Mehanaz Iqbal , Vijayashree N. Hegde , P. Mohan Kumar , P.R. Deepthi
{"title":"Engineered TiO₂ thin films for photocatalytic, electrochemical, and bactericidal applications: A comprehensive review","authors":"Mehanaz Iqbal , Vijayashree N. Hegde , P. Mohan Kumar , P.R. Deepthi","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films are widely studied for their multifunctionality, with proven applications in photocatalysis, self-cleaning surfaces, and antimicrobial coatings. By tuning composition and microstructure, TiO₂’s optical and catalytic performance under UV and visible light can be optimized. Metal dopants like platinum, silver, and iron enhance light absorption, charge separation, and catalytic activity. Meanwhile, synthesis methods such as sol-gel and hydrothermal processes control critical properties like porosity, crystallinity, and surface area. TiO₂ also exhibits strong bactericidal effects by generating reactive oxygen species under light, disrupting microbial cells. Doping and co-catalyst integration further amplify this antimicrobial action. The formation of heterojunctions with other semiconductors or graphene materials improves both photocatalytic and antibacterial efficiency by minimizing electron-hole recombination. These advancements position TiO₂ thin films as promising materials for environmental remediation, clean energy, water treatment, and healthcare. Ongoing research on doping, film structure, and fabrication continues to drive improvements in their performance and durability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101607"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880629","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}
M.S. Meenukutty, Arsha P. Mohan, V.G. Vidya (Professor), V.G. Viju Kumar
{"title":"Enhancing tomato plant micropropagation using copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized from copper complexes of (Z)-N’-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide","authors":"M.S. Meenukutty, Arsha P. Mohan, V.G. Vidya (Professor), V.G. Viju Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are emerging as promising tools in plant biotechnology, particularly for improving tissue culture techniques. However, their application in tomato micropropagation is still not well understood. This study explores the impact of CuO NPs on the <em>in vitro</em> regeneration of <em>Solanum lycopersicum</em> L. cv. Sankranti, aiming to determine their effectiveness in promoting plant growth and development under controlled conditions.CuO NPs were synthesized by calcining copper(II) complexes of (<em>Z</em>)-N’-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide, prepared from different copper salts: CuSO₄·5H₂O, CuCl₂·2H₂O, and Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O. These complexes were characterized using FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), magnetic studies, and molar conductance. The nanoparticles were further analysed using FT-IR, UV-Vis, PXRD, SEM, and TEM to confirm their structure and morphology. To evaluate their biological effect, CuO NPs were added to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium at varying concentrations (0.02, 0.2, and 2.0 mg/L) and tested on tomato nodal explants. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA confirmed that these enhancements were significant (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Overall, this study highlights the potential of CuO NPs, particularly at optimized concentrations, to serve as beneficial micronutrient additives in plant tissue culture. These results support their future application in improving micropropagation efficiency for tomato and possibly other high-value crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101584"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145692802","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":"2D MXene nanomaterials as catalysts and burn rate modifiers in an energetic propellant system","authors":"Bhavana V P, Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101618","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101618","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Composite solid propellants (CSPs), composed of fuel binder, metal powder, oxidizer, and functional additives, are indispensable to modern rocketry because of their high energy density, processability, and proven reliability. Their macroscopic performance, however, is governed by microscopic chemistry: catalyst identity, binder and oxidizer interactions, thermal decomposition behaviour, and microstructural design. This review synthesizes recent advances in two-dimensional MXene oxide and carbide hybrids (e.g., TiC<sub>2</sub>, V<sub>2</sub>C combined with V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>, NiO, MgCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) as catalytic burn rate modifiers for AP (Ammonium perchlorate) based CSPs. MXenes furnish conductive, defect-rich frameworks that supply redox active centers and oxygen vacancies; when synergized with transition metal oxides, they markedly accelerate AP decomposition (reported HTD(high thermal decomposition) reductions from 471.2 <span><math><mrow><mo>°</mo><mi>C</mi></mrow></math></span> to ∼208 <span><math><mrow><mo>°</mo><mi>C</mi></mrow></math></span> for MgCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> MXene composites) and lower activation energies (up to ∼59.7 % reduction). At propellant scale, these hybrids increase specific thrust (reported gains of about +15 s), enhance burning rates (examples up to +202 % or about 70–80 % for certain MXV formulations), and shorten ignition delays (reported reductions of about 30–80 %). Rational morphological engineering, including layered, mesoporous, and flower-like architectures, optimizes surface area, mass diffusion, and electron and heat transport, improving catalytic accessibility and thermal propagation. Compared with conventional oxide catalysts, MXene-based composites combine electrical conductivity, redox flexibility, and structural tunability, yielding multifunctional catalysts that both accelerate kinetics and enable tunable, cleaner combustion. The review concludes that MXene oxide hybrids represent a promising materials pathway for next-generation, higher-performance, and more controllable solid propellant formulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101618"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034263","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}
Rodolfo E. Cuadra II , Mylene M. Uy , Mark Ian Aseniero
{"title":"Sustainable valorization, synthesis, and characterization of nanocellulose from industrial waste abaca fibers (iWAFs)","authors":"Rodolfo E. Cuadra II , Mylene M. Uy , Mark Ian Aseniero","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial Waste Abaca Fibers (<em>iWAFs</em>), a prevalent lignocellulosic residue from the Philippines' abaca processing industry, represent a significant environmental burden. This study addresses the critical need for waste valorization by developing an optimized, sustainability-oriented protocol to convert iWAFs into high-value nanocellulose (NC). The methodology employed sequential alkali and bleaching pre-treatments, which yielded high-purity cellulose pulp (84.50 % yield), followed by systematic optimization of acid hydrolysis. The most favorable among the tested extraction conditions was determined to be 58 wt% H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> concentration for 30 min (T1), achieving a 52.8 % residue yield and a mixed nanocellulosic morphology structure. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed high chemical purity and preservation of the Cellulose I structure. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) further verified the nanoscale dimensions (15–30 nm in width) and the co-existence of both CNF-like and CNC-like features. These findings validate a reproducible and sustainable pathway for converting abaca waste into a highly crystalline, functional nanomaterial, positioning this mixed nanocellulosic morphology as a promising, eco-friendly reinforcement agent for advanced biocomposites and functional films within the circular bioeconomy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101612"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939009","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":"Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica and Thevetia peruviana leaf extracts: Characterization, antibacterial analysis, machine learning-based toxicity, and In-Silico molecular docking studies for potential biomedical applications","authors":"Shagun Varshney , Ram Pravesh Pandey , Shivam Mishra , Akhilesh Kumar Maurya , Nidhi Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101592","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101592","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Thevetia peruviana (Kaner). Kaner-derived NPs exhibited superior properties with 24 nm crystallite size and 98.63 % purity, while Neem NPs showed irregular morphology (93.67 % Ag). The combined extract produced uniform, quasi-spherical particles (97.56 % Ag, 25–35 nm diameter), demonstrating synergistic stabilization. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of cubic/tetragonal crystal structures, and FTIR identified hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups as reducing/stabilizing agents. DLS measurements revealed hydrodynamic sizes of 80–180 nm with excellent colloidal stability for Kaner NPs (ζ-potential: −19.5 mV). Antibacterial assays showed concentration-dependent activity, with Kaner NPs demonstrating 12 mm inhibition zones against E. coli at 100 μg/mL and effectiveness against Bacillus subtilis. Molecular docking revealed interactions between the Ag atom and β-lactamase and MurA bacterial enzymes (binding energies: −0.74 to −0.93 kcal/mol), elucidating the antibacterial mechanism. Machine learning analysis (LightGBM) predicted dose-dependent behavior of 25–30 nm Ag-NPs across human cell lines, showing high LC50 values (375–850 µg/mL), ∼100 % viability, and negligible toxicity, confirming biocompatibility. These findings establish plant extract combinations as viable routes for the controlled synthesis of NPs with enhanced biomedical potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101592"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145692799","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":"Rabi oscillation dynamics and Mollow splitting in cylindrical quantum dots under external fields","authors":"P.A. Mantashyan , T.A. Sargsian , N. Zeiri , E.M. Kazaryan , C.A. Duque , D.B. Hayrapetyan","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Semiconductor quantum dots represent versatile nanoscale systems whose electronic and optical properties can be precisely tuned through their geometry and external perturbations. This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the electronic dynamics in a two-level system confined within a cylindrical GaAs quantum dot embedded in a Ga₁₋ₓAlₓAs matrix. A modified Pöschl–Teller potential model is used to describe the axial confinement, while a parabolic potential is employed to describe the radial confinement. The study focuses on the influence of an external electric field and geometrical parameters on the Rabi oscillation behavior and the resulting Mollow spectrum. The results demonstrate that increasing the electric field intensity enhances the amplitude of Rabi oscillations up to a threshold (F ≈ 2.8 ×10⁵ V/cm), after which amplitude intermixing and saturation occur. Beyond a critical field (F ≈ 1.2 ×10⁶ V/cm), a reappearance of oscillatory gaps is observed, indicating field-induced redistribution between the ground and excited states. Variation of the QD half-width (3–7 nm) affects the oscillation frequency but not its amplitude, underscoring the role of confinement geometry in coherent carrier dynamics. The calculated Mollow spectrum exhibits symmetric sideband splitting with increasing Rabi frequency, maintaining resonance with the laser field and revealing dephasing-induced linewidth broadening. These results provide insight into the coherent control of charge-carrier dynamics in semiconductor quantum dots, contributing to the design of tunable quantum optoelectronic devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101593"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145692801","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":"Studying the physical properties of LaFeO3, La0.5Sm0.5FeO3, and La0.5Nd0.5FeO3 perovskite nanoparticles with a comparative photocatalytic degradation of Congo Red dye","authors":"M.M. Arman , Eman S. Mansor","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101602","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The perovskite nanoparticles LaFeO<sub>3</sub> (LFO), La<sub>0.5</sub>Sm<sub>0.5</sub>FeO<sub>3</sub> (LSFO), and La<sub>0.5</sub>Nd<sub>0.5</sub>FeO<sub>3</sub> (LNFO) were prepared in a single phase using the citrate method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern illustrates the nanoparticles were formed in an orthorhombic structure with a crystallite size in the range of 36–40 nm. The FESEM images show the presence of pores in the morphology of the samples, leading to an increase of the surface to volume ratio of the samples. The saturation magnetization of LFO raised from 0.57 emu/g to 1.46 emu/g for LSFO and to 2.44 emu/g for LNFO samples. The sample LNFO has the lowest direct energy gap (1.903 eV). The LNFO exhibited enhanced optical absorbance characteristics in comparison with neat LFO. The degrading capacities of the produced LNFO were investigated at xenon light illumination and in an aqueous congo red (CR) solution. The photocatalytic effectiveness of the LFO, and LNFO were around 85 % and 99.9 % respectively. The condition of degradation was optimized. Our research indicates that LNFO may serve as photocatalysts to break down the congo red dye with a removal percentage of more than 99 % at pH3, dose 1.5 g/L and dye concentration 25 mg/L.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101602"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145836962","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":"High performance AI-machine learning enabled Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm for thermo-energy storage in tetra hybrid nanofluids","authors":"Deepika Khandelwal , Sumit Gupta , Chandra Prakash Jain , Pawan Kumar Jain","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2025.101604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines heat and mass transfer in a quad-3D hybrid nanofluid composed of SWCNT, MWCNT, Fe₃O₄, and C₂H₆O₂ dispersed in transformer oil over a nonlinear exponentially stretching sheet. Physical effects such as radiation, Brownian motion, thermophoresis, magnetic and electric fields, heterogeneous–homogeneous reactions, and convective boundary conditions are included. Using Lie group transformations, the governing PDEs are reduced to nonlinear ODEs and solved with MATLAB’s <em>bvp4c</em>. A smart-computing model based on an ANN-enabled Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation deep feedforward algorithm (LMBPDFA) is developed using 312 data points to predict heat and mass transfer characteristics. The ANN shows high accuracy, with MSE values of 10⁻¹ ⁰–10⁻⁷ and absolute errors of 10⁻⁹–10⁻⁵ when compared to numerical solutions. Key physical parameters' effects on flow, temperature, and concentration profiles are analysed, along with variations in drag force, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number. Comparative results with existing literature confirm the model’s reliability. he numerical and ANN-based analyses demonstrate a significant enhancement in heat and mass transfer characteristics of the quad-3D hybrid nanofluid (SWCNT–MWCNT–Fe₃O₄–C₂H₆O₂/transformer oil). An increase in the solid volume fraction of nanoparticles from 0.5 % to 2 % enhances the effective thermal conductivity by approximately <strong>28–42 %</strong>, leading to a corresponding increase in the local Nusselt number by <strong>18–35 %</strong>. The presence of thermal radiation increases the temperature profile by nearly <strong>15–22 %</strong>, while stronger magnetic field strength lessens fluid velocity by <strong>20–30 %</strong> due to Lorentz force effects. Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters jointly increase nanoparticle concentration by about <strong>25–40 %</strong>, thereby raising the Sherwood number by <strong>14–27 %</strong>. The skin friction coefficient increases by <strong>10–18 %</strong> with stronger electric and magnetic fields. The ANN–LMBPDFA model achieves high predictive accuracy, with <strong>mean squared error (MSE) ranging from 10⁻¹ ⁰ to 10⁻⁷</strong> and <strong>absolute errors between 10⁻⁹ and 10⁻⁵</strong>, confirming close agreement with <em>bvp4c</em> numerical solutions. Comparative validation with published studies shows deviations below <strong>1–3 %</strong>, establishing the robustness and reliability of the proposed framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101604"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939012","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":"Eco-engineered Ni/Al composites with Uncaria gambir leaf extract: A selective photocatalyst for anionic dye removal","authors":"Jefri Jefri , Najma Annuria Fithri , Yulizah Hanifah , Alfan Wijaya , Amri Amri , Nur Ahmad , Aldes Lesbani","doi":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nanoso.2026.101614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, Ni/Al composites modified with gambier leaf extract (Ni/Al/Ug) were successfully synthesized using the coprecipitation method and then characterized using XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM, TEM, Zeta Potential, UV–Vis DRS, and XPS. The characterization results indicate that the layered Ni/Al structure remains intact after modification, with the presence of polyphenolic groups from Ug bound to the surface. The specific surface area increases, the morphology becomes more porous, and the bandgap energy decreases, thereby enhancing photocatalytic activity. Performance testing showed that Ni/Al–Ug exhibits high selectivity toward Reactive Violet (RV) compared to four other dyes (DY, RY, DO, and RR), attributed to enhanced π–π stacking interactions and electrostatic interactions mediated by Ug. Although the adsorption capacity decreases compared to Ni/Al, the photodegradation efficiency significantly increases, especially under optimal conditions of pH 3 and reaction time of 120 min, with RV degradation reaching 87.63 %. Kinetic studies followed a pseudo-first-order model with a rate constant of 0.01549 min<sup>−1</sup>, nearly twice that of Ni/Al. Reusability tests demonstrated high stability with 70.53 % efficiency after five cycles. Scavenger tests indicated that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (•O<sub>2</sub><sup>-</sup>) are the dominant reactive species in the photodegradation mechanism. Overall, Ni/Al/Ug has proven to be a selective, efficient, and stable material for the treatment of anionic dye waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":397,"journal":{"name":"Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 101614"},"PeriodicalIF":5.45,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939010","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}