https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR Latest Results for Journal of Nano Research en-us https://www.scientific.net https://www.scientific.net/Image/JournalCover/15 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.1 10.4028/p-eZ4nth Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Melaaz Meddouri, Djamel Djouadi, Azeddine Chelouche, Ouidette Slimi, Salim Ouhenia, Amar Manseri, Tahar Touam <br />Undoped and Er-doped alumina nanostructures at concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 3 at.%. were synthesized via the sol-gel method under supercritical isopropanol drying. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that undoped alumina consists of two crystalline phases: α and θ. In contrast, the Er-doped samples exhibited only the θ phase of alumina. This suggests that the presence of Er ions in the alumina matrix delays the transformation temperature from the θ phase to the α phase. UV-visible analysis revealed that the doped samples showed absorption bands in the blue-near infrared (NIR) region, confirming the incorporation of Er ions into the alumina matrix. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy spectra displayed bands corresponding to O-Al-O and Al-O functional groups in both θ- and α-alumina. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that pure alumina featured a smooth surface with large interconnected grains and a uniform microstructure. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed that Er doping introduced luminescent centers associated with Er³+ 4f-4f transitions, while also influencing the density of oxygen vacancies. At higher Er concentrations, self-quenching effects became significant. Additionally, an excitation wavelength of 600 nm was identified as optimal for Er-doped alumina, as it aligned with the energy levels of Er³+ ions and minimized interference from the host material, thereby enhancing luminescent efficiency. Overall, this study establishes a systematic correlation between erbium concentration, θ-phase stabilization, defect formation, and photoluminescent response in sol–gel-derived alumina nanostructures, clearly distinguishing it from previous reports and providing new insights into the role of Er–host interactions during thermal evolution. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.21 10.4028/p-ziaqE5 Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Mohd Zulhilmi Mohd Zaini Tee, Nur Adelina Fatihah Azlan, Nor Fariza Ismail, Siti Fatimah Abdul Halim, Chan Juinn Chieh Derek, Siu Hua Chang <br />This study presents a hybrid synthesis strategy for nanozero-valent iron (nZVI) by integrating sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) with plant extracts derived from three types of palm waste: empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm fronds (PF), and palm kernel shells (PKS). The primary objective was to assess the impact of palm waste extract type on the key physicochemical properties of the synthesized nZVI, specifically the relative yield of metallic iron (Fe⁰), specific surface area, and magnetic responsiveness. Palm waste extracts were prepared through maceration and then adjusted to pH 12 to enhance their reducing potential. The hybrid synthesis was conducted under ambient conditions, and the resulting nZVI samples were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy to assess Fe⁰ formation, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis to determine specific surface area, and a magnetic attraction test to evaluate magnetic behavior. Among the palm waste extracts, nZVI synthesized with EFB extract exhibited the highest Fe⁰ yield, the largest specific surface area (177.41 m²/g), and the strongest magnetic force (3.296 mN), likely due to the higher phytochemical content of the EFB extract. These findings highlight the significant impact of palm waste type on nZVI properties, providing valuable insights for designing green, sustainable nanomaterials for environmental and catalytic applications. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.31 10.4028/p-9Pmcws Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Lewis Obagboye, Samson Olatuboun Aisida, Okorie Okike, Eli Danladi, Fabian Ezema, Cem Bülent Üstündağ <br />This study presents the biogenic synthesis and comprehensive characterization of CTAB-assisted ZnO, CuO and NiO NPs engineered for properties optimization. The CTAB, acting as a reducing and stabilizing agent, was successfully used to fabricate the three functional oxides with high structural purity and crystallinity, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that CTAB-NiO NPs have the highest crystallite size (5.35nm), followed by CTAB-CuO NPs (4.16) and then CTAB-ZnO NPs (3.73). The observed tensile microstrains vary from 0.0823, 0.1348 and 0.0051 for CTAB-assisted ZnO, CuO and NiO NPs, respectively, with CuO NPs showing the highest value. The observed lattice strain and crystallite-size variations directly influenced the electronic structure, enhancing charge separation and mobility. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed strong CTAB–nanoparticle interactions through characteristic functional groups, indicating efficient capping, improved stability, and enhanced biocompatibility. UV–Vis analysis demonstrated intense absorption in the visible region (294 -295 nm) and tunable energy band gaps with CTAB-NiO NPs, showing the highest value (3.50eV), followed by CTAB-ZnO (3.48 eV) and then CTAB-CuO (2.05 eV). It establishes a clear structure–property relationship between surface chemistry, crystallinity and optical performance. In parallel, the presence of biopolymer functional groups and the controlled surface architecture supported favorable biological interactions, suggesting strong potential applications. Overall, this work offers a sustainable synthesis strategy and a mechanistic understanding of how physicochemical features collectively dictate the functional performance of biobased nanomaterials. The findings position these biobed hybrid systems as promising multifunctional platforms for next-generation technologies. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.41 10.4028/p-rAYm6z Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Nurul Hanis Azhan, Nor Azuana Ramli, Kunio Okimura, Abdul Manaf Hashim <br />Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a model correlated oxide whose insulator–metal transition (IMT) can be exploited in a wide range of switching, sensing, and adaptive optical devices. Precise control of its microstructure and stress state is therefore essential for optimizing functionality. In this work, the morphological evolution of VO2 films on Al2O3 (001) substrates deposited by rf sputtering with substrate biasing of 20, 30, and 40 W was investigated using a combined imaging and statistical approach. FE-SEM images revealed a transition from isotropic grain growth at 20 W to the strongly elongated grains at 40 W. Otsu's method was used for grain segmentation, followed by ellipse fitting, which enabled the extraction of aspect ratio (AR) and circularity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Welch's ANOVA, and post-hoc comparisons methods confirmed that only film deposited at 40 W showed a significant increase in AR, with the median shifting from ~0.52 to ~0.60. Violin and box plots highlighted wider and multimodal distributions on films deposited with high biasing power. At the same time, histograms confirmed the widest spread at 30 W and a mixed grain size distribution at 40 W. Strain mapping based on AR deviations showed uniform stress at 20 W, localized anisotropy at 30 W, and significant heterogeneous compressive stress at 40 W. A weak but statistically significant Spearman correlation was observed between AR and circularity (ρ = 0.252, p = 0.0000), linking grain elongation to circularity loss, consistent with stress-driven anisotropy in the film deposited with high biasing power. These results demonstrate that substrate biasing resulted in the introduction of grain anisotropy, stress distribution, and microstructural disorder, and thus affects the IMT properties of the VO2 thin films. This combined methodology of images and statistical analysis provides further understanding of both the microstructure and functional performance in correlated oxide films. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.51 10.4028/p-Gqghp6 Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Haia Aldosari <br />Zinc oxide (ZnO) has several uses and is one of the most extensively used compounds in industry and science. In order to create ZnO-Ag and Pt-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), this study used a straightforward, environmentally friendly dry fine-grind method, with 5wt% of Ag/Pt. The morphological features, chemical structures, and thermal degradation of the designed nanocomposite materials were investigated using DEX, TEM, XRD, DSC, and TGA. The EDX confirmed that ZnO-Ag and ZnO-Pt prepared by fine grinding were relatively free of impurities compared to those prepared by other methods. The TEM shows a good distribution and dispersion of both Ag and Pt into ZnO. The XRD patterns show the main ZnO peaks, with the presence of Ag/Pt in the ZnO NPs confirmed by the tiny peak in the (111) crystal plane at a 2θ angle of 38º and 40 ͦ for the Ag and Pt, respectively, and no new peaks, indicating homogeneity between the ZnO and Ag/Pt nanoparticles. In both ZnO-Ag and ZnO-Pt, the DSC curves showed a broad, highly exothermic peak, along with numerous exothermic processes that resulted in mass loss. The TGA results show that the addition of Ag and Pt to ZnO increased its thermal stability, with a proportion similar to that of pristine ZnO at 100 °C. The ZnO exhibits remarkable stability with only a 5 wt.% addition of Ag when compared to pure ZnO, which is very important for improving ZnO for industrial applications using eco-friendly solutions. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.65 10.4028/p-Gt9lcM Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Toubane Mahdia, Haouanoh Djedjiga, Kacel Tawous, Chabira Fares, Bessaad Asma, Katia Ayouz, Siah Hocine, Benhaoua Fayrouz <br />Three different ZnO thin-film morphologies, nanowires (NWs), nanocubes (NCs), and nanopolyhedra (NPs), were fabricated using the sol–gel dip-coating method. The effects of the substrate type (glass and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)) and dopants (Al, Ag, and F) on the structural, morphological, optical, electrical, and photocatalytic properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that all films crystallized in a hexagonal Wurtzite structure, with the formation of secondary phases, including ZnF₂, Ag₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and Zn(OH)₂, observed for films deposited on ITO substrates. SEM analysis showed that both dopants and substrates strongly influence the surface morphology of ZnO films. Al, Ag, and F doping led to nanowire, nanopolyhedral, and nanobrick structures respectively, while films deposited on glass exhibited spherical morphologies. Surface roughness ranged from 16.5 to 34.1 nm. Al-doped films on ITO exhibited excellent optoelectronic performance (transmittance = 92.07%, conductivity = 3.85 × 10² (Ω·cm)⁻¹). Ag-doped ZnO films showed the highest photocatalytic activity, achieving up to 98% dye degradation within 180 min. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.83 10.4028/p-9a4Ffa Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Mayetu Segale, Rudzani Sigwadi, Olayemi Jola Fakayode, Tumelo Seadira, Bakang Mothudi, Mantsopa Koena Zamisa, Tau S. Ntelane, Touhami Mokrani <br />This study investigates the effect of ceria (CeO2) and zirconia oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles on the sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) membranes prepared by the solution casting method. The resulting SPEEK-Ce:Zr nanocomposite membranes were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The tensile strength, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, and swelling ratio of the composite membrane were also investigated. The results showed that the composite membranes outperformed the pristine SPEEK membranes in terms of IEC, swelling ratio, and proton conductivity of up to 58 mS/cm at 25 °C. Furthermore, the performance improvement increased with the Ce:Zr loading ranging from 1 – 10%. The incorporation of metal oxide nanoparticles into the polymer matrix resulted in a more uniform distribution of the nanoparticles in the membrane matrix, with nearly no agglomeration, leading to improved mechanical strength and chemical stability. The composite membranes with enhanced properties thus show great potential for applications such as fuel cells. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200 https://www.scientific.net/JNanoR.93.99 10.4028/p-gW1l5q Publication date: 8 July 2026 <br />Source: Journal of Nano Research Vol. 93 <br />Author(s): Meng Qi Yu, Haibin Li <br />This study systematically investigates the flow characteristics and wall flux evolution of silver nanoparticles in MHD blood flow under the synergistic effects of an inclined magnetic field, thermal radiation, and mass diffusion. Using a cylindrical polar coordinate system and assuming long wavelength and low Reynolds number, the numerical analysis explores the influence of key parameters such as nanoparticle volume fraction, magnetic field tilt angle, magnetic field parameter, radiation absorption parameter, Brinkman number, Schmidt number, and Strouhal number on the flow velocity, temperature, concentration distribution, and wall fluxes. The results indicate that increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles from 1% to 8% enhances the fluid's viscosity and thermal conductivity, reducing the peak flow velocity by 17.76% and the maximum temperature by 44.76%, while simultaneously increasing the peak concentration by 33.73%. Increasing the magnetic field tilt angle from 0° to 45° significantly enhances flow velocity through synergistic effects between the Lorentz force and fluid dynamics, boosting the maximum flow velocity by 43.29%. The increase in Strouhal number leads to higher peak concentration values. This study reveals, for the first time, the transport and fluid regulation mechanisms of silver nanoparticles under multi-field coupling conditions. It provides critical theoretical support for optimizing drug delivery, tumor hyperthermia, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for vascular diseases. <br /> <br /> Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200 Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:02:05 +0200