Themed collection 2024 Nanoscale HOT Article Collection

This mini-review focuses on organic photoelectrochemical transistors and summarizes their recent advances in operation mechanisms, device architectures, and applications in biomedical sciences, optoelectronics and sensor technologies.

Reaction mechanisms of CO₂ reduction and evolution at cathode/electrolyte interface are discussed, highlighting the relationship between electrochemical performance of Li–CO₂ batteries and properties of different discharge products.

The technique of Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM) has been expanded in recent years, with new categories of materials being tested, implementation of new instrumental capabilities, and the rapid adoption of the technique worldwide.

Recent progress on nickel phthalocyanine-based electrocatalysts is reviewed, focusing on their specific strategies, structure–performance relationship and CO₂-to-CO reaction mechanism.

This minireview covers recent advances in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production using I–III–VI QDs, detailing the material design strategies.

This minireview summarizes recent applications of machine learning interatomic potentials for predicting the stability and structures of solid-state surfaces.

Schematic representation of the structural regulation strategy and progress of Fe–S clusters.

Nanoarchitectonics may be highly compatible with applications in biological systems. Construction strategies and functions of bio-gel nanoarchitectonics in medical applications and tissue engineering are discussed.

This review has focused on the up-to-date development of targeted drug delivery systems to GBM, with specific emphasis on the utilization of nanorobotic delivery systems for active targeting.

This review delves into enzyme-mimic catalysis of metal nanoclusters based on a hierarchical structure scheme reminiscent of proteins. Biomedical applications established by the enzyme-mimic catalysis of clusters have also been outlined.

Changes in the atomic structure of nanoparticles, core-to-shell ratio and composition lead to fine tuning of the catalytic properties.

A systematic summary of recent disinfection developments based on inorganic nanomaterials, which hold great potential for future photocatalytic antibacterial applications, has been exhibited.

The development of UES is summarized from the kinetics and thermodynamics viewpoint. Challenges and future development are also discussed.

In situ peptide assemblies have attracted considerable attention as promising alternatives in bacterial infection imaging and treatment.

Advances in functional biomaterial designs for assisting CAR-T therapy against solid tumors.

A paradigm shift in biofunctionalization of FETs for biosensors. Using thermal scanning probe lithography we achieve sub-20 nm spatially selective multiplexed functionalization, paving the way for massive parallel detection of multiple pathogens.

Controllable fabrication of photoresponsive colloidal clusters with a wide range of adjustable sizes and complex architectures are fabricated through the aggregation, fusion and photoinduced deformation of azo colloidal spheres.

The creation of atomic catalytic centers has emerged as a conducive path to design nanobiocatalysts to serve as artificial antioxidases that can mimic the natural antioxidases to scavenge reactive oxygen species for promoting tissue regeneration.

This work demonstrated that the stability of a nanocluster-based crystalline system should be assessed from both the cluster individual and the cluster collective aspects.

Three structurally new polyoxometalate-templated silver clusters have been synthesized using a facile solvothermal approach, the resulting three clusters exhibit distinct temperature-dependent photoluminescence and photothermal conversion properties.

Inorganic cesium lead bromide nanocrystals (CsPbBr₃ NCs) hold promising prospects for high performance green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their exceptional color purity and high luminescence efficiency.

We report the synthesis of nanoporous Cu/Ag bimetallic triangular nanoprisms (BTNPs) using a galvanic replacement method.

Special phytic acid (PA) layer facilitates desolvation of zinc ions and protects MnO₂ with excellent electrochemical capacity.

Active site-exposed Bi₂WO₆@BiOCl with a compact Z-scheme heterostructure exhibits enhanced photoactivity towards the hydrogenation reaction of nitroaromatic compounds.

In this study, our innovative Mito@ZiF-8 system enhances the functionality of isolated mitochondria and reprograms M2 macrophage metabolism upon delivery, ultimately, reducing the tumorigenic potential of breast cancer cells.

Bi atoms were introduced into rutile RuO₂ (i.e., Bi_0.05Ru_0.95O₂) for enhancing its catalytic activity and stability toward the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with a low overpotential (203.5 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and excellent stability.

By integrating dielectric and metallic components, hybrid nanophotonic devices present promising opportunities for manipulating nanoscale light–matter interactions and achieving strong light-matter coupling regime with atomically thin semiconductors.

As a multifunctional additive for 2 M ZnSO₄ electrolyte, L-leucine with abundant carboxyl and amino groups, exhibits strong interactions with Zn-ion to disrupt its solvation structure, inhibiting the occurrence of side reactions and promoting uniform Zn electrodeposition.

The SiO₂ nanofluids enhance coal wettability by promoting hydrogen bond formation, increasing hydrophilicity and water absorption. This weakens coal cohesion, causing softening.

An Au nanocluster (NC)-based photodynamic antibacterial is designed by conjugating arginine on the surface of Au₂₂ NCs, achieving healing of bacteria-infected wounds via producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).

pAMPS–Cl/AuNR@HA–DA hydrogels were used to treat skin wounds in mice through chemical release therapy and photothermal effects.

Experimental interrogation unveils that as much as 75% of the area underneath bubbles is electrochemically active. A simple method for estimating the degree of electrode inactivation due to bubbles is demonstrated.

A series of copper(I) alkynyl cluster-based polymers (CACPs) have been successfully synthesized by employing bifunctional ligands. Additionally, the selection of auxiliary ligands plays a crucial role in shaping the structure of CACPs.

We successfully demonstrated a 2T0C-FeDRAM with a record-long multibit retention time exceeding 2000 seconds and 4-bit (19 states) capability, attributed to a V_SN of 0 V leveraging the non-volatile properties of ferroelectrics.

A series of heterometallic Sn–Ti oxo clusters was prepared using inorganic tin precursors and polyhydroxyalkane stabilizing ligands, which exhibited record-high nuclearity and different electrocatalytic behaviours.

Lacunaris perovskite oxide nanotubes were prepared by electrospinning, which significantly facilitated the adsorption of hydroxide ions and enriched their local concentration at the inner surface, collectively accelerating the OER kinetics.

Mesoporous N-doped carbon with a tunable nitrogen content showed excellent performance for oxygen reduction due to the pyridinic/graphitic nitrogen and structural defects, offering a promising strategy for designing electrocatalysts.

Poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) assemble into monolayers featuring a face-on orientation, extended chain conformation and isolated packing, which is thermodynamically more stable than folded chains in 2D polycrystals.

A small-molecule nanomedicine with high drug loading, robust stability, responsive drug release and a synergistic photochemotherapeutic effect has been developed for cancer therapy. Image created with Biorender.

The positive Hammett substituent constant of para-substituted benzoic acids is found to be more effective than the negative one in passivating the perovskite/SnO₂ interface of perovskite solar cells.

Nutritional metal element-fusion peptide heterostructured nanocoating-decorated PEEK implants were fabricated for photoactivated pathogen disinfection, enhanced angiogenesis, and osteogenesis, promoting improved osseointegration.

The unbiased fluorescence monitoring of exciton–exciton annihilation kinetics reveals an exciton diffusion length exceeding 70 nm in highly concentrated, disordered, dye-loaded organic nanoparticles.

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that a previously unreported two-dimensional ice-like water adlayer structure, termed Ice-AL-II, can form on mica surfaces under ambient conditions.

Illustration of FCM nanoparticles synthesis and its anticancer mechanism, highlighting its high microwave sensitivity and thermal conversion efficiency for synergistic microwave thermal therapy (MTT) and microwave dynamic therapy (MDT).

Magnetic coordination complexes interact strongly with maghemite nanoparticles, increasing their magnetic anisotropy and remaining coupled up to room temperature.

The BSNT ferroelectric submicron powder tribocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen with rate of 200 μmol/h/g and tribocatalytic degradation of RhB dyes with efficiency 96% in 2 hours, •OH and •O₂⁻ play crucial roles in tribocatalysis.

Study of three antimony-based nanomaterials' behaviour in biological conditions and the influence of the synthesis on their oxidation state and stability in this environment.

Gold nanoparticle-induced endothelial leakiness and paracellular transport can be controlled or partially negated by preformed plasma protein coronas.

Two superatomic silver nanoclusters (Ag₁₇ and Ag₃₂) with similar outer shells were constructed by adjusting phosphine ligands, and their PL intensity and QY varied greatly because of the different surface rigidity.

The a-NbS₄/20%VGCF@15%Li₇P₃S₁₁ nanocomposite shows superior electronic/ionic conductivity by five and two orders of magnitude of those of NbS₄, enabling all-solid-state lithium batteries with enhanced electrochemical performances.

By combining monolayer MoSe₂ with plasmonic nanostructure, the photodetector demonstrates a high photocurrent circular dichroism (CD) of 0.35 at 810 nm and a linear polarization (LP) of 0.4 at 633 nm.

We developed monolayer Dy₂O₃-PMA nanosheets and nanotubes based on microwave-assisted synthesis, with which high-energy input enabling faster and dynamically driven growth of nanomaterials, resulting in high-purity and narrow size distribution.

A novel nanodrug constructed from hydrophobic drug-inhibitor conjugates through a protonated strategy to synergistically reverse MDR and inhibit tumor growth.

A highly luminescent Au₃₉(SR)₂₉ nanocluster is obtained, with its emission at 915 nm and 19% quantum yield in solution and 32% in films at room temperature.

An innovative, low-temperature, post-liftoff-free, seed-confined fabrication strategy is developed to achieve designated patterns of flower-shaped AgBiS₂ nanostructures on rigid or flexible substrates for broadband and eco-friendly photodetectors.

The S-scheme heterojunction formed by C₃N₄ and CuO effectively improves the degradation and mineralization efficiency of tetracycline.

We demonstrate a phototransistor based on a PdSe₂/Si heterojunction on a SOI substrate, which exhibits high photoelectric performance. The photoelectric performance of the device can be further improved under gate voltage regulation.

An approach to image 3D stray-field components by using a Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle sensor is provided. This technique offers a way to observe the out-of-plane and in-plane stray-field components, and paves a way for the development of spintronic devices.

Boron nanosheets improve evaporation rates of hydrogel-based solar vapour generators. The extensive B–O bonds lead to high energy conversion efficiency and reduce water evaporation enthalpy. The system also shows high salt resistance and high durability.

Gradient oxygen doping triggered a microscale built-in electric field in CdIn₂S₄ for highly efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Iron–chromium flow batteries (ICRFBs) are regarded as one of the most promising large-scale energy storage devices with broad application prospects in recent years. In this work, active learning is used to explore the most optimized cases considering the highest energy efficiency and capacity.

We present an approach to prepare Pd₅₈Ni₄₂/N-TBA-V₂CT_x electrocatalysts for highly efficient hydrogen evolution through in situ growth nanodendritic PdNi nanosheets on nitrogen-doped V₂CT_x supports.

The interlayer bond polarizability model is improved to quantitatively understand the twist-angle and excitation-energy dependent Raman intensity profile of layer-breathing modes in polynary van der Waals heterostructures.

FeCoP nanosheets anchored by Ru NPs (r-Ru/FeCoP) were synthesized using an oxygen defect-assisted-gas-phase phosphorization strategy. The η₁₀₀ values of r-Ru/FeCoP are 0.8 and 0.58 times those of Pt/C and RuO₂ during the alkaline HER and OER.

Sn_0.2Mo_0.8S₂ nanorings with a mixed 1T/2H phase were synthesized by etching SnS₂ cores from Sn_1−xMo_xS₂/SnS₂ lateral heterostructures. Flexible electronic sensors based on these nanorings exhibited excellent temperature and strain sensing performance.

Investigation on the electronic and second harmonic generation (SHG) properties of Moiré superlattices in 2D bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with varying twist angles using first-principles calculations.

We propose a multifunctional electrolyte additive, sodium gluconate (SG), which induces the growth of Zn (002) crystal plane by preferentially adsorbing on other crystal planes and thus inhibiting the growth of Zn dendrite.