Electronic structures of ordered Ag-Mg alloys

Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of Methyl Oleate to Biobased Aldehydes over Mechanochemically Synthesized Supported AgAu Nanoparticles

The performance of mechanochemically synthesized supported bimetallic AgAu nanoalloy catalysts was evaluated in the oxidative cleavage of methyl oleate, a commonly available unsaturated bio-derived raw material. An extensive screening of supports (SiO2 , C, ZrO2 , Al2 O3 ), metallic ratios (Ag : Au), reaction times, temperatures, and use of solvents was carried out. The performance was optimized towards productivity and selectivity for the primary cleavage products (aldehydes and oxoesters). The optimal conditions were achieved in the absence of solvent, using Ag8 Au92 /SiO2 as catalyst, at 80 °C, reaction time of 1 h, substrate to catalyst=555 and 10 bar of molecular oxygen. A strong support effect was observed: the selectivity to aldehydes was best with silica as support, and to esters was best using zirconia. This shows not only that mechanochemical preparation of bimetallic catalysts is a powerful tool to generate useful catalyst compositions, but also that a safe, green, solventless synthesis of bio-derived products can be achieved by aerobic oxidative cleavage.

Effects of the Donor Unit on the Formation of Hybrid Layers of Donor-Acceptor Copolymers with Silver Nanoparticles

Donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers containing perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxydiimide (PDI) electron-acceptor (A) units belonging to n-type semiconductors are of interest due to their many potential applications in photonics, particularly for electron-transporting layers in all-polymeric or perovskite solar cells. Combining D-A copolymers and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) can further improve material properties and device performances. Hybrid layers of D-A copolymers containing PDI units and different electron-donor (D) units (9-(2-ethylhexyl)carbazole or 9,9-dioctylfluorene) with Ag-NPs were prepared electrochemically during the reduction of pristine copolymer layers. The formation of hybrid layers with Ag-NP coverage was monitored by in-situ measurement of absorption spectra. The Ag-NP coverage of up to 41% was higher in hybrid layers made of copolymer with 9-(2-ethylhexyl)carbazole D units than in those made of copolymer with 9,9-dioctylfluorene D units. The pristine and hybrid copolymer layers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which proved the formation of hybrid layers with stable Ag-NPs in the metallic state with average diameters <70 nm. The influence of D units on Ag-NP diameters and coverage was revealed.

Quasi-In Situ Synthesis of Ag NPs@m-MIL-100(Fe) for the Enhanced Photocatalytic Elimination of Flowing Xylenes

The implantation of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) into metal-organic framework (MOF) hosts is a promising means to prepare high-performance photocatalysts for the degradation of gas pollutants. However, the uniform encapsulation of MNPs in MOFs is still challenging. Herein, a facile "quasi-in situ" encapsulation method is proposed by utilizing the spatial confinement effect of the colloidal network formed during the synthesis of the MIL-100(Fe) monolith [noted as m-MIL-100(Fe)]. Highly dispersed Ag NPs with an average diameter of ∼2 nm are encapsulated in the MIL-100(Fe) monolith to form a unique "watermelon-seed" structure, which ensures the large contact area between the two components and protects Ag NPs from being oxidized. The fast charge transfer between m-MIL-100(Fe) and Ag NPs enables the spatial separation of electron-hole pairs and promotes the generation of oxidative radicals. Compared with pristine m-MIL-100(Fe), the 0.2 wt % Ag@m-MIL-100(Fe) composite shows obviously enhanced photodegradation efficiencies for flowing o-xylene under both xenon (∼97%) and visible light (∼80.0%) with high stability. This work not only provides a promising Ag@m-MIL-100(Fe) material for eliminating air pollutants but also gives a versatile means for the design and synthesis of nanoparticles@MOFs composites with desired performance.

Peroxymonosulfate enhanced photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants and simultaneously cathodic recycling of silver

Degradation of organic contaminants with simultaneous recycling of Ag⁺ from silver-containing organic wastewater such as photographic effluents is desired. Although photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) technology is a good candidate for this type of wastewater, its reaction kinetics still needs to be improved. Herein, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was employed to enhance the PEC kinetics for oxidation of phenol (PhOH) at the anode and reduction of Ag⁺ at the cathode. The degradation efficiency of phenol (PhOH, 0.1 mmol/L) was increased from 42.8% to 96.9% by adding 5 mmol/L PMS at a potential of 0.25 V. Meanwhile, the Ag (by wt%) deposited on the cathode was 28.1% (Ag₂O) in PEC process, while that of Ag (by wt%) was 69.7% (Ag⁰) by adding PMS. According to the electrochemistry analysis, PMS, as photoelectrons acceptor, enhances the separation efficiency of charges and the direct h⁺ oxidation of PhOH at the photoanode. Meantime, the increasing cathode potential avoided H₂ evolution and strongly alkaline at the surface of cathode, thus enabling the deposition of Ag⁺ in the form of metallic silver with the help of PMS. In addition, PMS combined with PEC process was effective in treating photographic effluents.

Ag@Pd bimetallic structures for enhanced electrocatalytic CO2 conversion to CO: an interplay between the strain effect and ligand effect

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction reactions provide a promising path to effectively convert CO₂ into valuable chemicals and fuels for industries. Among the many CO₂ conversion catalysts, Pd stands out as a promising catalyst for effective CO₂ to CO conversion. Here, using the misfit strain strategy, Ag@Pd bimetallic nanoparticles with different Pd overlayer contents were prepared as CO₂ reduction catalysts. By varying the Pd overlayer content, all the Ag@Pd bimetallic nanoparticles exhibited superior CO₂ conversion performance over their Pd and Ag nanoparticle counterparts. An optimal Pd-to-Ag ratio of 1.5 : 1 yielded the highest CO faradaic efficiency of 94.3% at -0.65 V vs. RHE with a high CO specific current density of 3.9 mA cm^-2. It was found that the Pd content can substantially affect the interplay between the strain effect and ligand effect, resulting in optimized binding properties of the reaction intermediates on the catalyst surface, thereby enhancing the CO₂ reduction performance.

Improved Anti-Vulcanization and Bonding Performance of a Silver Alloy Bonding Wire by a Cathodic Passivation Treatment with Palladium

As a traditional interconnect material, silver alloy bonding wires are widely used in electronic packaging, but their propensity to vulcanize quickly has not been sufficiently addressed. The current surface anti-oxidation and anti-sulfidation treatments are often accompanied by a decline in bonding performance, which hinders the use of silver alloy bonding wires in new applications. In the present paper, we develop a new cathodic passivation treatment in a Pd-containing solution for silver bonding wires, which not only significantly improves their vulcanization resistance, but also maintains their bonding performance. The surface of the treated wires remains unaffected after vulcanization in 0.3 μg/m³ of ammonium sulfide for 60 min. Compared to a Pd-free passivation treatment, the bonding strength of the wire passivated with the Pd-containing solution improves from 0.20 to 0.27 N. XPS analysis confirms the existence of Pd on the surface of the wire. The solder ball formed an obtuse angle instead of a sharp angle on the pad, which is beneficial for bonding strength.

Deposition of metallic silver from versatile amidinate precursors for use in functional materials

Silver (Ag) amidinate metal organic decomposition precursors of the type: [Ag2((ArN)2C(H))2] (Ar = 2,6-dimethylphenyl (1), 2,6-diethylphenyl (2) and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (3)) have been used for the first time in the deposition of Ag films on glass with multiple functionalities with potential application in optical/biological sensors or for use in electronic circuitry. Precursors 1–3 were isolated from the reaction of silver acetate with the appropriate ligand in a 1:2 stoichiometry and were characterized by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR, thermal gravimetric analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction for 2. Single-layer depositions at 200 °C on glass substrates via spin coating produced transparent (>90% transmittance) coatings, with well-defined Ag nanoparticles. Multi-layer depositions at 200 °C on glass had a metallic lustre and were found to be conductive ( ρ = 0.916–1.83 × 10−6 Ωm). All films were strongly adhered and displayed excellent coverage of the substrate. Ag films deposited from 1 to 3 were analysed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and scanning electron microscopy, with optical properties determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Mechanochemical Strategies for the Preparation of SiO2-Supported AgAu Nanoalloy Catalysts

Silver-gold nanoalloys were prepared from their metal salts precursors through bottom-up mechanochemical synthesis, using one-pot or galvanic replacement reaction strategies. The nanostructures were prepared over amorphous SiO2 as an inert supporting material, facilitating their stabilization without the use of any stabilizing agent. The nanomaterials were extensively characterized, confirming the formation of the bimetallic nanostructures. The nanoalloys were tested as catalysts in the hydrogenation of 2-nitroaniline and exhibited up to 4-fold the rate constant and up to 37% increased conversion compared to the respective single metal nanoparticles. Our approach is advantageous to produce nanoparticles with clean surfaces with available catalytic sites, directly in the solid-state and in an environmentally friendly manner.

New solutions for combatting implant bacterial infection based on silver nano-dispersed and gallium incorporated phosphate bioactive glass sputtered films: A preliminary study

Ag/Ga were incorporated into resorbable orthopaedic phosphate bioactive glasses (PBG, containing P, Ca, Mg, Na, and Fe) thin films to demonstrate their potential to limit growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in post-operative prosthetic implantation. Dual target consecutive co-sputtering was uniquely employed to produce a 46 nm Ag:PBG composite observed by high resolution TEM to consist of uniformly dispersed ~5 nm metallic Ag nano-particles in a glass matrix. Ga3+ was integrated into a phosphate glass preform target which was magnetron sputtered to film thicknesses of ~400 or 1400 nm. All coatings exhibited high surface energy of 75.4-77.3 mN/m, attributed to the presence of hydrolytic P-O-P structural surface bonds. Degradation profiles obtained in deionized water, nutrient broth and cell culture medium showed varying ion release profiles, whereby Ga release was measured in 1400 nm coating by ICP-MS to be ~6, 27, and 4 ppm respectively, fully dissolving by 24 h. Solubility of Ag nanoparticles was only observed in nutrient broth (~9 ppm by 24 h). Quantification of colony forming units after 24 h showed encouraging antibacterial efficacy towards both S. aureus (4-log reduction for Ag:PBG and 6-log reduction for Ga-PBG≈1400 nm) and E. coli (5-log reduction for all physical vapour deposited layers) strains. Human Hs27 fibroblast and mesenchymal stem cell line in vitro tests indicated good cytocompatibility for all sputtered layers, with a marginal cell proliferation inertia in the case of the Ag:PBG composite thin film. The study therefore highlights the (i) significant manufacturing development via the controlled inclusion of metallic nanoparticles into a PBG glass matrix by dual consecutive target co-sputtering and (ii) potential of PBG resorbable thin-film structures to incorporate and release cytocompatible/antibacterial oxides. Both architectures showed prospective bio-functional performance for a future generation of endo-osseous implant-type coatings.

Reduced graphene oxide-supported smart plasmonic AgPtPd porous nanoparticles for high-performance electrochemical detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Smart plasmonic AgPtPd NPs/rGO exhibited a wide linear range for TNT from 0.1 to 8 ppm with a sensing limit of 0.95 ppb. The remarkable features are probably attributed to the integrated advantages of the plasmonic properties and synergistic effect.

Ternary hybrid CuO-PMA-Ag sub-1 nm nanosheet heterostructures

Multi-component two-dimensional (2D) hybrid sub-1 nm heterostructures could potentially possess many novel properties. Controlling the site-selective distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) at the edge of 2D hybrid nanomaterial substrates is desirable but it remains a great challenge. Herein, we realized for the first time the preparation of ternary hybrid CuO-phosphomolybdic acid-Ag sub-1 nm nanosheet heterostructures (CuO-PMA-Ag THSNHs), where the Ag NPs selectively distributed at the edge of 2D hybrid CuO-PMA sub-1 nm nanosheets (SNSs). And the obtained CuO-PMA-Ag THSNHs as the catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity in alkene epoxidation. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that the SNSs interact with Ag NPs to form stable nanoheterostructures. This work would pave the way for the synthesis and broader applications of multi-component 2D hybrid sub-1 nm heterostructures.

Hybrid Layers of Donor-Acceptor Copolymers with Homogenous Silver Nanoparticle Coverage for Photonic Applications

Hybrid layers of donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers containing N,N′-dialkylperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxydiimide electron-acceptor units covered with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were prepared by electrochemical doping of pristine layers during reduction processes. In situ optical absorption spectra of the layers were recorded during the formation of Ag-NP coverage. The hybrid layers were characterized by absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In the absorption spectra of the hybrid layers, a surface plasmon band characteristic of Ag-NPs appeared. Significant improvements in light absorption due to the plasmonic effects of Ag NPs were observed. Stable Ag-NPs with an average diameter of 41–63 nm were formed on the surface, as proven by SEM and XPS. The Ag-NP coverage and size depended on the hybrid layer preparation conditions and on the copolymer composition. The metallic character of the Ag-NPs was proven by XPS. The location in the surface layer was further confirmed by EDX analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on such hybrid layers having the potential for a variety of photonic and electronic applications.

Bimetallic alloy and semiconductor support synergistic interaction effects for superior electrochemical catalysis

The design and fabrication of economically viable anode catalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) have been challenging issues in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) over the decades. In this work, a composite electrochemical catalyst of Pd-coupled Ag and ZnO for the possible replacement of expensive Pt catalysts in DMFCs is successfully prepared. The as-made Pd@Ag/ZnO exhibits specific activity, which is 1.8-fold, 2.8-fold, and 4.6-fold higher than that of a Pd/ZnO catalyst, 20% Pd/C catalyst and Pd black, respectively. The improvement of the catalytic mechanism is likely due to the synergistic interaction between Pd@Ag and ZnO. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation results confirm that Ag doped into Pd weakens the adsorption of CO, dramatically improving the capability to resist CO poisoning.

A Trinuclear Zinc Coordination Cluster Exhibiting Fluorescence, Colorimetric Sensitivity, and Recycling of Silver Ion and Detection of Cupric Ion

The detection and reusage of transition-metal ions play a crucial role in human health and environmental protection. Recently, various analytical methods and substances have been successfully applied to probe or sense silver ions; however, rare representative examples have been presented regarding the simultaneous detection of silver and silver recycling with the elemental silver powder form. Herein, an unparalleled sensing mechanism for silver ions and recycling silver in its elemental form is exemplified by a fluorescent trinuclear zinc coordination cluster possessing the dual function of colorimetric sensing of silver and responding cupric ions. A Schiff-base-based trinuclear zinc coordination cluster, 1, with formula Zn₃(L₁)₂(CH₃COO)₂(H₂O)₂, has been successfully synthesized by the initial exploration of multidentate ligand H₂L₁-((E)-2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzy-lidene)amino)phenol) with various metal ions under self-assembly reactions. Complex 1 is highly fluorescent in solution and as a solid, in addition to acting as a fluorescence sensor toward Ag^I in ethanol media. Compound 1 displays distinctive sensing of Ag^I through the fluorescence quenching effect at 576 nm and signal augment at 446 nm over 11 kinds of cations in the absence of interference. The proposed sensing mechanism is attributed to the ligands in 1 which interact with Ag^I; the ligands undergo oxidation cyclization reaction, leading to the formation of 2 with the formula Zn₃(L₂)₄(CH₃COO)₂·2CH₃CH₂OH·H₂O, and Ag^I reduction to elemental Ag powder. Compound 1 presents specific selectivity and sensitivity for Ag^I in ethanolic solution with a detection limit of 0.1722 μM. The orange color of 1 changes to colorless during the mixing of a small amount of Ag^I, revealing its potential practical application in naked-eye detection of Ag^I. Furthermore, 2 exhibits obvious fluorescence emission at 448 nm (λ_ex = 380 nm) and selectively responds to Cu^II over 11 kinds of metal ions with the fluorescence "turn-off" owing to the formation of 3 in ethanolic solution; it also has a detection limit of 0.0226 μM.

On-site formation of small Ag nanoparticles on superhydrophobic mesoporous silica for antibacterial application

A superhydrophobic mesoporous silica material loaded with on-site formed small Ag nanoparticles has been prepared via surface modification with octadecylsilane (C₁₈H₃₇SiH₃) and subsequent reduction of silver ions with residual hydrido groups on-site.

Synergistic Enhancement Effect for Boosting Raman Detection Sensitivity of Antibiotics

In this paper, a two-step method is used to prepare a regenerative three-dimensional (3D) ZnO/Ag@Au substrate for developing a superior sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method for detecting antibiotics. A great electromagnetic enhancement is observed from the as-prepared composite substrate, which is triggered by tuning the electron distribution of metals and semiconductor metal oxide. The strong interaction between target sample and the huge surface area of ZnO/Ag@Au composite promotes the charge transfer to produce promising chemical enhancement. The synergistic physical and chemical enhancement mechanisms are validated by density functional theory and finite difference time domain simulation. Additionally, the presence of light "echo effect" in the 3D structure of ZnO support could also amplify the efficiency of light excitation for Raman scattering. The above-stated merits benefit to boost the Raman scattering detection sensitivity for real samples. The ZnO/Ag@Au-based SERS substrate could detect rhodamine 6G molecules with an enhancement factor of up to 1.48 × 10⁹ and the lowest detectable concentration of 10^-10 M. As a real application, antibiotics sulfapyridine in milk is determined by using the proposed SERS protocol, and the limit of detection at 1 × 10^-9 M could be reached. As a prospective, the ZnO/Ag@Au-based SERS method would be extended for food safety and biomedicine analysis.

Separation of Ag and Cu from Their Aqueous Thiosulfate Complexes by UV-C Irradiation

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of thiosulfate as a substitute for cyanide in silver leaching. Copper thiosulfate leaching without ammonia was applied to extract silver from silver sulfide, resulting in the production of Ag–Cu polymetallic thiosulfate complexes in solutions. It is necessary to separate Ag–Cu polymetallic thiosulfate complexes with the purposes of silver recovery and copper recycling. In this paper, the feasibility study on the use of UV-C irradiation to separate Ag–Cu polymetallic thiosulfate complexes was investigated based on the different photosensitivity of silver and copper. First, a kinetic study on the photolysis of silver and copper thiosulfate complexes by UV-C was investigated, indicating that the reactions follow first-order kinetics. The rate constant reactions were calculated, and it decreased with solution concentrations. On the other hand, the photoproducts of the silver and copper thiosulfate complexes were characterized by XRD and XPS in order to confirm the phase and chemical composition. It indicated that the silver photoproducts are Ag2S, S, Ag and the copper photoproducts are Cu2S, CuS, CuO, Cu, S. Finally, the four-step continuous separation of Ag–Cu polymetallic thiosulfate complexes by UV-C irradiation was investigated. The silver component was recovered with the accumulated recovery ratio of 97%, and the copper component was recycled with the accumulated recycle ratio of 51%, which made it possible for silver recovery and copper recycling.

Selective photoresponse of plasmonic silver nanoparticle decorated Bi2Se3 nanosheets

The plasmon-enhanced photoresponse properties of a Ag nanoparticle decorated Bi₂Se₃ nanosheet (AGBS)/p-Si heterojunction device have been studied. The Ag nanoparticles, Bi₂Se₃ nanosheets, and AGBS nanocomposite are synthesized chemically. Microscopic investigations, ultimately of the AGBS nanocomposite, reveal that the Bi₂Se₃ nanosheets of thickness ∼20 nm and lateral dimension ∼1 μm are decorated with Ag nanoparticles of sizes 20-40 nm in the nanocomposite. The x-ray diffraction pattern of AGBS shows that apart from being in a metallic state, the Ag in the AGBS is also in the form of compounds with Bi, Se, and additionally O. This observation is further complemented by the x-ray photoelectron spectrum, which shows the presence of Ag⁰ and Ag⁺ states of Ag in AGBS. The UV-visible absorption spectra show the plasmonic peak of the Ag nanoparticles occurs at 420 nm; the peak is shifted to ∼500 nm in AGBS due to the modified dielectric environment of the nanoparticles. The AGBS/p-Si heterojunction shows excellent photoresponse properties, with a responsivity of 0.28 A/W, a fairly high detectivity of 4 × 10¹⁰ Jones, and an EQE of 71% under 10 V reverse bias at a 500 nm wavelength. The plasmon enhanced photoresponse at the selective wavelength makes this material attractive for high performance optoelectronic devices.

A functional Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite solar selective absorber with antimicrobial activity by photochemical reduction process

A functional nanocomposite coating developed by wet chemical route in a photochemical reduction process will be a good candidate for low temperature solar thermal application. The low-temperature curable cermet comprises of two different type of nanoparticles, generated by photocatalytic reduction of silver ions under the sunlight with the aid of crystalline TiO₂ (~8 nm) nanoparticles. The optimized base absorber layer of Ag-TiO₂ nanocomposite exhibited absorptance (α) of 0.90 and emittance (ε) of 0.18 at 200 °C. Further to improve the optical properties a second layer of MgF₂ has been added to get high selective (α/ε = 0.93/0.19 at 200 °C) nature. In addition, the coating was demonstrated to possess an antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The presented work will provide a new insight into the spectrally selective absorbers and its antimicrobial nature, which may useful for water disinfection, hot water, industrial heating and swimming pool applications.

Aqueous synthesis of highly monodisperse sub-100 nm AgCl nanospheres/cubes and their plasmonic nanomesh replicas as visible-light photocatalysts and single SERS probes

Despite the distinctive electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of nanostructured silver chloride (AgCl), the shape- and size-dependence of their properties have not been thoroughly investigated to date. The most substantial reason responsible for this incomplete study and the subsequent limited applications is the failure in controlling the structure of AgCl nanomaterials, mainly owing to the challenging synthetic conditions including organic phase and high reaction temperature. In this work, we reported a rapid one-pot room-temperature aqueous synthesis of highly monodisperse sub-100 nm AgCl nanomaterials with various shapes and sizes by controlling the precursor (Ag⁺ and AuCl₄ ^-) ratios. The remaining unreacted metal precursors (Ag⁺ and AuCl₄ ^-) used to produce AgClNC were subsequently reduced by ascorbic acid on the surface of the synthesized AgCl nanomaterials to form Ag/Au bimetallic nanomesh structures (AgClNC#AuAgCMs and SMs). After the removal of the AgCl nanotemplates, only nanomesh structures (AuAgCMs and SMs) were obtained. Importantly, we successfully decreased the size of the AgCl nanomaterials which were replicated into bimetallic spherical and cubic nanomesh structures that were small enough (∼100 nm) to show intense surface-plasmon-absorption bands. Based on these unique chemical and physical properties, we could take advantage of the plasmonic photocatalysis properties of the complex comprising semiconducting AgCl/metallic nanomesh replica for the complete removal of the environmentally harmful Cr⁶⁺ in the presence of sacrificial agents such as formic acid. Finally, the novel bimetallic nanomesh structures proved themselves to exhibit intense surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties in a single-particle enhancing the electromagnetic field.

Development of noncytotoxic silver-chitosan nanocomposites for efficient control of biofilm forming microbes

Severe bacterial and fungal infections have become a major clinical and public health concern. Nowadays, additional efforts are needed to develop effective antimicrobial materials that are not harmful to human cells. This work describes the synthesis and characterization of chitosan-ascorbic acid-silver nanocomposites as films exhibiting high antimicrobial activity and non-cytotoxicity towards human cells. The reductive and stabilizing activity of both the biocompatible polymer chitosan and ascorbic acid were used in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Herein, we propose an improved composite synthesis based on medium average molecular weight chitosan with a high deacetylation degree, that together with ascorbic acid gave films with a uniform distribution of small AgNPs (<10 nm) exhibiting high antimicrobial activity against biofilm forming bacterial and fungal strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. At the same time, the resulting solid nanocomposites showed, at the same doses, reduced or totally excluded cytotoxicity on mammalian somatic and tumoral cells. Data obtained in the present study suggest that adequately designed chitosan-silver nanocomposites are powerful and promising materials for reducing pathogenic microorganism-associated infections without harmful effects towards mammalian cells.

Silver-nanoparticles-modified biomaterial surface resistant to staphylococcus: new insight into the antimicrobial action of silver

Titanium implants are widely used clinically, but postoperative implant infection remains a potential severe complication. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of nano-silver(Ag)-functionalized Ti surfaces against epidemic Staphylococcus from the perspective of the regulation of biofilm-related genes and based on a bacteria-cell co-culture study. To achieve this goal, two representative epidemic Staphylococcus strains, Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis, RP62A) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, USA 300), were used, and it was found that an Ag-nanoparticle-modified Ti surface could regulate the expression levels of biofilm-related genes (icaA and icaR for S. epidermidis; fnbA and fnbB for S. aureus) to inhibit bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. Moreover, a novel bacteria-fibroblast co-culture study revealed that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles on such a surface can help mammalian cells to survive, adhere and spread more successfully than Staphylococcus. Therefore, the modified surface was demonstrated to possess a good anti-infective capability against both sessile bacteria and planktonic bacteria through synergy between the effects of Ag nanoparticles and ion release. This work provides new insight into the antimicrobial action and mechanism of Ag-nanoparticle-functionalized Ti surfaces with bacteria-killing and cell-assisting capabilities and paves the way towards better satisfying the clinical needs.

Hydrogenation of nitroarenes into aromatic amines over Ag@BCN colloidal catalysts

The present work reports that two-dimension layered ternary boron carbon nitrogen nanosheets can serve as good carriers to support and disperse noble metal nanoparticles. The Ag@BCN colloids have thus been prepared by attaching Ag nanoparticles on the surfaces of BCN nanosheets. The detailed structures of the Ag@BCN samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that the surface NH groups of BCN nanosheets are beneficial for the attachment of Ag nanopaprticles. Compared with the conventional organic capping compounds, the two dimensional planar BCN nanosheets endow the attached nanoparticle with the high active surfaces. Moreover, the hydrogenation of nitroarenes into the corresponding aromatic amines can be highly achieved over Ag@BCN colloids by NaBH4. In particular, the apparent activation energy of the conversion reaction of p-nitroaniline to p-phenylenediamine was found to be 76.0kJ/mol over the Ag@BCN colloids with 3wt% Ag content. Our results may provide a new approach for the design noble metal based composites and find the practical application for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

Green and Tunable Decoration of Graphene with Spherical Nanoparticles Based on Laser Ablation in Water: A Case of Ag Nanoparticle/Graphene Oxide Sheet Composites

A simple and green strategy is presented to decorate graphene with nanoparticles, based on laser ablation of targets in graphene auqeous solution. Ag and graphene oxide (GO) are chosen as model materials. The surface of GO sheets is strongly anchored with spherical Ag nanoparticles. The density and size of the Ag nanoparticles can be easily tuned by laser ablation conditions. Further, the GO sheets can be decorated with other nanoparticles from simple metals or semiconductors to multicomponent hybrids. Additionally, the Ag nanoparticle/GO sheet colloids can be utilized as blocks to build three-dimensional structures, such as sandwich membranes by evaporation-induced self-assembly. These graphene-based composite materials could be very useful in catalysis, sensors, and nanodevices. Particularly, the Ag nanoparticle/GO sheet sandwich composite membranes exhibit excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering performance and possess the huge potential in trace-detecting persistent organic pollutants in the environment.

Synthesis of (Ag,F)-modified anatase TiO2 nanosheets and their enhanced photocatalytic activity

The strong interactions between Ag nanoparticles and TiO₂ nanosheets can improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanosheets.

Sustainable synthesis of highly efficient sunlight-driven Ag embedded AgCl photocatalysts

Microbe-free broth synthesis was performed under solar light to give Ag nanoparticle embedded AgCl in 5 minutes with superior performance than P25 for organic pollutant degradation.

Silver nanoparticle aggregates by room temperature electron reduction: preparation and characterization

Silver nanoparticle aggregates were fabricated on AAO substrate via room temperature electron reduction. Their color depends on the size of the aggregate, rather than on the size of single AgNPs.