Plant mediated green synthesis and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles using Crataegus douglasii fruit extract

In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the Crataegus douglasii fruit extract as a reducing agent. The reaction process was monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy. Further characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To optimize the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, the effect of process variables such as extract concentrations, mixing ratio of the reactants, time and pH were also investigated. The SEM images showed silver nanoparticles with 29.28 nm size and nearly spherical shape at 24 h interaction time. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was confirmed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.     

Plant mediated green biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Vitex negundo L. extract

In the present study silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized from aqueous silver nitrate through a biosynthetic route using water extract of Vitex negundo L. extract which acted as a reductant and stabilizer agents, simultaneously. Formations of Ag/V. negundo were determined by UV–vis spectroscopy where surface plasmon absorption maxima can be observed at 423–432 nm. The XRD analysis shows that the Ag-NPs are of face centered cubic structure. TEM images show the well dispersed of Ag-NPs with average particle size less than 20 nm. The FT-IR spectrum indicates the presence of V. negundo in capping with silver nanoparticles.     

Biofilm-inactivating activity of silver nanoparticles: A comparison with silver ions

The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 planktonic and biofilm bacteria was examined; their activity was compared with that of silver ions. The inactivation of biofilms by AgNPs was greatly influenced by stirring, which caused an increased AgNP biosorption. Although the activity of AgNPs against planktonic cells was ca. 10% that of silver ions, their activity against biofilm cells was comparable to the silver ions’ activity at the same concentration after 90 min under stirring (ca. 3.5 log inactivation). AgNPs inactivated biofilms in a biosorption-dependent manner, whereas this was not the case for silver ions.     

Direct preparation of silver nanoparticles and thin films in CO2-expanded hexane

Small, uniform and suspended silver nanoparticles were directly prepared in CO₂-expanded hexane by reducing a synthesized metal precursor, silver isostearate, with hydrogen but without introducing additional capping agents. By increasing CO₂ pressure, the suspended silver nanoparticles could be further deposited on a solid substrate to form silver thin film via gas antisolvent and the subsequent supercritical drying processes. The silver thin films prepared by the aforementioned method possessed a uniform thickness of about 150 nm without surface cracking and low electrical resistivity (5.64 × 10⁻⁶ Ω cm) after applying an annealing process. Due to the deposition of nano-sized silver particles, the annealing temperature could be as low as 175 °C that is lower than the softening points of many transparent polymeric substrates used for fabrication of flexible conductive films.     

Biomimetic fabrication of mulberry-like nano-hydroxyapatite with high specific surface area templated by dual-hydrophilic block copolymer

Novel porous and mulberry-like hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles with three-dimensionally hierarchical microstructures were developed by using the dual-hydrophilic block copolymer poly(methacrylate acid)-b-poly[N-(2-methacryloylxyethyl) pyrrolidone] (PMAA-b-PNMP) as the template. It was found that the morphology and Ca/P ratio of synthesized HAp was highly related to the concentration of block copolymer and solution pH, respectively. The morphological evolution of HAp nanoparticles in different conditions was investigated systematically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The possible mechanism of PMAA-b-PNMP assisted mulberry-like HAp formation was also proposed based on the time-dependent TEM results. Attributing to the high specific surface area (SSA) of 119 m² g⁻¹, these mulberry-like HAp nanoparticles exhibited excellent adsorption ability for Congo Red (CR). The maximum adsorption capacity was 467 mg g⁻¹ according to the Langmuir monolayer adsorption model.     

Preparation of cetylpyridinium montmorillonite for antibacterial applications

The antibacterial activities of cetylpyridinium-montmorillonites (CP⁺-Mt) were tested on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Mt were prepared by using the five different CP⁺ amounts of 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times of cation exchange capacities (CEC) of Na⁺-Mt. Desorption of CP⁺ from the surface was also determined by successive adsorption–desorption experiments. The antibacterial activity tests were conducted by using Na⁺-Mt and CP⁺-Mt through the disk diffusion (Kirby–Bauer) method against the P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and S. aureus ATCC 29213 strains. XRD analyses of the CP⁺-Mt showed that basal spacing regularly increased by increasing the amount of CP⁺ cations. Adsorption/desorption studies revealed that desorption occurred only in 2.0 CEC CP⁺-Mt by dilution with water and in 1.0 CEC CP⁺-Mt at a pH of 2.0. Na⁺-Mt exhibited no antibacterial activity against both bacteria. All of the CP⁺-Mt samples prepared were active against S. aureus, whereas they had no antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was found to be 1 mg/plate against S. aureus, determined with 0.5 CEC CP⁺-Mt. Because nearly no desorption of CP⁺ was observed, the antibacterial activity was attributed to the CP⁺ bound to the Mt surface.     

One-step electrodeposition synthesis of silver-nanoparticle-decorated graphene on indium-tin-oxide for enzymeless hydrogen peroxide detection

Silver-nanoparticles-decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was electrodeposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) by a cyclic voltammetry method. The results of X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared transmission spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the simultaneous formation of cubic phase silver nanoparticles and reduction of GO through the electrodeposition process. Field emission scanning electron microscope images showed a uniform distribution of nanometer-sized silver nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution on the RGO sheets, which could only be achieved using silver ammonia complex instead of silver nitrate as precursor. The composite deposited on ITO exhibited notable electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of H₂O₂, leading to an enzymeless electrochemical sensor with a fast amperometric response time less than 2 s. The corresponding calibration curve of the current response showed a linear detection range of 0.1–100 mM (R² = 0.9992) while the limit of detection was estimated to be 5 μM.     

Structural and electrical properties of ZnO:Ag core-shell nanoparticles synthesized by a polymer precursor method

Monodispersed core-shell type ZnO:Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by a polymer precursor method and their structural and electrical properties were reported in detail. The synthesis technique involves a sol-gel type chemical reaction between aqueous solutions of poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA), sucrose and Zn²⁺ salt. The Zn²⁺-PVA-sucrose polymer precursor powders so obtained after the reaction was further explored for the synthesis of ZnO:Ag nanoparticles. The key part of the work lies in the use of polymer coated ZnO nanoparticles as templates to obtain the ZnO core-Ag shell type nanostructures. Structural and spectroscopic analyses of the derived samples were performed with X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD patterns of the ZnO:Ag nanoparticles consist of distinct peaks corresponding to the hexagonal wurtzite type (space group P63mc) crystal structure of ZnO along with the typical peaks of face centered cubic crystal structure of metallic silver. EDS and XPS analyses confirmed the chemical composition and surface structure of the core-shell nanoparticles. Microstructural analysis revealed the monodispersed platelet shaped ZnO nanoparticles with a thin layer of Ag coating on the surface. UV–visible diffuse reflectance studies revealed the effects of Ag coating on the optical properties of the samples. Detail analysis of the dielectric properties of the samples were performed as a function of frequency (1 Hz to 10 MHz) and temperature (300–528 K) to investigate the electrical conduction mechanism in the samples.     

The reduction of silver nitrate with various polyaniline salts to polyaniline–silver composites

A conducting polymer, emeraldine form of polyaniline (PANI), reduces silver nitrate to metallic silver. The composites of PANI and silver have been prepared at equimolar proportion of reactants. Seven acids, representing inorganic and organic acids, have been used to protonate PANI. The acids were selected with respect to their chemical indifference or the ability to precipitate or reduce silver(I) ions. The PANI–silver composites differed in the conductivity from 1.7 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 when PANI phosphate was used as a substrate to 22.8 S cm^?1 for PANI hydrochloride at comparable silver contents, 24 and 27 wt.%. The protonation state of PANI in PANI–silver composites was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. The composites contained spherical silver nanoparticles of 40–80 nm in size and also macroscopic particles, irrespective of PANI entering the reaction.     

A hybrid microreactor/microwave high-pressure flow system of a novel concept design and its application to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles

This article reports on a microreactor/microwave high-pressure flow hybrid apparatus of a novel concept design, which includes both the microreactor and a spiral reactor, and its efficient use in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles of relatively uniform sizes (4.3 ± 0.7 nm) under microwave irradiation. By contrast, under otherwise identical experimental conditions but with conventional heating, the nanoparticle size was non-uniform (8.3 ± 2.7 nm) and the spiral reactor walls were covered with a silver mirror deposit. Formation of the nanoparticles was monitored by UV–visible spectroscopy (plasmonic absorption band; LSPR), TEM and by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Both the spiral microreactor and the spiral quartz reactor of the hybrid system played an important role in the synthesis, with the microreactor providing the environment wherein mixing of the aqueous solution of [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ and the solution of glucose (the reducing agent) and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP; stabilizer/dispersing agent) occurred. The microwaves provided the thermal energy to effect a uniform growth of the silver nanoparticles at temperatures above 120 °C. Mixing the two solutions by conventional methods (no microreactor) failed to yield such nanoparticles even under microwave irradiation and no formation of a silver mirror occurred in the inner walls of the spiral reactor.     

Divalent silver oxide-diatomite hybrids: Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial activity

To produce better antibacterial and low water-soluble submicron powders of divalent silver oxide (AgO), divalent silver oxide-diatomite (AgO-d) hybrids were studied. AgO-d hybrids were prepared by chemical oxidation, using silver nitrate and diatomite as raw materials and potassium persulfate as oxidant. The results show that AgO-d hybrids with AgO weight percentage up to 20.8% are obtained by oxidation of Ag⁺ adsorbing on diatomite in alkaline solution (n(KOH)/n(AgNO₃)=7.5) for 1.5 h at 333.15 K. Products were characterized by laser particle sizer, SEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). AgO-d hybrids are composed of tetragonal cristobalite, amorphous silica, monoclinic divalent silver oxide and a few of cubic silver oxide. Element Ag can be released from AgO-d hybrids but the dissolution speed is slow, which is about 3.20×10^?2 mg (L h)^?1. Antibacterial effectiveness of AgO-d hybrids was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus ATCC6538) and Escherichia coli (E. coli ATCC8099) by the shake-flask method. Results show that AgO-d hybrids possess excellent antibacterial properties. When the concentration of AgO-d hybrids is 10 mg L^?1 and the contact time with S. aureus and E. coli is 30 min, the bactericidal rates reach up to 99.974% and 99.944%, respectively.     

Use and recycling of Ca-alginate biocatalyst for removal of phenol from wastewater

The objective of the current work is the exhaustive study of the phenol degradation potential in both free cell and immobilized bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in calcium alginate beads (biocatalyst) was investigated for its ability to grow and degrade phenol as its sole source of carbon and energy.The biodegradation assays were performed in liquid medium with phenol being the only substrate. It was found that P. aeruginosa is able to degrade phenol up to 500 mg L^?1 in 50 h as free cell and 900 mg L^?1 in 80 h when immobilized in the calcium alginate beads. However, for 1200 mg L^?1 concentration, the immobilized cells took much more time (290 h) for a complete degradation.The reuse of these beads in different concentrations of phenol (100–900 mg L^?1) showed that the cells keep their phenol degradation ability up to 900 mg L^?1in 78.5 h with 99% removal efficiency.Similarly, the reuse of the biocatalyst in the same initial phenol concentration (500 mg L^?1), allows us to get 9 cycles.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic characterization of D/A structure compound based on N-substituted phenothiazine and benzothiadiazole

In this study, poly [(N-10′-dodecyl-phenothizin-3,7-ylene)-alt-(2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl)] (P1) and poly [(N-10′-dodecyl-phenothiazin-3,7-ylene)-alt-(5′,6′-dioctyloxy-benzothiadiazole-bithiophene)] (P2) were synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction. Optical and electrochemical characteristics of the synthesized polymers, P1 and P2, were then analyzed, indicating that their wavelength of maximum absorption was 453 nm and 533 nm, respectively, and their band-gap was 1.93 eV and 1.74 eV, respectively. The maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic photovoltaic cells created by using P1 and P2 were 0.74% (P1:PC₇₁BM = 1:4,w/w) and 1.00% (P2:PC₇₁BM = 1:3,w/w), respectively, and the short circuit current density (J_SC), fill factor (FF), and open circuit voltage (V_OC) of the device were 3.5 mA/cm², 31.8%, and 0.68 V, respectively, for P1 and 3.9 mA/cm², 32.7%, and 0.78 V, respectively, for P2.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic investigations of non-isothermal decomposition process of a commercial silver nitrate in an argon atmosphere used as the precursors for ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP): The mechanistic approach

The non-isothermal decomposition process of commercial silver nitrate used as the precursor for the USP procedure was investigated by simultaneous TGA–DTA measurements at different heating rates, in an argon atmosphere. Detailed kinetic and thermodynamic analyses, with special emphasis on the formation of a complete mechanistic scheme of the process were performed. It was found that the process under study can be described by the acceleratory power law kinetic model (P2), in the range of the extent of conversion (α) values (0.15 ≤ α ≤ 0.85), where the value of the apparent activation energy (E_a) can be considered as the constant (141.3 kJ mol⁻¹). The kinetic prediction analysis was shown that only the power law kinetic model (f(α) = 2α^1/2) gives the value of E_a which is consistent with the value obtained from the isothermal conditions. The critical temperature (T_c) of decomposition process was determined. The resulting value of T_c was in fairly good agreement with the starting temperature of thermal decomposition of silver oxide (Ag₂O). The thermodynamic functions of decomposition process are calculated by the activated complex theory and showed that the silver–oxygen bond secession can be interpreted as a “slow” stage of the decomposition process.     

Silver nanoparticles in polyvinylpyrrolidone grafted natural rubber

Polyvinylpyrrolidone grafted natural rubber (PVP-g-NR) latex was used as matrix to synthesize silver nanoparticles. The average diameter of the silver nanoparticles is 4.1 nm. The modified natural rubber was previously formed via in situ polymerization of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) in natural rubber latex (NRL) using cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) as a redox initiator. The evidence of PVP grafted rubber particles was demonstrated by extraction as well as gravimetric and FTIR studies. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of the Ag⁺/PVP-g-NR films after exposure to UV light, revealed distinct layers comprised of PVP-stabilized silver particles surrounding the rubber particle. This confirms the grafting of PVP, which stabilizes the silver particles as well as the rubber particles in a role that is similar to that of the protein in our previous work.     

Electrostatic self-assembly of graphene–silver multilayer films and their transmittance and electronic conductivity

By alternating deposition of graphene oxide (GO) sheets and silver nitrate by means of an electrostatic self-assembly method, a GO–Ag⁺ film was prepared. After thermal annealing, a graphene–silver nanoparticle (GE–Ag) multilayer film, with high transparency and electrically conductivity, was obtained. The transmittance of a film with four assembly cycles was 86.3%, at a wavelength of 550 nm, better than that of a pure GE film (73.8%). While the surface resistance was 97 kΩ □^?1, much lower than that of a pure GE film (430 kΩ □^?1). The Ag nanoparticles play a crucial role in improving the properties of the GE–Ag film, acting as conductive paths and light-trapping nanoparticles, which not only reduces the reflection of the film, but also prevents the GE sheets from aggregation and provides conductive paths between sheets, improving the electrical conductivity.     

Functionalized hectorite clay mineral for Ag(I) ions extraction from wastewater and preparation of silver nanoparticles supported clay

A novel clay mineral-based adsorbent for Ag(I) ions extraction was obtained by modifying hectorite with 2-(3-(2-aminoethylthio)propylthio)ethanamine (AEPE-hectorite). The modified hectorite was used to recover Ag(I) ions from wastewater for further preparation of silver nanoparticles supported hectorite. The parameters affecting silver ions extraction by AEPE-hectorite were investigated. The adsorbent could extract Ag(I) ions from solution in a wide pH range (1–8) and high extraction efficiencies were achieved in the solution pH ranged from 4 to 9. AEPE-hectorite showed a good selectivity toward Ag(I) ions over Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions and the solution ionic strength had no significant effect on extraction efficiency. The adsorption of Ag(I) ions onto AEPE-hectorite followed the Freundlich isotherm model with maximum adsorption capacity observed in the experiment of 49.5 mg g^− 1. The adsorbent was successfully used to recover silver ions from a wastewater containing high concentration of silver and silver nanoparticles supported hectorite was obtained after reducing with NaBH₄. These results show an alternative in the preparation of silver nanoparticles supported clay.     

Strong adsorption of arsenic species by amorphous zirconium oxide nanoparticles

A novel oxide adsorbent of amorphous zirconium oxide (am-ZrO₂) nanoparticles was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process for effective arsenic removal from aqueous environment. Due to their high specific surface area (327.1 m²/g), large mesopore volume (0.68 cm³/g), and the presence of high affinity surface hydroxyl groups, am-ZrO₂ nanoparticles demonstrated exceptional adsorption performance on both As(III) (arsenite) and As(V) (arsenate) without pre-treatment at near neutral condition. At pH ～ 7, the adsorption kinetic is fast and the adsorption capacity is high (over 83 mg/g for As(III) and over 32.4 mg/g for As(V), respectively). Under low equilibrium arsenic concentrations (C_e at 0.01 mg/L, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic in drinking water), the amount of arsenic adsorbed by am-ZrO₂ nanoparticles is over 0.92 mg/g for As(III) and over 5.2 mg/g for As(V), respectively. The adsorption mechanism of arsenic species onto am-ZrO₂ nanoparticles was found to follow the inner-sphere complex mechanism. Testing with arsenic contaminated natural lake water confirmed the effectiveness of these am-ZrO₂ nanoparticles in removing arsenic from natural water. The immobilized am-ZrO₂ nanoparticles on glass fiber cloth demonstrated an even better arsenic removal performance than dispersed am-ZrO₂ nanoparticles in water, paving the way for their potential applications in water treatment facility to treat arsenic contaminated water body without pre-treatment.     

Stability and thermal conductivity of nanofluids of tin dioxide synthesized via microwave-induced combustion route

SnO₂ nanofluids were prepared by dispersing tin dioxide nanoparticles in deionized (DI) water as a base fluid. 4–5 nm tin dioxide crystals were synthesized via chloride solution combustion synthesis (CSCS) using SnCl₄ and sorbitol as a novel precursor and the fuel, respectively. Ammonium nitrate was also used as the combustion aid. The molar ratio of sorbitol plus ammonium nitrate to SnCl₄ was set at unity; whereas, the molar ratio of sorbitol-to-ammonium nitrate divided by that of stoichiometric value (Φ) was varied in the range of 0.5–1.4 in order to find the optimum values of specific surface area for the CSCS technique. Transition electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) techniques were employed for the characterization of the nanoparticles. Since SnO₂ nanoparticles form clusters within fluids, the fluids were ultrasonicated to improve the dispersion and stability of the nanoparticles. The colloidal stability of the SnO₂ nanofluids was quantitatively characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometric measurements. The results of the UV–vis experiments indicate higher dispersion together with enhanced stability for the nanofluid prepared by SnO₂ nanoparticles synthesized at Φ = 1.0. After 500 h sedimentation time, the relative concentration of the nanofluid with the highest stability is remained at around 77% of the initial concentration of the fluid.A transient hot-wire apparatus was used to measure the thermal conductivities of the nanofluids. In addition, the effects of pH and temperature on the thermal conductivity were also investigated. At 353 K, for the nanofluid prepared by SnO₂ nanoparticles synthesized at Φ = 1.0 at a weight fraction of 0.024%, thermal conductivity is enhanced up to about 8.7%, with an optimal pH = 8.     

Novel method for synthesis of Fe core and C shell magnetic nanoparticles

Using a newly developed method, carbon-encapsulated iron (Fe) nanoparticles were synthesized by plasma due to ultrasonication in toluene. Fe core with carbon shell nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). Fe nanoparticles of diameter 7–115 nm are encapsulated by 7–8 nm thick carbon layers. There was no iron carbide formation observed between the Fe core and the carbon shell. The Fe nanoparticles have body centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure. Synthesized nanoparticles showed a saturation magnetization of 9 A m²/kg at room temperature. After thermal treatment crystalline order of the nanoparticles improved and saturation magnetization increased to 24 A m²/kg. We foresee that the carbon-encapsulated Fe nanoparticles are biologically friendly and could have potential applications in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and photothermal cancer therapy.