Morphology Influence on Wettability and Wetting Dynamics of ZnO Nanostructure Arrays

This study has been supported by internal research grant No. 14-95/2021/10 of Daugavpils University “Development of the Nanostructured Metal Oxide Coatings and Their Application in Optical Sensing for Heavy Metal Detection”.Changes in nanostructure morphology and size may result in very different surface wettability. In this research, the impact of different morphological parameters on the wetting dynamics of ZnO nanostructured layers is studied. Six different morphologies are chosen to determine the specific wetting processes of ZnO nanostructures: nanoneedles, small diameter rods, large diameter rods, nanotubes, nanoplates, and plain thin films. Wetting dynamics is investigated using conventional sessile drop technique and a novel approach based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results show that the surface of nanostructured ZnO thin films exhibits both hydrophilic and hydrophobic wetting behaviour, depending on nanostructure form, size, and orientation. ZnO nanostructure arrays are a promising platform for electrochemical and optical sensing in aqueous solutions. The full and effective use of the sensor working surface can be ensured only under the condition of complete wetting of the nanostructured layer. Therefore, it is important to take into account the peculiarities of the wetting process of a specific morphology of nanostructures. © 2022 V. Gerbreders et al., published by Sciendo.Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2

Non-Enzymatic Co3O4 Nanostructure-Based Electrochemical Sensor for H2O2 Detection

This article describes the synthesis of nanostructured cobalt oxide on iron wires and its application for the detection of hydrogen peroxide as working electrode for non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor. Cobalt oxide was obtained by the hydrothermal synthesis method using chloride and acetate anions. The resulting nanostructured coating obtained from the chloride precursor is a uniform homogeneous porous network of long nanofibers assembled into regular honeyсomb-like formations. In the case of an acetate precursor, instead of nanofibers, petal-like nanostructures assembled into honeycomb agglomerates are observed. The structure, surface, and composition of the obtained samples were studied using field-emission scanning electron microscopy along with energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The resultant nanostructured specimens were utilized to detect H2O2 electrochemically through cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and i-t measurements. A comparative research has demonstrated that the nanostructures produced from the chloride precursor exhibit greater sensitivity to H2O2 and have a more appropriate morphology for designing a nanostructured sensor. A substantial linear correlation between the peak current and H2O2 concentration within the 20 to 1300 μM range was established. The Co3O4 electrode obtained exhibits a sensitivity of 505.11 μA·mM−1, and the electroactive surface area is calculated to be 4.684 cm2. Assuming a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, the calculated limit of detection is 1.05 μM. According to the interference study, the prevalent interfering agents, such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, NaCl, and glucose, do not influence the electrochemical reaction. The obtained results confirm that this sensor is suitable for working with complex analytes.The actual sample assessment demonstrated a recovery rate exceeding 95 %. --//-- This is an open access article Mizers, V., Gerbreders, V., Krasovska, M., Sledevskis, E., Mihailova, I., Ogurcovs, A., Bulanovs, A. and Gerbreders, A.. "Non-Enzymatic Co3O4 Nanostructure-Based Electrochemical Sensor for H2O2 Detection" Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences, vol.60, no.6, 2023, pp.63-84. https://doi.org/10.2478/lpts-2023-0037 published under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence.The research has been supported by ESF Project No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/003 “Strengthening of Professional Competence of Daugavpils University Academic Personnel of Strategic Specialization Branches 3rd Call”. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia at the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2

Selective Patterned Growth of ZnO Nanoneedle Arrays

Nanostructured coatings are widely used to improve the sensitivity of various types of sensors by increasing the active surface area compared to smooth films. However, for certain applications (in some cases), it may be necessary to achieve selectivity in the coating process to ensure that nanostructures only form in specific areas leaving interelectrode spaces free of nanostructures. This article discusses several methods for creating intricate ZnO nanostructured patterns, including area selective application of Zn acetate seeds followed by hydrothermal growth, selective thermal decomposition of zinc acetate via laser irradiation followed by hydrothermal growth, and the electrochemical deposition method. These methods enable ZnO nanostructures to grow onto designated surface areas with customised, patterned shapes, and they are rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally benign. The article examines the process of producing a nanostructured coating with a complex shape and discusses several factors that can impact the quality of the final product. These include the influence of the thermocapillary flows and the “coffee stain” effect on the deposition of a seed layer of zinc oxide from an ethanol solution of zinc acetate. Additionally, the study found that using a protective screen during the growth of nanostructures can reduce the occurrence of unintended parasitic structures in areas lacking a seed layer. Overall, the article presents various techniques and strategies to improve the quality of nanostructured coatings. We have proven that the use of laser radiation to create a seed layer does not impact the final morphology of the resulting nanostructures. However, when combined with computer-controlled technology, this approach allows for the creation of intricate patterns made up of micrometre-sized lines which cannot be achieved by using other methods. The article also demonstrates an electrochemical technique for obtaining zinc oxide nano-structures that can selectively coat metal electrodes without requiring a seed layer. --//--This is an open access article Mihailova, I., Krasovska, M., Sledevskis, E., Gerbreders, V., Mizers, V., Bulanovs, A. and Ogurcovs, A.. "Selective Patterned Growth of ZnO Nanoneedle Arrays" Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences, vol.60, no.6, 2023, pp.35-53. https://doi.org/10.2478/lpts-2023-0035 published under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence.The research has been supported by ERDF project No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/4/20/743 “Development of Nanomaterial-based Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide”. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia at the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2

Second harmonic generation in selenium-metal structures

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Electrochemical Detection of Small Volumes of Glyphosate with Mass-Produced Non-Modified Gold Chips

Mass-produced printed circuit board (PCB) electrodes were used as electrochemical cells to detect the widely-used herbicide glyphosate. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used to determine the presence of glyphosate in aqueous Cu(NO3)2 solution. Optimal measurement conditions for the detection of glyphosate with PCB electrodes were found. It was determined that glyphosate was able to soak into the growing plants from the substrate. Glyphosate-contaminated plant juice was distinguished from control samples using the PCB electrode. Glyphosate-contaminated plants were found to have DNA mutations