ZnSe Nanoparticles Research Articles

In-situ realtime study of zinc selenide nanoparticles sustained by polypyrrole in alkaline water oxidation

Interest in metal electrodeposition for synthesizing customized nanomaterials has resurged, particularly for applications such as sensors and fuel cells. The present study involved the synthesis of ZnSe nanoparticles (via hydrothermal method) while polypyrrole and novel composite Ppy@ZnSePpy@Ppy (via sequential electrodeposition technique) on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode and their physiochemical, electrochemical, and operando spectro-electrochemical characterizations towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Results indicated that ZnSe nanoparticles are well embedded within the Ppy layers and during OER the composite electrocatalyst approached 398 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and exhibited Tafel value (b ∼ 75 mV dec−1) with ECSA (0.03) which shows better results than other two. In addition, the operando spectro-electrochemical spectra of the composite revealed the significant generation of active intermediate oxygen species of selenium and Zn2+. The important feature of the current work is the disclosure of Se's questionable role and species involved in OER found to be Se4+.

New insights into non-linear optical properties, photocatalytic activity, and applications of ZnSe:Cu nanoparticles prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

In the present work, semiconducting ZnSe:Cu (0, 0.1, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mol%) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) method at the fixed pH of 11.2. XRD patterns certified the formation of nanocrystals with the size of about 2.04–2.21 nm. Also, FESEM and TEM images confirmed the formation of round-shape NPs. UV–Vis spectra showed that the energy gap of nanoparticles decreased from 3.615 to 3.342 eV by the increment in copper impurity content. The exact value of the energy gap of NPs was determined by the absorption spectrum fitting derivative method (DASF). Results revealed that these NPs have a high potential in optical and optoelectronic applications; specially, the samples owing 1.5 and 2.25 mol% of Cu-impurity, as the best candidates for optical fiber applications, showed the highest third order non-linear optical susceptibility (χ(3)). Also, for all synthesized NPs, the optical characteristics such as the optical transition index (m), Urbach energy (Etail), dielectric constant (ε) and the refractive index (n) at the absorption edge were determined. Moreover, the amount of metallization factor was also calculated, which decreases with the increase of impurity and microwave irradiation, indicating the increase of metal affinity of the samples. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnSe NPs demonstrated a general reduction in the intensity upon the introduction of Cu. This anticipated quenching further supports their heightened photocatalytic activity. The results of photocatalytic tests indicate that the sample containing 2.25 mol% of Cu exhibits the highest rate constant value (0.0255 min−1) and achieves the maximum efficiency (75.7 % after 60 min) for degrading the DB71, establishing it as the prime candidate for photocatalytic applications.

Novel ZnSe@d-Ti3CNTx nanocomposite as efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for water splitting system

Electrocatalytic water splitting is an environmentally friendly approach for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water. ZnSe@d-Ti3CNTx nanocomposite was synthesized by a hydrothermal approach. The ZnSe@d-Ti3CNTx nanocomposite was examined with several techniques, including Raman, p-XRD, microscopy, SEM/EDS, and XPS spectroscopy. Electrochemical properties were studied by CV, LSV, EIS, and chronoamperometry. As Ti3CN is a conductive material, to improve its electron transport efficiency, ZnSe was incorporated into it, which not only enhances its electrochemical behavior but also prevents it from restacking. By integrating the features of d-Ti3CNTX MXene and ZnSe nanoparticles, the HER and OER performance of the electrocatalyst is improved at low overpotentials of 270 mV and 232 mV, respectively. The ZnSe@d-Ti3CNTx nanocomposite.kept 84 % of its starting current after 50 h at an applied potential of 1.56 V, demonstrating excellent long-term stability. According to the results of this research, the ZnSe@d-Ti3CNTx nanocomposite has the potential to serve as a highly efficient and long-lasting electrocatalytic catalyst for water splitting.

Facile one-pot synthesis and characterization of ZnSe/HPMC nanocomposites

Herein, we report the facile synthesis of ZnSe/HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) nanocomposites by in-situ method. The biodegradable HPMC polymer acts as capping molecule as well as polymer matrix. The optical and structural properties of ZnSe/HPMC nanocomposites were studied by optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD and TEM measurements. Size of the ZnSe nanoparticles was tuned by controlling the pH of the reaction. As prepared ZnSe nanoparticles were spherical in shape, homogeneously distributed in the polymer and XRD patterns exhibit face centred cubic phase. The present method is a novel approach for the synthesis of ZnSe nanoparticles using HPMC as a capping molecule as well as matrix to develop nanocomposite.

Incorporating ZIF-8-derived ZnSe into hollow carbon nanospheres as anodes for lithium-ion batteries

Transition metal selenides (TMSs) show great potential as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), boasting a high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, their practical utility faces challenges, mainly stemming from significant volume changes that lead to rapid capacity decay during charge and discharge cycles. To overcome this challenge, we present a systematic approach involving the growth of uniformly dispersed ultrafine ZnSe nanoparticles derived from ZIF-8 on the surface of hollow carbon nanospheres (ZnSe@N-HCS/700). When utilized as an anode material for LIBs, the ZnSe@N-HCS/700 electrode demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance. Specifically, it achieves a capacity of 1299 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and maintains a capacity of 614 mAh g−1 even after 1800 cycles at 2500 mA g−1. The hollow structure of the composite alleviates the volume variation of ZnSe nanoparticles during charge and discharge processes, and provides a large reactive surface area, thereby significantly enhancing lithium storage capacity. In conclusion, our strategy presents an innovative approach to synthesize negative electrode materials with unique structures for LIBs.

Cobalt concentration effect on the Structural, Magnetic and Optical properties of Zn1-xCoxSe Nanoparticles

Cobalt doped Zinc selenide (Zn1-xCoxSe where x = 0.00,0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15) nanoparticles are synthesized using co-precipitation method. For studying structural properties of prepared samples, nanoparticles are characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction),SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) with EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer), HRTEM (High resolution transmission electron microscope),Elemental composition confirmed by EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer), Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy test and XPS (X-ray photoelectron microscope). XRD study confirms that prepared samples are crystalline in nature and size is appeared in nanometer range with cubic structure. Optical investigation is done by UV–visible spectra and PL spectra at room temperature which indicates change in energy band gap as doping of cobalt increases in host material due to quantum confinement which shows the altered optical properties due to doping of transition metal in host material. FTIR (Fourier transform infra-red) spectroscopy reports presence of different functional groups in nanoparticles and thermal stability is confirmed by TG/DTA(Thermogravimetric) analysis. Magnetic analysis by using ESR (electron spin resonance) and VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer) confirms presence of ferromagnetic coupling in cobalt doped zinc selenide nanoparticles which make these nanoparticles suitable for using in different devices e.g. in magnetic storage devices, magnetic imaging, magneto-optics and sensors etc. Combined semiconducting and magnetic nature of these Co doped ZnSe nanoparticles make them useful in spintronics, magnetic storage devices etc applications.

The Effect of Graphene Oxide on Optical, Ferroelectric, and Catalytic Properties of Protein-Encapsulated ZnSe Nanocomposite

To explore the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on optical, ferroelectric, and catalytic properties of the protein-encapsulated ZnSe nanocomposite, we have prepared BSA-encapsulated ZnSe (BSA-ZnSe) nanocomposite and graphene oxide integrated BSA-encapsulated ZnSe (GO/BSA-ZnSe) nanocomposite samples. The ZnSe nanoparticles within these nanocomposites exhibit a highly crystalline zincblende structure with an average size of 3.7 nm. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirm the successful integration of GO in the BSA-encapsulated ZnSe sample. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results suggest that the interactions between ZnSe nanoparticles and BSA, likely facilitated by the amide and hydroxyl groups present in BSA. Optical studies showed that the addition of GO influenced the emission spectra towards a red shift, which is attributed to the conductive influence of graphene oxide. The ferroelectric properties indicated that the graphene integrated ZnSe nanocomposite exhibited high remanence and coercivity due to the interaction of semiconductive ZnSe with GO layers. In terms of catalytic activity, the GO/BSA-ZnSe nanocomposite exhibited better performance compared to the BSA-ZnSe nanocomposite.These results highlight the significant influence of graphene oxide on the optical, ferroelectric, and catalytic properties of the BSA-encapsulated ZnSe nanocomposite.

ZnSe-doped N-C skeleton-driven electrode for enhanced electron transport in microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), a promising green energy source, have faced limitations in performance. To address this, we synthesized a porous Zn-Se-N-C nanomaterial with a large specific surface area and significant defect density through the utilization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Surface unique topography characteristics are tuned by controlling the annealing temperature. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the synergistic effect of Zn and Se in ZnSe nanoparticles can significantly improve oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity. Experimental results demonstrated that the ORR performance of Zn-Se-N-C 1000 °C catalyst is comparable to that Pt/C catalyst in both alkaline and neutral conditions, especially in alkaline media. When employed as the cathode catalyst in asymmetrical MFCs with a neutral anode and an alkaline cathode, the Zn-Se-N-C 1000 °C(cathode)-MFC system achieved an impressive output current density of 8 ± 0.2 A/m−2 and a remarkable power density of 2000 ± 30 mW m−2. Additionally, the unique pore structure of Zn-Se-N-C1000°C made it highly suitable as an anode in MFCs. The Zn-Se-N-C 1000 °C (anode)-MFC demonstrated an output current density of 7.1 ± 0.9 A/m−2 and a power density of 3000 ± 111 mW m−2.

Achieving high-rate and long-life Zn metal anodes via constructing interfacial gradient heterostructure

The practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is hampered by dendrite growth and side reactions. Herein, we designed an interfacial gradient heterostructure protective layer (MXene/ZnSe), comprising a conductive MXene nanosheets and an semiconductors ZnSe nanoparticles, to reconstruct the Zn anode surface. Theoretical calculations and experiments show that the interfacial gradient can rearrange the energy bands to facilitate electron/ion transfer. The protective layer not only mitigates the corrosion of Zn anode, but also induces uniform Zn deposition. Therefore, the elaborate gradient heterostructure enables the MXene/ZnSe@Zn symmetric cell to have an excellent long lifespan over 7700 cycles at 20 mA cm−2, surpassing most of the MXene-based related materials reported in the literature. When paired with the commercial V2O5, the MXene/ZnSe@Zn//V2O5 cell achieves an exceptional capacity of 230 mAh/g at 5 A/g. This work paves a new yet powerful tactic for designing a multi-functional gradient heterostructure with strong interface effect toward high-rate and calendar-life AZIBs.

Hydrazine hydrate free one pot rapid hydrothermal synthesis of crystalline Zn1−xNdxSe nanostructures for wastewater treatment

Non-hydrazine based hydrothermal synthesis of ZnSe nanostructures is reported. Zinc dust and elemental selenium were the starting materials for the synthesis. 4 h were consumed for the synthesis wherein merceptoacetic acid and methylamine were used for the dissolution of elemental precursors. Influence of Nd doping on growth and properties of the nanostructures is studied. Structural properties (X-ray diffraction) revealed that the nanoparticles grow in cubic crystal phase. Morphology of the nanostructures showed formation of microspheres that are formed by the agglomeration of smaller spherical nanoparticles. Optical properties demonstrated that the nanoparticles show red shift in the transmittance band upon doping making ultraviolet active ZnSe suitable for visible light photocatalysis. The photocatalytic activity of the nanostructures was demonstrated in the presence of ultraviolet and visible light photons separately. The doped samples show prominent activity than ZnSe nanoparticles in the visible light and the reason for this is optimum band gap and the electron scavenging property of Nd3+ ions that reduces electron hole recombination rate. The doped nanoparticles degraded more than 80 % of rhodamine B (RhB) in just two hours of visible light irradiation. The nanoparticles retained their properties after photocatalytic experiments were done, revealing their high stability. Photocatalytic degradation of the dye molecules resulted because of formation of highly oxidative species (free radicals) upon light illumination that was determined by the scavenger experiments.

Designing a 3D MXene microsphere encapsulating MOF-derived ZnSe nanoparticles as an anode for highly stable potassium-ion batteries

3D MXene-based microspheres encapsulating metal–organic framework-derived ZnSe@N-doped carbon nanoparticles are successfully fabricated by spray drying. Owing to the unique structural features, they exhibited excellent K-ion storage performance.

Nano structural and opto-magnetic investigation of Co–Ni co-doped ZnSe for spintronics

Cobalt and Nickel co-doped ZnSe nanoparticles with fixed concentration of nickel and varying concentration of cobalt formulated as Zn0.95-xCoxNi0.05Se(where x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05) are synthesized by using wet-chemical route by co-precipitation method at 60 °C and calcined at 200 °C temperature. The structural study is carried out by applying X-ray diffractometer (XRD) characterization technique and found the synthesized material having crystallite size in nanometer range 08–37 nm with cubic zinc blende structure. Size increment of nanoparticles has been obtained as the concentration of cobalt was increased. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffractometer (EDX) and Transmission-Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis of the nanoparticles are performed to study morphology and confirming presence of doped elements by forming Cobalt and Nickel co-doped ZnSe nanoparticles. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) study is carried out to detect presence of different functional groups, bending and stretching in molecules. Energy band gap is also calculated using UV–Visible spectroscopy and found increment in band gap due to quantum confinement effect. Ferromagnetism is recorded in these Co and Ni co-doped ZnSe nanoparticles using Vibrating-Sample Magnetometer (VSM) characterization technique at 300 K and 15 K.This inducted magnetism is due to the presence of exchange interactions between electrons of different elements. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra is also recorded at room temperature by the presence of paramagnetic defects in the samples.

Nickel doped zinc selenide nanoparticles for spin based dilute magnetic semiconductor applications

For spin based applications, Zn1-xNixSe nanoparticles were synthesised by co-precipitation method at room temperature with various compositions (x = 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2). Structural and morphological studies of the least explored Zn1-xNixSe nanoparticles have been accomplished with the help of X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron (FESEM) and Transmission-Electron Microscopy (TEM) measurement. The nano-crystallite size is obtained in range 11–18 nm with cubic phase of Zn1-xNixSe. Morphological study indicates formation of nanospheres and occurrence of some agglomeration in nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric (TG/DTA) analysis shows the two step degradation process in as prepared undoped ZnSe and Ni doped ZnSe nanoparticles. UV–visible spectroscopy is employed for optical analysis and energy band gap of Ni doped ZnSe nanomaterials is found in range greater than bulk ZnSe (2.8 eV). Fourier Transfom Infrared (FTIR) study confirmed doping of Ni ions in ZnSe nanoparticles. Magnetic properties of Ni-doped ZnSe nanoparticles are investigated using vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) at 300 K and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra and analysis confirms Ni induced ferromagnetism tuning in the prepared samples. Induced ferromagnetic ordering indicates that Ni spins in the doped Zn1-xNixSe can be successfully tuned for static-spins and spin dynamics applications.

New Method for Preparation ZnSe Nanoparticles and Application as Antibacterial Agent

Nanoparticles of zinc selenide (ZnSe) were produced by an innovative, uncomplicated, and extremely rapid process that took no longer than a few seconds. For the production of zinc ions, zinc chloride was utilized, and selenium was used for the production of selenium ions. The effect of Zn to Se ions ratio on optical properties has been examined. The prepared nanoparticles were tested and characterized by using transmission electron microscope TEM, scanning electron microscope SEM and UV–Visible spectroscopy. The morphological results revealed that the ZnSe has a spherical shape with mean diameter around 15 nm and the band gap of the ZnSe increases with increasing the Zn content in the sample. The prepared materials were tested as antibacterial agent.

Organic waste peel-assisted synthesis of ZnSe nanoparticles for solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of cationic and anionic dye.

The environment and public health are currently being threatened by the water pollution caused by dyes. Finding eco-friendly and economically viable photocatalysts has been a hot issue in recent years, as photocatalytic dye degradation is essential for eliminating dye from contaminated water as compared to other methods because of the cost factor and efficiency in removing organic contaminants. Using un-doped ZnSe for degrading activity has very seldom been attempted up to this point. Therefore, the current research focuses on the use of zinc selenide nanomaterials, which are produced via a green synthesis process from the organic waste peels of orange and potato using the hydrothermal method, and utilizes them as photocatalysts for the degradation of dyes using sunlight as a natural source of light. The crystal structure, bandgap, and surface morphology and analysis of the synthesized materials serve as indicators of their characteristics. Citrate in orange peel-mediated synthesis assists in forming a particle size of 1.85 nm and a large surface area of 17.078 m2/g enabling more surface-active sites resulting in degradation efficiency of 97.16% and 93.61% for methylene blue and Congo red dye, respectively, which outperforms commercial ZnSe in the dye degradation. The presented work maintains overall sustainability in real-practical applications by utilizing sunlight in photocatalytic degradation activity instead of sophisticated equipment and using waste peels as a capping and stabilizing agent in the green synthesis method for the preparation of photocatalysts.

Unveiling the Thermoelectric Performances of Zn1−xFexSe Nanoparticles Prepared by the Hydrothermal Method

Fe2+-doped ZnSe nanoparticles, with varying concentrations of Fe2+ dopants, were prepared by the hydrothermal method and investigated using a multi-technique approach exploiting scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy, as well as measurement of the electrical transport properties and Seebeck coefficient (S). The doped nanoparticles appeared as variable-sized agglomerates on nanocrystallites upon SEM investigation for any doping level. Combined XRD and Raman analyses revealed the occurrence of a cubic structure in the investigated samples. Electric and thermoelectric (TE) transport investigations showed an increase in TE performance with an increase in Fe atom concentrations, which resulted in an enhancement of the power factors from 13 µWm−1K−2 to 120 µWm−1K−2 at room temperature. The results were also dependent on the operating temperature. The maximum power factor of 9 × 10−3 Wm−1K−2 was achieved at 150 °C for the highest explored doping value. The possible applications of these findings were discussed.

ZnSe Nanoparticles for Thermoelectrics: Impact of Cu-Doping

The present study investigates the impact of copper doping on the thermoelectric properties of zinc selenide (ZnSe) nanoparticles synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Nanoparticle samples with varying copper concentrations were prepared and their thermoelectric performances were evaluated by measuring the electrical transport properties, the Seebeck coefficient, and extracting the power factor. The results demonstrate that the thermoelectric properties of Cu-doped ZnSe nanoparticles are significantly enhanced by doping, mainly as an effect of an improved electrical conductivity, providing a promising avenue for energy applications of these nanomaterials. To gain further insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying the observed improvements in thermoelectric performance of the samples, the morphological, structural, and vibrational properties were characterized using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy.

Electronic modulation of zinc selenide toward efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution

Effective electronic modulation is the key to fulfilling the Pt-like hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity on selenide-based electrocatalysts, but it also brings a huge challenge to rational structural design. Zinc selenide (ZnSe) is a potential candidate for alkaline HER. However, much fewer endeavours have been dedicated to ZnSe, hence inherent activities still need to be enhanced via facilitating the Volmer and Heyrovsky steps. Herein, we developed a simple fabrication method for copper-doped ZnSe nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (namely Cu-ZnSe@NC) from bimetallic ZnCu-ZIF to promote alkaline HER. Benefitting from three-dimensional porous morphology and modulated electronic structure, the Cu-ZnSe@NC displays superior HER performance with small overpotential of 84 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2, comparable to that of commercial Pt/C. Experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the incorporation of heteroatom-Cu can not only increase the number of active sites and improve the intrinsic activity of each catalytic site, but also modulate the electronic structure of the catalyst, which is advantageous to boosting H2O adsorption and optimizing the energy barrier for H adsorption for initiating the electrocatalytic pathway at alkaline electrolyte. This work provides a novel understanding for designing of selenide-based composite for HER with improved catalytic activity.

Boosting polysulfide confinement and redox kinetics via ZnSe/NC@rGO as separator modifier for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Although lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have an unparalleled specific capacity, the notorious shuttle effect, and slow reaction kinetics severely inhibit their development. Herein, a composite composed of ZnSe nanoparticles with a nitrogen-doped (N-doped) carbon shell uniformly dispersed in reduced graphene oxide (ZnSe/NC@rGO) is designed as a separator modifier for Li-S batteries. The underlying mechanism of the ZnSe/NC@rGO modified separator is confirmed by both systemic electrochemical characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Graphene as a highly conductive skeleton promotes electrical conductivity, while N-doping provides additional adsorption sites for the immobilization of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Moreover, the polar ZnSe has good chemical adsorption capabilities for LiPSs and could lower the decomposition energy barrier of Li2S, which effectively facilitates the catalytic conversion of polysulfides. In addition, the separator modifier is beneficial to the uniform deposition of lithium. Thus, the delicate catalyst can effectively suppress the shuttle effect and accelerate the redox reaction kinetics during the charging and discharging processes. When used as a separator modifier of Li-S batteries, ZnSe/NC@rGO delivers enhanced electrochemical performance, including a high capacity (1057 mAh g–1 at 0.2 C after 100 cycles) and excellent rate performance of 685 mAh g–1 at 3 C. The negligible capacity decay per cycle within 900 cycles at 1 C is as low as 0.043%. These findings not only provide a feasible method for boosting the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries but also reveal that transition metal selenides have potential in energy storage as electrocatalysts.

Optical constants of multilayered colloidal ZnSe nanoparticles

The purpose of this study was to prepare multilayered films of colloidal ZnSe nanoparticles (NPs) and investigate their optical constants. Thin films comprising multilayered ZnSe–NPs were prepared on a SiO2 substrate using the layer-by-layer (LbL) method. The samples were studied using spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range of 0.75–3.20 eV. The film thickness increased linearly with the number of layers of colloidal NPs, and the prepared films were optically homogeneous. Furthermore, the refractive index of the ZnSe–NP films varied depending on the NP size owing to the quantum-confinement size effect. Multilayered ZnSe–NP films deposited using the LbL method are particularly useful as optical thin films because they can help control the film thickness and refractive index. It is expected that thin films with various refractive indices and corresponding dispersions can be produced using other semiconductor NPs and combinations thereof.