Hybrid Nanostructures Research Articles

Hybrid Nanostructures Based of Ta2O5-PMMA for Electronic Applications

The scientific interest on hybrid materials is mainly related to understanding the types of interactions between inorganic and organic component and the effect of these interactions on the properties of the new material formed. Hybrid nanostructured materials and especially dielectrics are used for electronics (for gate layer) and especially those applicable in structure of different types of thin film transistors (TFTs).In this paper is presented the research on thin film hybrid materials based on tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) starting with inorganic precursor - tantalum ethoxide and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The chemical method sol -gel involves the precursor-tantalum ethoxide which is hydrolysed and functionalized (with special siloxane compound), and the organic methyl methacrylate monomer. The chemical reactions take place at low temperature below 160 oC. The sol is deposited as thin films by spin-coating to analyse intensity-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage curves (C-V) to determine the electric properties. Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) structures were made-up for electric characterisation. The value of leakage currents was between 10-10 - 10-7 A at ± 40 V. The hybrid films were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for thickness and morphology and for thermal stability the sol was investigated by TG and DSC.The dielectric permittivity ranges between 3.5 and 4 at 1 MHz, depending on the tantalum alkoxide: MMA molar ratio, showing good behaviour for gate layer in future TFTs.

Work function analysis of photo-enhanced triethylamine adsorption impact on Au embedded CeO2 coated ZnO hybrid nanostructures: An investigation by scanning kelvin probe

This article utilizes a scanning kelvin probe to examine the impact of visible light and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on an organic/inorganic/noble metal hybrid sensing layer. ZnO/Poly/CeO2/Poly/Au hybrid nanostructures were prepared on ITO substrate by layer-by-layer coating technique. In this case, PAH and DS polymers act as binders. The assembly of Au nanorods (NRs) on the polymer-coated ZnO NRs incorporated with CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and its maximum absorbance in the visible light region were studied by the structural and optical characterizations, respectively. The hybrid sensor's optical properties allowed for sizable changes in contact potential difference (CPD) when exposed to light. Although a non-selective interaction was observed, the increased responsiveness to Triethylamine (TEA) under visible light creates coordination bonds between the hybrid molecules. Notably, the surface charge was tuned in the surface of the sensing layer by varying the surfactant to explore the TEA responsiveness. Intriguingly, ZnO/Poly/CeO2 (+) has demonstrated improved adsorption capability towards TEA under irradiation due to the surface oxygen vacancies compared to ZnO/Poly/CeO2 (-). Also, ZnO/Poly/CeO2 (+) exhibited higher selectivity at adsorbing TEA than either ethanol or n-hexane.

Micro- and nano-hybrid cellulose fibers prepared by straightforward and high-efficiency hot water soaking-assisted colloid grinding for high-performance cellulose paper

Micro- and nano-hybrid cellulose fiber (MNCF) stands out as a versatile cellulosic nanomaterial with promising applications in various fields owing to its excellent intrinsic nature and outstanding characteristics. However, the inefficiency in preparing MNCF, attributed to a complex multi-step processing, hinders its widespread adoption. In this study, a straightforward and highly efficient method for MNCF preparation was developed via a hot water soaking-assisted colloid grinding strategy. Active water molecules in hot water facilitating stronger transverse shrinkage and longitudinal expansion in fiber crystallized region, and thus improving the fibrillation degree of cellulose fibers. As a result, MNCFs with a mean diameter of 37.5 ± 22.2 nm and high concentration (2 wt%) were successfully achieved though pure mechanical method. The micro and nano-hybrid structure leads to the corresponding resulting cellulose paper with micro- and nano-hybrid structure possesses a compact stacking and fewer defects, leading to extraordinary mechanical properties including tensile strength of 204.5 MPa, Young's modulus of 6.3 GPa and elongation of 10.1 %. This work achieves significant progress towards straightforward and highly efficient production of MNCFs, offering an appreciable prospect for the development of multifunctional MNCF-based materials.

Enhanced hydrogen gas sensing through the utilization of a hybrid nanostructure combining ZnO nanotubes and HiPIMS Cu3N thin film

Hydrogen (H2), a renewable energy source, has emerged as a promising and clean fuel alternative to conventional fossil fuels. It has garnered significant attention from researchers due to its wide-ranging applications in promoting sustainable growth. However, accurately detecting atmospheric H2 levels becomes crucial due to its flammability. This study introduces a room temperature-based hydrogen gas sensor composed of vertically hydrothermally grown ZnO nanotubes (ZNTs) with or without the incorporation of a Cu3N thin film, creating a hybrid nanostructure. The ZNTs and ZNTs/Cu3N nanohybrid samples were fabricated with multi-finger configurations of Palladium (Pd) interdigitated electrodes. The ZNTs/Cu3N nanohybrid exhibited exceptional sensing capabilities compared to those of the as-prepared ZNTs. It was tested with varying concentrations of H2, ranging from 10 to 500 ppm, at room temperature. The ZNTs/Cu3N nanohybrid's superior performance is due to its larger surface area, enabling improved gas ion adsorption, increased oxygen vacancies, and more surface-active sites compared to ZNTs alone. The Cu3N layer beneath the ZNTs greatly impacts the gas sensor's performance by lowering the ZNTs/Cu3N nanohybrid's band gap (1.85 eV), enhancing its H2 detection capabilities. The ZNTs/Cu3N nanohybrid demonstrates great potential for future gas sensor applications, offering valuable insights for advanced sensing technology development.

Light-to-Heat Conversion of Optically Trapped Hot Brownian Particles.

Anisotropic hybrid nanostructures stand out as promising therapeutic agents in photothermal conversion-based treatments. Accordingly, understanding local heat generation mediated by light-to-heat conversion of absorbing multicomponent nanoparticles at the single-particle level has forthwith become a subject of broad and current interest. Nonetheless, evaluating reliable temperature profiles around a single trapped nanoparticle is challenging from all of the experimental, computational, and fundamental viewpoints. Committed to filling this gap, the heat generation of an anisotropic hybrid nanostructure is explored by means of two different experimental approaches from which the local temperature is measured in a direct or indirect way, all in the context of hot Brownian motion theory. The results were compared with analytical results supported by the numerical computation of the wavelength-dependent absorption efficiencies in the discrete dipole approximation for scattering calculations, which has been extended to inhomogeneous nanostructures. Overall, we provide a consistent and comprehensive view of the heat generation in optical traps of highly absorbing particles from the viewpoint of the hot Brownian motion theory.

Metal–organic framework and carbon hybrid nanostructures: Fabrication strategies and electrocatalytic application for the water splitting and oxygen reduction reaction

Metal–organic framework and carbon hybrid nanostructures: Fabrication strategies and electrocatalytic application for the water splitting and oxygen reduction reaction

An Electrostatic Mechanism for the Formation of Hybrid Nanostructures Based on Gold Nanoparticles and Cationic Porphyrins

interaction of cationic porphyrin with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) coated with polymer shellswith positive and negative surface potentials in an aqueous solution is studied. The criteria for the formationof hybrid molecular-plasmon nanostructures based on the determination of the luminescence quenchingmechanism according to the Stern-Volmer equation and the change in the shape of the porphyrin luminescencespectrum are established. The effect of the sign of the zeta potential of GNPs on the formation of hybridmolecular-plasmon nanostructures due to electrostatic interaction is established.

An Electrostatic Mechanism for the Formation of Hybrid Nanostructures Based on Gold Nanoparticles and Cationic Porphyrins

An Electrostatic Mechanism for the Formation of Hybrid Nanostructures Based on Gold Nanoparticles and Cationic Porphyrins

Revolutionizing Energy Storage: Exploring Processing Approaches and Electrochemical Performance of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Their Hybrids

<p>The text highlights the growing need for eco-friendly energy storage and the potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to address this demand. Despite their promise, challenges in MOF-based energy storage include stability, reproducible synthesis, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Recent progress in supercapacitor materials, particularly over the last decade, has aimed to overcome these challenges. The review focuses on the morphological characteristics and synthesis methods of MOFs used in supercapacitors to achieve improved electrochemical performance. Various types of MOFs, including monometallic, binary, and tri-metallic compositions, as well as derivatives like hybrid nanostructures, sulfides, phosphides, and carbon composites, are explored for their energy storage potential. The review emphasizes the quest for superior electrochemical performance and stability with MOF-based materials. By analyzing recent research, the review underscores the potential of MOF-based supercapacitors to meet the increasing demands for high power and energy density solutions in the field of energy storage.</p>

Epoxy-Encapsulated ZnO-MWCNT Hybrid Nanocomposites with Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance for Low-Grade Heat-to-Power Conversion.

This work is devoted to the development of epoxy-encapsulated zinc oxide-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (ZnO-MWCNT) hybrid nanostructured composites and the investigation of their thermoelectric performance in relation to the content of MWCNTs in the composite. For the preparation of nanocomposites, self-assembling Zn nanostructured networks were coated with a layer of dispersed MWCNTs and subjected to thermal oxidation. The resulting ZnO-MWCNT hybrid nanostructured networks were encapsulated in commercially available epoxy adhesive. It was found that encapsulation of ZnO-MWCNT hybrid networks in epoxy adhesive resulted in a simultaneous decrease in their electrical resistance by a factor of 20-60 and an increase in the Seebeck coefficient by a factor of 3-15, depending on the MWCNT content. As a result, the thermoelectric power factor of the epoxy-encapsulated ZnO-MWCNTs hybrid networks exceeded that of non-encapsulated networks by more than 3-4 orders of magnitude. This effect was attributed to the ZnO-epoxy interface's unique properties and to the MWCNTs' contribution. The processes underlying such a significant improvement of the properties of ZnO-MWCNT hybrid nanostructured networks after encapsulation in epoxy adhesive are discussed. In addition, a two-leg thermoelectric generator composed of epoxy-encapsulated ZnO-MWCNT hybrid nanocomposite as n-type leg and polydimethylsiloxane-encapsulated CuO-MWCNT hybrid nanocomposite as p-type leg characterized at room temperatures showed better performance at temperature difference 30 °C compared with the similar devices, thus proving the potential of the developed nanocomposites for applications in domestic waste heat conversion devices.

Positive Influence of Oxalate and Cyanate on the Supercapacitance Performance of V/Co 2D-Nanolayered Structures

Two-dimensional (2D) nanolayered and nanohybrid structures, which are composed of different species of organic anions and multi-valence inorganic cations, are considered favorable in the field of energy storage for use as supercapacitors. In this study, host–guest interactions were used to build a series of these nanohybrids. The host was the layered double hydroxides of vanadium–cobalt (V/Co) nanolayers with different molar ratios. Cyanate was used as a guest to design a V/Co supercapacitor with a 2D-nanolayered structure. In addition, oxalate was used as a new additive to improve the performance of the V/Co supercapacitor. X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analyses, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of the nanolayered structures of cyanate-V/Co. In the case of the oxalate-V/Co nanostructures, a new phase of cobalt oxalate was produced and combined with the nanolayered structure to build a 3D porous structure. A three-assembly electrode system was used to study the electrochemical supercapacitive behavior of the cyanate-V/Co and oxalate-V/Co nanolayered structures. The results indicated that the OXVC-20 electrode possessed the highest specific capacitance as compared to that of the OXVC-16 and CNOVC electrodes. An excellent stability performance of up to 91% after various charge–discharge cycles was detected for the optimum case. Because of the positive effect of oxalate on the supercapacitance performance of the V/Co supercapacitor, it is suggested as a new track for building active electrodes for high-performance supercapacitor applications.

Chiral Plasmonic Hybrid Nanostructures: A Gateway to Advanced Chiroptical Materials.

Chirality introduces a new dimension of functionality to materials, unlocking new possibilities across various fields. When integrated with plasmonic hybrid nanostructures, this attribute synergizes with plasmonic and other functionalities, resulting in unprecedented chiroptical materials that push the boundaries of the system's capabilities. Recent advancements have illuminated the remarkable chiral light-matter interactions within chiral plasmonic hybrid nanomaterials, allowing for the harnessing of their tunable optical activity and hybrid components. These advancements have led to applications in areas such as chiral sensing, catalysis, and spin optics. Despite these promising developments, there remains a need for a comprehensive synthesis of the current state-of-the-art knowledge, as well as a thorough understanding of the construction techniques and practical applications in this field. This review begins with an exploration of the origins of plasmonic chirality and an overview of the latest advancements in the synthesis of chiral plasmonic hybrid nanostructures. Furthermore, representative emerging categories of hybrid nanomaterials are classified and summarized, elucidating their versatile applications. Finally, the review engages with the fundamental challenges associated with chiral plasmonic hybrid nanostructures and offer insights into the future prospects of this advanced field.

Deposition and in-situ formation of nanostructured Mo2C nanoparticles on graphene nanowalls support for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

To accelerate the transition to a green economy based on hydrogen, more efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts should be adapted. Among them, transition metal carbides, particularly Mo2C, have gained significant attention within the scientific community due to their abundance and potential for high performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This study introduces a bottom-up approach involving chemical vapor deposition, impregnation in solvent containing the Mo precursor and thermal annealing processes to carburize the Mo nanostructures anchored on vertical graphene nanowalls supports (GNWs). The role of GNWs is highlighted in the above processes. First, they provide abundant defective sites on their edges, which facilitate the binding of the metal compound molecules. Second, they provide C species during the annealing process which migrate and react with the transition metal to carburize it. Thus, they act as both C precursor and support system. Electrochemical characterization shows that the hybrids can be very efficient electrocatalysts towards hydrogen evolution reaction in acid electrolyte. When used as a cathode in a cell, it requires only − 141 mV to generate 10 mA/cm2 and shows excellent stability after hours of operation, making them highly promising for practical applications. This study paves the way for the design of hybrid nanostructures, utilizing nanocatalyst deposition on three-dimensional graphene supports. Such advancements hold great potential for driving the development of sustainable and efficient hydrogen production systems.

X-Graphene Quantum Dot/PbX (X = S, Se) Hybrid Nanostructures for Self-Powered Two-Color UV-NIR Photodetectors

X-Graphene Quantum Dot/PbX (X = S, Se) Hybrid Nanostructures for Self-Powered Two-Color UV-NIR Photodetectors

Hybrid nanostructure with two-dimensional grating for resonance waves self-referenced sensing

Self-referenced sensors have attracted significant interest in recent years due to their ability to provide more reliable detection results than conventional sensors. In this paper, we propose a hybrid structure based on a two-dimensional grating surface for self-referenced refractive index sensing in the near-infrared operating band. The hybrid structure can support the metal-assisted guided-mode and Fabry–Pérot resonances. Meanwhile, the resonance mechanism of the proposed structure is analyzed in detail through the electric field distribution characteristics, and the feasibility of the structure as self-referenced sensing is also confirmed. In addition, the influences of structural parameters, structure shape, and polarization angle on the optical properties are systematically discussed. Notably, calculations at different refractive indices of the analytes show that the structure has a more stable reference signal and better sensing performance than previously reported self-referenced sensors, with a sensitivity and figure of merit of 680 nm/RIU and 1852 RIU−1, respectively. These results illustrate that the proposed structure can provide more accurate measurements in some unstable measurement environments, implying its promising application in the fields of biological, pharmaceutical, and chemical sensing.

Combustion Characteristics of r-GO/g-C3N4/LaFeO3 Nanohybrids Loaded Fuel Droplets

ABSTRACT Graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are two-dimensional carbon-based nanosheets that show promise in reducing emissions with their superior catalytic activity in capturing species such as NOx and CO2 thanks to their oxygen-based functional groups and active edges on their surfaces. These active surfaces also provide a scheme for the substitution of materials with high calorific value or high catalytic activity for combustion. This study focuses on the fabrication of functional nanohybrid structures customized for combustion with LaFeO3 metal oxide nanoparticles substituted on these nanosheets and their effect on the combustion behavior of gasoline. The fabrication of r-GO/g-C3N4/LaFeO3 nanohybrid structures was carried out by a two-step hydrothermal method. The structural characterizations of the samples were confirmed by SEM and XRD analyses and their chemical states were confirmed by Raman and XPS techniques. Combustion experiments were carried out by droplet scale combustion of gasoline-based nanofuel droplets containing dilute (0.2 wt.%) and high (0.7 wt.%) concentrations of GO, r-GO, g-C3N4, g-C3N4/LaFeO3 and r-GO/g-C3N4/LaFeO3 nanoparticles. The experimental process was recorded with a high-speed camera and a thermal camera. The nanofuel droplets containing 0.2 wt.% g-C3N4/LaFeO3 nanohybrid structures had the highest maximum flame temperature of 519 K, and the nanofuel droplets containing 0.7 wt.% r-GO/g-C3N4/LaFeO3 particles had the highest maximum aggregate temperature of 1177 K. The ignition delay time decreased for all droplets with 0.2 wt.% and 0.7 wt.% particle loadings. At 0.2 wt.% concentration, g-C3N4 doped fuel droplets exhibited the lowest extinction time, while at 0.7 wt.% concentration, the lowest extinction time was measured for r-GO/g-C3N4/LaFeO3 doped fuel droplets. Fuel droplets containing g-C3N4 particles had the highest burning rate and were the fastest extinguishing fuel droplets in the electric field. In this study, it has been demonstrated that the combustion rate and energy value of hydrocarbon fuels can be increased and soot formation can be reduced at the same time with the new generation of graphene-based functional materials to be created, and thus, many combustion problems can be solved simultaneously with these functional particles.

Biodistribution and function of coupled polymer-DNA origami nanostructures

Spatial control over the distribution of therapeutics is a highly desired feature, which could limit the side effects of many drugs. Here we describe a nanoscale agent, fabricated from a coupled polymer-DNA origami hybrid that exhibits stability in serum and slow diffusion through tissues, in a manner correlating with shape and aspect ratio. Coupling to fragments of polyethylene glycol (PEG) through polyamine electrostatic interactions resulted in marked stability of the agents in-vivo, with > 90% of the agents maintaining structural integrity 5 days following subcutaneous injection. An agent functionalized with aptamers specific for human tumor necrosis factor TNF-alpha, significantly abrogated the inflammatory response in a delayed-type hypersensitivity model in humanized TNF-alpha mice. These findings highlight polymer-DNA hybrid nanostructures as a programmable and pharmacologically viable update to mainstream technologies such as monoclonal antibodies, capable of exerting an additional layer of control across the spatial dimension of drug activity.

Seeing the Supracolloidal Assemblies in 3D: Unraveling High-Resolution Structures Using Electron Tomography.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging has revolutionized modern materials science, nanotechnology, and structural biology. Its ability to provide information about materials' structure, composition, and properties at atomic-level resolution has enabled groundbreaking discoveries and the development of innovative materials with precision and accuracy. Electron tomography, single particle reconstruction, and microcrystal electron diffraction techniques have paved the way for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of biological samples, synthetic materials, and hybrid nanostructures at near atomic-level resolution. TEM tomography using a series of two-dimensional (2D) projections has been used extensively in biological science, but in recent years it has become an important method in synthetic nanomaterials and soft matter research. TEM tomography offers unprecedented morphological details of 3D objects, internal structures, packing patterns, growth mechanisms, and self-assembly pathways of self-assembled colloidal systems. It complements other analytical tools, including small-angle X-ray scattering, and provides valuable data for computational simulations for predictive design and reverse engineering of nanomaterials with the desired structure and properties. In this perspective, I will discuss the importance of TEM tomography in the structural understanding and engineering of self-assembled nanostructures with specific emphasis on colloidal capsids, composite cages, biohybrid superlattices with complex geometries, polymer assemblies, and self-assembled protein-based superstructures.

Boosting the performance of LaCoO3/MoS2 perovskite interface for sustainable decontaminants under visible light-driven photocatalysis

The novel composite LaCoO3/MoS2 hybrid nanostructure was synthesized via a combination of sol-gel, hydrothermal, and ultrasonication methods. Alizarin Red S (ARS) and Rhodamine B (RhB) were employed as a model pollutant, to assess the photodegradation efficiency of synthesized catalysts. The effect of MoS2 (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) on LaCoO3 (LCO) and its photocatalytic performance was studied. The properties of synthesized catalysts were assessed using various material characterization techniques. The photocatalytic dye degradation of ARS and RhB was investigated under visible light. Among the synthesized catalyst LM-5% composite (LaCoO3 with 5% MoS2) is determined to be the best photocatalyst as it degrades 96 % (ARS) and 90 % (RhB) in 40 min and 80 min, respectively. The photocatalyst is stable even after multiple runs and exhibits negligible loss in degradation efficiency during the cyclic test. Trapping experiments reveal the significance of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals against the photodegradation of ARS and RhB. The kinetics of photodegradation of ARS and RhB by LM-5% is found to be 5.70 × 10−2 and 2.25 × 10−2 min−1, respectively. Herein, we demonstrated a catalyst possessing excellent photodegradation activity which may ignite the possibilities of using efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation.

Self-templating fabrication of Ti-doped SnO2 @carbon nanotubes via electrospinning for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Tin dioxide (SnO2) has attracted extensive attention as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical specific capacity, however, it suffers from the severe volume changes upon lithiation/delithiation cycling, thus leading to fast capacity fading. To overcome the drawbacks, we herein report a facile one-pot self-templating fabrication of Ti-doped SnO2 @carbon nanotubes (Ti-SnO2 @CNTs), via annealing the electrospun precursor nanofibers of tetrabutyl titanate (TBT), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and stannous chloride (SnCl2). Interestingly, the introduction of TBT or not can lead to the controlled fabrication of the tubular or solid fibrous structure. During the annealing process, the chemical reaction between PVDF, TEOS, and TBT in-situ leads to the formation of tubular structure, while the SnCl2 converts into ultrafine SnO2 nanoparticles, embedding into the PVP-derived N-doped carbon nanotubes. When employed as anode materials for LIBs, the Ti-SnO2 @CNTs deliver high reversible capacities of 868.6/495.9 mAh g−1 at 0.2/1.0 A g−1 after 200/500 cycles, higher than those for the fibrous SnO2 @CNFs counterpart (654.9/391.08 mAh g−1). The better lithium storage performance is related to the unique carbon nanotube structure and the Ti-doping, which bring improved electrical conductivity, enhanced structural stability, and shortened ion diffusion path. More importantly, we demonstrate the facile electrospinning fabrication of tubular nanostructured hybrid electrodes for high-performance energy storage applications.