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Creators/Authors contains: "Harris, Sumner_B"

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  1. Abstract Tuning broad emission in 2D Pb–Sn halide perovskites (HPs) is essential for advancing optoelectronic applications, particularly for color‐tunable and white‐light‐emitting devices. This broad emission is linked to structural factors, such as defects and phase segregation of the Pb component within the Pb–Sn system, which are strongly influenced by the molecular structure and chemical properties of spacer cations. Atomic tuning of the spacers via halogenation opens up a new way to fine‐tune the molecular properties, enabling further augmentations of HP functionalities. Nevertheless, the distinct broad emission's sensitivity to spacer chemistry remains underexplored. Here, halogenation's influence is systematically investigated on 2D HP emission characteristics using a high‐throughput workflow. These findings reveal that the F‐containing phenethylammonium (4F‐PEA) spacer narrows the broadband PL, whereas Cl broadens it. Through a correlative study, it is found that 4F‐PEA reduces not only the local phase segregation but also the defect levels and microstrains in 2D HPs. This is likely attributed to the manifestation of less lattice distortion via stronger surface coordination of the dipole‐augmented 4F‐PEA. These results highlight halogenation as a key factor in modulating phase segregation and defect density in 2D Pb–Sn HPs, offering a promising pathway to tune the emission for enhanced optoelectronic performance. 
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  2. Abstract Unlike single‐component 2D metal halide perovskites (MHPs) exhibiting sharp excitonic photoluminescence (PL), a broadband PL emerges in mixed Pb‐Sn 2D lattices. Two physical models –self‐trapped exciton and defect‐induced Stokes‐shift – are proposed to explain this unconventional phenomenon. However, the explanations provide limited rationalizations without consideration of the formidable compositional space, and thus, the fundamental origin of broadband PL remains elusive. Herein, the high‐throughput automated experimental workflow is established to systematically explore the broadband PL in mixed Pb‐Sn 2D MHPs, employing PEA (Phenethylammonium) as a model cation known to work as a rigid organic spacer. Spectrally, the broadband PL becomes further broadened with rapid PEA2PbI4phase segregation with increasing Pb concentrations during early‐stage crystallization. Counterintuitively, MHPs with high Pb concentrations exhibit prolonged PL lifetimes. Hyperspectral microscopy identifies substantial PEA2PbI4phase segregation in those films, hypothesizing that the establishment of charge transfer excitons by the phase segregation upon crystallization at high‐Pb compositions results in distinctive PL properties. These results indicate that two independent mechanisms—defect‐induced Stoke‐shifts and the establishment of charge transfer excitons by phase segregation—coexist which significantly correlates with the Pb:Sn ratio, thereby simultaneously contributing to the broadband PL emission in 2D mixed Pb‐Sn HPs. 
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  3. Abstract While hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has been widely used as a buffer or encapsulation layer for emerging electronic devices, interest in utilizing it for large‐area chemical barrier coating has somewhat faded. A chemical vapor deposition process is reported here for the conformal growth of hBN on large surfaces of various alloys and steels, regardless of their complex shapes. In contrast to the previously reported very limited protection by hBN against corrosion and oxidation, protection of steels against 10% HCl and oxidation resistance at 850 °C in air is demonstrated. Furthermore, an order of magnitude reduction in the friction coefficient of the hBN coated steels is shown. The growth mechanism is revealed in experiments on thin metal films, where the tunable growth of single‐crystal hBN with a selected number of layers is demonstrated. The key distinction of the process is the use of N2gas, which gets activated exclusively on the catalyst's surface and eliminates adverse gas‐phase reactions. This rate‐limiting step allowed independent control of activated nitrogen along with boron coming from a solid source (like elemental boron). Using abundant and benign precursors, this approach can be readily adopted for large‐scale hBN synthesis in applications where cost, production volume, and process safety are essential. 
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  4. Abstract It is widely accepted that solid‐state membranes are indispensable media for the graphene process, particularly transfer procedures. But these membranes inevitably bring contaminations and residues to the transferred graphene and consequently compromise the material quality. This study reports a newly observed free‐standing graphene‐water membrane structure, which replaces the conventional solid‐state supporting media with liquid film to sustain the graphene integrity and continuity. Experimental observation, theoretical model, and molecular dynamics simulations consistently indicate that the high surface tension of pure water and its large contact angle with graphene are essential factors for forming such a membrane structure. More interestingly, water surface tension ensures the flatness of graphene layers and renders high transfer quality on many types of target substrates. This report enriches the understanding of the interactions on reduced dimensional material while rendering an alternative approach for scalable layered material processing with ensured quality for advanced manufacturing. 
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