Defects and defect-mediated engineering of two-dimensional materials: challenges and open questions

• Arkady V. Krasheninnikov,
• Matthias Batzill,
• Anouar-Akacha Delenda,
• Marija Drndić,
• Chris Ewels,
• Katharina J. Franke,
• Mahdi Ghorbani-Asl,
• Alexander Holleitner,
• Ado Jorio,
• Ute Kaiser,
• Daria Kieczka,
• Hannu-Pekka Komsa,
• Jani Kotakoski,
• Manuel Längle,
• David Lamprecht,
• Yun Liu,
• Steven G. Louie,
• Janina Maultzsch,
• Thomas Michely,
• Katherine Milton,
• Anna Niggas,
• Hanako Okuno,
• Joshua A. Robinson,
• Marika Schleberger,
• Bruno Schuler,
• Alexander Shluger,
• Kazu Suenaga,
• Kristian S. Thygesen,
• Richard A. Wilhelm,
• E. Harriet Åhlgren and
• Carla Bittencourt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 454–488, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.31

• to the interaction with the environment, for example, because of oxidation. The imperfections have a strong influence on the electronic, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of 2D materials [2][3]. They normally deteriorate the characteristics; but they can also be beneficial, for example, in

Nanocarrier-integrated multilayer films produced by 3D printing for improved skin adhesion and curcumin photostability

• Thayse Viana de Oliveira,
• Ana Paula Farias Leão,
• Júlia Leão,
• Cesar Liberato Petzhold and
• Ruy Carlos Ruver Beck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 440–453, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.30

• . The three-layer 3D-printed films were rationally designed by combining hydrogels with complementary mechanical and biological functions to optimise skin adhesion, printability, and curcumin stability. The bottom layer, composed of chitosan, was selected to ensure direct contact with the skin

• stress and rapidly recover its rheological properties once the stress is removed. A recovery value of at least 80% is generally considered acceptable, indicating that the layer-stacking capability remains sufficiently dependent on the material’s original mechanical properties [40]. Initially, a shear

• curcumin-loaded nanocapsules. This proof-of-concept study focused on demonstrating the feasibility of integrating nanocarriers with SSE 3D printing to produce multilayer topical films with improved bioadhesion and photoprotection. A comprehensive evaluation of mechanical properties, long-term stability

First-principles study on elastic properties of Cu, (Cu_1−x,Ni_x)₃Sn and interfacial mechanical properties of (Cu_1−x,Ni_x)₃Sn/Cu in the lead-free solder joint

• Guomin Hua

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 428–439, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.29

• Guomin Hua School of Material Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China 10.3762/bjnano.17.29 Abstract In this study, the elastic properties of Cu and (CuxNi1−x)3Sn were calculated to reveal the effects of Ni alloying on the interfacial mechanical properties of

• (CuxNi1−x)3Sn/Cu in lead-free solder joints. The results reveal that, within the thermodynamically stable domain of (CuxNi1−x)3Sn, the increase of Ni content can enhance the interfacial mechanical properties of (CuxNi1−x)3Sn/Cu, and increase the reliability of the lead-free solder joints. The enhancement

• mechanism can be attributed to the simultaneous improvements of oriented Young’s modulus and ductility of (CuxNi1−x)3Sn, achieved by Ni alloying. But higher Ni content beyond the thermodynamically stable domain of (CuxNi1−x)3Sn will deteriorate the interfacial mechanical properties by mechanical or

Biomimetic nanoparticles in cancer photodynamic therapy: a review of targeted delivery systems and therapeutic outcomes

• Valentina I. Gorbacheva,
• Alexey S. Grabovoy,
• Polina S. Marukhina,
• Anastasiia O. Syrocheva and
• Ekaterina P. Kolesova

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 396–422, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.27

• ]; (ii) freeze–thaw cycles, that is, cell disruption via narrow pores (enhanced at low temperatures) [55]; (iii) mechanical shearing, that is, cell disruption via narrow pores (enhanced at low temperatures) [56]; and (iv) osmotic pressure, that is, hypotonic solutions are used to induce swelling and

Eco-efficient materials for agricultural crops based on a mineral rich in MOR- and HEU-type zeolites

• Esperanza Yamile de la Nuez-Pantoja,
• Inocente Rodríguez-Iznaga,
• Gerardo Rodríguez-Fuentes,
• Vitalii Petranovskii,
• Ariel Martínez García,
• José Juan Calvino Gámez and
• Daniel Goma Jiménez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 381–395, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.26

• zeolites, unlike synthetic analogues, do not require expensive chemical raw materials and energy-intensive stages of hydrothermal synthesis. The main costs of their exploitation are associated with extraction and mechanical processing, which significantly reduces the cost of the final product. At the same

Polycatecholamine nanocoatings on stainless steel: the effect on attachment of human fibroblasts and platelets

• Paulina Trzaskowska,
• Ewa Rybak,
• Maciej Trzaskowski,
• Kamil Kopeć,
• Jakub Krzemiński,
• Rafał Podgórski,
• Hatice Genc,
• Mehtap Civelek and
• Iwona Cicha

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 365–380, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.25

• : cell–material interactions; Fenton oxidation; hemocompatibility; nanocoatings; polycatechols; Introduction Stainless steel 316L (SS 316L) is an iron-based alloy containing chromium and molybdenum, which promote passivation and corrosion resistance [1]. Owing to its mechanical robustness

• with native cells promotes their integration and mitigates inflammatory processes, the coatings on long-term metallic implants must fulfil some essential requirements. Such coatings must (i) provide corrosion protection, (ii) maintain mechanical integrity, (iii) support cell–material interactions, and

Interconnection morphology effects on the radio frequency response of carbon nanotube sponges

• Manuela Scarselli,
• Javad Rezvani,
• Zeno Zuccari,
• Mattia Scagliotti and
• Simone Tocci

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 343–351, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.23

• supporting substrate, showing high flexibility, light weight, and mechanical robustness. We tested our synthesized CNSs as active material for the production of antennas working in the radio frequency (RF) range to determine whether CNT sponges present, in addition to practical advantages over CNT films

• cellular networks (4G/5G) for mobile and satellite communication. This vast number of applications often requires that the active materials possess additional properties beyond good electrical conductivity, such as flexibility, lightness, and resistance to thermal and mechanical stress or chemically harsh

• porosity, low weight, good mechanical response, and good conductivity [25]. The properties of CNSs have been exploited in many different applications that include mechanical transducers [26], water filtration [27], and others [28]. In this paper, we tested our synthesized CNSs as active material for the

Beam shaping techniques for pulsed laser ablation in liquids: Unlocking tunable control of nanoparticle synthesis in liquids

• Sergio Molina-Prados,
• Nadezhda M. Bulgakova,
• Alexander V. Bulgakov,
• Jesus Lancis,
• Gladys Mínguez Vega and
• Carlos Doñate-Buendia

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 309–342, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.22

• of the target material components, which remains active for 20 to 200 ps [19][20]. The plasma expands rapidly, generating a mechanical shockwave in both the target and the liquid, with pressures at the laser’s focal spot reaching tens of gigapascals, but strongly depending on the specific laser

• liquid due to multiphoton ionisation leads to the formation of a hot plasma with temperatures reaching 104 K. Subsequently, plasma recombination begins, and the high-temperature plasma is replaced by vaporised fluid, leading to the creation of microbubbles and mechanical effects such as shock wave

Calculation of the dynamic stiffness of a cantilever under torsional oscillation

• Keita Nishida,
• Yuuki Yasui and
• Yoshiaki Sugimoto

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 303–308, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.21

• : atomic force microscopy; dynamic stiffness; energy dissipation; friction; torsional oscillation mode; Introduction Friction serves as a fundamental mechanism of energy dissipation [1]. While friction typically arises from direct mechanical contact between surfaces, energy dissipation can also occur even

Advancing nanolithography: a comprehensive review of materials for local anodic oxidation with AFM

• Matteo Lorenzoni

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 275–291, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.19

• minimum feature size. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-functionalized AFM tips have been explored for LAO [49][60][61] because their high aspect ratio and good conductivity can, in principle, enable sharper and more controlled oxidation. However, their practical performance is limited by mechanical fragility and

• surfaces), and environmental factors, such as humidity, which can impact reproducibility. LAO-grown oxide is less dense than thermally grown oxide, and mechanical stress between the substrate and oxide layer may lead to defects. In addition, the insulating nature of SiO2 limits its versatility compared to

• material is crucial for achieving high image and pattern resolution during LAO. A suitable tip must meet three key criteria: (i) high electrical conductivity, (ii) strong mechanical stability (durability), and (iii) an optimal geometry characterized by a sharp apex and appropriate cone angle. Traditional

Durable antimicrobial activity of fabrics functionalized with zeolite ion-exchanged nanomaterials against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

• Perla Sánchez-López,
• Kendra Ramirez Acosta,
• Sergio Fuentes Moyado,
• Ruben Dario Cadena-Nava and
• Elena Smolentseva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 262–274, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.18

• atom % are evaluated regarding their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), as well as regarding their physicochemical and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy confirms the uniform distribution and successful

• impregnated textile samples were studied against S. aureus and E. coli, and their physicochemical and mechanical properties are discussed. The obtained results suggest that the synthesized materials can be applied as an effective alternative to inhibit and reduce the spread of different types of viruses and

• between two rolling pins using a rolling machine (Marcato, Padova, Italy). Afterwards, the functionalized fabrics underwent a drying process at 90 °C for 10 min; finally, the samples were cured at 120 °C for 3 min. Both stages were carried out in a mechanical convection oven (no. MMTUF110X2, Memmert GmbH

Comparative study on 3D morphologies of delignified, single tracheids and fibers of five wood species

• Helen Gorges,
• Felicitas von Usslar,
• Cordt Zollfrank,
• Silja Flenner,
• Imke Greving,
• Martin Müller,
• Clemens F. Schaber,
• Chuchu Li and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 239–250, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.16

• biomechanics and water management. Keywords: 3D models; delignification; tracheid; wood; X-ray nanotomography; Introduction Wood fibers in hardwood and tracheids in softwood play a crucial role in the structure and function of vascular plants, particularly in water conduction and mechanical support [1][2

• (S1 and S2) and a tertiary wall (T) strongly supplemented by lignin. Apart from the middle lamella (ML) and the primary wall (P), the S2 layer being the thickest of the three main layers (S1, S2, and T), is the most important for mechanical support [1][10][11]. Lignin is present in all layers of the

• insights for applications in computer modelling of mechanical properties of fibers and tracheids and for development of novel bio-inspired materials for the industry. Material and Methods Wood samples Wood samples of five different species were used in this study, namely, spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst

Micro- and nanoscale effects in biological and bioinspired materials and surfaces

• Thies H. Büscher,
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Manuela Rebora and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 214–217, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.14

• nanostructures play a crucial role in shaping the physical and functional properties of living organisms. They are the basis of key biological phenomena, such as coloration, adhesion, and mechanical stability, and influence the way how organisms interact with light, fluids, and forces at different scales. The

• hierarchical structures aids in understanding the principles of biological design and inspires advances in biomimetics, mechanical engineering, and materials science. Biomimetics seeks to obtain knowledge on how these structural and material property adaptations affect surface performance and to draw

• ] provided insights into biological plant materials combining experiments with simulations that provide inspiration for biomimetic actuators. For animals, Jain et al. [20] applied a multiscale computational model to gain detailed insights into the molecular and mechanical behavior of gecko setae during

Structure-dependent thermochromism of PAZO thin films: theory and experiment

• Georgi Mateev,
• Dean Dimov,
• Nataliya Berberova-Buhova,
• Nikoleta Kircheva,
• Todor Dudev,
• Ludmila Nikolova,
• Elena Stoykova,
• Keehoon Hong,
• Dimana Nazarova,
• Silvia Angelova and
• Lian Nedelchev

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 186–199, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.12

• improved mechanical properties. Figure 3B shows the IR spectra of PAZO samples before and after thermal treatment. There are no drastic changes in the band positions, but some changes in the band intensities are observed. Variation of the band intensities with temperature increase for absorption bands

• undergo reversible E–Z isomerization upon exposure to light with different wavelengths. This E–Z isomerization of the azobenzene units leads to significant changes in the conformation, supramolecular structure, and bulk properties of the polymer such as optical anisotropy, solubility, and mechanical

Safe and sustainable by design with ML/AI: A transformative approach to advancing nanotechnology

• Georgia Melagraki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 176–185, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.11

• for rapid adjustments to nanomaterial formulations or processing parameters in response to emerging safety or efficacy concerns. By simulating how nanomaterials behave across varying operational scenarios – incorporating factors like temperature, pH, or mechanical stress – digital twins will

Functional surface engineering for cultural heritage protection: the role of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic coatings – a comprehensive review

• Giuseppe Cesare Lama,
• Marino Lavorgna,
• Letizia Verdolotti,
• Federica Recupido,
• Giovanna Giuliana Buonocore and
• Bharat Bhushan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 63–96, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.6

• Giuseppe Cesare Lama Marino Lavorgna Letizia Verdolotti Federica Recupido Giovanna Giuliana Buonocore Bharat Bhushan Institute for Polymers, Composite and Biomaterials, National Council of Research (IPCB-CNR), P.le E. Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Italy Dept of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The

• , such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or mechanical abrasion, offering a promising, green innovation for conserving indoor historical iron objects by a targeted removal of both corrosion and old coatings [16]. Although the identification of the impairment and its restoration play crucial roles

• , acknowledging the conservative merits of amurca, obtained from wastes of olive oil production, that keeps bronze surfaces shinier and free from rust. Moreover, Pliny himself endorsed bitumen for being highly useful for bronze protection against fire, and mechanical and corrosion threats. Other examples of the

Quantitative estimation of nanoparticle/substrate adhesion by atomic force microscopy

• Aydan Çiçek,
• Markus Kratzer,
• Christian Teichert and
• Christian Mitterer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 1–14, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.1

• NPs and significantly enhancing their interfacial adhesion. Their mechanical stability was tested utilizing scanning probe microscopy nanomanipulation [12]. Another approach tested for SiO2 NPs was functionalizing their surfaces for improved adhesion on epoxy film-covered substrate surfaces [13]. In

• reliable measure for adhesion forces, the mechanical work required to manipulate NPs was calculated by determining the area covered by the measured lateral force versus distance curves. The suggested approach provides insight into the complex interplay between the NP landing conditions and resulting

• energy, NP surface termination, relative orientation of the NP upon landing, and mechanical properties of NP and substrate [46][47]. However, a very decisive parameter is the impact velocity, which can be controlled by the substrate bias voltage applied during deposition. A higher bias voltage results in

Internal 3D temperature mapping in biological systems using ratiometric light-sheet imaging and lipid-coated upconversion nanothermometers

• Dannareli Barron-Ortiz,
• Enric Pérez-Parets,
• Rubén D. Cadena-Nava,
• Emilio J. Gualda,
• Jacob Licea-Rodríguez,
• Juan Hernández-Cordero,
• Pablo Loza-Álvarez and
• Israel Rocha-Mendoza

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2306–2316, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.159

• currently developing an alternative approach based on color CMOS detection, which retrieves the spectral intensity from a single RGB image and eliminates the need for mechanical filter switching. This strategy, though beyond the scope of the present work, is expected to enable true real-time 3D

Visualizing nanostructures in supramolecular hydrogels: a correlative study using confocal and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy

• Shaun M. Smith,
• Ferdinando Malagreca,
• Jacqueline Hicks,
• Giuseppe Mantovani,
• David B. Amabilino,
• Christopher Parmenter and
• Lluïsa Pérez-García

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2274–2284, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.156

• manufacturing [27], and mechanical photoresponsiveness [21] on the morphology, and the potential to correlate with confidence between morphology and these and other properties. Results and Discussion Confocal imaging ZnPc@Gel The attempts at using CLSM to image the hydrogels containing ZnPc met with significant

• , the resulting micrographs largely depicted aggregated domains or regions of mechanical disruption (Figure 2A–D), where the gel network had broken during sample compression between glass slides or where air bubbles were trapped (Figure 2A). In comparatively intact regions of the gels, fibrillar

• only necessitated the application of high excitation powers but also required physical compression of the gel sample to reduce path length and thus improve the signal-to-noise ratio. However, this approach introduced the evident result of mechanical artefacts, such as gel network disruption or the

Geometry-controlled engineering of the low-temperature proximity effect in normal metal–superconductor junctions

• Munisa A. Tomayeva,
• Vyacheslav D. Neverov,
• Andrey V. Krasavin,
• Alexei Vagov and
• Mihail D. Croitoru

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2265–2273, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.155

• ⟨…⟩ denoting the quantum mechanical averaging. The Equations Equation 6 are solved numerically through a self-consistent iteration process that produces the eigenvectors u and v. These eigenvectors are then used to calculate updated values of the order parameter and Hartree potential, and the process is

Chiral plasmonic nanostructures fabricated with circularly polarized light

• Tian Qiao and
• Ming Lee Tang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2245–2264, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.154

• the fabrication details and morphology of the CPL-enabled cPNSs in Section 2. In recent years, chiral assemblies of PNSs from mechanical forces via magnetic fields [60][61] or strain [62][63] have also been demonstrated. Although the cPNSs prepared via mechanical forces are relatively scarce, they

• ”. In the same paper, the authors attributed the formation of chiral AuNPs to the assembly of small NPs under the mechanical force of CPL. The spatial dissymmetry of hot carrier-induced chemical reactions was not discussed. While Figure 4a represents chiral metallic cPNSs synthesized in solution, Figure

Optical bio/chemical sensors for vitamin B₁₂ analysis in food and pharmaceuticals: state of the art, challenges, and future outlooks

• Seyed Mohammad Taghi Gharibzahedi and
• Zeynep Altintas

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2207–2244, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.153

Ultrathin water layers on mannosylated gold nanoparticles

• Maiara A. Iriarte Alonso,
• Jorge H. Melillo,
• Silvina Cerveny,
• Yujin Tong and
• Alexander M. Bittner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2183–2198, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.151

• repeated the experiments under hydrophobic conditions: We employed OTS silicon surfaces and hydrophobic carbon AFM tips. From this, we exclude that the observed phenomena is specific for the type of surface [36] or based on mechanical contact between tip and surface [22][23][37]. The ∆z value under ambient

Missing links in nanomaterials research impacting productivity and perceptions

• Santosh K. Tiwari and
• Nannan Wang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2168–2176, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.149

• almost every domain of science and technology [8]. Its exceptional thermo-mechanical properties are ideal for critical sectors such as aerospace, medicine, space exploration, textiles, construction, and materials capable of operating from cryogenic temperatures up to beyond 2000 °C [8][9]. Similarly

• properties, with electronic and quantum mechanical behaviors that continue to surprise the scientific community [11]. Researchers are continuously developing and reporting new nanomaterials with unique properties tailored for diverse applications. Thus, the properties of materials once considered impossible

• working extensively in various aspects of nanotechnology, we find that the majority come from chemistry, physics, materials science, and metallurgy. Very few come from other fields such as mechanical, energy, electronics, biomedical engineering, and mathematics. The experts belonging to chemistry, physics

Electron transport through nanoscale multilayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride junctions

• Aleksandar Staykov and
• Takaya Fujisaki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2132–2143, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.147

• sandwiched between conductive materials such as graphene, graphite, and gold. The authors fabricated vertical tunnel junctions with h-BN barriers ranging from one to four atomic layers and demonstrated that the tunneling current decreases exponentially with barrier thickness, confirming quantum mechanical

• with voltage. NDR occurs in various electronic systems, such as tunnel diodes, resonant tunneling diodes, and molecular junctions, and arises from quantum mechanical effects like tunneling or charge carrier trapping. In short molecular and nanoscale junctions, NDR is assigned to localization of a