Structure–Property Relationships in Metastable and Low-Dimensional Materials: From Laser-Engineered Biomedical Surfaces to One-Dimensional van der Waals Nanowires

Understanding how structure governs properties is central to advancing functional materials across length scales and application domains. This work examines structure–property relationships in two distinct yet conceptually connected material classes: laser-engineered metastable biomedical surfaces and one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals nanowires. In laser-processed metallic and alloy surfaces, ultrafast energy deposition induces non-equilibrium phases, nanoscale topographies, and altered surface chemistries that collectively regulate biocompatibility, antibacterial performance, wettability, and drug-release behavior. These effects arise from tightly coupled changes in crystallinity, defect density, and surface energy that are inaccessible through conventional fabrication routes. In parallel, low-dimensional van der Waals nanowires exhibit structure-sensitive electronic, optical, and mechanical properties governed by reduced dimensionality, weak interchain interactions, and tunable stacking configurations. Subtle variations in crystal symmetry, confinement, and interfacial coupling lead to pronounced changes in charge transport, excitonic behavior, and strain response. By jointly analyzing these systems, the paper highlights common principles underlying metastability, anisotropy, and interface-driven phenomena. The discussion emphasizes how controlled structural manipulation, whether through ultrafast laser processing or bottom-up crystal growth, enables property tailoring for applications spanning biomedical implants, sensing, nanoelectronics, and energy devices. This cross-disciplinary perspective provides a unified framework for designing next-generation materials by intentionally exploiting non-equilibrium and low-dimensional structural states.