Article
Chemistry, Physical
Khabibulla A. Abdullin, Maratbek T. Gabdullin, Sultan K. Zhumagulov, Guzal A. Ismailova, Lesya Gritsenko, Yevgeniya Y. Kedruk, Mojtaba Mirzaeian
Summary: It was found that ZnO samples exhibit different degradation behavior, corresponding to at least two different types of O-2 adsorbing surface sites, where one type rapidly depassivates after hydrogen passivation, while the other remains stable.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Po-Yen Kung, Fei Pan, Yen-Hsun Su
Summary: This study presents a SPEC hydrogen evolution device using spintronic technology, which successfully enhances the hydrogen production efficiency through spintronic surface plasmon resonance energy transfer. However, it also highlights the potential drawbacks of spintronics, such as impeding hot electron transfer and generating quantum entanglement, when attempting to increase the efficiency of hydrogen production.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Krol-Gorniak, Viorica Railean, Pawel Pomastowski, Tomasz Plocinski, Michal Gloc, Renata Dobrucka, Krzysztof Jan Kurzydlowski, Boguslaw Buszewski
Summary: In this study, the comparison between commercially available chemical ZnO NCs and bio-ZnO NCs produced by two different probiotic isolates were conducted. The nanocomposites were characterized and evaluated for their properties including crystal structure, surface chemistry, photocatalytic activity, and colloidal stability. The bio-ZnO NCs showed promising performance in terms of photocatalytic activity and stability, indicating their potential for further biological applications.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ling Chen, Haifang Wu, Wuding Hong, Zoraida P. Aguilar, Fen Fu, Hengyi Xu
Summary: The study revealed that high levels of exposure to ZnO NPs may lead to accumulation of Zn in the uterus, triggering oxidative stress and uterine damage, which induces reproductive toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pei Zhu, Feng Wang, Yanfen Ding, Shimin Zhang, Chong Gao, Peng Liu, Mingshu Yang
Summary: In this study, the phenomenon of double phase inversion was observed in Pickering emulsion when magnesium hydroxide nanosheets adsorbed with different amounts of SDS surfactants were used as stabilizers. The first inversion occurred due to increased hydrophobicity of the modified MH nanosheets, while the second inversion was a result of bilayer adsorption of SDS on MH nanosheets, making them hydrophilic again. These findings have significant implications for understanding the behavior of Pickering emulsions in the presence of surfactants and potential applications in reversible drilling fluids and oil extraction.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Subrata Pandit, Nikhil Maroli, Supriyo Naskar, Bhavesh Khatri, Prabal K. Maiti, Mrinmoy De
Summary: The artificial fabrication of secondary structures within peptides using templates is of great interest in biological systems. Previous studies have used uniform templates to target only one type of peptide at a time, limiting the diversity in generating artificial protein surface/binding sites. We propose the use of graphene oxide (GO) as a template, which contains two binding zones that induce secondary structure formation in peptides. By incorporating a hybrid peptide sequence and observing peptide helicity, we show that GO can mimic biological systems. MD simulations further support our findings.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dandan Chen, Wenhui Liu, Yuxuan Wang, Ping Lu
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of biochar aging on the adsorption and stabilization of Pb in soil, showing that the stabilization performance of Pb in soil was enhanced with increasing aging time. The mechanisms of Pb stabilization in soil by biochar involve surface complexation, co-precipitation, ion exchange, physical adsorption, and electrostatic attraction.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Danh Nguyen, James Wu, Patrick Corrigan, Ying Li
Summary: This study investigates the mechanisms of lipid bilayer disruption by Janus nanoparticles (NPs) through computational simulations. The results reveal that the Janus balance and the concentration of charged phospholipids play significant roles in the interactions between Janus NPs and lipid bilayers. The study provides molecular insights into the selectivity of Janus NPs for negatively charged lipid membranes and highlights the importance of the anisotropic properties of Janus NPs in membrane disruption.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhenyu Ma, Yong Deng, Kaiyi Luo, Xiaoyi Wang, Yang Qiu, Longqing Chen
Summary: The development of highly sensitive gas sensors is significant for the environment and human health. This study demonstrates the enhancement of gas-sensing performance in ZnO through the use of a disorder surface. The random arrangement of surface atoms improves gas adsorption and the electron localization caused by lattice disorder greatly increases gas monitoring sensitivity. Additionally, a mild, low-cost method to modify the material for further applications is presented.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nataliya Babayevska, Lucja Przysiecka, Igor Iatsunskyi, Grzegorz Nowaczyk, Marcin Jarek, Ewa Janiszewska, Stefan Jurga
Summary: The aim of this study was to synthesize ZnO nano- and microparticles and investigate their cytotoxicity towards normal and cancer cells, as well as their antibacterial activity. Results showed that ZnO nano- and microparticles exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and were more harmful to cancer cells compared to normal cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yu-Lin Sun, A. Yao-Lin, Mu-Fei Yue, Heng-Quan Chen, Huajie Ze, Yao-Hui Wang, Jin-Chao Dong, Zhong-Qun Tian, Ping-Ping Fang, Jian-Feng Li
Summary: This study employed in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect the intermediates during the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process on AugPd@Pt core/shell heterogeneous nanoparticles. The results revealed the influence of strain and electronic effect on ORR performance, providing a theoretical basis for the construction of high-performance ORR electrocatalysts.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhaoyang You, Changrong Zhao, Yongjun Sun, Chang Zhuang
Summary: This study used PAFC and CPAM as coagulants to enhance the removal of ZnO-NPs from water, with the PAFC/CPAM combination showing the highest efficiency in removing ZnO-NPs.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Lin, Jun Zhang, Yalan Zhang, Sai Yan, Feng Nan, Yanlong Yu
Summary: In this study, Au particles were decorated on Si, ZnO film, and ZnO nanorod arrays simultaneously by an economical method of ion sputtering, generating three types of SERS substrates for R6G detection. The experiment results showed that substrates with Au particles decorated on ZnO nanorods had the highest Raman enhancement factor. Various enhanced mechanisms, including LSPR field coupling, electron transferring induced by LSPR of Au particles, and WGM effect of the ZnO cavity, were presented.
Article
Physics, Condensed Matter
K. K. Nishad, M. Aslam Manthrammel, Mohd Shkir, S. AlFaify, R. K. Pandey
Summary: The study suggests the possibility of room temperature d(0)Dilute Magnetic Semiconductor (d(0)DMS) behavior in organic capped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, due to the capping agents promoting vacancy sites for oxygen in ZnO nanocrystals and positional defects in the nanocrystals being the main cause of ferromagnetism. Additionally, the surface electronic configuration modified by the capping molecules also plays a key role in the origin of ferromagnetism.
PHYSICA B-CONDENSED MATTER
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
A. Suguna, S. Prabhu, M. Selvaraj, M. Geerthana, A. Silambarasan, M. Navaneethan, R. Ramesh, C. Sridevi
Summary: Hexagonal phase zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures were synthesized via hydrothermal method and annealed at different temperatures to study the effects on crystallite size, band gap, and photocatalytic activity. The results showed that higher annealing temperatures led to larger crystallite sizes and smaller band gaps, ultimately resulting in enhanced photocatalytic performance for ZnO annealed at 1000 degrees C.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue-Min Xie, Qin Yao, Zixin Zeng, Qifan Xue, Tianqi Niu, Ruoxi Xia, Yuanhang Cheng, Francis Lin, Sai-Wing Tsang, Alex K-Y Jen, Hin-Lap Yip, Yong Cao
Summary: Monolithic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells have gained increasing attention due to their high efficiency and easy fabrication. Improving the performance of these cells requires wide-bandgap perovskites and low-bandgap organic bulk-heterojunction rare cells. This study successfully synthesized high-efficiency perovskite solar cells and tandem cells through optimization methods.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Teslim Ayinde Fasasi, Ching Man Sin, Liu Taili, Sai Wing Tsang, Antonio Ruotolo
Summary: In this study, the effect of an externally applied magnetic field on the magneto-photocurrent of hybrid perovskite-based devices was investigated. It was found that the magnetic field can be used to tune the exchange energy of excited states, leading to improved performance of optoelectronic devices.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Taili Liu, Di Zhang, Md Rashedul Huqe, Wen Wang, Juan Antonio Zapien, Sai-Wing Tsang, Jingdong Luo
Summary: Our study using Stark effect electromodulation spectroscopy investigated the changes in optical absorption and refraction in newly developed EO polymers, resulting in record-high EO effects in poled thin films. Through Kramers-Kronig analysis, we obtained high second-order nonlinear coefficients, believed to be the highest in poled polymers, showcasing the potential for high-speed light-modulators using EO polymers for on-chip applications.
SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Muhammad Fahim, Irum Firdous, Sai-Wing Tsang, Walid A. Daoud
Summary: A mechanically flexible film of highly crystalline metal halide perovskite (MHP) is achieved through a novel soft stitching strategy, improving both mechanical endurance and charge transport properties.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuanhang Cheng, Zixin Zeng, Tianyuan Liu, Ying Wang, Carlos D. Rodriguez-Gallegos, Haohui Liu, Xixia Liu, Maung Thway, David Khup, Aung Myint Khaing, Kin Man Yu, Sai-Wing Tsang, Fen Lin
Summary: Energy production of perovskite-based photovoltaic technology can be increased by improving device efficiency and using innovative concepts, such as bifacial and tandem configurations. The use of amorphous CdO-In2O3 alloy film in PVSCs and tandem solar cells has shown promising results, with high bifaciality factor and champion power conversion efficiency. Further efforts are needed to reduce manufacturing cost and achieve competitive LCOE values in countries with relatively low PV installation cost.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhaohua Zhu, Yan Wu, Yang Li, Zixin Zeng, Sai-Wing Tsang, Zhiqiang Guan, Chun-Sing Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant enhancement of performance in quasi-2D perovskite LEDs by humidity treatment, and suggests that modulating the molecular structure of large cations under humidity treatment can effectively improve the performance.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
Brian Ng, Kin Wui Cheng, Chee Kwan Lee, Sai Wing Terence Tsang
Summary: The Green's function dependent transfer matrix method was used to model the sound transmission loss of a plenum window, and the troughs in the transmission loss spectra were found aligning well with the natural frequencies of acoustic modes inside the plenum chamber. It was observed that increasing the overlapping length and area ratio can improve the transmission loss performance of the plenum window at low frequencies.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhaohua Zhu, Yang Li, Zhiqiang Guan, Yan Wu, Zixin Zeng, Sai-Wing Tsang, Shihao Liu, Xiao Huang, Chun-Sing Lee
Summary: By inserting a CsAc layer between the HTL and the hole-dominant perovskite layer, the performance of PeLEDs can be improved by suppressing exciton quenching and enhancing the photophysical properties of the perovskite film.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pengshan Xie, Xu Chen, Zixin Zeng, Wei Wang, You Meng, Zhengxun Lai, Quan Quan, Dengji Li, Weijun Wang, Xiuming Bu, Sai-Wing Tsang, SenPo Yip, Jia Sun, Johnny C. C. Ho
Summary: This paper proposes large-scale artificial synaptic device arrays based on organic molecule-nanowire heterojunctions with tunable photoconductivity, which can mimic and realize the functions of visual systems. These devices have tunable photoconductivity and response to multiple wavelengths, which can improve the recognition rate of neural networks.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hrisheekesh Thachoth Chandran, Hua Tang, Taili Liu, Sudhi Mahadevan, Kuan Liu, Zhen Lu, Jiaming Huang, Zhiwei Ren, Fuyou Liao, Yang Chai, Patrick W. K. Fong, Sai-Wing Tsang, Shirong Lu, Gang Li
Summary: Photodetectors based on organic materials have advantages such as low-temperature processing and superior mechanical properties. A simplified device architecture is used to achieve stable and high-performance organic photodetectors. A self-assembled hole blocking layer and active layer are formed in a single-step process, which simplifies the device fabrication process. A high-performance UV-Vis-NIR organic photodetector based on the PM6:BTP-eC9 system is demonstrated using this cost-effective processing strategy.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Kit Wing Cheng, Hok Man Chow, Sin Yi Li, Tsun Wai Tsang, Hin Long Brian Ng, Chi Ho Hui, Yau Hang Lee, Kin Wui Cheng, Sau Cheong Cheung, Chee Kwan Lee, Sai Wing Tsang
Summary: Hong Kong, as one of the densest cities in the world, faces the problem of excessive noise caused by vehicles with modified loud exhausts. Existing technologies for detecting these vehicles are inefficient and limited by manual spectrum analysis and expensive acoustic cameras. This research developed a low-cost sound recognition prototype based on spectrogram analysis and machine learning, achieving a 96% accuracy in detecting passenger cars with and without modified loud exhausts. The prototype also uses object recognition to distinguish different types of vehicles, enhancing usability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Leyu Bi, Qiang Fu, Zixin Zeng, Yunfan Wang, Francis R. Lin, Yuanhang Cheng, Hin-Lap Yip, Sai Wing Tsang, Alex K. -Y. Jen
Summary: In this study, the roles of chloride-based additives and methylammonium-based additives in inverted FAPbI3-based perovskite solar cells were systematically investigated. It was found that these additives have different effects on the crystallization and phase transition of FAPbI3. By optimizing the amount of MACl, the highest efficiency of inverted FAPbI3-based perovskite solar cells was achieved.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunfan Wang, Zixin Zeng, Yuxuan Zhang, Zhuoqiong Zhang, Leyu Bi, Aoxi He, Yuanhang Cheng, Alex K. -Y. Jen, Johnny C. Ho, Sai-Wing Tsang
Summary: This study investigates the effect of ambient temperature on the crystallization process in multiple cation-composited perovskites using an in situ optical method. The results show that the typical intermediate phase observed in methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) is absent in formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3), and nucleation is almost completed in FAPbI3 right after spin-coating. Interestingly, noticeable nuclei aggregation is observed in formamidinium (FA)-based perovskites even during the spin-coating process. The study also proposes that the cracks in FA-based perovskites are caused by aggregation-induced solute depletion effect, instead of stress release-induced crack formation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zixin Zeng, Yunfan Wang, Yue-Min Xie, Zhaohua Zhu, Yajie Yang, Yuhui Ma, Xia Hao, Chun-Sing Lee, Yuanhang Cheng, Sai-Wing Tsang
Summary: Controlling the crystallization of perovskite films is crucial for the development of perovskite electronic devices. This study demonstrates an in situ dynamic optical probing technique that can monitor the fast crystallization of perovskites and minimize the influence of laser excitation. The study reveals that static probing techniques can cause damage to perovskite films, while dynamic probing can effectively resolve this issue. It also finds that the crystallization process differs between MAPbI3 and MAPbI2Br, and the nucleation efficiency of MAPbI2Br can be improved through pre-heating. The in situ technique provides insights into the crystallization mechanism and contributes to understanding the growth mechanism of perovskites with different compositions and dimensionalities.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sujit Kumer Shil, Fei Wang, Kingsley O. Egbo, Ying Wang, Cheuk Kai Gary Kwok, Sai-W. Tsang, Johnny C. Ho, Kin Man Yu
Summary: This work reports the synthesis and properties of Pb-free all-inorganic Cs3Sb2X9 perovskite thin films (X = I, Br) by a two-step CVD approach. These films exhibit good crystallinity and high exciton binding energies with large Stokes shifts. The optical bandgaps and refractive indices of the films were also determined. Photoconductive devices fabricated using these films exhibited commendable performance with high responsivity and detectivity, as well as stable switching properties. The long-term stability of the thin films, even without encapsulation, suggests their potential for various optoelectronic devices.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
