Themed collection 2025 Nanoscale HOT Article Collection

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) ferroelectric (FE) materials have recently emerged as promising candidates for advanced synaptic devices in brain-inspired neuromorphic computing systems.

This work systematically compares solid–solid and solid–liquid–solid conversion mechanisms in aqueous batteries and provides new insights into designing high-performance aqueous energy storage systems.

Three aspects that piezoelectric materials promote wound healing are as follows: (A) electrical stimulation promotes tissue repair, (B) piezoelectric catalytic antibacterial action, and (C) drug-loaded piezoelectric dressings.

This review highlights the therapeutic potential of metal-based and metal oxide nanoparticles in IVDD by leveraging their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microenvironment-modulating properties to enhance tissue repair. The ToC was created in BioRender. Zhang, L. (2025) https://BioRender.com/6fzdcqv.

The ion-selective transport property of biological systems has inspired the development of biomimetic ion channels. This mini-review highlights the mechanisms, recent fabrication strategies and applications of biomimetic ion channels.

Multifunctional coupling and signal decoupling achieved through nanostructure and supramolecule design, enable multimodal mechanoluminescent materials to play an increasingly important role in interdisciplinary applications and cutting-edge fields.

AI surrogates are displacing brute-force simulations in meta-optics; we review strategies from CNNs to LLMs that speed design, capture coupling, and yield fabrication-friendly, multifunctional devices.

In this review, mass-sensing humidity sensors are comprehensively summarized from the aspects of humidity sensing mechanisms, humidity sensing materials, and emerging applications. Images reproduced with permission, see Figure 1 for details.

This work breaks new ground by linking catalyst design with engineering needs for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers, providing a roadmap for non-precious catalysts in acid conditions.

Humans are exposed to PEG and have ample opportunities to create anti-PEG antibodies.

Graphene oxide and graphdiyne enable solar evaporation through 3D mastery: broadband light harvesting, anisotropic heat confinement, and ion-selective water transport, reshaping optimization strategies for next-gen solar water-energy systems.

2D materials-based infrared (IR) photodetectors are essential for a wide range of applications, including optical communication, night vision, and environmental monitoring; graphical images reproduced with permission; full details in paper.

This review summarizes the unique role of novel gallium-based nano-liquid metals in antibacterial applications, focusing on their distinctive activities and underlying antibacterial mechanisms. The graphical abstract was created in BioRender. R, z. (2025) https://BioRender.com/v96z429.

This review presents a systematic framework outlining the construction strategies for adhesion layers in plant wearable devices, drawing inspiration from plant-based adhesion interfaces.

Through bridging the gap between 2D material and single-atom material, 2D monolayer materials exhibit great potential in CO₂RR due to their unique structural/electronic properties, high atom utilization and low mass transfer resistance.

mRNA-based therapeutics have entered the mainstream with seemingly limitless possibilities to treat neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors.

This review summarizes recent advancements in in situ microscopy techniques applied to the study of mechanical and electromechanical properties of 2D materials. The latest results, corresponding challenges and future opportunities are discussed.

Review of synthesis strategies for circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) inorganic quantum dots, influencing factors, theoretical insight into CPL mechanisms, and future applications/prospects. Images reproduced with permission, details in article.

Structural distortions in Ag/Bi quasi-2D double perovskites are responsible for the unexpected trend in the exciton binding energies.

The trace endogenous Fe species within natural halloysite nanotubes have been engineered into a single-atom Fe₁–P cocatalyst with high H₂ evolution activity and stability in both dye-sensitized and semiconductor-based systems.

Designed a pseudocapacitive KZMF(3-1)@rGO anode material, explored its conversion/alloying/insertion hybrid mechanism by electrochemical analysis and ex situ characterization techniques, and constructed NICs and Na-DIBs devices.

Two atomically-precise {AsW₉O₃₃}-mediated silver alkynyl clusters have been synthesized by adjusting mixed reaction solvents, showing efficient photothermal performance and catalytic activities towards the detoxification of 4-nitrophenol.

25 nm Octopod Mn–Fe oxide nanoparticles reduce crystal anisotropy, leading to faster relaxation times, a narrower MPI point spread function (PSF), and consequently improved spatial resolution.

Low-symmetry, bugle-like gold nanocrystals fabricated by rolling Au nanosheets exhibit strong near-infrared absorption and outstanding photothermal therapeutic efficacy under 808 nm laser irradiation.

Thiol concentration governs the oxidative etching pathways of Au nanoclusters, switching between ligand-initiated and oxygen-initiated mechanisms, both leading to Au(I)-thiolate complexes via distinct intermediate steps.

The spatial charge region is rationally designed by constructing a Mott–Schottky heterostructure in the Cu-WN catalyst, achieving accurate activation of NO₃⁻ and HCO₃⁻ to accelerate the targeted electrochemical C–N coupling reaction.

A novel Lorentz-force-assisted electrodeposition method is introduced to fabricate Romanesco-like Ni–Fe nano-cone arrays with enhanced stability and efficient bubble release for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under high current densities.

Magnon–phonon coupling and spin-phonon interaction are interplays between phonons and magnetism, offering new approaches to manipulate phonons related to magnetism.

Complex condensates based on zein can adhere to the intestine and prolong the residence time of sinapine.

The Pt nanoparticle–nanowire hybrid on SWCNTs combines high activity, efficient electron transport, and durability, achieving a 0.882 V half-wave potential, a 380 A g_Pt⁻¹ mass activity, and retaining performance after 60 000 cycles.

This study explores SMO chemiresistors for detecting C1–C4 alcohols, distinguishing C3 isomers and quantifying their mixtures. 1-Butanol shows the highest response at 300 °C, while 1-propanol outperforms 2-propanol.

The concentration of hole scavenger Na₂SO₃ in nitrobenzene photoreduction catalyzed by CdS quantum dots determines reaction selectivity, highlighting how scavenger quantity can direct photocatalytic pathways.

Marked improvement in electrochemical performance of erbium ions with stable PANI quantum dots (8 nm).

Accurate and sensitive detection of small biomolecules such as saccharides in foods and beverages remains difficult due to poor ionization and spectral interference in conventional organic matrix-based LDI-MS.

Carbon dots regulate glucose oxidase via H₂O₂ decomposition and O₂ regeneration to build an autocatalytic cycle, enabling high-performance bioelectrocatalytic and immobilized enzyme systems.

Lithographically-defined polygonal Au nanoplates assemble at liquid-air interface. Shape governs 2D order: hexagonal>pentagonal>square, correlated with coordination/tiling. Binary mixtures with compatible six-fold coordination show enhanced ordering.

This study evaluates six methods for the synthesis of citratestabilized AuNPs, demonstrating how reagent order, reducing agent identity, and citrate concentration collectively govern particle size, dispersity, and colloidal stability.

We report a digital–analog dual-mode memristor based on a donor–acceptor structured nanomaterial, ZnTPP-g-GQDs, which is synthesized through the covalent functionalization of graphene quantum dots with zinc porphyrin.

Schematic of the NJM. The entire structure is represented as (AB)^NP₁ABP₂ABP₁(AB)^NC.

Fully compensated ferrimagnets have the combined advantages of the band spin splitting of ferromagnetism and the zero net magnetization of antiferromagnetism, which endows them with numerous advantages in fast and energy-efficient spintronic devices.

A facile cooling-mediated plasma strategy is applied to simply modulate the exposed facets and morphology of the achieved nickel nitride nano-frameworks for controllable HER and OER behaviors.

Inspired by lotus leaves and cactus spines, we propose a bionic superwetting gradient wedge-shaped surface (SGWS) for self-transport of liquids under-oil, which shows great potential for microfluidic chips and multi-functional applications.

A comprehensive machine learning framework was reported to predict the electrochemical performance of transition metal dichalcogenide/carbon composite supercapacitor electrodes.

The efficacy of 4-OHT is influenced by its supramolecular structure, not just receptor affinity. Isomer-specific assemblies create amorphous nanoflakes (Z-form) with high uptake and crystalline nanoribbons (E-form) with limited bioactivity.

Na₃V₂O₂(PO₄)₂F (NVOPF) has garnered significant attention in the field of sodium-ion battery cathode materials due to its high operating voltage and exceptional cycling stability.

Pulsed magnetron sputtering can boost nanoparticle yield by factor of 10 without increasing material or energy input.

Gradient bandgap engineering significantly enhances the performance of PbSe short-wave infrared detectors, laying the foundation for their practical applications.

Comprehensive study of a squaraine-dye-labeled DNA DX-tile aggregate system, including cooperative self-assembly of a double-tile, in solution and solid phase.

High-entropy PBAs containing Ni, Fe, La, Mo, and Co were prepared via a co-precipitation method. This specific elemental combination facilitates the adsorption and reaction of OH⁻ ions, thereby reducing the overpotential of OER.

Gas-phase decomposition of the carbon precursor is a critical yet not fully understood step in growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). We present a systematic investigation of how the thermal decomposition of C₂H₄ influences CNT growth.

SnCo/C@MoS₂ with core-shell structure had the RL_min of −64.27 dB, the EAB of 5.20 GHz and the RCS value below −20 dBm², exhibiting remarkable microwave absorption properties.

High-performance PA6 composites are achieved through strong nanofiller–nanofiller and nanofiller–matrix interfaces.

Quantitative charge analysis reveals stable residual and localized charges on SiN_x membranes under a high-energy electron beam, which could influence particle dynamics, mass transport, particle nucleation and growth in gas and liquid phase TEM.

Metal oxide/carbon nanocomposites have emerged as prospective electrodes for electrochemical energy storage.

This study comprehensively characterizes, with suggested applications, a novel two-dimensional carbon allotrope, C₁₆, using density functional theory and machine learning-based molecular dynamics.

BiO_x@BiO/Bi nanoflakes are prepared by electrochemical reconstruction, showing a flower open and close structral evolution in charge and discharge process and excellent electrochemical performance.

This study innovates an in situ growth method of multi-enzyme-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (HNFs) on cellulose paper, boosting enzyme immobilization efficiency and advancing diabetes diagnostics.

ZIF-8-based dual-modality biomimetic smart nanoparticles loaded with ICG and rapamycin are used for the combination therapy of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy of advanced tumors.