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Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd...
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Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "D：Materials and Processing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2025) | Viewed by 5786

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tianyi Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Interests: 2D materials; chemical vapor deposition; optical spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaotian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: synthesis; nanomaterials; 2D materials; physics; surface characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the rapid development of nanotechnology has enabled the innovative design and precise control of thin film synthesis, characterization, and device applications. As a result, researchers have discovered and studied a number of novel material systems that possess fundamentally new structures and physical properties. In particular, low-dimensional materials exhibit unique properties due to quantum confinement and large surface area. These classes of materials include quantum dots, nanowires, nanotubes, and recently emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, boron nitride, MXenes, and perovskite semiconductors. A plethora of electronic properties and quasiparticles in 2D materials, including plasmons, polaritons, trions, and excitons, can all be controlled and modulated. In addition, these materials exhibit novel physical properties such as spin and valley polarization, magnetism, superconductivity, and piezoelectricity that depend on composition, crystal structure, twist angle, layer number, and phases. These features have further given rise to many device applications.

Therefore, this Special Issue seeks to showcase research papers, communications, and review articles that focus on (1) discussions on the synthesis of low-dimensional materials for emerging physics and functional device fabrication; (2) characterization approaches for defining low-dimensional materials on an atomic scale and probing their novel structure and physical properties; and (3) device applications of low-dimensional materials in field-effect transistors, sensors, photodetectors, nonvolatile memories, energy conversion, and beyond.

Building on the success of the first volume, which received a positive response and significant contributions, we are excited to open the second volume of this Special Issue. This volume will continue to focus on the latest advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and device applications of low-dimensional materials.

We warmly invite researchers and scholars from all fields to submit their work, including original research papers, communications, and review articles, to contribute to this exciting and rapidly evolving area of research.

Dr. Tianyi Zhang
Dr. Xiaotian Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • low-dimensional materials: quantum dots, nanowires, nanotubes, 2D materials, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, boron nitride, MXenes, perovskite
  • physical and structural characterization: atomic-scale characterization, electron microscopy, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, raman spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • device applications: field-effect transistors (FETs), sensors, memristors, nonvolatile memories, energy conversion devices, flexible electronics, optoelectronics, photodetectors, energy storage

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3915 KB  
Article
Microfabricated rGO/PANI Interdigitated Electrodes for Reference-Free, Label-Free pH Sensing on Flexible Substrates
by Maryam Sepehri Gohar, Ekin Asim Ozek, Melih Can Tasdelen, Burcu Arman Kuzubasoglu, Yaser Vaheb and Murat Kaya Yapici
Micromachines 2025, 16(12), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16121337 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 420
Abstract
We present a flexible pH sensor which leverages the unique properties of reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (rGO/PANI) composite films through an efficient and scalable hybrid microfabrication approach, wherein the rGO/PANI films are conformally coated on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates via dip-coating and thereafter [...] Read more.
We present a flexible pH sensor which leverages the unique properties of reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (rGO/PANI) composite films through an efficient and scalable hybrid microfabrication approach, wherein the rGO/PANI films are conformally coated on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates via dip-coating and thereafter lithographically patterned into precise arrays of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs), serving both as the pH-active medium and the electrical interface. Upon dip-coating, a thermal reduction process is performed to yield uniform rGO/PANI composite layers on PET substrates, where the PANI content is adjusted to 20% to optimize conductivity and protonation-driven response. Composition optimization is first performed using inkjet-printed silver (Ag) contacts and a conductometric readout mechanism is employed to explore pH-dependent behavior. Subsequently, IDE arrays are defined in the rGO/PANI using photolithography and oxygen-plasma etching, demonstrating clean pattern transfer and dimensional control on flexible substrates. Eliminating separate contact metals in the final design simplifies the stack and reduces cost. A set of IDE geometries is evaluated through I–V measurements in buffers of different pH values, revealing a consistent, monotonic change in electrical characteristics with pH and geometry-tunable response. The present study demonstrated that the most precise pH measurement was achieved with an 80:20 rGO/PANI composition within the pH 2–10 range. These results establish rGO/PANI IDEs as a scalable route to low-cost, miniaturized, and mechanically compliant pH sensors for field and in-line monitoring applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 3313 KB  
Article
Interfacial Engineering of Co3O4@MXene for Superior Charge Storage: A Route to High-Capacitance Supercapacitors
by Qasim Raza and Sooman Lim
Micromachines 2025, 16(12), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16121313 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 460
Abstract
We report an interracially engineered Co3O4@Ti3C2Tx MXene hybrid as a high-rate charge-storage electrode. Low-temperature assembly under inert conditions preserves the MXene carbide while anchoring nanocrystalline Co3O4 on conductive, ion-permeable sheets. XRD [...] Read more.
We report an interracially engineered Co3O4@Ti3C2Tx MXene hybrid as a high-rate charge-storage electrode. Low-temperature assembly under inert conditions preserves the MXene carbide while anchoring nanocrystalline Co3O4 on conductive, ion-permeable sheets. XRD and FTIR confirm the structural integrity of MXene without TiO2 formation. Electrochemically, cyclic voltammetry, Dunn analysis, and galvanostatic tests reveal mixed storage with a dominant pseudocapacitive contribution, while EIS fitting shows reduced charge-transfer resistance for the hybrid compared with either parent. Within a 0.6 V window in 2 M KOH, the composite delivers high specific charge and excellent rate retention, attributable to shortened diffusion paths and fast electron transport at the oxide–MXene interface. These results establish Co3O4@MXene as a robust, mechanism-consistent platform for high-power supercapacitors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 5673 KB  
Article
Effect of Graphene Oxide Particle Size on the Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyaniline Films
by Cynthia Guerrero-Bermea, Selene Sepulveda-Guzman and Rodolfo Cruz-Silva
Micromachines 2025, 16(11), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16111287 - 15 Nov 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
In this work, the effect of aqueous dispersions of graphene oxide (GO) and nanosized graphene oxide (nGO) on the enzymatic polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) was studied. The enzymatic polymerization of PANI was carried out in aqueous medium using toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) as the [...] Read more.
In this work, the effect of aqueous dispersions of graphene oxide (GO) and nanosized graphene oxide (nGO) on the enzymatic polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) was studied. The enzymatic polymerization of PANI was carried out in aqueous medium using toluenesulfonic acid (TSA) as the dopant, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as the catalyst, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as the oxidant, using 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 wt% of GO and nGO. The morphology of PANI-GO/nGO composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further characterization was performed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and spectroscopic techniques such as ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and X-ray photoelectronics (XPS). SEM images showed that during enzymatic polymerization, PANI completely covers the GO/nGO sheets. Furthermore, physicochemical results confirmed the production of a hybrid PANI-GO/nGO material with Van der Waals-type interactions between the oxygen-based functional groups of GO and the secondary amino bond (-NH-) of PANI. Also, cyclic voltammetry experiments were carried out in situ during the polymerization of PANI-GO/nGO films. The electrochemical response of PANI-GO/nGO composites reflects two broad oxidation peaks around 300 mV and 500 mV during anodic scanning, with reversible oxidation during cathodic scanning. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were used to understand the mechanism of the composite film’s growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 1931 KB  
Article
A Novel Nano-Scale Biosensor for Measuring Hemoglobin Oxygen Saturation Using Carbon Quantum Dots
by Jeehyun Lee, Xuan Ru Liew, Justin Kok Soon Tan and Sangho Kim
Micromachines 2025, 16(11), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16111261 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 3045
Abstract
Hemoglobin oxygen (HbO2) saturation is a critical biomarker in patient care, yet conventional measurement approaches are often costly and require extensive calibration. To address these limitations, the present study proposes a novel biosensor derived from paper-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs) fabricated [...] Read more.
Hemoglobin oxygen (HbO2) saturation is a critical biomarker in patient care, yet conventional measurement approaches are often costly and require extensive calibration. To address these limitations, the present study proposes a novel biosensor derived from paper-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs) fabricated through a one-step thermal treatment. CQDs are carbon-based nanoparticles renowned for their excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, thermal stability, and remarkable optical properties. To quantify HbO2 saturation, we exploit their photoluminescence, which enables photoinduced electron transfer and fluorescence quenching with hemoglobin. Our results demonstrated that the peak fluorescence intensity of CQDs shows a strong linear correlation with HbO2 saturation. Variations in HbO2 saturation levels were achieved with sodium dithionite and determined using Winterbourn’s equations. Our CQD-based HbO2 saturation measurements closely agreed with those obtained from conventional spectrophotometric analysis. Thus, this investigation highlights the potential of CQDs as a biosensor for effective HbO2 saturation measuring without extensive calibration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 6412 KB  
Article
High-Throughput Evaluation of Mechanical Exfoliation Using Optical Classification of Two-Dimensional Materials
by Anthony Gasbarro, Yong-Sung D. Masuda and Victor M. Lubecke
Micromachines 2025, 16(10), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101084 - 25 Sep 2025
Viewed by 817
Abstract
Mechanical exfoliation remains the most common method for producing high-quality two-dimensional (2D) materials, but its inherently low yield requires screening large numbers of samples to identify usable flakes. Efficient optimization of the exfoliation process demands scalable methods to analyze deposited material across extensive [...] Read more.
Mechanical exfoliation remains the most common method for producing high-quality two-dimensional (2D) materials, but its inherently low yield requires screening large numbers of samples to identify usable flakes. Efficient optimization of the exfoliation process demands scalable methods to analyze deposited material across extensive datasets. While machine learning clustering techniques have demonstrated ~95% accuracy in classifying 2D material thicknesses from optical microscopy images, current tools are limited by slow processing speeds and heavy reliance on manual user input. This work presents an open-source, GPU-accelerated software platform that builds upon existing classification methods to enable high-throughput analysis of 2D material samples. By leveraging parallel computation, optimizing core algorithms, and automating preprocessing steps, the software can quantify flake coverage and thickness across uncompressed optical images at scale. Benchmark comparisons show that this implementation processes over 200× more pixel data with a 60× reduction in processing time relative to the original software. Specifically, a full dataset of2916 uncompressed images can be classified in 35 min, compared to an estimated 32 h required by the baseline method using compressed images. This platform enables rapid evaluation of exfoliation results across multiple trials, providing a practical tool for optimizing deposition techniques and improving the yield of high-quality 2D materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Low-Dimensional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Device Application, 2nd Edition)
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