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

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

• microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), N2 physisorption, and other research methods. Results and Discussion Characterization of DAP-modified zeolite CLIM The chemical compositions of natural zeolite (CLIM) from the San Andrés deposit and its modified forms (CLIMf) with ammonium

• these experimental materials, studies were conducted using XRD, N2 adsorption isotherms, SEM, TEM, and STEM. However, they will only be presented for the most interesting materials, namely those that were modified with 2.0% and 3.5% DAP and then with a 5 M urea solution, that is, the materials CLIMf2

• , some with a fibrous shape (as shown in Figure 5) and others acicular (as observed more clearly in Figure 6b) [45][46]. HEU crystals with laminar habit can also be distinguished, the morphology of which is associated with the presence of potassium [43][44]. The SEM images (Figure 6) of the modified

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

• times were subjected for further tests, that is, PDA 10 min, PDA 4 h, PTYR 30 min, and PTYR 24 h. Thickness of the coatings Thickness of the coatings was measured with SEM thanks to the tilt of the samples in the scratch location (Figure 3). The average thicknesses of PDA 10 min and 4 h coatings were

• longest time of coating. Images taken directly after coating (Figure 5a,b,e,f) show the initial coating morphology. The surface of SS-PDA 10 min could not be clearly distinguished with SEM; however, the surface of SS-PDA 4 h presented a full coverage with a polymer film. After 28 d of constant washing

• with PBS, the coating is still present on the SS-PDA 4 h variant, although it seems to be cracked. The coating presence on the SS-PDA 10 min variant could not be confirmed with SEM after 28 d of washing. The morphology of PTYR nanocoatings was significantly different. In Figure 5e,f, bright micro

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

• findings point to a different interpretation related to the morphological effect of ethanol on the CNT mesh [27][29]. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study provided insights into the microstructure of the CNT film (Supporting Information File 1, Figure S1) and the sponges (Figure 3). The study

• interconnected structure of the samples. The Raman analysis results are in line with the morphological information obtained from the SEM data. The SEM and Raman experiments confirm the effect of ethanol on the CNS, which improves the presence of grooves and pores as available adsorption sites after ethanol

• fits in Figure 5. From the Raman and XPS studies, as well as the SEM micrographs, we conclude that the ethanol treatment induced a change in the structure of the CNS sample, unravelling many of the aggregated tubes, resulting in an increase in pore size and overall available surface area. Without

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

• rates, thereby limiting coalescence and favouring the formation of smaller NPs. Figure 13 compares SEM images and size distributions of Au NPs produced by PLAL in water with both laser beams. SEM analysis of Au NPs revealed that DS pulses suppressed aggregation, eliminating large particles, unlike

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

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

• of copper and zinc in the functionalized textiles analyzed by EDS was nearly four times lower in comparison with Ag/CBV-600-bramante. This may be explained by non-homogeneous loading of nanomaterials on the textile, as also evidenced by SEM images. The Si/Al molar ratio for Y zeolite was 2.7, which

• impurities in the samples were found. SEM analysis Figure 2 shows the micrographs of bramante fabric before and after its functionalization with 0.5 g of Ag/CBV-600, Cu/CBV-600, and Zn/CBV-600 nanomaterials using the pad–dry–cure method. As seen in Figure 2a, the original fabric did not show fiber

• after four wash cycles. Such findings are significant for the potential applications of these fabrics in the manufacture of personal protective equipment. SEM-EDS analysis of washed fabrics To further evaluate the durability of the functionalized fabrics under practical conditions, the samples underwent

Multilayered hyperbolic Au/TiO₂ nanostructures for enhancing the nonlinear response around the epsilon-near-zero point

• Fernando Arturo Araiza-Sixtos,
• Mauricio Gomez-Robles,
• Rafael Salas-Montiel and
• Raúl Rangel-Rojo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 251–261, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.17

• the deposited layers. In Table 1, we can see that we have widths for every stack that are different from the ones proposed for the simulated ENZ points. This change in thickness was also seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In Figure 4a we present a SEM image of the ML800 structure; we see that

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

• nitrogen and subsequent lyophilization overnight (−45 °C, 0.080 mbar, Christ Alpha 2–4 LDplus, Christ, Osterode, Germany). Scanning electron microscopy Air-dried wood samples of each of the five species (untreated and delignified) were glued onto metal (SEM) stubs and sputter-coated with a 10 nm layer of

• gold–palladium (Leica Bal-TEC SCD500, Leica, Wetzlar, Germany). The samples were then visualized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) Hitachi S-4800 (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) at an accelerating voltage of 1.5 kV. Nanotomography and 3D reconstruction Single fibers and tracheids were easily

• size resulted from the quality of the scans, as some scans were not of sufficient quality for the purpose of this study. We therefore only worked with the scans with sufficient quality (16 in total). Moreover, the diameter and wall thickness were additionally measured from SEM images of the untreated

Gold nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide as a highly effective catalyst for the selective α,β-dehydrogenation of N-alkyl-4-piperidones

• Brenda Flore Kenyim,
• Mihir Tzalis,
• Marilyn Kaul,
• Robert Oestreich,
• Aysenur Limon,
• Chancellin Pecheu Nkepdep and
• Christoph Janiak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 218–238, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.15

• , scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen gas sorption surface area analysis using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory were employed to evaluate the surface structure, porosity, and overall texture of the materials. The SEM image in Figure 2a reveals the typical structure of AC, characterized by

• small particles. The nitrogen sorption isotherms and their hysteresis loops in Figure 3 supplement the SEM analysis of the three carbon materials in terms of specific BET surface area, and pore volume and size. AC features a reversible almost type-I isotherm, given by microporous materials with narrow

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging of contaminant species in chemical vapour deposited graphene on copper

• Barry Brennan,
• Vlad-Petru Veigang-Radulescu,
• Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer,
• Stephan Hofmann and
• Andrew J. Pollard

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 200–213, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.13

• a Wyko NT1100 White Light Optical Profiling System using a 20× magnification in vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) mode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out with a Carl Zeiss SIGMA VP at an acceleration voltage of 2 kV to ensure sample consistency. Four separate Cu foil samples

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

Subdigital integumentary microstructure in Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkota): do those lineages with incipiently expressed toepads exclusively exhibit adhesive setae?

• Philipp Ginal,
• Yannick Ecker,
• Timothy Higham,
• L. Lee Grismer,
• Benjamin Wipfler,
• Dennis Rödder,
• Anthony Russell and
• Jendrian Riedel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 38–56, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.4

• early-stage development of macroscopically visible incipient toepads. Using SEM and phylogenetic comparative analyses, our objectives were to (a) clarify how integumentary microstructural traits relate to the presence of incipient toepads and (b) identify potential adaptations linked to specific habitat

• variation of digital form within this genus, from species with ancestrally small, round subdigital scales to macroscopically defined incipient toepads (broadened lamella-like subdigital scales). We employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and phylogenetic comparative methods to (a) explore the

• for SEM to characterize and measure the microstructures of the ventral scale surface. Six morphometric traits of the epidermal microstructures were quantified using ImageJ, and effective bending stiffness was estimated. To explore evolutionary and ecological patterns, phylogenetic comparative analyses

Reduced graphene oxide paper electrode for lithium-ion cells – towards optimized thermal reduction

• Agata Pawłowska,
• Magdalena Baran,
• Stefan Marynowicz,
• Aleksandra Izabela Banasiak,
• Adrian Racki,
• Adrian Chlanda,
• Tymoteusz Ciuk,
• Marta Wolczko and
• Andrzej Budziak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 24–37, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.3

• . SEM imaging The morphological properties of the rGO paper were described based on SEM imaging (Phenom ProX). The thicknesses of the obtained sheets were determined from SEM images of the samples’ cross sections as an averaged value calculated over 50 length readings. TGA TGA Q5000 equipment was

• Discussion SEM images are presented in Figure 2a–c. With these, the rGO paper sheet thickness was determined (Table 1), reaching from 4.95 μm for the initial M300 material [34] up to 36.48 μm after the thermal treatment. The expansion of the fabricated films originates from thermal exfoliation [42]. The

• reduced graphene oxide flake structure with examples of oxygen functionalities, that is, ketone (C=O), epoxide (C–O–C), carboxyl (COOH), hydroxy (OH), and aldehyde (CHO) groups. (b) Suggested redox reaction scheme [6][24][25]. This scheme was prepared with the help of the ChemDraw Ultra tool [26]. SEM

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

• ) fluorophores were imaged using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of fully solvated gels and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) was used to observe the corresponding xerogels. The DPP@Gel systems exhibit strong fluorescence and are effectively imaged using CLSM, with fibre morphologies

• that closely correlate with those seen with cryo-SEM. In contrast, the analogous imidazolium gel system containing a sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc@Gel) yields poor CLSM images because of the relatively weak emission and sample disruption during compression, whereas cryo-SEM enables clear

• visualization of the native fibrous network. These results demonstrate the complementary nature of CLSM and cryo-SEM and highlight the value of cryo-SEM as a very useful tool for imaging soft nanomaterials with low fluorescence or limited optical contrast. Keywords: anion binding; colloid; fluorophore

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

• nanocubes exhibiting complex shapes in SEM images were synthesized using an aqueous solution of HAuCl4, methanol, and PVP with CPL [59]. The optical activity of the nanocubes was observed clearly in single-particle differential circular dichroism scattering spectra, as shown in Figure 4d. Optically chiral

• features of the cPNSs into the simulation software. The morphological features are typically obtained from TEM or SEM. Ideally, electron tomography can generate accurate 3D morphological information of the cPNSs to feed into the simulation, although such analysis on nanocrystals is still far from routine

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

• short oligo(ethylene glycol) chains. The particles were first characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential (ZP) measurements in solution, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in vacuum. Samples were adsorbed on flat

• either case the NPs will expand. We will, however, demonstrate the role of the ligand conformation. We obtained detailed spatial characterization by SEM, to measure size and shape, and to detect aggregation upon adsorption on surfaces of different hydrophilicity (see Supporting Information File 1

• concentration of carboxylate) exhibit a lower ZP (approx. −45 mV) at the same pH [1]. To obtain a clearer view of the size distribution, we used SEM to evaluate particle sizes and morphologies in high vacuum (i.e., for completely dried samples). By adjusting a Gaussian fit to the histograms (Figure 3), the

Microplastic pollution in Himalayan lakes: assessment, risks, and sustainable remediation strategies

• Sameeksha Rawat,
• S. M. Tauseef and
• Madhuben Sharma

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2144–2167, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.148

• microscopy (SEM) produces high-resolution images of particle shapes. It also indicates surface wear and tear patterns that reflect how old the MP is and how long it has been in the environment [38]. Ease of operation and minimal cost of optical microscopy make it widely used, despite being less sophisticated

• than SEM. It is particularly useful in morphological examination, size grading, and rapid particle identification. The combination of optical microscopes and modern digital imaging techniques allows for automatic particle classification and counting, which greatly decreases the extent of human

• intervention and possibility of error [39]. Microscopy and spectroscopy tend to be combined to increase reliability. For instance, Raman or FTIR spectroscopy is applied to identify polymers following SEM to examine the shape of particles. This ensures both chemical and physical characteristics are captured [40

Rapid synthesis of highly monodisperse AgSbS₂ nanocrystals: unveiling multifaceted activities in cancer therapy, antibacterial strategies, and antioxidant defense

• Funda Ulusu,
• Adem Sarilmaz,
• Yakup Ulusu,
• Faruk Ozel and
• Mahmut Kus

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2105–2115, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.145

• ) planes of the AgSbS2 phase. TEM and SEM techniques were used to comprehensively characterize the NCs. The results showed that spherical NCs were predominantly formed, with an average diameter of approximately 32 ± 10 nm. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect of the NCs

• bonds [34][35]. The characterization of AgSbS2 NCs involved a comprehensive analysis using TEM and SEM techniques, as depicted in Figure 2. Within the SEM and TEM images presented in Figure 2a,b, predominantly spherical NCs are observed, measuring approximately 32 ± 10 nm in diameter. Notably, these

• . Both crystal structure images were created by using the VESTA software [33]. The TEM (a), HRTEM (b), SEM (c) images and SAED (d) patterns of AgSbS2 NCs. Zones of inhibition produced by AgSbS2 NCs against tested bacterial strains. Cytotoxic effects of AgSbS2 NCs on different cell lines (a), IC50 values

Molecular and mechanical insights into gecko seta adhesion: multiscale simulations combining molecular dynamics and the finite element method

• Yash Jain,
• Saeed Norouzi,
• Tobias Materzok,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Florian Müller-Plathe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2055–2076, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.141

• to more spatula–substrate sites is straightforward but would increase runtime. Models Multiscale seta–spatula model A seta branches into spatulae as seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of gecko setae (Figure 1). A single seta on a gecko’s foot can have dozens of sub-branches, which

• . Spatulae and substrate: particles Mesoscale spatula model The mesoscale spatula model was derived from prior research. Its shape is based on SEM images [23], and the force field was derived bottom-up from united-atom gecko keratin simulations [12]. The keratin proteins in gecko seta and spatulae form a

Stereodiscrimination of guests in chiral organosilica aerogels studied by ESR spectroscopy

• Sebastian Polarz,
• Yasar Krysiak,
• Martin Wessig and
• Florian Kuhlmann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2034–2054, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.140

• prepare chiral oSILs by co-condensation of Si(OiPr)4 with a sol–gel precursor that already contains the amino acid. An example is an Ala-modified 1,3-bis(triisopropoxysilyl)aniline [45][49] as shown in Scheme 1. The resulting material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM; Figure 2a); it

Beyond the shell: exploring polymer–lipid interfaces in core–shell nanofibers to carry hyaluronic acid and β-caryophyllene

• Aline Tavares da Silva Barreto,
• Francisco Alexandrino-Júnior,
• Bráulio Soares Arcanjo,
• Paulo Henrique de Souza Picciani and
• Kattya Gyselle de Holanda e Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2015–2033, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.139

• core–shell structure indicates the absence of core material at the surface, and that the shell structure does not possess pores that would allow permeation or direct contact of water molecules with the core, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Electrospun nanofibers organize into

• SEM imaging of the cross-section of the HA+NE2/PLA sample was performed before and after core removal to observe the core–shell structure. For core removal, a portion of the sample was washed multiple times with distilled water, followed by ethanol, and then dried at room temperature. Samples, both

• distribution of β-caryophyllene nanoemulsion measured by DLS: (A) intensity distribution and (B) volume distribution. SEM images of nanofibers obtained from the composition: (A) PLA 20%(w/w) and HA 1%(w/w); (B) PLA 20%(w/w), HA 1%(w/w), and NE 5%(w/w); (C) PLA 20%(w/w), HA 1%(w/w), and NE 2%(w/w); and (D

The cement of the tube-dwelling polychaete Sabellaria alveolata: a complex composite adhesive material

• Emilie Duthoo,
• Aurélie Lambert,
• Pierre Becker,
• Carla Pugliese,
• Jean-Marc Baele,
• Arnaud Delfairière,
• Matthew J. Harrington and
• Patrick Flammang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1998–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.138

• . Transverse sections through the tubes could be imaged with high resolution in SEM (JEOL JSM-7200F), showing the arrangement of cement spots binding mineral particles together. The epoxy resin embedding technique provided excellent preservation of the cement spot structure. Honeycomb worms embedded in Spurr

• resin (TEM samples) were used for the observation of cement gland secretory granules. All SEM images were acquired in low vacuum mode (50 Pa), with the backscattered electron detector. X-ray microanalysis and elemental mapping were performed using an Oxford X-MaxN energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS

• ) equipped with an 80 mm2 silicon drift detector. Acquisition conditions on the SEM were 15 kV, 10 mm working distance, and 10 s live time acquisition at approximately 30–40% dead time. The spectra were acquired with an AZtec (Oxford Instrument) EDS data processing software. Transmission electron microscopy

Laser ablation in liquids for shape-tailored synthesis of nanomaterials: status and challenges

• Natalie Tarasenka

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1963–1997, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.137

Mechanical property measurements enabled by short-term Fourier-transform of atomic force microscopy thermal deflection analysis

• Thomas Mathias,
• Roland Bennewitz and
• Philip Egberts

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1952–1962, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.136

• spectral analysis techniques, can sufficient temporal resolution of the oscillatory changes in the AFM cantilever within a single experiment be captured to perform such mechanical analysis and allow for the limits of the analytical models to be better validated. Figure 6 shows SEM images of two of the tips