Themed collection Nanomaterials

The rapidly growing global energy demand and environmental concerns related to fossil fuel consumption have intensified the search for efficient, sustainable, and multifunctional energy materials.

This review exhibits the current research and future perspectives of different co-catalyst modified BiVO₄-based electrodes for solar water splitting.

This review covers advances in chiral photothermal nanomaterials: synthesis, photothermal behaviors, and applications in therapy, biosensing, etc., highlighting their precise light manipulation and multifunctionality.

Recent advances in the design and engineering of Pt-based electrocatalysts to promote the direct dehydrogenation pathway for formic acid oxidation are comprehensively reviewed.

NMOF nanostructures with different sizes and shapes were synthesized by a facile and rapid method. NMOF 1b nanocrystals exhibited high uptake capacities for cationic dyes.

This work demonstrates an optimized sample-loading method that enables SERS crystal violet detection down to 10⁻¹³ M with a total detection time of only 3 min, offering a rapid and practical analytical approach.

Photocatalytic mechanism of the hydrothermally-synthesized MoS₂-decorated CdS nanorods (MC4) for organic pollutant degradation under visible light.

A calcium oleate precursor microwave-assisted hydrothermal method is reported for rapid synthesis of ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires using β-glycerophosphate, and they can assemble into macroscopic fibers with superior mineralization capability.

High-content Eu³⁺-doped CaLaNbWO₈ red phosphors have been synthesized and have potential in w-LEDs and thermometry.

We demonstrate that the same ZnS/Co₉S₈ interface can switch between a charge-transfer relay and a deep-level trap depending solely on band alignment, dictating photocatalytic H₂ evolution performance.

Developing high-efficiency electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is critical for sustainable hydrogen energy.

Ternary metal–organic framework of FeCoZn-ZIF as an efficient electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction.

Plasmonic AuAg nano-dendrimers act as efficient visible-light photocatalysts due to their unique branched morphology, which generates hot electrons for plasmon-enhanced reduction of p-nitrophenol.

In this work, Mn₂V₂O₇ samples were prepared and utilized as anodes for electrochemical lithium storage. The synergistic effect between Mn and V improves the electrochemical activity, the pseudocapacitive effect enhances the lithium storage capacity.

Faced with a global energy crisis and environmental pollution caused by excessive fossil fuel consumption, the electrolytic decomposition of water presents a highly viable method for generating hydrogen.

The growing demand for sustainable energy solutions has accelerated research on advanced supercapacitive electrode materials.

Luminescent lanthanide-doped nanoparticles are conventionally synthesised under high-temperature conditions with extended reaction times.

Different Co_xTi_yO_z binary metal oxide particles were synthesized and their effect on the catalytic performance of AP were investigated.

This work reveals the morphology-dependent evolution of Co-ZIFs into Co₃O₄, with precursor morphology and residual carbon jointly regulating structural transformation.

This study highlights the potential of chrysotile as a low-cost natural support and provides an efficient and practical strategy for treating refractory dye wastewater.

GaAs/NiO/Cu(OH)₂ photoelectrodes engineered with heterojunctions and surface reaction layers enhance charge carrier transport, thereby improving the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting performance of the electrodes.

Pb_0.7Sn_0.3Te grown on Si(001) with an epitaxial optimized Ca_1−xBa_xF₂ sublayer.

This work reveals that cold welding enables the structural and mechanical restoration of fractured nanoporous gold. Four distinct welding modes (head-to-head, side-to-side, side-to-head, and non-welded ligaments) are identified.

A Bi₂S₃/BiOCl S-scheme heterojunction was constructed via co-precipitation and ion exchange. The intimate interfacial contact and built-in electric field facilitate the separation of photogenerated carriers while preserving strong redox capability.

Microwave plasma treatment using N₂ as the carrier gas introduces oxygen-containing functional groups and carbon vacancies into g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, thereby significantly enhancing the photocatalytic activity for H₂O₂ evolution.

Schematic diagram of non-contact seawater photocatalytic H₂ evolution over the Cu₂₀/FL/PVA hybrid membrane under illumination.

KY₃F₁₀:Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ nanocrystals were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and utilized firstly as an optical thermometer in the first biological window.

ZMO, a zinc-rich, structurally engineered cathode material for regulated zinc storage, delivers high capacity and stable cycling at high voltages—enabling high-energy-density, high-safety zinc-based batteries.

A simple and rapid one-pot synthesis method was developed for producing hollow Cu@Ag core–shell nanocrystals in the aqueous phase.

We report the impact of atomic disorder and Jahn–Teller (J–T) distortions in inverse spinel NiCo₂O₄ (NCO) nanoparticles synthesized via sol–gel combustion.

Co–Ni-based nanomaterials, as one of the candidate materials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), have been widely studied.

The conductive loss, polarization loss, magnetic loss, and good impedance matching collectively endow the composite with excellent broadband electromagnetic wave absorption.

High value-added products of carbonate whisker and nano MgO were obtained via stepwise conversion.

Urea oxidation reaction (UOR), a key process in renewable energy and wastewater treatment, suffers from sluggish kinetics due to its six-electron transfer, requiring high-efficiency catalysts.

A α-Bi₂O₃/α-Bi₂O₃ homojunction with high photocatalytic performance for reducing Cr(VI) is developed by a facile room-temperature preparation method.

Hydrothermal synthesis of nanoflower-like CoMoS₂/NiSe₂ heterojunction catalysts: marked improvement in overall water splitting efficiency in alkaline environments.

The development of efficient and stable catalysts for ammonia decomposition is crucial for hydrogen production, addressing the challenges of hydrogen storage and transport.

Ultralow stacking fault energy stabilizes stacking faults in CoCrNi, hindering dislocation glide and enabling grain-size- and SF-spacing-coupled strengthening.

Hollow MoS₂ nanotubes act as a scaffold to increase surface area. Dual carbon coatings synergistically enhance conductivity. Expanded SnS₂ interlayers via dopamine intercalation accelerate Li⁺ transport and provide abundant active sites.

NaBH₄-tuned Ti³⁺ defects activate piezoelectric charge separation, delivering pure-water overall splitting without sacrificial agents.

Thermally stable micron scale Au flowers were grown at 70 °C with quaternary phosphonium salt as the additive, and SERS signals over 10⁶ of enhancement were observed with rhodamine 6G as SERS probes.

In this research, a minute quantity of Ce was introduced into a NaY framework via the hydrothermal method, followed by gradient temperature calcination to acquire a series of Ce-NaY samples.

The significant PL enhancement of the PQD glass is attributed to the energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to CsPbBr₃. This mechanism is the result of the synergistic effect of FRET resonance energy transfer and non-radiative relaxation pathways.

By varying the hydrazine hydrate content, we dictate the evolution of V₂O₅ from aggregated nanoparticles to dispersed nanorods and, optimally, to dispersed nanoparticles. The dispersed nanoparticles exhibit superior electrochemical properties.

The NiCoFeMnLa@Cr₂O₃ heterostructure forms a heterointerface between the core and shell, generating an interfacial effect that adsorbs a large amount of OH⁻ ions and effectively enhances the electron transfer rate.

A nanocrystalline cuprous oxide material was synthesized via a self-exothermic reaction approach for highly efficient ozone decomposition at room temperature, demonstrating scalable production capability at the kilogram level.

ZnFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by a field-assisted steam–thermal method and coated with C and SiO₂. The ZnFe₂O₄@C shows excellent microwave absorption (−46.2 dB) due to conductive loss, interfacial polarization, and impedance matching.

Au@Pd@Pt core–shell nanoparticles (CSNs) with mesoporous structures and nanocavities were synthesized through a seed-mediated growth method. Au@Pd@Pt CSNs exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the ethanol oxidation reaction.

NiRu/η-Al₂O₃ catalyst effectively reduces CO concentration below 10 ppm with high selectivity at 215–300 °C, owing to its Ni–Ru alloy structure, abundant oxygen vacancies and acidic sites, and enhanced sintering resistance and good stability.

This work reports, for the first time, a systematic study of the sonochemical synthesis of sodium titanates under controlled pH conditions, elucidating how the reaction medium governs phase selectivity, morphology, and electrical behavior.

We here report the synthesis of 2D perovskites based on highly fluorinated organic cations (LF8 and SMS28) that impart high hydrophobicity and thermal stability to the resulting materials.

Conjugation of peptide composite on gold and mica substrates and coronas around gold nanoparticles in the presence of an electric field on mica.

A seed-mediated growth method was used to synthesize copper nanoplates (Cu NPs) under mild conditions. By selecting pre-synthesized silver nanoplates as seeds, the synthesis efficiency and size controllability of Cu NPs have been greatly improved.

Citrate ions achieve controlled nucleation under hydrothermal conditions to form various monodisperse zinc gallium oxide microcrystals with controlled sizes.

Ir substitution in Ir0.1 boosts bifunctional electrocatalysis by raising the O₂²⁻/O⁻ ratio, upshifting the d-band center, and increasing high-spin Co³⁺ content, synergistically enhancing its activity.