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Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 17021

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Prof. Dr. Jingang Yu

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College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: nanoparticles; nanosheets; composites; preparation; application
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Dear Colleagues,

Nanocompounds, including nanocarbon (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene), magnetic nanoparticles, super-hard-modified coatings, lithium-ion batteries, nanoflame retardant and so on, have attracted increasing interest due to their distinct physical and chemical properties. These multifunctional nanomaterials have been widely utilized in many practical and research fields, including environmental management, chemical engineering, electrode materials, as well as biomedical applications.

This Special Issue is intended as a platform for articles about developing and researching these interactive nanomaterials (either research or review articles) with an emphasis on the functionalization, preparation, characterization, and applications of novel fabricated, composited, or hybrid nanomaterials. Our aim is to collect all of the most recent advances in the field, highlight the strengths and the weaknesses of each nanomaterial and provide some new thoughts for the researchers working in this multidisciplinary area.

Prof. Dr. Jingang Yu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nanoparticles
nanosheets
composites
preparation
application

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Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites: Second Edition in Molecules

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tailoring the Composition of HA/PEG Mixed Nano-Assemblies for Anticancer Drug Delivery

by Beatrice Zurletti, Ilaria Andreana, Iris Chiara Salaroglio, Valeria Bincoletto, Maela Manzoli, Barbara Rolando, Paola Milla, Chiara Riganti, Barbara Stella and Silvia Arpicco

Molecules 2025, 30(6), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061349 - 17 Mar 2025

Viewed by 243

Abstract

Self-assembling amphiphilic polymers represent highly promising materials with emerging applications across various fields. In these polymers, the presence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments within their structure drives the self-assembly process in aqueous environments, leading to organized structures capable of incorporating lipophilic drugs. Their high chemical versatility enables the design of tailored structures to meet specific requirements, such as the active targeting ability, thereby broadening their potential applications. In this work, a polyethylene glycol-phospholipid conjugate was employed to form nanocarriers loaded with a lipophilic derivative of gemcitabine. To achieve nano-assemblies actively targeted towards cancer cells overexpressing the hyaluronic acid (HA) receptor CD44, a HA-phospholipid conjugate was co-formulated in various molar ratios (1%, 10%, and 20%). All formulations exhibited a mean diameter below 130 nm, a negative zeta potential (approximately −30 mV), and a high encapsulation efficiency (above 90%). These nano-assemblies demonstrated stability during storage and effectively released the encapsulated drug in a cell culture medium. Upon incubation with cancer cells, the nano-assemblies were internalized via a CD44 endocytosis-mediated mechanism, with the extent of internalization depending on the HA conjugate content. Consistently, cell viability studies revealed that the nanocarriers decorated with higher amounts of HA exerted a higher cytotoxicity, enabling a fine tuning of the nano-assembly properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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17 pages, 14802 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biofunctionalization of Magneto-Plasmonic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-NH₂-Au Heterostructures with the Cellulase from Trichoderma reesei

by Anna Tomaszewska, Magdalena Kulpa-Greszta, Oliwia Hryców, Klaudia Niemczyk, Renata Wojnarowska-Nowak, Daniel Broda and Robert Pazik

Molecules 2025, 30(3), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030756 - 6 Feb 2025

Viewed by 680

Abstract

The study focuses on the synthesis of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-NH₂-Au heterostructures with magneto-plasmonic properties composed of well-defined cubic Fe₃O₄ cores (79 nm) covered with 10 nm silica shell and gold nanoparticles (8 nm) fabricated on silica shell. The surface-anchored MHDA (16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid) linker facilitated cellulase bioconjugation, which was confirmed through Raman spectroscopy. The presence of gold nanoparticle islands on the heterostructure enabled surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), demonstrating the potential for bioactive substance identification. Immobilization of cellulase allowed for pH enhancement and enzyme thermal stability. The optimal pH shifted from 4.0 (free enzyme) to 6.0 while thermal stability increased by 20 °C. The immobilized cellulase kept its 49% activity after five hydrolysis cycles, compared to significantly lower activity for free cellulase. The proposed heterostructures for cellulase immobilization demonstrate potential for practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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17 pages, 3234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Graphene Oxide Covalently Functionalized with 5-Methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine for pH-Sensitive Ga³⁺ Recovery in Aqueous Solutions

by Xi Zhu, Yong Guo and Baozhan Zheng

Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3768; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163768 - 9 Aug 2024

Viewed by 932

Abstract

A novel graphene-based composite, 5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine (MTA) covalently functionalized graphene oxide (GO-MTA), was rationally developed and used for the selective sorption of Ga³⁺ from aqueous solutions, showing a higher adsorption capacity (48.20 mg g⁻¹) toward Ga³⁺ than In³⁺ (15.41 mg g⁻¹) and Sc³⁺ (~0 mg g⁻¹). The adsorption experiment’s parameters, such as the contact time, temperature, initial Ga³⁺ concentration, solution pH, and desorption solvent, were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the GO-MTA composite displayed the highest adsorption capacity of 55.6 mg g⁻¹ toward Ga³⁺. Moreover, a possible adsorption mechanism was proposed using various characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), elemental mapping analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ga³⁺ adsorption with the GO-MTA composite could be better described by the linear pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.962), suggesting that the rate-limiting step may be chemical sorption or chemisorption through the sharing or exchange of electrons between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. Importantly, the calculated q_e value (55.066 mg g⁻¹) is closer to the experimental result (55.60 mg g⁻¹). The well-fitted linear Langmuir isothermal model (R² = 0.972~0.997) confirmed that an interfacial monolayer and cooperative adsorption occur on a heterogeneous surface. The results showed that the GO-MTA composite might be a potential adsorbent for the enrichment and/or separation of Ga³⁺ at low or ultra-low concentrations in aqueous solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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17 pages, 5728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of 4-Amino-3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazol-5-thiol-Modified Graphene Oxide and Its Greatly Enhanced Selective Adsorption of Gallium in Aqueous Solution

by Xi Zhu, Yong Guo and Baozhan Zheng

Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2778; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122778 - 11 Jun 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 971

Abstract

Efficient recovery of gallium (Ga) from vanadium slag processing residue (VSPR) solution is of great significance for environmental protection and resource utilization, but improving its selective adsorption against the coexisting Sc³⁺ and In³⁺ is still challenging. Herein, a novel adsorbent consisting of 4-amino-3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazol-5-thiol (AHTZT)-modified graphene oxide (GO-AHTZT) was successfully synthesized that exhibits a higher adsorption selectivity for Ga³⁺ in VSPR solution with coexisting Sc³⁺ and In³⁺. Under optimal conditions, the adsorption capacity of GO-AHTZT for Ga³⁺ can reach 23.92 mg g⁻¹, which is 4.9 and 12.6 times higher than that for Sc³⁺ (4.87 mg g⁻¹) and In³⁺ (1.90 mg g⁻¹) adsorption, indicating the excellent anti-interference ability of GO-AHTZT against Sc³⁺ and In³⁺. The process and mechanism of Ga³⁺ adsorption onto GO-AHTZT was also studied and discussed in detail. By measuring the adsorption process and by characterizing the adsorbent before and after adsorption, we demonstrate that the selective interaction between the Ga³⁺- and N-containing groups in AHTZT is the main reason for the improved adsorption selectivity. This work opens up an avenue for the design and synthesis of highly selective adsorbents for Ga³⁺ in complex VSPR solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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15 pages, 5258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Silica Aerogel/Resin Composites and Their Application in Dental Restorative Materials

by Jingru Cheng, Yuyi Deng, Yujin Tan, Jiawei Li, Yongsheng Fei, Congcong Wang, Jingjing Zhang, Chenxi Niu, Qian Fu and Lingbin Lu

Molecules 2022, 27(14), 4414; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144414 - 9 Jul 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2836

Abstract

As the most advanced aerogel material, silica aerogel has had transformative industrial impacts. However, the use of silica aerogel is currently limited to the field of thermal insulation materials, so it is urgent to expand its application into other fields. In this work, silica aerogel/resin composites were successfully prepared by combining silica aerogel with a resin matrix for dental restoration. The applications of this material in the field of dental restoration, as well as its performance, are discussed in depth. It was demonstrated that, when the ratio of the resin matrix Bis-GMA to TEGDMA was 1:1, and the content of silica aerogel with 50 μm particle size was 12.5%, the composite achieved excellent mechanical properties. The flexural strength of the silica aerogel/resin composite reached 62.9546 MPa, which was more than five times that of the pure resin. Due to the presence of the silica aerogel, the composite also demonstrated outstanding antibacterial capabilities, meeting the demand for antimicrobial properties in dental materials. This work successfully investigated the prospect of using commercially available silica aerogels in dental restorative materials; we provide an easy method for using silica aerogels as dental restorative materials, as well as a reference for their application in the field of biomedical materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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16 pages, 5611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Silver-Plated Nickel-Coated Graphite Powder with Excellent Heat and Humidity Resistance: Facile Preparation and Performance Investigation

by Xin-Kun Lv and Jin-Gang Yu

Molecules 2022, 27(13), 4007; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27134007 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3494

Abstract

Nickel-coated graphite (Ni/C) powder has many applications in diverse areas such as paint, print ink, adhesive, conductive rubber, and so on. To increase its stability in harsh environmental conditions, the electroless plating of silver film on Ni/C via ascorbic acid was studied. A silver layer with a thickness of 2.5 μm was successfully plated on Ni/C powder’s surface with an Ag loading of 44.35 wt.%. Silica gel blended with the Ag/Ni/C powder exhibited much higher conductivity under aging conditions of 85 °C and 85% RH for 1000 h than that with pristine Ni/C powder. Further tests showed that the conductivity of Ag/Ni/C powder remained almost unchanged even in an extremely humid and hot condition for 1000 h. Aging tests were carried out for Ag/Ni/C and Ni/C powders under long-term humid and hot conditions (85 °C, 85% RH), in which Ag/Ni/C samples showed much better electromagnetic shielding performance. Due to the excellent properties and reasonable price, the potential applications of Ag/Ni/C in conductive glue and electromagnetic shielding glue could be expected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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13 pages, 3249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Catalysis of SnO₂/Reduced Graphene Oxide for VO²⁺/VO₂⁺ and V²⁺/V³⁺ Redox Reactions

by Yongguang Liu, Yingqiao Jiang, Yanrong Lv, Zhangxing He, Lei Dai and Ling Wang

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 5085; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26165085 - 22 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2802

Abstract

In spite of their low cost, high activity, and diversity, metal oxide catalysts have not been widely applied in vanadium redox reactions due to their poor conductivity and low surface area. Herein, SnO₂/reduced graphene oxide (SnO₂/rGO) composite was prepared by a sol–gel method followed by high-temperature carbonization. SnO₂/rGO shows better electrochemical catalysis for both redox reactions of VO²⁺/VO₂⁺ and V²⁺/V³⁺ couples as compared to SnO₂ and graphene oxide. This is attributed to the fact that reduced graphene oxide is employed as carbon support featuring excellent conductivity and a large surface area, which offers fast electron transfer and a large reaction place towards vanadium redox reaction. Moreover, SnO₂ has excellent electrochemical activity and wettability, which also boost the electrochemical kinetics of redox reaction. In brief, the electrochemical properties for vanadium redox reactions are boosted in terms of diffusion, charge transfer, and electron transport processes systematically. Next, SnO₂/rGO can increase the energy storage performance of cells, including higher discharge electrolyte utilization and lower electrochemical polarization. At 150 mA cm^?2, the energy efficiency of a modified cell is 69.8%, which is increased by 5.7% compared with a pristine one. This work provides a promising method to develop composite catalysts of carbon materials and metal oxide for vanadium redox reactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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12 pages, 4706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hybrid Structures of Sisal Fiber Derived Interconnected Carbon Nanosheets/MoS₂/Polyaniline as Advanced Electrode Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Wei Li, Yuanzhou Liu, Shuang Zheng, Guobin Hu, Kaiyou Zhang, Yuan Luo and Aimiao Qin

Molecules 2021, 26(12), 3710; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123710 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2484

Abstract

In this work, we designed and successfully synthesized an interconnected carbon nanosheet/MoS₂/polyaniline hybrid (ICN/MoS₂/PANI) by combining the hydrothermal method and in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The as-synthesized ICNs/MoS₂/PANI hybrid showed a “caramel treat-like” architecture in which the sisal fiber derived ICNs were used as hosts to grow “follower-like” MoS₂ nanostructures, and the PANI film was controllably grown on the surface of ICNs and MoS₂. As a LIBs anode material, the ICN/MoS₂/PANI electrode possesses excellent cycling performance, superior rate capability, and high reversible capacity. The reversible capacity retains 583 mA h/g after 400 cycles at a high current density of 2 A/g. The standout electrochemical performance of the ICN/MoS₂/PANI electrode can be attributed to the synergistic effects of ICNs, MoS₂ nanostructures, and PANI. The ICN framework can buffer the volume change of MoS₂, facilitate electron transfer, and supply more lithium inset sites. The MoS₂ nanostructures provide superior rate capability and reversible capacity, and the PANI coating can further buffer the volume change and facilitate electron transfer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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46 pages, 2151 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advanced TiO₂-Based Photocatalytic Systems for Water Splitting: Comprehensive Review from Fundamentals to Manufacturing

by Tarek Ahasan, E. M. N. Thiloka Edirisooriya, Punhasa S. Senanayake, Pei Xu and Huiyao Wang

Molecules 2025, 30(5), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30051127 - 28 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1112

Abstract

The global imperative for clean energy solutions has positioned photocatalytic water splitting as a promising pathway for sustainable hydrogen production. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advances in TiO₂-based photocatalytic systems, focusing on materials engineering, water source effects, and scale-up strategies. We recognize the advancements in nanoscale architectural design, the engineered heterojunction of catalysts, and cocatalyst integration, which have significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. Particular emphasis is placed on the crucial role of water chemistry in photocatalytic system performance, analyzing how different water sources—from wastewater to seawater—impact hydrogen evolution rates and system stability. Additionally, the review addresses key challenges in scaling up these systems, including the optimization of reactor design, light distribution, and mass transfer. Recent developments in artificial intelligence-driven materials discovery and process optimization are discussed, along with emerging opportunities in bio-hybrid systems and CO₂ reduction coupling. Through critical analysis, we identify the fundamental challenges and propose strategic research directions for advancing TiO₂-based photocatalytic technology toward practical implementation. This work will provide a comprehensive framework for exploring advanced TiO₂-based composite materials and developing efficient and scalable photocatalytic systems for multifunctional simultaneous hydrogen production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Application Based on Versatile Nano-Composites)

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