Anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs) exhibit significant potential for next-generation high-energy-density storage due to their inherently high energy density, low manufacturing cost and safety. However, non-uniform lithium nucleation and growth lead to the formation of lithium dendrites. These dendrites fracture readily during repeated plating/stripping cycles, transforming into electrochemically inert 'dead lithium' while mechanically disrupting the fragile solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer and causing irreversible consumption of active lithium. Herein, a novel current collector is designed by decorating Cu with Ag nanoclusters bearing sulfur-containing ligands. The ligands, along with TFSI[-]decomposition, may contribute to the formation of a sulfur-rich SEI, while Ag nanoclusters provide lithiophilic nucleation sites for reversible lithium cycling. This design enables improved AFLMBs. Based on the design, the LiFePO4||Cu-Ag NCs-2 anode-free battery demonstrates an average coulombic efficiency of above 99.7% over 100 cycles at 1 C. Also, a 1.2 Ah anode-free pouch cell was constructed with 275 Wh kg[-1].

Near-infrared graphene photodetectors are attractive for imaging, sensing, communication, and integrated optoelectronics, but their performance is strongly limited by the weak light absorption of graphene. Plasmonic nanostructures can enhance light-matter interaction; however, most reported devices rely on complex nano/microfabrication processes, which increases cost and limits scalability. Here, we demonstrate a near-infrared graphene photodetector enhanced by disordered percolated Au nanostructures through a simple fabrication process. The disordered Au nanostructures support broadband plasmonic absorption over 1200-1600 nm, producing strong local electromagnetic fields and facilitating hot-carrier generation. Spatially resolved photocurrent mapping, illumination-dependent transfer characteristics, and electromagnetic simulations support plasmon-induced hot-carrier injection from the Au nanostructures into graphene as an important contribution to the observed photoresponse. The resulting photoinduced carrier redistribution creates a potential difference between the Au-covered and uncovered graphene regions, providing the internal driving force for carrier transport at zero source-drain bias. The device exhibits a broadband zero-bias photoresponse over 1200-1600 nm, with a maximum voltage responsivity of approximately 20 mV/W. This work provides a simple and scalable route for low-cost plasmon-enhanced graphene near-infrared photodetectors.

ZnO/graphene microwave absorbers conventionally rely on static parameter adjustment for morphological control and predominantly operate through dielectric loss, limiting the possibilities for dynamic structural regulation and magnetic-loss contribution. To address this, a magnetic-field-assisted steam-thermal method was developed to simultaneously regulate the morphology and defect-related chemical environment of ZnO/graphene heterostructures. Under a 0.5 T magnetic field, ZnO grows into a radial flower-like nanorod architecture that modifies the effective graphene conductive network and promotes heterogeneous ZnO/graphene interfaces. Meanwhile, magnetic-field-assisted synthesis modifies the defect-related chemical and paramagnetic environments of the composites, which may contribute to polarization relaxation and the observed weak magnetic response. These coupled structural and electromagnetic effects promote interfacial polarization, enhance electromagnetic attenuation, and contribute to favorable impedance matching. The optimized M5 sample achieves a minimum reflection loss of -24.94 dB at a thickness of 1.5 mm, with an effective absorption bandwidth of 1.45 GHz. This work demonstrates that magnetic-field-assisted regulation of morphology and defect-related electromagnetic response provides a promising strategy for designing high-performance ZnO/graphene microwave absorbers.

In this report, the coupling of the excitonic peak of the grown semiconducting cerium oxide (CeO2) NPs (~350 nm) with tryptophan (~278 nm) along with biophysical study of interaction have been studied through UV-Vis, photoluminescence, and CD spectroscopy, TCSPC, DLS, and HRTEM, AFM imaging. The interaction of small sizes CeO2 NPs with serum albumin protein (SAP) showed formation of ground state complex with association constant (k) varied from 8.7x103 (μM)-1 to 4.8x103 (μM)-1. The kinetics of the interaction study showed that the initial corona formation binding time was ~9 min, and the binding induced albumin reorganization time was ~248.5 min and unfolding was much prominent than binding. Dynamic quenching was found to be the major mechanism for albumin, with an exothermic nature observed during the interaction study across the temperature range from room temperature to human body temperature (298-312 K). The energy transfer efficiency varied from ~75.9% to ~87.4% with temperature. The visualized images of HRTEM and AFM showed formation of albumin corona and protein fibrillation. At body temperature the probability of soft corona formation was more prominent than room temperature. The hydrodynamic sizes of the nano-protein corona were changes from 33.5 nm to 80.5 nm and ultrafast life time of the corona changes from 6.1 ns to 4.05 ns with increment of temperature. The change in the ratio of β strand to α-helix of the SAP has been occurred from ~15% to ~26.03% with change in the corona temperature from 298 K to 312 K.

Nanophase is an effective drug delivery system. Self-assembling nanoemulsion (N-XY) was found in Xiaoyaosan; but its pharmacokinetics remain unclear. Objective: To explore the physicochemical properties, active components, release kinetics, and in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of N-XY. Methods: Xiaoyaosan phase states were separated by centrifugal dialysis. N-XY was characterized using multiple analytical techniques, and active constituents against mammary gland hyperplasia were screened by HPLC fingerprinting combined with grey relational analysis (GRA). In vitro release was evaluated using dissolution studies, and in vivo pharmacokinetics were assessed in an animal model. In vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) was established by linear regression analysis. Results:N-XY was isolated as a stable O/W nanoemulsion retaining key bioactive components. HPLC with GRA indicated nine components, including glycyrrhizic acid, contributed to anti-mammary hyperplasia effects. In vitro studies showed pH-responsive sustained release. Pharmacokinetics demonstrated prolonged in vivo retention and increased systemic exposure compared with A-XY, with significant IVIVC for the main bioactive components. Conclusion: N-XY is the primary bioactive phase of Xiaoyaosan, exhibiting intrinsic sustained-release and absorption-enhancing properties. This study not only elucidates the material basis and delivery characteristics of Xiaoyaosan but also provides a novel strategy for the rational development and identification of effective phases in traditional Chinese medicine formulas.

Graphene-based materials have emerged as a versatile platform for exploring strongly correlated quantum phenomena, particularly superconductivity (SC) and charge density waves (CDWs), owing to their highly tunable electronic structure, reduced dimensionality, and sensitivity to external perturbations. While pristine monolayer graphene is not intrinsically superconducting and exhibits limited propensity toward charge ordering, a variety of engineered graphene systems have demonstrated remarkable SC and CDW phases through mechanisms involving doping, intercalation, proximity coupling, strain, and moiré superlattice engineering. The discovery of correlated insulating states and superconductivity in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene has revolutionized the field by revealing unprecedented opportunities for studying unconventional pairing mechanisms and competing electronic orders in a purely carbon-based material platform. This review critically examines the current understanding of emergent SC and CDW in graphene-derived systems. We survey the diverse classes of graphene-based superconductors, including chemically doped and intercalated graphene, twisted bi- and trilayer graphene structures, and proximity-induced superconducting heterostructures, emphasizing the role of electron-phonon coupling, flat-band formation, and interfacial effects. Subsequently, we discuss the fundamental origins of CDW formation in graphene, focusing on electron-phonon interactions, Peierls instability, Fermi-surface nesting, defect engineering, doping, heterostructure design, and moiré-induced electronic reconstruction. The coexistence and competition between SC and charge-ordered phases, as revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), transport measurements, and other advanced experimental techniques are discussed. This review analyzes the principal theoretical frameworks employed to describe these correlated states, including the Holstein model, Eliashberg theory, unconventional pairing scenarios, strain-induced gauge fields, and topological superconductivity. We assess the extent to which conventional electron-phonon-mediated mechanisms can account for experimental observations and discuss alternative strongly correlated and topological descriptions. By integrating experimental discoveries with theoretical developments, this review outlines future directions for both fundamental research and quantum-device applications. .

Memristors that combine metal-oxide thin films with two-dimensional graphene electrodes hold immense promise for high-density, energy-efficient neuromorphic hardware. Here, we demonstrate a vertical memristor based on a single-crystalline rutile TiO2 thin film (~150 nm) sandwiched between a chemical-vapor-deposited monolayer graphene bottom electrode and an Ag top electrode. The atomically flat graphene/TiO2 interface yields exceptional resistive switching uniformity, ultralow leakage currents, and a high resistance ratio. The devices exhibit forming-free bipolar switching with an ultralow set voltage of +0.45 V and reset voltage of -0.35 V, a high ON/OFF resistance ratio exceeding 2 × 10[5], and a read endurance beyond 10[7] cycles without degradation. High-temperature retention measurements confirm stable resistance states for over 10[5] s at 85 °C with an Arrhenius activation energy of 1.1 eV, and cycle-to-cycle and device-todevice variability in both high-and low-resistance states remains below 3.2% (n = 20 devices, 100 cycles each). By precisely controlling the compliance current, we achieve 64 distinct, linearly spaced conductance levels, enabling 6-bit-per-cell multilevel storage. Energy consumption per switching event is calculated as 87 fJ (E = V × I × τ = 0.45 V × 3.9 μA × 50 ns), positioning this platform among the most energy-efficient memristive devices reported. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) reveals a uniform TiO2 thin film morphology on graphene, and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms a Ti:O stoichiometry with 15% oxygen vacancy concentration. The high resistance state (~20 GΩ) is attributed to the atomically flat graphene/TiO2 interface suppressing leakage, nanoconfinement of the switching volume, and a Schottky barrier at the Ag/TiO2 interface (εᵣ ≈ 86). These metrics position the TiO2 thin film/graphene memristor as a robust, scalable building block for next-generation in-memory computing and neuromorphic processors.

The formation of carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds is central to modern organic synthesis. Although the use of conventional Pd-ligand complexes as homogeneous catalysts results in highly effective yields, these systems often face some limitations including high cost, difficult recyclability, and thermal stability. Here, we demonstrate the utilization of palladium (Pd)-derived metals supported on finely ground marine shell waste as a reactivity and recyclability catalyst for diverse C-C bond-forming reactions. Oyster shell powder (OSP) derived from problematic biowaste, primarily composed of calcium carbonate, provides abundant anchoring sites to immobilize Pd ions via an additive-free deposition-precipitation (D-P) method, followed by thermally-induced conversion into oxidized Pd nanoparticles (PdO NPs). Comprehensive structural and compositional analyses confirm the formation of sub-10 nm PdO NPs across the OSP surfaces and their enhanced stability. The catalytic performance (reactivity, selectivity, and recyclability) of the resulting OSP-PdO NPs is comparable to other reported systems in Ullmann coupling, homocoupling, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, and Sonogashira coupling. Importantly, these reactions proceed under green conditions, achieving high yields without an inert atmosphere (even showing detectable activity under base-free conditions) and allowing easy catalyst recovery, highlighting the practical advantages of the quasihomogeneous catalytic system. Overall, the incorporation of nanoscale Pd-based catalysts onto marine biowaste supports offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for reactive and recyclable organic transformation reactions.

Constructing type-II heterojunctions is an effective way to enhance the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of semiconductor-based materials. In this study, in order to increase the specific surface area, a novel coral-like 3D porous Ta3N5nanostructure was first synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Subsequently, CdS quantum dots were deposited on the coral-like Ta3N5substrate by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method with 40, 80, and 120 cycles (named Ta3N5/CdS-40, Ta3N5/CdS-80, and Ta3N5/CdS-120) to modulate the band structures and optical absorption properties of the composites. The results show that Ta3N5/CdS-80 exhibits a continuous and dense CdS overlayer with effectively passivated surface states, delivering the optimal PEC performance (3625μA·cm[-2]at +1 V about 39 times that of the pure Ta3N5). This is because the Type-II heterojunction between CdS and Ta3N5facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers, and the high-quality CdS coating reduces the capture of photogenerated carriers by defects. When coupled with 304 stainless steel, Ta3N5/CdS-80 yields a photovoltage drop of 0.39 V and a net photocurrent density of 99.39μA·cm[-2], significantly outperforming the Ta3N5/CdS-40 and Ta3N5/CdS-120 samples. This work provides experimental evidence for the development of superior Ta3N5-based photogenerated cathodic protection materials.

Utilizing first-principles calculations combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function method, we systematically investigate the thermoelectric (TE) properties of GaSb and GaBi monolayers and their corresponding nanoribbons, with a particular focus on the influences of the edge states on the TE performance. First, the GaBi monolayer is identified as a topologically nontrivial insulator, whereas the GaSb monolayer is a trivial one. Subsequently, we compare the TE figure of merit $ZT$ of the GaSb and GaBi monolayers and nanoribbons. For the two-dimensional monolayers, the GaSb monolayer achieves a substantially higher $ZT$ peak than GaBi, primarily attributed to its wider energy bandgap that induces a larger Seebeck coefficient. In the nanoribbons, the emergence of both the trivial and topological edge states universally suppresses the $ZT$. However, the complete bandgap closing induced by the topologically protected edge states in the GaBi nanoribbons leads to a much more severe suppression of the $ZT$ compared to the preserved bandgap between the edge and bulk states in the GaSb nanoribbons. Finally, the temperature dependence of the $ZT$ peaks, as well as the influence of the nanoribbon width, is examined. The $ZT$ peaks near zero chemical potential exhibit opposite temperature dependences in the GaSb and GaBi monolayers, whereas the peaks far away from zero chemical potential show identical temperature evolution in their nanoribbons. This work not only deepens the understanding of how the topological and trivial edge states differently govern the TE properties, but also provides the crucial guidelines for improving the TE performance via the energy band and edge-state engineering, irrespective of their topological classification.

Photocatalysis has been a proven magnanimous scientific methodology for a wide array of real-world solutions. The highlights of the broad domain include environmental remediation, synthesis and decomposition of organic molecules, and, more recently, the splitting of water and biomolecules for concurrent generation of green hydrogen and value-added chemicals. Along with significant enhancement in the yield of green hydrogen, the photocatalytic oxidation of biomass and bio-derived compounds has been providing numerous pathways for the generation of specialty chemicals such as formic acid, glycolic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), and 2,5furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Photocatalysis enables the use of a broad spectrum of solar energy, including the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths, along with synthetic radiations such as xenon and mercury lamps. Photocatalysis has been a conventional technology for treatment of aqueous waste streams arising from industries, municipal areas, and medical sources, along with additional treatment of fresh water for potable use. Nano-scale composite structures with tailored heterojunction designs aim at maximizing the generation and irreversible transfer of charge carriers in a synergistic manner. The unique attributes of nanocomposites for efficient photo-generation of electrons and holes arise from the tailored modulation of properties such as surface area, size and anisotropy, crystallinity, dimensionality, and tunable electronic structure. The present review covers the key nanomaterials and nanocomposites with proven performance in photocatalysis, the mechanism of light absorption and charge transfer, and advanced heterojunction strategies for enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency.The review highlights the established and emerging design approaches mediated by nanomaterials and efficient pathways for creating high-performing heterojunctions. Further, the current advances and future perspectives present the focus on developing cost-effective, visible-light-responsive, and environmentally benign photocatalytic systems for large-scale applications.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly stem cell-derived exosomes, serve as vital natural nanocarriers in regenerative medicine, immune modulation, and targeted drug delivery due to their innate ability to transport bioactive cargo across complex biological barriers. Despite this potential, the therapeutic efficacy of native EVs is frequently constrained by intrinsic limitations such as rapid systemic clearance, low loading efficiency, limited targeting specificity, and significant manufacturing hurdles. Integrating engineered nanomaterials provides a powerful synergistic strategy to enhance EVs systems through sophisticated engineering that improves structural stability, maximizes cargo loading, and introduces multifunctional capabilities like real-time imaging and stimuli-responsive release. The objective of this review is to systematically analyze rational design principles for nano-EV hybrid systems while evaluating the critical barriers to their clinical translation. Key themes discussed include diverse engineering strategies-ranging from surface functionalization to scaffold-based delivery-alongside therapeutic applications in oncology and regenerative medicine, safety assessments, and production standardization. Ultimately, these advanced nano-EV platforms signify a transformative direction for next-generation nanomedicine, offering intelligent and scalable solutions for precise, clinically translatable therapeutics.

The widespread use of chemical additives in conventional oil-water separation processes poses significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and contributes to secondary pollution, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable and efficient separation technologies. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a promising membrane material owing to its robust chemical stability and mechanical durability; however, its intrinsic hydrophilicity limits separation performance. Here, we present a laser etching strategy that constructs micro-scale surface roughness on hydrophobic porous PVDF membranes without the use of any chemical additives. This method can successfully endow PVDF films with superhydrophobic performance, with the water contact angle increasing from 86.88° to 156.24°. The treated membranes achieve a permeation flux of 864.89 L h-1 m-2 alongside an oil-water separation efficiency of 98.44%. Moreover, the laser patterning technique allows for customizable surface architectures, enabling selective filtration of target particles. This work establishes a scalable, additive-free route to high-performance PVDF membranes, offering a promising platform for environmentally compatible wastewater treatment and resource recovery.

Nanofabrication has become central to the development of high-performance biosensors by enabling precise control over sensing interfaces, enhanced signal transduction, and integration across optical, electrochemical, microfluidic, and wearable platforms. This review examines the evolution of biosensor nanofabrication from deterministic top-down patterning toward scalable and integrated manufacturing strategies. Top-down approaches, including electron-beam lithography, focused ion beam milling, nanoimprint lithography, reactive ion etching, and laser-based fabrication, are discussed alongside replication and transfer processes, soft lithography, lithography-free plasmonic structuring, and additive three-dimensional fabrication. Bottom-up strategies based on nanoparticle assembly, DNA nanotechnology, block-copolymer and nanoporous templating, and stimuli-responsive materials are further considered as routes to programmable nanoscale organization and functional biointerfaces. Particular attention is given to flexible and wearable biosensors, where substrate mechanics, conductive-interface fabrication, textile integration, epidermal microfluidics, packaging, power management, and wireless communication introduce manufacturing requirements beyond conventional rigid devices. Across these approaches, the review emphasizes that analytical sensitivity alone is insufficient for translation; nanoscale precision must be accompanied by reproducibility, scalable processing, stable biofunctionalization, antifouling performance, packaging, storage stability, and device-level quality control. Emerging AI-assisted fabrication and process optimization strategies are also discussed as tools for linking manufacturing parameters with structural and analytical performance. Overall, the review provides a manufacturing-oriented perspective on how hybrid nanofabrication strategies can bridge high-performance laboratory biosensors with reproducible, scalable, and application-ready sensing systems.

In this work, multicolour and near white-light-emitting Se-Tb[3+] doped SiO2 are synthesised via the sol-gel method. Due to the phase shift from cubic to amorphous in Se quantum dots (QDs), the absorption spectrum of the annealed Se-Tb[3+] doped SiO2 exhibited broad absorption in the lower wavelength region. Due to the combined effect of excitation-dependent blue emissions (cubic Se QDs) and enhanced multiple emission bands (Tb3+ ions), fluorescent c-Se-Tb[3+] doped SiO2 are color-tunable from blue to near white to green under different excitations. While Se QDs sensitizes and boosts Tb[3+] fluorescence in its cubic phase, it quenches Tb3+ emission in its amorphous phase. Under 340 nm UV excitations, cool white emission (0.3040, 0.4074) with CCT value of 6426 K is obtained for c-Se-Tb[3+]doped SiO2 (c37). Excitation-dependent photoluminescence colour tuning, shifting from blue to near white at lower c-Se QDs content and white to green at higher c-Se QDs content is observed in c-Se-Tb[3+]doped SiO2. The dependence of fluorescence emission from Se-Tb[3+] doped SiO2 on crystallinity of Se QDs, Se concentration, and excitation wavelength is beneficial in realizing anti-counterfeiting and advanced solid color tunable lighting devices.