Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

The field of single molecule electronics has progressed remarkably in the past decades by allowing for more versatile molecular functions and improving device fabrication techniques.

van der Waals atomically thin magnetic materials have been recently discovered.

Review of Porous Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO or NAA) membranes: from fabrication, mechanisms, and internal and surface nanostructuration to applications.

This review provides a detailed picture of the innovative efforts to combine atomic force microscopy and different super-resolution microscopy techniques to elucidate biological questions.

Polymer nanocomposites are an important class of materials whose properties are generally tuned as a function of their composition. New opportunities for controlling these properties lie in manipulating the 3D organization of their nanofillers.

Topological protection shatters in a predicted organic topological insulator by spontaneously reducing its overall symmetry. The first experimental evidence of a 2D-MOF conjugated band is reported, even in absence of edge states.

The optical anisotropy of layered perovskites is exploited in flexible free-standing polymer films through multiple stretch/release cycles at low tensile stress, to enhance the emission intensity of the resulting composites.

The ionic covalent organic framework shows excellent scavenging ability towards [PdCl₄]²⁻ in aqueous solution via an ion exchange process. The loaded [PdCl₄]²⁻ can be further reduced into Pd nanoparticles for catalyzing Suzuki coupling reactions.

A versatile and robust approach for active targeted delivery based on the use of antibody-decorated nanoparticles offering remarkable discrimination efficiency between cocultured cells with different expression levels of a specific marker has been developed.

Polymersome-based bioluminescent nanocompartment to achieve enzyme protection and switch kinetics to produce a persistent light signal.

An efficient and versatile strategy is presented to modulate the magneto-heating performance of a nanoparticle system, which consists of mixing nanoparticles with different shape and size and exploiting the magnetic interaction between them.

We investigate the activity of cu nanoparticles for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ into methane. We find that the formation process affects Cu nanoparticles size-dependent activity. This finding traces a new route to the design of nanocatalysts.

The thermal unwrapping pathways of canonical H3 and centromeric CENP-A nucleosomes are elucidated in unprecedented detail by high-throughput analysis of AFM images.

Polysorbate effects on nano-bio interactions: niosome (NIO) formulations containing Tween 20 and 21 (TW20/21) and cholesterol are promising drug delivery systems.

Hydration layers are formed on hydrophilic crystalline surfaces immersed in water.

A bayberry tannin (BT) directed assembly of a bifunctional graphene aerogel (BGA) has been successfully fabricated, which can simultaneously achieve high performance solar steam generation and uranium adsorption capacity.

A systematic study of the interactions between nucleases and oligonucleotide-coated gold nanoparticles (spherical nucleic acids, SNAs) demonstrates that the modular units of SNAs can be leveraged to either accelerate or suppress nuclease kinetics.

Colloidal Cu and Ag nanoparticles retain their shape during the CO₂ reduction reaction (−0.8 V vs. RHE) due to immiscibility of the lattices and synergy at the nanoscale results in enhanced methane and C₂ product formation.

Tetraoxa[8]circulene based 2D COFs doped with s-block metals possess metallic properties. Doping with Ca results in superconductivity and an open-shell singlet ground state composed of two doublets.

Artificial channels dug by non-interacting nanoparticles in infectious biofilms enhance antibiotic penetration and bacterial killing in vitro and in vivo.

Abnormal anti-pyramid MoS₂/WS₂ vertical heterostructures were synthesized by a facile single-step chemical vapour deposition.

Mechanisms of proton transfer reactions at the interface between realistic TiO₂ nanoparticles and water by reactive molecular dynamics simulation.

Self-sustaining enzyme nanocapsules were prepared by the interfacial crosslinking of enzymes droplets. They acted both as nanoreactors and a transport module, and were used to transport reagents and perform reactions in different environments.

We introduce pyrogallol end-functionalized telechelic PEGs that are crosslinked with di- or trivalent ions to result in self-healing, adhesive hydrogels whose mechanical properties can be varied over an unprecedented range.

Two force probing methods were used to quantify nanoscale forces in the interaction of the bacterial lectin LecA with the glycolipid Gb3, revealing how the interaction aids bacterial attachment and lowers the energy required for bacterial uptake.

In nanocrystalline alloys, the anisotropy in grain boundary segregation and its impact on dynamic solute drag plays a key role in the thermal stability of these systems during processing treatments or under service conditions.

Manipulation and detection of spins at the nanoscale is of considerable contemporary interest as it may not only facilitate a description of fundamental physical processes but also plays a critical role in the development of spintronic devices.

Using a non-contact atomic force microscope (nc-AFM), we examine continuous dangling bond (DB) wire structures patterned on the hydrogen terminated silicon (100)-2 × 1 surface.

Symmetric and asymmetric epitaxial growth of metals (Ag, Pd, and Pt) onto Au nanotriangles via using L-asorbic acid and/or salicylic acid.

Interdigitated asymmetric micro-supercapacitors based on Fe₂O₃ and MnO₂ were selectively fabricated by a facile pulse current deposition (PCD) approach.

Machine-learning analyses enable identifying signatures of peptide conformers in single molecule electron transport experiments.

The influence of elastic modulus on the frictional properties of bio-relevant surfaces at the nanoscale is investigated. The results highlight the importance of selecting model systems that match the mechanical properties of the system of interest.

We demonstrate that a force microscope operated in a bimodal configuration enables the mapping of magnetic interactions with high quantitative accuracy and high-spatial resolution (∼30 nm).

Nanoscale flow cytometry permits analysis of small particles in unpurified plasma and supports identification and quantitation of different particle populations.

Mechanistic understanding of thermo-osmosis at nano scale is linked with non-equilibrium thermodynamics of the phenomenon. Fluid molecules at the boundary layers of solid surfaces experience a driving force which generates thermo-osmotic flow.

TiO₂-Pd/Pt hollow nanosphere (HNS) are prepared via NaCl templates in a one-pot approach.

Coassembly between block copolymers and nanodiamonds (NDs) leads to transparent UV-protective coatings and hybrid superstructures with hierarchical assembly of NDs.

Iron oxide nanoparticle formation in DES was studied in situ across multiple length scales. Initial chloride-containing iron complexes react to form oxygen-rich species which precipitate. Morphology and growth time are defined by solvent composition.

The photoresponse in 2D materials is limited by dissociation of tightly-bound excitons via scattering with phonons.

A full multimodal description of a plasmonic cavity within a continuum-field model of molecular optomechanics provides new insights into vibrational dynamics and nonlinearities of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS).

An extension to curly arrow rules for the prediction of quantum interference behaviour in conjugated molecular wires widens the scope of this simple graphical method to wires containing heteroatoms, cross-conjugation and/or non-alternant structures.

The length of heparin oligosaccharides in the coating of extremely small iron oxide nanoparticles can control core size during synthesis for optimal positive MRI contrast, endow probes with specific bioactivities and majorly impact the in vivo pharmacokinetic properties.

This computational study establishes a correlation between the elastic properties of COFs and their building-blocks towards the rational design of new materials with tailored properties.

We unveil a universal feature in the distribution of the atomic-pair distances that characterizes the melting of monometallic nanoparticles, in vacuum or in a strongly interacting environment, regardless of their size, shape, and composition.

Pairing ZnSe/CdS and CdS/ZnSe core/shell quantum dots with NiO thin film photocathodes enhances the photoelectrochemical water reduction.

The morphology of non-functionalized gold nanostars determines the surface protein structure and their interaction with the endolysosomal compartment in cells.

Optical phonon-assisted emission of dark excitons controls the intensity and maximum position of σ⁻ and σ⁺ polarized photoluminescence of CdSe nanocrystals.

Local minimally-invasive EV delivery on a thermo-actuated PF-127 gel enhanced EV residence time in colo-cutaneous fistulas promoting a therapeutic effect.

We mechanically tested partially phosphorylated vimentin intermediate filaments using optical traps and found that the additional charges considerably soften the filaments.

Tailored synthesis method is used to produce higher yield of (Mo_2/3Y_1/3)₂AlC i-MAX, for realization of 2D Mo_1.33CT_z MXene with ordered vacancies, the latter shows electrochemical performance equivalent to that produced from the Sc containing i-MAX.

Self-assembly of insoluble surfactants imposes curvature restrictions on the air–water interface which leads to 3D nanopatterns that can be deposited onto solid surfaces.

Aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) array adhesion strength evolves with CNT process time, decreasing and then increasing during growth and annealing, as captured by models relating CNT diameter, array effective modulus, and CNT–substrate work of adhesion.

The formation mechanism of amorphous tantalum oxides was studied by total scattering experiments starting from alkoxide precursors. Hydrolysed Ta_xO_yH_z clusters form in highly dilute solutions which were transformed into L-Ta₂O₅ by calcination.

2D materials immersed into a non-uniform, profiled magnetic field can focus THz light. This opens the door to novel magnetically-tunable 2D lenses for ultrafast applications.

Spatially resolved microstructural studies of operating P3HT OFET resolved by nanoGIXD.

We report on the synthesis of InP nanowire arrays on (001) InP and Si substrates using template-assisted vapour–liquid–solid growth. We also demonstrate growth of InP nanowire p–n junctions and InP/InAs/InP nanowire heterostructures on (001) InP substrates.

Selective area epitaxy of GaAs nanoscale membranes on silicon. Small apertures result in a majority defect-free structures.

Prediction of chemical order or disorder upon metal alloying in MAX phases.

To overcome the parasitic absorption of UV light in the transparent conductive oxide layer of flexible CIGS solar cells, a CsPbBr₃ perovskite nanocrystal based luminescent down-shifting layer was integrated on flexible CIGS solar cells.

Graphene related materials, if prepared with non-irritant exfoliation agents, do not induce skin irritation on a 3D model of human epidermis, following the OECD guideline 439.