ZnO Content Research Articles

Comprehensive analysis of the synthesized Zinc-doped yttrium titanate pyrochlore solid solution: Structural, vibrational, and electrochemical insights

A novel Zinc-doped Yttrium Titanate (YTZ) solid solution with a pyrochlore structure, synthesized via a solid-state route, was investigated for its potential in hydrogen storage applications. Comprehensive characterization using various techniques confirmed the formation of a cubic crystal structure with the Fd-3m space group for compositions within the ZnO content range from x = 0 to 0.30. A subtle increase in the lattice parameter (a) was observed with increasing substitution levels (x). This increase is attributed to the substitution of Zn2+ on Ti4+ sites and the concomitant creation of vacancies in both the anionic and cationic sublattices, as revealed by quantitative Rietveld analysis. The YTZ solid solution exhibits semiconducting behavior with a band gap ranging from 3.10 to 3.25 eV that may contribute to its hydrogen storage properties. Notably, the YTZ0.25 composition displayed a remarkable hydrogen storage capacity of 1200 mAh/g. This can be attributed to the presence of active redox species, favorable morphology, and the structural vacancies introduced by Zn2+ substitution, which facilitate hydrogen interaction. These findings position YTZ solid solution as a promising candidate for clean energy technologies, particularly in the realm of hydrogen storage.

Polycaprolactone-zinc oxide biocomposite membranes for wastewater treatment by ultrafiltration process: Synthesis, characterization and removal of inorganic pollutants

The severe droughts impacting North Africa have intensified the pressure on potable water supplies and agricultural irrigation, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable water management solutions. This study explores the potential of poly(ε-caprolactone)/zinc oxide (PCL/ZnO) biocomposites as ultrafiltration membranes for treating urban wastewater, with the goal of enabling water reuse in agriculture. PCL/ZnO membranes, fabricated using the solvent-casting method, were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, XRD, EDAX, SEM, AFM, DSC, TGA, and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. Key findings revealed that increasing ZnO content (1–4 wt%) significantly enhanced membrane thickness, crystallinity, mechanical robustness, and surface roughness, while lowering WCA values to improve hydrophilicity. These enhanced properties are critical for ultrafiltration, as they contribute to higher contaminant rejection and improved water permeability. Performance tests demonstrated ion retention rates of 32–61 % post-filtration, including for toxic metals, effectively reducing pollutant levels. Notably, the treated water met the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) standards for irrigation quality, indicating its suitability for agricultural applications. This work highlights the efficacy of PCL/ZnO membranes in facilitating sustainable wastewater recycling under drought conditions, presenting a promising, adaptable solution for water reclamation in water-scarce regions. The results underscore the potential of these biocomposite membranes to advance sustainable water treatment practices, supporting both environmental resilience and agricultural productivity.

Impact of ZnO content in BAS glass–ceramics and pre‐oxidation temperature on Kovar alloys to their sealing strength

AbstractThis work studied the effect of Si/Zn ratio on the structure of B2O3–Al2O3–SiO2 (BAS) parent glass and the microstructure, properties of the resulting glass‐ceramics after heat treatment. Additionally, the effects of different pre‐oxidation temperature of Kovar alloys and sealing temperature on the shear strength of these sealed glass–ceramics‐to‐Kovar samples were studied. First, the parent glass precipitated three kinds of crystals Al0.52Zr0.48O1.74 (PDF#53‐0294), ZrO2 (PDF#37‐1484), and ZnAl2O4 (PDF#05‐0669) in BAS glass–ceramics. The coefficient of thermal expansion of glass–ceramics increased from 48.17 × 10−7 to 54.92 × 10−7°C−1 with the gradual increase of ZnO content. With an optimizing pre‐oxidized temperature of Kovar at 950°C, a champion sample with the highest sealing strength of 6.086 MPa was achieved when BAS glass–ceramics sealed to Kovar at 1000°C for 30 min. Moreover, the sealing interface was observed to consist of four distinct regions: the matrix alloy, the alloy iron‐deficiency area, the iron‐rich glass–ceramics, and the matrix glass–ceramics.

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid Using Different Wavelengths for Antibacterial Application

In this paper, the synthesis of colloidal solution of ZnO nanoparticles by PLAL using an Nd: YAG laser with 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths is described. The optical, morphological, structural, wettability and antibacterial activities were studied. The XRD analysis showed the hexagonal wurtzite structure while the UV-vis indicated the blue shift of the absorption peak due to the surface plasmon of the nanoparticle, which showed significant changes in color behavior. The FE-SEM revealed a uniformed spherical shape with a partial size range of 20.50–21.48 nm for ZnO at 1064 and 57.08–59.87 nm for ZnO at 532nm. Also, the concentration measurement indicated that the concentration of ZnO prepared at 1064 nm is 26.7 μg ml-1 and 63 μg ml-1 at 532 nm due to the relevance of high energy to the Zn plate and little distortion in the water and high absorption of short wavelength. Finally, the optical density of the antibacterial activity has been investigated, and both concentrations have good antibacterial activity at 12 h. The ZnO prepared at 532 nm has higher antibacterial activity because it has a high concentration of nanoparticles for both S. aureus and E. coli. Finally, the cell viability for ZnO synthesis with both 1064 nm and 532 nm indicates that this material has high biocompatibility and could be used for medical applications.

Effect of Cd-doping on optoelectronic properties of ZnO thin films and their application for MAPbI3 photodetector

Abstract The Sol–gel method was used to synthesize Cd-doped ZnO nanoparticles at different doping concentrations. The nanomaterials crystal structure and microstructure were explained by XRD and SEM analysis of the materials. The absorption and transmission spectra were analyzed to explore the optical properties of Cd-doped ZnO thin films. The band gap of nanomaterials decreases from 3.26 to 3.12 eV with the increase of Cd doping concentration in ZnO. The Cd-doped ZnO shows an increasing trend of electrical conductivity and mobility with the increase of Cd concentration in ZnO. The Cd-doped ZnO-based MAPbI3 photodetectors show substantial responsivity in the wavelength range of 365 to 635 nm. The highest responsivity for devices FTO/ Zn1-xCdxO/MAPbI3/Al, having x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15, upon 465 nm wavelength (4 mW cm−2) illumination are ∼0.192, 0.272, and 2.1 μA W−1, respectively. The LDR of the x = 0.15 Cd-doped ZnO photodetector is two times higher than the x = 0.05 concentration of Cd doped ZnO photodetectors. Our studies confirm that the Cd-doped ZnO creates band narrowing and may be used for suitable perovskite photodetector.

Prediction of Performance and Emissions Diesel Engines Fueled-Biodiesel Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Resilient Backpropagation Algorithm (Rprop)

In order to increase energy security and improve environmental quality, the Indonesian Goverment set a target of 23% renewable energy mix in 2025, one of which is the Mandatory Bioediesel Program. A higher biodiesel blending ratio will affect the performance and emissions of diesel engines because biodiesel is chemically different from diesel oil. Research related to the prediction of diesel engine performance and emissions using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) has been conducted, but the author sees a research opportunity for the implementation of the ANN Resilient Backpropagation (Rprop) algorithm. The data used to create the ANN model prediction was secondary data from previous research. The model designed multi input and multi output (MIMO) with 4 input variables and 7 output variables. Model building done by varying the number of neurons and hidden layers. Model evaluation selected based on the largest coefficient of determination parameter R2 and the smallest RMSE or MAPE. The results showed that the ANN single layer 4-20-7 network architecture is the best model for predicting diesel engine performance and emissions with test data R2 , RMSE and MAPE of 0.962532, 6.699428 and 6.0% respectively, while for overall data testing has a performance of 0.982869, 3.908542 and 4.3%. The results also show that based on the ANN prediction results, the increasing biodiesel ratio can increase NOx emissions and decrease HC, CO and CO emissions2 . In terms of performance, the addition of biodiesel can increase BSFC and BP and decrease BTE. The results also show that the addition of ZnO concentration can reduce emissions while in terms of performance it will increase BTE and reduce BSFC and BP.

Nano-sized ZnO enhances photosynthetic parameters, yield and Zn content in rice (Oryza sativa)

A pot culture experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) season of 2021 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, Telangana to study the influence of the foliar application of various Zn sources such as nano ZnO, bulk ZnO, and ZnSO4 on rice crop. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with the following treatments, containing 3 concentrations of bulk ZnO (500 mg/litre, 1000 mg/litre, and 1500 mg/ litre), 3 concentrations of nano ZnO (50 mg/litre, 100 mg/ litre, and 150 mg/litre), 0.5% ZnSO4 and control with 3 replications. The findings revealed that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) positively impacted rice grain yield, dry matter accumulation, and Zn content. Compared to the control (no zinc), ZnO NPs (150 mg/litre) and standard ZnSO4 treatments exhibited the highest plant height (83.3 cm and 73.7 cm, respectively), grain yield (5.97 g/pot and 6.03 g/pot), and straw yield (7.82 g/pot and 7.94 g/pot). The increased photosynthetic substances and higher dry matter accumulation throughout the rice growth stage contributed to the enhanced grain yield. Furthermore, supplementing Zn via nano ZnO (150 mg/litre) and 0.5% ZnSO4 resulted in significant Zn enrichment: 33,35; 77,87 and 21, 28% in straw, grain and soil, respectively over control plants. This study effectively demonstrates that ZnO nanoparticles have the potential to serve as high-performance fertilizers, benefiting both rice yield and quality.

Study of ZnO-SAE50 over a radiated permeable exponentially elongating curved device subject to non-uniform thermal source and Newtonian heating

Thermal analysis in nanolubricants is a topic of interest. The nanolubricants are uniform mixture of nanoparticles and oil. These fluids extensively use for thermal applications and friction reduction. Hence, the key objectives of this work to analyze the dynamics of ZnO-SAE50 through a curved surface. The traditional problem modified using novel effects of non-uniform thermal source, variable thermal conductivity, non-linear thermal radiations and Newtonian heating in the presence of convective condition. Further, enhanced properties of ZnO-SAE50 used to achieve the desired results. The physical results for the problem obtained through numerical approach (RK scheme coupled with shooting method). It is examined that the velocity enhances by increasing the curvature of the surface (K=5.0,10.0,15.0,20.0) while stronger Hartmann effects (M=0.1,0.5,0.9,1.3) and concentration of ZnO reduce the motion over the surface. The momentum boundary layer declines for S>0 as compared to S<0. Inclusions of non-uniform source enhanced the thermal transport while prominent increase is observed for Biot number (Bi=0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4). Further, the variable thermal conductivity (ϵ=0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4) and Newtonian heating have minimal variations in the temperature. Thermal radiations and ϕ improve the temperature of ZnO-SAE50. Thus, modified problem in the presence of indicated physical phenomenon has effective outcomes regarding the heat transfer applications in nanolubricants.

Effect of the use of metal–oxide and boron-based nanoparticles on the performance in a photovoltaic thermal module (PV/T): Experimental study

Renewable energy sources are constantly on the agenda because the fossil fuels used are limited and the need for energy is constantly increasing. Among these resources, solar energy stands out because it is clean and endless energy. Nowadays, heat energy and electrical energy production from solar energy are quite common. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels can convert a limited portion of the solar energy falling on them into electrical energy. In PV panels, heat energy that cannot be converted into electricity is discharged back to the external environment. Photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) panels are used to remove this heat from the system and convert it into useful energy. Many cooling techniques are applied to reduce the surface temperature of PV/T panels and increase their electrical efficiency. One of these techniques is liquid-cooled PV/T panels. In some of the studies, forced circulation (using a pump) and in others natural circulation (thermosiphon effect) were applied. In this study, a natural circulation indirect heated PV/T system was designed. Al2O3, ZnO, and BN nanoparticle concentrations were added to the cooling water to increase heat transfer within the PV/T panel. According to the experimental results, using nanofluid in the PV/T panel increased the thermal and total efficiency. Total efficiencies of ZnO, BN, and Al2O3 were obtained as 52.8 %, 47.86 %, and 43.49 %, respectively, at 0.03 concentration. The highest exergy efficiency and sustainability index were determined as 17.155 % and 1.207, respectively, at 0.03 concentration of ZnO nanofluid.

Influence of ZnO variation on glass characteristics: Physical, mechanical properties and radiation shielding

This study examines the effects of different ZnO concentrations on the mechanical and radiation shielding characteristics of a glass series that is fabricated using the melt quenching method, where x = 0, 10, 20, and 30 mol.% and the chemical formula is (75-x) B2O3+15Na2O+5CuO+(5 + x) ZnO. The physical and mechanical properties of the prepared glass samples were investigated, where the increase in ZnO concentration between 5.00 mol.% and 35.00 mol.% increases the prepared glass density between 2.319 and 3.032 mol.%, respectively. Additionally, the Makishima-Makinze model was used to examine the mechanical properties of prepared glass samples. The elastic moduli reduced with increasing the substitution of B2O3 by ZnO, where the increase in ZnO concentration between 5.00 mol.% and 35.00 wt% reduces the micro-hardness between 5.279 and 4.578 GPa. Furthermore, the NaI (Tl) detector was used to examine the radiation shielding properties of prepared glass samples. The measurements show an enhancement in the linear attenuation coefficient of prepared glass samples with increasing the ZnO content, where the increase in the ZnO concentration between 5.00 and 35.00 mol.% increases the linear attenuation coefficient by 29.927 %, 25.919 %, 30.917 %, 34.529 %, and 43.942 %, respectively at gamma-ray energies of 0.511, 0.662, 1.173, 1.275, and 1.332 MeV.The increase in the linear attenuation coefficient enhances the radiation protection efficiency of prepared samples and decreases the half-value layer for the prepared glass samples.

Experimental investigation of the influence of ZnO–CuO nanocomposites on interfacial tension, contact angle, and oil recovery by spontaneous imbibition in carbonate rocks

Researchers have recently focused on applying various nanoparticles/nanocomposites to improve the recovery factor from oil reservoirs. In this study, a new enhanced oil recovery agent, i.e., a ZnO–CuO (ZCO) nanocomposite, was synthesized, and its physicochemical properties are investigated by the scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray diffraction, and energy diffraction x-rays. The impact of ZCO and ZnO on interfacial tension, wettability change, and zeta potential tests has also been investigated under reservoir conditions. 0.1 weight percent (wt.%) of ZnO and ZCO in injection fluid, which minimizes contact angle and maximizes stability (i.e., minimum zeta potential), has been determined as the optimum concentration. The contact angle and zeta potential at this optimum concentration of ZnO and ZCO are 50.83°, 35.69° and −31.38, −35.65 mV, respectively. Then, the spontaneous imbibition using ZnO- and ZCO-based nanofluids with the optimum concentration is applied to monitor the recovery factor. The 22.5 day-long imbibition operation utilizing base fluid (without nanomaterials), ZnO, and ZCO retrieved 24.95%, 35.74%, and 52.01% of the oil, respectively. Overall, we concluded that injecting the ZCO-based nanofluids in carbonate porous media efficiently improves rocks and fluid parameters and enhances oil recovery.

Optical and gamma-ray shielding properties of calcium sodium borate glasses with varied equal concentrations of ZnO and BaO

This study presents the optical and radiation shielding characteristics of a newly developed borate glass, doped with equal quantities of ZnO and BaO, and modified with calcium and sodium. The glass samples were prepared using the melt quenching technique, with the composition formula (80-x-y)B2O3-10CaO-10Na2O-xZnO-yBaO, where x and y were varied at 5, 10, 15, and 20 mol%. Comprehensive analyses of the optical and gamma shielding properties were carried out using UV–visible spectrophotometry and Phy-X software, respectively. The UV–visible spectroscopic data allowed for the calculation of various parameters including the direct and indirect optical energy band gaps, refractive index, dielectric constants, and polarizability. It was observed that the direct optical energy band gap decreased from 3.91 to 3.10 eV, while the indirect band gap fell from 3.41 to 2.91 eV with increasing ZnO and BaO content. Conversely, the refractive index rose from 2.29 to 2.42 with higher concentrations of ZnO and BaO. The linear attenuation coefficients (LACs) across the range of 0.015–15 MeV exhibited an inverse relationship. Among the glass samples, B40Zn20Ba20 exhibited the lowest tenth value layer (TVL) and the highest effective atomic number (Zeff), indicating its superior performance as a radiation shielding material. Overall, the produced glass samples demonstrate commendable properties for both optical applications and radiation shielding.

Investigating the effect of GO‐ZnO nano‐hybrid on the mechanical, rheological, and degradation performance of poly (butylene succinate)

AbstractThis paper reports on preparing two types of graphene oxide‐zinc oxide (GO‐ZnO) nano‐hybrids and their effect on the performance of polybutylene succinate (PBS) matrix. This view synthesized GO, ZnO, and GO‐ZnO nano‐hybrids at 1:1 and 1:2 weight ratios. Subsequently, various spectroscopy and microscopy analyses (FTIR, UV, Raman, AFM, and TEM) were employed to characterize the structure of synthesized nanomaterials. The obtained results revealed that the hybridization was successfully occurred and microstructure of two types of prepared nano‐hybrids are basically different depending on the preparation procedure. Following this, PBS nanocomposites with 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt% of GO‐ZnO nano‐hybrids (NPs) were produced via the solvent‐blending method. The mechanical, microstructural, rheological, biodegradability and UV‐shielding properties of the fabricated films were then investigated. Mechanical properties showed that addition of 0.5 wt% ZnO‐GO nanohybrids improved elongation at break from 21.6% to 28.7% and increased tensile strength by 20%. However, rheological assessments showed a one‐order‐of‐magnitude decrease in viscosity with the addition of only 0.5 wt%. In degradation analysis, 100 percent of mass loss was observed during 5 weeks for PBS with 1.5 wt% of GO‐ZnO. PBS/GO‐ZnO nanocomposites indicated tailored mechanical properties, biodegradability, suggesting a promising potential in packaging applications.Highlights GO‐ZnO nanohybrids were successfully synthesized. Incorporating GO‐ZnO into PBS improved its hydrolytic degradation The thermal decomposition of PBS was accelerated by the addition of GO‐ZnO. Adding GO‐ZnO nanohybrids to PBS resulted in a drop in viscosity. Nanohybrids with higher ZnO content exhibited greater hydrolytic and thermal degradation.

Ultraviolet Protection and Antibacterial Properties of Polylactic Acid Nonwoven Fabrics Coated with Water-Borne Polyurethane/Zinc Oxide Composite Coatings

This study aimed to create thermally curable, water-borne polyurethane/zinc oxide (WPU/ZnO) composite coating pastes with varying ZnO concentrations. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using a wet chemical process, and the resulting WPU/ZnO coating pastes were applied to PLA nonwoven fabrics (NWFs). In characterization studies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were conducted. Ultraviolet (UV) protection and antibacterial activity of fabrics were investigated. With WPU/ZnO composite coatings, the UV protection properties of the coated fabrics were enhanced compared to the uncoated fabric. The highest UPF value of 53.57 was obtained with the fabric coated with the formulation containing a ZnO concentration of 10%. This fabric also demonstrated more effective antibacterial activity against both S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. Inhibition zone diameters against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria were measured as 15.5 ± 0.70 mm and 18.25 ± 0.35 mm, respectively. The results of this study illustrate that functional composite coatings for bio-based NWF structures hold great promise for producing effective UV protective and antibacterial materials, potentially setting the stage for future applications.

A Study on the Relationship between the Thermoelectric Properties and Infrared Emission Performance of ZnO/SrTiO3 Composite Materials.

The thermoelectric properties and infrared emissivity of materials may seem unrelated, but both are influenced by electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. The photothermal effect of SrTiO3 can establish a connection between the Seebeck coefficient and infrared absorption in the 8-14 μm range. However, there is currently limited research on the relationship between thermoelectric performance and infrared emissivity. In this study, ZnO/SrTiO3 composites were prepared using a hydrothermal method combined with spark plasma sintering. The intrinsic relationship between the thermoelectric and infrared emission performance of the composites was investigated by varying the ZnO content. As the ZnO content increased, the grain boundary barrier of the samples changed, affecting both electrical and thermal conductivities. The infrared emissivity initially decreased and then increased with increasing ZnO content, which contrasted with the trend observed in electrical conductivity, in accordance with the Hagen-Rubens relationship. The ZT value and infrared emissivity exhibited opposite trends, with the ZnO-5 sample having the highest thermoelectric performance and the lowest infrared emissivity, making it the most representative sample. The relationship between the thermoelectric performance and infrared emissivity of SrTiO3 is of significant importance for developing multifunctional materials with both thermoelectric and infrared properties.

The physicomechanical optimization and antimicrobial properties of the Ɛ-polylysine/ZnO nanoparticles loaded active packaging films

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluation the effects of Ɛ-polylysine (Ɛ-PL: 0–5 wt%) and zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO: 0–5 wt%) on the physico-mechanical properties of the gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol (G/PVA) based nanocomposite packaging films. Using Design-Expert 7.0.0 software, numerical and graphical improvements were also carried out. The optimization was focused on increasing the values of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), strain at break (SAB), Young's modulus (YM), and lightness (L), and reducing the values of the water vapor permeability (WVP), yellowness index (YI), and overall color difference (∆E). The overall optimal concentrations of ZnO and Ɛ-PL were 1.00 (wt%) and 4.30 (wt%), respectively, with a maximum desirability of 75 %. Additionally, the microstructure, surface topography, interactions, and distribution quality of ZnO nanoparticles and Ɛ-PL in the biopolymer matrix were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements. The result of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed improved thermal stability of nanocomposite films containing ZnO nanoparticles and Ɛ-PL. MIC test showed that ZnO and Ɛ-PL were effective against E. coli, S. aureus, P. fluorescence, and S. typhimurium at the concentration of 2–3 and 10–12 mg/mL, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of G/PVA nanocomposites containing ZnO, Ɛ-PL, and ZnO/Ɛ-PL against E. coli was more than S. aureus.

S. hispanica mucilage/ ZnO based films: Preparation, characterization, and potential application

The use of plastic for food packaging is a major contributor to environmental pollution. To address this issue, biopolymeric films have emerged as a potential alternative to plastic products commonly used in food packaging. These biopolymeric films can be enhanced with antimicrobial agents to make them more effective. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the properties of films made from Salvia hispanica mucilage and ZnO particles. The mucilage was obtained by filtering and drying seeds, while ZnO was synthesized using the forced hydrolysis of ZnC₄H₆O₄ and NaOH. The films were produced by combining the mucilage with varying concentrations of ZnO (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0%) using a casting method. Tests were conducted to evaluate the films' physical, chemical, and biological properties. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that ZnO was present, while scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of C, O, and Zn elements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of S. hispanica mucilage. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the films were thermally stable at temperatures below 225 °C. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the 0.1% film had the best resistance compared to the 0.5% and 1.0% films. Finally, the study found that the antimicrobial activity of the films depended on the concentration, size, and morphology of the ZnO particles. In conclusion, further research is needed to create films that can effectively inhibit pathogenic bacteria growth in food and be a viable alternative to plastic for food packaging.

Study on the UV aging resistance of ZnO‐modified epoxy resin by experiments and MD simulation

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on epoxy resin systems and the ultraviolet (UV) aging resistance of modified epoxy resin composites using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental methods. Initially, various epoxy resin cross‐linking models are established through MD simulations to understand the influence of different nano ZnO contents on resin modification, further validated by experiments. Subsequently, the UV radiation resistance of nano ZnO–epoxy resin composites is assessed by subjecting them to high‐intensity UV radiation equivalent to 3 years of natural environmental conditions, analyzing changes in tensile properties, impact performance, hardness, and glass transition temperature of epoxy resin before and after UV radiation exposure. The findings suggest that the addition of nano zinc oxide reduces the impact of UV radiation on epoxy resin, with optimal UV radiation resistance observed at a nano zinc oxide mass fraction of 0.3 wt%.

Effect of ZnO particle size on the radiation shielding efficiency of B2O3–BaO–ZnO glass system

Abstract This study analyzes the ZnO particle size’s effect on glass samples’ radiation shielding ability. Four glass samples with differing micro and nanoparticle ZnO content were investigated at four energies, 0.060, 0.662, 1.173, and 1.333 MeV. The investigated glasses are a B2O3–BaO–ZnO glass system and are composed of 30 % micro ZnO (30 M), 20 % micro ZnO and 10 % nano ZnO (20 M−10 N), 10 % micro ZnO and 20 % nano ZnO (10 M−20 N), and lastly 30 % nano ZnO (30 N). The theoretical XCOM software was employed to validate the experimental LAC values of the glasses, revealing that for at all energies, the values obtained from the two methods agreed with each other well. The glasses’ HVL, MFP, and RSE were then compared. The HVL values at all energies decreased as more nano ZnO was introduced into the glass system, reaching a minimum of 1.947 cm at 0.662 MeV for the 30 N sample. This sample also had the lowest MFP at all energies, while the 30 M glass had the highest, such as 0.088 and 0.070 for 30 M and 30 N respectively at 0.060 MeV. The RSE of a 1 cm thick sample of each of the glasses was tested and found that the 30 N sample exhibited the greatest RSE. The relative percent deviation between the 30 N and 30 M glasses was also analyzed, which highlighted the difference between 30 N’s greater LAC values compared to 30 M at all energies.

Stearic Acid Modified Nano-ZnO Superhydrophobic Coating for Steel Mesh

Abstract To mitigate the detrimental effects of water on metal textiles, hydrophobic modification of such materials has garnered significant attention. However, traditional approaches often rely on complex procedures or costly materials, limiting their widespread application. Herein, we present a facile method for fabricating a superhydrophobic coating on steel mesh, and characterize the properties of the modified material. Initially, the surface of the dry steel mesh is uniformly coated with nano-ZnO crystals using a liquid deposition technique at room temperature. Subsequently, stearic acid is employed to hydrophobically modify the ZnO crystals, yielding a ZnO-based superhydrophobic coating. The influence of ZnO concentration and deposition duration on the surface crystal structure, hydrophobicity, and abrasion resistance is investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis is performed to study the surface groups before and after hydrophobic modification, while static contact angle measurements are used to assess the hydrophobic properties of the coated surface. Remarkably, even after abrasion with 1000-mesh sandpaper, the superhydrophobic properties of the steel mesh with an optimized ZnO concentration decrease by only 4%. This simple, cost-effective, and highly efficient preparation method holds promising potential for applications in related fields.