Interface-Engineered MoSe-CoS Nanoheterostructures with Enhanced Charge Storage Performance for Supercapacitor Application.

Cobalt-based chalcogenides have emerged as fascinating materials for supercapacitor applications owing to the presence of various mixed valance oxidation states in their structure along with rich electrochemical properties. However, their limited stability and cyclic performance hinder their viability for practical use in supercapacitors. Herein, a facile hot injection colloidal route is demonstrated to design MoSe-CoS nanoheterostructures (NHSs), which entails the epitaxial growth of CoS nanoparticles (NPs) over the basal planes of ultrathin MoSe nanosheets (NSs).

Probing surface interactions in CdSe quantum dots with thiocyanate ligands.

Surface chemistry dictates the optoelectronic properties of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Tailoring these properties relies on the meticulous selection of surface ligands for efficient passivation. While long-chain organic ligands boast a well-understood passivation mechanism, the intricacies of short inorganic ionic ligands remain largely unexplored.

Ultrafast Dynamics of Self-Trapped Excitons in CsAgInCl:Al Double Perovskite Nanocrystals.

It is a huge challenge to increase the photoluminescence (PL) of lead-free halide perovskites, and understanding the mechanism behind exciton dynamics can provide a valuable solution. Herein, we achieved enhanced broad-band emission at ambient conditions in CsAgInCl by tuning self-trapped excitons (STEs) through Al doping. Cryogenic measurements showed an inhomogeneous nature of STE emission due to the presence of defect states and is subject to thermal quenching.

Prevention of ion migration in lead halide perovskites upon plugging the anion vacancies with PbSe islands.

To circumvent the issue of halide ion exchange in perovskites, we have decorated CsPbBr and CsPbI nanocrystals with different sized PbSe nanoparticles and demonstrated that it effectively prevents anion exchange reaction in CsPbBr/CsPbI nanoheterostructures (NHSs) as a consequence of halide vacancy passivation by the more covalent selenide anion.

On the unique temperature-dependent interplay of a B-exciton and its trion in monolayer MoSe.

Plasmonics in metal nanoparticles can enhance their near field optical interaction with matter, promoting emission into selected optical modes. Here, using Ga nanoparticles with carefully tuned plasmonic resonance in proximity to MoSe monolayers, we show selective photoluminescence enhancement from the B-exciton and its trion with no observable A-exciton emission. The nanoengineered substrate allows for the first direct experimental observation of the B-trion binding energy in semiconducting monolayers.

Nano-Formulation of Antioxidants as Effective Inhibitors of γD-Crystallin Aggregation.

The aggregation of crystallin proteins is related to cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Apart from surgical replacement of the cataract lens, no other alternative treatment is available till date for this ailment. In the current work, we carried out an in-depth investigation of the effect of polyphenol-loaded nano-formulations on the aggregation of γD-crystallin.

Hesperidin: A Potential Therapeutic Agent against COVID-19.

COVID-19, aka Coronavirus Disease 2019, triggered by new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 or SARS-CoV-2, is now a public health emergency due to its rapid spread, high transmission efficiency, and severe viral pandemic that is significantly increasing the number of patients and associated deaths. Currently, no specific treatment is available for this highly contagious virus. The unavailability of effective and specific treatments and the severity of this epidemic situation potentiate medicinal chemists' in supporting new prophylactic or therapeutic interventions against COVID-19.

Doping Mnin hybrid Ruddlesden-Popper phase of layered double perovskite (BA)AgBiBr.

The layered hybrid double perovskites emerged as excellent semiconductor materials owing to their environment compatibility and stability. However, these materials are weakly luminescent, and their photoluminescence (PL) properties can be modulated via doping. While Mndoping in perovskites is well known, but to the best of our knowledge the doping of Mnin layered double perovskites (LDPs) is yet to be explored.

Development of magnetic nanoparticle assisted aptamer-quantum dot based biosensor for the detection of Escherichia coli in water samples.

The contamination of food and potable water with microorganisms may cause food-borne and water-borne diseases. The common contaminants include Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella sp.

Insight into morphology dependent charge carrier dynamics in ZnSe-CdS nanoheterostructures.

Semiconductor nanoheterostructures (NHSs) are being increasingly used for the photocatalytic conversion of solar energy in which photo-induced charge separation is an essential step and hence it is necessary to understand the effect of various factors such as size, shape, and composition on the charge transfer dynamics. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the nature and dynamics of photo-induced charge transfer processes in ZnSe-CdS NHSs of different morphologies such as nanospheres (NSs), nanorods (NRs), and nanoplates (NPs). It demonstrates the fast separation of charge carriers and localization of both charges in adjacent semiconductors, resulting in the formation of a charge-separated (CS) state.

Impact of Bifunctional Ligands on Charge Transfer Kinetics in CsPbBr-CdSe/CdS/ZnS Nanohybrids.

Mixed dimensional nanohybrids (MDNHs) between zero-dimensional (0D) perovskites and two-dimensional (2D) II-VI semiconductors hold great potential for photonic device applications. An in-depth study to understand the shuttling of charge carriers is carried out utilizing bifunctional ligands such as 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP), -aminobenzoic acid, and 6-amino-2-naphthoic acid in the synthesis of MDNHs of CsPbBr nanocrystals (NCs) and CdSe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell (CSS) nanoplatelets (NPLs). These MDNHs form donor-bridge-acceptor systems, where the electronic interaction is greatly influenced by the nature of ligands.

Enhanced Photocurrent Owing to Shuttling of Charge Carriers across 4-Aminothiophenol-Functionalized MoSe-CsPbBr Nanohybrids.

Mixed-dimensional van der Waals nanohybrids (MvNHs) of two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and zero-dimensional perovskites are highly promising candidates for high-performance photonic device applications. However, the growth of perovskites over the surface of TMDs has been a challenging task due to the distinguishable surface chemistry of these two different classes of materials. Here, we demonstrate a synthetic route for the design of MoSe-CsPbBr MvNHs using a bifunctional ligand, i.

Band Gap Engineering in Cs(NaAg)BiCl Double Perovskite Nanocrystals.

Lead-free double perovskite materials, AM(I)M'(III)X, have recently attracted attention as environment-friendly alternatives to lead-based perovskites, APbX, because of both rich fundamental science and potential applications. We report band gap tuning via alloying of CsAgBiCl nanocrystals (NCs) with nontoxic, abundant Na. It results in a series of CsNaAgBiCl ( = 0, 0.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer in multifunctional nanofibers designed via block copolymer self-assembly.

In the present study, we demonstrate the fabrication of multifunctional nanofibers, loaded with CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and sulforhodamine 101 (S101) dye, via the self-assembly process of a polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) block copolymer (BCP). The CdSe QDs and S101 dye were simultaneously incorporated in the cylindrical domains, constituted of P4VP blocks, of the self-assembled BCP structure. The cylindrical domains subsequently were isolated as individual nanofibers via the selective-swelling approach.

MoSe-CuS Vertical p-n Nanoheterostructures for High-Performance Photodetectors.

Heterostructures based on atomically thin two-dimensional layered transition metal dichalcogenides are highly promising for optoelectronic device applications owing to their tunable optical and electronic properties. However, the synthesis of heterostructures with desired materials having proper interfacial contacts has been a challenging task. Here, we develop a colloidal synthetic route for the design of MoSe-CuS nanoheterostructures, where the CuS islands grow vertically on top of the defect sites present on the MoSe surface, thereby forming a vertical p-n junction having plasmonic characteristics.

Evaluation of remineralization potential and mechanical properties of pit and fissure sealants fortified with nano-hydroxyapatite and nano-amorphous calcium phosphate fillers: An study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was: (i) to formulate pit and fissure sealants (PFS) containing nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) filler; nHAP filler and silica co-filler; nHAP and nano-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (nACP) co-filler, (ii) to evaluate physical properties; degree of conversion (DOC), curing depth (CD) and mechanical properties; microshear bond strength (MBS) of fortified PFS, and (iii) to assess remineralization potential and release of Ca and PO ions from newly synthesized sealants.

Materials And Methods: Four PFS were prepared using monomers with mixture of 35.5 wt % BisGMA, 35.

Nickel Selenide Nanoparticles as a Cheap Alternative for Pt-Counter Electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Colloidal nickel selenide nanocrystals (NCs) of two different compositions i.e., Ni₃Se₂ and Ni₃Se₄, where one is Ni-rich while another is Se-rich are synthesized using the hot injection method by merely changing the injection and growth temperature while keeping the rest of the reaction conditions like solvent, ligands, amount of precursors and reaction time identical.

Biofabricated BiOI with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

In the recent past, there has been a large-scale utilization of plant extracts for the synthesis of various photocatalysts. The biofabrication technology eliminates the usage of harmful chemicals and serves as an eco-friendly approach for environmental remediation. Herein, a comparative analysis between bismuth oxyiodide synthesized (neem) leaf extract (BiOI-G) and without leaf extract (BiOI-C) has been envisaged.

Facile Green Synthesis of BiOBr Nanostructures with Superior Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity.

Novel green bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr-G) nanoflowers were successfully synthesized via facile hydrolysis route using an (Neem plant) leaf extract and concurrently, without the leaf extract (BiOBr-C). The leaf extract was employed as a sensitizer and stabilizer for BiOBr-G, which significantly expanded the optical window and boosted the formation of photogenerated charge carriers and transfer over the BiOBr-G surface. The photocatalytic performance of both samples was investigated for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and phenol (Ph) under the irradiation of visible light.

Tuning the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of CuAlO Nanocrystals Using Magnetic Dopants.

Optoelectronic applications with transparent conducting oxides have been made possible by modulating the carrier density of wide band gap oxides with doping. We demonstrate the modulation of the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level in nanocrystalline CuAlO particles synthesized using a sol-gel technique, as a function of doping with a magnetic impurity (Ni). This behavior is directly correlated with structural studies using X-ray diffraction and magnetic properties which show a similar trend.

Functionalized 2D-MoS-Incorporated Polymer Ternary Solar Cells: Role of Nanosheet-Induced Long-Range Ordering of Polymer Chains on Charge Transport.

In this paper, we demonstrated the enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) by incorporation of functionalized 2D-MoS nanosheets (NSs) as an additional charge-transporting material. The enhancement in PCE of ternary solar cells arises due to the synergic enhancement in exciton dissociation and the improvement in mobility of both electrons and holes through the active layer of the solar cells. The improved hole mobility is attributed to the formation of the long-range ordered nanofibrillar structure of polymer phases and improved crystallinity in the presence of 2D-MoS NSs.

Nanocrystal-Dye Interactions: Studying the Feasibility of Co-Sensitization of Dyes with Semiconductor Nanocrystals.

One of the recent developments in enhancing the performance of quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is to combine QDs with dyes in order to overcome the drawbacks of QDSSCs. However, implementation of this requires a detailed investigation of the interaction between QDs and dye. Here, we have studied the effect of size and surface ligands in the interaction of CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) with Ru N-719 dye.

Efficient Charge Extraction from CdSe/ZnSe Dots-on-Plates Nanoheterostructures.

An efficient and a selective charge extraction from a new type of heterostructured material is demonstrated: the quasi-type-II structure formed upon deposition of ZnSe quantum dots on CdSe nanoplatelets, termed as CdSe/ZnSe dots-on-plates (DoPs) heterostructures. Insights into the charge extraction mechanism are gained from the present studies. Quenching experiments on nanoplatelets (NPLs) and DoPs using electron (benzoquinone) and hole (pyridine) quenchers show the possibility of electron extraction leaving behind the hole in the nanostructures.

Functionalized Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets for 0D-2D Hybrid Nanostructures: Photoinduced Charge Transfer and Enhanced Photoresponse.

The high-concentration stable dispersion of free-standing mono- or few-layer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanosheets (NSs) remains a significant barrier for their application in solution-processed optoelectronic devices. Here, we report oleylamine (OLA)- and dodecanethiol (DDT)-assisted exfoliation of MoS NSs in nonpolar organic solvent 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB), which enables high-concentration stable dispersion of free-standing mono- or few-layer NSs. The functionalized MoS NSs were further utilized for the fabrication of solution-processed 0D-2D hybrids of CuInS quantum dots (CIS QDs) and MoS NSs.

Solvent-free, mechanochemical syntheses of bulk trihalide perovskites and their nanoparticles.

For the first time, we have synthesized APbBr (A = Cs/MA/FA, where MA = CHNH and FA = CH(NH)) bulk as well as nanoparticles (NPs) by solid-state reactions at room temperature. This facile strategy yields different shape structures e.g.