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[Katsuhiko Ariga](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2445-2955), [Lok Kumar Shrestha](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2680-6291), [Qingmin Ji](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7810-3438)

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[Introduction to carbon nanoarchitectonics for advanced applications in energy, environment and bio](https://mdr.nims.go.jp/datasets/fb011c27-015a-4113-b8cf-70b17d7f053a)

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Introduction to carbon nanoarchitectonics for advanced applications in energy, environment and bioNanoscaleAdvancesEDITORIALOpen Access Article. Published on 17 February 2026. Downloaded on 3/5/2026 12:53:44 AM.  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.View Article OnlineView Journal  | View IssueIntroKatsuhiko ArigaKPTtriSsCaHaTeabaResearch Center for Materials NanoarcNational Institute for Materials Science (Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan. E-maKatsuhiko@nims.go.jpbGraduate School of Frontier Sciences, The UTokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa 277-8cDepartment of Materials Science, InstituteApplied Sciences, University of TsukTennodai, Tsukuba 305-8573, JapandHerbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience,Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjingof Science and Technology, 200 Xiaolingw210094, Jiangsu, ChinaCite this: Nanoscale Adv., 2026, 8,1447DOI: 10.1039/d6na90009grsc.li/nanoscale-advances© 2026 The Author(s). Published byduction to carbon nanoarchitectonics foradvanced applications in energy, environment andbioKatsuhiko Ariga, *ab Lok Kumar Shrestha ac and Qingmin Ji dThis editorial summarizes the history and outlines the importance of carbon nanoarchitectonics togetherwith recent examples of energy, the environment, and bio-related applications.In this editorial, we will introduce theemerging eld of ‘carbon nano-architectonics’. We will outline thesignicance of the terms ‘carbon’ and‘nanoarchitectonics’ that comprise thisconcept. The importance of carbon isundeniable. It is an essential element forlife as it forms the basic structure of allatsuhiko AhD from thechnologyhe Nationalials Sciences currentlyupermolecuenior sciententre forrchitectonice is alsprofessor iokyo. He uditor of Nnd is nowoard.hitectonics,NIMS), 1-1il: ARIGA.niversity of561, Japanof Pure anduba, 1-1,School ofUniversityei, Nanjingthe Royal Soliving organisms, including humans. It istherefore deeply connected to biologicalphenomena and social activities. A keyexample of this is carbon neutrality,which is vital in the ght against globalwarming. There is an urgent need todevelop systems and functional materialsthat minimize carbon (carbon dioxide)emissions. Carbon materials possessa variety of nice properties, includingbeing lightweight yet strong, havingexcellent electrical and thermal conduc-tivity, being heat resistant, and beingchemically stable. They are used in a widerange of applications, from aerospace tomedicine. As well as being used asstructural materials, they are also utilizedin a variety of cutting-edge elds,including those requiring biocompati-bility and for medical devices that utilizeriga received hise Tokyo Institute ofin 1990. He joinedInstitute for Mate-(NIMS) in 2004 andthe leader of theles Group andist at the ResearchMaterials Nano-s (MANA), NIMS.o appointed asn the University ofsed to be a senioranoscale Horizonson the editorialLok Kumar Shresarchitectonics, hierarcstorage, energy conserciety of Chemistrytheir X-ray transparency. In electronics,nanocarbon materials such as carbonnanotubes are being researched for usein semiconductor manufacturingprocesses, battery electrodes and next-generation display materials. Carbonmaterials are particularly useful as cata-lysts in the energy sector and there is highhope that they will become a substitutefor expensive precious metals.Carbon is an important element thatis used in a variety of materials. It istherefore not surprising that it has beenthe subject of intensive research in recentyears. Among these, nanocarbons haveattracted considerable attention.1,2Research into carbon materials withnanoscale structural dimensions, such asfullerenes, carbon nanotubes and gra-phene, is booming. The key point is thatthaLok Kumar Shrestha received hisPhD from Yokohama NationalUniversity in 2008. He joined theNational Institute for MaterialsScience (NIMS) as an ICYS-MANA researcher in 2010.Currently, he is a chiefresearcher at the ResearchCentre for Materials Nano-architectonics (MANA), NIMS.He has also been appointed asa professor at the University ofTsukuba. His research interestsinclude fullerene nano-hically porous carbon materials for energyvation, sensing, and biological applications.Nanoscale Adv., 2026, 8, 1447–1449 | 1447CrossMark:http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1039/d6na90009g&domain=pdf&date_stamp=2026-03-03http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2445-2955http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2680-6291http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7810-3438http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na90009ghttps://pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journal/NAhttps://pubs.rsc.org/en/journals/journal/NA?issueid=NA008005Nanoscale Advances EditorialOpen Access Article. Published on 17 February 2026. Downloaded on 3/5/2026 12:53:44 AM.  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.View Article Onlinethey are not just carbon materials, butalso have a nanoscale structure. Indeed,it has been recognized that controllingthe nanostructure, rather than just thematerial itself, is important for manymaterials other than carbon. A keyconcept for this in the 21st century is‘nanoarchitectonics’.3 This term is brieyexplained below.We have acquired the science andtechnology to create a variety of func-tional materials for various applicationdemands,4–6 primarily in the eld ofmaterials chemistry. Throughout ourhistory, we have realized that controllingthe precise structure of materials, as wellas their properties, leads to improvedfunctionality. Against this backdrop, theconcept of nanotechnology emerged inthe mid-20th century. Nanotechnologyenables us to observe structures at theatomic andmolecular level,7,8 manipulatethem9,10 and elucidate the properties innanospaces.11,12 By leveraging the powerof materials chemistry to create materialsand the impact of nanotechnology tocontrol the nanoscale, our next goal is todevelop a concept for the free creation offunctional materials with controllednanostructures. This is achieved throughnanoarchitectonics, a post-nanotechnology concept that emergedin the early 21st century.13 It aims toQingmin JiQingminJireceivedher PhDin chem-istry fromtheUniver-sity ofTsukuba,Japan, in2005. Shethenworked atthe National Institute of Advanced Indus-trial Science and Technology (AIST) andNational Institute for Materials Science(NIMS) in Japan before joining NJUST. Hercurrent research focuses on the design ofhybrid functional structures by self-assembly and exploring their advancedapplications for sensing and catalysis.1448 | Nanoscale Adv., 2026, 8, 1447–1449combine the power of materials chem-istry and nanotechnology to creatematerials with greater functionality,starting from basic units such as atoms,molecules and nanounits. In otherwords, nanoarchitectonics is a compre-hensive materials development conceptthat integrates materials chemistry andnanotechnology. As all matter iscomposed of atoms and molecules, thismethodology could be applicable to allmaterials. The ultimate goal of thenanoarchitectonics approaches would bea method for everything in materialsscience.14,15 In physics, the ultimate goalis a theory of everything, or a superunication theory. It would be great tohave such a goal in chemistry too.Thus, carbon nanoarchitectonics isthe fusion of carbon, which is expected tohave a wide range of applications, andnanoarchitectonics, which has the powerto create many functional materials.Nanoscale Advances has publisheda themed collection titled ‘Carbon nano-architectonics for advanced applicationsin energy, environment and bio’ asa more advanced form of nanoscalechemistry. The papers collected therecover a wide range of topics, from thefundamental to the applied, and clearlydemonstrate the signicant impact ofcarbon nanoarchitectonics. Below is anoverview of the papers published in thisthemed collection.The mission of nanoarchitectonics isthe creation of novel functional mate-rials. For instance, ‘nanoarchitectonics’surface synthesis has demonstratedremarkable capabilities in realizingdesired carbon nanomaterials withatomic precision. Alcón et al.’s minire-view, ‘Progress on quantum transportengineering in atomically precise aniso-tropic nanoporous graphene’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00532A),summarizes progress in a specic type ofnanoporous graphene constructed fromtwo-dimensional (2D) arrays of graphenenanoribbons. This unique platform canbe used to tune quantum electronicproperties and 2D anisotropy. Thismethodology can be used for targetedapplications at the nanoscale, down tothe atomic and molecular levels. Obser-vations of nanoscale material behaviourhave also been reported. In their paper,© 2026 The Author(s‘Electromigration-driven linear actuatoroperations of Co nanorods inside andoutside multi-walled carbon nanotubeswith stroke of tens of nanometers’(https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00766B),Matsuyama and Kohno extrude solidcobalt (Co) nanorod llers from multi-walled carbon nanotubes using electro-migration, observing their behaviour insitu with a transmission electron micro-scope. For instance, reversing the direc-tion of the electron ow causes the Conanorods to be pulled into the hostnanotube.The publications also include researchpapers focusing on applications. Reect-ing the suitability of carbon materials,applications in energy-related elds areparticularly prominent. Gao et al.’s reviewpaper, ‘Porous carbon-nanostructuredelectrocatalysts for zinc–air batteries:from materials design to applications’(https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00847B),examines the oxygen reduction andevolution reactions in zinc–air batteriesin detail through the use of advancedporous carbon materials. The paperintegrates recent advances in porouscarbon materials, providing crucialinsights for developing next-generation,high-performance battery materials. Intheir report, ‘Terpyridine-functionalizedsingle-walled carbon nanotubes towardsselectivity in the oxygen reduction reac-tion’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00281H), Sideri et al. demonstratethe stepwise chemical modication ofsingle-walled carbon nanotubes with ter-pyridine ligands in the absence of metal,as well as in the presence of two differentoxidation states of ruthenium (Ru). Thecomparative analysis revealed that therst coordination sphere of noble metalsanchored on carbon nanomateriallattices plays a crucial role in the ther-modynamics and kinetics of the oxygenreduction reaction. This provides valu-able insights into designing the nano-structure of efficient, carbon-basedelectrocatalysts. In their paper, ‘High-performance boron nitride/grapheneoxide composites modied with sodiumthiosulfate for energy storage applica-tions’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00937A), Shams et al. reported onthe scalable synthesis of boron nitride/graphene oxide composites. This was). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistryhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00532Ahttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00532Ahttps://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00766Bhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00847Bhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00281Hhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00281Hhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00937Ahttps://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00937Ahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na90009gEditorial Nanoscale AdvancesOpen Access Article. Published on 17 February 2026. Downloaded on 3/5/2026 12:53:44 AM.  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.View Article Onlineachieved using a liquid-phase exfoliationmethod involving ultrasonic treatment.The composites were then preparedusing sodium thiosulfate and exhibitedexcellent electrochemical properties,making them suitable for energy storageapplications. Demonstrating highcapacity, strong rate capability andoutstanding coulombic efficiency, thesecomposites are promising candidates fornext-generation energy storage systems.There have also been developmentsregarding environmental issues. Formal-dehyde is a volatile organic compoundthat is a signicant concern for the envi-ronment and human health. In theirpaper, ‘Functionalized carbon nano-particles for smartphone-based sensingof formaldehyde’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00865D), Cavallaro et al.reported on a uorescent nanosensorfor formaldehyde in both the aqueousand gas phases, which is based ondopamine-functionalized carbon nano-particles. The sensitivity easily met thesafety threshold recommended by theWorld Health Organization (WHO).Compatibility with smartphone-baseddetection could lead to the developmentof portable, low-cost devices for real-timemonitoring. A review paper by Chakro-borty et al., ‘A review of emerging trendsin nanomaterial-driven AI for biomedicalapplications’ (https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00032G), discusses the potentialcontribution to the medical eld. Smarthealth tracking systems that integrate AIand nanoscience could represent a newfrontier in overcoming variouschallenges. Targeted drug delivery,biosensing, imaging and otherdiagnostic and therapeutic elds can allbenet greatly from nanoscience inmedicine. AI can assist in this area. Forinstance, the paper outlines the current© 2026 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Sochallenges and potential opportunitiesin providing personalized healthcareusing AI-assisted clinical decisionsupport systems.The papers in this themed collectionreveal a wide range of developments.Furthermore, the concept of nano-architectonics is being employed invarious ways that go beyond what is pre-sented in these papers. For instance,applications range from controllingcarbon skeletons to improving the cata-lytic function of oxygen reduction reac-tions,16 to localized assembly inbiological systems that mimic the originof life.17 Even this small collection ofpapers reveals a wide range of objectives.The concept of nanoarchitectonics islikely to have an impact on many areas ofmaterials chemistry and nanoscalescience. In order to realize its enormouspotential, it has been proposed that AItechnology be incorporated into nano-architectonics.18 In any case, functional-izing and applying carbon materials areessential to meet societal demands. Thisthemed collection provides a glimpse ofthis and may serve as an indication of thefuture of materials and nanoscalesciences.References1 P. K. Kanti, P. Kumar H G,V. V. Wanatasanappan, A. Kumar andM. B. Regasa, Nanoscale Adv., 2025, 7,3603–3618.2 T. Yasukawa,Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 2024,97, uoae076.3 K. Ariga, J. Song and K. Kawakami,Chem.–Asian J., 2025, 20, e00836.4 M. Han, T. Nagaura, J. Kim,S. M. Alshehri, T. Ahamad, Y. Bando,A. Alowasheeir, Y. Asakura andciety of ChemistryY. Yamauchi, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.,2025, 98, uoae136.5 L. Sutrisno, G. J. Richards, J. D Evans,M. Matsumoto, X. Li, K. Uto, J. P Hill,M. Taki, S. Yamaguchi and K. Ariga,Sci. Adv., 2025, 11, eadz6633.6 M. Gon and K. Tanaka, Bull. Chem. Soc.Jpn., 2025, 98, uoaf085.7 Y. Sugimoto, P. Pou, M. Abe, P. Jelinek,R. Pérez, S. Morita and Ó. Custance,Nature, 2007, 446, 64–67.8 T. Nakamuro, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.,2024, 97, uoae082.9 (a) Y.OkawaandM.Aono,Nature, 2001,409, 683–684; (b) K. Terabe,T. Hasegawa, T. Nakayama andM. Aono, Nature, 2005, 433, 47–50.10 S. Kawai, O. Krejćı, T. Nishiuchi,K. Sahara, T. Kodama, R. Pawlak,E. Meyer, T. Kubo and A. S. Foster, Sci.Adv., 2020, 6, eaay8913.11 K. Kimura, K.Miwa, H. Imada,M. Imai-Imada, S. Kawahara, J. Takeya,M. Kawai, M. Galperin and Y. Kim,Nature, 2019, 570, 210–213.12 N. Oyamada, H. Minamimoto,T. Fukushima, R. Zhou andK. Murakoshi, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.,2024, 97, uoae007.13 K. Ariga,Nanoscale Horiz., 2021, 6, 364–378.14 K. Ariga, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn., 2024, 97,uoad001.15 K. Ariga,Materials, 2025, 18, 5196.16 G. Chen, M. Isegawa, T. Koide,Y. Yoshida, K. Harano, K. Hayashida,S. Fujita, K. Takeyasu, K. Ariga andJ. Nakamura, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.,2024, 63, e20410747.17 J. Song, K. Kawakami and K. Ariga, Adv.Colloid Interface Sci., 2025, 339, 103420.18 H. Bae, H. Ji, K. Konstantinov,R. Sluyter, K. Ariga, Y. H. Kim andJ. H. Kim, Adv. Mater., 2025, 37, e10239.Nanoscale Adv., 2026, 8, 1447–1449 | 1449https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00865Dhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00865Dhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00032Ghttps://doi.org/10.1039/D5NA00032Ghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na90009g Introduction to carbon nanoarchitectonics for advanced applications in energy, environment and bio Introduction to carbon nanoarchitectonics for advanced applications in energy, environment and bio