Themed collection Celebrating Materials Science in the UK
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Challenges surrounding nanosheets and their application to solar-driven photocatalytic water treatment
A holistic review detailing the recent advances and challenges of nanosheet-derived photocatalysts for the removal of pollutants using sunlight.
Mater. Adv., 2022,3, 4103-4131
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MA00276K
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Modulating the porosity of carbons for improved adsorption of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane: a review
This review examines state-of-the-art techniques to control the porosity of both activated carbons and zeolite templated carbons in order to fine-tune their ability towards the capture and storage of various gases under different pressure and temperature applications.
Mater. Adv., 2022,3, 1905-1930
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00911G
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Advances in half-Heusler alloys for thermoelectric power generation
A review of recent developments in half-Heusler thermoelectrics for waste heat recovery.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 6246-6266
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00707F
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Direct ink writing of energy materials
Direct Ink Writing is a promising technique for the sustainable fabrication of energy devices with arbitrary architectures.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 540-563
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00753F
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Progress and challenges in photocatalytic ammonia synthesis
This review puts forward a few critical issues existing in nitrogen photoreduction apart from discussion of the efficient strategies for improvement of NH3 synthesis.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 564-581
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00590H
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Multicoated composites of nano silicon and graphene nanoplatelets as anodes in Li-ion batteries
Unique multicoated composites are fabricated through aerosol-assisted chemical deposition (AACD) and applied as anodes in Li-ion batteries.
Mater. Adv., 2022,3, 4514-4519
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA01007G
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Additive manufacturing of multielectrode arrays for biotechnological applications
Multielectrode arrays (MEAs) are electrical devices that transduce (record/deliver) cellular voltage signals.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 1600-1605
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00484G
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Benign solvents for recycling and re-use of a multi-layer battery pouch
This article describes a process for the repair and re-use of an aluminium-containing pouch used as an outer casing for a Lithium-ion battery cell.
Mater. Adv., 2022,3, 4973-4981
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MA00239F
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Aggregate dependent electrochromic properties of amino acid appended naphthalene diimides in water
Naphthalene diimides have electrochromic applications due to their highly stable dark reduced state along with a transparent colourless neutral state. Here we show the morphology of aggregated structures at different pHs has a greater influence on the chromic properties than the chemical structure.
Mater. Adv., 2022,3, 3326-3331
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MA00207H
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Overcoming mass transfer limitations in cross-linked polyethyleneimine-based adsorbents to enable selective CO2 capture at ambient temperature
New triazine-based linker used to cross-link PEI into an unsupported adsorbent with high CO2 uptake at ambient temperature.
Mater. Adv., 2022,3, 3174-3191
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA01072G
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Rotating ellipsoidal catalytic micro-swimmers via glancing angle evaporation
A simple one-step glancing angle deposition technique is employed to increase the rotational velocity of anisotropic ellipsoidal micro-swimmers.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 7045-7053
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00533B
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(Hydroxy)apatite on cement: insights into a new surface treatment
We have developed a conceptual model describing the formation and mineralisation processes of hydroxyapatite during biogenic and abiotic treatment on cement surfaces.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 6356-6368
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00320H
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Nanoparticle-infused-biodegradable-microneedles as drug-delivery systems: preparation and characterisation
For almost two decades, scientists have been exploring the use of nanoparticles as drug vesicles capable of protecting their cargo and deliver it to the target site while evading detection by the body.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 5432-5442
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00135C
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Ultra-thin g-C3N4/MFM-300(Fe) heterojunctions for photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzylic carbon centers
In situ growth of the MFM-300(Fe) on an ultra-thin sheet of graphitic carbon nitride, formed by exfoliation using supercritical CO2, is reported. The resultant composite CNNS/MFM-300(Fe) shows excellent performance in photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of benzylic C–H groups.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 5144-5149
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00266J
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Tuning the optical bandgap and piezoresistance in iridium-based molecular semiconductors through ligand modification
We study the structural, optical, conductive and piezoresistive properties of d8 iridium dicarbonyl complexes with different β-diketonate ligands.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 5135-5143
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00416F
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The distortion of two FePO4 polymorphs with high pressure
Both the trigonal (Berlinite-type, phase-I), and orthorhombic (CrVO4-type, phase-II) forms of FePO4 have been studied at high-pressure using neutron powder diffraction.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 5096-5104
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00227A
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n Bu2Sn(SnBu)2 and nBu3SnEnBu (E = S or Se) – effective single source precursors for the CVD of SnS and SnSe thermoelectric thin films
LPCVD with the title compounds produces S-deficient SnS, or stoichiometric, semiconducting, resistive SnS or SnSe films with large positive Seebeck coefficients and an SnSe power factor of 0.4 μW cm−1 K−2 at 425 K.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 4814-4823
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1MA00331C
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Investigation of the influence of natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) in the properties of chitosan-stabilised films
In this work natural deep eutectic solvents are explored as versatile plasticisers for the formation of chitosan-stabilised films.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 3954-3964
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA01008A
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Non-toxic layered double hydroxide nanoplatelet dispersions for gas barrier coatings on flexible packaging
A green synthesis of well dispersed LDH nanosheets via a reconstruction process in concentrated amino acid solution was reported. The LDH nanosheet/PVA coated PET films exhibited excellent optical response and high oxygen barrier (0.35 cc m−2 day−1).
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 2626-2635
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00986E
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Reductive processing of single walled carbon nanotubes for high volumetric performance supercapacitors
A new reductive route produces dense SWCNT buckypapers with a high degree of individualization. These buckypapers are excellent supercapacitor electrodes, in particular offering exceptional volumetric performance in full cell devices, when combined with a new class of ultrathin bacterial nanocellulose separator.
Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 1981-1992
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00898B
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Oxidative ionothermal synthesis for micro and macro Zn-based materials
Zn-Based materials produced by direct oxidation of metallic zinc in aqueous [C4C1im]Cl solutions.
Mater. Adv., 2020,1, 3597-3604
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00660B
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Cu(I) diimine complexes as immobilised antibacterial photosensitisers operating in water under visible light
A simple complex of copper immobilised on silica exemplifies how lighter transition metal complexes can efficiently kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in water – in some cases in only 15 min – under visible light.
Mater. Adv., 2020,1, 3417-3427
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00642D
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Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene with incorporated crystal violet and gold nanoclusters is antimicrobial in low intensity light and in the dark
Antibiotics lose their effectiveness over time due to antimicrobial resistance.
Mater. Adv., 2020,1, 3339-3348
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00710B
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The effect of precursor structure on porous carbons produced by iron-catalyzed graphitization of biomass
Glucose, starch and cellulose produce porous graphitic carbons with distinctly different properties due to different rates of catalyst formation.
Mater. Adv., 2020,1, 3281-3291
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00692K
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A bilayer TiO2/Al2O3 as the mesoporous scaffold for enhanced air stability of ambient-processed perovskite solar cells
The air stability of PSCs is enhanced by employing a TiO2/Al2O3 bilayer mesoporous scaffold.
Mater. Adv., 2020,1, 2057-2067
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0MA00562B
About this collection
To showcase some of the great materials research in the UK, this collection collates some of the most popular papers published in Materials Advances. Papers have been selected based on the number of citations, article downloads, and Altmetric scores.