Nanomaterials continue to drive scientific and industrial progress across fields such as energy storage, electronics, water purification, and medicine.
This article highlights some of the most significant nanomaterial developments from the past year.
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Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite for Supercapacitors
Supercapacitors are an important component of modern energy storage systems, and their performance depends heavily on the materials used in their electrodes. While layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been used in the past, their low conductivity has limited their effectiveness.
To address this, researchers in China developed a new nanocomposite combining NiCoMn-LDH with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Carboxylated SWCNTs (C-SWCNTs) support the growth of ZIF-67-derived LDH nanosheets, resulting in a tri-metallic NiCoMn-LDH-SWCNT structure.
Tests showed the composite reached a mass capacitance of about 1704.3 F.g-1 at 1 Ag-1 and retained 78.6% of its capacity after 2000 cycles at 10 Ag-1. The assembled device comprising the nanocomposite achieved a capacitance of 167.9 Fg-1 and retained about 81 % of its initial capacity after 5000 cycles.1
The tests performed by Li et al. showed that this first-of-its-kind nanomaterial outperformed traditional metal oxides commonly used in supercapacitor electrodes. Its improved conductivity, stability, and cycling performance suggest promising potential for advancing charge retention and energy storage efficiency in next-generation systems.
Stretchable Quantum Dot Displays Using Nanocomposites
Stretchable displays have been a growing area of interest in electronics. But, building fully flexible systems (where every component can stretch without performance loss) has remained a challenge.
Researchers have recently developed the first intrinsically stretchable quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED), where all layers are flexible.
Conventional designs, such as island-bridge or kirigami-style, and barcode structures offer limited flexibility and durability. In contrast, the new approach uses a ternary nanocomposite made from colloidal quantum dots (QDs), an elastomeric polymer, and a charge-transporting polymer. This combination enables the QLED to maintain its structure and performance under strain.
Tests showed that the material could stretch up to 50 % without affecting particle spacing or density. Even under this strain, the device maintained a turn-on voltage of 3.2 V and reached a peak luminance of approximately 15,170 cd/m-2 without any significant brightness loss.2,3
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Oral Nano-Medicine for Targeted Gastric Cancer Treatment
Gastric cancer rates are rising globally, particularly in East Asia and parts of Eastern Europe.
Traditional treatments like Cisplatin remain widely used but often cause toxic side effects and require intravenous delivery. In response, researchers led by Linwei Chen have developed a novel oral nano-medicine designed to reduce side effects and improve treatment efficiency.
The innovation combines a self-assembling anti-angiogenesis peptide with Cisplatin. While peptide-based drugs are already known for their precision in targeting cancer cells, they often degrade in the acidic stomach environment. To overcome this, the researchers modified a linear peptide into a cyclic peptide (CP), enabling it to self-assemble into a robust nano-membrane.
When combined with Cisplatin, the nano-membrane structure forms stable, tubular-shaped nanorods. These nanostructures showed strong resilience in acidic conditions, high mucosal permeability, and precise targeting of cancer cells. Once inside the body, they inhibited tumor growth by preventing new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and suppressing cancer cell multiplication.4
This is the first report of an orally administered, tubular-shaped anti-angiogenesis nano-medicine, offering a potentially safer, non-invasive alternative for treating gastric cancer.
For more on how nanotechnology is being used in cancer therapy, check out this short video on shape-changing microrobots that deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells.
Shape-changing microrobots deliver chemo drugs directly to cancer cells
Nanocomposite for Heavy Metal Removal in Drinking Water
Access to clean drinking water remains a global challenge, especially in regions where industrial pollution leads to the accumulation of toxic heavy metals. Current filtration and treatment methods often fall short when it comes to removing metals like nickel, cobalt, and copper.
To address this, researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have developed a carbonized chitosan–zinc oxide–magnetite (CCZF) nanocomposite. This material combines adsorption with magnetic separation, enabling efficient metal removal and easy recovery of the nanomaterial.
In testing, the CCZF nanocomposite showed strong adsorption capacity—891.34 mg/g for Ni⁺, 1269.35 mg/g for Co2+, and 1502.67 mg/g for Cu2+—across five reuse cycles with minimal loss of performance. Its dual functionality makes it both effective and reusable. Cost analysis also found it to be relatively affordable, at around $78 per mole of toxic metal removed.
This development highlights a scalable and cost-effective option for sustainable water treatment, especially in areas where heavy metal contamination is a persistent issue.5
Monolayer Amorphous Carbon: A Stronger Alternative to Graphene
Graphene has long dominated the field of 2D nanomaterials, but its limited out-of-plane stiffness and production challenges have prompted researchers to look for alternatives.
Scientists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) recently developed a new 2D material—monolayer amorphous carbon (MAC)—that combines both amorphous and nanocrystalline phases. This structural design significantly enhances its fracture toughness and mechanical strength.
Tensile tests conducted under a scanning electron microscope showed that MAC is approximately eight times stronger than graphene.6 Its unique combination of high strength and flexibility makes it particularly suited for use in flexible electronics and advanced nanocomposites.
As nanomaterial research accelerates, breakthroughs in strength, conductivity, flexibility, and biofunctionality are unlocking new solutions in energy, health, and sustainability. Keeping up with these developments is key to understanding where innovation is headed next.
References and Further Reading
- Li, Y. et. al. (2025). Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67-Derived NiCoMn-Layered Double Hydroxides Nanosheets Dispersedly Grown on the Conductive Networks of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for High-Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors. Nanomaterials 15(7). 481. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15070481
- Kim, D. et al. (2024). Intrinsically stretchable quantum dot light-emitting diodes. Nat Electron 7, 365–374. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-024-01152-w
- Choi, M. et. al. (2024). "Intrinsically stretchable quantum dot light-emitting diodes", Proc. SPIE 13122, Organic and Hybrid Light Emitting Materials and Devices XXVIII, 1312206 Available at: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3030080
- Chen, L. et. al. (2024). A novel anti-angiogenesis peptide in combination with cisplatin self-assembling into tube-like nanomedicine for oral treatment of gastric cancer. Chemical Engineering Journal, 496, 154169. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.154169
- Ali, D. et. al. (2024). Novel Nanocomposite of Carbonized Chitosan-Zinc Oxide-Magnetite for Adsorption of Toxic Elements from Aqueous Solutions. ACS omega, 9(48), 47567-47584. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c06541
- Shin, B. et. al. (2025). Intrinsic toughening in monolayer amorphous carbon nanocomposites. Matter. 102000. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.102000
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