Nanomaterials

14 pages, 2683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Adsorption Behavior of a Cellulose Nanofibril/Tannic Acid/Polyvinyl Alcohol Aerogel for Cu(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) Heavy Metal Ions

by Xuejin Zhang, Yulong Tian, Huanhuan Chen, Ying Liu, Shuaichuang Han, Minmin Chang, Jingshun Zhuang and Qingzhi Ma

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141063 (registering DOI) - 9 Jul 2025

Abstract

Nanocellulose-based composite aerogels have the advantages of high porosity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, with wide applications in many fields, such as adsorption, separation, energy storage, and heat insulation. In this study, a nanocellulose-based composite aerogel (NCA) was prepared using the one-pot method with cellulose [...] Read more.

Nanocellulose-based composite aerogels have the advantages of high porosity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, with wide applications in many fields, such as adsorption, separation, energy storage, and heat insulation. In this study, a nanocellulose-based composite aerogel (NCA) was prepared using the one-pot method with cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), tannic acid (TA), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as raw materials. The adsorption behaviors of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ were also studied. FT-IR analysis confirmed that TA successfully solidified on the nanocellulose, while SEM analysis revealed that the prepared NCA exhibited significantly higher porosity compared with the cellulose nanofibril-only aerogel. The results of the adsorption experiment demonstrated that the adsorption behavior of heavy metal ions using the prepared NCA followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption isotherms fit well with the Langmuir adsorption model, indicating that the process of aerogels adsorbing heavy metal ions is that of monolayer adsorption. Under conditions of pH 6 and an initial heavy metal ion concentration of 100 mg/L, the maximum adsorption capacity calculated for the prepared NCA was up to 196.850 mg/g, 181.488 mg/g, and 151.515 mg/g for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺, respectively. Furthermore, the prepared NCA exhibited excellent reusability, with more than 90% efficiency retained after three cycles. NCAs have the potential to become an efficient material for absorbing heavy metal ions in water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nanocomposite Materials)

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15 pages, 3025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Power-Density Miniaturized VLF Antenna with Nanocrystalline Core for Enhanced Field Strength

by Wencheng Ai, Huaning Wu, Lin Zhao and Hui Xie

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141062 (registering DOI) - 9 Jul 2025

Abstract

In order to break through the difficulties with a very-low-frequency (VLF) miniaturized antenna with small power capacity and low radiation efficiency, this paper proposes a high-radiation-field-strength magnetic loop antenna based on a nanocrystalline alloy magnetic core. A high-permeability nanocrystalline toroidal core (μ [...] Read more.

In order to break through the difficulties with a very-low-frequency (VLF) miniaturized antenna with small power capacity and low radiation efficiency, this paper proposes a high-radiation-field-strength magnetic loop antenna based on a nanocrystalline alloy magnetic core. A high-permeability nanocrystalline toroidal core (μ_r = 50,000, B_s = 1.2 T) is used to optimize the thickness-to-diameter ratio (t = 0.08) and increase the effective permeability to 11,000. The Leeds wires, characterized by their substantial carrying capacity, are manufactured through a toroidal winding process. This method results in a 68% reduction in leakage compared to traditional radial winding techniques and enhances magnetic induction strength by a factor of 1.5. Additionally, this approach effectively minimizes losses, thereby facilitating support for kilowatt-level power inputs. A cascaded LC resonant network (resonant capacitance 2.3 μF) and ferrite balun transformer (power capacity 3.37 kW) realize a 20-times amplification of the input current. A series connection of a high-voltage isolation capacitor blocks DC bias noise, guaranteeing the stable transmission of 1200 W power, which is 6 times higher than the power capacity of traditional ring antenna. At 7.8 kHz frequency, the magnetic field strength at 120 m reaches 47.32 dBμA/m, and, if 0.16 pT is used as the threshold, the communication distance can reach 1446 m, which is significantly better than the traditional solution. This design marks the first instance of achieving kilowatt-class VLF effective radiation in a compact 51 cm-diameter magnetic loop antenna, offering a highly efficient solution for applications such as mine communication and geological exploration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials and Energetic Application: Experiment and Simulation)

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15 pages, 2498 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Constructing Sulfur Vacancy-Rich NiCo₂S₄@MoS₂ Core@shell Heterostructure via Interface Engineering for Enhanced HER Electrocatalysis

by Ziteng Song, Yuan Liu, Peng Yin, Jie Dai, Yingying Xu, Rongming Wang and Sibin Duan

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1061; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141061 (registering DOI) - 9 Jul 2025

Abstract

The rational design of heterointerfaces with optimized charge dynamics and defect engineering remains pivotal for developing advanced non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for water splitting. A comparative study of NiCo₂S₄–MoS₂ heterostructures was conducted to elucidate the impact of interfacial architecture [...] Read more.

The rational design of heterointerfaces with optimized charge dynamics and defect engineering remains pivotal for developing advanced non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for water splitting. A comparative study of NiCo₂S₄–MoS₂ heterostructures was conducted to elucidate the impact of interfacial architecture and defect engineering on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. A core@shell NiCo₂S₄@MoS₂ heterostructure was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal growth method, inducing lattice distortion and strong interfacial coupling, while supported NiCo₂S₄/MoS₂ heterostructures were prepared by ultrasonic-assisted deposition. A detailed structural and spectroscopic characterization and theoretical calculation demonstrated that the core@shell configuration promotes charge redistribution across the NiCo₂S₄–MoS₂ interface and generates abundant sulfur vacancies, thereby increasing the density of electroactive sites. Electrochemical measurements reveal that NiCo₂S₄@MoS₂ markedly outperforms the supported heterostructure, single-component NiCo₂S₄, and MoS₂ when serving as the HER catalyst in acid solution. These findings establish a dual-optimization strategy—combining interfacial design with vacancy modulation—that provides a generalizable paradigm for the deliberate design of high-efficiency non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for water splitting reactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Electrocatalysis)

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16 pages, 31664 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rheological Behavior of Poly(Styrene-Co-Acrylonitrile)/Carbon Nanotube Sponges for Fiber Electrospinning Applications

by Rubén Caro-Briones, Marco Antonio Pérez-Castillo, Hugo Martínez-Gutiérrez, Emilio Muñoz-Sandoval, Gabriela Martínez-Mejía, Lazaro Ruiz-Virgen and Mónica Corea

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141060 (registering DOI) - 9 Jul 2025

Abstract

Polymeric composite solutions (PCSs) reinforced with carbon nanotubes sponges (CNT-sponges) have attracted interest in material science and engineering due to their physicochemical properties. Understanding the influence of CNT-sponges content (0.1 wt.%, 0.3 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%) on rheological behavior of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) P(S:AN) (0:100, [...] Read more.

Polymeric composite solutions (PCSs) reinforced with carbon nanotubes sponges (CNT-sponges) have attracted interest in material science and engineering due to their physicochemical properties. Understanding the influence of CNT-sponges content (0.1 wt.%, 0.3 wt.% and 0.5 wt.%) on rheological behavior of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) P(S:AN) (0:100, 20:80, 40:60 and 50:50, wt.%:wt.%) solutions synthesized by emulsion polymerization can predict the viscoelastic parameters for their possible application in electrospinning processes. The obtained nanofibers can be used as sensors, textiles, purifying agents or artificial muscles and tissues. For this, amplitude and frequency sweeps were performed to measure the viscosity (η), storage (G’) and loss (G”) moduli and loss factor (tan δ). Most PCSs showed a shear thinning behavior over the viscosity range of 0.8 < η/Pa·s < 20. At low CNT-sponges concentration in the polymer matrix, the obtained loss factor indicated a liquid-like behavior, while as CNT-sponges content increases, the solid-like behavior predominated. Then, the polymeric solutions were successfully electrospun; however, some agglomerations were formed in materials containing 0.5 wt.% of CNT-sponges attributed to the interaction forces generated within the structure. Finally, the rheological analysis indicates that the PCS with a low percentage of CNT-sponges are highly suitable to be electrospun. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Advanced Fibers and Textiles)

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23 pages, 2710 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in Chemical Vapor Deposition of Hexagonal Boron Nitride on Insulating Substrates

by Hua Xu, Kai Li, Zuoquan Tan, Jiaqi Jia, Le Wang and Shanshan Chen

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141059 - 8 Jul 2025

Abstract

Direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on insulating substrates offers a promising pathway to circumvent transfer-induced defects and enhance device integration. This comprehensive review systematically evaluates recent advances in CVD techniques for h-BN synthesis on insulating substrates, including [...] Read more.

Direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on insulating substrates offers a promising pathway to circumvent transfer-induced defects and enhance device integration. This comprehensive review systematically evaluates recent advances in CVD techniques for h-BN synthesis on insulating substrates, including metal–organic CVD (MOCVD), low-pressure CVD (LPCVD), atmospheric-pressure CVD (APCVD), and plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD). Key challenges, including precursor selection, high-temperature processing, achieving single-crystalline films, and maintaining phase purity, are critically analyzed. Special emphasis is placed on comparative performance metrics across different growth methodologies. Furthermore, crucial research directions for future development in this field are outlined. This review aims to serve as a reference for advancing h-BN synthesis toward practical applications in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2D Structured Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications (2nd Edition))

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14 pages, 4491 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Superhydrophilic Antifog Glass and Quartz Induced by Plasma Treatment in Air

by Huixing Zhang, Xiaolong Fang, Xiaowen Qi, Chaoran Sun, Zhenze Zhai, Longze Chen, He Wang, Qiufang Hu, Hongtao Cui and Meiyan Qiu

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1058; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141058 - 8 Jul 2025

Abstract

Fogging on glass poses a severe challenge in daily life, potentially even becoming life-threatening during driving and surgery; therefore there is a need for antifog surface structures. Fabricating superhydrophilic surfaces has been one of the major solutions to the challenge. Conventional direct thermal [...] Read more.

Fogging on glass poses a severe challenge in daily life, potentially even becoming life-threatening during driving and surgery; therefore there is a need for antifog surface structures. Fabricating superhydrophilic surfaces has been one of the major solutions to the challenge. Conventional direct thermal annealing glass in a furnace at 900 K for 2 h led to superhydrophicity but failed to produce superhydrophilicity on quartz. Meanwhile, it degraded transmission and was low throughput. This study developed a programmed fast plasma treatment of planar soda-lime glass and quartz in air, applied for only a few seconds, that was able to fabricate superhydrophilic surfaces. The process led to a 0° contact angle without sacrificing transmission, a result unreported before. The plasma treatment covered a whole 30 × 30 cm² substrate in only approximately 5 s, resulting in superhydrophilicity, which has rarely been reported before. This simple yet controllable process has great potential for further scale-up and practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Chemical Engineering (3rd Edition))

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15 pages, 9578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interface Engineering of NCMA Cathodes with LATP Coatings for High-Performance Solid-State Lithium Batteries

by Shih-Ping Cho, Muhammad Usman Hameed, Chien-Te Hsieh and Wei-Ren Liu

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141057 - 8 Jul 2025

Abstract

The development of high-performance and stable solid-state lithium batteries (SSBs) is critical for advancing next-generation energy storage technologies. This study investigates LATP (Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃) coatings to enhance the electrochemical performance and interface stability of [...] Read more.

The development of high-performance and stable solid-state lithium batteries (SSBs) is critical for advancing next-generation energy storage technologies. This study investigates LATP (Li_1.3Al_0.3Ti_1.7(PO₄)₃) coatings to enhance the electrochemical performance and interface stability of NCMA83 (LiNi_0.83Co_0.06Mn_0.06Al_0.05O₂) cathodes. Compared to conventional combinations with LPSC (Li₆PS₅Cl) solid electrolytes, LATP coatings significantly reduce interfacial reactivity and improve cycling stability. Structural and morphological analyses reveal that LATP coatings maintain the crystallinity of NCMA83 while fine-tuning its lattice stress. Electrochemical testing demonstrates that LATP-modified samples (83L5) achieve superior capacity retention (65 mAh/g after 50 cycles) and reduced impedance (R_ct ~200 Ω), compared to unmodified samples (83L0). These results highlight LATP’s potential as a surface engineering solution to mitigate degradation effects, enhance ionic conductivity, and extend the lifespan of high-capacity SSBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Surface Science of Materials)

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18 pages, 1034 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Efficient and Safe Rotenone Solid Nanodispersion by Self-Emulsifying Technique

by Yunfei Zhang, Xuesheng Lin, Yunlong Qian, Mingda Qin, Shujing Zhang, Lanying Wang and Yanping Luo

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141056 - 8 Jul 2025

Abstract

Self-emulsifying solid nanodispersion technology is emerging as an attractive strategy to prepare new eco-friendly and efficient nano-formulations due to its simple, energy efficient and easy scale-up process. However, it is still unknown whether this technology can be employed to cope with the drawbacks [...] Read more.

Self-emulsifying solid nanodispersion technology is emerging as an attractive strategy to prepare new eco-friendly and efficient nano-formulations due to its simple, energy efficient and easy scale-up process. However, it is still unknown whether this technology can be employed to cope with the drawbacks of botanical insecticides including poor water solubility, rapid photodegradation and limited targeting efficiency. In this study, rotenone (Rot) was selected as a model of botanical insecticides, and its solid nanodispersion (Rot–SND) was prepared by a self-emulsifying method combined with parameter optimization. Our target nano-formulation, consisting of 5% Rot, 20% surfactant complexes of 8% Ethylan 992 and 12% EL–80, and 75% lactose, exhibited excellent storage stability and significantly improved the pseudo-solubility of Rot by at least 250 times. The average particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) of Rot–SND were determined to be 101.19 nm and 0.21, respectively. Rot–SND displayed smaller contact angles and greater retention on both cucumber and cabbage leaves than those of a commercial emulsifiable concentrates (ECs). Rot–SND was also more resistant to photodegradation, with a degradation rate reduced by 27.01% as compared with the ECs. In addition, the toxicity of Rot–SND towards Aphis gossypii was 3.01 times that of the ECs, with a median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 1.45 µg a.i./mL. Under the field conditions, Rot–SND showed a prolonged duration for A. gossypii control, with a significantly higher control efficacy (88.10%) on the 10th day than that of the ECs (77.02%). Moreover, a 2.34-fold decline in the toxicity towards nontarget mosquito larvae was observed for Rot–SND as compared with the EC. Overall, for the first time, our results indicate the role of Rot–SND as an eco-friendly and efficient way to improve the solubility, foliar affinity, photostability, bioactivity and eco-safety of Rot. This research also provided a feasible strategy to prepare more eco-friendly botanical pesticide formulations of high efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology)

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20 pages, 3869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dual-Mode Integration of a Composite Nanoparticle in PES Membranes: Enhanced Performance and Photocatalytic Potential

by Rund Abu-Zurayk, Nour Alnairat, Haneen Waleed, Aya Khalaf, Duaa Abu-Dalo, Ayat Bozeya and Razan Afaneh

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141055 - 8 Jul 2025

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Abstract

Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are essential in separation processes; however, their inherent hydrophobicity can limit their effectiveness in water-intensive applications. This study aims to enhance PES membranes by modifying them with a NiFe₂O₄–nanoclay composite nanoparticle to improve both their hydrophilicity [...] Read more.

Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are essential in separation processes; however, their inherent hydrophobicity can limit their effectiveness in water-intensive applications. This study aims to enhance PES membranes by modifying them with a NiFe₂O₄–nanoclay composite nanoparticle to improve both their hydrophilicity and photocatalytic potential as a photocatalytic membrane. The nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol–gel auto-combustion method and incorporated into PES membranes through mixed-matrix embedding (1 wt% and 3 wt%) and surface coating. X-ray diffraction confirmed the cubic spinel structure of the composite nanoparticles, which followed the second order kinetic reaction during the photodegradation–adsorption of crystal violet. The mixed-matrix membranes displayed a remarkable 170% increase in water flux and a 25% improvement in mechanical strength, accompanied by a slight decrease in contact angle at 1 wt% of nanoparticle loading. In contrast, the surface-coated membranes demonstrated a significant reduction in contact angle to 18°, indicating a highly hydrophilic surface and increased roughness. All membranes achieved high dye removal rates of 98–99%, but only the coated membrane system exhibited approximately 50% photocatalytic degradation, following mixed kinetics. These results highlight the critical importance of surface modification in advancing PES membranes, as it significantly reduces fouling and enhances water–material interaction qualities essential for future filtration and photocatalytic applications. Exploring hybrid strategies that combine both embedding and coating approaches may yield even greater synergies in membrane functionality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nanocomposite Materials)

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12 pages, 3405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Investigation on the Flow Boiling Heat Transfer Performance of Nanofluid in 3D Printing Minichannel Heat Sinks: A Comparative Study

by Jianyang Zhou and Zhixin Yin

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141054 - 8 Jul 2025

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Abstract

A minichannel heat sink combining flow boiling heat transfer with nanofluid is an ideal solution for the long-term cooling of high-power equipment. In the present paper, three mass fractions for 0.01 wt%, 0.05 wt%, and 0.1 wt% graphene/R141b and Al₂O₃ [...] Read more.

A minichannel heat sink combining flow boiling heat transfer with nanofluid is an ideal solution for the long-term cooling of high-power equipment. In the present paper, three mass fractions for 0.01 wt%, 0.05 wt%, and 0.1 wt% graphene/R141b and Al₂O₃/R141b nanofluids are prepared by ultrasonic vibration. The flow boiling heat transfer performance for graphene/R141b and Al₂O₃/R141b nanofluids was contrastively investigated in a 3D printing 10-minichannel heat sink with a single channel dimension of 198 mm × 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm. The results indicate that the heat transfer performance of graphene/R141b and Al₂O₃/R141b nanofluids are enhanced after adding nanoparticles in pure R141b, and the maximum average heat transfer coefficients of graphene/R141b and Al₂O₃/R141b nanofluids, respectively, increase by 35.4% and 31.7% compared with that of pure R141b. The heat transfer performance of graphene/R141b and Al₂O₃/R141b nanofluids increases nonlinearly with the increase in mass concentration; the heat transfer coefficient reaches its maximum at the mass concentration of 0.02 wt%, and then, it decreases slightly, which is mainly caused by nanoparticle deposition, leading to silted channel surface cavities during the flow boiling experiment. Moreover, it has been discovered that the heat transfer coefficient of graphene/R141b is larger than that of Al₂O₃/R141b under the same conditions. The average heat transfer coefficient of graphene/R141b increased by 19.7% compared with that of Al₂O₃/R141b. The main reason for this is that graphene nanosheets have a larger contact area with the liquid working medium compared with nanoparticle Al₂O₃, and the graphene/R141b thermal conductivity is also significantly higher than that of Al₂O₃/R141b nanofluids. The research results can provide a basis for the practical application of nanofluids in heat sinks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Theory and Simulation of Nanostructures)

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Nanomaterials, Volume 15, Issue 14 (July-2 2025) – 10 articles

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