Nanozymes, a new concept first proposed by Chinese scientists, is a class of nanomaterials with biocatalytic functions. Owing to their nanostructures, nanozymes can catalyze the substrates of natural enzymes and serve as enzyme substitutes. Since the first report in 2007, over 420 research groups from 55 countries have validated this phenomenon. The discovery of nanozymes demonstrates for the first time that nanomaterials may have a unique biological effect-enzyme-like catalytic activity. As a new material, nanozyme has both the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and catalytic function similar to those of natural enzymes, with the benefits of both. Its nanostructure not only endows nanozymes with extremely effective catalytic activity but also renders them more stable and easier to mass production. The study of nanozymes is an example of interdisciplinary cooperation, being named as one of the 2022 top ten chemical emerging technologies by IUPAC.Nanozymes have become an emerging research focus due to the collaboration of experts from diverse fields worldwide such as chemistry, enzymology, materials science, biology, medicine, and theoretical calculations. Chinese scientists lead the way in this emerging field, investigating the structure-effect relationship of nanozymes, increasing their catalytic activity by 10 000 times, realizing rational design even surpassing natural enzymes, and developing the world's first nanozyme products, as well as publishing books on nanozyme science, releasing nanozyme terminology, and establishing Chinese/international standardization. Furthermore, the new field of nanozymes has attracted a substantial number of talented young multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists who are driving its strong growth by discovering more than 1200 types of nanozymes and uncovering their catalytic mechanisms.It has also evolved from the initial application in detection to nanozyme catalysis medicine, sensor detection, green synthesis, new energy, environmental protection, and many other. This article provides readers with an overview of the significant advances in nanozyme research since its discovery, including newly identified natural nanozymes. Ultimately, our goal is to see nanozymes improve human health and inspire the growth of a new field of study as they go from an idea to new materials, to technology and to products.

Since the discovery of graphene, studies on two-dimensional (2D) materials have become a hot research area. 2D materials can be prepared into one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons by using different methods. The obtained 1D nanoribbons present unique electrical, optical, and magnetic properties, which are different from that of their 2D material counterparts, due to their limited width and specific edge structures. Therefore, more and more researches focus on the 1D nanoribbons of 2D materials recently. In this review, we introduce several typical 1D nanoribbons of 2D materials, such as graphene, graphdiyne, biphenylene, boron nitride, black phosphorus, and transition metal dichalcogenides. We firstly discuss the structures and modified properties when the 2D materials are formed into 1D nanoribbons. Then, typical synthesis methods including “top-down” and “bottom-up” strategies are presented in detail. Especially, several methods are mainly introduced including on-surface synthesis, solution synthesis, confined synthesis, unzipping the nanotubes, and chemical vapor deposition, leading to controllable synthesis of nanoribbons with sub-nanometer in width and/or with designed edge structure, which ultimately result in nanoribbons with tailored properties. Finally, advantages and disadvantages of these synthesis methods are summarized and perspectives on the precision synthesis of certain nanoribbons with specific properties as well as applications are highlighted. We hope that this review is able to attract domestic and international peers’ attention on this new research focus on the 1D nanoribbons of 2D materials.

Atomically precise bottom-up synthesis of graphene nanoribbons under ultra-high vacuum condition is an important tool to open band gap of graphene. Rational design of precursor molecules with heteroatoms (boron, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc.) allows the synthesis of heteroatoms-doped graphene nanoribbons. Furthermore, heteroatoms-dopant can precisely tune the electrical, magnetic, and other physicochemical properties of graphene nanoribbons. The doping effect is closely related to the type, location and density of heteroatoms. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress on the synthesis and application prospects of heteroatoms-doped graphene nanoribbons based on the molecular beam epitaxy method. The applications of doped graphene nanoribbon are also propected.

Near and shortwave infrared organic photodetector (OPDs) is extremely significant for the application as thermal imaging, night vision, agricultural inspection, biometric sensors, remote sensing and related fields. However, most commercial infrared photodetectors generally require extra deep cooling equipment and are unable to bend, which limit their applications seriously. In order to overcome these challenges, more and more researches related with organic semiconductors (OSCs) emerge. OSCs with advantages including easy and elaborate tunability of optical properties, high optical absorption coefficient, and mechanical flexible, are able to fabricate over large areas with roll-to-roll processing and be compatible with flexible substrates. Infrared photodetectors based on OSCs attract more and more attention, which are free with extra deep cooling equipment and possess many advantages beyond inorganic infrared OPDs. They are deemed as attractive candidates for next generation infrared photodetectors. Recently, infrared OPDs have attracted more and more research attention. In this review, we first introduce the basic principles of organic phototransistors and photodiodes, and present development of organic complex materials and novel device configurations. Then we summarize state-of-the-art applications such as electronic eyes, artificial synapse and wearable devices for real-time health monitoring. Finally, we discuss challenges in this field and prospect future development. We believe that this review will promote the developments in the photodetector fields.

In recent years, inspired by the natural phenomenon that the living organism can automatically repair its damaged skin and bone via itself metabolism, researchers have successfully developed self-healing materials that can self-heal their microcracks. The self-healing of materials can effectively extend the service life of materials, improve working stability and thus reduce the waste of resources. Recently, the self-healable silicone materials originated from the synergistic combination of self-healing function and good properties of silicone materials, have become a research focus in functional materials. Furthermore, since the external stimuli such as UV irradiation, temperature and solvent are the external driving force for materials to fulfill self-healability, and affect largely the self-healing efficiency. More importantly, different stimuli have different advantages and disadvantages, and application fields. Therefore, this study aims to summarize and analyze the research progress of extrinsic and intrinsic self-healing silicone materials especially in the past five years according to their external stimuli. The intrinsic self-healing silicone materials that contain different dynamic polysiloxane crosslinking networks activated by different external stimuli, are emphatically discussed. Additionally, a brief prospect for the future development of self-healing silicone materials is also provided.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), which are formed by self-assembly of metal ions and organic ligands, are porous crystal materials with controllable morphology. Meanwhile, the emulsification of surfactants plays a key role in the formation of emulsion. The morphologies of micelles by self-assembly of surfactant controls the final morphology of the target materials. Therefore, micelles in emulsion are employed as reaction templates to modulate the morphology of MOFs. In the current review, the formation mechanism and characteristics of traditional emulsion, inverse microemulsion, surfactant-free emulsion and Pickering emulsion are briefly introduced. The progress in controllable growth of MOFs in emulsions is reviewed in detail. In particular, it is an ideal strategy for constructing MOFs composites by using surfactant-free emulsion method and Pickering emulsion method.

High power density, high charge-discharge efficiency, and long service life are important reasons why polymer film capacitors can be widely used in electric vehicles, smart grids and other electrical and electronic fields. Among them, dielectric polymer materials endow film capacitors with more possibilities due to their light weight, high breakdown strength, and easy large-scale processing. However, the low dielectric constant of dielectric polymers which results in the low energy density of the prepared capacitors, fails the material meeting the requirements of miniaturization and lightening of equipment. This paper summarizes the basic principles and performance parameters of dielectrics and film capacitors, and focuses on the introduction of dielectric polymer materials with energy storage as the main research direction, mainly including polymer-based nanocomposite dielectric polymers, dipole glass polymer materials, cross-linked dielectric polymers and multi-component all-organic dielectric polymers. Finally, we summarize the multiple challenges and potential opportunities faced by dielectric polymers in the process of fabricating energy storage capacitors with excellent performance.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is an important component of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), which significantly impacts on atmospheric visibility, human health and regional/global climate change. In urban air, high level of SOA is formed from the atmospheric oxidation of gaseous organic precursors emitted from vehicles, becoming an important factor for the decline of urban air quality. This review summarizes recent studies on the SOA formation from vehicle exhaust, focusing on the identification of key precursors and their emission characteristics, as well as SOA formation, evolution, and influencing factors. In addition, SOA production factors are compared among studies. New measuring techniques, new mechanisms and new parametric method will be the key research direction in the future.