This Review provides an overview of the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) composite nanomaterials by electrospinning and their applications. After a brief description of the development of the electrospinning technique, the transformation of an inorganic nanocomponent or polymer into another kind of polymer or inorganic matrix is discussed in terms of the electrospinning process, including the direct-dispersed method, gas-solid reaction, in situ photoreduction, sol-gel method, emulsion electrospinning method, solvent evaporation, and coaxial electrospinning. In addition, various applications of such 1D composite nanomaterials are highlighted in terms of electronic and optical nanodevices, chemical and biological sensors, catalysis and electrocatalysis, superhydrophobic surfaces, environment, energy, and biomedical fields. An increasing number of investigations show that electrospinning has been not only a focus of academic study in the laboratory but is also being applied in a great many technological fields.

One-Dimensional Composite Nanomaterials: Synthesis by Electrospinning and Their Applications

Role of nanotechnology in targeted drug delivery and imaging: a concise review.

Gold nanoparticles have been coated with amorphous silica to form spherical colloids with a core−shell structure The thickness of silica shells could be conveniently controlled in the range of tens to several hundred nanometers by changing the concentration of the sol−gel precursor or the coating time These core−shell colloids could serve as the building blocks to fabricate photonic devices In one demonstration, we showed that these core−shell particles could be assembled into long-range ordered lattices (or photonic crystals) over large areas that exhibited optical properties different from those crystallized from silica colloids Transmission spectra of these crystals displayed both features that correspond to the Bragg diffraction of a periodic lattice and the plasmon resonance absorption of gold nanoparticles Reflectance spectra taken from these crystals only showed peaks caused by Bragg diffraction In another demonstration, these core−shell colloids were assembled into chains of different config

Synthesis and Self-Assembly of Au@SiO2 Core−Shell Colloids

Antimicrobial cellulose acetate nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles

Hydrogel networks as nanoreactors: A novel approach to silver nanoparticles for antibacterial applications

We developed a novel method to fabricate nanocomposite monodisperse SiO2 spheres (approximately 100 nm) containing homogeneously dispersed Ag quantum dots (approximately 2 to 5 nm). The inclusion morphology is controlled through the timing of the photochemical reduction of silver ions during hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in a microemulsion. Depending on the timing, Ag quantum dots can be directed to different annuli within the SiO2 spheres, as well as onto the SiO2 sphere surfaces. The embedded Ag quantum dots show a plasmon resonance absorption band at 438 nm. These Ag@SiO2 particles have significant surface charge and readily self-assemble into crystalline colloidal array (CCA) photonic crystals which Bragg-diffract light in the visible region. The magnitude of the plasmon resonance absorption depends on the CCA Bragg diffraction condition. The negative dielectric constant of the silver nanoparticles may be decreasing the silica-silver nanodot composite refractive index below that of the water medium. We may be observing an analogue of the Borrmann effect previously observed in X-ray scattering, where the incident and diffracted electric field standing wave becomes localized in regions of small CCA crystal absorption.

Wei Wang

Papers

Photochemical incorporation of silver quantum dots in monodisperse silica colloids for photonic crystal applications.