Advanced Materials

A model system consisting of Eu³⁺ as the activator ion and BaZrO₃ as the host lattice is employed to demonstrate the potential of the vapor diffusion sol−gel method as a hydrolytic approach to the synthesis of fluorescent alkaline-earth perovskite oxide nanocrystals under ultrabenign conditions. The resulting nanocrystals are suitable precursors for nanostructured red-emitting phosphors.

High-quality anatase TiO₂ nanocages with anisotropic shapes, homogeneous shells and tunable sizes can be fabricated by templating against Cu₂O polyhedra under hydrothermal conditions. The interiors of these TiO₂ nanocages can be functionalized easily with Au nanoparticles. The promising use of these TiO₂ nanocages as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries is also demonstrated.

Osteophilic modular nanostructured multilayers containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles complexed with a natural polymer chitosan create an osteoconductive surface for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Coupled with the sustained release of physiological amounts of osteoinductive bone morphogenetic protein over several days from degradable poly(β-amino ester) based multilayers, this single coating results in a synergistic accelerated and upregulated differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts laying down new bone tissue on orthopedic implants.