Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) have become essential components in many advanced materials applications, from solid state battery electrolytes to high-performance structural components. In PNCs, the large fraction of interfacial polymers determines their outstanding rheological performance; yet, strategies to control the structure and dynamics of the interfacial polymer has been very limited. Here, using poly(ethylene oxide)-silica model...

Food spoilage results in food waste and food-borne diseases. Yet, standard laboratory tests to determine spoilage (mainly volatile biogenic amines) are not performed regularly by supply chain personnel or end customers. Here we developed a poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-based, miniature (2 × 2 cm2) sensor for on-demand spoilage analysis via mobile phones. To demonstrate a real-life application, the wireless sensor...

Understanding the origins of intrinsic stress in Si nanowires (NWs) is crucial for their successful utilization as transducer building blocks in next-generation, miniaturized sensors based on nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). With their small size leading to ultrahigh-resonance frequencies and extreme surface-to-volume ratios, silicon NWs raise new opportunities regarding sensitivity, precision, and speed in both physical and...