Nanoscale Research Letters最新文献

The extreme conditions of space—including intense thermal cycling, radiation, and micrometeoroid impacts—demand advanced materials that surpass the capabilities of conventional alloys and composites. This paper highlights the transformative potential of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with multifunctional nanomaterials to overcome these challenges and revolutionize space technology. While nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) offer exceptional thermal, mechanical, optical and radiation-shielding properties, their development has been hindered by vast design spaces, synthesis complexities, and a lack of data for extreme environments. This paper addresses these gaps by hypothetically investigating how AI-driven methodologies for property prediction and multi-objective optimization can accelerate the discovery and optimization of next-generation nanomaterials. Key findings demonstrate that AI-guided design enables the creation of materials with tailored functionalities, including thermal interface materials with conductivities exceeding 200 W/m K, radiation-tolerant magnetic alloys with 50% less demagnetization, and self-cooling optical coatings maintaining high reflectivity after long thermal cycles. These advancements facilitate significant system-level improvements, such as mass reduction in shielding and thruster-specific impulse increase. The paper concludes that a synergistic AI-nanomaterial approach is essential to meet the escalating demands of future space exploration, though challenges in data scarcity, high- temperature modeling, and scalable manufacturing remain. Prioritizing hybrid AI-physics models and international collaboration for standardized testing is recommended to fully realize this potential.

In this paper, a latest theoretical model for the performance optimization of the broad-sense quantum-well superluminescent diodes (SLDs) based on the concept of energy level divergence (ELD) is presented. The simulation results on the performance of such a kind of devices with GaAs/AlGaAs potential-well structures and ignorable residual facet-reflections show that the ELD concept is truly valid and necessary to be considered in the modelling. It is also found that, for a fixed output power, both the spectral ripple coefficient and the spectral bandwidth decrease monotonically as the well-thickness increases. Moreover, the simulation results are in a pretty good approximation with the experimental ones. Typically, for a 3 mm long and 10 μm wide (referring to the active-region width) device emitting a fixed power of 25 mW and being required to have a ripple-coefficient not larger than 5%, the experimentally determined optimum well-thickness is 90 nm and the simulation one is 87 nm. And, the corresponding spectral bandwidths are 15 nm and 14.8 nm, respectively. It is believed that such a theoretical model could be further improved and eventually worthy for practical use.

Monowave synthesis offers a green, cost-effective, and non-hazardous alternative for biomedical applications compared to conventional methods. This study highlights the eco-friendly synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using tamarind seed gum (TSG) as both a reducing and stabilizing agent, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals. The monowave-assisted green synthesis of PdNPs was confirmed through UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, and TEM analysis. TEM results revealed that most of the nanoparticles ranged in size from 9 to 12 nm. The formation of TSG-PdNPs was initially indicated by a color shift from yellow to black. The study further explores the antioxidant and anticancer properties of these green-synthesized PdNPs against MCF-7 cell lines and through DPPH radical scavenging assays. To evaluate their catalytic potential, the PdNPs were tested in an aqueous model electron-transfer reaction, reducing hexacyanoferrate (III) with borohydride ions. The observed rate constant for this reaction was k = 0.0934 min⁻¹.

A dielectric modulated dual-source triple-gate tunnel field effect transistor (DM-DSTG TFET) based biosensor is proposed for the detection of biomolecules, the performance of the proposed biosensor was rigorously evaluated using the Silvaco Atlas simulator. The dual-source is positioned within the two voids of the triple parallel gates, while cavities located between the source, a portion of the channel and the gate are specifically designed for biomolecule conjugation. Variations in the device's electrostatics, including the electric field, surface potential, and energy band diagrams, are analyzed in response to changes in the dielectric constant of different biomolecules, thereby reflecting the biorecognition process within the biosensor. The results demonstrate that the proposed device exhibits enhanced sensitivity (10¹⁰) and a reduced subthreshold swing (32.7 mV/decade), highlighting its superior performance. The feasibility of the biosensor as a label-free detection platform is further validated using avian influenza virus and DNA as target biomolecules. Consequently, the DM-DSTG TFET based biosensor emerges as a highly promising candidate, offering advanced detection and recognition capabilities for future biosensing applications.

Nickel cobalt sulphide (NiCo₂S₄) is a promising battery-type electrode material due to its high theoretical capacitance and rich redox activity. However, its poor electrical conductivity and structural instability hinder practical application. Incorporation of two-dimensional (2D) Ti₃C₂ MXene can address these issues by improving conductivity and mechanical integrity. While previous studies have explored the synergistic effects of Ti₃C₂ and NiCo₂S₄, the influence of MXene exfoliation state and morphology control on electrochemical performance remains underexplored. Herein, we report a one-step hydrothermal synthesis of delaminated Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄ (d-Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄) composites with tunable morphology by varying hydrothermal time (4–48 h). Among them, the 24 h sample (d-Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄-24) featuring a hexagonal layered platelet structure exhibits superior performance, delivering 161.94 mAh g⁻¹ (1165 F g⁻¹) at 1 A g⁻¹, with ~ 81% rate capability at 5 A g⁻¹ and 85% capacity retention over 20,000 cycles. It significantly outperforms both bare NiCo₂S₄-24 and the multilayer Ti₃C₂-based composite. The asymmetric device (d-Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄-24//AC) delivers 19.88 Wh kg⁻¹ at 399.82 W kg⁻¹ with 86% retention after 9000 cycles, demonstrating excellent potential for practical energy storage applications.

The stabilization of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) iron at ambient conditions remains a significant challenge due to its metastable nature. Here, we report a novel and facile strategy for templating the epitaxial growth of hcp-Fe flakes using tailored copper oxide sublayers. By simply varying the sublayer annealing temperature, we achieved precise control over the iron morphology, obtaining uniform hexagonal hcp-Fe flakes on optimally prepared surfaces. Structural analysis confirms the successful stabilization of hcp-Fe, revealing a coherent epitaxial relationship between hcp-Fe(002) and CuO(− 112). Crucially, the stabilized hcp-Fe exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering, as demonstrated by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, contrasting the ferromagnetism of bulk bcc-Fe. This work provides a facile and scalable pathway to synthesize and study hcp-Fe without extreme pressures, offering substantial potential for fundamental geophysical research and applications in antiferromagnetic spintronics and catalysis.

Graphical abstract

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of hospital cancer morbidity and mortality in the world with more than 1.9 million new cases and almost one million deaths annually based on GLOBOCAN 2022. Although there are improvements in surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the existing treatment regimens are usually restricted by systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and late diagnosis. Such dilemmas will require the invention of more accurate and comprehensive methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Objective

The objective of the review is to critically assess the application of theranostics that is, therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in the management of colorectal cancer; more so nanotechnology-based systems, molecular imaging and even targeted therapies.

Methods

A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in the publications published starting in January 2020 until May 2025. Articles concerned with nanotechnology-based theranostic systems, molecular imaging modes, and targeted therapy of colorectal cancer were considered. Non-English and non-integrated diagnostic or curative researches were gone.

Graphical abstract

The progression of earth-abundant and effective sustainable materials for energy conversion applications, such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is vital for our future. Particularly, biomass procured carbon materials are considered as a potential catalyst owed to the inherent possessions such as environmental friendly nature, low cost and abundance. In this work, biomass-derived carbon materials were synthesized using bougainvillea petals at several temperatures, including 600 °C, 700 °C and 800 °C, via an economical approach. Various physicochemical characterizations, such as XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM and TEM analysis, were conducted, which demonstrated the formation of carbon materials and showed off the existence of porous carbon nanosheets. The prepared electrocatalyst at 700 °C exhibited outstanding catalytic performance in the OER, and it was evidenced by the low overpotential value of 368 mV to attain a current density of 50 mA/cm². Furthermore, prepared electrocatalyst at 700 °C had the highest C_dl value and ECSA value of 2.07 mF/cm² and 51.75 cm², respectively, which denoted more catalytically active sites for OER activity compared to the other synthesized materials. The finest-performed electrocatalyst of 700 °C exhibited exceptional stability over a long-term continuity process. Hence, this work will promote the successful synthesis of porous carbon nanosheets from dead flowers, demonstrating its practicability as well as its performance denotes superior effectiveness for future applications.

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Methods

In this study, we developed a novel nanomedicine-based therapeutic approach targeting key molecules involved in the progression of CRC. By utilizing bioinformatics tools and computer simulations, we identified SLC2A1 and PKM2 as potential therapeutic targets for CRC. Through molecular docking, we confirmed that shikonin (SHK), a bioactive compound derived from traditional herbal medicine, could effectively bind to SLC2A1 and PKM2, indicating its potential therapeutic effect. The novel SHK-loaded nanoplatform, functionalized with albumin (BSA) and glycoside modification (gBSA/SHK), was designed to enhance stability and targeted delivery to tumor sites.

Results

In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that SHK-loaded nanoparticles exhibited good tumoricidal effects on CT26 colorectal cancer cells and shifted tumor cell metabolism.

Conclusions

Overall, our results suggest that SHK-loaded nanodrugs can effectively target key molecular pathways in CRC and provide a promising strategy for colorectal cancer treatment with advantages such as improved drug stability, tumor-specific targeting, and reduced systemic toxicity.

The issue of organic dye pollutant in wastewater system is a major of global concern for human health. This work reports the synthesis of CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites and its visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Organic dyes. CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites was produced by process that involves chemical precipitation and thermal treatment method, and characterized for its structural property using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, EDS, and functional groups using Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and applied its application in light-driven photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO), ideal organic dye. The influence of such parameters as adsorbent dosage, dye initial concentration, solution pH, and contact time on the uptake of the dye was also investigated, and over 92.7% of the dye has been removed using 50 mg of adsorbent for 10 mg/L of dye concentration at the optimum pH 6 and RT for a shaking time of 60 min. The adsorption data could be best described by pseudo-second-order model with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9969 undertaken for a shaking time of 3 h, where the adsorption attains equilibrium. The adsorption experiments of the CuO/TiO₂ followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption isotherms were accurately represented by the Langmuir model. The degradation of methyl orange (MO) by CuO/TiO₂ fitted well with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, and MO removal was obtained through a synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis. Unlike previous reports that focused mainly on either absorption or photocatalysis, our work demonstrating the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis in TiO2/CuO composite synthesized via simple precipitation-thermal method. Therefore, the synthesized composites may potentially be used for the removal of organic water pollutants from water.