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New Insights into Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2024) | Viewed by 2998

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Viorica Railean-Plugaru

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Public Health Protection and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Gagarina 7, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
2. Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Wileńska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland
Interests: biological synthesis; flow cytometry; spectroscopy; microscopy; nanocomposites; antimicrobial activity; effectiveness; microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Anna Król-Górniak

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Guest Editor

Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 4 Wileńska Str., 87-100 Torun, Poland
Interests: synthesis; capillary electrophoresis; nanomaterials; spectroscopy; spectrometry; nanotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have attracted interest over time. Their unique properties means they have broad applications: from sensors and electronic devices to antimicrobial agents, cytotoxicity or drug delivery. Moreover, increased attention has been paid to nanoparticles and nanocomposites in the last few decades; hybrid systems (e.g., coated and functionalized materials and metal–protein systems) have been studied much more. In fact, the increasing prevalence of ecological problems, the issue of drug resistance and the apparent limitations in the application of nanomaterials have encouraged researchers to find new solutions, new insights and new approaches.

Therefore, the current Special Issue covers interdisciplinary approaches related to “Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites; Synthesis, Properties and Applications”. Practical work covering recent scientific challenges/strategies in the field as well as review papers addressing recent and newest progress are welcome.

Dr. Viorica Railean-Plugaru
Dr. Anna Król-Górniak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

nanoparticles
nanocomposites
synthesis
characterization
functionalization
application
recycling
action mechanism
antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect
in vitro and in vivo study
sensors
fluorescence
mechanism of ionization
sustainable development
photocatalysis

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis of Iron Nanoparticles Using an Aqueous Extract of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) Leaf Waste

by Małgorzata Góral-Kowalczyk, Elżbieta Grządka, Jolanta Orzeł, Dariusz Góral, Tomasz Skrzypek, Zbigniew Kobus and Agnieszka Nawrocka

Materials 2024, 17(11), 2515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112515 - 23 May 2024

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Abstract

In this study, we analysed the potential use of dried strawberry leaves and calyces for the production of nanoparticles using inorganic iron compounds. We used the following iron precursors FeCl₃ × 6H₂O, FeCl₂ × 4H₂O, Fe(NO₃)₃ × 9H₂O, Fe₂(SO₄)₃ × H₂O, FeSO₄ × 7H₂O, FeCl₃ anhydrous. It was discovered that the content of polyphenols and flavonoids in dried strawberries and their antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP were 346.81 µM TE/1 g and 331.71 µM TE/1 g, respectively, and were similar to these of green tea extracts. Microimages made using TEM techniques allowed for the isolation of a few nanoparticles with dimensions ranging from tens of nanometres to several micrometres. The value of the electrokinetic potential in all samples was negative and ranged from −21,300 mV to −11,183 mV. XRF analyses confirmed the presence of iron ranging from 0.13% to 0.92% in the samples with a concentration of 0.01 mol/dm³. FT-IR spectra analyses showed bands characteristic of nanoparticles. In calorimetric measurements, no increase in temperature was observed in any of the tests during exposure to the electromagnetic field. In summary, using the extract from dried strawberry leaves and calyxes as a reagent, we can obtain iron nanoparticles with sizes dependent on the concentration of the precursor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

16 pages, 5851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tailoring Physicochemical Properties of V₂O₅ Nanostructures: Influence of Solvent Type in Sol-Gel Synthesis

by Klaudia Prusik, Daniel Jaworski, Justyna Gumieniak, Agnieszka Kramek, Kamila Sadowska and Marta Prześniak-Welenc

Materials 2024, 17(10), 2359; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102359 - 15 May 2024

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Abstract

The influence of different solvents, including aqueous and nonaqueous types, on the physicochemical properties of V₂O₅ nanostructures was thoroughly investigated. Various characterization techniques, such as XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis DRS, SEM, TEM, and BET, were employed to analyze the obtained materials. Additionally, the adsorption properties of the synthesized V₂O₅ nanostructures for methylene blue were examined, and kinetic parameters of adsorption were calculated. The results demonstrate that the morphology of the obtained crystals can be finely controlled by manipulating water concentration in the solution, showcasing its profound impact on both the structural characteristics and adsorption properties of the nanostructures. Furthermore, the structural changes of the resulting V₂O₅ material induced by solvents show strong impacts on its photocatalytic properties, making it a promising photocatalyst. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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15 pages, 3318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pyrolized Diatomaceous Biomass Doped with Epitaxially Growing Hybrid Ag/TiO₂ Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterisation and Antibacterial Application

by Weronika Brzozowska, Izabela Wojtczak, Viorica Railean, Zhanar Bekissanova, Grzegorz Trykowski, Bogusław Buszewski and Myroslav Sprynskyy

Materials 2023, 16(12), 4345; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16124345 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1489

Abstract

In the pursuit of innovative solutions for modern technologies, particularly in the design and production of new micro/nanostructured materials, microorganisms acting as “natural microtechnologists” can serve as a valuable source of inspiration. This research focuses on harnessing the capabilities of unicellular algae (diatoms) to synthesize hybrid composites composed of AgNPs/TiO₂NPs/pyrolyzed diatomaceous biomass (AgNPs/TiO₂NPs/DBP). The composites were consistently fabricated through metabolic (biosynthesis) doping of diatom cells with titanium, pyrolysis of the doped diatomaceous biomass, and chemical doping of the pyrolyzed biomass with silver. To characterize the synthesized composites, their elemental and mineral composition, structure, morphology, and photoluminescent properties were analysed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The study revealed the epitaxial growth of Ag/TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of pyrolyzed diatom cells. The antimicrobial potential of the synthesized composites was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against prevalent drug-resistant microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli, both from laboratory cultures and clinical isolates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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Review

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27 pages, 3003 KiB

Open AccessReview

Silver Nanoparticles: Multifunctional Tool in Environmental Water Remediation

by Pamela Nair Silva-Holguín, Jesús Alberto Garibay-Alvarado and Simón Yobanny Reyes-López

Materials 2024, 17(9), 1939; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17091939 - 23 Apr 2024

Viewed by 479

Abstract

Water pollution is a worldwide environmental and health problem that requires the development of sustainable, efficient, and accessible technologies. Nanotechnology is a very attractive alternative in environmental remediation processes due to the multiple properties that are conferred on a material when it is at the nanometric scale. This present review focuses on the understanding of the structure–physicochemical properties–performance relationships of silver nanoparticles, with the objective of guiding the selection of physicochemical properties that promote greater performance and are key factors in their use as antibacterial agents, surface modifiers, colorimetric sensors, signal amplifiers, and plasmonic photocatalysts. Silver nanoparticles with a size of less than 10 nm, morphology with a high percentage of reactive facets {111}, and positive surface charge improve the interaction of the nanoparticles with bacterial cells and induce a greater antibacterial effect. Adsorbent materials functionalized with an optimal concentration of silver nanoparticles increase their contact area and enhance adsorbent capacity. The use of stabilizing agents in silver nanoparticles promotes selective adsorption of contaminants by modifying the surface charge and type of active sites in an adsorbent material, in addition to inducing selective complexation and providing stability in their use as colorimetric sensors. Silver nanoparticles with complex morphologies allow the formation of hot spots or chemical or electromagnetic bonds between substrate and analyte, promoting a greater amplification factor. Controlled doping with nanoparticles in photocatalytic materials produces improvements in their electronic structural properties, promotes changes in charge transfer and bandgap, and improves and expands their photocatalytic properties. Silver nanoparticles have potential use as a tool in water remediation, where by selecting appropriate physicochemical properties for each application, their performance and efficiency are improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)

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