The remarkable progress of nanotechnology and its application in biomedicine have greatly expanded the ranges and types of biomaterials from traditional organic material-based nanoparticles (NPs) to inorganic biomaterials or organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites due to the unprecedented advantages of the engineered inorganic material-based NPs. Colloidal mesoporous silica NPs (MSNs), one of the most representative and well-established inorganic materials, have been promoted into biology and medicine, and shifted from extensive in vitro research towards preliminary in vivo assays in small-animal disease models. In this comprehensive review, the recent progresses in chemical design and engineering of MSNs-based biomaterials for in vivo biomedical applications has been detailed and overviewed. Due to the intrinsic structural characteristics of elaborately designed MSNs such as large surface area, high pore volume and easy chemical functionalization, they have been extensively investigated for therapeutic, diagnostic and theranostic (concurrent diagnosis and therapy) purposes, especially in oncology. Systematic in vivo bio-safety evaluations of MSNs have revealed the evidences that the in vivo bio-behaviors of MSNs are strongly related to their preparation prodecures, particle sizes, geometries, surface chemistries, dosing parameters and even administration routes. In vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics further demonstrated the effectiveness of MSNs as the passively and/or actively targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs) for cancer chemotherapy. Especially, the advance of nano-synthetic chemistry enables the production of composite MSNs for advanced in vivo therapeutic purposes such as gene delivery, stimuli-responsive drug release, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, ultrasound therapy, or anti-bacteria in tissue engineering, or as the contrast agents for biological and diagnostic imaging. Additionally, the critical issues and potential challenges related to the chemical design/synthesis of MSNs-based “magic bullet” by advanced nano-synthetic chemistry and in vivo evaluation have been discussed to highlight the issues scientists face in promoting the translation of MSNs-based DDSs into clinical trials.

Significant progress of nano-biotechnology has promoted the biomedical evaluations and diagnostic/therapeutic applications of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) from extensive in vitro researches towards preliminary in vivo evaluations. This comprehensive review highlights the very recent progresses in the chemical design and engineering of MSNs-based biomaterials for in vivo biomedical applications.

Materials, device designs and manufacturing approaches are presented for classes of RF electronic components that are capable of complete dissolution in water or bio-fluids. All individual passive/active components as well as system-level examples such as wireless RF energy harvesting circuits exploit active materials that are biocompatible. The results provide diverse building blocks for physically transient forms of electronics, of particular potential value in bioresorbable medical implants with wireless power transmission and communication capabilities.

Economical nanocomposites based on π-stacking of N-acetyl glycosyl rhodamine B to graphene oxide (GO) are simply prepared. These “sweet” GO-materials are prove to be admirable for the fluorogenic recognition of specific intercellular sugar-based ligand-glycoprotein receptor interactions of interest.

Folic acid (FA) and doxorubicin (DOX) are coupled separately onto Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ and polystyrene surfaces of a unique polystyrene/Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ Janus structure. This super-paramagnetic, dual-functionalized Janus nanocomposite enables effective tumor cell targeting and internalization via the folate receptor, and induces significant cancer cell death by controlled, stimulus-induced drug release under acidic conditions in endosomal compartments.

The situation of infectious diseases and biothreats all over the world remains serious. The effective identification of such diseases plays a very important role. In recent years, gold nanoparticles have been widely used in biosensor design to improve the performance for the detection of infectious diseases and biothreats. Here, recent advances of gold-nanoparticle-based biosensors in this field are summarized.

Gold-nanoparticle-based biosensors play an important role in the identification of infectious diseases and biothreats. Gold nanoparticles can be used as signal producers and signal amplifiers to improve the performance of biosensors. Based on this approach, colorimetric, electrochemical, and fluorescent biosensors with high sensitivity and specificity are designed to fight infectious diseases and biothreats.

Materials research plays a vital role in transforming breakthrough scientific ideas into next-generation technology. Similar to the way silicon revolutionized the microelectronics industry, the proper materials can greatly impact the field of plasmonics and metamaterials. Currently, research in plasmonics and metamaterials lacks good material building blocks in order to realize useful devices. Such devices suffer from many drawbacks arising from the undesirable properties of their material building blocks, especially metals. There are many materials, other than conventional metallic components such as gold and silver, that exhibit metallic properties and provide advantages in device performance, design flexibility, fabrication, integration, and tunability. This review explores different material classes for plasmonic and metamaterial applications, such as conventional semiconductors, transparent conducting oxides, perovskite oxides, metal nitrides, silicides, germanides, and 2D materials such as graphene. This review provides a summary of the recent developments in the search for better plasmonic materials and an outlook of further research directions.

Breakthrough ideas in plasmonics and metamaterials need good material building blocks to realize useful devices. Currently, plasmonic and metamaterial devices suffer from many drawbacks arising from the undesirable properties of their material building blocks, especially the metallic components. There are many materials, other than conventional metallic components such as gold and silver, that exhibit metallic properties and provide advantages in device performance, design flexibility, fabrication, integration, and tunability.

Matrix-assisted catalytic printing (MACP) is developed as a low-cost and versatile printing method for the fabrication of multiscale metal conductors on a wide variety of plastic, elastomeric, and textile substrates. Highly conductive Cu interconnects (2.0 × 10⁸ S/m) fabricated by MACP at room temperature display excellent flexibility, foldability, and stretchability.

An orange-red organic light-emitting diode containing a heptazine derivative exhibits high performance with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 17.5 ± 1.3% and a peak luminance of 17000 ± 1600 cd m⁻² without any light out-coupling enhancement. The high electroluminescence performance can be ascribed to the presence of an efficient up-conversion channel from the lowest triplet state to the lowest singlet state.

An alternating stack (SG/GN) consisting of SnO₂-functionalized graphene oxide (SG) and amine-functionalized GO (GN) is prepared in solution. The thermally reduced SG/GN (r(SG/GN)) with decreased micro-mesopores and completely eliminated macropores, when compared to a composite without GN, results in a high reversible capacity and excellent capacity retention (872 mA h g⁻¹ after 200 cycles at 100 mA g⁻¹).

High-efficiency white OLEDs fabricated on silver nanowire-based composite transparent electrodes show almost perfectly Lambertian emission and superior angular color stability, imparted by electrode light scattering. The OLED efficiencies are comparable to those fabricated using indium tin oxide. The transparent electrodes are fully solution-processable, thin-film compatible, and have a figure of merit suitable for large-area devices.

Novel silicate nanoplatelets that induce osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in the absence of any osteoinductive factor are reported. The presence of the silicate triggers a set of events that follows the temporal pattern of osteogenic differentiation. These findings underscore the potential applications of these silicate nanoplatelets in designing bioactive scaffolds for musculoskeletal tissue engineering.

In situ homeotropic alignment is achieved by photochromic trans- to cis-isomerization of an azo-dye doped in a nematic host. The augmented dipole moment of the cis-isomer formed under UV-irradiation expedites molecular assembly into crystalline aggregates. Subsequent deposition of the aggregates creates a roughened surface and induces an anchoring transition from the initial planar to a homeotropic alignment of the LCs.

Device-scale thin films of highly oriented (in-plane) colloidal nanorods are made available by using a simple coating process involving thixotropic rod gel suspensions. Application of this process to LaPO₄ nanorods leads to films exhibiting outstanding anisotropic optical properties, such as a remarkably large birefringence (Δn = 0.13) associated with high transparency, and a sharply polarized fluorescence spectra when doped with europium.

The fabrication process for 5 Tb/in² bit patterns using solvent-assisted directed self-assembly is investigated. The N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solvent vapor-annealing method was used to achieve good long-range lateral ordering of low-molecular-weight polystyrene-block-polydimethylsiloxane with a lattice spacing of 11 nm on flat Si substrates, PS modified substrates and lithographically patterned substrates, respectively.

Modulation of band bending at a complex oxide heterointerface by a ferroelectric layer is demonstrated. The as-grown polarization (P_up) leads to charge depletion and consequently low conduction. Switching the polarization direction (P_down) results in charge accumulation and enhances the conduction at the interface. The metal–insulator transition at a conducting polar/nonpolar oxide heterointerface can be controlled by ferroelectric doping.

Efficiency is defined as η = |Q|/|W| in order to investigate the electrical work |W| associated with electrocaloric heat |Q|. This materials parameter indicates that polymer films are slightly more energy efficient than ceramic films, and therefore both species of material remain candidates for future cooling applications.

DNA-loaded polypeptide particles are prepared via templated assembly of mesoporous silica for the delivery of adjuvants. The elasticity and cargo-loading capacity of the obtained particles can be tuned by the amount of cross-linker used to stabilize the polypeptide particles. The use of polypeptide particles as biocarriers provides a promising method for vaccine delivery.

A new type of absorber, a four-tined fish-spear-like resonator (FFR), constructed by the two-photon polymerization process, is reported. An absorbance of more than 90% is experimentally realized and the resonance occurs in the space between the tines. Since a continuous layer of metallic thin film covers the structure, it is perfectly thermo- and electroconductive, which is the mostly desired feature for many applications.

A new kind of nitrogen-doped graphene/carbon nanotube nanocomposite can be synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process under mild conditions, which exhibits synergistically enhanced electrochemical activity for the oxygen reduction reaction. This research provides a new route to access a metal-free electrocatalyst with a high activity under mild conditions.

A Au nanoparticle necklace array spanning a ∼30-micrometer-wide channel shows a robust coulomb blockade effect at room temperature with a threshold of 1V in air. When this device is operated in the aqueous solution, a gain of ∼130 fold in conductance is obtained in electrochemical gating, significantly higher than other nanomaterial-based electrochemical transistors.

Energy absorption in multiferroic materials stems typically from strain relaxation which can be strong even when no extrinsic defects exist in the material. Computer simulations of a simple two-dimensional model on a generic, proper ferroelastic material identify the dissipative mechanisms associated with the dynamical motion as: a) advance and retraction of needle-shaped twin domains and, b) movement of kinks inside twin boundaries. Both movements involve friction losses.

A microfluidic-based approach for fabrication of organic contaminant absorbing core-shell particles is demonstrated. The hydrophobic porous core absorbs oil while the hydrophilic surface enables the particles to be well-dispersed in aqueous solutions. These particles can uptake oil from aqueous solution saturated with oil or via direct contact with oil blobs as depicted in the figure.

Heteroepitaxial growth of Cr metal on Nb-doped SrTiO₃(001) is accompanied by Cr diffusion to interstitial sites within the first few atomic planes, an anchoring of the Cr film to the substrate, charge transfer from Cr to Ti, and metallization of the near-surface region, as depicted in the figure. The contact resistance of the resulting interface is exceedingly low.

Bulk Li₂O₂ is shown to exhibit ionic conductivity via lithium vacancies and electronic conductivity via electron holes (localized as superoxide ions). This is the first systematic study on the charge carrier chemistry of peroxides with high relevance for the performance kinetics of Li-oxygen batteries.

A striking universality in the electric-field-driven resistive switching is shown in three prototypical narrow-gap Mott systems. This model, based on key theoretical features of the Mott phenomenon, reproduces the general behavior of this resistive switching and demonstrates that it can be associated with a dynamically directed avalanche. This model predicts non-trivial accumulation and relaxation times that are verified experimentally.

By initially depositing a sub-10 nm-thick SnO₂ film, the microstructural evolution that is often considered problematic can be utilized to form Sn nanoparticles on the surface of a 3D current collector for enhanced cycling stability. The work described here highlights a novel approach to uniformly depositing Sn nanoparticles, which can be used to design electrodes with high capacities and high-rate capabilities.

An approach to the design of flexible superhydrophobic surfaces based on thermally induced wrinkling of thin, hydrophobic polymer multilayers on heat-shrinkable polymer films is reported. This approach exploits shrinking processes common to “heat-shrink” plastics, and can thus be used to create “shrink-to-fit” superhydrophobic coatings on complex surfaces, manipulate the dimensions and densities of patterned features, and promote heat-activated repair of full-thickness defects.

Ag-doped graphene fibers show remarkable electrical conductivity, high current capacity, good mechanical strength and fine flexibility. The integration of these merits promises Ag-doped graphene fibers expanding applications as stretchable conductors, wearable electronics, and actual microcables.

Hollow Mn-doped iron oxide nanocontainers, formed by a novel one-pot synthetic process, fulfill the dual requirements of delivering an effective dose of an anticancer drug to tumor tissue and enabling image-contrast monitoring of the nanocontainer fate through T₂-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, thereby determining the optimal balance between diagnostic and therapeutic moieties in an all-in-one theranostic nanoplatform.

3D TiO₂ photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are fabricated by the soft lithographic technique for efficient light trapping. An extended strategy to the construction of randomized pyramid structure is developed by the conventional wet-etching of a silicon wafer for low-cost fabrication. Moreover, the futher enhancement of light absorption resulting in photocurrent increase is achieved by combining the 3D photoanode with a conventional scattering layer.

Covalently crosslinked graphene oxide papers (GOPs) with enhanced mechanical properties are prepared by a strategy involving crosslinking by means of intercalated polymers. The strength and modulus of the crosslinked GOPs increase by 115% and 550%, respectively, compared to the pristine GOPs. These results broaden the potential applications of graphene, and the crosslinking strategy will open the door to the assembly of other nanometer-scale materials.

Flexible piezotronic device based on RF-sputtered piezoelectric semiconductor thin films has been investigated for the first time. The dominating role of piezotronic effect over geometrical and piezoresistive effect in the as-fabricated devices has been confirmed and the modulation effect of piezopotential on charge carrier transport under different strains is subsequently studied. Moreover, it is also demonstrated that UV sensing capability of as-fabricated thin film based piezotronic device can be tuned by piezopotential, showing significantly enhanced sensitivity and improved reset time under tensile strain.

This report demonstrates a simple, but efficient method to print highly ordered nanopillars without the use of sacrificial templates or any expensive equipment. The printed polymer structure is used as a scaffold to deposit electrode material (manganese dioxide) for making supercapacitors. The simplicity of the fabrication method together with superior power density and energy density make this supercapacitor electrode very attractive for the next generation energy storage systems.

Buckling-induced reversible symmetry breaking and amplification of chirality using macro- and microscale supported cellular structures is described. Guided by extensive theoretical analysis, cellular structures are rationally designed, in which buckling induces a reversible switching between achiral and chiral configurations. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the proposed mechanism can be generalized over a wide range of length scales, geometries, materials, and stimuli.

A lamellar hydrogel with high toughness, exhibiting ternary stimuli-responsive structural color changes has been synthesized. The gel consists of alternating hard layers of a polymeric surfactant (PDGI) and soft layers of interpenetrating networks of poly(acrylamide)–poly(acrylic acid). Reversible, wide range switching of the stop-band position was achieved using different external stimuli of temperature, pH, and stress/strain.

Omnidirectional laser action in W/O/W emulsion with CLC shells is demonstrated. The emulsion, in which helical axis of the CLC phase is normal to the surface, is successfully fabricated by using a microfluidic device. The whole emulsion system with dispersed core-shell droplets with a CLC shell can serve as a flexible omnidirectional resonator for dye lasers.

Transient mobility spectroscopy (TMS) is presented as a new tool to probe the charge carrier mobility of commonly employed organic and inorganic semiconductors over the relevant range of charge densities. The charge density dependence of the mobility of semiconductors used in hybrid and organic photovoltaics gives new insights into charge transport phenomena in solid state dye sensitized solar cells.

Through metal assisted chemical etching (MaCE), superior purification of dirty Si was observed, from 99.74 to 99.9884% for metallurgical Si and from 99.999772 to 99.999899% for upgraded metallurgical Si. Meanwhile, large area of silicon nanowires (SiNW) was fabricated. The purification effect induced ∼35% increase in photocurrent for SiNW based photoelectrochemical cell.

A “smart”, functionally cooperating device consisting of a platinum strip and steel bead inside a nickel foam cube with a temperature-responsive polymer coating shows a diving–surfacing cycle when the water temperature first falls below and then rises above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymer, which marks the change from superhydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity. Furthermore, the smart device allows a cycled directional delivery of lipophilic molecules between three phases.

A simple process to prepare monodisperse ferrimagnetic cobalt-substituted magnetite Co_xFe_3-xO₄ nanoparticles is reported. These ferrimagnetic nanoparticles are readily dispersed in hexane, forming a stable ferrimagnetic nanoparticle dispersion, and allowing easy nanoparticle self-assembly. When assembled under an external magnetic field (5.5 kOe), these nanoparticles show preferred magnetic alignment with their H_c reaching 2.49 kOe.

As a promising candidate for optoelectronics, one-dimensional CdS nanostructures have drawn great scientific and technical interest due to their interesting fundamental properties and possibilities of utilization in novel promising optoelectronical devices with augmented performance and functionalities. This progress report highlights a selection of important topics pertinent to optoelectronical applications of one-dimensional CdS nanostructures over the last five years. This article begins with the description of rational design and controlled synthesis of CdS nanostructure arrays, alloyed nanostructucures and kinked nanowire superstructures, and then focuses on the optoelectronical properties, and applications including cathodoluminescence, lasers, light-emitting diodes, waveguides, field emitters, logic circuits, memory devices, photodetectors, gas sensors, photovoltaics and photoelectrochemistry. Finally, the general challenges and the potential future directions of this exciting area of research are highlighted.

This Progress Report highlights a selection of important topics pertinent to optoelectronical applications of one-dimensional CdS nanostructures over the last five years. This article begins with a description of the rational design and controlled synthesis of CdS nanostructure arrays, alloyed nanostructucures and kinked nanowire superstructures, and then focuses on optoelectronical properties and applications. Finally, the general challenges and the potential future directions of this exciting area of research are highlighted.

Thin metal films coated on soft elastomeric foam substrates exhibit enhanced electromechanical performance. The open-cell foam structure conveys highly anisotropic mechanical properties within the top, thin capping elastomer at the surface of the foam. Upon stretching, large strain fields inducing cracks and folds localize above the foam cells, while the surrounding cell ligaments remain almost strain-free enabling stable electrical conduction in the metallic coating.

Non-volatile, bidirectional, all-optical switching in a phase-change metamaterial delivers high-contrast transmission and reflection modulation at near- to mid-infrared wavelengths in device structures down to ≈¹/₂₇ of a wavelength thick.

The temporal evolution of the surface-potential distribution in the channel of pentacene based field-effect transistors is investigated during the charge reversal from the electron to the hole dominated operation. This measurement allows for the determination of the carrier density and electric field dependent hole mobility in the sub-threshold regime of the transistor.

This review article provides an overview of recent advances in the study and understanding of dynamics of excitons in semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) or quantum dots (QDs). Emphasis is placed on the relationship between exciton dynamics and optical properties, both linear and nonlinear. We also focus on the unique aspects of exciton dynamics in semiconductor NCs as compared to those in bulk crystals. Various experimental techniques for probing exciton dynamics, particularly time-resolved laser methods, are reviewed. Relevant models and computational studies are also briefly presented. By comparing different materials systems, a unifying picture is proposed to account for the major dynamic features of excitons in semiconductor QDs. While the specific dynamic processes involved are material-dependent, key processes can be identified for all the materials that include electronic dephasing, intraband relaxation, trapping, and interband recombination of free and trapped charge carriers (electron and hole). Exciton dynamics play a critical role in the fundamental properties and functionalities of nanomaterials of interest for a variety of applications including optical detectors, solar energy conversion, lasers, and sensors. A better understanding of exciton dynamics in nanomaterials is thus important both fundamentally and technologically.

Semiconductor nanocrystals possess exceptional optical and electronic properties useful for technologies including optical detectors, solar energy conversion, and sensors. In particular, exciton dynamics play a critical role in the properties of these nanocrystals. In this review, the unique aspects of the exciton are presented, including electronic dephasing, intraband relaxation, trapping, and interband recombination charge carriers along with relevant models and computational studies.

GaP-ZnS solid solutions and multilayered structures have a tunable direct band gap in the energy range for absorption and emission of visible light. A direct band gap of around 2.0 eV, the optimum for photocatalysis of water splitting, is readily accessible with these systems.

A triple junction polymer solar cell in a novel 1 + 2 type configuration provides photoelectrochemical water splitting in its maximum power point at V ≈ 1.70 V with an estimated solar to hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 3.1%. The triple junction cell consists of a wide bandgap front cell and two identical small bandgap middle and back cells.

A new method for the microfluidic spinning of ultrathin fibers with highly ordered structures is proposed by mimicking the spinning mechanism of silkworms. The self-aggregation is driven by dipole–dipole attractions between polar polymers upon contact with a low-polarity solvent to form fibers with nanostrands. The induction of Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities at the dehydrating interface between two miscible fluids generates multi-scale fibers in a single microchannel.

Low-operating-voltage flexible organic thin-film transistors with high thermal stability using DPh-DNTT and SAM gate dielectrics are reported. The mobility of the transistors are decreased by 23% after heating to 250 °C for 30 min. Furthermore, flexible organic pseudo-CMOS inverter circuits, which are functional after heating to 200 °C.

Solution-processed and alkali metals, such as Li and Na, are introduced in doped amorphous zinc tin oxide (ZTO) semiconductor TFTs, which show better electrical performance, such as improved field effect mobility, than intrinsic amorphous ZTO semiconductor TFTs. Furthermore, by using spectroscopic UV-visible analysis we propose a comprehensive technique for monitoring the improved electrical performance induced by alkali metal doping in terms of the change in optical properties. The change in the optical bandgap supported by the Burstein-Moss theory could successfully show a mobility increase that is related to interstitial doping of alkali metal in ZTO semiconductors.

In order for any material to be considered in a post-combustion carbon capture technology, it must have high working capacities of CO₂ from flue gas and be regenerable using as little energy as possible. Shown here is an easy to use method to calculate both working capacities and regeneration energies and thereby predict optimal desorption conditions for any material.

All-optical switching (AOS) in ferrimagnetic Fe_100-xTb_x alloys is presented. AOS is witnessed below, above, and in samples without a magnetic compensation point. It is found that AOS is associated with laser heating up to the Curie temperature and intimately linked to a low remanent sample magnetization. Above a threshold magnetization of 220 emu/cc helicity dependent AOS is replaced by pure thermal demagnetization.

Efficient selection of semiconducting SWCNTs of large diameter range (0.8-1.6 nm) on demand is demonstrated. Different diameters of SWCNT are systematically selected by tuning the alkyl side-chain lengths of the wrapping polymers of similar backbone. The exceptional quality and high concentration of the SWCNTs is validated by the outstanding optical properties and the highly performing random network ambipolar field-effect transistors.

A 1D paramagnetic organic tube self-assembled from a “clicked” shape-persistent macrocycle carrying high-spin oxoverdazyl biradicals shows optical wave guiding behavior.

A high-yield solution-processed ultrathin (<10 nm) trigonal tellurium (t-Te) nanowire (NW) is introduced as a new class of piezoelectric nanomaterial with a six-fold higher piezoelectric constant compared to conventional ZnO NWs for a high-volume power-density nanogenerator (NG). While determining the energy-harvesting principle in a NG consisting of t-Te NW, we theoretically and experimentally found that t-Te NW is piezoelectrically activated only by creating strain in its radial direction, along which it has an asymmetric crystal structure. Based upon this mechanism, we fabricated a NG with a monolayer consisting of well-aligned t-Te NWs and demonstrated a NG with a power density of 9 mW/cm³.

Electrostatic assembly between Fe₃O₄ nanospheres and graphene oxide, and subsequent hydrothermal assembly with additional graphene sheets, leads to Fe₃O₄ nanospheres encapsulated in the graphene shells and interconnected by the graphene networks. Such 3D Fe₃O₄/graphene foams exhibit enhanced lithium storage with excellent cycling performance and rate capability.

All-solution-processed transparent thin film transistors (TTFTs) are demonstrated with silver grid source/drain electrodes, which are fabricated by printing and subsequent silver nanoparticles solution coating, which allows for continuous processing without using high vacuum systems. The silver grid electrode shows a reasonable transmittance in visible range, moderate electrical conductance and mechanical strength. The TTFTs are employed to drive liquid crystal cells and demonstrate a successful switching operation.

The thermal, electrical, and thermoelectric properties of aerogels of single-walled carbon nanotubes are characterized. Their ultralow density enables the transport properties of the junctions to be distinguished from those of the nanotubes themselves. Junction thermal and electrical conductances are found to be orders of magnitude larger than those found in typical dense SWCNT networks. In particular, the average junction thermal conductance is close to the theoretical maximum for a van der Waals bonded SWCNT junction.

A facile strategy to Pt₃Ni nanocrystals with highly porous features is developed. The integration of a high surface area and rich step/edge atoms endows the nanocrystals with an impressive oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) specific activity and mass activity. These nanocrystals are more stable in ORR and show a small activity change after 6000 potential sweeps. This is a promising material for practical electrocatalytic applications.

A synchronous reduction and assembly strategy is designed to fabricate large-area graphene films and patterns with tunable transmittance and conductivity. Through an oxidation-reduction reaction between the metal substrate and graphene oxide, graphene oxide is reduced to chemically converted graphene and is organized into highly ordered films in situ. This work will form the precedent for industrial-scale production of graphene materials for future applications in electronics and optoelectronics.

Adding ethylene glycol (EG) to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution improves the crystallinity of the PEDOT and the ordering of the PEDOT nanocrystals in solid films. The carrier-mobility enhancement is confirmed by using ion-gel transistors combined with in situ UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy.

Micro-stereolithography (μSL) is used to produce 3D porous polymer structures by templating high internal phase emulsions. A variety of structures are produced, including lines, squares, grids and tubes. The porosity matches that of materials produced by conventional photopolymerization.

A simplified encapsulation strategy for metal-oxide based TFTs, using ozone instead of water as an oxygen source in a low-temperature ALD process is demonstrated. Thereby, the threshold voltage remains unaltered and the hysteresis is permanently reduced. Costly energy- and time-consuming post-treatment processes can be avoided. This concept is widely applicable to various encapsulation materials (e.g., Al₂O₃, TiO₂, ZrO₂) and metal-oxide channel semiconductors (e.g., zinc–tin–oxide (ZTO), indium–gallium–zinc–oxide (IGZO)).

Self-assembled nanodiamond-lipid hybrid particles (NDLPs) harness the potent interaction between the nanodiamond (ND)-surface and small molecules, while providing a mechanism for cell-targeted imaging and therapy of triple negative breast cancers. Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted NDLPs are highly biocompatible particles that provide cell-specific imaging, promote tumor retention of ND-complexes, prevent epirubicin toxicities and mediate regression of triple negative breast cancers.

A sub-monolayer distribution of isolated molecular Fe₁₄(bta)₆ nanomagnets is deposited intact on a Au(111) surface and investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. The entropy variation with respect to the applied magnetic field is extracted from the magnetization curves and evidences high magnetocaloric values at the single molecule level.

Extremely high light out-coupling efficiency from a transparent organic light-emitting diode integrated with microstructures on both sides of the device is reported. The metal free device offers dramatically reduced surface plasmonic and intrinsic absorption losses. Moreover, high refractive index micro patterns with optimal light extraction condition are fabricated based on the well matched analysis of optical simulations.

A novel wedge-shaped amphiphilic molecule bearing a sulfonate group at the tip displays humidity-induced phase transitions from hexagonal columnar structure to bicontinuous cubic phase. The mesophases can be frozen by photopolymerization of acrylic end-groups resulting in free-standing membranes with different topology of ionic nanochannels. The obtained membranes with well-ordered ionic channel structure hold promise for applications in separation and catalysis.

PbS colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) are promising materials for optoelectronic devices, due to their size-tunable properties. However, there is still minimal understanding of their charge transport mechanism. Through a combination of ligand selections, ambipolar transistor structure optimization, and electrochemical gating usage, high carrier mobility is achieved. The outstanding device characteristics open possibility to investigate the intrinsic transport properties of PbS NCs.

Large-area polymer FET arrays and integrated circuits (ICs) are successfully demonstrated via a simple wire-bar–coating process. Both a highly crystalline conjugated polymer layer and very smooth insulating polymer layer are formed by a consecutive wire-bar–coating process on a 4 inch plastic substrate with a short processing time for application as the active and dielectric layers of OFET arrays and ICs.

An organic semiconductor laser, simply fabricated by UV-nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL), that is pumped with a pulsed InGaN LED is demonstrated. Molecular weight optimization of the polymer gain medium on a nanoimprinted polymer distributed feedback resonator enables the lowest reported UV-NIL laser threshold density of 770 W cm⁻², establishing the potential for scalable organic laser fabrication compatible with mass-produced LEDs.

Well-separated RGO sheets decorated with MnO₂ nanoparticles facilitate easy access of the electrolyte ions to the high surface area of the paper electrode, enabling fabrication of thicker electrode with heavier areal mass and higher areal capacitance (up to 897 mF cm⁻²). Electrochemical performance of the bent asymmetric device with total active mass of 15 mg remains similar to the one in the flat configuration, demonstrating good mechanical robustness of the device.

Three stereoisomers of DPP(TBFu)₂ are separated and identified to investigate the effects of stereoisomerism on crystal structures and the optoelectrical properties. The crystal structures and FET mobility are sensitive to stereoisomers, in which the mesomer possesses the highest carrier mobility and the greatest crystallization tendency to dominate the crystallization in spin-cast films of the as-synthesized stereoisomeric mixture.

A novel all-organic host-guest system for emission in the NIR is introduced and investigated with respect to its opto-electronic processes. The good agreement between theoretical and experimental results highlights the model character of this system and its potential for electroluminescent application. Comparative measurements provide access to the recombination mechanisms on molecular length scale and show that the emission behavior of the device under operation is controlled by charge carrier dynamics.

A strategy towards efficient mechanochromic luminogens with high contrast is developed. The twisted propeller-like conformations and effective intermolecular interactions not only endow the luminogens with AIE characteristics and high efficiency in the crystalline state, but also render them to undergo conformational planarization and disruption in intermolecular interactions upon mechanical stimuli, resulting in remarkable changes in emission wavelength and efficiency.

Organic color-graded optical waveguides permit low-power photonic analogies of diode/transistors based on the energy-transferred conversion of exciton species. The donor–acceptor junction could asymmetrically output blue/red colors due to the mono-directional energy transfer during light propagation. The switching function of transistors was achieved with an additional gate input by altering the ground state density of acceptors. These organic heterogeneous waveguides were further cascaded together to steer the guided light flows for potential applications in photonic integrations.

A new organic light-emitting field-effect transistor characterized by a metal oxide layer inserted between the organic layer and the gate insulator is proposed. The metal oxide is indirectly connected with source and drain electrodes through the organic layer. Upon increasing the potential difference between the source and drain electrodes, the emission becomes exceedingly strong and the emission region encompasses the whole channel zone.

Organic droplet epitaxy is presented as a method for growing nanopatterned crystalline heterostructures, thanks to the transport of molecules of an amorphous first-layer on top of a crystalline second-layer, where they form an epitaxial interface. Such heterostructures may be transferred to any substrates, raising particular interest for applications (e.g., for organic photovoltaics), where crystallinity and nanopatterning constitute well recognized advantages.

A simple and effective way to make DNA patchy particles is reported. A small patch of DNA strands is “stamped” from a gold surface onto colloidal particles of different sizes by streptavidin-biotin bonds. These DNA patchy particles provide direction-selective and thermoreversible interactions, and hence can lead to unique assembly protocols and structures controlled by temperature.

Package-free flexible organic solar cells were fabricated with multilayer graphene as top transparent electrodes, which show the highest power conversion efficiency of about 3.2% and excellent flexibility and bending stability. The devices also show good air stability, indicating that multilayer graphene is a promising environmental barrier that can protect the organic solar cells from air contamination.

The first localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based multicolor electrochromic device with reversible five optical states is demonstrated. In this device, the size of deposited silver nanoparticles is electrochemically controlled using a voltage-step method in which two different voltages are applied successively. The electrochemically size-controlled silver nanoparticles enable a reversible multiple-color change by a shift of the LSPR band.

Trialkylgermyl functionalization allows development of high-performance soluble small-molecule organic semiconductors with mobilities greater than 5 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Spray-deposited organic thin-film transistors show a record mobility of 2.2 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and demonstrate the potential for incorporation in large-area, low-cost electronic applications.

Manipulating droplets on an open surface promises an easier, more flexible, and more scalable platform of liquid control, than does microchannel-based fluidics. In this report, a surface-energy-trap-enabled magnetic droplet handling platform is introduced that is capable of comprehensive droplet manipulations, including droplet dispensing, transport, fusion, and particle extraction.

Nanocomposite patterns and nanotemplates are generated by a single-step bottom-up concept that introduces laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) as a tool for site-specific reaction control in multicomponent systems. Periodic intensity fluctuations of this photothermal stimulus inflict spatial-selective reorganizations, dewetting scenarios and phase segregations, thus creating regular patterns of anisotropic physicochemical properties that feature attractive optical, electrical, magnetic, and catalytic properties.

The groundbreaking discovery of reprogramming fibroblasts towards pluripotency merely by introducing four transcription factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC) by means of retroviral transduction has created a promising revolution in the field of regenerative medicine. These so-called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can provide a cell source for disease-modelling, drug-screening platforms, and transplantation strategies to treat incurable degenerative diseases, while circumventing the ethical issues and immune rejections associated with the use of non-autologous embryonic stem cells. The risk of insertional mutagenesis, caused both by the viral and transgene nature of the technique has proven to be the major limitation for iPSCs to be used in a clinical setting. In view of this, a variety of alternative techniques have been developed to induce pluripotency in somatic cells. This review provides an overview on current reprogramming protocols, discusses their pros and cons and future challenges to provide safe and transgene-free iPSCs.

The emerging field of iPSCs evokes a wave of excitement in regenerative medicine. Although iPSCs create numerous opportunities, researchers are faced with several difficult challenges. One of the main obstacles is to avoid insertional mutagenesis during the reprogramming process. This review describes the progress made in iPSC producing techniques since its initial discovery in 2006.

Handpick single cancer cells: A modified NanoVelcro Chip is coupled with ArcturusXT laser capture microdissection (LCM) technology to enable the detection and isolation of single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with prostate cancer (PC). This new approach paves the way for conducting next-generation sequencing (NGS) on single CTCs.

Hybrid nanostructural VO₂ (B) composed of nanoscrolls, nanobelts and nanowires is synthesized through a hydrothermal-driven splitting and self-rolled method. The hybrid nanostructure with nanoscroll buffered effect provides facile strain relaxation for swelling during lithiation/delithiation, resulting in the excellent structural stability and cyclability. The interior of nanoscrolls and the interconnected voids shorten the ion diffusion pathway, which greatly enhances the rate performance.

Printed, flexible sub-2 V ZnO electrolyte gated transistors (EGTs) are demonstrated. ZnO EGTs with high-capacitance ion-gel gate insulators are printed on a kapton substrate and the devices exhibit high electron mobility (1.61 cm⁻² V⁻¹ s⁻¹), low operation voltage (<2 V), and good electrical/mechanical stabilities.

A photoinduced solid-state SO₂ isomerism drives a larger mechanical change (benzene-ring rotation) in a neighbouring ion (i.e., the system acts as a solar-powered molecular transducer). The ring rotation and SO₂ photoisomerisation are observed using in situ X-ray crystallography and are controllable, reproducible, and metastable at low temperatures. This discovery presents a new range of materials for solar-energy-based molecular transduction.

Catheter delivery of therapeutic materials is important for developing minimally invasive treatment approaches. However, the majority of injectable materials gel rapidly upon mixing and/or heating to body temperature. The application of an oxime cross-linked hydrogel system is demonstrated. The system has a broad range of tunable gelation rates, is capable of injection through a catheter, and exhibits rapid gelation upon injection into tissue.

An amorphous red phosphorus/carbon composite is obtained through a facile and simple ball milling process, and its electrochemical performance as an anode material for Na ion batteries is evaluated. The composite shows excellent electrochemical performance including a high specific capacity of 1890 mA h g⁻¹, negligible capacity fading over 30 cycles, an ideal redox potential (0.4 V vs. Na/Na⁺), and an excellent rate performance, thus making it a promising candidate for Na ion batteries.

While organic electronics is mostly dominated by light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells and transistors, optoelectronics properties peculiar to organic semiconductors make them interesting candidates for the development of innovative and disruptive applications also in the field of light signal detection. In fact, organic-based photoactive media combine effective light absorption in the region of the spectrum from ultraviolet to near-infrared with good photogeneration yield and low-temperature processability over large areas and on virtually every substrate, which might enable innovative optoelectronic systems to be targeted for instance in the field of imaging, optical communications or biomedical sensing.

In this review, after a brief resume of photogeneration basics and of devices operation mechanisms, we offer a broad overview of recent progress in the field, focusing on photodiodes and phototransistors. As to the former device category, very interesting values for figures of merit such as photoconversion efficiency, speed and minimum detectable signal level have been attained, and even though the simultaneous optimization of all these relevant parameters is demonstrated in a limited number of papers, real applications are within reach for this technology, as it is testified by the increasing number of realizations going beyond the single-device level and tackling more complex optoelectronic systems. As to phototransistors, a more recent subject of study in the framework of organic electronics, despite a broad distribution in the reported performances, best photoresponsivities outperform amorphous silicon-based devices. This suggests that organic phototransistors have a large potential to be used in a variety of optoelectronic peculiar applications, such as a photo-sensor, opto-isolator, image sensor, optically controlled phase shifter, and opto-electronic switch and memory.

Organic-based photoactive media combine effective light absorption with good photogeneration yield and low-temperature processability over large areas, which may enable innovative light detectors suitable for optoelectronic systems in the field of imaging, optical communications or biomedical sensing. A broad overview of recent progress in the field is provided with focus on photodiodes and phototransistors.

A lasing peak shift of more than 100 nm is realized due to the large shift of a photonic bandgap of a liquid-crystalline blue phase.

The phase inversion of water-toluene emulsions stabilized with a single thermo- and pH-sensitive copolymer occurs through the formation of multiple emulsions. At low pH and ambient temperature, oil in water emulsions are formed which transform into highly stable multiple emulsions at pHs immediately lower than the inversion border. At higher pHs, the emulsion turns into a water in oil one.

A high molecular weight conjugated polymer based on alternating electron-rich and electron deficient fused ring systems provides efficient polymer solar cells when blended with C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerene derivatives. The morphology of the new polymer/fullerene blend reduces bimolecular recombination and allows reaching high fill factors and power conversion efficiencies for films up to 300 nm thickness.

Hierarchical TiO₂ nanotube arrays grown on Ti foil are yielded by subjecting electrochemically anodized, vertically oriented TiO₂ nanotube arrays to hydrothermal processing. The resulting DSSCs exhibit a significantly enhanced power conversion efficiency of 7.24%, which is a direct consequence of the synergy of higher dye loading, superior light-scattering ability, and fast electron transport.

Materials and designs are presented for electronics and sensors that can be conformally and robustly integrated onto the surface of the skin. A multifunctional device of this type can record various physiological signals relevant to health and wellness. This class of technology offers capabilities in biocompatible, non-invasive measurement that lie beyond those available with conventional, point-contact electrode interfaces to the skin.

Vertical arrays of ZnO nanowires can decouple light absorption from carrier collection in PbS quantum dot solar cells and increase power conversion efficiencies by 35%. The resulting ordered bulk heterojunction devices achieve short-circuit current densities in excess of 20 mA cm⁻² and efficiencies of up to 4.9%.

Supramolecular hydrogels formed by a host-guest interaction show self-healing properties. The cube-shaped hydrogels with β-cyclodextrin and adamantane guest molecules mends after being broken. The hydrogels sufficiently heal to form a single gel, and the initial strength is restored. Although contact between a freshly cut and uncut surface does not mend the gels, two freshly cut surfaces selectively mend.

Supramolecular self-assembled nanocomplexes (SSANs) capable of mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis and permeable to cellular and endosomal membranes are developed via the assembly of multiple rationally designed, function-specific materials. As a unique non-viral gene delivery vector, SSANs outperform commercial transfection reagents, including LPF2000, PEI, and jetPEI, by up to 2 orders of magnitude.

Hybridization produces the better: Colloidal hollow periodic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HPMO NPs) with tunable compositions and highly hybridized nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a simple, easily scale-up but versatile silica-etching chemistry (alkaline or HF etching) for their applications in nano-fabrication and nano-medicine.

Chlorin e6 conjugated gold nanostars (GNS-PEG-Ce6) are used to perform simultaneous photodynamic/plasmonic photothermal therapy (PDT/PPTT) upon single laser irradiation. The early-phase PDT effect is coordinated with the late-phase PPTT effect to obtain synergistic anticancer efficiency. The prepared GNS-PEG-Ce6 shows excellent water dispersibility, good biocompatibility, enhanced cellular uptake and remarkable anticancer efficiency upon irradiation in vivo.

An excellent molecule-based cryogenic magnetic refrigerant, gadolinium acetate tetrahydrate, is here used to decorate selected portions of silicon substrate. By quantitative magnetic force microscopy for a variable applied magnetic field near liquid-helium temperature, the molecules are demonstrated to hold their magnetic properties intact, and therefore their cooling functionality, after their deposition. These results represent a step forward towards the realization of a molecule-based microrefrigerating device at very low temperatures.

A novel approach to manipulating multiple optical signals at subwavelength scale is proposed in dendritic organic/metal nanowire heterostructures. The heterostructures are prepared by embedding Ag nanowires in fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium microwires during the self-assembly in liquid phase. Optical signals inputted from the organic waveguide can be selectively transferred to the predetermined subwavelength output ports based on the angular dependence of the photon-plasmon coupling.

Fluorescent DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters contain both cationic and neutral silver atoms. The absorbance spectra of compositionally pure solutions follow the trend expected for rod-shaped silver clusters, consistent with the polarized emission measured from individual nanoclusters. The data suggest a rod-like assembly of silver atoms, with silver cations mediating attachment to the bases.

Elemental Te displays a wide variety of nanoscale morphologies of vapor-deposited films, depending on the substrate surface and temperature. These morphologies are correlated to field-effect mobilities in transistors made with Te as the lone semiconductor or from Te-organic multilayer semiconductors. Two examples of morphologies and transistor output characteristics, i.e., on a room temperature oxide and heated organic, are shown in the figure.

Adding enzyme biofunctionality to peptide nanofibers is challenging since this can inhibit enzyme activity and peptide self-assembly. Easan Sivaniah and co-workers demonstrate on page 2661 the attachment of a polymerization synthase to peptide nanofibers via a selective non-covalent peptide tag. The biofunctionalization, rapidly achieved, generates a biocompatible biopolyester coat on the fibers, with applicability in biomedical engineering. Cover image by Effigos AG.

A design strategy for achieving both efficient solid-state luminescence and high carrier transport properties in organic amorphous molecular materials is demonstrated by Chihaya Adachi, Takuma Yasuda, and co-workers on page 2666. The designed star-burst molecules form amorphous solid films, in which they can align horizontally onto the substrate. This preferential horizontal molecular orientation leads to enhanced charge carrier transport and improved light emission. A high external electroluminescence quantum efficiency of up to 5.9% is achieved by incorporating these bifunctional materials in OLEDs.

Electrostatic flocking is a technique for depositing vertically-aligned microfibers onto an adhesive-coated substrate using a high electrostatic field. Emmanuel Delamarche and co-workers use this technique on page 2672 to pattern layers of flock fibers resulting in 2D and 3D microfluidic networks, which fill spontaneously due to capillary action. With this approach, multifunctional microfluidic platforms for diagnostic applications can be produced at extremely low cost.

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most widely used clinical imaging modalities. In order to increase the sensitivity of CT, small iodinated compounds are used as injectable contrast agents. However, the iodinated contrast agents are excreted through the kidney and have short circulation times. This rapid renal clearance not only restricts in vivo applications that require long circulation times but also sometimes induces serious adverse effects related to the excretion pathway. In addition, the X-ray attenuation of iodine is not efficient for clinical CT that uses high-energy X-ray. Due to these limitations, nano-sized iodinated CT contrast agents have been developed that can increase the circulation time and decrease the adverse effects. In addition to iodine, nanoparticles based on heavy atoms such as gold, lanthanides, and tantalum are used as more efficient CT contrast agents. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses made in nano-sized CT contrast agents.

Various nano-sized materials are developed as novel CT contrast agents to overcome the limitations of current iodinated agents. These novel agents using heavy atoms such as gold, tantalum, lanthanides, and bismuth provide more efficient X-ray contrast effects, and their long-circulation time and facile surface modification allow a variety of applications including targeted imaging, angiography, multimodal imaging, and simultaneous diagnosis and therapy.

The addition of enzyme biofunctionality to self-assembling peptide nanofibers is challenging since such additions can inhibit functionality or self-assembly. We introduce a method for peptide nanofiber enzyme functionalization, demonstrated by the attachment of a polymerization synthase to peptide nanofibers. The enzyme generates a biocompatible, biodegradable biopolyester coat on the fibers with applicablity in medical engineering. This approach provides a template for generation of functional bionanomaterials.

Bifunctional star-burst amorphous molecular materials displaying both efficient solid-state luminescence and high hole-transport properties are developed in this study. A high external electroluminescence quantum efficiency up to 5.9% is attained in OLEDs employing the developed amorphous materials. It is revealed that the spontaneous horizontal orientation of these light-emitting molecules in their molecular-condensed states leads to a remarkable enhancement of the electroluminescence efficiencies and carrier-transport properties.

Flock-based microfluidics are created by depositing hydrophilic microfibers on an adhesive-coated substrate using an electric field. This enables the fabrication of self-powered microfluidics from one or more different kinds of fibers that form 2D and 3D flowpaths, which can wick 40 microliters of liquid per square centimeter. With this approach, large areas of functional wicking materials can be produced at extremely low cost.

Self-assembled plasmonic nanoring cavity arrays are formed alongside the curvature of highly packed metallic nanosphere gratings. The sub-10-nm gap size is precisely tuned via atomic layer deposition and highly ordered arrays are produced over a centimeter-sized area. The resulting hybrid nanostructure boosts coupling efficiency of light into plasmons, and shows improved SERS detection limit. Further details can be found on page 2678 in the article by Sang-Hyun Oh, Christy L. Haynes, and co-workers.

Self-assembled plasmonic nanoring cavity arrays are formed alongside the curvature of highly packed metallic nanosphere gratings. The sub-10-nm gap size is precisely tuned via atomic layer deposition and highly ordered arrays are produced over a cm-sized area. The resulting hybrid nanostructure boosts coupling efficiency of light into plasmons, and shows an improved SERS detection limit. These substrates are used for SERS detection of the biological analyte, adenine, followed by concurrent localized surface plasmon resonance sensing.

Multifunctional organic/inorganic hybrid nanovesicles, fabricated by a facile self-assembly/sol-gel approach, display a unique morphology (figure) and satisfactory stability under physiological conditions. By co-encapsulation of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles and a liquid perfluorocarbon, the nanovesicles can be used not only as a dual-modality ultrasound/magnetic resonance contrast agent for accurate cancer diagnosis and monitoring, but also as a therapeutic enhancement agent for effective high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation.

Evidence is presented of a new cause of Joule heating within a simple electronic device involving a multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) mounted on two metal electrodes forming an electrical circuit. This time-resolved, high-resolution in situ observation of metal electrode material melting and its flow driven by the thermomigration and electromigration forces through the CNT channel sheds an additional light on the effects affecting the real electrical performance of the CNT-based devices.

A fluorescent protein is implemented by Nico Bruns and co-workers on page 2701 as a force-responsive molecular sensor at the fiber-resin interface in glass-fiber reinforced composites. Micrometer-scale damage, such as fiber fractures and fiber matrix debonding, is reported by loss of yellow fluorescence in the damaged areas due to a force-induced unfolding of the protein.

Yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) is used as a mechanoresponsive layer at the fiber/resin interface in glass-fiber-reinforced composites. The protein loses its fluorescence when subjected to mechanical stress. Within the material, it reports interfacial shear debonding and barely visible impact damage by a transition from a fluorescent to a non-fluorescent state.

Multilayered Au nanosheets are suggested as a novel class of material for fabricating stretchable electrodes suitable for organic-based electronic devices. The electrodes show no difference in resistivity during repeated stretching cycles of up to ϵ = 40%.

The optical properties of metamaterials made by block copolymer self-assembly are tuned by structural and environmental variations. The plasma frequency red-shifts with increasing lattice constant and blue-shifts as the network filling fraction increases. Infiltration with dielectric liquids leads also to a red-shift of the plasma edge. A 300 nm-thick slab of gyroid-structured gold has a remarkable transmission of 20%.

Hollow composite microcapsules are prepared by the assembly of pre-formed nanocrystals of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) around emulsion droplets, followed by interfacial polymerisation of the interior. The micropores of the MOF crystals embedded within a semipermeable hierarchically structured polymeric membrane are an effective combination for the retention of encapsulated dye molecules. Release can be triggered however by acid dissolution of the MOF component.

Nanorods provide distinct advantages over their spherical counterparts for targeted drug delivery. Here, a novel method is described for the synthesis of biocompatible protein nanorods from spherical polystyrene templates using the layer-by-layer (LBL) technique. These nanorods can be used as a vehicle for the delivery of therapeutic agents to diseased sites.

A novel “raisin bun”-like nanocomposite, where Pd clusters are embedded in porphyrin matrix, is developed as a promising electrocatalyst. Thanks to the synergy between the Pd clusters and the porphyrin matrix, this composite exhibits a low oxidation potential, high mass activity and excellent stability toward electrochemical oxidation of formic acid, which opens new routes for the design of high-performance catalysts in fuel cells.

A newly designed transferable and flexible label-like organic memory based on a graphene electrode behaves like a sticker, and can be readily placed on desired substrates or devices for diversified purposes. The memory label reveals excellent performance despite its physical presentation. This may greatly extend the memory applications in various advanced electronics and provide a simple scheme to integrate with other electronics.

The 2,9-dimethyldiazaperopyrenium dication can be made from a ubiquitous and inexpensive feedstock in three simple steps as its chloride salt. When mixed with powdered graphite at 23 °C, this behemoth of a molecular compound exfoliates graphite to graphene in water under mild conditions.

Direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of single-layer graphene on CVD-grown hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) film can suggest a large-scale and high-quality graphene/h-BN film hybrid structure with a defect-free interface. This sequentially grown graphene/h-BN film shows better electronic properties than that of graphene/SiO₂ or graphene transferred on h-BN film, and suggests a new promising template for graphene device fabrication.