resolution insight into monolayers and a few layers, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) turns out a powerful tool for analyzing such thin films on a solid surface. This review summarizes the representative efforts of STM/STS studies of layered supramolecular assemblies and their unique electronic properties, especially at the liquid–solid interface. The superiority of the 3D molecular networks at surfaces is elucidated and an outlook on the challenges that still lie ahead is provided. This review not only highlights the profound progress in 3D supramolecular assemblies but also provides researchers with unusual concepts to design surface supramolecular structures with increasing complexity and desired functionality.

Scanning Probe Microscopy

Paradigm shift

10.1002/smll.202300413

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Enhancing the photovoltaic performance of hybrid heterojunction solar cells by passivation of silicon surface via a simple 1-min annealing process

Scientific Reports (2019)

Rongbin Xie Naoya Ishijima Hisashi Sugime Suguru Noda

Abstract Solution-based heterojunction technology is emerging for facile fabrication of silicon (Si)-based solar cells. Surface passivation of Si substrate has been well established to improve the photovoltaic (PV) performance for the conventional bulk Si cells. However, the impact is still not seen for the heterojunction cells. Here, we developed a facile and repeatable method to passivate the Si surface by a simple 1-min annealing process in vacuum, and integrated it into the heterojunction cells with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) or carbon nanotube (CNT). A thin and dense oxide layer was introduced on the Si surface to provide a high-quality hole transport layer and passivation layer. The layer enhanced the power conversion efficiency from 9.34% to 12.87% (1.38-times enhancement) for the PEDOT:PSS/n-Si cells and from 6.61% to 8.52% (1.29-times enhancement) for the CNT/n-Si cells. The simple passivation is a promising way to enhance the PV performance of the Si cells with various solution-based heterojunctions.

Passivation

10.1038/s41598-019-48504-7

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Flow-induced-crystallization: tailoring host–guest supramolecular co-assemblies at the liquid–solid interface

Nanoscale Advances (2022)

Yi Hu Xingming Zeng Sanjay Sahare Rongbin Xie Shern‐Long Lee

Here, we report that using the method of simply contacting a sample solution droplet with a piece of tissue paper can create a solvent flow (capillary force). During this process, the dynamics and solvent removal can promote the formation and stabilization of a meta-stable linear quasi-crystal composed of

Interface (matter)

10.1039/d2na00160h

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Graphene quantum dots as smart probes for biosensing

Analytical Methods (2016)

Rongbin Xie Zifei Wang Wei Zhou Yanting Liu Louzhen Fan

Graphene quantum dots as smart probes for photoluminescence, electrochemiluminescence and electrochemical biosensors.

10.1039/c6ay00289g

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Citations (132)

Simple fabrication of silicon solar cells based on the heterojunction with carbon nanotubes

Rongbin Xie

Source

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Monolayer and Bilayer Formation of Molecular 2D Networks Assembled at the Liquid/Solid Interfaces by Solution-Based Drop-Cast Method

Molecules (2021)

Xingming Zeng Yi Hu Rongbin Xie Sadaf Bashir Khan Shern‐Long Lee

In recent years, extending self-assembled structures from two-dimensions (2D) to three-dimensions (3D) has been a paradigm in surface supramolecular chemistry and contemporary nanotechnology. Using organic molecules of p-terphenyl-3,5,3',5'-tetracarboxylic acid (TPTC), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we present a simple route, that is the control of the solute solubility in a sample solution, to achieve the vertical growth of supramolecular self-assemblies, which would otherwise form monolayers at the organic solvent/graphite interface. Presumably, the bilayer formations were based on π-conjugated overlapped molecular dimers that worked as nuclei to induce the yielding of the second layer. We also tested other molecules, including trimesic acid (TMA) and 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)-benzene (BTB), as well as the further application of our methodology, demonstrating the facile preparation of layered assemblies.

Trimesic acid

Self-assembled monolayer

10.3390/molecules26247707

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Citations (5)