Search Results (59)

To assess how the graphite nanosheet size affects the performance of hydrophilic coatings, graphite nanosheets of various sizes were added to a mullite/kaolin epoxy (EP) coating. The experimental results indicated that the mullite/kaolin EP coating enriched with graphite nanosheets (1.01 ± 0.1 μm) exhibited the highest impedance value of 9.18 × 10⁷ Ω cm², demonstrating the best performance after 2880 h of exposure to salt spray. This implies exceptional wear resistance. Appropriately sized graphite nanosheets can create excellent nanonetworks that cover micropores, which cannot prevent the diffusion of corrosive media and provide excellent mechanical properties to coatings. The results of this study serve as a reference for the industrial application of graphite anticorrosive coatings. Full article

Precise control over molecular dispersity and supramolecular assembly is essential for designing nanostructures with targeted properties and functionalities. In this study, we explore the impact of molecular dispersity in BTA-oligo(AA)₃ oligomers on the formation and structural organization of Au nanomaterials in an aqueous system. Discrete and polydisperse BTA-oligo(AA)₃ samples are systematically synthesized and characterized to evaluate their role as templates for nanostructure formation. UV-vis spectroscopy and TEM analyses reveal distinct differences in the resulting nanostructures. Specifically, discrete oligomers facilitate the formation of well-defined, interconnected Au nanonetworks with high structural uniformity, even at elevated concentrations. In contrast, polydisperse oligomers facilitated the formation of isolated Au nanoparticles with limited control over morphology and connectivity. These differences are attributed to the greater molecular uniformity and enhanced self-assembly capabilities of the discrete oligomers, which serve as effective templates for directing Au precursor organization and reduction into ordered nanostructures. This study provides mechanistic insight into how molecular dispersity affects the templating and assembly of gold nanomaterials. The findings offer a promising strategy for developing tailored nanostructures with interconnected morphologies and controlled optical and structural properties, paving the way for advanced applications. Full article

Restricted by the inherent low sensitivity of materials and complex integration technology, it is difficult for existing soft actuators (s-actuators) to simultaneously possess the advantages of flexibility, fast response, and simple manufacturing, which greatly limits their practical applications. Herein, a stretchable (ε = 200%) nanocomposite film capable of deformation and motion driven by near infrared light (NIR) was developed using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the light absorption–photothermal conversion nanonetwork, and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) as an elastic matrix featured reversible phase transition. Furthermore, s-actuators with various deformation and motion modes have been realized employing MWCNT/LCP nanocomposite film. Based on the mechanism that photothermal-effect-regulated liquid crystal–isotropic phase transition in LCP can induce macroscopic deformation of nanocomposites, MWCNT/LCP s-actuators have completed a series of complex deformation and motion tasks such as opening the knot, “V”-shape reversible deformation (30 s per cycle), the “spring” rotating and unfolding, imitating a “caterpillar” walking in a straight line (the average speed is 13 s/mm), etc. This work provides an effective strategy for the intelligent development of s-actuators. Full article

Compared to conventional adsorbents, zinc-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) such as zeolite imidazolium skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) exhibit enhanced thermal, chemical, and structural stability. Nonetheless, their powdered form results in limited dispersibility in aqueous solutions and a tendency to aggregate, which significantly restricts their utility in adsorption applications. This study reports a green composite aerogel through the in situ mineralization of ZIF-8 onto bacterial cellulose (BC) for the effective removal of toxic metal ions (Cu²⁺) and Congo red (CR) from wastewater. The ZIF@BC composite aerogel was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area analysis. The findings indicated that the ZIF-8 produced were evenly distributed across the BC nanonetwork, facilitating effective adsorption of CR and Cu²⁺. The maximum adsorption capacities of the ZIF@BC aerogels were determined to be 397.55 mg/g for CR and 424.80 mg/g for Cu²⁺, as per the Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, the ZIF-8@BC aerogels demonstrated excellent selectivity and reusability, particularly for CR adsorption. The proposed mechanism for the interaction between the composite aerogel and CR and Cu²⁺ involves electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π bonding, coordination bonding, ion exchange, microchemical precipitation, and pore diffusion. This research offers significant promise for the utilization of MOF powders and highlights substantial industrial potential. Full article

Hematoxylin (HT) is a natural staining dye used in histopathology, often combined with Eosin for H&E staining. A poly(hematoxylin-co-l-lysine) (p(HT-co-l)) nanonetwork was synthesized through a one-step Mannich condensation reaction using formaldehyde as a linking agent. The resulting p(HT-co-l) nanogels had an average size of about 200 nm and exhibited a smooth surface and desirable functional groups such as -OH, -NH₂, and -COOH, as recognized by FT-IR analysis. The isoelectric point (IEP) of the p(HT-co-l) nanogel was determined as pH 7.9, close to physiological environments, despite HT being acidic IEP at pH 1.7 and l-lysine being basic IPE at pH 8.7. The time-dependent swelling studies of p(HT-co-l) nanogels were carried out using dynamic light scattering (DLS) in different salt solutions, e.g., MgCl₂, KNO₃, KCl, PBS, and DI water environments revealed that nanogels have high swelling ability depending on the medium, e.g., >10-fold in a saline solution compared to distilled water within 1.5 h. Hydrolytic degradation studies in PBS demonstrated a linear release profile up to 125 h at 37.5 °C. The p(HT-co-l) nanogels also demonstrated significant antimicrobial and antifungal activities against E. coli (ATCC 8739), S. aureus (ATCC 6538), and C. albicans (ATCC 10231). Furthermore, biocompatibility tests indicated that p(HT-co-l) nanogels are more biocompatible than HT alone, as tested with human Nuli-1 bronchial epithelial cells. Full article

Narrow-gap InN is a desirable candidate for near-infrared (NIR) optical communication applications. However, the absence of lattice-matched substrates impedes the fabrication of high-quality InN. In this paper, we employed Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) to grow nanostructured InN with distinct growth mechanisms. Morphological and quality analysis showed that the liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) growth of hexagonal InN nanopillar could be realized by depositing molten In layer on large lattice-mismatched sapphire substrate; nevertheless, InN nanonetworks were formed on nitrided sapphire and GaN substrates through the vapor-solid process under the same conditions. The supersaturated precipitation of InN grains from the molten In layer effectively reduced the defects caused by lattice mismatch and suppressed the introduction of non-stoichiometric metal In in the epitaxial InN. Photoluminescence and electrical characterizations demonstrated that high-carrier concentration InN prepared by vapor-solid mechanism showed much stronger band-filling effect at room temperature, which significantly shifted its PL peak to higher energy. LPE InN displayed the strongest PL intensity and the smallest wavelength shift with increasing temperature from 10 K to 300 K. These results showed enhanced optical properties of InN nanostructures prepared on large lattice mismatch substrates, which will play a crucial role in near-infrared optoelectronic devices. Full article

In the field of wireless communication, there is growing interest in molecular communication (MC), which integrates nano-, bio-, and communication technologies. Inspired by nature, MC uses molecules to transmit data, especially in environments where EM waves struggle to penetrate. In MC, signals can be distinguished based on molecular concentration, known as concentrated-encoded molecular communication (CEMC). These molecules diffuse through an MC channel and are received via ligand–receptor binding mechanisms. Synchronization in CEMC is critical for minimizing errors and enhancing communication performance. This study introduces a novel preamble-based noncoherent synchronization method, specifically designed for resource-constrained environments like nanonetworks. The method’s simple, low-complexity structure makes it suitable for nanomachines, while machine learning (ML) techniques are used to improve synchronization accuracy by adapting to the nonlinear characteristics of the channel. The proposed approach leverages ML to achieve robust performance. Simulation results demonstrate a synchronization probability of 0.8 for a transmitter-receiver distance of 1 cm, given a molecular collection time duration four times the pulse duration. These results confirm the significant benefits of integrating ML, showcasing improved synchronization probability and reduced mean square error. The findings contribute to the advancement of efficient and practical MC systems, offering insights into synchronization and error reduction in complex environments. Full article

Urea shows promise as an alternative substrate to water oxidation in electrolyzers, and replacing OER with the Urea Oxidation Reaction (UOR, theoretical potential of 0.37 V vs. RHE) can significantly increase hydrogen production efficiency. Additionally, the decomposition of urea can help reduce environmental pollution. This paper improves the inherent activity of catalytic materials through morphology and electronic modulation by incorporating tungsten (W), which accelerates electron transfer, enhances the electronic structure of neighboring atoms to create a synergistic effect, and regulates the adsorption process of active sites and intermediates. NiCoW catalytic materials with an ultra-thin nanosheet structure were prepared using an ultrasonic-assisted NaBH₄ reduction method. The results show that during the OER process, NiCoW catalytic materials have a potential of only 1.53 V at a current density of 10 mA/cm², while the UOR process under the same conditions requires a lower potential of 1.31 V, demonstrating superior catalytic performance. In a mixed electrolyte of 1 M KOH and 0.5 M urea, overall water splitting also shows excellent performance. Therefore, the designed NiCoW electrocatalyst, with its high catalytic activity, provides valuable insights for enhancing the efficiency of water electrolysis for hydrogen production and holds practical research significance. Full article

In order to broaden the selectivity of graphite nanosheet additives on epoxy resin-based coatings and verify the size effect, this work aims to dope graphite nanosheets of different sizes into the three-dimensional structure produced by cross-linking and curing epoxy resin and polyamide resin. In addition, a micro-nano level secondary structure and a surface with special roughness are constructed to obtain the composite epoxy hydrophobic coating. The influence of the size effect of graphite nanosheets on the hydrophobic performance and corrosion resistance of the coating is summarized as well. Among them, the optimized doping size (2.2 μm) of graphite nanosheets in the epoxy coating showed the largest impedance arc of 2.58 × 10⁸ Ω cm², which could form an excellent nano-network covering the micropores to impede the diffusion of corrosive medium. Through simulation calculation analysis, we also found that the edge site of graphene is more effective in capturing H₂O and O₂; therefore, a smaller size of graphene with a large edge can be more favorable. This work will be used as a reference for the industrial application of graphite anti-corrosive coating. Full article

Titanium and its alloys are extensively applied in artificial tooth roots because of their excellent corrosion resistance, high specific strength, and low elastic modulus. However, because of their biological inertness, their surface needs to be modified to improve the osteointegration of titanium implants. The preparation of biologically active calcium–phosphorus coatings on the surface of an implant is one effective method for enhancing the likelihood of bone integration. In this study, osteoinductive peptides were extracted from oyster shells by using acetic acid. Two peptide-containing hydroxyapatite (HA) composite coatings were then prepared: one coating was prepared by hydrothermally synthesizing an HA coating in the presence of peptides (HA/P/M), and the other coating was prepared by hydrothermally synthesizing HA and then immersing the hydrothermally synthesized HA in a peptide solution (HA/P/S). Characterization results indicated that the composite HA coatings containing oyster shell-based peptides were successfully prepared on the alkali-treated pure titanium surfaces. The HA/P/M and HA/P/S composite coatings were found to exhibit excellent hydrophilicity. Protein adsorption tests confirmed that the HA/P/M and HA/P/S coatings had an approximately 2.3 times higher concentration of adsorbed proteins than the pure HA coating. Full article

The construction of networks within natural wood (NW) lumens to produce porous wood aerogels (WAs) with fascinating characteristics of being lightweight, flexible, and porous is significant for the high value-added utilization of wood. Nonetheless, how wood species affect the structure and properties of WAs has not been comprehensively investigated. Herein, typical softwood of fir and hardwoods of poplar and balsa are employed to fabricate WAs with abundant nanofibrillar networks using the method of lignin removal and nanofibril’s in situ regeneration. Benefiting from the avoidance of xylem ray restriction and the exposure of the cellulose framework, hardwood has a stronger tendency to form nanofibrillar networks compared to softwood. Specifically, a larger and more evenly distributed network structure is displayed in the lumens of balsa WAs (WA-3) with a low density (59 kg m⁻³), a high porosity (96%), and high compressive properties (strain = 40%; maximum stress = 0.42 MPa; height retention = 100%) because of the unique structure and properties of WA-3. Comparatively, the specific surface area (SSA) exhibits 25-, 27-, and 34-fold increments in the cases of fir WAs (WA-1), poplar WAs (WA-2), and WA-3. The formation of nanofibrillar networks depends on the low-density and thin cell walls of hardwood. This work offers a foundation for investigating the formation mechanisms of nanonetworks and for expanding the potential applications of WAs. Full article

Fertilizer application can increase yields, but nutrient runoff may cause environmental pollution and affect soil quality. A network-structured nanocomposite used as a soil conditioner is beneficial to crops and soil. However, the relationship between the soil conditioner and soil microbes is unclear. We evaluated the soil conditioner’s impact on nutrient loss, pepper growth, soil improvement, and, especially, microbial community structure. High-throughput sequencing was applied to study the microbial communities. The microbial community structures of the soil conditioner treatment and the CK were significantly different, including in diversity and richness. The predominant bacterial phyla were Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Bacteroidota. Acidobacteriota and Chloroflexi were found in significantly higher numbers in the soil conditioner treatment. Ascomycota was the dominant fungal phylum. The Mortierellomycota phylum was found in significantly lower numbers in the CK. The bacteria and fungi at the genus level were positively correlated with the available K, available N, and pH, but were negatively correlated with the available P. Our results showed that the loss of nutrients controlled by the soil conditioner increased available N, which improved soil properties. Therefore, the microorganisms in the improved soil were changed. This study provides a correlation between improvements in microorganisms and the network-structured soil conditioner, which can promote plant growth and soil improvement. Full article

Sequential ultra-small-angle and small-angle and X-ray scattering (USAXS and SAXS) measurements of hierarchical microstructure of a common energetic material, the high explosive 2,4,6-Triamino-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TATB), were performed to follow the microstructure evolution upon applied pressure. The pellets were prepared by two different routes—die pressed from a nanoparticle form and a nano-network form of TATB powder. The derived structural parameters, such as void size, porosity, and the interface area, reflected the response of TATB under compaction. Three populations of voids were observed in the probed q range from 0.007 to 7 nm⁻¹. The inter-granular voids with size larger than 50 nm were sensitive to low pressures and had a smooth interface with the TATB matrix. The inter-granular voids with size of ~10 nm exhibited a less volume-filling ratio at high pressures (>15 kN) as indicated by a decrease of the volume fractal exponent. The response of these structural parameters to external pressures implied that the main densification mechanisms under die compaction were the flow, fracture, and plastic deformation of the TATB granules. Compared to the nanoparticle TATB, the applied pressure strongly influenced the nano-network TATB due to its more uniform structure. The findings and research methods of this work provide insights into the structural evolution of TATB during densification. Full article

This work aimed to obtain an optically transparent electrode based on the oriented nanonetworks of nickel in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate matrix. Optically transparent electrodes are used in many modern devices. Therefore, the search for new inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials for them remains an urgent task. We have previously developed a material for optically transparent electrodes based on oriented platinum nanonetworks. This technique was upgraded to obtain a cheaper option from oriented nickel networks. The study was carried out to find the optimal electrical conductivity and optical transparency values of the developed coating, and the dependence of these values on the amount of nickel used was investigated. The figure of merit (FoM) was used as a criterion for the quality of the material in terms of finding the optimal characteristics. It was shown that doping PEDOT: PSS with p-toluenesulfonic acid in the design of an optically transparent electroconductive composite coating based on oriented nickel networks in a polymer matrix is expedient. It was found that the addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid to an aqueous dispersion of PEDOT: PSS with a concentration of 0.5% led to an eight-fold decrease in the surface resistance of the resulting coating. Full article

The traditional Ag nanowire preparation means that it cannot meet the demanding requirements of photoelectrochemical devices due to the undesirable conductivity, difficulty in compounding, and poor heat resistance. Here, we prepared an Ag nanonetwork with superior properties using a special template method based on electrospinning technology. The transparent conductive films based on Ag nanonetworks have good transmittance in a wide range from ultraviolet to visible. It is important that the films have high operability and are easy to be compounded with other materials. After compounding with high-melting-point W metal, the heat-resistance temperature of the W/Ag composite transparent conductive films is increased by 100 °C to 460 °C, and the light transmission and electrical conductivity of the films are not significantly affected. All experimental phenomena in the study are analyzed theoretically. This research can provide an important idea for the metal nanowire electrode, which is difficult to be applied to the photoelectrochemical devices. Full article