Binary Nanoparticles Research Articles

Protein Cage Directed Assembly of Binary Nanoparticle Superlattices.

Inorganic nanoparticles can be assembled into superlattices with unique optical and magnetic properties arising from collective behavior. Protein cages can be utilized to guide this assembly by encapsulating nanoparticles and promoting their assembly into ordered structures. However, creating ordered multi-component structures with different protein cage types and sizes remains a challenge. Here, the co-crystallization of two different protein cages (cowpea chlorotic mottle virus and ferritin) characterized by opposing surface charges and unequal diameter is shown. Precise tuning of the electrostatic attraction between the cages enabled the preparation of binary crystals with dimensions up to several tens of micrometers. Additionally, binary metal nanoparticle superlattices are achieved by loading gold and iron oxide nanoparticles inside the cavities of the protein cages. The resulting structure adopts an AB2 FCC configuration that also impacts the dipolar coupling between the particles and hence the optical properties of the crystals, providing key insight for the future preparation of plasmonic and magnetic nanoparticle metamaterials.

Effect of droplet charge density on stabilization of oil‐in‐dispersion emulsions co‐stabilized by binary mixed surfactants and nanoparticles

AbstractIonic surfactant and similarly charged nanoparticles can co‐stabilize oil‐in‐dispersion (OID) emulsions at extremely low concentrations (0.001 cmc/0.001 wt%), in which particles do not adsorb at the oil/water interface but distribute in the aqueous phase forming a dispersion. In this paper, the effect of droplet charge density on stabilization of the n‐decane‐in‐water OID emulsion was examined by using a cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)/C12B (dodecyl dimethyl carboxyl betaine) binary mixture at a low fixed total concentration (0.01 mM) with varying molar fractions of CTAB. A model based on the Derjaguin‐Landau‐Verwey‐Overbeek (DLVO) theory is proposed to calculate interaction energies between droplets and between droplets and particles. It is found that the droplet charge density can be well compensated by particle concentration along the stabilization boundary, and the OID emulsion still follows the DLVO stabilization. Particles tend to surround droplets at large distances but may form a monolayer between approaching droplets at shorter distances, which significantly reduces the van der Waals attraction between droplets. In addition, the induced auxiliary droplet–particle repulsion is proportional to the number of particles per unit area of droplet surfaces, which together with the droplet–droplet repulsion ensures a large total repulsion preventing droplets from flocculation and coalescence. This work explains quantitatively the stabilization of OID emulsions, which have potential applications in emulsion products such as foods, cosmetics, pesticides, and various industrial emulsion systems. Moreover, the development of the OID emulsions represents an important advancement in green chemistry as it substantially reduces the required amounts of emulsifiers and their environmental impact after use.

Non-exchange bias hysteresis loop shifts in dense composites of soft-hard magnetic nanoparticles: New possibilities for simple reference layers in magnetic devices

Exchange bias has been extensively studied in both exchange-coupled thin films and nanoparticle composite systems. However, the role of non-exchange mechanisms in the overall hysteresis loop bias is far from being understood. Here, dense soft-hard binary nanoparticle composites are used not only as a novel tool to unravel the effect of dipolar interactions on the hysteresis loop shift but also as a new strategy to enhance the bias of any magnet exhibiting an asymmetric magnetization reversal. Mixtures of equally sized, 6.8 nm, soft maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (no bias—symmetric reversal) and hard cobalt doped γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (large exchange bias—asymmetric reversal) reveal that, for certain fractions of soft particles, the loop shift of the composite can be significantly larger than the exchange-bias field of the hard particles in the mixture. Simple calculations indicate how this emerging phenomenon can be further enhanced by optimizing the parameters of the hard particles (coercivity and loop asymmetry). In addition, the existence of a dipolar-induced loop shift (“dipolar bias”) is demonstrated both experimentally and theoretically, where, for example, a bias is induced in the initially unbiased γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles due to the dipolar interaction with the exchange-biased hard nanoparticles. These results open a new paradigm in the large field of hysteresis bias and pave the way for novel approaches to tune loop shifts in magnetic hybrid systems beyond interface exchange coupling.

Functional UV Blocking and Superhydrophobic Coatings Based on Functionalized CeO2 and Al2O3 Nanoparticles in a Polyurethane Nanocomposite.

Water repellency has significant potential in applications like self-cleaning coatings, anti-staining textiles, and electronics. This study introduces a novel nanocomposite system incorporating functionalized Al2O3 and CeO2 nanoparticles within a polyurethane matrix to achieve hydrophobic and UV-blocking properties. The nanoparticles were functionalized using an octadecyl phosphonic acid solution and characterized by FTIR and XPS, confirming non-covalent functionalization. Spin-coated polyurethane coatings with functionalized and non-functionalized Al2O3, CeO2, and binary Al2O3-CeO2 nanoparticles were analyzed. The three-layered Al2O3-CeO2-ODPA binary system achieved a contact angle of 166.4° and 85% transmittance in the visible range. Incorporating this binary functionalized system into a 0.4% w/v polyurethane solution resulted in a nanocomposite with 75% visible transmittance, 60% at 365 nm UV, and a 147.7° contact angle after three layers. These findings suggest that ODPA-functionalized nanoparticles, when combined with a polymer matrix, offer a promising approach to developing advanced hydrophobic and UV-protective coatings with potential applications across various industrial sectors.

Enhanced phosphate adsorption using Zr-Al and Ce-Al binary oxide nanoparticles

In addressing eutrophication resulting from phosphate accumulation, multi-metallic oxides often outperform single-metallic oxides in phosphate adsorption capacity. While alumina is abundant, its stability in acidic or alkaline environments is limited. Contrastingly, zirconium and cerium oxides demonstrate superior acid and base resistance, alongside specific phosphate affinity. This study focuses on the synthesis of Zr-Al and Ce-Al binary oxide nanoparticles through a sol-gel approach for phosphate removal from aqueous solutions, evaluating their efficiency through batch experiments. By judiciously adjusting the Zr/Al and Ce/Al ratios, binary oxide nanoparticles with distinct structures, grain sizes, surface characteristics, and phosphate adsorption properties were fabricated. Results indicate that Zr(3)Al(10) and Ce(3)Al(10) nanoparticles exhibit optimal phosphate adsorption properties among Zr-Al binary oxide variants and Ce-Al binary oxide counterparts, respectively. Kinetic data conform to the pseudo-second-order model for phosphate adsorption on Zr(3)Al(10) and Ce(3)Al(10), while equilibrium adsorption isotherms align with the Langmuir model. Phosphate adsorption capacities reached 83 mg/g for Zr(3)Al(10) and 210 mg/g for Ce(3)Al(10), positioning them as potent adsorbents. Coexisting anions minimally influence phosphate adsorption on Zr(3)Al(10) and Ce(3)Al(10) nanoparticles, indicating high selectivity towards phosphate, whereas Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions notably enhance phosphate adsorption. Mechanistically, phosphate adsorption on both nanoparticles follows electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange, and inner-sphere complexation, with surface-OH groups playing a pivotal role. Leveraging the advantageous properties of their parent materials, Zr-Al and Ce-Al binary oxide adsorbents exhibit synergistic effects, enhancing their potential for phosphate removal.

Assembly of Differently Sized Supercharged Protein Nanocages into Superlattices for Construction of Binary Nanoparticle-Protein Materials.

This study focuses on the design and characterization of binary nanoparticle superlattices: Two differently sized, supercharged protein nanocages are used to create a matrix for nanoparticle arrangement. We have previously established the assembly of protein nanocages of the same size. Here, we present another approach for multicomponent biohybrid material synthesis by successfully assembling two differently sized supercharged protein nanocages with different symmetries. Typically, the ordered assembly of objects with nonmatching symmetry is challenging, but our electrostatic-based approach overcomes the symmetry mismatch by exploiting electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged cages. Moreover, our study showcases the use of nanoparticles as a contrast enhancer in an elegant way to gain insights into the structural details of crystalline biohybrid materials. The assembled materials were characterized with various methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and single-crystal small-angle X-ray diffraction (SC-SAXD). We employed cryo-plasma-focused ion beam milling (cryo-PFIB) to prepare lamellae for the investigation of nanoparticle sublattices via electron cryo-tomography. Importantly, we refined superlattice structure data obtained from single-crystal SAXD experiments, providing conclusive evidence of the final assembly type. Our findings highlight the versatility of protein nanocages for creating distinctive types of binary superlattices. Because the nanoparticles do not influence the type of assembly, protein cage matrices can combine various nanoparticles in the solid state. This study not only contributes to the expanding repertoire of nanoparticle assembly methods but also demonstrates the power of advanced characterization techniques in elucidating the structural intricacies of these biohybrid materials.

Polysulfone membranes decorated with Fe–Mn binary oxide nanoparticles and polydopamine for enhanced arsenate/arsenite adsorptive removal

Arsenic contamination of water is a global environmental concern, and membrane technology combined with nanotechnology contributes to more efficient removal of arsenic. In this study, Fe–Mn oxide (FM), Polydopamine (PDA), and PDA-modified FM (PFM) were incorporated into polysulfone (PSF) to prepare adsorption membranes (PFMP) for arsenic removal. The prepared nanoparticles and membranes were characterized using TEM, SEM, FTIR, TGA, contact angle, and pure water flux. The introduction of particles enhanced the hydrophilicity of the membranes and significantly enhanced the pure water flux of the membranes. Adsorption experiments indicated that the PFMP membrane exhibited the best arsenic removal performance, with maximum adsorption capacities for As(III) and As(V) were 11.57 mg/g and 12.39 mg/g, respectively. The Langmuir model fitted the adsorption isotherms well, and the kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. The filtration experiment revealed that the PFMP membrane was capable of reducing As(III) solution (915 L/m2) and As(V) solution (1075 L/m2) from a concentration of 100 μg/L to the safe limit of As (＜10 μg/L). The As-loaded membrane was regenerated using NaOH solution (pH = 11), and the filtration experiment was repeated. FTIR and XPS demonstrated that the mechanism of the reaction between the membrane and arsenic was ligand exchange, where the arsenic ions were bonded to the oxygen ions to form Mn–O–As and Fe–O–As.

General Post-Regulation Strategy of AIEgens' Photophysical Properties for Intravital Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging.

Fluorogens with aggregation-induced emission (AIEgens) are promising agents for two-photon fluorescence (TPF) imaging. However, AIEgens' photophysical properties are fixed and unoptimizable once synthesized. Therefore, it is urgent and meaningful to explore an efficient post-regulation strategy to optimize AIEgens' photophysical properties. Herein, a general and efficient post-regulation strategy is reported. By simply tuning the ratio of inert AIEgens within binary nanoparticles (BNPs), the fluorescence quantum yield and two-photon absorption cross-section of functional AIEgens are enhanced by 8.7 and 5.4 times respectively, which are not achievable by conventional strategies, and the notorious phototoxicity is almost eliminated. The experimental results, theoretical simulation, and mechanism analysis demonstrated its feasibility and generality. The BNPs enabled deep cerebrovascular network imaging with ≈1.10mm depth and metastatic cancer cell detection with single-cell resolution. Furthermore, the TPF imaging quality is improved by the self-supervised denoising algorithm. The proposed binary molecular post-regulation strategy opened a new avenue to efficiently boost the AIEgens' photophysical properties and consequently TPF imaging quality.

Coordination-Driven Nanomedicine Mitigates One-Lung Ventilation-Induced Lung Injury via Radicals Scavenging and Cell Pyroptosis Inhibition.

One-lung ventilation (OLV) during thoracic surgery often leads to post-operative complications, yet effective pharmacological interventions are lacking. This study reports a baicalin-based metal-coordination nanomedicine with disulfiram (DSF) co-loading to address one-lung ventilation-induced lung injury and reperfusion injury (OLV-LIRI). Baicalin, known for its robust antioxidant properties, suffers from poor water solubility and stability. Leveraging nanotechnology, baicalin's coordination is systematically explored with seven common metal ions, designing iron/copper-mediated binary coordination nanoparticles to overcome these limitations. The self-assembled nanoparticles, primarily formed through metal coordination and π-π stacking forces, encapsulated DSF, ensuring high colloidal stability in diverse physiological matrices. Upon a single-dose administration via endotracheal intubation, the nanoparticles efficiently accumulate in lung tissues and swiftly penetrate the pulmonary mucosa. Intracellularly, baicalin exhibits free radical scavenging activity to suppress inflammation. Concurrently, the release of Cu2+ and DSF enables the in situ generation of CuET, a potent inhibitor of cell pyroptosis. Harnessing these multifaceted mechanisms, the nanoparticles alleviate lung injury symptoms without notable toxic side effects, suggesting a promising preventive strategy for OLV-LIRI.

Toxicological properties of mixtures of binary silver-copper, silver-zinc, and copper nanoparticles on cell culture model and laboratory animals

The development, testing, and implementation of antimicrobial agents necessitates the determination of their toxicological characteristics. The objective of our research was to ascertain the direction and magnitude of the impact of experimental samples of disinfectants based on binary silver-copper, silver-zinc, and copper nanoparticles on biological entities of disparate levels of organization (cell culture, laboratory animals). The culture of calf coronary vessel cells (CVCs), 220 mature white laboratory rats, and 45 Chinchilla rabbits were used for the study. Mixtures of binary nanoparticles D1: MeNPs content – 5.4 mmol/L; D2: MeNPs content – 4.9 mmol/L were used as antimicrobial compounds. Toxic effects on cell culture were determined by the percentage of monolayer integrity, and biological effects in animals were determined by determining acute and subacute toxicity by clinical and biochemical parameters. The results of the culture studies demonstrated that the CC50 value of D2 was 6.2 times lower than that of D1, indicating a higher degree of cytotoxicity. No animal deaths were observed in the acute toxicity test (single intragastric administration to white rats at a dose of 30000 mg/kg body weight), which permitted the classification of the test samples as Class VI toxicity (relatively harmless) and Class IV hazardous (low-hazardous). When applied topically to rabbits' skin and mucous membranes, the experimental samples did not exhibit a pronounced irritant effect. A 30-day dermal application of the drugs to rats at doses of 0.5 and 5.0 mL/kg was conducted to determine the impact on hematological and biochemical parameters of a tenfold dose. Following the cessation of the administration of the aforementioned experimental disinfectant samples, the levels of all indicators were observed to return to the control levels within 14 days. The higher toxicity of the D2 drug for biological systems of different levels of organization, compared to the D1 drug, may be attributed to two factors: the higher concentration of AgNPs (2.4 times) and the potentiation of the toxic effect of two binary compounds (Ag-Zn and Ag-Cu) in its composition. Further research is needed to determine the biological impact of experimental samples of disinfectants based on silver, copper, and zinc metal nanoparticles on other functional systems of laboratory animals and the clinical and biochemical status of productive agricultural animals in production conditions.

Ferula latisecta gels for synthesis of zinc/silver binary nanoparticles: antibacterial effects against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and physicochemical characteristics

This study explores the potential antibacterial applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) enhanced with silver (Ag) using plant gel (ZnO-AgO NPs). The problem addressed is the increasing prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and the need for new, effective antimicrobial agents. ZnO NPs possess distinctive physicochemical properties that enable them to selectively target bacterial cells. Their small size and high surface area-to-volume ratio allow efficient cellular uptake and interaction with bacterial cells. In this study, the average size of the synthesized ZnO-Ag nanoparticles was 77.1 nm, with a significant standard deviation of 33.7 nm, indicating a wide size distribution. The nanoparticles demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, with inhibition zones of 14.33 mm for E. coli and 15.66 mm for B. subtilis at a concentration of 300 µg/ml. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined to be 100 µg/ml for E. coli and 75 µg/ml for S. saprophyticus. Additionally, ZnO-Ag NPs exhibited excellent biocompatibility, making them appropriate for various pharmacological uses. This study utilizes Ferula latisecta gels, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to nanoparticle synthesis. Incorporating of Ag into ZnO NPs significantly enhances their antimicrobial properties, with the combined results showing great inhibition effects on pathogenic microbes. The findings suggest that ZnO-Ag NPs could be a promising candidate for addressing the challenges posed by drug-resistant bacterial infections and enhancing antimicrobial treatments.

Engineering the Electrostatic Interactions between Oppositely Charged Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles for Constructing Colloid Molecules on Substrates.

Arrays of nanoparticle (NP) clusters with controlled architectures show broad applications in nanolasers, sensors, and photocatalysis, but the fabrication of these arrays on substrates remains a grand challenge. This review presents a highly effective polymer-based strategy for the process-directed self-assembly of binary polyelectrolyte-grafted NPs (PGNPs) bearing opposite charges into stable colloidal molecules (CMs) on substrates via electrostatic interactions. The coordination number (x) of ABx CMs can be tuned by adjusting the pH or ionic strength of the solution or by employing different combinations of PGNPs with varying charge densities. Large-area CMs with diverse structures ranging from AB to AB7 can be constructed on substrates in high yields. This approach is applicable to PGNPs with different cores of NPs. This assembly strategy offers a useful tool for the fabrication of structurally precise assemblies on substrates with broad applications.

Surface Orthogonal Patterning and Bidirectional Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles Tethered by V-Shaped Diblock Copolymers.

We investigated the surface orthogonal patterning and bidirectional self-assembly of binary hairy nanoparticles (NPs) constructed by uniformly tethering a single NP with multiple V-shaped AB diblock copolymers using Brownian dynamics simulations in a poor solvent. At low concentration, the chain collapse and microphase separation of binary polymer brushes can lead to the patterning of the NP surface into A- and B-type orthogonal patches with various numbers of domains (valency), n = 1-6, that adopt spherical, linear, triangular, tetrahedral, square pyramidal, and pentagonal pyramidal configurations. There is a linear relationship between the valency and the average ratio of NP diameter to the polymers' unperturbed root-mean-square end-to-end distance for the corresponding valency. The linear slope depends on the grafting density and is independent of the interaction parameters between polymers. At high concentration, the orthogonal patch NPs serve as building blocks and exhibit directional attractions by overlapping the same type of domains, resulting in self-assembly into a series of fascinating architectures depending on the valency and polymer length. Notably, the 2-valent orthogonal patch NPs have the bidirectional bonding ability to form the two-dimensional (2D) square NP arrays by two distinct pathways. Simultaneously patching A and B blocks enables the one-step formation of 2D square arrays via bidirectional growth, whereas step-by-step patching causes the directional formation of 1D chains followed by 2D square arrays. Moreover, the gap between NPs in the 2D square arrays is related to the polymer length but independent of the NP diameter. These 2D square NP arrays are of significant value in practical applications such as integrated circuit manufacturing and nanotechnology.

Sintering Kinetics and Interfacial Heat Transfer Process of Binary Alloy Nanoparticles Catalysts: Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Sintering Kinetics and Interfacial Heat Transfer Process of Binary Alloy Nanoparticles Catalysts: Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Development of pea protein nanoparticle/hydrolyzed rice glutelin fibril emulsion gels for encapsulation of curcumin

The potential of using emulsion gels stabilized by binary plant protein nanoparticle mixtures for the encapsulation and delivery of lipophilic nutraceuticals was evaluated. The particle characteristics, physical stability, water diffusivity, microrheology, large amplitude oscillating shear (LAOS) properties, and in vitro digestion of emulsion gels prepared by different ratios of hydrolyzed rice glutelin fibrils (HRGFs) and pea protein nanoparticle (PNP) were characterized. The emulsion gel with P/H = 2:1 (0.84 μm) exhibited the best storage stability and freeze-thaw stability, as seen by the smaller oil droplet size (1.02 and 1.42 μm, respectively). Low-field pulsed NMR indicated that the majority of water in samples was highly mobile. All the samples were predominantly elastic-like materials. The P/H 2:1 emulsion gel had the lowest FI value (6.21 × 10−4 Hz), the highest MVI value (5.57 s/nm2), G′/ G″ values and enclosed area, showing that it had denser 3D network structures, higher stiffness values, and a high sensitivity to changes in strain. Additionally, P/H 2:1 emulsion gel had a relatively high lipid digestibility (96.1 %), curcumin bioaccessibility (58.9 %), and curcumin stability (94.2 %). This study showed that emulsion gels stabilized by binary protein nanoparticle mixtures (PNP/HRGF) have potential as edible delivery systems for lipophilic nutraceuticals.

Facile Synthesis of Novel Short-Chain Ligand-Capped Colloidal Metal Oxide Nanoparticles for Printed Flexible Devices.

Colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles are key materials for achieving cost-effective and large-scale production of flexible devices, as they enable the formation of functional oxide thin films at low temperatures (<400 °C) through printing techniques such as inkjet printing, gravure coating, and microcontact printing. The conventional solvothermal synthesis of colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles through the thermal decomposition of precursors results in particles with bulky, long-chain ligands on their surfaces, which hinder the formation of dense oxide films when depositing the colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles. Herein, we have developed a simple and versatile method for synthesizing colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles using base-induced hydrolysis and the condensation of metal acetates as precursors. Various binary and ternary colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles (CuO, Mn3O4, Co3O4, CeO2, In2O3, Co1.8Mn1.2O4) were synthesized using short-chain acetate ligands on their surfaces. The thin acetate ligand-containing colloidal Co1.8Mn1.2O4 nanoparticle film exhibited lower resistivity than the same with long-chain oleate ligands. The films coated onto a polyimide substrate formed a flexible negative temperature coefficient thermistor that exhibited the temperature dependence of resistance comparable to bulk materials with a bending durability of up to 5 mm radius. These findings highlight the effectiveness of utilizing colloidal metal oxide nanoparticles with short-chain ligands in flexible devices.

Enhanced impregnation of iron‑manganese binary oxide nanoparticles on nylon 6 fibre for rapid and continuous arsenic [As(III)] removal from drinking water

Arsenic in drinking water causes serious health problems and must be brought below the permissible 10 ppb limit rapidly, for on-spot remediation. Household reverse osmosis (RO) units remove As(III) partially. To address this, a post-RO adsorbent is developed based on iron‑manganese binary oxide nanoparticles (IMBNP) impregnated nylon 6 fibre (IMBNP-nylon 6). By optimizing H2SO4 concentration and by reducing temperatures of both IMBNP impregnation and subsequent vacuum drying, IMBNP size on fibre surface could be reduced from 320 to 75 nm. This resulted in increased IMBNP loading on the fibre from 1.4 to 9.3–10 wt%, giving a high adsorption capacity of 48.7 mg As(III)/g of IMBNP-nylon 6 fibre. IMBNP has a synergistic role here, since its MnO2 component oxidises As(III) to As(V), which is more effectively adsorbed by its Fe2O3 component; this in contrast to poor adsorption of As(III), when only Fe2O3 is used. The IMBNP-nylon 6 composite, in continuous fixed bed experiments with feed water of 100 ppb As(III), facilitates removal of arsenic below 10 ppb level, with only 39 s contact time. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential scalability of this technique to treat a large amount of arsenic-containing permeate water in household RO units.

Ternary nanoparticles of sodium caseinate-zein-hexaglycerol monooleate: Fabrication, characterization, and curcumin encapsulation

To overcome the instability of sodium caseinate (NaCas) and zein binary nanoparticles in gastric digestion, and to improve the encapsulation of curcumin (Cur), hexaglycerol monooleate (HGMO) was employed as an anti-pepsin component to form ternary nanoparticles. The NaCas-Zein-HGMO nanoparticles were prepared using a self-assembly method that only required mixing at room temperature, and the optimal mass ratio for the components was determined to be 2:2:1. At a mass ratio of 1:20 between curcumin and zein, the NaCas-Zein-HGMO nanoparticles showed high encapsulation efficiency (91.18%) and provided effective chemical protection for curcumin. The Cur-NaCas-Zein-HGMO nanoparticles exhibited nanoscale dispersion, with a particle size about 236 nm, and demonstrated remarkable stability. In addition, the Cur-NaCas-Zein-HGMO nanoparticles exhibited improved resistance to simulated gastric fluid (SGF) digestion, increased antioxidant activity, sustained release profile, and exceptional rehydration capability. The results clearly showed that HGMO plays a crucial role in improving the physicochemical properties and encapsulation of curcumin of NaCas-Zein-HGMO nanoparticle. Hence, the novel ternary nanoparticles, NaCas-Zein-HGMO, have the potential to serve as an excellent delivery carrier for hydrophobic bioactive compounds, thereby mitigating their susceptibility to degradation by gastric digestion.

Binary nano-enhanced phase change materials (BNePCMs) integrated serpentine flow based photovoltaic thermal system: A new approach towards performance enhancement

Photovoltaic thermal systems (PVT) are widely acknowledged as solar technology that effectively produces both electrical and thermal energy. Nevertheless, the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems is significantly affected by elevated temperatures of solar cells. Phase change materials (PCMs) are a class of substances that possess the ability to store and release latent heat. However, PCMs have inadequate thermo-physical characteristics, which may be altered via the incorporation of different nanoparticles. Herein, binary nanoparticles (Titanium oxide and Graphene) enhanced PCM (Paraffin Wax) is integrated with the PVT system to improve its thermal and electrical performance. The present study utilized a unique two side serpentine flow absorber to effectively extract heat energy. The effectiveness of the created PVT system was evaluated using three mass flow rates (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 LPM). Further, as prepared BNePCM having thermal conductivity and latent heat of 179 % and 10 % higher than that of base PCM, respectively was integrated with PVT system. The energy analysis was used to assess the heat transfer and electrical power output. As per results, at optimum flow rate of 0.3 LPM; the overall energy efficiencies found were 80.49 %, 82.45 %, and 83.65 %, respectively for the PVT, PVT-PCM, and PVT-NePCM systems. Furthermore, the PVT-NePCM system exhibited an electrical output of 46.88 W, which is a significant rise of 10.6 W compared to PV system. Therefore, study will be useful for the applications in preheated water for low and medium temperature range, and cooling applications of electronic devices.

Surface Segregation in Binary Metallic Nanoparticles: Atomistic Simulation and Thermodynamic Modeling

Surface Segregation in Binary Metallic Nanoparticles: Atomistic Simulation and Thermodynamic Modeling