Synthesis and Application of Metal/Metal-Oxide Nanomaterials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 905

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CENIMAT/i3N, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA-FCT) and CEMOP/UNINOVA, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: multicomponent oxides; nanostructures; multifunctionality; nanoelectronics; photocatalysis; energy harvesting; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CENIMAT/i3N, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA-FCT) and CEMOP/UNINOVA, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: materials research using STEM and SEM; hydrothermal synthesis assisted by microwave radiation; spin-coating of thin films; metal oxides nanostructures grown on cellulosic and cork substrates; UV and biosensors; photocatalysis; antibacterial activity; and electrochromic applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal and metal-oxide nanomaterials are among the most versatile building blocks of nanoscience, offering exceptional optical, electronic, catalytic, and structural properties. Their potential is greatly influenced by synthesis conditions and morphological control, which govern parameters such as crystallinity, defect states, and surface chemistry. These characteristics make them ideal candidates for applications in photocatalysis, energy harvesting, sensing, optoelectronics, and biomedical devices.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will focus on recent progress in the synthesis, structural tuning, and practical applications of metal and metal-oxide nanomaterials. Contributions exploring novel growth techniques, composite systems, and strategies for enhancing performance and stability are particularly encouraged. Both experimental and theoretical studies, as well as reviews highlighting state-of-the-art approaches, fall within the scope of this collection.

We cordially invite submissions that showcase how advances in the preparation and understanding of these nanomaterials can accelerate their integration into sustainable technologies and real-world applications.

Relevant topics may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Characterization and fabrication;
  • Sustainable materials and processes;
  • Advances in the integration of metal/metal oxide nanomaterials;
  • Applications in electronics, photocatalysis, sensing, energy harvesting, bioengineering, etc.

Dr. Ana Rovisco
Dr. Ana Pimentel
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • metal/metal oxides
  • nanomaterials
  • electronics
  • catalysis
  • sensing
  • synthesis
  • physical processes
  • chemical processes
  • transfer methods
  • direct growth methods

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 7017 KB  
Article
Plant-Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Salvia tomentosa: Characterization and Evaluation of Their Multifunctional Biological Activities, Including DNA Binding
by Havva Karahan, Ufuk Yildiz, Zeynep Şahintaş and Hatice Çölgeçen
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(11), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16110679 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2026
Abstract
This study reports the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Salvia tomentosa L. leaf extract, and evaluates their physicochemical characteristics and biointerfacial performance, including DNA interaction, antibacterial activity, and antioxidant capacity. AgNP formation was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy through a surface plasmon [...] Read more.
This study reports the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Salvia tomentosa L. leaf extract, and evaluates their physicochemical characteristics and biointerfacial performance, including DNA interaction, antibacterial activity, and antioxidant capacity. AgNP formation was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy through a surface plasmon resonance band at 472 nm. SEM imaging showed predominantly spherical particles with sizes of 30–80 nm and a zeta potential of −17.3 mV, and EDX verified the elemental presence of silver. FTIR spectra indicated that plant-derived biomolecules, particularly phenolics, contributed to the reduction and capping/stabilization of AgNPs. XRD analysis confirmed a crystalline face-centered cubic structure. The AgNPs exhibited moderate, spontaneous binding to DNA (Kb ≈ 1.07 × 104 M−1), characterized by pronounced hyperchromism without evidence of intercalation. Competitive fluorescence assays supported a predominantly non-intercalative, surface-associated interaction with minor groove perturbation, while agarose gel electrophoresis indicated preserved plasmid integrity and no extensive strand cleavage. Collectively, these results suggest reversible and structurally non-destructive AgNP–DNA complexation, indicating their potential for nucleic acid-related nano-biointerface studies, while further investigations are required to evaluate their suitability for biomedical applications. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed enhanced antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative (Pantoea agglomerans) bacteria compared with the leaf extract, whereas AgNO3 produced the strongest immediate effect, consistent with rapid Ag+ release. Antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH and ABTS assays showed strong radical-scavenging activity for the extract, in line with its high total phenolic content (206.2 mg GAE/g). Although AgNPs displayed lower phenolic content (164.2 mg GAE/g) and reduced antioxidant activity than the extract, they retained moderate scavenging capacity, indicating effective surface functionalization by phytochemicals. Overall, S. tomentosa leaf extract-capped AgNPs combine defined physicochemical features with non-destructive DNA association and antibacterial efficacy, underscoring their promise as phytochemical-functionalized nano-biointerfaces for antimicrobial and related biointerface applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Application of Metal/Metal-Oxide Nanomaterials)
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28 pages, 6148 KB  
Article
Hydrothermal Synthesis of CeO2: Structure–Adsorption Performance Relationship in Methyl Orange Dye Removal
by Fatih Sargin and Funda Ak Azem
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(5), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16050311 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 643
Abstract
CeO2 particles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method to investigate the influence
of precursor molarity and reaction time on their structural, optical, and adsorption characteristics. Ce(NO3)3·6H2O served as the cerium source, while PVP and Triton X-100
[...] Read more.
CeO2 particles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method to investigate the influence
of precursor molarity and reaction time on their structural, optical, and adsorption characteristics. Ce(NO3)3·6H2O served as the cerium source, while PVP and Triton X-100
acted as surfactants to regulate nucleation and particle growth. XRD and Raman analyses
confirmed the formation of single-phase cubic fluorite CeO2, whereas FTIR spectra verified
the presence of Ce–O bonding. SEM observations revealed that a decreasing precursor
molarity led to smaller and more uniform particles, while prolonged reaction times enhanced crystallinity. UV–Vis DRS and XPS analyses indicated that both the band gap
(3.06–3.12 eV) and the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio were governed by oxygen vacancies, demonstrating defect-mediated redox behavior. Adsorption studies using methyl orange (MO) dye followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 > 0.99), indicating chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. The CP1-8 sample exhibited the highest dye removal efficiency (87%) under acidic conditions (pH < pHPZC). These findings demonstrate that controlled hydrothermal synthesis enables precise tuning of CeO2 morphology, defect density, and surface chemistry, yielding efficient adsorbent materials for environmental remediation applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Application of Metal/Metal-Oxide Nanomaterials)
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