Themed collection Popular Advances
Polyhydroxyalkanoates in emerging recycling technologies for a circular materials economy
This paper discusses the scale-up feasibility and industrial adoption of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), emphasizing the need to link PHA development with recycling technologies and highlighting strategies for designing PHAs for closed-loop recycling.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6690-6701
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00411F
Single-cell analysis of innate immune cell mechanics: an application to cancer immunology
Alterations in the tumor microenvironment not only modulate cancer cell progression and invasiveness but also affect the viscoelastic properties of immune cells therein.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 5025-5035
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01107K
A new frontier towards the development of efficient SPEEK polymer membranes for PEM fuel cell applications: a review
SPEEK suffers from loss of conductivity at high temperatures and high methanol permeability. Modification of SPEEK using various materials will improve its properties.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7979-8006
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00628C
Optical anti-counterfeiting with cholesteric liquid crystal emulsions: preparation, properties, and applications
This review highlights recent advancements in cholesteric liquid crystal emulsions, focusing on their preparation, anti-counterfeiting applications, and future prospects. It also covers their role in information storage and encryption techniques.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7113-7129
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00604F
Lignin-based vitrimers: valorization and utilization of lignin in high-value applications
We review recent advances in the utilization of lignin as a viable alternative to fossil-based feedstock in the synthesis of a wide range of vitrimeric materials targeted towards the achievement of a sustainable and circular economy.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7075-7096
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00281D
Sulfur quantum dots for fluorescence sensing in biological and pharmaceutical samples: a review
The study on sulfur quantum dots for fluorescence sensing in biological and pharmaceutical samples classifies SQD fluorescent probes into two categories: sensing of biological samples and sensing of pharmaceutical samples.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6351-6367
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00502C
Unveiling the future of steel corrosion inhibition: a revolutionary sustainable odyssey with a special emphasis on N+-containing ionic liquids through cutting-edge innovations
Graphical abstract illustrates how ionic liquids protect metal surface from corrosion, highlights the factors affecting efficacy and associated chemical reactions with and without ionic liquids, highlighting their role in preventing rust formation.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 4563-4600
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00156G
Recent advancement in viologen functionalized porous organic polymers (vPOPs) for energy and environmental remediation
We thoroughly discussed the practical applications of vPOPs in environmental remediation, encompassing various tasks such as removing organic/inorganic pollutants, adsorbing iodine/toxic gases, storing and converting energy etc.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 4055-4077
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00182F
Recent advances in cellulose nanocrystals-based sensors: a review
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) continue to pique the interest of researchers as sensors for sustainable development.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2622-2654
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00601H
Advances in the fabrication of potential nanomaterials for diagnosis and effective treatment of tuberculosis
This review sheds light on the novel nanomaterials required for rapid and clear diagnosis of tuberculosis, and compiles and discusses their limitations and future prospects.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 1772-1782
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00720K
Rational design of SiOx based anode materials for next generation lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have gained significant attention in various fields, as they play a vital role in energy storage and conversion.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 896-919
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00859B
Bacteriophages as nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and enhanced therapeutic effects
The bioengineering of phages to display ligands leads to specific targeting, reduced toxicity, enhanced cellular uptake of an incorporated drug/gene and, ultimately, increased therapeutic efficacy.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 986-1016
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00817G
Carbohydrate polymer-supported metal and metal oxide nanoparticles for constructing electrochemical sensors
Metal- and metal oxide-carbohydrate polymers are considered a promising tool for electrochemical detection of biological analytes and water pollutants.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 68-82
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00706E
Metal–organic frameworks for next-generation energy storage devices; a systematic review
The future of renewable energy and sustainable transportation depends on advanced energy storage technologies.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 30-50
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00822C
Effect of CO2 release behavior on the crosslinking degree of alginate hydrogels prepared with CaCO3 and carbonated water
The CO2 release behavior, i.e., “post-gelation condition,” affects the degree of cross-linking, an essential parameter for determining hydrogel properties.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6368-6372
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00257A
A defective NiCo-pentlandite/black phosphorus heterostructure for efficient water splitting electrocatalysis
A defective nickel cobalt pentlandite/black phosphorus heterostructure achieves highly active and durable water electrolysis through interface and heteroatom dual-engineering.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 1892-1896
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01070H
On the VOC loss in NiO-based inverted metal halide perovskite solar cells
This study assesses the effect of key NiO properties, especially resistivity and surface energy, on the device's performance.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 8652-8664
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00873A
Thiourea-based rotaxanes: anion transport across synthetic lipid bilayers and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus
Rotaxane-bearing thiourea moieties selectively transport Cl− anions across lipid bilayers in liposomes and show antibacterial activity against S. aureus.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 8534-8545
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00794H
Li2MnCl4 single crystal: a new candidate for a red-emitting neutron scintillator
Li2MnCl4: combining light elements to create a novel red-emitting scintillator for neutron detection.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 8199-8207
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00697F
Effect of build orientation and heat treatment on the microstructure, mechanical and corrosion performance of super duplex stainless steels fabricated via laser powder bed fusion
Build orientation in PBF-L manipulates microstructures, thus tuning the mechanical and corrosion properties of duplex stainless steel before and after heat treatment.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 8177-8198
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00448E
Zinc(II)-heteroligand compounds for wet processing OLEDs: a study on balancing charge carrier transport and energy transfer
Understanding charge-carrier injection, transport, recombination, and resonant energy transfer in a host:guest system is crucial for achieving solution-processed OLEDs close to their theoretical efficiency limit.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7778-7788
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00581C
Effect of molecular structure on the photochemical stability of acceptor and donor polymers used in organic solar cells
Absorption spectra show the photobleaching of acceptor copolymer PF5-Y5. The replacement of BDT-T by thiophene strongly improves the photostability.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7708-7720
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00447G
Water sorption studies with mesoporous multivariate monoliths based on UiO-66
The new field of conformed metal–organic frameworks made without high pressures or additives is extended to multivariate systems. Hierarchical linker thermolysis is used to vary porosity and excellent water vapour uptake is reported.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7679-7689
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00522H
Efficient alkaline water electrolysis with an iron-incorporated yttrium oxide/yttrium phosphide nanorod catalyst on Ni foam: overpotential reduction and electrochemical insights
Production of a non-noble transition metal phosphide-based catalyst containing Fe, Y, P, and O for bifunctional water-splitting applications.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 7147-7158
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00362D
Conductive MXene nanosheets infused in protein fiber hydrogels for bioprinting and thin film electrodes
Conductive hydrogels were fabricated by loading MXene nanosheets into proteinaceous curli fiber hydrogels. The nanocomposites synergistically combine the properties of MXene and curli, forming mechanically and electrically tunable soft electronics.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6873-6886
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00112E
Coherent X-ray imaging of stochastic dynamics
Fast nanoscale fluctuations blur out in most imaging methods. A new approach, CIDI, uses the visibility of interferometric fringes to separate the stochastic and deterministic contributions to a diffraction patterns in coherent X-ray imaging.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6378-6387
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00154K
Electrochemical performance enhancement of MnO2 nanowires through silver incorporation for next-generation supercapacitors
AgxMnO2 nanowires offer a potential solution to improve conductivity and stability of supercapacitor electrode.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6170-6184
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00118D
Preparation of bismuth-doped CsPbBr3 perovskite single crystals for X-ray and gamma-ray sensing applications
Bi-doped CsPbBr3 photodetector device response with X-ray and gamma-ray detection and visible range photodetection.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6309-6318
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00455H
Effect of density and thickness of flexible polyurethane foam on the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) based on flexible polyurethane foam (FPU) offer an attractive approach for energy harvesting for self-powered devices.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 6132-6144
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00304G
Adsorptive and photo-Fenton properties of bimetallic MIL-100(Fe,Sn) and MIL-100(Fe,Ir) MOFs toward removal of tetracycline from aqueous solutions
Novel bimetallic MIL-100(Fe,Sn) MOFs and MIL-100(Fe,Ir) MOFs were synthesized and then utilized for efficient treatment of tetracycline-contaminated wastewater.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 5724-5737
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00196F
Effects of alumina priming on the electrical properties of ZnO nanostructures derived from vapor-phase infiltration into self-assembled block copolymer thin films
Alumina priming, typically used for vapor-phase infiltration (VPI) of weakly reactive precursors, increases both ZnO VPI fidelity and its electrical conductivity, as demonstrated in the ZnO nanostructures derived from self-assembled block copolymers.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 5698-5708
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00346B
Mechanochemical effect on the electrochemical properties of a Na3(VO)2(PO4)2F positive electrode for sodium-ion batteries
We employed a solvent-free mechanochemical post-treatment on a fluorophosphate electrode for sodium-ion batteries. Electrochemical analysis showed enhanced kinetic properties and improved ionic mobility while maintaining crystal structure.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 5070-5079
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00106K
Flexible and fire-retardant silica/cellulose aerogel using bacterial cellulose nanofibrils as template material
Exploring the possibility of using various silsesquioxane precursors such as (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to produce silica-bacterial cellulose nanofibre (bCNF) aerogel.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 5041-5051
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01090B
Exploring color space: an investigation of heteroaryl-substituted benzobis[1,2-d:4,5-d′]oxazoles and their application in organic light-emitting diodes
The color tuning of benzobisoxazole-based OLEDs to achieve white emission with high brightness is reported.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 4689-4698
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01154B
Metal–organic framework-based atmospheric water harvesting for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency and sustainability
The global demand for photovoltaic (PV) cooling is projected to increase over the coming years, driven by the growing adoption of solar energy and the need to improve the efficiency and performance of PV systems.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 4660-4667
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00960B
Thiochromenocarbazole imide-based photosensitizers decorated with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for the targeted treatment of hypoxic tumours
A series of thiochromenocarbazole imide (TCI) photosensitizers featuring carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAi) was designed to alleviate the consequences of PDT-induced hypoxia by merging the advantages of hCA IX knockdowns with PDT.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 4172-4177
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00926B
Lignin-derivable, thermoplastic, non-isocyanate polyurethanes with increased hydrogen-bonding content and toughness vs. petroleum-derived analogues
This work highlights lignin-derivable, thermoplastic, non-isocyanate polyurethanes as potential alternatives to petroleum-derived analogues with increased toughness and processability due to the functionality of lignin-aromatics (methoxy groups).
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 3950-3964
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00039K
AlSi10Mg hollow-strut lattice metamaterials by laser powder bed fusion
Intricate submillimetre scale AlSi10Mg hollow-strut lattices can be fabricated by LPBF, and observe yield strength superior to metal solid-strut lattices.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 3751-3770
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00813D
Continuous electro-growth of a hierarchically structured hydrogel on a non-conductive surface
Designing hydrogels with hierarchically ordered structures is of significance for biomimetic applications through simulating natural biological soft tissues.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 3850-3857
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01139A
Sustainable synthesis of titanium based photocatalysts via surfactant templating: from kerosene to sunflower oil
Sunflower oil was used as a templating agent for the development of sustainable, novel porous, titanosilicate microspheres. They are highly effective in removal of organic pollutants from water via adsorption and photocatalysis, and have potential applications in advanced tertiary water-treatment.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 3649-3661
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00957B
CoTeO4 – a wide-bandgap material adopting the dirutile structure type
Dirutile-type CoTeO4 exhibits a bandgap of ∼2.42 eV as determined by optical absorption spectroscopy.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 3001-3013
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01106B
Enhanced LiMn2O4 cathode performance in lithium-ion batteries through synergistic cation and anion substitution
The use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continues to grow to overcome environmental challenges, and spinel LiMn2O4 is employed as a high-performance and safe electrode material in this context.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2872-2887
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01187A
Exploring the electrocatalytic prowess of a synergistic 1T-MoS2-metallic Ni composite towards alkaline hydrogen evolution
1T-MoS2-metallic Ni composite as cathode and NiS as anode material showed efficient electrocatalytic performance towards total water splitting under alkaline conditions.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2805-2817
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01077E
NiGraf: a new nickel-based molecularly doped metal for enhanced water electrolysis
Graphene oxide 3D entrapped in Ni-based nanoparticles establishes a new class of catalytic materials highly promising towards enhanced alkaline water electrolysis as NiGraf can be used to mediate both H2 and O2 evolution reactions at room temperature.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2759-2766
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00700F
Size exclusion chromatography-based length sorting of single-walled carbon nanotubes stably coated with cross-linked polymers
The remarkable stability of gel-coated SWCNT dispersions enables length sorting using size exclusion chromatography. Length-sorted, gel-coated SWCNTs show photoluminescence in near IR and are ready to use for various applications including near IR imaging.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2482-2490
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01069D
Top-down surfactant-free electrosynthesis of magnéli phase Ti9O17 nanowires
A simple electrochemical surfactant-free top-down methodology for the synthesis of nanowires with non-stoichiometric Magnéli phase Ti9O17 is presented.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2368-2376
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00968H
Organic fluorophore-substituted polyaza-[7]helicenes derived from 1,10-phenanthroline: Studying the chromophoric effect on fluorescence efficiency
We report a series of fluorescent “push–pull” helicenes based on aza-[7]helicenes denoted as AZA-FLU, AZA-NPC, AZA-TPA, and AZA-2OMe for the control of the excited-state dynamics and circular dichroism properties of parent aza-[7]helicene.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2328-2334
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA01045G
Generation of time-multiplexed chiroptical information from multilayer-type luminescence-based circular polarization conversion films
Time-multiplexed chiroptical information was systematically produced by the multi-layered luminescence-based CP convertors comprising two LPL films with different PL spectral profiles and different PL lifetimes.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 2253-2259
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00648D
Profound influence of surface trap states on the utilization of charge carriers in CdS photoanodes
In CdS photoanodes, the decoration of surface sulfur vacancies by CTAB passivates the electron trapping process, resulting in improved photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 1513-1522
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00847A
Nearly three-dimensional Dirac fermions in an organic crystalline material unveiled by electron spin resonance
Original analysis methods of the electron spin resonance revealed that nearly three-dimensional Dirac fermions coexistent with standard fermions in an organic charge-transfer complex with each temperature-dependence and rotation symmetry.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 1492-1501
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00619K
A novel Ni–Schiff base complex for motivating glucose electrooxidation in alkaline solutions
Many Schiff-base complexes of metal ions display enhanced catalytic activities toward redox reactions of many organic compounds; accordingly, its application in electrocatalysis is a crucial issue.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 1264-1283
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00730H
Ginger-derived hierarchical porous carbon as an anode material for potassium-ion batteries and capacitors
Carbonaceous materials are ideal as an anode for potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) because of their low cost, tunable physiochemical properties, and excellent reversible intercalation of potassium-ions (K+).
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 632-641
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00732D
Photoluminescence mechanism of red emissive carbon dots from a diaminobenzoic acid isomer
A carboxylic acid moiety realizes the transition of carbon dots from yellow to red emission.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 249-258
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00836C
Castor oil-derived polyurethane networks multiple recyclability based on reversible dynamic acetal bond
Making polyurethanes (PUs) from castor oil (CO) is severely constrained because they cannot be recycled due to the irreversibly cross-linked structure.
Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 199-208
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00464C
About this collection
This ongoing web collection brings together the most well received papers published in Materials Advances so far in 2024. New papers will be added monthly, so be sure to keep up to date with the collection.
Congratulations to all of the authors whose articles are featured!