Yuran Shi

All Publications

• Photoswitchable Binary Nanopore Conductance and Selective Electronic Detection of Single Biomolecules under Wavelength and Voltage Polarity Control ACS NANO Hagan, J. T., Gonzalez, A., Shi, Y., Han, G. D., Dwyer, J. R. 2022; 16 (4): 5537-5544

  Abstract

  We fabricated photoregulated thin-film nanopores by covalently linking azobenzene photoswitches to silicon nitride pores with ∼10 nm diameters. The photoresponsive coatings could be repeatedly optically switched with deterministic ∼6 nm changes to the effective nanopore diameter and of ∼3× to the nanopore ionic conductance. The sensitivity to anionic DNA and a neutral complex carbohydrate biopolymer (maltodextrin) could be photoswitched "on" and "off" with an analyte selectivity set by applied voltage polarity. Photocontrol of nanopore state and mass transport characteristics is important for their use as ionic circuit elements (e.g., resistors and binary bits) and as chemically tuned filters. It expands single-molecule sensing capabilities in personalized medicine, genomics, glycomics, and, augmented by voltage polarity selectivity, especially in multiplexed biopolymer information storage schemes. We demonstrate repeatedly photocontrolled stable nanopore size, polarity, conductance, and sensing selectivity, by illumination wavelength and voltage polarity, with broad utility including single-molecule sensing of biologically and technologically important polymers.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsnano.1c10039

  View details for Web of Science ID 000813113000001

  View details for PubMedID 35286058

• Design of phase-transition molecular solar thermal energy storage compounds: compact molecules with high energy densities CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS Qiu, Q., Gerkman, M. A., Shi, Y., Han, G. D. 2021; 57 (74): 9458-9461

  Abstract

  A series of compact azobenzene derivatives were investigated as phase-transition molecular solar thermal energy storage compounds that exhibit maximum energy storage densities around 300 J g-1. The relative size and polarity of the functional groups on azobenzene were manifested to significantly influence the phase of isomers and their energy storage capacity.

  View details for DOI 10.1039/d1cc03742k

  View details for Web of Science ID 000689025700001

  View details for PubMedID 34528978

• Solar energy conversion and storage by photoswitchable organic materials in solution, liquid, solid, and changing phases JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C Qiu, Q., Shi, Y., Han, G. D. 2021; 9 (35): 11444-11463

  View details for DOI 10.1039/d1tc01472b

  View details for Web of Science ID 000667211000001

• Sunlight-activated phase change materials for controlled heat storage and triggered release JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A Shi, Y., Gerkman, M. A., Qiu, Q., Zhang, S., Han, G. D. 2021; 9 (15): 9798-9808

  View details for DOI 10.1039/d1ta01007g

  View details for Web of Science ID 000637381900001

• Arylazopyrazoles for Long-Term Thermal Energy Storage and Optically Triggered Heat Release below 0 degrees C JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Gerkman, M. A., Gibson, R. L., Calbo, J., Shi, Y., Fuchter, M. J., Han, G. D. 2020; 142 (19): 8688-8695

  Abstract

  Arylazopyrazole derivatives based on four core structures (4pzMe, 3pzH, 4pzH, and 4pzH-F2) and functionalized with a dodecanoate group were demonstrated to store thermal energy in their metastable Z isomer liquid phase and release the energy by optically triggered crystallization at -30 °C for the first time. Three heat storage-release schemes were discovered involving different activation methods (optical, thermal, or combined) for generating liquid-state Z isomers capable of storing thermal energy. Visible light irradiation induced the selective crystallization of the liquid phase via Z-to-E isomerization, and the latent heat stored in the liquid Z isomers was preserved for longer than 2 weeks unless optically triggered. Up to 92 kJ/mol of thermal energy was stored in the compounds, demonstrating remarkable thermal stability of Z isomers at high temperatures and liquid-phase stability at temperatures below 0 °C.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/jacs.0c00374

  View details for Web of Science ID 000535252100023

  View details for PubMedID 32319773