On page 190, B. Kim and S. Choi describe a method to separate blood plasma from whole blood through the combined use of a smart pipette and a microfluidic pipette tip. These combined devices are similar enough to a conventional pipette and pipette tip for users to be familiar with its use, so that non-experts can easily carry out the necessary procedures. This platform can therefore substantially contribute to gaining new insights into achieving a practical microfluidics implementation.

Bioinspired hierarchical structures on the surface of vertical light-emitting diodes (VLEDs) are fabricated by S.-J. Park and co-workers based on combining a self-assembled dip-coating process and nanopatterning transfer method using thermal release tape. These novel surfaces reduce the total internal reflection and grant additional antifouling abilities to VLEDs. On page 161, this provides a guideline for the design of various optoelectronic devices where not only high performance but also considerably reduced contamination by the environment are required for efficient LEDs with long operational lifespans.

Developments in photoluminescence architectures, constructed by simple supramolecular self-assembly between graphene and graphene-like thin-layer materials and labeled biomolecular probes, are summarized. These material composites show a diverse range of diagnostic as well as theranostic applications, providing a new generation of promising tools for the clinical use.

Bioinspired hierarchical structures on the surface of vertical light-emitting diodes (VLEDs) are demonstrated by combining a self-assembled dip-coating process and nanopatterning transfer method using thermal release tape. This versatile surface structure can efficiently reduce the total internal reflection and add functions, such as superhydrophobicity and high oleophobicity, to achieve an antifouling effect for VLEDs.

Rectangular DNA origami functionalized with thiols in each of the four corners immobilizes by self-assembly between lithographically patterned gold nanodots on a silicon oxide surface.

A custom single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-modulated separator is employed to directly suppress the polysulfide migration and indirectly protect the lithium-metal anode from severe polysulfide contamination. The conductive sp²-carbon scaffold continuously reactivates and reutilizes the trapped active material, so the SWCNT-modulated separator provides a facile way to facilitate the implementation of pure sulfur cathodes with high sulfur contents and loadings.

Intrinsically stretchable multilayer circuit boards are fabricated with a fast and material efficient method based on filtration. Silver nanowire conductor patterns of outstanding performance are defined by filtration through wax printed membranes and the circuit board is assembled by subsequent transfers of the nanowires onto the elastomer substrate. The method is used to fabricate a bright stretchable light emitting diode matrix display.

A graphene thermoacoustic loudspeaker with a thin polymer mesh is fabricated using screen-printing. An experiment with substrates of various free-standing areas shows that a higher sound pressure level can be achieved as compared to previously reported graphene thermoacoustic loudspeakers. Moreover, a modified equation to predict the sound pressure level of the thermoacoustic loudspeaker with a thin and patterned substrate is proposed and verified by experimental results.

An integrated method for blood plasma separation is presented by combining a pneumatic device, which is referred to as a “smart pipette,” and a hydrophoretic microchannel as a microfluidic pipette tip for whole-blood sample preparation. This method enables hemolysis-free, high-purity plasma separation through smart pipetting of whole blood, potentially providing the means for rapid, inexpensive blood sample preparation for point-of-care testing.

Monolayer MoS₂ is synthesized on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) flakes with a simple, high-yield method. Monolayer MoS₂ on h-BN exhibits improved optical quality. Combining the theoretical and experimental analysis, it is concluded that the enhanced photoluminescence and Raman intensities of monolayer MoS₂ probably originate from the relatively weak doping effect from the h-BN substrate rather than the optical interference effect.

A novel design for isothermal amplification using primers labeled with both gold nanoparticles and magnetic microbeads is shown by A. Merkoçi and co-workers. On page 205, the amplified product carries both labels, allowing rapid purification and quantification. The magnetic properties of the first primer facilitate the purification/preconcentration of the amplified DNA through magnetic separation. The gold nanoparticles are easily quantified by simple electrocatalytic detection methods. Thus, the use of primers labelled with gold nanoparticles and magnetic microbeads turns isothermal amplification into a faster and easier qualitative and quantitative diagnostic method.

A novel method for the isothermal amplification of Leishmania DNA using labeled primers combined with the advantages of magnetic purification/preconcentration and the use of gold nanoparticle tags for the sensitive electrochemical detection of such amplified DNA is developed.

Black phosphorus (BP)-nanodots are prepared using a simple ultrasonication-assisted solution method. Compared to conventional semiconductor quantum dots, BP-nanodots present little in vitro cytotoxicity and further blue- and green-fluorescent bioimaging roles under excitations of UV and visible light, showing potential as novel drug delivery carriers in biomedical applications.

The successful coassembly of {Mo₁₃₂} polyoxometalates (POMs) and γ-Fe₂O₃ magnetic nanocrystals (MNCs) is demonstrated. The POMs inserted in octahedral γ-Fe₂O₃ interstices act as binder constituents for the MNCs, leading to a long-range ordering. Depending on the POM size, such a structuring effect either preserves the magnetic properties of γ-Fe₂O₃ or results in a fine tuning of their dipolar interactions.

A high performance triboelectric nanogenerator is fabricated following a simple method. Using a single-step fluorocarbon plasma treatment, a disordered wrinkle structure with a fluorocarbon polymer cover is formed. This method can dramatically increase the performance of the triboeletric nanogenerator more than eight-fold.

Macroscopically chiral nanospheres and nanotubes composed of helical copolymers are described on page 238 by F. Freire, R. Riguera, and co-workers. The presence of a donor co-solvent either activates or deactivates cation–π supramolecular interactions on the chiral monomers of the copolymer, generating either P or M helical senses in the nanostructure through the ‘Sergeants and Soldiers’ effect.

Mirror image nanostructures from a single helical copolymer–metal complex can be obtained by the presence of a certain amount of a donor cosolvent, which activate/deactivate cation–π supramolecular interactions on the chiral monomers of the copolymer. Those structural changes are transferred to the rest of the polymer chain inducing a selective P or M helical sense through the Sergeants and Soldiers Effect.

A CdS/RGO/ZnO nanoheterostructure is fabricated and then applied in the photoelectrochemical biosensing of glutathione. The biosensor is a self-powered device with fast response, certain selectivity, reproducibility, and stability. The linear detection range of the device is from 0.05 mm to 1 mm and the detection limit is 10 μm.

Atomic analyses of the in-plane growth of graphene from the step-edge of h-BN are performed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). By using a postgrowth method, graphene nanoribbons connecting the two h-BN domains and isolated carbon islands embedded in h-BN layer are produced. Electron energy loss spectroscopy results demonstrate an electronic coupling effect existing in graphene and h-BN heterostructure.