ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized by a straightforward modified thermal method using only one chemical: zinc acetate dihydrate. The process is environmentally safer than other methods because it does not involve other chemicals or a catalyst, acid, or base source. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the ZnO-NPs crystallize in the hexagonal wurtzite structure. The UV–vis absorption spectra revealed a marked redshift, which is critical for enhanced photocatalytic activity. We used methylene blue for photocatalytic activity tests and found an excellent degradation percentage (99.7%) within a short time (80 min). The antibacterial activity of the synthesized ZnO-NPs was tested against Escherichia coli at different concentrations of ZnO-NPs. The analysis revealed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ZnO-NPs against E. coli was 30–50 μg/mL. Our ZnO-NPs were found to be more effective than previously reported ZnO-NPs synthesized via other methods.

The adsorption pattern of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on functionalized self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) produced on a Au(111) surface was characterized. The Au(111) was modified with 11‐amino‐1‐undecanethiol hydrochloride (AUT), 11‐mercapto‐1‐undecanol (MUT), or 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) at an elevated temperature and pressure. The AuNPs aggregated on the AUT‐SAM surface, whereas they were well dispersed on the MUT‐SAM surface and localized on the MUA‐SAM surface. The results suggest that interactions between AuNPs differ according to the degree of peeling of citrate‐layer‐capped AuNPs. The degree of peeling, which is related to both the surface randomness of the SAMs and the functional characteristics of the terminal group of each SAM, was discussed on the basis of scanning tunneling microscopy observations, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses, and contact angle measurements. Our study shows that AuNP patterns can be controlled by changing the terminal group of the alkyl thiol SAM on a Au(111) surface.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mixed 1-octanethiol (OT) and 1-decanethiol (DT) that were formed on gold substrates at a high incubation temperature in a sealed container were characterized using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In mixed-composition monolayer films, self-assembly of the mixture could induce phase separation into discrete molecular domains at higher incubation temperatures. Mixtures of the alkanethiol molecules affected the domain size, defect density, packing density, and binding features of the resultant SAMs prepared on gold substrates. Single-moleculeresolved STM images of mixed SAMs revealed both c(4 × 2) − ns (non-shifted) for DT and c(4 × 2) − s (shifted) for OT domains. For the mixed SAMs, the peak S2 (XPS) increased in intensity relative to the peak S1, reflecting significant modifications in the binding characteristics of the thiols and surface roughness upon mixing.