Themed collection Celebrating International Women’s day 2024: Women in Materials Science

This perspective examines lithium morphology in solid and gel polymer electrolytes, highlighting the importance of current density and mechanical properties in controlling Li morphology, and noting limitations in understanding the solid electrolyte interphase in polymer systems.

This review provides insights into MXene synthesis methods, mechanisms, terminations, modifications strategies and important applications. Additionally, the advantages, drawbacks, suggestions, and precautions have been discussed.

Cancer is a highly complex disease that affects lives and causes millions of deaths worldwide.

Applications of integrated wearable sensors for the monitoring of human vital signs and clinically relevant biomarkers.

Zr-MOFs, known for stability, low cytotoxicity and high drug-loading capacity; have been thoroughly investigated for biomedical uses. This article reviews the various synthetic methods and recent biomedical applications of important Zr-based MOFs.

Detection and sensing of lithium ions are very important in chemical, environmental, and biological processes. Photochemical sensors including fluorescent compounds have been used as smart systems to detect and sense lithium ions.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising electrocatalysts in the splitting of water and the production of hydrogen.

Graphene and GBNs offer diverse PD management modalities by targeting neurodegeneration, exerting regenerative properties and their use as carriers, biosensors, and imaging agents.

The pressing problem of climate change on account of anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions underlines the necessity for carbon capture and utilisation technologies.

Critical analysis of discrete metal compounds and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as a platform for the treatment and/or diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

This review covers MXene/LDH heterostructures, including synthesis, growth mechanism, morphology factors, and chemical properties. Synergistic interactions at the heterointerface and their applications are analyzed in-depth.

This review showcases how 2D nanomaterial-based aerogels can be integrated with PCMs, marking a milestone in interdisciplinary research. It covers the latest breakthroughs in aerogel fabrication and their potential applications in composite PCMs.

The correlation between geometrical parameters of various novel electrode structures and the corresponding mechanical properties are assessed in this review, which provides inspiration for their applications in future flexible energy storage devices.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the research trends in the synthesized and predicted non-Ti MXenes. The synthetic methods, unique properties, applications, and advantages of non-Ti MXenes compared to Ti-based MXenes are discussed.

Graphene, being a two-dimensional all-aromatic sheet bonded with sp² carbon atoms, has attracted much attention due to its excellent physicochemical properties like a large surface area, good electrical conductivity, and high thermal and chemical stability.

All protein prokaryotic organelle in bio-material science applications.

Bismuthene exhibited potential application in electrochemical, optoelectronics, batteries, sensing, supercapacitors, photocatalytic and biomedical fields.

The ease of anchoring single atoms on the g-C₃N₄ matrix, through its abundant nitrogen sites, facilitates a variety of single atom catalysts for applications in multiple domains of catalysis.

Several strategies are presented to enhance the performance of graphene-based solar cells. These strategies include chemical doping, incorporation of an interlayer, and controlling the reflectivity with an antireflection layer.

3D printing technologies and continuous flow microreaction systems are rapidly gaining attention in the domain of heterogeneous catalysis.

Fully printed memristors based on silver and water-based 2D material inks were demonstrated on rigid and flexible substrates. The Ag filaments formation depends on the annealing process and can be inhibited by integrating CVD graphene in the device.

The on-demand adhesion enables a controlled delay between installation and curing so that these can take place under their individual ideal conditions, leading to the ultra-high adhesion force that exceeds the reported values for advanced ductile adhesive elastomers.

The density of pressure-less sintered 3D-printed thermoelectrics is improved through a binder-less and sintering aid-free nanowire ink system. The effectiveness of densification is quantified by a dimensionless metric – filler-derived density (FDI) index.

We advocate for the development of expertise in visualizing and identifying point defects in two-dimensional (2D) materials, a skillset intimately linked to a wide array of physical phenomena.

A molecular ferroelectric complex [Cu₂(l-phe)₂(bpy)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O exhibits anisotropic responses. This shows excellent mechanical/thermal energy harvesting efficiencies in single-crystal-PENG device, which exceed that of certain bulk oxides.

Doped quater(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), capped either side of the chain with two pyridine units, is a promising alternative to PEDOT:PSS, as it removes the issue of acid-induced degradation of devices caused by PEDOT:PSS.

Benefiting from the low emissivity and the formation of supramolecular interactions, a designed supramolecular-enhanced membrane served as a mid-infrared reflector to solve the conundrum of warmth-wearability performance.

It is found that a cyclic brush zwitterionic polymer based pH-responsive nanocarrier-mediated dual drug delivery system can effectively treat early OA through synergistic lubrication, dual-drug sequence controlled release, and anti-inflammation.

Noble metal nanoparticles anchored on flexible polyurethane foams were synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis. Through employing a robotic arm, these ‘catalytic sponges’ were used for organic reductions towards automated lab-scale organic synthesis.

Amphiphilic DT3-CDs enter passively, accumulating in the cytosol, while positively charged PH6-CDs enter via endocytosis, concentrating in the lysosome.

Sunflower oil was used as a templating agent for the development of sustainable, novel porous, titanosilicate microspheres. They are highly effective in removal of organic pollutants from water via adsorption and photocatalysis, and have potential applications in advanced tertiary water-treatment.

Graphene oxide 3D entrapped in Ni-based nanoparticles establishes a new class of catalytic materials highly promising towards enhanced alkaline water electrolysis as NiGraf can be used to mediate both H₂ and O₂ evolution reactions at room temperature.

A potential NLO crystal (DMMA) for optical limiting applications was synthesised by adopting a novel anion assimilation strategy.

The increasing energy demands have led modern societies to search for green and renewable alternatives. For this purpose, we have synthesized highly active MXene supported catalysts (Pd@Ti₃C₂T_x–TiO₂).

This work presents a novel approach for the design and the stabilization of cobalt oxide nanoparticles supported on g-C₃N₄ (CoCN-x) catalyst to efficiently degrade various organic pollutants through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation.

Chemical modification of carbon black (CB) is proposed to improve rate performance of lithium-ion battery cathode. The study demonstrates the role of oxygen groups at the interface (cathode–CB–electrolyte) originating from chemical interactions.

An efficient control over the microstructure and physical properties of polyurethane foam is demonstrated through dispersion engineering of cellulose nanofibre, a biosourced nanoadditive, in polyols with a broad range of rheological characteristics.

Co-substitution of magnesium and copper (up to 2 mol%) in a silicate mesoporous glass has potential in stimulating new tissue formation by Cu and Mg ion delivery and enhancing multiple biological features for bone tissue regeneration.

A facile embedded dot bioprinting system for bioengineering desmoplastic PDAC spheroids with scalable, flexible and robust performance, or multi-type spheroid patterns for advanced drug therapy or disease mechanism exploration, is introduced.

Many Schiff-base complexes of metal ions display enhanced catalytic activities toward redox reactions of many organic compounds; accordingly, its application in electrocatalysis is a crucial issue.

CZTS nanoparticle inks are synthesised and deposited as thin films by spin coating. We report variations in the chemical composition of films synthesised under nominally identical conditions, and the impact of annealing in a sulphur environment.

A polyoxometalate Zn(II) cubane cage with intrinsic confined spaces constructed by the self-assembly of tetrametallic cubane clusters was obtained and utilized as a skeletal support for the encapsulation of gold nanoparticles.

This study demonstrates that the combination of wide bandgap random copolymers and PC₇₁BM is an ideal pair for cost-effective, efficient indoor organic photovoltaics.

Machine learning model has been developed for the prediction of hydrogen storage capacity of MOFs. To account the complex structure of MOFs, persistent homology is used.

A low-temperature curable TiO₂ ETL for carbon-based perovskite solar cells was developed. The effect of the ETL surface energy on perovskite film formation and quality was assessed.

A bio-conjugated carbon dot-based detection probe enabled bimodal (fluorescence and electrochemical) detection strategy for the determination of prostate specific antigen in a blood serum sample.

The pyrolysis of ZIF-67 is followed in situ, and the conditions are correlated with the structural evolution and electrocatalytic performance.

This study presents the design of a halouracil doped polymeric carbon nitride photocatalyst with tunable optoelectronic properties and photoactivity.

Addressing the synthesis–property relations in the Assembly step of ADOR enabled to design previously unknown IPC-17 zeolite by optimization of the chemical composition and crystallite dimensions in the parent IWR germanosilicate.

Inkjet printing is a mask-free, contactless, and precise thin film and coating fabrication technique, which can tailor the electrode microstructure of solid oxide fuel cells to provide a larger surface area with more reaction sites.

Sunlight and surface defects, working synergistically, make the g-CN_NV film an eco-friendly and cost-effective photocatalyst for NO_X removal.

The study employs an ITO layer to enhance CZTS photocathodes for water splitting, resulting in improved photocurrent, onset potential, and stability through phosphate ion removal and In–Pt/Sn–Pt interactions on the ITO surface.

The synergistic effect of the double-sided passivation strategy using oxysalts led to improved performance of p–i–n perovskite solar cells.

The impact of Tris(2-aminoethyl)amine on enhancing the optoelectronic properties and long-term ambient and thermal stability of FA_0.83Cs_0.17Pb(I_0.90Br_0.10)₃ perovskite is deeply investigated.

The effect of gelling agent concentration (ionic liquid) on PEDOT:PSS hydrogel fabrication and properties was investigated. Gelation kinetics, stability, swelling, stiffness, conductivity, and support of seeded cells were characterized.

Herein, we report a molecular design strategy to achieve high EQE despite having relatively large ΔE_ST by controlling the number and nature of intermediate states present between S₁ and T₁ along with f value.

Multifunctional N, S and P-doped CDs derived from C. thevetia flowers are used in a PVDF-based portable recyclable thin film fluorescent probe for selective trace level detection of picric acid and for the environmental remediation of azo dyes, acting as a potential solar photocatalytic material.

This study aims to perform biological assessments of an electroactive scaffold based on PCL/AgNPs that was fabricated using a green synthesis approach followed by a 3D printing method without toxic solvents, which has not been explored previously.

Water quality monitoring is an essential tool in effective environmental and public health protection.

The development of surface technologies to obtain improved tribomechanical and biological characteristics of synthetic NiTi implants is critical.

Using molecular and elemental features a machine learning model has been proposed to classify 2D perovskites based on their intramolecular band alignment types (I_a, I_b, II_a, and II_b) which directs their applicability on specific devices.

In this study, we developed NIR-light responsive poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) by incorporating the ICG dye for the local delivery of small-molecule drugs and therapeutics.

Intimately phase-mixed α/β-Ni(OH)₂ can be selectively synthesised by control of fluoride ion concentration and shows better stability/capacity trade-off than α or β phases alone.

Improving the shelf stability of encapsulated QLEDs with VB-FNPD as the hole transport layer instead of TFB.

Sunlight-assisted seawater splitting can be successfully driven by specifically designed, cost-effective and eco-friendly Fe₂O₃-gCN electrocatalysts.

A fast-charging structural cathode comprised of a redox-active polymer PTMA–GMA coated on a rGO/BANF platform that exhibits an excellent specific power (∼4310 W kg⁻¹ at 25C-rate) and specific modulus (∼4.33 GPa cm³ g⁻¹).

Piezoelectric energy generation using finger tapping and non-invasive water flow as mechanical stimuli by a Gd³⁺-doped natural hematite rock-based flexible free-standing PVDF membrane.

We deposit self-limiting amorphous metal oxide films via in situ superoxide generation from dimethyl formamide, yielding efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis and offering promise for environmentally-friendly energy technologies.

A series of cerium-doped CoFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials were synthesized using a co-precipitation method, and they were utilized for the oxygen evolution reaction.

An electrochromic supercapacitor device, designed using WO₃/WS₂ nanoflakes, successfully demonstrated excellent capacitive performance along with the ability of electrochromic color modulation when P3HT and viologen are used as electrochromic active components.