Synthesis of graphenized Au/ZnO plasmonic nanocomposites for simultaneous sunlight mediated photo-catalysis and anti-microbial activity

Hybrid nanostructures exhibiting both photocatalytic and antibacterial activity-a review

The most vital issues of the modern world for a sustainable future are "health" and "the environment." Scientific endeavors to tackle these two major concerns for mankind need serious attention. The photocatalytic activity toward curbing environmental pollution and antibacterial performance toward a healthy society are two directions that have been emphasized for decades. Recently, materials engineering, in their nanodimension, has shown tremendous possibilities to integrate these functionalities within the same materials. In particular, hybrid nanostructures have shown magnificent prospects to combat both crucial challenges. Many researchers are separately engaged in this important field of research but the collective knowledge on this domain which can facilitate them to excel is badly missing. The present article integrates the development of different hybrid nanostructures which exhibit both photocatalytic degradations of environmental pollutants and antibacterial efficiency. Various synthesis techniques of those hybrid nanomaterials have been discussed. Hybrid nanosystems based on several successful materials have been categorically discussed for better insight into the research advancement in this direction. In particular, Ag-based, metal oxides-based, layered carbon material-based, and Mexene- and self-cleaning-based materials have been chosen for detailing their performance as anti-pollutant and antibacterial materials. Those hybrid systems along with some miscellaneous booming nanostructured materials have been discussed comprehensively with their success and limitations toward their bifunctionality as antipollutant and antibacterial agents.

High Performance Polymer Solar Cells Using Grating Nanostructure and Plasmonic Nanoparticles

This work introduces a high-efficiency organic solar cell with grating nanostructure in both hole and electron transport layers and plasmonic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) distributed on the zinc oxide (ZnO) layer. The periods of the grating structure in both hole and electro transport layers were optimized using Lumerical finite difference time domain (FDTD) solution software. The optimum AuNP radius distributed on the ZnO layer was also simulated and analyzed before studying the effect of changing the temperature on the solar cell performance, fill factor, and power conversion efficiency. In addition, optical and electrical models were used to calculate the short circuit current density, fill factor, and overall efficiency of the produced polymer solar cell nanostructure. The maximum obtained short circuit current density and efficiency of the solar cell were 18.11 mA/cm² and 9.46%, respectively, which gives a high light absorption in the visible region. Furthermore, the effect of light polarization for incident light angles from θ = 0° to 70° with step angle 10° on the electrical and optical parameters were also studied. Finally, optical power, electric field, and magnetic field distribution inside the nanostructure are also illustrated.

Improved SERS sensing on biosynthetically grown self-cleaning plasmonic ZnO nano-leaves

Schematic representation of SERS and self-cleaning features of biosynthetically grown ZA nano-hybrids.