Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100752
Yajing Bai , Yu Zhou , Zhipeng Hu , Qiwei Tang , Wangzi Liu , Mingxing Lu , Yue Huang , Hong Li
Plaque is a copolymer of bacteria under chronic inflammation, which requires dual treatment of both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. In the study, we successfully developed a novel ceria nanoparticle with dual nature of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging/generating capacity via photodynamic activity. Ceria was formed in a nano-confinement of mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA), along with a gold heterojunction. The ceria-gold@ MPDA nanoparticles (Ce-Au@MPDA NPs) in a size of 200 nm showed enhanced photodynamic capacity to produce ROS compared with MPDA and CeO2 NPs alone, respectively, which showed antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans under NIR irradiation. Furthermore, under light irradiation, the Ce-Au@MPDA NPs demonstrated excellent performance in inhibiting and degrading biofilms. Also, an improved ROS scavenging effect was obtained when Ce-Au@MPDA was compared with either MPDA or CeO2 NPs. The in vitro study showed that Ce-Au@MPDA effectively eliminated intracellular ROS. Due to the nanosize less than 20 nm of Ce-Au from the confinement of MPDA and the effective cycle from cerium (IV) to cerium (III) induced by the gold-ceria heterojunction according to XPS analysis, the dual nature of ceria was enhanced in its individual way. The study provides a novel way for dual therapeutic efficacy for treating dental plaque.
{"title":"Enhanced dual nature of ROS activity of ceria and its application for treating dental plaque","authors":"Yajing Bai , Yu Zhou , Zhipeng Hu , Qiwei Tang , Wangzi Liu , Mingxing Lu , Yue Huang , Hong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100752","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100752","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plaque is a copolymer of bacteria under chronic inflammation, which requires dual treatment of both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. In the study, we successfully developed a novel ceria nanoparticle with dual nature of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging/generating capacity via photodynamic activity. Ceria was formed in a nano-confinement of mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA), along with a gold heterojunction. The ceria-gold@ MPDA nanoparticles (Ce-Au@MPDA NPs) in a size of 200 nm showed enhanced photodynamic capacity to produce ROS compared with MPDA and CeO<sub>2</sub> NPs alone, respectively, which showed antibacterial activity toward <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> under NIR irradiation. Furthermore, under light irradiation, the Ce-Au@MPDA NPs demonstrated excellent performance in inhibiting and degrading biofilms. Also, an improved ROS scavenging effect was obtained when Ce-Au@MPDA was compared with either MPDA or CeO<sub>2</sub> NPs. The in vitro study showed that Ce-Au@MPDA effectively eliminated intracellular ROS. Due to the nanosize less than 20 nm of Ce-Au from the confinement of MPDA and the effective cycle from cerium (IV) to cerium (III) induced by the gold-ceria heterojunction according to XPS analysis, the dual nature of ceria was enhanced in its individual way. The study provides a novel way for dual therapeutic efficacy for treating dental plaque.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100752"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100757
Panpan Jing , Chaoyue Zhao , Peifeng Wang , Nan Guo
Enhancing the utilization-efficiency of photo-excited carriers via a heterojunction engineering remains a crucial challenge in developing effective and universal photocatalysts for wastewater purification and eco-friendly energy generation. In this work, we demonstrate a new visible-light-responsive Bi4Ti3O12/AgBr heterojunction photocatalyst constructed by in-situ anchoring AgBr particles on molten-salt-synthesized Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets via an electrostatic self-assembly method. Due to the high separation efficiency, low transport resistance and longevity of photo-generated carriers adhered to a Z-scheme migration path under a junction-induced interfacial built-in electric field, the Bi4Ti3O12/AgBr-1:1 heterojunction with an optimized component ratio and microstructure exhibits an exceptional visible-light-driven photocatalytic capability with degrading 95 % of Rhodamine B and 91 % of methyl orange in both only 7 min, and 81 % of tetracycline hydrochloride in solution in only 24 min, which dominated by the contributions of superoxide radical and photo-excited holes. Moreover, it delivers a high hydrogen-production rate of 112.4 μmol g−1h−1. This performance is several-fold improvement over the bare Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets, AgBr particles, and commercial P25 nano powders, ranking among the highest reported for Bi4Ti3O12-based systems. Consequently, this work not only presents a high-efficiency dual-functional photocatalyst for both organic pollutant’s degradation and H2-production, but also yields fundamental discoveries regarding the rational design of Z-scheme heterojunctions for advanced photocatalytic applications.
{"title":"An electrostatic self-assembled Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst achieving breakthrough performance in organic pollutants decomposition and hydrogen production","authors":"Panpan Jing , Chaoyue Zhao , Peifeng Wang , Nan Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enhancing the utilization-efficiency of photo-excited carriers via a heterojunction engineering remains a crucial challenge in developing effective and universal photocatalysts for wastewater purification and eco-friendly energy generation. In this work, we demonstrate a new visible-light-responsive Bi<sub>4</sub>Ti<sub>3</sub>O<sub>12</sub>/AgBr heterojunction photocatalyst constructed by in-situ anchoring AgBr particles on molten-salt-synthesized Bi<sub>4</sub>Ti<sub>3</sub>O<sub>12</sub> nanosheets via an electrostatic self-assembly method. Due to the high separation efficiency, low transport resistance and longevity of photo-generated carriers adhered to a Z-scheme migration path under a junction-induced interfacial built-in electric field, the Bi<sub>4</sub>Ti<sub>3</sub>O<sub>12</sub>/AgBr-1:1 heterojunction with an optimized component ratio and microstructure exhibits an exceptional visible-light-driven photocatalytic capability with degrading 95 % of Rhodamine B and 91 % of methyl orange in both only 7 min, and 81 % of tetracycline hydrochloride in solution in only 24 min, which dominated by the contributions of superoxide radical and photo-excited holes. Moreover, it delivers a high hydrogen-production rate of 112.4 μmol g<sup>−1</sup>h<sup>−1</sup>. This performance is several-fold improvement over the bare Bi<sub>4</sub>Ti<sub>3</sub>O<sub>12</sub> nanosheets, AgBr particles, and commercial P25 nano powders, ranking among the highest reported for Bi<sub>4</sub>Ti<sub>3</sub>O<sub>12</sub>-based systems. Consequently, this work not only presents a high-efficiency dual-functional photocatalyst for both organic pollutant’s degradation and H<sub>2</sub>-production, but also yields fundamental discoveries regarding the rational design of Z-scheme heterojunctions for advanced photocatalytic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100757"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100753
Jia Su , Fushan Li , Lujie Zhang , Xuan Yang , Jiaomin Li , Hongya Wu , Xiaoyi Zhao , Shilu Wang , Zidong Zhang , Lixin Xuan
In order to address the high-performance needs for absorptive materials in modern electronic devices and to overcome technical barriers such as frequency bandwidth and impedance matching, a cooperative design strategy is proposed that combines solvent-assisted size effects with defect engineering. A series of nanoflower CuS samples was synthesized using a simple hydrothermal process, with the type of solvent being the only variable factor in the experimental design. The synergistic effect between solvent-induced micro-size regulation and copper vacancy engineering enhances impedance matching, stimulates conductive loss, and promotes defect polarization. The CuS-S-EG sample, which had been optimized, was dispersed in the paraffin matrix with a mass fraction of 30 %, thereby achieving an effective absorption band (EAB) of 6.93 GHz with a thickness of a mere 2.18 mm. Concurrently, an exceptional minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −28.63 dB with a matching thickness of 2.41 mm was achieved. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulations further demonstrated the dissipation capability of CuS-S-EG electromagnetic wave (EMW) in real-world applications. This study proposes a novel methodology for the fabrication of high-performance CuS-based absorbers.
{"title":"Solvent-assisted size effect and defect engineering synergistically prepare high-efficiency microwave absorbers","authors":"Jia Su , Fushan Li , Lujie Zhang , Xuan Yang , Jiaomin Li , Hongya Wu , Xiaoyi Zhao , Shilu Wang , Zidong Zhang , Lixin Xuan","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100753","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100753","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to address the high-performance needs for absorptive materials in modern electronic devices and to overcome technical barriers such as frequency bandwidth and impedance matching, a cooperative design strategy is proposed that combines solvent-assisted size effects with defect engineering. A series of nanoflower CuS samples was synthesized using a simple hydrothermal process, with the type of solvent being the only variable factor in the experimental design. The synergistic effect between solvent-induced micro-size regulation and copper vacancy engineering enhances impedance matching, stimulates conductive loss, and promotes defect polarization. The CuS-S-EG sample, which had been optimized, was dispersed in the paraffin matrix with a mass fraction of 30 %, thereby achieving an effective absorption band (EAB) of 6.93 GHz with a thickness of a mere 2.18 mm. Concurrently, an exceptional minimum reflection loss (RL<sub>min</sub>) of −28.63 dB with a matching thickness of 2.41 mm was achieved. Radar cross-section (RCS) simulations further demonstrated the dissipation capability of CuS-S-EG electromagnetic wave (EMW) in real-world applications. This study proposes a novel methodology for the fabrication of high-performance CuS-based absorbers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100753"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100754
Fan Liu , Zeyi Zhang , Yang Tang , Qianwei Chen , Yangyang Tan , Tianou He , Shu-Juan Bao
Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) powered by renewable energy sources offer an attractive strategy for green hydrogen production. However, developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts, especially under fluctuating power inputs, remains a key challenge. Herein, a strategy of altering the adsorption energy of intermediates through interface engineering is proposed to enhance alkaline Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. The constructed MoNi-MoO2 heterointerfaces exhibit strong metal-support interactions, leading to significant charge redistribution, and optimization of the d-band center and hydrogen adsorption energy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further revealed that Ni site lower the energy barrier for the hydroxyl transfer process, thereby accelerating the overall HER kinetics. As a result, the MoNi-MoO2-C/NF catalyst achieved superior HER catalytic performance, requiring a low overpotential of 39 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the assembled AEMWE achieved a high current density of 1 A cm−2 with a low voltage of 1.79 V and maintains exceptional stability for over 220 h under dynamic operating conditions. This work provides valuable guidance for designing effective catalysts for green hydrogen production powered by fluctuating power supply sources.
以可再生能源为动力的阴离子交换膜电解（AEMWE）为绿色制氢提供了一种有吸引力的策略。然而，开发高效和耐用的电催化剂，特别是在波动功率输入下，仍然是一个关键的挑战。本文提出了一种通过界面工程改变中间体吸附能来提高碱性析氢反应（HER）活性的策略。所构建的MoNi-MoO2异质界面表现出强烈的金属-负载相互作用，导致明显的电荷再分配，并优化了d带中心和氢吸附能。密度泛函理论（DFT）计算进一步表明，Ni位点降低了羟基转移过程的能垒，从而加速了整体HER动力学。结果表明，MoNi-MoO2-C/NF催化剂具有优异的HER催化性能，需要39 mV的低过电位才能达到10 mA cm−2。此外，组装的AEMWE在1.79 V的低电压下实现了1 a cm−2的高电流密度，并在动态工作条件下保持了超过220小时的卓越稳定性。该研究为设计波动电源驱动的绿色制氢催化剂提供了有价值的指导。
{"title":"Stable alkaline water electrolysis enabled by carbon-encapsulated MoNi-MoO2 heterointerfaces with accelerated hydrogen evolution kinetics","authors":"Fan Liu , Zeyi Zhang , Yang Tang , Qianwei Chen , Yangyang Tan , Tianou He , Shu-Juan Bao","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) powered by renewable energy sources offer an attractive strategy for green hydrogen production. However, developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts, especially under fluctuating power inputs, remains a key challenge. Herein, a strategy of altering the adsorption energy of intermediates through interface engineering is proposed to enhance alkaline Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. The constructed MoNi-MoO<sub>2</sub> heterointerfaces exhibit strong metal-support interactions, leading to significant charge redistribution, and optimization of the d-band center and hydrogen adsorption energy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further revealed that Ni site lower the energy barrier for the hydroxyl transfer process, thereby accelerating the overall HER kinetics. As a result, the MoNi-MoO<sub>2</sub>-C/NF catalyst achieved superior HER catalytic performance, requiring a low overpotential of 39 mV to reach 10 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. Moreover, the assembled AEMWE achieved a high current density of 1 A cm<sup>−2</sup> with a low voltage of 1.79 V and maintains exceptional stability for over 220 h under dynamic operating conditions. This work provides valuable guidance for designing effective catalysts for green hydrogen production powered by fluctuating power supply sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100754"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100755
Tehmina Akhtar , Sharif Ullah , Syeda Aqsa Batool Bukhari , Johannes W. Schwank , Habib Nasir
The development of highly efficient and stable photocatalysts is paramount for addressing the global challenge of water pollution. This study reports the rational design and synthesis of a novel ruthenium-decorated TiO2 nanorods/g-C3N4 (Ru/TiO2 NRs/g-C3N4) 0D/1D/2D ternary heterojunction with exceptional photocatalytic activity. The material was extensively characterized using a suite of advanced techniques, including STEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, BET, PL, Raman, and UV–vis DRS spectroscopy, which confirmed the uniform deposition of Ru nanoparticles (1–3 nm) and strong interfacial interactions. The photocatalytic performance of the ternary heterojunction was evaluated for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) under visible light (λ > 420 nm, 100 mW/cm2). The Ru/TiO2 NRs/g-C3N4 catalyst exhibited remarkable efficiency, achieving 99.9 % degradation of RhB in 35 min (rate constant: 0.21 min−1) and complete conversion of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in just 6 min, significantly outperforming other noble metal-decorated systems. The enhanced activity is attributed to optimal Mott-Schottky junction formation, superior charge separation efficiency, and the synergistic effects of the 0D/1D/2D hierarchical architecture. The catalyst also demonstrated excellent stability and reusability over five consecutive cycles, highlighting its potential for practical application in industrial wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. This work establishes a new benchmark for the design of advanced photocatalytic systems and presents a promising pathway for developing sustainable solutions to water pollution.
{"title":"Leveraging the Mott-Schottky junction in Ru/TiO2 NRs/g-C3N4 ternary heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic efficiency","authors":"Tehmina Akhtar , Sharif Ullah , Syeda Aqsa Batool Bukhari , Johannes W. Schwank , Habib Nasir","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2026.100755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of highly efficient and stable photocatalysts is paramount for addressing the global challenge of water pollution. This study reports the rational design and synthesis of a novel ruthenium-decorated TiO<sub>2</sub> nanorods/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> (Ru/TiO<sub>2</sub> NRs/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) 0D/1D/2D ternary heterojunction with exceptional photocatalytic activity. The material was extensively characterized using a suite of advanced techniques, including STEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, BET, PL, Raman, and UV–vis DRS spectroscopy, which confirmed the uniform deposition of Ru nanoparticles (1–3 nm) and strong interfacial interactions<strong>.</strong> The photocatalytic performance of the ternary heterojunction was evaluated for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) under visible light (λ > 420 nm, 100 mW/cm<sup>2</sup>)<strong>.</strong> The Ru/TiO<sub>2</sub> NRs/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> catalyst exhibited remarkable efficiency, achieving 99.9 % degradation of RhB in 35 min (rate constant: 0.21 min<sup>−1</sup>) and complete conversion of 4-NP to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in just 6 min, significantly outperforming other noble metal-decorated systems<strong>.</strong> The enhanced activity is attributed to optimal Mott-Schottky junction formation, superior charge separation efficiency, and the synergistic effects of the 0D/1D/2D hierarchical architecture. The catalyst also demonstrated excellent stability and reusability over five consecutive cycles, highlighting its potential for practical application in industrial wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. This work establishes a new benchmark for the design of advanced photocatalytic systems and presents a promising pathway for developing sustainable solutions to water pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100755"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100749
Tengteng Yi , Peng Li , Yidi Wu , Lulu Chen , Sen Lin
The hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol on reverse ZnO/Cu catalysts holds great promise for effectively mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while enabling sustainable synthesis of fuels and chemicals. However, the dynamic structural evolution of ZnO clusters under reaction conditions poses significant challenges for identifying and regulating active sites. This study systematically investigates the reconstruction of ZnxOx clusters (Zn1O1, Zn3O3, Zn5O5) supported on the Cu(111) crystal plane and its impact on CO2 and H adsorption and HCOO formation. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the smaller Zn1O1/Cu system readily forms a CuZn alloy structure, while larger clusters (Zn3O3/Cu and Zn5O5/Cu) generate stable ZnO3 unit with exposed O sites, forming Cu-ZnO3 interfaces. On the reconstructed surfaces, the weakened adsorption of CO2 and H promotes their effective coupling, thus lowering the barrier for HCOO formation. Microkinetic simulations further demonstrate that this reconstruction reshapes surface coverage of reactants and accelerates HCOO formation by 2-6 orders of magnitude, underscoring the crucial role of thermal-induced structural dynamics in governing catalytic performance. This work provides molecular-level insights into how dynamic reconstruction governs the CO2 hydrogenation mechanism on oxide-metal interfaces.
{"title":"Reconstruction-driven active site modulation in ZnxOx/Cu catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation","authors":"Tengteng Yi , Peng Li , Yidi Wu , Lulu Chen , Sen Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100749","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100749","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol on reverse ZnO/Cu catalysts holds great promise for effectively mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while enabling sustainable synthesis of fuels and chemicals. However, the dynamic structural evolution of ZnO clusters under reaction conditions poses significant challenges for identifying and regulating active sites. This study systematically investigates the reconstruction of Zn<sub>x</sub>O<sub>x</sub> clusters (Zn<sub>1</sub>O<sub>1</sub>, Zn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Zn<sub>5</sub>O<sub>5</sub>) supported on the Cu(111) crystal plane and its impact on CO<sub>2</sub> and H adsorption and HCOO formation. <em>Ab initio</em> molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the smaller Zn<sub>1</sub>O<sub>1</sub>/Cu system readily forms a CuZn alloy structure, while larger clusters (Zn<sub>3</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/Cu and Zn<sub>5</sub>O<sub>5</sub>/Cu) generate stable ZnO<sub>3</sub> unit with exposed O sites, forming Cu-ZnO<sub>3</sub> interfaces. On the reconstructed surfaces, the weakened adsorption of CO<sub>2</sub> and H promotes their effective coupling, thus lowering the barrier for HCOO formation. Microkinetic simulations further demonstrate that this reconstruction reshapes surface coverage of reactants and accelerates HCOO formation by 2-6 orders of magnitude, underscoring the crucial role of thermal-induced structural dynamics in governing catalytic performance. This work provides molecular-level insights into how dynamic reconstruction governs the CO<sub>2</sub> hydrogenation mechanism on oxide-metal interfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100749"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100750
Keristina Wagdi K. Amin , Ágota Deák , Médi Sándor , Diána Szabó , László Rovó , László Janovák
Thiolated aliphatic polyesters have received considerable attention owing to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and mucoadhesive properties. These attributes make them suitable for developing mucoadhesive drug delivery systems. However, polyester synthesis has traditionally required metallic or mineral acid catalysts, raising concerns about residual toxicity and purification challenges. To address these limitations, recent research has focused on catalyst-free synthesis of polyesters, thereby avoiding toxicity. This study introduces, for the first time, the catalyst-free synthesis of polyethylene thiomalate (PET) polyesters and the development of PET-based NPs, offering a novel mucoadhesive nanocarrier free from toxic catalyst residues and suitable for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs such as methylprednisolone acetate (MPA). By adjusting polycondensation time, PET polyesters with relatively low molecular weights ( 908–1652 Da) and moderate hydrophilicity (Θ = 38–75°) were synthesized, ensuring compatibility with aqueous environments and hydrophobic drugs. Given the limited literature on PET solubility and precipitation behaviour, a detailed investigation was conducted, enabling the development of an optimized MPA encapsulation technique within the synthesized PET particles. The MPA-loaded particles exhibited small sizes (198–275 nm), high ζ-potential (∼- 40 mV), and reduced drug crystallinity, contributing to improved aqueous dispersibility and stability compared to unencapsulated MPA. Furthermore, molecular weight tunability enabled both enhanced and sustained drug release. The NPs also exhibited strong mucoadhesive properties, expected to prolong residence time at the absorption site and facilitate higher drug flux through intimate mucosal contact, thereby supporting improved bioavailability. These findings establish catalyst-free PET NPs as safe and promising carriers for hydrophobic drugs such as MPA.
{"title":"Novel catalyst-free mucoadhesive polyester nanoparticles enabling enhanced dissolution and controlled release of methylprednisolone acetate","authors":"Keristina Wagdi K. Amin , Ágota Deák , Médi Sándor , Diána Szabó , László Rovó , László Janovák","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100750","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100750","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thiolated aliphatic polyesters have received considerable attention owing to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and mucoadhesive properties. These attributes make them suitable for developing mucoadhesive drug delivery systems. However, polyester synthesis has traditionally required metallic or mineral acid catalysts, raising concerns about residual toxicity and purification challenges. To address these limitations, recent research has focused on catalyst-free synthesis of polyesters, thereby avoiding toxicity. This study introduces, for the first time, the catalyst-free synthesis of polyethylene thiomalate (PET) polyesters and the development of PET-based NPs, offering a novel mucoadhesive nanocarrier free from toxic catalyst residues and suitable for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs such as methylprednisolone acetate (MPA). By adjusting polycondensation time, PET polyesters with relatively low molecular weights (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>M</mi><mi>W</mi></msub></mrow></math></span> 908–1652 Da) and moderate hydrophilicity (Θ = 38–75°) were synthesized, ensuring compatibility with aqueous environments and hydrophobic drugs. Given the limited literature on PET solubility and precipitation behaviour, a detailed investigation was conducted, enabling the development of an optimized MPA encapsulation technique within the synthesized PET particles. The MPA-loaded particles exhibited small sizes (198–275 nm), high ζ-potential (∼- 40 mV), and reduced drug crystallinity, contributing to improved aqueous dispersibility and stability compared to unencapsulated MPA. Furthermore, molecular weight tunability enabled both enhanced and sustained drug release. The NPs also exhibited strong mucoadhesive properties, expected to prolong residence time at the absorption site and facilitate higher drug flux through intimate mucosal contact, thereby supporting improved bioavailability. These findings establish catalyst-free PET NPs as safe and promising carriers for hydrophobic drugs such as MPA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100750"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100751
Yuwen Xu , Chia-En Huang , Richard F. Webster , Dawei Zhang , Joanna Biazik , Jan Seidel , Shery L.Y. Chang
Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials exhibit unique functionalities that attract a great deal of interest. However, difficulties remain in preparing high-quality ultra-thin samples in various orientations for scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) measurements owing to their anisotropic layered construction, soft mechanical nature, and sensitivity to ion damage. Here we use an ultramicrotome as an alternative S/TEM sample preparation method for multi-orientational investigation of 2D van der Waals materials. By adjusting ultramicrotomy conditions, we demonstrate its suitability on transition metal dichalcogenides (WTe2) and demonstrate the high structural quality of both top-view and side view samples using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Thickness measurements using low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) show an ideal thickness can be achieved by ultramicrotomy preparation. Our findings reveal the potential of ultramicrotome preparation for fundamental characterization of 2D van der Waals materials in multiple orientations that may support a wide range of applications.
{"title":"Multi-orientational sample preparation of 2D van der Waals materials by ultramicrotome for atomic resolution transmission electron microscopy","authors":"Yuwen Xu , Chia-En Huang , Richard F. Webster , Dawei Zhang , Joanna Biazik , Jan Seidel , Shery L.Y. Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100751","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials exhibit unique functionalities that attract a great deal of interest. However, difficulties remain in preparing high-quality ultra-thin samples in various orientations for scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) measurements owing to their anisotropic layered construction, soft mechanical nature, and sensitivity to ion damage. Here we use an ultramicrotome as an alternative S/TEM sample preparation method for multi-orientational investigation of 2D van der Waals materials. By adjusting ultramicrotomy conditions, we demonstrate its suitability on transition metal dichalcogenides (WTe<sub>2</sub>) and demonstrate the high structural quality of both top-view and side view samples using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Thickness measurements using low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) show an ideal thickness can be achieved by ultramicrotomy preparation. Our findings reveal the potential of ultramicrotome preparation for fundamental characterization of 2D van der Waals materials in multiple orientations that may support a wide range of applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100751"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100745
Yanan Zhang , Yijia Wang , Yujie Gao , Yangxi Cheng , Danfeng Jian , Yifan Sun , Xiaotong He , Dan Yu , Jindan Wu
Personal protective equipment (PPE) can significantly reduce the negative impact of emerging infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria on public health and the global economy. However, conventional PPE without self-disinfection properties cannot kill the attached microorganisms efficiently, and may cause cross-contamination and environmental damage. Herein, an efficient aggregation-induced emission photosensitizer (AIE PS), (E)-2-(3-cyano-5,5-dimethyl- 4-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)-styryl)furan-2(5H)-ylidene)malononitrile (TPE-TCF), was in-situ packaged within hollow nanospheres of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) by the assistance of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), to prepare TPE-TCF/SDS@ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs exhibited both high reactive oxygen species (ROS) production efficiency and good stability. Then, they were assembled onto a polyacrylonitrile/polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PPP) electrospun nanofiber mats to form composite nanofiber mats TZ-PPP via a visible light-induced dopamine (DA)-assisted co-deposition method. The electrospun nanofiber mats serve as an efficient antibacterial nano-platform, providing more adsorption sites for the composite NPs, enabling the exposed composite NPs to interact with oxygen sufficiently, and maximizing their antibacterial efficacy substantially. Importantly, the TZ-PPP composite nanofiber mats retained the initial ultra-high ROS production efficiency and superior antibacterial performance of TPE-TCF/SDS@ZIF-8 NPs. Under the irradiation of low-power white light (400–830 nm, 50 mW cm−2), TZ-PPP nanofiber mats were able to remove more than 99.9% (10 min) and 99.0% (40 min) of bacteria and fungi, respectively, with significant photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms. This study is an exploration of the combination of AIE PS with nanofibers, whose outstanding photodynamic antibacterial properties provide new perspectives for the development of novel medical protective materials.
{"title":"In-situ encapsulated aggregation induced emission photosensitizer in electrospun nanofiber mats for light-triggered self-disinfection","authors":"Yanan Zhang , Yijia Wang , Yujie Gao , Yangxi Cheng , Danfeng Jian , Yifan Sun , Xiaotong He , Dan Yu , Jindan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100745","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100745","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Personal protective equipment (PPE) can significantly reduce the negative impact of emerging infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria on public health and the global economy. However, conventional PPE without self-disinfection properties cannot kill the attached microorganisms efficiently, and may cause cross-contamination and environmental damage. Herein, an efficient aggregation-induced emission photosensitizer (AIE PS), (<em>E</em>)-2-(3-cyano-5,5-dimethyl- 4-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)-styryl)furan-2(5H)-ylidene)malononitrile (TPE-TCF), was in-situ packaged within hollow nanospheres of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) by the assistance of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), to prepare TPE-TCF/SDS@ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs exhibited both high reactive oxygen species (ROS) production efficiency and good stability. Then, they were assembled onto a polyacrylonitrile/polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PPP) electrospun nanofiber mats to form composite nanofiber mats TZ-PPP via a visible light-induced dopamine (DA)-assisted co-deposition method. The electrospun nanofiber mats serve as an efficient antibacterial nano-platform, providing more adsorption sites for the composite NPs, enabling the exposed composite NPs to interact with oxygen sufficiently, and maximizing their antibacterial efficacy substantially. Importantly, the TZ-PPP composite nanofiber mats retained the initial ultra-high ROS production efficiency and superior antibacterial performance of TPE-TCF/SDS@ZIF-8 NPs. Under the irradiation of low-power white light (400–830 nm, 50 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>), TZ-PPP nanofiber mats were able to remove more than 99.9% (10 min) and 99.0% (40 min) of bacteria and fungi, respectively, with significant photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms. This study is an exploration of the combination of AIE PS with nanofibers, whose outstanding photodynamic antibacterial properties provide new perspectives for the development of novel medical protective materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100745"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-27DOI: 10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100748
Benyou Li , Mingdong Dong , Qiang Li
Superlubricity offers a pathway to dramatically extend the service life of mechanical components and reduce energy consumption. However, achieving macroscale superlubricity with liquid lubricants on metals remains a major challenge. In this study, we address this by synthesizing partially oxidized Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets (O-MXene) via a facile aqueous oxidation process and dispersing them in squalane as a lubricant additive. Tribological tests demonstrate that the O-MXene-squalane oil can trigger macroscale superlubricity (μ ≈ 0.003) for a steel-steel tribopair under high contact pressure (>500 MPa) and sliding speed (>0.7 m/s), with minimal wear. Analysis of the friction interface using scanning electron microscopy, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that a force-thermal coupling effect promotes the decomposition of both O-MXene and squalane. This process facilitates the in-situ formation of a robust tribofilm, primarily composed of titanium oxides, amorphous carbon and residual hydrocarbon fragments, which separates surface asperities and provides ultralow shear strength. These findings offer new insights into tribochemical mechanisms and a promising strategy for implementing superlubricity in steel-based systems.
{"title":"Macroscale superlubricity under high pressure enabled by partially oxidized MXene nanosheets","authors":"Benyou Li , Mingdong Dong , Qiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtnano.2025.100748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Superlubricity offers a pathway to dramatically extend the service life of mechanical components and reduce energy consumption. However, achieving macroscale superlubricity with liquid lubricants on metals remains a major challenge. In this study, we address this by synthesizing partially oxidized Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><em>x</em></sub> MXene nanosheets (O-MXene) via a facile aqueous oxidation process and dispersing them in squalane as a lubricant additive. Tribological tests demonstrate that the O-MXene-squalane oil can trigger macroscale superlubricity (μ ≈ 0.003) for a steel-steel tribopair under high contact pressure (>500 MPa) and sliding speed (>0.7 m/s), with minimal wear. Analysis of the friction interface using scanning electron microscopy, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that a force-thermal coupling effect promotes the decomposition of both O-MXene and squalane. This process facilitates the <em>in-situ</em> formation of a robust tribofilm, primarily composed of titanium oxides, amorphous carbon and residual hydrocarbon fragments, which separates surface asperities and provides ultralow shear strength. These findings offer new insights into tribochemical mechanisms and a promising strategy for implementing superlubricity in steel-based systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48517,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Nano","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100748"},"PeriodicalIF":8.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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