2D Substrates Research Articles

Direct and in situ growth of 1T′ MoS2 and 1T MoSe2 on electrochemically synthesized MXene as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation

Crystal phase modulations in two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered extensive interest because of their intriguing features and potential applications. Nonetheless, synthesizing some specific phases of metastable transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) remains a challenge due to the restricted selectivity under chemical and physical treatments, especially for direct growth of specific phase of TMDs on 2D substrates to form heterostructures. Taking the merits of MXene with tunable atomic vacancies and surface chemistry via surface functionalization, the phase of epitaxially grown TMDs on 2D MXene can be significantly affected. In this work, 1 T′-MoS2 and 1 T-MoSe2 were directly grown on electrochemically synthesized MXene under controlled oxidization conditions and selected MXene substrate. Owing to the synergistic effect of TMDs and MXene, the TMDs/MXene heterostructure catalysts exhibit good electrochemical activity under acidic conditions, with a low overpotential of 167 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Our work not only demonstrates the distinct chemical characteristic of various MXenes feasible for surface engineering which promotes the direct and in situ growth of phase controlled TMDs on MXene substrates but also displays the high electrochemical activity in TMDs/MXene heterostructure catalysts.

Optical Microscope Based Universal Parameter for Identifying Layer Number in Two-Dimensional Materials.

Optical contrast is the most common preliminary method to identify layer number of two-dimensional (2D) materials, but it is seldom used as a confirmatory technique. We explain the reason for variation of optical contrast between imaging systems, motivating system-independent measurement of optical contrast as a critical need. We describe a universal method to quantify the layer number using the RGB (red-green-blue) and RAW optical images. For RGB images, the slope of 2D flake (MoS2, WSe2, graphene) intensity vs substrate intensity is extracted from optical images with varying lamp power. The intensity slope identifies layer number and is system independent. For RAW images, intensity slopes and intensity ratios are completely system and intensity independent. Intensity slope (for RGB) and intensity ratio (for RAW) are thus universal parameters for identifying layer number. The RAW format is not present in all imaging systems, but it can confirm layer number using a single optical image, making it a rapid and system-independent universal method. A Fresnel-reflectance-based optical model provides an excellent match with experiments. Furthermore, we have created a MATLAB-based graphical user interface that can identify layer number rapidly. This technique is expected to accelerate the preparation of heterostructures and to fulfill a prolonged need for universal optical contrast method.

3D well-ordered wood substrate coupled transition metal boride as efficient electrode for water splitting

The choice of substrate is critical to the performance of binder-free electrode for water splitting. Here, carbonized wood is employed as 3D porous diffusion substrates to accommodate conductive transitional metal boride. The composite is efficiently and uniformly deposited on the inner wall of the carbonized wood by means of simple electroless plating technique. The well-defined 3D Ni-W-B/wood electrode requires overpotential of only 46 mV at 50 mA cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), outperforming the Ni-W-B/NF electrode with nickel foam as the substrate. The ordered channel structure inherited from the carbonized wood endows the electrode with abundant active site density, fast mass and charge transportation, and efficient transport of evolved gas. The outstanding advantages of environmentally benign nature, low cost, favorable 3D channel structure, and anti-corrosion in harsh condition make wood as a promising substrate for binder-free electrode.

Defective layered NiFe double hydroxides anchored on self-supported CoNi-nitrogen doped carbon nanotube composite as advanced electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an essential process during electrochemical water-splitting. Due to its sluggish kinetics, low cost and highly efficient catalyst is invariably desired to decrease its overpotential for large-scale application. However, the overpotential of most advanced OER electrocatalysts is still more than 200 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2. In this work, we constructed active layered NiFe double hydroxides with cation defects on self-supported three-dimensional (3D) CoNi nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube composite substrate as integrated OER catalyst. Strikingly, electrochemical measurements showed that the optimized sample exhibited outstanding OER activity with low overpotentials of 178 and 268 mV at the current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2 in alkaline environment, alongside a good durability. The excellent OER performance was ascribed to the strongly synergistic effect of intrinsically active NiFe double hydroxide layers with abundant cation vacancies and 3D carbon nanotube composite substrate with good conductivity and various functional moieties, thus facilitating the electrocatalytic kinetic.

3D substrate self-sacrifice Ni2P integrated anode for high-performance sodium-ion battery

Carbon-coated 3D self-growing Ni2P were prepared on the foamed nickel substrate by hydrothermal activation combined with carbonization and phosphating strategy. The crystal structure and elemental composition of the samples were obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while the microscopic morphology and crystallographic information of the materials were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that uniform carbon-coated Ni2P was successfully self-grown on the smooth three-dimensional nickel foam substrate. Meanwhile, the investigation results of energy storage capacity show that the synthesized anode material exhibits excellent sodium storage specific capacity and rate performance. After more than 100 cycles of galvanostatic charge and discharge at a current density of 100 mA.g−1, as-synthesized material still maintains a reversible specific capacity of over 300 mAh.g−1. In addition, the pseudocapacitive behavior of the electrode was judged by kinetic calculation, and then the contribution rate of the pseudocapacitive behavior to the charge storage was calculated. Apparent activation energy, sodium ion diffusion coefficient and diffusion apparent activation energy were used to analyze the rapid reaction kinetics of materials with diffusion-controlled battery behavior.

Two-dimensional material templates for van der Waals epitaxy, remote epitaxy, and intercalation growth

Epitaxial growth, a crystallographically oriented growth induced by the chemical bonding between crystalline substrate and atomic building blocks, has been a key technique in the thin-film and heterostructure applications of semiconductors. However, the epitaxial growth technique is limited by different lattice mismatch and thermal expansion coefficients of dissimilar crystals. Two-dimensional (2D) materials with dangling bond-free van der Waals surfaces have been used as growth templates for the hetero-integration of highly mismatched materials. Moreover, the ultrathin nature of 2D materials also allows for remote epitaxial growth and confinement growth of quasi-2D materials via intercalation. Here, we review the hetero-dimensional growth on 2D substrates: van der Waals epitaxy (vdWE), quasi vdWE, and intercalation growth. We discuss the growth mechanism and fundamental challenges for vdWE on 2D substrates. We also examine emerging vdWE techniques that use epitaxial liftoff and confinement epitaxial growth in detail. Finally, we give a brief review of radiation effects in 2D materials and contrast the damage induced with their 3D counterparts.

In situ synthesis of 3D metal oxides/Ni3C on the macroporous electrically conductive network for enhanced electron field emission

• The TiO 2 /Ni 3 C are prepared in situ on the 3D substrate by sputtering. • CuO/Ni 3 C, and WO 3 /Ni 3 C are also synthesized by sputtering method. • The field emission performance of the TiO 2 /Ni 3 C is better than others. • The TiO 2 nanosheets show the turn-on and threshold fields of 1.30 and 1.69 V/μm. • The field emitter also exhibits good repeatability and stability for 50 min. Three-dimensional metal oxides/Ni 3 C structures ( TiO 2 /Ni 3 C, CuO/Ni 3 C, and WO 3 /Ni 3 C ) are prepared in situ on the macroporous electrically conductive network ( MECN) and the field emission (FE) characteristics are investigated systematically. The TiO 2 /Ni 3 C nanosheets deposited on MECN show the smallest turn-on and threshold fields of 1.30 V/μm and 1.69 V/μm, respectively, compared to CuO/Ni 3 C and WO 3 /Ni 3 C. The excellent FE properties of TiO 2 /Ni 3 C/MECN arise from the low work function and change in hybridization from sp 2 to sp 3 carbon atoms at the electron emission sites. In situ synthesis of TiO 2 /Ni 3 C is environmentally friendly, efficient, and compatible with microelectronics manufacturing boding well for application to high-performance FE and vacuum nanodevices.

3D-Printing Graphene Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Graphene-based materials have recently gained attention for regenerating various tissue defects including bone, nerve, cartilage, and muscle. Even though the potential of graphene-based biomaterials has been realized in tissue engineering, there are significantly many more studies reporting in vitro and in vivo data in bone tissue engineering. Graphene constructs have mainly been studied as two-dimensional (2D) substrates when biological organs are within a three-dimensional (3D) environment. Therefore, developing 3D graphene scaffolds is the next clinical standard, yet most have been fabricated as foams which limit control of consistent morphology and porosity. To overcome this issue, 3D-printing technology is revolutionizing tissue engineering, due to its speed, accuracy, reproducibility, and overall ability to personalize treatment whereby scaffolds are printed to the exact dimensions of a tissue defect. Even though various 3D-printing techniques are available, practical applications of 3D-printed graphene scaffolds are still limited. This can be attributed to variations associated with fabrication of graphene derivatives, leading to variations in cell response. This review summarizes selected works describing the different fabrication techniques for 3D scaffolds, the novelty of graphene materials, and the use of 3D-printed scaffolds of graphene-based nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering.

3D self-supporting nickel sponge substrate derived CoFeLDH/SN as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting

The design and fabrication of high-efficiency and low-cost bifunctional catalysts in overall water splitting is crucial for the industrial application of green and clean hydrogen energy. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) self-supporting nickel sponge (SN) with many nickel synapses prepared by hydrothermal method was employed as the substrate. 2D CoFeLDH nanosheets were grown on nano-Ni synapses of SN by electrodeposition method. For comparison, CoFeLDH also was deposited on a nickel foam (NF) substrate using the same deposition process. The as-prepared CoFeLDH/SN exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performances with 208 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for OER and 63 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for HER in 1 M KOH alkaline solution, which is better than that of CoFeLDH/NF (276 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for OER, and 173 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for HER). The electrolytic cell using CoFeLDH/SN as both cathode and anode achieves a voltage of 1.52 V at current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is better than that of most previously reported bifunctional catalysts. Our work provides a facile and inexpensive option for the design of bifunctional catalysts in overall water splitting.

Hydrogel Nanocomposite-Derived Nickel Nanoparticles/Porous Carbon Frameworks as Non-Precious and Effective Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation.

Innovative and facile methods for the preparation of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) with A highly uniform distribution and anchored on a unique substrate are receiving increasing interest for the development of efficient and low-cost catalysts in the field of alternative and sustainable energy technologies. In this study, we report a novel and facile metal-ions adsorption-pyrolysis method based on a hydrogel nanocomposite for the preparation of well-distributed nickel nanoparticles on 3D porous carbon frameworks (Ni@PCFs). The pyrolysis temperature effect on electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and catalyst stability was investigated. Physicochemical characterizations (SEM, TEM, and XRD) were used to determine the morphology and composition of the prepared electrocatalyst, which were then linked to their electrocatalytic activity. The experimental results indicate that the catalyst synthesized by pyrolysis at 800 °C (Ni@PCFs-8) exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of methanol in alkaline media. Additionally, prepared Ni@PCFs-8 displays a remarkable increase in electrocatalytic activity after activation in 1 M KOH and excellent stability. The adsorption-pyrolysis pathway ensures that the Ni NPs are trapped in the PCFs, which can provide highly reactive surface sites. This work may provide a facile and effective strategy for preparing uniformly distributed metallic NPs on a 3D PCF substrate with high catalytic activity for energy applications.

Soft-robotic ciliated epidermis for reconfigurable coordinated fluid manipulation.

The fluid manipulation capabilities of current artificial cilia are severely handicapped by the inability to reconfigure near-surface flow on various static or dynamically deforming three-dimensional (3D) substrates. To overcome this challenge, we propose an electrically driven soft-robotic ciliated epidermis with multiple independently controlled polypyrrole bending actuators. The beating kinematics and the coordination of multiple actuators can be dynamically reconfigured to control the strength and direction of fluid transportation. We achieve fluid transportation along and perpendicular to the beating directions of the actuator arrays, and toward or away from the substrate. The ciliated epidermises are bendable and stretchable and can be deployed on various static or dynamically deforming 3D surfaces. They enable previously difficult to obtain fluid manipulation functionalities, such as transporting fluid in tubular structures or enhancing fluid transportation near dynamically bending and expanding surfaces.

Potent Antibacterial Composite Nonwovens Functionalized with Bioactive Peptides and Polymers

AbstractThis study presents a set of strategies for producing potent antibacterial fabrics by functionalizing nonwoven fabrics (NWFs) with antimicrobial peptides and polymers (AMPs). The incorporation of AMPs is initially optimized on 2D substrates by evaluating conjugation on a poly(maleic anhydride) copolymer coating versus adsorption on polycationic/anionic films and microgels. The evaluation of the resulting surfaces against S. aureus and E. coli highlights the superior antibacterial activity of poly‐ionic films loaded with daptomycin and polymyxin B as well as microgels featuring controlled release of bacitracin and polymyxin B. These formulations are translated onto spun‐bond polypropylene and poly(ethylene terephthalate) NWFs. The poly‐ionic coatings are either covalently anchored or physically adsorbed onto the surface of the fibers, while the microgels and antibacterial polymers are adsorbed and photo‐crosslinked thereon using a ultraviolet (UV)‐crosslinkable benzophenone‐based polymer. Selected formulations loaded with bacitracin and polymyxin B afford a 105‐fold reduction of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in artificial sweat, respectively, on par with commercial antibacterial NWFs. The proposed antibacterial fabric, however, outperforms its commercial counterparts in terms of biocompatibility, showing virtually no adverse effect on human epidermal keratinocytes. Collectively, these results demonstrate affordable and scalable routes for developing antimicrobial NWFs that efficiently eliminate resilient pathogenic bacteria.

Natural Graphene Plasmonic Nano‐Resonators for Highly Active Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering Platforms

Highly sensitive and uniform three‐dimensional (3D) hybrid heterogeneous structures for use in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) experiments were fabricated by sequentially decorating high‐quality, ultra‐clean, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and Ag nanoparticles (Ag‐NPs) onto 3D‐graphene. Finite‐difference time‐domain calculations and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy were used to verify that the Ag‐NPs/GQDs/3D‐graphene system facilitates substantial electromagnetic enhancement (due to the occurrence of two kinds of “gaps” between the Ag‐NPs that form 3D “hot spots”) and additional chemical enhancement (in detecting some π‐conjugated molecules). The SERS mechanism was explored in further detail via experimental analysis and confirmed by performing theoretical calculations. The large surface area of the 3D substrate (due to the large specific surface areas of the GQDs and 3D‐graphene) results in a better enrichment effect which helps produce lower detection limits. In particular, the detection limits obtained using the Ag‐NPs/GQDs/3D‐graphene platform can reach 10−11 M for rhodamine 6G, 10−10 M for methylene blue and dopamine, and 10−7 M for tetramethylthiuram disulfide and methyl parathion in apple juice (these are superior to most of the results reported using graphene‐based SERS substrates). In summary, the 3D‐platform Ag‐NPs/GQDs/3D‐graphene/Si shows outstanding SERS performance. It therefore has excellent application prospects in biochemical molecular detection and food safety monitoring.

Decellularization of xenografted tumors provides cell-specific in vitro 3D environment.

In vitro cell culture studies are common in the cancer research field, and reliable biomimetic 3D models are needed to ensure physiological relevance. In this manuscript, we hypothesized that decellularized xenograft tumors can serve as an optimal 3D substrate to generate a top-down approach for in vitro tumor modeling. Multiple tumor cell lines were xenografted and the formed solid tumors were recovered for their decellularization by several techniques and further characterization by histology and proteomics techniques. Selected decellularized tumor xenograft samples were seeded with the HCC1806 human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) basal-like subtype cell line, and cell behavior was compared among them and with other control 2D and 3D cell culture methods. A soft treatment using Freeze-EDTA-DNAse allows proper decellularization of xenografted tumor samples. Interestingly, proteomic data show that samples decellularized from TNBC basal-like subtype xenograft models had different extracellular matrix (ECM) compositions compared to the rest of the xenograft tumors tested. The in vitro recellularization of decellularized ECM (dECM) yields tumor-type-specific cell behavior in the TNBC context. Data show that dECM derived from xenograft tumors is a feasible substrate for reseeding purposes, thereby promoting tumor-type-specific cell behavior. These data serve as a proof-of-concept for further potential generation of patient-specific in vitro research models.

Functionalized 3D scaffolds for engineering the hematopoietic niche

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in a subzone of the bone marrow (BM) defined as the hematopoietic niche where, via the interplay of differentiation and self-renewal, they can give rise to immune and blood cells. Artificial hematopoietic niches were firstly developed in 2D in vitro cultures but the limited expansion potential and stemness maintenance induced the optimization of these systems to avoid the total loss of the natural tissue complexity. The next steps were adopted by engineering different materials such as hydrogels, fibrous structures with natural or synthetic polymers, ceramics, etc. to produce a 3D substrate better resembling that of BM. Cytokines, soluble factors, adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and the secretome of other niche-resident cells play a fundamental role in controlling and regulating HSC commitment. To provide biochemical cues, co-cultures, and feeder-layers, as well as natural or synthetic molecules were utilized. This review gathers key elements employed for the functionalization of a 3D scaffold that demonstrated to promote HSC growth and differentiation ranging from 1) biophysical cues, i.e., material, topography, stiffness, oxygen tension, and fluid shear stress to 2) biochemical hints favored by the presence of ECM elements, feeder cell layers, and redox scavengers. Particular focus is given to the 3D systems to recreate megakaryocyte products, to be applied for blood cell production, whereas HSC clinical application in such 3D constructs was limited so far to BM diseases testing.

Direct observation of ultrafast carrier coupling dynamics in monolayer graphene/metal system

• Femtosecond laser pump-probe technique measures the reflectivity changes of graphene/copper system. • A model assuming phonon-phonon coupling at graphene/copper interface is built and validated by the experiment. • Establish a new research paradigm to directly study the carrier coupling dynamics between 2D materials and substrates. For promising graphene-based devices, graphene/metal contacts are inevitable. When they operate at high frequencies, it is essential to explore the ultrafast carrier dynamics between graphene and metal, which has been rarely studied. Owing to the special monolayer graphene/copper structure we designed, that is, the graphene is grown on copper, we have directly observed the ultrafast carrier dynamics between monolayer graphene and copper by using femtosecond laser pump-probe technique for the first time. The measured optical reflectivity changes of graphene/copper system are significantly different from that of bare copper, which is attributed to the ultrafast carrier dynamics between graphene and copper, and graphene optical properties. A model considering carriers coupling in graphene and copper, including electron and phonon, has been built and validated by the experiment. Present study provides direct observation of the ultrafast carrier dynamics between graphene and metal, which is of great significance for graphene-based device applications.

3차원 구조를 갖는 유연 및 신축 소자

Developments of ways to fabricate complex three-dimensional (3D) structures enable the controlling of physical and chemical properties of the electrical systems. Especially, owing to the rapid developments of the fabrication processes (e.g., the 3D printing, origami, and mechanical buckling process), researchers have integrated multifunctional and sophisticated 3D structures with flexible and stretchable substrates for high electrical, mechanical, and optical performances. In this review, we highlight the latest research on flexible and stretchable electric systems integrated with 3D structures such as a super-sensitive pressure sensor, a high-performance wearable monitoring system, a multi-functional cell scaffold, a foldable thermoelectric generator, a wearable energy harvesting system, a hemispherical photodetector array, and a projection screen with the reversible state changes. In subsequent sections, we summarize the advanced research results and provide future strategies for flexible and stretchable 3D electronic devices.

A new strategy for improving quantitative detection of SERS: Using CH3NH3PbBr3 as a substrate to narrow the FWHM of adsorbed molecular spectrum

Spectra in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are always accompanied by a continuous emission known as “background”, which complicates the analysis with a poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), especially for qualitative and quantitative detection. Here, the SERS profile of the CH3NH3PbBr3 substrate displays high similarity with the bulk Raman spectra, and its FWHMis exceeding narrow. The significantly increased SNR of the probe molecules indicates that the substrate helps to improve the quantitative analysis capability of the SERS technology and alleviate the background-related problems. For the CH3NH3PbBr3 substrate, good linearity (R2 = 0.9591) in the range of 1.0 × 10-7 − 1.0 × 10-3mol/L was obtained and the limit of detection (LOD) is 7.88 × 10-6mol/L. The reason for this excellent performance is that the introduction of organic molecules splits the 3D CH3NH3PbBr3 substrate to form a 2D perovskite that fixes the molecular orientation through chemical interactions. The CH3NH3PbBr3 has the advantage of maintaining the conformation and orientation consistency of adsorbed molecules. Meanwhile, compared with the commonly used noble metal (Au, Ag) and semiconductor (ZnO, TiO2) SERS substrates, the CH3NH3PbBr3 substrate has obvious superiorities in both spectral peak intensity and peak shape. Furthermore, the CH3NH3PbBr3 substrate possesses specific recognition ability that has the same enhancement effect for a series of pyridine-containing probe molecules. Finally, the enhancement mechanism is discussed according to the CT contribution. As a promising substrate for SERS technology, CH3NH3PbBr3 will provide more possibilities for quantitative and multiplex detection in the future.

Stereolithography of 3D Sustainable Metal Electrodes towards High‐Performance Nickel Iron Battery

AbstractThe present‐day ubiquity of smart devices used under extreme conditions demands robust and more sustainable energy storage. Therefore, lightweight electrodes with both excellent electrochemical and mechanical performance to meet these needs are of great importance. Moreover, the recycling of current energy storage devices poses significant environmental concerns, a particularly daunting prospect given the increasing waste volume of metal‐based electrodes. To that end, these challenges of performance and sustainability are addressed by leveraging accessible digital light processing (DLP) technology and tailored post‐process heat treatment to fabricate a metal‐based 3D substrate with ultrahigh precision and hierarchical porosity. Here, a 4‐mm‐thickness metal‐based electrode with NiCo2S4 loading of 18.38 mg cm–2 achieves a high areal capacity of 7.327 mA h cm–2 at 44.85 mA cm–2, providing a promising way to fabricate high‐performance thick electrodes. Most importantly, these electrodes can be fabricated from recyclable metal salt feedstock. The geometric freedom offered by 3D printing supplemented by finite element analyses allows for optimized complex structures to be fabricated. Through rational design realized by 3D printing, a desirable compromise between building density, mechanical properties, electrochemical performances, and environment‐friendly processing cycle can be arrived upon.

Submicron Topographically Patterned 3D Substrates Enhance Directional Axon Outgrowth of Dorsal Root Ganglia Cultured Ex Vivo.

A peripheral nerve injury results in disruption of the fiber that usually protects axons from the surrounding environment. Severed axons from the proximal nerve stump are capable of regenerating, but axons are exposed to a completely new environment. Regeneration recruits cells that produce and deposit key molecules, including growth factor proteins and fibrils in the extracellular matrix (ECM), thus changing the chemical and geometrical environment. The regenerating axons thus surf on a newly remodeled micro-landscape. Strategies to enhance and control axonal regeneration and growth after injury often involve mimicking the extrinsic cues that are found in the natural nerve environment. Indeed, nano- and micropatterned substrates have been generated as tools to guide axons along a defined path. The mechanical cues of the substrate are used as guides to orient growth or change the direction of growth in response to impediments or cell surface topography. However, exactly how axons respond to biophysical information and the dynamics of axonal movement are still poorly understood. Here we use anisotropic, groove-patterned substrate topography to direct and enhance sensory axonal growth of whole mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) transplanted ex vivo. Our results show significantly enhanced and directed growth of the DRG sensory fibers on the hemi-3D topographic substrates compared to a 0 nm pitch, flat control surface. By assessing the dynamics of axonal movement in time-lapse microscopy, we found that the enhancement was not due to increases in the speed of axonal growth, but to the efficiency of growth direction, ensuring axons minimize movement in undesired directions. Finally, the directionality of growth was reproduced on topographic patterns fabricated as fully 3D substrates, potentially opening new translational avenues of development incorporating these specific topographic feature sizes in implantable conduits in vivo.