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Advantages and Perspectives of ZnO Nanostructured Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 2507

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Physics, Faculty of Physics, Complutense University of Madrid, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: semiconductor metal oxides for applications in sensing photocatalysis and optoelectronics

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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
Interests: design of optical materials; nano materials and optical devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, “ZnO Nanostructured Materials: Advantages and Perspectives”, will address advances in the growth, characterization, and applications of ZnO in the form of nanoparticles, nanowires, or any other kind of nanostructure. Recent developments in the study of ZnO have shown that nanostructures can be used in a very wide range of applications—from optoelectronic devices to photocatalysts or as antibacterials. In this sense, scalable growth methods, characterization aspects, and studies on application performance are key factors to the development and use of this material in common life. Original papers are solicited on all types of growth techniques and technological applications of ZnO nanostructures and its combination with other nanomaterials to form hybrid structures. Of particular interest are recent developments in low-cost growth techniques, doping methods, characterization of properties, and environmental applications of ZnO nanostructures. Articles and reviews dealing with applications and prospects in a green and circular economy, including photocatalysis, gas sensing, as antibacterial, and in optoelectronics, are very welcome.

Prof. Dr. Paloma Fernández Sánchez
Prof. Dr. Jong-Lam Lee
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • sensing
  • photocatalysis
  • emergent contaminants and pollutant photo-degradation
  • CO2 capture
  • recycling
  • environmentally friendly synthesis methods
  • nanodevices, batteries, and supercapacitors
  • metal-oxide-based materials and devices
  • upconverting materials

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 10621 KiB  
Article
Comparative Effect of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Aqueous Extract of Nepeta nepetella through Different Precursor Concentrations
by Nouzha Fodil, Djaaboub Serra, Johar Amin Ahmed Abdullah, Juan Domínguez-Robles, Alberto Romero and Amrouche Abdelilah
Materials 2024, 17(12), 2853; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17122853 - 11 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 934
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis caused by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Accordingly, bacteria have developed mechanisms to resist antibiotics. This crisis endangers public health systems and medical procedures, underscoring the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents. This study focuses [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis caused by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Accordingly, bacteria have developed mechanisms to resist antibiotics. This crisis endangers public health systems and medical procedures, underscoring the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents. This study focuses on the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using aqueous extracts from Nepeta nepetella subps. amethystine leaves and stems, employing different zinc sulfate concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2 M). NP characterization included transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), along with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ZnO NPs, prepared at varying concentrations of zinc sulfate, for their capacity to inhibit both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as their antioxidant potential using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. SEM and TEM results showed predominantly spherical NPs. The smallest size (18.5 ± 1.3 nm for leaves and 18.1 ± 1.3 nm for stems) occurred with the 0.5 M precursor concentration. These NPs also exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at 10 µg/mL, as well as the highest antioxidant activity, with an IC50 (the concentration of NPs that scavenge 50% of the initial DPPH radicals) of 62 ± 0.8 (µg/mL) for the leaves and 35 ± 0.6 (µg/mL) for the stems. NPs and precursor concentrations were modeled to assess their impact on bacteria using a 2D polynomial equation. Response surface plots identified optimal concentration conditions for antibacterial effectiveness against each species, promising in combating antibiotic resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advantages and Perspectives of ZnO Nanostructured Materials)
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14 pages, 6311 KiB  
Article
Rapid Growth of Metal–Metal Oxide Core–Shell Structures through Joule Resistive Heating: Morphological, Structural, and Luminescence Characterization
by Juan Francisco Ramos-Justicia, Ana Urbieta and Paloma Fernández
Materials 2024, 17(1), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010208 - 30 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1164
Abstract
The aim of this study is to prove that resistive heating enables the synthesis of metal/metal oxide composites in the form of core–shell structures. The thickness and morphology of the oxide layer depends strongly on the nature of the metal, but the influences [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to prove that resistive heating enables the synthesis of metal/metal oxide composites in the form of core–shell structures. The thickness and morphology of the oxide layer depends strongly on the nature of the metal, but the influences of parameters such as the time and current profiles and the presence of an external field have also been investigated. The systems chosen for the present study are Zn/ZnO, Ti/TiO2, and Ni/NiO. The characterization of the samples was performed using techniques based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thicknesses of the oxide layers varied from 10 μm (Zn/ZnO) to 50 μm (Ni/NiO). In the case of Zn- and Ti-based composites, the growth of nanostructures on the oxide layer was observed. Micro- and nanoneedles formed on the ZnO layer while prism-like structures appeared on the TiO2. In the case of the NiO layer, micro- and nanocrystals were observed. Applying an external electric field seemed to align the ZnO needles, whereas its effect on TiO2 and NiO was less appreciable, principally affecting the shape of their grain boundaries. The chemical compositions were analysed using X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), which confirmed the existence of an oxide layer. Structural information was obtained by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and was later checked using Raman spectroscopy. The oxide layers seemed to be crystalline and, although some non-stoichiometric phases appeared, the stoichiometric phases were predominant; these were wurtzite, rutile, and cubic for Zn, Ti, and Ni oxides, respectively. The photoluminescence technique was used to study the distribution of defects on the shell, and mainly visible bands (2–2.5 eV), attributed to oxygen vacancies, were present. The near-band edges of ZnO and TiO2 were also observed around 3.2–3.3 eV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advantages and Perspectives of ZnO Nanostructured Materials)
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