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Durotaxis motion is a spectacular phenomenon manifesting itself by the autonomous motion of a nano-object between parts of a substrate with different stiffness. This motion usually takes place along a stiffness gradient from softer to…
We investigate the interaction energy between two colloidal particles on or immersed in nonadsorbing polymer brushes grafted onto the substrate as a function of the separation of the particles by use of self-consistent field theory…
Designing flat sheets that can be made to deform into 3D shapes is an area of intense research with applications in micromachines, soft robotics, and medical implants. Thus far, such sheets were designed to adopt a single target shape.…
The unique atomic monolayer structure of graphene gives rise to a broad range of remarkable mechanical folding properties. However, significant challenges remain in effectively harnessing them in a controllable and scalable manner. In this…
Physically accurate and mathematically tractable models are presented to characterize scattering and reflection properties of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs). We take continuous and discrete strategies to model a single patch and…
Within recent years, the field of nano-mechanics has diversified in a variety of applications, ranging from quantum information processing to biological molecules recognition. Among the diversity of devices produced these days, the simplest…
An infinite hierarchy of layering transitions exists for model polymers in solution under poor solvent or low temperatures and near an attractive surface. A flat histogram stochastic growth algorithm known as FlatPERM has been used on a…
Large scale molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the dispersion of nanoparticles (NPs) in a polymer film during solvent evaporation. As the solvent evaporates, a dense polymer-rich skin layer forms at the liquid/vapor interface,…
Virtually all organic (opto)electronic devices rely on organic/inorganic interfaces with specific properties. These properties are, in turn, inextricably linked to the interface structure. Therefore, a change in structure can introduce a…
We propose that several mechanisms contribute to friction in a polymer melt adsorbed at a structured surface. The first one is the well known disentanglement of bulk polymer chains from the surface layer. However, if the surface is ideal at…
We consider the growth of a polymer layer on a flat surface in a good solvent by in-situ polymerization. This is viewed as a modified form of diffusion-limited aggregation without branching. We predict theoretically the formation of a…
From glycosylated cell surfaces to sterically stabilized liposomes, polymers attached to membranes attract biological and therapeutic interest. Can the scaling laws of polymer "brushes" describe the physical properties of these coats? We…
The mechanical properties of heterophase interfaces are critically important for the behaviour of graphene-reinforced composites. In this work, the structure, adhesion, cleavage and sliding of heterophase interfaces, formed between a…
This work is concerned with the micro-architecture of multi-layer material that globally exhibits desired mechanical properties, for instance a negative apparent Poisson ratio. We use inverse homogenization, the level set method, and the…
A single-walled carbon nanotube presents a seamless cylindrical graphene surface and is thus an ideal adsorption substrate for investigating the physics of atoms and molecules in two dimensions and approaching the one-dimensional limit.…
Structural colours have drawn wide attention for their potential as a future printing technology for various applications, ranging from biomimetic tissues to adaptive camouflage materials. However, an efficient approach to realise robust…
Nano-rippled graphene, a structurally modified graphene, presents a novel material with a large range of possible applications including sensors, electrodes, coatings, optoelectronics, spintronics and straintronics. In this work we have…
There is a growing need for soft robotic platforms that perform gentle, precise handling of a wide variety of objects. Existing surface-based manipulation systems, however, lack the compliance and tactile feedback needed for delicate…
We formulate a theoretical model of the shear failure of a thin film tethered to a rigid substrate. The interface between film and substrate is modeled as a cohesive layer with randomly fluctuating shear strength/fracture energy. We…
Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) that enables the control of the wireless propagation environment has been looked upon as a promising technology for boosting the spectrum and energy efficiency in future wireless communication systems.…