Search Results (71)

With the global concept of sustainable development gaining widespread acceptance, the resource utilization of solid waste has become an important research direction in the field of building materials. Geopolymer concrete (GPC), especially solid waste-based geopolymer concrete (SWGPC) prepared using various industrial solid wastes as precursors, has gradually become a frontier in green building material research due to its low carbon footprint, high strength, and excellent durability. However, the rapid expansion of literature calls for a systematic review to quantify the knowledge structure, evolution, and emerging trends in this field. Based on two thousand and thirty-nine (2039) relevant articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection database between 2008 and 2025, this study employs bibliometric methods and visualization tools such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace to systematically construct a knowledge map of this field. The research comprehensively reveals the developmental trajectory, research hotspots, and frontier dynamics of SWGPC from multiple dimensions, including publication trends, geographical and institutional distribution, mainstream journals, keyword clustering, and burst word analysis. The results indicate that the field has entered a rapid development stage since 2016, with research hotspots focusing on the synergistic utilization of multi-source solid waste, optimization of alkali-activation systems, enhancement of concrete durability, and environmental impact assessment. In recent years, the introduction of emerging technologies such as machine learning, 3D printing, and nano-modification has been driving a paradigm shift in research. This systematic analysis not only clarifies research development trends but also provides a theoretical basis and decision-making support for future interdisciplinary integration and engineering practice transformation. Full article

Micro(nano)plastics are important emerging contaminants and a current research hotspot in the environmental field. Micro(nano)plastics widely exist in various organic wastes such as waste sludge, food waste (FW) and livestock manure and often enter into digesters along with anaerobic digestion (AD) treatment of these wastes, thereby exerting extensive and profound influences on anaerobic process performance. This study reviews sources of micro(nano)plastics and their pathways entering the anaerobic system and summarizes the quantities, sizes, shapes and micromorphology of various micro(nano)plastics in waste sludge, FW, livestock manure, yard waste and municipal solid waste. The current advances on the effects of multiple micro(nano)plastics mainly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) with different sizes and quantities (or concentrations) on AD of organic wastes in terms of methane production, organic acid degradation and process stability are comprehensively overviewed and mechanisms of micro(nano)plastics affecting AD involved in microbial cells, key enzymes, microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes are analyzed. Meanwhile, coupling effects of micro(nano)plastics with some typical pollutants such as antibiotics and heavy metals on AD are also reviewed. Due to the extreme complexity of the anaerobic system, current research still lacks full understanding concerning composite influences of different types, sizes and concentrations of micro(nano)plastics on AD under various operating modes. Future research should focus on elucidating mechanisms of micro(nano)plastics affecting organic metabolic pathways and the expression of specific functional genes of microorganisms, exploring the fate and transformation of micro(nano)plastics along waste streams including but not limited to AD, investigating the interaction between micro(nano)plastics and other emerging contaminants (such as perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulphonate) and their coupling effects on anaerobic systems, and developing accurate detection and quantification methods for micro(nano)plastics and technologies for eliminating the negative impacts of micro(nano)plastics on AD. Full article

With the rapid development of advanced machining technologies such as high-speed cutting, dry cutting, and ultra-precision cutting, as well as the widespread application of various difficult-to-machine materials, the surface degradation problems such as wear, oxidation, and delamination faced by tools in the service process have become increasingly prominent, seriously restricting the performance and service life of tools. Nanocoatings, with their distinct nano-effects, provide superior hardness, thermal stability, and tribological properties, making them an effective solution for cutting tools in increasingly demanding working environments. For example, the hardness of the CrAlN/TiSiN nano-multilayer coating can reach 41.59 GPa, which is much higher than that of a single CrAlN coating (34.5–35.8 GPa). This paper summarizes the most common nanocoating material design, coating deposition technologies, performance evaluation indicators, and characterization methods currently used in cutting tools. It also discusses how to improve nanocoating performance using modulation analysis of element content, coating composition, geometric structure, and coating thickness. Finally, this paper considers the future development of nanocoatings for cutting tools in light of recent research hotspots. Full article

This study investigated the evolving trends, current research hotspots, and future directions of radiotherapy combined with nanobiomaterials through a bibliometric analysis. Publications related to nanobiomaterials used in radiotherapy between 2004 and 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database and analyzed using VOSviewer, R, and CiteSpace. China emerged as the leading contributor, accounting for 1051 publications (50.41%), followed by the USA. Liu Zhuang is the most productive author in this field. American Chemical Society (ACS) Nano published the most influential articles and accumulated the highest number of citations. Advanced Targeted Therapies in Cancer: Drug Nanocarriers, the Future of Chemotherapy was the most cited, with 1255 citations. Citation bursts have revealed emerging research trends in targeted delivery, cellular studies, co-delivery strategies, immunogenic cell death, polymeric nanoparticles, tumor research, and drug delivery systems, indicating potential avenues for future research. Over the past two decades, nanomaterials for radiotherapy have gained substantial attention. Key areas of focus include enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy, achieving targeted drug delivery, minimizing adverse effects, and integrating nanomaterials with other therapeutic modalities. Future investigations are expected to improve the precision of radiotherapy, augment radiation effects, and optimize the tumor microenvironment. Full article

High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) enables the bandwidth required by modern AI and high-performance computing, yet its three dimensional stack traps heat and amplifies thermo mechanical stress. We first review how conventional solutions such as heat spreaders, microchannels, high density Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs), and Mass Reflow Molded Underfill (MR MUF) underfills lower but do not eliminate the internal thermal resistance that rises sharply beyond 12layer stacks. We then synthesize recent hybrid bonding studies, showing that an optimized Cu pad density, interface characteristic, and mechanical treatments can cut junction-to-junction thermal resistance by between 22.8% and 47%, raise vertical thermal conductivity by up to three times, and shrink the stack height by more than 15%. A meta-analysis identifies design thresholds such as at least 20% Cu coverage that balances heat flow, interfacial stress, and reliability. The review next traces the chain from Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) mismatch to Cu protrusion, delamination, and warpage and classifies mitigation strategies into (i) material selection including SiCN dielectrics, nano twinned Cu, and polymer composites, (ii) process technologies such as sub-200 °C plasma-activated bonding and Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) anneal co-optimization, and (iii) the structural design, including staggered stack and filleted corners. Integrating these levers suppresses stress hotspots and extends fatigue life in more than 16layer stacks. Finally, we outline a research roadmap combining a multiscale simulation with high layer prototyping to co-optimize thermal, mechanical, and electrical metrics for next-generation 20-layer HBM. Full article

Sub-wavelength metallic nanostructures allow the squeezing of light within nanoscale regions, called plasmonic hotspots. Squeezed near-field light has been demonstrated to detect, modulate, and generate light in more effective ways. The enhanced electric field in the plasmonic hotspots are also utilized for identifying molecular fingerprints in a more sensitive manner, i.e., surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). SERS is a versatile tool used to characterize chemicals and biomolecules with the advantages of label-free detection, specificity, and high sensitivity compared to fluorescence and colorimetric sensing methods. With its practical and diverse applications such as biomedical sensing, the evaluation of SERS on diverse nano-structure platforms and materials is highly in demand. Nanogap structures are promising SERS platforms which can be fabricated over a large area with uniform nanoscale gap size. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of large-area metal–insulator–metal nanogap structures with different metals (i.e., Au and Ag) and analyze material dependence on SERS. While both nanometer-sized gap structures exhibit a large enhancement factor for Raman spectroscopy, Ag-based structures exhibit 58- and 15-times-larger enhancement factors for bottom and top plasmonic hotspots, respectively. The enhanced detection on a silver nanogap platform is attributed to enhanced electric field in the gap, as confirmed by simulation. Our findings provide not only a way to better understand SERS in different metallic nano platforms but also insights for designing highly sensitive nanoscale chemical and biomedical sensors. Full article

Silicon-based materials are considered the most promising next-generation anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical specific capacity, rich reserves, and advantages of low discharge potential. However, the significant volume expansion of silicon during the cycling process leads to the detachment of active substances and the loss of electrical contact between the active substances and the current collector, ultimately resulting in a decline in battery performance. Nanostructured anodes have advantages of high specific surface area, short diffusion path, and the ability to effectively alleviate the volume expansion of electrode material during circulation. Therefore, how to rationally design the nanostructured silicon-based anodes is currently one of the research hotspots. This article first reviews and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of microstructured and nano-structured silicon anodes in rate performance, discusses cycle stability and volumetric energy density, and discusses and summarizes the lithium storage mechanism of silicon-based materials, with a focus on the influence of some nanostructured silicon anodes and silicon/carbon composites and conductive polymers and silicon/metal composites on the electrochemical properties of materials. Finally, some suggestions and prospects for the future development of silicon-based materials are proposed. Full article

Etomidate (ET), a medical anesthetic, is increasingly being incorporated into e-liquids for consumption and abuse as a new psychoactive substance (NPS), leading to significant social issues. In this work, large-area Au micro- and nano-structured ordered arrays were engineered as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for fast detection and precise identification of ET and its metabolites. This ordered array, characterized by abundant electromagnetic enhancement hotspots and structural uniformity, imparts unique properties to the SERS substrate, including ultra-sensitivity, spectral signal reproducibility, and precise quantitative capabilities. Furthermore, it effectively mitigates interference from the complex matrix of e-liquids, facilitating the rapid detection of trace amounts of ET molecules. This SERS rapid detection technology can act as a preliminary screening method for gold-standard spectroscopic analysis, facilitating the on-site rapid screening of suspicious samples and thereby enabling efficient detection and precise verification. Full article

This review describes the development history of group-III nitride light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for over 30 years, which has achieved brilliant achievements and changed people′s lifestyles. The development process of group-III nitride LEDs is the sum of challenges and solutions constantly encountered with shrinking size. Therefore, this paper uses these challenges and solutions as clues for review. It begins with reviewing the development of group-III nitride materials and substrates. On this basis, some key technological breakthroughs in the development of group-III nitride LEDs are reviewed, mainly including substrate pretreatment and p-type doping in material growth, the proposal of new device structures such as nano-LED and quantum dot (QD) LED, and the improvement in luminous efficiency, from the initial challenge of high-efficiency blue luminescence to current challenge of high-efficiency ultraviolet (UV) and red luminescence. Then, the development of micro-LEDs based on group-III nitride LEDs is reviewed in detail. As a new type of display device, micro-LED has drawn a great deal of attention and has become a research hotspot in the current international display area. Finally, based on micro-LEDs, the development trend of nano-LEDs is proposed, which is greener and energy-saving and is expected to become a new star in the future display field. Full article

The continuous worsening of the natural surroundings requires accelerating the exploration of green energy technology. Utilising ambient vibration to power electronic equipment constitutes an important measure to address the power crisis. Vibration power is widely dispersed in the surroundings, such as mechanical vibration, acoustic vibration, wind vibration, and water wave vibration. Collecting vibration energy is one of the research hotspots in the field of energy. Meanwhile, it is also an important way to solve the energy crisis. This paper illustrates the working principles and recent research progress of five known methods of vibrational energy harvesting, namely, electromagnetic, piezoelectric, friction electric, electrostatic, and magnetostrictive vibrational energy harvesters. The strengths and weaknesses of each method are summarised. At the end of the article, the future trends of micro-nano vibrational energy collectors are envisioned. Full article

Emerging pollutants such as microplastics in water environments readily accumulate microorganisms on their surfaces, forming biofilms and concentrating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Consequently, microplastic biofilms have attracted the attention of researchers. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs is one of the primary ways that bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance. Most studies focus on the effects of nanomaterials on suspended bacteria, but microplastic biofilms as hotspots for horizontal gene transfer also warrant significant investigation. This study primarily explored and compared the effects of nano-titanium dioxide on the conjugation transfer frequency of ARGs in suspended bacteria and microplastic biofilms. Nano-titanium dioxide could promote ARG conjugation in both suspended bacteria and microplastic biofilms, with a greater effect on the former. The mechanism involved nano-titanium dioxide promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in suspended and biofilm bacteria, increasing the synthesis of outer membrane proteins, enhancing the cell membrane permeability, and elevating the expression levels of conjugation-related genes, thereby facilitating the conjugation transfer of ARGs. Biofilm bacteria, being heavily encased and protected by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), exhibit greater resistance to external environmental pressure, resulting in the weaker impact of nano-titanium dioxide on biofilm bacteria compared to suspended bacteria. This study reveals the risk of ARG conjugation transfer within microplastic biofilms induced by nanomaterials, providing valuable insights into the risks of microplastic and antibiotic resistance dissemination in water environments. Full article

With the continuous deepening of oil and gas exploration and development, unconventional oil and gas resources, represented by tight oil, have become research hotspots. However, few studies have investigated tight oil potential in any systematic way in the shell limestone reservoir of the Sichuan Basin. Herein, we used thin section analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-pressure mercury intrusion, low-pressure N₂ and CO₂ adsorption experiments, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), focused ion beam–scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and nano-CT to characterize multi-porous media. The reservoir space controlled by nonfabric, shell, and matrix constitutes all the reservoir space for tight oil. The interconnected porosity was mainly distributed in the range of 1% to 5% (avg. 2.12%). The effective interconnected porosity mainly ranged from 0.5% to 2.0% (avg. 1.59%). The porosity of large fractures was 0.1% to 0.5% (avg. 0.21%). The porosity of isolated pores and bound oil–water pores was 0.2% to 0.8% (avg. 0.44%). The dissolved pores adjacent to fractures, the microfractures controlled by the shell, the microfractures controlled by the matrix, the isolated pores, and the intracrystalline pores constitute five independent pore-throat systems. The development of pores and fractures in shell limestone reservoirs are coupled on the centimeter–millimeter–micron–nanometer scale. Various reservoir-permeability models show continuous distribution characteristics. These findings make an important contribution to the exploration and exploitation of tight oil in shell limestone. Full article

Nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) is the main inorganic component of natural bone, which has been widely used as a reinforcing filler for polymers in bone materials, and it can promote cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. It can also produce interactions between cells and material surfaces through selective protein adsorption and has therefore always been a research hotspot in orthopedic materials. However, n-HA nano-particles are inherently easy to agglomerate and difficult to disperse evenly in the polymer. In addition, there are differences in trace elements between n-HA nano-particles and biological apatite, so the biological activity needs to be improved, and the slow degradation in vivo, which has seriously hindered the application of n-HA in bone fields, is unacceptable. Therefore, the modification of n-HA has been extensively reported in the literature. This article reviewed the physical modification and various chemical modification methods of n-HA in recent years, as well as their modification effects. In particular, various chemical modification methods and their modification effects were reviewed in detail. Finally, a summary and suggestions for the modification of n-HA were proposed, which would provide significant reference for achieving high-performance n-HA in biomedical applications. Full article

Microrobots powered by multi-physics fields are becoming a hotspot for micro–nano manufacturing. Due to the small size of microrobots, they can easily enter small spaces that are difficult for ordinary robots to reach and perform a variety of special tasks. This gives microrobots a broad application prospect in many fields. This paper describes the materials, structures, and driving principles of microrobots in detail and analyzes the advantages and limitations of their driving methods in depth. In addition, the paper discusses the detailed categorization of the action forms of microrobots and explores their diversified motion modes and their applicable scenarios. Finally, the article highlights the wide range of applications of microrobots in the fields of biomedicine and environmental protection, emphasizing their great potential for solving real-world problems and advancing scientific progress. Full article

Magnetically actuated microrobots have become a research hotspot in recent years due to their tiny size, untethered control, and rapid response capability. Moreover, an increasing number of researchers are applying them for micro-/nano-manipulation in the biomedical field. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in magnetic microrobots, focusing on materials, propulsion mechanisms, design strategies, fabrication techniques, and diverse micro-/nano-manipulation applications. The exploration of magnetic materials, biosafety considerations, and propulsion methods serves as a foundation for the diverse designs discussed in this review. The paper delves into the design categories, encompassing helical, surface, ciliary, scaffold, and biohybrid microrobots, with each demonstrating unique capabilities. Furthermore, various fabrication techniques, including direct laser writing, glancing angle deposition, biotemplating synthesis, template-assisted electrochemical deposition, and magnetic self-assembly, are examined owing to their contributions to the realization of magnetic microrobots. The potential impact of magnetic microrobots across multidisciplinary domains is presented through various application areas, such as drug delivery, minimally invasive surgery, cell manipulation, and environmental remediation. This review highlights a comprehensive summary of the current challenges, hurdles to overcome, and future directions in magnetic microrobot research across different fields. Full article