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Abstract 4D printing is the 3D printing of objects that change chemically or physically in response to an external stimulus over time. Photothermally responsive shape memory materials are attractive for their ability to undergo remote activation. While photothermal methods using gold nanorods (AuNRs) are used for shape recovery, 3D patterning of these materials into objects with complex geometries using degradable materials is not addressed. Here, the fabrication of 3D printed shape memory bioplastics with photo‐activated shape recovery is reported. Protein‐based nanocomposites based on bovine serum albumin (BSA), poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and AuNRs are developed for vat photopolymerization. These 3D printed bioplastics are mechanically deformed under high loads, and the proteins served as mechano‐active elements that unfolded in an energy‐dissipating mechanism that prevented fracture of the thermoset. The bioplastic object maintained its metastable shape‐programmed state under ambient conditions. Subsequently, up to 99% shape recovery is achieved within 1 min of irradiation with near‐infrared (NIR) light. Mechanical characterization and small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analysis suggest that the proteins mechanically unfold during the shape programming step and may refold during shape recovery. These composites are promising materials for the fabrication of biodegradable shape‐morphing devices for robotics and medicine. 

The pseudo-two-dimensional (2D) morphology of plate-like metal nanoparticles makes them one of the most anisotropic, mechanistically understood, and tunable structures available. Although well-known for their superior plasmonic properties, recent progress in the 2D growth of various other materials has led to an increasingly diverse family of plate-like metal nanoparticles, giving rise to numerous appealing properties and applications. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the solution-phase growth of colloidal plate-like metal nanoparticles, including plasmonic and other metals, with an emphasis on mechanistic insights for different synthetic strategies, the crystallographic habits of different metals, and the use of nanoplates as scaffolds for the synthesis of other derivative structures. We additionally highlight representative self-assembly techniques and provide a brief overview on the attractive properties and unique versatility benefiting from the 2D morphology. Finally, we share our opinions on the existing challenges and future perspectives for plate-like metal nanomaterials. 

Chiral nanostructures is one of the most rapidly developing research fields encompassing chemistry, physics, and biology. The rise to academic prominence of chiral nanostructures was fueled by their giant optical activity and the fundamental structural parallels between biotic and abiotic structures with mirror asymmetry. Our introduction and the themed collection provide both a timely snapshot and comprehensive overview of concepts being developed by a diverse spectrum of scientists around the world working in in chiral nanostructures from metals, semiconductors and ceramics. Many fundamental discoveries in this area are expected that are likely to encompass multiscale chirality transfer, chiral surfaces, biological signaling, and circularly polarized emitters. Technological applications being pursued along the way of fundamental studies include biosensing, healthcare, chiral photonics, and sustainable catalysis. 

Bimetallic gold–palladium particles were originally proposed as catalysts with tunable reaction rates. Following the development of synthesis routes that offer better control on the morphology and composition of the particles, novel optical sensing functionalities were more recently proposed. Since temperature is a fundamental parameter that interplays with every other proposed application, we studied the light-to-heat conversion ability of Au/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles with a regular octapodal shape. Both compositional (Au-to-Pd ratio) and structural (diagonal tip-to-tip distance and tip width) characteristics were screened and found to be essential control parameters to promote light absorption and efficient conversion into heat. Electromagnetic simulations reveal that the Pd content, and specifically its distribution inside the branched particle geometry, has a profound impact on the optical properties and is an essential criterion for efficient heating. Notably, the optical and photothermal responses are shown to remain stable throughout extended illumination, with no noticeable structural changes to the branched nanocrystals due to heat generation.