Themed collection Recent Review Articles

Redox- and spin-active macrocyclic vanadyl(IV) complexes and polyoxovanadates(V) have promising structural and physicochemical characteristics for innovative bottom-up hybrid electronics.

Material science publications are the outcome of research, but they can contain errors. We advocate for post publication peer review as a way to collectively improve self-correction of science.

Nanotechnology may help provide new evidence to verify acupuncture theory, improve the features of acupuncture needles and their clinical effects by combining with drug delivery, and even enable new therapeutic methods.

As a powerful candidate for energy storage materials, improving the antioxidant properties of MXene and optimizing its synthesis method to enhance its energy storage performance has become a research hotspot.

Contextualising the promise of nanoscience and nanotechnology for water pollution remediation.

Carbon dots (CDs) are novel nanomaterials with dimensions less than 10 nm that have attracted much attention due to their outstanding optical properties.

This review encapsulates recent progress in evaporation-induced self-assembly of liquid crystal biopolymers. It introduces various anisotropic structures of biopolymers in thin film and try to figure out the formation mechanism of the structures.

Micromotors based on biotemplates: nature meets controlled motion. Cutting edge advances and recent developments are described.

We introduce the triplet sensitizabilities of semiconductor nanoparticles and metal nanoclusters for triple–triplet annihilation-based photon upconversion. This review aims to explore the potential of new applications for inorganic nanomaterials.

A systematic summary of fabrication technologies, a variety of structures and biomedical applications of polymeric microspheres.

2D DRAM scaling has reached its limits. Silicon integration encounters cost and performance challenges, thus prompting exploration of alternative materials. This study examines 3D DRAM structures, compares OSs and TMDs, and evaluates their potential.

With the increasing consumption of fossil fuels, the development of clean and renewable alternative fuels has become a top priority.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) photocatalysts face challenge in poor photocatalytic efficiency, which was promoted by the introduction of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) and junctions.

The research found that after doping with rare earth elements, a large number of electrons and holes will be produced on the surface of AlN, which makes the material have the characteristics of spontaneous polarization.

Integrative “experiment–simulation–thermodynamic modeling” is highly demanded for qualitatively and quantitatively correlating the ionic liquids interface layer structuring to the overall properties, performance, and function.

This review focuses on the mechanisms of beam damage in COFs and MOFs and evaluates various strategies to mitigate this damage using advanced low-dose TEM/STEM techniques in observing atomic defects, host–guest interactions, and surface structures.

Mixed valent coinage metal clusters can encapsulate different dopants, forming remarkable superatoms while retaining a hydride. In this review, we highlight the hydride's dual nature in the synthesis, structure and application of superatoms.

The conceptual expansion of template polymerization within the realm of size-controlled drug delivery systems is examined, with a particular emphasis on its application in RNA delivery.

This review presents a systematic description on the classification of Bi-based materials, their preparation processes, physical and chemical properties, and related applications. Some suggestions for future development are also given.

This review summarizes the advances in self-healing materials developed for electrodes and electrolytes of energy harvesting and storage devices (TENG, supercapacitors and batteries) with enhanced durability and functionality.

This review presents current research on semimetal-based terahertz detectors and explores their potential for miniaturization and integration.

Ferroelectric memory devices such as ferroelectric memristors, ferroelectric tunnel junctions, and field-effect transistors are considered among the most promising candidates for neuromorphic computing devices.

The semiconductor material C₃N₅, due to its unique physicochemical properties and excellent material performance, has been widely researched and applied in the fields of energy, catalysis and environmental remediation.

Fluorescent covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising candidates for imaging living cells due to their unique properties. Herein, we critically reviewed the progress and structure–activity relations of COFs for the effective bioimaging.

This review introduces three strategies (encapsulation, covalent binding and coordinated bonding) for construction of COF-based nanoplatforms for the integration and delivery of bioactives including small molecule, biomacromolecule and exosome.

Solid-state, liquid-free ion-conducting elastomers, a rising-star class of soft ionic conductors, are presented from the perspectives of fundamental design principles, advanced manufacturing and promising applications.

Integrating the advances of emerging hyperthermia techniques with 3D tumor models and non-invasive temperature control systems can contribute to identifying top-performing hyperthermic nanomedicines in preclinical evaluation stages.

The progress in the development of layered metal oxide cathodes, carbon-based anodes, and electrolytes for potassium ion batteries is reviewed. Specific development suggestions, concise perspectives, and strategies are provided.

The structure of this review includes applications of MXenes in drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial, and in biosensors.

This review presents a comprehensive overview on alloying-type metal foil anodes toward high energy density and low-cost LIBs, calling for more attempts in the interdisciplinary fields of electrochemistry, metallic materials science, and mechanics.

“Multiscale structural optimization” is assumed a next step to further optimize the unconventional ferroelectricity in HfO₂ for high-performance HfO₂-based ferroelectrics and devices.

In order to address the issue of bacterial infection during the transplantation of bone implants, four types of bone implants with long-term antimicrobial functionality have been constructed.

In this review, we categorize degradable silica nanoparticles into inorganic and organic types based on their framework components, highlight recent TME-responsive advancements, and discuss challenges in future research and clinical application.

This review summarizes the formation mechanism, structural model, composition, in situ/operando characterization, properties, and optimization strategies of a SEI.

In this review, we aim to showcase the potential and benefits of up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) in advanced wound care applications.

Chiral filaments are omnipresent in nature and our daily lives. This review gives an overview of nano- and microfilaments, delineates formation modes based on the concept of intra- or interlayer misfits, and shows examples of template applications.

Various surface morphologies and structures in triboelectric nanogenerators with the resulting boosted output performance are reviewed comprehensively.

The design and structure of recent supramolecular hydrogels are discussed. The applications of supramolecular hydrogels in hemostasis and wound repair are highlighted. The future development of supramolecular hydrogel dressings is predicted.

This is a comprehensive and systematic review focusing on CDs@IMs from multiple perspectives of construction, performance, mechanism, and multifunctional applications.

Schematic summary of various smart stimuli-responsive strategies applied for titanium implant functionalization.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress made in solid-state carbon dot (CD) emitters, including their synthesis, optical properties and applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The emergence of 2D nanomaterials, initiated by the graphene isolation in 2004, revolutionized various biomedical applications, including bioimaging, drug delivery and tissue engineering, due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties.

Exploring the synergy of 2D-TMDs and organic hybrid heterostructures to modulate TMD properties. This comprehensive review covers interlayer exciton emission, various devices, including synaptic devices, synthesis techniques, and the intricate challenges encountered in TMDO heterostructures.

Discussion on how to overcome the current failures of synthetic and cell-derived nanomaterials to bypass or temporally open tight junctions of the brain and the eye using recent advancements in various nanotechnological strategies.