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Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials
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Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 10191

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Renata Costa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Centre in Chemistry of University of Porto (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Porto, Portugal
Interests: ionic liquids; electric double layer; interfacial electrochemistry; capacitors; carbon; electrical properties; electrodes materials; biosensing; batteries; renewable energy; energy management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of nanomaterials continues to redefine scientific and technology, bridging gaps between disciplines and enabling transformative innovations across diverse sectors. Engineered Nanomaterials (ENMs), with their precisely tuned properties at the nanoscale, represent a significant innovation in this field. These materials, encompassing carbon-based nanostructures, metal nanoparticles, polymeric systems, nanocomposites, quantum dots, and two-dimensional materials, are heralding a new era  in healthcare, energy, environmental sustainability, and advanced manufacturing.

This Special Issue of Materials (MDPI) will highlight the latest advancements and emerging trends in ENMs. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how these materials address critical challenges in contemporary science and engineering, while offering new opportunities for future applications. We therefore welcome the submission of innovative research on the synthesis, characterization, functionalization, and application of ENMs, alongside insightful reviews that contextualize their role in the advancement of interdisciplinary domains.

The integration of ENMs into nanomedicine, clean energy technologies, flexible electronics, and sustainable industrial processes is evidence of their versatility and impact. Moreover, the growing interest in green nanotechnology underscores the importance of environmentally friendly synthesis methods, lifecycle analyses, and scalable production techniques.

By compiling articles from leading researchers and innovators, this Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of ENMs. We invite scientists to submit their pioneering works and enhance the future of nanomaterials science.

Subcategories:

  • Carbon-based materials
  • Metal-based nanostructures
  • Polymeric nanomaterials
  • Composite nanomaterials
  • Two-dimensional materials
  • Quantum dots

Applications:

  • Healthcare: Drug delivery, diagnostics, and biosensors
  • Energy: Battery components, solar cells, and fuel cells
  • Environment: Water purification, air filtration, and waste management
  • Electronics: Flexible devices, transistors, and optoelectronics
  • Industry

Dr. Renata Costa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • engineered nanomaterials (ENMs)
  • nanotechnology applications
  • sustainable nanomaterials
  • advanced material synthesis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4068 KB  
Article
Modification of CoFe Prussian Blue Structure by N2 Plasma for Enhanced Electrocatalysis
by Jiaming Zhao, Guangrui Zhang, Lele Gao, Jing Zhao, Yuanbo Wang and Guoling Li
Materials 2026, 19(8), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19081580 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 383
Abstract
The efficiency of hydrogen production via water electrolysis is severely constrained by the sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we constructed a nitrogen-doped CoFe Prussian blue analog (CoFePBA-N) electrocatalyst with a nanosheet-assembled cubic architecture by plasma. Plasma treatment induces [...] Read more.
The efficiency of hydrogen production via water electrolysis is severely constrained by the sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we constructed a nitrogen-doped CoFe Prussian blue analog (CoFePBA-N) electrocatalyst with a nanosheet-assembled cubic architecture by plasma. Plasma treatment induces morphological reconstruction and introduces nitrogen dopants and abundant vacancies, which not only increase the number of exposed active sites but also modulate the electronic structure of Co/Fe centers. Consequently, the optimized CoFePBA-N catalyst achieves a current density of 500 mA cm−2 at low overpotentials of 322, 344, and 374 mV in alkaline freshwater, alkaline simulated seawater, and alkaline natural seawater, respectively. Furthermore, the catalyst maintains stable operation for over 300 h in alkaline freshwater and nearly 270 h in alkaline natural seawater, exhibiting exceptional durability. The enhanced catalytic performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of nitrogen doping, vacancies, and improved charge-transfer capability. This study provides an effective approach for modulating the electronic structure of Prussian blue analogs, thereby enabling efficient alkaline water and seawater electrolysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials)
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18 pages, 3736 KB  
Article
Contact-Accessible Silver Nanoparticle-Decorated Electrospun Carbon Fibers for Microplastics Detection by SERS
by FNU Joshua, Yuen Yee Li Sip, Aritra Biswas, Violette Gray, Debashis Chanda and Lei Zhai
Materials 2026, 19(6), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061074 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 433
Abstract
Reliable detection of microplastics by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is often hindered by poor particle–substrate contact and limited access to plasmonic hotspots on conventional planar substrates optimized for molecular adsorption. Here, we report a rapid microwave-assisted carbothermal shock strategy to fabricate silver nanoparticle-decorated [...] Read more.
Reliable detection of microplastics by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is often hindered by poor particle–substrate contact and limited access to plasmonic hotspots on conventional planar substrates optimized for molecular adsorption. Here, we report a rapid microwave-assisted carbothermal shock strategy to fabricate silver nanoparticle-decorated electrospun carbon fibers (AgNPs@ECF) as a three-dimensional plasmonic platform tailored for solid microplastic sensing. Localized microwave-induced heating in a mixed ethanol–hexane system enables Ag nanoparticle nucleation and anchoring on conductive carbon fibers within 45 s, yielding a mechanically compliant, junction-rich architecture without chemical reductants or vacuum processing. The AgNPs@ECF composite was evaluated using morphologically weathered polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics, along with size-controlled PS bead standards ranging from ~50 nm to 45 μm. Across these models, SERS response is governed primarily by particle–substrate contact geometry and near-field accessibility rather than polymer type. The strongest enhancement occurs in the sub-micrometer regime, where particles can engage multiple AgNP-decorated fiber junctions, while ultrasmall and large, smooth particles show reduced enhancement due to limited contact or rapid field decay. Spatially resolved Raman mapping and finite-difference time-domain simulations support a contact-dominated enhancement mechanism, revealing localized field confinement at particle–fiber interfaces. These results establish the design principles for three-dimensional SERS substrates targeting heterogeneous solid particulates, demonstrating that contact-accessible plasmonic architectures are critical for reliable microplastic detection under realistic solid-particle measurement conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials)
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13 pages, 2316 KB  
Article
Laser Nanostructuring of Titanium Surfaces for Enhanced Bioactive Applications
by Angela De Bonis, Mariangela Curcio, Agostino Galasso, Nicola Caggiano, Antonio Lettino, Patrizia Dolce, Donato Mollica, Maria Lucia Pace and Antonio Santagata
Materials 2025, 18(10), 2362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102362 - 19 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1339
Abstract
Laser nanostructuring via Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS), generated using femtosecond laser pulses, has been investigated as a method for precisely modifying titanium surfaces. By adjusting parameters such as the fluence and pulse number of the laser beam, it is feasible to tailor [...] Read more.
Laser nanostructuring via Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS), generated using femtosecond laser pulses, has been investigated as a method for precisely modifying titanium surfaces. By adjusting parameters such as the fluence and pulse number of the laser beam, it is feasible to tailor the surface morphology, roughness, and oxidation states of species that can significantly influence the properties and surface bioactivity of the material. In this study, the LIPSS was applied to commercially pure titanium and evaluated for its ability to support calcium phosphate nucleation and growth in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis confirmed the formation of well-defined periodic structures. Additional characterizations performed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) revealed, after laser treatment of titanium, its increased surface roughness and oxidation levels, respectively. These features, when assessed after immersion in SBF, were associated with an improved potential biological performance of the nanostructured surface of the investigated material. The results demonstrated that LIPSS-treated titanium effectively promoted calcium phosphate growth, indicating its enhanced potential bioactivity. Overall, LIPSS nanostructuring presents a scalable and cost-effective strategy for engineering titanium surfaces with potential bioactive properties, supporting their promising application in advanced biomedical implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials)
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Review

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37 pages, 3172 KB  
Review
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Challenges in Evaluating Emerging Battery Technologies: A Review
by Renata Costa
Materials 2025, 18(18), 4321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184321 - 15 Sep 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5455
Abstract
As the demand for more efficient energy storage solutions grows, emerging battery chemistries are being developed to complement or potentially replace conventional lithium-ion technologies. This review explores the circular economy potential of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and aluminum (Al) battery systems [...] Read more.
As the demand for more efficient energy storage solutions grows, emerging battery chemistries are being developed to complement or potentially replace conventional lithium-ion technologies. This review explores the circular economy potential of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and aluminum (Al) battery systems as alternative post-lithium configurations. Through a comparative literature analysis, it identifies key barriers related to material complexity, recovery efficiency, and regulatory gaps, while highlighting opportunities for design improvements and policy alignment to enhance sustainability across battery life cycles. However, end-of-life (EoL) material recovery remains constrained by complex chemistries, low technology readiness levels, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. Embedding materials/battery design principles, transparent life cycle assessment (LCA) data (e.g., publishing LCAs in open repositories using a standard functional unit), and harmonized policy early could close material loops and transform the rising post-lithium battery stream into a circular-economy resource rather than a waste burden. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials)
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35 pages, 450 KB  
Review
An Overview of Biopolymer-Based Graphene Nanocomposites for Biotechnological Applications
by Roya Binaymotlagh, Laura Chronopoulou and Cleofe Palocci
Materials 2025, 18(13), 2978; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18132978 - 23 Jun 2025
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2010
Abstract
Bio-nanocomposites represent an advanced class of materials that combine the unique properties of nanomaterials with biopolymers, enhancing mechanical, electrical and thermal properties while ensuring biodegradability, biocompatibility and sustainability. These materials are gaining increasing attention, particularly in biomedical applications, due to their ability to [...] Read more.
Bio-nanocomposites represent an advanced class of materials that combine the unique properties of nanomaterials with biopolymers, enhancing mechanical, electrical and thermal properties while ensuring biodegradability, biocompatibility and sustainability. These materials are gaining increasing attention, particularly in biomedical applications, due to their ability to interact with biological systems in ways that conventional materials cannot. Graphene and graphene oxide (GO), two of the most well-known nanocarbon-based materials, have garnered substantial interest in bio-nanocomposite research because of their extraordinary properties such as high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical strength and biocompatibility. The integration of graphene-based nanomaterials within biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and proteins, forms a new class of bio-nanocomposites that can be tailored for a wide range of biological applications. This review explores the synthesis methods, properties and biotechnological applications of graphene-based bio-nanocomposites, with a particular focus on polysaccharide-based and protein-based composites. Emphasis is placed on the biotechnological potential of these materials, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, antimicrobial activities and industrial food applications. Additionally, biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid, hyaluronic acid and polyethylene glycol, which play a crucial role in biotechnological applications, will be discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends and Innovations in Engineered Nanomaterials)
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