Search Results (612)

Developing zinc oxide-based nano-bactericides as alternatives to conventional chemical bactericides for controlling rice bacterial diseases has become a major research focus. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were initially surface-modified and subsequently covalently conjugated with chitooligosaccharide (COS) via imine bonds to get a pH-responsive zinc oxide–chitooligosaccharide (ZnO–COS) delivery system. A series of physicochemical characterizations, including FTIR, UV-vis, XRD, and TGA, confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO–COS NPs. Building on this foundation, the pH-responsive release behavior, foliar deposition performance, antibacterial activity, and biosafety of the nanoparticles were systematically investigated. The prepared ZnO–COS NPs exhibited pronounced acid-triggered Zn²⁺ release, together with enhanced wettability, spreadability, and retention on rice leaf surfaces, owing to COS incorporation. In both in vitro and in vivo assays against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), ZnO–COS NPs demonstrated effective antibacterial activity associated with bacterial cell damage and the activation of antioxidant defense responses in plants. Consequently, ZnO–COS NPs achieved a preventive efficacy of 56.0% against rice bacterial blight, surpassing those of ZnO (33.3%) and COS (14.3%). Furthermore, safety assessment confirmed the good biocompatibility of ZnO–COS NPs towards rice seed germination and seedling growth. In summary, the synthesised ZnO–COS NPs integrated pH-responsive release, improved foliar deposition, and enhanced antioxidant capacity of rice, offering a promising strategy for mitigating bacterial diseases in rice. Full article

Purpose: Nano-forensics is the latest application of nano-based technology for the purpose of fingerprint detection to improve precision, expedite investigations, and enhance safety. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) represent a promising pharmaceutical nanocarrier system for different applications. This study focused on applying ZnO and/or curcumin nanoparticles (NPs) to SLNs for the purpose of fingerprint detection to improve their sensitivity, safety and selectivity. Methods: A factorial design was utilized to select the optimized Cur-SLNs and ZnO-SLNs on the basis of the smallest particle size (PS), the lowest polydispersity index (PDI) and the highest zeta potential (ZP) value. To select the safe SLN-NPs, a cytotoxicity test was applied and they were compared to the most commonly applied product in fingerprint detection. The optimized formula was investigated according to the morphological structure; confocal spectroscopy and a stability study at different storage conditions were applied. Then the SLN-NPs were evaluated for their sensitivity, efficacy and selectivity in fingerprint detection. Results: The obtained optimal Cur-SLNs and ZnO-SLNs showed a nano PS of 221.55 ± 1.34 nm and 313.950 ± 1.87 nm, respectively, a PDI value < 0.7 and a ZP > 20 mV. The cytotoxicity data demonstrate that Cur-SLNs have low toxicity, so they will be the chosen formula. TEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis of the optimized Cur-SLN formulation validated the encapsulation efficiency and structural integrity of the pharmaceutical nanosystem. Furthermore, the powder showed stability and good results with higher adherence but smudged the prints on surfaces due to the slightest moisture. Conclusions: Overall, the results confirmed that Cur-SLN nanopowders can be developed as a suggested alternative to the current toxic powders used for latent fingerprint detection in forensic science, but only after further research on various surfaces and in different conditions. Full article

Developing a biodegradable film with integrated mechanical robustness and multifunctionality remains a significant challenge for sustainable food packaging. Herein, a pectin/carboxymethyl cellulose composite film (PNZ_xC) incorporated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) was fabricated via a solution casting method to achieve the synergistic enhancement of structural and functional properties. ZnO exhibits dual functionality within the polymer matrix, serving both as a reinforcing filler and as a coordination interaction node via interactions with carboxyl groups. At an optimal loading, the PNZ₂C film demonstrates a uniform dispersion of nanoparticles, facilitating the development of a dense network structure and enhancing intermolecular interactions. Consequently, the film showed reduced water vapor and oxygen permeability, attributable to the formation of tortuous diffusion pathways, together with increased surface hydrophobicity and a significantly improved tensile strength of 25.4 MPa. Enhanced thermal stability and excellent UV-blocking performance were also achieved. Notably, the optimized film demonstrated superior preservation performance in blueberry storage, effectively reducing moisture loss and delaying quality deterioration compared with the control. These findings provide new insights into the structure–property relationships of ZnO–polysaccharide nanocomposite systems and highlight a viable strategy for designing high-performance, biodegradable packaging materials with integrated multifunctionality. Full article

Bamboo is a renewable and fast-growing biomass resource with limited utilization and service life owing to its susceptibility to mold. Conventional nano-modification methods, particularly two-step approaches, are limited by weak interfacial bonding between nanoparticles and the bamboo substrate, complex processing, and an inability to simultaneously enhance antimildew performance and dimensional stability. To address these limitations, we developed a one-step hydrothermal method involving the use of tannic acid (TA) for in situ fabrication of ZnO/TA/Ag composite particles on bamboo surfaces. Process parameters were optimized to 100 °C, 10 h, and a zinc acetate-to-tannic acid molar ratio of 20:1. The modified bamboo was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. We demonstrated that ZnO/TA/Ag composite particles were successfully loaded onto the bamboo surface, thus improving the all-around performance of the bamboo simultaneously. Antimildew activity against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium citrinum increased from grade 4 in untreated bamboo to grades 1 and 0, respectively; water absorption decreased by 52.85%, and anti-swelling efficiency reached 30.41%, indicating improved mold resistance and dimensional stability. Thus, our technique could serve as a green and efficient one-step in situ modification strategy for high-performance functionalization of bamboo, making it suitable for applications in humid outdoor and indoor environments. Full article

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is subject to environmental stressors, leading to variability in both severe fruit drop during development and fruit quality. Zinc, an essential micronutrient, is critical to sustainable fruit tree production by enhancing yield and nutritional quality. Different forms of zinc fertilizers, particularly nano-zinc versus conventional ionic zinc, exhibit marked differences in absorption efficiency and agronomic performance, thereby determining their practical efficacy. In this two-year study, we evaluated the effects of foliar-applied zinc forms, ZnO nanoparticles (30, 50, and 90 nm) and ionic zinc (ZnCl₂ and ZnSO₄), applied at the young fruit, veraison, and maturity stages on yield and fruit quality. Results showed that ZnO nanoparticles were more effective than ionic zinc at 80 mg/L. In particular, among the ZnO NP treatments, 90 nm ZnO NPs exhibited the best overall effect, significantly improving fruit quality. The 30 nm ZnO NPs treatment performed best in terms of single fruit weight, yield per plant, and fruit firmness. This study highlights the potential of nano-zinc to enhance productivity and quality in blue honeysuckle, providing a theoretical basis for selecting optimal zinc fertilizer types and particle sizes in specialty berry production, with implications for sustainable, high-quality fruit cultivation. Full article

Water stress is intensifying worldwide, increasing the need for efficient desalination and water purification technologies. Although commercial nanofiltration membranes such as NF90 exhibit high separation performance, their transport properties remain governed by permeability–selectivity trade-offs, and their surface characteristics offer limited tunability for application-specific requirements. Here, a commercial NF90 polyamide thin-film composite nanofiltration membrane was surface modified by depositing ultrathin ZnO coatings via RF sputtering (30–120 s) and evaluated in terms of surface properties, water permeate flux, and NaCl rejection. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of crystalline Wurtzite ZnO with preferential (002) orientation. ZnO deposition markedly increased surface hydrophobicity, raising the water contact angle from 52.5 ± 2.0° for the unmodified membrane to 140.4 ± 3.9° after 120 s of deposition. Hydraulic performance decreased after modification, with water permeate flux reduced by approximately 47–50% relative to pristine NF90. In contrast, NaCl rejection increased with ZnO deposition time, particularly at lower operating pressures, and tended to plateau at higher pressures. The Spiegler–Kedem model accurately described experimental rejection-flux behavior. Overall, RF sputtering of ZnO is a feasible post-fabrication route to tune NF membrane selectivity, while introducing a clear trade-off with permeate flux. Full article

This study investigates strategies to reduce mould growth on steamed beech wood by evaluating drying-based and fungicide-based protection approaches. The drying-based approach focused on optimising the temperature of warm-air drying parameters to control moisture content and limit mould development. The fungicide-based approach involved testing selected agents, including 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate, boric acid, quaternary ammonium compounds, and nano-ZnO, for their effectiveness in preventing mould formation. Mould growth was assessed by macroscopic observation and classified according to standardised intensity levels. The results indicate that adjusting drying parameters alone is insufficient to prevent mould growth, whereas specific fungicide treatments provide effective surface protection. These findings offer practical guidance for minimising mould development on beech wood during drying and storage. Full article

Conventional rubber–plastic modified asphalt often suffers from poor compatibility and thermal storage stability, which limits its engineering application. To address this issue, this study proposes a prefabricated nano-reinforced rubber–plastic thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) modification strategy. The specific objective was to comparatively investigate how different waste plastic matrices (HDPE, LDPE, and PP) and two representative nano-oxides (ZnO and TiO₂) affect the interfacial evolution, storage stability, rutting resistance, fatigue durability, and low-temperature cracking resistance of modified asphalt. The prefabricated nano-reinforced TPE modifier was incorporated into the base asphalt, and its storage stability, interface evolution and multi-scale rheological properties were evaluated. The results show that all modified binders exhibited good thermal storage stability, with softening point differences below 2.5 °C. The enhancement mechanism was mainly governed by physical blending, swelling adsorption, and interfacial synergistic interactions rather than the formation of new chemical functional groups. A clear synergistic matching relationship between plastic type and nanoparticle type was identified. LDPE-based systems showed better phase compatibility and fatigue/low-temperature performance, whereas HDPE-based systems were more favorable with respect to improvement of high-temperature rutting resistance. In addition, ZnO contributed more significantly to storage stability, rutting resistance, and fatigue resistance, while TiO₂ was more beneficial for low-temperature crack resistance. These findings provide new insight into the interfacial design of nano-reinforced rubber–plastic modified asphalt and offer guidance for performance-oriented and sustainable pavement materials. Full article

Plants in agricultural systems rarely face single stressors; instead, they encounter concurrent biotic (pathogen, pests) and abiotic (drought, salinity, heavy metals) stresses that causes severely reduce crop yields and endanger food security. The traditional methods of breeding, genetic engineering, and agrochemicals tend to target individual stresses and still do not suffice in the complex field conditions. Compared to these approaches, nanotechnology offers distinct advantages: nanoparticles (NPs) can be applied as foliar sprays or seed treatments without lengthy breeding cycles or regulatory hurdles associated with genetically modified organisms. However, nanotechnology is not inherently “better” but rather complementary to crop engineering; each approach has specific strengths. Breeding and genetic engineering provide heritable, long-term solutions, while nanotechnology offers immediate, season-specific, and reversible interventions. Cross-tolerance, the phenomenon whereby exposure to one stress enhances tolerance to another, offers a promising alternative. This review critically examines how NPs act as stress-priming agents that induce cross-tolerance by activating overlapping defense networks, including antioxidant systems (SOD, CAT, APX), phytohormonal crosstalk (ABA, SA, JA), osmolyte homeostasis, and stress-responsive gene expression. We synthesize current evidence on NP uptake, translocation, and cellular interactions, and evaluate their dual role in directly suppressing pathogens while simultaneously enhancing plant immune responses and physiological resilience. However, efficacy is highly dose-dependent: low, subtoxic doses prime defense through hermetic ROS signaling, whereas supraoptimal doses cause phytotoxicity. The current challenges in nano-mediated stress alleviation include: (i) a persistent laboratory-to-field translation gap, with field outcomes averaging only 60–70% of greenhouse efficacy; (ii) dose-dependent phytotoxicity; (iii) poor reproducibility across studies; (iv) scalability and formulation stability issues; and (v) insufficient understanding of long-term environmental fate, including soil accumulation, non-target organism effects, and food chain safety. Future research should consider field-validated formulations (e.g., SiNPs, ZnONPs, Fe₃O₄NPs) across major staple crops); integrating nanotechnology with precision agriculture through nanosensors, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence for site-specific, dose-optimized applications;developing smart, biodegradable nanoparticles with stimuli-responsive release; and establishing harmonized regulatory frameworks for nano-agrochemical approval. When deployed responsibly, nanoparticle-induced cross-tolerance represents a sustainable approach to improve crop resistance against multifactorial stress, with significant implications for climate-resilient agriculture and global food security. Full article

With the demand for high-voltage electrical insulation systems increasing, the development of environmentally friendly anti-corona materials with reliable nonlinear electrical properties has become essential. In this work, a waterborne polyurethane/epoxy (WPU/EP) composite coating was fabricated using micron-sized SiC (α-SiC), nano-sized SiC (β-SiC), and n-ZnO as multi-scale fillers. Its microstructure, nonlinear conductivity, flashover characteristics, and electro-thermal aging performance were systematically investigated. The results indicate that the incorporation of α-SiC significantly enhances conductivity under high electric fields by forming conductive pathways, while β-SiC further improves nonlinear behavior through interfacial bridging effects. The addition of n-ZnO modifies interfacial characteristics and contributes to improved electrical response. Moreover, the flashover performance is strongly dependent on filler composition, showing a critical role of nano-fillers in charge trapping and transport regulation. Electro-thermal aging tests on simulated stator bars reveal that the developed coating exhibits improved resistance to degradation compared with conventional materials. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of multi-scale filler design in tailoring the electrical and insulation performance of waterborne anti-corona coatings. Full article

A nano-CuO/ZnO desulfurizer was successfully prepared via a homogeneous precipitation method, and the effects of Cu doping on its microstructure, oxygen species, desulfurization performance, and reaction mechanism were systematically investigated. The results show that an appropriate Cu doping amount (TZ2, Cu:Zn = 1:18.40) significantly reduces the particle size (to ~10.9 nm) compared with pure ZnO (14.3 nm), leading to an increased number of surface-active sites. XPS and TG analyses reveal that Cu incorporation increases the proportion of lattice oxygen and decreases the concentration of oxygen vacancies, indicating that the modification effect of Cu dominates over the particle size effect in regulating surface oxygen species. Despite the reduced oxygen vacancy concentration, the desulfurization performance is markedly enhanced, with TZ2 exhibiting the longest breakthrough time under oxygen-free conditions at room temperature. This improvement is attributed to the strong interaction between highly dispersed Cu species and the ZnO matrix, which promotes H₂S adsorption and activation. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that, unlike pure nano-ZnO, where oxygen vacancy-mediated reactions dominate, the CuO/ZnO system follows a chemisorption-driven pathway involving the formation of copper sulfides and highly reactive polysulfide intermediates. Furthermore, the presence of oxygen significantly influences the reaction behavior, with an optimal oxygen concentration (~10%) maximizing desulfurization performance by balancing the generation of reactive oxygen species and sulfur intermediates. This work provides new insights into the design of high-performance ZnO-based desulfurizers and highlights the critical role of Cu-induced mechanism transformation. Full article

Surface discharge-induced degradation poses a significant threat to the operational reliability of high-voltage insulation systems. This research investigates the dielectric endurance of polyester-based nanocomposites reinforced with seven distinct nano-additives: iron oxide (Fe₃O₄), copper oxide (CuO), titanium oxide (TiO₂), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), zinc borate (ZnB) and graphene oxide (GO). Specimens were fabricated at 0.5% and 0.75% weight concentrations and subjected to constant AC electrical stress of 4.5 kV at 50 Hz until failure using the first-plane tracking method. To accurately monitor the aging process, a sophisticated signal processing framework involving Hankel-matrix-enhanced Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) was developed to extract high-frequency discharge features from captured leakage current signals. The degradation characteristics were quantified using various statistical metrics, including Kurtosis, RMS and Burst Discharge Index (BDI). Experimental findings demonstrate that the incorporation of nanoparticles significantly extends the time-to-failure compared to neat polyester, although the effectiveness is highly dependent on both additive type and concentration. At 0.5 wt.%, ZnB exhibited the superior performance in delaying carbonized track formation. However, at 0.75 wt.%, Al₂O₃ emerged as the most effective additive, achieving a maximum endurance time of 31.61 min. In contrast, certain additives like TiO₂ showed a performance decline at higher loadings, likely due to nanoparticle agglomeration. The Hankel-RPCA methodology successfully isolated discharge-specific signatures from background noise, establishing a strong correlation between signal features and material failure stages. This study confirms that the synergy between advanced nanomaterial modification and robust signal processing provides an effective diagnostic tool for monitoring insulation health, offering a vital pathway for the designing of high-performance dielectrics for real-world power system applications. Full article

To achieve stable dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles in the base fluid and enhance thermal conductivity (λ), a PGPR@ZnO nano-hyperdispersant was synthesized using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and ZnO. FT-IR and DSC confirmed the bonding interaction between PGPR and ZnO, and zeta potential analysis verified the steric hindrance effect that effectively inhibits particle agglomeration. The PGPR@ZnO was dispersed into di(2-ethylhexyl) carbonate (DEHC) by ultrasonication and stirring, yielding a stable DEHC-PGPR@ZnO nanofluid. This nanofluid achieved a 16.2% increase in λ while retaining the low viscosity and low pour point of the base fluid. Stability assessments showed consistent particle size main peaks before and after static and dynamic tests, with no obvious agglomeration peaks, average particle size variation below 6%, PDI below 0.3, and negligible zeta potential fluctuation. Following static and dynamic stability tests, the thermal conductivity decreased by 0.85% and 7.98%, respectively. These results indicate excellent dispersion stability and provide a valuable reference for evaluating the operational adaptability of the coolant. The nanofluid meets the basic standards for immersion coolants and exhibits a figure of merit (FOM) superior to most oil-based coolants. Compared with PAO2, it offers advantages in raw material availability and resistance to hydrolysis and acidification, providing research and practical foundation for the development of high-performance immersion coolants. Full article

Naked oat (Avena nuda L.) is an important dual-purpose crop for grain and forage in cold regions; however, its high fatty acid content renders seeds prone to deterioration during storage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on artificially aged naked oat seeds and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Non-aged seeds (Naged) were subjected to artificial aging at 45 °C and 100% relative humidity for 24 h (Aged), followed by priming with 30 mg L⁻¹ ZnO NPs for 6 h (Daged). Antioxidant enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically, and transcriptome sequencing was performed on an Illumina platform to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways. We found that ZnO NPs increased catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 3–4-fold, restored germination rate from 75% to 98%, and enhanced seed vigor index. A total of 21,403 DEGs were detected, with 15,841 stably expressed in response to nano-priming. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst rapidly induced up-regulation of AP2/EREBP transcription factor family members, which subsequently activated antioxidant enzyme genes to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. Metabolic pathway analysis demonstrated that the phenylpropanoid pathway was reprogrammed, characterized by down-regulated lignin biosynthesis and up-regulated flavonoid production, thereby enhancing ROS scavenging capacity. Additionally, the pentose phosphate pathway was activated to provide additional NADPH for antioxidant defense, and up-regulated ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) facilitated starch accumulation. Notably, the 40S ribosomal protein S13 exhibited the highest connectivity in protein–protein interaction networks, was up-regulated 2.1-fold, and was enriched in post-translational modification processes. These findings suggest that nano-priming with ZnO NPs represents a promising biotechnological strategy for enhancing seed vigor and storability in naked oat, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and the seed industry. Full article

Zinc-based coatings are insufficient as surface coatings; they corrode rapidly and can cause long-term damage to subsea pipelines and other instruments. Therefore, this research was undertaken by manufacturing a sacrificial nano-reinforced Zn coating combined with additives via electrodeposition onto a mild steel S235 substrate, which provides excellent corrosion resistance under severe marine conditions. The electrodeposited coatings were characterized using SEM/EDS and XRD, revealing the effective incorporation of cerium oxide nanoparticles and high-quality graphene (Gr) in the zinc matrix. Vickers microhardness measurements, mechanical resilience, and surface roughness of the Zn-CeO₂-Gr coating showed an inverse correlation between improved microhardness (+65.85%) and mechanical resilience (+31.49%), while surface roughness decreased (−81.48%) compared to pure zinc electrodeposited coatings. These characteristics indicate grain refinement and greater reliability under mechanical stress. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and DC polarization measurements indicate a significant improvement in corrosion resistance compared to pure zinc, due to the synergistic effect between graphene and cerium oxide nanoparticles, which reduces the cathodic activity of the surface. These findings offer promising applications for cutting-edge materials in saline environments. Full article