Reza Zamiri

Time-dependent effect in green synthesis of silver nanoparticles

The application of “green” chemistry rules to nanoscience and nanotechnology is very important in the preparation of various nanomaterials. In this work, we successfully developed an eco-friendly chemistry method for preparing silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in natural polymeric media. The colloidal Ag-NPs were synthesized in an aqueous solution using silver nitrate, gelatin, and glucose as a silver precursor, stabilizer, and reducing agent, respectively. The properties of synthesized colloidal Ag-NPs were studied at different reaction times. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra were in excellent agreement with the obtained nanostructure studies performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their size distributions. The prepared samples were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The use of eco-friendly reagents, such as gelatin and glucose, provides green and economic attributes to this work.

Fabrication and Characterization of Gelatin Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles under UV-Light

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were successfully synthesized using the UV irradiation of aqueous solutions containing AgNO3 and gelatin as a silver source and stabilizer, respectively. The UV irradiation times influence the particles’ diameter of the Ag-NPs, as evidenced from surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. When the UV irradiation time was increased, the mean size of particles continuously decreased as a result of photoinduced Ag-NPs fragmentation. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), the UV-irradiated Ag-NPs were a face-centered cubic (fcc) single crystal without any impurity. This study reveals that the UV irradiation-mediated method is a green chemistry and promising route for the synthesis of stable Ag-NPs for several applications (e.g., medical and surgical devices). The important advantages of this method are that it is cheap, easy, and free of toxic materials.

Preparation of silver nanoparticles in virgin coconut oil using laser ablation.

Laser ablation of a silver plate immersed in virgin coconut oil was carried out for fabrication of silver nanoparticles. A Nd:YAG laser at wavelengths of 1064 nm was used for ablation of the plate at different times. The virgin coconut oil allowed formation of nanoparticles with well-dispersed, uniform particle diameters that were stable for a reasonable length of time. The particle sizes and volume fraction of nanoparticles inside the solutions obtained at 15, 30, 45 min ablation times were 4.84, 5.18, 6.33 nm and 1.0 × 10−8, 1.6 × 10−8, 2.4 × 10−8, respectively. The presented method for preparation of silver nanoparticles in virgin coconut oil is environmentally friendly and may be considered a green method.

Laser-fabricated castor oil-capped silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles were fabricated by ablation of a pure silver plate immersed in castor oil. A Nd:YAG-pulsed Q-switch laser with 1064-nm wavelength and 10-Hz frequency was used to ablate the plate for 10 minutes. The sample was characterized by ultraviolet-visible, atomic absorption, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopies, and transmission electron microscopy. The results of the fabricated sample showed that the nanoparticles in castor oil were about 5-nm in diameter, well dispersed, and showed stability for a long period of time.

Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Dispersed in Palm Oil Using Laser Ablation

In this study we used a laser ablation technique for preparation of silver nanoparticles. The fabrication process was carried out by ablation of a silver plate immersed in palm oil. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm was used for ablation of the plate at different times. The palm coconut oil allowed formation of nanoparticles with very small and uniform particle size, which are dispersed very homogeneously within the solution. The obtained particle sizes for 15 and 30 minute ablation times were 2.5 and 2 nm, respectively. Stability study shows that all of the samples remained stable for a reasonable period of time.

Dielectrical Properties of CeO2 Nanoparticles at Different Temperatures.

A template-free precipitation method was used as a simple and low cost method for preparation of CeO2 nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of the prepared nanoparticle samples were studied in detail using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) measurements. The whole powder pattern modelling (WPPM) method was applied on XRD data to accurately measure the crystalline domain size and their size distribution. The average crystalline domain diameter was found to be 5.2 nm, with a very narrow size distribution. UV-visible absorbance spectrum was used to calculate the optical energy band gap of the prepared CeO2 nanoparticles. The FT-IR spectrum of prepared CeO2 nanoparticles showed absorption bands at 400 cm-1 to 450 cm-1 regime, which correspond to CeO2 stretching vibration. The dielectric constant (εr) and dielectric loss (tan δ) values of sintered CeO2 compact consolidated from prepared nanoparticles were measured at different temperatures in the range from 298 K (room temperature) to 623 K, and at different frequencies from 1 kHz to 1 MHz.

Far-infrared optical constants of ZnO and ZnO/Ag nanostructures

We report on the synthesis of ZnO nanoplates and ZnO nanoplate/Ag nanoparticle heterostructures via a simple and cost effective wet chemical precipitation method. The prepared samples were characterized for structural and optical properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-VIS reflectance, Raman, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The Kramers–Kronig (K–K) method and classical dispersion theory was applied to calculate the far-infrared optical constants such as, refractive index n(ω), dielectric constant e(ω), transverse optical phonon (TO) and longitudinal (LO) optical phonon modes. We determined various optical constant values n(ω) and e(ω) for ZnO nanostructures in the range of 0 to 9 and 0 to 70, respectively. Whereas, for Ag deposition on ZnO nanostructures, the corresponding n(ω) and e(ω) values were found to be increased in the range of 0 to 30 and 0 to 800, respectively. The TO and LO optical phonon modes of ZnO nanoplate/Ag nanoparticle heterostructures were also found to be higher (416 cm−1, 620 cm−1) when compared with corresponding values obtained for ZnO nanoplates (415 cm−1, 604 cm−1).

The effect of laser repetition rate on the LASiS synthesis of biocompatible silver nanoparticles in aqueous starch solution

Laser ablation-based nanoparticle synthesis in solution is rapidly becoming popular, particularly for potential biomedical and life science applications. This method promises one pot synthesis and concomitant bio-functionalization, is devoid of toxic chemicals, does not require complicated apparatus, can be combined with natural stabilizers, is directly biocompatible, and has high particle size uniformity. Size control and reduction is generally determined by the laser settings; that the size and size distribution scales with laser fluence is well described. Conversely, the effect of the laser repetition rate on the final nanoparticle product in laser ablation is less well-documented, especially in the presence of stabilizers. Here, the influence of the laser repetition rate during laser ablation synthesis of silver nanoparticles in the presence of starch as a stabilizer was investigated. The increment of the repetition rate does not negatively influence the ablation efficiency, but rather shows increased productivity, causes a red-shift in the plasmon resonance peak of the silver–starch nanoparticles, an increase in mean particle size and size distribution, and a distinct lack of agglomerate formation. Optimal results were achieved at 10 Hz repetition rate, with a mean particle size of ~10 nm and a bandwidth of ~6 nm ‘full width at half maximum’ (FWHM). Stability measurements showed no significant changes in mean particle size or agglomeration or even flocculation. However, zeta potential measurements showed that optimal double layer charge is achieved at 30 Hz. Consequently, Ag–NP synthesis via the laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS) method in starch solution seems to be a trade-off between small size and narrow size distributions and inherent and long-term stability.

Successful aqueous processing of a lead free 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 piezoelectric material composition

We report on the successful aqueous processing of a lead free piezoelectric 0.5Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–0.5(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT–BCT) composition with the final functional properties of the materials unaffected by the various processing steps involved. X-ray diffraction results show a single tetragonal perovskite crystalline phase for the as-received sintered BZT–BCT powder. The purity of the perovskite phase for BZT–BCT powder was found to be controlled even after ageing the material in water for 24 h as a successful surface treatment against hydrolysis. An aqueous suspension of surface treated BZT–BCT powder with 50 vol% solid loading was successfully transformed into micro-sized granules via a freeze granulation (FG) method. Various structural, electrical and mechanical properties of sintered BZT–BCT-FG and BZT–BCT-NG ceramics consolidated from freeze granulated and non-granulated (NG) powders, respectively, were measured. The dielectric constant (er) values of the BZT–BCT-FG sample were found to be higher, with lower dielectric loss (tan δ) values in comparison with those of a sample prepared from the BZT–BCT-NG powder at all temperatures and with all frequency ranges tested. Nanoindentation results revealed that the ability to oppose deformation was nearly 10-fold higher for BZT–BCT-FG (6.93 GPa) than for BZT–BCT-NG ceramics (543 MPa). The functional properties of BZT–BCT-FG samples confirmed the benefits of the aqueous processing approach in comparison with traditional dry pressing.

Thermal diffusivity measurement of silver nanofluid by thermal lens technique

The thermal lens technique was utilized in silver nanofluid containing silver nanoparticles in polyvinylpyrrolidone solution to study the effect of nanoparticle size on thermal diffusivity. The different sizes of silver nanoparticles were prepared by irradiating the solution of silver nitrate in polyvinylpyrrolidone with respective dose of γ-radiation. The average sizes of particle in the prepared samples were measured using nanophox machine. The thermal lens measurement was carried out by using a diode laser of wavelength 514 nm and a He–Ne laser for the excitation source and the probe beam, respectively. The obtained result showed a decrease in the thermal diffusivity of nanofluid with the decrease in particle size.