Themed collection Nanomaterials

This review summarizes recent advances in the controllable CVD growth of 2D TMDC vertical heterostructures under four different strategies.

Nanocrystal engineering has evolved into a dynamic research area over the past few decades but is not properly defined. Here, we present select examples to highlight the diverse aspects of crystal engineering applied on inorganic nanomaterials.

TMSs as cathode materials used in MIBs.

This Highlight article shows the importance of the in situ monitoring of bulk crystalline compounds for a thorough understanding of heterogeneous catalysts at the intersection of catalysis, materials science, crystallography and inorganic chemistry.

In this highlight article, the recent progress on the preparation and application of multimetallic alloy nanocrystals with 2D nanostructures is systematically reviewed, as well as perspectives on future challenges and opportunities.

Well-controlled incorporation of heteroatoms in frameworks of zeolites and zeotype materials has been achieved by a variety of new synthetic approaches, generating outstanding catalysts compared to uncontrolled materials.

Lithium as critical resource prompted interest for non-lithium-based batteries. This highlight review discusses vanadium oxide bronzes as one of the material families being considered as cathode for non-lithium-based batteries.

Highly emissive halide perovskite nanocrystals with tunable emission spectra covering the entire visible spectra.

Cyanogroup functionalized Pt ultrafine nanonetworks are synthesized via a facile one-pot oil bath heating method, and exhibit excellent HER performance in a broad pH range.

Shape transformation between high-index faceted Pt nanocrystals and low-index faceted ones have been achieved by an electrochemical square-wave potential method.

Cu²⁺-Doped twin spherical MnCO₃ microstructure was prepared, characterized and used as an anode for the lithium-ion battery. After 600 cycles, a reversible capacity of 810 mA h g⁻¹ was retained. Excellent rate property and cyclability were attained.

A 2D sulfonated COF showed intrinsic proton conductivity up to 10⁻³ at 25 °C and 100% relative humidity and high conductivity up to 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 70 °C and 100% RH.

A tetraphenylethylene-based covalent organic framework shows an outstanding performance for waste gas adsorption and has good selectivity and detection effect for Fe³⁺.

Ultrasmall two-dimensional Pd₅₅Pt₁₈Co₂₇ trimetallic alloy nanorings with enriched low-coordinated edge sites exhibit greatly enhanced ORR electrocatalytic activity.

Hierarchical structure TiNb₂O₇ microspheres derived from titanate displayed satisfactory long-term cycling stability and prominent rate capability for lithium-ion batteries.

Binary ligands of carboxylic acids and alkylamines induce the morphological evolution of MAPbBr₃ nanocubes to 1D nanowires and 2D nanosheets during the aging process.

Porous MoO₃/V_0.13Mo_0.87O_2.935 heterostructures self-assembled with 2D nanosheets have been primarily prepared by a facile method for effectively detecting ethanol at room temperature.

A new rapid bottom-up colloidal synthetic route has been developed to synthesize SnSe₂ nanosheets within 5 min. A SnSe₂ nanosheet-based flexible photodetector is fabricated for the first time and the resulting device displays a wide photodetection range and high flexibility.

Two novel (NH₄)_xWO₃ structures were prepared by a two-step hydrothermal route. Also, the possible formation mechanism of these two (NH₄)_xWO₃ structures was proposed and discussed.

A facile ligand-mediated strategy was developed for preparing novel octahedron-shaped Fe-MOF particles with a hollow structure.

This work reports a novel method that enables facile fabrication of Ag–Cu₂O core–shell nanowires (Ag@Cu₂O NWs) for visible light photocatalysts.

Development of a diffractometer specialized for electron diffraction experiments.

A flexible VO₂(B)@CFS electrode exhibits a high capacity and a long cycle life for zinc-ion batteries.

LVP@C with stabilized electronic conductive layer is prepared by a facile organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogel-enabled methodology, in which LVP is chemically interacting with carbon framework via P–C and P–O–C bonds.

The design and preparation of multifunctional nanomaterials are very important for photocatalytic research.

CdS/Zn₃(PO₄)₂ Z-scheme heteronanostructures were prepared through a simple hydrothermal route and precipitation methods, and the efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of MB solution can be improved greatly.

The one-pot, shape selective synthesis of cerium phosphate nanorods has been explored and developed to give nanoparticles with aspect ratios between 3–24.8.

Novel core–shell structured S@CuO/δ-MnO₂ composites have been developed as cathodes for lithium sulfur batteries. They exhibited an excellent electrochemical performance with an initial specific capacity of 848.1 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C.

A simple and efficient strategy for synthesizing high-performance crystalline catalyst Cu₂O hollow spheres with a large specific surface area was demonstrated.

PtPdCu cubic nanoframes with unique open architecture exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performances toward methanol electrooxidation.

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) nanocrystals form both by direct nucleation and growth and by conversion of binary sulphides into the quaternary phase via internal recrystallization processes.

Size and shape uniformity of nanomaterials are extremely important for their applications in batteries, supercapacitors, catalysis, etc.

Choice of growth substrate is shown to have a significant effect on the conversion of ALD grown molybdenum oxide to monolayer 2H molybdenum ditelluride.

An important challenge for commercializing dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is the development of efficient non-precious metal counter electrode (CE) materials, which must be solved using non-precious metal catalysts because of their poor stability and low efficiency.

Cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanoparticles hold promise as low-cost catalysts for the oxidations of both glucose and hydrazine (N₂H₄). The shape-controlled growth of Cu₂O crystals can regulate effectively its catalytic activities.

Titanium dioxide TiO₂ (TO) and bismuth vanadate BiVO₄ (BVO) are promising photoactive semiconducting oxides for heterogeneous photocatalysis devoted to water treatment, pollutant degradation and water splitting processes.

The hierarchical book-like Fe-NiCo-MOF exhibits superior OER performance coupled with outstanding stability at a high current density.

A Zn metal–organic framework with a large aperture shows remarkable fluorescence characteristics for the detection of cadmium ions in aqueous solution and can adsorb CO₂ and O₂ selectively.

The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@C/Ni microtubes were well constructed with MoO₃ microrods as sacrificing template, which manifested excellent performance as both catalyst and adsorbent.

The fabrication of the advanced MOF-based 3D hollow cage ternary bimetallic material CuCo₂S₄ for high performance asymmetric supercapacitors.

Net-stacked hierarchical CdOHF architectures were controllably synthesized, and exhibited high efficiency and selectivity for degrading the cationic dye malachite green (MG) under visible light irradiation.

A facile and effective method is demonstrated to prepare highly stable Ag–Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ QDs. The PLQY of Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ QDs has been enhanced to 34.2% via passivation of Ag ions, and the PL intensity is still about 90% under 80 min UV irradiation.

Mesoporous ZnMn₂O₄ tube-in-tube nanofibers are firstly synthesized via a template-free strategy as an anode material towards lithium-ion batteries, along with a tentative formation mechanism.

As the concentration of the W dopant increased in the Bi₂Mo_1−xW_xO₆ nanosheets, the density of the oxygen vacancies became higher, which served as electron trap centers to lower the recombination rate and enhance the photocatalytic performance.

It is of great importance to construct non-precious metal bifunctional electrocatalysts with low cost and high efficiency for overall water splitting.

The morphology and electronic structure of MOF-74 nanoarrays on carbon cloth were modulated for oxygen evolution reactions with self-sacrificing templates of Co/Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets.

Size-tunable gold–palladium–platinum nanodendrites with a multilayered structure are successfully prepared via etching–regrowth-involved seeded growth, exhibiting superb electrochemical activity for formic acid oxidation.

CoMoO₄/MoO₂/CoP oxidized/phosphide nanorod arrays are fabricated for high performance in hydrogen evolution reaction, while the further electrodeposition of FeOOH results in excellent catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction.

We report a systematic investigation of the influence of reaction temperatures and times on the morphologies and optical properties of resulting CIZS/ZnS/ZnS quantum nanoheterostructures with “giant” ZnS shell (size >10 nm).

The hierarchical organization of CeO₂ nanoparticles into tube-like macroparticles has a great influence on the properties of the material.

Binary V–Mo sulfides on carbon nanotubes with superior electrocatalytic water splitting performance in acid media are successfully synthesized by a facile one-step sintering method.

The atomic structures of 2D InO and 2D In₂O₃ through first-principles calculations, that can support experimental verifications, are reported.

SnO₂ hollow (H-SnO₂) microspheres were successfully prepared via a facile one-step synthesis using SiO₂ microspheres as templates and NaOH as a reactive etching agent.

A novel magnetic Fe₃O₄–Au–PDA hybrid microcapsule with both photothermal (PTT) and photodynamic (PDT) anti-bacterial functions has been developed, and the product exhibits higher antibacterial performance by the combined PTT/PDT treatment.

Nano-effect has a significant influence on the interfacial properties of nanoparticles. When r < 10 nm, the relationships between the interfacial thermodynamic properties and the reciprocal of radius deviate from linear behavior.

Dewetted Au nanoparticles are used as masks to space out TiO₂ nanowires, which restrict the planar coalescence of nanowires and favor the successive decoration of Au nanoparticles by dewetting, thus boosting the PEC water oxidation performance.

The VPA–VPD strategy successfully realizes the fabrication of bulk nanoporous FCC-Co because of the temperature effect and size influence.

This work unravels the solid-state growth mechanism of 1d W₁₈O₄₉ nanowires on W surfaces under a water vapor atmosphere. Such growth was understood to be the intermediate WO₃ layer formation and its reduction induced planar faults driven 1d solid-state growth.

A variety of spherical lutetium compounds with narrow size distribution and adjustable diameters have been synthesized. The as-obtained Ln³⁺ doped phosphors and LED devices exhibit characteristic DC or UC emissions corresponding to the Ln³⁺ ions.

Here, Fohtung and colleagues capture nanoscale three-dimensional defects in vanadium(III) oxide nanocrystals using X-ray Bragg coherent diffractive imaging.

The nanoheterostructures synthesized by cation exchange present the integration of synergetic designs into high-quality, well-defined catalysts for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Facile and low-toxicity fabrication of CuO hollow nanocubes towards high-performance alkali ion batteries.

A new photocatalyst was synthesized by a combination of the upconversion nanoparticle NaYF₄:Yb, Tm, Gd (NYTG) and NH₂-MIL-101(Cr) (NMC) to form NYTG/NMC.

Nanosheet-assembled hierarchical SnSe₂ could serve as a new suitable candidate for high-performance room-temperature NO₂ gas sensing.

A novel 1D/2D Bi₂O₂CO₃–Bi₂WO₆ heterostructure was synthesized by high temperature calcination. These 1D/2D Bi₂O₂CO₃–Bi₂WO₆ heterostructures displayed an outstanding photocatalytic activity to degrade organic compounds.

Largely hierarchical MoSe₂ nanolayers were successfully prepared by easily removable water solubility sodium sulfide and displayed outstanding HER properties.

Transition metal nickel–cobalt hydroxides are widely used as electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their intriguing active component properties.

The size effect on the thermodynamic phase diagram of Fe_xS_y nanoparticles.

Ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires were synthesized by formation of an entangled long wormlike micelle structure in a three-phase reaction system.

We have explained how the surface energy influences the miscibility gap during nucleation from a liquid melt.