thesis topics for nanomaterials

Materials Advances

Nanomaterials: a review of synthesis methods, properties, recent progress, and challenges.

* Corresponding authors

a Center of Research Excellence in Desalination & Water Treatment, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

b Center for Environment and Water, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

c Interdisciplinary Research Center for Membranes and Water Security, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

d Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0203, USA E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

e Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Nanomaterials have emerged as an amazing class of materials that consists of a broad spectrum of examples with at least one dimension in the range of 1 to 100 nm. Exceptionally high surface areas can be achieved through the rational design of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials can be produced with outstanding magnetic, electrical, optical, mechanical, and catalytic properties that are substantially different from their bulk counterparts. The nanomaterial properties can be tuned as desired via precisely controlling the size, shape, synthesis conditions, and appropriate functionalization. This review discusses a brief history of nanomaterials and their use throughout history to trigger advances in nanotechnology development. In particular, we describe and define various terms relating to nanomaterials. Various nanomaterial synthesis methods, including top-down and bottom-up approaches, are discussed. The unique features of nanomaterials are highlighted throughout the review. This review describes advances in nanomaterials, specifically fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon quantum dots, nanodiamonds, carbon nanohorns, nanoporous materials, core–shell nanoparticles, silicene, antimonene, MXenes, 2D MOF nanosheets, boron nitride nanosheets, layered double hydroxides, and metal-based nanomaterials. Finally, we conclude by discussing challenges and future perspectives relating to nanomaterials.

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N. Baig, I. Kammakakam and W. Falath, Mater. Adv. , 2021,  2 , 1821 DOI: 10.1039/D0MA00807A

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Anodic alumina as a scalable platform for structural coloration and optical rectification

Biological Application of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Targeted Therapeutics and Diagnostics

Biologically Inspired Rosette Nanotube Nanocomposites for Bone Tissue Engineering, Orthopedic and Vascular Applications

Biologically Relevant Degradation of 2D Nanomaterials: Kinetics, Hazard Classification and Biomedical Applications

Enhanced Efficacy of Nanotechnology-Driven Approaches against Antibiotic-Resistant Biofilms in the Presence of Metabolites

Evaluating the Human Health and Environmental Impacts of Exposure to Two-Dimensional Manganese Dioxide Nanosheets

Nano-fabrication and Characterization of Novel Titanium Surfaces for Vascular Stent Application

Nano-Selenium: Novel Formulations for Biological and Environmental Applications

Nanopatterned PLGA for Anti-cancer Implant Applications

Novel Devices, Physical Mechanisms, and Analytical Techniques for Use in Next Generation Cellular Diagnostics

Novel Polymers as Phase Transfer Agents for Gadolinium Oxide Nanoplates: Improving Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast

Reliable Computing at the Nanoscale

Select Nanofabricated Titanium Materials for Enhancing Bone and Skin Growth of Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prostheses

Structural and optical characterization of diamond nanowires

The Use of Entropic Cages For Trapping DNA and Controlling its Configurations in Nanopore Studies

Topics in Nanomechanics, Energy Storage Systems, and Emerging Nanomaterials

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After fourteen years of writing for Nature Nanotechnology , Chris Toumey reflects on the role of experts in Science and Technology Studies in his last contribution to the journal.

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Social systems for technology

In reviewing a recent book, Chris Toumey reflects on the impact that social networks can have on the development of a number of technologies.

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• Kostas Kostarelos

Notes on environmental nanoscience

Although we seem to understand how nanoscience can impact the environment, we seem to be far off using nanotechnology for environmental remediation, says Chris Toumey.

Religious reactions to new technologies

Chris Toumey explores the way in which reactions to nanotechnology from different religious denominations can be translated to other emerging technologies.

Engineering students visit a nano centre

Visiting a research centre specialized in nanoscience and nanotechnology can be an inspiration for students in other disciplines, as Chris Toumey explains.

Later voices on ethics in nanotechnology

Chris Toumey continues his journey through ethics in nanotechnology by examining literature published in the past decade.

Early voices for ethics in nanotechnology

Chris Toumey reflects on the inhomogeneity of the concept of ethics applied to nanoscience and nanotechnology.

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Religious people tend to have a different view of nanotechnology than non-religious people. Chris Toumey explores whether there are also different views between different religious groups.

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Chris Toumey explains why the actions on science policy taken so far by the current US administration are cause for concern.

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Chris Toumey illustrates how different groups of people involved with nanotechnology have different views on the history of the field and feel differently about its importance.

Playing and laughing among the molecules

Chris Toumey reflects on the fun, and not only, provided by nanotechnology in the digital world, as illustrated by Colin Milburn in Mondo Nano .

From nano machines to Nobel prizes

Chris Toumey ponders the nanotechnology behind the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

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The long way to the market

Nanotechnology is starting to play a role in a number of commercial products, though in an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary way, says Peter Dobson .

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Anniversary thoughts

Chris Toumey reflects on his contribution to Nature Nanotechnology since its launch.

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Synthesis, characteristics and medical applications of plant nanomaterials

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The recent preparations of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts as reducing agents are summarized here. The synthesis and characterization of plant–metal nanomaterials and the progress in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medical applications are detailed, providing a new vision for plant-based medical applications.

The medical application of plant-metal nanoparticles is becoming a research hotspot. Compared with traditional preparation methods, the synthesis of plant-metal nanoparticles is less toxic and more eco-friendly, increasing application potential. Highly efficient plant-metal nanoparticles are usually smaller than 100 nm. This review describes the synthesis, characterization and bioactivities of gold- and silver-plant nanoparticles as examples and clearly explained their antibacterial and anticancer mechanisms. An analysis of actual cases shows that the synthetic method and type of plant extract affect the activities of the products.

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Lidong Du and Ruoyu Zhang authors have contributed equally to this work.

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School of Clinical Medical, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People’s Republic of China

Lidong Du & Zhong Lu

School of Public Health, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People’s Republic of China

Ruoyu Zhang, Jinjin Jing, Bingjie Lin, Shujie Zhang & Peng Xue

School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People’s Republic of China

Shaojian Tang

Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People’s Republic of China

Hanchao Yang & Zhong Lu

College of Food Science and Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250353, People’s Republic of China

Zhaohua Hou

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Du, L., Zhang, R., Yang, H. et al. Synthesis, characteristics and medical applications of plant nanomaterials. Planta 252 , 108 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-020-03509-9

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Nanomaterials Science

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Part 1 (sk-mres1: 15 ec): introduction and start of the research project .

You will receive your first assessment after one third of the project with a pass or a fail. The evaluation of part 1 will be based on your work and a presentation. With these you show that 

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• Master’s Thesis: 30% 
• Presentation: 10% 

Your supervisor will use the online version of this  assessment form  to grade your project and to give you feedback on your performance. He/she will use input from your daily supervisor. The second examiner will check the assessment form and confirm the grades online. You will receive a message (including instructions) from Student Affairs that your grade will be registered if you have uploaded your final thesis to Igitur and included an plagiarism check and laymen summary. 

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Focus on Physics of Advanced Nanomaterials

Guest Editors

Andrews Nirmala Grace , Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India Krishnamoorthi C , Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India Raja Sellappan , Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India George Jacob , Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India Vimala R , Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India Swati G , Centre for Nanotechnology Research, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India John Kennedy , GNS Science, New Zealand

Nanomaterials have been widely explored in recent years and have demonstrated promising applications in various fields. To bring together national and international communities working in the field of nanoscale science and technology, the 2nd International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology was held at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India, from 29 November to 1 December 2019. The theme of the conference included synthesis and fabrication of advanced nanostructures, thin film deposition techniques, advanced nanomaterials characterization, molecular nanoscience, catalysis and applications, nanomaterials for energy harvesting, storage and conversion. This focus issue, inspired by the conference, will include topics such as physics and properties (optical, thermal and magnetic) of advanced nanomaterials. Participants who presented their research work at the conference were invited to contribute their research work to this focus issue. The guest editors believe that this issue will provide a broad overview of the physical aspects of advanced nanomaterials.

Ming Chen et al 2022 Nanotechnology 33 345501

Noble metal nanoclusters have attracted much attention because of their excellent fluorescence properties. In this work, we demonstrated a dual-emission fluorescent nanocomposite based on silver nanoclusters. First, we synthesized positively charged His-AgNCs, which emits intense blue light, and then Ag nanoclusters with stable red emission were synthesized using DHLA as the ligand. Thus a dual-emission fluorescent nanoprobe was successfully obtained through electrostatic self-assembly, with the advantages of good water solubility and excellent stability. Based on the intensity ratio of the two emission peaks, the nanoprobe can be used for selective and sensitive detection of copper ions, and presents a good linear relationship within a certain concentration range. In addition, we also designed a polymer film, and our dual-emission nanoprobe was successfully loaded onto it, which means that the visual detection of copper ions is possible. This indicates that our dual-emission fluorescent nanoprobe has potential application prospects in environmental analysis, medical diagnosis, biological detection, etc.

Yun Dong et al 2022 Nanotechnology 33 235401

Controlling friction force and thermal conductance at solid/solid interface is of great importance but remains a significant challenge. In this work, we propose a method to control the matching degree of phonon spectra at the interface through modifying the atomic mass of contact materials, thereby regulating the interfacial friction force and thermal conductance. Results of Debye theory and molecular dynamics simulations show that the cutoff frequency of phonon spectrum decreases with increasing atomic mass. Thus, two contact surfaces with equal atomic mass have same vibrational characteristics, so that more phonons could pass through the interface. In these regards, the coupling strength of phonon modes on contact surfaces makes it possible to gain insight into the nonmonotonic variation of interfacial friction force and thermal conductance. Our investigations suggest that the overlap of phonon modes increases energy scattering channels and therefore phonon transmission at the interface, and finally, an enhanced energy dissipation in friction and heat transfer ability at interface.

Priyanka Sharma et al 2022 Nanotechnology 33 105708

Nanocomposite oxide system of ( x )CoFe 2 O 4 –(100- x )LaFeO 3 with different weight percent of core-shell structured CoFe 2 O 4 ( x  = 0, 20, 40, 50, 80, 100) and LaFeO 3 were fabricated, via a two-step sol-gel wet-chemical synthesis technique. The phase formation of the composites was confirmed by x-ray diffraction and the structural parameters of both the phases were attained from the Rietveld refinement results of XRD patterns. The elemental composition and microstructure of the resulting nanocomposites were examined by using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy technique, respectively. The detailed magnetometry studies at 300 K and 5 K reveal that the inter-and intra-phase magnetic interactions affect the saturation magnetization ( M S ), remanence magnetization ( M R ) and coercivity ( H C ) values of this bi-magnetic system. The remarkable feature of 'pinched magnetic hysteresis loop' was evidenced in the [(50) CoFe 2 O 4 - (50)LaFeO 3 ] composite, leading to a lesser magnetic loss factor and better magnetic performance of this sample. The report depicts an improved interfacial exchange coupling at 5 K, for the nanocomposites of core-shell morphology and offers an understanding or explanation of improved magnetic performance for the (50)CoFe 2 O 4 - (50)LaFeO 3 nanocomposite and opens up an important way to design new multiferroic applications in low magnetic fields.

Fang Fang et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 504002

Copper oxide composites were successfully synthesized by a catalyst-free method, plasma arc technology. The as-synthesized composites were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The analysis revealed a mixture of crystalline copper oxide (CuO), cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) and copper (Cu) phases of the copper oxide composites constitute of irregularly spheroidal particlesµ with nanoparticles aggregate on the surface. Gas pressure during plasma arc process noticeably influences the composition and solar radiative properties of the composite materials. Among the samples studied, the composites synthesized with an arc current of 80 A and a pressure of 300 Torr exhibited the highest near infrared diffuse reflectance, providing a total solar reflectance of 22.96%. The mixed phase composition together with the nanostructures among the composites are considered to contribute to the excellent near infrared reflectance of copper oxide composites. Low reflectance in the visible region combined with high reflectance in the near infrared region make this composite material a good candidate for solar reflective coating which will demonstrate black appearance but keep a cool surface under solar irradiation.

Hyeong-Rae Kim et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 435702

Vertical-channel charge-trap memory thin film-transistors (V-CTM TFTs) using oxide semiconductors were fabricated and characterized, in which In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) channels were prepared by sputtering and atomic-layer deposition (ALD) methods to elucidate the effects of deposition process. The vertical-channel gate stack of the fabricated device was verified to be well implemented on the vertical sidewall of the spacer patterns due to excellent step-coverage and self-limiting mechanisms of ALD process. The V-CTM TFTs using ALD-IGZO channel exhibited a wide memory window (MW) of 15.0 V at a V GS sweep of ±20 V and a large memory margin of 1.6 × 10 2 at a program pulse duration as short as 5 ms. The programmed memory margin higher than 10 5 did not experience any degradation with time evolution for 10 4 s. The mechanical durability was also evaluated after the delamination process of polyimide (PI) film. There were no marked variations in charge-trap-assisted MW even at a curvature radius of 1 mm and programmed memory margin even after repeated program operations of 10 4 cycles. The introduction of ALD process for the formation of IGZO active channel was suggested as a main process parameter to ensure the excellent memory device characteristics of the V-CTM TFTs.

K Anu and J Hemalatha 2021 Nanotechnology 32 025707

In the present work, magneto thermoelectric behavior of the Zn-doped magnetite nanofluids is reported. Thermal and electrical conductivity studies have been done, compared and determined to be in line with the theoretical models. Thermoelectric voltage measurements have been carried out in the fluid samples for quite a number of temperature differences at various magnetic fields, and the Seebeck coefficient is calculated from the obtained measurements. It is observed that the fluid samples, which includes magnetite nanoparticle with zinc dopant concentration x = 0.2 shows better enhancement in electrical conductivity, mild enhancement in thermal conductivity and higher Seebeck coefficient value among all the samples. Also, a higher enhancement of 26% is observed in the Seebeck coefficient value of the same sample with an application of 770 G magnetic field. Hence, this is identified as a potential candidate for energy harvesting purposes such as thermoelectric generators in automobile systems, industries and etc.

Jayaseelan Dhakshinamoorthy et al 2021 Nanotechnology 32 095701

Understanding the origin of magnetic ordering in an undoped semiconductor with native defects is an open question, which is being explored actively in research. In this investigation, the interplay between magnetic ordering and excess induced native defects in undoped anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles is explained using an experimental and theoretical approach. It is demonstrated that structurally disordered TiO 2 nanoparticles with a high concentration of native defects such as titanium interstitials and oxygen vacancies are synthesized using controlled atmospheric rapid cooling (i.e. quenching) process. The structural disorders in the lattice have been examined using various spectroscopic and microscopic analyses revealed the existence of Ti deficiency in both pristine and quenched TiO 2 nanoparticles. A possible origin of magnetic ordering in titanium deficient anatase TiO 2 system is elucidated based on first-principle calculations. It was found that the overall magnetic moment of Ti deficient TiO 2 system is determined by the distance between Ti interstitials and its neighboring vacancies (i.e. either V Ti or V O s). However, quenched TiO 2 nanoparticles possess excess Ti interstitials, Ti and O vacancies and therefore the net magnetic moment of the system is reduced due to anti-ferromagnetically coupled neighboring Ti lattice ions.

Chitra Muthukumaravel et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 344001

Nanocrystalline tin oxide—vanadium oxide (SnO 2 –V 2 O 5 ) nanocomposite was prepared by the hydrothermal route. Morphological and conductive atomic force microscopy studies were employed to explore the properties of the interface between the grains and grain boundaries of these binary oxides. Detailed analysis of this nanocomposite revealed that the barrier height of 0.512 eV favours a pronounced sensitivity of 63.99% towards 160 ppm of ethanol at room temperature. This might also be due to the decrease in the resistance from 2000 MΩ (individual SnO 2 ) to 830 MΩ (nanocomposite). The synergistic effect, large surface area, greater number of interfaces and more conduction electrons provide a greater number of surface active sites for the nanocomposite. This leads to the nanocomposite showing better sensing performance than the corresponding individual systems.

G Swati et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 364007

Red emitting (~612 nm) CaTiO 3 :Pr 3+ long afterglow nanocrystals with a persistence time ~20 min (dark adapted human eyes) have been synthesised for developing high contrast latent fingerprints using the sol-gel process. Due to the persistent emission, CaTiO 3 :Pr 3+ nanophosphor does not require a continuous source for excitation, thereby eliminating the background information even from multi-colour substrates, resulting in a high signal to noise ratio. As a consequence of which, minute features of level- I, II and III can be clearly studied in high contrast fingerprints. Considerable blue shift (~20 nm) was recorded in photoluminescence excitation due to the quantum confinement properties of CaTiO 3 :Pr 3+ nanocrystals. Powder x-ray diffraction confirms the formation of a single phase orthorhombic structure of CaTiO 3 :Pr 3+ with average crystallite size ~40 nm. Spectral parameters indicate a very high color purity of 99% with CIE coordinates (0.62, 0.37) which are very close to NTSC standards for an ideal red-emission. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirm the formation of spherical particles with narrow size distribution which makes them suitable to combine with fingerprint development methods such as powder dusting and cyanoacrylate fuming methods.

Neha Rani et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 374004

A facile strategy was introduced for the development of pure MgO and its nanocomposites using different CeO 2 contents (3%–7%) to enhance their magnetic properties and photocatalytic performance. Different morphologies (namely nanoflowers and rhombohedral type nanostructures) were obtained using an in situ hydrothermal method at different concentrations of CeO 2 . X-ray diffraction results revealed that peaks of CeO 2 were observed along with peaks of MgO, which confirms the presence of both phases. The crystallite size and particle size were found to increase with changing CeO 2 content in the host matrix of MgO. Moreover, the band gap reduces while the magnetic character increases with CeO 2 content. The magnetic behaviour of the nanocomposites was elucidated on the basis of oxygen intrinsic defects, which are shown through XPS. EPR measurements were carried out to understand the valence electrons and establish the defects present in the material, which are related to the size of the nanostructures. The degradation of Rose Bengal dye was performed to probe the photocatalytic activity of the MgO@CeO 2 nanocomposites. Hence the facile synthesis of these nanostructures conveyed good magnetic properties along with its application towards dye degradation.

Vishal Bhardwaj et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 384001

DyPdBi (DPB) is a topological semimetal which belongs to the rare-earth-based half-Heusler alloy family. In this work, we studied the thickness-dependent structural and magneto-transport properties of DPB thin films (20 to 60 nm) grown using pulsed laser deposition. The DPB thin films show (110) oriented growth on MgO(100) single crystal substrates. Longitudinal resistance data indicate metallic surface states dominated carrier transport and the suppression of semiconducting bulk state carriers for films ≤40 nm. We observe the weak antilocalization (WAL) effect and Shubnikov–de Hass (SdH) oscillations in the magneto-transport data. The presence of a single coherent transport channel ( α ∼ −0.50) is observed in the Hikami–Larkin–Nagaoka (HLN) fitting of WAL data. The power law temperature dependence of phase coherence length ( L Ø ) ∼ T −0.50 indicates the observation of the 2D WAL effect and the presence of topological nontrivial surface states for films ≤40 nm. The 60 nm sample shows semiconducting resistivity behavior at higher temperature (>180 K) and HLN fitting results ( α ∼ −0.72, L Ø ∼ T −0.68 ) indicate the presence of partial decoupled top and bottom surface states. The Berry phase ∼π is extracted for thin films ≤40 nm, which further demonstrates the presence of Dirac fermions and nontrivial surface states. Band structure parameters are extracted by fitting SdH data to the standard Lifshitz–Kosevich formula. The sheet carrier concentration and cyclotron effective mass of carriers decrease with increasing thickness (20 nm to 60 nm) from ∼1.35 × 10 12 cm −2 to 0.68 × 10 12 cm −2 and from ∼ 0.26 m e to 0.12 m e , respectively. Our observations suggest that samples with a thickness ≤40 nm have transport properties dominated by surface states and samples with a thickness ≥60 nm have contributions from both bulk and surface states.

H Irfan and R Ezhil Vizhi 2020 Nanotechnology 31 404001

Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Fe 12 O 19 /Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 (BSFO/YIG) nanocomposite ferrite with hard (BSFO) and soft (YIG) magnetic phases, were prepared by the two-step co-precipitation method. The soft magnetic phase was introduced in different weight ratios ( x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 1) in the (1− x )Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Fe 12 O 19 /( x )Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 nanocomposite ferrites. The structural, morphological and magnetic properties of nanocomposite ferrites were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and room temperature vibrational sample magnetometer (VSM). The presence of the hard and soft phase have been confirmed without any secondary phase from the XRD analysis, indicating the formation of nanocomposite ferrite. The crystallite size is found to be in the range of 45–55 nm calculated by Scherrer's formula. The HR-TEM revealed hexagonal platelets of BSFO with YIG particles with an average particle size of 90 nm formed at the surface of the (0.9)BSFO/(0.1)YIG nanocomposite. The room temperature magnetic properties of the nanocomposite, such as saturation magnetization (M s ), squareness ratio (M r /M s ), coercivity (H c ) and nucleation field (H n) were evaluated by employing VSM. The magnetic measurements have displayed an enhancement in coercivity and magnetization for (0.9)BSFO/(0.1)YIG. Compared with pure BSFO, the optimized (0.9)BSFO/(0.1)YIG nanocomposite showed 57% enhancement in energy product (BH) max , indicating that the nanocomposite possessed excellent exchange coupling. To investigate the exchange coupling between the hard and soft magnetic phases, dM/dH values were plotted using the demagnetization curves which indicated the effective exchange coupling effect between the hard and soft phases.

Malaya K Sahoo et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 414003

Ternary oxides/sulfides have long been investigated as promising electrode materials for charge storage applications. However, it is important to rationally design nanostructured hybrid composites for superior charge storage performance as electrodes in devices. In this work, MoO 3 @NiCo 2 S 4 hybrid composites materials are synthesized by the hydrothermal method followed by annealing at different temperatures. The charge storage properties of these materials are tested by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It is found that the structure of the hybrid composite material not only assists electron and charge transportation but also precisely control the volume expansion during redox reactions, contributing to superior electrochemical behavior. Among all the electrodes, the electrode fabricated with MoO 3 @NiCo 2 S 4 composite material annealed at 400 °C (MoO 3 @NiCo 2 S 4 -400) is the best for charge storage applications. At 400 °C, MoO 3 spreads as a thin layer of surface polymeric molybdates on NiCo 2 S 4 as seen in the XRD pattern. Significantly, it delivers the highest capacitance of 1622 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 in 2 M aqueous KOH electrolyte compared to other hybrid composite electrodes, NiCo 2 S 4 (962 F g −1 ), MoO 3 @NiCo 2 S 4 -500 (1412 F g −1 ) and MoO 3 @NiCo 2 S 4 -600 (970 F g −1 ), under the same measurement conditions. Furthermore, the MoO 3 @NiCo 2 S 4 -400 hybrid electrode shows better cyclic stability with 93% capacitance retention after 3000 charge–discharge cycles at 8 A g −1 . The synergistic effect of two components and annealing temperature plays important role in enhancing the charge storage performance. This work shows the importance of the synthesis temperature on the functional character of ternary sulfide/oxide composite materials for charge storage applications.

Naveen Kumar Sompalli and Prabhakaran Deivasigamani 2020 Nanotechnology 31 414004

In this study, we report on the superior ion-capturing and sensing competence of a new breed of aqua-compatible solid-state ion-sensor using a structurally organized polymer monolith, for the ocular sensing of trace levels of divalent copper ions. The polymer monolithic template exhibits a single block framework with a uniform structural pattern and porous network that serves as an efficient host for the homogeneous probe anchoring, to constitute a renewable solid-state optical sensor. Here, a series of solid-state colorimetric Cu(II) sensors has been designed using three indigenously synthesized chelating probes (molecules) namely, 4-butyl-N-(2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazine-1-carbonothioyl)benzamide (BNHCB), 2-(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)hydrazinen-1-carbothioamide (TMHCA), and 4-butylphenyl(diazenyl)-2-mercaptopyrimidine-4,6-diol (BDMPD). The polymer monoliths are characterized using various surface and structural analysis techniques such as HR-SEM, HR-TEM, XPS, XRD, FT-IR, EDAX, and BET surface area analysis. The fabricated solid-state sensors exhibit excellent selectivity and sensitivity for copper ions with unique color transitions that are reliable even at ultra-trace (ppb) levels. The impact of diverse sensing parameters such as solution pH, probe concentration, sensor quantity, target ion concentration, temperature, response kinetics, and matrix tolerances have been optimized. The fabricated sensor materials proffer maximum sensing efficiency in neutral pH conditions, with a limit of detection (L D ) and quantification (L Q ) values of 0.56 and 1.87 μ g l −1 , 0.30 and 1.0 μ g l −1 , and 0.12 and 0.42 μ g l −1 , for BNHCB-, BDMPD-, and TMHCA-anchored polymer sensors, respectively. The proposed reusable solid-state colorimetric sensors are environmentally benign, cost-effective and data reproducible, with superior analytical performance.

Panagiotis Bousoulas et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 454002

The threshold switching effect is considered of outmost importance for a variety of applications ranging from the reliable operation of crossbar architectures to emulating neuromorphic properties with artificial neural networks. This property is strongly believed to be associated with the rich inherit dynamics of a metallic conductive filament (CF) formation and its respective relaxation processes. Understanding the origin of these dynamics is very important in order to control the degree of volatility and design novel electronic devices. Here, we present a synergistic numerical and experimental approach in order to deal with that issue. The distribution of relaxation time is addressed through time-resolved pulse measurements whereas the entire switching behavior is modeled through a 2D dynamical model by taking into account the destructive interference of the drift/diffusion transport mechanisms and the Soret diffusion flux due to the intense local Joule heating. The proposed mechanism interprets successfully both the threshold to bipolar switching transition as well as the self-rectifying effects in SiO 2 -based memories. The model incorporates the effect of electrode materials on the switching pattern and provides a different perception of the ionic transport processes, shading light into the ultra-small lifetimes of the CF and explaining the different behavior of the silver or copper active materials in a conductive bridge random access memory architecture.

D M Souza et al 2020 Nanotechnology 31 485711

Ultra-low-density BiFeO 3 nanoparticles have been prepared by pulsed laser deposition and their structure and magnetic properties have been studied. Annealing increases crystallinity and the size of the particles leading to an alteration of magnetic properties, observed from magnetic studies and evaluated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy , selected area electron diffraction and x-ray diffraction patterns analysis. Transmission electron microscopy results show that the BiFeO 3 as-deposited nanoparticles annealed up to 400 °C exhibit a orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure without secondary phase and with diameters varying from 9 nm (as-deposited) to 17 nm (annealed at 400 °C). Magnetic data exhibit exchange bias and magnetic blocking effects at low temperatures and typical superparamagnetic behavior at high temperatures. Meanwhile, the BiFeO 3 nanoparticles annealed at 500 °C exhibit a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure with typical antiferromagnetic properties and diameter of about 56 nm. The analysis of magnetic relaxation time using the Arrhenius equation suggests a superparamagnetic blocking process of ferromagnetic clusters on the surface of the nanoparticles at low temperature. The magnetic properties are discussed considering the interactions between nanoparticles and the co-existence of different magnetic phases within the nanoparticles: an ordered antiferromagnetic core and ferromagnetic clusters on the surface.

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Metal-based Nanomaterials for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy

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With the convergence of nanoscience and biomedicine, metal-based nanomaterials have garnered increasing attention for their versatile applications in tumor diagnosis and therapy. Metal-based nanomaterials are derived from metal-containing compounds, exhibiting unique physical and chemical properties that make them ideal candidates for various imaging and therapeutic modalities. Due to their excellent optical, magnetic and electronic properties, these metal-based nanomaterials strongly span tumor diagnostic imaging in multiple modalities, including fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc. As for the therapeutic benefits, the employment of metal-based nanomaterials could provide highly effective therapies, such as drug delivery, photo-activated therapy, chemodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, etc. To meet the needs, metal-based nanomaterials can be further combined or modified with targeting ligands, organic and inorganic materials to construct multifunctional nanoprobes for multimodal imaging and therapies, realizing personalized tumor theranostics. While the potential of metal-based nanomaterials in tumor diagnosis and therapy is immense, there are still challenges to overcome, including biocompatibility, safety, and scalability. This research topic mainly focuses on optimizing nanomaterial synthesis and chemical modification, improving their targeting capabilities, biocompatibility, imaging and therapeutic effects as well as understanding their metabolic processes and pathways in biological systems. This topic aims to bring together recent research and investigation on metal–based nanomaterials in tumor diagnosis and therapy, discussing potential benefits, but also limitations and biosafety concerns for their biomedical applications. This topic can foster research and development in this field, ultimately promising to contribute to the improvement of human health. In this research topic, we aim to highlight recent advances and developments in metal-based nanomaterials and their theranostic applications. We cordially welcome investigators to submit articles (original research and reviews) that describe the latest techniques in nanomaterials synthesis, characterization, and biomedical theranostic applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: • Synthesis and characterization of metal-based nanomaterials • Biocompatibility and toxicity of metal-based nanomaterials • Recent developments of metal-based nanomaterials in imaging systems, such as optical imaging, CT, MRI, etc. • Advances in metal-based nanomaterials for theranostic applications • Novel metal-based nanomaterials for radiation protection applications

Keywords : Metal-based Nanomaterials, Diagnostic Imaging, Multimodality Therapy, Theranostics, Radiation Protection

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Two receive Klemperer Award for outstanding materials PhD thesis

Two PhD graduates, Qi Hua and Falon Kalutantirige, were awarded the 2024 Klemperer Award for Outstanding Materials Chemistry Ph.D. Thesis in the Department of Chemistry.

In a special presentation to the department on May 9, 2024, Hua presented her thesis, “Understanding and Controlling the Reactivity of Oxygen Reduction and Methanol Oxidation Electrocatalysts,” and Falon presented her thesis, “Morphogenesis-Morphology-Function Relationships of Irregular Nanomaterials Using Advanced Electron Microscopy and Graph Theory.”

Advised by chemistry Prof. Andrew Gewirth, Hua began her graduate studies at Illinois in 2019 after completing a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at Lanzhou University. And Kalutantirige earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, in 2017, and was advised at Illinois by materials science and engineering professor Qian Chen, who is also affiliated with the Department of Chemistry.

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• Two receive Klemperer Award for outstanding materials PhD thesis Two PhD graduates, Qi Hua and Falon Kalutantirige, were awarded the 2024 Klemperer Award for Outstanding Materials Chemistry Ph.D. Thesis in the Department of Chemistry. Read full story
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