Materials Advances最新文献

{"title":"MXenes for exosome detection: a new frontier in biomolecular analysis","authors":"Siavash Iravani, Atefeh Zarepour, Arezoo Khosravi, Ali Zarrabi, Ehsan Nazarzadeh Zare, Rajender S. Varma and Pooyan Makvandi","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00394F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00394F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Exosomes, the small extracellular vesicles secreted by cells, hold immense potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, monitoring, and therapeutic development. MXenes and their composites have emerged as promising materials for exosome detection, showcasing remarkable attributes such as remarkable electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry. These characteristics position MXenes as optimal candidates for biosensing applications, enabling the effective capture and analysis of exosomes, which are vital in cell communication and disease progression. However, significant challenges persist in the practical use of MXenes for exosome detection, notably pertaining to the reproducibility and stability of these materials in diverse biological environments. Furthermore, optimizing MXene functionalization for selectivity towards specific exosomes remains an ongoing task. Recent innovations, including hybrid MXene-based sensors integrated with nanomaterials and machine learning algorithms for data analysis, promise significant improvements in detection accuracy and real-time monitoring capabilities, paving the way for accessible point-of-care diagnostic devices. This review delves into the transformative applications of MXenes and their composites in exosome detection, emphasizing their unique properties that enhance biosensing capabilities. By showcasing recent advancements, current challenges, and future perspectives, it underscores how MXene-based (bio)sensors are poised to develop more accurate and early disease detection systems using exosomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5011-5029"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00394f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716439","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":"Efficient and selective N-benzylation of amines using Pd-doped La-BDC MOF†","authors":"Amreet Kaur, Yadvinder Singh, Avtar Singh, Sandeep Kaushal and Rahul Badru","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00372E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00372E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Transition metal catalysis has become increasingly important in direct <em>N</em>-alkylation <em>via</em> the hydrogen borrowing mechanism, an environmentally friendly pathway that produces only water as a by-product. However, the application of inner-transition metal catalysts for the alkylation of amines has been explored on a limited scale. Herein, we investigate the potential of a Pd-doped La-BDC (benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate, terephthalic acid) MOF in the <em>N</em>-benzylation of amine substrates. The isolation of imine and benzaldehyde intermediates confirms that the reaction follows a hydrogen auto-transfer pathway. Reaction conditions, including temperature, reaction time, and catalyst loading, were optimized to achieve high conversion and selectivity. Extensive characterization using FTIR, FESEM, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements assessed the structural and textural properties of the synthesized Pd@La-BDC MOF. Compared to previous literature, our findings provide valuable insights into the application of La-derived MOFs in sustainable catalysis and offer new possibilities for synthesizing <em>N</em>-benzylated products using benzyl alcohol as an alkylating agent.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5196-5209"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00372e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716415","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":"Biocatalytic application and structural elucidation of robust bacterial protein nanocages†","authors":"Ognjen Pećanac, Alexander Belyy, Caterina Martin, Rosalie Kleissen, Marco W. Fraaije and Nikola Lončar","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00268K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00268K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Encapsulins, bacterial protein nanocompartments, have emerged as promising platforms for enhancing biocatalyst stability. This study presents the identification and structural characterization of two encapsulins: ArthroEnc from <em>Arthrobacter</em> sp. SLBN-53 and DendroEnc from <em>Dendrosporobacter quercicolus</em>. Both bacterial encapsulins were successfully overexpressed in <em>Escherichia coli</em> and purified. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that ArthroEnc assembles into a 20 nm <em>T</em> = 1 icosahedral capsid composed of 60 subunits, with its structure determined at 2.9 Å resolution, whereas DendroEnc forms a 40 nm <em>T</em> = 4 icosahedral complex with 240 subunits, resolved at 3.4 Å resolution. Both structures exhibit the characteristic HK97 phage-like fold. To explore their functional potential, the encapsulins were used to pack two distinct enzymes: CyanoPOX, a heme-containing peroxidase, and PTDH-mFMO, a fusion enzyme combining phosphite dehydrogenase with a flavin-containing monooxygenase. DendroEnc packed with CyanoPOX exhibited enhanced proteolytic stability, effectively shielding its cargo from chymotrypsin degradation. Activity assays with ABTS and guaiacol confirmed that encapsulated CyanoPOX retained enzymatic function within DendroEnc. Finally, mutating the pore of DendroEnc resulted in a fivefold reduction in activity, demonstrating the potential for tuning substrate diffusion. This study advances our understanding of encapsulin diversity and highlights their potential as versatile platforms for enzyme stabilization, biocatalytic and other biotechnological applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5303-5309"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00268k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716356","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":"A comprehensive review of tire recycling technologies and applications","authors":"Waham Ashaier Laftah and Wan Aizan Wan Abdul Rahman","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00463B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00463B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Tire waste has emerged as a critical environmental concern due to the massive global production of tires and their resistance to natural degradation. End-of-life tires (ELTs) represent a significant portion of non-biodegradable solid waste, contributing to pollution and posing serious risks to ecosystems and public health. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of current tire recycling technologies and their applications. Key recycling methods such as mechanical grinding, pyrolysis, and devulcanization processing are discussed in detail. The paper highlights the various value-added applications of recycled tire materials in civil engineering, construction, energy recovery, and manufacturing. Environmental benefits, economic viability, and legislative frameworks are also examined. Finally, challenges associated with tire recycling and potential future directions for sustainable development are outlined. This review aims to guide researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers toward more efficient and eco-friendly tire recycling strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 4992-5010"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00463b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716435","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":"Voltage-controlled rotation of magnetic anisotropy in the Ni90Fe10/BaTiO3(001) heterostructure","authors":"A. Begué, M. W. Khaliq, N. Cotón, I. Lorenzo-Feijoo, M. A. Niño, M. Foerster and R. Ranchal","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00275C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00275C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In this work, we demonstrate the voltage control of magnetic anisotropy in a strain-mediated Ni<small>₉₀</small>Fe<small>₁₀</small>/BaTiO<small>₃</small>(001) heterostructure. In the pristine state of the heterostructure, the magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements show a transcritical hysteresis loop for the Ni<small>₉₀</small>Fe<small>₁₀</small> film, indicating a weak perpendicular anisotropy. This was further confirmed by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism – photoemission electron microscopy, revealing stripe domains in this film. X-ray diffraction analysis of the BaTiO<small>₃</small> substrate under varying electric fields was used to analyze the orientation of ferroelectric domains. These results indicated that BaTiO<small>₃</small> exhibits two distinct states depending on the applied electric field: one with domains aligned with the electric field and another with random domain orientation when the field is removed. After substrate poling, the Ni<small>₉₀</small>Fe<small>₁₀</small> layer switches from weak perpendicular anisotropy to an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, with the in-plane direction of anisotropy being controllable by 90° through an electric field. This effect is due to an efficient strain transfer from BaTiO<small>₃</small> to the Ni<small>₉₀</small>Fe<small>₁₀</small> lattice, induced by ferroelectric polarization, as shown by XRD. Remarkably, this rotation of the magnetic anisotropy leads to an enhanced converse magnetoelectric coupling value of 1.43 μs m<small>⁻¹</small>, surpassing previously reported values for other BaTiO<small>₃</small>-based heterostructures by an order of magnitude. These results emphasize the potential of Ni<small>₉₀</small>Fe<small>₁₀</small> alloys for next-generation magnetoelectric devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5295-5302"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00275c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716355","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":"Synthesis and characterization of lignin-modified geopolymer composites for aqueous phase sequestration of methyl orange dye in a fixed-bed column","authors":"Idriss Kamdem Taquieteu, Hermann Dzoujo Tamaguelon, Victor Shikuku, Sylvain Tome, Donald Kamdem Njouond, Manelle Fouetfack Dongmo, Hanibal Othman, Annette Vollrath, Abdulrahman Mohabbat, Christoph Janiak, Charles Banenzoué and David Joh Daniel Dina","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00248F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00248F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The present work evaluated the performance of pozzolan and sawdust derived geopolymer–lignin composites in the sequestration of methyl orange (MO) in a fixed bed as an auspicious strategy for valorization of waste sawdust. GP0, GP-CL5 and GP-CL10 composites were prepared <em>via</em> alkalination, replacing pozzolan with 0, 5 and 10% lignin (CL) extracted from sawdust, respectively. The composites were characterized using standard methods, namely X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The specific surface areas were decreased by the addition and increase in CL fraction from 53.4 to 24.9 m<small>²</small> g<small>⁻¹</small> for GP0 and GP-CL10, respectively. Incorporation of CL resulted into a poly(ferro-lignino-sialate) single-network. Addition of CL increased the breakthrough time and the operating time of the column. The Thomas model best described the breakthrough curves. MO sequestration performance (<em>Q</em><small>₀</small>) was three times better on GP-CL10 than GP0 when the feed rate was increased. The MO fixation mechanism mainly includes external and internal diffusion and electrostatic interactions. The adsorption is driven by the surface chemistry rather than textural characteristics of the adsorbent. These results indicate that geopolymer–lignin composites are potential eco-adsorbents for the removal of azo dyes in a continuous adsorption system and presents a plausible way for recycling sawdust.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5074-5088"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00248f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716452","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":"Enhanced adsorption of Orange G dye using activated diatomite: a novel functionalization approach","authors":"Youssef Ettahiri, Ayoub Aziz, Khadija Felaous, Abdessalam Bouddouch, Brahim Akhsassi, Lahcen Bouna, Abdeljalil Benlhachemi and Luis Pérez-Villarejo","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00536A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00536A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This research explores the effectiveness of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified diatomite-based alkali-activated material (GP-DR@CTAB) for removing the organic contaminant Orange G (OG) from polluted water through adsorption. The samples were extensively characterized using techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD confirmed the activation of diatomite, while XPS and FTIR verified the successful incorporation of CTAB into the alkali-activated matrix. The GP-DR@CTAB exhibited a significantly higher surface area (107.13 m<small>²</small> g<small>⁻¹</small>) compared to the unmodified material (15.92 m<small>²</small> g<small>⁻¹</small>). The pseudo second order kinetic model best described the adsorption kinetics for both DR and GP-DR@CTAB, as evidenced by the highest correlation coefficients (<em>R</em><small>²</small> = 0.9901 and 0.9993, respectively) and the close agreement between the experimental and calculated adsorption capacities. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were tested, and the Langmuir model showed the highest correlation with the experimental data. Overall, the results confirm that GP-DR@CTAB is a highly effective and promising adsorbent for the removal of OG from water.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5171-5183"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00536a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716413","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":"Picosecond dynamics of hot carriers in infrared plasmonic metasurfaces†","authors":"Matias Bejide, The Linh Pham, Amirmostafa Amirjani, Guillaume Libeert, Nils Deßmann, Thanh Tung Nguyen and Ewald Janssens","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00127G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00127G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The transient transmittance of plasmonic metasurfaces consisting of metal antennas over a semiconductor substrate was investigated, focusing on the role of carrier multiplication within the semiconductor through hot carrier generation by localized surface plasmons. Time-resolved far-infrared pump–probe spectroscopy monitored the dependence of the optical responses on the metasurface periodicity, the substrate temperature (ranging from 10 K to 300 K), and substrate dopant level (ranging from 2.9 × 10<small>¹²</small> to 3.3 × 10<small>¹⁵</small> cm<small>⁻³</small>). The relative position of the excitation wavelength with respect to the plasmon resonance of the metasurface is crucial for the dynamic response. Transmittance changes up to 50% were achieved if the excitation was close to the plasmonic resonance. By decreasing the periodicity of the metasurface, the transmission minimum shifts towards shorter wavelengths. The periodicity also significantly affected the field enhancement of the metasurface, which plays a crucial role in the charge carriers' dynamics. Cooling the samples results in much larger transient transmission changes owing to the higher impact ionization rate, carrier multiplication factor, and longer diffusion length. A low initial substrate dopant concentration was found to be favorable for achieving a large transient response. The simulations from the developed diffusive impact ionization model validated all experimental results. These findings provide insight into the carrier dynamics and pave the way for developing electro-optical devices operating in the far-infrared spectral range.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5035-5044"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00127g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716441","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":"Development of a colorimetric sensor utilizing itaconic acid-mediated Griess reaction for sensitive detection of nitrite and nitrate in agricultural products†","authors":"Anubhab Das, Sindhu I Sanakal, Gomathi Sivakumar, Anashwara Babu and Samarendra Maji","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00314H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00314H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The presence of nitrite (NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small>) and nitrate (NO<small>₃</small><small>⁻</small>) in agricultural products causes significant health risks, highlighting the need for sensitive and selective detection methods. In this study, we developed a colorimetric sensor based on the Griess assay under organic acidic conditions to detect these compounds, where the formation of a pink color suggests the presence of NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small> and NO<small>₃</small><small>⁻</small>. We synthesized 4-aminobenzenesulfonohydrazide (<strong>C</strong>) and 2-(2-(naphthalen-1-ylamino)ethoxy)ethanol (<strong>E</strong>). <em>N</em>-(1-Naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (<strong>F</strong>), and commercially available organic dicarboxylic acid “itaconic acid” was used for the investigation. Two chemosensors were designed, one with compounds <strong>C</strong> and <strong>E</strong> (known as CE) and another containing compounds <strong>C</strong> and <strong>F</strong> (known as CF). These two chemosensors formed pink azo–dyes in the presence of NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small> in acidic conditions (using itaconic acid). The sensing ability was evaluated using UV-spectroscopy, and different sensitivity was demonstrated for the analyte (NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small>). The binding constants for sensors CE and CF were determined to be 5.06 × 10<small>⁻⁴</small> M<small>⁻¹</small> and 16.7 × 10<small>⁻⁴</small> M<small>⁻¹</small>, respectively, based on the Benesi–Hildebrand (B–H) plot. Under the optimized conditions, chemosensor CE showed a linear range of 0.005–0.421 mM with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.62 mM, while chemosensor CF exhibited a range of 0.01–0.453 mM with a LOD of 0.52 mM. A smartphone-assisted NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small> sensing device was designed based on the RGB value of the generated pink color, which demonstrates the sensor's ability towards real-time detection of NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small> ions. Additionally, the system was extended to paper-based test strips for on-site detection. Our proposed sensor system is also capable of detecting NO<small>₃</small><small>⁻</small> by using Zn dust as a reducing agent to convert NO<small>₃</small><small>⁻</small> to NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small>. Real sample testing demonstrated excellent recovery, confirming the potential of this colorimetric sensor for NO<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small> and NO<small>₃</small><small>⁻</small> detection in agricultural products.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 15","pages":" 5045-5055"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00314h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144716442","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":"An MoS2/PEDOT:PSS-based flexible NIR-responsive soft actuator†","authors":"Raksha D. Salian, Avijit Kumar Das and Partha Kumbhakar","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00329F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00329F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The development of sophisticated smart devices heavily relies on flexible soft actuators combined with near infrared (NIR) light responsive two-dimensional (2D) materials. Soft robots provide a number of benefits, such as flexibility, high sensitivity, compliance and security. Amidst many manufacturing and driving approaches, light has surfaced as a facilitator, aiding in the fabrication of soft actuators. Using few-layered molybdenum disulphide (MoS<small>₂</small>) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), the current work aims to introduce a polymer nanocomposite film for soft actuator applications under NIR light exposure. The actuation behavior was impacted by PEDOT:PSS under NIR light exposure. In order to incorporate controllable deformation of the actuator, the photothermal properties of the composite film were investigated. <em>In situ</em> Raman spectroscopy and the density functional theory (DFT) calculation explain the structural change and energy optimization of PEDOT:PSS. A soft insect was further designed based on this photothermal property, which can deform under light exposure. Therefore, such flexible design has huge potential for soft robotics applications in modern technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 14","pages":" 4905-4912"},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00329f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144634947","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}