Themed collection Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026: Women in Materials Horizons

This review focuses on the synthesis, properties, and sensing mechanisms of borophene-derived nanostructures (nanosheets, quantum dots, and nanocomposites), with particular emphasis on their applications in environmental and biomedical detection.

This review summarizes the current research status of C14-HEAs for hydrogen storage, focusing on microstructural design strategies, manufacturing processes, hydrogen storage properties and their potential challenges and applications.

Combining green-synthesized 2D nanomaterials with ML for catalytic applications to support sustainability.

Surface-mediated pathogen transmission remains a critical vector for infectious diseases, especially amidst biofilm-associated infections and rising antimicrobial resistance.

Synergy of carbon-based photo-bio-electrocatalysts and photocatalysis in fuels of the future, MFCs and MECs, is vital for sustainable living. This merging will revolutionize energy systems, paving the way for cleaner and efficient power generation.

This review presents the latest advancements in the mechanisms and fabrication techniques of Ti₃C₂T_x-based MSCs, emphasizes their applications across various components of MSCs, and provides a summary of integrated examples of MSC-powered systems.

The electrochemical performance of LDH-based hybrid supercapacitors (SCs) with improved energy density (ED), enhanced stability, high porosity, and a large accessible surface area has attracted attention as a promising energy storage device.

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) based materials could provide a sustainable alternative to conventional materials, especially for separation applications.

State-of-the-art review of magnetic hybrid organic–inorganic transition metal halide perovskites, focusing on chemical design, the origin and tunability of magnetism, and potential applications in magneto-optics, sensors, and spin filters.

Nacre-like all-ceramic metamaterials can be programmed by two interface descriptors: the stiffness ratio and the toughness/strength ratio between matrix and platelet to control their toughness.

A hybrid layered lattice design achieves integrated electromagnetic absorption and mechanical stiffness by tuning geometric layer arrangement, enabling multifunctional and lightweight metamaterial absorber applications.

The incorporation of an orthogonal di-spiro π-skeleton in full-color MR-TADF systems effectively suppresses detrimental excimer and aggregate formation, enabling OLEDs with high efficiency and stable narrowband emission spectra.

Isomeric indium bromide single crystals with fast green and delayed yellow emissions are developed. Face-shared InBr₄ tetrahedra in the green-emitting crystal and unshared InBr₄ tetrahedra in the yellow-emitting crystal distinguish the isomers.

We develop strong and flexible graphene oxide (GO) papers for decimeter-scale and humidity-responsive origami metamaterials. Topological design enables multiple kinematic modes and state indication/memory functions in GO metamaterials.

A recyclable nanocomposite exhibits a dual positive temperature coefficient effect near body temperature. Bio-based eutectic transitions enable tuneable thermal window for smart sensing, heating/cooling and multifunctional protection.

Solid solubility mechanisms and interlinked charge-compensation processes and defect equilibria of Sn⁴⁺ doped (Ba_0.85Ca_0.15)([Ti_0.92−xSn_x]Zr_0.08)O₃ (x = 0.00–0.10) influence the piezoelectric properties and energy storage performance.

Flexible, wavelength-tunable OLED patches promote wound healing via PBM and leverage PBM-induced ROS as endogenous triggers for on-demand drug release, establishing an integrated phototherapy–drug delivery platform for combination therapy.

Fine-tuning the TQ-based polymer structure yields balanced charge transport, enabling simple integrated circuits. Due to their extended NIR-II absorption, high-performing NIR organic phototransistors were developed.

In this study, it is demonstrated how the thermally induced changes in the spectroscopic properties of Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃:Er³⁺,Yb³⁺ can be used for construction of the luminescence based visual optical density meter.

This study presents a novel approach for multidimensional, multilevel information storage and encryption using auxetic liquid crystal elastomers. The information is encoded by UV-masks and decoded through distinct strain magnitudes and directions.

Two-tier ML-DFT screening of millions of adsorption motifs on nanosized HEA particles uncovers scaling-breaking Au–Cu active sites.

A combination of ceria nanozymes and one of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), ZIF-90 nanoparticles delivers miR-210 inhibitors to address challenges of miRNA degradation and effective delivery in therapy of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Engineered nanomaterials integrated into photosynthetic systems could pave the way to new, exciting avenues towards biohybrid systems and renewable energy sources.

Hydrogel-based thermoelectrochemical cells sustain large temperature gradients under passive cooling, producing up to 35 mW m⁻² and a 3.5 mV K⁻¹ Seebeck response. They are robust across orientations, enabling scalable waste-heat recovery.

The Seebeck coefficient of Ni–Fe, the metallic alloy proposed for active cooling applications, shows a higher Seebeck coefficient compared to its constituent elements and demonstrates agreement between ML predictions and experimental results.

Solvent affinity (higher solvent affinity A and partial solvent affinity B) driven phase-selective doping.

Multivariate modulation as a new approach to enhance MOFs’ CO₂ adsorption capacity through defect-multifunctionalisation.

Inspired by cactus and beetle, a wedge-shaped wood surface with gradient wettability enabled gravity-defying liquid transport and efficient water harvesting, advancing sustainable energy and liquid management applications.

A seamless thickness-gradient nanomesh eliminates abrupt interfaces between soft e-skin and rigid interconnectors. This continuous concept enhances mechanical and electrical durability, and integration with textiles for next-generation wearables.

This work introduces the first solution-processable, photo-programmable inverter realized using an organic non-volatile floating-gate photomemory via photolithography.

An epitaxial NbN–Co VAN thin film was deposited on a MgO substrate with a cubic NbN phase, which presents ferromagnet properties with strong out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy. This hybrid metamaterial could find future applications in device design.

Ionic liquid-functionalized geopolymers fabricated at the micron-scale exhibit enhanced memristive retention and biologically relevant synaptic functions, establishing a sustainable platform for neuromorphic hardware integration.

Coordination bonds between molecular entities and the surface of inorganic nanoparticles are an efficient tool to tune both the structural morphology and the photoelectrical properties of nanostructured hybrid materials.

Smart light-responsive 3D printable hydrogels were developed by using poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanoparticles as both visible light photoinitiators and photosensitizers to trigger the overproduction of ROS for photodynamic therapies.