Themed collection 2019 Nanoscale HOT Article Collection

A systematical discussion on moist-electric generation from work mechanism, the recent progress in advanced materials to practical applications.

Hybrid zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (HZIFs) possess the characteristics of both ZIFs and inorganic zeolites, attracting tremendous attention for their potential applications in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.

Recent developments of functional supramolecular gel materials constructed from pillararenes have been overviewed.

The ever-increasing global energy demand and rising price of raw materials adopted in currently prevalent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have boosted the development of potassium ion batteries (KIBs).

Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) was covalently functionalized to the surface of MoS₂ quantum dots (MQDs) to obtain solid-state broadband optical limiters.

A graphene transistor can reveal the ordering of dipolar molecules forming a nm-thick underlayer, stabilized under an electric field at low temperatures.

Multi-color up-conversion emission of CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) quantum dot glasses under two-photon excitation.

A strong-coupled nanotube-MoS₂ hybrid structure is constructed, which shows strong coupling and ultrafast charge transfer across the interface.

Changes in vibrational frequencies for Au nanoplates have been used for mass sensing with a detection limit of 10 attograms.

Novel disc-like microparticles, herein termed as “topodiscs”, with grooved surface nanotopography effectively enhanced cell culture and allowed for a bottom-up engineering of 3D mineralized microtissues.

Mn(II) doping into a CsPb(Cl/Br)₃ perovskite lattice is realized via an in situ glass crystallization strategy for the first time.

An all-inorganic CsPbI₂Br perovskite with excellent phase stability and thermal stability has been considered to be a promising candidate for photovoltaic application.

Near-field imaging of mid-infrared waveguide in SnSe₂ slabs promotes two-dimensional van der Waals materials as building blocks for integrated MIR chips.

A strategy for the selectively pericellular hydrogelation via a mechanism that involves alkaline phosphatase expressed outside the cells and CCK2R expressed in the cell membrane.

Uniaxial organic single-crystalline microribbon arrays were produced by a novel self-adaptive thermal-assisted self-assembly strategy.

Plasmonic WO_3−x with self-Z-scheme structure leads to a synergetic effect of combined UV and visible irradiation to boost ethanol dehydrogenation for aldehyde generation.

We prepared micrometer long Cu nanowires (NWs) of 25 and 50 nm diameters and studied their electrocatalysis for electrochemical reduction of CO/CO₂ in 0.1 M KHCO₃ at room temperature.

Molecular hydrogen is widely considered as a potential carbon-free and renewable energy carrier for a sustainable energy strategy. Carbon nanotubes are widely promoted as metal-free catalysts – however, we show that the metallic impurities drive hydrogen production.

Ternary PtRuCu aerogels were facilely synthesized by one-step in situ reduction, which exhibited good electrochemical performance for methanol oxidation.

We synthesized a new glucose-responsive nanogel and demonstrated its potential as a non-hormonal treatment strategy for regulating blood glucose level.

With a variable SSH effect between bulky groups and pyrene rings, three distinct nanocrystal morphologies with unique photoluminescence properties were realized.

A pair of atom-precise luminescent copper/silver-thiolate cluster analogues, Cu₁₇ and Ag₁₇ were assembled by bottom-up synthesis and cluster-to-cluster conversion. Metal-atom exchange induced the redshift of the optical absorption and blueshift of emission of Ag₁₇ in the solid-state compared to that of Cu₁₇.

Nanostructured FeS₂ embedded in an N-doped carbon nanosheet composite (FeS₂/CNS) was prepared and exhibited superior performance as a sodium-ion battery anode.

UV-pumped white light emissive carbon dot based phosphors produced by homogeneously embedding RGB emissive carbon dots in a silica matrix.

A facile metal ions-assistant ligand surface engineering strategy to synchronously boost photoluminescence quantum yield and stability of CsPbBr₃ PQDs.

Distinct optical diffraction patterns of bacterial colonies in response to SPIONs with various concentrations and surface chemistries are formed.

The porous liquid zeolites with permanent porosity could be fabricated by exploiting the hydrogen bonding interaction between the alkane chains of branched ionic liquids and the Brønsted sites in H-form zeolites.

A flexible, implantable upconversion device is reported as an all-optical solution for wireless optogenetic stimulation of spinal cord tissue in freely moving rodents, adding to the current toolsets of wireless optogenetics giving possibilities for remote neural modulation.

NiWO₄ was prepared through a facile and large-scale strategy, and exhibited superior electrocatalytic performance, relative to NiO and WO₃, for the nitrogen reduction reaction in both acidic and alkaline media at room temperature.

Hierarchical porous V–N–C with V–N_x sites demonstrates enhanced catalytic activity for polysulfide conversion, and thus shows excellent performance in Li–S batteries.

Fine-tuning of the catalytic activity of enzyme based P22 nanoreactors through compositional control.

Metal single-atom coordinated graphitic carbon nitride exhibits excellent catalytic activity toward CO oxidation.

Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ decussated nanoplates were successfully synthesized by a novel template hydrothermal method, which show an excellent piezocatalytic performance.

Ligand-mediated phase control of cesium lead bromide nanocrystals provides insights into the origin of stable green emission of Cs₄PbBr₆ nanocrystals.

The co-generation of C-doping and oxygen vacancies (OVs) in Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets was achieved by a graphene oxide-mediated hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic performance was highly promoted in NO removal with the synergistic effects of C-doping and OVs.

The core–shell architecture of biohybrid enzymes facilitates construction of multifunctional biofluids which display extremophilic traits in total absence of solvent.

Using standing-waves in HAXPES technique, we reveal non-linear electrostatic potential profile across nanoscale ferroelectric (FE) HfZrO₄ layer in memory capacitors for both polarization directions, implying the drift of non-FE charges at interfaces.

In this work, a liposome-encapsulated chlorophyll derivative pyropheophorbide acid (PPa) (liposome/PPa) nanoparticles are designed for tri-model imaging guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer.

The binding of Co(III) to the bi-histidine metal chelation site significantly enhances protein's mechanical stability.

Two new two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, namely, MgX₂Se₄ (X = Al, Ga) monolayers, are predicted to possess novel electronic properties.

Gram-grade defect-rich NiO nanotubes were synthesized by a facile self-template method, which exhibited an outstanding electrocatalytic activity (85.9 A g⁻¹) and stability for the methanol oxidation reaction.

Trepang-like gold nanocrystals with tunable plasmonic property were synthesized via the DNA-directed self-assembly method for various imaging applications.

Grouping can replace animal testing to demonstrate the safe use of nanomaterials, but previously case studies were missing.

Flexible all-in-one ZIBs exhibit excellent physical flexibility and stable electrochemical performance under different mechanical deformations.

Magnetic core@shell and yolk@shell microspheres have received extensive attention; however, the realization of microwave performance enhancement remains a critical challenge for their actual applications.

Unique two-dimensional super-structures form when cysteine self-assembles on single-crystal Au(100) due to inter-molecular forces and adsorption energetics, addressed through a comprehensive experimental and quantum computational approach.

A simple and one-pot replacement reaction route was designed to produce an Al₂O₃ layer anchored on mesoporous Si nanospheres by employing Al nanospheres with a naturally formed Al₂O₃ layer as a reducing agent and self-sacrificial template.

Ultrasmall gold glyconanoparticles with enhanced tumor-targeting efficiency and efficient clearance through both renal and hepatobiliary pathways.

Thermal management applied laminar composites with enhanced interface bonding strength and thermal conductivity were fabricated through a pressure infiltration method.

FeS₂–C nano-network containing localised FeS₂ nanocrystals wrapped by a t-carbon framework enables FeS₂/C hybridizations to maintain structural stability upon cycling and shortens the electrons/ions diffusion paths for a high rate capability.

With the combination of thermosensitive liposome and an external AMF, SPIONs inside the liposome can therefore transform the electromagnetic energy to heat and trigger drug release at desired temperature.

We developed a biocompatible triple-responsive dendrimeric nanocage (TDN) through a simple method for targeted drug delivery.

The photovoltaic performances of solar cells have been significantly improved by incorporating biomass-converted carbon quantum dots with graded energy levels into sensitized devices.

Direct cation exchange from CdSe to ZnSe is possible by controlling the complexation energy between Zn halides and organic ligands.

We present enhanced Förster resonance energy transfer and prolonged efficient quantum entanglement between optical qubits separated by long-range distances mediated by epsilon-near-zero plasmonic waveguides.

Upconversion hybrid theranostic nanoplatform for near-infrared light-induced and O₂ self-sufficient photodynamic therapy.

A 3D labyrinth-like electrode design to tackle the dissolution of polysulfides into the electrolyte and the large volume expansion of sulphur in Li–S batteries.

Electrochemical reduction of Pd-ions coordinated to a thiol self-assembled monolayer controls Cu deposition from the bulk electrolyte.

Au₂₄ without a core atom exhibits higher activity in the intramolecular hydroamination of alkynes than Au₂₅ with the core atom.

SnS₂/SnS p–n heterojunctions with an accumulation layer were rationally designed to achieve ultrasensitive NO₂ detection at room temperature.

Well-designed CC@MnO₂ (α phase instead of δ phase) exhibits the best absorption performance (−53.2 dB).

The newly created surface defect states in the electronic band structures of the shortly-lived intermediate species, called transient surface defect states, bridge between computations and experiments at the atomistic level for nanozymes.

Free-standing and flexible SnSb-CNTs@NCNFs electrodes are prepared and exhibit excellent electrochemical performances for lithium ion batteries.

CuS nanocrystals with pH and near-infrared light-triggered degradation properties are promising nanotheranostic platform for in situ T₁-weighted MRI guided synergistic therapy of cancer.

Hollow SnS/TiO₂@C nanospheres with high-performance originating from the built-in electric field introduced by SnS/TiO₂ heterostructures for fast ion diffusion.

A bimetallic phosphide electrocatalyst is synthesized through a scalable approach, showing high efficiency in the HER, OER and overall water splitting.

Surface phonons enhancing the one-photon anti-Stokes fluorescence has been demonstrated in rare earth doped nanocrystals.

The highly efficient catalyst-free, eco-friendly and low-temperature graphitization process is a novel strategy for achieving the conversion of amorphous carbon precursors into graphite.

Metal germanate nanospheres including Ca₂Ge₇O₁₆, Zn₂GeO₄ and SrGe₄O₉ were prepared by a facile and large-scale electrospraying process. They have potential applications in lithium-ion batteries and room temperature ammonia gas sensors.

Both the cell surface adhesion and cell internalization of WS₂ nanosheets induce mTOR-dependent autophagy.