{"title":"Nanoimprint Lithography-Derived Scalable Periodic Au Metasurfaces as Reproducible SERS Substrates for Cotinine Biomarker Detection in Real Biological Matrices","authors":"Deepak Kumar, Sibashish Chakraborty, Shailendra Shakya, Sudip Kumar Datta, Satish Kumar Dubey","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03123","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Passive exposure to tobacco smoke can cause severe chronic medical conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Cotinine, a primary metabolite of nicotine, serves as a reliable biomarker for investigating tobacco exposure and potential health risks. The development of strategies for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of cotinine at trace levels remains critically important for clinical diagnostics. In this context, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a powerful label-free analytical technique owing to its high sensitivity and molecular specificity. However, achieving uniform, reproducible SERS-active substrates with high enhancement is still challenging, particularly for the selective detection of target analytes such as cotinine. Therefore, it is essential to design and fabricate robust nanostructured platforms with controlled morphology and optimized plasmonic properties for sensitive detection. In this work, we report the development of a sensitive SERS-active substrate using thermal nanoimprint lithography (NIL), nanopatterns coated with nanostructured Au films with thicknesses from 10 nm to 50 nm, deposited by magnetic radio frequency (RF) sputtering. We observed a significant contribution from the nanopatterned substrate, with a calculated enhancement factor (EF) of up to 10<sup>9</sup> for R6G using a 25 nm Au coating over the nanopattern. The high SERS enhancement is attributed to the periodic structure of the nanopattern. The developed substrate exhibits a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.31 ng/mL, with high uniformity and reproducibility for cotinine detection in synthetic saliva. Furthermore, the SERS results for the developed metasurface were applied to real urine samples from smoker and non-smoker patients, and the derived concentrations were validated using a commercial ELISA assay. The SERS results showed a good agreement with ELISA measurements, providing a scalable, reproducible, and clinically relevant SERS platform for trace-level cotinine detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"18595–18614"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"NiS Nanoparticles Encapsulated in ZIF-7 as Heterogeneous Nanocomposites for the Selective Synthesis of Imines and Amines","authors":"Devesh Kumar Mishra, Bharat Lal, Ashutosh Pandey, Chumki Dalal","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03244","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03244","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Herein, we have developed nickel sulphide (NiS) nanoparticles (NPs)-encapsulated Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-7 (ZIF-7)-based nanocomposites (NiS-ZIF-7) and their application as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the selective synthesis of imines and amines from benzyl alcohols and aniline through simple modulation of reaction conditions. The catalytic performance of the NiS-ZIF-7 nanocomposites arises from the synergistic interaction between the NiS NPs and the ZIF-7 framework, where NiS NPs provide the catalytically active sites and the ZIF-7 framework offers a high surface area and well-defined porous channels. Based on our studies, we may conclude that imine formation occurs through acceptor-less dehydrogenative coupling (ADC), and amine formation was achieved through in situ hydrogenation of imine by borrowing hydrogen (BH) reduction mechanism. The reaction exhibited a broad substrate scope, efficiently converting electron-rich as well as electron-deficient benzyl alcohols and aniline derivatives into the corresponding imines and amines with excellent-to-good yields and characterized by <sup>1</sup>H and <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopy. Owing to its heterogeneous nature, the catalyst was recovered easily and reused up to five cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity and selectivity, highlighting its excellent stability and reusability.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"18717–18728"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Murthy. D Srinivas, Sudhanshu Mallick, Parag Bhargava
{"title":"High-Sensitivity Piezoelectric Tapping Sensors Based on (FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15−PVDF Nanocomposite Films","authors":"Murthy. D Srinivas, Sudhanshu Mallick, Parag Bhargava","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03211","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03211","url":null,"abstract":"<p>High-performance (FAPbI<sub>3</sub>)<sub>0</sub>.<sub>85</sub>(MAPbBr<sub>3</sub>)<sub>0</sub>.<sub>15</sub>−PVDF (FMP) polymer nanocomposite films were fabricated by a facile drop-casting method, followed by thermal annealing at 120 °C for 2 h to promote crystallization and electroactive β-phase formation. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction and ATR-FTIR confirmed enhanced crystallinity, with the FMP-25% v/v nanocomposite exhibiting the highest β-phase fraction of 82.19%. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform perovskite dispersion and improved interfacial compatibility, while piezoresponse force microscopy demonstrated enhanced electromechanical coupling for the nanocomposites with a maximum piezoelectric coefficient (<em>d</em><sub>33</sub>) of 27.26 pm V<sup>−1</sup>. Ferroelectric polarization−electric field measurements at 500 and 1000 V (50 Hz) showed improved polarization behavior for the optimized nanocomposite. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy further revealed enhanced dielectric properties, whereas nanoindentation confirmed improved mechanical stability without compromising flexibility. The optimized FMP-25 % v/v device generated an open-circuit voltage of 56.35 V under manual hand tapping. Under a constant compressive load of 20 N, it produced peak-to-peak output voltages of 2.42 ± 0.25 V at 5 Hz and 2.86 ± 0.32 V at 10 Hz. Load-resistance measurements further established its high power-generation capability. Transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution TEM, and selected-area electron diffraction confirmed the highly crystalline perovskite phase and strong interfacial interactions with the PVDF matrix. Finally, the optimized nanocomposite functioned as a self-powered piezoelectric tapping sensor with excellent sensitivity, which can potentially be used for flexible, self-powered wearable sensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"18699–18716"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sviatoslav A. Povarov, Ivan M. Kislyakov, Andrey Yu. Vlasov, Anastasia V. Venediktova, Anastasia S. Kulagina, Vladimir Yu. Venediktov, Jun Wang
{"title":"Dye-Nanotube Interaction Mechanisms Governing Nonlinear Optical Absorption in SWCNT Hybrids for Optical Switching","authors":"Sviatoslav A. Povarov, Ivan M. Kislyakov, Andrey Yu. Vlasov, Anastasia V. Venediktova, Anastasia S. Kulagina, Vladimir Yu. Venediktov, Jun Wang","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03131","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Controlling nonlinear optical absorption is essential both for established applications such as optical limiting and mode locking and for emerging technologies including photonic integrated circuits. Absorption modulation by hybrids on the platform of carbon nanotubes requires a rational choice of the dye. However, the relationship between the dye-nanotube interaction mechanism and the resulting nonlinear performance across different time regimes remains unclear. We synthesized noncovalent dyad hybrids of single-walled carbon nanotubes with four water-soluble dyes, Rhodamine 6G (cationic), Methylene Blue (weak π-stacking), Chicago Sky Blue (diazo, anionic), and Fotoditazin (chlorin-e6-based preparation), and characterized their femtosecond saturable absorption (SA) and nanosecond reverse saturable absorption (RSA) in the visible region using Z-scan and ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy. We find that the enhanced nonlinear optical performance is not a simple function of linear dye absorption but is governed by the nature of the interaction between the dye and the nanotube. Rhodamine 6G forms a ground-state dark complex via electrostatic and cation−π interactions, shortening the relaxation time to 26 ps yet still enhancing nanosecond RSA through thermally induced scattering. Fotoditazin exhibits mixed static-dynamic quenching with photoinduced electron/charge transfer, creating a long-lived charge-separated state (τ<sub>3</sub> = 495 ps) that selectively boosts nanosecond RSA even at low intensities. Chicago Sky Blue, containing photoactive diazo groups, shows reverse saturable absorption only above 8 GW/cm<sup>2</sup>, a threshold behavior that requires further study, while Methylene Blue provides no significant enhancement. These results establish a predictive framework linking the chemical nature of the dye-nanotube interaction to the nonlinear optical response, thereby enabling the design of hybrids tailored for specific temporal regimes in photonic devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"18615–18624"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chao Sui, Sri Vaishnavi Thummalapalli, Rose Snyder, M. Taylor Sobczak, Dhanush Patil, Arunachalam Ramanathan, Qixuan Xiang, Varunkumar Thippanna, Xiao Sun, Ian Doran, Manlilang Luo, Libin Yang, Mohammad K. Hassan, Nurxat Nuraje, Ayman Nafady, Lilong Chai, Tianming Liu, Sui Yang, Christina Birkel, Kenan Song
{"title":"Inkjet Printing of MXene Gas Sensors for Agricultural Monitoring","authors":"Chao Sui, Sri Vaishnavi Thummalapalli, Rose Snyder, M. Taylor Sobczak, Dhanush Patil, Arunachalam Ramanathan, Qixuan Xiang, Varunkumar Thippanna, Xiao Sun, Ian Doran, Manlilang Luo, Libin Yang, Mohammad K. Hassan, Nurxat Nuraje, Ayman Nafady, Lilong Chai, Tianming Liu, Sui Yang, Christina Birkel, Kenan Song","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03886","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03886","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Inkjet printing enables scalable fabrication of nanomaterial-based devices, but stable droplet formation and reproducible deposition remain challenging for emerging nanosheet inks. In this work, we develop a model-guided inkjet printing framework that monitors and optimizes droplet generation based on fluid properties and nozzle dynamics. Unlike previous MXene inkjet printing studies that primarily rely on empirical parameter tuning and focus on ink formulation or device performance, the proposed framework employs a physics-based analytical model that quantitatively links waveform parameters, fluid properties, nozzle dynamics, and droplet behavior. This predictive approach enables rational waveform design for stable single-droplet ejection, minimizes satellite droplet formation, and reduces the need for extensive experimental calibration. MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets dispersed in ethanol are used as a representative conductive ink to demonstrate the capability of the optimized printing approach. Under model-guided printing conditions, the system achieves reliable pattern formation and enables fabrication of printed MXene devices that exhibit measurable responses to several gases relevant to agricultural environments. These results demonstrate that analytical-model-guided monitoring and optimization of the inkjet printing process provides a predictive and generalizable strategy for reproducible printing of nanomaterial-based devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"19049–19064"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jing He, Lexin Sun, Jianfeng Zhu, Zhuo Wang, Yongkang Li
{"title":"SiO2/TiO2 Nanoparticles within a Silica Material for the Consolidation of Sandstone Cultural Relics","authors":"Jing He, Lexin Sun, Jianfeng Zhu, Zhuo Wang, Yongkang Li","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03477","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To address the problems of weathering deterioration of outdoor sandstone cultural relics due to water erosion, salt weathering, and mechanical property degradation, and to extend relic preservation longevity, this study investigated the application of SiO<sub>2</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticle-modified ethyl silicate (KSE300) in the anti-weathering consolidant for sandstone cultural relics. The study used SiO<sub>2</sub>/TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles as the core modification component and combined them with KSE300 to prepare a anti-weathering composite material. The material was applied onto the sandstone surface via a single-sided brushing method for sandstone consolidation. The experimental results showed that for sandstone treated with composite particles modified KSE300, the color difference remained within the acceptable range for cultural relic consolidation and the original relic appearance was not altered. When the composite particle content was 0.15 wt %, the mechanical properties of the consolidated sandstone were significantly improved, with the compressive strength increasing from 48.23 MPa to 70.55 MPa and the hardness increasing from 573.38 HL to 579.71 HL. The sample also showed excellent hydrophobic properties, with a contact angle of 125.5°. After 14 cycles of sodium sulfate aging tests, sandstone treated with the modified material at this concentration still exhibited good salt resistance and effectively resisted outdoor salt weathering damage. This study confirmed the feasibility and superiority of the modified material, providing a reference for the research and application of anti-weathering consolidants for sandstone cultural relics.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"18887–18899"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xue Lu, Ya Chen, Shaofu Kuang, Qinmao Zhao, Hua Lin, Ming Nie, Shun Lu, Qing Li
{"title":"Promoting the Oxygen Vacancy in NiFe LDH-MOF Nanohybrid via Ce Doping for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction","authors":"Xue Lu, Ya Chen, Shaofu Kuang, Qinmao Zhao, Hua Lin, Ming Nie, Shun Lu, Qing Li","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03580","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Electrolytic water splitting is a pivotal strategy for scalable hydrogen production, yet its efficiency is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a Ce-doped NiFe LDH-MOF nanohybrid successfully synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal route. This integrated architecture synergistically combines the structural robustness of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with the expansive porosity of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs). Electrochemical assessments reveal that Ce incorporation markedly enhances OER proficiency, requiring a minimal overpotential of merely 262 mV to drive 100 mA cm<sup><sup>-</sup>2</sup>, a 64 mV reduction relative to the undoped counterpart. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibits exceptional durability for over 100 h without perceptible degradation. Mechanistically, the unique 4f configuration and Ce<sup>3+</sup>/Ce<sup>4+</sup> redox couple are proposed to modulate the local electronic environment and promote oxygen vacancy-related defects, thereby increasing the contribution of lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) processes during OER. This work underscores the judicious engineering of doped nanohybrids for next-generation electrocatalysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 40","pages":"18900–18910"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149153287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yitao Yang, Yihui Song, Fan Yang, Bo Yang, Yuanbin Wen, Chen Qing
{"title":"Hydroxyl/Amino-Co-Functionalized Carbon Dots Regulate Zn Deposition Texture for Stable Aqueous Zinc Metal Anodes","authors":"Yitao Yang, Yihui Song, Fan Yang, Bo Yang, Yuanbin Wen, Chen Qing","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c02815","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c02815","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hydroxyl/amino-functionalized carbon dots (OH/NH<sub>2</sub>-CDs) are introduced as nanoscopic electrolyte additives to regulate Zn deposition texture in aqueous zinc metal batteries. Spectroscopic characterization and simplified calculations suggest interactions between Zn species and the O/N-containing CD surface, together with altered sulfate-associated ion pairing. Compared with OH-CDs, NH<sub>2</sub>-CDs, and physically mixed OH + NH<sub>2</sub>-CDs, OH/NH<sub>2</sub>-CDs exhibit the lowest Zn nucleation overpotential of 45 mV and a distinct Zn(002)/(101) texture distribution. These changes are accompanied by compact Zn deposition, stable Zn||Zn cycling for 1400 h, improved Zn||Cu reversibility, and enhanced Zn||MnO<sub>2</sub> full-cell cycling. This work highlights surface-functionalized CDs as texture-regulating nanoadditives for aqueous zinc metal anodes.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 39","pages":"17571–17577"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149093537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Towards the Growth of Wafer Scale Single-Crystalline Two-Dimensional Semiconductors","authors":"Xiaotong Feng, Liying Jiao","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c02910","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c02910","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising candidates for next-generation electronics owing to their atomically thin nature and superior electronic properties. Realizing this potential, however, requires wafer-scale single-crystalline films with high uniformity and low defect density. In this Perspective, we review recent progress in wafer-scale synthesis of single-crystalline 2D semiconductors via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). We discuss two major growth strategies: single-nucleus growth and unidirectional stitching growth, and summarize the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic principles underlying nucleation suppression, epitaxial alignment, and seamless domain coalescence, alongside representative advances in implementing each strategy. Finally, we outline the key challenges and future opportunities in strategy integration, low-temperature and predictive growth, the scalable synthesis of p-type 2D semiconductors and heterostructures, and the transition from laboratory investigation toward industrial manufacturing.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 39","pages":"17475–17483"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149093538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Femi Igbari, Mykhailo Solovan, Sanjay Sahare, Małgorzata Wolska-Pietkiewicz, Zygmunt Drużyński, Marcin Ziółek, Janusz Lewiński
{"title":"Organometallic-Derived ZnO Quantum Dots for UV Photodetectors: A Comparative Study of Ligand-Free and Zwitterion-Coated Systems","authors":"Femi Igbari, Mykhailo Solovan, Sanjay Sahare, Małgorzata Wolska-Pietkiewicz, Zygmunt Drużyński, Marcin Ziółek, Janusz Lewiński","doi":"10.1021/acsanm.6c03463","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.6c03463","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Surface chemistry is a key factor governing the performance of solution-processed ZnO quantum dot (QD)-based optoelectronic devices. Conventional low-temperature synthetic approaches frequently yield nanostructures containing persistent surface ligands, residual impurities, and a high density of structural defects, limiting charge transport and device efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that an organometallic synthetic strategy based on weakly coordinated ligands provides a simple route toward effectively ligand-free ZnO QDs with improved optoelectronic performance. ZnO QDs were prepared using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or betaine as model capping agents, followed by low-temperature spin-coating to fabricate UV photodetectors. Structural and spectroscopic characterization confirmed the formation of phase-pure wurtzite ZnO nanocrystals with comparable sizes and optical properties for both synthetic routes. Importantly, direct comparison of effectively ligand-free DMSO-derived and zwitterion-coated betaine-derived ZnO QD isolates the role of surface chemistry in governing thin-film formation and device performance. The DMSO-derived device exhibited superior photodetection characteristics, including an on/off ratio of 3050, rise/fall times of 1.9/4.3 s, a photoresponsivity of 3.55 × 10<sup>−3</sup> A W<sup>−1</sup>, and a detectivity of 4.18 × 10<sup>10</sup> Jones under 373 nm irradiation at a 1 V bias. The enhanced performance is attributed to the weak coordination of DMSO, which facilitates ligand removal, improves interparticle electronic coupling, and promotes more efficient charge transport. More broadly, these findings establish weakly coordinated organometallic precursors as a versatile platform for molecular engineering of ZnO QD surfaces, providing a general strategy for improving solution-processed optoelectronic devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":6,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Nano Materials","volume":"9 39","pages":"18177–18188"},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149093661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}