Incorporation Of Ag Nanoparticles Research Articles

Ag-Incorporated Cr-Doped BaTiO3 Aerogel toward Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange.

A novel Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel was successfully synthesized using a co-gelation technique that involves two metallic alkoxides and a supercritical drying method. This freshly prepared aerogel has a high specific surface area of over 100 m2/g and exhibits improved responsiveness to the simulated sunlight spectrum. Methyl orange (MO) was chosen as the simulated pollutant, and the results reveal that the Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel, when modified with the noble metal silver (Ag), achieves a pollutant removal rate approximately 3.2 times higher than that of the commercially available P25, reaching up to 92% within 60 min. The excellent photocatalytic performance of the Ag-modified Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel can be primarily attributed to its extensive specific surface area and three-dimensional porous architecture. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles effectively suppresses the recombination of photo-generated electrons and holes. Stability and reusability tests have confirmed the reliability of the Ag-modified Cr-doped BaTiO3 aerogel. Therefore, this material emerges as a highly promising candidate for the treatment of textile wastewater.

Gelatin-based scaffold incorporating Ag nanoparticles decorated polydopamine nanoparticles for skin tissue engineering

Skin plays an important role in several body functions. Once the skin integrity is lost because of injury, finding an effective way to facilitate the wound healing process is extremely essential. In this study, an appropriate composite is designed for wound dressing based on gelatin scaffold containing Ag nanoparticles decorated polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA-Ag NPs), to reduce wound bacterial colonization and accelerate the healing process. The prepared nanoparticles and scaffolds were then chemically and physically characterized by FTIR, FESEM, EDX and DLS. The scaffolds’ water uptake, mechanical strength and silver ion release were also measured. Biological analysis including antibacterial test and cell viability were investigated. DLS results indicated that the average diameter of synthesized PDA-Ag NPs was 383 ± 14.3 nm. By adding PDA-Ag NPs to gelatin-based scaffold, the maximum tensile strength increased from 0.388 ± 0.120 to 0.483 ± 0.112 MPa, tensile modulus increased from 0.058 ± 0.017 to 0.083 ± 0.015 MPa as well. Water uptake of gelatin-based scaffolds has also indicated about 800 to 1400% increase compared with the initial weight. The antibacterial, good biocompatibility and cell adhesion results verify the prepared scaffolds potential for wound dressing applications.

Synthesis and characterization of antimicrobial colloidal polyanilines

The potential application of colloidal polyaniline (PANI) as an antimicrobial is limited by challenges related to solubility in common organic solvents, scalability, and antimicrobial potency. To address these limitations, we introduced a functionalized PANI (fPANI) with carboxyl groups through the polymerisation of aniline and 3-aminobenzoic acid in a 1:1 molar ratio. fPANI is more soluble than PANI which was determined using a qualitative study. We further enhanced the solubility and antimicrobial activity of fPANI by incorporating Ag nanoparticles onto the synthesized fPANI colloid via direct addition of 10 mM AgNO3. The improved solubility can be attributed to an approximately 3-fold reduction in size of particles. Mean particle sizes are measured at 1322 nm for fPANI colloid and 473 nm for fPANI-Ag colloid, showing a high dispersion and deagglomeration effect from Ag nanoparticles. Antimicrobial tests demonstrated that fPANI-Ag colloids exhibited superior potency against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Escherichia coli, and Bacteriophage PhiX 174 when compared to fPANI alone. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum virucidal concentration (MVC) values were halved for fPANI-Ag compared to fPANI colloid and attributed to the combination of Ag nanoparticles with the fPANI polymer. The antimicrobial fPANI-Ag colloid presented in this study shows promising results, and further exploration into scale-up can be pursued for potential biomedical applications.

Enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of silver–zirconia nanoparticles for environmental pollution treatment

Abstract Silver–zirconia nanoparticles (Ag–ZrO2 NPs) were synthesized via an in situ strategy at room temperature using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. The surface modification of ZrO2 nanoparticles with nano silver was confirmed through various characterization techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The obtained results demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles, with a crystallite size of approximately 12 nm, were uniformly distributed on the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles. The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles to the ZrO2 nanoparticles led to increasing the light absorption ability and reducing the band gap of Ag–ZrO2 nanoparticles, thereby enhancing their photocatalytic performance under infrared lamp exposure. When 1 g/L of Ag–ZrO2 nanoparticles was employed to methylene blue (MB) solution, the degradation of MB reached 90 % after 5 h of exposure. Additionally, the Ag–ZrO2 nanoparticles exhibited a high antibacterial activity against two bacterial strains, E. coli and S. aureus. These findings highlight the potential of Ag–ZrO2 nanoparticles as effective materials for environmental pollution treatment through advanced oxidation processes.

Synergistic augmentation of dielectric and photocatalytic properties of ZnO via Ag nanoparticle integration

This study investigates the effect of Ag incorporation on dielectric and photocatalytic properties of the ZnO matrix. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), impedance spectroscopy, and UV–visible infrared spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites without any secondary phase. SEM micrographs showed discs and rods-like morphology of ZnO and Ag NPs, respectively. Furthermore, an increased agglomeration was also observed in the nanocomposite as the concentration of Ag NPs was increased in Ag/ZnO Nanocomposite. The dielectric study revealed that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (Nps) increased the dielectric constant of ZnO by 100 times (102 Hz), with minimal tangent loss in Ag/ZnO (20 %). Complex plane plots disclosed the presence of two relaxation processes with different relaxation times in the synthesized samples. The metallic nature of Ag NPs contributed to the reduction of the charge transfer resistance of the nanocomposite. Furthermore, the enhanced dielectric behavior was ascribed to the formation of micro/nano capacitors due to the interaction of conductive Ag NPs with relatively less conducting ZnO grains. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized nanocomposites was also evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue. The presence of Ag NPs increased the photocatalytic activity due to its enhanced conductivity and sluggish electron-hole recombination. Ag/ZnO (20 %) nanocomposite showed the best photocatalytic activity with a reaction rate of 0.239 min−1. The exceptional dielectric properties demonstrate the potential of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites for low-frequency applications. Furthermore, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO upon Ag inclusion discloses the potential of the synthesized nanocomposite for water remediation applications.

An electrochemical aptasensor based on silver-thiolated graphene for highly sensitive detection of Pb2.

The presence of lead ions (Pb2+) in the environment not only leads to environmental contamination but also poses a significant risk to public health through their migration into food and drinking water. Therefore, the development of rapid and effective techniques for detection of trace amounts of Pb2+ is crucial for safeguarding both the environment and biosafety. In this study, an aptamer-based electrochemical sensor was developed for specific detection of Pb2+ by modifying a polylysine (PLL) coated silver-thiolated graphene (Ag-SH-G) nanocomposite (PLL/Ag-SH-G) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode, which was further modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for attachment of aptamers (Apt) that specifically recognized Pb2+. The Ag-SH-G particles were synthesized using a one-step in situ method, resulting in significantly enhanced electrochemical properties upon incorporating Ag nanoparticles into the PLL/Ag-SH-G composite. Coating of the covalently or no-covalently bonded Ag-SH-G particles with PLL provides an excellent supporting matrix, facilitating the assembly of AuNPs and a thiol-modified aptamer for Pb2+. Under optimized conditions, Apt/AuNPs/PLL/Ag-SH-G/GCE exhibited excellent sensing performance for Pb2+ with a wide linear response range (10-1000 nM), a low detection limit (0.047 nM) and extraordinary selectivity. The sensor was employed and satisfactory results were obtained in river water, soil and vegetable samples for the detection of Pb2+.

Synthesis of metal-organic framework hybrid nanocomposites based on MOFs@C3N4 with high selective separation ability for luteolin

Complex substrates found in certain extracts-particularly those containing high phenolic compounds with significant medicinal value-pose considerable challenges to developing molecularly imprinted membranes (MIMs) with specific recognition abilities. In this study, UiO-66-NH2, a metal–organic structure (MOF), was chosen as an optimizer to enhance the basic support material C3N4. A composite imprinted membrane based on MOFs was then prepared for the targeted adsorption of luteolin (LTL). This not only increases the surface area and pore capacity of the composite membranes, but also ensures unprecedented control over the membranes structure and good stability. To maximize the proportion of imprinted sites, we utilize an advanced boron affinity sol–gel imprinting technique that capitalizes on the exceptional response of the bifunctional monomer. By finely manipulating the imprinting process, controlled distribution of imprinted sites was achieved. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles into the composite matrix of MIMs enhances selectivity and efficiency due to their plasmonic properties and high affinity for phenolic compounds, providing increased adsorption surface area and additional binding sites. The results showed satisfactory rebinding ability (56.25 mg g−1) and superselective (βAG/LTL = 4.43 and βCT/LTL = 8.49). It was worth noting that incorporating Ag nanoparticles into composite MIMs for the selective adsorption of LTL demonstrates significant potential. This includes enhanced selectivity, efficiency, and hydrophilicity of the membrane surface. Thus, enhanced hydrophilicity can establish stronger non-covalent interactions, namely hydrogen bonding and van der waals forces, with the target molecules, thereby significantly improving the adsorption capacity of the MIMs. The feasibility of this method was demonstrated via in-situ infrared analysis of the chemical structure changes before and after adsorption.

Improving Stability of CO2 Electroreduction by Incorporating Ag NPs in N-Doped Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Structures.

The electroreduction of carbon dioxide (eCO2RR) to CO using Ag nanoparticles as an electrocatalyst is promising as an industrial carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technique to mitigate CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, the long-term stability of these Ag nanoparticles has been insufficient despite initial high Faradaic efficiencies and/or partial current densities. To improve the stability, we evaluated an up-scalable and easily tunable synthesis route to deposit low-weight percentages of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on and into the framework of a nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (NOMC) structure. By exploiting this so-called nanoparticle confinement strategy, the nanoparticle mobility under operation is strongly reduced. As a result, particle detachment and agglomeration, two of the most pronounced electrocatalytic degradation mechanisms, are (partially) blocked and catalyst durability is improved. Several synthesis parameters, such as the anchoring agent, the weight percentage of Ag NPs, and the type of carbonaceous support material, were modified in a controlled manner to evaluate their respective impact on the overall electrochemical performance, with a strong emphasis on operational stability. The resulting powders were evaluated through electrochemical and physicochemical characterization methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption, Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), SEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), STEM-EDS, electron tomography, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optimized Ag/soft-NOMC catalysts showed both a promising selectivity (∼80%) and stability compared with commercial Ag NPs while decreasing the loading of the transition metal by more than 50%. The stability of both the 5 and 10 wt % Ag/soft-NOMC catalysts showed considerable improvements by anchoring the Ag NPs on and into a NOMC framework, resulting in a 267% improvement in CO selectivity after 72 h (despite initial losses) compared to commercial Ag NPs. These results demonstrate the promising strategy of anchoring Ag NPs to improve the CO selectivity during prolonged experiments due to the reduced mobility of the Ag NPs and thus enhanced stability.

Constructing Ag@SiO2-TiO2 Nanofiber Interlayers with a Three-Dimensional Lithiophilic Gradient Framework for an Ultrastable Lithium Metal Anode.

Lithium metal batteries have become one of the most promising rechargeable batteries due to the ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity of the Li metal anode. However, the Li dendrite growth and volume change of the Li metal anode during repeated Li plating-stripping cycles restrict the practical viability. Herein, a unique lithiophilic gradient structure of uniformly incorporating Ag nanoparticles into a three-dimensional (3D) nanofiber framework with amorphous SiO2 and TiO2 hybrids was prepared by an electrospinning process and used as a multifunctional interlayer between the pristine separator and Li metal foil. The 3D framework not only possesses excellent flexibility but also alleviates volume changes, which can withstand massive Li loading and promote uniform Li+ distribution. In addition, the 3D lithiophilic gradient structure allows for regulable Li+ flux and suppresses Li dendrite growth. Impressively, the Li||Li symmetric batteries with Ag@SiO2-TiO2 interlayers exhibit a prolonged lifespan of 1500 h at 0.5 mA cm-2 for 0.5 mAh cm-2. The full cells coupled with the Ag@SiO2-TiO2 interlayer show a capacity retention rate of 94.6% after 1000 cycles and a high rate capability. This work provides promising guidance for the design of a gradient-distributed lithiophilic structure toward an ultrastable Li metal anode.

Near-infrared photodetector based on the surface modification of porous silicon with silver nanoparticles

This study describes the modification of Porous silicon (PS) by depositing commercial Ag powder on its surface and within its pores to improve its physical properties and performance as a near-infrared (NIR) photodetector. The incorporation of Ag-nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) into the PS structure increases the energy band gap from 1.74 eV to 2.46 eV and decreases the diffuse reflectance over a broad range of wavelengths. Afterward, NIR photodetectors of both structures are produced. The maximum current is measured at 850 nm for both photodetectors. In addition to a substantial decrease in the dark current of PS-Ag, PS-Ag's photo-excited current is 4.5 times greater than its dark current, whereas PS's photo-excited current is only 1.7 times greater. In addition, the I–V curves are used to determine the photodetector's sensitivity (S) and the current gain (G) at different incident light wavelengths. At wavelengths of 850 nm, the Au/PS-Ag/Au photodetector exhibits a greater sensitivity of 3.26 × 102 compared to the Au/PS/Au photodetector, which exhibits a sensitivity of 0.83 × 102. Based on the results, it is clear that modifying the PS with Ag-NPs is a strong candidate for excellent performance as a near-infrared photodetector in commercial photoelectronic device applications.

Ag nanocomposite hydrogels with immune and regenerative microenvironment regulation promote scarless healing of infected wounds

BackgroundBacterial infection, complex wound microenvironment and persistent inflammation cause delayed wound healing and scar formation, thereby disrupting the normal function and appearance of skin tissue, which is one of the most problematic clinical issues. Although Ag NPs have a strong antibacterial effect, they tend to oxidize and form aggregates in aqueous solution, which reduces their antibacterial efficacy and increases their toxicity to tissues and organs. Current research on scar treatment is limited and mainly relies on growth factors and drugs to reduce inflammation and scar tissue formation. Therefore, there is a need to develop methods that effectively combine drug delivery, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents to modulate the wound microenvironment, promote wound healing, and prevent skin scarring.ResultsHerein, we developed an innovative Ag nanocomposite hydrogel (Ag NCH) by incorporating Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) into a matrix formed by linking catechol-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-CA) with 4-arm PEG-SH. The Ag NPs serve dual functions: they act as reservoirs for releasing Ag/Ag+ at the wound site to combat bacterial infections, and they also function as cross-linkers to ensure the sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The potent antibacterial effect of the Ag NPs embedded in the hydrogel against S.aureus was validated through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analyses. The microstructural analysis of the hydrogels and the in vitro release studies confirmed that the Ag NCH possesses smaller pore sizes and facilitates a slower, more sustained release of bFGF. When applied to acute and infected wound sites, the Ag NCH demonstrated remarkable capabilities in reshaping the immune and regenerative microenvironment. It induced a shift from M1 to M2 macrophage polarization, down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α, and up-regulated the expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10. Furthermore, the Ag NCH played a crucial role in regulating collagen deposition and alignment, promoting the formation of mature blood vessels, and significantly enhancing tissue reconstruction and scarless wound healing processes.ConclusionsWe think the designed Ag NCH can provide a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical applications in scarless wound healing and antibacterial therapy.Graphical

Antibacterial and corrosion resistant ANPs-TaC nanocomposite coating for biomedical applications

To improve the antibacterial properties of metallic implants to hinder the colonization of bacteria on their surfaces, an Ag nanoparticle (ANPs)/TaC nanocomposite coating was synthesized on a titanium alloy substrate by a double cathode glow discharge approach. The nanocomposite coating was composed of AgNPs (~13 nm in diameter) embedded in a nanoscale TaC matrix, with a mean grain size of 8 nm. The nanocomposite coating exhibited a bilayer structure, composed of a compact inner layer and a cauliflower-like outer layer. The corrosion resistance of the nanocomposite coating in both a 0.9 wt% NaCl solution and Ringer's solution was studied in comparison with both uncoated Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) and an Ag-free TaC coating by using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These results showed that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles slightly lowered the corrosion resistance of the TaC coating. The antibacterial activity of the ANPs-TaC nanocomposite coatings against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Salmonella Typhimurium (Salmonella) strains was examined based on the bacterial inhibitory zones and bacterial killing efficiency. The addition of ANPs markedly increased the antibacterial capacity of the TaC coating against all three types of microorganisms. Therefore, a unique combination of the electrochemically stable TaC phase, together with the antibacterial behavior of the ANPs, makes the ANPs-TaC nanocomposite coating an attractive choice in the design of next-generation biomedical implants.

High thermoelectric power factor in Bi1.2Na0.8Te3/Ag-NPs composites

Novel matrix composites of Na-doped Bi2Te3 with Ag nanoparticles included were prepared and studied in this article. Alloys of Bi1.2Na0.8Te3 were prepared by direct temperature melting at high temperature. Ag nanoparticles were incorporated into the system at different amounts. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine structural, crystallographic, and morphological aspects The addition of silver caused a shift in the structure, resulting in the division of the structure into two main sections. Initially, Bi1.2Na0.8Te0.6 phase was successfully doped with Ag without any changes. Then, the phase exhibited a notable shift, due to a change in the lattice parameters, as the amount of Ag increases to x = 0.06 and 0.08 wt%. A change in the atomic order is caused by the successful replacement of Ag inside composites, which created a new structure of Bi1.2Na0.8AgxTe3. The layered bulk structure was observed by SEM investigations. Various particle sizes were observed revealing the incorporation of Ag-nanoparticles. The thermoelectric properties were studied between 273K and 473K. The four-probe approach was used to calculate electrical conductivity, and a typical differential technique was used to get the Seebeck coefficient. The Ag-incorporated Bi1.2Na0.8Te3 alloys showed quite a higher Seebeck coefficient, in comparison to the Ag-free compound. The thermoelectric power factor was calculated, and the maximum value was obtained at 30 × 102 μW/mK2 for Bi1.2Na0.8Te0.6 at room temperature. The value is quite high and encouraging for applications in thermoelectric devices. A considerable reduction in overall thermal conductivity of the studied system was observed after the addition of Ag-NPs, according to thermal conductivity studies. The lowest thermal conductivity was achieved by adding Ag-NPs at 0.08% in the Bi1.2Na0.8Te3/Ag0.08 composite. An interesting room temperature-ZT was achieved at 0.56.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Heterostructured g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants.

In this study, heterostructured g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites were successfully fabricated using an easily accessible hydrothermal route. Various analytical tools were employed to investigate the surface morphology, crystal structure, specific surface area, and optical properties of as-synthesized samples. XRD and TEM characterization results provided evidence of the successful fabrication of the ternary g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 heterostructured nanocomposite. The heterostructured g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited the best degradation efficiency of 98.04% against rhodamine B (RhB) within 180 min under visible LED light irradiation. The g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited an apparent reaction rate constant 13.16, 4.7, and 1.33 times higher than that of TiO2, Ag-TiO2, and g-C3N4, respectively. The g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 ternary composite demonstrated higher photocatalytic activity than pristine TiO2 and binary Ag-TiO2 photocatalysts for the degradation of RhB under visible LED light irradiation. The improved photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite can be attributed to the formation of an excellent heterostructure between TiO2 and g-C3N4 as well as the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles, which promoted efficient charge carrier separation and transfer and suppressed the rate of recombination. Therefore, this study presents the development of heterostructured g-C3N4/Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites that exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance for the efficient degradation of harmful organic pollutants in wastewater, making them promising candidates for environmental remediation.

Construction of bifunctional materials with high adsorption and deep photodegradation of bisphenol A by In-MOF decorated with Ag/Ag3PO4

Refining the visible light absorption and optimizing the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs are pivotal in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of composites. A novel Z-scheme plasma photocatalyst, Ag/Ag3PO4/In-MOF (A/AP/In), was developed in this study. Experimental results demonstrated that A/AP/In exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity for BPA among all samples tested, achieving complete degradation of 50 ppm BPA within 30 min, as well as its apparent degradation rate was about 11 times higher than that of pure Ag3PO4 and 4 times higher than that of pure In-MOF. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be mainly attributed to the existence of Z-type heterojunctions and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect induced by Ag nanoparticles, which facilitate efficient migration and separation of photogenerated carriers. Meanwhile, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles enhances visible light absorption and protects Ag3PO4 from photocorrosion in the composites. Moreover, A/AP/In maintains the large specific surface area of In-MOF and provides abundant reactive active sites. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of A/AP/In was above 90 % after five consecutive cycles confirming its good stability. Overall, this study proposes a novel approach for constructing bifunctional composites with efficient adsorption/catalytic degradation.

Degradable Antimicrobial Ureteral Stent Construction with Silver@graphdiyne Nanocomposite.

In the surgical treatment of urinary diseases, ureteral stents are commonly used interventional medical devices. Although polymer ureteral stents with polyurethane as the main constituent are widely used in the clinic, the need for secondary surgery to remove them and their propensity to cause bacterial infections greatly limit their effectiveness. To satisfy clinical requirements, an electrospinning-based strategy to fabricate PLGA ureteral stents with silver@graphdiyne is innovated. Silver (Ag) nanoparticles are uniformly loaded on the surface of graphdiyne (GDY) flakes. It is found that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles into GDY markedly increases their antibacterial properties. Subsequently, the synthesized and purified Ag@GDY is homogeneously blended with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as an antimicrobial agent, and electrospinning along with high-speed collectors is used to make tubular stents. The antibacterial effect of Ag@GDY and the porous microstructure of the stents can effectively prevent bacterial biofilm formation. Furthermore, the stents gradually decrease in toughness but increase in strength during the degradation process. The cellular and subcutaneous implantation experiments demonstrate the moderate biocompatibility of the stents. In summary, considering these performance characteristics and the technical feasibility of the approach taken, this study opens new possibilities for the design and application of biodegradable ureteral stents.

Electron bridging based on ternary AgNPs/MoS2/NaTaO3 heterojunction films enhanced photocatalytic activity

The exceptional cyclic utilization performance of fixed-state thin film photocatalysts has garnered significant interest, yet their industrial application remains constrained by their low photocatalytic efficiency. In this investigation, MoS2/NaTaO3 thin films were synthesized in situ on tantalum substrates utilizing a facile hydrothermal approach. The resulting heterojunction architecture serves to facilitate efficient separation of electron-hole pairs while also notably expanding the photoresponse range. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) via photochemical reduction engendered the establishment of Schottky contacts (MoS2-Ag), which considerably expedited the photoinduced charge separation process. Within the context of the ternary system, the construction of electron bridges accelerates the rate of electron transfer. Hence, the designed ternary AgNPs/MoS2/NaTaO3 heterojunction films showed enhanced photocatalytic activity and degraded more than 94.6% of methylene blue (MB) after 50 min of irradiable light. Also, the composite exhibits notable antibacterial efficacy (99.99%) against S. aureus and E. coli owing to the synergistic influence of photo-induced ROS and AgNPs. Moreover, cyclic photocatalytic degradation/sterilization experiments demonstrated the proficient stability of the film.

Enhanced Interfacial Adhesion of TiO2 Nanotubes Decorated With Ag Silver Nanoparticles Prepared by Photo-Reduction Process

Abstract In the present study, the adhesion of TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2-NTs) to thicker substrates was improved by decorating them with metallic Ag nanoparticles (NPs) using the photo-reduction process. The obtained coatings were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The XRD confirmed that all TiO2-NTs crystallized in anatase after annealing at 400 °C regardless of the anodization potential. The SEM indicated that the TiO2-NTs were uniformly distributed on the substrate with an ordered and vertically aligned morphology. It also revealed that the diameter of the TiO2-NTs reached ∼100 nm. The decoration of TiO2-NTs surface with silver nanoparticles was assessed by the TEM. Moreover, a new scratch test mode called “wear mode” was performed to evaluate the wear resistance of the coatings. Results obtained by the scratch tests proved that the decorated coating with Ag nanoparticles improved the interfacial adhesion. The friction coefficient decreased from 0.65 to 0.45 when pure TiO2 was decorated with 10 min-Ag-NPs. The wear behavior was studied using a multi-pass scratch test. It was found that the wear volume reduced with the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles. The study of the damage mechanisms showed visco-elastic plastic deformation in the pure TiO2 coating.

Enhanced electrochromic properties of Ag-incorporated WO3 nanocomposite thin films

WO3 nanocomposite thin films, in which metal nanoparticles are incorporated into a WO3 matrix, offer an enhanced electrochromic response speed with color neutrality. This article reports the structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of Ag nanoparticle-incorporated electrochromic WO3 thin films with different concentrations. Room-temperature-sputtered thin films using composite targets with a low Ag concentration exhibited a random distribution of small nanoparticles. In contrast, in the film with a higher Ag concentration, the particles were merged, resulting in a single or polycrystalline phase. Surface plasmon resonance peaks were observed in the absorption spectra of the Ag–WO3 composite films, indicating the formation of metallic nanoparticles, which was also confirmed via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The optical bandgaps decreased gradually from 3.15 eV for WO3-δ to 3.02 and 2.99 eV for W0.97Ag0.03O3-δ and W0.91Ag0.09O3-δ thin films, respectively. The W0.91Ag0.09O3-δ thin film showed a faster switching time of 2.6 s for coloring and 4.8 s for bleaching with a higher coloration efficiency of 66.52 cm2/C than those of the WO3-δ thin film, which were 3.8 s, 6.8 s, and 58.68 cm2/C, respectively. However, transmittance modulation in the W0.91Ag0.09O3-δ thin film was inferior to that in the other films. Furthermore, the W0.91Ag0.09O3-δ thin films were black in the colored state, whereas the bare WO3-δ and W0.97Ag0.03O3-δ thin films were Prussian blue, suggesting the realization of color neutrality through the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles.

Ag nanoparticles incorporated interlayer enables ultrahigh critical current density for Li6PS5Cl-based all-solid-state lithium batteries

Agroydite Li6PS5Cl is one of the most promising solid electrolytes because of its high ionic conductivity and good processability. However, there are still many challenges with Li6PS5Cl and lithium anodes that prevent their industrialization, such as the growth of lithium dendrite and interfacial reactions. Interface modification of anodes has proven to be an effective method for solving these problems. Herein, we introduce Ag nanoparticles into the interface between Li6PS5Cl and metallic lithium and systematically investigate their interfacial properties. By incorporating silver nanoparticles, lithium dendrites can be depleted by forming Li–Ag alloys. Therefore, a denser and more stable interface between Li6PS5Cl and lithium metals is obtained. Benefiting from the above advantages, the Li/Li symmetrical battery with incorporated Ag nanoparticles exhibited an ultrahigh critical current density of up to 10 mA cm−2 and great cycling stability (more than 600 h). An all-solid-state battery with Ni-rich cathode and lithium metal anode demonstrates a high-capacity retention rate of 84% after 200 cycles at a current density of 0.5C. This study provides new insights into the construction of stable anode interfaces for the practical application of all-solid-state lithium batteries.