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Regulating the near-surface structure of platinum-based alloys by inserting transition metal atoms can significantly improve the electro-oxidative performance of small organic molecules. So far, it is rarely reported that a small amount of Au element is introduced into the interior of Pt-based alloys as an active auxiliary to adjust the electrocatalytic activity and stability of Pt-based alloys with special morphologies. Herein, a stable three-dimensional (3D) Au-doped PtCu 2 /C (Au–PtCu 2 /C) catalyst with nanonetwork structure and abundant interfaces has been successfully developed, in which the oxyphilic Cu atoms and stable Au atoms are implanted into the whole and inside of the Pt-based nanonetwork, respectively. Detailed physical characterizations of the Au–PtCu 2 /C catalyst illustrate that the insertion of Au atoms generates core-shell-like nanonetwork, highly-open structure, strong electronic effect, and sufficient active sites. The well-designed Au–PtCu 2 /C catalyst exhibits superior mass activity (MA) of 2355 mA·mg Pt −1 and long-term durability of 500 cycles toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in an acidic medium. Notably, the MA of the Au–PtCu 2 /C catalyst is 7.3 folds and 1.3 folds that of the Pt/C (322 mA·mg Pt −1) and PtCu 2 /C (1821 mA·mg Pt −1) catalysts, respectively. The kinetic and thermodynamics studies indicate that the Au–PtCu 2 /C catalyst is superior to PtCu 2 /C and Pt/C catalysts in reducing the electrochemical activation energy of MOR, promoting the mass transfer of methanol molecules, and enhancing electronic conductivity. This work proposes an advanced strategy to fabricate efficient and durable electrocatalyst with excellent electrocatalytic MOR performance, thereby enabling catalysts with special morphology to have greater application potential in direct methanol fuel cell. [Display omitted] • Au-doped PtCu 2 /C nanonetwork was fabricated via surfactant-free solvothermal strategy. • Au–PtCu 2 /C catalyst shows abundant interfaces and core-shell-like structure. • Au element is served as an active auxiliary to enhance the electrocatalytic performance. • Au–PtCu 2 /C exhibits superior mass activity and long-term durability toward MOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synchronous doping and alloying of Pd-based catalysts. • Tailoring the d-band center of Pd by accurately doping of P. • Maximizing the activity of PdCoP nanonetworks alloy catalyst for MOR. Modulating the d-orbital electronic structure of active metals by doping heteroatoms is efficient for the electro-catalysis of methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). However, precise doping hybrid atoms into the lattices of alloy catalysts remains challenging. Herein, the selected doping of electron-rich P atoms at the active site of Pd was achieved by hydrothermal reduction. We found that P atoms prefer to bond Pd atoms, thus tuning the electronic structure of active sites in PdCoP alloy. Consequently, the tailored PdCoP catalyst exhibited remarkable mass activity of 2.13 A mg Pd − 1 towards MOR, which surpasses most reported Pd-based alloy nanocatalysts. Theoretical calculations revealed that the tailored d-band center of Pd in PdCoP catalyst exhibited moderate adsorption of CO and OH intermediates, thus maximizing the MOR performance. The current work highlights the fabrication of P-doped Pd-based catalysts for realizing high MOR, which can be further extended to other energy-related applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The noble metal anodic catalysts with three-dimension (3D) chain-like network structure have been researched thoroughly due to their unique morphological characteristics. Herein, a novel scheme has been designed rationally to synthesize 3D PdPb nanochain networks (PdPb NCNs). Numerous nanochains were interlaced and stacked to form the nanonetworks, which were contributed to improving electrocatalytic performance. Abundant steps and kinks existed on the nanochain networks, which provided plentiful active sites to improve the electrocatalytic activity. In the subsequent electrochemical tests, the mass activity of Pd 65 Pb 35 NCNs was 4.47 A mg pd −1, higher than other catalysts. Moreover, in the chronoamperometry and consecutive CV measurements, Pd 65 Pb 35 NCNs exhibited the best stability than other prepared samples. This work explored the rational synthesis of PdPb nanochain networks, and confirmed the excellent electrocatalytic performance in EGOR. [Display omitted] • The intertwined nanochain network structure was beneficial to optimize the electron transport process. • The catalyst components were optimized by controlling the amount of Pb(HCOO) 2. • Pd 65 Pb 35 NCNs displayed the excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability in EGOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-body flow-guided nanonetworks are nanonetworks that aim to deploy the Internet of Nanothings (IoNT) into the human cardiovascular system. In these nanonetworks, nano-nodes flow in blood vessels (including arteries and veins) for detecting sensitive biological/physical data. Nano-nodes dispatch data to each other and outside devices via Terahertz (THz) waves. Monitoring of different biomarkers, detection of infectious agents, localization of cancer cells, accurate drug delivery, and other medical applications are all potential applications utilizing such networks. However, the physical limitations of the nano-nodes and the high attenuation of terahertz waves in the blood limit data transmission. Therefore, based on the characteristic of laminar blood flow in blood vessels, we proposed a central high-speed lane routing protocol in Yao et al. (2023), which utilized high-speed nano-nodes in the central layer of the blood flow to form a directional relay chain for other non-centric nano-nodes. In this paper, the proposed protocol is studied in depth, described in detail, and evaluated in the parameters of the hand vein scenario. The proposed protocol works well in new scenarios and proves its efficiency in intra-body communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of nanotechnology and the emergence of new materials such as graphene make wireless nanosensor networks (WNSN) based on electromagnetic communication possible. Due to the energy, computing power and transmission distance carried by nano-nodes are extremely limited, nanonetworks are usually ultra-dense, so nanonetworks are usually cluster-managed. Aiming at the problem of data transmission failure caused by poor link quality or insufficient energy in inter-cluster transmission, a relay node selection algorithm (RNS-AHP) based on simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) and analytics hierarchy process (AHP) is proposed. The algorithm is based on the SWIPT cooperative communication model, and uses the AHP to calculate the weights of four factors: the distance of the relay node, the channel capacity, the remaining energy of the relay node and the signal-to-noise ratio of the relay node receiver in the process of relay node selection. According to the weight, the weight of the candidate relay node is obtained as the selection criterion of the relay node. The simulation results show that the RNS-AHP algorithm can improve the average throughput, the success rate of data packet transmission and the energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to elucidate advanced nanostructures and explore their potential applications in enhancing the shelf life of fresh or processed seafood products. Biopolymer films, incorporating new nanomaterials, can serve as edible coatings to effectively preserve the quality of seafood. Nanotubes, nanogels, functionalized nanocrystals have demonstrated their efficacy in protecting fatty fish samples against oxidation, showcasing their practical utility with specific antimicrobial activities. Nanostructured lipid carriers, exemplified by nanoethosomes and nanophytosomes, are considered as viable alternatives to nanoemulsions. The combination of nanotechnological treatments with thermal thawing or nonthermal applications has been empirically proven to improve quality. Furthermore, the study highlights the existence of novel nanomaterials (nanoparticles embedded in ice, nanoprecipitates, 3D nanonetworks, nanosheets) awaiting exploration. It also emphasizes the mechanisms governing the existing nanomaterials, necessitating a more detailed investigation. In essence, this research not only sheds light on the existing potential of advanced or novel nanosytems but also underscores the need for a deeper understanding of their undiscovered counterparts and the mechanisms guiding their efficacy. [Display omitted] • Nanomaterial shape and size influence cell wall disruption functions. • New forms of nanoantimicrobials will be more effectively used in future. • Combination of nanomaterials are promising for synergistic effect on spoilage bacteria. • Improvement of nanomaterial properties with nonthermal methods enhance protection. • Lipid-based nanovehicles could be used as an ingredient in minced meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Electroreduction of Au(III) with the assistance of pyridine facilely prepared anisotropic gold nanonetworks on GCE with high aspect-ratios, large surface areas and nearly 90 % Au(1 1 1) facets. • High-performance anodic stripping voltammetry analysis of As(III), Se(IV) and Cu(II). Gold nanonetworks with Au(1 1 1)-dominant facets (AuNNs (1 1 1)-D) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was simply fabricated by electroreduction of Au(III) with the assistance of pyridine (Py). Cyclic voltammetry of Au(III)-Py complex exhibits two sequential cathodic peaks, reflecting the reduction of Au(III) to Au(I) intermediate and then to Au(0). The as-prepared AuNNs (111)-D /GCE was characterized by scanning electron microcopy, X-ray diffraction and electrochemistry methods, and the results showed that the gold crystalline spread out in a nanonetworks architecture with good distribution, high aspect-ratios, large roughness and 90 % Au(1 1 1) facets. The coordination effects of Py, the inferior affinity of Py on Au(1 1 1) facets and the sustained generation of Au(I) intermediate contributed to such gold nanoarchitecture. Differential pluse anodic stripping voltammetry analysis of As(III), Se(IV) and Cu(II) was performed on the AuNNs (1 1 1)-D /GCE with high performance. Sensitivity values of 16.9 µA μM−1 (As(III)), 9.51 µA μM−1 (Se(IV)), 6.09 µA μM−1 (Cu(II)), as well as limit of detection values of 0.67 nM (As(III)), 1.1 nM (Se(IV)), 0.53 nM (Cu(II)) were obtained (S/N = 3), respectively. The AuNNs (111)-D /GCE was used for As(III), Se(IV) and Cu(II) determination in real drinkable water samples with satisfied results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanonetwork is a multi-hop network composed of tiny communicating components, whose energy budget is rather limited. A method to reduce the energy used by nodes is to reduce the number of packets transmitted. In this article, we propose a dynamic 3D scheme to reduce the number of forwarders during routing. In this scheme, potential forwarders are found on a ring around transmitter nodes. We analyze the effectiveness of our 3D scheme for four routing protocols in multi-source scenarios. We analyze its memory cost, both theoretically and by simulation. Results show that the proposed scheme works in 3D, and reduces the number of forwarders while maintaining almost the same packet delivery ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, Pd 1 Ce 0.5 alloy nanonetworks (ANNs) on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) supported bimetallic catalyst (referred to Pd 1 Ce 0.5 /MWCNTs-D) was prepared in deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The Pd 1 Ce 0.5 /MWCNTs-D catalyst shows remarkable catalytic performance toward formic acid oxidation (FAO) (1968.5 mA mg Pd −1) and better CO anti-poisoning capability compare with Pd/MWCNTs-D, Pd/MWCNTs-W (prepared in water) and commercial Pd/C catalysts. The excellent network structure and synergistic effect are the main reasons for the improvement of electrochemical activity of Pd 1 Ce 0.5 /MWCNTs-D catalyst. This study provides a new method for preparation of high performance Pd-based electrocatalysts for direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) applications. [Display omitted] • DESPd 1 Ce 0.5 alloy nanonetworks on MWCNTs catalyst was prepared in DESs. • Smaller Pd 1 Ce 0.5 alloy nanoparticles tend to connect a nanonetworks structure. • Strong charge transfer interaction is present between Pd and Ce in the catalyst. • The Pd 1 Ce 0.5 /MWCNTs-D exhibits much higher electrocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positively charged nanofiltration membrane shows great potentials in removing heavy metal ions from wastewater, but excellent separation and antifouling properties remain a challenge. Herein, a novel nanocomposite membrane with a dual-charged electrically conductive separation layer was fabricated by combining phase inversion, vacuum filtration and chemical crosslinking. The microstructure of PSF/sodium styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer (SMANa) composite membranes was systematically manipulated by adjusting the intermolecular binding state of SMA. Subsequently, various deposition layers were generated on the membrane surface by tuning the CNT/rGO ratios, and polyethylenimine (PEI) was also introduced by crosslinking with tannic acid (TA). The optimized membrane possessed a dual-charged separation layer with excellent conductivity and stable three-dimensional (3D) nanonetworks, and acted as cathode to achieve outstanding rejections of Cu2+(92.9%), Ni2+ (99.0%), Pb2+ (99.9%) and Cd2+ (99.5%) at a -3V voltage, with the permeate fluxes of 14.4～18.6 L/m2 h bar. This is ascribed to the synergistic effect among the electroreduction of metal ions, the chemical reaction with OH− to form hydroxides, the chelation with –OH and –NH 2 groups, and the adsorption-induced electrostatic repulsion. Importantly, it also displayed superior stability over multiple runs and outstanding antifouling performances owing to the superposition of electrochemistry effect and stable hydration layers. [Display omitted] • Effect of SMA intermolecular binding state on membrane microstructures was explored. • A stable 3D dual-charged electrically conductive separation layer was fabricated. • Excellent heavy metal ion removals and antifouling properties were achieved. • The removals of Cu2+, Pd2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+ were 92.9%, 99.9%, 99.0% and 99.5%. • FRR and DR ir were 98.7% and 1.2% in the electro-assisted filtration of BSA solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple one-step chemical reduction strategy in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the fabrication of a PtV alloy nanonetwork (ANN)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanohybrid, which exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance in both activity and stability for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). The as-synthesized nanohybrid was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirming the formation of a porous nanonetwork structure composed of smaller PtV alloy nanoparticles (~3.8 nm) and the presence of strong electronic transfer interactions between Pt and alloyed V. The electrochemical properties of catalysts for the MOR were evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. The electrocatalytic activity, durability and CO tolerance ability of PtV ANNs/MWCNTs toward the MOR are found to be considerably higher than those of the Pt/MWCNT and commercial Pt/C catalysts. This investigation of the effect of several reaction parameters (e.g., scan rate and methanol concentration) indicates that the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on PtV ANNs/MWCNTs is a diffusion-controlled electrochemical process. The performance enhancement mechanism of MOR on the PtV ANN/MWCNT catalyst is analyzed based on the structure and electrochemical studies. • A novel DES-assisted strategy for fabricating PtV ANNs/MWCNT nanohybrid is reported. • Smaller PtV alloy nanoparticles tend to connect a porous nanonetwork structure. • Strong charge transfer interaction is present between Pt and alloyed V in the hybrid. • The PtV ANNs/MWCNT exhibits much higher electrocatalytic performance for the MOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion-based molecular communication (DMC) with interacting carrier molecules allows exploring a variety of new communication paradigms. Simulating these interactions on a network scale is however hard from an analytic point of view, and continuous detection of which couples of particles may interact is a computationally expensive task. This work proposes different algorithms that allow detecting which particles are interacting. Hierarchical grid based approaches are explored and designed to maximally exploit the parallelism offered by multiple-graphics processing units (multi-GPU) systems. An implementation of the proposed algorithm is compared to some of our previous work in this domain and to a state-of-the-art collision detection library and nanosimulator. Performance tests indicate a speedup of up to a factor 100 compared to the collision detection algorithm implemented in the nanosimulator, and a factor 77 relative to the collision detection library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TEMPO-oxidized wood cellulose fibers can be converted to diverse nanocelluloses. • Cellulose nanonetworks, nanofibers, and nanocrystals dispersed in water are obtained. • Cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals have homogeneous widths of ∼3 nm. • Cellulose nanocrystals have needle-like morphologies with aspect ratios of ∼50. • Cellulose nanofibers have aspect ratios of > 150. When wood cellulose fibers are oxidized with NaClO and catalytic amounts of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and NaBr in water at pH 10, significant amounts of sodium carboxylate groups (≤1.7 mmol/g) are introduced into the oxidized celluloses. The original fibrous morphologies and cellulose I crystal structures are unchanged by oxidation. The TEMPO-oxidized cellulose fibers can be converted to partially fibrillated nanonetworks, completely individualized cellulose nanofibers with high aspect ratios, and needle-like cellulose nanocrystals with low aspect ratios by controlling the conditions of mechanical disintegration in water. It is therefore possible to prepare diverse nanocelluloses with different morphologies and properties from the same TEMPO-oxidized cellulose fibers, for various end uses and applications. All TEMPO-oxidized nanocelluloses contain large amounts of carboxylate groups. These provide scaffolds for versatile surface modification of nanocelluloses by simple ion exchange of sodium for other metal ions and alkylammonium ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The information from outside world is encoded into spikes by the sensory neurons. These spikes are further propagated to different brain regions through various neural pathways. In the cortical region, each neuron receives inputs from multiple neurons that change its membrane potential. If the accumulated change in the membrane potential is more than a threshold value, a spike is generated. According to various studies in neuroscience, this spiking threshold adapts with time depending on the previous spike. This causes short-term changes in the neural responses giving rise to short-term plasticity. Therefore, in this paper, we analyze a multiple-input single-output (MISO) neuro-spike communication channel and study the effects of dynamic spiking threshold on mutual information and maximum achievable sum rate of the channel. Since spike generation consumes a generous portion of the metabolic energy provided to the brain, we further put metabolic constraint in calculating the mutual information and find a trade-off between maximum achievable sum rate and metabolic energy consumed. Moreover, we analyze three types of neurons present in the cortical region, i.e., Regular spiking, Intrinsic bursting and Fast spiking neurons. We aim to characterize these neurons in terms of encoding/transmission rates and energy expenditure. It will provide a guideline for the practical implementation of bio-inspired nanonetworks as well as for the development of ICT-based diagnosis and treatment techniques for neural diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An organic-inorganic nanonetwork with emission was assembled. • It exhibits green emissions and recognizes glucose in water. • Boron-diols interaction plays an important role in the sensing process. Abstract The commonly used approach for the detection of glucose is based on electrochemistry or enzyme assay. In this article, a novel invasive sensing method with convenient synthesis steps has been provided. This study reports an efficient sol-gel method to assemble hybrid organic-inorganic terbium nanocrystals. These particles with an average size of 40 nm are achieved at low temperature. The organic moiety possesses the carboxyl unit as the binding group to participate the coordination with terbium ions. Interestingly, the incorporated 2-carboxyphenylboronic acid can be able to chelate with diols units in glucose and the possible boronate cyclic ester formation reaction induces a strong quenching of green luminescence within a concentration range from 10 to 130 μmol/L with a detection limit of 3.4 μmol/L. The effectiveness of this way will open up new perspectives for the preparation of responsive photonic devices at nanometer scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Graphene oxide was successfully reduced on the glassy carbon electrode by Zn/HCl system. • Simple and new strategy was applied for the preparation of Pd nanonetwork decorated on the rGO. • 3-D Pd/rGO electrocatalyst shows high activity and durability toward ethanol oxidation. Abstract A three-dimensional palladium nanonetwork decorated on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is synthesized by a simple and rapid method. In this method, graphene oxide (GO) is reduced on a glassy carbon electrode by Zn/HCl system. After reduction of GO to rGO, three dimensional Pd nanonetwork is fabricated on rGO by reduction of deposited PdCl 2 using Zn/HCl system. The morphology and chemical composition of as-prepared 3-D Pd/rGO catalyst are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. We revealed that the as-synthesized 3-D Pd nanonetwork shows excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability toward ethanol oxidation due to the formation of the 3-D nanonetwork and porous structure. The specific activity of 3-D Pd/rGO toward ethanol oxidation is 12.3 times higher than commercial Pd/C. Durability and tolerance to carbonaceous intermediates accumulation of the as-prepared catalyst are also greatly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Arene ruthenium(II) complex RAP-11 ([Ru(η6-cymene)(p -ClPIP)Cl]Cl, p -ClPIP: 2-(4-Chlorophenyl)imidazole[4,5 f ][1,10]-phenanthroline) can insert into the minor groove of G-quadruplex DNA. Moreover, the benzene ring coordinated with Ru atom close to each other through π-π stacking between two RAP-11 molecules, which effectively help well-ordered arrangement of G-quadruplex DNA to form nano-network structure. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pyrite FeS 2 is a promising alternative to typical intercalation cathodes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by virtue of its extremely high theoretical capacity. However, the inferior rate capability and fast capacity degradation caused by the sluggish reaction kinetics and large volume expansion upon lithiation greatly hinder its practical application. Herein, a chemical crosslinking strategy is developed for the synthesis of the yolk-shell pyrite FeS 2 @porosity-rich sulfur-doped carbon nanonetworks (FeS 2 @C NNs) as cathode materials for high-performance LIBs. The 3D nanonetwork structure constructed by tight covalent connection of carbon shells can act as highways to facilitate the electron transport kinetics, while the well-orchestrated internal cavities of the yolk-shell nanostructure provide large void space to accommodate the volume expansion of pyrite FeS 2. In addition, the porosity-rich characteristic of carbon shells ensures fast pathways for the Li+ diffusion across the shells. As a result, the yolk-shell FeS 2 @C nanonetworks exhibit excellent high-rate capability (353 mAh g−1 at 10 C) and exceptionally long lifespan of 1000 cycles with a high capacity of 435 mAh g−1 at a large current density of 5 C, which is by far the best of pyrite FeS 2 -based cathodes for LIBs. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The improvement of the catalytic performance for methanol and formic acid oxidation reactions remains a key issue for the development of a new generation of direct methanol and formic acid fuel cells. This study reports a simple approach, using selective chemical etching for the synthesis of unique nitrogen-doped carbon dot/Pt 84 Pd 16 (N-Cdot/Pt 84 Pd 16) nano-network structure at room temperature with excellent electrocatalytic properties. The obtained nano-network hybrid material exhibits significant enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity for the electro-oxidation reaction of both methanol and formic acid with current densities of 999.0 and 1919.5 mA/mg metal , respectively, compared with the commercial ones of 751.32 and 806.02 mA/mg metal , respectively. Furthermore, the N-Cdot/Pt 84 Pd 16 nano-network hybrid materials exhibit excellent stability and hydrophilic dispersibility at room temperature. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • N-Cdot/PtPd nanonetwork hybrid material is synthesized at room temperature. • A simple coreduction and a selective chemical etching are applied to the synthesis. • It generates a nano-network structure with excellent electrocatalytic properties. • N-Cdot functions as a uniform interconnection between the nanohybrid materials. • The hybrid exhibits significant enhancement of the activity for both MOR and FAOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report for the very first time the synthesis of 100% phase pure calcium silicate nanoparticles (CSNPs) of the α-wollastonite phase without using any surfactant or peptizer at the lowest ever reported calcination temperature of 850 °C. Further, the phase purity is confirmed by quantitative phase analysis. The nano-network like microstructure of the CSNPs is characterized by FTIR, Raman, XRD, FESEM, TEM, TGA, DSC etc. techniques to derive the structure property correlations. The performance efficacies of the CSNPs against gram-positive e.g., S. pyogenes and S. aureus (NCIM2127) and gram-negative e.g., E. coli (NCIM2065) bacterial strains are studied. The biocompatibility of the CSNPs is established by using the conventional mouse embryonic osteoblast cell line (MC3T3). In addition, the biofilm inhibition efficacies of two varieties of CSNPs e.g., CSNPs(W) and CSNPs(WC) are investigated. Further, the interconnection between ROS e.g., superoxide (O 2 .- ) and hydroxyl radical ( . OH) generation capabilities of CSNPs and their biofilm inhibition efficacies is clearly established for the very first time. Finally, the mechanical responses of the CSNPs at the microstructural length scale are investigated by nanoindentation. The results confirm that the α-wollastonite phases present in CSNPs(W) and CSNPs(WC) possess extraordinarily high nanohardness and Young's moduli values. Therefore, these materials are well suited for orthopaedic and endodontic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nano-network is a communication network at the Nano-scale between Nano-devices. Nano-devices face certain challenges in functionalities, because of limitations in their processing capabilities and power management. Hence, these devices are expected to perform simple tasks, which require different and novel approaches. In order to exploit different functionalities of Nano-machines, we need to manage and control a set of Nano-devices in a full Nano-network using an appropriate architecture. This step will enable unrivaled applications in the biomedical, environmental and industrial fields. By the arrival of Internet of Things (IoT) the use of the Internet has transformed, where various types of objects, sensors and devices can interact making our future networks connect nearly everything from traditional network devices to people. In this paper, we provide an unified architectural model of Nano-network communication with a layered approach combining Software Defined Network (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and IoT technologies and present how this combination can help in Nano-networks’ context. Consequently, we propose a set of functions and use cases that can be implemented by Nano-devices and discuss the significant challenges in implementing these functions with Nano-technology paradigm and the open research issues that need to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract True random number generators (TRNGs) are considered as an innovative basis to obtain unpredictable and irreproducible digital bit-streams in secure systems and communications. Because of its ultra-low power and extremely-small size features, the quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is most promising nanoelectronic technology for implementing digital systems with security capabilities. This paper presents a novel QCA implementation of TRNG, which is comprised of proposed cross-coupled circuit and cross-oriented structure, in order to generate truly random numbers. This implementation extracts the randomness from the oscillatory trajectory of QCA cross-coupled loop that is composed of XNOR gates only to guarantee the quality of randomness. Furthermore, it exploits the oscillatory metastability resulting from zero-energy QCA cells of cross-oriented structure that is connected across cross-coupled outputs to increase the quality of randomness. Its behavior is verified through QCA simulations and its architecture is passed statistical tests of random numbers. Consequently, the proposed QCA-based TRNG can be considered as a promising candidate for future security applications in Nano communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Terahertz band (0.1–10 THz)-based electromagnetic nanocommunications could advance several nanotechnology applications in the biomedical, environmental, and military fields. One of the fundamental challenges with nanocommunications is the need for an appropriate modulation and channel access mechanism. In multi-user nanocommunications, detrimental effects of path loss and interference could pose a significant problem for multiple nano-devices trying to access the channel concurrently. This would result in retransmissions, which is barely affordable at the nano-level due to the minute size and energy constraints of nano-devices. In this paper, time-hopping (TH) combined with M -ary pulse position modulation (PPM) is proposed as a modulation and multiple access scheme for multi-user nanocommunications systems. PPM, being the most energy-efficient modulation scheme, with TH would allow nano-devices to communicate simultaneously with greater efficiency. Decoding at the receiver is done after non-coherent detection. The symbol-error rate (SER) in the presence of multi-user interference is evaluated in terms of signal-energy-to-noise ratio and the number of interfering users. Moreover, capacity of the system is also evaluated in terms of bits per symbol for different design parameters. Numerical results show that the SER and capacity of the system can be improved by choosing appropriate TH-PPM parameters for a given network condition. The comparisons of simulation results for TH-PPM with another existing scheme witnesses an improved energy efficiency and reduced computational complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular communications is a promising communications mechanism to enable information exchange between nano-machines using chemical signals. In molecular communication systems, data is transmitted using messenger molecules instead of electromagnetic carrier waves. In the literature, transmitted message is encoded in the quantity, type, time of release, or other properties of the molecular wave. In this paper, transmitting a complete data frame in a messenger molecule is envisioned by encoding frame identifier bits and information payload in the chemical structure of the molecule. The paper introduces the Molecule-as-a-Frame (MaaF) concept and discusses its main characteristics and benefits. Focusing on the existence of a trade-off between inter-symbol interference combating and number of transmitted molecules, the presence of an optimal allocation between the lengths of overhead and payload is shown with the objective of minimizing the frame error rate. A theoretical formula and a more tractable approximation for the frame error rate as a function of the overhead length is also provided. Furthermore, attaching destination address headers to the frame is proposed to eliminate co-channel interference for scenarios with multiple receivers. In such schemes, a solution to the problem of whether the interferer receivers should absorb or reflect to the molecules associated with the intended connection is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a widely accepted information transfer method in the nanonetworking domain, molecular communication via diffusion (MCvD) presents many advantages as well as challenges. In order to assess the capabilities and restrictions of MCvD, a thorough understanding of the reception process through the first passage time distribution holds utmost importance. As the network setup becomes more realistic, analytical derivations become increasingly difficult. Using statistical methods on empirical data is a remedy to this challenge. In this paper, we propose two novel heavy-tail distributions, which are well-equipped to model the first passage time distribution for a reflective sphere transmitter and a fully absorbing sphere receiver pair. We present their modeling power using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov goodness of fit test and how the modeling performance behaves under diverse deployment parameters. We also discuss the probability of molecule absorption, signal-to-interference ratio, and the advantages of using a reflective sphere transmitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular communications is emerging as a technique to support coordination in nanonetworking, particularly in biochemical systems. In complex biochemical systems such as in the human body, it is not always possible to view the molecular communication link in isolation as chemicals in the system may react with chemicals used for the purpose of communication. There are two consequences: either the performance of the molecular communication link is reduced; or the molecular link disrupts the function of the biochemical system. As such, it is important to establish conditions when the molecular communication link can coexist with a biochemical system. In this paper, we develop a framework to establish coexistence conditions based on the theory of chemical reaction networks. We then specialize our framework in two settings: an enzyme-aided molecular communication system; and a low-rate molecular communication system near a biochemical system. In each case, we prove sufficient conditions to ensure coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to introduce an architecture that performs image steganography. The architecture is built on quantum dot cellular automata (QCA) technology. The reason behind increasing use of QCA device is that it provides low device density with small amount of power dissipated. To encode message inside an image, Least Significant Bit (LSB) based encoder/decoder steganography circuit has been proposed. To design this encoder/decoder circuit, a new QCA XOR gate has been designed. The proposed QCA XOR gate has low device density and less cell count compare to other existing circuits. The proposed circuit also requires less amount of power. The Mean Square Error (MSE), Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), and Structural Similarity Index Method (SSIM) are used to measure the embedded information is in the acceptable range or not. The design accuracy is confirmed through simulation results and power analysis performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of medical test parameters as well as biological and chemical substances inside the human body is an aspiration which might facilitate the control of pathologies and would ensure better effectiveness in diagnostics and treatments. Future Body Area NanoNetworks (BANN) represent an ongoing effort to complement these initiatives, although due to its early stage of development, further research is required. This paper contributes with a hierarchical BANN architecture consisting of two types of nanodevices, namely, nanonodes and a nanorouter, which are conceptually designed using technologically available electronic components. A straightforward communication scheme operating at the THz band for the exchange of information among nanodevices is also proposed. Communications are conducted in a human hand scenario since, unlike other parts of the human body, the negative impact of path loss and molecular absorption noise on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in biological tissues is mitigated. However, data transmission is restricted by the tiny size of nanodevices and their extremely limited energy storing capability. To overcome this concern, nanodevices must be powered through the bloodstream and external ultrasound energy harvesting sources. Under these conditions, the necessary energy and its management have been thoroughly examined and assessed. The results obtained reveal the outstanding ability of nanonodes to recharge, thus enabling each pair of nanonode–nanorouter to communicate every 52 min. This apparently long period is compensated by the considerably high number of nanonodes in the network, which satisfies a quasi-constant monitoring of medical parameter readings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analytical model of the terahertz (THz) communication channel (0.1 - 10 THz) for in-vivo nano-networks by considering the effect of noise on link quality and information rate. The molecular absorption noise model for in-vivo nano-networks is developed based on the physical mechanisms of the noise present in the medium, which takes into account both the radiation of the medium and the molecular absorption from the transmitted signal. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the communication channel is investigated for different power allocation schemes and the maximum achievable information rate is studied to explore the potential of THz communication inside the human body. The obtained results show that the information rate is inversely proportional to the transmission distance. Based on the studies on channel performance, it can be concluded that the achievable transmission distance of in-vivo THz nano-networks should be restrained to approximately 2 mm maximum, while the operation band of in-vivo THz nano-networks should be limited to the lower band of the THz band. This motivates the utilisation of hierarchical/cooperative networking concepts and hybrid communication techniques using molecular and electromagnetic methods for future body-centric nano-networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Still it's a main challenge to design of highly efficient electrocatalysts to reduce the high overpotential of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The 1 dimensional (1D) palladium nanonetworks (Pd-Net) can be a promising alternative to platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalyst for ORR. In this study, the Pd-Net electrocatalysts have been synthesized via a simple wet-chemical method with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and zinc precursor. Further investigation indicates that the thickness of Pd-Net can be regulated by simply changing the molar ratio of CTAB and the 5 ± 0.1 nm is proven as an efficient ORR electrocatalyst without any support material. The freestanding 1D Pd-Net has shown 2.2 and 3.6-fold higher electrochemical surface area than that of commercially available Pt/C and homemade Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) catalysts, respectively. As a result, it provides a higher density of ORR active sites and facilitated the electron transport. The Pd-Net catalyst shows 2.1 and 4.1 times higher mass activity and 1.3 and 3.1 higher specific activity at 0.85 V (vs. RHE) with better ORR kinetics than that of Pt/C and PdNPs, respectively. Additionally, the Pd-Net catalyst has been demonstrated a significant tolerance to the anodic fuels (i.e. methanol) and enhanced durability than the Pt/C and PdNPs catalysts for ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanonetwork is comprised of nanoscale sensors and communicating devices facilitating communication at the nanoscale, which is a promising technology for application in health applications such as intra-body health monitoring and drug delivery. However, the communication performance within a nanonetwork is substantially limited by the energy loss as the Electromagnetic (EM) wave propagates along the channel. Energy harvesting for nanosensor networks can provide a way to overcome the energy bottleneck without considering the lifetime of batteries. Moreover, relaying protocols for nanoscale communications have been proposed to improve the communication performance and extend the transmission distances among nanosensors within nanonetworks. The combination of energy harvesting and a relaying protocol provides an emerging solution not only to overcome the aforementioned energy issues but also enhance the system performance. Therefore, in this paper, simultaneous wireless information and power transfer nanonetworks in the Terahertz (THz) Band (0.1-10 THz) is proposed. An amplify and forward (AF) relaying nanonetwork in this band is investigated, where the relay harvests energy from the received THz signal which is then consumed to forward the information to the destination. Performance based on both time-switching and power-splitting protocols is analyzed. The numerical results show the optimal power-splitting ratio and time switching ratio that achieves the maximum throughput at the destination as well as the impact of transmission distance on system performance. It is seen that the power-splitting protocol gives greater throughput than that of the time-switching protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossbar switch is an essential component in communication network like telephony and circuit switching network to process information. This paper deals with the design of reversible 2 × 2 crossbar switch and its realization in Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata (QCA) for the first time. The proposed switch is applied to a nanocommunication circuit and its impact on information processing is observed and explored. Several parameters like logic gates, density and latency are considered to evaluate the design which confirms faster operating speed and high device density. Proposed reversible QCA circuits are compared with similar traditional circuits in terms of circuit cost. The comparison outlines that the proposed QCA circuits are cost efficient than that of similar traditional circuits. The estimation of power dissipation shows that the proposed crossbar switch has very low power dissipation suitable for reversible computing. The stuck-at-fault effect on the crossbar switch and nanocommunication circuit is also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing bacteria in communications has emerged as a promising solution to delineating peculiarities at the nanoscale level. Usually, bacteria are used as carriers of molecules, which are exchanged in order to dissipate information. This work proposes a system, whereby bacterial concentration is used to transfer information. Chemotaxis plays a central role in the scheme. The investigation targets the examination and comparison of two different methodologies, where either the server uses chemorepellent or the clients use chemoattractant substances to bring about the chemotaxis effect. Performance of the proposed topologies was investigated through simulation. In the simulated experiments performed, random messages were encoded in the bacterial concentration using a simple on–off keying modulation, which then the receivers decode to recover the initial message. The experiments demonstrate the differences between the two strategies under various topologies, show the superior performance achieved in the case of chemoattractant clients, and highlight the influence of the parameters of distance, number of sensors and number of bacteria per pulse on the received signal amplitude and achievable bit error rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA derived well-controlled arrangement of porphyrins has emerged as promising hybrid nanostructures. Exceptional biocompatibility and DNA-directed surface addressability coupled with rich symmetry features of the porphyrin have made these hybrid nanostructures attractive candidates for potential biomedical and biotechnological applications. However, the noteworthy photophysical properties of porphyrin and related molecules when present in DNA based nanostructures are yet to be explored fully and should be a matter of intense research that may unearth a plethora of interesting applications of these nanostructures. Herein, we demonstrate the construction of novel self-assembled DNA-porphyrin hybrid nanonetworks that utilize the porphyrin core for antibacterial applications. Porphyrin derivative with four pendant NH 2 groups was synthesized and conjugated with the 5′-PO 4 of ss-DNA by solution phase phosphoramidation coupling reaction. The conjugation was followed by DNA hybridization mediated self-assembly to form DNA-porphyrin hybrid nanonetwork. The enhanced antimicrobial property of the nanonetwork was envisioned following light irradiation at relevant wavelength. In line with this, comparative antimicrobial activities against gram-negative ( Escherichia coli BL-21) and gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus ) have been studied. Interestingly, DNA-porphyrin nanonetwork afforded highly efficient and coherent photoinduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to display antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus . The escalated and coherent ROS generation from the nanonetworks was attributed to the ordered placement of the porphyrins that inhibits self-quenching. Our work points out to a good alternative for antibiotic free strategies for preservation of biological materials and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packet routing in nanonetworks requires novel approaches, which can cope with the extreme limitations posed by the nano-scale. Highly lossy wireless channels, extremely limited hardware capabilities and non-unique node identifiers are among the restrictions. The present work offers an addressing and routing solution for static 3D nanonetworks that find applications in material monitoring and programmatic property tuning. The addressing process relies on virtual coordinates from multiple, alternative anchor point sets that act as viewports . Each viewport offers different address granularity within the network space, and its selection is optimized by a packet sending node using a novel heuristic. Regarding routing, each node can deduce whether it is located on the linear segment connecting the sender to the recipient node. This deduction is made using integer calculations, node-local information and in a stateless manner, minimizing the computational and storage overhead of the proposed scheme. Most importantly, the nodes can regulate the width of the linear path, thus trading energy efficiency (redundant transmissions) for increased path diversity. This trait can enable future adaptive routing schemes. Extensive evaluation via simulations highlights the advantages of the novel scheme over related approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present nanoNS3 , a network simulator for modeling Bacterial Molecular Communication (BMC) networks. nanoNS3 is built atop the Network Simulator 3 (ns-3). nanoNS3 is designed to achieve the following goals: 1) accurately and realistically model the real world BMC, 2) maintain high computational efficiency, 3) allow newly designed protocols to be implemented easily. nanoNS3 incorporates the channel, physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers of the network stack. The simulator has models that accurately represent receiver response, microfluidic channel loss, transfer rate and error analysis, modulation, and amplitude addressing designed specifically for BMC networks. We outline the design and architecture of nanoNS3 , and then validate the aforementioned features through simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of estimating the node density in ad hoc networks is a significant one for protocol design. In molecular nanonetworks, the node density estimation problem poses additional challenges due to the limited processing and communication capabilities of the network nodes which necessitate the design of simple to implement distributed solutions, and the diffusion based communication channel which is different from traditional electromagnetic networks. In this work, inspired by the quorum sensing process, we propose and analyze a new node density estimation scheme based on synchronous transmission of all network nodes and measurement of the received molecular concentration. We show that when the synchronous transmission is performed in infinite space, a linear parametric model of the node density can be derived which can be used for estimation purposes. When, however, the transmission is performed over a finite space the model becomes time varying. To overcome the difficulties associated with the time varying nature we propose the use of periodic transmission which for large enough values of the period transforms the linear model into a static one. An online parameter identification technique is then introduced to estimate the node density using the derived linear static parametric models. The utilization of the node density estimates to adaptively regulate probabilistic flooding in network structures relevant to nanonetworks is then considered. The random geometric graph model and uniform grid structures are used to demonstrate how the node estimates can be used to dictate the desired rebroadcast probabilities, through analysis and simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-surface synthesis is the bottom-up construction of covalent bonds between molecular building blocks, which has been greatly developed during the past decade. Dozens of reactions have been successfully realized and scrutinized on various surfaces with the help of surface science techniques combined with theoretical calculations. Functional nanoarchitectures such as one-dimensional nanowires, nanoribbons and two-dimensional nanonetworks have been constructed on surfaces and explored in several potential applications. In fact, the generation of multilevel nanostructures will play a key role in future soft nanoscience and technologies due to their emergent properties ranging far beyond those of the individual molecules building them up. In this review, we discuss selected examples of important processes in on-surface synthesis developed in recent years and summarize them under the following aspects: (1) on-surface reactions in a category of different carbon types; (2) techniques applied in on-surface synthesis; (3) on-surface synthesized functional nanostructures; and (4) potential applications of on-surface synthesized nano-materials. The review concludes with a perspective of the future development of on-surface synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a novel synthesis route to prepare an integrated gas diffusion electrode (I-GDE) consisting of self-supported N-doped nanonet by pyrolyzing polyaniline on carbon paper via the electrodeposition of aniline. Electrochemical experiments suggest that the integrated structure apparently improves the mass transport, electrical conductivity in the oxygen reduction reaction performance. The peak current density of the I-GDE achieves 0.71 mA cm −2 , which is almost two times to the conventional ink-based electrode fabricated with the same material under the same conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoSe 2 represents an important layered transition metal dichalcogenides (LTMDs) that have high electrocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A key issue to achieve excellent electrochemical properties of MoSe 2 is to synthesize nanostructures that are composed of few-layer MoSe 2 with maximized exposure of active edge sites. In this study, we report the synthesis of MoSe 2 nanostructures with network-like and flower-like morphologies via an organic solution approach that utilizes molybdenum hexacarbonyl as Mo precursor and Se powders as Se source. The prepared MoSe 2 nanostructures consist of few-layer ultrathin nanosheets which can have different orientations. Depending on the volume ratio of oleylamine to oleic acid, the arrangement of ultrathin MoSe 2 nanosheets is adjustable and can form porous network-like or discrete flower-like nanostructure which has large specific surface area and a wealth of exposed edge sites. Excellent HER activities with low overpotentials, small Tafel slopes and long-term durability are observed on the as-synthesized MoSe 2 nanostructures. The acetic acid-washing step that may effectively remove the organic molecules capped on MoSe 2 surfaces is also found to be efficient in improving the HER activity of the synthesized MoSe 2 nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomedicine is revolutionizing current methods for diagnosing, treatment and prevention of diseases with the integration of molecular biology, biotechnology as well as nanotechnology for sensing and actuation capabilities at the molecular scale using nanoscale devices, namely nanomachines. While numerous examples of these applications have been tested in vivo , the real deployments are far from reality. Limitations in controlling, monitoring, miniaturization, and computing inhibit access and manipulation of information at the nano-scale. Integrating communication and networking functionalities provide new opportunities for such challenges with the newly introduced Molecular Communications. These natural communication systems are found with plurality inside the human body. The current challenge is to utilize these natural systems to create artificial biocompatible communication networks that can interconnect multiple nanomachines in multiple parts of the body and connected to the cloud, is defined as the Internet of Bio-Nano Things ( IoBNT ). Nanonetworks inside cellular tissues perform communication using a signaling process such as Ca 2+ . This specifically signaling process is very important for many regulatory functions in tissues and its control and communication is crucial to allow nanomedicine capabilities towards diagnosis and treatments of diseases at the nano-scale. This paper presents a review of techniques that enable the design of the Ca 2+ -signaling-based molecular communication system for cellular tissues, essential tools for its deployment, application and, lastly, the research future direction in this field. In the end, one must acquire the sufficient knowledge to understand both biological and telecommunication concepts that encompass this technology to bring it further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are engineered methods to enable the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents at the right rate and location while minimizing the undesired side effects. The recent advances in bioengineering and nanotechnology make it possible to design molecular compounds with specific sizes, shapes, structures and chemical properties to improve the drug uptake and minimize its side effects. Despite all of this progress, overcoming the biological barriers to drug delivery remains challenging. Observing the parallels between the delivery of drugs and the delivery of data, a new paradigm in communication systems research, called molecular communication (MC), has been devised to approach this problem. This paper presents the state-of-the-art, challenges and research opportunities in studying DDS through the MC paradigm. First, the constituting elements of a DDS are presented, highlighting the contributions from MC research. Second, an overview is given of the novel modeling approaches based on communication theory and several simulation platforms applicable to the study of drug delivery systems are presented. Finally, lessons are drawn from the efforts of the MC community on this research topic and future research opportunities and challenges are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience has become a key aspect in the design of contemporary infrastructure networks. This comes as a result of ever-increasing loads, limited physical capacity, and fast-growing levels of interconnectedness and complexity due to the recent technological advancements. The problem has motivated a considerable amount of research within the last few years, particularly focused on the dynamical aspects of network flows, complementing more classical static network flow optimization approaches. In this tutorial paper, a class of single-commodity first-order models of dynamical flow networks is considered. A few results recently appeared in the literature and dealing with stability and robustness of dynamical flow networks are gathered and originally presented in a unified framework. In particular, (differential) stability properties of monotone dynamical flow networks are treated in some detail, and the notion of margin of resilience is introduced as a quantitative measure of their robustness. While emphasizing methodological aspects —including structural properties, such as monotonicity, that enable tractability and scalability— over the specific applications, connections to well-established road traffic flow models are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incurable bacterial infection and intractable multidrug resistance remain critical challenges in public health. A prevalent approach against bacterial infection is phototherapy including photothermal and photodynamic therapy, which is unfortunately limited by low penetration depth of light accompanied with inevitable hyperthermia and phototoxicity damaging healthy tissues. Thus, eco-friendly strategy with biocompatibility and high antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria is urgently desired. Herein, we propose and develop an oxygen-vacancy-rich MoO x in situ on fluorine-free Mo 2 C MXene with unique neural-network-like structure, namely MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks, in which their desirable antibacterial effectiveness originates from bacteria-capturing ability and robust reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under precise ultrasound (US) irradiation. The high-performance, broad-spectrum microbicidal activity of MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks without damaging normal tissues is validated based on systematic in vitro and in vivo assessments. Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis illuminates that the underlying bactericidal mechanism is attributed to the chaotic homeostasis and disruptive peptide metabolisms on bacteria instigated by MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks under US stimulation. Considering antibacterial efficiency and a high degree of biosafety, we envision that the MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks can serve as a distinct antimicrobial nanosystem to fight against diverse pathogenic bacteria, especially eradicating multidrug-resistant bacteria-induced deep tissue infection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present investigation focused on the fundamental understanding regarding the tailoring of photovoltaic (PV) device efficiency of 3D-CdS nanonetwork through annealing with the aid of electrochemical studies. The synthesis of CdS nanowires (NWs) have been performed using Cd(OH) 2 NWs as intermediate sacrificial templates based on negative free energy of formation. The changes in structure, morphology and optical properties of CdS by annealing have been studied. The enhancement in crystallite size by annealing was correlated to the negative shift of the conduction band position, charge transport and electron life time towards PV performance. These have been performed by studying lattice parameters which in turn correlated to the capacitance, external quantum efficiency and impedance analysis through light-induced electrochemical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the investigation of the electromagnetic properties of human skin tissues using Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The material parameters i.e., refractive index and absorption coefficient are extracted for artificially synthesized skin cultured using fibroblast cells and collagen type I reagent. The increase in cell count number by 200% causes a distinctive decrease in refractive index and absorption coefficient values. In addition to material parameters, in-body channel parameters i.e., total pathloss and molecular noise temperature of the skin are also calculated. The results show the dependency of channel parameters on molecular features and hydration level of the skin. Such findings will pave the way for more rigorous THz channel analysis and network modeling to be applied for body-centric nano-communication specifically in the bioengineering domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel SERS-active substrate covering a three-dimensional silver nano network was fabricated. • SERS-active 3D silver nanonetwork can be used to detect thiram rapidly and sensitively. The detection limit for thiram in water was 0.01 ppb. • The 3D silver nanonetwork-based TFME-SERS method has great potential in the analysis of trace pesticide residues in food or environment, owing to its simple, rapid, sensitive and cost-effective characteristics. By coupling thin-film microextraction (TFME) with surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), a facile method was developed for the determination of thiram in the complex matrix (orange juice or grape peel). The substrate of TFME was made by self-assembling silver sol on the silicon wafer to form a three-dimensional (3D) silver nanonetwork structure, without adding any template, which was used for TFME and SERS detection, respectively. The substrate exhibits high reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of about 7.32 % in spot and spot SERS intensity. The SERS signal intensity at a shift of 1384 cm−1 and the thiram concentration showed good linearity in the range of 0.01–5 µg/L and the linear correlation coefficient was 0.9912. The detection limit for thiram was found to be 0.01 µg/L. The TFME-SERS method was applied for the determination of thiram in fruit juice and the results were obtained very well. Therefore, this method is expected to play a role in the detection of trace pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The modeling of stress distribution of Si aggregations were studied. • The macropores structure can offer an buffer space for its freely expanding. • The conversion reaction mechanisms and structural evolution were investigated. Si has been considered as one of the most promising anode candidates for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Nonetheless, the intrinsic defects of low conductivity and tremendous volume change greatly restrict its practical use in energy-storage applications. The design of aggregations from Si building blocks open an efficient means to further improve its electrical properties. Herein, zero-dimensional (0D) Si nanosphere, 2D macroporous nanonetworks of Si-Graphene (SGR) consisting of tiny silicon nanodots, and 3D nanocages-liked SGR have been designed and synthesized. For the first time, chemomechanical modeling of stress distribution of diverse aggregations and the aggregation effect on the lithium storage property have been systematically studied. For 2D SGR, the macropores structure between the GR and Si can stabilize solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer and offer an appropriate buffer space for its freely expanding. As a result, electrochemical performance of the 2D SGR was superior to the 0D and 3D. Besides, the conversion reaction mechanisms and structural evolution of the as prepared Si anodes were investigated via the ex-situ XPS, EIS, SEM, and TEM. This work provides a valuable guidance to develop high-performance LIBs for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]