Silica Layer Research Articles

Design of silver-zinc-nickel spinel-ferrite mesoporous silica as a powerful and simply separable adsorbent for some textile dye removal

Silver-zinc-nickel spinel ferrite was prepared by the co-precipitation procedure with the precise composition Ag0.1Zn0.4Ni0.5Fe2O4 for bolstering pollutant removal effectiveness while upholding magnetic properties and then coated with a mesoporous silica layer. The surface characteristics and composition of Ag0.1Zn0.4Ni0.5Fe2O4@mSiO2 were confirmed using EDX, FT-IR, VSM, XRD, TEM, SEM, and BET methods. The surface modification of Ag-Zn-Ni ferrite with a silica layer improves the texture properties, where the specific surface area and average pore size of the spinel ferrite rose to 180 m2/g and 3.15 nm, respectively. The prepared spinel ferrite@mSiO2 has been utilized as an efficient adsorbent for eliminating methyl green (MG) and indigo carmine (IC) as models of cationic and anionic dyes from wastewater, respectively. Studying pH, Pzc, adsorbent dosage, dye concentration, and temperature showed that efficient removal of MG was carried out in alkaline media (pH = 12), while the acid medium (pH = 2) was effective for IC removal. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics were found to be good fits for the adsorption data. Both dyes were adsorbed in a spontaneous, endothermic process. A possible mechanism for dye removal has been proposed. The adsorbent was effectively recovered and reused.

Multi-responsive Pickering emulsifiers: a comprehensive study on the emulsification-demulsification behavior of modified chitosan-coated Fe3O4 nanocomposites.

The surface characteristics of stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsifiers can be modified by external environmental triggers, making them highly versatile in various applications. In this study, we report three novel organic-inorganic composite structure emulsifiers. These emulsifiers were designed with a core of magnetic Fe3O4 particles, surrounded by a protective silica layer, and coated on the exterior with three distinct types of modified chitosan (CS). Experimental results demonstrate that these emulsifiers can stabilize emulsion systems consisting of liquid paraffin and deionized water at a concentration of 0.5 wt%. The unique properties of the modified CS coatings allowed for the controlled demulsification of two types of emulsions by adjusting the proton concentration. Additionally, these emulsifiers exhibited magnetic-responsive demulsification under the control of an external magnetic field. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the design and construction of multi-responsive chitosan-based magnetic Pickering emulsifiers with controllable properties.

Dynamic tunable and switchable broadband near-infrared absorption modulator based on graphene-hybrid metasurface

The integration of graphene with metasurfaces enables devices with remarkable dynamic tunability, propelling electromagnetic (EM) manipulations to new heights by transitioning from static to dynamic control. In this study, we theoretically investigate a broadband absorption modulator with dynamic tunability based on a graphene hybrid metasurface. The metasurface consists of a monolayer graphene sheet sandwiched between a square silver block and a silica layer. The excitation of the magnetic toroidal dipole (MTD) leads to a significant enhancement of graphene’s electromagnetic absorption. By arranging four blocks as a supercell to support multi-resonance, we achieve a broadband modulator spanning from 1000 to 1210 nm, with graphene absorption exceeding 57 %. Notably, there is no plasmonic hybridization among adjacent components within the super unit. By tuning the Fermi energy of graphene, narrow-band tunability can be achieved at any wavelength within the operation spectrum. Furthermore, the designed device exhibits a perfect modulation depth (∼100 %). We demonstrate the switchability of the proposed device by showcasing its ON/OFF status at representative wavelengths of 1205 nm, 1119 nm, and 1052 nm. Thus, the proposed graphene-based hybrid metasurface fulfills the requirements for broadband tunability and switchability, offering a high ON/OFF ratio, full modulation depth, and a small switch voltage gap. This design holds significant potential for future developments.

Significantly Enhanced Mechanical, Thermal, and Ablative Properties of the Lightweight Carbon Fabric/Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin/Siloxane Aerogels Ternary Interpenetrating Network.

Lightweight ablative thermal protection materials (TPMs), which can resist long-term ablation in an oxidizing atmosphere, are urgently required for aerospace vehicles. Herein, carbon fabric/phenol-formaldehyde resin/siloxane aerogels (CF/PFA/SiA) nanocomposite with interpenetrating network multiscale structure was developed via simple and efficient sol-gel followed by atmospheric pressure drying. The ternary networks structurally interpenetrating in macro-, micron-, and the nanoscales, chemically cross-linking at the molecular scale, and silica layer generated by in situ heating synergistically bring about low density (∼0.3 g cm-3), enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, and oxidation resistance, and a low thermal conductivity of 81 mW m-1 K-1. More intriguingly, good thermal protection with near-zero surface recession at 1300 °C for 300 s and remarkable thermal insulation with a back-side temperature below 60 °C at 20 mm thickness. The interpenetrating network strategy can be extended to other porous components with excellent high-temperature properties, such as ZrO2 and SiC, which will facilitate the improvement of lightweight ablative TPMs. Moreover, it may open a new avenue for fabricating multifunctional binary, ternary, and even multiple interpenetrating network materials.

Significantly Enhanced Mechanical, Thermal, and Ablative Properties of the Lightweight Carbon Fabric/Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin/Siloxane Aerogels Ternary Interpenetrating Network.

Lightweight ablative thermal protection materials (TPMs), which can resist long-term ablation in an oxidizing atmosphere, are urgently required for aerospace vehicles. Herein, carbon fabric/phenol-formaldehyde resin/siloxane aerogels (CF/PFA/SiA) nanocomposite with interpenetrating network multiscale structure was developed via simple and efficient sol-gel followed by atmospheric pressure drying. The ternary networks structurally interpenetrating in macro-, micron-, and the nanoscales, chemically cross-linking at the molecular scale, and silica layer generated by in situ heating synergistically bring about low density (∼0.3 g cm-3), enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, and oxidation resistance, and a low thermal conductivity of 81 mW m-1 K-1. More intriguingly, good thermal protection with near-zero surface recession at 1300 °C for 300 s and remarkable thermal insulation with a back-side temperature below 60 °C at 20 mm thickness. The interpenetrating network strategy can be extended to other porous components with excellent high-temperature properties, such as ZrO2 and SiC, which will facilitate the improvement of lightweight ablative TPMs. Moreover, it may open a new avenue for fabricating multifunctional binary, ternary, and even multiple interpenetrating network materials.

Irinotecan-loaded magnetite-silica core-shell systems for colorectal cancer treatment

Colorectal cancer represents a worldwide spread type of cancer and it is regarded as one of the leading death causes, along with lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Since conventional surgical resection and chemotherapy proved limited efficiency, the use of alternative drug delivery systems that ensure the controlled release of cytostatic agents possess immense potential for treatment. In this regard, the present study aimed to develop and evaluate the efficiency of a series of irinotecan-loaded magnetite-silica core–shell systems. The magnetite particles were obtained through a solvothermal treatment, while the silica shell was obtained through the Stöber method directly onto the surface of magnetite particles. Subsequently, the core–shell systems were physico-chemically and morpho-structurally evaluated trough X-ray diffraction (XRD) and (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy ((HR-)TEM) equipped with a High Annular Angular Dark Field Detector (HAADF) for elemental mapping. After the irinotecan loading, the drug delivery systems were evaluated through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Additionally, the Brunauer–Emmett-Teller (BET) method was employed for determining the surface area and pore volume of the systems. The biological functionality of the core-shells was investigated through the MTT assay performed on both normal and cancer cells. The results of the study confirmed the formation of highly crystalline magnetite particles comprising the core and mesoporous silica layers of sizes varying between 2 and 7 nm as the shell. Additionally, the drug loading and release was dependent on the type of the silica synthesis procedure, since the lack of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) resulted in higher drug loading but lower cumulative release. Moreover, the nanostructured systems demonstrated a targeted efficiency towards HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, as in the case of normal L929 fibroblast cells, the cell viability was higher than for the pristine drug. In this manner, this study provides the means and procedures for developing drug delivery systems with applicability in the treatment of cancer.

Mechanochemical exfoliation of sugar-assisted boron nitride nanosheets for achieving superlubricity and wear distinction

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) possess extensive potential applications across various fields. However, their limited dispersibility in liquids constrains their effectiveness as lubricating additives. In this study, a streamlined sugar-assisted mechanochemical exfoliation technique was employed to concurrently exfoliate and functionalize BNNS. This approach enabled the covalent grafting of sucrose molecules onto BNNS, enhancing their dispersion in water. The application of water containing sucrose-modified BNNS (S-BNNS) facilitated an ultralow coefficient of friction (COF = 0.001) at the Si₃N₄-Si₃N₄ interface. Additionally, using S-BNNS nanosheets as lubricating additives in water achieved superlubricity with a significant surface roughness (Ra ≤120 nm). We explored the correlation between surface roughness and superlubricity, revealing that tribological performance was enhanced by the formation of a tribofilm composed of S-BNNS and a silica layer at the interface through tribochemical reactions. The exceptional anti-wear properties and significantly reduced shear strength of S-BNNS within the tribofilm substantially contributed to achieving the ultralow COF, thus enhancing lubrication performance.

Zirconia Cementation: A Systematic Review of the Most Currently Used Protocols

Objective A systematic review of the existing literature was conducted and in vitro studies from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed on Zirconia's most resistant cementation protocol. Methods A systematic review of studies on the bond strength between zirconia and resin cement was carried out using different surface treatment protocols. The search was performed in two electronic databases, PubMed and Cochrane. Results Electronic searches yielded 1225 non-duplicated articles (Fig. 1), of which 388 were chosen after screening the titles and abstracts. After examining the full texts of these articles, a further 340 were excluded. There remained 48 studies to which the selection by inclusion and exclusion criteria was applied, eliminating 31 articles, of which 17 were finally included for the qualitative study. Conclusion Under the limitations of the present systematic review, it can be concluded that treating Zirconia with a combination of surface modifying agents, both mechanical and chemical, substantially improves its adhesive ability with resin cement. Aluminum oxide sandblasting, hydrofluoric acid etching, tribochemical silica coating, laser, and etching with a combination of acids in the Zircos E system are micromechanical treatments that improve the bond strength between zirconia and resin cements. MDP silane agent is an effective chemical treatment to improve the bond strength between zirconia and resin cements. Coating exclusively with a silica layer does not improve the bond strength between zirconia and resin cement.

Robust Transparent Photothermal Omniphobic Coating for Efficient Anti/Deicing and Antifogging.

Icing and fogging on optical material surfaces bring various problems in daily life. Recently, some photothermal coatings have been reported to prevent the condensation or freeze of water droplets by increasing the surface temperature. However, it is a great challenge to apply them in practical conditions due to their opaqueness and poor mechanical wear-resistant property. In this work, we constructed a robust transparent photothermal omniphobic coating with a simple dip-coating technique. In the coating system, photothermal polypyrrole nanoparticles are introduced into inorganic silica networks, and then polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes were grafted on the inorganic silica layer to endow the surface with omniphobicity and stain resistance. The transparency and photothermal capacity of the coating can be regulated by the deposition times of the coating. In addition, the coating has an excellent anti/deicing property and reduces ice adhesion obviously due to the existence of "liquid-like" PDMS brushes. More importantly, the coating presents outstanding mechanical wear-resistant and self-lubricating properties that can endure several thousand friction cycles without performance loss. The mechanically robust photothermal omniphobic coating gives a feasible approach to anti-icing and antifogging of transparent substrates under sunlight irradiation.

Level set simulation of focused ion beam sputtering of a multilayer substrate.

The evolution of a multilayer sample surface during focused ion beam processing was simulated using the level set method and experimentally studied by milling a silicon dioxide layer covering a crystalline silicon substrate. The simulation took into account the redeposition of atoms simultaneously sputtered from both layers of the sample as well as the influence of backscattered ions on the milling process. Monte Carlo simulations were applied to produce tabulated data on the angular distributions of sputtered atoms and backscattered ions. Two sets of test structures including narrow trenches and rectangular boxes with different aspect ratios were experimentally prepared, and their cross sections were visualized in scanning transmission electron microscopy images. The superimposition of the calculated structure profiles onto the images showed a satisfactory agreement between simulation and experimental results. In the case of boxes that were prepared with an asymmetric cross section, the simulation can accurately predict the depth and shape of the structures, but there is some inaccuracy in reproducing the form of the left sidewall of the structure with a large amount of the redeposited material. To further validate the developed simulation approach and gain a better understanding of the sputtering process, the distribution of oxygen atoms in the redeposited layer derived from the numerical data was compared with the corresponding elemental map acquired by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis.

Double layer silica antireflective films with high strength and rub resistance prepared by sol gel method

The single-layer silica antireflective film with base catalysis prepared by sol gel method is an important part of the high-power laser facility for inertial confinement fusion, while the weak adhesion between the single-layer silica film and the substrate during the preparation process makes it susceptible to be contacted erasure and unable to be used. Double-layer silica antireflective (DLAR) films of different thicknesses were obtained using the base catalysis sol–gel method, in which the upper layer was coated with a relatively dense thin layer, and the performances of the films were characterized. The results showed that the transmittances of the DLAR films with different thicknesses were ˃99.0%, and in which one of the maximum transmittance peaks reached to 99.83% @ 1000 nm. The surface roughness of the DLAR films was < 2.0 nm, and the surfaces of the films were flat. The contact angles between DLAR films and water reached 118° and maintained stable in high humidity environment. The laser induced damage thresholds for different thickness DLAR films (peak transmittances @ 400, 600, 800, 1000 nm) were comparable to device requirements by 1-on-1 testing method, and the DLAR films exhibited high strength and good friction resistance.Graphical abstract

Sandwiched structure for temperature compensated laterally excited bulk wave resonators based on lithium niobate film

Recently, lithium niobate thin film laterally excited bulk wave resonators (XBARs) have attracted much attention because of their advantage of high frequency and outstanding electromechanical coupling factor (K2) enabling wide filter bandwidths. These can satisfy the increasing 5G communication demand. However, their large temperature coefficient limits their development to some extent. To improve their temperature stability with little K2 reduction, this paper has proposed a sandwiched structure for temperature compensated XBARs (TC XBARs). This structure includes the top silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer and the bottom SiO2 layer. One layer can improve temperature stability, and the other layer can increase K2. The optimized XBARs have a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of −90.77 ppm⁄°C. The common two-layer TC XBARs can achieve a TCF of −22 ppm⁄°C sacrificing K2 to 8%. However, the proposed sandwiched TC XBARs can achieve a K2 of 12.15 and a TCF of −28.94 ppm⁄°C simultaneously, with a large FoM. Meanwhile, spurious modes can be suppressed in the sandwiched structure. Thus, this sandwiched structure can provide a good solution for the high performance of XBARs.

Stepwise ordering under nano-scale confinement in thin silica films

The phase transition from an amorphous 2D structure to a crystalline 3D structure under confinement is a fascinating and challenging problem in materials science and condensed matter physics. This work reports the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) studies on pristine silica thin films. Silica was deposited on pristine Al (001) substrate (Alfa-Aesar) from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) precursor and thin films were spin-coated at different spinning frequencies under ambient conditions. The samples are highly porous and in-plane porosity varies from 30% to 60% as analyzed from both the FESEM and XRR and with increasing spinning frequency pores become more ordered. XRR shows that the samples are composed of two layers, a thick layer of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as buffer layer and a layer of SiO2 on the top of the film. XRR shows sharp ordering rather than any layering. The film thickness varies from 90[Formula: see text]Å to 200[Formula: see text]Å and it shows a linear decay in the thickness of silica layer. In between 1000 and 1500[Formula: see text]rpm, XRR shows a sharp drop in the thickness of silica layer where thickness of this layer falls below the unit-cell dimension indicating higher-ordered crystallization under strained condition. XRD shows that there are no crystalline peaks coming from silica at lower rpm except the peaks of Al coming from the substrate. At 1000, 1200 and 1500[Formula: see text]rpm there is peak corresponding to the quartz, highly crystalline phase of SiO2 and where the substrate is slightly modified Al2O3. Reflection from (101) plane is prominent in all the films and it gives indication of formation 3D crystalline phase. Whereas FTIR shows that the Si–O stretching modes exhibit sharper and more defined reflectance peak compared to the broad bands observed in the samples in lower rpm. Observations suggest a clear indication of progressive ordering under confinement. To one extent, the results of XRR and FESEM will suggest the mechanism of transition from 2D amorphous to 3D crystalline phase under geometrical confinement effect and total confinement effect arising from thinning of the films with the increasing rpm, interfacial effect and on the other hand XRD and FTIR results will explain high ordering under confinement without any layering.

Impact of substrate thickness and surface roughness on Al/Ni multilayer reaction kinetics

Reactive multilayers comprising alternating nanoscale layers of Al and Ni, exhibit potential across various applications, including localized heating for welding and joining. Control over reaction properties is pivotal for emerging applications, such as chemical time delays or neutralization of biological or chemical weapons. This research offers insights into the intricate interplay between substrate thickness, surface roughness, and the behavior of Al/Ni reactive multilayers, opening avenues for tailored applications in various domains. To observe this interplay, silica with various thicknesses from 0.4 µm to 1.6 µm was deposited on polished single crystalline Si and rough poly‐Si base substrates. Additionally, to analyze the impact of varying silica thickness along the sample length on reaction behavior, silica in step‐like shape was fabricated. Subsequently, Al/Ni multilayers with 5 µm total thickness and 20 or 50 nm bilayer periodicities were deposited. Reaction velocity and temperature were monitored with a high‐speed camera and pyrometer. Results indicate that silica thickness significantly affects self‐propagation in multilayers. The reaction is not self‐sustained for silica layers ≤ 0.4 µm, depending on bilayer periodicity and substrate roughness. The velocity increases or decreases based on the direction of reaction propagation, whether it moves upwards or downwards, in relation to the thickness of silica.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Micelles Cascade Assembly to Tandem Porous Catalyst for Waste Plastics Upcycling

AbstractCatalytic upcycling of polyolefins into high‐value chemicals represents the direction in end‐of‐life plastics valorization, but poses great challenges. Here, we report the synthesis of a tandem porous catalyst via a micelle cascade assembly strategy for selectively catalytic cracking of polyethylene into olefins at a low temperature. A hierarchically porous silica layer from mesopore to macropore is constructed on the surface of microporous ZSM‐5 nanosheets through cascade assembly of dynamic micelles. The outer macropore arrays can adsorb bulky polyolefins quickly by the capillary and hydrophobic effects, enhancing the diffusion and access to active sites. The middle mesopores present a nanoconfinement space, pre‐cracking polyolefins into intermediates by weak acid sites, which then transport into zeolites micropores for further cracking by strong Brønsted acid sites. The hierarchically porous and acidic structures, mimicking biomimetic protease catalytic clefts, ideally match the tandem cracking steps of polyolefins, thus suppressing coke formation and facilitating product escape. As a result, light hydrocarbons (C1‐C7) are produced with a yield of 443 mmol gZSM‐5−1, where 74.3 % of them are C3‐C6 olefins, much superior to ZSM‐5 and porous silica catalysts. This tandem porous catalyst exemplifies a superstructure design of catalytic cracking catalysts for industrial and economical upcycling of plastic wastes.

Micelles Cascade Assembly to Tandem Porous Catalyst for Waste Plastics Upcycling.

Catalytic upcycling of polyolefins into high-value chemicals represents the direction in end-of-life plastics valorization, but poses great challenges. Here, we report the synthesis of a tandem porous catalyst via a micelle cascade assembly strategy for selectively catalytic cracking of polyethylene into olefins at a low temperature. A hierarchically porous silica layer from mesopore to macropore is constructed on the surface of microporous ZSM-5 nanosheets through cascade assembly of dynamic micelles. The outer macropore arrays can adsorb bulky polyolefins quickly by the capillary and hydrophobic effects, enhancing the diffusion and access to active sites. The middle mesopores present a nanoconfinement space, pre-cracking polyolefins into intermediates by weak acid sites, which then transport into zeolites micropores for further cracking by strong Brønsted acid sites. The hierarchically porous and acidic structures, mimicking biomimetic protease catalytic clefts, ideally match the tandem cracking steps of polyolefins, thus suppressing coke formation and facilitating product escape. As a result, light hydrocarbons (C1-C7) are produced with a yield of 443 mmol gZSM-5 -1, where 74.3 % of them are C3-C6 olefins, much superior to ZSM-5 and porous silica catalysts. This tandem porous catalyst exemplifies a superstructure design of catalytic cracking catalysts for industrial and economical upcycling of plastic wastes.

Demonstration of 4H-silicon carbide on an aluminum nitride integrated photonic platform.

The existing silicon-carbide-on-insulator photonic platform utilizes a thin layer of silicon dioxide under silicon carbide (SiC) to provide optical confinement and mode isolation. Here, we replace the underneath silicon dioxide layer with 1-µm-thick aluminum nitride and demonstrate a 4H-silicon-carbide-on-aluminum-nitride integrated photonic platform for the first time to our knowledge. Efficient grating couplers, low-loss waveguides, and compact microring resonators with intrinsic quality factors up to 210,000 are fabricated. In addition, by undercutting the aluminum nitride layer, the intrinsic quality factor of the silicon carbide microring is improved by nearly one order of magnitude (1.8 million). Finally, an optical pump-probe method is developed to measure the thermal conductivity of the aluminum nitride layer, which is estimated to be over 30 times of that of silicon dioxide.

Enhanced spontaneous radiation of quantum dots based on modulated anapole states in dielectric metamaterial

Dielectric nanostructures exhibit low-loss electrical and magnetic resonance, making them ideal for quantum information processing. In this study, the periodic double-groove silicon nanodisk (DGSND) is used to support the anapole state. Based on the distribution properties of the electromagnetic field in anapole states, the anapoles are manipulated by cutting the dielectric metamaterial. Quantum dots (QDs) are used to stimulate the anapole and control the amplification of the photoluminescence signal within the QDs. By opening symmetrical holes in the long axis of the nanodisk in the dielectric metamaterial, the current distribution of Mie resonance can be adjusted. As a result, the toroidal dipole moment is altered, leading to an enhanced electric field (E-field) and Purcell factor. When the dielectric metamaterial is deposited on the Ag substrate separated by the silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer, the structure exhibits ultra-narrow perfect absorption with even higher E-field and Purcell factor enhancement compared to silicon (Si) nanodisks.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering-fluorescence dual-mode probes for target imaging of tumors, organoids and cancerous cells

A dual-mode nanoprobe (DMNP) overcomes the limitations of single probes and offers superior performance by combining their advantages. Herein, we report a DMNP design that features a gold nanosphere core and two layers of silica wrapping. The gold core surface is coated with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid(4-MBA), which serves as a Raman reporter. After the initial silica encapsulation, fluorophores in the form of conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) are applied to the surface. Finally, the encapsulation process is completed by adding the second layer of silica. The probe has dual-mode capabilities, including surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with a Raman enhancement factor of 134.1, and metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) with a fluorescence enhancement factor of 1.42. When modified with glycoprotein-3 (GPC3) antibody, the DMNPs probe shows excellent performance in fluorescence and SERS imaging for HepG2 liver cancer cells. When DMNP is conjugated with the breast tumor-specific antibody CA153, the DMNPs-AbCA153 probe enables imaging and induces apoptosis of breast cancer cells. These probes can serve as a platform for visualizing the distribution of cancer cell surface markers by modifying antibodies to recognize the cell surface. They have also shown significant potential as probes for oncology diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Propolis polyphenol nanosheet for synergistic cancer chemo-photothermal therapy

Two-dimensional (2D) carbon-based nanostructures hold great promise as near-infrared (NIR) photothermal materials, yet their widespread use has been hindered by labor-intensive and costly fabrication processes. Here, a novel, cost-effective approach is presented to produce photothermal materials derived from the polyphenolic fraction of propolis (PFP) for the first time. The method involves the pyrolysis of PFP under a neutral atmosphere, resulting in the formation of 2D PFP-based nanosheets (PFPNS) measuring 50–100 nm in size with efficient photothermal properties. Then, a layer-by-layer nanohybrid structure comprising PFPNS, polydopamine (PDA), mesoporous silica (MS), and polyethyleneimine (PEI) layers (PFPNS@PDA@MS-PEI) was designed as a versatile platform for drug delivery. Specifically, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded onto the nanohybrid (PFPNS@PDA@MS(DOX)-PEI) for targeted delivery to cancerous cells. Each layer of the nanohybrid serves a distinct purpose, enhancing functionality and efficacy. The NIR-responsive PFPNS@PDA component facilitates accelerated drug release and induces hyperthermic effects on cancer cells upon NIR irradiation. The MS structure enables high drug loading capacity (approximately 83.3%), while the pH-responsive PEI layer promotes cellular uptake and facilitates drug release within the acidic microenvironment of cancer cells. Combining NIR irradiation with chemotherapy results in a synergistic effect, leading to the eradication of 67% of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The demonstrated efficacy, coupled with the non-toxic nature of the nanohybrid, positions it as a promising candidate for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy of tumor tissues.