Indium Oxide Nanoparticles Research Articles

Diverse energy laser ablation in liquid for indium oxide nanoparticles on porous silicon: enhancing photodetector performance

Abstract The fabrication and analysis of a photodetector using copper oxide nanoparticles (In2O3-NPs) embedded in a porous silicon (PS) structure are detailed in this study. One method used to create In2O3 NPs was pulsed laser ablation in ethanol (PLAL), while another was photo-assisted electrochemical etching to create a porous silicon substrate. The optical, structural, and electrical features of In2O3-NPs/PS devices are investigated, with a particular emphasis on their variations with laser energy. After successfully applying In2O3 nanoparticles onto PS, the X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of distinct peaks that correlate to a copper cubic structure. Using field emission scanning electron microscopy, the researchers determined that the particles had a spherical shape. Absorption increased with increasing laser intensity, and the In2O3-nanocolloids showed clear surface plasmon resonance peaks between 570 and 590 nm in wavelength range. Band gaps of 3.5, 3.4, 3.2, and 3.1 eV were found for the In2O3-NPs generated at 500, 600, 700, and 800 mJ of laser energy, according to the optical properties. According to the optoelectronic properties of the In2O3-NPs/PS photodetector, it was built with an energy level of 700 mJ and had a maximum responsivity of 0.2766 A/W at 650 nm. The In2O3NPs/PS devices discussed in this study have excellent photodetecting performance because they integrate In2O3-NPs with PS.

Sustainable synthesis of indium oxide nanoparticles via Aloe Vera for gas sensing applications

A green synthesis approach was used to produce nanocrystalline indium oxide (In2O3) nanoparticles from the Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller species. The obtained In2O3 powder was subsequently employed as a functional material to build thick film resistors (TFR) as a sensor on a porous alumina substrate using screen printing method. The TFR samples were sintered at three different temperatures: 600, 700, and 800 °C. A variety of analytical techniques was used to characterize the nanocrystalline In2O3 powder, including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Ultraviolet–Visible–Near Infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Additionally, electrical properties and sensor performance were evaluated. The results showed that the electrical resistivity of the thick film sensor created using the green synthesis method was much higher than that of traditional synthesis techniques. The green synthesis of nanocrystalline In2O3 with Aloe Vera not only benefits the environment, but it also improves the material’s sensitivity and function as an ethanol sensor. This investigation demonstrates the promise of green synthesis techniques for creating high-performance sensing materials and devices.

Synthesis and Upconversion Luminescence Fine-tuning of Yb3+/Ho3+-Doped Indium and Gallium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Rare earth (RE) dopants can modulate the bandgap of oxides of indium and gallium and provide extra upconversion luminescence (UCL) abilities. However, relevant UCL fine-tuning strategies and energy mechanisms have been less studied. In this research, InGaO, Ho3+ monodoped and Yb3+/Ho3+ codoped In2O3, and Ho3+ monodoped Yb3Ga5O12 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a solvothermal method. The effects of Yb3+ and Ho3+ dopants on the crystal structures, UCL properties, and optical bandgaps of the oxides were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UCL spectroscopy, and measurements of decay times, pump power dependence, and transmittance spectra. The crystal structures of oxide products of indium and gallium were significantly modified with RE dopants. In2O3 and Yb3Ga5O12 were selected as the host materials. For Yb3+/Ho3+ codoped In2O3 NPs, there existed energy transfers from the defect states of In2O3 to Ho3+ and from Yb3+ to Ho3+. With a fixed Ho3+ concentration, In2O3:0%Yb3+,2%Ho3+ NPs showed the optimal UCL properties mainly due to In2O3-Ho3+ energy transfer and Ho3+-Yb3+ energy-back-transfer, while with a fixed Yb3+ concentration, In2O3:5%Yb3+,3%Ho3+ NPs with a slight Yb2O3 impurity and Yb3Ga5O12:2%Ho3+ NPs did mainly due to Ho3+-Ho3+ cross-relaxation. Besides, the optical bandgaps of In2O3 and Yb3Ga5O12 were noticeably broadened with RE dopants. These findings can offer feasible directions for the synthesis and UCL fine-tuning of RE-doped oxides of indium and gallium and improve their multifunction application prospects in the fields of semiconductor and UCL nanomaterials.

Release of indium from In2O3 nanoparticles in model solutions and synthetic seawater

Indium oxide (In2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in electronic devices, from which indium (as its nanoparticulate form or as other generated chemical species) can be released to natural waters. To assess for the impacts of such releases (e.g. toxic effects), information on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the In2O3 dissolution processes is key. In this work, the evolution with time of the dissolution process was followed with the technique AGNES (Absence of Gradients and Nernstian Equilibrium Stripping) by measuring the free indium concentration ([In3+]). AGNES can determine the free ion concentration in the presence of nanoparticles without a prior separation step, as shown in the case of ZnO nanoparticles, a procedure that is more accurate than the typical sequence of centrifugation+filtration+elemental analysis. Excess of indium oxide NPs were dispersed in 0.1 mol L−1 KNO3 at various pH values ranging from 2 to 8. Additional dispersions with bulk In2O3 at pH 3 or NPs in synthetic seawater at pH 8 were also prepared. The temperature was carefully fixed at 25 °C. The dispersions were continuously stirred and samples were taken from time to time to measure free indium concentration with AGNES. 180-day contact of In2O3 to solutions at pH 2 and 3 was not enough to reach equilibrium. The dissolution of the NPs at pH 3 was faster than that of the bulk (i.e. non nanoparticulate) material. Equilibrium of the NPs with the solution was reached at pH 4 and 5 in KNO3 and at pH 8 in seawater, in shorter times for higher pH values, with free indium concentrations decreasing by a factor of 1000 for each increase in one pH unit. The solubility products of In(OH)3 and In2O3 were compared. Equilibration of NPs with synthetic seawater took <18 days, with an average free [In3+] (up to 196 days) of 1.03 amol L−1.

Evaluating potential of Cr-doped indium oxide nanoparticles as a DMS material

ABSTRACT Cr-doped In2O3 nanoparticles have been prepared via combustion method. Glycine fuel was used for the synthesis. The prepared compounds were evaluated for their potential as a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) by studying their magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern was studied to identify the crystal structure of pristine and doped In2O3 compounds. Morphology and particle size of the compounds have been estimated using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Valence state of the elements was found out by making use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique. Electrical resistivity has been measured which displayed higher resistance value for doped samples. Magnetisation studied with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature displayed weak ferromagnetism in the doped samples. The measurements at 50 K displayed antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic alignment. The importance of preparative method, nano-size, room-temperature defects and oxygen vacancies in regulating magnetism in DMS has been discussed.

Synthesis of nanostructured In2O3 ceramics via a green and chemical method for the mineralization of crystal violet dye: A comparative study

Herein, the photocatalytic capabilities of indium oxide nanoparticles obtained by Aerva javanica extract synthesis and surfactant-mediated co-precipitation synthesis were studied using crystal violet (CV) as a model dye. Indium oxide nanoparticles synthesized via green (In2O3-G) and chemical route (In2O3-C) were characterized through different spectroscopic, structural, electrical and morphological analyses. The plant extract’s metabolites (flavonoids) effectively reduce the indium metal and induce oxygen vacancies, which develop sub-energy levels below the conduction band and hence increase the current conductivity and reduce the optical band of the photocatalyst. The above-mentioned structural modifications improve the In2O3-G photocatalyst's light-harvesting capacity and charge transport characteristics. Optical and current–voltage measurements show that the In2O3-G photocatalyst has more outstanding electrical conductivity (σ = 1.76 × 10-3 Sm−1) and bandgap (Eg = 2.93 eV) more compatible with the visible light than its counterpart (In2O3-C). Due to their amine, carboxyl, and hydroxyl functionalities, the plant extract's metabolites controlled and facilitated the synthesis of In2O3-G in the nanosized range. The integration of some crucial features such as higher surface area, faster charger transport properties, and a visible light-compatible band gap enable our In2O3-G photocatalyst to mineralize 93.75% CV dye in just 80 min with 0.027 min−1 rate-constant. This research demonstrates that a green approach to producing ceramic photocatalysts is preferable to chemical methods, which are more costly and create additional environmental issues.

Defects-enriched two-dimensional ultrathin g-C3N4/In2O3 nanoparticles for effective NO2 detection at room temperature

Rational integration of ultrathin two-dimensional(2D) graphitic carbon nitride(g-C3N4) nanosheets and indium oxide(In2O3) nanoparticles was implemented by hydrothermal and calcination. The optimized composites demonstrated an outstanding NO2 response of 1470 (5 ppm) and short response/recovery time (67/46 s). Moreover, the prepared composites displayed excellent reproducibility, low detection limit (18 ppb), and satisfactory selectivity to NO2 at room temperature (RT). The gas sensing mechanism was also proposed and verified by the density functional theory calculation. The outstanding gas sensing properties might be due to the combination of heterojunction, enhanced specific surface, and enriched defects. This study gives a reference for designing sensing materials by forming heterojunctions between metal oxides and g-C3N4 for superior gas sensitivity and exploring the manufacture of advanced gas sensors.

Study of charge transfer contribution in Surface-Enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based on indium oxide nanoparticle substrates

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has outstanding merits in biochemical molecular analysis, and the development of new SERS substrates is the focus of research. Herein, In2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a high temperature pyrolysis method with cubic phase and small particle size at 10 nm. The structures and properties of In2O3 NPs were characterized by X–ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and other characterization methods. Additionally, the SERS spectra of In2O3-MBA with the enhancement factor (EF) up to 1.22 × 104 is discussed. The results demonstrate that there is a charge transfer (CT) effect revealed between the adsorbed molecules of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) and the substrates of In2O3 NPs, and it could be excited by long wavelength energy. Based on the In2O3 NPs, the study is beneficial to develop more potential semiconductor SERS substrates.

Impact of Indium Oxide Nanoparticles Mouth Wash in Prevention of Human Dental Enamel Caries (In Vitro Study)

Background: Despite the fact that fluoride-based remineralization technologies have dominated preventive dentistry for the past century, new and innovative nanomaterials approaches are transforming the industry. A variety of unique metal nanoparticles (NPs) materials are now be easily available to assist remineralization of the dental enamel surface. Objectives: This study was reported to prevent and treat of dental caries using indium oxide NPs suspension solution application in comparison to de-ionized water and sodium fluoride on human tooth enamel by surface microhardness analysis for the surface dental enamel. Materials and Methods: Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption spectrophotometer were used to evaluate the physical characteristics of an indium oxide NPs suspension solution that was created by the laser ablation in liquid. Microhardness Vickers test was used to evaluate the microhardness of teeth. Teeth samples were 60 teeth that were divided randomly into two phases; each phase consisted of prevented and treated groups with indium oxide NPs, control-positive group was treated with sodium fluoride, and control-negative group was treated with deionized water. Each group was consisted of 10 teeth. Results: The results showed that there was an increase in microhardness be recorded for both preventive and treatment groups after the application of an indium oxide NPs suspension solution. Conclusion: Laser-prepared indium oxide NPs colloidal suspensions were found to be effective as a remineralizing agent to human dental enamel and thus can be considered as an alternative to sodium fluoride mouth wash.

Reusable molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence assay for kanamycin based on ordered mesoporous carbon loaded with indium oxide nanoparticles and carbon quantum dots.

Ahighly sensitive kanamycin electrochemiluminescence (ECL) switch sensor was constructed. A signal element consisting of ordered mesoporous carbon loaded with indium oxide nanoparticles/carbon quantum dots (OMC/In2O3/C-dots) was assembled on the surface of a gold electrode. Then, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared on the modified electrode surface using kanamycin as the template molecule and o-aminophenol as the functional monomer. After kanamycin elution, the prepared sensor retained specific kanamycin recognition sites. OMC/In2O3 effectively amplified the ECL signal of the C-dots, thereby enhancing the detection sensitivity, whereas kanamycin quenched the signal. Therefore, the imprinted sites acted as a switch, providing a new method for detecting kanamycin. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the concentration of kanamycin was proportional to the degree of ECL quenching within a linear range of 5-4500 × 10-12mol L-1 at 0.8V (vs. Ag/AgCl electrode electrode), and the detection limit was 5.8 × 10-13mol L-1. Whenapplied to the detection of kanamycin in actual samples, such as chicken, duck, pork, and milk, the recovery for spiked samples was in the range92.7-110%.

Indium Oxide Decorated WS2 Microflakes for Selective Ammonia Sensors at Room Temperature

Tungsten sulfide decorated with indium oxide nanoparticles (In2O3/WS2) was studied for a chemiresistive-type NH3 sensor at room temperature. It was found that the responses of the developed In2O3/WS2 heterostructure nanocomposite-based sensors are significantly improved to 3.81 from 1.45 for WS2. The response and recovery time of the heterostructure-based sensor was found to significantly decrease to 88 s/116 s (10 ppm) from 112 s/192 s for the WS2-based one. The sensor also exhibits excellent selectivity and signal reproducibility. In comparison to WS2 decorated with both ZnO and SnO2 in similar ways, the In2O3-decorated WS2 has overall better sensing performance in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and response/recovery speeds for NH3 from 1 ppm to 10 ppm at room temperature. The improved sensing properties of WS2 incorporating In2O3 could be attributed to the joint enhancement mechanisms of the “electronic and catalytic” sensitizations.

Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Detection in ppb Levels at Room Temperature with a Printed, Flexible, Disposable In2O3 NPs‐Based Sensor for IoT Food Packaging Applications

AbstractFlexible printed sensors are essential components for modern Internet of Things applications. They may twist and bend to fit any shape or surface. New potential applications emerge as these sensors’ sophistication and sensing efficiency improve. In this study, a printed sensor is prepared from indium oxide nanoparticles (In2O3 NPs)‐based nanocomposite for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas detection at ambient conditions. The as‐fabricated sensor has excellent capabilities, including sensitivity and selectivity to low gas concentrations than 100 ppb (&lt;100 ppb), anti‐humid property up to relative humidity (RH) ≈ 100%, high chemical stability in severe environments, good mechanical flexibility up to 50 bending cycles at 30° bending angle, and good thermomechanical stability between ‐40 °C ‐ 40 °C. Moreover, the sensor detects the low concentrations of H2S gas produced during the spoilage of organosulfur‐rich food (beef and fish) while remaining insensitive to humidity changes up to RH ≈ 100%, resulting in the fist‐of‐its‐type chemiresistive sensor for food packaging application. The sensors’ response to H2S gas is based on the contribution of the physical and chemical sensing mechanisms, which rely on the H2S molecules’ reactions on the sensor's surface with the adsorbed oxygen molecules and the sensing materials (copper acetate (CuAc) and In2O3 NPs), respectively.

Photodeposition mediated synthesis of silver-doped indium oxide nanoparticles for improved photocatalytic and anticancer performance.

Indium oxide nanoparticles (In2O3 NPs) are being investigated for a numberof applications including gas-sensing, environmental remediation, and biomedicine. We aimed to examine the effect of silver (Ag) doping on photocatalytic and anticancer activity of In2O3 NPs. The Ag-doped (2%, 4%, and 6%weight) In2O3 NPs were synthesized by the photodeposition method. Prepared samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the photoluminescence (PL). XRD data showed that Ag-doping increases the crystallinity of In2O3 NPs. SEM and TEM images indicated that In2O3 NPs have spherical morphology with smooth surfaces, and Ag-doping increases the size without affecting the particle's shape. XPS spectra showed the oxidation state and the presence of Ag in In2O3 NPs. Band gap energy of In2O3 NPs decreases with increasing the concentration of Ag (3.41eV to 3.12eV). The peak intensity of PL spectra of In2O3 NPs also reduces with the increment of Ag ions suggesting the hindrance of the recombination rate of e-/h+. The photocatalytic activity was measured by the degradation of Rh B dye under UV irradiation. The degradation efficiency of Ag-doped (6%) In2O3 NPs was 92%. Biochemical data indicated that Ag-doping enhances the anticancer performance of In2O3 NPs against human lung cancer cells (A549). Moreover, Ag-doped In2O3 NPs displayed excellent biocompatibility in normal human lung fibroblasts (IMR90). Overall, this study demonstrated that Ag-doping enhances the photocatalytic activity and anticancer efficacy of In2O3 NPs. This study warrants further investigation on the environmental and biomedical applications of Ag-In2O3 NPs.

High Operation Frequency and Strain Tolerance of Fully Printed Oxide Thin Film Transistors and Circuits on PET Substrates.

The major limitations of solution-processed oxide electronics include high process temperatures and the absence of necessary strain tolerance that would be essential for flexible electronic applications. Here, a combination of low temperature (<100°C) curable indium oxide nanoparticle ink and a conductive silver nanoink, which are used to fabricate fully-printed narrow-channel thin film transistors (TFTs) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates, is proposed. The metal ink is printed onto the In2 O3 nanoparticulate channel to narrow the effective channel lengths down to the thickness of the In2 O3 layer and thereby obtain near-vertical transport across the semiconductor layer. The TFTs thus prepared show On/Off ratio ≈106 and simultaneous maximum current density of 172 µA µm-1 . Next, the depletion-load inverters fabricated on PET substrates demonstrate signal gain >200 and operation frequency >300kHz at low operation voltage of VDD = 2V. In addition, the near-vertical transport across the semiconductor layer is found to be largely strain tolerant with insignificant change in the TFT and inverter performance observed under bending fatigue tests performed down to a bending radius of 1.5mm, which translates to a strain value of 5%. The devices are also found to be robust against atmospheric exposure when remeasured after a month.

CO2 Enrichment Differentially Upregulated Sugar, Proline, and Polyamine Metabolism in Young and Old Leaves of Wheat and Sorghum to Mitigate Indium Oxide Nanoparticles Toxicity.

Soil contamination with indium oxide nanoparticles (In2O3-NPs) is a challenge for plant growth and productivity. Despite In2O3-NPs toxicity, their effects on plant growth and metabolism are largely unknown, particularly under future climate CO2 (eCO2). Therefore, the In2O3-NPs toxicity and stress mitigating impact of eCO2 in the young and old leaves of C3 (wheat) and C4 (sorghum) plants were investigated. Overall, In2O3-NPs significantly retard the biomass and photosynthetic machinery of all tested crops, particularly the young leaves of C3 plants. Consequently, In2O3-NPs altered C and N metabolism in C3 and C4 plants. On the other hand, eCO2 contrarily alleviated the hazardous effects of In2O3-NPs on growth and photosynthesis, especially in the young leaves of C4 plants. Increased photosynthesis consequently enhanced the soluble sugars’ accumulation and metabolism (e.g., sucrose P synthase, cytosolic, and vacuolar invertase) in all stressed plants, but to a greater extent in C4 young leaves. High sugar availability also induced TCA organic and fatty acids’ accumulation. This also provided a route for amino acids and polyamines biosynthesis, where a clear increase in proline biosynthetic enzymes [e.g., pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH), and proline dehydrogenase (PRODH)] and polyamine metabolic enzymes (e.g., spermine and spermidine synthases, ornithine decarboxylase, and adenosyl methionine decarboxylase) were mainly recorded in C4 young leaves. The observed increases in these metabolites involved in osmo- and redox-regulation to reduce In2O3-NPs induced oxidative damage. Overall, our study, for the first time, shed light on how eCO2 differentially mitigated In2O3-NPs stress in old and young leaves of different species groups under the threat of In2O3-NPs contamination.

Elevated CO2 Differentially Mitigated Oxidative Stress Induced by Indium Oxide Nanoparticles in Young and Old Leaves of C3 and C4 Crops.

Soil contamination with indium (In) oxide nanoparticles (In2O3-NPs) threatens plant growth and development. However, their toxicity in plants under ambient (aCO2) and elevated (eCO2) conditions is scarcely studied. To this end, this study was conducted to investigate In2O3-NPs toxicity in the young and old leaves of C3 (barley) and C4 (maize) plants and to understand the mechanisms underlying the stress mitigating impact of eCO2. Treatment of C3 and C4 plants with In2O3-NPs significantly reduced growth and photosynthesis, induced oxidative damage (H2O2, lipid peroxidation), and impaired P and Fe homeostasis, particularly in the young leaves of C4 plants. On the other hand, this phytotoxic hazard was mitigated by eCO2 which improved both C3 and C4 growth, decreased In accumulation and increased phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) uptake, particularly in the young leaves of C4 plants. Moreover, the improved photosynthesis by eCO2 accordingly enhanced carbon availability under the challenge of In2O3-NPs that were directed to the elevated production of metabolites involved in antioxidant and detoxification systems. Our physiological and biochemical analyses implicated the role of the antioxidant defenses, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) in stress mitigation under eCO2. This was validated by studying the effect of In2O3-stress on a transgenic maize line (TG) constitutively overexpressing the AtFeSOD gene and its wild type (WT). Although it did not alter In accumulation, the TG plants showed improved growth and photosynthesis and reduced oxidative damage. Overall, this work demonstrated that C3 was more sensitive to In2O3-NPs stress; however, C4 plants were more responsive to eCO2. Moreover, it demonstrated the role of SOD in determining the hazardous effect of In2O3-NPs.

APPLICATION OF PHOTOSENSITIZER-INCORPORATED INDIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES IN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Many disorders, both cancerous and non-cancerous, may be effectively treated using photodynamic therapy. In this scenario, photosensitizer drugs are first excited by light of the appropriate wavelength (in the visible-NIR range), after which they transmit their extra energy to molecular oxygen, resulting in the creation of strongly cytotoxic singlet oxygen. Indium oxide nanoparticles are optically transparent materials and can be used to incorporate fluorophores and photosensitizer drugs. Herein, we report the use of indium oxide nanoparticles incorporated with a photosensitizer. These nanoparticles have been synthesized in a methanolic medium. The characterization of prepared nanoparticles included FTIR, XRD, TEM, and optical studies (UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy). Cell viability studies demonstrated that the photosensitizer-incorporated nanoparticles showed cytotoxic effects only upon light irradiation. The results indicate the promise of photosensitizer-incorporated indium oxide nanoparticles as delivery agents in photodynamic therapy

Development of SnO2 Composites as Electron Transport Layer in Unencapsulated CH3NH3PbI3 Solar Cells

Improving morphological and electronic properties of the electron transport layer (ETL) is a critical issue to fabricate highly efficient perovskite solar cells. Tin dioxide is used as an ETL for its peculiarities such as low-temperature solution-process and high electron mobility and several handlings have been tested to increase its performances. Herein, SnO2:ZnO and SnO2:In2O3 composites are studied as ETL in planar n-i-p CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells fabricated in ambient air, starting from glass/ITO substrates. Morphological, electrical and optical properties of zinc- and indium-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are investigated. First-principle calculations are also reported and help to further explain the experimental evidences. Photovoltaic performances of full devices show an improvement in efficiency for SnO2:In2O3–based solar cells with respect to pristine SnO2, probably due to a suppression of interfacial charge recombination between ITO/ETL and ETL/perovskite. Moreover, a better homogeneity of SnO2:In2O3 deposition with respect to SnO2:ZnO composites, conducts an increase in perovskite grain size and, consequently, the device performances.

The Release of Indium Ion Derived from Epithelial Cells and Macrophages Solubilization Contribute to Pneumotoxicity Induced by Indium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Occupational exposure to indium oxide and indium containing particles has been associated with the development of severe lung diseases called "indium lung." According to the survey of occupational hygiene, indium oxide nanoparticles have been identified in the workplaces and the lungs of workers. To date, the potential mechanism of the pneumotoxicity has been poorly understood and no effective therapies are available against "indium lung." Our present study reported that the exposure of indium oxide nanoparticles damaged lung epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages and induced pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and inflammation in rats. In the 8-week post-exposure period, the indium oxide nanoparticles still mostly accumulated in the lungs and then persistently release indium ions in two months after exposure. In vitro, the epithelial cells show the greater potential for release of indium ions from indium oxide nanoparticles compared with the macrophages. EDTA-2Na, a metal chelating agent expected to remove the indium ions, was found to significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of indium oxide nanoparticles. Herein, the pneumotoxicity may be attributed to the slow and incremental release of indium ions from indium oxide nanoparticles primary dissolved by epithelial cells and macrophages, at least partially. The study may provide some insights to the pathogenicity mechanisms of "indium lung" and some clues against the health hazards of occupational inhaled indium oxide nanoparticles at the workplaces.

Printed Chemiresistive In2O3 Nanoparticle-Based Sensors with ppb Detection of H2S Gas for Food Packaging

Cost-effective and disposable smart sensing technologies capable of monitoring packaged foods’ degradation are necessary for human health and the growing processed-food industry. Herein, highly sensitive and selective hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas sensors were fabricated from solution-printed nanocomposites comprising indium oxide nanoparticles (In2O3 NPs), graphite flakes (Gt), polystyrene (PS), and copper acetate monohydrate (CuAc). The standard In2O3 NP-based sensor (SS, without CuAc) showed H2S detection ≈100 ppb under ambient conditions. The presence of CuAc resulted in a highly sensitive nanocomposite layer enabling the detection of lower than 100 ppb (<100 ppb) concentrations of H2S gas levels, far superior to the standard In2O3 NP-based nanocomposite. Adding CuAc to the In2O3 NP-based nanocomposite as a modifying additive leads to copper sulfide (CuS) formation owing to its reaction with H2S gas. CuS significantly enhances the nanocomposite layer’s conductivity and H2S reactions on the sensors’ surface, resulting in a substantial reduction in electrical resistance for sensors. The modified In2O3 NP-based sensor presents remarkable enhancement in their selectivity toward H2S gas detection when evaluated against various hazardous vapors. Furthermore, the modified In2O3 NP-based sensors possess good anti-humid property under highly humid conditions (≈80% relative humidity).