Themed collection Nanoscale Advances Most Popular Articles so far

Recent advances in artificial muscles based on twisted and coiled carbon nanotube yarns and graphene fibers.

Aqueous two-polymer phase extraction is described for its best-practice use to isolate single-wall carbon nanotube species.

Binder-free structures offering structural and kinetic advantages for constructing high performance sulfur cathodes and dendrite-free Li metal anodes are reviewed.

The recent advances in sustainable optoelectronics applications of quantum dots derived from different biomolecules are documented in this review.

The preparation, properties, and photonic applications of π-conjugated nanostructured-materials are reviewed.

In this review, we mainly summarize the important progresses made in the development of photocatalysis-oriented mesocrystals, including synthesis engineering, functional modifications (hybridization and doping), and typical structure-related photocatalytic mechanisms. Some urgent issues and perspectives have also been discussed.

Effective theranostic probes in cancer therapy are still a challenge. We report the selective killing of cancer cells upon photothermal ablation using a new class of 2,5-deoxyfructosazine-coated green-emissive carbon dots using mild LED-irradiation.

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using an efficient bioreducing agent from Fagonia cretica extract having the advantage of eco-friendliness over chemical and physical methods.

The present study addresses the limitation of versatility in green precursors by exploring the formation of carbon dots with respect to the contents of green precursor, i.e. Rosa indica. The synthesis mechanism is elucidated by analysing the precursors and intermediates at different intervals.

Hybrid CNTs yarn muscle could be actuated with excellent contraction and stability at low voltage.

We report the specific and sensitive detection of microRNA using an inverse DNA-mediated liposome fusion assay.

The synthesis of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) from single-source precursors offers simplified manufacturing processes at the cost of reduced atom efficiency.

A peptide soft hydrogel is used as a 3D matrix for flash microarray bioassays.

A computational discovery of a new structural form of carbon competitive with fullerenes at the small size end of the nanoscale.

Perovskite solar cells have attracted significant attention due to their high efficiency and low cost.

Highly crystalline perovskite micro-needles are grown by a hydrothermal method and used in perovskite solar cells to yield 17.98% efficiency with no hysteresis.

Colloidal PbS quantum dots (QDs) have been successfully employed as additives in halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) acting as nucleation centers in the perovskite crystallization process.

A donor–acceptor hybrid was devised and synthesized using N-doped graphene and perylene diimide via click chemistry, and the occurrence of excited state charge separation is demonstrated.

Epitaxial films of piezoelectric α-quartz could enable the fabrication of sensors with unprecedented sensitivity for prospective applications in electronics, biology and medicine.

MXenes are an extensive family of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, whose properties are strongly affected by surface terminations, typically O and F. Herein, we enable chlorine as a new termination, thereby expanding the property space.

The current work presents a hybrid type of energy storage device composed of both graphene foam and zinc oxide electrodes, which exhibits both the electrochemical performance of a supercapacitor with a relatively higher power density, and a battery with a relatively higher energy density as compared to each individual component as single devices.

A naturally derived approach is introduced for the synthesis of a nature-inspired, highly compressible and extremely water repellent material. The BSA protein derived highly tolerant superhydrophobic cotton was successfully applied in eco-friendly remediation of various oil contaminants selectively from aqueous phases.

Exceptional CRI and variable CCT via fourfold phosphors to create a high-quality broadband white-emission with a controllable hue.

Fully-porous carbon resonators were formed with precise microscale dimension and characterized for sensitive detection of vapors.

We demonstrated atomic layer deposition of highly monodisperse Co₃O₄ nanocrystals on N-doped electrospun carbon nanofibers (Co@nCNFs) as bifunctional electrocatalysts for the ORR and OER.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are novel material building blocks with useful thermal, electronic, and optical properties; their stable dispersion in water would enable fundamental studies as well as novel applications. Here we address the dispersion of BNNTs in aqueous solution using surfactants with varying properties.

Limited mechanical force produces plastic nanoparticles from commonly used plastic objects.

We demonstrate a strong enhancement of the antimicrobial action of berberine encapsulated in shellac nanoparticles with dual surface functionality. This is attributed to the electrostatic adhesion of the cationic nanocarriers to the microbial cell walls which leads to their accumulation and local delivery of berberine.

Using first-principles theory, we investigated the most stable configuration for the Rh dopant on a MoSe₂ monolayer, and the interaction of the Rh-doped MoSe₂ (Rh-MoSe₂) monolayer with four toxic gases (CO, NO, NO₂ and SO₂) to exploit the potential application of the Rh-MoS₂ monolayer as a gas sensor or adsorbent.

CMC coated magnetic nanoparticles cross through a densely packed Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial (HLMVE) cell barrier BBB model.

Synthesis of composite nanostructures of amorphous calcium phosphate loaded with silver nanoparticles has been achieved using a spray pyrolysis method. Upon incorporation into a commercial dental adhesive resin, these nanostructures provide sustained release of silver, calcium, and phosphate ions.

A thin layer of amorphous carbon on the surface of CaMoO₄ synthesized at a lower temperature suitable for sodium devices storing energy.

Porous tal palm carbon nanosheets were prepared, characterized and utilized for DA and UA sensing.

A self-referencing dual fluorescing carbon dot-based nanothermometer can ratiometrically sense thermal events in HeLa cells with very high sensitivity.

We demonstrated a ultra-stable pulse based on the high-quality electrochemical delamination exfoliation process black phosphorus.

Herein, we present a fabrication approach that produces homogeneous core–satellite SERS encoded particles with minimal interparticle gaps (<2–3 nm) and maximum particle loading, while positioning the encoding agents at the gaps.

Photosystem I (PSI) is a ∼1000 kDa transmembrane protein that enables photoactivated charge separation with ∼1 V driving potential and ∼100% quantum efficiency during the photosynthetic process.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are not directly visible by microscopes when dispersed in water, but the dynamical characteristics of suspended colloidal particles tells us the texture as well as the rheological properties of CNF dispersions beyond the viscosity.

Free and encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles after intracardiac injection of labelled stem cells have similar in vivo fate.

Nanocrystalline Ce-substituted yttrium iron garnet (YIG) powders of different compositions, Y_3−xCe_xFe₅O₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0), were synthesized by a combination of sol–gel auto-combustion and solid-state synthesis techniques.

2D MXenes in solid polymer electrolytes show high efficiency in ionic conductivity enhancement and lithium metal battery performance improvement.

We present flower-like 3D hierarchical Co₃O₄/NiO microspheres, prepared by a chemical precipitation method.

In this work, we performed a detailed study of the phase transformations and structural unit cell parameters of CsPbBr₃ nanoparticles (NPs) and thin films.

Due to the charge transfer between metalic radionuclides and MoS₂ nanosheet, the metalic radionuclides can be chemisorbed on the monolayer MoS₂ nanosheet stably.

Ethylene glycol (EG) starts to attract attention as a robust solvent for lignin processing.

Direct electron transfer bioelectrocatalysis through synthesized metal nanoclusters in confined pores.

Silver nanowire (Ag NW) based composites have shown a great potential not just in transparent electrodes but in diverse functional applications.

Bactericidal interactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells with multi-directional gold nanospikes.

Silver sulfidation under environmentally relevant conditions follows a first-order reaction kinetics without aggregation or dissolution. Rate and extent of sulfidation demonstrates strong dependence on the crystallographic orientation of the facets.

Interfacial complexation of cationic dendrimers and graphene oxide provides novel three-dimensional heteroatom-enriched graphene nanostructures.