Aqueous Nanoparticle Suspensions Research Articles

Particle size distribution from extinction and absorption data of metallic nanoparticles.

We describe a method for inverting spectroscopic data of the absorption and extinction properties of colloidal samples of resonant particles. We show that, with some prior knowledge, the genetic algorithm employed is able to estimate the probability density function of particle sizes. Since the data are sensitive to the shape and material of the particles, some information about these properties can also be retrieved. The viability of the method is illustrated by inverting numerically generated data, as well as experimental data obtained with specially prepared samples of metallic nanoparticles in aqueous suspension.

Morphophysiological changes in the intact surface of rat skin under the application of silicon and gold nanoparticles

The effect of a course application of suspension of porous silicon and gold nanoparticles on the skin of female rats on the level of free radical oxidation and catalase activity in the skin homogenate was studied. MesoPSi samples were formed using the standard method of electrochemical etching of p-type c-Si wafers with a surface orientation of (100) and a specific resistance of 1-5 mOm x cm in a solution of hydrofluoric acid and ethanol (HF (50%): C2H5OH = 1: 1) at an etching current density of 60 mA / cm2 for 1 hour (45 minutes-hour). After this, mesoPSi films were separated from the silicon substrate by a short-term increase in the current density to 600 mA / cm2. Aqueous suspensions of porous silicon nanoparticles with sizes of the order of 100 nm were obtained by mechanical grinding of mesoporous silicon films in water. Aqueous suspensions of gold nanoparticles with an average size of 30-50 nm were obtained by laser ablation of gold targets in deionized water. A suspension of silicon and gold nanoparticles in physiological saline at a concentration of 0.2 mg / ml was applied once a day in the form of a thin layer on a shaved area of the skin of animals (interscapular region) and left to dry completely. Applications were carried out for 10 days. The studied silicon and gold nanoparticles did not change the initial content of malondialdehyde and catalase activity in the skin tissue but contributed to the activation of the rate of spontaneous lipid peroxidation.

Creation of nanoparticles and surface nanostructures of alumina by hot water treatment

In this report, we present a detailed study of the formation of alumina nanostructures at the surface of aluminium plate by hot water treatment (HWT) at various temperatures. The nanostructures were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The superhydrophilic property of the treated surface was revealed and its stability was investigated. It was shown that HWT could be used also for synthesis of the aqueous suspensions of alumina nanoparticles. It is proposed that the method can be applied for production of surface nanostructures and nanoparticles of various metal oxides.

Synthesis of Aqueous Suspensions of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles (nZVI) from Plant Extracts: Experimental Study and Numerical Modeling

Plant extracts were produced from Camellia sinesis (Green Tea) and Punica granatum (pomegranate), and the total concentration of polyphenols was measured in terms of equivalent concentration of Gallic acid by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Zero Valent Iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) were synthesized in a semi-batch reactor by mixing a pre-specified volume of plant extract or Gallic Acid solution with an aqueous solution of iron sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4·7H2O). To monitor the kinetics of nZVI synthesis, the transient responses of solution pH and redox potential (Eh) were recorded with two probes adequately connected with a data acquisition card. The nanoparticles were characterized by a variety of techniques: Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), ζ-potential, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). A kinetic parametric model, based on two parallel single electron transfer (SET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions, was suggested to quantify the dynamics of ferrous ions reduction to zero valence, and its parameters were estimated for each experimental system by matching the transient response of pH. The temporal changes of redox potential during nZVI synthesis were indicative of the reaction progress and agreed with the numerical predictions in semi-quantitative basis. The numerical model enabled us to track the temporal variation of the concentration of iron and polyphenol species, and calculate the yield of ZVI synthesis. The reactivity of nZVIs was assessed by measuring their capacity to reduce hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) in aqueous solutions prepared from potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7).

Tuning friction and slip at solid-nanoparticle suspension interfaces by electric fields

We report an experimental Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) study of tuning interfacial friction and slip lengths for aqueous suspensions of TiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles on planar platinum surfaces by external electric fields. Data were analyzed within theoretical frameworks that incorporate slippage at the QCM surface electrode or alternatively at the surface of adsorbed particles, yielding values for the slip lengths between 0 and 30 nm. Measurements were performed for negatively charged TiO2 and positively charged Al2O3 nanoparticles in both the absence and presence of external electric fields. Without the field the slip lengths inferred for the TiO2 suspensions were higher than those for the Al2O3 suspensions, a result that was consistent with contact angle measurements also performed on the samples. Attraction and retraction of particles perpendicular to the surface by means of an externally applied field resulted in increased and decreased interfacial friction levels and slip lengths. The variation was observed to be non-monotonic, with a profile attributed to the physical properties of interstitial water layers present between the nanoparticles and the platinum substrate.

Cellulose Nanocrystals to Improve Stability and Functional Properties of Emulsified Film Based on Chitosan Nanoparticles and Beeswax.

The framework of this work was to develop an emulsion-based edible film based on a chitosan nanoparticle matrix with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a stabilizer and reinforcement filler. The chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized based on ionic cross-linking with sodium tripolyphosphate and glycerol as a plasticizer. The emulsified film was prepared through a combination system of Pickering emulsification and water evaporation. The oil-in-water emulsion was prepared by dispersing beeswax into an aqueous colloidal suspension of chitosan nanoparticles using high-speed homogenizer at room temperature. Various properties were characterized, including surface morphology, stability, water vapor barrier, mechanical properties, compatibility, and thermal behaviour. Experimental results established that CNCs and glycerol improve the homogeneity and stability of the beeswax dispersed droplets in the emulsion system which promotes the water-resistant properties but deteriorates the film strength at the same time. When incorporating 2.5% w/w CNCs, the tensile strength of the composite film reached the maximum value, 74.9 MPa, which was 32.5% higher than that of the pure chitosan film, while the optimum one was at 62.5 MPa, and was obtained by the addition of 25% w/w beeswax. All film characterizations demonstrated that the interaction between CNCs and chitosan molecules improved their physical and thermal properties.

Biotechnological Method of Obtaining Nanoparticles of Silver, Cadmium, and Zinc Sulfides. Physico-chemical Characteristics. Creation of Polymeric Nanocomposites

A simple and environmentally safe method for obtaining stable nanoparticles of metal sulfides nanoparticles—NpAg2S, NpCdS, and NpZnS—was developed using different strains of microorganisms in an aqueous solution of metal salts and sulfur sources at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute—GosNIIgenetika. The concentration of nanoparticles is 1‒4 mg/mL in aqueous suspensions. Using the methods of electron microscopy, spectrofluorimetry, and dynamic light scattering, the main characteristics of biogenic nanoparticles were determined: shape, size distribution, crystal structure, effective diameter, luminescent spectrum, and zeta potential. According to their characteristics, these nanoparticles are referred to quantum dots. It is established that the stability of nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions is due to protein molecules adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles, which are supplied by cells of microorganisms. Effective immobilization of biogenic nanoparticles on the surface of various polymer supports was carried out. Biogenic nanoparticles along with nanoparticles obtained by physico-chemical methods can be used as fluorophores for imaging of biological processes, also as photocatalysts, solar cells, and for new nanocomposite materials.

Novel acoustic coupling bath using magnetite nanoparticles for MR-guided transcranial focused ultrasound surgery.

Acoustic coupling baths, nominally composed of degassed water, play important roles during transcranial focused ultrasound surgery. However, this large water bolus also degrades the quality of intraoperative magnetic resonance (MR) guidance imaging. In this study, we test the feasibility of using dilute, aqueous magnetite nanoparticle suspensions to suppress these image degradations while preserving acoustic compatibility. We examine the effects of these suspensions on metrics of image quality and acoustic compatibility for two types of transcranial focused ultrasound insonation regimes: low-duty cycle histotripsy procedures and high-duty cycle thermal ablation procedures. Magnetic resonance guidance imaging was used to monitor thermal ablations of in vitro gel targets using a coupling bath composed of various concentrations of aqueous, suspended, magnetite nanoparticles in a clinical transcranial transducer under stationary and flowing conditions. Thermal deposition was monitored using MR thermometry simultaneous to insonation. Then, using normal degassed water as a coupling bath, various concentrations of aqueous, suspended, magnetite nanoparticles were placed at the center of this same transducer and insonated using high-duty cycle pulsing parameters. Passive cavitation detectors recorded cavitation emissions, which were then used to estimate the relative number of cavitation events per insonation (cavitation duty cycle) and thecavitation dose estimates of each nanoparticle concentration. Finally, the nanoparticle mixtures were exposed to low-duty cycle, histotripsy pulses. Passive cavitation detectors monitored cavitation emissions, which were used to estimate cavitation threshold pressures. The nanoparticles reduced the MR signal of the coupling bath by 90% in T2- and T2*-weighted images and also removed almost all imaging artifacts caused by coupling bath motion. The coupling baths caused <5% changes in peak temperature change achieved during sonication, as observed via MR thermometry. At low duty cycleinsonations, the nanoparticles decreased the cavitation threshold pressure by about 15±7% in a manner uncorrelated with nanoparticle concentration. At high duty cycleinsonations, the 0.5 cavitation duty cycle acoustic power threshold varied linearly with nanoparticle concentration. Dilute aqueous magnetite nanoparticle suspensions effectively reduced MR imaging artifacts caused by the acoustic coupling bath. They also attenuated acoustic power deposition by <5%. For low duty cycle insonation regimes, the nanoparticles decreased the cavitation threshold by 15±7%. However, for high-duty cycle regimes, the nanoparticles decreased the threshold for cavitation in proportion to nanoparticle concentration.

Porous SiO2 nanoparticles containing ruthenium or sulfur compounds: Sonochemical producing and sonoluminescence in aqueous suspensions.

Aqueous suspensions of silicon dioxide porous nanoparticles (average size 10-30 nm, average pore size 5.8 nm) were obtained via ultrasonic dispersing. As was shown through recording SiO molecular lines in a moving single-bubble sonoluminescence spectrum, these nanoparticles penetrate into the bubble and then undergo decay. Similarly, suspensions of SiO2 nanoparticles, the pores of which were saturated with ruthenium dodecacarbonyl or elemental sulfur, were obtained by impregnation of the initial powder with solutions of these reagents in chloroform followed by evaporation of the solvent. Single-bubble sonoluminescence spectra of these suspensions contain more intense lines of Ru or S and Sn+ as compared with the SiO lines. This also proves the involvement of water insoluble ruthenium and sulfur compounds into bubble sonoluminescent reactions in the heterogenic aqueous medium. Using the method of comparing the experimentally obtained and computer simulated luminescent spectra, we determined the effective electronic temperature TeRu, which was 9000 ± 500 K, in non-equilibrium plasma of a bubble levitating in the ultrasonic field.

Studying and Assessing the Toxicity of Calcium Oxide Nanoparticles under One-Time Inhalation Exposure

Under a single 4 hour inhalation exposure to aerosol containing an aqueous suspension of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO) in an actual concentration of 6.68 mg/m3, the accumulation of calcium increased in the lungs (by 1.52 times), in the brain (by 1.55 times) and in the liver (by 1.25 times) relative to the control, while exposure to a microdispersed analog in a concentration of 6.37 mg/m3 resulted in an increase in the indicator only in the brain (by 1.27 times). At the same time, the calcium concentration in the brain of animals in the experimental group is higher than in the comparison group (by 1.22 times). After exposure to CaO nano- and microparticles a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the brain tissues was found. The development of pathomorphological changes in the form of lymphoid tissue hyperplasia, eosinophilia, acute arterial plethora, and hemorrhagic lung infarcts, as well as the hydropic and hyaline-drop dystrophy of parenchymal liver tissue was observed only after exposure to CaO nanoparticles. The identified features of the bioaccumulation and pathomorphological changes under inhalation exposure to CaO nanoparticles demonstrate that the studied nanomaterial has a higher level of toxicity in comparison to its microdispersed analog.

Biotechnological method of obtaining nanoparticles of silver, cadmium and zinc sulfides. Physico-chemical characteristics. Creation of polymeric nanocomposites

A simple and environmentally safe method for obtaining stable nanoparticles of metal sulfides nanoparticles – NpAg2S, NpCdS and NpZnS was developed using different strains of microorganisms in an aqueous solution of metal salts and sulfur sources at the Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" – GosNIIgenetika. The concentration of nanoparticles is 1–4 mg/ml in aqueous suspensions. Using of the methods of electron microscopy, spectrofluorimetry, dynamic light scattering determined the main characteristics of biogenic nanoparticles: shape, size distribution, crystal structure, effective diameter, luminescent spectrum, zeta potential. According to its characteristics, these nanoparticles are referred to quantum dots. It is established that the stability of nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions is due to protein molecules adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles, which are supplied by cells of microorganisms. Effective immobilization of biogenic nanoparticles on the surface of various polymer supports has been carried out. Biogenic nanoparticles along with nanoparticles obtained by physico-chemical methods can be used as fluorophores for imaging of biological processes, also as photocatalysts, solar cells and for new nanocomposite materials.

Prospects of Applying Biogenic Quantum Dots of Silver, Cadmium and Zinc Sulfides Nanoparticles to Create Polymeric Bionanocomposite Materials

The possibility of applying silver, cadmium and zinc sulfide nanoparticles (npAg 2 S, npCdS and npZnS) obtained using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Bacillus subtilis 168 bacterial cultures for the creation of a new class of polymeric bionanocomposite materials was investigated. Biogenic nanoparticles obtained in aqueous solutions of the corresponding salts in the presence of various types of microorganisms are characterized by the presence of protein molecules on their surface. The molecules composition is determined by the bacterial culture. Proteins stabilize them and allow the nanoparticles to covalently join the active groups of polymeric carriers. Aminated chloromethylated polystyrene microspheres, as well as ion-exchange resins of various types, were used as polymeric matrices. Analysis of interaction with them can be used as a method for studying the properties of biogenic nanoparticles of metal sulfides for subsequent successful selection of a polymeric carrier. The immobilization of biogenic nanoparticles of metal sulfides onto the surface of aminated chloromethylated polystyrene microspheres was found to depend on the level of stability of aqueous nanoparticle suspensions and is determined by the negative charge of biogenic npAg 2 S, npCdS and npZnS, which suggests covalent binding and the electrostatic interaction of the components in the composition of the polymer bionanocomposite. A comparative analysis of the parameters of nanoparticles depending on the strain used in the biosynthesis was carried out. Analysis of the main physicochemical characteristics of npCdS and npZnS showed that the small size of nanoparticles (npCdS - 5 nm, npZnS - up to 2 nm) and the presence of luminescence peaks at wavelengths less than 400 nm classify them in the blue region of the fluorescence spectrum and identify them as quantum dots. Thus, the possibility of introducing fluorescent quantum dots of nanoparticles of metal sulfides of biogenic origin into various polymeric matrices has been demonstrated, which contributes to the expansion of the horizons for using a new class of nanoparticles to create polymeric bionanocomposites.

Sub-kilogram-scale synthesis of highly dispersible zirconia nanoparticles for hybrid optical resins

Abstract We report the synthesis of highly dispersible zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles in sub-kilogram-scale by hydrothermal process coupled with alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) treatment, with detailed studies on the effects of experimental parameters. Under optimized experimental condition, which was hydrothermal reaction at 110 °C for 6 h with mole ratio of sodium hydrate to zirconium carbonate basic in reactants as 2.3, pure-phase cubic-ZrO2 nanoparticles are obtained. Followed by AHP treatment of the ZrO2 nanoparticles at 50 °C for 5 h in 0.4 M hydrogen peroxide and 4 M sodium hydrate, the dispersibility of ZrO2 nanoparticles in aqueous suspension was enhanced due to the introduced Zr-OH groups on the surface. ZrO2 nanodispersion with solid content of 37 wt% in aqueous solution exhibited a uniform hydrodynamic size of 14.15 ± 5.834 nm and was stable for over six months without significant aggregates. Transparent hybrid optical resins with tunable refractive index in the range of 1.55–1.71 were prepared by solution blending method using ZrO2 nanoparticles as composite fillers in polyvinyl alcohol substrate. Compared with pure polyvinyl alcohol resin, the hybrid resin exhibits significant enhanced mechanical properties. Sub-kilogram-scale preparation of highly aqueous dispersible ZrO2 nanoparticles offers possibility for practical applications.

Nanotribological Performance Factors for Aqueous Suspensions of Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Relation to Macroscale Lubricity

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements of nanotribological properties of statistically diverse materials combinations of nanoparticles and substrate electrodes in aqueous suspensions are reported and compared to macroscale measurements of the same materials combinations for a subset of the nanoparticle combinations. Four ceramic nanoparticles, TiO2, SiO2, Al2O3, and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and ten substrate materials (Au, Al, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pt, SiO2, Al2O3, and SS304) were studied. The QCM technique was employed to measure frequency and motional resistance changes upon introduction of nanoparticles into the water surrounding its liquid-facing electrode. This series of experiments expanded prior studies that were often limited to a single nanoparticle - solid liquid combination. The variations in QCM response from one nanoparticle to another are observed to be far greater than the variation from one substrate to another, indicating that the nanoparticles play a larger role than the substrates in determining the frictional drag force levels. The results were categorized according to the direction of the frequency and motional resistance changes and candidate statistical performance factors for the datasets were generated. The performance factors were employed to identify associations between the QCM atomic scale results and the macroscale friction coefficient measurements. Macroscale measurements of friction coefficients for selected systems document that reductions (increases) in motional resistance to shear, as measured by the QCM, are linked to decreases (increases) in macroscale friction coefficients. The performance factors identified in the initial study therefore appear applicable to a broader set of statistically diverse samples. The results facilitate full statistical analyses of the data for identification of candidate materials properties or materials genomes that underlie the performance of nanoparticle systems as lubricants.

Cavitation Induced by Janus-Like Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles Enhances Ultrasound Hyperthermia.

The presence of nanoparticles lowers the levels of ultrasound (US) intensity needed to achieve the therapeutic effect and improves the contrast between healthy and pathological tissues. Here, we evaluate the role of two main mechanisms that contribute to the US-induced heating of aqueous suspensions of biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) of mesoporous silicon prepared by electrochemical etching of heavily boron-doped crystalline silicon wafers in a hydrofluoric acid solution. The first mechanism is associated with an increase of the attenuation of US in the presence of NPs due to additional scattering and viscous dissipation, which was numerically simulated and compared to the experimental data. The second mechanism is caused by acoustic cavitation leading to intense bubble collapse and energy release in the vicinity of NPs. This effect is found to be pronounced for as-called Janus NPs produced via a nano-stopper technique, which allow us to prepare mesoporous NPs with hydrophobic inner pore walls and hydrophilic external surface. Such Janus-like NPs trap air inside the pores when dispersed in water. The precise measurement of the heating dynamics in situ enabled us to detect the excessive heat production by Janus-like NPs over their completely hydrophilic counterparts. The excessive heat is attributed to the high intensity cavitation in the suspension of Janus-like NPs. The present work elicits the potential of specifically designed Janus-like mesoporous silicon NPs in the field of nanotheranostics based on ultrasound radiation.

The effect of solidification direction with respect to gravity on ice-templated TiO2 microstructures

Unidirectional ice-templating produces materials with aligned, elongated pores via: (i) directional solidification of particle suspensions wherein suspended particles are rejected and incorporated between aligned dendrites, (ii) sublimation of the solidified fluid, and (iii) sintering of the particles into elongated walls which are templated by the ice dendrites. Most ice-templating studies utilize upward solidification techniques, where solid ice is located at the bottom of the solidification mold (closest to the cold source), the liquid suspension is above the ice, and the solidification front advances upward, against gravity. Liquid water reaches its maximum density at 4 °C; thus, liquid nearest the solid/liquid interface, at 0ºC, is less dense than warmer liquid above (up to 4 °C, above which, a density inversion occurs, and liquid density decreases with increasing temperature). The lower density liquid nearest the solidification front is thus expected to rise due to buoyancy, promoting convective fluid motion in the liquid during solidification. Here, we investigate the effect of solidification direction with respect to the direction of gravity on ice-templated microstructures to study the role of buoyancy-driven fluid motion during solidification. We hypothesize that, for upward solidification, the convective fluid motion that results from the liquid density gradient occurs near the solidification front. For downward solidification, we expect that this fluid motion occurs farther away from the solidification front. Aqueous suspensions of TiO2 nanoparticles (10–30 nm in size, 10, 15, and 21 vol.%) are solidified upward (against gravity, with ice on bottom and water on top), downward (water on bottom, ice on top), and horizontally (perpendicular to gravity). Microstructural investigation of sintered samples shows evidence of buoyancy-driven, convective fluid flow during solidification for samples solidified upwards (against gravity), including (i) tilting of the wall (and pore) orientation with respect to the induced temperature gradient, (ii) ice lens defects (cracks oriented perpendicular to the freezing direction), and (iii) radial macrosegregation. These features are not observed for downward nor horizontal solidification configurations, consistent with the hypothesis that convective fluid motion does not interact directly with the solidification front for downward solidification.

Applying SAXS to study the structuring of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles in colloidal suspensions

In this work, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) patterns, obtained from two different aqueous colloidal suspensions of magnetite nanoparticles electrostatically stabilized with citric acid, were fitted using three different mathematical models in order to describe the particle size distribution and aggregation state. The colloidal suspensions differ in the mean particle size (4.5±1.0 nm and 5.5±1.1 nm) and the aqueous stabilization, allowing control of the strength of the interaction strength between particles. The models used for SAXS analysis, reveal that the particles are almost spherical with a broad size distribution, and that particles in each suspension are aggregated and are subject to an attractive interaction potential, typical for magnetic nanoparticles. For the better-stabilized sample, ramified chain-like aggregates were found, and for the less-stabilized sample, a more compact structure was determined. The size distribution obtained by applying SAXS mathematical models are in agreement with the size distribution determined using Transmission Electronic Microscopy(TEM)

Silicon Nanoparticles Prepared by Plasma‐Assisted Ablative Synthesis: Physical Properties and Potential Biomedical Applications

Silicon (Si) nanoparticles (NPs) with small (10−3–10−1 at%) content of iron oxide (Fe2O3) are prepared by plasma‐assisted ablative synthesis. Powders of the prepared Si‐iron oxide (SIO) NPs are investigated by means of the transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Aqueous suspensions of the NPs are studied by using dynamic light scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The longitudinal and transverse relaxation times of protons in aqueous suspensions of the NPs are found to be dependent on the iron content. The stronger decrease of the proton relaxation is detected for the samples with higher iron content. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments show that SIO NPs have properties of the MRI contrast agent and it is confirmed by in vivo experiments with cancer tumor. Aqueous suspensions of SIO NPs are explored as sensitizers of electromagnetic radio frequency hyperthermia and the highest heating rate is observed for the NPs with smaller hydrodynamic size (≈50 nm). The obtained results indicate possible ways for applications of SIO NPs in the MRI diagnostics and mild therapy of cancer.

Efficient monolithic dye sensitized solar cells with eco-friendly silica-titania spacer layers

Monolithic assembly of dye-sensitized solar cells (M−DSSCs) is technologically attractive due to its ease of fabrication, compactness and lower production cost. However, combining cost-effective materials with high power conversion efficiency in M−DSSCs is still a challenging task. New silica–based spacer layers for M−DSSCs, derived from entirely water-based paste formulation were developed. A commercial aqueous suspension of SiO2 nanoparticles (LUDOX-40), modified with hydroxypropyl cellulose as a binder, were used for formulating the silica paste. The reflectance of the spacer layers was tuned by adding anatase nanoparticles; when 30 wt% of titania was added to the SiO2-TiO2 composite, a sharp increase of the reflectivity of the spacer layers was observed rendering a device with the highest to date reported power conversion efficiency of 8.3% and full stability. The effect of titania concentration in the SiO2 spacer layer on the photovoltaic performance, the spectral response of the photocurrent and recombination in M−DSSCs is discussed.

Laser-induced subwavelength structures by microdroplet superlens.

Nanoscale patterns on rigid or flexible substrates are of considerable interest in modern nanophotonics and optoelectronics devices. Subwavelength structures are produced in this study by using a laser beam and microdroplets that carry nanoparticles to the deposition substrate. These droplets are generated from an aqueous suspension of nanoparticles by electrospray and dispensed through a conical hollow laser beam so that laser-droplet interactions occur immediately above the substrate surface. Each microdroplet serves the dual role as a nanoparticle carrier to the substrate and as a superlens for focusing the laser beam to a subwavelength diameter. This focused beam vaporizes the droplet and sinters the nanoparticles on the substrate. The deposition of subwavelength nanostructures and thin films on a silicon wafer are demonstrated in this paper. This process may be applied to produce novel nanophotonics and electronics devices involving a variety of subwavelength patterns including an ordered array of semiconductor nanoparticles.