Themed collection Advances in Materials Characterisation

Mass spectrometry is widely used in molecular science, and is now emerging as a characterization technique for ultra-small nanoparticles.

Recent progress in atomic-scale TEM characterization of structural heterogeny in 2D TMD layers is overviewed. The prospects of visualization techniques are assessed toward atomic-scale identification and manipulation of defects and heterointerfaces.

This review discusses the impact of shaping techniques on the physico-chemical properties of metal–organic frameworks.

Tin-halide perovskites have great potential as photovoltaic materials, but their performance is hampered by undesirable oxidation of Sn(II) to Sn(IV). NMR proves DMSO to be a main cause of oxidation.

The resonance Raman signal enhancement of crystal violet dyes onto the two-dimensional MXene–Ti₃C₂T_x film, so called MXenes-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (MERRS), is reported with a calculated enhancement factor of 3.42 × 10⁹.

The setting dynamics of commercial cements were tracked non-destructively by THz spectroscopy probing interfacial dynamics and neutron scattering resolving structural evolutions over 1–30 nm, with trends made comprehensible by computational models.

Commercial 2D carbon materials are shown to be largely nanographite with a small percentage of single layer material present.

Temperature-dependent Raman spectromicroscopy of rutile TiO₂ nanorods has been studied here to understand the effect of thermal perturbations on different Raman-active phonon modes.

For electron donor–acceptor complexes a link will be established between optical, structural and vibrational properties of EDA complexes as well as the electrical doping by them.

Molecular configurations of the 1.0 mol dm⁻³ and 8.0 mol dm⁻³ NaClO₄ aqueous electrolytes, and shear viscosity and ionic conductivity as a function of the molar and molal concentrations of NaClO₄ aqueous solutions.

PHB has been engineered by incorporating different levulinic acid-based bioplasticizers, which enhance flexibility and thermal processability of the neat biopolymer, while retaining excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability.

The extent to which lignocellulose biomass particle size influences the properties of biomass–sulfur composites prepared from these particles was evaluated.

This work presents a low cost (∼$500) fully customizable tensile tester, together with custom made operation software. It delivers data of similar quality to commercial equipment.

High-field/high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to synthesize melanin to provide relevant information on the carbon-centered free-radical nature of this biomaterial.

Both the trigonal (Berlinite-type, phase-I), and orthorhombic (CrVO₄-type, phase-II) forms of FePO₄ have been studied at high-pressure using neutron powder diffraction.

Characteristic poly(L-lactide) absorption peaks were identified at 1.8, 4.0, 4.7, and 7.1 THz for an 80 °C crystallization temperature (T_c) sample; higher T_c resulted in a blue shift of the absorption peak frequency.

In this article, we rationalize chemical pathways and kinetics of hybrid perovskites crystallization from binary solvent mixtures based on solvent binding strength, evaporation rate model, and in situ GIWAXS monitoring.

The spectral characteristics of silver/zinc oxide heteromicrostructures with different interesting morphologies upon metal–semiconductor interfacial modification have been elucidated.

Compositions, local structures and interactions of medicinally relevant small molecules added to G-quartet hydrogels are characterized using gel-state NMR spectroscopy.