ZnO nanorods (NRs) are known for ultra-sensitive biomolecule detection through fluorescence enhancement. In this work, we demonstrate that ZnO NR arrays grown on Ag layers can significantly improve the enhancement up to 86 times compared to that grown on bare Si, and the enhancement can be modified in a controlled manner by varying Ag thickness. The much improved waveguide properties are attrib...

The main aim of this paper is to report the impact of the addition of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the thermal, mechanical, and permeability properties of poly (lactic acid). The thin films were prepared using a modified solvent casting method. The films were fortified with either of two antimicrobial agents: silver (Ag) nanopowder or a peptide. The microstructure, morphology, oxygen and wat...

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared by a solegel combustion method from a zinc acetate precursor and acetic acid. The ZnO-NPs were synthesized at calcination temperatures of 650 C and 750 C for 1 h. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and TEM. The XRD results revealed that the sample product was crystalline with a hexagonal wurtzite phase. Highma...

ZnO nanoparticles (NP) are extensively used in numerous nanotechnology applications; however, they also happen to be one of the most toxic nanomaterials. This raises significant environmental and health concerns and calls for the need to develop new synthetic approaches to produce safer ZnO NP, while preserving their attractive optical, electronic, and structural properties. In this work, we de...

Multiphase (MP) monoclinic and cubic Y2O3 nanoparticles, 40 nm in diameter, were densified by spark plasma sintering for 5–15 min and100 MPa at 1000 C, 1100 C, and 1500 C. Densification started with pressure increase at room temperature. Densification stagnated during heating compared to the high shrinkage rate in cubic single-phase reference nanopowder. The limited densification of the MP nano...

Advanced polymer composite membranes were prepared from a linear sulphonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) with bismuth cobalt zinc oxide [BCZO, (Bi2O3)0.07(CoO)0.03(ZnO)0.90] nanopowder as an inorganic additive for the application of H2–O2 fuel cell. Morphological data tend to provide evidences incorporation BCZO into SPEEK polymer. Indeed, membrane loaded 7.5 wt.% was identified uptake max...

Optical micro/nano-spherical cavities can be designed to confine light by generating resonances in whispering gallery modes (WGM) and then couple them into the substrate through leaky modes, which can be potentially used in thin film solar cells for absorption enhancements. In this work, the transparent ZnO electrodes in a hollow nanosphere (HNS) structure were proposed as WGM resonators to tra...

The isolation of a single layer of graphite, known today as graphene, not only demonstrated amazing new properties but also paved the way for a new class of materials often referred to as two-dimensional (2D) materials. Beyond graphene, other 2D materials include h-BN, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), silicene, and germanene, to name a few. All tend to have exciting physical and chemica...