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Advanced Synthesis and Applications of Functional Nanomaterials: From Controlled Fabrication to Enhanced Performance

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 521

Special Issue Editor


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Department of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli Township, Nantou 54561, Taiwan
Interests: nanomaterials; photonic materials; laser spectroscopy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in functional nanomaterials have revolutionized numerous technological fields, from energy conversion to environmental remediation and sensing applications. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of functional nanomaterials. We welcome contributions focusing on innovative fabrication methods, including but not limited to laser-assisted synthesis, chemical routes, and physical vapor deposition, as well as advanced characterization techniques that provide deeper insights into material properties and structures. Of particular interest are studies investigating optical and nonlinear optical properties of nanomaterials and nanocomposites, along with their applications in photocatalysis, plasmonics, sensors, energy conversion and storage, and environmental technologies. Papers addressing the fundamental aspects of nanomaterial design, structure–property relationships, light–matter interactions, and performance enhancement strategies are highly encouraged. This Special Issue seeks to bridge the gap between material synthesis and practical applications, providing a comprehensive platform for researchers to share their latest findings in the rapidly evolving field of functional nanomaterials. Both original research articles and comprehensive reviews that address these themes are welcome.

Dr. Vincent K.S. Hsiao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • functional nanomaterials
  • laser-assisted synthesis
  • optical properties
  • nonlinear optics
  • plasmonic nanostructures
  • nanocomposites
  • photocatalysis
  • surface-enhanced spectroscopy
  • light–matter interactions
  • nanomaterial characterization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

29 pages, 7799 KiB  
Article
Substrate Flexibility and Metal Deposition Method Effects on Piezoelectric-Enhanced SERS in Metal–ZnO Nanorod Nanocomposites
by Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu, Le Tran Thanh Thi, Le Vu Tuan Hung and Vincent K. S. Hsiao
Materials 2025, 18(14), 3299; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18143299 - 13 Jul 2025
Viewed by 336
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of substrate flexibility and metal deposition methods on piezoelectric-enhanced Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) in metal-deposited ZnO nanorod (NR) nanocomposites (NCPs). ZnO NRs were grown on both rigid (ITO–glass) and flexible (ITO-PET) substrates, followed by gold (Au) deposition by [...] Read more.
This study investigates the effects of substrate flexibility and metal deposition methods on piezoelectric-enhanced Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) in metal-deposited ZnO nanorod (NR) nanocomposites (NCPs). ZnO NRs were grown on both rigid (ITO–glass) and flexible (ITO-PET) substrates, followed by gold (Au) deposition by pulsed-laser-induced photolysis (PLIP) or silver (Ag) deposition by thermal evaporation. Structural analysis revealed that ZnO NRs on flexible substrates exhibited smaller diameters (60–80 nm vs. 80–100 nm on glass), a higher density, and diverse orientations that enhanced piezoelectric responsiveness. Optical characterization showed distinct localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks at 420 nm for Ag and 525 nm for Au systems. SERS measurements demonstrated that Ag-ZnO NCPs achieved superior detection limits (10−9 M R6G) with enhancement factors of 108–109, while Au-ZnO NCPs reached 10−8 M detection limits. Mechanical bending of flexible substrates induced dramatic signal enhancement (50–100-fold for Au-ZnO/PET and 2–3-fold for Ag-ZnO/PET), directly confirming piezoelectric enhancement mechanisms. This work establishes quantitative structure–property relationships in piezoelectric-enhanced SERS and provides design principles for high-performance flexible sensors. Full article
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