Syed Mansoor Ali

Morphological, Structural, and Electrical Characterization of Sol-Gel-Synthesized ZnO Nanorods

ZnO nanorods were grown on thermally oxidized p-type silicon substrate using sol-gel method. The SEM image revealed high-density, well-aligned, and perpendicular ZnO nanorods on the oxidized silicon substrate. The XRD profile confirmed the c-axis orientation of the nanorods. PL measurements showed the synthesized ZnO nanorods have strong ultraviolet (UV) emission. The electrical characterization was performed using interdigitated silver electrodes to investigate the stability in the current flow of the fabricated device under different ultraviolet (UV) exposure times. It was notified that a stable current flow was observed after 60 min of UV exposure. The determination of stable current flow after UV exposure is necessary for UV-based gas sensing and optoelectronic devices.

Structural and optical properties of pure and Ag doped ZnO thin films obtained by sol gel spin coating technique

Abstract We have investigated the influence of Ag doping on zinc oxide thin films. Pure and Ag doped, preferentially oriented transparent zinc oxide thin films were prepared by sol gel technique on a glass substrate using diethyl amine as a stabilizer. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the films with hexagonal wurtzite type structure were polycrystalline in nature with a preferred grain orientation in the 101 direction. The crystallite sizes decreased from 34 nm to 27 nm after silver doping. Both photoluminescence and optical transmission measurements showed that the band gap increased after the Ag doping. The structure and optical characterization studies clearly indicated the incorporation of Ag in ZnO. Hence, the observed increase in the optical band gap and decrease in crystallite size can be directly attributed to the effect of Ag ion incorporation into the ZnO lattice.

Photodynamic Effect of Ni Nanotubes on an HeLa Cell Line.

Nickel nanomaterials are promising in the biomedical field, especially in cancer diagnostics and targeted therapy, due to their distinctive chemical and physical properties. In this experiment, the toxicity of nickel nanotubes (Ni NTs) were tested in an in vitro cervical cancer model (HeLa cell line) to optimize the parameters of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for their greatest effectiveness. Ni NTs were synthesized by electrodeposition. Morphological analysis and magnetic behavior were examined using a Scanning electron microscope (SEM), an energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. Phototoxic and cytotoxic effects of nanomaterials were studied using the Ni NTs alone as well as in conjugation with aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA); this was performed both in the dark and under laser exposure. Toxic effects on the HeLa cell model were evaluated by a neutral red assay (NRA) and by detection of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, 10–200 nM of Ni NTs was prepared in solution form and applied to HeLa cells in 96-well plates. Maximum toxicity of Ni NTs complexed with 5-ALA was observed at 100 J/cm2 and 200 nM. Up to 65–68% loss in cell viability was observed. Statistical analysis was performed on the experimental results to confirm the worth and clarity of results, with p-values = 0.003 and 0.000, respectively. Current results pave the way for a more rational strategy to overcome the problem of drug bioavailability in nanoparticulate targeted cancer therapy, which plays a dynamic role in clinical practice.

Photovoltaic and Impedance Spectroscopy Study of Screen-Printed TiO2 Based CdS Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells

Cadmium sulphide (CdS) quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) based on screen-printed TiO2 were assembled using a screen-printing technique. The CdS quantum dots (QDs) were grown by using the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method. The optical properties were studied by UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy. Photovoltaic characteristics and impedance spectroscopic measurements of CdS QDSSCs were carried out under air mass 1.5 illuminations. The experimental results of capacitance against voltage indicate a trend from positive to negative capacitance because of the injection of electrons from the Fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode into TiO2.

Effects of 1064 nm laser on the structural and optical properties of nanostructured TiO2 thin film

TiO2 thin film has been widely used as photoelectrode in dye-sensitized solar cells. It can also be used in quantum dot synthesized solar cells. Study of its effects in different spectrum of light is important for its use in solar cells. We have reported effects of 1064 nm laser on the surface morphology, structural and optical properties of nanostructured TiO2 thin film deposited on glass substrates using sol-gel spin coating technique. Q-Switched Nd:YAG pulsed laser at various power densities is used in this study. Surface morphology of the film is investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy technique. The XRD pattern of as deposited TiO2 thin film is amorphous and after laser exposure it became TiO2 anatase structure. Atomic force microscopy of the crystalline TiO2 thin film shows that the grain size increases by increasing laser power density. The calculations of the band gap are carried out from UV/Visible spectroscopy measurements with JASCO spectrometer. For laser power density of 25 MW/cm2 there is an increase in the transmission and it decreases at the value of 38 MW/cm2 and band gap decreases with increasing laser power density. Photoluminescence spectra of the crystalline TiO2 thin film indicate two broad peaks in the range of 415 and 463 nm, one for band gap peak (415 nm) and other for oxygen defect during film deposition process.

An In Vitro Study of the Photodynamic Effectiveness of GO-Ag Nanocomposites against Human Breast Cancer Cells

Graphene-based materials have garnered significant attention because of their versatile bioapplications and extraordinary properties. Graphene oxide (GO) is an extremely oxidized form of graphene accompanied by the functional groups of oxygen on its surface. GO is an outstanding platform on which to pacify silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), which gives rise to the graphene oxide-silver nanoparticle (GO-Ag) nanocomposite. In this experimental study, the toxicity of graphene oxide-silver (GO-Ag) nanocomposites was assessed in an in vitro human breast cancer model to optimize the parameters of photodynamic therapy. GO-Ag was prepared using the hydrothermal method, and characterization was done by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-rays Analysis (EDAX), atomic force microscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The experiments were done both with laser exposure, as well as in darkness, to examine the phototoxicity and cytotoxicity of the nanocomposites. The cytotoxicity of the GO-Ag was confirmed via a methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium (MTT) assay and intracellular reactive oxygen species production analysis. The phototoxic effect explored the dose-dependent decrease in the cell viability, as well as provoked cell death via apoptosis. An enormously significant escalation of 1O2 in the samples when exposed to daylight was perceived. Statistical analysis was performed on the experimental results to confirm the worth and clarity of the results, with p-values < 0.05 selected as significant. These outcomes suggest that GO-Ag nanocomposites could serve as potential candidates for targeted breast cancer therapy.

Pulsed UV laser-induced modifications in optical and structural characteristics of alpha-irradiated PM-355 SSNTD

Pre- and postalpha-exposed PM-355 detectors were irradiated using UV laser with different number of pulses (100, 150, 200, 300, and 400). UV laser beam energy of 20mJ per pulse with a pulse width of 9ns was incident on an area of 19.6mm2 of the samples. XRD spectra indicated that for both reference and UV-irradiated samples, the structure is amorphous, but the crystallite size increases upon UV irradiation. The same results were obtained from SEM analysis. Optical properties of PM-355 polymeric solid-state nuclear track detectors were also investigated. Absorbance measurements for all PM-355 samples in the range of 200-400nm showed that the absorption edge had a blue shift up to a certain value, and then, it had an oscillating behavior. Photoluminescence spectra of PM-355 at 250nm revealed a decrease in the broadband peak intensity as a function of the number of UV pulses, while the wavelengths corresponding to the peaks had random shifts.

Assembly of CdS Quantum Dots onto Hierarchical TiO2 Structure for Quantum Dots Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

Quantum dot (QD) sensitized solar cells based on Hierarchical TiO2 structure (HTS) consisting of spherical nano-urchins on transparent conductive fluorine doped tin oxide glass substrate is fabricated. The hierarchical TiO2 structure consisting of spherical nano-urchins on transparent conductive fluorine doped tin oxide glass substrate synthesized by hydrothermal route. The CdS quantum dots were grown by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction deposition method. The quantum dot sensitized solar cell based on the hierarchical TiO2 structure shows a current density JSC = 1.44 mA, VOC = 0.46 V, FF = 0.42 and η = 0.27%. The QD provide a high surface area and nano-urchins offer a highway for fast charge collection and multiple scattering centers within the photoelectrode.

Photovoltaic Characteristics of Solar Cells Based on Nanostructured Titanium Dioxide Sensitized with Fluorescein Sodium Salt

We have designed solar cells based on nanostructured titanium dioxide sensitized by fluorescein sodium salt, and we have studied their photovoltaic and impedance characteristics. Under AM1.5 illumination and optimal conditions, an open-circuit photovoltage of 0.56 V and a short-circuit current density of 72 μA/cm2 were achieved. An impedance spectroscopy study of the voltage dependence of the capacitance in the frequency range 2-5 kHz did not reveal any shift from positive to negative capacitance.

Influence of laser irradiation on the optical properties of nano-sized powder of metal oxide

ZnO Nano powders were prepared by co-precipitation method which includes post-oxidation and annealing in air. Influence of laser irradiation was carried out using 355 nm laser on the physical properties of ZnO nanoparticles. SEM studies reveal agglomeration of grains resulting into enlargement and deformation of the nanoparticles. XRD pattern exhibited decrease in FWHM which is a clear evidence of the increase in crystallite size due to laser irradiation. Optical properties showed decrease in the band gap of the laser irradiated Nano powders. The observed results indicated the UV laser irradiation increases the ZnO nanoparticles crystallinity that affects the optical properties of the ZnO.