One-year water-ageing of calcium phosphate composite containing nano-silver and quaternary ammonium to inhibit biofilms

Dental composites are commonly used restorative materials; however, secondary caries due to biofilm acids remains a major problem. The objectives of this study were （1） to develop a composite containing quaternary ammonium dimethacrylate （QADM）, nanoparticles of silver （NAg）, and nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP）, and （2） to conduct the first investigation of the mechanical properties, biofilm response and acid production vs water-ageing time from 1 day to 12 months. A 4 x 5 design was utilized, with four composites （NACP-QADM composite, NACP-NAg composite, NACP-QADM-NAg composite, and a commercial control composite）, and five water-ageing time periods （1 day, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months）. After each water- ageing period, the mechanical properties of the resins were measured in a three-point flexure, and antibacterial properties were tested via a dental plaque biofilm model using human saliva as an inoculum. After 12 months of water-ageing, NACP-QADM- NAg had a flexural strength and elastic modulus matching those of the commercial control （P〉 0.1）. Incorporation of QADM or NAg into the NACP composite greatly reduced biofilm viability, metabolic activity and acid production. A composite containing both QADM and NAg possessed a stronger antibacterial capability than one with QADM or NAg alone （P〈0.05）. The anti-biofilm activity was maintained after 12 months of water-ageing and showed no significant decrease with increasing time （P〉0.1）. In conclusion, the NACP-QADM-NAg composite decreased biofilm viability and lactic acid production, while matching the load- bearing capability of a commercial composite. There was no decrease in its antibacterial properties after 1 year of water-ageing. The durable antibacterial and mechanical properties indicate that NACP-QADM-NAg composites may be useful in dental restorations to combat caries.

Preparation of Nanoelectrode Ensembles by Assembly of Nano-Silver Colloid on Gold Surface

A novel method for preparing silver nanoelectrode ensembles (SNEEs) and gold nanoelectrode ensembles (GNEEs) has been developed. Silver colloid particles were first absorbed to the gold electrode surface to form a monolayer silver colloid. N-hexadecyl mercaptan was then assembled on the electrode to form a thiol monolayer on which hydrophilic ions cannot be transfered. The SNEEs was prepared by removing thiol from silver colloid surface through applying an AC voltage with increasing frequency at 0.20 V (vs. SCE). Finally, GNEEs was obtained by immersing a SNEEs into 6 mol/L HNO3 to remove the silver colloid particles. By comparison with other methods such as template method etc., this method enjoys some advantages of lower resistance, same diameter, easy preparation, controllable size and density.

Effect of nano-silver on microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of cast 6061 aluminum alloy

Al6061matrix with different amounts of nano-silver(1%and2%)was produced by stir-casting method.Producedsamples were characterized by hardness,tensile,compression and wear tests.The hardness of the specimens at room temperature wasmeasured by Brinnell hardness testing machine.The magnitude of hardness increased evidently with the function of the mass fractionof the nano-Ag particle.The polished specimens were examined with an optical microscope.The fracture surfaces of tensile andcompressive specimens were further examined by scanning electron microscopy.Wear mechanisms were discussed based on thescanning electron microscopy observations of worn surface and wear debris morphology.There is an increase in compressivestrength,ultimate tensile strength,elongation and wear resistance of the Al?Ag composites compared with base alloy.The executionof stir-casting technique is relatively homogenous and fine microstructure which improves the addition of reinforcement material inthe molten metal.The results show that Al6061?nano-silver which is the best combination of hardness can replace the conventionalmaterial for better performance and longer life.

Low Temperature Formation of Silver and Silver-Copper Alloy Nano-Particles Using Plasma Enhanced Hydrogenation and Their Optical Properties

In this paper, a novel method of producing nanoparticles at low temperatures using hydrogen bombardment of thin films, deposited on glass substrates, is introduced. Silver nanoparticles were obtained by this method in our Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition system. Optical and morphological characteristics of these nanoparticles were extensively studied for various conditions of plasma treatment, such as plasma power density, temperature, duration of hydrogen bombardment, thickness of the initial thin metallic film etc. In addition, Ag-Cu alloy nanoparticles on glass substrates were also achieved. The process of nanoparticle formation in this method shows that several kinds of metals and semiconductors nanoparticles can be obtained using this approach. Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy were used to analyze the nanostructures.

Decoration of activated carbon nanotubes by assembling nano-silver

A facile solution processed strategy of synthesizing nano silver assembled on carbon nanotubes （CNTs） at room temperature was put forward. Activated carbon nanotubes were used as precursors for preparing silver-decorated nanotubes. The nature of the decorated nanotubes was studied using transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDX）. The inert surfaces of carbon nanotubes were activated by introducing catalytic nuclei via an oxidation-sensitization-activation approach. Activated carbon nanotubes catalyzed the metal deposition specifically onto their surfaces upon immersion in electroless plating baths. The method produced nanotubes decorated with silver. The extent of silver decoration was found to be dependent on fabrication conditions. Dense nano silver assembled on nanotube surfaces could be obtained by keeping a low reaction rate in the solution phase. The results here show that this method is an efficient and simple means of achieving carbon nanotubes being assembled by nano metal.

Electrical properties of nano-silver/polyacrylamide/ethylene vinyl acetate composite

Nano-Ag particles/polyacrylamide （PAM） composites were synthesized by γ irradiation method and then blended with ethylene vinyl acetate （EVA）. Dielectric behaviors of the Ag/PAM/EVA composites are investigated as a function of both the concentration and size of Ag particles. When concentration of the Ag fillers is rarely low, dielectric anomalies were first observed in contrast to the traditional percolation theory. As concentration of Ag increases, volume resistivity and breakdown field strength are enhanced, loss tangent （tan δ） reduced and dielectric constant kept invariable. In addition, the above variation became larger when the diameter of the Ag nano-particles is smaller. Such dielectric anomalies may be understood by considering the unique ＂Coulomb Blockade Effect＂ of the nano-sized Ag particles.

Preparation of UV-curable Nano-silver Antimicrobial Agent and Its Application in Non-woven Fabric

Nano-silver and waterborne polyurethane(WPU)composite emulsion was synthesized.The average diameter of silver nanoparticles(SNPs)was about 20 nm,and the average diameter of WPU was 101.32 nm.The anti-bacteria finishing of a polypropylene non-woven fabric(NWF)was carried out by ultraviolet finishing technology and the double dipping twin-roll method.The standard AATCC100 was used to test the antimicrobial activity of the samples.The results showed that the antimicrobial rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae(K.pneumoniae)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)were above 90%,which indicated that the NWF finishing had good antimicrobial activity.In addition,the thermal stability,mechanical properties,whiteness and contact angle of antimicrobial finishing nonwovens were characterized.The results showed that the performance of antimicrobial nonwovens was stable at 300℃.The breaking strength was better than that of untreated nonwovens,and the contact angle reached 119.1°.

Temperature Dependent Surface Resistivity Measures of Commercial, Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT), and Silver Nano-Particle Doped Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Films

Pure and doped Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) films, for the detection of infrared radiation, have been well documented using the mechanism of pyroelectricity. Alternatively, the electrical properties of films made from Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) have received considerable attention in recent years. The investigation of surface resistivities of both such films, to this point, has received far less consideration in comparison to pyroelectric effects. In this research, we report temperature dependent surface resistivity measurements of commercial, and of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), or Ag-nanoparticle doped PVA films. Without any variation in the temperature range from 22°C to 40°C with controlled humidity, we found that the surface resistivity decreases initially, reaches a minimum, but rises steadily as the temperature continues to increase. This research was conducted with the combined instrumentation of the Keithley Model 6517 Electrometer and Keithley Model 8009 resistivity test fixture using both commercial and in-house produced organic thin films. With the objective to quantify the suitability of PVDF and PVA films as IR detector materials, when using the surface resistivity phenomenon, instead of or in addition to the pyroelectricity, surface resistivity measurements are reported when considering bolometry. We found that the surface resistivity measurements on PVA films were readily implemented.

Improvement of the Conductivity of Silver Nanowire Film by Adding Silver Nano-Particles

The change of conductivity and transparency of silver nanowire （AgNW） films by adding silver nano-particles （AgNPs） onto their surface is studied. The results show that the conductivity of the AgNW film is greatly improved with its sheet resistance reduced about 78. 7% to 51.9Ω/sq, and there is no obvious reduction of the transmittance. Further studies show that there is a self-assembling process pushing the AgNPs to concentrate at the intersecting points between AgNWs to weld them, which would reduce the intersection resistance between the AgNWs. This self-assembling behavior is led by the surface interactivities among the dispersing liquid of AgNPs, the surface of the substrate and AgNWs when the dispersing liquid is drying.

Trace Level Gas Sensing Characteristics of Nano-Crystalline Silver Decamolybdate

A soft-chemical method has been developed for the synthesis of nano-crystalline powders of silver decamolybdate. Gas sensing characteristics of this composition both in porous pellet and thin film configurations were investigated. The compound Ag6Mo10O33 was found to sense selectively ammonia at 503 K. Above 503 K it has significant cross sensitivity to petroleum gas (PG). Spin coated thin films exhibited selective sensing towards PG.

Comparative Study of the Silver Nano-/Microstructures Deposited from Aerosol and Fog

A comparative study of the structure and fractal properties of arrays of the silver nano-/micro-particles deposited on the silicon substrate both from the aerosol and fog showed that the form of the silver individual particles and nano-/microstructures greatly depends on the deposition conditions. By passing an aerosol through isopropyl alcohol, the formation of fractal aggregates of the silver nano-/micro-particles both in the air and in alcohol was observed. Deposition of the silver nano-/micro-particles in the atmosphere of the saturated isopropyl alcohol vapours led to formation of fog. Microdroplets of the silver colloidal solution were deposited on the substrate. The further evaporation of alcohol created the silver nano/microstructures in the form of annular layers. It was found that the concerned annular layers contained silver particles of the same shape in the form of a Crescent (or Janus-nano-/microparticles). The nature of discovered effects is discussed.

Advances in the efficacy and safety of nano-silver dressings for diabetic foot ulcers(DFU)healing

As a new antimicrobial material,nano-silver dressing has been widely used in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer(DFU)wounds in recent years.It not only has achieved a satisfactory effect in promoting the healing of DFU,but also has the advantages in controlling wound infection,relieving pain and reducing the frequency of dressing change.In this review,the principle,efficacy and safety of DFU wound healing were reviewed,and the future research directions were prospected.

Impact Analysis of Microscopic Defect Types on the Macroscopic Crack Propagation in Sintered Silver Nanoparticles

Sintered silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)arewidely used in high-power electronics due to their exceptional properties.However,the material reliability is significantly affected by various microscopic defects.In this work,the three primary micro-defect types at potential stress concentrations in sintered AgNPs are identified,categorized,and quantified.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulations are employed to observe the failure evolution of different microscopic defects.The dominant mechanisms responsible for this evolution are dislocation nucleation and dislocation motion.At the same time,this paper clarifies the quantitative relationship between the tensile strain amount and the failure mechanism transitions of the three defect types by defining key strain points.The impact of defect types on the failure process is also discussed.Furthermore,traction-separation curves extracted from microscopic defect evolutions serve as a bridge to connect the macro-scale model.The validity of the crack propagation model is confirmed through tensile tests.Finally,we thoroughly analyze how micro-defect types influence macro-crack propagation and attempt to find supporting evidence from the MD model.Our findings provide a multi-perspective reference for the reliability analysis of sintered AgNPs.

U-Pb dating of monazite in the Bainiuchang silver polymetallic deposit,Yunnan Province,and its limitation on Mesozoic mineralization

1.Objective The Gejiu-Bozhushan-Laojunshan tin-tungsten polymetallic metallogenic belt is located in southeastern Yunnan.It is bounded by the Mile-Shizong Fault and the Yangzi Plate to the north and west,respectively,while the Honghe Fault represents its southwestern boundary.It is adjacent to the Ailaoshan Fault,and extends to Guangxi and Vietnam to the southeast(Fig.1a;Liu JP et al.,2021).

Downshift of d-states and the decomposition of silver halides

The ionicity of ionic solids is typically characterized by the electronegativity of the constituent ions.Electronegativity measures the ability of electron transfer between atoms and is commonly considered under ambient conditions.Howeve r,external stresses profoundly change the ionicity,and compressed ionic compounds may behave differently.Here,we focus on silver halides,with constituent ions from one of the most electropositive metals and some of the most electronegative nonme tals.Using first-principles calculations,we find that the strengths of the ionic bonds in these compounds change greatly under pressure owing to downshifting of the Ag 4d-orbital.The center of this orbital is lowered to fill the antibonding state below the Fermi level,leading to chemical decomposition.Our results suggest that under pressure,the orbital energies and correspondingly the electronegativities still tune the ionicity and control the electron transfer,ionicity,and reactivity of both the metal and the nonmetal elements.However,the effects of orbital energies start to become dominant under pressure,causing substantial changes to the chemistry of ionic compounds and leading to an unusual phenomenon in which elements with substantial electronegativity differences,such as Ag and Br,do not necessarily form ionic compounds,but remain in their elemental forms.

Boosting thermoelectric efficiency of Ag_(2)Se through cold sintering process with Ag nano-precipitate formation

Silver selenide(Ag_(2)Se)stands out as a promising thermoelectric(TE)material,particularly for applications near room temper-atures.This research presents a novel approach for the fabrication of bulk Ag_(2)Se samples at a relatively low temperature(170℃)using the cold sintering process(CSP)with AgNO_(3)solution as a transient liquid agent.The effect of AgNO_(3)addition during CSP on the micro-structure and TE properties was investigated.The results from phase,composition and microstructure analyses showed that the introduc-tion of AgNO_(3)solution induced the formation of Ag nano-precipitates within the Ag_(2)Se matrix.Although the nano-precipitates do not af-fect the phase and crystal structure of orthorhombicβ-Ag_(2)Se,they suppressed crystal growth,leading to reduced crystallite sizes.The samples containing Ag nano-precipitates also exhibited high porosity and low bulk density.Consequently,these effects contributed to sig-nificantly enhanced electrical conductivity and a slight decrease in the Seebeck coefficient when small Ag concentrations were incorpor-ated.This resulted in an improved average power factor from~1540μW·m^(−1)·K^(−2)for pure Ag_(2)Se to~1670μW·m^(−1)·K^(−2)for Ag_(2)Se with additional Ag precipitates.However,excessive Ag addition had a detrimental effect on the power factor.Furthermore,thermal conductiv-ity was effectively suppressed in Ag_(2)Se fabricated using AgNO_(3)-assisted CSP,attributed to enhanced phonon scattering at crystal inter-faces,pores,and Ag nano-precipitates.The highest figure-of-merit(zT)of 0.92 at 300 K was achieved for the Ag_(2)Se with 0.5wt%Ag dur-ing CSP fabrication,equivalent to>20%improvement compared to the controlled Ag_(2)Se without extra Ag solution.Thus,the process outlined in this study presents an effective strategy to tailor the microstructure of bulk Ag_(2)Se and enhance its TE performance at room temperature.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Orange and Lemon Peel Extract and Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial Properties

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extracts of orange and lemon peels, as a reducing agent, and silver nitrate salts as a source of silver ions is a promising field of research due to the versatility of biomedical applications of metal nanoparticles. In this paper, AgNPs were synthetized at different reaction parameters such as the type and concentration of the extracts, metal salt concentration, temperature, speed stirring, and pH. The antibacterial properties of the obtained silver nanoparticles against E. coli, as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of the synthesized silver nanoparticles, were investigated. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to confirm the formation of AgNPs. In addition to green biogenic synthesis, chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles was also carried out. The optimal temperature for extraction was 65˚C, while for the synthesis of AgNPs was 35˚C. The synthesis is carried out in an acidic environment (pH = 4.7 orange and pH = 3.8 lemon), neutral (pH = 7) and alkaline (pH = 10), then for different concentrations of silver nitrate solution (0.5 mM - 1 mM), optimal time duration of the reaction was 60 min and optimal stirring speed rotation was 250 rpm on the magnetic stirrer. The physical properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles (conductivity, density and refractive index) were also studied, and the passage of laser light through the obtained solution and distilled water was compared. Positive inhibitory effect on the growth of new Escherichia coli colonies have shown AgNPs synthesized at a basic pH value and at a 0.1 mM AgNO3 using orange or lemon peel extract, while for a 0.5 mM AgNO3 using lemon peel extract.

Silver Slate展示Nano-tex织物收藏品

最近，Silver State贸易公司展示了由Silver State fabrics首次收藏的Nano—tex织物。

Flexible polydimethylsiloxane pressure sensor with micro-pyramid structures and embedded silver nanowires:A novel application in urinary flow measurement

Flexible pressure sensors are lightweight and highly sensitive,making them suitable for use in small portable devices to achieve precise measurements of tiny forces.This article introduces a low-cost and easy-fabrication strategy for piezoresistive flexible pressure sensors.By embedding silver nanowires into a polydimethylsiloxane layer with micro-pyramids on its surface,a flexible pressure sensor is created that can detect low pressure (17.3 Pa) with fast response (<20 ms) and high sensitivity (69.6 mA kPa-1).Furthermore,the pressure sensor exhibits a sensitive and stable response to a small amount of water flowing on its surface.On this basis,the flexible pressure sensor is innovatively combined with a micro-rotor to fabricate a novel urinary flow-rate meter (uroflowmeter),and results from a simulated human urination experiment show that the uroflowmeter accurately captured all the essential shape characteristics that were present in the pump-simulated urination curves.Looking ahead,this research provides a new reference for using flexible pressure sensors in urinary flow-rate monitoring.

The Influence of Tartaric Acid in the Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Response Surface Methodology

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)synthesized using tartaric acid as a capping agent have a great impact on the reaction kinetics and contribute significantly to the stability of AgNPs.The protective layer formed by tartaric acid is an important factor that protects the silver surface and reduces potential cytotoxicity problems.These attributes are critical for assessing the compatibility of AgNPs with biological systems and making them suitable for drug delivery applications.The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive study of the effect of tartaric acid concentration,sonication time and temperature on the formation of silver nanoparticles.Using Response Surface Methodology(RSM)with Face-Centered Central Composite Design(FCCD),the optimization process identifies the most favorable synthesis conditions.UV-Vis spectrum regression analysis shows that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid are more stable than AgNPs without tartaric acid.This highlights the increased stability that tartaric acid provides in AgNP ssssynthesis.Particle size distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for AgNPs with tartaric acid and showed the smallest size peak with an average size of 20.53 nm.The second peak with increasing intensity shows a dominant average size of 108.8 nm accompanied by one standard deviation of 4.225 nm and a zeta potential of−11.08 mV.In contrast,AgNPs synthesized with polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)showed a unimodal particle distribution with an average particle size of 81.62 nm and a zeta potential of−2.96 mV.The more negative zeta potential of AgNP-tartaric acid indicates its increased stability.Evaluation of antibacterial activity showed that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid showed better performance against E.coli and B.subtilis bacteria compared with AgNPs-PVP.In summary,this study highlights the potential of tartaric acid in AgNP synthesis and suggests an avenue for the development of stable AgNPs with versatile applications.