Multifunctional Noncentrosymmetric Oxide Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Non-centrosymmetric oxide (NCO) nanocrystals are known as multifunctional nanomaterials because of their structure-induced properties that may include ferroelectricity, pyroelectricity, piezoelectricity and second harmonic generation. An increasing research interest is thus dedicated to representative hosts such as BaTiO₃ and its derivatives, multiferroic BiFeO₃, KTP and niobate (K/Na/LiNbO₃) or iodate (Fe(IO₃)₃, La(IO₃)₃, LiAl(IO₃)₄) compounds. Assessing their eventual size/shape effects at the nanoscale and improving their rational design in terms of finely-tuned compositions, morphology control, aggregation state and structure–property relationships are indeed currently driven by both fundamental and technological standpoints.

However, contrary to centrosymmetric nanomaterials such as metals, simple binary metal oxides like Fe₃O₄ and semiconductor quantum dots, exact derivation of the reaction pathways and crystallization mechanisms still needs a special attention for improving the resulting performances of NCO nanocrystals. Detailed synthesis dealing with space- and time-resolved experiments allowing identification of the transient species and monitoring of the nucleation step and nanocrystal growth are in this way increasingly expected.   

Regarding their extremely rich non-linear optical properties, long-term photo-stability, excitation-wavelength tunability and the absence of phase-matching conditions have paved the way to new proof-of-concepts in the nanomedicine field. This includes the recent development of multicomponent NCO nanocrystals for multimodal imaging and with advanced surface functionalization for optical diagnostics, targeted bioimaging and new theranostic protocols with the on-demand photo-triggered release of chemotherapeutics.

This special issue of Nanomaterials will highlight different aspects of NCOs spanning from their chemical preparation to their specific physicochemical properties and to their potential to new applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Wet-chemical routes leading to morphology control
• Formation mechanisms with identification of the transient species
• Preparation of new non-centrosymmetric hosts
• Multiphoton microscopy and multimodal imaging
• Incorporation of luminescent species
• Surface functionalization for bio-related applications
• Drug delivery

Dr. Yannick Mugnier
Dr. Sandrine Gerber‐Lemaire
Guest Editors

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• noncentrosymmetric metal oxides
• synthesis and growth mechanisms
• morphology control
• physicochemical properties
• multiphoton studies
• surface functionalization
• controlled drug delivery
• targeting