Themed collection Popular Advances

This review highlights the latest advancements in the use of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to efficiently separate TcO₄⁻ ions. It explores the mechanisms and receptor chemistry involved in TcO₄⁻ ion capture for selective targeting.

FTIR is a very important analytical technique that is widely used for the detection and analysis of inorganic materials.

AFM-based mechanical property measurements are widely used in energy storage, polymer science, mechanobiology or nanomedicine.

This review provides an overview of recent progress, challenges, and future directions in the application of MOFs and MOF-based composites for bone tissue engineering.

Rapid advancements in nanotechnology have led to electronic devices with densely integrated components, contributing to increased Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) pollution.

High-temperature strain gauges have garnered significant interest from researchers due to their high precision, exceptional temperature tolerance, and robust anti-interference capabilities.

PPCPs in water pose environmental and health risks, with conventional treatments often prove inadequate. Bimetallic nanoparticles offer a green, efficient alternative. This review highlights their synthesis, properties, and role in PPCP degradation.

This article details the synthesis methodologies and research progress of h-BN epitaxial growth on solid transition metal, liquid metal, alloy, sapphire/metal and semiconductor substrates.

Nano-fertilizers enhance crop yield and soil health by improving nutrient absorption and minimizing environmental impact. This review explores their formulation, application methods, and potential for sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia.

Nanozymes with multiple catalytic activities for cancer treatment are summarized, and their performances when combined with various cancer treatments or used alone are compared.

This review aims to systematically investigate the environmental and biomedical applications of MBenes and their composites.

In this review, the mechanisms and applications of radiation technology in the development of inorganic photo-/electrocatalysts are summarized, and its recent research progress, challenges, and future development prospects are further explored.

This review article discusses and summarizes the synthesis and applications of luminescent metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for sensing dipicolinic acid in biological and water samples.

The –OH groups in cellulose chains allow controlling perovskite crystallization, thus performance, and stability when cellulose is used as an additive to deposit perovskite films in a single-step, as shown by replacing the –OH with acetate groups.

We report the divergent assembly of polyproline helices into two types of metallo-peptide nanoparticles. In this report we also show that the primary sequence is crucial to ensure a controlled and desired assembly.

Direct ink writing of MWCNT/PDMS composites enables porous architectures with tailored rheology, enhanced mechanical properties, and stable piezoresistive performance for flexible pressure sensing.

BiFeO₃ nanoparticles, combined with CoFe₂O₄ for magnetic recovery, show piezo-photocatalytic degradation of dyes under visible light and ultrasound, offering an energy-efficient route for water remediation.

Density functional theory (DFT) study of AOR on NiO identifies possible products and potential determining steps, providing insight into Ni-based electrocatalysts.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that the chemical interactions of Cu/Ni adatoms with MXene surface correlate with catalytic functionality of the single atom catalysts.

Perovskite solar cells achieve outstanding efficiencies, yet limited durability hinders their commercial promise. Here we present a three-year study that relates UV-induced accelerated ageing to the outdoor performance of perovskite modules.

Gold nanoparticles decorated with a sialic acid-displaying glycopeptide exhibit reduced cellular uptake and liver accumulation, offering a promising strategy to enhance the safety and therapeutic performance of nanomaterials.

In this work, NiFe-LDH nanospheres were prepared by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method. The synthesized product can be directly used as a dual functional electrocatalyst for efficient water and seawater electrolysis.

DEPs were characterized using SEM-EDX to analyze composition and size. DEP exhibits dose-dependent effects on bone regeneration. DEP acts as an endocrine disruptor, altering osteoblast-osteoclast balance through AhR pathways.

In the TaNF/Sc₂CO₂ heterostructure, reversing the ferroelectric polarization enables a nonvolatile and reversible transition of a single valley from metallic to semiconducting.

High shear forces during nebulization can destabilize lipid nanoparticles with encapsulated RNA and lead to material loss. We demonstrated the impact of nebulization buffer composition on nanoparticle size, RNA encapsulation, and material recovery.

4 Au NC seeds bound by (111) planes but having different morphologies and defect structures were overgrown under identical conditions. Similar branched NCs resulted in all cases, emphasizing the critical role of the (111) plane itself.

A novel Zr-based UiO-66 MOF supported Schiff-base/Pd complex (UiO-66/SB-Pd) is prepared, characterized and used as a powerful and highly recoverable nanocatalyst in the Suzuki coupling reaction.

Ultrasmall Bi/Bi₂O₃ NPs with high Bi content were successfully synthesized via a simple one-pot method, exhibiting excellent CT imaging performance.

Obsolescence of proprietary systems can render valuable scientific instruments useless. Here we refurbished and enhanced a spectrofluorometer, enabling full optical characterization of upconversion nanoparticles.

A new pH nanosensor based on β-NaYF₄:Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ upconversion nanoparticles functionalized with cyclodextrin and a pH-sensitive adamantane-modified nitrobenzoxadiazole dye (NBD-Ad).

Machine learning can infer the optical properties of gold nanostars from their synthesis conditions.

Polarisation imaging enhances the information available from satellite remote sensing. We present a metasurface designed for ultra-compact polarisation imaging with error monitoring, suitable for observing the Earth's surface with small satellites.

Gold–thiolate nanoclusters obtained through the organometallic complex [Au(C₆F₅)(tht)] present excellent reducing catalytic performance and promising photothermal and photodynamic properties towards cancer cells.

The fabrication and electrochemical characterization of multifunctional energy storage devices using biomass-derived activated carbon sourced from indigenous European deciduous trees.

Polarity-sensitive fluorescent nanoparticles with intrinsic dual emission are invaluable tools for investigating microenvironmental polarity.

Metal–ligand interface of gold, silver and copper nanoparticles functionalized with L- and D-glutathione is accountable for distinct chiroptical activity.

Fabrication of a three-dimensional SERS-active substrate with uniform gold hemispherical nanostructures for the sensitive detection of cardiovascular disease biomarkers at low concentrations.

This research introduces the design and synthesis of pH-sensitive MIPs, including magnetic, nonmagnetic, and fiber, as targeted nanocarriers for the selective uptake and controlled release of STL molecules in SGF and SIF environments.

Light illumination of aqueous suspensions of supported NiO–TiO₂ heteronanocrystals led to water oxidation to form hydrogen peroxide.

A carboxylated-free cluster, formulated as (BuSn)₆O₄(OH)₁₀ (2), was synthesized from the reaction of (BuSn)₆O₄Cl₂(MeCO₂)₈ (1) with LiOH (aq.) in cold tetrahydrofuran (THF).

Circular dichroism of two dot-in-rods shows the influence of the shell thickness on their chiroptical properties.

Photocatalytic methane oxidation under mild conditions using single-atom catalysts remains an advanced technology.

Isotope-engineered MoS₂ bilayers, composed of ³⁴S and ³²S provided access to the top and bottom layer individually. Raman and PL studies highlight suppressed intralayer excitons and nuanced exciton dynamics due to the isotopic modification.

A microwave-assisted synthesis of water-dispersible core/shell Cu–In–Zn–Se/ZnS QDs and their potential as absorbers for QDSSCs.

The compressibility, viscosity, and temperature of hydrogel tissue phantoms affect the MPI signal of MNP tracers, which may impact accurate in vivo tracer quantification.

We devise simple and readily scaleable photochemical methods to synthesize silver nanostructures of varying size, morphologies, and optical properties using batch and flow strategies.

Bone-derived nanoparticles enhance osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through upregulating Dll4 expression.

Fluorinated ligands with ¹⁹F and ¹¹³Cd solid-state NMR spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for analysis of CdS nanocrystals, evidenced here for aromatic amine capping ligands that influence the resulting morphology.

This study reports nickel-based phosphate nanoparticles as outstanding electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and uncovers main factors determining their activities.

Copper-based nanoparticles (NPs) are highly valued for their wide-ranging applications, with particular significance in CO₂ reduction. This paper explores a multiparametric approach to CuO synthesis using a flow reactor.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grow with a controlled diameter via the ‘seed method’ in which in situ-prepared nanoparticles, using metal clusters as seeds, catalytically decompose syngas and realize CNT growth.

The investigation of the effect of the protein corona on the cellular uptake of nanoliposome formulations in real-time under flow conditions by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation as a biomimetic in vitro technique.