In
nanotechnology research, significant effort is devoted to fabricating
patterns of metallic nanoparticles on the surfaces of different semiconductors
to find innovative materials with favorable characteristics, such
as antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties, for novel applications.
We present experimental and computational progress, involving a combined
approach, on the antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) of as-synthesized α-Ag2WO4 samples and Ag nanoparticle composites (Ag
NPs)/α-Ag2WO4. The former included two
morphologies: hexagonal rod-like (α-Ag2WO4-R) and cuboid-like (α-Ag2WO4-C), and
the latter included composites formed under electron beam, Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4-RE and Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4-CE, and femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation, Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4-RL and Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4-CL. Direct observations of the arrangement of Ag NPs on the
Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4 composites irradiated
with an electron beam and laser, through transmission electron microscopy
(TEM), high-resolution TEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,
and field-emission scanning electron microscopy, allow us to investigate
the surface morphology, chemical composition, homogeneity, and crystallinity.
Therefore, these experimental factors, and in particular, the facet-dependent
response of Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4 composites
were discussed and analyzed from the perspective provided by the results
obtained by first-principles calculations. On this basis, α-Ag2WO4-R material proved to be a better bactericidal
agent than α-Ag2WO4-C with minimum bactericidal
concentration (MBC) values of 128 and 256 μg/mL, respectively.
However, the Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4-CL composite
is the most efficient bactericidal agent of all tested samples (MBC
= 4 μg/mL). This superior performance can be attributed to the
cooperative effects of crystal facets and defect engineering. These
results on the synthesis and stability of the Ag NPs/α-Ag2WO4 composites can be used for the development
of highly efficient bactericidal agents for use in environmental remediation
and the potential extension of methods to produce materials with catalytic
applications.
Solar energy is available over wide geographical areas and its harnessing is becoming an essential tool to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for energy with minimal environmental impact. Solar nanofluids are a novel solar receiver concept for efficient harvesting of solar radiation based on volumetric absorption of directly irradiated nanoparticles in a heat transfer fluid. Herein, the fabrication of a solar nanofluid by pulsed laser ablation in liquids was explored. This study was conducted with the ablation of bulk tin immersed in ethylene glycol with a femtosecond laser. Laser irradiation promotes the formation of tin nanoparticles that are collected in the ethylene glycol as colloids, creating the solar nanofluid. The ability to trap incoming electromagnetic radiation, thermal conductivity, and the stability of the solar nanofluid in comparison with conventional synthesis methods is enhanced.
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