June 8, 2026
Two outstanding papers showcase how cutting-edge research is powered by the advanced instrumentation and expert staff support at Duke University’s Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF). From energy materials to soft robotics, both projects demonstrate the impact of combining innovative ideas with world-class characterization and fabrication capabilities.
Xingjian Hu’s work introduced plasma-enabled atomic layer etching to engineer MXene surface terminations, boosting electrical conductivity and photothermal performance for light-activated soft robotics. Featured as the cover article of Matter (Volume 8, Issue 11, 2025), the project leveraged a broad suite of SMIF resources for fabrication and multimodal characterization. Techniques including plasma processing, X-ray and optical spectroscopy, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrical characterization were instrumental in understanding how nanoscale surface modifications translate into improved material performance.
Ziqing Lin’s research revealed how first-row transition metals influence the performance of ruthenium dioxide electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reactions, advancing the design of next-generation catalysts. Extensive use of SMIF instrumentation, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, enabled detailed characterization of nanocrystal composition, structure, morphology, and surface chemistry. These capabilities were critical for establishing the relationships between material chemistry and catalytic behavior.
Together, these publications demonstrate the essential role that shared research infrastructure plays in enabling high-impact science. By providing researchers with access to world-class instrumentation and expert staff support, SMIF helps transform innovative ideas into scientific advances with broad impact.
We are proud to support impactful research happening across Duke University and congratulate both winners on their exceptional achievements.
This was the first year for the SMIF Outstanding Paper Contest, and it will return in 2026 to recognize publications that utilize and acknowledge SMIF facilities and instrumentation.
Read the papers:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102264
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EE02196K
