The 100 most-cited articles in RSC Advances, 2017

A universal but simple procedure for identifying the α, β and γ phases in PVDF using FTIR is proposed and validated. An integrated quantification methodology for individual β and γ phase in mixed systems is also proposed.

We review the topology–property relationship and the spread of Young's modulus–Poisson's ratio duos in three main classes of auxetic metamaterials.

In recent years, two-dimensional atomic-level thickness crystal materials have attracted widespread interest such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), silicene, germanium, black phosphorus (BP), transition metal sulfides and so on.

Properties of CNCs obtained from cellulose with various polymorphs were investigated and compared.

The effects of surface morphology, defects, texture and energy on carbon steel corrosion are elucidated along with relevant characterization methods.

A new method to compute accurate bond orders for metallic, covalent, polar-covalent, ionic, multi-centered, aromatic, dative, dispersion, and hydrogen bonding.

We report modification of graphene oxide by thermal reduction to obtain reduced graphene oxide and subsequent functionalization with sulfophenyl groups to obtain SRGO as well as the characterization of these materials by TGA-MS.

Methyl ammonium lead halide-based hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been intensively studied in recent years because of their high efficiency and low processing costs.

Effective surface area on rough substrates for bacterial adhesion is examined by analyzing the solid area fraction of surfaces, where the bacterial medium is in contact with the solid surface.

Seed germination and plants growth are significantly improvement by combining plasma activated water and plasma treated seeds.

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) hold great technological promise because of the possibility of engineering their electronic and optical properties through material design.

We report a facile method to delaminate MXenes and prepare poly(vinylidene fluoride)/MXene composites with excellent thermal properties.

Simple spectrophotometric method for the estimation of accessible amino groups and preparation of polyurethane nanocomposites.

Graphical representation regarding sources, extraction techniques and nutraceutical perspectives of eugenol.

Stricter legislation on formaldehyde emissions as well as growing consumer interest in sustainable raw materials and products are the main driving factors behind research on bio-based adhesives, as alternatives to amino-based ones, for wood panels.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a member of the Ca apatite family.

Novel accordion structure Ti 3 C 2 –Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 composites with nice electromagnetic wave absorption properties.

Graphene has emerged as the most popular topic in the active research field since graphene's discovery in 2004 by Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov.

In this article, we try to answer the fundamental question in Na-ion batteries using DFT calculations: why is sodium-intercalated graphite unstable?

Comparative study of the photocatalytic performance for the degradation of different by ZnIn 2 S 4 based on the adsorption of dyes, the active species and the degradation pathway.

A direct regeneration of cathode materials from spent LiFePO 4 batteries using a solid phase sintering method has been proposed in this article.

Graphites with a low degree of graphitization are more appropriate to prepare thin layer graphene with a high degree of defects and high specific capacitance.

Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots prepared with microcrystalline cellulose display excellent sensitivity to Fe 3+ via dynamic quenching in an acidic environment.

Foodborne pathogens are the main factors behind foodborne diseases and food poisoning and thus pose a great threat to food safety.

MOF PCN-222 exhibits excellent adsorption/removal capacities for numerous anionic and cationic dyes individually and together in solutions.

Compared with the conventional DFT approach, SCC-DFTB method is more effective to deal with the adsorption issues of large size organic corrosion inhibitors on metal surface.

A rapid green approach for synthesizing of silver nanoparticles using Alpinia katsumadai seed extract is described and their antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities evaluated.

Nanomaterial integration into tissue culture for prospective uninterrupted progressive plant tissue culture.

Various approaches have been investigated to functionalize CNT for achieving a high dispersion of CNT as well as high compatibility between CNT and polymer matrix which lead to improvement of membrane properties and performances.

The present work describes the fabrication of Ni–graphene composite coatings on carbon steel at different deposition temperatures (15 °C, 30 °C, 45 °C and 60 °C, respectively) by an electrochemical codeposition method.

Pyran-based heterocycles are promising for anticancer drug discovery.

This paper illustrates a simpler method for the preparation of gel polymer electrolytes.

Scheme for the adsorption of dye molecules by CNTs and CNT functionality.

All-solid-state flexible asymmetric supercapacitors fabricated using CoS and AC showed a high cell voltage, high specific capacitance, and high energy density of 5.3 W h kg −1 with excellent electrochemical stability.

We synthesized luminescent CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals with a high quantum yield and realized patterning and color-purity light-emitting diode applications.

This article is focused on various synthetic methods and characterization techniquesof nanofluids. Factors enhancing the stability and lubrication mechanism have been delineated in detail as well.

Cellulose nanofibers obtained from various plants and microbial sources, their extraction methods and various environmental applications are discussed.

The application of biochars as versatile catalysts and/or catalyst supports for biomass upgrading is systematically overviewed.

A Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene electrode decorated with NiO nanosheets was synthesized by a facile and cost-effective hydrothermal method.

Encapsulation of bioactive materials and drugs using the emulsion electrospinning method.

Ligand-free rutile and anatase TiO 2 nanocrystals were synthesized via a hydrolytic sol–gel method. The improved power conversion efficiency was achieved by using anatase TiO 2 nanocrystals as electron extraction layer in the organic solar cells.

Hierarchical nanocomposites of aligned polyaniline nanorods on reduced graphene oxide nanosheets are synthesized in an in situ polymerization process.

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells are found to be sensitive to moisture, oxygen, UV light, light soaking, heat, electric field, etc.

Cobalt doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and nanorods (NRs) were synthesized by a simple chemical method.

A facile surfactant free wet-precipitation process was employed to prepare hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles.

Graphene-based two-dimensional materials have been explored in a variety of applications, including the treatment of heavy-metal-rich water/wastewater.

PANF-derived activated carbon fibers (PACFs) were prepared using a one step carbonation–activation, and used for the sorption of PFOS and PFOA.

Dye-sensitized solar cell using counter electrode based on transition metal dichalcogenides.

This review article provides an exhaustive overview of efficient synthesis, growth mechanism and research activities of multiphase TiO 2 nanostructures to provide their structural, morphological, optical and biological properties co-relations.

A photocatalytic activity enhanced mechanism accounting for the photosensitization synergetic effect is proposed, with MB degradation pathways including chromophoric and auxochrome group degradation.

Various concentration gradient generation methods based on microfluidic systems are summarized in this paper.

Utilizing nanomaterials in flooding techniques has the potential to enhance oil recovery.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has limitless possibilities for applications in the entire spectrum of our daily lives, from healthcare to automobiles to public safety.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the major interest in food industry primarily by virtue of their biopreservative properties.

This review summarizes current advances on the design and the employment of fluorescent carbon dots in sensing applications, especially from the point of analytical view.

Neodymium and dysprosium can be separated using a new extraction system based on a deep-eutectic solvent and Cyanex® 923 diluted in toluene.

A comprehensive review on natural compounds as corrosion inhibitors for aluminium and aluminium alloys in different solutions is presented.

As a part of a research program aiming to mobilize marine gas hydrate deposits as an energy resource, the worlds' first gas production attempt was performed in early 2013 in the Daini Atsumi Knoll, Eastern Nankai Trough, off Honshu Island, Japan.

Many people in the world struggle with cancer or bacterial, parasitic, viral, Alzheimer's and other diseases.

A Ag/graphene-like g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst was synthesized via a simple thermal oxidation exfoliation-photodeposition technique.

Hard-carbon is considered as one of the most promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs).

In this review various analytical techniques utilising the plasmonic properties of silver and gold nanoparticles have been presented.

pH-driven method, an organic solvent-free and easily scale-upable method, was firstly utilized to prepared curcumin-loaded liposomes.

MXene, a new 2D transition metal carbide-based material, possesses excellent permselectivity and hydrophilicity.

A new fluorescent dye with large Stokes shift and excellent photo-stability for live cell imaging has been developed.

Treatment with KOH increased the number of surface functional groups and tetracycline adsorption at 300 °C, whereas it decreased that at 500 and 700 °C.

A facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped graphene with high atomic percentages of pyridinic N and graphitic N is reported. The synthesized materials show superior capacitance performance and metal-free bifunctional electrocatalysis of ORR and OER.

Cytotoxicity of PEG oligomers (with different molecular weights) and PEG based monomers (with different chain end groups) was studied in detail.

Ultrathin graphitic carbon nitride (UGCN) nanosheets with an extended region of visible light response and enhanced surface area were constructed for a significant enhancement in photocatalysis.

A power conversion efficiency of 17.9% has been obtained for the device with a critical BCP thickness of 5 nm. While if the BCP layer is too thin or too thick, charge accumulation will emerge and lead to device performance degradation.

Monitoring the pH of wounds as an essential diagnosis factor during the healing process.

In this study, hybrid carbon dots–plasmonic nanostructures including carbon dots/polyethyleneimine/gold (C-dots/PEI/Au), and carbon dots/polyethyleneimine/silver (C-dots/PEI/Ag) have been prepared using a MWI method for biomedical imaging.

Mesoporous anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles are produced by employing a facile green chemistry approach at low temperature with soluble starch as the template in this work. The obtained TiO 2 photocatalyst is visible-light active with good photocatalytic activities.

The present review aims to describe various methodologies that have been used for the synthesis of 1,2- & 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs) and also highlight their medicinal significance.

Ni/Ni(OH) 2 NSs were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method using EtOH as reducing agent. Asymmetric device is fabricated using AC and Ni/Ni(OH) 2 NSs as electrodes, with optimized specific capacitance of 62 F g −1 and a maximum energy density of 23.45 W h kg −1 .

For screening purposes, mixture separations with MOFs are evaluated on the basis of a combined selectivity/capacity metric.

The development of novel cutaneous wound treatments particularly for burns is of paramount importance due to complex pathophysiology, prevalent infection and clinical complexities associated with burn care.

The influence of the relative permittivity of dielectric materials on the performance of TENGs, by controlling the positive plate with various oxide materials, has been demonstrated.

The aim of this study is to find a suitable substitution for diglycidyl ether bisphenol A (DGEBA) to avoid the devastating side effects of bisphenol A.

Single and multiple post-polymerization modifications of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) scaffold through the nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of the pendent epoxide groups are described.

Superabsorbent hydrogels (SHs) have been used in many fields in recent years.

Functionalized abamectin poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles with different adhesion abilities to crop foliage can regulate folia retention of abamectin.

The reactions over Mn-containing selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts.

This report aims to provide the audience with a guideline for construction and characterisation of nanobiosensors that are based on widely used affinity probes including antibodies and aptamers.

Aluminum hydroxide was successfully loading on PG. The cost-effective and high adsorption capacity of Al–PG had widely potential utilization on phosphate removal.

In this work, solid microneedles (MNs) for skin pretreatment were systematically studied including MN height, density, spacing, and so on.

In this review paper, we considered all of the reports on the ion-exchange process which occur in the pores of MOFs. A comparison between MOFs before and after-exchange process and their applications were addressed.

We report on the synthesis of manganese cobalt ferrite (MnCoFeO 4 ) nanoparticles via a simple one-pot co-precipitation method and their characterization through energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), XRD, HR-TEM, FT-IR and N 2 adsorption/desorption techniques.

Barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) with different sizes were produced through a hydrothermal microwave method (HTMW). We have found that microstructural strain is induced by the surface stress in the nanoparticles.

A range of macrocyclic and acyclic chelators have been reacted with the PET isotope, gallium-68, and their radiolabelling efficiencies have been compared. Structural data for complexes of HBED with Ga 3+ are reported.

Carbon-based nanocomposite membranes have recently drawn tremendous attentions among membrane scientists due to their excellent chemical, mechanical stability and antifouling properties against oil deposition/adsorption.

Photoluminescent carbon dots derived from sugarcane molasses were investigated via cellular imaging and sensing for Fe 3+ or sunset yellow. The underlying mechanism of fluorescence quenching in the C-dots/sunset yellow system was also studied.

In the present work, the suitability of Aloe vera (AV) as a ‘green reducing agent’ has been investigated for the reduction of graphene oxide (GO).

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogel prepared by radical polymerization in a clean and extremely simple way was used to adsorb U( vi ) ions from aqueous solutions.

The present article is mainly focused on literature studies centred on polyolefin (especially PE and PP) nanocomposites based on graphene and its derivatives.

In this review, various approaches for the construction of benzofurans as an important moiety in different natural products during the total synthesis of the natural of products are underscored.

The Fe 3 O 4 magnetic polypyrrole–graphene (PPy–GO) has a Langmuir adsorption capacities of 400.0 mg g −1 for Hg( ii ). And it has a favorable saturation magnetization of 19.0 emu g −1 , easily separated from solutions via additional exterior magnets.

Green fluorescent CDs using the natural product dandelion as a carbon source were covalently conjugated with folate to differentiate cancer cells from normal cells.

A novel superhydrophobic, superoleophilic electrospun nanofibrous membrane of beeswax and polycaprolactone has been fabricated.

Combined effect of lattice distortion and Ti 3+ defects greatly improves the visible light photocatalytic activity.