Multifunctional Nanomaterials Based on Oxide Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric oxide nanocrystals are known as multifunctional nanomaterials because of their structure-induced properties that may include magnetism, catalytic activity, piezoelectricity and harmonic generation. An increasing research interest is thus dedicated to representative hosts such as iron oxide, multiferroic BiFeO₃, BaTiO₃ and its derivatives, and niobate (K/Na/LiNbO₃) compounds. Assessing their eventual size/shape effects at the nanoscale and improving their rational design in terms of finely-tuned compositions, morphology control, aggregation state and structure–property relationships are indeed currently driven by both fundamental and technological standpoints.

However, contrary to metallic nanoparticles and semiconductor quantum dots, exact derivation of the reaction pathways and crystallization mechanisms of oxide nanocrystals still needs a special attention of the research community for improving their resulting performances and functional properties. Detailed synthesis dealing with space- and time-resolved experiments allowing identification of the transient species and monitoring of the nucleation step and nanocrystal growth are in this way increasingly expected.   

On the other hand, the extremely rich physicochemical properties of oxide nanocrystals and their capacity to undergo surface chemical modification have paved the way to new proof-of-concepts in the nanomedicine field. This includes the recent development of multicomponent oxide nanomaterials for multimodal imaging and with advanced surface functionalization for diagnostics, targeted bioimaging and new theranostic protocols with the on-demand photo-triggered release of chemotherapeutics.

This special issue of Nanomaterials will highlight different aspects of oxide nanocrystals spanning from their chemical preparation and surface post-functionalization to their specific physicochemical properties and to their potential to new applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Wet-chemical routes leading to morphology control;
• Formation mechanisms with identification of the transient species;
• Preparation of new centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric hosts;
• Multiphoton microscopy and multimodal imaging;
• Incorporation of luminescent species;
• Surface functionalization for bio-related applications;
• Drug delivery.

Dr. Yannick Mugnier
Dr. Sandrine Gerber‐Lemaire
Guest Editors

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• centrosymmetric and noncentrosymmetric metal oxides
• synthesis and growth mechanisms
• morphology control
• physicochemical properties
• bio-imaging
• surface functionalization
• controlled drug delivery
• targeting