Effect of Zn-substitution on magnetic structure of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles.

This study investigates the effects of Zn substitution on the magnetic properties of ∼5 nm cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (ZnxCo1-xFe2O4, where x = 0, 0.13, 0.34, and 0.

Chemical engineering of cationic distribution in spinel ferrite nanoparticles: the effect on the magnetic properties.

A set of ∼9 nm CoFeO nanoparticles substituted with Zn and Ni was prepared by thermal decomposition of metallic acetylacetonate precursors to correlate the effects of replacement of Co with the resulting magnetic properties. Due to the distinct selectivity of these cations for the spinel ferrite crystal sites, we show that it is possible to tailor the magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and interparticle interactions of the nanoparticles during the synthesis stage. This approach unlocks new possibilities for enhancing the performance of spinel ferrite nanoparticles in specific applications.

Electrochemical and Structural Characterization of Lanthanum-Doped Hydroxyapatite: A Promising Material for Sensing Applications.

In the quest to find powerful modifiers of screen-printed electrodes for sensing applications, a set of rare earth-doped CaRE(PO)(OH) (RE = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, and Tm and x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.

Colorimetric Detection of Chromium(VI) Ions in Water Using Unfolded-Fullerene Carbon Nanoparticles.

Water pollution caused by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) ions represents a serious hazard for human health due to the high systemic toxicity and carcinogenic nature of this metal species. The optical sensing of Cr(VI) through specifically engineered nanomaterials has recently emerged as a versatile strategy for the application to easy-to-use and cheap monitoring devices. In this study, a one-pot oxidative method was developed for the cage opening of C fullerene and the synthesis of stable suspensions of N-doped carbon dots in water-THF solutions (N-CDs-W-THF).

2D Molybdenum Carbide MXenes for Enhanced Selective Detection of Humidity in Air.

2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) open up novel opportunities in gas sensing with high sensitivity at room temperature. Herein, 2D Mo CT flakes with high aspect ratio are successfully synthesized. The chemiresistive effect in a sub-µm MXene multilayer for different organic vapors and humidity at 10 -10  ppm in dry air is studied.

Thermal crystallization of amorphous calcium phosphate combined with citrate and fluoride doping: a novel route to produce hydroxyapatite bioceramics.

Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is a material of high interest for dentistry, orthopedics, and other biomedical sectors. Being intrinsically metastable, the process of transformation of ACP into a crystalline phase upon heating is of high relevance for the development of innovative bioceramics. Here we have first studied the thermal behavior of a citrate-stabilized ACP (Cit-ACP) also doped with fluoride ions (Cit-FACP) prepared at three different nominal Cit/Ca ratios (i.

Measurement of the conformational switching of azobenzenes from the macro- to attomolar scale in self-assembled 2D and 3D nanostructures.

It is important, but challenging, to measure the (photo)induced switching of molecules in different chemical environments, from solution through thin layers to solid bulk crystals. We compare the cis-trans conformational switching of commercial azobenzene molecules in different liquid and solid environments: polar solutions, liquid polymers, 2D nanostructures and 3D crystals. We achieve this goal by using complementary techniques: optical absorption spectroscopy, femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy and reflectance spectroscopy, supported by density functional theory calculations.

Hydroxyapatite Surfaces Functionalized with a Self-Assembling Peptide: XPS, RAIRS and NEXAFS Study.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings can improve the biocompatibility and bioactivity of titanium alloys, such as Ti6Al4V, commonly used as material for orthopedic prostheses. In this framework, we have studied the surface of HAP coatings enriched with Mg and either Si or Ti deposited by RF magnetron sputtering on Ti6Al4V. HAP coatings have been furtherly functionalized by adsorption of a self-assembling peptide (SAP) on the HAP surface, with the aim of increasing the material bioactivity.