Nanoplastic in aqueous environments: The role of chemo-electric properties for nanoplastic-mineral interaction.

Due to increasing plastic production, the continuous release of primary and secondary nanoplastic particles (NPs, <1 μm) has become an emerging contaminant in terrestrial environments. The fate and transport of NPs in subsurface environments remain poorly understood, largely due to the complex interplay of mineralogical, chemical, biological, and morphological heterogeneity. This study examines interactions between abundant subsurface minerals and NPs under controlled water chemistry (1 mM KCl, pH 5.

Dual ligand functionalized pH-sensitive liposomes for metastatic breast cancer treatment: and assessment.

This research demonstrates the design and development of a novel dual-targeting, pH-sensitive liposomal (pSL) formulation of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), , (5-FU-iRGD-FA-pSL) to manage breast cancer (BC). The motivation to explore this formulation is to overcome the challenges of systemic toxicity and non-specific targeting of 5-FU, a conventional chemotherapeutic agent. The proposed formulation also combines folic acid (FA) and iRGD peptides as targeting ligands to enhance tumor cell specificity and penetration, while the pH-sensitive liposomes ensure the controlled drug release in the acidic tumor microenvironment.

Novel 3D composite for efficient photocatalysis in environmental remediation.

Highly porous, self-supported 3D interconnected network-based nanomaterials hold immense promise in revolutionizing the field of catalysis. These materials combine two critical features; a large accessible surface and an overall active surface that leads to substantial catalytic effects. In this study, we developed a novel class of 3D composite material composed of zinc oxide tetrapods (ZOT) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer, specifically designed for photocatalysis.

Z-scheme CeO-TiO@CNT Heterojunction for Efficient Photoredox Removal of Mix Pollutants (CPF, MB, MO, and RhB).

Z-scheme CeO-TiO@CNT (CTC) heterojunction is fabricated using hydrothermal method and evaluated for removing mixed pollutants (MIX-P) from ciprofloxacin (CPF) and textile contaminations. CTC demonstrated ≈99% removal efficiency against MIX-P under solar irradiation of ≈10 lumens. High removal efficiency of CTC is attributed to reduced bandgap (E), 2.

Photocatalytic deposition of noble metals on 0D, 1D, and 2D TiO structures: a review.

In recent years, extensive research on noble metal-TiO nanocomposites has demonstrated their crucial role in various applications such as water splitting, self-cleaning, CO reduction, and wastewater treatment. The structure of the noble metal-TiO nanocomposites is critical in determining their photocatalytic properties. Numerous studies in the literature describe the preparation of these nanocomposites with various shapes and sizes to achieve tunable photocatalytic performance.

Zinc oxide nanomaterials: Safeguarding food quality and sustainability.

In this era, where food safety and sustainability are paramount concerns, the utilization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) is a promising solution to enhance the safety, quality, and sustainability of food products. ZnO NPs in the food industry have evolved significantly over time, reflecting advancements in synthesizing methods, antimicrobial activities, and risk assessment considerations for human health and the environment. This comprehensive review delves into the historical trajectory, current applications, and prospects of ZnO NPs in food-related contexts.

Fundamentals of Flexoelectricity, Materials and Emerging Opportunities Toward Strain-Driven Nanocatalysts.

Flexoelectricity, an intrinsic property observed in materials under nonuniform deformation, entails a coupling between polarization and strain gradients. Recent catalyst advancements have reignited interest in flexoelectricity, particularly at the nanoscale, where pronounced strain gradients promote robust flexoelectric effects. This paper comprehensively examines flexoelectricity, encompassing methodologies for precise measurement, elucidating its distinctions from related phenomena, and exploring its potential applications in augmenting catalytic properties.

Magnetic-assisted sequential templated self-assembly of hybrid colloid nanoparticle systems.

The assembly of hybrid nanoparticles is a pioneering route for developing nanoscale functional devices, enabling breakthroughs in various fields, including electronics, photonics, energy, sensing, and biomedical applications. Here, we focus on the templated assembly of nano-sized colloidal systems using a combination of silica-coated superparamagnetic beads (MBs) and polymer-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These hybrid nanoparticles introduce new functionalities that allow them to be used as nanomachines with numerous possible applications.

Adaptation of a methanogen to Fe corrosion via direct contact.

Due to unique genomic adaptations, Methanococcus maripaludis Mic1c10 is highly corrosive when in direct contact with Fe. A critical adaptation involves increased glycosylation of an extracellular [NiFe]-hydrogenase, facilitating its anchoring to cell surface proteins. Corrosive strains adapt to the constructed environment via horizontal gene transfer while retaining ancestral genes important for intraspecies competition and surface attachment.

Space-Charge-Limited Current Measurements: A Problematic Technique for Metal Halide Perovskites.

Space-charge-limited current (SCLC) measurements play a crucial role in the electrical characterization of semiconductors, particularly for metal halide perovskites. Accurate reporting and analysis of SCLC are essential for gaining meaningful insights into charge transport and defect density in these systems. Unfortunately, performing SCLC measurements on perovskites is complicated by their mixed electronic-ionic conductivity.

Meter-scale van der Waals films manufactured via one-step roll printing.

A weak van der Waals (vdW) force in layered materials enables their isolation into thin flakes through mechanical exfoliation while sustaining their intrinsic electronic and optical properties. Here, we introduce a universal roll-printing method capable of producing vdW multilayer films on wafer-to-meter scale. This process uses sequential exfoliation and transfer of layered materials from the powder sources to target substrates through a repeated rolling of a cylindrical metal drum.

A direct comparison of a next generation hyperspectral camera to state-of-the-art.

Hyperspectral camera technology is advancing rapidly, and this paper seeks to compare a state-of-the-art industrial dual-camera setup to a single-camera system employing the latest chip technology (IMX990 from Sony). The hyperspectral cameras are compared over both the Visual and Short-Wave Infrared range (400-1700 nm) of the electromagnet spectrum. The spectral range and resolution, as well as spatial parameters and spectroscopic information are quantified with comparable optics, electronics, and test targets.

Synergistic photocatalytic breakdown of azo dyes coupled with H generation via Cr-doped α-FeO nanoparticles.

This research addresses the scalable and inexpensive synthesis of α-FeOvia hydrothermal method without any precipitating agent as well as the enhancement of solar driven photocatalytic and H production through doping different chromium proportions. Competency of α-FeO, both pure and doped with chromium, to function as photocatalyst was evaluated by its interaction with multiple dyes, which was real-time monitored utilizing (Internet of Things) IoT technique. By adding chromium, the rate of deterioration increased substantially from 15 to 94% for TB under sunlight in a remarkably brief 20 min by employing a very small amount of CrFeO (0.

Controlling bacterial growth and inactivation using thin film-based surface acoustic waves.

Formation of bacterial films on structural surfaces often leads to severe contamination of medical devices, hospital equipment, implant materials, , and antimicrobial resistance of microorganisms has indeed become a global health issue. Therefore, effective therapies for controlling infectious and pathogenic bacteria are urgently needed. Being a promising active method for this purpose, surface acoustic waves (SAWs) have merits such as nanoscale earthquake-like vibration/agitation/radiation, acoustic streaming induced circulations, and localised acoustic heating effect in liquids.

Expression of concern: High performance flexible supercapacitors based on secondary doped PEDOT-PSS-graphene nanocomposite films for large area solid state devices.

Expression of concern for 'High performance flexible supercapacitors based on secondary doped PEDOT-PSS-graphene nanocomposite films for large area solid state devices' by Syed Khasim , , 2020, , 10526-10539, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA01116A.

Nano/micro-plastic, an invisible threat getting into the brain.

Due to weather and working/operational conditions, plastic degradation produces toxic and non-biodegradable nano and microplastics (N/M-Ps, ranging from 10 nm to 5 mm), and over time these N/M-Ps have integrated with the human cycle through ingestion and inhalation. These N/M-Ps, as serious emerging pollutants, are causing considerable adverse health issues due to up-taken by the cells, tissue, and organs, including the brain. It has been proven that N/M-Ps can cross the blood-brain barrier (via olfactory and blood vessels) and affect the secretion of neuroinflammatory (cytokine and chemokine), transporters, and receptor markers.

Oxygen Defects Containing TiN Films for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: A Robust Thin-Film Electrocatalyst with Outstanding Performance.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of hydrogen adsorption on titanium nitride had previously shown that hydrogen may adsorb on both titanium and nitrogen sites with a moderate adsorption energy. Further, the diffusion barrier was also found to be low. These findings may qualify TiN, a versatile multifunctional material with electronic conductivity, as an electrode material for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Modeling Nonlinear Dynamics of Functionalization Layers: Enhancing Gas Sensor Sensitivity for Piezoelectrically Driven Microcantilever.

This article presents a parametrized response model that enhances the limit of detection (LOD) of piezoelectrically driven microcantilever (PD-MC) based gas sensors by accounting for the adsorption-induced variations in elastic properties of the functionalization layer (binder) and the nonlinear motional dynamics of the PD-MC. The developed model is demonstrated for quantifying cadaverine, a volatile biogenic diamine whose concentration is used to assess the freshness of meat. At low concentrations of cadaverine, an increase in the resonance frequency is observed, contrary to the expected reduction due to mass added by adsorption.

Investigating ripple pattern formation and damage profiles in Si and Ge induced by 100 keV Ar ion beam: a comparative study.

Desired modifications of surfaces at the nanoscale may be achieved using energetic ion beams. In the present work, a complete study of self-assembled ripple pattern fabrication on Si and Ge by 100 keV Ar ion beam bombardment is discussed. The irradiation was performed in the ion fluence range of ≈3 × 10 to 9 × 10 ions/cm and at an incident angle of θ ≈ 60° with respect to the surface normal.

Mid-Infrared, Optically Active Black Phosphorus Thin Films on Centimeter Scale.

Black phosphorus (BP) is a narrow bandgap (∼0.3 eV) semiconductor with a great potential for optoelectronic devices in the mid-infrared wavelength. However, it has been challenging to achieve a high-quality scalable BP thin film.

ZnO based 0-3D diverse nano-architectures, films and coatings for biomedical applications.

Thin-film nano-architecting is a promising approach that controls the properties of nanoscale surfaces to increase their interdisciplinary applications in a variety of fields. In this context, zinc oxide (ZnO)-based various nano-architectures (0-3D) such as quantum dots, nanorods/nanotubes, nanothin films, tetrapods, nanoflowers, hollow structures, have been extensively researched by the scientific community in the past decade. Owing to its unique surface charge transport properties, optoelectronic properties and reported biomedical applications, ZnO has been considered as one of the most important futuristic bio-nanomaterials.