This study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and comparative analysis of pure Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Silver-doped ZnO (Ag-ZnO), Copper-doped ZnO (Cu-ZnO), and silver-Copper co-doped ZnO (Ag-Cu-ZnO) nanomaterials, synthesized via the hydrothermal method. Structural, optical, and antibacterial properties were thoroughly investigated. The average crystallite size was found to be from ~ 22.7nm to ~ 32.7nm. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated improved light absorption in the visible range for doped samples, with the optical band gap decreasing from 3.19eV for pure ZnO to 3.15eV (Cu-ZnO), 3.09eV (Ag-ZnO), and 3.08eV (Ag-Cu-ZnO). Photoluminescence spectra show dynamic quenching due to the inclusion of metal doping. Antibacterial studies showed improved activity for doped samples compared to pure ZnO. The catalytic activities of these nanomaterials for alcohol oxidation were also assessed, revealing that Ag-Cu-ZnO exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency, achieving complete (100%) conversion of benzoin to benzil with a 90% isolated yield, owing to the combined effects of Ag and Cu ions. Cu-ZnO showed better activity than Ag-ZnO, achieving ~ 87% conversion, but was less effective than the co-doped sample, while pure ZnO displayed the lowest reactivity (~ 72% conversion). These findings emphasize the potential of pristine and doped ZnO nanomaterials for advanced antibacterial and catalytic applications, particularly in environmental remediation.

Pure and silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via phyto-mediation using Stachytarpheta jamaicensis leaf extract to develop an eco-friendly method for synthesizing nanoparticles with enhanced properties. Zinc nitrate and silver nitrate were employed as precursors for ZnO and Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to investigate their optical and morphological properties. Results revealed that the absorption peaks of the synthesized nanoparticles confirmed the formation of nanoparticles, with Ag doping causing a red shift in the absorption spectrum. SEM images indicated a spherical morphology, with slight agglomeration in the doped samples. Doping with silver enhanced the optical properties, which could have potential applications in catalysis, sensing, and biomedical fields. Furthermore, the nanoparticle extracts were subjected to antimicrobial test against two bacterial strains ( Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus ) using a modified disk diffusion method and compared with the antibacterial effect with the standard antibacterial drug, Ampicillin. Ampicillin only showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus and had no antibacterial effect on E. Coli. Result of this study showed that the 5% and 10% Ag-doped ZnO NPs showed strong antibacterial activity against both gram-positive ( S. aureus ) and gram-negative ( E. coli ) bacterial strains.

Abstract This study presents the use of extracts of Searsia lancea in the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and silver-doped zinc oxide nanocomposites (Ag/ZnO) at different dopant concentrations of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20%, given composites denoted as 1%Ag/ZnO, 5%Ag/ZnO, 10%Ag/ZnO, and 20%Ag/ZnO, respectively. The synthesized ZnONPs, AgNPs, and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, and their antibacterial activities were evaluated against common bacterial pathogens. The UV-vis spectroscopy and XRD results reveal successful formation of ZnONPs, AgNPs, and Ag/ZnO nanocomposites with improved structural and optical properties. The TEM results confirmed particle sizes of 49.75, 32.91, 30.95, 29.29, and 26.00 nm for 1%Ag/ZnO, 5%Ag/ZnO, 10%Ag/ZnO, and 20%Ag/ZnO, respectively, indicating a decrease in particle size with increasing Ag ion concentration. The pure AgNPs showed strong antibacterial activity, with MIC values of 0.25 mg/mL against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and 0.062 mg/mL against S. aureus and S. pyogenes. In contrast, pristine ZnONPs (0%Ag/ZnO) exhibited higher MIC values of 1.00, 0.50, 0.25, and 0.25 mg/mL against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and S. pyogenes, respectively. Notably, 1%Ag/ZnO and 5%Ag/ZnO nanocomposites displayed moderate activity, with MIC values in the range 0.125 to 0.50 mg/mL across all strains. The 10%Ag/ZnO nanocomposite showed consistent MIC values of 0.125 mg/mL for all tested organisms. The 20%Ag/ZnO nanocomposite exhibited the highest antibacterial potency among all synthesized samples, with MIC values of 0.062 mg/mL against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and 0.031 mg/mL against S. aureus and S. pyogenes. The enhanced antibacterial activities shown by Ag/ZnO nanocomposites compared to pure ZnONPs, with efficiency increasing with the concentration of Ag highlights the potential of plant-mediated silver-doped zinc oxide nanocomposites as eco-friendly and efficient antimicrobial agents.

Abstract This study presents a new dopant-engineered nanotherapeutic approach by directly comparing the biological activities of yttrium-doped copper oxide (Y–CuO) and silver-doped zinc oxide (Ag–ZnO) nanoparticles produced through a controlled co-precipitation process. Extensive structural analyses (XRD, SEM, TEM, and EDX) confirmed high crystallinity, purity, and nanoscale sizes (∼10–50 nm). Both nanoparticles showed strong, dose-dependent anticancer and induced apoptosis in human cancer cell lines (HEPG-2, CACO-2, and A549), but they displayed different dopant-specific effects: Y–CuO NPs were more active against hepatocellular carcinoma (IC 50 = 79 μg/mL) and effectively inhibited inflammatory enzymes COX-2 (IC 50 = 4.73 μg/mL) and 5-LOX (IC 50 = 7.28 μg/mL), whereas Ag–ZnO NPs were more cytotoxic toward colon and lung cancers through ROS-driven mitochondrial apoptosis. Incorporating yttrium increased oxygen vacancies and defect density, encouraging cuproptosis-like apoptosis, while silver doping boosted ROS-mediated oxidative damage, revealing a dopant-dependent mechanistic difference. Both nanoparticles significantly increased Caspase-3 levels and decreased BCL-2 levels, confirming the involvement of mitochondrial apoptosis. Overall, these findings demonstrate, for the first time, that rare-earth versus noble-metal doping specifically regulates the balance between oxidative cytotoxicity and inflammation suppression, positioning Y–CuO NPs as a dual-action, redox-regulated nanotherapeutic and Ag–ZnO NPs as a ROS-driven cytotoxic agent. This discovery offers a transformative framework for designing dopant-controlled, multifunctional metal oxide nanomedicines for inflammation-related cancers.

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver-doped ZnO nanoparticles with varying silver concentrations (1, 3, 5, and 7 mol%) were synthesized using a simple and cost-effective sol–gel method. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized in terms of their optical, structural, and morphological properties using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The study revealed that band gap decreases and particle size increases with increasing Ag content. The hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure of ZnO and Ag-doped ZnO is confirmed by XRD. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles toward methylene blue degradation, along with their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and antifungal activity against Candida albicans, was investigated.

This study was designed to synthesise zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ag) nanoparticles using an aqueous extract of melon peels as a natural reducing and stabilising agent. For the first time, melon peel extract was used to produce both pure ZnO and Ag-doped ZnO nanoparticles at doping levels of 2% and 3%. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX methods. XRD analysis revealed a hexagonal crystal structure in all samples, with crystallite sizes of 28.51 nm (ZnO), 26.06 nm (ZnO:Ag 2%), and 37.96 nm (ZnO:Ag 3%). FTIR results confirmed the incorporation of silver into the ZnO matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed mostly spherical particles, with ZnO:Ag 2% exhibiting welldefined crystallinity. EDX results confirmed the successful doping of ZnO with silver. The synthesis of ZnO:Ag 2% nanoparticles demonstrated significant antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli, with photocatalysis revealing 85% degradation of methylene blue (MB).

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are widely used in cosmetics, coatings, and industrial formulations due to their UV-absorbing and antimicrobial properties; however, their increasing release into aquatic systems has raised concerns about potential ecological risks. This study evaluates the acute toxicity of pure and silver-doped ZnO (Ag-ZnO) nanoparticles using Artemia salina as a marine model organism. Nanoparticles were synthesized via a reflux-assisted method and characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, HRTEM, ED, FTIR, and EDX analyses, confirming a crystalline wurtzite structure, particle sizes of 10–30 nm, and successful incorporation of 5% Ag. Silver doping produced a slight blue shift in the absorption edge and minor lattice distortions, indicating modifications in the electronic structure. Toxicity assays revealed clear concentration- and time-dependent decreases in nauplii survival. Dose–response modeling showed LC50 values of 358 ppm (24 h) and 64 ppm (48 h) for pure ZnO, whereas Ag-ZnO exhibited LC50 values of 607 ppm (24 h) and 28 ppm (48 h). These results indicate that Ag doping does not enhance short-term toxicity but markedly increases toxicity after prolonged exposure. Overall, the findings highlight the need to consider both nanomaterial composition and exposure duration in ecotoxicological assessments and provide relevant data for evaluating the environmental impact of doped nanomaterials in marine systems.

We demonstrate the application of a custom-built polarization holographic microscope (PHM) for comprehensive characterization of laser-fabricated and self-assembled optical elements. We investigate two distinct material platforms: silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ag) sol–gel films structured by femtosecond direct laser writing, and self-assembled torons, namely soft topological solitons, in chiral nematic liquid crystals (LCs). The PHM enables single-shot, multi-wavelength (450, 532, 660 nm) reconstruction of the full Jones matrix, providing complete amplitude, phase, and polarization information. For ZnO:Ag films, we show that laser writing induces programmable dichroism and birefringence, characterized by a spectrally dependent phase shift (e.g., +π/4 at 450 nm and –π/8 at 660 nm between orthogonal Jones matrix components), establishing a foundation for all-dielectric metasurfaces. For torons, PHM analysis of torons in 25 µm LC cells reveals complex ring structure of the corresponding phase and light intensity distributions and confirms the robustness of their optical functions (e.g., vortex generation) across the visible spectrum.

Present study entails the green synthesis of silver doped ZnO nanoparticles (Ag-ZnO) using aqueous plant extract of Grangea maderaspatana also commonly known as Madras Carpet.Various techniques such as UV-visible, PXRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDS were used for characterization of final synthesized materials and to confirm the synthesis of Ag-ZnO.PXRD spectrum suggested high crystallinity of the material and the average crystallite size as per Debye Sherer's formula was 14.52 nm.SEM images revealed the spherical shape of particles and average size of 49.4 nm.UV-visible spectroscopy revealed the characteristic peak at 379 nm and band gap of 2.21 eV.Additionally, antibacterial efficacy of the material was tested against two bacterial strains Listeria monocytogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, at the dose concentrations of 100 g/ml, 200 g/ml and 300 g/ml.Significant zone of inhibition was observed against both strains, confirming its antibacterial efficacy.

Impact of Ag-ZnO integration on charge transportation in PANI: An enhanced polymer-based thermoelectric generator

Synthesis, characterization, formulation and wound healing activity of silver doped zinc oxide bimetallic nanoparticles using Tridax procumbens leaf extract

Silver doping into zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ag-ZnO NPs) were prepared via the co-precipitation method. The XRD analysis revealed the hexagonal structure characteristic of ZnO nanoparticles. The diminishing intensity of the peaks in Ag-ZnO NPs' XRD pattern indicated the successful incorporation of Ag metal within the ZnO lattice. Elemental composition validation was performed through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), while FTIR spectroscopy elucidated the functional groups present in both ZnO and Ag nanoparticles. A judicious approach of 3% silver doping was employed to overcome silver's toxicity potential at higher concentrations. Remarkably, the Ag-ZnO NPs exhibited exceptional, reusable photocatalytic prowess over four cycles in the degradation of methylene blue. Furthermore, the Ag-ZnO NPs showcased potent antibacterial efficacy against select pathogens, including Escherichia coli ATCC 27853, Salmonella typhi CT18, Staphylococcus aureus NCTC8325, and Bacillus subtilis QST 713. Notably, these nanoparticles also exhibited significant anticancer activity against Hep-G2, a human hepatoma cell line. Silver-doped zinc oxide emerges as a promising asset against wastewater dye pollution and holds promising applications in liver cancer.

Melanoidin, a complex polymer compound formed through Maillard reactions during fermentation, constitutes a significant fraction of distillery wastewater and cannot be treated using standard treatment methods. Silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (AgZnONPs) were synthesized, characterized, and used in this work as potential adsorbent to remediate melanoidin from aqueous solutions. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Adsorption experiments were performed under varying operational parameters, including solution pH, mass of adsorbent, initial melanoidin concentration, and time of contact. Under optimal conditions, pH 7, 0.5 g/L adsorbent, 200 mg/L of adsorbate concentration, and 90 min contact duration, a maximum removal efficiency of 92% was achieved. The enhanced adsorption performance aligns with the Langmuir isotherm approach, demonstrating monolayer adsorption with a 50 mg/g maximum adsorption capacity. It adheres to pseudo-second-order kinetics, providing strong evidence of chemisorption with a rate-limiting mechanism and predominant process. These results illustrate the potential of AgZnONPs as a robust and efficient adsorbent material for the treatment of melanoidin-rich distillery effluents.

The optical and electrical properties of silver-doped ZnO (AgZnO) films with Ag concentrations of 0.05 and 0.24 at % were analyzed using XRD, EDS, resistance, transmittance and reflectance measurements. The 0.05 at % AgZnO and as-deposited 0.24 at % AgZnO films exhibited n-type doping, whereas the annealed 0.24 at % AgZnO films showed p-type doping. The crystallite sizes of the 0.05 and 0.24 at % AgZnO films were 24 and 28 nm. The redshift of the band gap was 0.02 eV for 0.24 at % AgZnO. The sample with 0.24 at % Ag exhibits a polaron features in the range 900–3700 cm–1, and demonstrated a paramagnetic-to-diamagnetic transition. The 0.05 at % AgZnO film showed a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity. These findings suggest that a 0.24 at % Ag concentration is favorable for achieving p-type doping in ZnO and for the formation of polarons, whereas the 0.05 at % AgZnO film could be used for thermal sensing applications.

Biodegradable multifunctional fabrication of silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticle on chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol flexible film for effective antibacterial potential and attenuation of human liver carcinoma cells.

The development of high-performance ferrite microstrip circulators/isolators for 5G/millimeter-wave systems demands cost-effective metallization techniques with robust copper-ferrite adhesion. While electroless copper plating (ECP) offers process advantages, its implementation on nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) substrates is hindered by insufficient catalytic activity and weak metal-ceramic bonding. In this work, we demonstrate a breakthrough strategy using sol-gel synthesized silver-doped zinc oxide (Ag-ZnO) nanocomposite interlayers to enable adherent copper metallization. The ZnO matrix establishes chemical anchoring via the Zn-O-Fe bonding, while Ag nanoparticles act as catalytic seeds for autocatalytic deposition. The dual-functional design exhibits an interfacial adhesion strength of 9.392 N/mm2. This material attains the highest 5B classification per the ASTM D3359 tape test standard. Conventional tin-palladium (Sn-Pd) systems show substantially inferior performance, achieving only the lowest (0B) classification. Acid-etchable Ag-ZnO further allows selective microstrip patterning without photolithography. Crucially, the deposited copper exhibits 2.20 μΩ·cm resistivity (1.31 times that of bulk copper), satisfying X-band device requirements. The optimized X-band microstrip isolator exhibits a relative bandwidth >20%, insertion loss <0.55 dB, port-to-port isolation >23 dB, and peak isolation >40 dB at 9.25 GHz, validating the efficacy of the Ag-ZnO-mediated metallization for millimeter-wave systems. This work resolves long-standing adhesion challenges in ferrite metallization and provides a scalable pathway for manufacturing millimeter-wave integrated systems.

Gelatin-based films loaded with silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ag-doped ZnONPs) were synthesized using the solution casting technique. The analyzed data of Ag-doped ZnONPs reveal their spherical shape with a small size. In our work, three different concentrations of the prepared Ag-doped ZnONPs (0.05 g, 0.1 g, and 0.2 g) were added to GeL solution for the formation of three films (Ag/ZnO 0.05@GeL film, Ag/ZnO 0.1@GeL film, and Ag/ZnO 0.2@GeL). These prepared films were compared with GeL film that prepared without Ag-ZnONPs. The obtained results demonstrated the relatively homogeneous distribution of Ag-ZnONPs on the surface of the prepared films. Besides,this study investigated the antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and potential applications of Ag/ZnO 0.2@GeL film for wound healing. Ag/ZnO 0.2@GeL film exhibited the highest antibacterial efficacy, with zones of inhibition ranging from 17 to 21 mm against Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, this formulation showed a marked ability to inhibit biofilm formation, completely eradicating bacterial biofilm by day 7. In bacterial growth inhibition assays, Ag/ZnO 0.2@GeL reduced bacterial counts by up to 6 log CFU/mL within 210 min. Biocompatibility was assessed using a Microtox® analyzer, with EC50% values exceeding 100 across all time points, confirming the films' non-toxic nature. These findings suggest that Ag/ZnO@GeL films, particularly Ag/ZnO 0.2@GeL formulation, offer strong antibacterial activity, effective biofilm suppression, and high biocompatibility, highlighting their potential as multifunctional wound dressings for infection control and enhanced wound healing.

The persistence of pharmaceutical contaminants in water systems poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating innovative and sustainable remediation strategies. This study examines the development of a structurally engineered monolithic photocatalyst for the efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin, a widely used antibiotic that contributes to water pollution and antimicrobial resistance. Herein, a novel silver-doped zinc oxide (Ag:ZnO) catalyst grown on graphene-nanosheets/nickel foam (Ni/GF) is reported, specifically designed to enhance photocatalytic activity and stability in complex water matrices. The hexagonal ZnO nanorods, coupled with cubic silver nanoparticles embedded within graphene nanosheets, provided superior physicochemical and electrochemical properties. Morphological and functional analysis exhibited evidence of metallic silver formation. UV–visible spectrum showed red shift with the increase of silver concentration (380–390 nm), reflecting lowering of band gap ranging from 3.10 to 2.44 eV, enhancing the light absorption capacity of the catalyst. The optimized 3% Ag:ZnO/Ni/GF catalyst demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic performance, exhibiting remarkably low overpotentials (HER: 210 mV; OER: 84 mV), minimal charge transfer resistance (HER: 7.47Ω; OER: 1.65Ω), and a high Tafel slope due to bubbles formation (HER: 101.18 mV/dec; OER: 79 mV/dec) at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in an alkaline electrolyte. The sunlight-assisted photocatalytic degradation efficiency of optimized catalyst exhibited maximum of 78% removal in 70 min, twice the efficiency of pure ZnO/Ni/GF (37%). The photodegradation trend followed by monolithic catalyst: 3%Ag:ZnO/Ni/GF > 5%Ag:ZnO/Ni/GF > 1%Ag:ZnO/Ni/GF > pureZnO/Ni/GF. The reusability assessment indicated excellent photostability, with minimal deactivation of 1.5% after three cycles. These findings assist in scaling up the monolithic catalyst for real wastewater systems.

Doped ZnO nanoparticles are innovative materials widely used for their structural and optical properties, with promising applications in antibacterial activity. Metal dopants are particularly effective in enhancing antimicrobial capabilities. This work focuses on a simple co-precipitation method for synthesizing ZnO and 5% silver-doped ZnO (Ag/ZnO) nanoparticles, accompanied by an investigation of their antibacterial properties. Comprehensive characterization of the synthesized nanomaterials was conducted using Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS).The UV–Vis analysis demonstrated that silver doping leads to a reduction in the ZnO band gap. XRD analysis confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of Ag/ZnO with an average particle size of approximately 21 nm. The porous morphology of the nanomaterials was observed in FE-SEM imaging, while EDS analysis verified the elemental composition. A kinetic study indicated that the system follows pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. The reusability of Ag/ZnO was also evaluated, demonstrating excellent stability across multiple cycles.Antibacterial and antifungal evaluations highlighted the significant enhancement in antimicrobial activity resulting from silver doping. This study underscores the potential of Ag/ZnO nanoparticles as a robust material for antimicrobial applications.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Caffeine Using Biogenic Silver Doped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles