Themed collection Environmental Science: Nano Cover Art

Strategic pairing of engineered nanomaterials to platforms will advance safe and effective deployment of nano-enabled water decontamination.

Phyto-nanotechnology has received dramatically increasing attention in recent years. In this perspective, we have summarized some promising applications of phyto-nanotechnology as well as major obstacles with our insights into in this dynamic area.

An international workshop identified how pore structures and unique properties that emerge at nano- to sub-nano- size domains can improve the energy efficiency and selectivity of electroseparation or electrocatalytic processes for treating water.

Concerns about the environmental impacts due to the end of life for engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are growing.

Despite the diverse structures and functions of the gut barrier in the animal kingdom, some common features of gut lumen chemistry control the behaviour of engineered nanomaterials, and with some potentially novel uptake pathways in invertebrates.

An organic solvent-based extraction approach coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic mapping technique to quantify silver nanoparticles in spinach leaf.

A dual-functional polyester fibrous air filter composed of self-assembled TiO₂ nanoparticles and percolated Ag nanowires for electrostatic particulate matter removal and photocatalytic formaldehyde decomposition is reported.

Accumulation and metabolites of phenanthrene in lettuce as affected by magnetic carbon nanotubes and dissolved humic acids were investigated under hydroponic conditions.

The poor crystallinity of As(V) minerals such as arseniosiderite and yukonite has made a detailed understanding of their structures elusive. Therefore, these were probed by pair distribution function analysis and transmission electron microscopy.

3D flower-like δ-MnO₂@TpPa-1 composites was constructed though the integration of δ-MnO₂ nano-flowers with a covalent organic framework (TpPa-1) via ultrasonication process. δ-MnO₂@TpPa-1 a promising adsorbent for spent-nuclear-fuel reprocessing.

Engineered nanoparticle (NP) size and natural organic matter (NOM) composition play important roles in determining NP environmental behaviors.

Upconversion nanoparticle-TiO₂ catalyst with Gd³⁺-rich surface shows stronger binding coefficiency to the carboxyl groups, resulting in faster ring cleavage and higher mineralization efficiency of rhodamine B under NIR light irradiation.

This study explored the potential of ceria nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) to alleviate stress in hydroponic rice caused by low N (LN) and high N (HN) stresses.

Functionally active membranes made of cellulosic microfibers (CMFs) have emerged as promising sorbents for the removal of nano-sized pollutants from water.

The joint effects of SO₂ and NH₃ obviously promote the nanoparticles formation from the photooxidation of 3-methylfuran.

The hematite {001} possessed more adsorption sites, more positive redox potential, and higher conductivity than {100}, resulting that the dissimilatory iron reduction rate of hematite {001} by S. putrefaciens CN-32 was easier than that of {100}.

Creation of beads-and-fibres 3D nanoscaffolds mimicking the typical architecture of soils at microscale and nanoscale for the development of bacterial biofilms for agricultural and environmental applications.

Fundamental knowledge about plutonium intrinsic colloids is a key issue for the prediction of plutonium transport and release rates in the environment.

Indium-modified Ga₂O₃ hierarchical nanosheet was proved to be an efficient and promising photocatalyst for the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid in aqueous environment.

GO first binds with metals, and GO–metal complexes attach to SSLBs via hydrogen bonding through GO rather than cation bridging through metals.

The Zn stable isotope composition of plants demonstrates that ZnO engineered nanomaterials dissolve before their uptake and accumulation by the roots (brightest inclusions in root cortex).

Cane toad iliac arteries were perfused ex vivo with polyacrylic acid coated nanoparticles. Nanoparticle uptake was observed in both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, eliciting endothelial cell apoptosis and diminished vascular relaxation.

Reliable criteria for identifying the intrinsic active sites in carbocatalysts to mediate an electron-transfer mechanism in persulfate activation are presented.

The pH in the anterior gut of Daphnia magna is more than 2 pH units lower than the cultural medium.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have caused increasing public concerns associated with their potential toxicological effects. This study demonstrated that the physicochemical properties of SWCNTs have impacts on their toxicological effects.

Soluble Fe(III)–As(V) complexes were found at both acidic and neutral conditions, which significantly change the solubility of ferric oxides.

Upon exposure to non-toxic concentration of silver nanoparticles, only the ionic form of silver is found in the nucleus leading to an endocrine disruptor-like effect.

An electrospun nanofibrous adsorbent with micro-, meso- and macropores and surface area of 565 m² g⁻¹ was developed for the rapid removal of crude oil from seawater.

Complete extraction of Cr(VI) from rCOPR which involved ion exchange in ion channels of Cr(VI)–ettringite, formation and growth of nano-CaCO₃.

Mineral carbonation reactivity trends and thresholds in nanoconfined water films delineated with in situ X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations.

Graphene can be modified by different functional groups through various transformation processes in the environment.

A 3D net-like structured fluorescent aerogel as a highly effective adsorbent and sensitive optical sensor of Cr(VI) was fabricated.

A direct Z-scheme ZnS/Co₉S₈ heterojunction-based photoelectrochemical sensor for analyzing organophosphorus chlorpyrifos.

Designing vertically-aligned CuAl-layered double oxide grown on reduced graphene oxide for capacitive desalination with high capacity and long cycling life.

Evaluation of BP nanosheets' impact on the soil ecological environment is important for their safe application and discharge.

BP nanosheets were passivated by forming a double-layer silica shell that was subsequently used for solar desalination.

Moist CO₂-bearing air flowing in Earth's terrestrial environments and now warming cryosphere can be captured by thin nanometric water films supported by mineral nanoparticles.

Copper complexed polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane pillared smectite clay (Cu²⁺@POSS_SWy-2) exhibits excellent adsorption properties for chloridazon and its metabolites.

Plants reprogram the profiles of the antioxidative defense system to alleviate CdS nanoparticle-induced toxicity, at the cost of carbon and nitrogen assimilation.

Herein, the photosynthesis of C3 and C4 plants was found to display different regulatory strategies under exposure to La₂O₃ NPs.

Spatial confinement of silica surfaces leads to increased polymerization of adsorbed copper(II) species.