Efficient CuO/AgWO photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting using solar visible radiation.

Water splitting energy production relies heavily on the development of high-performance photoelectrochemical cells (PECs). Among the most highly regarded semiconductor materials, cupric oxide (CuO) is an excellent photocathode material. Pristine CuO does not perform well as a photocathode due to its tendency to recombine electrons and holes rapidly.

Nanopatterned rGO/ZnO:Al seed layer for vertical growth of single ZnO nanorods.

In this work, we demonstrate a novel low-cost template-assisted route to synthesize vertical ZnO nanorod arrays on Si (100). The nanorods were grown on a patterned double seed layer comprised of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles. The seed layer was fabricated by spray-coating the substrate with graphene and then dip-coating it into a Al-doped ZnO sol-gel solution.

Retraction: Polyethylene glycol-doped BiZnVO as a high-efficiency solar-light-activated photocatalyst with substantial durability toward photodegradation of organic contaminations.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/C8RA06896H.].

The fast nucleation/growth of CoO nanowires on cotton silk: the facile development of a potentiometric uric acid biosensor.

In this study, we have used cotton silk as a source of abundant hydroxyl groups for the fast nucleation/growth of cobalt oxide (CoO) nanowires a hydrothermal method. The crystal planes of the CoO nanowires well matched the cubic phase. The as-synthesized CoO nanowires mainly contained cobalt and oxygen elements and were found to be highly sensitive towards uric acid in 0.

Electrochemical genosensor based on gold nanostars for the detection of O157:H7 DNA.

O157:H7 ( O157:H7) is an enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), which has been issued as a major threat to public health worldwide due to fatal contamination of water and food. Thus, its rapid and accurate detection has tremendous importance in environmental monitoring and human health. In this regard, we report a simple and sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor by targeting Z3276 as a genetic marker in river water.

Solar-Driven Photoelectrochemical Performance of Novel ZnO/AgWO/AgBr Nanorods-Based Photoelectrodes.

Highly efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation under solar visible light is crucial for water splitting to produce hydrogen as a source of sustainable energy. Particularly, silver-based nanomaterials are important for PEC performance due to their surface plasmon resonance which can enhance the photoelectrochemical efficiency. However, the PEC of ZnO/AgWO/AgBr with enhanced visible-light water oxidation has not been studied so far.

Synthesis of Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanorods Using Sol-gel Seeding and Colloidal Lithography Patterning.

Different ZnO nanostructures can be grown using low-cost chemical bath deposition. Although this technique is cost-efficient and flexible, the final structures are usually randomly oriented and hardly controllable in terms of homogeneity and surface density. In this work, we use colloidal lithography to pattern (100) silicon substrates to fully control the nanorods' morphology and density.

TiO₂/ZnO Nanocomposite Material for Efficient Degradation of Methylene Blue.

In this research work, we have produced a composite material consisting titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures via precipitation method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study has shown the mixture of nanostructures consisting nanorods and nano flower. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) study has confirmed the presence of Ti, Zn and O as main elements in the composite.

In Situ Growth of CuWO Nanospheres over Graphene Oxide for Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Immunosensing of Clinical Biomarker.

Procalcitonin (PCT) protein has recently been identified as a clinical marker for bacterial infections based on its better sepsis sensitivity. Thus, an increased level of PCT could be linked with disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this study, we describe the construction of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) PCT immunosensing platform based on it situ grown photo-active CuWO nanospheres over reduced graphene oxide layers (CuWO@rGO).

Efficient tri-metallic oxides NiCoO/CuO for the oxygen evolution reaction.

In this study, a simple approach was used to produce nonprecious, earth abundant, stable and environmentally friendly NiCoO/CuO composites for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. The nanocomposites were prepared by a low temperature aqueous chemical growth method. The morphology of the nanostructures was changed from nanowires to porous structures with the addition of CuO.

Nanomaterial-Modified Conducting Paper: Fabrication, Properties, and Emerging Biomedical Applications.

The emerging demand for wearable, lightweight portable devices has led to the development of new materials for flexible electronics using non-rigid substrates. In this context, nanomaterial-modified conducting paper (CP) represents a new concept that utilizes paper as a functional part in various devices. Paper has drawn significant interest among the research community because it is ubiquitous, cheap, and environmentally friendly.

Light-induced high-spin state in ZnO nanoparticles.

The effects of white-light irradiation on ∼15 nm diameter ZnO nanoparticles are investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance, near liquid-nitrogen and liquid-helium temperatures. Under dark conditions, usual core- and surface-defects are detected, respectively, at g = 1.960 and g = 2.

Graphene-based plasmonic nanocomposites for highly enhanced solar-driven photocatalytic activities.

High-efficiency photocatalysts are crucial for the removal of organic pollutants and environmental sustainability. In the present work, we report on a new low-temperature hydrothermal chemical method, assisted by ultrasonication, to synthesize disruptive plasmonic ZnO/graphene/Ag/AgI nanocomposites for solar-driven photocatalysis. The plasmonic nanocomposites were investigated by a wide range of characterization techniques, confirming successful formation of photocatalysts with excellent degradation efficiency.

In-situ growth of NiWO saw-blade-like nanostructures and their application in photo-electrochemical (PEC) immunosensor system designed for the detection of neuron-specific enolase.

This study describes the construction of highly-sensitive photo-electrochemical (PEC) immunosensor for the detection of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The biosensing platform is comprised of photo-active NiWO nanostructures, in-situ-grown over a conductive substrate (indium tin oxide) using a low-temperature template-based co-precipitation approach. The discussed approach enables the formation of discrete, yet morphologically-analogous, nanostructures with complete coverage (pinhole-free) of the electrode surface.

ZnO/Ag/AgWO photo-electrodes with plasmonic behavior for enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation.

Ag-based compounds are excellent co-catalyst that can enhance harvesting visible light and increase photo-generated charge carrier separation owing to its surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect in photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. However, the PEC performance of a ZnO/Ag/AgWO heterostructure with SPR behavior has not been fully studied so far. Here we report the preparation of a ZnO/Ag/AgWO photo-electrode with SPR behavior by a low temperature hydrothermal chemical growth method followed by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method.

Polyethylene glycol-doped BiZnVO as a high-efficiency solar-light-activated photocatalyst with substantial durability toward photodegradation of organic contaminations.

In this study, we focus on a simple, low-priced, and mild condition hydrothermal route to construct BiZnVO nanocompounds (NCs) as a novel photocatalyst with strong solar light absorption ability for environmental purification using solar energy. NCs were further doped with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to improve their photocatalytic efficiency for photodegradation processes through inhibition of fast charge carrier recombination rates and higher charge separation efficiency. Surface morphology, phase structure, optical characteristics, and band structure of the as-prepared samples were analyzed using XRD, EDX, XPS, SEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, CL, and BET techniques.

Nanoimmunosensor based on ZnO nanorods for ultrasensitive detection of 17β-Estradiol.

Advances in nanostructured materials have facilitated the development of novel sensitive techniques for detection of environmental and clinical analytes. There is immense need for development of devices that can detect analytes at concentrations as low as few pg mL. The comparable size of nanostructured materials and biomolecules enabled the integration of biological systems with nanometer sized structures.

Synthesis of Heart/Dumbbell-Like CuO Functional Nanostructures for the Development of Uric Acid Biosensor.

It is always demanded to prepare a nanostructured material with prominent functional properties for the development of a new generation of devices. This study is focused on the synthesis of heart/dumbbell-like CuO nanostructures using a low-temperature aqueous chemical growth method with vitamin B as a soft template and growth directing agent. CuO nanostructures are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques.