Themed collection Environmental Science: Nano Recent HOT Articles

Common plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as pollutants in aquatic environments in the form of micro/nanoparticles are of environmental and public health concern.

The surface properties of graphene-based materials determine their protein-binding capacities via modulating the aggregation morphology of these materials.

This study demonstrates that synthesized copper sulfide nanoparticles with a rapid Cu dissolution rate can suppress Gibberella fujikuroi infection in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Leaf vein-inspired membranes with nanonetwork structures were constructed for high-flux water purification under ultralow driving pressures.

Gourd-like hollow mesoporous silica particles with large surface area supporting the Ag/AgBr Schottky junction for a high-efficieny TTC mineralization.

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}.

Dissolved organic carbon concentration from soil management, root exudates, and root-colonizing bacteria is dominant over the effect of pH in determining dissolved Cu concentration from CuO nanoparticles at alkaline pH.

Silver sulfidation in nanosilver-coated membranes slows down silver release and increase biofouling resistance without affecting the membrane's functionality.

Fenton-like degradation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid by ultrafine copper nanoclusters and single sites exhibited high atom utilities and a wide working pH range.

A 3D hierarchical micromotor decorated with a nanozyme/natural enzyme hybrid that integrated movement, Fenton degradation and enzymatic catalysis in sewage water.

The preparation of realistic polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics and the preliminary toxicological assessment of the as-prepared PET NPs in zebrafish embryos was carried out.

Nanocrystalline NpO₂(s) dissolves preferentially at grain boundaries, producing aqueous and colloidal neptunium. Dissolution mechanisms may impact the environmental fate of NpO₂(s) in legacy radioactive waste management.

The geochemical cycling of iron and carbon can couple in unique ways in the euphotic zone of aquatic systems.

Compared with graphitization modification, oxidation modification could alleviate adverse effects via better performance of photosynthesis and EPS resistance.

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

Rh-doped SrTiO₃ inverse opal with a well-ordered 3D structure is prepared via an efficient approach for the boosted piezo-photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants such as BPA.

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).

Iron oxide nanoparticles were stabilized in water using the biosurfactant rhamnolipid, and the adsorption of U(VI) to these nanoparticles was measured and modeled as a function of water chemistry.

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.

A rapid and inexpensive method to analyze redox properties of magnetite nanoparticles and quantify arsenic adsorption by single particle collision electrochemistry.

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

The modification of illite particles could enhance the photocatalytic NO removal activity of g-C₃N₄.

Diet is an important exposure pathway of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in fish, but the long duration of in vivo toxicity tests is a barrier to hazard assessment.

Low contents of rGO can form a conductive network, increase active particle utilization, and greatly promote electroadsorption.

Association of plastic particles with plant roots could represent a pathway for human consumption of plastic and plastic-associated organic contaminants.

Glutathione can alleviate the silver nanoparticle-induced phytotoxicity and enhance the nitrogen assimilation in soybean.

Few standardized methods and reference systems have been established for evaluating the behavior of engineered nanomaterials in complex media like natural soils.

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

Durable elimination of tetracycline and its toxicity by a tribo-positive Fe@MoS₂ piezocatalyst via ball-milling activation.

Associating mesocosm experimentations with multivariate analyses to identify the parameters governing the behavior and impact of nanomaterials on aquatic ecosystems.

The risks of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in anammox have attracted increasing attention; however, how sulfidation, an important environmental transformation process, affects their toxicity potential is unclear.

Mn₃O₄ nanoenzymes boost endogenous antioxidants in, and enhance resistance of, the cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plant subjected to salinity stress.

Biocides encapsulation appears to be a promising solution to develop a new generation of efficient anti-fouling additives (e.g. SiNC–DCOIT; SiNC–DCOIT–Ag) for maritime coatings with lower environmental hazard than the current state-of-the-art biocides (e.g. DCOIT).

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.

Exposures to Zn in ion or NPs form results in stimulation of the same cellular pathways (conserved toxicodynamics), whilst exposure to NPs enhances the amplitude of the response by influencing the mechanism of uptake (altered toxicokinetics).

The present work elucidates that the photocatalytic activity of nanocage-like MIL-125-NH₂ is enhanced by adsorption of an electron-withdrawing pollutant (p-nitrophenol) but suppressed by adsorption of an electron-donating pollutant (p-methylphenol).

This paper revealed that the changes in the protein conformation and the dissolution of silver nanoparticles depended on the protein structure and could result in different degrees of enzymatic activity modulation.

In this work, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) encapsulating Zn and Fe bimetallic nanoparticles (FeZn@NC) were synthesized through a one-pot pyrolytic strategy.

Natural organic matter (NOM) impedes the growth of colloidally stable Cu_xS nanoparticles and slows down their morphological development, but also drives their oxidative dissolution.

Pristine engineered nanomaterials (NMs) entering the aquatic environment become ‘aged’ during their lifetime via chemical, physical and/or biological process.

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

Glyoxal (GL) exhibits a preferential tendency to the acidic nanoparticle interface, and sulfuric acid (SA) has a catalytic effect on hydration reaction of glyoxal in the aqueous phase.

Naturally and anthropogenic selenium nanoparticles highly work on mercury immobilization and inactivation in aquatic-plant systems.

The use of quantum dots (QDs) is widespread and as such, the potential risk associated with their dispersion in the environment has stimulated research on their interaction with potential sensitive receptors.

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

Between-population and within-population heterogeneity in the uptake and toxicity of silver nanoparticles in primary human immune cells revealed by mass cytometry.

The reaction mechanisms and synergistic effects of NO₂/O₂ on the heterogeneous oxidation of SO₂ to sulfate on a MgO surface.

Multifunctional CNC/Ag thin film nanocomposite nanofiltration membranes with high flux, high rejection, and excellent antifouling and antibacterial performance.

Enhanced tetracycline degradation through PMS activation by an FeS/graphene aerogel (DMG) derived from a double-network hydrogel template.

Design of synthesis of regenerable fluorescent sp² carbon-conjugated covalent organic frameworks for selective detection and extraction of uranium.

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

Ferrihydrite is ubiquitous in natural environments, and its transformation significantly influences the fate of heavy metals.

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

An environmental-friendly polyethyleneimine functionalized chitosan–lignin composite sponge with interconnected nanowall-network structures is feasibly fabricated for rapidly and selectively removing Hg(II) ions from aqueous solution.

The study explores the potential impact of silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs), in comparison with their bulk counterpart (silicate), on post-stress recovery performance of barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings under different drought stress intensities during vegetative growth.

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

A realistic exposure of n-TiO₂ nanoparticles to river water by using a dialysis bag as a passive reactor: DOM of the river water diffuses inside while n-TiO₂ nanoparticles remain inside.

Sulfide and ferrous iron target different functional groups of graphene oxide and enhance the adsorption of heavy metals to different extents.

This study explored the surface changes of geometric structure, functional groups, and site-energy distribution of long-term environmental effects of pyrogenic carbon.

Assisted by perpendicularly-grown nanowires, a coaxial-electrode locally enhanced electric field treatment (LEEFT) device achieves high disinfection in pipes.

This study applies nano-BC to protect the native species, and reduce the negative effects of rice seedling growth and chlorophyll concentration, as well as oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and stress gene expressions from invasive species.

An efficient and rapid testing paradigm to evaluate the biological uptake, distribution, and ecological risks of Cu based NPs.

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

Electrochemical techniques are leveraged to probe the influence of N-bonding types on the bioactivity of nitrogen-doped graphene, with graphitic-N identified to be the active site for oxidative stress-related bioactivity.

The combined experimental and computational study demonstrates an inverse relationship between phage-nanocomposite conjugate (PNC) size and biofilm eradication potential.

Removing trace toxic heavy metals such as Pb²⁺ completely from drinking water while retaining beneficial ions such as Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ is important for protecting human health. A novel concept of zero-wastewater CDI is demonstrated to selectively remove lead ions against Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺.

Atomic and bulk scale measurements demonstrate that goethite grown by oriented aggregation does not readily incorporate U(VI) into structural sites.