Next Materials最新文献

{"title":"Comparative review of additive manufacturing techniques for shape memory alloys: Process optimization, property-functionality relationships, and future 4D printing opportunities","authors":"Timothy Adeniyi Adekanye,&nbsp;Adeolu A. Adediran,&nbsp;Samuel J. Aliyu,&nbsp;Peter P. Ikubanni,&nbsp;Mathew O. Adeoti,&nbsp;Omolayo M. Ikumapayi","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shape Memory Alloys are advanced metals with unique features, including the shape memory effect and superelasticity, resulting from their reversible phase transformation. These qualities have made them highly appealing for applications in aerospace, biomedical fields, robotics, and adaptive engineering. However, traditional manufacturing methods face limitations in geometry, compositional control, and complexity. Additive Manufacturing offers transformative potential through its layer-by-layer fabrication, enabling the production of complex shape memory alloy structures with customizable microstructures and enhanced functional performance. This review highlights recent developments in the Additive Manufacturing of NiTi-, Cu-based, and Fe-based shape memory alloys. Unlike previous reviews, it compares Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion, Directed Energy Deposition, and Binder Jetting using a unified process-microstructure-property-functionality framework. The discussion includes quantitative aspects such as energy density, cooling rate, porosity, shifts in transformation temperature, recoverable strain, and fatigue behavior. It also addresses unresolved controversies like rapid cooling, the trade-offs between densification and compositional stability, and cyclic functional reliability. Additionally, future trends in smart structures are presented, including emerging ideas for 4D printing, functionally graded shape memory alloy systems, and intelligent process optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 102524"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148523344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as multifunctional nanozymes and its prospective applications: A comprehensive review","authors":"Selvakumari Palani,&nbsp;Selva Kumar T,&nbsp;Kaveri Chintha,&nbsp;Ushani U,&nbsp;John Joseph,&nbsp;Rajkuberan Chandrasekaran","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of nanozymes, which are nanomaterials that possess an enzyme-like catalytic activity, has revolutionized ways in which we understand biosensing, environmental remediation, and nanomedicine. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a unique type of zero-dimensional carbon-based nanostructure gained a lot of research interest due to their tunable physicochemical properties, quantum confinement effects, edge-state-mediated reactivity, and ability to functionalize surfaces in many ways. This review distinguishes GQDs as a distinct catalytic category, contrasting their structural and electronic characteristics with those of carbon dots, graphene oxide, and traditional inorganic nanozymes like Fe₃O₄, CeO₂, MnO₂, and noble-metal nanoparticles, in contrast to broader reviews on carbon-based or graphene nanozymes. We extensively combine current advancements in GQD synthesis, including hydrothermal, electrochemical, microwave-assisted, and bottom-up molecular assembly methods, focusing on environmentally friendly and scalable production. A focused mechanistic section demonstrates how quantum confinement, edge defect density, heteroatom doping (N, S, B, P), and electronic band structure all work together to control catalytic output, which includes activities that are equivalent to peroxidase, oxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Standardized Michaelis-Menten parameters (Km, Vmax, and kcat/Km) were used to compare the kinetics of natural enzymes, classical nanozymes, metal-free GQDs, and metal-enhanced GQD hybrids. The biomedical effectiveness of GQD nanozymes is thoroughly assessed with respect to real-time biosensing, targeted drug delivery, photodynamic/chemodynamic cancer therapy, and antimicrobial strategies with a detailed examination of ROS-associated off-target toxicity, immune responses, and long-term in vivo biodistribution. Applications related to food safety and the environment, like antioxidant evaluation, heavy metal detection, and pollutant degradation, are extensively investigated. Along with suggestions for standardized characterisation, reproducibility issues like batch-to-batch variability, defect density control, and doping uniformity are addressed. Future research priorities are outlined to move GQD nanozymes from laboratory research to deployable environmental and biomedical devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 102439"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148523346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Waste-to-value conversion: A comprehensive review on biochar production, modification, and remediation potential","authors":"Senthil Rathi B,&nbsp;Sujatha S,&nbsp;Kishore V,&nbsp;Sriraam Sridhar,&nbsp;Vinod Kumar S","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102550","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102550","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over recent years, biochar has attracted significant attention from researchers due to its carbon-rich composition and unique physicochemical properties. Organic waste materials, including agricultural residues, domestic biomass, municipal waste, and other organic solid wastes, serve as the primary feedstocks for biochar production. High carbon content, large surface area, excellent cation exchange capacity, and structural stability are among the key characteristics that make biochar a valuable material for environmental applications. This review focuses on various organic waste feedstocks suitable for biochar production. It provides a comprehensive overview of different biochar production methods and discusses how these processes influence the structural and functional properties of the resulting biochar. While plant-based biomass is the most commonly used feedstock, forest residues and other organic wastes also offer significant potential for biochar production and utilization. Furthermore, various physical and chemical activation techniques employed to enhance the surface properties, porosity, and adsorption performance of biochar are critically reviewed. The applications of biochar in environmental remediation, particularly in soil remediation, wastewater treatment, and gas purification, are also comprehensively discussed. Overall, this review highlights the growing importance of biochar in environmental remediation and provides an overview of activation strategies that optimize its performance for specific applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 102550"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148523345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced functional PVA-MOF hybrid composites: Emerging cutting-edge platforms for environmental remediation","authors":"Timsy,&nbsp;Arushi Sharma,&nbsp;Preety,&nbsp;S.K. Mehta,&nbsp;Ramesh Kataria","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Escalating resource depletion, environmental pollution, and growing waste streams have intensified the demand for sustainable and efficient remediation technologies. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained prominence due to their exceptionally high surface area, tunable porosity and strong adsorption capabilities. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a biodegradable polymer valued for its film-forming ability, hydrophilicity and mechanical strength, faces limitations related to water sensitivity and restricted thermal stability. Integrating MOFs with PVA has emerged as a promising strategy to address these challenges while harnessing the complementary merits of both materials. This review summarizes recent advances in PVA-MOF hybrid composites, highlighting synthesis approaches such as in situ growth, sol-gel processing, electrospinning and solution casting. These methods significantly influence the performance and thermal stability. The enhanced functionalities of PVA-MOF hybrids have enabled their successful application in water purification, heavy-metal removal, dye and pollutant adsorption, gas separation, air filtration, and solar-driven water evaporation. Despite their potential, challenges remain regarding stability under extreme conditions, scalable manufacturing, and the environmental footprint of synthesis procedures. Future research should focus on improving structural robustness, reducing fabrication costs, and promoting environmentally benign synthesis routes. Overall, PVA-MOF hybrid composites represent a versatile and sustainable platform with significant promise for next-generation environmental remediation technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 102508"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148523347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent developments in synthesis techniques, characteristics and emerging applications of polymer nanofibers","authors":"Thomas Baby,&nbsp;Banshidhar,&nbsp;R.N. Rai,&nbsp;Sunil Kumar,&nbsp;Sumit Kumar,&nbsp;Rituraj Dubey,&nbsp;Amar Prasad Yadav,&nbsp;Upendra Kumar,&nbsp;Yedluri Anil Kumar,&nbsp;Rakesh Kumar Gupta,&nbsp;Laxman Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.102527","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymer nanofibers have become highly adaptable and versatile one-dimensional nanomaterials due to their large surface area, tunable porosity, mechanical flexibility, and ease of functionalization. Researchers discover a wide range of applications of polymer nanofiber in biomedical, environmental, and energy fields. This review highlights developments to the synthesis, properties, and multifunctional uses of polymer nanofibers and focuses on various fabrication approaches along with their pros and cons. The review also discusses a variety of key polymers, such as polyaniline, polyacrylonitrile, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, and cellulose acetate, and their performance and structural properties for a number of applications. The characteristics of functionalized polymer nanofibers, including increased conductivity, adsorption efficiency, biocompatibility, and mechanical stability, make them excellent candidates for use as air and water filtration media, antimicrobial coatings, biosensing applications, tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, smart textiles, and electrochemical energy storage devices. The use of nanofillers, bioactive agents, and hybrid structures is critically reviewed as a means of enhancing the performance and durability of these materials. The review concludes with a discussion on the challenges of scaling up production, reproducibility, sustainability, and long-term functionality and outlines the future opportunities in the area of multifunctional, biodegradable, and commercially viable nanofiber systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 102527"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148523348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Enhancing pilling resistance in polyester-cotton blended knitted fabrics through combined singeing and heat setting treatments” [Next Mater., Vol. 10 (2026), Article 101562]","authors":"Md. Shakhawat Hossain ,&nbsp;Harun Ar Rashid ,&nbsp;Suprio Shantanu Saha ,&nbsp;Sumon Chandra Dey ,&nbsp;Joy Sarkar","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101601","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 101601"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical simulation on electrical characteristics of high efficiency PPN homojunction InGaN photovoltaic solar cell","authors":"Peverga Rex Jubu ,&nbsp;Mohammed Kakasur Omar ,&nbsp;Suleman Kazim Omotayo ,&nbsp;Mohd Zamir Pakhuruddin","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar cells based on InGaN semiconducting materials are gaining increasing interest in recent times due to their wide bandgap range of 0.65–3.42 eV for optical absorption in the large portion of the solar spectrum. This study performs a numerical simulation using SCAPS-1D program to investigate the influence of layer thickness and carrier concentration on the electrical parameters of p-In_0.35Ga_0.65N/p-In_0.75Ga_0.25N/n-In_0.6Ga_0.4N (PPN) InGaN homojunction solar cell. The optimized PPN structure demonstrated high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 33.93 % at 300 K compared to its PN (20.44 %) due to the presence of a thin (0.01 <span><math><mi>μ</mi></math></span>m) top p-layer, which mitigated surface recombination and boosted charge collection. The V_OC, J_SC and FF of the optimized PPN were found to be 0.94 V, 42.79 mA/cm², and 84.60 %, respectively. The PCE of the optimized PN and PPN device decreased as (33.93–21.97 %) and (26.46–7.51 %), respectively, with rising temperature (250–500 K). The PPN structure delivered satisfactory performance all temperatures, making it suitable even for elevated temperature applications. The PCE of the PPN device under standard ambient conditions agrees with the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit for single-junction solar cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 101597"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146026285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantum kernel learning achieves battery prognostics on noisy quantum hardware","authors":"Amirkianoosh Kiani","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Battery management systems need accurate lifetime predictions to prevent failures and optimize replacement schedules, but acquiring training data requires months of controlled aging experiments per cell. We demonstrate that quantum computers can learn battery degradation patterns from far less data than classical methods. Using quantum kernel regression on 64 lithium-iron-phosphate cells, we achieved 2.1 % better prediction accuracy than classical approaches, but more importantly, required 6.6 times fewer training samples to reach equivalent performance. Real-world validation on IBM's 156-qubit quantum processor revealed severe noise challenges—performance dropped 54 %—but advanced error mitigation recovered 38 % of this loss. The quantum advantage emerges specifically in data-limited regimes where each additional cell requires months of testing. This positions quantum machine learning as a practical accelerator for battery research, materials discovery, and other domains where data acquisition time dominates development cycles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 101644"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146026221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microporous layer (MPL) material structural modifications for enhanced efficiency and durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs): Toward sustainable maritime energy solutions","authors":"Saad S. Alrwashdeh","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Decarbonization of the maritime propulsion and auxiliary power systems require the high-efficiency, zero-emission technologies. Key to this transition are the proton exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs); however, their stability in the long-term and water management ability is limited by the presence of suboptimal Microporous Layer (MPL) designs. In this work, a detailed, simulation-based optimization of MPL structures has been provided to work with marine operating conditions, particularly the interaction between porosity gradient, pore-size distribution, and hydrophobic binder ratio. Four new MPL configurations, including gradient-porosity, dual-layer, nano-structured and hydrophobic-optimized, were systematically evaluated using a coupled multiphysics model, which included electrochemical kinetics, two-phase flow and thermal fields as compared to a traditional reference MPL design. A simultaneous increase in power density of 17.8 %, a 22 % reduction in flooding incidence, and an extended lifespan of 6700 h were realized in the optimized nano-structured MPL. Increased diffusivity of oxygen, better capillary control and uniform distribution of thermal loads all reduced ohmic and activation losses. The findings demonstrate a direct relationship between multi-parameter stability and microstructural refinement, which provides a predictive model of the design of the next generation PEMFCs in the maritime systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 101629"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146026209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructural and mechanical properties of alkaline-treated moonj fibre reinforced epoxy composite","authors":"Mohd Aman ,&nbsp;Vivek Kumar ,&nbsp;Rakesh Kumar Yadav ,&nbsp;Manvandra Kumar Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Researchers are currently working to replace hazardous synthetic fibers with sustainable alternatives. The present work investigates the treatment of moonj fibre using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) followed by reinforcement with epoxy resin. Poor fiber-matrix adhesion and absorption of moisture are the main disadvantages of adopting natural fiber. These disadvantages of natural fibre may be improved by selection of an appropriate chemical treatment procedure. In the present work, moonj fibre is chemically treated with 1 %, 2 %, and 3 % NaOH for 4 hr. It has been found that fibers treated with 1 % NaOH for 4 h exhibit greater tensile strength compared to untreated fibers or those treated with different concentration. A hand lay-up process has been employed to develop moonj fibre reinforced epoxy composites with different fiber percentages (40 %, 50 %, and 60 %). This was done to investigate how the materials mechanical and morphological properties are impacted by the fiber contents and alkali treatment concentrations. The main findings of this study are the developed composites that have exhibited the better mechanical behaviour as compared to the pure epoxy matrix. The optimum tensile strength of 28.3 MPa, flexural strength of 121 MPa, and hardness value is 66.08 HV are observed for the composition of 50M50E composite (50 % moonj fibre and 50 % epoxy), respectively with strong interfacial bonding as well. According to the test results, moonj fibre reinforced composite is a good lightweight substitute for traditional materials in applications involving car bodies and aerospace. To determine the surface topography and texture of the developed composite, scanning electron microscope (SEM) is employed. The developed composite can be used for the sustainable lightweight structural applications such as automotive interior components, including panels, trims, and lightweight structural covers and household product casings such as furniture panels, decorative boards, and lightweight enclosures etc. The novelty of the research work is a uniquely optimizes NaOH treatment for moonj fibre and identifies 1 % NaOH for 4 h as the most effective for enhancing fibre matrix bonding. It also demonstrates, for the first time, that a 50 % moonj fibre-50 % epoxy composite delivers significantly improved tensile, flexural, and hardness properties. The present work highlights moonj fibre as a new sustainable reinforcement for lightweight semi-structural applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100958,"journal":{"name":"Next Materials","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 101625"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146026210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}