The design of hierarchically structured nano- and microparticles of different sizes, porosities, surface areas, compositions, and internal structures from nanoparticle building blocks is important for new or enhanced application properties of high-quality products in a variety of industries. Spray-drying processes are well-suited for the design of hierarchical structures of multicomponent products. This structure design using various nanoparticles as building blocks is one of the most important challenges for the future to create products with optimized or completely new properties. Furthermore, the transfer of designed nanomaterials to large-scale products with favorable handling and processing can be achieved. The resultant aggregate structure depends on the utilized nanoparticle building blocks as well as on a large number of process and formulation parameters. In this study, structure formation and segregation phenomena during the spray drying process were investigated to enable the synthesis of tailor-made nanostructures with defined properties. Moreover, a theoretical model of this segregation and structure formation in nanosuspensions is presented using a discrete element method simulation.

The tailoring of surface properties of metal oxide nanoparticles is highly important to exploit their benefits in an optimal way for diverse applications. For example, in polymer matrix nanocomposites one of the most critical aspects is the interaction of the particles with the matrix, which is determined by the chemistry of the particle surface and can be adjusted by attachment of organic ligands. Whilst many empirical solutions have been presented for specific combinations of particles and matrix, generalized approaches are not available yet. As a versatile and arbitrary method to permanently modify the surface of metal oxide nanoparticles, we present a two-step approach and prove its applicability for the versatile adjustment of surface properties of two types of nanoparticles.

Dense and hollow α-Fe2O3 nanofibre photoanodes and core–shell-like α-Fe2O3/indium-tin oxide (ITO) nanocomposite photoanodes were directly prepared via electrospinning.

Characterization of nanocrystalline triple perovskites synthesized by a novel modified sol–gel route instead of bulk materials synthesized by a solid-state route.

The non-aqueous sol-gel synthesis of aluminum zinc oxide (AZO) nanocrystals with controllable sizes and morphologies at comparatively low temperatures is presented. By varying the reaction chemistry, customized aluminum zinc oxide nanorods and nanospheres with adjustable composition and tailored morphology between 0-D and 1-D were obtained. We furthermore show that the band gap can be engineered by the Al content. Additionally, the growth kinetics and the influence of various process parameters such as the reaction temperature and precursor concentration as well as the scale-up from a 45 mL autoclave to a 500 mL reactor were investigated.Aluminum zinc oxide (AZO) nanocrystals with customized sizes and shapes were synthesized by non-aqueous reaction at moderate temperatures. The obtained morphology can be correlated with the solvent chemistry, with benzyl alcohol resulting in 1-D nanostructures whilst benzylamine leads to spherical nanoparticles.

We report a bottom‐up synthesis of iron oxide and gold nanoparticles, which are functionalized and combined to form a nanohybrid serving as an immune sensor, which selectively binds to tau protein, a biomarker for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Detection of the target analyte is achieved by surface‐enhanced Raman scattering originating from the diagnostic part of the nanohybrid that was prepared from Au nanoparticles functionalized with 5,5′‐dithiobis‐(2‐nitrobenzoic acid) as a Raman reporter and monoclonal anti‐tau antibody. The magnetic part consists of FexOy nanoparticles functionalized with polyclonal anti‐tau antibody and is capable to separate tau protein from a complex matrix such as cerebrospinal fluid. We further identified and validated a set of analytical tools that allow monitoring the success of both nanoparticle preparation and each functionalization step performed during the assembly of the two binding sites by an immune reaction. By applying UV/Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, X‐ray diffraction, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate a proof‐of‐concept for a controlled and step‐by‐step traceable synthesis of a tau protein‐specific immune sensor.

No abstract

No abstract