Biosensors are crucial for detecting various analytes relevant to bioanalytical applications. To enhance the specificity and sensitivity of biosensors, bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) have been utilized, which demonstrate significant potential for sensing applications owing to their constituent materials’ inherent properties, small size, unique architectural features, and biomimetic behavior. Among BNPs, Au–Ag BNPs are promising for sensing applications owing to their small size, high sensitivity, and distinctive characteristics. Herein, we first briefly present the development of Au–Ag BNPs and discuss the fundamentals. Subsequently, we present the relationship between the synthesis method and structure of Au–Ag BNPs. Furthermore, recent advancements in Au–Ag BNPs are highlighted for their role in enhancing biosensors, particularly for electrode modifiers, signal amplifiers, and recognition materials. Finally, we propose several existing challenges and summarize insights pertaining to the potential development of Au–Ag BNPs for biosensing applications.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries for sustainable energy storage. Its widespread availability and lower cost make it an attractive option for future energy storage solutions. This review provides an analysis of the key materials in SIBs, including cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and separators, highlighting recent advancements and existing challenges. The anode materials reviewed in this article include carbonaceous materials, metal alloys, and organic materials. These anode materials face constraints such as significant volume expansion and poor ionic conductivity. The cathode materials discussed include transition metal oxides, polyanionic compounds, and Prussian Blue analogues, which encounter challenges related to structural stability and ionic conductivity. Exploring the combination of these materials presents a promising strategy for producing high-performance sodium-ion batteries with the potential for future energy storage. The review also discusses electrolyte and separator materials, examining the advantages and disadvantages of liquid, solid, and semi-solid electrolytes. Finally, it addresses the packaging and safety challenges of SIBs.

Tuning the conjugated bridges between the electron-donor and electron-acceptor moieties plays a crucial role in enhancing the memristive properties of organic materials, yet it is rarely reported. Herein, we designed and synthesized four donor–acceptor (D-A) organic small molecules, namely 4,7-bis(4-((9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)(phenyl)methyl)phenyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DF-BT), 4,7-bis((4-((9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)(phenyl)methyl)phenyl)ethynyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DF- ynl-BT), 4,7-bis(5-(4-((9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)(phenyl)methyl)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DF- Th-BT), and 4,7-bis((5-(4-((9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)(phenyl)methyl)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)ethynyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DF- Th- ynl-BT), featuring unique conjugated bridges. These molecules were employed as active layers in resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices to systematically investigate the influence of conjugation bridges on the electrical parameters. The results revealed that devices based on DF-BT, DF- ynl-BT, and DF- Th-BT exhibited write-once-read-many-times (WORM) characteristics, while the DF- Th- ynl-BT-based device demonstrated stable Flash-type switching behavior. Compared to DF-BT, memory devices utilizing DF- ynl-BT, DF- Th-BT, and DF- Th- ynl-BT, which incorporate additional conjugated bridges, exhibited nonvolatile memory properties with reduced threshold voltages, an improved ON/OFF current ratio, enhanced stability, and better uniformity. These findings demonstrated that tailoring the conjugated bridges in D-A molecules can effectively modulate resistive memory behavior and enhance device performance. Furthermore, the DF- Th- ynl-BT-based device was successfully integrated into logic gate circuits and display functions, highlighting its significant potential for applications in artificial intelligence (AI) neural networks.

Enhancing the activity of 𝛼-secretase has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The exploration of small molecules that can enhance 𝛼-secretase activity and their mechanisms provides insights for future AD treatments and the development of novel activators. In this study, ADAM10, a major 𝛼-secretase, is used as a model and is bound with the ligands (− )-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and ferulic acid (FA) in a 1:2 ratio (ADAM10:EGCG/FA = 1:2/2) and equimolar ratio (ADAM10:EGCG:FA = 1:1:1) to investigate the effects on ADAM10 activation and reveal the synergistic mechanism of the EGCG and FA combination. The activity of ADAM10 was enhanced by the combination of EGCG and FA, compared to that achieved with EGCG or FA alone, where EGCG plays a dominant role, whereas FA plays a supportive role. The combined use of EGCG induces strong hydrophobic interactions between ADAM10 and FA, causing FA to dissociate from the S1 domain, thereby preventing the inhibition of ADAM10 activity by pure FA. The presence of FA allows EGCG to bind more precisely within the active cavity of ADAM10, thereby increasing the binding strength. Overall, the combination of EGCG and FA significantly increased the distance between the S1 domain and the cysteine-rich C-terminus, further opening up the cavity containing the active sites, consequently exposing more active sites and enhancing the activity of ADAM10.

In recent years, Rhenium-based chalcogenides have gained traction as promising materials for optoelectronic applications. The photoresponse of the as-grown rhenium chalcogenide ReS_2-xSe_x (x = 0, 1, 2) single crystals was investigated under varying incident wavelengths and bias conditions of 0 and + 3 V. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to assess the crystal structure and surface quality for photodetection applications. The photodetection properties indicate favorable potential for switching applications within the photocurrent range of 10^-9 A. Notably, the photoresponse of ReS_2-xSe_x (x = 0, 1, 2) exhibited significant enhancement, achieving responsivity of 4.78 × 10^-3 A/W, detectivity of 9.16 × 10⁹ Jones, and response time of < 0.2 s. These values demonstrate the potential of these single crystals for advanced optoelectronic applications.

This study focused on the synthesis of cerium oxide (CeO₂) electrodes using the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method to enhance supercapacitor performance. The fabricated thin films exhibited a face-centered cubic structure of cerium oxide with a distinctive cauliflower-like nanostructure. This unique morphology increased the surface area, facilitated efficient ion diffusion, and significantly improved the electrochemical performance. The CeO₂ electrodes achieved a high specific capacitance of 659 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s, as measured by cyclic voltammetry. The electrodes delivered a maximum energy density of 64 Wh/kg and a power density of 3499 W/kg. These results demonstrated that CeO₂ thin films are promising candidates for advanced supercapacitors and hold great potential for future energy storage applications.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a transformative technology in photovoltaics due to their high absorption coefficient and potential for low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy conversion. Optimizing the electron transport layer (ETL) remains a critical challenge, as it significantly influences charge carrier dynamics and overall device performance. This study explores strontium (Sr) doped hydrothermally synthesized molybdenum diselenide (MoSe₂) as ETL to enhance the power conversation efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs. The encapsulation of Sr within MoSe₂ (Sr@MoSe₂) demonstrates a notable enhancement in photovoltaic parameters, achieving a short-circuit current density ( J_sc) of 13.73 mA/cm², an open-circuit voltage ( V_oc) of 1.04 V, a fill factor (FF) of 82%, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.12%, compared to pristine MoSe₂ ( J_sc = 11.05 mA/cm², V_oc = 1.03 V, FF = 70%, PCE = 7.97%). Transient photovoltage and impedance spectroscopy analysis confirm that Sr modification facilitates improved charge extraction and reduces recombination losses at the ETL perovskite interface. These results underscore the effectiveness of Sr incorporation in enhancing both the efficiency and operational stability of perovskite solar cells. This work not only provides a promising strategy for ETL optimization but also opens avenues for future research into tailored material engineering for next-generation photovoltaic devices.

The making of glasses using lithium manganese(III,IV) oxide as cathode-active material of lithium-ion batteries and phosphorus pentoxide as glass former is herein reported for the first time. The raw materials LiMn₂O₄ and P₂O₅ were mixed in various proportions and melted in ambient atmosphere directed by xLiMn₂O₄-(100 − x)P₂O₅ with x = 15 mol%, 20 mol%, 25 mol%, 30 mol% and 35 mol% nominal compositions. The materials obtained were subsequently characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), density, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical absorption, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy measurements with decay kinetics analysis. The XRD data supported vitrification in the explored compositional range wherein the density tended to increase with LiMn₂O₄ concentration. The FT-IR spectra indicated that adding LiMn₂O₄ at the expense of P₂O₅ leads to a network depolymerization effect evidenced largely by the upsurge of the v_as(PO₃²⁻) band of end-of-chain PO₄ tetrahedra. DSC results showed that the glass transition temperature increased steadily while glass stability decreased with increasing LiMn₂O₄ content. The optical absorption measurements showed increasingly the presence of both Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions leading to the development of intense purple hues consistent with LiMn₂O₄ decomposition in the melts. The PL assessment then scrutinized the manifestation of red-emitting Mn²⁺ ions wherein an emission suppression trend was observed. The decay dynamics evaluation revealed the shortening of the Mn²⁺ decay times harmonizing with the PL quenching effect. The original work carried out stimulates additional research regarding the potential of vitrification with P₂O₅ for the management or upcycling of lithium battery components.

Nickel/cobalt-based materials are promising cathodes owing to the high redox potential, high specific capacity, and long cycling performance. However, with the mass-loading of the electrode increasing, it greatly hinders the ion diffusion and charge transport, resulting in serious decrease of the electrode capacity. Herein, a hierarchical nickel-cobalt-based porous nanoflower structure (NiCo-Nanoflower) composed of numerous ultrathin nanosheets is synthesized, which significantly enhances the surface area and provides additional active sites. Besides, the abundant oxygen defects in NiCo-Nanoflower significantly enhance its electrical conductivity. Therefore, the NiCo-Nanoflower electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity of up to 210.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹ and excellent rate retention of 180.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 8 A g⁻¹ (104 mA cm⁻²) even under high areal mass loading of 13 mg cm⁻². Upon assembly in a NiCo//Zn battery system, the configuration demonstrates exceptional electrochemical stability, maintaining 74.3% capacity retention after 5000 cycles. This work demonstrates that NiCo-Nanoflower, equipped with three-dimensional microstructure and oxygen-enriched defects, holds significant potential for application in high-mass-loading cathodes for alkaline aqueous zinc batteries.

This study reports the synthesis of three sets of high-performance manganese (Mn)-doped Co₃O₄ porous nanocrystals (PNCs) (5%Mn@Co₃O₄, 10%Mn@Co₃O₄, and 15%Mn@Co₃O₄) using a simple chemical co-precipitation method. These catalysts were then used for the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO). This investigation focused on the effects of Co²⁺ or Co³⁺ substitution by Mn²⁺ or Mn³⁺ within the Co₃O₄ matrix on various properties of the PNCs, including their physicochemical characteristics, morphology, microstructure, reducibility, thermal stability, and their impact on the catalytic performance. Comprehensive characterization using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Hydrogen-Temperature Programmed Reduction and (H₂-TPR), was employed to elucidate the factors responsible for effective CO oxidation. Compared to pure Mn₃O₄ and Co₃O₄, the Mn@Co₃O₄ PNCs catalysts exhibited a more controllable microstructure and better dispersion of the active phase. The 5%Mn@Co₃O₄ catalyst demonstrated the highest activity, achieving 90% CO oxidation at 197 °C. This superior performance is attributed to its large specific surface area, excellent reduction capacity, and abundant oxygen species and vacancies. H₂-TPR and XPS analyses provided further insights into the reaction mechanism. Density functional theory calculations showed that the formation of bulk oxygen vacancies is more favorable when Mn³⁺ is substituted at the Co²⁺ sites. Overall, the chemical coprecipitation method offers a straightforward and cost-effective approach for producing Mn@Co₃O₄ catalysts suitable for CO abatement in exhaust and flue gases.