Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161040

Authors: Mumtaz Khan Muqaddus Usman Bhurgri Mazhar Iqbal Zafar Jie Niu Aiza Zafar Penghua Hu

Low-level radioactive wastewater requires effective treatment to minimize risks to human health and the environment. This study evaluated the performance of activated carbons derived from regional biomass (Gurgurey, Pine, and Debregeasia woods) and Thar coal for the simultaneous removal of radionuclides (137Cs, 134Cs, 124Sb, and 122Sb) from real low-level radioactive wastewater. The activated carbons were characterized by proximate analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and their adsorption performance was investigated through batch experiments followed by kinetic and isotherm modeling. Among the investigated materials, activated carbons derived from Gurgurey wood, Pine wood, and Thar coal exhibited superior physicochemical properties, including low moisture (3.8–4.8%), low volatile matter (10.7–15.3%), high fixed carbon content (77.8–84.3%), and adsorption capacities ranging from 205.6 to 251.9 Bq g−1. In contrast, Debregeasia-derived activated carbon showed the poorest performance owing to its high moisture, volatile matter, and ash contents, resulting in adsorption capacities of only 53.4–161.2 Bq g−1. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of phosphate-containing functional groups on all biomass-derived activated carbons except Thar coal. The adsorption data were best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, indicating that chemisorption and monolayer adsorption were the dominant removal mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that activated carbons derived from Gurgurey wood, Pine wood, and Thar coal are promising low-cost adsorbents for the simultaneous removal of multiple radionuclides from real low-level radioactive wastewater and provide a sustainable approach for radioactive wastewater treatment.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161039

Authors: Ai Maeno Motoki Hojo Yoshimitsu Sakamoto Yukio Yamamoto Kiyomi Ikushima Kai Igarashi Satoshi Yokota Yuhji Taquahashi Norihiro Kobayashi Hiroyuki Tsuda Aya Naiki-Ito Takamasa Numano Jun Kanno Akihiko Hirose Akiko Inomata Junichi Kamiie Dai Nakae

The multiwalled carbon nanotube, MWCNT-7, is carcinogenic to rat lungs when inhaled over the course of 2 years, but does not induce pleural mesothelioma. In contrast, intratracheal instillation of MWCNT-7 causes both lung tumors and pleural mesotheliomas. To explore the possibility of the use of the intratracheal instillation technique in risk characterization, we administered this widely used reference material using instillation to male F344 rats at doses of 0.0175, 0.07, 0.28, or 0.42 mg/kg once per week for 13 weeks, followed by an observation period of 91 weeks and compared the dose–response toxicological data with the 2-year inhalation study. Lung tumors and pleural mesotheliomas were induced in a dose-dependent manner (the 0.42 mg/kg group was excluded from analysis of lung tumor formation). The lung burden of MWCNT-7 at week 13 was dose-dependent: 0.0302, 0.191, 0.98, and 1.369 mg/lung in the 0.0175, 0.07, 0.28, and 0.42 mg/kg groups, respectively. The number of fibers in the pleural lavage fluid was also dose-dependent. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of MWCNT-7’s carcinogenicity was 0.0302 mg/lung based on no significant lung tumor induction and no mesothelioma induction in the 0.0175 mg/kg group. When compared based on lung burden, the dose–response relationship and NOAEL of lung tumor induction resembled those in the 2-year inhalation study, offering the possibility of the application of this protocol for risk characterization.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161038

Authors: Juantao Zhang Haining Ji Shisong Jin Zhiwen Wu Yuzhuo Ma Jianfeng Li Guanhong Lu Chang Cheng Xiangle Li

Infrared-selective stealth films, which concurrently offer high visible transmittance, suppressed infrared emission, and selective thermal dissipation, have emerged as compelling candidates for infrared protection and thermal-target stealth. However, traditional multilayer architectures are predominantly designed through empirical trial-and-error protocols, which inherently hinder the synergistic optimisation of multiband spectral performance and yield suboptimal parameter-tuning efficiency. To circumvent this bottleneck, we introduce a reinforcement learning (RL)-driven multi-objective optimisation framework that automates the design of composite thin-film configurations. The optimised multilayer film structure consists of TiO2/ITO/Ag/ZnO/SiO2, with layer thicknesses of 180, 656, 10, 33.75 and 50 nm, respectively. Spectral characterisation reveals a weighted average visible transmittance of 79.77% over the 0.38–0.78 μm range, alongside blackbody-weighted average emissivities of 33.93%, 72.93%, and 19.94% in the 3–5, 5–8, and 8–14 μm bands, respectively. Consequently, the spectral profile exhibits high visible transparency, deep suppression of emissivity within the atmospheric windows (3–5 and 8–14 μm), and markedly elevated emissivity in the non-atmospheric band (5–8 μm). Analysis of the electromagnetic field distribution and power-loss density along the thickness direction reveals that the energy transmission and dissipation behaviours across distinct bands are synergistically governed by multilayer interference, interfacial multiple reflections, and lossy interlayer coupling mechanisms. Furthermore, angle-resolved infrared-emissivity analysis calibrated against the normal-incidence FDTD spectrum confirms that the structure retains robust polarisation adaptability and pronounced spectral selectivity at incidence angles up to 80°. The above results demonstrate the effectiveness of the reinforcement learning-driven optimisation framework for the automated co-design of multiband spectral responses. Moreover, the uncovered multilayer interference and loss-coupling mechanisms furnish a solid physical foundation for further performance refinement and rational design of transparent stealth coatings.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161037

Authors: Tsvetomila Lazarova Katerina Tumbalova Diana Kichukova Consolato Rosmini Grigoria Theochari Ralitsa Velinova Anton Naydenov Nikolay Velinov Genoveva Atanasova Ivanka Spassova Daniela Kovacheva

In this work, nanocrystalline high-entropy spinels with the nominal composition (Co,Mn,Ni,Cr,Fe)3O4 and different Fe contents were synthesized by a facile solution combustion method and evaluated as catalysts for the complete oxidation of light hydrocarbons and methanol decomposition. Structural characterization by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and N2 physisorption confirmed the formation of single-phase cubic spinels and mesoporous morphology. Increasing the Fe content resulted in changes in surface elemental distribution without altering the oxidation states of the cations. Among the investigated catalysts, HES-Fe 1:1 exhibited the highest specific surface area, favorable surface enrichment in Co and Mn, and the best catalytic performance for the complete oxidation of light hydrocarbons. In methanol decomposition, HES-Fe 1:1 showed the highest methanol conversion at lower temperatures, whereas HES-Fe 1:2 exhibited the highest CO selectivity, making it the most efficient catalyst for syngas production. The results establish a relationship between Fe content, surface composition, redox properties, and catalytic performance, revealing high-entropy spinels as promising catalysts for environmental catalysis and syngas production.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161036

Authors: Peng Huang Gaowei Xue Chengfeng Jiang Li Hu Jiahui Yuan Qiang Huang Hongxing Jia

The limitations of conventional inorganic electrodes call for organic alternatives for advanced energy storage. Metal–covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs) integrate the metal active sites of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with the high chemical stability imparted by strong covalent bonds in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) while retaining the high specific surface area and tunable porosity of both material classes. Among these, MCOFs constructed from porphyrin and phthalocyanine building units have emerged as a research hotspot in electrochemical energy storage owing to their inherent 18π-conjugated macrocyclic electronic systems, well-defined M–N4 coordination sites, and potential bipolar charge storage characteristics. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in this class of materials. First, from the perspective of metal center introduction timing, three core synthetic strategies—pre-metallation, simultaneous metallation, and post-metallation—are categorized and evaluated in terms of coordination precision, synthetic efficiency, and scalability potential. Second, the regulatory effects of two-dimensional layered and three-dimensional interpenetrated structures on charge transport pathways and structural stability are elucidated. Subsequently, the applications of porphyrin/phthalocyanine-based MCOFs in lithium-based batteries, zinc-based batteries, sodium/potassium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors are reviewed in detail, with emphasis on the key roles of metal active sites in catalytic conversion, chemical anchoring/confinement, interface stabilization, and pseudocapacitive contribution. Finally, future directions to address key performance and mechanistic bottlenecks are discussed. This review aims to provide a systematic reference for the rational design and energy storage applications of high-performance porphyrin/phthalocyanine-based MCOFs.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161035

Authors: Yueyang Lu Siyu Han Yizhe Wang Zekun Tang Xiaoliang Wu

Biowaste-derived porous carbon materials show promise as electrode materials for supercapacitors owing to their low cost, renewable nature, widespread availability, and high specific surface area. Herein, boron and nitrogen co-doped porous carbon was synthesized via a facile one-step activation approach using reed spike as carbon precursor, ammonium borate as both the nitrogen and boron source, and potassium bicarbonate as activator. The prepared PC-700 materials possess large specific surface areas with hierarchical porous architectures and rich N (2.54 at%), O (11.23 at%) and B (2.59 at%) functional groups. As an electrode material, the PC-700 materials show a specific capacitance of 329.6 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and long lifespan. Notably, the assembled PC-700 symmetric super capacitor achieves an energy density of 20.5 Wh kg−1 and excellent electrochemical stabilization (98.60% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles).

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161034

Authors: Sabrina Campagna Zignani Marta Fazio Mariarosaria Pascale Chiara Alessandrello Claudia Triolo Maria Grazia Musolino Saveria Santangelo

The development of sustainable and low-cost electrocatalysts based on Earth-abundant elements is essential for the large-scale deployment of green hydrogen production via anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of cobalt-free high-entropy oxide (HEO) electrodes for AEMWE through a set of spinel oxides based on equimolar Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn. The HEOs were synthesized by a scalable sol-gel route followed by calcination at different temperatures (400–800 °C). The pristine oxides were employed as oxygen evolution reaction catalysts, whereas their H2/Ar-reduced counterparts were used as hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts in symmetric membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Comprehensive physicochemical characterization combined with electrochemical testing revealed that the phase purity of the anodic catalyst mainly correlates with both the maximum current density and the polarization resistance of the electrolyzer. In contrast, a correlation is observed between the physicochemical features of the reduced cathodic catalyst, the iR-free potential and the polarization resistance after prolonged operation. The best-performing Co-free MEA achieved a current density of 0.51 A cm−2 at 2.2 V and exhibited stable operation for hundreds of hours under alkaline electrolysis conditions. Although the complete replacement of cobalt results in lower activity than previously reported Co-containing HEOs, the present work establishes a viable design strategy for fully Co-free electrocatalysts and highlights the critical balance between catalytic performance, long-term stability, and material sustainability in future AEMWE technologies.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161032

Authors: Qianqian Zhong Feng Han Weixuan Jing Yifan Zhao Kun Zheng Song Wang Yaxin Zhang Dejiang Lu Chenying Wang Binbin Jiao Zhuangde Jiang

Real-time lactate monitoring is essential for clinical diagnostics, sports physiology, and industrial bioprocessing, yet conventional enzymatic sensors suffer from limited stability, narrow operational temperature range, and complex fabrication protocols. Herein, we report a robust non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on graphene fibers (GFs), featuring a GF/Au/Ni(OH)2 composite electrode with controllable structure fabricated via sequential electrodeposition. Systematic optimization of deposition parameters established a quantitative relationship between surface architecture and electrochemical response, revealing a critical trade-off between active site density and charge transport efficiency. The sensor achieved optimal performance when both Au and Ni(OH)2 were deposited for 900 s, exhibiting a high sensitivity of 1.24 mA mM−1 cm−2 and a remarkably broad operational temperature range of 0–100 °C. Moreover, the sensor demonstrates excellent repeatability, superior anti-interference capability against common electroactive species, and outstanding long-term durability with 97.8% response retention after 14 days. This work provides a rational design strategy for balancing catalytic activity and transport properties in metal–metal oxide composites, offering a reliable platform for advanced applications in next-generation wearable health-monitoring systems.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161033

Authors: Aleksandra Wilczyńska Mateusz Łakomski Łukasz Ruta

This study investigates the influence of annealing on the electrical, magnetoresistive, and structural properties of Ni–SiO2 nanocomposites fabricated by magnetron sputtering. Electrical measurements performed over the frequency range of 4 Hz to 1 MHz and at temperatures between 298 and 333 K revealed that charge transport in the structures is dominated by hopping conduction described by the Mott and Jonscher models. Before annealing, the nanocomposite exhibited behavior characteristic of a system near the percolation threshold, while thermal treatment at 673 K for 30 min significantly reduced conductivity and increased activation energy, indicating reorganization of conductive pathways and increased separation between active centers. Phase angle analysis confirmed the coexistence of resistive and capacitive components, associated with Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars interfacial polarization. Magnetoresistance measurements demonstrated a transition from negative magnetoresistance in the non-annealed sample to positive magnetoresistance after annealing, suggesting a change from spin-dependent scattering to tunneling-dominated transport mechanisms. Electric and magnetic field simulations were carried out, which showed that the magnetic field was uniformly distributed throughout the structure. SEM observations confirmed a granular morphology with increased intergrain separation after annealing, EDS analysis indicated no significant increase in oxidation. The obtained results demonstrate that annealing strongly modifies transport and magnetic properties of Ni–SiO2 nanocomposites, making them promising materials for magnetoelectronic applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161031

Authors: Chung-Yu Yu Chin-An Ku Chen-Kuei Chung

Structural colors, generated by the physical interaction of light with micro- and nanostructured architectures, have emerged as an important platform in nanophotonics owing to their high color saturation, exceptional photostability, and long-term color durability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in structural colors and establishes a unified classification framework based on their macroscopic angular optical responses. The intrinsic angular characteristics of four fundamental color-generation mechanisms are first distinguished, providing the physical basis for classifying structural colors into iridescent and non-iridescent systems. Representative iridescent architectures, including thin films, one-dimensional (1D) to three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystals, and diffraction gratings, are systematically reviewed, together with non-iridescent strategies based on independent plasmonic and dielectric resonators, quasi-amorphous structures, and engineered metasurfaces. Strategies for enhancing structural color visibility and saturation through absorption management are further discussed, particularly for suppressing undesired broadband and multiple-scattering backgrounds. Additionally, this review systematically summarizes quantitative methodologies for evaluating structural colors, including spectral metrics, CIE 1931 and CIE1976 color spaces, CIEDE2000 color difference, quantitative angular-response metrics, spatial resolution and pixel limits, and structural-order characterization using orientation parameters and two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D FFT) analysis. Particular attention is given to the quantitative assessment of angular stability through wavelength shifts and perceptual color differences, while recognizing that a universally accepted numerical boundary between iridescent and non-iridescent coloration has not yet been established. Representative functional applications are also reviewed, including self-cleaning coatings, passive daytime radiative cooling, label-free chemical and gas sensing, reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS), surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and anti-counterfeiting. By integrating color-generation mechanisms, angular optical responses, quantitative evaluation methods, and functional applications, this review provides a unified framework for objectively comparing structural color platforms and highlights key trade-offs among color quality, angular stability, structural precision, durability, scalability, and multifunctionality, thereby providing design guidance for next-generation optical materials and devices.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161030

Authors: Sibo Yang Lang Qin Fangzheng Zhou Xing Li Hongsheng Dong

Effective thermal management is a cornerstone of safe, long-life lithium-ion battery operation, especially under high-rate charge–discharge and dynamic driving conditions. Conventional active cooling technologies face inherent trade-offs between heat dissipation efficiency, system complexity, and temperature uniformity, while phase change materials (PCMs) provide a promising passive alternative by absorbing latent heat during phase transition to buffer temperature spikes, improve temperature uniformity, and delay thermal runaway propagation. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in PCM-based lithium-ion battery thermal management, systematically covering the full scope from fundamental battery heat generation mechanisms to material synthesis optimization and hybrid system integration. At the material level, we analyze state-of-the-art strategies to address the intrinsic drawbacks of organic PCMs—low thermal conductivity, mismatched phase transition temperatures, and high flammability—including the construction of carbon/metal conductive skeletons, compositional tuning of phase change behavior, and flame-retardant modifications. These approaches have yielded composite PCMs with significantly improved heat transport capability and fire safety, while preserving high latent heat storage capacity. At the system level, we evaluate the thermal performance of pure passive PCM configurations, which excel at peak temperature suppression and inter-cell temperature uniformity, as well as hybrid designs that combine PCMs with air or liquid cooling to resolve heat accumulation issues and maintain stable performance under prolonged, demanding operating cycles. Despite these advances, key challenges remain: balancing high thermal conductivity with high latent heat capacity, developing climate-adaptable phase transition temperatures, and integrating multiple functionalities without compromising core thermal storage properties. Looking forward, future research directions include multifunctional integrated composites, smart adaptive PCMs, cost-effective scalable manufacturing, and precision structural engineering. This review also summarizes quantified performance trade-offs and provides actionable design guidelines for both material development and system-level integration.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161029

Authors: Yuexiang Wu Jiashun Hu Weiqiang Wu Yongxue Wang

Optical bistability plays a vital role in high-performance all-optical devices. In this work, we construct a heterostructure consisting of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) and three-dimensional Dirac semimetal (3D DSM), where a 3D DSM layer is sandwiched between two DBRs with mismatched central resonant wavelengths to realize effective excitation and coupling of optical Tamm states (OTSs). Benefiting from the strong optical field confinement and intrinsic Kerr nonlinearity of 3D DSM, the proposed structure achieves a low bistability threshold of 105 V/m. Moreover, the bistability performance can be tuned by modifying the Fermi level of 3D DSM and adjusting the incident angle. The proposed structure offers a promising theoretical platform for the future development of low-power terahertz bistable devices.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161028

Authors: Wei Zhou Haseeb Ur Rehman Zeming Wang Oleksandr Ivasenko

Graphite-based nanocomposites with nitrogen-rich covalent two-dimensional materials are promising for energy, catalytic and sensing applications, but their controlled construction remains challenging because both graphite and many covalent 2D materials consist of stacked sheets that are difficult to integrate homogeneously without prior exfoliation, dispersion, mixing, and restacking. Here, we explore a solvent-free strategy that uses melamine-confined graphite as a preorganized precursor for chemical transformations between graphene layers. We demonstrate that intercalated melamine can undergo reaction pathways analogous to those of bulk melamine, enabling not only the previously reported formation of graphite/g-C3N4 composites but also the construction of a new graphite/melem composite. The same concept is further extended to multicomponent solid-state reactions by introducing pyromellitic dianhydride, enabling the formation of new graphite/polyimide-linked two-dimensional material composites from either melamine or melem precursors. Comparison of one-pot and stepwise routes shows that precursor preorganization within graphite improves framework preservation, structural continuity, and morphological homogeneity. Overall, this work presents graphite interlayers as confined reaction environments for transforming simple nitrogen-rich molecules into integrated graphite/2D-material composites, providing a scalable platform for exploring solid-state chemistry and hybrid material synthesis between graphene layers.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161027

Authors: Guang Qiao Huaize Liu Cheng Feng Yufeng Liao Ruiling Gong Hui Guo Pengfei Shao Dunjun Chen

In this paper, a 2.5 nm thick Al2O3 interlayer deposited by atomic layer deposition was inserted between AlGaN/GaN HEMT structure and SiNx passivation layer to reduce interface damage of the semiconductor/dielectric introduced directly by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. It is found that this ultra-thin Al2O3 interlayer can not only obviously increase the output current and extrinsic transconductance by reducing the access-region resistance, but also effectively suppress current collapse and the threshold voltage drift due to fewer interface defects in the access region between the gate and drain. More importantly, dynamic on-resistance degradation of devices with an Al2O3 interlayer is significantly improved in comparison with the only Si3N4-passivated HEMTs without an Al2O3 interlayer.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161026

Authors: Wenjie Kong Wenyuan Zhang Ling Qin Dinghai Gong

Various wafer defects appear inevitably, due to the highly complex and precise semiconductor fabrication processes. Thus, precise and rapid detection of patterned wafer surface defects is essential to prevent circuit failures and ensure product quality. Accordingly, a novel lightweight detection network termed PWDD-Net is proposed in this work, by introducing several modifications on YOLO11-nano. First, a novel LGE block, incorporating spatial and channel transformation with adaptive gated mechanism, is developed to enhance fine-grained feature extraction and representation. Second, by integrating a self-calibration block, a lightweight SC-C3k2 module is proposed to improve global feature capture while preserving network efficiency. Finally, the Slide loss is employed to distinguish easy and hard instances, thereby mitigating the imbalanced class distribution and improving classification precision. Experimental results show that PWDD-Net achieves a mAP@0.5 of 74.4% and a mAP@0.5:0.95 of 46.5%, yielding remarkable increments of 4.2% and 2.1% over the YOLO11-nano baseline, respectively. In addition, the network maintains a comparable parameter scale to the baseline and performs an inference speed of 78 FPS using an NVIDIA RTX 3080Ti GPU. These results demonstrate the model’s potential for real-time industrial wafer defect inspection applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161025

Authors: Qiuqin Wang Yongkui Wang Chao Feng Xiaoqi Jin Jinlong Ge Cuishuan Xu

Using bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) as the matrix and employing a doping modification strategy to introduce the rare-earth element La, this study prepared La/Bi2O3 visible-light-responsive photocatalysts with different doping ratios. The research systematically investigated the regulation mechanisms of La doping on the material’s phase structure, microstructure, band structure characteristics, and visible-light photocatalytic performance. The results indicate that an appropriate amount of La3+ equivalently substitutes Bi3+ in the lattice, inducing the complete transformation of pure α-Bi2O3 into the tetragonal β-Bi2O3 phase while maintaining the integrity of the crystal framework. Meanwhile, the modulation of the local electronic structure caused by La3+ substitution effectively narrows the bandgap width and broadens the visible-light response range; it also acts as an electron trap to significantly suppress the recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs, thereby enhancing charge transport efficiency. Visible-light catalytic degradation experiments confirmed that 4% La/Bi2O3 exhibits the optimal degradation kinetics for RhB, achieving a 72.88% degradation rate of Rhodamine B within 60 min of visible-light irradiation. The first-order reaction rate constant was 23 times that of pure Bi2O3, and the material demonstrated good stability under repeated cycles. Radical trapping experiments indicated that the order of contribution of active species was ·O2− > h+ > ·OH, with the superoxide radical (·O2−) being the dominant active species. This study confirms that appropriate lattice doping with La can synergistically optimize the structure and optoelectronic properties of Bi2O3, providing experimental evidence and theoretical references for the rational design of highly efficient and stable visible-light-responsive Bi2O3-based photocatalytic materials.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161024

Authors: Seok-Hwan Jeong Heuk Park Joon Ki Lee

Spectrally flat-topped and polarization-insensitive coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM)-targeted optical demultiplexers based on distributed multimode-interference (MMI) phase compensations are analytically calculated and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed device for use in a CWDM optical receiver consists of a polarization splitter-rotator (PSR) and two identical silicon-nanowire multiple delayed interferometric (MDI) demultiplexers. The broadband operating nature of MMI couplers is highly suitable for applying the proposed device to >60 nm wide CWDM applications. Moreover, by properly adjusting the relative output phase relations of MMI couplers according to their optical splitting ratios, we experimentally validated a flat-topped CWDM spectral response within the O-band spectral range. Concurrently, stable optical demultiplexing operations were maintained regardless of the input signal polarization states via the monolithically integrated PSR. Fabricated using a silicon photonics foundry process based on ArF-dry lithography technology, the devices exhibited a 1 dB flat bandwidth of >12 nm, a polarization-dependent loss of <1.0 dB, an adjacent-channel isolation of >10 dB, and a polarization crosstalk of <−20 dB across the measured output channels. Although the current spectral crosstalk is ~−10 dB, it can be further suppressed to the −20 dB level through fabrication process optimization to minimize random phase fluctuations, or by incorporating a double-filtering scheme. This distributed MMI phase compensation strategy can be broadly applied to scalable WDM architectures in datacom applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161023

Authors: Chanwoo Park Dohyoung Kang Hobin Jee Yebin Hong Changhyuk Kim Sukbyung Chae Jungmin Lee Soonchul Kwon Ji Yong Park Numan Yanar Euntae Yang

Electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofiber filters are attractive for particulate air filtration because they combine high filtration efficiency with low airflow resistance. Here, three inorganic additives, namely aluminum chloride (AlCl3), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and silicon nitride (Si3N4), were investigated using formulation-specific electrospinning conditions selected to achieve stable fiber formation. Although all filters exhibited high initial filtration efficiencies above 96%, clear differences were observed in fiber morphology, pressure drop, electrostatic potential decay, and long-term filtration stability. Among the tested samples, the Si3N4-containing filter showed the best long-term performance, retaining approximately 94% filtration efficiency after 30 days, whereas neat PVDF decreased to about 85%. These results suggest that differences in long-term filtration stability are closely associated with charge-retention behavior, and that the incorporation of inorganic additives can influence the durability of PVDF-based electrospun nanofiber air filters.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161022

Authors: Nicola Greco Anita Conti Arnaud Martino Capuzzo Giusi Piccolantonio Alessandro Negri Mandy Ahlborg Pascal Stagge Eric Aderhold Kerstin Lüdtke-Buzug Ermanna Turano Ilaria Scambi Mauro Caprioli Raffaella Mariotti Pietro Bontempi Pasquina Marzola

Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) detects superparamagnetic nanoparticles, enabling bimodal contrast with MRI. Resovist®/Ferucarbotran, still used in research, has clinical safety compatibility but suboptimal MPI performance due to many small 5 nm SPIO cores. Magnetic fractionation can enrich larger cores, improving MPI signal and supporting cellular imaging applications. To enable bimodal MRI/MPI and assess in vivo extracellular vesicle (EV) labelling, we characterized the imaging sensitivity and cell-labelling performance of VivoTrax, a commercial formulation similar to Resovist®, and VivoTrax Plus, obtained by magnetic fractionation. VivoTrax Plus showed higher MRI transverse relaxivity and MPI sensitivity than VivoTrax, and both formulations displayed low toxicity toward adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). VivoTrax Plus allowed MRI detection of small cell numbers, around 100 cells, in agarose phantoms with greater sensitivity than VivoTrax. However, EVs of 30–150 nm isolated from ASCs labelled with VivoTrax Plus did not retain SPIONs, whereas EVs from VivoTrax-labelled ASCs did. Preliminary in vivo experiments in SOD-G93A mice showed MRI-detectable signal voids in the brain after intranasal EV administration, suggesting EV migration to lesioned areas. Overall, magnetic fractionation improves SPION imaging sensitivity but may alter relevant biological properties.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161021

Authors: Junxu Zhu Tao Shen Siying Dong Zongyan Cai Wenhao Guo Jiaxin Jin

Attapulgite (ATP; palygorskite) is a fibrous magnesium aluminum silicate that can reinforce hydrated polymer networks, provide a surface for molecular interactions, and participate in formulation-dependent ion or drug delivery. Although ATP has been studied most extensively in bone-oriented composites, its more distinctive role in cartilage repair may be as a spatially controlled regulator of the scaffold microenvironment rather than as a uniformly distributed bioactive filler. This review therefore examines ATP from a cartilage-first perspective. Direct ATP evidence, effects of modified ATP, performance of complete drug-loaded formulations, and cross-material extrapolations are considered separately. Current cartilage data support injectability, shear-thinning, photocrosslinking, mechanical reinforcement, and sustained intra-articular delivery but do not yet establish durable hyaline cartilage regeneration. In osteochondral constructs, ATP is more plausibly restricted to the calcified-cartilage interface or subchondral region, where reinforcement and mineral-associated functions may be beneficial, while high or uniform cartilage-side loading could increase stiffness, hypertrophy, or ectopic mineralization. This interpretation leads to testable design rules: define the ATP material fingerprint, map dose and spatial distribution, distinguish the true carrier phase, and assess cartilage matrix quality, lubrication, anti-hypertrophic stability, interface mechanics, persistence, and synovial safety. ATP should thus be developed as a dose-controlled and spatially restricted component whose value depends on material–tissue matching and direct mechanistic validation.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161020

Authors: Mohamed El Amine Boudjouraf Anna Sierosławska

The emergence of nanotechnology has led to a rapid increase in intentional and unintentional exposure to engineered nanoparticles (NPs), raising significant concerns over their impact on humans, animals, and ecosystems. Nanotoxicology has evolved to assess these adverse effects, but the field faces key challenges including complex physicochemical characterization, difficulties in exposure assessment, dynamic biological interactions, and distinct regulatory gaps. To address these challenges, solutions such as the standardization of testing protocols, the adoption of advanced 3D in vitro and in silico modeling, and the implementation of “safer-by-design” principles are proposed. The development of biodegradable nanomaterials (NMs) and effective risk management further emphasizes that responsible development and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to balance technological innovation with human and environmental safety.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161019

Authors: Dario Morganti Domenico Franco Giuseppe Nicotra Elena Spagnoli Stefano Zampolli Vittorio Morandi Sabrina Conoci

The modulation of ZnO physicochemical properties through Mn doping represents a promising strategy for the development of multifunctional nanomaterials with enhanced biological performance. In this study, we investigate how the nominal Mn concentration influences both the physicochemical properties and antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-virulence activities of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles containing nominal Mn from 2.5 to 10 mol% were synthesized through a simple wet-chemical approach and characterized by UV–Vis, Raman, TEM, EDX, and EELS analyses. The resulting ZnO-based NPs showed average dimensions of 3.7–4.8 nm, while increasing Mn incorporation produced measurable changes in optical response and morphology of nanoparticles. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial models by assessing planktonic growth inhibition, biofilm formation, and pyocyanin production. The sample with the highest Mn amount (Mn10-ZnO) markedly enhanced antibacterial performance by reducing MIC90 from 150 to 37.5 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and from 300 to 75 μg/mL for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mn doping also enhanced biofilm inhibition and produced a progressive reduction in pyocyanin synthesis. These results establish a concentration-dependent relationship between Mn concentration, nanoparticle properties, and antibacterial performance, highlighting the potential of Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles for the development of anti-infective biomaterials, including antimicrobial coatings for implantable medical devices.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161018

Authors: Juliana Jesus Manuel Graça Ana Salomé Pires Susana Devesa Sílvia Soreto Teixeira

Magnetothermally responsive nanocarriers represent a promising platform for spatio-temporally controlled drug delivery by combining alternating magnetic field (AMF)-induced heating with thermally triggered cargo release. Among the available architectures, magnetite-core/mesoporous-silica-shell (Fe3O4@mSiO2) nanoparticles functionalized with thermoresponsive polymer gatekeepers are particularly attractive. These systems integrate a magnetic heat source, a mesoporous drug reservoir, and temperature-dependent control of pore accessibility. This review examines the fundamental principles of magnetic hyperthermia, including heat-generation mechanisms, specific absorption rate (SAR), intrinsic loss power (ILP), AMF parameters and safety, and the interplay between Néel and Brownian relaxation. It also critically discusses core–shell synthesis and architecture, drug-loading strategies, PNIPAM-, PNVCL-, and other LCST-type gatekeepers, and the physicochemical characterization required to validate the complete nanocarrier. Evidence for combined magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy is assessed together with hemocompatibility, immunogenicity, oxidative stress, biodistribution, degradation, long-term retention, and clearance. Although promising magnetothermal release and therapeutic effects have been reported, evidence remains dominated by in vitro studies, with limited in vivo validation. Current clinical experience concerns locally administered iron-oxide hyperthermia rather than complete thermoresponsive Fe3O4@mSiO2 drug-delivery systems. Translation will require standardized magnetothermal and release testing, reproducible scale-up, validated sterilization and endotoxin control, component-resolved pharmacokinetics, and integrated development of the nanocarrier and AMF applicator.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161016

Authors: Dehang Ren Yujiang Sun Yuzhe Zhang Xiao Sun Shijie Xu Jiakai Wang Yifan Yan Xuanting Ding Yongan Yang

The practical viability of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) is severely hindered by sluggish liquid–solid conversion kinetics and the polysulfide shuttle effect. Herein, we report an in situ-derived ferroelectric-semiconductor Bi4Ti3O12-Bi2S3 heterojunction as a multifunctional separator coating. The intimate atomic-level coupling at the heterointerface generates a built-in electric field that, synergizing with the spontaneous ferroelectric polarization of Bi4Ti3O12, structurally intensifies polysulfide chemisorption and lowers the activation energy for bi-directional Li2S precipitation/dissociation. Furthermore, the localized polar field appears to homogenize lithium-ion flux, which may contribute to improved lithium anode stability. Consequently, cells featuring the modified separator deliver a high initial capacity of 1172 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C and demonstrate good cycling stability over 500 cycles with a low capacity decay rate of 0.096% per cycle. This in situ interfacial engineering offers a promising kinetic regulatory strategy for improving the performance of LSBs.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161017

Authors: Moses Mpofana Radebe Xoliswa Cingo Hillie Kenneth Thembela

Strict monitoring of methane (CH4) during underground coal mining is necessary, as the lower explosive limit (LEL) is 5 vol% in air. A conventional tin oxide (SnO2)-based metal–oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor has an operating temperature of 200–400 °C, which requires a prohibitive power demand and entails the risk of ignition within an intrinsically safe environment. The decoration of SnO2 nanoarchitectures with palladium has been demonstrated to achieve room temperature (RT) detection of CH4 due to the chemical sensitisation spillover mechanism and electronic sensitisation by Schottky barrier modulation. Moreover, palladisation of SnO2 nanowires (NWs) is likely to be an effective route for achieving a more efficient detection of CH4 aerosol at RT or near RT. The purpose of this mini-review is to provide a critical synthesis of advances that have been reported between 2020 and 2026. Because no published study to date has directly demonstrated room-temperature CH4 detection using pure Pd-decorated SnO2 nanowires, performance data from mechanistically analogous systems—namely H2-sensing Pd–SnO2 nanowires and CH4-sensing non-nanowire Pd–SnO2 nanostructures—are included in this review and are explicitly labelled as such throughout. This absence of direct RT CH4 NW data constitutes the primary research gap motivating this review. The performance of Pd-containing SnO2 nanostructures reported in the literature spans response values of 17.6 (300 ppm CH4, 2.5 mol% Pd–SnO2 nanoporous, 340 °C) to 21.3 (3000 ppm CH4, bimetallic Pt–Pd–SnO2 mesoporous, 400 °C), representing a 3–10× improvement over bare SnO2 (response: 2–10 in the same concentration range). These benchmarks were obtained at elevated temperatures (340–400 °C); no equivalent room-temperature CH4 detection data for Pd–SnO2 nanowires currently exists in the published literature. Reported response times range from 3 to 9 s at elevated temperature (340–400 °C) to 74–78 s for room-temperature visible-light-activated systems, where photocatalytic oxygen activation is the rate-limiting step. The 30 s MSHA alarm threshold is met by elevated-temperature systems but remains a challenge for RT configurations. The LODs were 175.9 ppb (bimetallic PdxPt/SnO2 mesoporous system). Two hybrid composites containing rGO exhibited an extended capability for RT operation. Bimetallic PdPt decoration and ML-augmented sensor arrays are identified as the most promising near-term pathways to bridge the selectivity and stability gaps for certified mining deployment.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161015

Authors: Xin Lin Jiayi Tu Jinyun Zhao Fangfang Wu Xingping Fu Hao Lin Jiapeng Hu

In this study, a hierarchical rod-assembled, polypyrrole-modified Ce–Al–La trimetallic metal–organic framework (Ce–Al–La–MOFs@PPy) composite was successfully synthesized through a solvothermal method combined with in situ polymerization for efficient fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. The incorporation of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) into the multimetallic MOFs effectively enhanced the structural stability, surface properties, and adsorption performance of the material. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the optimal metal-to-ligand molar ratio was 3:1, and the prepared adsorbent exhibited excellent fluoride removal performance under weakly acidic conditions (pH = 5). The maximum adsorption capacity calculated from the Langmuir model reached 216.92 mg·g−1 at 45 °C. Adsorption kinetics were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that the adsorption process was mainly governed by chemisorption. Mechanism investigations based on FTIR and XPS analyses demonstrated that fluoride removal mainly occurred through electrostatic attraction and coordination exchange between fluoride ions and the Ce/La active sites. In addition, the composite exhibited good selectivity, anti-interference ability toward coexisting ions, and satisfactory fluoride removal performance in practical industrial wastewater. These findings suggest that Ce–Al–La–MOFs@PPy is a promising adsorbent for efficient fluoride-contaminated wastewater treatment.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161014

Authors: Deyang Zhang Wenbo Guo Binhe Feng Yikai Ge Tao Peng Jinbing Cheng Paul K. Chu

A flexible integrated composite electrode is fabricated using NiV-layered double hydroxide (NiV-LDH) nanosheets grown perpendicularly onto a Ti3C2Tx MXene-incorporated carbon nanofiber scaffold (MXene/CNFs). This hybrid structure, prepared by electrospinning and a hydrothermal treatment, is referred to as NiV-LDH@MXene/CNFs. Constructed from a conductive MXene/CNF scaffold and vertically aligned NiV-LDH nanosheets, the integrated flexible electrode offers uninterrupted electron transport, good flexibility, abundant active sites, and strong interfacial cohesion, thereby obviating the use of polymeric binders and conductive additives. The hydrophilic nature of MXene and the three-dimensionally interconnected porous structure favor rapid electrolyte uptake and ion diffusion. As a result of these synergistic effects, the composite exhibits a specific capacitance of 614 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retains 60% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles at 5 A g−1 in a three-electrode cell. An asymmetric supercapacitor made of this material and activated carbon achieves 68.75% capacitance retention under the same cycling protocol at 5 A g−1 and shows a stable open-circuit voltage of 1.37 V. Two cells in series are capable of lighting a 3 V LED strip. Overall, this work validates an effective strategy to prepare high-capacity, robust, and binder-free flexible electrodes for advanced energy-storage applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161013

Authors: Silvia Fuerte-Rodríguez Lorena García-Hevia Juan Gallo Manuel Bañobre-López José L. Arias

Magnetopolymeric nanocomposites represent promising platforms for advanced nanomedicine due to their ability to combine magnetic responsiveness with polymer-mediated biological functionality. In this study, a hybrid nanocomposite system based on maghemite (Mh), poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) (PECA), and chitosan (Cs) was developed and systematically characterized for biomedical applications. Mh nanoparticles (NPs) were incorporated as magnetic cores, while PECA acted as a biodegradable polymeric matrix, and chitosan provided surface functionalization and enhanced biocompatibility. The nanocomposites were prepared following anionic polymerization and coacervation methods and characterized in terms of structure particle size, electrokinetics and magnetic responsiveness. The results demonstrated the formation of a nanoscale (core/shell)/shell system with superparamagnetic properties. Importantly, the nanocomposites were evaluated as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, exhibiting significant transverse relaxivity. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated the absence of significant toxic effects, while ex vivo hemocompatibility studies confirmed their compatibility with blood components. Furthermore, their potential as hyperthermia agents was demonstrated in vitro under the influence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Overall, the (core@shell)@shell nanocomposites combined superparamagnetic functionalities with favorable biological properties, supporting their potential use as multifunctional platforms for theranostic applications, including MRI contrast enhancement and magnetically induced hyperthermia.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161012

Authors: Demet Erdag Harun Basoglu Leman Yalcintepe Muhammet S. Toprak

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based treatment modality whose efficacy is often limited by poor photosensitizer stability and delivery. In this study, mesoporous silica-coated iron oxide nanoclusters (MNCs) were synthesized and loaded with protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) to obtain a multifunctional PPIX@MNC nanoplatform. Physicochemical characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The biological effects of MNC, free PPIX, and PPIX@MNC were evaluated in HaCaT cells—as a general epithelial model—under dark conditions, light irradiation, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) exposure, and combined CAP-assisted photodynamic treatment. FTIR, DLS, and zeta potential analyses confirmed successful incorporation of PPIX into the nanoclusters. Cell viability assays revealed pronounced phototoxicity of free PPIX, with the IC50 value decreasing from 44.4 ± 3.5 nM under dark conditions to 14 ± 2 nM following light activation, corresponding to a phototoxicity index of 3.17. CAP further enhanced PPIX-mediated cytotoxicity, and the CAP-assisted photodynamic group exhibited the strongest response, with an IC50 value of 9.6 ± 1.1 nM. CAP further enhanced PPIX-mediated cytotoxicity. Increased ROS generation, enhanced apoptosis, and marked mitochondrial membrane potential disruption were observed particularly in CAP-Light-PPIX-treated cells. Although encapsulation of PPIX within MNCs reduced acute cytotoxicity compared with free PPIX, the nanoplatform retained responsiveness to light and CAP stimulation. These findings demonstrate that CAP potentiates PPIX-mediated photodynamic effects through enhanced oxidative stress and suggest that mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanoclusters represent a promising platform for controlled photosensitizer delivery in CAP-assisted PDT applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161011

Authors: Alexandra Ivanova Simona Ivanova Dimitar Petrov Vera Gledacheva Iliyana Stefanova Valeri Slavchev Velichka Yanakieva Slava Tsoneva Emiliya Cherneva Denitsa Momekova Petia Konsulova Daniela Karashanova Stoyanka Nikolova

Background: Fenugreek is a widely used aromatic herb valued as a food ingredient. Fenugreek seeds and leaves are rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds that support overall health, particularly gastrointestinal function. The present paper describes a green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing aqueous and ethanolic extracts of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) grown in Bulgaria, Egypt, and India in order to find differences in AgNPs formation depending on geographic region and solvent used for the extraction and to find any changes in their spasmolytic activity. Methods: FT-IR, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), DLS, and zeta-potential were used to characterize the produced AgNPs, aiming to verify their stability, size distribution, and formation. The biological activities of these extracts are then compared. Results: The ethanolic extracts were more effective for producing smaller, more homogeneous, and relatively stable AgNPs compared to aqueous extracts. Differences in phytochemical composition, which have a direct impact on the nucleation, development, and stability processes of NPs, could be the reason for the observed variances between plant extracts. AgNPs (aqueous), originated from Bulgaria, exhibited the strongest spasmogenic activity under the applied experimental conditions. The biosynthesized AgNPs also showed a selective antifungal activity against Aspergillus and Penicillium spp., with modest antibacterial effects. Conclusions: From a biological perspective, all samples’ fenugreek extracts had a minimal impact on gastrointestinal contractility, but the AgNPs derived from these extracts had a greater spasmogenic effect. These findings point to a combination that enhances both functional efficacy and bioavailability. The Bulgarian fenugreek aqueous extract produced AgNPs with the strongest spasmogenic activity of all the preparations examined. The results showed the potential of AgNPs from fenugreek seeds for biomedical applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161010

Authors: Xinshuo Li Qian Chen Xiaoke Li

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) represents a highly promising technology for decentralized desalination and wastewater treatment, yet its practical industrial deployment is severely constrained by the intrinsic intermittency of natural solar irradiance and nocturnal salt crystallization. To smooth energy fluctuations and achieve all-weather, continuous freshwater output, integrating solid–liquid phase change materials (SLPCMs) into SDIE has evolved into a system-level paradigm shift driven by advanced spatiotemporal thermal-mass management. This review systematically summarizes recent breakthroughs in micro-to-macro structural engineering for phase-change-coupled SDIE systems. Spatially, advanced microscopic encapsulation strategies such as 3D matrices, core–shell architectures, and solid–solid transitions eradicate molten PCM leakage and reconstruct heat transfer networks, while macroscopic configurations involving sandwich structures and 3D directional channels realize functional zoning to maximize thermal localization. Temporally, the controlled nocturnal release of stored latent heat establishes a cross-timeline energy relay, sustaining dark evaporation and activating interfacial hydrodynamics via Marangoni convection and thermophoretic diffusion to prevent salt clogging under extreme conditions. Furthermore, cross-disciplinary integrations for water-electricity co-generation, targeted resource recovery, and environmental remediation are comprehensively discussed. Finally, critical engineering challenges regarding scalability, cost-effectiveness, and condensation system integration are addressed, offering forward-looking perspectives on coupling thermal storage with physical catalysis to transcend classical thermodynamic limits.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161009

Authors: Ranbir Kaur Mohanad Alkaales Mohamed Benyoucef

We demonstrate the integration of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown InAs/InP quantum dots (QDs) on gold thin films, achieving a fivefold enhancement of telecom-wavelength emission compared with QDs grown on distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs). Micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) spectroscopy reveals a pronounced increase in PL intensity from the Au-integrated structures, highlighting the enhanced optical response enabled by the metallic mirror effect. Reflectivity measurements exhibit a characteristic dip near the QD emission wavelength, indicating increased optical absorption and reduced reflectance, consistent with improved coupling of incident light into the fabricated structure. Power-dependent measurements demonstrate background-free exciton and biexciton emission from single QDs with resolution-limited linewidths. Polarization-dependent measurements further reveal an ultra-small excitonic fine-structure splitting, reaching values as low as ~2 μeV. Finally, statistical analysis of multiple QDs confirms the reproducibility and robustness of the observed optical properties.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161008

Authors: Akram Asadi Hossein Kalhori Andrea A. Greschner Andreas Ruediger Alain Pignolet

Ultrasonically assisted catalysis—also called sonocatalysis—is one of the advanced oxidation processes used for wastewater treatment. It has been shown that using nanoparticles of piezoelectric materials as nanocatalysts in sonocatalysis greatly enhances the catalytic reaction rates, a phenomenon that has been dubbed piezocatalysis. Since both sonocatalysis and piezocatalysis are excited by ultrasonic waves and occur simultaneously, it is challenging to discriminate between these two processes and to quantify the contribution of the material’s piezoelectric properties to the overall catalytic activity. It has been previously reported that the piezoelectric properties of the catalyst nanoparticles can improve their catalytic activities by up to one order of magnitude. In this study, we compare the catalytic activity of nanoparticles of both ferroelectric and paraelectric BaTiO3, hence piezoelectric and non-piezoelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles. BaTiO3 nanoparticles of two different sizes were synthesized using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. After a full characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy, the catalytic activities of the BaTiO3 nanoparticles were determined by monitoring the time dependence of the optical absorption of a solution containing the model pollutant methyl orange, to which the dispersed piezoelectric BaTiO3 particles were added as catalysts. The 50 nm nanoparticles were found to have a tetragonal crystal structure and symmetry and to be piezoelectric, while the 10 nm nanoparticles had a cubic crystal structure and symmetry and exhibited no piezoelectricity. This study reveals that non-piezoelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles exhibit a moderate catalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange, similar to that of non-piezoelectric TiO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, it also shows that, at room temperature, 90% of the overall catalytic activity of piezoelectric BaTiO3 nanoparticles is due to piezocatalysis, while the remaining 10% is related to sonocatalysis. Using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS), possible chemical decomposition pathways of the methyl orange dye have also been suggested.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161007

Authors: Roberto Speranza Elisa Morale Filippo Sergiacomi Angelica Bisceglie Giorgio Mogli Simone Martellone Andrea Lamberti

The development of indoor photovoltaic devices for powering Internet of Things (IoT) sensors requires low-cost and sustainable components, making dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) an ideal candidate for artificial light harvesting. The counter electrode plays a critical role in transferring electrons and catalyzing the reduction in the redox electrolyte. However, the traditional use of expensive and scarce platinum (Pt) limits the cost-effective, large-scale commercialization of these devices. While carbon-based materials offer a highly porous, conductive, and abundant alternative, commercial carbon pastes frequently require energy-intensive high-temperature sintering. In this study, we propose a sustainable, low-temperature, and screen-printable carbon composite counter electrode (LoT-HPC) using bio-derived hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) as a highly effective binder. Rheological characterizations confirm that the formulated LoT-HPC ink possesses an ideal shear-thinning profile and rapid structural recovery, ensuring excellent printability and film homogeneity. By comparing the custom LoT-HPC composite against a commercial high-temperature screen-printed graphite paste (HT-Elco) and a standard sputtered Pt-FTO electrode, we demonstrate the structural and electrocatalytic advantages of this material. When integrated into full DSSC devices and evaluated under low indoor illumination (1000 lux), the LoT-HPC cell delivers a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.8% and a high short-circuit current density of 103.9 µA cm−2. Furthermore, the custom device demonstrated exceptional operational stability, retaining 98.6% of its initial efficiency (from 14.8% to 14.6%) after 200 h of continuous light-soaking and J-V cycling under 1000 lux. Ultimately, the successful implementation of the HPC binder enables the low-temperature fabrication of sustainable carbon counter electrodes without the need for energy-intensive thermal treatments, presenting a highly scalable pathway for indoor DSSC manufacturing.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161006

Authors: Essa M. Sabi Khalid M. Sumaily Musaad B. Alsahly Noura H. Mojammamy Ahmed H. Mujamammi Nouf O. AlAfaleq

Osteosarcoma is the third most common malignancy among children and adolescents, necessitating the development of effective therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the anticancer activity of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) fabricated using bark extract of Ficus benghalensis against the human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell line. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), confirming nanoparticle formation and a hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure. Cytotoxicity evaluation revealed significant dosage-dependent inhibition of Saos-2 cell proliferation, with an IC50 value of 75 μg mL−1. Morphological alterations and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining confirmed apoptotic cell death following ZnO-NPs treatment. Furthermore, ZnO-NPs induced oxidative stress by increasing nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels while significantly reducing antioxidant markers, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH). Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated G0/G1cell cycle arrest, accompanied by elevated caspase-8 activity. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of Bax and p53 and downregulation of Bcl-2, indicating activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that phytochemical-mediated ZnO-NPs exert potent anticancer effects against Saos-2 cells through oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, highlighting their potential for osteosarcoma therapy.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161005

Authors: Zukhra Gareeva Shamil Gareev Viktoria Filippova Ildus Sharafullin

Three-dimensional topological magnetic defects, such as Bloch points, are of significant interest for high-frequency spintronics due to their unique particle-like properties and effective inertial mass. We investigate the nucleation, stabilization, and driven dynamics of an isolated Bloch point in a ferromagnetic multilayer with alternating in-plane and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Using micromagnetic simulations, we show that a perpendicular magnetic field stabilizes a head-to-head Bloch point state, while a transient in-plane field pulse drives the defect into gyrotropic and nutation motion. To model the dynamics, we develop a collective-coordinate Lagrangian description of the Bloch point core. We further demonstrate that the time-dependent core displacement generates a transverse charge current via spin pumping and inherent spin-to-charge conversion within the multilayer system. The resulting current spectrum contains low-frequency and high-frequency components, including an intrinsic nutation mode in the gigahertz range. Our findings expand the capabilities for electrical control and identification of complex spin configurations, contributing to the development of active three-dimensional spintronic devices.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161004

Authors: Yi-Wen Wang Zhi-Chen Wei Xiao-Dong Wen Tian-Xue Ma

This paper systematically investigates the structural design and numerical characterization of ultra-compact low-loss waveguide bends on lithium niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) thin films via 3D-FDTD simulations. Six 90° bend architectures are analyzed to unravel transmission behaviors and intrinsic loss mechanisms, including three smooth bend optimizations: straight–bend lateral offset, local width tapering, and Euler–circular hybrid curvature modulation, alongside resonant-cavity and corner-mirror L-shaped bends. All structures achieve evident loss reduction within proper parameter windows. At Reff = 5 μm, optimized smooth bends reach a minimum loss of 0.046 dB/90°, outperforming standard circular bends, while the double-corner-mirror bend exhibits the lowest loss of 0.467 dB/90° among right-angle configurations. Pairwise parametric scans disclose competitive effects among diverse loss-mitigation pathways, demonstrating that simultaneous use of two optimization strategies fails to cut extra loss at equal device dimensions. Broadband and fabrication tolerance simulations verify flat spectral response across the telecom C band; smooth curved bends possess strong robustness against inclined sidewalls, and etch depth acts as the dominant factor governing device loss. This work delivers systematic parametric guidelines for the design and optimization of miniaturized LNOI routing waveguides for photonic interconnects.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161003

Authors: Yuechao Wang Xiongqiang Ma Ruirong Wang Junsheng Zhang

ZnO is widely used as an electron transport layer in quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) because of its high electron mobility and suitable energy levels. However, rapid electron transport may cause excessive electron injection, leading to charge accumulation and parasitic recombination. SnO2 provides weaker electron transport, but using it alone limits device performance. Here, a SnO2/ZnO bilayer electron transport layer was introduced to regulate electron injection. Unlike previously reported structures in which SnO2 directly contacts the QDs, the present configuration places SnO2 on ITO and ZnO adjacent to the QD layer. The low-concentration ZnO overlayer reduced the RMS roughness of the SnO2 film from 1.79 to 1.07 nm and facilitated electron injection, while the underlying SnO2 layer moderated the electron supply. The bilayer also suppressed leakage current and showed the lowest capacitance peak, consistent with improved charge balance. The bilayer QLED achieved a maximum current efficiency of 13.40 cd/A and a maximum luminance of 33,210 cd/m2. Its current efficiency was 100% and 32.7% higher than those of the SnO2 and ZnO devices, respectively. These results demonstrate that the bilayer improves charge balance through facilitated electron injection and controlled electron supply.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161002

Authors: Cao Zhou Zehan Yu Lijun Yang

Carbon nanocages provide confined reaction environments for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), but carbon sources must first cross their microporous graphitic shells to reach encapsulated catalytic sites. Here, molecular dynamics simulations were used to elucidate carbon-source transport through through-layer pores (TLPs), representing the edge-rich vertical micropores formed across stacked graphene layers in carbon nanocages. We examined the effects of pore diameter, N-doping, and pore depth on the transport of CO2RR-relevant carbon species. Among the investigated structures, a 12.1 Å N-doped TLP achieved the highest area-normalized cross-pore transport ratio of 1.296 × 10−2 Å−2. N-doping preferentially enhanced neutral CO2 transport, while producing only limited improvements for bicarbonate and carbonate ions. This selectivity originates from strong CO2 interactions with N-containing pore-edge sites, which establish a CO2-enriched interfacial region and promote adsorption-assisted capture–transfer without persistent molecular trapping. N-doping reduces both resistance contributions, leading to an approximately 30.4% decrease in pore-mouth resistance and ~45% reduction in pore-interior resistance at pore depths of 17.0 Å. These results identify short, appropriately sized, and N-functionalized through-layer micropores as favorable architectures for delivering CO2 to confined catalysts, providing molecular design principles for carbon-nanocage nanoreactors for CO2RR.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161001

Authors: Bingzheng Wang Tianhang Wang Zixuan Zhou Hui Wang Shengji Li Xuefeng Huang

JP-10 is a pivotal high-density hydrocarbon fuel for advanced aerospace propulsion systems. Doping aluminum nanoparticles to prepare nanofluid fuels is a promising route to enhance its energy density and combustion performance, yet the droplet formation mechanism of such multiphase fuels remains poorly understood, hindering single-droplet combustion research and atomization system optimization. This work constructed a piezoelectric drop-on-demand (DOD) monodisperse droplet generation platform integrated with phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) and high-speed imaging. Using Al/JP-10/OA nanofluids with aluminum mass fractions of 0.1 wt. %, 0.5 wt. % and 1.0 wt. %, we systematically explored the effects of liquid flow rate, driving frequency and particle concentration on droplet size, size uniformity and ejection velocity. In this work, Al/JP-10/OA nanofluids with aluminum mass fractions of 0.1 wt. %, 0.5 wt. % and 1.0 wt. % were tested under liquid flow rates of 1.1–1.5 mL/min and driving frequencies of 10–50 kHz, with measured droplet diameter ranging from 241.04 μm to 292.26 μm and ejection velocity ranging from 1.65 m/s to 2.45 m/s. The results demonstrate that average droplet diameter increases linearly with flow rate and decreases monotonically with driving frequency. Compared with the 0.1 wt. % nanofluid, the 1.0 wt. % nanofluid shows a 4.4% larger droplet diameter and 12.1% lower ejection velocity, while the 0.1 wt. % sample retains excellent monodispersity with a size Span below 0.098. The multi-scale regulation mechanisms involving viscous variation, shear-thinning rheology and particle agglomeration are further clarified. This study provides fundamental data and theoretical support for atomization design of nanofluid aviation fuels.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16161000

Authors: Pingqia Wang Kai Liu

Correlated electronic phenomena in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene have garnered widespread research interest in two-dimensional materials science. As a powerful multiscale framework bridging atomic-scale resolution and mesoscopic structural evolution, the structural phase field crystal method has been widely adopted for graphene system studies. In this work, we develop a self-consistent XPFC model specifically for twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) simulations. By globally optimizing the core free-energy functional parameters via a genetic algorithm, the proposed model achieves a marked improvement in consistency between the equilibrium density field and the first-principles generalized stacking fault energy surface. We further introduce a self-consistent dynamic interlayer interaction potential to replace the conventional fixed-substrate approximation, which captures the bidirectional coupling and mutual relaxation between adjacent graphene layers in a self-consistent manner. We calibrate the precise magnitude of the interlayer potential using the widths of stacking domain boundaries between distinct stacking configurations as a key metric, with the results benchmarked against atomistic simulation data. When applied to the 1.1° magic-angle tBLG system, the model uncovers spontaneous structural relaxation driven by interlayer van der Waals interactions: low-energy AB–BA stacking domains expand significantly, while high-energy AA domains shrink correspondingly.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160999

Authors: Xianyang Fu Yongchun Hao

Carbon black (CB) nanoparticles (~20 nm) offer high specific surface area and conductivity for self-sensing cementitious composites, but strong interparticle van der Waals forces drive agglomeration in alkaline pore solutions, limiting sensing reliability. This study introduces a nanoscale interfacial engineering strategy in which CB nanoparticles are adsorbed onto polypropylene (PP) fiber surfaces as spatially organized conductive elements, with EDS evidence of enhanced hydrate coverage at the fiber–matrix interface. Three CB dosages (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% by binder mass) with 0.5% PP fiber were investigated. Nanoparticle coating and interfacial micro-structure were characterized by SEM-EDS, while FTIR was used to verify that the fiber backbone remained chemically unmodified; piezoresistive response and durability were assessed via cyclic compression, DIC, and hygrothermal cycling. The 1.0% CB nanocomposite lies within the effective percolation window (~0.9–1.2%), showing high linearity, a stable gauge factor (~100), and distinct FCR acceleration for early-warning sensing. The 1.5% CB composite yields higher sensitivity but scattered responses due to nanoparticle clustering; 0.5% CB remains below the percolation threshold with a discontinuous network. After 60 hygrothermal cycles, the 1.0% nanocomposite retains >93% of its gauge factor with minimal resistance drift. The nano-engineered CB–PP fiber architecture offers a scalable route integrating crack bridging, percolation networking, and durable self-sensing in cementitious nanocomposites for structural health monitoring.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160998

Authors: Shuai Wang Liang Xu Qingfeng Yang Yan Xu Haiyun Yao

The rapid expansion of terahertz (THz) communication, nondestructive testing and biosensing puts forward urgent demands for absorbers with switchable working bandwidth, yet parts of existing graphene-based absorbers adopt costly noble-metal backplanes and can hardly realize reversible narrow and broadband absorption conversion. In this work, a three-layer metamaterial absorber is designed, where low-cost tungsten replaces precious metals as reflective substrate, polyimide serves as intermediate dielectric and patterned graphene composes the top absorbing layer. The finite element method (FEM) is employed to investigate the synergistic modulation of THz absorption characteristics by graphene’s Fermi level (Ef) and relaxation time (τ) across the 0–6 THz frequency range. Simulation results reveal that increasing Ef from 0.1 eV to 0.9 eV effectively broadens the effective absorption range. At fixed Ef = 0.9 eV, dual discrete absorption peaks with peak absorptivity up to 99.8% emerge at τ = 0.1 ps, while reducing τ to 0.05 ps enables an ultrawide 2.5 THz high-efficiency absorption band (absorptivity ≥ 90%) including a 1.4 THz near-perfect absorption (absorptivity ≥ 99%) region. Benefiting from high geometric symmetry, the proposed structure exhibits polarization-insensitive absorption and stable performance for incident angles up to 60°. This numerical work provides design references for low-cost switchable THz absorbers.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160997

Authors: Zuoquan Zhu Mengxin Zhao Nan Zhao Yuyan Zhou Haixia Du

This study constructs a buckling analysis model integrating Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and Hamiltonian formulation to clarify the buckling characteristics of graphene origami (GOri)-reinforced beams and systematically explore the structural stability of graded composite beams. Under the symplectic space framework, the thermal buckling issue of GOri composite beams is converted into a zero-eigenvalue problem, where critical thermal buckling loads and corresponding buckling modes correspond to the symplectic eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian system. Taking the through-thickness continuity of GOri fillers into consideration, analytical expressions of buckling modes and critical buckling loads are derived using bifurcation criteria and normalization operations. Afterwards, parametric investigations are conducted to reveal how GOri content, spatial distribution, ambient temperature and folding degree affect beam buckling responses. Numerical results demonstrate that GOri distribution exerts a dominant influence on the structural buckling performance; critical thermal buckling loads tend to decline with rising folding degree and temperature. Reasonable optimization of GOri layout can significantly strengthen the mechanical capacity of composite beams, which lays solid theoretical guidance for their structural design and mechanical property enhancement.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160996

Authors: Jitong Ren Zihan Li Lei Gu Weilu Chen Xinyi Zhou Yanyan Guo Jiang Zhao

Flexible capacitive humidity sensors are pivotal for next-generation wearable electronics and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. However, conventional devices suffer from severe salt leaching and delamination of hygroscopic sensing materials, alongside poor interfacial adhesion and mechanical fragility of metallic electrodes. Herein, an innovative in situ strategy is reported for constructing LiCl-CH3COOK/laser-induced graphene (LIG) composite flexible electrodes via single-step laser direct writing. This approach simultaneously patterns three-dimensional (3D) porous LIG interdigitated networks on polyimide substrates and drives deep infiltration of the LiCl-CH3COOK hygroscopic phase within the graphene pores. The 3D interconnected LIG skeleton not only provides abundant physical anchoring sites and rapid water vapor transport channels but also effectively suppresses the physical loss and leaching of the deliquesced salts through micro-nanoscale spatial confinement, yielding remarkable interfacial stability and cycling lifetime. Benefiting from the synergistic deliquescence of the composite salts, the sensor delivers an exceptional sensitivity of 65,570% (ΔC/C0), moderate response/recovery times of 75/90 s, and ultralow hysteresis of 0.981%. Furthermore, the streamlined laser-scribing route replaces conventional costly microfabrication sequences, enabling low-cost, high-precision customization. Demonstrations in human respiration monitoring and smart agriculture validate the sensor’s superior reliability and practical applicability, establishing a novel pathway for miniaturized, highly integrated, and robust flexible humidity detection systems.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160995

Authors: Xingshun Zhu Fei Li Qiyuan Chen Yizhen Zhang

Photocatalytic fuel cells (PFCs) integrate photocatalysis with fuel cell technology to enable simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy recovery. This review examines recent advances in PFC cathode materials, focusing on design strategies, reduction mechanisms, and applications. The cathode governs electron transfer and interfacial reactions, including oxygen reduction (4e− or 2e− pathways), direct pollutant electroreduction, and oxidant activation for radical generation. Cathodic materials including transition metal oxides/sulfides, carbon-based materials, metal–organic frameworks and their derivatives, are systematically summarized, evaluating their respective activities, stabilities and costs. Rational design via heterojunction engineering, defect modulation, and composite construction enables tunable reaction pathways and enhanced performance. Furthermore, representative applications are reviewed, with particular attention to the effective degradation of organic pollutants, and reduction of heavy metals and radionuclides in PFCs. Future efforts should prioritize long-term stability, scalable fabrication, and multi-functional cathode integration.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160994

Authors: Omar A. M. Abdelraouf

Integrated and tunable light sources are critical for advancing quantum nanophotonic chips in quantum computing, communications, and sensing. However, efficient and tunable emission amplification post-fabrication poses major challenges. Hybrid metasurfaces combining niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), copper indium sulfide (CIS) quantum dots or hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), and antimony trisulfide (Sb2S3) as a low-loss phase-change material offer a compelling solution for dynamic control and amplification of photoluminescence and quantum light emission. In this work, an active hybrid metasurface supporting tunable bound states in the continuum (BIC) resonances in the visible regime is demonstrated, achieving experimental Q-factors up to 206 at an amorphous state and strong amplification of CIS QDs photoluminescence, as well as quantum light emission of hBN single-photon emitters. The metasurface enables BIC resonance shifts of 33.5 nm in the visible spectrum via phase transition of Sb2S3, and 17 nm through dimensional parametric tuning. The experiment demonstrates a highly directional photoluminescence amplification up to 33-fold, alongside broad tunable amplified PL emission upon Sb2S3 phase modulation. Furthermore, amplified, tunable, and on-demand strong coupling of hBN single-photon emitters is proposed with the tunable BIC metasurface for next-generation broadband quantum nanophotonic chips. This work sets a new benchmark in reconfigurable nanophotonic platforms for efficient quantum light sources in integrated photonic systems.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160993

Authors: Lucas Reijnders

In scientific literature, the biosynthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles and synthesis of these nanoparticles using small organic molecules such as citrate have been called ‘green’ processes. In abstracts of scientific publications, gold or silver nanoparticles obtained by ‘green’ synthesis have rather frequently been characterized as biocompatible. Biocompatible means having no negative impact on exposed organisms. Two reasons have been used to underpin this characterization. The first is the biocompatibility of the substances used in ‘green’ synthesis and coating nanoparticles. This reason lacks a solid empirical basis. The second reason given for biocompatibility is limited testing of the nanoparticles obtained by ‘green’ synthesis (mainly in vitro testing). Such limited testing is inconclusive. Use-specific comprehensive in vitro and in vivo testing, including clinical studies, and control of hazardous substances such as lipopolysaccharide and flagellins are needed to provide a solid basis for their characterization as biocompatible for humans.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160992

Authors: Yimin Jiang Chenxia Zhao Luo Zhang Yi Guo Yu Jiang Dingyu Yang

The practical deployment of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is critically limited by uneven Zn2+ flux, uncontrolled dendrite growth, and concurrent parasitic reactions—notably the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anode corrosion—arising from interfacial and kinetic instability during repeated plating/stripping cycles. These issues originate at the zinc anode–electrolyte interface, underscoring the necessity of advanced interfacial engineering. Here, we report a surface-confined polyphenol-derived interphase formed on zinc foil through a 1 min dip treatment in a dilute aqueous solution of a commercial tea polyphenol (TP) mixture (0.02 M); after rinsing and drying, the modified electrode is cycled in a conventional electrolyte to which no TP is deliberately added. This interphase promotes more homogeneous nucleation behaviour through coordination between phenolic oxygen-containing moieties and Zn2+, improves electrolyte contact homogeneity and perturbs the local water structure to mitigate water-mediated parasitic reactions. The TP-derived surface modification creates a substantially altered interfacial charging environment (Cdl = 47.25 vs. 16.83 µF cm−2 for bare Zn) that facilitates more uniform zinc deposition. Symmetric cells with TP@Zn anodes demonstrated exceptional cycling stability exceeding 4000 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2 (bare Zn fails within ~240 h under identical conditions), while TP@Zn//V2O5 full cells retained 56.2% capacity after 300 cycles at 0.5 A g−1 with a higher median discharge voltage than bare Zn cells, substantially outperforming the latter (31.1% retention). Density functional theory calculations using the selected cluster models yield a markedly more negative electronic interaction energy for Zn2+ with an EGCG model ligand (−10.97 eV) than with H2O (−4.49 eV), qualitatively supporting preferential coordination of Zn2+ by phenolic oxygen sites. This work presents a green, facile and potentially scalable interfacial regulation strategy and advances the understanding of natural polyphenols as pre-formed surface conditioners for highly reversible metal anodes.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160991

Authors: Sevinj P. Javadova Vusala A. Majidzade Ibrahim Kasumogly Nahida N. Musayeva Nadir A. Abdullayev Samira F. Jafarova Elvin J. Ahmadov Dunya M. Babanly Asmat N. Azizova Akif Sh. Aliyev

Thin Bi2Se3 films were successfully electrodeposited from a non-aqueous ethylene glycol-based electrolyte and subsequently underwent thermal treatment in an Ar atmosphere to improve crystallinity. The phase and compositional properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. XRD and Raman analyses confirmed the formation of crystalline rhombohedral Bi2Se3, while FTIR measurements indicated minor surface oxidation. The electrical and semiconductor properties of the films were investigated through current–voltage and temperature-dependent conductivity measurements. The activation energy associated with intrinsic conduction was determined to be 0.25 eV, while the temperature sensitivity coefficient and temperature coefficient of resistance were found to be 2903 K and 0.032–0.013 K−1, respectively. Infrared photoconductivity measurements in the wavelength range of 2800–4000 nm revealed a pronounced photoresponse near the band-gap energy of Bi2Se3. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of electrodeposited Bi2Se3 thin films for infrared-sensitive semiconductor and optoelectronic applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160990

Authors: Jiaoyang Li Chenhao Li Zihao Tan Zhuoming Li Fujuan Wang Xiaolan Liu Xuguang Huang Jiahui Wang

Three-dimensional (3D) microscopic imaging is indispensable for fundamental scientific research and clinical medical diagnosis. Given that conventional widefield optical microscopy and standard confocal microscopy fail to realize high-magnification, full-color, real-time stereoscopic imaging simultaneously, we herein propose a single-optical-path 3D microscopic framework enabled by liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs). The LCPG integrated at the sample plane performs polarization-dependent beam splitting to generate paired left and right viewing channels. These two disparity-bearing view channels share a unified imaging optical path compatible with commercial upright microscopes, wherein an active liquid crystal cell modulates temporal view switching for sequential camera acquisition. We further construct a white-light microscopic platform supporting integrated reflection and transmission imaging modes. Two customized LCPGs with lattice periods of 72.6 μm and 56.9 μm are fabricated, offering angular view separations of 0.84° and 1.07°, respectively. Both gratings achieve ±1st-order diffraction efficiencies above 97% with polarization crosstalk not exceeding 0.8%. The developed system acquires paired left-right images with valid binocular disparity, which can be reconstructed into intuitive stereoscopic perceptions via a 3D display monitor. This LCPG-based optical architecture upgrades standard upright microscopes to compact dual-view stereoscopic imaging systems, while fully inheriting the native merits of white-light illumination and high-magnification microscopic observation.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160989

Authors: Yong Ge Kelei Wang Runnan Yu Zhan’ao Tan

Inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs), or p-i-n PSCs, have become increasingly attractive for high-performance perovskite photovoltaics owing to their low-temperature processability, reduced hysteresis, flexible-substrate compatibility and suitability for perovskite/silicon tandem architectures. The buried interface is central to charge extraction, energy-level alignment, perovskite crystallization and operational stability, and is therefore a key determinant of device performance. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are molecularly thin and offer negligible parasitic absorption, tunable interfacial energetics, low material loading and high structural designability, making them attractive alternatives to conventional organic Hole Transport Layers and effective hole-selective contacts in inverted PSCs. This review examines molecular design principles and interfacial engineering strategies for SAMs in inverted PSCs, focusing on the phosphonic acid carbazole (PACz) family, substituent and terminal-group engineering, and emerging conjugated backbones. We then summarize how SAMs regulate buried interfaces through energy-level alignment, defect passivation, crystallization control and stability enhancement. We further highlight emerging interface strategies, including co-assembled SAMs, amorphous SAMs, polymerized or crosslinked SAMs and molecular hybrid interfaces, and discuss how data-driven molecular screening may accelerate future SAM discovery. Finally, we discuss outstanding challenges in SAM formation, large-area uniformity, in situ and operando characterization, and data-driven molecular design, and provide perspectives on the use of SAMs in efficient, durable and scalable inverted PSCs.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160988

Authors: Nahid Moradi Richard Bright

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major environmental factor contributing to photoaging, oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and photocarcinogenesis. Conventional UV filters, although widely used in sunscreen formulations, are associated with limitations including photoinstability, photocatalytic ROS generation, potential toxicity, and environmental concerns. In recent years, plant-mediated nanomaterials have emerged as promising multifunctional photoprotective systems, combining UV attenuation with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and biologically adaptive properties. Plant extracts are increasingly used as reducing and stabilising agents in the green synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. Among these, ZnO and TiO2 serve as established inorganic UV filters, whereas Ag and Au nanoparticles have primarily been investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and ROS-modulating properties, which may indirectly enhance photoprotection. In parallel, plant-derived organic nanoparticles and herbal nanocomposites have demonstrated enhanced biocompatibility and multifunctional performance. This review critically examines the current landscape of plant-mediated photoprotective nanomaterials, focusing on the mechanistic interplay among optical UV attenuation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulation, and cellular signalling regulation. Particular emphasis is placed on structure–function relationships governing nanoparticle size, surface chemistry, bandgap properties, antioxidant behaviour, and biological interactions. The review further discusses translational challenges, including reproducibility, standardisation, scalability, long-term safety, regulatory classification, and limitations in benchmarking. Importantly, current evidence suggests that no single material system simultaneously optimises UV-blocking efficiency, ROS control, biocompatibility, and industrial scalability, highlighting the need for multifunctional hybrid design strategies. Finally, future perspectives involving predictive nanoengineering, computational modelling, machine learning-guided optimisation, and adaptive photoprotective systems are discussed as emerging directions for next-generation sustainable photoprotective technologies.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160987

Authors: Xiang Cheng Chaoyu Tian Yanfen Wang Guangming Zhao Gangzheng Liu Yingming Li Xiangrui Meng Lianqin Ni

Using ultrafine silicate cement as the cementitious material, and admixtures such as expansion agent, rapid-setting agent and water reducer as additives, a new type of composite grouting material with high early strength and high toughness was obtained by modification with nano-Al2O3 (NA). The influence of NA content on the mechanical properties, flowability, bleeding behavior, setting time, volume shrinkage, and microstructure was investigated for composite grouting materials. The results show that, as the NA content increases, the flowability of the paste decreases, the bleeding rate reduces, and the setting time increases first and then decreases. Appropriate NA can effectively improve the mechanical strength of the composite grouting material. Especially at the condition of 3% NA, the composite grouting material reached the highest early compressive strength and toughness. Compared with the control group, the compressive strength of the specimen increases by 39.54% and 6.83% respectively at 1 d and 21 d, and the flexural strength increased by 55.41% at 1 d. XRD, FTIR, SEM and hydration heat analysis confirm that the NA can promote the early hydration heat of ultrafine cement, and shorten the induction period. Moreover, more C-A-H gel products will be generated by consuming Ca(OH)2 with active NA, leading to an improvement in the matrix compactness. Such an outstanding mechanical property can be mainly attributed to the triple coupling mechanism of the hydration regulation, microstructure and filling effect of superfine cement by nano-Al2O3 in combination with multi-component admixtures.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160986

Authors: Hossam A. Nabwey Taher Armaghani Behzad Azizimehr Ahmed M. Rashad Ali J. Chamkha

The journal retracts the article, “A Comprehensive Review of Nanofluid Heat Transfer in Porous Media” [...]

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160985

Authors: Mingyang Liu Guang Lu Bing Wang

Omnidirectional optical devices are essential for photodetection, thermal radiation regulation, and solar energy harvesting. However, the photonic bandgaps and defect modes of conventional one-dimensional photonic crystals (1DPCs) are constrained by the Bragg scattering condition, leading to strong angular dependence that substantially limits their practical applications over wide angle ranges. In this work, we theoretically design and experimentally verify an angle-insensitive photonic crystal defect-mode absorber based on hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs). Leveraging the unique isofrequency dispersion of HMMs, we introduce a phase compensation mechanism into a photonic crystal composed of alternating HMM and dielectric layers. Calculations show that inserting a metallic defect layer excites a highly localized defect mode within the bandgap, whose resonant wavelength remains almost unchanged with incident angle. To simplify fabrication and enhance absorption, we reduce the number of periods and design a heterostructure containing subwavelength Ag/TiO2 multilayers. Measurements under TM polarization over 0–70° show that the defect-mode peak shifts by only 3.5 nm, while the absorptance decreases from ~0.717 at normal incidence to ~0.292 at 70°. This study provides an effective strategy for designing and fabricating resonance wavelength angle-insensitive optical absorbers enabled by HMM-based phase compensation.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160984

Authors: Yangfan Du Guanglong Jing Keyi Han Xin Zhang Liang Hou Yong Li

The global demand for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) continues to increase, and photocatalytic H2O2 production is regarded as a promising alternative technology due to its mild, safe, and environmentally friendly characteristics. ZnIn2S4 has demonstrated promising application potential in photocatalytic H2O2 production owing to its unique two-dimensional layered structure and broad spectral response. However, its performance is severely limited by rapid charge recombination and sluggish charge migration. To address this challenge, a ZnIn2S4/C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction was successfully constructed via a simple oil-bath method by assembling ZnIn2S4 nanoflowers on C3N4 nanosheets. Systematic structural characterizations and performance evaluations demonstrate that the construction of the S-scheme heterojunction effectively promotes the spatial separation and surface migration of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby significantly enhancing photocatalytic activity. Under optimal conditions, the ZIS/CN-10 sample (C3N4 to ZnIn2S4 mass ratio of 10%) achieves the highest photocatalytic H2O2 production rate of 825.8 μmol g−1 h−1. This work provides new insights and theoretical guidance for the rational design of efficient and stable ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160983

Authors: Guang Hu Tingting Zhou Yuxin Wei Kuankuan Liu Jing Tang Junqi Wang

Biochar has attracted increasing attention as a low-cost catalyst for biomass pyrolysis due to its developed pore structure, abundant surface functional groups and tunable physicochemical properties. In this study, biochars loaded with alkali and alkaline earth metal (AAEM) species were prepared by pyrolyzing cellulose impregnated with different chloride and acetate salts, including NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, CH3COONa, CH3COOK, (CH3COO)2Ca and (CH3COO)2Mg. The resulting AAEM-loaded biochars were subsequently employed as catalysts for cellulose pyrolysis to investigate their effects on product distribution, particularly levoglucosan (LG) and levoglucosenone (LGO) formation. SEM and XRD analyses revealed that the AAEM precursor significantly affected the morphology and phase composition of the biochars. Chloride-derived biochars retained crystalline salt phases or formed corresponding metal oxides, whereas acetate-derived biochars exhibited more dispersed metal-containing species. The introduction of AAEM-loaded biochars generally decreased bio-oil and LG yields while increasing char production, indicating enhanced secondary cracking and repolymerization reactions. Among the investigated catalysts, alkali metal-loaded biochars exhibited stronger inhibition toward LG formation than alkaline earth metal-loaded biochars. The catalytic effects followed the order of C-KCl ≈ C-NaCl > C-MgCl2 > C-CaCl2 for chloride-derived biochars and C-CH3COOK ≈ C-CH3COONa > C-(CH3COO)2Mg > C-(CH3COO)2Ca for acetate-derived biochars. Notably, C-(CH3COO)2Ca and C-(CH3COO)2Mg slightly promoted LGO formation, which was attributed to the synergistic effects of alkaline earth metal species, surface oxygen-containing functional groups and acetate-derived intermediates on dehydration reactions. Thermogravimetric and kinetic analyses further demonstrated that AAEM-loaded biochars reduced the apparent activation energy of cellulose pyrolysis and facilitated thermal decomposition. These findings provide new insights into the catalytic role of AAEM-loaded biochars and suggest a promising strategy for regulating anhydrosugar selectivity, particularly for the production of high-value LGO from biomass pyrolysis.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160982

Authors: Xiaofang Zhang Dongliang Tian Rongming Wang

Metal phthalocyanines (MPcs) possess outstanding thermal stability and versatile optical, catalytic, and semiconducting properties. Here, the effects of central metal ions, peripheral substituents, and substitution positions on the vibrational properties of MPcs were systematically investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The characteristic Raman band near 1530 cm−1 exhibits systematic shifts with changing metal centers (NiPc > CoPc > CuPc > ZnPc), reflecting differences in metal-ligand interactions and electronic structure. Peripheral substituents and their positions further influence the Raman response through electronic effects, vibrational coupling, and resonance enhancement. In particular, four-substituted MPcs show greater Raman shifts than their three-substituted counterparts. The results reveal clear correlations between molecular structure and Raman characteristics, providing a useful framework for understanding and designing functional phthalocyanine-based materials.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160981

Authors: Taimoor Muzaffar Gondal Muhammad Qasim Yasir Arafat

The cathode material design is a persistent challenge in the development of next-generation rechargeable batteries. The cathode performance is critically influenced by certain key parameters, i.e., composition, crystal structures, ion transport, and degradation behaviour. Moreover, techno-economic and sustainable considerations also play a pivotal role in the viable cathode material design. In recent years, the integration of static machine learning models with conventional experimental techniques has significantly enhanced the cathode material design. However, the sequential nature of cathode discovery has not been fully captured by these techniques as they do not update their decision strategy based on prior outcomes. In this review, reinforcement learning (RL) as a decision making technique for cathode material design has been evaluated. Firstly, cathode design space, including major cathode families, optimisation objectives, and key material variables have been explored. Afterwards, cathode discovery has been presented in terms of RL states, actions, rewards, policies, environments, constraints, and feedback. The key focus of this review is to analyse how RL can support the composition selection, dopant, and crystal structure optimisation. The review also discusses the current limitations of RL based cathode design including data scarcity, dataset bias, limited cathode specific benchmarks, reward function design, physical validity, and experimental validations. The future directions have been proposed for physics informed and experimentally validated RL infrastructure that integrates the density functional theory, molecular dynamics, artificial intelligence and human expertise.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160980

Authors: Amir Khojastehnezhad Maziar Jafari Fatemeh S. Mohseni-Shahri Farid Moeinpour Mohamed Siaj

Conventional food packaging cannot actively regulate spoilage-related molecules such as ethylene and volatile organic compounds that accumulate inside sealed packages. Smart adsorption based nanocatalysts (SABNs) integrate adsorptive scaffolds, catalytic centers, and stimuli responsive triggers to progressively remove these spoilage markers. This review establishes a unified three pillar framework and critically examines how adsorption, catalytic degradation, and regeneration cycles are proposed to function under food-relevant conditions. Across major food categories, reported photocatalytic systems achieve ethylene removal efficiencies of 50% to 90% and extend shelf life by 1 to 5 days under controlled light and temperature. However, performance declines sharply under the dark, humid, and refrigerated conditions typical of real supply chains. A systematic evidence level grading of twelve representative SABN systems reveals that the majority cluster at levels L3 and L4, while none has yet reached level L5, which requires both standardized migration testing and sensory evaluation. Key barriers, including nanoparticle migration, fragmented regulation, scalability, and life-cycle impacts, are assessed. By introducing explicit inclusion/exclusion criteria and a six-level evidence grading framework, this review maps critical gaps in migration data and cold-chain validation and outlines a staged roadmap toward regulation-ready active packaging technologies.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160979

Authors: Joanna Smajdor-Baran Katarzyna Fendrych

A novel electrochemical sensing platform based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a juglone/mesoporous carbon composite (JUG-MC/GCE) was developed for the ultrasensitive determination of melatonin (MEL) in pharmaceutical formulations and dietary supplements. Incorporation of juglone and mesoporous carbon within the coating deposited on the glassy carbon electrode, resulted in enhanced charge-transfer characteristics at the electrode–electrolyte interface. Under optimized differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) conditions in a 0.1 mol L−1 McIlvaine buffer (pH 2.8), the proposed sensor demonstrated an exceptional electrocatalytic response for melatonin oxidation via a two-electron, one-proton irreversible pathway under kinetic control. The analytical performance reveal multiple linear calibration intervals with an ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.21 µg L−1 (0.9 nM). The sensor manifested robust operational repeatability (RSD ≤ 1.8%), long-term storage stability, and satisfactory selectivity toward melatonin in the presence of common tablet excipients and selected potential interferents. The practical utility of the JUG-MC/GCE platform was successfully validated through the direct quantification of melatonin in commercial tablets, capsules, and complex jelly matrices, confirming its suitability for melatonin determination in real samples.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160978

Authors: Mohammad M. Zeidan Sufian Abedrabbo

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide-bandgap semiconductor with important optoelectronic, photonic, and radiation-related applications. In this work, hydrothermally grown ZnO bulk single crystals were irradiated with fast neutrons and characterized using low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy to investigate irradiation-induced changes in the Ga-related donor-bound exciton (I8). The Zn-polar surfaces were exposed to fast neutrons for irradiation durations of 2 and 5 min. The PL measurements showed a reproducible enhancement of the Ga-related I8 emission intensity, with increases of approximately 33% after 2 min and 82% after 5 min relative to the unirradiated reference crystal. The selective enhancement of the I8 emission is consistent with increased Ga-related donor activity associated with the proposed Zn-to-Ga neutron transmutation mechanism, although irradiation-induced defect formation and redistribution may also contribute to the observed optical response. Under the irradiation conditions investigated, fast-neutron exposure produced substantial enhancement of the I8 emission within only a few minutes. However, direct quantitative comparison with previously reported slow-neutron irradiation should be interpreted with caution because the two studies employed different neutron energies, fluences, and irradiation conditions. These findings demonstrate the potential of fast-neutron irradiation for modifying the low-temperature optical response of hydrothermally grown ZnO and provide a foundation for future investigations of neutron-induced defect and donor engineering in wide-bandgap oxide semiconductors.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160977

Authors: Tingting Liu Weijia Shao Qingjia Zhou Yiling Zhang Yuhong Chen Xinwei Chang Ni Yao Jie Li Aijuan Zhang Yanni Zhang

Metal/semiconductor heterojunctions for hot carrier photodetection have garnered significant attention. However, enhancing the quantum efficiency remains a critical challenge. Introducing lattice strain into metallic materials offers a viable approach to enhance the performance of TiN/TiO2 hot electron photodetectors by effectively modulating their electronic structure. Herein, we investigate how strain influences the electronic structure of TiN and consequently affects the generation, transport, and injection processes of hot carriers using first-principles calculations. Subsequently, we evaluate the injection efficiency and responsivity of the TiN/TiO2 photodetector through Monte Carlo simulations. We find that compressive strain renders the energy bands more delocalized and reduces the density of states DOS, leading to diminished hot electron generation, especially in the high-energy region above the Schottky barrier. This reduction suppresses electron–electron scattering, thereby increasing the hot electron lifetime and mean free path. Consequently, the hot electron injection efficiency is enhanced, ultimately improving the responsivity of TiN/TiO2 photodetector by a factor of 1.3–2.4 over the incident photon energy range of 0.1–3 eV.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160976

Authors: Samantha Fajardo Andrés Izquierdo Ana G. Haro-Báez Alexis Debut Geovanna Arroyo Andrea Aluisa Marbel Torres Arias Hugo Bonifaz Juan Haro Carlos Navas-Cárdenas Erika Murgueitio Herrera

This study aimed to synthesize copper(I) iodide nanoparticles (CuI NPs) through a green route using taxo (banana passion fruit) extract as a natural capping and stabilizing agent, and to evaluate their antimicrobial performance against microorganisms isolated from concrete, together with a preliminary cytotoxicity screening. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV–Vis spectra recorded in the 200–704 nm range showed a strong absorption band at 224 nm, consistent with electronic transitions associated with nanostructured CuI. FTIR analysis revealed extract-derived biomolecules adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface, with bands assigned to aliphatic C–H, aromatic moieties, and C–O/C–O–C vibrations, supporting the formation of an organic capping layer. DLS analysis showed a mean hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 32 nm in aqueous suspension, whereas TEM revealed particle sizes ranging from 13 to 42 nm. XRD confirmed a predominantly cubic CuI phase, while SEM–EDS identified Cu and I as the main elements, with minor signals attributed to residual organic coating and/or trace species from the synthesis medium. The CuI NPs exhibited antimicrobial activity against microorganisms isolated from medium-strength concrete, producing inhibitory effects at all tested concentrations (0.014, 0.0087, and 0.0035 mol/L). Preliminary cytotoxicity screening using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in human foreskin fibroblast (HFF), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), and human glioblastoma (U251) cell lines showed dose- and time-dependent reductions in metabolic viability. The 1.0 mol/L formulations, particularly the precipitated fraction, produced stronger cytotoxic effects, whereas the 0.1 mol/L formulations, especially the residual fraction, preserved comparatively higher metabolic viability. Overall, these findings suggest that taxo-mediated CuI NPs are promising antimicrobial candidates for concrete biodeterioration control, while further colloidal and biological studies are required to better define their behavior under cell-culture conditions and optimize their safe application.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160975

Authors: Miriam Estrada Rubén H. Olcay Iván Alejandro Reyes Francisco Patiño Hernán Islas Mizraim U. Flores J. Eliecer Méndez Gildardo Godínez Sayra Ordoñez

This study presents a fixed-bed column packed with zeolite, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes synthesized by chemical vapor deposition, which were used to adsorb heavy metals (As and Pb) from water. Water containing 50 mg/L of the target heavy metal was filtered through the column. The materials were characterized before and after their use in the column by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The analyses confirmed the structural stability and functional efficiency of each adsorbent material. A removal efficiency of 100% was achieved within the first 15 min for both metals, decreasing to 45% for As and 95% for Pb. The experimental data were evaluated using the Thomas, Yoon–Nelson, and Adams–Bohart models. For arsenic, an R2 value of 0.934 was obtained, whereas better fits were observed for Pb, with all three models achieving R2 values greater than 0.98. Dynamic adsorption analysis indicated that the mass and height of the fixed bed are suitable for the operating concentration. The column arrangement proved to be more efficient for Pb retention than for As retention.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160974

Authors: Yujian Lai Sujuan Yu Zhensong Zhang Lijie Dong

Antimony micro/nanoparticles (Sb MNPs) are key environmental Sb species that enter the human body via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact, posing potential health risks. Their complex transformation across multiple Sb species hinders accurate quantification, leaving their in vivo transformation mechanisms poorly understood. In this study, in vitro respiratory, gastrointestinal, and sweat models were established to investigate Sb MNP biotransformation, and the gastrointestinal model incorporated human fecal suspension to better mimic in vivo conditions. Transformation dynamics showed that simulated gastric fluid dissolved Sb2O3, Sb2S3 and Sb2O5 MNPs into ionic Sb without altering valence states, while Sb ions remained at low levels. Gastric-derived Sb(III) was oxidized to less toxic Sb(V) in the intestinal phase. In simulated sweat, Sb(III) concentrations increased but accounted for only 1.75% of total exposure, indicating low dermal risk. Notably, Sb2O3 MNPs exhibited lability in simulated lung fluids, particularly artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF), where dissolved Sb(III) reached 1276.7 μg/L with an ionic release rate of 63.8%. The low pH of ALF and formation of stable soluble complexes with citrate, lactate, and Cl− might drive Sb2O3 dissolution, suggesting high inhalation risk. This study advances the quantitative understanding of Sb MNP biotransformation and thus for human health risk assessment.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160973

Authors: Evgenii L. Zavjalov Linga D. Romanenko Olga I. Kichakova Anna I. Kasatova Polina A. Kotelnikova Dmitry S. Petrunya Ekaterina V. Barmina Kuder O. Aiyyzhy Artem A. Laktionov Sergei M. Klimentov Anton A. Popov Maria S. Grigoryeva Timofey A. Bykov Vasilisa V. Podolyako Anastasia A. Fronya Egor I. Mavreshko Danila A. Pokhorukov Sergey Yu. Taskaev Sergey M. Deyev Irina N. Zavestovskaya

Breast cancer remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Highly invasive HER2-positive breast cancer carries a high risk of metastasis and poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) may be an option for patients with this severe diagnosis. Here we evaluated the effectiveness of BNCT with elemental boron nanoparticles obtained by laser fragmentation and coated Silane-PEG-COOH and conjugated with the Affibody ZHER2:342 guide protein (BPs) against the HER2-positive breast cancer. The MTT assay after BNCT with BPs revealed an almost twofold reduction in surviving BT-474 tumor cells compared to the control group. The results of the clonogenic test showed totally death of BT-474 cells after BNCT with BPs at a concentration of 40 μg/mL in the culture medium. The same results was found for in vivo. In female SCID mice bearing BT-474 breast tumor xenografts, BNCT with intratumoral injection of BPs at a dose of 60 mg/kg led to a significant slowdown in xenograft growth beginning on the 17th day compared with control animals and the 39th day compared with irradiated females. A single intratumoral administration of BPs at a dose of 60 mg/kg did not show toxic effects. Histological examinations did not reveal systemic accumulation of the studied BPs in major organs; instead BPs was selectively retained within the xenografts and surrounding tissues. Thus, laser fragmented functionalized with Silane-PEG-COOH and the Affibody ZHER2:342 (BPs B-PEG-AFF) represent a promising platform for boron delivery in targeted BNCT applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160972

Authors: Minseo Kim Yeongdam Choi Yunsang Kim Byounghwak Lee Min-Kun Kim Youngho Jin

Aramid-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites are widely utilized in lightweight structural and protective applications; however, their performance is often limited by intrinsically weak and chemically inert fiber–matrix interfaces. Recent advances have shifted attention from conventional surface activation to deliberate interphase engineering, in which chemical functionality, hierarchical structure, and nanoscale reinforcement are integrated to regulate stress transfer and damage evolution. This review provides a comprehensive overview of interfacial design strategies for aramid/epoxy systems, including reactive surface activation, additive interphase construction, bioinspired polydopamine (PDA)-based coatings, and PDA/poly(ethyleneimine)-mediated hierarchical interphases. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of carbon nanotubes and hybrid nanofillers as interphase-active components rather than simple matrix additives, highlighting the importance of their localization, functionalization, and structural integration. This review further examines how interphase architecture influences mechanical responses under multiple loading conditions, including interlaminar shear, impact, tribological wear, viscoelastic behavior, and ballistic loading. Optimal composite performance depends on achieving an appropriate balance between strong interfacial bonding and damage-tolerant deformation mechanisms. By integrating recent experimental and conceptual developments, this review highlights the transition from “surface modification” to “interphase programming” and provides design guidelines for next-generation aramid fiber composites with improved strength, toughness, and multifunctionality.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160971

Authors: Federico Tasca Riccarda Antiochia

The journal retracts the article “Biocide Activity of Green Quercetin-Mediated Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles” [...]

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16160970

Authors: Yuhua Duan J. Woods Halley

With the innovation of high-performance computers, it has become possible in this day and age for first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to handle large atomic systems with hundreds of atoms, paving ways to explore properties of nanomaterials for many applications [...]

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150969

Authors: Junaid Aslam Muhammad Arif Khan Weiwei Sun Chao Yang

Germanium (Ge) is a promising high-capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries; however, its practical application remains limited by substantial volume variation, unstable interfacial reactions, and rapid capacity degradation during repeated lithiation/delithiation. In this work, a binder-free Ge/C/MXene@NF hybrid electrode was developed through a sequential fabrication process, where Ge nanoparticles were immobilized within a PVP-derived carbon matrix supported on a three-dimensional nickel-foam scaffold and subsequently integrated with a Ti3C2Tx MXene conductive network to construct a hierarchical Ge/C/MXene hybrid architecture. The nickel foam provides a continuous current-collecting framework and mechanical support, while the MXene network improves electrical connectivity, electrolyte accessibility, and interfacial charge-transfer kinetics. Structural and compositional analyses further indicate the presence of PVP-derived carbon and a possible minor NiGe interfacial phase formed during annealing. Comparison with Ge@NF and the individual component electrodes provides insight into the respective contributions of MXene, Ge, and the PVP-derived carbon framework to the electrochemical behaviour of the composite electrode. Using the total deposited active-material mass as the normalisation basis, the MXene@Ge@NF electrode retains a reversible specific capacity of 789.8 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at an effective current density of 76.2 mA g−1. The observed electrochemical behaviour originates from the integrated contributions of Ge nanoparticles, the PVP-derived carbon matrix, the conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene network, the three-dimensional nickel-foam scaffold, and possible Ni–Ge interfacial interactions. Rather than representing a Ge-dominated electrode, this architecture demonstrates the advantages of integrating multiple functional components within a binder-free Ge/C/MXene hybrid architecture.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150968

Authors: Wen-Bo Feng Tong Liu Mu-Yao Liu Hui-Ying Fu Lu Li Zheng-Yi Zhou Qiang Cai Yu-Xin Chen

Aim of the study: This study aims to isolate extracellular vesicles derived from Elaeocarpus braceanus fruits (EBDEVs) and evaluate their alleviating efficacy as nature nanoparticles against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: EBDEVs were isolated by differential and density gradient ultracentrifugation, then characterized for morphology, size, stability, and composition. Their anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In vivo, acute UC was induced in C57BL/6 mice by 2.5% DSS. Disease severity, intestinal barrier integrity, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway activation, and gut microbiota composition were evaluated. Results: EBDEVs exhibited a typical spherical structure and were rich in bioactive components such as lipids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Macrophages readily internalized them and significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production. In UC mice, EBDEVs ameliorated weight loss, colon shortening, and tissue damage, while reducing serum inflammatory cytokines. EBDEVs restored intestinal barrier function by regulating tight junction proteins. Mechanistically, EBDEVs suppressed the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and downstream NLRP3 inflammasome inflammatory signaling cascades, and remodeled the dysregulated gut microbiota structure. Conclusions: EBDEVs alleviate DSS-induced UC in mice by repairing the intestinal barrier, inhibiting inflammatory pathways, and modulating gut microbiota.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150967

Authors: Elsayed I. Salim Naira M. Al-Fiky Khaled Y. Abdel-Halim Dina M. M. AlSadek Haitham A. Badr Mohamed Monir Hammad Hassan A. Basha Fouad A. Abou-Zaid Hafiz Ahmed

Nanomaterials (NMs) offer substantial technological advantages, yet their potential adverse biological effects remain a critical concern. This study investigates the maternal–fetal toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) following a single intravenous (i.v.) administration in vivo, focusing on oxidative DNA damage, cytotoxicity, and transplacental transfer. The median lethal dose (LD50) of ZnONPs was determined to be 154 mg/kg of body weight. Pregnant rats on gestational day 19 were exposed to two sub-lethal doses (3.09 and 7.71 mg/kg; corresponding to 1/50 and 1/20 of LD50). Subsequent analyses assessed Zn2+ accumulation, histopathological alterations in maternal organs, and induction of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in maternal and fetal tissues. ZnONPs demonstrated systemic distribution, with pronounced accumulation in the liver, spleen, and placenta, and were shown to cross the placental barrier, leading to fetal exposure. Elevated Zn2+ concentrations were positively correlated with cytotoxicity and 8-OHdG induction across maternal and fetal compartments. These findings provide compelling evidence of ZnONPs-mediated cyto- and genotoxicity in both mothers and offspring, underscoring the need to define safety margins and regulatory thresholds for nanomaterial exposure in biomedical and environmental contexts.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150966

Authors: Bingqian Zu Song Chen Liping Bao Yingjie Liu Liang Wu

In the original publication [...]

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150965

Authors: Syed Abdul Moiz Muhammad I. Masud Muhammad Kashif

Mixed halide perovskites can be tuned for bandgap, but they are prone to thermal defect deterioration that is difficult to evaluate throughout the whole stoichiometry range. Here, we investigate the relationship between Br composition, trap density, and temperature. It is observed that asymmetric thermal defect trade-offs provide predictive design principles beyond obvious efficiency trends. We use SCAPS-1D to model MAPb(BrxI1−x)3 solar cells. Simulation parameters include continuous bowing-corrected functions of Br fraction (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), temperature (300–350 K), and trap density (1011–1020 cm−3). Despite a trade-off between short circuit current and open circuit voltage with Br incorporation (power conversion efficiency drops from ~25.5% at x = 0 to ~12% at x = 1), important results reveal non-trivial asymmetries: (i) Br-rich compositions are more sensitive to trap-assisted SRH recombination at Nt > 1018 cm−3 than I-rich absorbers; (ii) the thermal degradation coefficient dVoc/dT is lower for Br-rich systems than for I-rich systems, indicating improved thermal tolerance for Br-rich systems; and (iii) these quantitative design guidelines give predicted assistance for producing mixed halide perovskite devices with higher operational stability.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150964

Authors: Danliang Zhang Sihan Liu Peiran Li Qing Ye Ying Chen

ε-phase indium selenide (ε-InSe), a non-centrosymmetric van der Waals layered semiconductor, exhibits broken inversion symmetry in all layer numbers, giving rise to exceptional second-order nonlinear optical responses and holding great promise for nonlinear optoelectronic applications. The dynamic control of the nonlinear efficiency of ε-InSe is crucial for its engineering applications. However, the quantitative manipulation of second-harmonic generation (SHG) intensity and crystal symmetry in few-layer ε-InSe via strain engineering is still lacking. In this work, we systematically investigate the modulation of SHG intensity and angle-resolved SHG patterns in few-layer ε-InSe under uniaxial tensile strain. Using a home-built straining apparatus, we apply controlled tensile strain and measure the strain-dependent SHG responses. The experimental results demonstrate that the SHG intensity of few-layer ε-InSe shows a non-monotonic response to increasing tensile strain, first increasing and then decreasing. Concurrently, the sixfold symmetry of the SHG pattern is broken, confirming the significant strain-induced modulation of the lattice symmetry. This study provides a viable route for the design of flexible and tunable nonlinear optoelectronic devices based on ε-InSe.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150963

Authors: Ogirala Venkata Pandu Ranga Sivakumar Sundaramoorthy Arunmetha Nattanmai Raman Dhineshbabu Arunkumar Jayakumar Sengottaiyan Shanmugan

In recent years, multifunctional composite nanoparticles have garnered substantial attention across multiple fields, from medicine to environmental science and the food industry, owing to their superior physicochemical properties. The synching of Ni nanoparticles by chemical reduction with nickel chloride as the source, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles by the co-precipitation method, with Fe2+ and Fe3+ as salts, is the focus of this study. Silane was used for the surface modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, while sulfuric acid was used to modify the SMCNT. A composite in PVDF based on the blend of Ni and modified Fe3O4/single-walled carbon tube (SWCNT) was used as an additive. Moreover, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was hot-pressed over the film to improve flexibility. To examine and characterize the nanoparticles and composite films, we used X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results verified that the films and nanoparticles were well formed. For a deeper characterization, UV-visible spectroscopy and EMI shielding experiments were conducted for the composite films. The composite films exhibited excellent UV-blocking performance (99.9%) and a total shielding effectiveness (SET) of 13.78 dB in the Ku-band (12–18 GHz) for a thickness of 1 mm. The reflection and absorption mechanisms yield shielding performance through the synergy between conducting (Ni, SWCNT) and magnetic (Fe3O4) components. These results reveal that the TPU-coated composite film is a promising candidate for multifunctional UV and electromagnetic shielding.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150962

Authors: Yunhao Ning Chuantong Cheng Shuo Guan Bao Zhang Tuanning Liu Di Shi Wenqiang Liu Beiju Huang

All inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit outstanding luminescence for optoelectronics, yet poor environmental stability severely restricts their practical deployment. As a stable derivative phase, Cs4PbBr6 can effectively improve structural stability. Nevertheless, the rational fabrication of high-quality Cs4PbBr6/CsPbBr3 hybrid NCs remains challenging owing to the lack of straightforward and scalable synthetic strategies. To overcome these hurdles, we synthesize well-defined Cs4PbBr6/CsPbBr3 hybrid NCs via a temperature-controllable continuous-flow microfluidic route. This platform precisely modulates phase composition via systematic temperature tuning across a range of 110–170 °C, producing distinct compositions from Cs4PbBr6-dominant to high-purity CsPbBr3. A direct correlation was elucidated between temperature-induced phase transformation and optical properties. The NCs synthesized at 130 °C exhibited a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 96.24% and bright 521 nm green emission. These NCs were successfully integrated into white light-emitting diodes incorporating a 478 nm blue excitation chip and K2SiF6:Mn4+ red phosphor, which demonstrated excellent color performance with a luminous efficiency of 86.3 lm W−1 and Commission Internationale de l’Éclairage coordinates of (0.2991, 0.3784). This work highlights the potential of continuous-flow microfluidics for precise phase modulation and scalable production of high-quality perovskite NCs, offering a viable route for advanced optoelectronic applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150961

Authors: Yikun Li Jiarui Zhang Wenbin Liu Lei Wang Jinru Xie Jintong Xu Chenhui Yu

The ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor β-Ga2O3 is a promising material for next-generation optoelectronic systems and hybrid nanodevices. However, high interface state densities and anomalous trap-assisted leakage severely restrict its performance and signal transduction capabilities. To resolve these fundamental limitations, we investigated a two-dimensional h-BN interlayer to construct a high-quality heterogeneous metal/h-BN/β-Ga2O3 structure using experimentally calibrated Sentaurus TCAD simulations. Energy-band analysis and validated I–V simulations reveal that the low-dimensional h-BN interlayer reconstructs the interfacial barrier, suppresses interface-assisted recombination, and shifts the dominant carrier transport from thermionic emission to Fowler–Nordheim tunneling. These effects markedly reduce the interface-state density and effectively suppress the Shockley–Read–Hall recombination current, mechanisms that are critical for minimizing dark current and improving device sensitivity. After systematically examining the effects of key parameters on the electrical characteristics of this hybrid architecture, we quantify the tradeoff between threshold voltage and on-resistance using a comprehensive figure of merit. Specifically, our results indicate that maximum device efficiency is achieved only when an optimal h-BN thickness of 3.56–5.88 nm (10–17 atomic layers) is strategically integrated with the appropriate metal work function and semiconductor doping. Overall, this work suggests the potential advantage of 2D h-BN in mitigating the interfacial bottleneck of traditional β-Ga2O3 platforms, providing quantitative design guidelines and theoretical support for the heterogeneous integration of next-generation optoelectronic devices.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150960

Authors: Marianna P. Kutyreva Anastasia Burmatova Artur Khannanov Elena Khaldeeva Airat Kiiamov Ruslan Batulin Vladimir Evtugyn Dmitry Emelianov Liana Zubaidullina Nikolay A. Ulakhovich

A strategy based on the hyperbranched polyol process (HB-polyol process) is presented for the synthesis of hemocompatible cobalt nanocomposites Co/GnOH with controlled morphology and predictable functional properties. Third-generation (G3OH) and fourth-generation (G4OH) hyperbranched polyester polyols were used as smart polyol nanoreactors. We establish, for the first time, the fundamental physicochemical principles of the HB-polyol process based on a comprehensive analysis of FT-IR, UV-Vis, NMR, NTA, and TEM data. These principles encompass the stages of pre-organization, nucleation, polyol oxidation and the stabilization of cobalt-loaded metallopolymer nanocomposites within the binary [CoCl2–GnOH] system (n = 3, 4). Magnetic measurements revealed that the samples exhibit paramagnetic properties at 5 K. The size of the magnetic cores in the Co/G3OH samples was estimated by fitting the field-dependent magnetization curves to the Langevin function and was found to range from 1.4 nm to 7.2 nm, indicating the superparamagnetic behavior of the nanocomposites. In vitro biological tests of the Co/GnOH nanocomposites demonstrated high hemocompatibility, as well as pronounced modulatory and antimycotic activity across all samples. The obtained results hold promise for the development of simple design technologies for multifunctional “intelligent” materials based on metal and dendritic nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150959

Authors: Yuhang Yang Yuan Yu Cancan Cui Xin Liu Yanyong Li Peisong Liu Fei Hui

Recent years have witnessed a surge in the research of memristors as fundamental building blocks for neuromorphic computing, owing to their exceptional ability to emulate the plastic behavior of biological synapses in a high-density, low-power hardware format. These devices are increasingly recognized as the key to achieving efficient artificial neural networks. Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a premier candidate for artificial synapses due to its atomic scale and tunable electronic properties. However, achieving wafer-scale MoS2 thin films for integrated memristor systems remains a significant challenge. In this work, a scalable strategy combining cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-assisted electrochemical intercalation and oil–water interface self-assembly was developed to fabricate large-area 2H-phase MoS2 thin films. Leveraging the amphiphilic nature of CTAB-functionalized MoS2 nanosheets, continuous Janus-structured MoS2 films with asymmetric wetting properties (hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic) were successfully prepared. Vertical-structured Ag/Janus-structured MoS2/ITO memristors demonstrated robust non-volatile switching with high endurance and long-term retention. The devices successfully emulated biological synaptic behaviors, including short-term and long-term plasticity. Furthermore, the memristors exhibited distinct optoelectronic synergistic modulation under 405 nm illumination, enabling light-sensitive synaptic functions. This work offers a versatile interface engineering route for low-power integrated sensing–memory–computing hardware.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150958

Authors: Yongfeng Ju Roohollah Babaei-Mahani Raed Khalid Ibrahem Shoira Khakberdieva Yasir Salam Karim Ahmed N. Abdalla Abdullah Mohamed Mustafa Z. Mahmoud Hafiz Muhammad Ali

In the original publication [...]

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150957

Authors: Vediyappan Thirumal Perumal Rajivgandhi Alagan Sekar Jinho Kim

The sustainable bio-activated carbon platelets were synthesized from tamarind (tamarind indicia) fruit seed shells (TFSs) by a pyrolysis approach with an inert gas atmosphere. The carbonization process was carried out at 800 °C under an inert argon atmosphere, yielding both pure TFS-AC and chemically activated TFS-AC (KOH) carbon materials. Microscopic surface morphological analysis confirmed the formation of thin, interconnected porous carbon platelet nanosheets with enhanced surface structural uniformity. Raman spectroscopy revealed characteristic D- and G-bands, signifying the presence of graphitic domains and partial structural disorder. BET surface area analysis indicated a significant improvement from 48.54 m2/g in TFS-AC to 124.72 m2/g in TFS-AC (KOH), suggesting enhanced pore development and surface accessibility due to KOH activation. Electrochemical two-electrode performance was evaluated in symmetric device configurations using 3M KOH aqueous electrolyte. The TFS-AC (KOH) device exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance, which delivered 129.03 F/g at 0.5A/g, compared to the pure TFS-AC device. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further confirmed low internal resistance and favorable ion transport. These findings confirm that KOH-activated TFS-derived carbon nanosheets have higher electrochemical stability, retaining 98.2% capacitance over 10,000 cycles. These results are promising electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitor applications, owing to their superior electrochemical symmetric device performance of bio-mass carbon Tamarind seed shell platelet nanosheets for future energy storage symmetric device applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150956

Authors: Jessica Hernández Galván Luis Angel Iturralde Carrera Carlos D. Constantino-Robles Yoisdel Castillo Alvarez Juvenal Rodríguez-Reséndiz Rufino Nava

Semiconductor-based photocatalytic water splitting is a promising pathway for sustainable hydrogen production; however, the reported performance depends not only on the intrinsic properties of the photocatalyst but also on reactor configuration and operating conditions. This systematic technical review examines the interplay between nanostructured semiconductor photocatalysts and the principal engineering variables governing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Particular attention is given to particle size, morphology, surface area, defect density, heterojunction design, cocatalyst incorporation, aggregation, and catalyst immobilization, as well as their interaction with reactor geometry, optical path length, photon distribution, catalyst loading, working volume, pH, sacrificial agents, mixing, thermal control, gas purging, and product quantification. The reviewed evidence indicates that these material and reactor parameters jointly determine light absorption, charge-carrier separation and transfer, suspension turbidity, mass transport, catalyst recovery, stability, and the measured hydrogen evolution rate. Batch slurry reactors remain the most widely used laboratory configuration, whereas annular, flat-panel, microreactor, fixed-bed, continuous-flow, and photofluidized systems offer specific advantages for photon utilization, catalyst reuse, product removal, and scale-up. The review also emphasizes the need to distinguish overall water splitting from sacrificial-agent-assisted hydrogen evolution. Standardized reporting of photocatalyst properties, irradiance, spectral distribution, illuminated area, reactor dimensions, reaction atmosphere, and gas-analysis procedures is essential to improve reproducibility and enable reliable comparisons among nanostructured photocatalytic systems.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150955

Authors: Adem Sreedhar Jin-Seo Noh

The unique contributions of 2D Ti3C2 MXenes surface, electrical, and chemical features play a crucial role in determining toxic and flammable gas-sensing behavior. Specifically, its high electrical conductivity (metallic nature), layered nanosheet structure (nanosheets), and surface termination groups (–O, –F, and –OH) collectively contribute to excellent hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) gas-sensing behavior. This review systematically explores the impact of pristine and modified Ti3C2 MXene, including its interfaces with various metals and metal oxides for enhancing H2 and NH3 detection. Furthermore, the significance of room temperature operation and flexible gas sensing mechanisms is explored. Notably, integration of Ti3C2 MXene and sulfur nanosheets demonstrates rapid response and recovery times with detection limits at ppt level. Ti3C2 MXene-based interfaces also exhibit excellent long-term stability under various relative humidity conditions. The selective surface termination groups (–OH and –O) facilitate the formation of hydrogen bonds with NH3 molecules for enhancing gas adsorption and sensing selectivity. In addition, the expansion of the interlayer spacing plays a vital role in improving the gas-sensing performance. Partial oxidation of Ti3C2 MXene into TiO2 increases the interlayer distance, promoting faster diffusion of gas molecules and quicker sensor response. Overall, the intrinsic properties of Ti3C2 MXene and its composites significantly achieve high-performance room-temperature H2 and NH3 gas-sensing performance.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150954

Authors: Qian Guo Yawei Xiong Jing Neng

Food contaminants, including plasticizers, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and biotoxins, pose persistent risks to food quality and human health. Their diverse sources, complex migration pathways, and potential long-term toxicity make removal difficult. Conventional removal technologies, such as physical treatment, chemical degradation, adsorption, membrane separation, and biological methods, can reduce contaminant levels to varying degrees. However, they often show limited selectivity, matrix interference, harsh operating requirements, or losses of nutritional and functional components. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic recognition materials with binding sites tailored to a target contaminant. Their template-induced cavities provide complementarity in size, shape, and functional-group arrangement, enabling selective adsorption in complex matrices. Recent studies apply MIPs to the enrichment, detection, and removal of plasticizers, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and biotoxins. Unlike recent surveys centered on MIP-assisted analysis and sensing, this review uses contaminant removal as the organizing problem and compares MIP-based strategies with conventional decontamination across four hazard classes. MIPs offer tunable selectivity, chemical stability, and reusability, but practical food applications still face template leakage, slow mass transfer, incomplete safety evaluation, matrix dependence, and scale-up limitations. Future work should prioritize green synthesis, surface imprinting, magnetic recovery, and systematic validation in real food matrices. To prevent analytical extraction from being conflated with remediation, the evidence is classified from proof-of-binding and analytical cleanup to edible-matrix treatment and process validation, and representative studies are compared using capacity, removal or recovery, equilibration time, selectivity, reuse, and matrix validation. Recent evidence also reveals substantial gaps for PFAS, microplastics, and nanoplastics: selective recognition is advancing, but food-safe removal remains largely unvalidated.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150953

Authors: Xin Chen Peipei Li Shusheng Gong

The positional arrangement of BN and CC units in B6C6N6 cyclic nanorings profoundly influences their stability, electronic structure, optical response, and reactivity. Here, we comparatively investigate eight positional isomers (C1–C8) using DFT and TD-DFT calculations. Among C1–C8, C1 is the most stable, and C8 is the most unstable in the range of 200–1000 K. Their relative stability is governed by B-N charge separation, homonuclear B-B and N-N defects (charge repulsion), and bond-angle distortion (ring tension). The HOMO–LUMO gaps range from 4.40 eV (C3) to 8.45 eV (C2), indicating distinct kinetic stability. Aromaticity analysis reveals that all isomers are nonaromatic. In the gas phase, the lowest-energy absorption bands of C1 and C3 are located at about 429 nm and 606 nm, respectively. Due to different transition mechanisms, namely locally excited (LE) for the former and charge-transfer (CT) for the latter, solvent polarity has dramatically different influence on these two absorption bands. Compared to their positions in the gas phase, these absorption bands are blue-shifted about 20 nm and 220 nm in water, respectively. Reactivity analysis identifies the B-B bond in C7 as the strongest electrophilic site (LEAE = −2.93 eV), with the surrounding framework serving as nucleophilic domains, endowing C7 with the strongest bifunctional reactivity. This work establishes a comprehensive structure–property map for B6C6N6 isomers, providing guidance for designing BCN-based nanorings for catalysis, molecular recognition, and optoelectronics.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150952

Authors: Lucia Baldino

Nanosomes are small vesicles that are used in precision nanomedicine to deliver therapeutic drugs to specific cells or tissues [...]

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150951

Authors: Jingfei Luan Boyang Liu

A high-performance Z-scheme Ho2BiNbO7/ZnBiTmO4 heterojunction (HZ) photocatalyst was prepared for the first time using a wet impregnation method. The HZ photocatalyst significantly improved the separation efficiency of the photoinduced electrons and the photoinduced holes; meanwhile, the HZ photocatalyst could effectively broaden the visible light spectrum via a specific mechanism of the Z-scheme heterojunction structure. The experimental results displayed that the HZ photocatalyst had strong catalytic activity when the brilliant green (BLG) was degraded. In particular, the degradation rate of BLG when using the HZ photocatalyst was found to be 99.47%, and the mineralization efficiency of the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration was found to be 98.26% when using the HZ photocatalyst under visible light irradiation (VILIIR). The HZ photocatalyst possessed higher photocatalytic activity compared with Ho2BiNbO7, ZnBiTmO4, or N-doped TiO2 (N-T). The degradation rate of BLG when using the HZ photocatalyst was 1.27 times higher than that when using Ho2BiNbO7, 1.15 times higher than that when employing ZnBiTmO4, or 2.91 times higher than that when using N-T under VILIIR. The mineralization efficiency of the TOC concentration after catalytic degradation of BLG when employing the HZ photocatalyst was 1.31 times higher than that when employing Ho2BiNbO7, 1.19 times higher than that when employing ZnBiTmO4, or 3.14 times higher than that when using N-T under VILIIR. The experimental generating radicals confirmed that the HZ photocatalyst might produce diverse reactive radicals, which contained superoxide anions (•O2−), hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and photogenerated holes (h+) after catalytic degradation of BLG. The descending order of oxidizing capacity for above three radicals was as follows: •OH > •O2− > h+. The descending order of the photocatalytic activity for the four photocatalysts was as follows: HZ > ZnBiTmO4 > Ho2BiNbO7 > N-T. The intermediate degradation products of BLG were detected by employing the HZ photocatalyst during the photocatalytic degradation process of BLG; the reliability, reusability, and stability of the HZ photocatalyst were proven by quintic cyclical degradation experiments of BLG. This study developed the degradation pathways and degradation mechanism of BLG when using the HZ photocatalyst under VILIIR. This work supplies novel thought for the design and manufacture of Z-scheme heterojunction catalysts, and it provides a basis for developing an efficient environmental remediation technique for BLG pollution.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150950

Authors: Jaimon Chonedan Johnson Nicolò Galvani Piera Maccagnani Alessandro Surpi Nicola Gilli Rita Rizzoli Alessandro Gradone Giulia Lorusso Fabiola Liscio Vittorio Morandi

Three-dimensional (3D) graphene foams are attractive as lightweight conductive scaffolds with large surface area and broadband light absorption but achieving reproducible porosity and preserving the architecture after metal-template removal remain challenging. Here we report a stepwise route to freestanding 3D multilayer graphene foams based on (i) hydrogen-bubble-assisted electrodeposition of porous Ni on Cu foils, (ii) time-controlled pre-annealing at 1000 °C to drive Cu diffusion and form porous Ni-Cu alloy templates, (iii) in situ graphene CVD at 1000 °C under fixed growth conditions, and (iv) wet etching to remove the metal scaffold without a polymer support. The influence of pre-annealing (0, 1, 3, and 7 h) on template evolution, graphene growth, and foam stability was systematically investigated via SEM, EDS, XRD and Raman studies. Before etching, Raman spectroscopy indicates low-defect graphenic coatings with locally heterogeneous few-layer-like to multilayer-like signatures. Only samples pre-annealed for at least 3 h preserved the porous 3D architecture after metal removal, indicating the formation of self-supporting graphenic networks with improved post-etch morphological stability. Raman and XRD analyses further revealed a progressive reduction in structural degradation, residual strain, and stacking disorder with increasing pre-annealing time. Among the investigated samples, the foams obtained after 3 and 7 h of template pre-annealing combined preserved 3D morphology with low sheet resistance (10–20 Ω/□), negligible optical transmittance (<5%), and strong broadband visible-light absorption (75–90%).

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150949

Authors: Hafezeh Nabipour Sohrab Rohani

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based on triazole have attracted considerable interest as promising porous materials for CO2 capture due to their high surface area, ultramicroporosity, and excellent thermal and chemical stability. Nitrogen-rich triazole ligands contain abundant Lewis basic sites that promote CO2 adsorption via dipole–quadrupole interactions, hydrogen bonding and cooperative interactions with open metal sites. The present review discusses recent developments in the synthesis of triazole-based MOFs, with special emphasis on the relation between structural features and CO2 adsorption performance. The paper reviews different synthetic routes such as solvothermal, hydrothermal, mechanochemical and post-synthetic modification methods and their impact on crystallinity, porosity and scalability. The roles of metal centres, pore confinement and linker functionalization in tuning CO2 uptake, selectivity and adsorption energetics are highlighted. Moreover, the mixed-linker strategies and defect engineering are explored to illustrate the use of the synergistic effect of nitrogen-rich sites and metal nodes for the improvement of the adsorption performance. Still, a number of challenges remain such as achieving an optimal balance between adsorption strength and regenerability, increasing stability in humid and realistic flue-gas conditions, and the development of scalable and sustainable synthesis routes. In summary, triazole-based MOFs provide a versatile platform for the design of high-performance CO2 adsorbents by combining structural robustness with chemically active, nitrogen-rich adsorption environments.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150948

Authors: Abhishek Singh Rupesh Kumar Singh Mirela Alina Sandu Veronica Ivanescu Omkar Singh Anuj Saraswat Karen Ghazaryan

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint that threatens global food security by significantly inhibiting seed germination and early seedling establishment. Salinity disrupts all three phases of seed germination: Phase I (imbibition), where reduced water absorption capacity reduces seed hydration and delays metabolic reactivation; Phase II (lag phase), where ionic toxicity and oxidative stress impair enzyme activity, reserve mobilization, and cellular metabolism; and Phase III (radicle protrusion), where limited cell division and length prevent radicle emergence and seedling establishment. These disturbances reduce germination percentage, germination rate, germination index, germination energy, and plant vigor, while increasing average germination time. At the morpho-physiological level, salinity impairs water absorption, membrane stability, photosynthetic pigment accumulation, and root–shoot development. Biochemically, excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) causes cellular damage and metabolic dysfunction. At the molecular level, salinity alters the expression of the aquaporin gene family (PIPs, TIPs, NIPs, and SIPs), suppresses starch mobilization by reducing α-amylase, enhances abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, and inhibits gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis, all of which cause inhibition of germination and early growth. As a result, an effective strategy is needed to improve seed germination under saline conditions. Therefore, the second focus of this review is to critically evaluate the potential of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanobiochar (NBC) as emerging tools to mitigate salinity stress during seed germination. Current evidence suggests that NPs and NBC enhance water absorption, maintain membrane strength, improve nutrient availability, promote antioxidant defense systems, and regulate osmotic adjustment in saline environments. Furthermore, these nanomaterials alter key molecular pathways involved in aquaporin expression, hormonal homeostasis, and reserve mobilization, thereby promoting successful germination and seedling establishment. By combining recent advances in physiological, biochemical, and molecular research, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of salinity-induced germination disruption and highlights the potential of NP- and NBC-based approaches to improve crop establishment under saline conditions.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150947

Authors: Hanzihou Zou Ying Guo Ting Yang Honglin Gao

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key kinetic bottleneck in water electrolysis because it involves multistep proton-coupled electron transfer, the evolution of oxygen-containing intermediates and O–O bond formation. MXenes, as two-dimensional transition-metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides, possess high electrical conductivity, hydrophilic surfaces, tunable surface terminations and adjustable layered structures, making them promising platforms for OER catalyst design. However, their limited intrinsic active sites, sheet restacking and oxidative instability under anodic conditions restrict their direct application. This review firstly discusses the fundamental OER pathways based on the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM), lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) and oxide path mechanism (OPM), providing a mechanistic basis for understanding intermediate adsorption, oxygen activation and working-state evolution. Then, a system framework from low-dimensional and micro-level control to high-dimensional and macro-level integration is constructed. The framework covers four levels: atom and local structure, interface, morphology and composite electrode. Drawing on specific examples, this review analyzes the characteristics and mechanisms of modification strategies from four different perspectives, starting with the basic principles of modification. These strategies include micro-scale, low-dimensional approaches such as “Vacancy and other atomic-Level Regulation”, macro-scale, high-dimensional methods like “Composite Engineering”, as well as intermediate approaches involving “Interface engineering” and “morphology engineering”. Special emphasis is placed on distinguishing between beneficial surface reconstruction of catalytically active hydroxyl oxide species and destructive oxidation. Finally, the review identified the unresolved key challenges, including the fuzziness of active sites, the diversity of initial material states and the lack of stability under industrial conditions, and looked forward to the future direction of reasonable design, operational characterization and device-level evaluation. Through this cross-scale analysis, this review aims to clarify the relationship between structure–activity–stability, and provide practical guidance for designing efficient, durable and experimentally verifiable MXene-based OER electrodes.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150946

Authors: Huy Loc Nguyen

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a versatile class of porous nanomaterials with exceptional surface area, tunable pore architectures, and customizable chemical functionalities, creating new opportunities for advanced food applications. Increasing demand for functional foods, precision fermentation, and sustainable bioprocessing has stimulated interest in MOFs as multifunctional platforms for microbial encapsulation, biocatalyst stabilization, and resource recovery. This review examines recent advances in the design and application of MOFs for probiotic delivery, precision fermentation, and circular food systems. The relationships between MOF structure, physicochemical properties, and functional performance are discussed in the context of probiotic encapsulation, protection against environmental and gastrointestinal stress, and controlled release within the intestinal tract. Emerging applications in precision fermentation are evaluated, including microbial immobilization, enzyme stabilization, metabolite separation, and bioprocess intensification. The potential of MOFs to enable circular food systems through the valorization of fermentation by-products, nutrient recovery, and waste-to-value strategies is also assessed. Despite significant progress, challenges related to biocompatibility, food-grade synthesis, scalability, regulatory approval, and long-term safety continue to limit industrial implementation. Future research directions include the development of sustainable and biodegradable MOFs, data-driven material design, and standardized evaluation frameworks to accelerate the translation of MOF-enabled technologies from laboratory research to commercial food applications.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150945

Authors: Huy Loc Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc Nguyen

MXenes have emerged as a rapidly expanding family of two-dimensional transition-metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, characterized by exceptional compositional diversity, tunable surface chemistry, metallic conductivity, hydrophilicity, mechanical flexibility, and rich redox activity. These characteristics make MXenes highly attractive for next-generation technologies, including energy storage and conversion, catalysis, electromagnetic interference shielding, sensors, water purification, biomedical systems, and smart functional devices. However, the performance of MXene-based materials is strongly governed by their synthesis routes, defect structures, interlayer spacing, surface terminations, oxidation stability, and interfacial interactions with polymers, metals, oxides, and other two-dimensional materials. Therefore, a structure–property-oriented understanding is essential for moving MXene research from empirical material development toward rational functional design. Unlike application-centered summaries, this review develops a cross-application engineering framework that connects MXene synthesis and processing with multiscale structure, functional properties, performance trade-offs, and translational requirements. First, major synthesis and processing strategies are discussed, including selective etching, delamination, intercalation, surface modification, and scalable fabrication. Next, the relationships between MXene composition, morphology, surface chemistry, electrical conductivity, electrochemical behavior, mechanical properties, and environmental stability are analyzed. Recent advances in functionalization, heterostructure construction, and composite engineering are then highlighted to illustrate how MXene properties can be tailored for emerging applications. Finally, key challenges related to oxidation, restacking, long-term stability, environmental safety, reproducibility, and industrial translation are critically evaluated. This review aims to establish a design framework for engineering MXene nanomaterials toward high-performance, stable, and scalable emerging technologies.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150944

Authors: Haowei Hu Zhenxin Chen Feilong Zhao Qin Li Lin Guo

Nanoscale liquid film boiling is a key heat transfer mechanism in high-heat-flux thermal management, but the coupled effects of wall vibration and surface wettability remain unclear. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate water film boiling on platinum surfaces under different wettability conditions, vibration amplitudes, and vibration frequencies. The results show that surface wettability strongly regulates the balance between early nucleation and later heat transfer deterioration. Under wall vibration, the neutral-wettability case (β = 0.02) shows the most favorable overall behavior, with bubble nucleation occurring at 0.35 ns, 46.2% earlier than that for β = 0.013, while the Leidenfrost onset is delayed to 1.65 ns, 153.8% later than that for β = 0.1. For vibration amplitude, increasing the amplitude from 0.5 to 2 Å advances bubble nucleation by 70.8%, whereas further increasing the amplitude to 3–4 Å accelerates Leidenfrost onset by 51.5–75.8%. For vibration frequency, compared with the non-vibrating case, nucleation is advanced by 36.4%, 54.5%, and 81.8% at 100, 150, and 200 GHz, respectively. These results indicate that moderate vibration enhances interfacial energy exchange, whereas excessive vibration promotes premature vapor-layer formation and heat transfer deterioration.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150943

Authors: Carlos A. Guerrero-Fajardo David Bocanegra-Cardenas

Atrazine is one of the most toxic herbicide pollutants for ecosystems and the environment, as its persistence poses a risk to environmental health. Therefore, this research focuses on the production of a series of shielded nanostructured compounds known as carbon dots. To this end, three different shielded nanomaterials will be synthesized, namely carbon dots (CDs-S), magnetized carbon dots (CDs-S-M), and laccase-catalyzed magnetized carbon dots (CDs-S-M-Lac), the latter being the biocomposite. During the characterization of these materials, stretching vibrations corresponding to the hydroxyl group were obtained in the 3100–3600 cm−1 region, as well as 1750 cm−1 bands associated with oxygenated carbonyl and carboxylate groups, which are important in the adsorption processes of contaminants on the material’s surface. Biocatalytic activity tests were also performed on a total volume of 3.0 mL, contained in an atrazine solution with an initial concentration of 10 mg·L−1. Raman analysis revealed bands in the D (1350 cm−1) and G (1580 cm−1) regions, characteristic of SP2 hybridizations associated with carbonaceous materials, thus describing a material capable of degrading contaminants with a capacity of approximately 14 mg/L; this degradation is achieved with CDs-S-M-Lac.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150942

Authors: Zhongyu Wan Dong Li Fei Wang Houzhao Wan

Aqueous zinc metal batteries are promising for safe and cost-effective energy storage. However, their practical application is limited by the intrinsic instability of the Zn/electrolyte interface, including water-induced hydrogen evolution, Zn corrosion, and dendrite-prone Zn deposition. Herein, glutaronitrile (GLN) is introduced as a multifunctional dinitrile additive to stabilize Zn metal anodes through coupled regulation of solvation chemistry and interfacial evolution. The polar C≡N groups of GLN can coordinate with Zn2+, to replace part of the water molecules in the primary solvation shell, thereby suppressing the activity of coordinated water. Meanwhile, uncoordinated C≡N groups act as hydrogen-bond acceptors to reorganize the surrounding water network, further suppressing free-water participation in hydrogen evolution and corrosion. This dual regulation optimizes the Zn/electrolyte interfacial environment, improves electrolyte wettability on Zn, homogenizes Zn2+ flux, and promotes compact, dendrite-suppressed Zn deposition. Additionally, GLN promotes the formation of a chemically heterogeneous interfacial structure enriched with ZnF2 in the inner region, which further protects the Zn surface and stabilizes the Zn plating/stripping process. The optimized ZHG6 electrolyte enables Zn||Zn symmetric cells to cycle stably for over 900 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2, while Zn||Cu cells maintain high Coulombic efficiency during long-term cycling. Furthermore, Zn||V6O13 full cells exhibit enhanced cycling stability and rate capability, achieving stable operation for 3200 cycles at 5 A g−1. As evidenced in this work, dinitrile-based molecular additives provide an effective and scalable strategy to fabricate durable aqueous zinc metal batteries.

Nanomaterials doi: 10.3390/nano16150941

Authors: Yuan Tian Xinmiao Wang Jinhui Wu Jiancheng Qi

Particulate matter (PM) pollution has become a major public health concern. Particularly, PM0.3 in the air can cause significant damage to the human respiratory system. However, traditional air filtration materials, due to their limited protective functions, are facing challenges such as poor environmental adaptability, low transparency, and difficulties in balancing filtration efficiency with pressure drop. Inspired by the honeycomb structures and transparent dragonfly wings, this study successfully fabricated a bioinspired honeycomb-structured nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) using template-assisted electrospinning. By optimizing the mesh size of receiver, a directional distribution of the electric field was established on the receiver, promoting the simultaneous concentrated ordered stacking and sparse random orientation of fine-diameter nanofibers. This synergistic strategy of structural optimization and electric field modulation enables NFMs to achieve an optimal balance between filtration efficiency, pressure drop, environmental adaptability and transparency. Utilizing filtration mechanisms involving Brownian diffusion, electrostatic adsorption and physical interception, the honeycomb-structured NFMs achieved a filtration efficiency of over 98.51% for PM0.3, with a pressure drop of only 34 Pa, whilst maintaining high transparency (85%) and high air permeability (130.8 mm/s). This bioinspired honeycomb-structured NFMs demonstrates broad application prospects in the field of air purification and offers novel insights for the development of multifunctional air filtration materials.