Advanced Materials Letters

Abstract The discovery of graphene marked the beginning of a new era in material science, leading to the exploration of a wide array of two-dimensional (2D) materials with unique properties. While graphene's remarkable electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties have been well-studied, its lack of an intrinsic bandgap has limited its applications, especially in digital electronics. This has spurred extensive research into alternative 2D materials, including transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), black phosphorus (BP), MXenes, and other layered compounds. These materials offer diverse properties such as tunable bandgaps, high carrier mobilities, and anisotropic behavior, making them promising candidates for next-generation applications in electronics, optoelectronics, energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. In this review, we aim to present a unified and critical overview of the evolution, classification, and functional potential of emerging 2D materials beyond graphene, highlighting how their intrinsic structural and electronic features govern device performance across multiple domains. It discusses the synthesis techniques, structural characteristics, and unique electronic properties that differentiate these materials from graphene. Moreover, the review explores their integration into devices like field-effect transistors, solar cells, supercapacitors, and catalysis systems. Special emphasis is placed on correlating material properties with practical device outcomes and identifying current challenges related to large-scale synthesis, stability, and compatibility with existing technologies. Finally, the review concludes with a forward-looking perspective that outlines the key strategies—such as heterostructure engineering, doping control, and AI-assisted material discovery—necessary for overcoming present limitations and accelerating the transition of 2D materials from laboratory research to real-world applications.

Abstract The search for effective methods of sterilizing materials in hospital environments is crucial for preventing infections. Oxygen plasma has emerged as a promising alternative to autoclaving due to its potential to reduce sterilization time and improve the efficacy of the process. The present study aimed to assess the effects of exposing cotton tissues to oxygen plasma on inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans, aiming to contribute to a broader understanding of the applicability of this sterilization technique. Cotton tissues were exposed to oxygen plasma for varying periods of time. Morphological analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were conducted to assess potential changes in the structure and chemical composition of the fibers after plasma treatment. The results showed a significant reduction in the growth of Candida albicans colonies on tissues exposed to plasma, with greater efficacy observed in samples exposed for 10 minutes. EDX analysis indicated that plasma did not cause changes in the chemical composition of cotton fibers. However, morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy revealed a direct relationship between the exposure time to plasma and the degree of destruction of the waxy cuticle of the cotton. Exposure to plasma resulted in a significant reduction in fungal growth without causing changes in the chemical composition of cotton fibers.

Abstract This study aims to explore the unique electrical properties of organic tissue junctions with different electrical properties in an active electric field. In the previous study, we found that the energy spectrum distortion at the junction of pig stomach tissue and pork tissue was different from that of these two tissues, and based on this finding, we proposed the conjecture of biojunction. In order to study the reproducibility of this electrical feature, we use a variety of pig tissues to construct a new composite biological tissue for testing, and the results show that the feature can be reproduced in the artificially constructed composite biological tissue. Meanwhile, in order to study whether this electrical feature will appear at the boundary of naturally formed composite biological tissues and cancer tissues surrounded by normal tissues, we construct a tumor bearing mouse model carrying human ovarian cancer cells and tested it in the active electric field. The results show that this feature also appeared in the in-vivo experiment. Finally, in order to test the availability of the electrical characteristics of the junction of composite biological tissues, the KNN algorithm is used to train and classify the data collected in the experiment of tumor bearing mice, and the junction site and non-junction site of organic tissues are distinguished with a high success rate, showing the potential of this electrical characteristic in detecting the boundary of tumor tissues in clinic.

Abstract Ni(II) Schiff base complexes containing diethylenetriamine-2,2'-bisphenol (L1) and 3,3'-iminebispropilamine-2,2'-bisphenol (L2) ligands were synthesized and embedded into SBA-15 functionalized with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (3-CPTMS/SBA-15). The characterization of the Ni(II) Schiff bases embedded into the mesoporous of 3-CPTMS-SBA-15 by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption and desorption, and thermogravimetry, revealed that the mesoporous structures were maintained. From BET data, the surface area decreased from 517 m2/g (SBA-15) to 326 m2/g [Ni(L1)]-SBA-15 and 296 m2/g [Ni(L2)]-SBA-15, with pore size diameter of ca. 5.6 nm. All materials presented isotherm type IV and H1 hysteresis. The TG/DTG curves showed the desorption of adsorbed water, coordinated water and ligands decomposition, and an increase in the thermal stability of the Ni(II) complexes embedded into SBA-15, evidencing that they are promising materials for adsorption, for remotion of heavy metals from aqueous media due to its chelating properties; and catalytic applications, because they contain oxygen and nitrogen as donor atoms, being of particular interest.

Abstract Ayurvedic Bhasmas, the traditional metallic and mineral-based formulations with therapeutic properties, are used to manage various human ailments in Ayurveda. Despite their therapeutic applications, the scientific validation of their physicochemical properties remains limited. This study aims to characterize and better understand selected commercially available Bhasmas through optical microscopic and different spectroscopic techniques, providing insights into their structural and compositional attributes. Optical microscopy revealed their irregular morphology and powdery texture with heterogeneous particle sizes. Ultraviolet – visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy showed absorption peaks between 257 nm and 390 nm, and band gap energies between 1.94 eV and 5.36 eV, suggesting the presence of nanosized particles. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of organic moieties and metal-oxygen bonds within the Bhasma samples, indicating possible herbal interactions with metallic or mineral components during their preparation. These findings support the notion that Bhasmas possess unique physicochemical features, potentially contributing to their therapeutic efficacy.