Rugged Forest Morphology of Magnetoplasmonic Nanorods that Collect Maximum Light for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

A feasible nanoscale framework of heterogeneous plasmonic materials and proper surface engineering can enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance owing to increased light absorbance, efficient bulk carrier transport, and interfacial charge transfer. This article introduces a new magnetoplasmonic (MagPlas) Ni-doped Au@Fe O nanorods (NRs) based material as a novel photoanode for PEC water-splitting. A two stage procedure produces core-shell Ni/Au@Fe O MagPlas NRs.

Effective inactivation of spores and on disposable face masks using ultraviolet laser irradiation.

Due to the widespread emergence of COVID-19, face masks have become a common tool for reducing transmission risk between people, increasing the need for sterilization methods against mask-contaminated microorganisms. In this study, we measured the efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation (266 nm) as a sterilization technique against spores and on three different types of face mask. The UV laser source demonstrated high penetration of inner mask layers, inactivating microorganisms in a short time while maintaining the particle filtration efficiency of the masks.

One-Pot Synthesis of Magnetoplasmonic Au@FeO Nanowires: Bioinspired Bouligand Chiral Stack.

One-dimensional hybrid nanostructures composed of a plasmonic gold nanowire core covered by a shell of magnetic oxide nanoparticles (Au@FeO NWs) were synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal synthesis process. The effects of reaction temperature, time, reducing agent, and precursor as well as postsynthesis treatment were optimized to produce highly uniform NWs with a diameter of 226 ± 25 nm and a plasmonic core aspect ratio of 25 to 82. By exploiting the interaction of NWs with an external magnetic field, precise arrangements into highly periodic photonic structures were achieved, which can generate distinctive structural colors that are vividly iridescent and polarization-sensitive.

Sterilization effects of UV laser irradiation on spore viability, structure, and proteins.

spores are highly resistant to toxic chemicals and extreme environments. Because some species threaten public health, spore inactivation techniques have been intensively investigated. We exposed spores to a 266 nm Nd:YVO laser at a laser power of 1 W and various numbers of scans.