Metal Oxide-Based Nanomaterials: Advances in Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Hybrid and Composite Crystalline Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 3304

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico
Interests: antioxidant activity; biofilm formation; bioactive compounds; microbiology; pathogens; ftir analysis; nanomaterials synthesis; material characterization; nanocomposites; applied microbiology; nanoemulsions; nanoparticles

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Guest Editor
Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. General Ramón Corona 2514, Zapopan 45138, Jalisco, Mexico
Interests: nanobiotechnology; nanostructured materials; sustainable agriculture; biological control agents

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Guest Editor
Centro de Estudios para la Agricultura, la Alimentación y la Crisis Climática, Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Mexico
Interests: green synthesis; bioactive compounds; antimicrobial activity

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, Guadalajara 44430, Jalisco, Mexico
Interests: metal oxide nanoparticles; nanostructured materials; photocatalysis; characterization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to present this Special Issue, designed to establish an engaging and inclusive forum for researchers to highlight groundbreaking innovations in metal-oxide-based nanomaterials. This Special Issue will feature research papers on novel synthesis methods, state-of-the-art characterization techniques, and the investigation of various impactful applications in critical sectors such as energy, environmental science, catalysis, and biomedicine. By uniting pioneering research, this Special Issue aims to enhance our comprehension of these transformative materials and their capability to tackle significant global challenges related to sustainability, healthcare, and advanced technology.

The topics covered in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following subjects:

1. Synthesis Techniques:

Development of innovative and efficient methods for creating metal oxide nanomaterials.

Comparative analysis of various synthesis methods, including chemical, physical, and green approaches, to evaluate their benefits and drawbacks.

Investigation into the scalability, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness of synthesis processes for industrial use.

2. Characterization:

Use of advanced analytical techniques (e.g., XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, BET) to examine the structural, morphological, and compositional properties of nanomaterials.

 Assessment of optical, electronic, and magnetic properties to grasp the functional potential of these materials. Research on surface functionalization and modification to customize properties for specific applications.

3. Applications:

Energy Storage and Conversion: Contributions to batteries, supercapacitors, and photocatalytic systems for renewable energy solutions.

Environmental Remediation: Use in water treatment, air purification, and the removal of harmful pollutants.

Sensors: Creation of highly sensitive and selective sensors for environmental monitoring and various industrial processes.

Catalysis: Involvement in chemical reactions like oxidation, reduction, and other catalytic functions.

Biomedical Applications: Application in targeted drug delivery, antimicrobial agents, and diagnostic devices.

4. Sustainability and Environmental Impact:

Advancement of green synthesis techniques to reduce the environmental impact of producing metal oxide nanomaterials.

Assessment of toxicity and biocompatibility to ensure safety for both humans and the environment.

Life cycle analysis of metal-oxide-based systems to determine their long-term sustainability.

5. Future Trends and Innovations:

Investigation into new applications and interdisciplinary research strategies.

Incorporation of machine learning and computational modeling to enhance nanomaterial design and speed up discovery.

This Special Issue aims to inspire collaboration across disciplines, driving innovation and expanding the horizons of metal oxide nanomaterials. We look forward to receiving insightful contributions that address cutting-edge challenges and open new avenues for research and development in this exciting field.

Dr. Jorge Manuel Silva-Jara
Dr. Diego Eloyr Navarro-López
Dr. Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza
Dr. Miguel Angel López-Alvarez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • metal-oxide-based nanomaterials
  • nanocrystals
  • synthesis techniques
  • characterization
  • environmental remediation
  • catalysis
  • biomedical applications
  • green synthesis
  • toxicity assessment
  • sustainability
  • interdisciplinary research
  • machine learning
  • innovative research
  • environmental monitoring
  • drug delivery
  • life cycle analysis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 4370 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles from Natural Agave, Chiku, and Soursop Extracts: A Sustainable Approach to Antibacterial Applications
by G. Mustafa Channa, Jackeline Iturbe-Ek, Alan O. Sustaita, Dulce V. Melo-Maximo, Atiya Bhatti, Juan Esparza-Sanchez, Diego E. Navarro-Lopez, Edgar R. Lopez-Mena, Angelica Lizeth Sanchez-Lopez and Luis Marcelo Lozano
Crystals 2025, 15(5), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15050470 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 1272
Abstract
Traditional methods of synthesizing nanoparticles often rely on physical and chemical processes using synthetic hazardous chemicals. In contrast, the rise in green chemistry emphasizes using bioactive compounds from plants for the eco-friendly synthesis of nanostructures. These green synthesis techniques are increasingly recognized for [...] Read more.
Traditional methods of synthesizing nanoparticles often rely on physical and chemical processes using synthetic hazardous chemicals. In contrast, the rise in green chemistry emphasizes using bioactive compounds from plants for the eco-friendly synthesis of nanostructures. These green synthesis techniques are increasingly recognized for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and ability to yield non-toxic by-products, an approach that aligns with sustainable practices. In this research, a straightforward, cheap, environmentally friendly, and sustainable procedure was developed to fabricate Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) employing three different pulp extracts: Agave (Agave americana), Chiku (Manilkara zapota), and Soursop (Annona muricata) to serve in the synthesis as capping, reduction, or stabilization agent. Analytical characterization techniques confirmed the successful phytosynthesis of ZnO-NPs, evidenced by significant absorbance peaks of UV-Vis spectra at 362 nm, and the chemical composition of ZnO without noticeable traces of phytochemical residues by carrying out ATR-FTIR analysis. SEM, STEM microscopies, and XRD analysis verified that the ZnO nanoparticles possess spherical geometries and hexagonal crystal structures. The average size of these nanoparticles was around 15.94, 18.08, and 23.32 nm for Agave, Chiku, and Soursop extract-based synthesis, respectively. Additionally, the in vitro antibacterial activity of phytosynthetized ZnO-NPs was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus, confirming effective bacterial growth inhibition and demonstrating their significant antimicrobial potential. Full article
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