In this article, we report the structural and optical properties of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method. The effect of calcination temperature on structural and optical properties of ZrO2 nanoparticles is investigated through XRD, FESEM, EDX, FTIR, UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence emission and life time measurements. XRD spectrum reveals the tetragonal phase at calcination temperature 600 °C and crystallinity of samples increases with calcination temperature. At 800 °C the phase transition from tetragonal to tetragonal-monoclinic mixed phase is noticed. The FESEM images show the particles are of irregular shape and highly agglomerated. FTIR spectra also confirm the formation of ZrO2 in crystalline phase. From UV–vis absorption spectra it is found a strong quantization and varying band gap with calcination temperature. The change in emission wavelength and intensity with phase change is observed form fluorescence emission spectra. At higher calcination temperature emission intensity is decreased which may be due to the phase change and the formation of surface defects. The life time measurements also reveal the different trap states and life time with calcination temperature.
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N C Horti et al 2020 Nano Ex. 1 010022
Rachana Yadwade et al 2021 Nano Ex. 2 022003
The field of nanotechnology is being greatly explored by cosmetic industries in order to improve the efficacy of cosmetic products. The increased use of nanomaterials in the field of cosmetics can have two sides as health-related benefits and detrimental effects. This review mainly seeks the pros and cons of the use of nanomaterials in cosmetics along with some examples of nanomaterials that are widely used in cosmetic industries along with different types of nanotechnology-based cosmetic products. The benefits of nanomaterials in cosmetic formulations are huge. Moreover the study regarding the toxic effects on the health also equally matters. This review gives a brief outline of the advantages as well as disadvantages of nanotechnology in cosmetics.
Sonima Mohan et al 2020 Nano Ex. 1 030028
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method under different conditions and studied various properties. FTIR studies proved the presence of ZnO bonding and purity of the samples. Grain size was found to be decreased with the increase of reaction temperature and increased with reaction time. TEM images show formation of nanorods under same reaction temperature, also nanoflowers and nanospheres for different temperatures. Intensity of luminescence peaks is found to be changed with variation in interplanar spacing. UV–vis spectra helped to identify the increased photon absorption in particles of bigger size. Change in bandgap value is also observed due to the difference in size of nanoparticles.
Md Jahidul Haque et al 2020 Nano Ex. 1 010007
In this work, two different methods (sol-gel and biosynthesis) were adopted for the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. The leaf extract of Azadirachta Indica (Neem) was utilized in the biosynthesis scheme. Structural, antibacterial, photocatalytic and optical performances of the two variants were analyzed. Both variants demonstrated a wurtzite hexagonal structure. The biosynthesized variant (25.97 nm) exhibited smaller particles than that of the sol-gel variant (33.20 nm). The morphological analysis revealed that most of the particles of the sol-gel variant remained within the range of 15 nm to 68 nm while for the biosynthesized variant the range was 10–70 nm. The antibacterial assessment was redacted by using the agar well diffusion method in which the bacteria medium was Escherichia coli O157: H7. The zone of inhibition of bacterial growth was higher in the biosynthesized variant (14.5 mm). The photocatalytic performances of the nanoparticles were determined through the degradation of methylene blue dye in which the biosynthesized variant provided better performance. The electron spin resonance (EPR) analysis revealed that the free OH · radicals were the primary active species for this degradation phenomenon. The absorption band of the sol-gel and biosynthesized variants were 363 nm and 356 nm respectively. The optical band gap energy of the biosynthesized variant (3.25 eV) was slightly higher than that of the sol-gel variant (3.23 eV). Nevertheless, the improved antibacterial and photocatalytic responses of the biosynthesized variants were obtained due to the higher rate of stabilization mechanism of the nanoparticles by the organic chemicals (terpenoids) present in the Neem leaf extract.
Bharti et al 2021 Nano Ex. 2 022004
Supercapacitors provide remarkable eco-friendly advancement in energy conversion and storage with a huge potential to control the future economy of the entire world. Currently, industries focus on the design and engineering aspects of supercapacitors with high performance (high energy), flexibility (by the use of composite polymer based electrolytes), high voltage (ionic liquid) and low cost. The paper reviews the modelling techniques like Empirical modelling, Dissipation transmission line models, Continuum models, Atomistic models, Quantum models, Simplified analytical models etc. proposed for the theoretical study of Supercapacitors and discusses their limitations in studying all the aspects of Supercapacitors. It also reviews the various software packages available for Supercapacitor (SC) modelling and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The paper also reviews the Experimental advancements in the field of electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs), pseudo capacitors and hybrid/asymmetric supercapacitors and discusses the commercial progress of supercapacitors as well.
Yamir Islam et al 2020 Nano Ex. 1 012002
With estimated worldwide cost over $1 trillion just for dementia, diseases of the central nervous system pose a major problem to health and healthcare systems, with significant socio-economic implications for sufferers and society at large. In the last two decades, numerous strategies and technologies have been developed and adapted to achieve drug penetration into the brain, evolving alongside our understanding of the physiological barriers between the brain and surrounding tissues. The blood brain barrier (BBB) has been known as the major barrier for drug delivery to the brain. Both invasive and minimally-invasive approaches have been investigated extensively, with the minimally-invasive approaches to drug delivery being more suitable. Peptide based brain targeting has been explored extensively in the last two decades. In this review paper, we focused on self-assembled peptides, shuttle peptides and nanoparticles drug delivery systems decorated/conjugated with peptides for brain penetration.
Sergio Solis Flores et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025007
Microalgae cultures have an excellent ability to capture CO2 and produce high, medium, and low valuable biocompounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, pigments, and polyhydroxyalkanoates; those compounds have shown excellent properties in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and medical industries. Recently, the supplementation of carbon dots (CDs) in autotrophic microalgae cultures has been explored as a new strategy to increase light capture and improve photoluminescence, which in turn enhances biomass growth and biocompounds production. In this work, we synthesized CDs through a simple carbonization method using orange juice as a natural precursor. The green synthesized CDs were analyzed in detail through characterization techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible, fluorescence spectroscopy, and ζ potential analysis. Moreover, CDs were added to Chlorella vulgaris to analyze the response under different photoperiod cycles and CDs dosages. The optimal results were obtained with the addition of 0.5 mg l−1 of CDs under a photoperiod cycle of 16 h:8 h (light:dark). In these conditions, a maximum biomass production of 2.12 g l−1 was observed, which represents an enhancement of 112% and 17% in comparison to the control samples under the photoperiod of 12 h:12 h and 16 h:8 h (light/dark), respectively. Furthermore, the production of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates was significantly increased to 249 mg g−1, 285 mg g−1, and 217 mg g−1 dry weight, respectively. These results suggest that the addition of CDs enhances cell growth and increases the production of lipids and proteins, being a strategy with great potential for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Ayan Roy et al 2023 Nano Ex. 4 022002
The swiftly growing global economies remain the root cause of the soaring demand for oil and gas to satisfy their excessive energy demands, thus making the oil and gas sector one of the most important industrial sectors. Though renewable energy technologies are the more sustainable option, technological advances are required to make them more accessible to the common people. Therefore, due to the limitation of renewable energy technologies, oil and gas continue to be a more viable alternative. Extensive research is being conducted on the applications of nanotechnology to make the upstream, midstream, and downstream processes efficient in the oil and gas sector. Nanomaterials make the activities in processing and transportation more economical, efficient, and environment-friendly than their conventional counterparts. In this review, we have highlighted the need for nanomaterials in oil and gas, for example, in crude oil exploration, including drilling and EOR, separation techniques, refining, transportation, and other related activities. Further, this review summarizes novel nanomaterials developed and used in the activities mentioned above, and at the end, we have briefly described the synthesis mechanism of these nanomaterials. Finally, we emphasize the current challenges and future work prospects in this area of study.
C Reyes-Damián et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025006
ZnO nanostructures have attracted considerable attention because of their physicochemical properties and applications as antibacterial agents, photocatalytic reactions for pollutant removal, and electronics. Hence, efficient production and knowledge of their properties under different synthesis conditions are essential. Biosynthesis has emerged as an excellent growth-directing method for synthesizing nanomaterials, representing a soft and cleaner alternative for their production. In this study, we synthesized different ZnO nanostructures using a soft chemistry method at different growth temperatures, from 200 to 800 °C every 200 °C. The crystalline structure was estudied by x-ray Diffraction (XRD) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The shape and size were studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which revealed a ZnO hexagonal phase with two shapes: nanoparticles (NPs) with irregular shapes and nanorods of different sizes. The optical properties were studied by Raman and UV-visible spectroscopy, and optical absorption measurements showed bandgap tuning of the produced nanostructures. Finally, the magnetic characteristics of the samples demonstrated magnetic anisotropy due to the preference for crystalline formation and the size of the nanoparticles. The magnetic interaction between the two types of NPs increased the diamagnetism associated with the nanorods.
Sandip Kumar Chandraker et al 2021 Nano Ex. 2 022008
For decades, silver has been used as a non-toxic inorganic antimicrobial agent. Silver has a lot of potential in a variety of biological/chemical applications, particularly in the form of nanoparticles (NPs). Eco-friendly synthesis approach for NPs are becoming more common in nanobiotechnology, and the demand for biological synthesis methods is growing, with the goal of eliminating hazardous and polluting agents. Cultures of bacteria, fungi, and algae, plant extracts, and other biomaterials are commonly used for NP synthesis in the 'green synthesis' process. Plant-based green synthesis is a simple, fast, dependable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and one-step method that has a significant advantage over microbial synthesis due to the lengthy process of microbial isolation and pure culture maintenance. In this report, we focussed on phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their characterization using various techniques such as spectroscopy (UV–vis, FTIR), microscopy (TEM, SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and other particle analysis. The potential applications of AgNPs in a variety of biological and chemical fields are discussed.
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Ritu Nain et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025016
Exploring new materials and synthesis recipes are required to enhance the electrochromic performance especially, when used in solid-state devices. Here, polycrystalline gadolinium titanate (Gd2TiO5 or GTO), synthesized using a simple solid-state reaction method, has been used for this purpose by combining it with polythiophene (P3HT). The electrochemical investigation of the Gd2TiO5 doped P3HT electrode has been carried out using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which reveals the dominance of diffusion-controlled mechanism over charge storage on the electrode surface as compared to the P3HT electrode. The Gd2TiO5 doped P3HT solid-state electrochromic device shows color modulation at 515 nm and 670 nm wavelengths with a color contrast of as high as 79% and 42%, respectively, under an external bias of as low as ±1.4 V. The prepared device switches between maroon to a transparent state in less than a second under the external bias (±1.4 V) with a high coloration efficiency of 346 cm2/C. The device shows improved cycle life over 100 switching cycles at both the wavelengths, which makes it more suitable for real-life applications.
Fabricio O Sanchez-Varretti et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025015
In disordered materials, the ordinary understanding is that charge carriers tend to occupy energetically favorable sites known as ion-conducting channels. Many studies have revealed that the inherent fractal properties of such pathways lead to a sub-diffusive behavior. The linearity or branching of these pathways is crucial for determining how the charge carriers move. It can be thought that as the space dimensionality decreases, the average distance between the highest energy barriers along the conduction paths increases. In this study the finite dimension of those pathways is computed using an extended version of the classical Hausdorff dimension. Also, the Arrhenius behavior of the most mobile lithium ions is proved, confirming that such are responsible for conductivity behavior. The lithium ions mobility behavior in response to temperature changes and the finite dimension allowed to identify the ion diffusion regions fractal features. The reported results demonstrate that as the temperature increases the conducting channels become broadener, facilitating the transfer of electrical charge through the glassy matrix, below the transition temperature. The pathways behavior confirms the increase of the ionic conductivity when the temperature increases as it is experimentally observed.
Manisha Jatiya et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025014
This article explores the charge compensation method by synthesising Sr2SnO4, Sr2Sn0.99Nb0.01O4, and Sr1.995Sn0.99Nb0.01O4. The synthesis of a monophasic, tetragonal sample was achieved using a typical ceramic approach and high-temperature heat treatment. The XRD followed by Rietveld refinement, confirmed the crystallization of material under the space group I4/mmm. The crystallite sizes for all samples determined to be less than 50 nm, while the micro-strain falls within the range of (1.78–2.93) × 10–3. The microstructure exhibits a cuboidal shape for all samples, and the grain size is observed to decrease with the addition of Nb. The dielectric characteristics of the samples indicate the existence of Maxwell-Wagner and Orientational polarization in the sample. The sample Sr2Sn0.99Nb0.01O4 demonstrates a greater conductivity value compared to Sr1.995Sn0.99Nb0.01O4. This is attributed to the presence of excess electrons that compensate for the overall charge, as opposed to Sr1.995Sn0.99Nb0.01O4 where the extra charge is compensated by a cationic vacancy The time-temperature-superposition principle (TTSP) is applicable to all compositions and indicates that similar sources are responsible for both conduction and relaxation processes. The dielectric permittivity and dissipation factor are found to be in the range of 150 to 175 and 0.2 to 0.5, respectively. This suggests that they have potential for future use in millimeter-wave communication with dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs). Due to the presence of oxygen ions and the ability to conduct both ions and electrons, at temperatures above 400 °C, it is a suitable choice for electrode materials in the application of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFCs). Exploring the manipulation of defects using electrical and ionic charge compensation methods shows potential for enhancing materials in semiconductor technology.
Nicolas S Franco et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025013
Numerous plant extracts are abundant in biomolecules that can be employed in the biogenic synthesis of metallic nanoparticles owing to their potent reducing capabilities. The mechanism by which biomolecules act as reducers and expedite the reduction of silver ions remains poorly understood. This study presents an instantaneous and environmentally friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using varying concentrations of commercially available green tea and concentrations of a dextrose-reducing solution. The AgNPs formed instantaneously, likely due to the competitive reaction between the polyphenols present in green tea and the dextrose. The best AgNPs produced using a diluted green tea solution at a concentration of 0.05 g of tea/ml and 100 μl of dextrose solution exhibited high stability over a period of 90 days, as confirmed by UV–vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The results of antioxidant properties from diluited tea showed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) 0.013 ± (0.1) μmol Trolox Equivalent Anyioxidant Capacity (TEAC) TEAC/g, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) 10.3 ± (0.1) μmol TEAC/g and Total Polyphenol Content (TPC) 0.12 ± (.001) μgGAE(Galic Acid Equivalent)/g). The resulting nanoparticles are extremely small, measuring approximately 30 to 50 nm in size, and exhibit a spherical morphology as evidenced by SEM imaging. The plasmon bandwidth is better in more diluted tea and higher proportions of dextrose added than the others condition of synthesis. Probably, the results of 2nd extraction of green tea diluted can be evidence that phenolic compounds, mainly, caffeine and gallic acid, are contributing to forming and stabilizing the silver nanoparticles. This fundamental knowledge showed the method employed is ecologically sound and adheres to green principles.
Shahin Alipour Bonab and Mohammad Yazdani-Asrami 2024 Nano Ex. 5 025012
The rising demand for advanced energy systems requires enhanced thermal management strategies to maximize resource utilization and productivity. This is quite an important industrial and academic trend as the efficiency of energy systems depends on the cooling systems. This study intends to address the critical need for efficient heat transfer mechanisms in industrial energy systems, particularly those relying on pool boiling conditions, by mainly focusing on Critical Heat Flux (CHF). In fact, CHF keeps a limit in thermal system design, beyond which the efficiency of the system drops. Recent research materials have highlighted nanofluids' superior heat transfer properties over conventional pure fluids, like water, which makes them a considerable substitution for improving CHF in cooling systems. However, the broad variability in experimental outcomes challenges the development of a unified predictive model. Besides, Machine Learning (ML) based prediction has shown great accuracy for modeling of the designing parameters, including CHF. Utilizing ML algorithms—Cascade Forward Neural Network (CFNN), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Extra Tree, and Light Gradient Boosting Method (LightGBM)— four predictive models have been developed and the benchmark shows CFNN's superior accuracy with an average goodness of fit of 89.32%, significantly higher than any available model in the literature. Also, the iterative stability analysis demonstrated that this model with a 0.0348 standard deviation and 0.0268 mean absolute deviation is the most stable and robust method that its performance minorly changes with input data. The novelty of the work mainly lies in the prediction of CHF with these advanced algorithm models to enhance the reliability and accuracy of CHF prediction for designing purposes, which are capable of considering many effective parameters into account with much higher accuracy than mathematical fittings. This study not only explains the complex interplay of nanofluid parameters affecting CHF but also offers practical implications for the design of more efficient thermal management systems, thereby contributing to the broader field of energy system enhancement through innovative cooling solutions.
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Aditi Manna and Nirat Ray 2024 Nano Ex. 5 012005
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as transformative materials with diverse properties, holding tremendous promise for reshaping the landscape of photovoltaics and thermoelectrics. Emphasizing the pivotal role of surface ligands, ranging from extended hydrocarbon chains to intricate metal chalcogenide complexes, halides, and hybrid ligands, we underscore their influence on the electronic behavior of the assembly. The ability to tailor interdot coupling can have profound effects on charge transport, making colloidal QDs a focal point for research aimed at enhancing the efficiency and performance of energy conversion devices. This perspective provides insights into the multifaceted realm of QD solids, starting from fundamentals of charge transport through the coupled assemblies. We delve into recent breakthroughs, spotlighting champion devices across various architectures and elucidating the sequential advancements that have significantly elevated efficiency levels.
Makoto Sakurai 2024 Nano Ex. 5 012004
Emergent functionalities created by applying mechanical stress to flexible devices using SnO2 microrods and Ga2O3/SnO2-core/shell microribbons are reviewed. Dynamic lattice defect engineering through application of mechanical stress and a voltage to the SnO2 microrod device leads to a reversible semiconductor-insulator transition through lattice defect creation and healing, providing an effective and simple solution to the persistent photoconductivity (PPC) problem that has long plagued UV semiconductor photosensors. Here, lattice defects are created near slip planes in a rutile-structured microrod by applying mechanical stress and are healed by Joule heating by applying a voltage to the microrod. Nanoscale amorphous structuring makes the Ga2O3/SnO2-core/shell microribbon with a large SnO2 surface area more sensitive to changes in temperature, while mechanical bending of the wet device improves its sensitivity to adsorbed water molecules. These results illustrate the potential for developing flexible devices with new functionalities by enhancing the intrinsic properties of materials through miniaturization, mechanical stress, and hybridization.
Cuixiu Wu et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 012003
Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanoparticles (ZIF-8 NPs) are emerging metal–organic framework nanomaterials composed of 2-methylimidazole and zinc ions, which are widely used in biomedical fields due to their distinctive features such as high porosity, bioresponsive degradation, and superior biocompatibility. Especially, the advanced research of ZIF-8 NPs in smart drug delivery systems is providing unique insights into the rational design of versatile nanomedicines for the treatment and diagnosis of serious diseases. This article provides a comprehensive review and outlook on ZIF-8 NPs-based smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs) including the synthesis methods, drug loading strategies, surface modification, and stimuli-responsive release. In particular, we focus on the advantages of ZIF-8 NPs-based drug loading strategies between the metal coordination-based active loading and the physical packaging-based passive loading. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of ZIF-8 NPs as smart drug delivery carriers are discussed.
Shanmuga Priya S and Suseem S R 2024 Nano Ex. 5 012002
Carbon dots are small carbon-based particles with unique properties that make them useful in various applications. Some advantages include low toxicity, bio-compatibility, excellent photo luminescence, high stability, and ease of synthesis. These features make them promising for biomedical imaging, drug delivery, and optoelectronic devices. Carbon dots derived from plants have several advantages, including their low toxicity, biocompatibility, and renewable sources. They also have excellent water solubility and high stability and can be easily synthesized using simple and low-cost methods. These properties make them promising candidates for various biomedicine, sensing, and imaging applications. Plant-based carbon dots have shown great potential in metal sensing and bio-imaging applications. They can act as efficient sensors for detecting heavy metals due to their strong chelation and fluorescence properties. This article showcases plant-based carbon dots, emphasizing their low toxicity, biocompatibility, renewability, and potential in metal sensing and bio-imaging. It aims to illustrate their versatile applications and ongoing research for broader use. The current investigation explores their full potential and develops new synthesis and application methods.
Qian Yun Sun et al 2024 Nano Ex. 5 012001
Functionalized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) show great potential for application in the field of food safety. CQDs have attracted widespread attention in this regard due to the wide range of sources of raw materials for their synthesis, and their good biocompatibility and stable fluorescence. This paper analyses the properties of CQDs and compares with those of conventional semiconductor quantum dots (SCQDs). It analyses the similarities and differences between hydrothermal carbonization, pyrolysis and microwave-assisted synthesis of CQDs, and reviews the principles and methods of functionalization of CQDs through surface modification and doping. Finally, it discusses the applications of functionalized CQDs in food safety, such as detection and sensing, bio-inhibition and photocatalytic degradation, and the mechanisms of detection.
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Hirose et al
Sensing layers with an increased affinity for water molecules are essential for the development of highly sensitive humidity sensors. Graphene possesses superior electrical properties that make it suitable for the fabrication of low-noise miniaturized sensors. However, the enhancement of water affinity by introducing surface defects such as covalently attached hydrophilic groups reduces the electrical conductivity of graphene. In this study, we exploit the wetting transparency of graphene to increase its water affinity without introducing defects. Kinetic measurements using a Kelvin probe with a large-diameter tip showed that the rate constant of water adsorption was higher for graphene deposited on a hydrophilic substrate. These findings suggest that the wetting transparency of graphene can be exploited to reduce defect introduction into the graphene sensing layer, and has potential applications in sensor technologies.
Díaz Carral et al
Electronic and ionic current signals detected concurrently by 2D molybdenum disulfide nanopores are analysed in view of detecting (bio)molecules electrophoretically driven through these nanopores. The passage of the molecules, giving rise to translocation events in the nanopores, can be assigned to specific drops in the current signals, the blockades. Such blockades are observed in both the electronic and the ionic signals. In this work, we analyze both signals separately and together by choosing specific features and applying both unsupervised and supervised learning. Two blockade features, the height and the mean, are found to strongly influence the clustering and the classification of the nanopore data, respectively. At the same time, the concurrent learning of both the electronic and ionic signatures enhance the predictability of the learning models, i.e. the nanopore read-out efficiency. The interpretation of these findings provides an intuitive understanding in optimizing the read-out schemes for enhancing the accuracy of nanopore sequencers in view of an error-free biomolecular sensing.
Sharma et al
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have received a lot of interest for their several applications, including their remarkable potential as photocatalysts for organic dye degradation. This research thoroughly investigates the efficacy of ecologically friendly, green-synthesized AgNPs in the treatment of synthetic dye-contaminated wastewater. The synthesis of AgNPs from various biological substrates is investigated, emphasizing their economic viability, significant conductivity, and considerable biocompatibility. The improper disposal of synthetic dyes in wastewater poses severe environmental and health risks due to their non-biodegradable nature and persistent chemical features. In response to this challenge, this review paper investigates the capability of AgNPs to serve as effective photocatalysts for degrading a range of organic dyes commonly found in industrial effluents. Specific dyes, including Aniline Blue, Congo Red, Nitrophenol, Methylene Blue, and Malachite Green, are studied in the context of wastewater treatment, providing insights into the efficacy of AgNPs synthesized from diverse biological sources. The review sheds light on the photocatalytic degradation methods used by green-synthesized AgNPs, shedding light on the transition of these synthetic dyes into less hazardous compounds. It also delves into the toxicity aspect of the AgNPs and its possible remediation from the environment. The ecologically friendly synthesis procedures investigated in this work provide an alternative to traditional methods, highlighting the importance of sustainable technologies in solving modern environmental concerns. Furthermore, a comparative examination of various biological substrates for AgNPs synthesis is presented, evaluating their respective dye degradation efficiencies. This not only helps researchers understand the environmental impact of synthetic dyes, but it also directs them in choosing the best substrates for the production of AgNPs with enhanced photocatalytic activities.
Mary et al
The biocompatibility property has made silver nanoparticles powerful candidates for various nanomedical applications. Research interest in silver nanoparticles as a viable alternative to antibiotics is gaining more attention due to their enhanced antimicrobial activity, better antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. Machine Learning (ML) has become a state-of-the-art analytic and modelling tool in recent times, due to its prediction capabilities and increased accuracy of the results. In this work, we present machine-learning techniques to predict the antibacterial capacity of silver nanoparticles and extended the work on antifungal studies. In the first phase, we reviewed 50 articles and collected data points for training the model, which consists of features such as core size, shape of the nanoparticle, dosage, bacteria/fungi species and zone of inhibition (ZOI). Then, we trained the data using eight different machine-learning regression algorithms and validated the models' performance using four metrics such as RMSE, MSE, MAE and R2. Furthermore, the importance of features used in the prediction models has been evaluated. The feature importance revealed that the core size of silver nanoparticles is the prominent feature in the prediction of the antibacterial capacity. The optimum model for the prediction of antibacterial and antifungal activity has been identified. Finally, the model's validation has also been demonstrated. This work enables researchers to utilize Machine Learning which in turn can address the challenges of time consumption, and cost in laboratory experiments while minimising the reliance on trial and error.
Madhushika et al
Perishable food post-harvest loss is a major global concern, and research is currently concentrated on creating active packaging materials. This research is focused in multiple antioxidants intercalated Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) that are combined in one matrix, and their overall effect that defines as synergism, which successfully preserves perishable food by releasing antioxidants slowly. For this purpose, a hybrid LDH material of ascorbic-LDH, salicylic-LDH, and citric-LDH was synthesized, characterized and incorporate into electrospun nanofiber mat to be used as a potential active packaging material. Antioxidants intercalated Mg/Al LDH was synthesized and successfully characterized by PXRD, FTIR, XPS, Raman, SEM and EDS. The shifts in the LDHs' peaks in PXRD indicated the successful incorporation of antioxidants into LDH. FTIR, Raman and XPS data clearly indicated the establishment of metal-oxygen bonds by observing the characteristic peaks. Morphological features and layered structure were clearly observed by SEM images. Antioxidants were slowly released from LDHs, and it was evaluated for time intervals up to 24 hrs. The hybrid LDH material exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 132.5µg/mL, where 234.1, 354.5, and 402.2µg/mL were reported for ascorbic-LDH, salicylic-LDH, and citric-LDH respectively. The hybrid LDH material incorporated electrospun mats showed the best antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria and clearly evidenced the synergistic activity of the combination of the nanohybrids. It has showed a minimal bacterial growth compared to other control samples (∼2.41 log CFU/mL). The shelf life of cherry tomatoes was studied at different physiochemical parameters with and without hybrid LDH material incorporated electrospun mats. The mat showed an extended shelf life of 42 days for cherry tomatoes, whereas the control sample showed a shelf life of 17 days. It is concluded that hybrid LDH material exhibited synergistic performance and the best antioxidant activity when comparing with mono LDH materials.