Tohoku University · Engineering
Professor Huie Zhu's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of functional polymeric and amphiphilic materials for advanced electronic and ferroelectric devices. The lab focuses on developing highly ordered, ultra-thin films and nanoparticles of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with dominant ferroelectric β-phase, enabling high-performance, solution-processable electronic components. Key research directions include the fabrication of Langmuir–Blodgett films, ferroelectric field-effect transistors, and magnetoresistive devices using PVDF as a dielectric or spacer layer, emphasizing precise control over film morphology, phase purity, and electrical properties at the nanoscale. The lab also pioneers novel interfacial assembly techniques for monodisperse nanoparticles and 2D monolayers with tailored surface and mechanical properties.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
We describe a facile and novel method for preparing highly dense Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) nanofilms of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with precisely adjustable film thickness from several to hundreds of nanometers, assisted by amphiphilic poly(N-dodecylacrylamide) (pDDA) nanosheets. Even at a molar mixing ratio of PVDF:pDDA up to 50:1, the high collapse surface pressure of 44.4 mN/m obtained using this method is a breakthrough for the preparation of PVDF LB nanofilms, which is devoted to the res
As-deposited PVDF LB nanofilms with a complete β phase show a remarkable remanent polarization and long fatigue endurance greater than 10<sup>5</sup>cycles.
Room temperature magnetoresistance devices using ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) as the spacer layer were successfully fabricated for the first time.
Facile preparation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) homopolymer nanoparticles (NPs) with monodispersed size distribution and predominant ferroelectric phases was done in an interfacial nonsolvent (water/methanol)-solvent (dimethylformamide (DMF))-polymer (PVDF) ternary system using two interfacial nanoassembly methods. First, a fluidic liquid-liquid interface consisting of two miscible solvents was created by introducing nonsolvent (water) under the PVDF solution. After the interface was crea
Abstract Organic electronics have attracted considerable interest because of their low temperature solution processability, versatile material synthesis and compatibility with a wide range of traditional fabrication methods such as rod‐coating, inkjet and roll‐to‐roll printing techniques. Organic ferroelectric field‐effect transistors (OFeFETs) with a three‐terminal device architecture have ferroelectric thin films as gate insulator layers and semiconductor films as charge transport channel laye
A crystalline tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCS)-derived amphiphile was regioselectively synthesized with eight peripheral hydrophilic amide groups and hydrophobic dodecyl chains by Pt(0)-catalyzed hydrosilylation and amidation reactions. The as-synthesized materials showed ordered lamellar structure formation in the powder form. It also exhibits superior two-dimensional (2D) monolayer formation properties at the air-water interface with unexpectedly high collapse surface pressure and elastic
The present work addresses the solvent-dependent properties of Langmuir films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and amphiphilic poly(N-dodecylacrylamide) (pDDA) at different mixing ratios. After introducing pDDA nanosheets, PVDF Langmuir films obtain a tremendously enhanced modulus as well as high transfer ratios using the vertical dipping method caused by the support of the pDDA two-dimensional hydrogen bonding network. Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) was used to investigate PVDF monolayers a
Boronic acid-containing polycyclosiloxane showed unique self-assembly nanofilm formation (6 nm film thickness) on various substrates and provided film-based metal ion sensor capability through dynamic covalent bonding.
Ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride)/semiconductive polythiophene (P3CPenT) blend monolayers were developed at varying blend ratios using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The multilayered blend nanosheets show much improved surface roughness that is more applicable for electronics applications than spin-cast films. Because of the precisely controllable bottom-up construction, semiconductive P3CPenT were well dispersed into the ferroelectric PVDF matrix. Moreover, the ferroelectric matrix cont
Replacing fossil-based polymers with renewable bio-based polymers is one of the most promising ways to solve the environmental issues and climate change we human beings are facing. The production of new lignocellulose-based polymers involves five steps, including (1) fractionation of lignocellulose into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin; (2) depolymerization of the fractionated cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin into carbohydrates and aromatic compounds; (3) catalytic or thermal conversion
Fabrication of poly(vinylidene fluoride) copolymer monolayer (3.5 nm thick) was succeeded, exhibiting superior ferroelectricity and potential applications as non-volatile memories.
Reusable adhesives able to bond and debond to a surface as needed in response to stimuli are eagerly sought. Despite recent advances in catechol-derived adhesives, achieving strong and switchable adhesion persists as a challenge because easy catechol-to-quinone oxidation invariably reduces the adhesive catechol units which induce the formation of irreversible cross-linked networks. For this study, a supramolecular adhesive carrying a hydrophobic tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCS) core surround
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