Nanoscale Horizons最新文献

Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career nanoscience and nanotechnology researchers. Read Fangfang Cao’s Emerging Investigator Series article ‘MOF-derived nanozymes loaded with botanicals as multifunctional nanoantibiotics for synergistic treatment of intracellular antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00137D) and read more about her in the interview below.

Zinc–iodine rechargeable batteries offer inherent safety and abundant reserves, making them promising for energy storage applications. However, the poor interfacial stability of the zinc anode and the shuttle effect, both caused by the diffusion of soluble polyiodides in aqueous media, significantly compromise device stability, especially at high mass loadings. This work proposes a complementary chemical adsorption strategy to achieve high-loading zinc–iodine batteries, utilizing a composite material of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene and carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (c-MCNTs) as an iodine carrier. Carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (c-MCNTs) form C–I bonds with initial I⁻ ions through chemical interactions, while Ti₃C₂T_x MXene effectively chemically adsorbs the byproduct I₃⁻ ions formed during charging and discharging, enabling the adsorption of a substantial amount of iodine species. Therefore, even at a high areal mass loading of 33.27 mg cm⁻², the prepared zinc–iodine battery delivers a high areal capacity of 2.82 mAh cm⁻² at a current density of 5 mA cm⁻², surpassing most previously reported zinc–iodine batteries, while maintaining excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 99.04% after 300 cycles. Moreover, it exhibits outstanding rate performance, retaining an areal capacity of 1.52 mAh cm⁻² even at a high current density of 50 mA cm⁻². This strategy is also potentially extendable to the design of other high-loading metal–iodine batteries.

Mesoporous rutile TiO₂ photocatalysts co-doped with N and F were synthesized via a topotactic ammonolysis approach using mesostructured TiO₂ as a precursor. The co-substitution of N and F into the rutile lattice led to substantial modulation of the Ti electronic structure and to extension of visible-light absorption, accompanied by local distortion of TiO₆ octahedra. Systematic characterization revealed that the balance between dopant incorporation and structural integrity of the mesoporous framework played a decisive role in determining photocatalytic performance for half-cell O₂ evolution. Although higher-temperature ammonolysis promoted N incorporation and enhanced visible-light absorption, it also compromised the mesostructure, reducing the overall activity. The highest O₂ evolution rate under visible-light irradiation was achieved with the sample prepared under optimal conditions that maintained both phase-pure rutile and mesoporosity. These results highlight the importance of controlling both chemical doping and structural features when designing high-performance non-metal-doped oxide photocatalysts for solar-driven water oxidation.

On-demand drug release is one of the main challenges in nanocarrier design and a key step toward enhancing the efficacy of novel therapeutic formulations. Compared to conventional methods such as pH- or light-driven release, ultrasound-guided drug release offers a cost-effective strategy with improved tissue penetration making it particularly suitable for applications in hard-to-access tissues such as the pancreas. In this study, hollow nanoparticles (hPDA) were developed and evaluated for ultrasound-enhanced drug delivery, focusing on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The hPDA nanoparticles, prepared employing non-toxic reagents, measured approximately 120 nm and were successfully loaded with SN-38, a potent yet challenging-to-formulate chemotherapeutic agent. Ultrasound-triggered drug release experiments at 60 kHz and 1.1 MHz demonstrated significant enhancements in drug release, with an increase of 54% and 19% respectively, compared to controls. Cytotoxicity studies under ultrasound exposure revealed a 20% reduction in cell viability, underscoring the synergistic potential of hPDA and ultrasound technology. These findings establish hPDA nanocarriers as a promising platform for ultrasound-responsive, targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy, with high potential for improved spatiotemporal control and reduced systemic toxicity.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, particularly transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), offer transformative potential for next-generation electronics because of their ultrathin atomic structures and superior electrostatic gate control. However, the practical realization of complex integrated circuits based on 2D TMD-based field-effect transistors (2D FETs) is critically constrained by the absence of robust, accurate, compact, and computationally efficient models suitable for SPICE (simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis)-based circuit simulations. This study demonstrated a physics-based, fully analytical, and SPICE-compatible compact model for 2D FETs. The model introduces a continuous, closed-form analytical framework that incorporates key physical mechanisms, such as interface trap states and gate-bias-dependent mobility degradation, through an efficient approximation of the Lambert W function. By avoiding iterative solvers and artificial segmentation, the model ensures compatibility with circuit simulators while maintaining high fidelity. Extensive validation against experimental data demonstrated quantitative agreement between the model and either single-device characteristics or the dynamic behavior of various circuits, including inverters, SRAM cells, NAND gates, and ring oscillators. Overall, the study established a robust and scalable modeling approach that effectively bridges device-level physics and system-level circuit designs for 2D semiconductors.

Bacterial infections pose a critical threat to global public health, but the overuse of antibiotics exacerbates antimicrobial resistance, urgently necessitating alternative antibacterial strategies. Nanoreactors, as innovative nanoplatforms capable of generating antibacterial effects through physical or chemical mechanisms independent of traditional antibiotics, offer a viable pathway to circumvent such resistance. This review systematically examines recent advances in Bi₂S₃-based nanoreactors for antibacterial applications, covering synthesis methods, modification strategies, antibacterial mechanisms, and potential uses. A key challenge lies in enhancing Bi₂S₃-based nanoreactors’ catalytic activity and biocompatibility under physiological conditions. It highlights that tailoring the morphology and electronic structure (doping, defect engineering or heterojunction construction) can effectively bolster the antibacterial efficacy of Bi₂S₃. The review further emphasizes the multiple antibacterial mechanisms of Bi₂S₃-based nanoreactors, including physical damage, chemical action and immunomodulatory effects, which boast advantages such as high efficiency, low toxicity, and multi-functional synergy. This work seeks to comprehensively synthesize the current state of Bi₂S₃-based nanoreactors in antibacterial applications, while identifying key challenges in optimizing synthesis processes, enhancing stability, and advancing clinical translation. Moreover, it underscores the potential of Bi₂S₃-based nanoreactors as a next-generation antibacterial agent, offering theoretical frameworks to facilitate its clinical adoption and innovative solutions to address the global antibiotic resistance crisis.

Alloy-type anode materials, including Si, Ge, Sn, Sb, P, and Bi, usually have high theoretical specific capacities for electrochemical alkali metal ion storage. However, they experience significant volume expansion/contraction during electrochemical alloying/dealloying with alkali metal ions, leading to poor cycling stability and low rate capabilities. As a result, various strategies have been proposed to suppress the volume variations and pulverization of alloy-type anode materials, such as incorporating them with carbonaceous materials. Graphene and its derivatives, with their ideal two-dimensional crystal morphology and unique chemical/physical properties, are often used as functional components to improve the electrochemical performance of alloy-type anode materials. This review emphasizes the recent research advances in alloy-type anode materials modified with graphene and its derivatives. It specifically covers the preparation methods, the structural and morphological characteristics, and the electrochemical performances of Sn/graphene, Sb/graphene, Ge/graphene, Bi/graphene, and P/graphene composites for alkali metal ion batteries. The ongoing developments in improving the electrochemical performance of alloy-type anodes with graphene are also speculated.

Correction for ‘Au₃Cu tetrapod nanocrystals: highly efficient and metabolizable multimodality imaging-guided NIR-II photothermal agents’ by Zhiyi Wang et al., Nanoscale Horiz., 2018, 3, 624–631, https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NH00135A.

By leveraging a capping-agent assisted approach, ultrasmall and highly dispersed AuPdRuRhPt high entropy alloy (HEA) nanoparticles are synthesized, overcoming aggregation challenges and enabling control over atomic-scale mixing and coordination environments among the constituent metals. Using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as capping agents, we obtained uniform nanoparticles (<10 nm) with improved catalytic stability and active site accessibility. Structural characterization using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the capping agent influences the size and the atomic arrangement of the HEA structure, which is crucial for optimizing catalytic activity. PEG-capped HEA NPs exhibited superior catalytic activity for both the HER (122 mV@−0.01 mA cm⁻² ECSA) and the OER (220 mV@−0.01 mA cm⁻² ECSA), with lower overpotentials compared to Pt/C and IrO₂. These results emphasize the critical role of capping agents in optimizing both the electrochemical performance and stability of HEA nanoparticles, offering valuable insights for the design of efficient electrocatalysts for energy conversion applications.

Leveraging sequence specificity, shape programmability, and spatial addressability, DNA nanotechnology enables the nanometer-precise construction of DNA nanodevices for a wide range of biological applications. This minireview summarizes recent progress in employing self-assembled DNA nanostructures as scaffolds for creating advanced nanodevices as biosensors. We highlight notable advancements in ultrasensitive detection, multiplexed sensing, and targeted molecular bioimaging. These self-assembled DNA nanodevices are designed for intelligent sensing of various analytes, offering innovative solutions for biomedical diagnostics and environmental surveillance. Challenges related to the detection precision, stability, and scalable production of these promising DNA-based biosensors are also discussed.