Materials Advances最新文献

Correction for ‘Optimization of photodegradation of crystal violet dye and biomedical applications of greenly synthesized NiO nanoparticles’ by Abu Bakar Siddique et al., Mater. Adv., 2025, 6, 1330–1344, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA01078G.

Visible-light assistance plays a pivotal role in enhancing the electrochemical reaction kinetics of photoresponsive electrocatalysts by generating additional photocarriers that participate in the interfacial HER and OER processes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a NiCo-MOF grown in situ on an optimised amount of g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, followed by phosphidation to yield a NiCoP/g-C₃N₄ heterostructure via a two-step process. The electrocatalytic performance of the NiCoP/g-C₃N₄ heterostructure was systematically evaluated under both visible-light irradiation and in the dark. Under visible-light illumination, the catalyst required overpotentials of 222 mV and 210 mV (iR-corrected) for HER and OER, respectively, at a current density of 100 mA cm⁻² with Tafel slopes of 85.9 mV dec⁻¹ and 68.8 mV dec⁻¹. In contrast, under dark conditions, the overpotentials increased to 277 mV and 260 mV (iR-corrected) for the HER and OER, with Tafel slopes of 98.8 mV dec⁻¹ and 86.5 mV dec⁻¹, respectively. Notably, the overpotentials required are reduced by 1.25 times compared to dark conditions. Furthermore, in a two-electrode system comprising NiCoP/g-C₃N₄‖NiCoP/g-C₃N₄, a cell voltage of 1.57 V under illumination and 1.65 V in the dark was required to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². The catalyst also demonstrated excellent stability, maintaining activity for 24 hours at a high current density of 400 mA cm⁻² without noticeable degradation, and delivering a faradaic efficiencies of 97% for HER and 96% for OER under illumination. This study highlights how visible-light integration, via photoexcitation of g-C₃N₄ and synergistic coupling with NiCoP, enhances electrochemical water splitting performance, providing a practical strategy for designing highly efficient heterointerface electrocatalysts for photo-assisted water splitting.

Correction for ‘A multiplexed tension sensor reveals the distinct levels of integrin-mediated forces in adherent cells’ by Xiaojun Liu et al., Mater. Adv., 2024, 5, 9220–9230, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00600C.

In this study, we show that hexadecyl palmitate and cholesterol, two naturally occurring small molecule aliphatics, are suitable dielectrics for organic field effect transistors (OFETs). We provide a comprehensive description of their material characteristics, processability, and film-forming capabilities, as well as surface characterization and dielectric analysis. We finally employ them for the fabrication of organic field effect transistors, employing two traditional organic semiconductors, pentacene and fullerene, C₆₀. We demonstrate that most OFETs can function with operating voltage windows as low as 1 V, and driving voltages as low as 10 mV, when these materials solubilized in chloroform, are fabricated utilizing blade coating technique.

Neuromorphic computing demands scalable, energy-efficient synaptic devices, yet conventional synthesis routes impose prohibitive cost and complexity barriers. This work presents a transformative strategy for material design in which room-temperature exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas converts thermally deposited silver films into phase-pure monoclinic α-Ag₂S, a superionic conductor well-suited for electrochemical metallization (ECM) switching. Structural characterization confirms complete FCC-to-monoclinic phase transformation within 48 hours. Planar Ag/Ag₂S/Ag memristors fabricated from these films exhibit robust unipolar resistive switching with exceptional reproducibility across 16 devices. Systematic pulse-train studies reveal consistent short-term plasticity (STP) behavior, with volatile retention averaging ∼49 seconds at 100 µA compliance. This synthesis approach eliminates vacuum processing requirements, enabling the scalable production of high-performance α-Ag₂S switching layers. This positions ECM devices as accessible and practical elements for neuromorphic hardware.

Electrochemical exfoliation offers a scalable method for graphene production, but it introduces a complex interplay of structural defects, chemical functionalization, and electronic doping. These factors result in Raman signatures that differ significantly from those observed in mechanically exfoliated graphene and high-quality chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene. Consequently, conventional Raman metrics require careful and context-specific reinterpretation. Raman spectroscopy remains essential for graphene characterization due to its high sensitivity to disorder and charge-transfer effects. This review provides a critical assessment of the Raman characteristics of electrochemically exfoliated graphene (EEG), integrating established defect models with a systematic analysis of Raman datasets from the literature. Detailed examination of key spectral parameters, including the I(D)/I(G) and I(D′)/I(G) intensity ratios, G-band position and full width at half maximum, and 2D-band position, reveals the coexistence of basal-plane defects, edge-related contributions, and dopant-induced effects in EEG. These findings indicate that Raman responses in EEG deviate from pristine graphene benchmarks and challenge the direct application of standard interpretative frameworks. The influence of electrolyte chemistry and applied potential on defect landscapes and doping levels is further evaluated through direct comparison with mechanically exfoliated and CVD graphene. Finally, emerging approaches such as in situ Raman spectroscopy, multivariate analysis, and machine-learning-assisted interpretation are identified as promising strategies for achieving more reliable structure–property correlations in EEG.

The present study focuses on the fabrication of a highly efficient, eco-friendly solid adsorbent, namely melamine formaldehyde-reinforced onion peel biochar/alginate composite (MCAg), along with onion peel-based biochar (C) and biochar/alginate composite beads (CAg). The synthesized adsorbents were characterized using various instrumental techniques. MCAg exhibited a surface area of 309.4 m² g⁻¹, a point of zero charge at pH 6.6, and the presence of multiple surface chemical functional groups as identified by FTIR analysis. The fabricated adsorbents were applied for the batch adsorption of Pb²⁺ ions under different operating conditions, in addition to desorption, reusability, and real-sample studies. MCAg showed the highest Langmuir adsorption capacity (348.9 mg g⁻¹) at pH 6, a solid dosage of 2.5 g L⁻¹, 20 °C, and 50 min of shaking time. The presence of coexisting ions in real polluted samples reduced the adsorption capacity for Pb²⁺ ions by an average of approximately 30%. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was found to be the most effective desorbing agent for Pb²⁺ ions from the adsorbent surfaces. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies confirmed the applicability of the pseudo-first order and van’t Hoff models, indicating a physisorption mechanism and a spontaneous adsorption process. Column adsorption of Pb²⁺ ions was evaluated at three different bed heights (2, 3, and 4 cm) using an initial concentration of 80 mg L⁻¹ and a flow rate of 15 mL min⁻¹, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 232.7 mg g⁻¹ at a 4 cm bed height, with the experimental data fitting well with the Yoon–Nelson and Thomas models. The effective adsorption of Pb²⁺ by MCAg is mainly related to the synergistic action of surface functional groups enabling ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and complexation with Pb²⁺ ions, highlighting the composite's strong potential for polluted water treatment.

Natural rubber (NR) is a renewable elastomer with broad industrial relevance but intrinsically poor flame resistance, a limitation that is further exacerbated in foamed structures. Conventional flame-retardant strategies typically require high filler loadings that compromise mechanical performance and processability. In this work, Kraft lignin-based nanocontainers (LNCs) were engineered as multifunctional carriers to deliver ammonium polyphosphate (APP) within an NR matrix, enabling simultaneous enhancement of flame retardancy and mechanical properties at low additive contents. LNCs were synthesized via interfacial crosslinking and stably incorporated into NR latex using surfactant-assisted dispersion, yielding nanocomposites with preserved particle sizes of approximately 300 nm and minimal aggregation after coagulation and drying. At a loading of 10 wt% LNC, the resulting NR composites exhibited a 35% improvement in comprehensive combustion indices, a 43% reduction in peak heat release rate, and a 57% decrease in linear burn rate relative to neat NR, while achieving a UL-94 HB rating where the control failed. Concurrently, mechanical performance was significantly improved, with a 127% increase in toughness alongside gains in strength, modulus, and elongation at break. Notably, foamed NR/LNC composites demonstrated further enhancement in flame resistance, exhibiting higher limiting oxygen index values and nearly half the linear burn rate of their solid counterparts, indicating a synergistic interaction between the intumescent nanocontainers and the porous foam architecture. Overall, lignin nanocontainer-mediated delivery of flame retardants provides an effective, bio-based strategy to balance fire safety and physicomechanical performance in natural rubber systems, outperforming conventional bulk additive approaches.

Three new hybrid halometallates, (C₈H₁₄N₂)₂[Bi₂Br₁₀]·2H₂O (M4), (C₈H₁₄N₂)₃[BiCl₆]₂ (M43), and (C₈H₁₄N₂)[SbCl₅] (M41), have been comparatively investigated to establish comprehensive structure–property–function correlations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed distinct zero-dimensional motifs based on Bi₂Br₁₀ dimers, BiCl₆ octahedra, and SbCl₅ square pyramids, with packing efficiencies ranging from 92.9 to 94.1%. These structural differences directly modulate their optical and dielectric properties: M4 exhibits broadband photoluminescence at 470 nm and an intermediate band gap of 2.90 eV; M43, the most distorted and least dense phase, displays a wide band gap of 3.16 eV with suppressed PL; and M41, with a nearly ideal square-pyramidal SbCl₅ geometry, shows the narrowest gap (2.77 eV) and a clean green–yellow emission at 571 nm, alongside dynamic dielectric relaxation processes. Antibacterial assays revealed exceptional activity for the organic cation and M41, surpassing that of gentamicin against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, whereas M4 and M43 were significantly less active due to stronger ion pairing and reduced cation release. This integrated analysis highlights the pivotal roles of halide identity, metal coordination geometry, and lattice topology in dictating multifunctionality. The findings establish anion–cation engineering in halometallates as a versatile platform for designing materials that simultaneously combine optical, dielectric, and antibacterial properties.

This study focuses on the edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) method for growing Yb:YAG crystals, analyzing the relationships among insulation structures, temperature gradients, and the driving force for crystal growth. We investigated the temperature field through 3D numerical simulation and examined how different insulation thicknesses modulate the axial temperature gradient near the die top and the radial temperature distribution on the die top surface. By incorporating the axial temperature gradient into the pressure and heat balance equations at the meniscus, we derive the limiting ranges of the process parameters, which provide guidance for successfully growing high-quality crystals. Subsequent measurements of X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) spectra and decay times revealed that the luminescence characteristics of the EFG-grown crystals are comparable to those of crystals grown by the Czochralski (Cz) method.