Modified Zinc Oxide Research Articles

Suppressing Static and Dynamic Disorder for High-Efficiency and Stable Thick-Film Organic Solar Cells via Synergistic Dilution Strategy.

Developing stable and highly efficient thick-film organic solar cells (OSCs) is crucial for the large-scale commercial application of organic photovoltaics. A novel synergistic dilution strategy to address this issue, using Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) -modified zinc oxide (ZnO) as the interfacial layer, is introduced. This strategy effectively mitigates oxygen defects in ZnO while also regulating the self-assembly process of the active layer to achieve an ordered distribution of donors and acceptors. In synergistic diluted devices, the dynamic disorder is reduced owing to the suppression of electron-phonon coupling, while the static disorder is suppressed by improved molecular stacking and enhanced intermolecular interactions. Consequently, the 300nm PM6:L8-BO device post-synergistic dilution manifests a marked enhancement in device performance, achieving a photovoltaic power conversion efficiency (PCE) >17% with excellent thermal stability. A typical ternary system is selected to explore the general applicability of synergistic dilution strategy, the PCE has been enhanced significantly from 17.89% to 18.72%, which falls within the range of the highest values among inverted single junction OSCs. As a practical application that depends on the pivotal synergy between high efficiency and stability, this approach paves the way for large-scale implementation of OSCs and ensures cost-effectiveness.

Impact of Modified ZnO Nanoparticles on Immune Response in Mouse Lung Cancer Model

Background: Lung cancer, which is characterized by the presence of malignant tumors, offers a potential avenue for treatment through the use of nanomedicines. Previous in vitro studies have shown promising effects of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles on lung cancer cell lines. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of this nanodrug on the immune response in a mouse model of lung cancer. Materials and Methods: In this study, a mouse model of lung cancer was utilized. Various aspects, including tumor size, infiltration of CD8+ cells and the survival rate of the mice, were carefully examined. The obtained results were subsequently analyzed using the GraphPrism software, version 9. Results: Mice treated with the nanodrug exhibited a reduction in tumor size. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of CD8+ cells infiltrating the tissue. Furthermore, the administration of the nanodrug led to improved survival rates among the mice. Conclusion: The use of this nanodrug has shown significant efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth. Moreover, it has demonstrated potential in enhancing CD8+ cell infiltration, thereby strengthening the immune response and suppressing tumor progression. Ultimately, this nanodrug improves the survival of mice receiving treatment.

Utilization of modified epoxidized natural rubber and zinc oxide on properties of polylactic acid/epoxidized natural rubber blends: Mechanical properties, antibacterial efficiency and biodegradability

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biopolymer with brittleness and no antibacterial efficiency, which can be solved by the combination with epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) due to polar-polar interaction and with modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) regarding the releasing of zinc ions (Zn2+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To minimize self-interaction in each PLA and ENR molecular chain, ENR with different % epoxidation was modified (mENR) by grafting with sebacic acid (SA). The addition of mENR with 50 % mol to PLA significantly improved the properties of pure PLA in terms of mechanical and impact properties, toughness, and also provided disinfectant ability. Regarding antibacterial properties, the efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was significantly improved by adding ZnO to the blends. Combination of mENR to PLA matrix during mixing operation increases improved ZnO dispersion and distribution in PLA/mENR blends. Thus, antibacterial efficiency had been enhanced using proper mENR:ZnO concentration ratios in the PLA matrix, relative to other modified ZnO types. Also, incorporation of mENR:ZnO enhanced impact strength and retarded biodegradability of the blends due to hydrophobicity of ENR in PLA matrix. The findings of the blends' properties suggest potential for new functional applications, especially in disinfectant sheet lamination products where strength and protection against bacterial growth together with proper degradation period are required.

Antimicrobial activity and mechanisms of carbon quantum dot decorated modified zinc oxide nanoparticles against oral pathogenic bacteria

Caries represents one of the most prevalent bacterial infectious diseases in the oral cavity. Over decades, researchers have been actively seeking nanomaterials capable of inhibiting oral pathogenic bacteria. We utilized a one-pot hydrothermal method to synthesize CQDs with multicolor luminescence and CQD-loaded ZnO composite nanomaterials. FE-SEM revealed that the rod-like structure of CQDs/ZnO becomes finer with increased CQDs content. XRD and XPS confirmed the presence of all components within the nanocomposites. We compared the antimicrobial activities of ZnO, 7.7% and 14.3% CQDs/ZnO against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The 7.7% CQDs/ZnO composite exhibited the most effective antibacterial activity. The 7.7% CQDs/ZnO composite exhibited the most effective antibacterial activity. FE-SEM and ONPG assays demonstrated that 7.7% CQDs/ZnO disrupted the membrane structure and alters membrane permeability. ESR, DPBF and ROS assayed further confirmed that 1O2 produced by 7.7% CQDs/ZnO accumulated at the cell membrane and disrupts its structure.

Electrochemical investigation of environmental pollutant, azo dye (calmagite) using modified zinc oxide carbon paste electrode

Electrochemical investigation of environmental pollutant, azo dye (calmagite) using modified zinc oxide carbon paste electrode

Decoration of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane modified zinc oxide nanoparticles on the surface of polymeric beads for enhanced antibacterial and photocatalytic activity

Decoration of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane modified zinc oxide nanoparticles on the surface of polymeric beads for enhanced antibacterial and photocatalytic activity

Nanomedicine: Patuletin-conjugated with zinc oxide exhibit potent effects against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens.

With the emergence of drug-resistance, there is a need for novel anti-bacterials or to enhance the efficacy of existing drugs. In this study, Patuletin (PA), a flavanoid was loaded onto Gallic acid modified Zinc oxide nanoparticles (PA-GA-ZnO), and evaluated for antibacterial properties against Gram-positive (Bacilluscereus andStreptococcus pneumoniae)and Gram-negative (Samonella entericaand Escherichia coli) bacteria. Characterization of PA, GA-ZnO and PA-GA-ZnO' nanoparticles was accomplished utilizing fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, efficiency of drug entrapment, polydispersity index, zeta potential, size, and surface morphology analysis through atomic force microscopy. Using bactericidal assays, the results revealed that ZnO conjugation displayed remarkable effects and enhanced Patuletin's effects against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with the minimum inhibitory concentration observed at micromolar concentrations. Cytopathogenicity assays exhibited that the drug-nanoconjugates reduced bacterial-mediated human cell death with minimal side effects to human cells. When tested alone, drug-nanoconjugates tested in this study showed limited toxic effects against human cells in vitro. These are promising findings, but future work is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms of effects of drug-nanoconjugates against bacterial pathogens, in addition to in vivo testing to determine their translational value. This study suggests that Patuletin-loaded nano-formulation (PA-GA-ZnO) may be implicated in a multi-target mechanism that affects both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogen cell structures, however this needs to be ascertained in future work.

Catalase‐functionalized ZnO and graphene oxide used as electrocatalyst for the selective detection of hydrogen peroxide

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis study focuses on the fabrication of a biosensor for the electrocatalytic and selective hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) recognition with bovine liver catalase (CAT) immobilized over a cysteine (c) modified zinc oxide nanoparticles/graphene oxide (c‐ZnO/GO) interface. The selectivity and sensitivity of the biosensor were augmented by the use of CAT and GO, respectively. The problem of CAT activity inhibition by GO was specifically solved by the incorporation of ZnO. Also, the cystine functionalization helped in better immobilization of CAT.RESULTSThis unique approach was first validated with in silico computations that calculated the binding affinities to study the interactions between different components of the biosensor. The electrochemical studies confirmed the step‐by‐step modification of the sensor, where along with GO, c‐ZnO nanoparticles also showed excellent electro‐conductivity by fundamentally improving the peak currents towards H2O2. The proposed bio‐nano interface exhibited superb electrocatalytic performance and specific detection capability for H2O2 across a broad linear range (0.1 to 40 μmol L−1), featuring a low detection limit (0.1 μmol L−1), as well as commendable reproducibility and storage durability. Furthermore, the biosensor yielded satisfactory outcomes for H2O2 detection in milk samples.CONCLUSIONSensing performance of nano‐bio interfaces can be augmented by using the appropriate nano‐composites and their efficacy confirmed through computational techniques such as molecular docking. The biosensor can be further repurposed into a wearable device by integration with lab‐on‐a‐chip platforms. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Modified zinc oxide nanoparticles as potential drug carrier

The objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of creating a stable drug carrier using zinc oxide. This carrier, with its surface modified by a galactose coating, aimed to demonstrate reduced toxicity compared to the uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles. A series of zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized, each modified with galactose. The processes were carried out in a microwave radiation field. The synthesized products underwent analysis, including XRD, ATR-FTIR and TEM-EDS analysis. Also, DLS technique was applied to determined size and electrokinetic potential of nanoparticles in different media. Further investigation assessed the impact of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles on CHO cell cytotoxicity and their proliferation. XRD technique confirmed the obtaining of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Modification with galactose didn't impact their purity. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed Zn-O bonds. Galactose presence was confirmed at its highest molar ratio. TEM-EDS analysis revealed pure zinc oxide nanoparticles' spiked structure and modified nanoparticles' less organized arrangement, both showing bar-like shape. DLS technique determined nanoparticle sizes between 217 and 764 nm. Nanoparticle suspensions were found stable in various environments. In vitro cell viability analysis indicated reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced cell development with modified zinc oxide nanoparticles compared to reference unmodified particles. Regarding the outcomes, it can be deduced that the suggested process parameter values consistently yield stable galactose-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles. These modified nanoparticles exhibit lower cytotoxicity towards CHO cells compared to pure zinc oxide. Furthermore, they actively promote the proliferation of normal cells, aligning with the desired outcome.

Traditional Herb (Moxa) Modified Zinc Oxide Nanosheets for Quick, Efficient and High Tissue Penetration Therapy of Fungal Infection.

Fungal infection possesses the characteristics of high invasion depth and easy formation of a biofilm under the skin, which greatly hinders the treatment process. Here, traditional Chinese medicine moxa is carbonized and modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanosheets to synthesize carbonized moxa@ZnO (CMZ) with the dual response properties of yellow light (YL) and ultrasound (US) for synergistic antifungal therapy. CMZ with narrow bandgap can respond to long-wavelength YL that is highly safe and helpful for skin repair. Simultaneously, CMZ with a piezoelectric effect can further enhance the photocatalytic efficiency under the stimulation of US with high tissue penetration. Gene mechanism investigation indicates that when exposed to US and YL irradiation, CMZ-based therapy can adjust the expression of genes associated with fungal virulence, metabolic activity, mycelial growth and biofilm development, thus efficaciously eradicating planktonic Candida albicans (C. albicans) and mature biofilm. Importantly, despite the 1.00 cm thick tissue barrier, CMZ can rapidly eliminate 99.9% of C. albicans within 4 min, showing a satisfactory deep fungicidal efficacy. The in vivo therapeutic effect of this strategy is demonstrated in both open wound and deep cutaneous infection tests, speaking of dramatically better efficacy than the traditional fungicide ketoconazole (KTZ).

Improving the flame retardancy and water resistance of polypropylene by introducing microcapsule flame retardant system and modified zinc oxide

Intumescent flame retardant (IFR) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were successfully microencapsulated by polysiloxane, resulting in the preparation of Si-IFR and Si-ZnO, respectively. These microencapsulated additives were then incorporated into polypropylene (PP), leading to a synergistic enhancement of the flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and water resistance. By means of limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 vertical burning test, and cone calorimetry test, an assessment was conducted to analyze the combustion characteristics of PP composite materials containing 2% Si-ZnO and 24% Si-IFR additives. The LOI value and UL-94 of PP/24%Si-IFR/2%Si-ZnO achieved to 39.8% and V-0 rating respectively, with significant decreases in both the total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP). Furthermore, the introduction of polysiloxane significantly improved the water resistance of the PP composites. After a 168-hour water immersion test, notable reductions were observed in water absorption, the precipitation of flame retardants, as well as alterations in the mechanical properties of PP/24%Si-IFR/2%Si-ZnO.

Surface modification of zinc oxide and its application in polypropylene with excellent fire performance and ultra-violet resistance

Despite the advantages of easy moulding and excellent mechanical properties, there are still some shortcomings with polypropylene (PP) such as high flammability and poor ultra-violet (UV) resistance. In this work, modified zinc oxide (mZnO) was prepared by reacting zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) with polysiloxanes, and the effect of mZnO on the effectiveness of intumescent flame-retardant and on the UV aging resistance of polypropylene were investigated. By introducing 16 wt% (intumescent flame-retardant /mZnO) and 0.3 wt% maleic anhydride-grafted PP (MAH-g-PP), the limiting oxygen index increased to 32.7 %, and passed UL-94V-0 rating. In comparison to the controls, the peak heat release rate and the peak smoke release rate were 88.5 % and 80 % lower, respectively. In addition, PP samples showed improved mechanical properties, with a 5 % increase in tensile properties compared to the pure PP sample. After 100 h of UV irradiation, the surface of the samples was relatively flat and smooth, and the carbonyl index decreased from 81.1 of neat PP to 26.7. PP composites with 100 h aging treatment still had excellent flame retardancy and mechanical properties. The results showed that mZnO was effective in improving the flame retardancy, mechanical properties and light aging tolerance of PP. This study provides a novel approach to fabricate long-life flame-retardant PP composites with low additive content.

Oxygen‐Supplying Piezocatalytic Therapy of Hypoxic Tumors by Intratumoral Delivery of pH‐Responsive Multicompartmental Carriers with Sequential Drug Release Capability

AbstractPiezocatalytic cancer therapy, in which piezoelectric nanomaterials generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via piezocatalytic redox reactions under mechanical stress, has emerged as an effective strategy for cancer treatment. However, the inherent hypoxia in tumor microenvironments enormously restricts its efficacy. To address this issue, acid‐degradable Janus‐type multicompartmental carriers able to separately encapsulate piezocatalytic gold nanoparticle‐coated poly(ethylene glycol)‐modified zinc oxide nanorods (Au@P‐ZnO NRs) and O2‐generating catalase (CAT) are fabricated in this study using stop‐flow lithography (SFL). The CAT and Au@P‐ZnO NRs are sequentially released by modulating the composition ratios of acid‐cleavable monomers in the precursor solution during the SFL. The sequential release by the Janus carriers significantly increased the intracellular ROS levels under hypoxia conditions upon ultrasound irradiation owing to the O2 supplied by the CAT. An in vivo study showed that a single intratumoral injection of Janus particles encapsulating the CAT and Au@P‐ZnO NRs efficiently alleviated tumor hypoxia and substantially suppressed tumor growth. This study demonstrates that pH‐responsive, O2‐generating, and piezocatalytic Janus carriers have high potential for piezocatalytic therapy of hypoxic tumors and offers insights into using pH‐responsive Janus carriers for efficient hypoxia‐relieving piezocatalytic cancer therapy via the cascade of oxygenation and ROS generation.

Surfactant‐Mediated Electrochemical Precipitation of ZnO Nanospheres for Adsorption of Eosin Yellow & Rhodamine B Dyes

AbstractA simple electrochemical technique was used to synthesise zinc oxide (ZO) nanospheres and their in‐situ modification by a two‐step route of electrochemical precipitation with subsequent calcination. The ZO sample has been employed as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic dyes from their solutions. The electrochemical precipitation of zinc hydroxide (ZH) was carried out in a zinc nitrate bath at ~pH 4. The optimised concentration of 40 g dm−3 is used for the synthesis of modified zinc oxide (MZO) in the presence of the surfactant TEAB. XRD analysis confirms the formation of the heterostructure ZO. The field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images support the formation of hierarchical nanostructures with interconnected nanospheres in the presence of surfactant TEAB, which was confirmed by a high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) study. The porous nature of ZO and MZO was established by the N2 adsorption‐desorption studies. The MZO sample showed ~99 % adsorption efficiency at an optimum dose of 0.09 g/20 mL of the 100 mg dm−3 Eosin Yellow dye solution within 120 min. However, the same sample showed 96 % adsorption efficiency at an optimum dose of 0.05 g/20 mL of the 100 mg dm−3 Rhodamine‐B dye solution within 120 min.

Hybridization of cellulose nanocrystals modified ZnO nanoparticles with bio-based hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane sizing agent for superior UV resistance and interfacial properties of CF/PA6 composites

The interface of carbon fiber (CF) reinforced composites has been a long challenging issue that restricts the full utilization of its excellent properties in industrial applications. In present work, a green solvent γ-valerolactone and biogenetic derived gallic acid and tartaric acid were used to prepare a hyperbranched waterborne polyurethane (HWPU) sizing agent. Meanwhile, cellulose nanocrystal modified zinc oxide (CNC–ZnO) nanohybrids were successfully synthesized using a facile one-pot method to improve the dispersibility and specific surface area of ZnO nanoparticles. The hybridization of CNC–ZnO substantially enhanced the thermostability and UV resistance of bio-based HWPU. The mechanical properties of the modified composites were thoroughly examined, revealing remarkable enhancements in flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength, with improvements of 46.5 % and 48.1 % compared to pristine CF. Additionally, the interfacial shear strength test demonstrated a significant increase of 63.6 %. Remarkably, the modified carbon fiber composites retained more than 97 % of their mechanical properties after being subjected to continuous xenon irradiation for a week, highlighting the exceptional ultroviolet resistance derived from the hybrid HWPU sizing agent.

Chemical and microstructural investigation of starch modified zinc oxide paired as a composite superhydrophobic coating for mild steel protection

Chemical and microstructural investigation of starch modified zinc oxide paired as a composite superhydrophobic coating for mild steel protection

Unravelling the key contribution of a modified zinc oxide nanostructures on activated carbon cloth material for removal of Cu2+ in different configurations of capacitive deionization system

This study investigated the impact of loading of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ACC/ZnO-nPs) and zinc oxide nanorods (ACC/ZnO-nRs) on activated carbon cloth (ACC) through the hydrothermal method for the removal and recovery of Cu2+ ions through the capacitive deionization and the membrane capacitive deionization configurations under various voltages. The results showed that an ACC surface coated with ZnO significantly enhanced the electric field, increasing Cu2+ ion adsorption. Both ACC/ZnO-nPs (42.52 F·g−1) and ACC/ZnO-nRs (45.08 F·g−1) showed a greater specific capacitance than pristine ACC (38.43 F·g−1), which greatly assisted in electrosorption. After ten operation cycles, the electrosorption capacity achieved was 8.9 mg.g−1 and 7.9 mg.g−1 for the ACC/ZnO-nRs and ACC/ZnO-nPs, respectively, while the pristine ACC was 6.2 mg.g−1. The enhancement in the adsorption amount and recovery rate of Cu2+ was observed as the potential increased. Using ion exchange membranes (IEMs) increased the adsorption amount of Cu2+ during the charging phase. This study revealed that using zinc oxide nanostructures in the capacitive deionization technique has remarkable potential for selectively removing Cu2+ ions. This technology can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wastewater treatment applications, providing a sustainable and eco-friendly solution.

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic and electrochemical performance of Au modified zinc oxide nanocolumns

Research on the treatment of Acid Black 1 as an azo dye is significant because it is toxic and can have adverse effects on both human health and the ecosystem if not properly treated. The purpose of the research was the preparation and application of Au-ZnO nanocolumn (Au-ZnO NCs) photocatalysts to treat the azo dye Acid Black 1 (AB1) in industrial wastewater when it was exposed to light. The structural, electrochemical, and optical properties of prepared photocatalysts were analyzed. Results of structural analyses using SEM and XRD indicated that the surfaces of the ZnO NCs were successfully coated with Au nanoparticles to produce a large effective surface area. Results of electrochemical experiments showed that depositing conductive Au nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO nanocrystals significantly increased the charge transfer rate, implied a longer lifetime for photo-generated electrons, and increased the separation efficiency of Au-ZnO NCs. Results of optical studies showed that the band gap energies of ZnO NCs and Au-ZnO NCs could be measured to be 3.19 eV and 2.96 eV, respectively, which demonstrated that Au nanoparticles narrowed the band gap energy and caused the absorption to extend to the visible range. Results of studies on photocatalytic degradation showed that Au-ZnO NCs, as opposed to ZnO NCs, removed AB1 photocatalytically more quickly. After 20, 30, 45, 50, and 100 min of visible-light illumination, respectively, the total degradation of AB1 was 10, 25, 100, 125, and 300 mg/L. The Au-ZnO NCs' ability to treat 200 ml of a 100 mg/L AB1 solution using a real industrial wastewater sample and deionized water was studied. The results showed that because there are more pollutants in industrial wastewater, the total treatment of the real sample required more time. The results thus showed that AB1 from actual industrial wastewater was successfully photocatalytically treated in an Au-ZnO NCs photocatalyst.

Effect of superficially modified zinc oxide nanoparticles as an additive on the rheological performance of asphalt binder

The surface effect that hinders the dispersion of nanomaterials in the asphalt binder due to the large surface area and small particle size should be investigated. Thus, this study evaluates the effect of the incorporation of superficially modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO M) by 3-(2.3-epoxypropoxy)propyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) in the asphalt binder with 50/70 penetration index. The additive was incorporated in contents of 3%, 5%, and 7% in weight of the bind through physical and rheological tests. Penetration tests, softening point, rotational viscosity, performance grade (PG) – before and after rolling thin film oven (RTFO), multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR), linear amplitude sweep (LAS), and master curve were performed. The addition of ZnO M nanoparticles provided the asphalt binder with more resistance to aging and oxidation in almost all properties analysed. In addition, the ZnO M increased resistance to permanent deformation, temperature field, and the integrity of the asphalt binder, thus increasing its fatigue life.

Construction of a Reversible Solid-state Fluorescence Switching Via Photochromic Diarylethene and Si-ZnO Quantum Dots.

Developing fluorescence switching as functional system is highly desirable for potential applications in the fields of light-responsive materials or devices. Attempt to construct fluorescence switching system tend to focus on the high fluorescence modulation efficiency, especially in solid state. Herein, a photo-controlled fluorescence switching system was constructed with photochromic diarylethene and trimethoxysilane modified zinc oxide quantum dots (Si-ZnO QDs) successfully. It was verified by the measurement of modulation efficiency, fatigue resistance as well as theoretical calculation. Upon irradiation with UV/Vis lights, the system exhibited excellent photochromic property and photo-controlled fluorescence switching performance. Furthermore, the excellent fluorescence switching characters could also be realized in solid state and the fluorescence modulation efficiency was determined to be 87.4%. The results will provide new strategies to the construction of reversible solid-state photo-controlled fluorescence switching for the application in the fields of optical data storage and security labels.