Search results for "nanoparticle"
showing 10 items of 2198 documents
The Role of Nanocrystal Symmetry in the Crossover Region from Molecular to Metallic Gold Nanoparticles
2019
There is a wide-spread interest to design ambient-stable gold nanoparticles with tailored physico-chemical properties for applications in several areas such as plasmonics, nanomedicine, catalysis, biological imaging, sensing, and nanoelectronics. It has been known for a long time that optical response of gold nanoparticles changes drastically in a cross-over region from 150 to 250 gold atoms, from a “molecule-like” to “metallic” behavior, but insufficient knowledge of atomic structures has precluded detailed computational studies on the underlying mechanisms. Here, we analyze the electronic structure and optical and chiroptical properties of recently reported gold nanoparticles of 144, 146,…
Light trapping by plasmonic nanoparticles
2020
Abstract Metallic nanoparticles sustaining localized surface plasmon resonances are of great interest for enhancing light trapping in thin film photovoltaics. In this chapter, we explore the correlation between the structural and optical properties of self-assembled silver nanostructures fabricated by a solid-state dewetting process on various substrates relevant for silicon photovoltaics and later integrated into plasmonic back reflectors. Our study allows us to optimize the performance of nanostructures by identifying the fabrication conditions in which desirable circular and uniformly spaced nanoparticles are obtained. Second, we introduce a novel optoelectronic spectroscopic method that…
Au-ZnO Nanocomposite Films for Plasmonic Photocatalysis
2015
Nanocomposites based on plasmonic nanoparticles and metal-oxide semiconductors are emerging as promising materials for conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. In this work, a Au–ZnO nanocomposite film with notably enhanced photocatalytic activity is successfully prepared by a single-step process. Both ZnO and Au nanoparticles are synthesized in situ during baking of the film spin-coated from a solution of Zn(CH3COO)2 and HAuCl4. Furthermore, it is shown that this precursor solution can be formulated as a nanoink for the generation of micropatterns by microplotter printing, opening the way for the miniaturization of devices with enhanced properties for photocatalysis, optoelectronic…
Plasmonic nanostructures for light trapping in photovoltaic
Metallic nanoparticles (NPs), sustaining localized surface plasmon resonances, are currently of great interest for enhancing light trapping in thin film solar cells. To be directly applicable in the photovoltaic industry, the NPs fabrication needs to be simple, reliable, low-cost and scalable. As such, self-assembly processes are most commonly used, and Ag is the preferred material, due to its high radiative efficiency and low imaginary permittivity. After exploring the correlation between structural and optical properties of Ag NPs fabricated by solid- state dewetting process on various substrates, we identified the fabrication conditions in which desirable NPs are obtained, but we also e…
Development of polymer-based nanoparticles for Zileuton delivery to the lung : PMeOx and PMeOzi surface chemistry reduces interactions with mucins
2021
In this paper, two amphiphilic graft copolymers were synthesized by grafting polylactic acid (PLA) as hydrophobic chain and poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMeOx) or poly(2-methyl-2-oxazine) (PMeOzi) as hydrophilic chain, respectively, to a backbone of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA). These original graft copolymers were used to prepare nanoparticles delivering Zileuton in inhalation therapy. Among various tested methods, direct nanoprecipitation proved to be the best technique to prepare nanoparticles with the smallest dimensions, the narrowest dimensional distribution and a spherical shape. To overcome the size limitations for administration by inhalation, the nano-into-micr…
Highly selective and sensitive chromo-fluorogenic detection of the Tetryl explosive using functional silica nanoparticles
2011
Silica nanoparticles containing polyamines and thiol groups have been used as probes for the selective detection of Tetryl. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
SPIONs embedded in polyamino acid nanogels to synergistically treat tumor microenvironment and breast cancer cells.
2018
Abstract The extremely complex tumor microenvironment (TME) in humans is the major responsible for the therapeutic failure in cancer nanomedicine. A new concept of disease-driven nanomedicine, henceforth named “Theranomics”, which attempts to target cancer cells and TME on the whole, represents an attractive alternative. Herein, a nanomedicine able to co-deliver doxorubicin and a tumor suppressive proteolytic protein such as collagenase-2 was developed. We successfully obtained superparamagnetic nanogels (SPIONs/Doco@Col) via the intermolecular azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition. We demonstrated that a local ECM degradation and remodeling in solid tumors by means of collagenase-2 could enha…
2019
Lamella-forming ABC triblock terpolymers are convenient building blocks for the synthesis of soft Janus nanoparticles (JNPs) by crosslinking the B domain that is “sandwiched” between A and C lamellae. Despite thorough synthetic variation of the B fraction to control the geometry of the sandwiched microphase, so far only Janus spheres, cylinders, and sheets have been obtained. In this combined theoretical and experimental work, we show that the blending of polybutadiene homopolymer (hPB) into lamella morphologies of polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polymethylmethacrylate (SBM) triblock terpolymers allows the continuous tuning of the polybutadiene (PB) microphase. We systematically vary …
Gold nanoparticles grown on a hydrophobic and texturally tunable PDMS-like framework
2021
Mesoporous silicas are among the most suitable high-surface area solids to support small-sized metal clusters and nanoparticles. Unfortunately, the instability of silica in water constitutes a serious impediment for its widespread use and large implementation as a catalytic support for fine chemical synthesis and for biomass upgrading in the context of biorefineries. While end cupping silanols provides a way for delaying framework degradation, further investigations are needed to design more robust, water-resistant supports. Prompted by the success of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in surface coating and water-repellent technologies, we herein explore the transformation of triethoxysilyl-funct…
Bioinspired catechol-terminated self-assembled monolayers with enhanced adhesion properties
2013
The role of the catechol moiety in the adhesive properties of mussel proteins and related synthetic materials has been extensively studied in the last years but still remains elusive. Here, a simplified model approach is presented based on a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of upward-facing catechols thiol-bound to epitaxial gold substrates. The orientation of the catechol moieties is confirmed by spectroscopy, which also showed lack of significant amounts of interfering o-quinones. Local force-distance curves on the SAM measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) shows an average adhesion force of 45 nN, stronger than that of a reference polydopamine coating, along with higher reproducibility …