Physical Origin of the Mechanochemical Coupling at Interfaces

Mechanochemical Coupling in Flagella

The relation between oxygen consumption and motility of Ciona spermatozoa has been measured by using pH stats to measure the acid production of spermatozoa swimming in dilute suspensions where their motility can be analyzed accurately, and calibrating the acid production by measuring it simultaneously with measurements of oxygen consumption, using more concentrated sperm suspensions. When the m...

Loose mechanochemical coupling of molecular motors

In living cells, molecular motors convert chemical energy into mechanical work. Its thermodynamic energy efficiency, i.e. the ratio of output mechanical work to input chemical energy, is usually high. However, using two-state models, we found the motion of molecular motors is loosely coupled to the chemical cycle. Only part of the input energy can be converted into mechanical work. Others is di...

Exchange Coupling at Cobalt/ Nickel Oxide Interfaces

Perpendicular coupling at Fe–FeF2 interfaces

We have studied the exchange anisotropy of ferromagnetic Fe films grown on antiferromagnetic FeF2 single crystals. The behavior of the hysteresis loops of the Fe above and below the Néel temperature TN of FeF2 indicates a 90° rotation of the ferromagnetic easy axis due to the antiferromagnetic ordering. By examining the Fe hysteresis loops together with the FeF2 susceptibility behavior we infer...

Origin of Contact Resistance at Ferromagnetic Metal-Graphene Interfaces.

Edge contact geometries are thought to yield ultralow contact resistances in most nonferromagnetic metal-graphene interfaces, owing to their large metal-graphene coupling strengths. Here, we examine the contact resistance of edge- versus surface-contacted ferromagnetic metal-graphene interfaces (i.e., nickel- and cobalt-graphene interfaces) using both single-layer and few-layer graphene. Good q...