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Special Issue "State-of-the-Art Functional Materials and Nanomaterials in Asia 2021–2022"

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2022) | Viewed by 17168

Special Issue Editors

Research Institute of Science and Technology, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
Interests: superhydrophobicity; hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces; ice-phobicity; anti-icing; hydrophilicity; laser ablation in liquid; nanomaterials and their characterization; thin films and coatings; anticorrosive coatings on aluminum; conversion coatings on aluminum; chemiresistive gas sensors; semiconductor nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Technology, Siberian Physical-Technical Institute, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
Interests: high-power laser excitation; pulsed laser ablation; laser spectroscopy; nonlinear optics of dyes and crystals; synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials; photocatalysis; biomedical applications of nanoparticles; surface and sensoric properties of nanostructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Automation and Control Processes of FEB RAS, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
Interests: laser material processing; laser ablation in liquids; plasmonics; optical sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Physical Science and Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
Interests: nanomaterials; plasmonics; photocatalysis; pulsed laser ablation in liquid; energy and environmental applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art of functional materials and nanomaterials in Asia. We invite research papers that will consolidate our understanding in this area. The Special Issue will publish full research articles and systematic reviews. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

  • Synthesis of nanomaterials through novel methods;
  • Design and synthesis of molecular precursors for nanomaterials;
  • Colloidal synthesis of 0D nanoparticles (metal, oxides, sulfides, semiconductors, and so on);
  • 2D materials, 1D nanofibers, and special nanostructured materials;
  • Nanostructured materials or composites for photocatalyst and electrocatalyst;
  • Fabrication of nanomaterials-based devices (solar cells, LEDs, batteries, supercapacitors, gas and light sensors, transistors, etc.);
  • In situ technology to investigate the reaction mechanism of nanomaterials in potential applications.

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit manuscripts on the subject “State-of-the-Art Functional Materials and Nanomaterials in Asia 2021–2022” for this Special Issue. Full papers and communications, as well as comprehensive reviews, are welcome. Please feel free to contact me, the guest editor, in case of further questions.

Prof. Dr. Sergei Kulinich
Dr. Valery A. Svetlichnyi
Dr. Aleksandr Kuchmizhak
Dr. Mitsuhiro Honda
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2300 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

  • novel nanomaterials
  • molecular nanostructures
  • physical, chemical, and biological methods for nanomaterial preparation
  • optical, photovoltaic, catalytic, sensing, antibacterial properties
  • structure-properties relationship
  • nanostructure
  • nanotechnology

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

Article
Biodegradable Polymer Nanosheets Incorporated with Zn-Containing Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Materials 2022, 15(22), 8101; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15228101 - 16 Nov 2022
Viewed by 739
Abstract
So far, poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA nanosheets proved to be promising for wound healing. Such biodegradable materials are easy to prepare, bio-friendly, cost-effective, simple to apply and were shown to protect burn wounds and facilitate their healing. At the same time, certain metal ions [...] Read more.
So far, poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA nanosheets proved to be promising for wound healing. Such biodegradable materials are easy to prepare, bio-friendly, cost-effective, simple to apply and were shown to protect burn wounds and facilitate their healing. At the same time, certain metal ions are known to be essential for wound healing, which is why this study was motivated by the idea of incorporating PLLA nanosheets with Zn2+ ion containing nanoparticles. Upon being applied on wound, such polymer nanosheets should release Zn2+ ions, which is expected to improve wound healing. The work thus focused on preparing PLLA nanosheets embedded with several kinds of Zn-containing nanoparticles, their characterization and ion-release behavior. ZnCl2 and ZnO nanoparticles were chosen because of their different solubility in water, with the intention to see the dynamics of their Zn2+ ion release in liquid medium with pH around 7.4. Interestingly, the prepared PLLA nanosheets demonstrated quit similar ion release rates, reaching the maximum concentration after about 10 h. This finding implies that such polymer materials can be promising as they are expected to release ions within several hours after their application on skin. Full article
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Article
Polyether Ether Ketone Coated with Ultra-Thin Films of Titanium Oxide and Zirconium Oxide Fabricated by DC Magnetron Sputtering for Biomedical Application
Materials 2022, 15(22), 8029; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15228029 - 14 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 707
Abstract
Recently, polyether ether ketone has raised increasing interest in research and industry as an alternative material for bone implants. This polymer also has some shortcomings, as it is bioinert and its surface is relatively hydrophobic, causing poor cell adhesion and therefore slow integration [...] Read more.
Recently, polyether ether ketone has raised increasing interest in research and industry as an alternative material for bone implants. This polymer also has some shortcomings, as it is bioinert and its surface is relatively hydrophobic, causing poor cell adhesion and therefore slow integration with bone tissue. In order to improve biocompatibility, the surface of polyether ether ketone-based implants should be modified. Therefore, polished disc-shaped polyether ether ketone samples were surface-modified by direct current magnetron sputtering with ultrathin titanium and zirconium coatings (thickness < 100 nm). The investigation results show a uniform distribution of both types of coatings on the sample surfaces, where the coatings mostly consist of titanium dioxide and zirconium dioxide. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the crystalline structure of the polyether ether ketone substrates was not changed by the coating deposition. Both coatings are amorphous, as shown by X-ray diffraction investigations. The roughness of both coating types increases with increasing coating thickness, which is beneficial for cell colonization. The coatings presented and investigated in this study improve wettability, increasing surface energies, in particular the polar component of the surface energies, which, in turn, are important for cell adhesion. Full article
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Article
Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production over NiS-Modified Cadmium and Manganese Sulfide Solid Solutions
Materials 2022, 15(22), 8026; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15228026 - 14 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 547
Abstract
In this work, new photocatalysts based on Cd1−xMnxS sulfide solid solutions were synthesized by varying the fraction of MnS (x = 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) and the hydrothermal treatment temperature (T = 100, 120, 140, and 160 °C). The [...] Read more.
In this work, new photocatalysts based on Cd1−xMnxS sulfide solid solutions were synthesized by varying the fraction of MnS (x = 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) and the hydrothermal treatment temperature (T = 100, 120, 140, and 160 °C). The active samples were modified with Pt and NiS co-catalysts. Characterization was performed using various methods, including XRD, XPS, HR TEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was tested in hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of Na2S/Na2SO3 and glucose under visible light (425 nm). When studying the process of hydrogen evolution using an equimolar mixture of Na2S/Na2SO3 as a sacrificial agent, the photocatalysts Cd0.5Mn0.5S/Mn(OH)2 (T = 120 °C) and Cd0.4Mn0.6S (T = 160 °C) demonstrated the highest activity among the non-modified solid solutions. The deposition of NiS co-catalyst led to a significant increase in activity. The best activity in the case of the modified samples was shown by 0.5 wt.% NiS/Cd0.5Mn0.5S (T = 120 °C) at the extraordinary level of 34.2 mmol g−1 h−1 (AQE 14.4%) for the Na2S/Na2SO3 solution and 4.6 mmol g−1 h−1 (AQE 2.9%) for the glucose solution. The nickel-containing samples possessed a high stability in solutions of both sodium sulfide/sulfite and glucose. Thus, nickel sulfide is considered an alternative to depositing precious metals, which is attractive from an economic point of view. It worth noting that the process of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from sugar solutions by adding samples based on Cd1−xMnxS has not been studied before. Full article
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Article
Femtosecond Laser Fabrication of Anisotropic Structures in Phosphorus- and Boron-Doped Amorphous Silicon Films
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7612; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217612 - 29 Oct 2022
Viewed by 577
Abstract
Femtosecond laser-modified amorphous silicon (a-Si) films with optical and electrical anisotropy have perspective polarization-sensitive applications in optics, photovoltaics, and sensors. We demonstrate the formation of one-dimensional femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on the surface of phosphorus- (n-a-Si) and boron-doped (p-a-Si) amorphous silicon [...] Read more.
Femtosecond laser-modified amorphous silicon (a-Si) films with optical and electrical anisotropy have perspective polarization-sensitive applications in optics, photovoltaics, and sensors. We demonstrate the formation of one-dimensional femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on the surface of phosphorus- (n-a-Si) and boron-doped (p-a-Si) amorphous silicon films. The LIPSS are orthogonal to the laser polarization, and their period decreases from 1.1 ± 0.1 µm to 0.84 ± 0.07 µm for p-a-Si and from 1.06 ± 0.03 to 0.98 ± 0.01 for n-a-Si when the number of laser pulses per unit area increases from 30 to 120. Raman spectra analysis indicates nonuniform nanocrystallization of the irradiated films, with the nanocrystalline Si phase volume fraction decreasing with depth from ~80 to ~40% for p-a-Si and from ~20 to ~10% for n-a-Si. LIPSS’ depolarizing effect, excessive ablation of the film between LIPSS ridges, as well as anisotropic crystalline phase distribution within the film lead to the emergence of conductivity anisotropy of up to 1 order for irradiated films. Current–voltage characteristic nonlinearity observed for modified p-a-Si samples may be associated with the presence of both the crystalline and amorphous phases, resulting in the formation of potential barriers for the in-plane carrier transport and Schottky barriers at the electric contacts. Full article
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Article
Pd-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs and Pt-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs Composite Materials: Morphology, Microstructure, and Catalytic Properties
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7485; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217485 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 544
Abstract
The composite nanomaterials based on noble metals, reducible oxides, and nanostructured carbon are considered to be perspective catalysts for many useful reactions. In the present work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used for the preparation of Pd-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs and Pt-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs [...] Read more.
The composite nanomaterials based on noble metals, reducible oxides, and nanostructured carbon are considered to be perspective catalysts for many useful reactions. In the present work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used for the preparation of Pd-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs and Pt-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs catalysts comprising the active components (6 wt%Pd, 6 wt%Pt, 20 wt%CeO2) as highly dispersed nanoparticles, clusters, and single atoms. The application of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) provided analysis of the samples’ morphology and structure at the atomic level. For Pd-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs samples, the formation of PdO nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of ~8 nm was shown. Pt-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs catalysts comprised single Pt2+ ions and PtOx clusters less than 1 nm. A comparison of the catalytic properties of the samples showed higher activity of Pd-based catalysts in CO and CH4 oxidation reactions in a low-temperature range (T50 = 100 °C and T50 = 295 °C, respectively). However, oxidative pretreatment of the samples resulted in a remarkable enhancement of CO oxidation activity of Pt-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs catalyst at T < 20 °C (33% of CO conversion at T = 0 °C), while no changes were detected for the Pd-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs sample. The revealed catalytic effect was discussed in terms of the capability of the Pt-Ce-Ox/MWCNTs system to form unique PtOx clusters providing high catalytic activity in low-temperature CO oxidation. Full article
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Article
Laser-Based Synthesis of TiO2-Pt Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation
Materials 2022, 15(21), 7413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217413 - 22 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 556
Abstract
The development of visible-light active titanium dioxide is one of the key challenges in photocatalysis that stimulates the development of TiO2-based composite materials and methods for their synthesis. Here, we report the use of pristine and Pt-modified dark titanium dioxide prepared [...] Read more.
The development of visible-light active titanium dioxide is one of the key challenges in photocatalysis that stimulates the development of TiO2-based composite materials and methods for their synthesis. Here, we report the use of pristine and Pt-modified dark titanium dioxide prepared via pulsed laser ablation in liquid (Nd:YAG laser, 1064 nm, 7 ns) for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from alcohol aqueous solutions. The structure, textural, optical, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical properties of the materials are studied by a complex of methods including X-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, electrophoretic light scattering, diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoelectrochemical testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Both the thermal treatment effect and the effect of modification with platinum on photocatalytic properties of dark titania materials are studied. Optimal compositions and experimental conditions are selected, and high photocatalytic efficiency of the samples in the hydrogen evolution reaction (apparent quantum yield of H2 up to 0.38) is demonstrated when irradiated with soft UV and blue LED, i.e., 375 and 410 nm. The positive effect of low platinum concentrations on the increase in the catalytic activity of dark titania is explained. Full article
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Article
Textured Stainless Steel as a Platform for Black Mg2Si/Si Heterojunction Solar Cells with Advanced Photovoltaic Performance
Materials 2022, 15(19), 6637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15196637 - 24 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1190
Abstract
This paper reports on a facile bottom-up method for the direct integration of a silicon (Si)-magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) heterojunction solar cell (HSC) with a textured rear reflector made of stainless steel (SS). Modified wet chemical etching and post processing of SS [...] Read more.
This paper reports on a facile bottom-up method for the direct integration of a silicon (Si)-magnesium silicide (Mg2Si) heterojunction solar cell (HSC) with a textured rear reflector made of stainless steel (SS). Modified wet chemical etching and post processing of SS substrates resulted in the formation of both a rough surface texture and diffusion barrier layer, consisting of magnetite (Fe3O4) with reduced optical reflection. Then, Si, Mg2Si and CaSi2 layers were stepwise thermally evaporated onto the textured SS surface. No traces of Fe and Cr silicide phases were detected by Raman spectroscopy, confirming effective suppression of impurity diffusion from the SS to the upper layers at least at temperatures required for Si deposition, as well as Mg2Si and CaSi2 formation. The obtained black-SS/Fe3O4/Si/Mg2Si/CaSi2 sample preserved, to some extent, its underlying textured morphology and demonstrated an averaged reflection of 15% over the spectral range of 200–1800 nm, while its prototype HSC possessed a wideband photoresponse with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 7.5% under AM1.5 illumination. Moreover, Si layers deposited alone onto a black-SS substrate demonstrated competitive antireflection properties compared with black Si (b-Si) obtained by traditional top-down etching approaches, and hybrid b-Si/textured-SS structures with a glue-bonded interlayer. Full article
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Article
Electrochemical Study of Semiconductor Properties for Bismuth Silicate-Based Photocatalysts Obtained via Hydro-/Solvothermal Approach
Materials 2022, 15(12), 4099; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124099 - 09 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 867
Abstract
Three bismuth silicate-based photocatalysts (composites of Bi2SiO5 and Bi12SiO20) prepared via the hydro-/solvothermal approach were studied using electrochemical methods. The characteristic parameters of semiconductors, such as flat band potential, donor density, and mobility of their charge [...] Read more.
Three bismuth silicate-based photocatalysts (composites of Bi2SiO5 and Bi12SiO20) prepared via the hydro-/solvothermal approach were studied using electrochemical methods. The characteristic parameters of semiconductors, such as flat band potential, donor density, and mobility of their charge carriers, were obtained and compared with the materials’ photocatalytic activity. An attempt was made to study the effect of solution components on the semiconductor/liquid interface (SLI). In particular, the Mott–Schottky characterization was made in a common model electrolyte (Na2SO4) and with the addition of glycerol as a model organic compound for photocatalysis. Thus, a medium close to those in photocatalytic experiments was simulated, at least within the limits allowed by electrochemical measurements. Zeta-potential measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to reveal the processes taking place at the SLI. It was found that the medium in which measurements were carried out dramatically impacted the results. The flat band potential values (Efb) obtained via the Mott–Schottky technique were shown to differ significantly depending on the solution used in the experiment, which is explained by different processes taking place at the SLI. A strong influence of specific adsorption of commonly used sulfate ions and neutral molecules on the measured values of Efb was shown. Full article
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Article
Segregation Behavior of Miscible PC/PMMA Blends during Injection Molding
Materials 2022, 15(9), 2994; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15092994 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1130
Abstract
Miscible blends composed of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), in which one of them has low molecular weight, were employed to study the surface segregation behavior during flow. The blend samples showed typical rheological behaviors, such as simple polymer melts without [...] Read more.
Miscible blends composed of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), in which one of them has low molecular weight, were employed to study the surface segregation behavior during flow. The blend samples showed typical rheological behaviors, such as simple polymer melts without a long-time relaxation mechanism ascribed to phase separation, demonstrating that they were miscible. After injection molding, the amounts of a low molecular weight component on the blend surface were found to be larger than the actual blend ratio. Because the injection-molded products were transparent despite a huge difference in refractive indices between PC and PMMA, they showed no phase separation. This result demonstrated that surface segregation of a low molecular weight component occurred under flow field, which expands the material design such as tough plastics with good scratch resistance and optical fibers with tapered refractive index. Full article
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Article
Modifier Effect in Silica-Supported FePO4 and Fe-Mo-O Catalysts for Propylene Glycol Oxidation
Materials 2022, 15(5), 1906; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051906 - 04 Mar 2022
Viewed by 941
Abstract
Currently, catalytic processing of biorenewable raw materials into valuable products attracts more and more attention. In the present work, silica-supported FePO4 and Fe-Mo-O catalysts are prepared, their phase composition, and catalytic properties are studied in the process of selective oxidation of propylene [...] Read more.
Currently, catalytic processing of biorenewable raw materials into valuable products attracts more and more attention. In the present work, silica-supported FePO4 and Fe-Mo-O catalysts are prepared, their phase composition, and catalytic properties are studied in the process of selective oxidation of propylene glycol into valuable mono- and bicarbonyl compounds, namely, hydroxyacetone and methylglyoxal. A comparative analysis of the main routes of propylene glycol adsorption with its subsequent oxidative conversion into carbonyl products is carried out. The DFT calculations show that in the presence of adsorbed oxygen atom, the introduction of the phosphate moiety to the Fe-containing site strengthens the alcohol adsorption on the catalyst surface with the formation of the 1,2-propanedioxy (–OCH(CH3)CH2O–) intermediate at the active site. The introduction of the molybdenum moiety to the Fe-containing site in the presence of the adsorbed oxygen atom is also energetically favorable, however, the interaction energy is found by 100 kJ/mol higher compared to the case with phosphate moiety that leads to an increase in the propylene glycol conversion while maintaining high selectivity towards C3 products. The catalytic properties of the synthesized iron-containing catalysts are experimentally compared with those of Ag/SiO2 sample. The synthesized FePO4/SiO2 and Fe-Mo-O/SiO2 catalysts are not inferior to the silver-containing catalyst and provide ~70% selectivity towards C3 products, while the main part of propylene glycol is converted into methylglyoxal in contrast to the Ag/SiO2 catalyst featuring the selective transformation of only the secondary C-OH group in the substrate molecule under the studied conditions with the formation of hydroxyacetone. Thus, supported Fe-Mo-O/SiO2 catalysts are promising for the selective oxidation of polyatomic alcohols under low-temperature conditions. Full article
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Article
Tuning Collective Plasmon Resonances of Femtosecond Laser-Printed Metasurface
Materials 2022, 15(5), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051834 - 01 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1218
Abstract
The optical response of properly excited periodically arranged plasmonic nanostructures is known to demonstrate sharp resonance features associated with high-Q collective modes demanding for various applications in light–matter interaction, filtering and sensing. Meanwhile, practical realization and replication of plasmonic platforms supporting high-Q modes [...] Read more.
The optical response of properly excited periodically arranged plasmonic nanostructures is known to demonstrate sharp resonance features associated with high-Q collective modes demanding for various applications in light–matter interaction, filtering and sensing. Meanwhile, practical realization and replication of plasmonic platforms supporting high-Q modes via scalable inexpensive lithography-free approach is still challenging. Here, we justify direct ablation-free irradiation of Si-supported thin Au film by nanojoule-energy femtosecond laser pulses as a single-step and scalable technology for realization of plasmonic metasurfaces supporting collective plasmonic response. Using an adjustable aperture to control and upscale the size of the fabricated nanostructures, nanobumps and nanojets, we demonstrated plasmonic metasurface supporting collective resonances with a moderately high Q-factor (up to 17) and amplitude (up to 45%) within expanded spectral range (1.4–4.5 µm). Vacuum deposition of thin films above the as-fabricated nanostructure arrays was demonstrated to provide fine tuning of the resonance position, also expanding the choice of available materials for realization of plasmonic designs with extended functionality. Full article
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Communication
Stability of Octadecyltrimethoxysilane-Based Coatings on Aluminum Alloy Surface
Materials 2022, 15(5), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051804 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1428
Abstract
Long-term stability in contact with water of organosilane layers formed by octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) on polished aluminum alloy (AA2024) through dip-coating was studied by combining SEM, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Similar organosilane layers were formed on AA2024 coated with permanganate [...] Read more.
Long-term stability in contact with water of organosilane layers formed by octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) on polished aluminum alloy (AA2024) through dip-coating was studied by combining SEM, water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Similar organosilane layers were formed on AA2024 coated with permanganate conversion coating, 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane (BTSE) and hydrated SiOx as under-layers, after which their long-term durability was also tested. During immersion in water for about one month, all the samples exhibited a decrease in hydrophobicity, implying the prepared organosilane layer was not stable over time, gradually hydrolyzing and letting water interact with the underlying layer. In parallel, SEM images of one-layer samples taken after immersion showed clear signs of local electrochemical corrosion, while XPS analysis confirmed a loss of silicon from the surface layer. The highest stability over time was demonstrated by a one-layer sample prepared in an ethanol/water bath for 5 min and by a similar ODTMS layer prepared on hydrated MnOx as an under-layer. Full article
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Review

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Review
Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: A Review on the Province of Its Compounds, Properties and Biological Applications
Materials 2023, 16(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010059 - 21 Dec 2022
Viewed by 881
Abstract
Materials science and technology, with the advent of nanotechnology, has brought about innumerable nanomaterials and multi-functional materials, with intriguing yet profound properties, into the scientific realm. Even a minor functionalization of a nanomaterial brings about vast changes in its properties that could be [...] Read more.
Materials science and technology, with the advent of nanotechnology, has brought about innumerable nanomaterials and multi-functional materials, with intriguing yet profound properties, into the scientific realm. Even a minor functionalization of a nanomaterial brings about vast changes in its properties that could be potentially utilized in various applications, particularly for biological applications, as one of the primary needs at present is for point-of-care devices that can provide swifter, accurate, reliable, and reproducible results for the detection of various physiological conditions, or as elements that could increase the resolution of current bio-imaging procedures. In this regard, iron oxide nanoparticles, a major class of metal oxide nanoparticles, have been sweepingly synthesized, characterized, and studied for their essential properties; there are 14 polymorphs that have been reported so far in the literature. With such a background, this review’s primary focus is the discussion of the different synthesis methods along with their structural, optical, magnetic, rheological and phase transformation properties. Subsequently, the review has been extrapolated to summarize the effective use of these nanoparticles as contrast agents in bio-imaging, therapeutic agents making use of its immune-toxicity and subsequent usage in hyperthermia for the treatment of cancer, electron transfer agents in copious electrochemical based enzymatic or non-enzymatic biosensors and bactericidal coatings over biomaterials to reduce the biofilm formation significantly. Full article
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Review
2D Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Quantum Well Materials and Their Dramatical X-ray Optoelectronic Properties
Materials 2021, 14(19), 5539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195539 - 24 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1742
Abstract
Two-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (2D OIHPs) have attracted extensive attention in the field of X-ray detection due to their excellent stability compared to traditional three-dimensional OIHPs and the strong optoelectronic response to X-ray along the quantum wells. In this review, the nucleation and [...] Read more.
Two-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (2D OIHPs) have attracted extensive attention in the field of X-ray detection due to their excellent stability compared to traditional three-dimensional OIHPs and the strong optoelectronic response to X-ray along the quantum wells. In this review, the nucleation and growth process as well as intermolecular forces for controlling out-of-plane growth are summarized along with the oriented growth mechanism. The optoelectronic properties in 2D OIHP under irradiation of X-ray are also discussed. Finally, conclusions and outlook for orientation 2D OIHP quantum wells and their challenges in application of direct X-ray detection are given. This review will provide a basic understanding on the strategy of designing 2D OIHP thick films as promising X-ray photoconductors, which may inspire the development of next-generation X-ray detectors. Full article
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Review
Utilization of Eco-Friendly Waste Generated Nanomaterials in Water-Based Drilling Fluids; State of the Art Review
Materials 2021, 14(15), 4171; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154171 - 27 Jul 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3121
Abstract
An important aspect of hydrocarbon drilling is the usage of drilling fluids, which remove drill cuttings and stabilize the wellbore to provide better filtration. To stabilize these properties, several additives are used in drilling fluids that provide satisfactory rheological and filtration properties. However, [...] Read more.
An important aspect of hydrocarbon drilling is the usage of drilling fluids, which remove drill cuttings and stabilize the wellbore to provide better filtration. To stabilize these properties, several additives are used in drilling fluids that provide satisfactory rheological and filtration properties. However, commonly used additives are environmentally hazardous; when drilling fluids are disposed after drilling operations, they are discarded with the drill cuttings and additives into water sources and causes unwanted pollution. Therefore, these additives should be substituted with additives that are environmental friendly and provide superior performance. In this regard, biodegradable additives are required for future research. This review investigates the role of various bio-wastes as potential additives to be used in water-based drilling fluids. Furthermore, utilization of these waste-derived nanomaterials is summarized for rheology and lubricity tests. Finally, sufficient rheological and filtration examinations were carried out on water-based drilling fluids to evaluate the effect of wastes as additives on the performance of drilling fluids. Full article
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