A paper by Kenneth Sandhage and colleagues has been highlighted in the Editors’ Choice section of Science (A Layer-by-Layer Amplifier; subscription required). The paper describes a combined layer-by-layer surface amine amplification and electroless deposition process to convert 3-D nanostructured micro-assemblies into freestanding Cu-bearing or Ni-bearing structures.
… And here’s the full research paper:
Syntheses of nanostructured Cu- and Ni-based micro-assemblies with selectable 3-D hierarchical biogenic morphologies
Yunnan Fang, John D. Berrigan, Ye Cai, Seth R. Marder and Kenneth H. Sandhage, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 1305-1312
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Scientists at Tongji University, Shanghai, China, have developed a method of creating patterns on photonic paper that are only visible when the paper is wet. The siloxane-containing photonic paper is fabricated by using lithography to create a contrast of crosslinking or degree of hydrophobization. When the invisible prints are soaked in water for several minutes, the small difference in reflection wavelength (λ) between the pattern and the background is significantly amplified due to their different swelling speeds, which leads to a visible image. The process is fully reversible and soaking and drying will repeat the cycle of showing and hiding the patterns.
