Advanced Functional Materials

Responsive core/shell microparticles are used for the production of macroscopic materials such as films, fibers, and gels. Both aqueous and tetrahydrofuran gels are formed. By cross-linking of the particles, the temperature responsiveness of the particles is translated to the aqueous gels, films, and fibers, making them shrink and swell. This is used for post-incorporation of nanoparticles that can be taken up from the surrounding solution during swelling.

Using hydrothermally synthesized red Y(V_0.5,P_0.5)O₄:Eu, blue Y(V_0.5,P_0.5)O₄:Tm, and green LaPO₄:Ce,Tb nanophosphors, highly transparent emissive layers are screen-printed. Monochromatic test panels of transparent plasma display are fabricated by the simple combination of the rear plate (nanophosphor/glass) with the front plate of the current ac-plasma display panels and a white luminescent full-color transparent panel is demonstrated.

Reversible bistable current with a switching effect of the electron field emission from surface transfer doped ultrananocrystalline diamond thin films is reported. This switching is manifested by abrupt jumps in the current emission at specific extracting electric field values. Persistent hysteresis is exhibited whenever the field is ramped down. This finding may lead the way to novel memory switch devices with unprecedented performance.