Nanoscale

doi: 10.1039/d4nr90053gpmid: N/A

doi: 10.1039/d4nr90054epmid: N/A

doi: 10.1039/d4nr90055cpmid: N/A

Shabbir, Sania; Yang, Nailiang; Wang, Dan

doi: 10.1039/d3nr05905gpmid: 38362657

Uranium extraction from seawater (UES) is recognized as one of the seven pivotal chemical separations with the potential to revolutionize global paradigms. The forthcoming decade is anticipated to witness a surge in UES, driven by escalating energy demands. The oceanic reservoirs, possessing uranium quantities approximately 1000-fold higher than terrestrial mines, present a more sustainable and environmentally benign alternative. Empirical evidence from historical research indicates that adsorption emerges as the most efficacious process for uranium recovery from seawater, considering operational feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and selectivity. Over the years, scientific exploration has led to the development of a plethora of adsorbents with superior adsorption capacity. It would be efficient to design materials with a deep understanding of the adsorption from the perspective of kinetics and thermodynamics. Here, we summarize recent advancements in UES technology and the contemporary challenges encountered in this domain. Furthermore, we present our perspectives on the future trajectory of UES and finally offer our insights into this subject.

She, Ping; Li, Shuming; Li, Xuejing; Rao, Heng; Men, Xiaoju; Qin, Jun-sheng

doi: 10.1039/d3nr06531fpmid: 38390689

Microbial contamination and antibiotic pollution have threatened public health and it is important to develop a rapid and safe sterilization strategy. Among various disinfection strategies, photocatalytic antibacterial methods have drawn increasing attention due to their efficient disinfection performances and environment-friendly properties. Although there are some reviews about bacterial disinfection, specific reviews on photocatalysis focused on inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials are rarely reported. Herein, we present a systematic summary of recent disinfection developments based on inorganic nanomaterials (including metal oxides, sulfides, phosphides, carbon materials, and corresponding heterostructures) over the past five years. Moreover, key factors and challenges for inorganic nanomaterial-based photocatalytic disinfection are outlined, which holds great potential for future photocatalytic antibacterial applications.

Yang, Zhenxu; Jaiswal, Arun; Yin, Qiankun; Lin, Xiaoqi; Liu, Lu; Li, Jiarong; Liu, Xiaochen; Xu, Zhejun; Li, Jiao Jiao; Yong, Ken-Tye

doi: 10.1039/d3nr05003cpmid: 38323627

Addressing significant medical challenges arising from tissue damage and organ failure, the field of tissue engineering has evolved to provide revolutionary approaches for regenerating functional tissues and organs. This involves employing various techniques, including the development and application of novel nanomaterials. Among them, chiral nanomaterials comprising non-superimposable nanostructures with their mirror images have recently emerged as innovative biomaterial candidates to guide tissue regeneration due to their unique characteristics. Chiral nanomaterials including chiral fibre supramolecular hydrogels, polymer-based chiral materials, self-assembling peptides, chiral-patterned surfaces, and the recently developed intrinsically chiroptical nanoparticles have demonstrated remarkable ability to regulate biological processes through routes such as enantioselective catalysis and enhanced antibacterial activity. Despite several recent reviews on chiral nanomaterials, limited attention has been given to the specific potential of these materials in facilitating tissue regeneration processes. Thus, this timely review aims to fill this gap by exploring the fundamental characteristics of chiral nanomaterials, including their chiroptical activities and analytical techniques. Also, the recent advancements in incorporating these materials in tissue engineering applications are highlighted. The review concludes by critically discussing the outlook of utilizing chiral nanomaterials in guiding future strategies for tissue engineering design.

Mao, Yunjie; Zhao, Bangchuan; Bai, Jin; Wang, Peiyao; Zhu, Xuebin; Sun, Yuping

doi: 10.1039/d3nr06207dpmid: 38334209

With the increasing popularity of flexible and wearable electronic devices, the demand for power supplies that can be easily bent or worn is also rapidly growing. However, traditional lithium ion batteries are difficult to adapt to complex wearable devices because of their unsatisfactory flexibility and thickness as well as safety issues. Zinc-ion batteries have several advantages, including low redox potential, high theoretical capacity, high safety, and abundant reserves. These features make flexible zinc-ion batteries (FZIBs) an ideal wearable energy storage device candidate. The electrochemical performance and mechanical deformability of FZIBs were pivotally determined based on the properties of their electrode and electrolyte. Herein, we summarize some recent advances from 2015 to 2023 in the design and preparation of various electrode and electrolyte materials for FZIBs with controllable morphology and structure, excellent mechanical property, and enhanced electrochemical performance. Moreover, efforts to explore the potential practical applications of FZIBs have also been considered. Finally, we present and discuss current challenges and opportunities for the development of high-performance FZIBs.

Wu, Xiaolin; Zhao, Yaqi; Li, Hang; Zhou, Cheng; Wang, Xuanpeng; Du, Lingzhi

doi: 10.1039/d3nr06247cpmid: 38372701

Sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (S@PAN) composites have gathered a lot of interest because of their advantages of high theoretical energy density, excellent cycling stability, and environmental friendliness. Meanwhile, their unique “covalent bonding” mechanism effectively avoids the dissolution and shuttling of polysulfides, and thus they are expected to be the most promising candidate for the cathode material in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Over the past five years, S@PAN cathode materials have been widely studied in Li–S batteries, and it is very important to summarize the advances over time for their practical applications. This article reviews the latest progress concerning the modification of S@PAN cathode materials for improving poor electrical conductivity, low sulfur content, and sluggish reaction kinetics, and proposes possible research directions. We hope this review provides valuable insights and references for future research on Li–S batteries.

Sun, Zaichun; Amrillah, Tahta

doi: 10.1039/d3nr06559fpmid: 38379522

Bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) is a kind of typical two-dimensional (2D) material that has been increasingly developed alongside other 2D materials such as graphene, MXenes, and transition-metal dichalcogenide. However, its potential applications have not been widely whispered compared to those of other 2D materials. Using its distinctive properties, BiOI can be used for various applications, especially when it meets sunlight and other light-related electromagnetic waves. In this present review, we discuss the developments of BiOI and challenges in the applications for photodetector and light-assisted sensors, photovoltaic devices, optoelectronic logic devices, as well as photocatalysts. We start the discussion with a basic understanding and development of BiOI, crystal structure, and its properties. The synthesis and further development, such as green synthesis and its challenges in the synthesis-suited industry, as well as device integration, are also explained together with a plausible strategy to enhance the feasibility of BiOI for those various applications. We believe that the provided discussion and perspectives will not only promote BiOI to be one of the highly considered 2D materials but can also assist recent graduates in any materials science discipline and inform the senior scientists and industrial-based stakeholders of the latest advances in bismuth oxide and mixed-anion compounds.

Dastidar, Rahul Ghosh; Okamoto, Takuya; Takahashi, Kiyonori; Takano, Yuta; Vijayakumar, Chakkooth; Subrahmanyam, Challapalli; Biju, Vasudevanpillai

doi: 10.1039/d3nr05503epmid: 38227491

Zero-dimensional hybrid copper(i) halides (HCHs) are attractive due to their interesting photoluminescence (PL) properties and the high abundance and low toxicity of copper. In this study, we report green–red dual emission from rhombic 1-butyl-1-methyl piperidinium copper bromide [(Bmpip)2Cu2Br4] microcrystals (MCs) prepared on borosilicate glass. The structure and elemental composition of the MCs are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Interestingly, MCs prepared on an ITO-coated glass plate show an intense green emission compared to the dual emission on a bare glass or plastic substrate. Furthermore, the intensity of the green emission from the MC is enormously increased by powdering using a conductive material, suggesting the deactivation of the red-emitting state by a charge transfer interaction with the conductor. These findings open a new strategy to suppress the self-trapping of excitons by longitudinal optical phonons and control the dual emitting states in HCHs.