Nanoscale Horizons最新文献

Triptycene derivatives bearing long alkoxy chains at the 1,8,13- or 1,8-positions have been demonstrated to self-assemble on solid substrates into highly ordered thin films featuring a two-dimensional (2D) nested hexagonal packing of the triptycene moieties and a one-dimensional (1D) stacking layer. Although the bulk-phase structures of these derivatives have been clarified, the molecular-level mechanism governing their assembly near solid interfaces remains elusive. Here, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate three triptycene derivatives (Trip1, Trip2, and Trip3) with different alkoxy-chain substitution patterns, revealing their assembly structures, thermodynamic stabilities, and interfacial ordering processes. Our simulations showed that antiparallel molecular alignment is thermodynamically stable in bulk assemblies, whereas thin films preferentially adopt a parallel alignment, indicating that solid interfaces promote this orientation. Furthermore, thermal annealing of stair-stepped trilayers drove their transformation into flat bilayers and the growth of hexagonally ordered domains, quantified by radial distribution functions and hexatic order parameters. Comparative analysis demonstrated that alkoxy substitution patterns dictate packing density, structural order, and phase stability, in excellent agreement with experimental observations. These findings provide molecular-level insights into interface-driven self-assembly and establish design principles for constructing thermodynamically stable, highly ordered organic thin films, enabling simulation-guided strategies for next-generation nanoscale materials design.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) have become a prominent issue arising from the boom in pharmaceutical technology. In 2022 alone, approximately 2 340 000 and 2 023 000 ADR events were reported in the USA and China, respectively, with more than 25% occurring in the gastrointestinal system, leading to diarrhea, dehydration, and even death. Due to the complicated mechanisms of adverse reactions, the fastest detoxification method is still physical adsorption removal. However, the lack of selectivity leads to the antidotes adsorbing both toxic metabolites and nutrients, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and extended rehabilitation times for patients. Herein, we designed a series of porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) with progressively tuned monomer sizes and distinct pore environments to selectively adsorb 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), the toxic metabolite of the anticancer drug irinotecan, via pore-size restriction and functional-group interactions, thereby enabling fast intestinal detoxification. Intriguingly, the optimal PAF derivative, PAF80-Z2-NH₃⁺, could achieve a removal rate of over 90% for SN-38 in a complex system within 20 minutes, which was 14.5-fold higher than that of smectite powder, which was attributed to its hydrogen bonding and enhanced π-π interactions with SN-38. This led to a significant reduction in diarrhea severity and intestinal mucosal damage, without compromising irinotecan's therapeutic effect. Moreover, the PAF derivative presented excellent stability and negligible biotoxicity. The use of PAFs for the selective removal of adverse drug products provides a new way to build detoxification agents.

Infected wounds pose a significant clinical challenge, primarily due to a hostile microenvironment characterized by persistent oxidative stress, bacterial infection, and disrupted tissue regeneration. Herein, we developed a biomimetic nanoclay-based hydrogel composed of MnO₂@montmorillonite/chitosan (MnO₂@MMT/CS), designed to comprehensively remodel this pathological niche. Beyond serving as a structural scaffold, the nanoclay MMT acts as an electronic modulator that optimizes the catalytic activity of MnO₂, enabling efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging through superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and catalase (CAT)-like cascade reactions. Incorporated into a chitosan matrix, the nanocomposite replicates the three-dimensional hydrous architecture of the native extracellular matrix (ECM). Under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the hydrogel exhibits potent photothermal antibacterial activity. In vitro assessments demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and enhanced cell migration, while in vivo studies on infected wound models revealed accelerated wound closure, promoted collagen deposition, and improved tissue regeneration, with negligible systemic toxicity. Taken together, the MnO₂@MMT/CS hydrogel represents a multifunctional microenvironment regulator, achieving synergistic antioxidant, antibacterial, and pro-regenerative outcomes for effective wound management.

van der Waals (vdW) heterojunction photodetectors exhibit high performance due to their high-quality interface and high design flexibility, and unique properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials. Particularly, combining 2D semiconductors with technologically mature semiconductors offers a promising pathway toward high-performance photodetection. Herein, we report a high-performance self-driven photodetector based on a vertical GeSe/Si vdW heterojunction, constructed using high-quality GeSe single crystals grown by the chemical vapor transport method, which benefits from the type-II band alignment and the strong built-in electric field at the GeSe/Si interface. As a result, the photodetector exhibits a high responsivity of 29.8 A W^-1, a high EQE of 6959.7%, a high detectivity of 2.1 × 10¹² Jones, and a fast rise/decay time of 8.5 µs/23.7 µs under 532 nm laser illumination at zero bias. In addition, the GeSe/Si vdW heterojunction photodetectors demonstrate a stable broadband photoresponse and pronounced photovoltaic behavior under visible-light illumination (405-604 nm). This work highlights the advantages of integrating 2D GeSe with silicon via vdW heterojunction engineering and provides a significant strategy for developing self-driven, high-performance photodetectors toward practical optoelectronic applications.

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) are considered promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their extremely high theoretical capacity and low electrochemical potential. However, their practical application is limited by the formation of lithium dendrites and poor interfacial stability during cycling. In this study, we propose a scalable CuZn bimetallic co-electrodeposition strategy for modification of current collector surfaces that effectively suppress dendritic growth and enhance cyclic reversibility. Zinc, a lithiophilic metal, was selected as a surface modifier owing to its favorable alloying characteristics with lithium. Substantial differences in standard reduction potentials exist between Cu and Zn, yet we successfully deposited Cu and Zn simultaneously by introducing potassium pyrophosphate into the electrolyte, which modulates the ion activity through complexation. The CuZn morphology was further tuned from flat films to branched nanostructures by controlling the electrolyte composition and deposition voltage. Post-deposition annealing facilitated interdiffusion at the Cu/CuZn interface, resulting in the formation of a recrystallized Cu_0.75Zn_0.25 alloy and improved mechanical bonding. Compared to bare Cu foils, the heat-treated CuZn current collectors extended the cell lifespan by 44.3% and the nanostructured CuZn further improved it by 87.2%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and lithium nucleation overpotential analysis confirmed reduced interfacial resistance and improved uniformity in Li plating behavior. This work offers a practical and scalable approach for surface modification of anode current collectors for stable and long-life LMBs.

Needle coke features low cost, high carbon yield, and good electrical conductivity. It is considered a promising precursor for the carbon anode for sodium-ion batteries, but poor structural tunability and inferior performance limit further development. Herein, we report a facile strategy to achieve needle coke-derived hard carbon (NCAPS) with multiscale structures via activation with ammonium persulfate (APS). Systematic characterization revealed that ammonium persulfate activation introduced appropriate oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of needle coke, while creating a turbostratic microstructure with balanced defect density and mesopores, thereby supplying abundant adsorption sites of Na⁺ and improving electrochemical performance. Benefiting from its appropriate structure and chemical composition, NCAPS exhibited a reversible capacity of 212.6 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles at 0.2C, which was 37% higher than non-activated needle coke-derived hard carbon, and an excellent rate capability of 195.0 mAh g^-1 at 5C. We utilized APS-assisted activation to enable multiscale structural optimization, thereby significantly enhancing Na⁺ storage kinetics and electrochemical performance. Herein, we provide a mild activation approach for designing a high-performance sodium-ion battery hard carbon anode from a low-cost and highly aromatic precursor.

Glucocorticoids are among the most widely used anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs. However, their prolonged administration is associated with a wide range of adverse side effects including long-lasting immunosuppression. In this study, we aimed to encapsulate two commonly used glucocorticoids with different potency and duration, hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with the goal to modulate inflammatory gene expression in a delivery-dependent manner. We evaluated their anti-inflammatory properties in two in vitro models varying the timing of treatment administration based on lipopolysaccharide M1-polarized macrophages, key effectors of the innate immune system. Our results demonstrated that, for both strategies, drug-loaded nanoparticles significantly reduced the expression of interleukin-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, compared to the free drugs. However, in one of the strategies, while free drugs induced upregulation of interleukin-10, a key anti-inflammatory cytokine, no such effect was observed with the nanoparticle-based formulations. Overall, these results demonstrate that PLGA nanoparticles enable sustained glucocorticoid delivery and modulate inflammatory gene expression in activated macrophages in a delivery- and timing-dependent manner, providing comparative insight into how glucocorticoid delivery via PLGA nanoparticles shapes inflammatory gene regulation depending on treatment timing and highlighting the importance of in vitro model design.

Solid-liquid contact electrification (SL-CE) has emerged as a distinctive pathway for driving interfacial chemistry, yet the principles governing how triboelectric polarity couples with electrolyte identity to regulate reaction activity remain poorly understood. In this study, triboelectricity-driven chemistry at solid-liquid interfaces was examined using two representative materials positioned at far ends of the triboelectric series, and paired with cationic or anionic dyes. It was found that adsorption and the formation of an electrical double layer might result in suppressed interfacial charge transfer, leading to markedly diminished, and in some cases fully inhibited, generation of reactive oxygen species. These findings establish a mechanistic framework for triboelectric polarity-electrolyte coupling, highlighting the pivotal role of surface physicochemical properties in governing SL-CE and offering general design principles for optimizing triboelectricity-driven chemical reactions.

Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career nanoscience and nanotechnology researchers. Read Chunlan Wang's Emerging Investigator Series article 'A multifunctional terahertz device based on vanadium dioxide metamaterials that switches between ultra-broadband absorption and ultra-high-Q narrowband absorption' (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00320B) and read more about her in the interview below.

The combination of plasmonic systems and the high optical gain of InGaN is a promising approach for the fabrication of nanolasers and other nanoscale light sources. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, the use of MBE-grown GaN nanowires with embedded InGaN quantum wells as the key components for plasmonic nanolasers. The utilization of quantum wells as the semiconductor gain medium, combined with the plasmonic AlO_x/Ag system, shows an emission linewidth as narrow as 0.15 nm at 5 K. Modeling the dispersion of surface plasmon polaritons in the nanowires on an AlO_x-coated Ag film reveals the formation of hybrid modes and shows an excellent spectral overlap with the InGaN QW emission, providing evidence for a strong exciton-plasmon interaction in the studied structure. This strong interaction yields an estimated average Purcell factor of 27, which is essential for realizing nanoscale high-speed optical components.