The molecular organization of the epicuticle (the outermost layer) of insect wings is vital in the formation of the nanoscale surface patterns that are responsible for bestowing remarkable functional properties. Using a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, including Synchrotron-sourced Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), we have identified the chemical components that constitute the nanoscale structures on the surface of the wings of the dragonfly, Hemianax papuensis. The major components were identified to be fatty acids, predominantly hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid, and n-alkanes with even numbered carbon chains ranging from C₁₄ to C₃₀. The data obtained from XPS depth profiling, in conjunction with that obtained from GCMS analyses, enabled the location of particular classes of compounds to different regions within the epicuticle. Hexadecanoic acid was found to be a major component of the outer region of the epicuticle, which forms the surface nanostructures, and was also detected in deeper layers along with octadecanoic acid. Aliphatic compounds were detected throughout the epicuticle, and these appeared to form a third discrete layer that was separate from both the inner and outer epicuticles, which has never previously been reported.

Spherical palladium nanocrystals were generated from aqueous Na₂[PdCl₄] via photosynthetic reactions within green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris). Electrospun chitosan mats were effective for immobilizing these biogenic nanocrystals, as a material for recycling as a catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction. This photosynthetically-driven metal transformation system can serve as a good candidate for an environmentally-friendly method for the synthesis of metal nanocatalysts.

Carbon nanodots (CDs) with size dependent fluorescence are synthesized from multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) under continuous flow in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) when irradiated by a pulsed laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm, without subsequent passivation procedures. The CDs have a relatively narrow size distribution averaging ca. 6 nm in diameter, and have low cytotoxicity and high colloidal stability with the highest emission intensity of the solution at 450 nm under a 345 nm excitation wavelength. Further downstream processing on the as-processed CDs revealed tunability of the emission from 450 nm to 325 nm.

A facile aqueous based method of decorating p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene functionalized graphene with well-dispersed ultrafine palladium nanoparticles (∼2 nm) has been developed. The electrocatalytic Pd-NP–graphene nano-composite has been incorporated into a functional hydrogen sensing device using a simple drop casting technique on interdigitated electrodes.