Deposits of clastic carbonate-dominated (calciclastic) sedimentary slope systems in the rock record have been identified mostly as linearly-consistent carbonate apron deposits, even though most ancient clastic carbonate slope deposits fit the submarine fan systems better. Calciclastic submarine fans are consequently rarely described and are poorly understood. Subsequently, very little is known especially in mud-dominated calciclastic submarine fan systems. Presented in this study are a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) that reveals a >250 m thick calciturbidite complex deposited in a calciclastic submarine fan setting. Seven facies are recognised from core and thin section characterisation and are grouped into three carbonate turbidite sequences. They include: 1) Calciturbidites, comprising mostly of highto low-density, wavy-laminated bioclast-rich facies; 2) low-density densite mudstones which are characterised by planar laminated and unlaminated muddominated facies; and 3) Calcidebrites which are muddy or hyper-concentrated debrisflow deposits occurring as poorly-sorted, chaotic, mud-supported floatstones. These

Phd by thesis

Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Properties, Modifications, and Applications

We have used the pH-induced self-assembly of a peptide-amphiphile to make a nanostructured fibrous scaffold reminiscent of extracellular matrix. The design of this peptide-amphiphile allows the nanofibers to be reversibly cross-linked to enhance or decrease their structural integrity. After cross-linking, the fibers are able to direct mineralization of hydroxyapatite to form a composite material in which the crystallographic c axes of hydroxyapatite are aligned with the long axes of the fibers. This alignment is the same as that observed between collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite crystals in bone.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/294/5547/1684.full.pdf

Self-assembly and mineralization of peptide-amphiphile nanofibers

In this chapter, we will restrict our attention to the ferrites and a few other closely related materials. The great interest in ferrites stems from their unique combination of a spontaneous magnetization and a high electrical resistivity. The observed magnetization results from the difference in the magnetizations of two non-equivalent sub-lattices of the magnetic ions in the crystal structure. Materials of this type should strictly be designated as “ferrimagnetic” and in some respects are more closely related to anti-ferromagnetic substances than they are to ferromagnetics in which the magnetization results from the parallel alignment of all the magnetic moments present. We shall not adhere to this special nomenclature except to emphasize effects, which are due to the existence of the sub-lattices.

Ferromagnetic materials

Antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) has received significant interest worldwide particularly by the implementation of nanotechnology to synthesize particles in the nanometer region. Many microorganisms exist in the range from hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers. ZnO-NPs exhibit attractive antibacterial properties due to increased specific surface area as the reduced particle size leading to enhanced particle surface reactivity. ZnO is a bio-safe material that possesses photo-oxidizing and photocatalysis impacts on chemical and biological species. This review covered ZnO-NPs antibacterial activity including testing methods, impact of UV illumination, ZnO particle properties (size, concentration, morphology, and defects), particle surface modification, and minimum inhibitory concentration. Particular emphasize was given to bactericidal and bacteriostatic mechanisms with focus on generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), OH− (hydroxyl radicals), and O2 −2 (peroxide). ROS has been a major factor for several mechanisms including cell wall damage due to ZnO-localized interaction, enhanced membrane permeability, internalization of NPs due to loss of proton motive force and uptake of toxic dissolved zinc ions. These have led to mitochondria weakness, intracellular outflow, and release in gene expression of oxidative stress which caused eventual cell growth inhibition and cell death. In some cases, enhanced antibacterial activity can be attributed to surface defects on ZnO abrasive surface texture. One functional application of the ZnO antibacterial bioactivity was discussed in food packaging industry where ZnO-NPs are used as an antibacterial agent toward foodborne diseases. Proper incorporation of ZnO-NPs into packaging materials can cause interaction with foodborne pathogens, thereby releasing NPs onto food surface where they come in contact with bad bacteria and cause the bacterial death and/or inhibition.

/pdf/review-on-zinc-oxide-nanoparticles-antibacterial-activity-2smaigi8sc.pdf

Review on Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Activity and Toxicity Mechanism.

In this paper, microwave processing of nanostructured ZnO powder as well as preparation of nanostructured ZnO/PEO composite were described. As a fast processing method which introduces a large amount of energy in the reaction system, the role of microwave processing was to modify ZnO crystal structure, while the role of PEO was to additionally sensitivize surface of ZnO particles; both of the approaches were used in the aim to improve optical properties of zinc oxide in comparison with bulk one. The synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and photoluminescence (PL). It was found that point defects (oxygen vacancies and zinc interstitials) were created in the crystal structure of zinc oxide. However, PEO has two-fold role, it passivate surface of the ZnO particles, but also introduce oxygen interstitials on the surface. The influence of the point defects on optical properties of ZnO was studied; it was found that oxygen vacancies, zinc interstitials and oxygen interstitials improved percent of thevisible light absorption, also shift band gap energy toward visible range of the spectrum.

/pdf/synthesis-and-optical-properties-of-zno-and-zno-peo-4rb0tukl9t.pdf

Synthesis and optical properties of ZnO and ZnO/PEO nanonsructured powders

Two different synthetic procedures for preparation of composite materials using semiconductor quantum dots as building blocks have been developed. The resulting powders preserved optical and photocatalytic properties of their constituent elements. Both methodologies are not limited to semiconductor quantum dots, but provide general procedures for the rational design of novel and potentially useful composite materials.

Nanocomposite Materials Prepared by Using Quantum Dots as Building Blocks

Two-step sintering, phase transformations, electrical and mechanical properties of nanostructured bioceramic materials based on hydroxyapatite

Perspectives of novel poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite core-shell nanoparticles as carriers of antibiotics

This study descripts processing of biphasic calcium-phosphate (BCP) and poly-L-lactide (PLLA) biocomposite implant material. The composite was obtained by mixing completely dissolved PLLA with granules of high crystalline BCP and was compacted by hot pressing using cylindrical dies at 450 K temperature and 98.1 MPa pressure, for 30 and 60 minutes. Wide-angle Xray structural (WAXS) analyses of BCP, PLLA and BCP/PLLA composite blocks were made followed by calorimetric (DSC) tests in the 320-520 K temperature range. Compression tests revealed that Young’s modulus and compressive strength of the composite increased with extended hot pressing time and were found to be within the bounds of the cortical bone values.

Dragan Uskoković

Papers

Synthesis and optical properties of ZnO and ZnO/PEO nanonsructured powders

Nanocomposite Materials Prepared by Using Quantum Dots as Building Blocks

Two-step sintering, phase transformations, electrical and mechanical properties of nanostructured bioceramic materials based on hydroxyapatite

Perspectives of novel poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/hydroxyapatite core-shell nanoparticles as carriers of antibiotics

Processing and Mechanical Properties of Biphasic Calcium-Phosphate/Poly-L-Lactide Composite Biomaterials