Recent progress in enhancing built-in electric fields of perovskite solar cells via junction engineering

• Tong Xiao and
• Ke Xu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 602–621, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.42

• days, followed by 260 h of light exposure in a nitrogen atmosphere, Ag+ doping in sol–gel NiOx p/p+ homojunctions mitigated iodine vacancy formation and Pb2+ migration, preventing degradation pathways and reducing PCE loss from 40% to 10%. In sequential molecular doping systems, a common problem is

• , establish or extend the BEF via interfacial defect passivation and energy-level cascading, and, on the other hand, retain the high carrier mobility and strong light absorption of the 3D bulk, which has made this approach a research focus in recent years [59][60]. However, the effectiveness of this strategy

• unmodified perovskites degraded within, respectively, 360 and 120 h, or under similar light exposure. Ultimately, this orientation-induced configuration increased device efficiency from 20.64% to 23.40% and highlights the synergistic role of interfacial stabilization and BEF enhancement. In the exploration

Towards targeted drugs and next generation of nanomedicines

• Anna Salvati,
• Silvia Giordani and
• Wolfgang J. Parak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 598–601, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.41

• light or other forms of radiation, magnetic fields, and ultrasounds. These can be applied externally only at the targeted area, hence providing both spatial and temporal control of the therapy [26]. In parallel to this, more recently, endogenous targeting is emerging as another potential strategy to

Impacts of annealing on structural and photophysical properties of zinc phthalocyanine adsorbed on graphene

• Gautier Creutzer,
• Quentin Fernez,
• Nataliya Kalashnyk,
• Zohreh Safarzadeh,
• Lydia Sosa Vargas,
• Céline Fiorini-Debuisschert,
• Nicolas Fabre and
• Fabrice Charra

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 576–585, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.39

• a promising route to design original and innovative electronic devices [1] such as diodes [2][3], transistors [4][5][6], photodetectors [7][8], solar cells [9][10][11], or light-emitting devices [12]. In such heterostructures most electronic processes take place at the interface between graphene and

• ), %) or in absorption OD = −log10(T/Treference). Raman scattering was measured together with residual fluorescence using a 633 nm excitation (60 μW·cm−2) from a stabilized laser (Cobolt 08-NLD series, Hubner Photonics). This excitation light was line filtered (LL01-633, Semrock) and focused on the sample

• through the objective lens (Nikon, 60×, 0.8 N.A.). The retro-emitted light (Raman scattering and residual fluorescence) was collected through the microscope objective, filtered with appropriate long-pass filters (LPD02-633-RU + LP03-633-RU, Semrock) and sent to the above spectrometer. An instrumental

Laser–material interactions in liquids for the synthesis of nanomaterials: current status and perspectives

• Carlos Doñate Buendia,
• Bilal Gökce and
• Leonid V. Zhigilei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 571–575, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.38

• ]), generation of soft magnets for magnetocaloric applications [58], fabrication of photodetectors [59], nanoscale agents for photodynamic [60] and neutron capture therapy [61], incorporation of nanoparticles into solar cells [62], light-harvesting nanofluids [63], and materials with enhanced mechanical [64] or

Synthesis of Cu–Mo/TiO₂ and Co–Mo/TiO₂ photocatalysts for the efficient degradation of organic pollutants in water

• Ilse Acosta,
• Brenda Zermeño,
• Edgar Moctezuma,
• Luis F. Garay-Rodríguez and
• Isaías Juárez-Ramírez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 559–570, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.37

• the optical bandgap, broaden the light absorption range, and enhance the quantum efficiency [4]. However, the partially occupied impurity states generated can act as recombination centers for photoexcited carriers, leading to band-to-band recombination [3]. To prevent charge recombination effects, the

• into the semiconductor matrix. The incorporation of co-dopants results in the formation of heterostructures with different electronic structures compared to the TiO2 structure, which promotes charge separation and visible light absorption [6]. The incorporation of two types of cations into the TiO2

• can improve light absorption and photocatalytic activity of the material through the generation of oxygen vacancies, which act as electron traps [12]. The Mo6+ ion has a radius similar to that of Ti4+; thus, it is ideal for introduction into the TiO2 lattice without causing significant disturbances

Electrochemical determination of ciprofloxacin using a MIL-101/reduced graphene oxide-modified electrode

• Nguyen Quang Man,
• Nguyen Ngoc Nghia,
• Nguyen Vinh Phu,
• Vo Thi Khanh Ly,
• Le Lam Son,
• Pham Khac Lieu,
• Le Thi Hong Phong,
• Nguyen Dinh Luyen and
• Dinh Quang Khieu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 541–554, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.35

• ) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) system. Raman spectroscopy was performed on an Xplora Plus instrument (Horiba, Japan) with a stimulating light wavelength of 785 nm. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) were recorded using an Autolab PGSTAT302N system. Electrochemical experiments were

Fractional shot noise of an SU(N) Kondo system

• Damian Krychowski and
• Stanisław Lipiński

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 515–540, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.34

Probing internal continua and atomic ultrafast charge transfer within size-controlled nanoparticles by post-collision interaction in core-hole clock spectroscopy

• Johannes Lütgert,
• Erika Giangrisostomi,
• Nomi L. A. N. Sorgenfrei and
• Alexander Föhlisch

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 505–514, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.33

• and, thus, does not allow for energy redistribution within itself. In fact, examining the evolution of the charge transfer times and of the asymmetry parameter across photon energies above the proposed CBM (light gray area in Figure 5), except within the dark gray area, both follow expectations

• a function of photon energy and particle size. Top panel: The X-ray absorption cross section (PFY, orange line) is shown in comparison to an integration of the resonant Auger spectra (CFS-PEY, light green line). Also, the deconvolution of the signal into the intensities of Auger (green) and Raman

• dashed lines. In both panels, an estimation of the Fermi level (dashed orange line) and the fitted threshold energies ET from the PCI model (solid vertical line) are shown. The light gray area corresponds to a continuum situation, which is, according to our interpretation, the conduction band. The dark

Upcycling agroindustrial waste into graphene oxide supports for gold nanoparticles: toward sustainable nanomaterials

• Juan Marcos Castro-Tapia,
• Selene Acosta,
• Hiram Joazet Ojeda-Galván,
• Elsie Evelyn Araujo-Palomo,
• Edgar Giovanni Villabona-Leal and
• Mildred Quintana

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 489–504, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.32

• , and the suspension was stirred magnetically at 220 rpm. Afterwards, the pH was adjusted to 5 by dropwise addition of 1 M NaOH. Then, 400 μL of an aqueous HAuCl4 solution (0.05 mM) was introduced into the system. The reaction mixture was irradiated with UV light (GR.E 500 W lamp, Helios Italquartz

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

• still require further study. Moreover, it has been shown that even the exposure of TMD films to ordinary laboratory light in air can accelerate oxidation [73], although the underlying mechanism of this effect remains unclear. Does high-temperature annealing increase or decrease the concentration of

• ), mostly for pristine materials, but in a few cases also with defects [94][115]. In order to model Raman scattering, a model for the response of the material to incoming light is required. In the non-resonant case, Raman scattering is allowed when the atomic displacement of a vibrational mode leads to a

• polarizations of the incoming and the scattered light. In addition, first-principles calculations of polarizability are significantly more demanding than those of total energy, which is especially true for large systems with defects; this can limit the collection of training data. Finally, training a model for

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

• antioxidant compound. The development of topical films for cutaneous delivery faces several challenges, including the need for strong skin adhesion and the protection of photolabile actives from light exposure. We hypothesized that multilayered films designed for the cutaneous delivery of curcumin and

• concentrated to 10 mL. The experiment was carried out in a dark environment, protected from light. Blank formulations (B-NC) were prepared under the same conditions, without addition of curcumin in the organic phases. All formulations were prepared and characterised in triplicate. Particle size, pH and zeta

• potential The z-average particle size and the polydispersity index were measured by dynamic light scattering using a Zetasizer® Nano ZS (ZEN 3600, Malvern Instruments, USA). For this analysis, 10 µL of the C-NC formulation was diluted in 5 mL of ultrapure water (previously filtered through a 0.45 µm

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

• cancer treatment that uses photosensitizers (PSs) activated by light to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although PDT shows clinical promise, its effectiveness is limited by factors such as insufficient tumor targeting, tumor hypoxia, PS instability, and weak immune responses. Biomimetic

• involving three key components: a photosensitizer (PS), light of a specific wavelength, and molecular oxygen [3]. Upon light activation, the PS transitions to an excited state and transfers energy to surrounding oxygen molecules, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can eradicate tumor cells. While

• . Overview of photodynamic therapy PDT is a clinically established and continuously evolving treatment modality for various cancers and non-oncological conditions. Its therapeutic efficacy hinges on PSs, that is, specialized agents capable of absorbing light at specific wavelengths and transferring this

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

• dimensions compared to SWCNTs and have higher conductivity. Wang et al. [15], demonstrated that films of MWCNTs can operate as antennas when irradiated with light in the visible and near-UV regions. In particular, the maximum intensity of the reflected light in the visible range is obtained when the average

• length of the nanotubes composing the film is a half-integer multiple of the wavelength of the incident light (i.e., operation as simple dipole radio antennas). Similar to SWCNTs, MWCNTs can be doped or threaded/bundled to enhance conductivity, and it was found that, when the thickness of MWCNTs was

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

• synthesis and the underlying optical mechanisms including its influence on ablation efficiency, size control, and colloidal stability. Refractive elements rely on the interaction of light with a transparent material with a different refractive index than air. Standard refractive optics elements such as

• optics can generate complex and exotic light structures that go beyond simple focusing, allowing for custom-shaped intensity distributions at the target. This technology permits the creation of arbitrary beam shapes, enabling more intricate control of the laser interaction with the material, which is

• especially useful for advanced applications requiring customised energy deposition patterns. Diffractive elements offer the advantage of being thin and lightweight and allow for the generation of user-defined beam patterns through controlled light diffraction produced by micro- or nanostructured glasses or

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

• (MXenes) that may introduce new oxidation dynamics. Regrettably, key factors such as oxygen, humidity, and light, which contribute to the ambient degradation of few-layer BP [107], may present significant challenges for the application of LAO. The conductive properties of MXenes range from metallic to

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

• fabrics, corresponding to E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, were exposed to visible light at an intensity of 96.9 klux and UV-A/B radiation at 6704 µW·cm−2 under a glass microscope slide (Figure 4 and Table 2). As seen in Figure 4, Ag/CBV-600-bramante showed strong antibacterial activity against E

• if the photocatalytic activity of the materials enhanced antimicrobial activity: group A was not exposed to sunlight (t = 0 min), and group B was exposed to 60 min of UV-A/B radiation of sunlight (t = 60 min), which was measured using an URCERI light meter containing a UV-A/B detector. Afterwards

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

• of light. As a consequence, light does not differentiate between the constituting materials and only “sees” them as a single material. To study the interaction of light with these metamaterials, we use the effective media approximation to calculate the optical properties of these materials. These

• that, with the right manipulation of the geometry, we are able to make the electric permittivity near zero (“epsilon near zero”, ENZ). The ENZ point causes light to travel through the medium with constant phase, it enhances the electric field, and it enhances the nonlinear response by combining

• the principal components and of the composite, which are given by [25]: where dm and dd are the widths of the metallic and dielectric layers, respectively, as seen in Figure 1a. The z-scan technique employed to study the nonlinear properties of the samples involves normal incident light, where the

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

• mechanically separated from the delignified bulk samples without damaging them using fine tweezers and glued on top of conical sample holders using polyvinyl siloxane (President Light Body, Coltene, Altstätten, Switzerland). The dry fibers and tracheids were imaged (at 22.5 °C and 25% RH) using the X-ray

• tracheid and fiber morphology, offering implications for wood processing techniques and the development of innovative wood-based materials, including bioinspired materials. This study also holds the potential for shedding light on evolutionary adaptations and taxonomic relationships among species. Still

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

• gold nanoparticle suspension. The presence of AuNPs was confirmed by the appearance of a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band in the visible wavelength range, with a maximum absorbance at λmax = 519 nm (Figure 4a). The hydrodynamic radius (HD) by number-weighted distribution of dynamic light

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

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

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

• thickness, and thermal treatment conditions. The observed changes in optical properties suggest that this response is governed by temperature-induced modulation of molecular ordering and aggregation state, which in turn alters the electronic transitions responsible for light absorption. Theoretical

• extends the functionality of polymer thin films. A specific group of photoreactive polymers comprises polymers with azo chromophores embedded in their structure [5][6]. These polymers exhibit photoresponsivity due to the trans–cis (E–Z) isomerization of the azo chromophores upon light irradiation. The

• , optoelectronics, memory devices, and sensors [12]. The birefringence phenomenon results from multiple cycles of trans–cis–trans (E–Z–E) photoisomerization stimulated by the polarized light impact [13][14][15][16]. The E–Z–E transitions lead to an alignment of the photoreactive azo chromophores perpendicularly

From shield to spear: Charge-reversible nanocarriers in overcoming cancer therapy barriers

• Madhuri Yeduvaka,
• Pooja Mittal,
• Ameer Boyalakuntla,
• Usman Bee Shaik,
• Himanshu Sharma,
• Thakur Gurjeet Singh,
• Siva Nageswara Rao Gajula and
• Lakshmi Vineela Nalla

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 159–175, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.10

• , which enhances drug targeting while reducing off-target effects. These carriers leverage triggers such as changes in pH, enzymatic activity, redox conditions, temperature, light, ultrasound, X-rays, and magnetic fields to enable intelligent and controlled release of therapeutics. This review examines

• multiple drugs in response to the biochemical cues of the tumour microenvironment, enhancing anticancer activity with reduced off-target effects [53]. 2.4 Light-responsive nanocarriers Light-sensitive nanocarriers represent an innovative approach to regulated drug delivery, utilizing photosensitive

• materials such as graphene, azobenzene, and gold nanorods [54]. Upon exposure to UV–vis or near-infrared (NIR) light, these materials undergo structural changes or generate ROS, triggering controlled release of their therapeutic cargo. This precise spatiotemporal control over drug release and therapeutic

Influence of surface characteristics on the in vitro stability and cell uptake of nanoliposomes for brain delivery

• Dushko Shalabalija,
• Ljubica Mihailova,
• Nikola Geskovski,
• Andreas Zimmer,
• Otmar Geiss,
• Sabrina Gioria,
• Diletta Scaccabarozzi and
• Marija Glavas Dodov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 139–158, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.9

• for asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation analysis (AF4 analysis). Experiments were carried out by in-line coupling the AF4 system with UV–vis, multi-angle light scattering (MALS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) detectors. The AF4 system used was composed of an Eclipse Dualtec separation system

• first determined, as well as after their incubation with serum-free and serum-supplemented cell culture medium over 1 and 4 h. Prior to performing these fractionation analyses, the z-average mean diameter of the NLs was also examined by dynamic light scattering in batch mode, and ranged from 96.10

• ± 0.81 to 140.20 ± 0.95 nm (PDI < 0.256). The data in the literature suggests that DLS is widely employed for sizing liposomes and other colloidal materials. It operates by detecting laser light scattered due to the Brownian motion of particles or macromolecules in suspension, with the scattering

Development and in vitro evaluation of liposomes and immunoliposomes containing 5-fluorouracil and R-phycoerythrin as a potential phototheranostic system for colorectal cancer

• Raissa Rodrigues Camelo,
• Vivianne Cortez Sombra Vandesmet,
• Octavio Vital Baccallini,
• José de Brito Vieira Neto,
• Thais da Silva Moreira,
• Luzia Kalyne Almeida Moreira Leal,
• Claudia Pessoa,
• Daniel Giuliano Cerri,
• Maria Vitória Lopes Badra Bentley,
• Josimar O. Eloy,
• Ivanildo José da Silva Júnior and
• Raquel Petrilli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 97–121, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.7

• Sepharose CL-4B column eluted with PBS (pH 7.4) [19]. 2.3 Sample characterization 2.3.1 Particle size, polydispersity and zeta potential The hydrodynamic vesicle size and polydispersity index (PDI) were performed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the zeta potential by electrophoretic light scattering

• characterization, the selected formulations were 30 days. The samples were kept at 4 °C in plastic containers wrapped in aluminum protected from light, and characterized for vesicle size, PDI, and zeta potential. 2.5.1 Stability of nanoparticles in serum The stability of the nanoparticles in bovine serum was

• presence of 5% CO2, for 69 h for cytotoxicity assays, while for phototoxicity assays they remained incubated for 48 h, followed by 2 h of green light irradiation, γ = 525 nm, dose of 14.4 J/cm2 and incubated again until completing the 69 h period. After incubation for 69 h, 20 µL of the MTT solution (0.5