NANO 2024 – nanostructured materials for energy, bio, photonics, and electronics applications

Daniel Choi

Daniel Choi received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University (South Korea) and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He served as a Task Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1999–2007), where he led multiple space-related projects including contributions to Mars missions such as Phoenix. Dr. Choi managed and contributed to projects sponsored by DARPA, AFOSR, DOE, NASA, Army Lab, NSF, and NIH, among others. Hei served as Director of the Materials Engineering Program at the University of Idaho and director of the university cleanroom facility. He later joined Khalifa University of Science and Technology, where he was the Founding Department Head of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (2013–2016). He served as Director of the Korea-UAE Joint Research Center and the Khalifa University-KAIST Joint Research Center. Currently, he is an associate professor of the mechanical and nuclear engineering at Khalifa University. He published more than 100 papers in the peer-reviewed journals. He raised over USD 40 000 000 funds for R&D projects during his professional careers. Dr. Choi’s research focuses on advanced energy storage devices-including batteries and capacitors-as well as inertial sensors (MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers) for space applications. He is the inventor of 15 U.S. patents.

Dinesh Shetty

Dr Dinesh Shetty (Chair of the Publication Committee) earned his PhD in chemistry from Seoul National University, Korea. He conducted postdoctoral research at Emory University, USA; POSTECH, Korea; and NYUAD, UAE, before embarking on his independent career at Khalifa University, UAE, in 2019, where he currently serves as an associate research professor of chemistry. Shetty was visiting faculty at Technical University Berlin, Texas A&M University, USA, and Shandong University, China. Shetty was selected to be featured as an innovator at Land of Dreamers Who Do at the UAE Pavilion of Dubai Expo 2020. Recently, he won the Sharjah Sustainability Award. He has authored 85 research articles (h-index = 34; as of Sep. 2025), over 45 conference papers, delivered more than 40 invited talks, and holds 9 US patents. He is an editorial team member for the Chemical Engineering Journal (Elsevier) and RSC Applied Polymers. His research focuses on developing multifunctional polymers and frameworks for applications in renewable energy, water purification/desalination, resource recovery, and biomedical science.

Nanomaterials continue to redefine the boundaries of science and engineering, offering unprecedented control over physical, chemical, and biological properties at the atomic and molecular scale. It is with great pleasure that we present this themed issue of the journal, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge research contributions from the recently concluded 17th International Conference on Nanostructured Materials (NANO 2024), which was held on 3–8 November 2024. The conference was hosted by Khalifa University of Science & Technology in collaboration with the International Committee on Nanostructured Materials (ICNM). The event was strongly sponsored by the Department of Culture & Tourism and major industry sectors in the UAE. The conference attracted more than 500 participants from 53 countries to network, share research ideas, foster long-term collaborations, and contribute to academia–industry partnerships. The scope of NANO2024 includes the synthesis and functionalization of nanomaterials, advanced nanomaterials characterizations, and advanced applications in the environment, energy, biology, and optoelectronics. All these thematic areas were clearly reflected in the conference with two plenary, seven keynote and thirty-four invited speakers with varied expertise, working in academic and industrial sectors. This issue brings together a curated selection of peer-reviewed papers that reflect the vibrant and interdisciplinary nature of the conference, highlighting the transformative potential of nanostructured materials across diverse technological domains. The conference served as a dynamic platform for researchers, engineers, and innovators to exchange ideas, present breakthroughs, and explore collaborative opportunities in the rapidly evolving landscape of nanotechnology.

This themed issue includes both review and original research articles, emphasizing many key topics where nanostructured materials are making profound impacts: (1) Materials for CO₂ conversion. The global push for NetZero and production of value-added chemicals from CO₂ have placed nanomaterials at the forefront of innovation. Contributions in this issue explore novel nanostructures and their nanoarchitectonics for CO₂ capture (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR02324F), electrochemical CO₂ conversion without co-catalyst (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR02036K), and green solution for waste valorization (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR00725A). These studies demonstrate how nanoscale engineering can enhance efficiency, stability, and scalability in catalytic systems. (2) Biomedical and bioengineering applications. Nanomaterials are revolutionizing healthcare through applications in biosensing and diagnostics. One such work in this section delves into biosensors for advanced diagnosis of chikungunya virus (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR01961C). (3) Photonics and optoelectronics. The manipulation of light at the nanoscale has opened new possibilities in photonic devices, sensors, and communication technologies. This issue features research on piezo-photocatalytic activity of metal-based nanosystems (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00646E), simultaneous use of third harmonic generation and photoluminescence microscopy for molecular detection (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR02009C), plasmonic nanostructures to unlock unprecedented high power conversion (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00210A), and engineered laser treatment in porous nanomaterials for the development of sensitive photodetectors (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00137D), paving the way for next-generation optical components and integrated photo-electronic systems.

The diversity and depth of the research presented in this issue reflect the global momentum in nanomaterials research and its critical role in addressing societal challenges. The advancements and insights presented within these studies provide a foundation for future research, highlighting the critical importance of continued exploration into the preparation, testing, and integration of nanomaterials in advanced applications. As guest editors, we extend our sincere gratitude to all authors for their high-quality submissions, to the reviewers for their rigorous evaluations, and to the organizing committee of the conference for fostering an environment of scientific excellence.

We hope that this themed issue will serve not only as a record of current advancements but also as a catalyst for future discoveries and collaborations in the field of nanomaterials and their multifaceted applications.

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