Carlos César Bof Bufon

Surface-supported metal-organic frameworks (SURMOFs) have emerged as promising hybrid materials across diverse applications, including gas separation, energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. These capabilities are primarily associated with their high porosity and reasonable control over crystallinity. However, the diffusion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these structures remains poorly understood, limiting their range in strategic applications. One significant challenge is developing effective integration approaches that enable precise control of molecular transport in these structures. In this work, we investigated the diffusion dynamics of various VOCs (methanol, ethanol, propanol, and hexane) into two-terminal devices based on a HKUST-1 thin-film SURMOF, using conventional photolithography and nanomembrane-origami technology. Systematic electrical responses (DC and AC) were monitored as precise and tunable tools for VOC differentiation. Our experimental results align with Gao's model, offering new insights into the diffusivity, permeability, pore accessibility, and intracrystalline diffusion lengths of VOCs within integrated HKUST-1 with thicknesses below 70 nm. These findings represent significant advances in understanding diffusion processes in monolithically integrated nanoporous materials, with potential implications for future innovations in molecular sensing and environmental monitoring technologies.

Early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) significantly enhances treatment outcomes and survival rates, with lymph node metastasis serving as a main prognostic factor. However, current clinical practices rely on TNM classification, including histological confirmation of metastatic disease in lymph nodes, often involving elective neck dissection, a procedure that can cause post‐operative morbidity. Here it is shown that zinc imidazole framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) electrochemical biosensors can effectively distinguish non‐metastatic (N0) from lymph node metastatic (N+) OSCC saliva samples. By monitoring the OSCC biomarkers cystatin B (CSTB), leukotriene A 4 hydrolase (LTA4H), and collagen type VI alpha 1 chain (COL6A1) in human saliva through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and antigen–antibody immunoreactions, elevated biomarker levels in N0 samples are observed. The biosensor displays high accuracy, specificity, and reproducibility, with limits of detection lower than 0.4 ng mL ⁻¹ . Supervised bioinformatic analysis, using 34 machine learning classifiers, indicates LTA4H as the most accurate biomarker for distinguishing prognostic groups, confirming previous mass spectrometry findings. Notably, the AdaBoost model, integrating the combined detection of biomarkers, achieves a 76% accuracy rate in identifying metastatic saliva samples. This non‐invasive biosensor technology, combined with bioinformatics, presents a sensitive and reliable approach to improve clinical assessments and guiding therapeutic decisions for OSCC patients.

Machine learning-guided robotic synthesis enables fabrication of high-quality Cu₃(HHTP)₂ SURMOFs exhibiting intrinsic metallic conductivity—marked by increasing conductivity upon cooling—paving the way for investigating quantum phenomena in 2D MOFs.

Integrating natural biomaterials into memristors and electrolyte-gated transistors shows great promise for advancing biomedical devices and paving the way for sustainable and intelligent healthcare systems.

Recent progress in synthesizing and integrating surface‐supported metal‐organic frameworks (SURMOFs) has highlighted their potential in developing hybrid electronic devices with exceptional mechanical flexibility, film processability, and cost‐effectiveness. However, the low electrical conductivity of SURMOFs has limited their use in devices. To address this, researchers have utilized the porosity of SURMOFs to enhance electrical conductivity by incorporating conductive materials. This study introduces a method to improve the electrical conductivity of HKUST‐1 templates by in situ polymerization of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) chains within the SURMOF pores (named as PPy@HKUST‐1). Nanomembrane‐origami technology is employed for integration, allowing a rolled‐up metallic nanomembrane to contact the HKUST‐1 films without causing damage. After a 24 h loading period, the electrical conductivity at room temperature reaches approximately 5.10⁻⁶ S m⁻¹. The nanomembrane‐based contact enables reliable electrical characterization even at low temperatures. Key parameters of PPy@HKUST‐1 films, such as trap barrier height, dielectric constant, and tunneling barrier height, are determined using established conduction mechanisms. These findings represent a significant advancement in real‐time control of SURMOF conductivity, opening pathways for innovative electronic‐optoelectronic device development. This study demonstrates the potential of SURMOFs to revolutionize hybrid electronic devices by enhancing electrical conductivity through intelligent integration strategies.

Eumelanin, the main quinone-based biomaterial of the melanin family of compounds, is emerging as a model for medical and sustainable electronic interfaces due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and transducing abilities. The study utilizes current-voltage measurements and impedance/dielectric spectroscopy under a controlled hydration atmosphere to investigate the charge transport of eumelanin produced from the S. parvus BSB49 strain. We show no differences in the electrical response in highly hydrated conditions compared to the standard synthetic eumelanin. Hence, our findings provide the groundwork to assess the potential use of this natural eumelanin in sustainable organic (bio)electronic applications.

The possibility of current injection and transport in eumelanin films, humans' most common natural pigment, has fascinated physicists and materials scientists since the early’ 60s. Nowadays, it is accepted that ionic transport is dominant in wet environments. The present study evaluates the charge transport in eumelanin-inspired films immersed in pure water and ionic aqueous solutions. Both current vs. voltage and voltage-dependent impedance/dielectric spectroscopy measurements are reported. The data confirm that the electrical response in pure water is dominated by ionic/protonic conduction, similar to standard eumelanin. Contrariwise, the protonic contribution is suppressed by faster electronic transport in an ionic aqueous solution. Considering these observations, an electrochemically doped mechanism is evoked to explain the charge transport of this class of material. The results yield new opportunities for tuning eumelanin-inspired materials' protonic and electronic conductivity and advancing towards in vivo implantable eumelanin-based (bio)devices.