Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

A review on bidirectional analogies between the photocatalysis and antibacterial properties of ZnO

Tin disulfide (SnS2) has been considered as a prospective counter electrode (CE) material for dye-sensitized solar cells due to its good electrocatalytic properties. However, its low electronic and ionic conductivities pose challenges for using it in high-performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Herein, doping is utilized to improve the properties of SnS2 for application as a DSSC counter electrode. Ag-doped SnS2 samples with various doping amounts are prepared via a facile one-step solvothermal route. It is found that the DSSC based on a 5% Ag-doped SnS2 CE demonstrates the best performance showing an impressive photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.70% which exceeds the efficiency of a Pt-based DSSC (7.88%) by 10.41%, while the DSSC consisting of undoped SnS2 only exhibits a PCE of 6.47%. Such an enhanced efficiency of the DSSC is attributed to the effectively improved electrocatalytic activity and mixed conductivity resulting from the Ag dopant. Therefore, the Ag-doped SnS2 CE proves to be a promising alternative to the expensive Pt CE in DSSCs and may pave a new way for large-scale production of new-generation DSSCs.

High-performance dye-sensitized solar cells based on Ag-doped SnS2 counter electrodes

Synthesis, structural and optical analysis of surfactant assisted ZnO–NiO nanocomposites prepared by homogeneous precipitation method

In this article we report the synthesis of CuS nanoparticle with distinguishable surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) peaks in near infrared region. For this purpose in situ synthesis (one-step fabrication) has been used to prepare CuS nanoparticles in PMMA polymer matrix at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction spectrum confirms the formation of CuS nanoparticles. The transmittance spectra of nano-composite samples reveal that the samples have a good transparency. The absorption spectra show a broad absorption peak in the wavelength region from 570 to 980 nm which is a characteristic SPR peak for CuS nanoparticle. An increase of refractive index was observed for the samples containing CuS nanoparticles. The linear relationship between the refractive index and volume fraction was observed. The appearance of SPR peak in refractive index spectra was attributed to CuS nanoparticles. Shifting of absorption edge to lower photon energy has been observed for nano-composite samples. The direct energy bandgap of nano-composite samples are reduced compare to pure PMMA polymer. The plot between the direct energy band gap and refractive index reveals that the decrease in bandgap energy is associated with the increase in index of refraction. The increase of optical dielectric constant can be ascribed to the formation of CuS nanoparticles. The low band gap of CuS nanoparticles in the present work reveals their importance for applications in optoelectronic devices.

In situ synthesis of CuS nanoparticle with a distinguishable SPR peak in NIR region

Study of structural and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) nanostructures

Synthesis and characterization of coupled semiconductor metal oxide (ZnO/CuO) nanocomposite

A study of the nano-structured aggregated tin oxides (SnO2/SnO) and their structural and photoluminescence properties by a hydrothermal method

SnS2 nanoparticles have been synthesized using a mild hydrothermal method in the presence of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at 180 °C for 12 h. Physical investigations were carried out to study their structure, size, morphology and optical properties. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the as-prepared sample is indexed to the hexagonal phase of SnS2 and the particle size is 100 nm, which is further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The UV-visible spectrum shows that the absorption edge is blue shifted, and the band gap of the prepared SnS2 nanoparticles has been evaluated with UV-visible spectroscopy to be 3.54 eV, which is larger than the bulk SnS2 (~2.44 eV). The anionic surfactant SDS plays a key role in the formation of the 3D sphere like SnS2 nanostructures. A probable reaction for the formation of nanocrystalline SnS2 nanoparticles is proposed.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2043-6262/2/1/015001/pdf

Synthesis of SnS 2 nanoparticles by a surfactant-mediated hydrothermal method and their characterization

Glycine-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of pure and europium doped CeO2 nanoparticles and their structural, optical, photoluminescence, photocatalytic and antibacterial properties

J. Gajendiran

Papers

Study of structural and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) nanostructures

Synthesis and characterization of coupled semiconductor metal oxide (ZnO/CuO) nanocomposite

A study of the nano-structured aggregated tin oxides (SnO2/SnO) and their structural and photoluminescence properties by a hydrothermal method

Synthesis of SnS 2 nanoparticles by a surfactant-mediated hydrothermal method and their characterization

Glycine-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of pure and europium doped CeO2 nanoparticles and their structural, optical, photoluminescence, photocatalytic and antibacterial properties