A comparative study of Cu-based nanoparticles and their spin-coated films: photocatalytic degradation mechanisms and efficiencies towards malachite green and neutral red azo dyes.

In this work, a comparison of the photocatalytic activity of free-standing Cu-based nanoparticle mixtures and spin-coated nanoparticle films under visible-light radiation is conducted. Herein, CuO, CuO-Cu, CuO-CuN-Cu, and CuN-Cu nanoparticle mixtures were successfully synthesized by a non-aqueous sol-gel route and then deposited on a glass substrate by spin-coating. The surface chemistry of the nanoparticles studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) allowed elucidating the nanoparticle synthesis mechanism.

Use of Aloe Vera Gel as Media to Assess Antimicrobial Activity and Development of Antimicrobial Nanocomposites.

Antimicrobial resistance is a menace to public health on a global scale. In this regard, nanomaterials exhibiting antimicrobial properties represent a promising solution. Both metal and metal oxide nanomaterials are suitable candidates, even though their mechanisms of action vary.

Functional Nanomaterials for Optoelectronics and Photocatalysis.

The present energy crisis has encouraged the use of energy-efficient devices and green energy sources [...

Relevance of alcoholic solvents in the growth of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO hierarchical nanorod structures on their optical and opto-electrical properties.

We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO hierarchical nanorod structures using four different alcohols i.e. methanol, isopropanol, ethanol, and aqueous ethanol (70% alcohol, 30% water).

Revealing the Dependency of Dye Adsorption and Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles on Their Morphology and Defect States.

ZnO is an effective photocatalyst applied to the degradation of organic dyes in aqueous media. In this study, the UV-light and sunlight-driven photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanoparticles are evaluated. A handheld Lovibond photometer was purposefully calibrated in order to monitor the dye removal in outdoor conditions.

Tailoring SnO Defect States and Structure: Reviewing Bottom-Up Approaches to Control Size, Morphology, Electronic and Electrochemical Properties for Application in Batteries.

Tin oxide (SnO) is a versatile n-type semiconductor with a wide bandgap of 3.6 eV that varies as a function of its polymorph, i.e.

Sunlight-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue with Facile One-Step Synthesized Cu-CuO-CuN Nanoparticle Mixtures.

Sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation is an effective and eco-friendly technology for the removal of organic pollutants from contaminated water. Herein, we describe the one-step synthesis of Cu-CuO-CuN nanoparticle mixtures using a novel non-aqueous, sol-gel route and their application in the solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The crystalline structure and morphology were investigated with XRD, SEM and TEM.

Significance of Hydroxyl Groups on the Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Combined with CNT and PEDOT:PSS.

We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and their hybrids consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). A non-aqueous sol-gel route along with hydrated and anhydrous acetate precursors were selected for their syntheses. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed their spherical shape with an average size of 5 nm.

Surveying the Synthesis, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of CuN Nanomaterials.

This review addresses the most recent advances in the synthesis approaches, fundamental properties and photocatalytic activity of CuN nanostructures. Herein, the effect of synthesis conditions, such as solvent, temperature, time and precursor on the precipitation of CuN and the formation of secondary phases of Cu and CuO are surveyed, with emphasis on shape and size control. Furthermore, CuN nanostructures possess excellent optical properties, including a narrow bandgap in the range of 0.

Assessment of the optical and electrical properties of light-emitting diodes containing carbon-based nanostructures and plasmonic nanoparticles: a review.

Light-emitting diodes (LED) are widely employed in display applications and lighting systems. Further research on LED that incorporates carbon nanostructures and metal nanoparticles exhibiting surface plasmon resonance has demonstrated a significant improvement in device performance. These devices offer lower turn-on voltages, higher external quantum efficiencies, and luminance.

Editorial for the Special Issue on 'Metal Oxide Thin Film: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application'.

The last two decades have witnessed the development of new technologies for thin-film deposition and coating [...

Enhancing the UV Emission in ZnO-CNT Hybrid Nanostructures via the Surface Plasmon Resonance of Ag Nanoparticles.

The crystal quality and surface states are two major factors that determine optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized through nonaqueous sol-gel routes, and both are strongly dependent on the growth conditions. In this work, we investigate the influence of the different growth temperatures (240 and 300 °C) on the morphology, structural and crystal properties of ZnO NP. The effects of conjoining ZnO NP with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and the role of surface states in such a hybrid nanostructure are studied by optical emission and absorption spectroscopy.

Assessing Cobalt Metal Nanoparticles Uptake by Cancer Cells Using Live Raman Spectroscopy.

Purpose: Nanotechnology applied to cancer treatment is a growing area of research in nanomedicine with magnetic nanoparticle-mediated anti-cancer drug delivery systems offering least possible side effects. To that end, both structural and chemical properties of commercial cobalt metal nanoparticles were studied using label-free confocal Raman spectroscopy.

Materials And Methods: Crystal structure and morphology of cobalt nanoparticles were studied by XRD and TEM.

Editorial for the Special Issue on 'Application and Behavior of Nanomaterials in Water Treatment'.

The simultaneous population explosion and the growing lack of clean water today requires disruptively innovative solutions in water remediation [...

Towards the Extraction of Radioactive Cesium-137 from Water via Graphene/CNT and Nanostructured Prussian Blue Hybrid Nanocomposites: A Review.

Cesium is a radioactive fission product generated in nuclear power plants and is disposed of as liquid waste. The recent catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan has increased the Cs and Cs concentrations in air, soil and water to lethal levels. Cs has a half-life of 30.

Photocurrent generation in carbon nanotube/cubic-phase HfO2 nanoparticle hybrid nanocomposites.

A hybrid material consisting of nonfunctionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and cubic-phase HfO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with an average diameter of 2.6 nm has been synthesized. Free standing HfO2 NPs present unusual optical properties and a strong photoluminescence emission in the visible region, originating from surface defects.

From single-molecule precursors to hybrid ZnS nanostructures.

A series of coordination compounds containing [Zn(amine)]2+ cationic complexes and alkyldithiocarbamates (RR'dtc-), as counter anions, are reported here: [Zn(amine)x][RR'dtc]2, where amine = ethylenediamine (en), diethylenetriamine (dien), 1,2-diaminopropane (dap) and, R,R' = ethyl (Et); butyl (Bu) and methyl (Me), hexyl (Hex). Hybrid nanoplates composed of hexagonal-ZnS nanoparticles and organic components were obtained after solution phase thermolysis of such precursors in oleylamine. These hybrid materials show quantum confinement effects in their optical spectra and convert into cubic-ZnS after further thermal treatment.

Photoluminescent, transparent and flexible di-ureasil hybrids containing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots.

We describe, in this paper, the sol-gel synthesis of di-ureasil based nanocomposites prepared in situ in the presence of organically capped CdSe quantum dots (QDs) or CdSe QDs which have been coated with a ZnS shell. For the latter a new chemical route to coat the CdSe QDs with ZnS shells was investigated and is now reported. The QDs became well dispersed in the final nanocomposites, whose microstructural homogeneity was evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses.