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ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications
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ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 26275

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Pimentel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: metal oxide nanostructures; photocatalysis; sensing; microwave irradiation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniela Nunes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: nanotechnology; metal oxide nanostructures; photocatalysis; sensing; materials characterization; microwave irradiation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that the size and morphologies of nanoparticles can significantly change the optical and electrical properties of several systems, especially at the nanometer scale. Zinc oxide is no different and, depending on the synthesis parameters, a vast variety of morphologies can be observed, ranging from nanorods and nanowires to nanoplates, among others, thus representing new limits and frontiers in materials science.

Zinc oxide is an inexpensive and abundant material that is nontoxic and chemically stable, which makes it suitable to be used in a vast area of applications, such as in field effect transistors, solar cells, piezoelectric generators, photocatalysis, sensors, as a platform for SERS (Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering) applications and so on. Thus, in the last few years, researchers have focused their attention on developing new ways to synthesize innovative ZnO nanostructures to improve its intrinsic properties and thus properly integrate it in devices.

This Special Issue of Materials, entitled “ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications”, aims to gather together a collection of articles (full papers, communications and reviews) focusing on recent developments in the synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanostructures, as well as its integration into devices covering distinct areas of applications and a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to:

The controlled synthesis techniques of ZnO nanostructures, to produce nanowires/nanorods arrays as well as different types of 1D/2D/3D nanostructured morphologies and their characterization;

  • The synthesis of doped ZnO nanostructures;
  • Functionalized and/or hybrid ZnO nanostructures and their applications;
  • Applications of ZnO nanostructures: UV sensors, SERS, biosensors, photocatalysis and so on;
  • The production and characterization of ZnO-based nanodevices

Dr. Ana Pimentel
Dr. Daniela Nunes
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4738 KiB  
Article
Statistical Simulation of the Switching Mechanism in ZnO-Based RRAM Devices
by Usman Isyaku Bature, Illani Mohd Nawi, Mohd Haris Md Khir, Furqan Zahoor, Abdullah Saleh Algamili, Saeed S. Ba Hashwan and Mohd Azman Zakariya
Materials 2022, 15(3), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15031205 - 5 Feb 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3301
Abstract
Resistive random access memory (RRAM) has two distinct processes, the SET and RESET processes, that control the formation and dissolution of conductive filament, respectively. The laws of thermodynamics state that these processes correspond to the lowest possible level of free energy. In an [...] Read more.
Resistive random access memory (RRAM) has two distinct processes, the SET and RESET processes, that control the formation and dissolution of conductive filament, respectively. The laws of thermodynamics state that these processes correspond to the lowest possible level of free energy. In an RRAM device, a high operating voltage causes device degradation, such as bends, cracks, or bubble-like patterns. In this work, we developed a statistical simulation of the switching mechanism in a ZnO-based RRAM. The model used field-driven ion migration and temperature effects to design a ZnO-based RRAM dynamic SET and RESET resistance transition process. We observed that heat transport within the conducting filament generated a great deal of heat energy due to the carrier transport of the constituent dielectric material. The model was implemented using the built-in COMSOL Multiphysics software to address heat transfer, electrostatic, and yield RRAM energy. The heat energy increased with the increase in the operating power. Hence, the reliability of a device with high power consumption cannot be assured. We obtained various carrier heat analyses in 2D images and concluded that developing RRAM devices with low operating currents through material and structure optimization is crucial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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10 pages, 656 KiB  
Article
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Enhanced Biomass and Zinc Content and Induced Changes in Biological Properties of Red Perilla frutescens
by Piotr Salachna, Małgorzata Mizielińska, Beata Płoszaj-Witkowska and Agnieszka Jaszczak
Materials 2021, 14(20), 6182; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14206182 - 18 Oct 2021
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3209
Abstract
The above-ground parts of plants, including leaves, constitute an important part of a human diet. Their mineral and biological composition can be modified by proper preparation of the soil substrate, i.e., supplying it with nutrients. The objective of this study was to assess [...] Read more.
The above-ground parts of plants, including leaves, constitute an important part of a human diet. Their mineral and biological composition can be modified by proper preparation of the soil substrate, i.e., supplying it with nutrients. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) at 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L−1 concentrations on red perilla (Perilla frutescens var. crispa f. purpurea) leaf yield and quality. Plants were grown in 2 L pot under a plastic greenhouse condition. The exposure to ZnO NPs increased leaf fresh and dry weight and leaf Zn content as compared with untreated control. Fresh weight boost was the most pronounced at 50 mg L−1 ZnO NPs. The lowest concentration of ZnO NPs also enhanced the content of total polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and antiradical activity. Treatments with 50 or 100 mg L−1 ZnO NPs boosted the level of total anthocyanins and bacteriostatic activity of 25% extracts. Overall, this study demonstrated that ZnO NPs at low rates is useful as a biostimulant and nanofertilizer for red perilla production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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10 pages, 1194 KiB  
Article
Study of High-Temperature Behaviour of ZnO by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
by Dmitry Bocharov, Inga Pudza, Konstantin Klementiev, Matthias Krack and Alexei Kuzmin
Materials 2021, 14(18), 5206; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14185206 - 10 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
Wurtzite-type zinc oxide (w-ZnO) is a widely used material with a pronounced structural anisotropy along the c axis, which affects its lattice dynamics and represents a difficulty for its accurate description using classical models of interatomic interactions. In this study, ab initio molecular [...] Read more.
Wurtzite-type zinc oxide (w-ZnO) is a widely used material with a pronounced structural anisotropy along the c axis, which affects its lattice dynamics and represents a difficulty for its accurate description using classical models of interatomic interactions. In this study, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) was employed to simulate a bulk w-ZnO phase in the NpT ensemble in the high-temperature range from 300 K to 1200 K. The results of the simulations were validated by comparison with the experimental Zn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra and known diffraction data. AIMD NpT simulations reproduced well the thermal expansion of the lattice, and the pronounced anharmonicity of Zn–O bonding was observed above 600 K. The values of mean-square relative displacements and mean-square displacements for Zn–O and Zn–Zn atom pairs were obtained as a function of interatomic distance and temperature. They were used to calculate the characteristic Einstein temperatures. The temperature dependences of the O–Zn–O and Zn–O–Zn bond angle distributions were also determined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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17 pages, 2685 KiB  
Article
High UV and Sunlight Photocatalytic Performance of Porous ZnO Nanostructures Synthesized by a Facile and Fast Microwave Hydrothermal Method
by Sofia Henriques Ferreira, Maria Morais, Daniela Nunes, Maria João Oliveira, Ana Rovisco, Ana Pimentel, Hugo Águas, Elvira Fortunato and Rodrigo Martins
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092385 - 4 May 2021
Cited by 52 | Viewed by 4600
Abstract
The degradation of organic pollutants in wastewaters assisted by oxide semiconductor nanostructures has been the focus of many research groups over the last decades, along with the synthesis of these nanomaterials by simple, eco-friendly, fast, and cost-effective processes. In this work, porous zinc [...] Read more.
The degradation of organic pollutants in wastewaters assisted by oxide semiconductor nanostructures has been the focus of many research groups over the last decades, along with the synthesis of these nanomaterials by simple, eco-friendly, fast, and cost-effective processes. In this work, porous zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were successfully synthesized via a microwave hydrothermal process. A layered zinc hydroxide carbonate (LZHC) precursor was obtained after 15 min of synthesis and submitted to different calcination temperatures to convert it into porous ZnO nanostructures. The influence of the calcination temperature (300, 500, and 700 °C) on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of the ZnO nanostructureswas investigated. All ZnO samples were tested as photocatalysts in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV irradiation and natural sunlight. All samples showed enhanced photocatalytic activity under both light sources, with RhB being practically degraded within 60 min in both situations. The porous ZnO obtained at 700 °C showed the greatest photocatalytic activity due to its high crystallinity, with a degradation rate of 0.091 and 0.084 min−1 for UV light and sunlight, respectively. These results are a very important step towards the use of oxide semiconductors in the degradation of water pollutants mediated by natural sunlight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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13 pages, 4037 KiB  
Article
Ultraviolet Luminescence of ZnO Whiskers, Nanowalls, Multipods, and Ceramics as Potential Materials for Fast Scintillators
by Ivan D. Venevtsev, Andrey P. Tarasov, Arsen E. Muslimov, Elena I. Gorokhova, Ludmila A. Zadorozhnaya, Piotr A. Rodnyi and Vladimir M. Kanevsky
Materials 2021, 14(8), 2001; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14082001 - 16 Apr 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2090
Abstract
The presented work is dedicated to the study and comparison of scintillating properties of zinc oxide samples prepared in different morphologies: whiskers, nanowalls, multipods, and ceramics. It was shown that total transmittance, photo- and radioluminescence spectra, and radioluminescence kinetics can vary significantly depending [...] Read more.
The presented work is dedicated to the study and comparison of scintillating properties of zinc oxide samples prepared in different morphologies: whiskers, nanowalls, multipods, and ceramics. It was shown that total transmittance, photo- and radioluminescence spectra, and radioluminescence kinetics can vary significantly depending on sample structure and preparation conditions. The highest total transmittance was registered for ZnO ceramics (>50% at 0.5 mm thickness). Differences in the transmittance of whiskers, nanowalls, and multipods can be attributed to their shape and thickness which affects the amount of light refraction and scattering. The study of radioluminescence demonstrated that all samples, except undoped ceramics and air annealed whiskers, have predominantly fast luminescence with a decay time <1 ns. High transmittance of ceramics opens the way for their use in the registration of high energy X-ray and gamma radiation, where a large volume of scintillators is required. In cases, where large scintillator thickness is not a necessity, one may prefer to use other ZnO structures, such as ensembles of whiskers and nanowalls. Studies of near-band-edge luminescence components at low temperatures showed that the structure is quite similar in all samples except Ga doped ceramics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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17 pages, 2150 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of Pr6O11 and Co3O4 on Electrical and Microstructure Features of ZnO-BaTiO3 Varistor Ceramics
by Muhamad Syaizwadi Shaifudin, Mohd Sabri Mohd Ghazali, Wan Mohamad Ikhmal Wan Mohamad Kamaruzzaman, Wan Rafizah Wan Abdullah, Syara Kassim, Nur Quratul Aini Ismail, Nor Kamilah Sa’at, Mohd Hafiz Mohd Zaid, Maria Fazira Mohd Fekeri and Khamirul Amin Matori
Materials 2021, 14(4), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040702 - 3 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2880
Abstract
This paper investigated the effects of Pr6O11 and Co3O4 on the electrical properties of ZnO-BaTiO3 varistor ceramics. The Pr6O11 doping has a notable influence on the characteristics of the nonlinear coefficient, varistor voltage, [...] Read more.
This paper investigated the effects of Pr6O11 and Co3O4 on the electrical properties of ZnO-BaTiO3 varistor ceramics. The Pr6O11 doping has a notable influence on the characteristics of the nonlinear coefficient, varistor voltage, and leakage current where the values varied from 2.29 to 2.69, 12.36 to 68.36 V/mm and 599.33 to 548.16 µA/cm2, respectively. The nonlinear varistor coefficient of 5.50 to 7.15 and the varistor voltage of 7.38 to 8.10 V/mm was also influenced by the use of Co3O4 as a dopant. When the amount of Co3O4 was above 0.5 wt.%, the leakage current increased from 202.41 to 302.71 μA/cm2. The varistor ceramics with 1.5 wt.% Pr6O11 shows good nonlinear electrical performance at higher breakdown voltage and reduced the leakage current of the ceramic materials. Besides, the varistor sample that was doped with 0.5 wt.% Co3O4 was able to enhance the nonlinear electrical properties at low breakdown voltage with a smaller value of leakage current. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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16 pages, 3362 KiB  
Article
Zinc Oxide and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Impact on In Vitro Germination and Seedling Growth in Allium cepa L.
by Alicja Tymoszuk and Jacek Wojnarowicz
Materials 2020, 13(12), 2784; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13122784 - 19 Jun 2020
Cited by 74 | Viewed by 6626
Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are ones of the most commonly manufactured nanomaterials worldwide. They can be used as a zinc fertilizer in agriculture to enhance yielding and to control the occurrence of diseases thanks to its broad antifungal and antibacterial action. The [...] Read more.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are ones of the most commonly manufactured nanomaterials worldwide. They can be used as a zinc fertilizer in agriculture to enhance yielding and to control the occurrence of diseases thanks to its broad antifungal and antibacterial action. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of ZnO submicron particles (ZnO SMPs) and ZnO NPs on the process of in vitro seed germination and seedling growth in onion (Allium cepa L. ‘Sochaczewska’), and to indicate the potential use of these compounds in onion production. In the experiment, disinfected seeds were inoculated on the modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and poured with ZnO SMP or ZnO NP water suspension, at the concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 mg∙L−1. During three successive weeks, the germinating seeds were counted. Germination started most often on the second or third day of in vitro culture. The highest share of germination was recorded for seeds treated with 800 mg∙L−1 ZnO SMPs and ZnO NPs (52% and 56%, respectively). After the application of ZnO SMPs and ZnO NPs at the highest tested concentration (3200 mg∙L−1), the share of germinating seeds was only 19% and 11%, respectively. Interestingly, seedlings obtained from control seeds and seeds treated with ZnO SMPs and ZnO NPs did not differ statistically in terms of length, fresh weight, and dry weight of leaves, and roots. Both ZnO SMPs and ZnO NPs, in the concentration range from 50 to 1600 mg∙L−1, can be used to stimulate the germination process of onion seeds, without negative effects on the further growth and development of seedlings. There were no differences found between the action of ZnO NPs and ZnO SMPs, which suggested that the most important factor influencing seed germination was in fact the concentration of zinc ions, not the particle size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ZnO Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
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