Nowadays, a larger number of aggressive and corrosive chemical reagents as well as toxic solvents are used to achieve structural modification and cleaning of the final products. These lead to the production of residual, waste chemicals, which are often reactive, cancerogenic, and toxic to the environment. This study shows a new approach to the modification of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) using gamma irradiation where the usage of reagents was avoided. We achieved the incorporation of S and N atoms in the GQD structure by selecting an aqueous solution of L-cysteine as an irradiation medium. GQDs were exposed to gamma-irradiation at doses of 25, 50 and 200 kGy. After irradiation, the optical, structural, and morphological properties, as well as the possibility of their use as an agent in bioimaging and photodynamic therapy, were studied. We measured an enhanced quantum yield of photoluminescence with the highest dose of 25 kGy (21.60%). Both S- and N-functional groups were detected in all gamma-irradiated GQDs: amino, amide, thiol, and thione. Spin trap electron paramagnetic resonance showed that GQDs irradiated with 25 kGy can generate singlet oxygen upon illumination. Bioimaging on HeLa cells showed the best visibility for cells treated with GQDs irradiated with 25 kGy, while cytotoxicity was not detected after treatment of HeLa cells with gamma-irradiated GQDs.

In recent years, rare earth (RE) ion-doped vanadate materials have garnered signifi-cant attention due to their promising applications in everyday technologies. Vanadate-based compounds, typically containing V⁵⁺ ions within oxide structures, form VO₄ tet-rahedra that enable broad ultraviolet absorption and wide-range visible light emission. These materials serve as versatile hosts for RE ions, namely, the 15 lanthanides (lan-thanum (La) to lutetium (Lu)) plus scandium (Sc), and yttrium (Y), which act as lumi-nescent centers when incorporated into the matrix. The unique electronic configura-tion of RE ions, particularly their unpaired 4f electrons, makes them ideal for diverse applications in luminescence, magnetism, electronic and magnetic relaxation, and ca-talysis. While RE ions exhibit sharp and intense emission peaks in the visible and near-infrared regions, vanadate hosts contribute broad-band spectra through charge trans-fer transitions within the VO₄ units. These complementary luminescent properties are critical for the advancement of optoelectronic devices. To enhance performance and broaden the applicability of RE-doped vanadate materials, ongoing research focuses on developing innovative synthesis techniques and structural designs. This paper pre-sents a comprehensive review of recent progress in synthesis strategies, luminescent behavior, and sensing applications of RE ion-doped vanadate materials.

This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and multifunctional properties of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) nanoparticles prepared by a rapid and eco-friendly microwave-assisted method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO₄ with an average crystallite size of ~19 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed nearly uniform nanoscale morphology, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified the presence of characteristic Bi–O and V–O vibrational modes. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis (BET) indicated a specific surface area of 7.5 m²/g, consistent with a non-porous or weakly porous material. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) determined a band gap of 2.55 eV, confirming visible-light activity. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated through the degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) under visible-light irradiation. Effects of catalyst dosage and the initial concentration of pollutant Acid Orange 7 on photocatalytic degradation efficiency, were explained in details. Catalyst loading and initial dye concentration strongly influenced efficiency, achieving up to 77% removal within 120 minutes and well fitting to pseudo-first-order kinetics. In addition, the BiVO₄ nanoparticles exhibited notable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, attributed to synergistic effects of reactive oxygen species generation and direct surface interactions with bacterial membranes. These findings demonstrate that microwave-synthesized BiVO₄ is a multifunctional material with strong potential for integrated wastewater purification and disinfection applications.

The increasing number of electronic devices and the development of telecommunication and wireless communication have increased the density of secondary non-ionizing waves and created electromagnetic wave pollution. To prevent their impact, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are used. Due to physico-chemical properties, such as lightweight, chemical stability and tunable electrical properties, graphene and its derivate, graphene oxide (GO), seem to be a smart alternative. Its flexibility, biocompatibility, and sheet-like morphology make it particularly attractive for functionalization of textile fabrics. This paper presents innovative functionalized cotton fabrics modified with an agent-free approach using reduced GO (rGO) and rare-earth-based nanoparticles (REVO4: SmVO4, GdVO4, NdVO4, DyVO4). Cotton was functionalized with GO and REVO4 by repeating dipping, drying, and reduction cycles, from 1 to 30. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that GO sheets were homogeneously covering cotton fibers, while small spherical objects were identified across the fibers and confirmed REVO4 deposition. The effectiveness of EMI shielding in the samples with the highest number of deposited GO and REVO4 layers was between 20 and 28% across the band 2.60 to 3.95 GHz frequency range. Although shielding effectiveness is limited, the results highlight the potential of rGO and rare-earth-based nanoparticles as promising candidates in the professional clothing of workers in radar and telecommunications.

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have undergone remarkable development in recent decades, transforming them into one of the most dynamic classes of emerging composite materials. These crystalline, porous coordination networks built from metal ions or metal clusters interconnected by organic linkers, form architectures with tunable porosity, large specific surface area, and chemical functionality. Due to their remarkable stability and customizable functionalities, the MOFs have attracted significant attention in recent years as promising materials for different applications. In 2025, Susumu Kitagawa, Omar Yaghi, and Richard Robson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pioneering the development of MOF crystalline materials with spacious internal cavities that can store, filter or catalyze molecules. This review systematically consolidates key developments since 2020 in the MOFs synthesis approaches, in their morphology and structures, luminescent properties and applications. The rapid yearly increase in MOFrelated publications, continuing strongly into 2026, reflects the growing global interest and highlights the rising importance of their design and applications. This trend motivates the central focus of this paper, which emphasizes the integrated use of MOFs in sensing, water treatment, and hydrogen storage. Finally, the future perspectives of MOF-based materials will be highlighted with the aim of providing guidelines for their further development and additional applications.