The study explores carbon quantum dots (C-dots) as potential candidates for enhancing the signal sensitivity of an electrochemical sensor devised for biologically important molecule, such as uric acid (UA). The C-dots were evaluated for their electrochemical characteristics in combination with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs), which were applied as the primary electro-catalytic promoter. The hybrid nanocomposite (C-dots/Fe3O4 HCs) formation was achieved by facilitating the adsorption of C-dots over Fe3O4 NPs using amine-carbonyl interactions. Unlike, one pot method, the proposed strategy enables aggregation-free coverage of Fe3O4 NPs with highly conductive layer of C-dots that can act as conduction centres to support ultra-fast electron transfer kinetics to satisfy the need of high signal sensitivity. The hybrid composite demonstrated remarkable signal improvement when tested against the electrochemical oxidation of UA. The heighten current response and lower over-potential values enabled development of a DC-amperometric (DC-AMP) sensor for UA with a linear working range of 0.01 to 0.145 mu M and signal sensitivity measurable up to 6.0 x 10(-9) M. The said improvement was manifested as a synergetic outcome of active redox couple (Fe (III/II)), larger surface area of Fe3O4 NPs engulfed with a layer of highly conductive C-dots acting as efficient charge sensitisers.
Procalcitonin (PCT) protein has recently been identified as a clinical marker for bacterial infections based on its better sepsis sensitivity. Thus, an increased level of PCT could be linked with disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this study, we describe the construction of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) PCT immunosensing platform based on it situ grown photo-active CuWO4 nanospheres over reduced graphene oxide layers (CuWO4@rGO). The in situ growth strategy enabled the formation of small nanospheres (diameter of 200 nm), primarily composed of tiny self-assembled CuWO4 nanoparticles (2-5 nm). The synergic coupling of CuWO4 with rGO layers constructed an excellent photo-active heterojunction for photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing. The platform was then considered for electrocatalytic (EC) mechanism-based detection of PCT, where inhibition of the photocatalytic oxidation signal of ascorbic acid (AA), subsequent to the antibody-antigen interaction, was recorded as the primary signal response. This inhibition detection approach enabled sensitive detection of PCT in a concentration range of 10 pgmL(-1) to 50 ng.mL(-1) with signal sensitivity achievable up to 0.15 pgmL(-1). The proposed PEC hybrid (CuWO4@rGO) could further be engineered to detect other clinically important species.
Cheap and efficient white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are of great interest due to the energy crisis all over the world. Herein, we have developed heterojunction LEDs based on the well-aligned ZnO nanorods and nanotubes on the p-type GaN with the insertion of the NiO buffer layer that showed enhancement in the light emission. Scanning electron microscopy have well demonstrated the arrays of the ZnO nanorods and the proper etching into the nanotubes. X-ray diffraction study describes the wurtzite crystal structure array of ZnO nanorods with the involvement of GaN at the (002) peak. The cathodoluminescence spectra represent strong and broad visible emission peaks compared to the UV emission and a weak peak at 425 nm which is originated from GaN. Electroluminescence study has shown highly improved luminescence response for the LEDs fabricated with NiO buffer layer compared to that without NiO layer. Introducing a sandwich-thin layer of NiO between the n-type ZnO and the p-type GaN will possibly block the injection of electrons from the ZnO to the GaN. Moreover, the presence of NiO buffer layer might create the confinement effect.
Composite nanostructures of coral reefs like p-type NiO on n-type ZnO nanorods have been decorate on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrates by the hydrothermal growth. Structural characterization was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. This investigation has shown that the adopted synthesis has led to high crystalline quality nanostructures. Morphological study shows that the coral reefs like nanostructures are densely packed on the ZnO nanorods. Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra for the synthesized composite nanostructures were dominated by a near band gap emission at 380 nm and by a broad interstitial defect related luminescence centered at ~630 nm. Spatially resolved CL images reveal that the luminescence originates mainly from the ZnO nanorods.
In this research work, a UV photo-detector is fabricated on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate by exploiting the advantageous features of p-n heterojunctions based on p-NiO and n-ZnO composite nanostructures forming a coral-reef like structures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction results showed uniform morphology and good crystal quality of the synthesised nanostructures respectively. I-V measurements have shown nonlinear and rectifying response of the p-NiO/n-ZnO heterojunction. The proposed photodiode exhibited excellent UV response with acceptable photocurrent generation of about 3.4 mA and the responsivity of 2.27 A/W at -3 biasing voltage.
In the present work, the seedless, highly aligned and vertical ZnO nanorods in 3 dimensions (3D) were grown on the nickel foam substrate. The seedless grown ZnO nanorods were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The characterised seedless ZnO nanorods in 3D on nickel foam were highly dense, perpendicular to substrate, grown along the (002) crystal plane, and also composed of single crystal. In addition to this, these seedless ZnO nanorods were functionalized with trans-dinitro-dibenzo-18-6 crown ether, a selective iron (III) ion ionophore, along with other components of membrane composition such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 2-nitopentylphenyl ether as plasticizer (NPPE), and tetrabutyl ammonium tetraphenylborate (TBATPB) as conductivity increaser. The sensor electrode has shown high linearity with a wide range of detection of iron (III) ion concentrations from 0.005 mM to 100 mM. The low limit of detection of the proposed ion selective electrode was found to be 0.001 mM. The proposed sensor also described high storage stability, selectivity, reproducibility, and repeatability and a quick response time of less than 10 s.
In this study honeycomb-like NiO nanostructures were grown on nickel foam by a simple hydrothermal growth method. The NiO nanostructures were characterized by field emission electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The characterized NiO nanostructures were uniform, dense and polycrystalline in the crystal phase. In addition to this, the NiO nanostructures were used in the development of a zinc ion sensor electrode by functionalization with the highly selective zinc ion ionophore 12-crown-4. The developed zinc ion sensor electrode has shown a good linear potentiometric response for a wide range of zinc ion concentrations, ranging from 0.001 mM to 100 mM, with sensitivity of 36 mV/decade. The detection limit of the present zinc ion sensor was found to be 0.0005 mM and it also displays a fast response time of less than 10 s. The proposed zinc ion sensor electrode has also shown good reproducibility, repeatability, storage stability and selectivity. The zinc ion sensor based on the functionalized NiO nanostructures was also used as indicator electrode in potentiometric titrations and it has demonstrated an acceptable stoichiometric relationship for the determination of zinc ion in unknown samples. The NiO nanostructures-based zinc ion sensor has potential for analysing zinc ion in various industrial, clinical and other real samples.
Seed mediated aqueous chemical growth (ACG) route was used for the growth of ZnO nanostructures on Si substrate in four different growth mediums. The growth medium has shown to affect the morphology and the size of the different nanostructures. We observed that the medium containing zinc nitrate anions yields the nanorods, in a medium containing zinc acetate anions nano-candles are obtained. While in a medium containing zinc chloride anions ZnO nano-discs were obtained and in a medium containing zinc sulfate anions nano-flakes are achieved. Growth in these different mediums has also shown effect on the optical emission characteristics of the different ZnO nanostructures.
Doped semiconductors nanostructures (NSs) have shown great interest as a potential for green and efficient photocatalysis activities. Magnesium (Mg)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) has been synthesized by a one-step chemical low temperature (60 °C) co-precipitation method without further calcination and their photocatalytic performance for photodegradation of Methylene blue (MB) dye under the illumination of solar light is investigated. The crystal structure of the synthesized NPs is examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD data indicates a slight shift towards higher 2θ angle in Mg-doped samples as compared to the pure ZnO NPs which suggest the incorporation of Mg2+ into ZnO crystal lattice. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis spectrophotometer and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy, were used to study electronics, and optical properties, respectively. The XPS analysis confirms the substitution of the Zn2+ by the Mg2+ into the ZnO crystal lattice in agreement with the XRD data. The photocatalytic activities showed a significant enhancement of the Mg-doped ZnO NPs in comparison with pure ZnO NPs. Hole/radical scavengers were used to reveal the mechanism of the photodegradation. It was found that the addition of the Mg to the ZnO lattices increases the absorption of the hydroxyl ions at the surface of the NPs and hence acts as a trap site leading to decrease the electron-hole pair and consequently enhancing the photodegradation.
High-efficiency photocatalysts are crucial for the removal of organic pollutants and environmental sustainability. In the present work, we report on a new low-temperature hydrothermal chemical method, assisted by ultrasonication, to synthesize disruptive plasmonic ZnO/graphene/Ag/AgI nanocomposites for solar-driven photocatalysis. The plasmonic nanocomposites were investigated by a wide range of characterization techniques, confirming successful formation of photocatalysts with excellent degradation efficiency. Using Congo red as a model dye molecule, our experimental results demonstrated a photocatalytic reactivity exceeding 90% efficiency after one hour simulated solar irradiation. The significantly enhanced degradation efficiency is attributed to improved electronic properties of the nanocomposites by hybridization of the graphene and to the addition of Ag/AgI which generates a strong surface plasmon resonance effect in the metallic silver further improving the photocatalytic activity and stability under solar irradiation. Scavenger experiments suggest that superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are responsible for the photodegradation of Congo red. Our findings are important for the fundamental understanding of the photocatalytic mechanism of ZnO/graphene/Ag/AgI nanocomposites and can lead to further development of novel efficient photocatalyst materials.
In this work we have analyzed the optical absorption of the ZnO and SnO2:F (FTO) films and applied them in porous silicon light-emitting diodes. The absorption and energy gap were calculated by employing the projector augmented wave method [1] within the local density approximation and with a modeled on-site self-interaction-like correction potential within the LDA+U SIC [2]. Experiment and theory show a good agreement when the optical absorption and optical energy gap are considered. A layer of FTO is deposited by spray pyrolysis on top of porous Si (PSi) or ZnO/(PSi) in order to make the LEDs. The morphology and roughness of the films are analyzed by Atomic Force Microscopy before and after the FTO deposition. The electrical and optical properties are studied by characteristics curves J × V, and electroluminescence intensity versus bias.
The fabrication of efficient, alkaline-stable and nonprecious electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction is highly needed; however, it is a challenging task. Herein, we report a noble metal-free advanced catalyst, i.e. the chemically reduced mixed transition metal oxide CuO-Co3O4 composite, with outstanding oxygen evolution reaction activity in alkaline media. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) was used as a reducing agent for the mixed transition metal oxide CuO-Co3O4. The chemically reduced composite carried mixed valence states of Cu and Co, which played a dynamic role in driving an excellent oxygen evolution reaction process. The X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) study confirmed high density of active sites in the treated sample with a large number of oxygen vacancies. The developed electrocatalyst showed the lowest overpotential of 144.5 mV vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) to achieve the current density of 40 mA cm(-2) and remained stable for 40 hours throughout the chronoamperometry test at the constant potential of 1.39 V vs. RHE. Moreover, the chemically reduced composite was highly durable. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the low charge transfer resistance of 13.53 ohms for the chemically reduced composite, which was 50 and 26 times smaller than that of Co3O4 and untreated CuO-Co3O4, respectively. The electrochemically active surface area for the chemically reduced composite was found to be greater than that for pristine CuO, Co3O4 and untreated pristine CuO-Co3O4. These findings reveal the possibility of a new gateway for the capitalization of a chemically reduced sample into diverse energy storage and conversion systems such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors.
Luminescence of silver nanoparticles photo-deposited on titan dioxide nanoparticles of mesoporous film is studied. Luminescence was registered under the two-photon excitation by femto-second laser pulses of Ti:sapphire laser. It was observed that Ag/ TiO2 mesoporous films have high concentration of bright luminescence spots which reveal stability to degradation under long illumination. Various configurations of silver nanoparticles are analyzed to explain the physics of bright luminescence spots ( hot spots). Luminescence intensity reveals hot spots dependence on the polarization of excitation laser pulse. Properties of Ag/TiO2 system can be useful for single molecule spectroscopy and visualization of biological objects. Aapplication of Ag/ TiO2 mesoporous films for Raman scattering spectroscopy de-menstruated for the case of Rhodamine B.
pH determination is a strong prerequisite for many biochemical and biological processes. We used two methods, namely, the electrochemical potential method (experimental) and site binding method (theoretical), to study the sensitivity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown on two-dimensional macroporous periodic structures (2DMPPS) (p-and n-type) and plane n-type Si substrates for use as an intracellular pH sensing device. The dimension of these nanorods varied in radius between 50 and 300 nm and lengths of 1–10 μm. We found that the sensitivity of ZnO nanorods increases with reductions in size, from 35 mV/pH for D = 300 nm and L = 10 μm, to 58 mV/pH for D = 50 nm and L = 1 μm, using the site binding model. The experimental electrochemical potential difference for the ZnO nanorods working electrode versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode showed a high sensitivity range for ZnO nanorods grown on 2DMPPS n-Si substrate as compared to plane n-Si at room temperature for pH ranging from 4 to 12 in buffer and NaCl solutions
Zinc oxide nano-particles have been used by cosmetic industry for many years because they are extensively used as agents to attenuate (absorb and/or scatter) the ultraviolet radiation. In the most UV-attenuating agent is formulated in which the metal oxide nano-particles are incorporated into liquid media or polymer media are manufactured, such as sunscreens and skin care cosmetics. In this paper we study the wavelength dependence on the particle size (r eff = 10–100 nm) by solving the scattering problem of hexagonal ZnO particle for different shapes (plate, equal ratio, column) using the discrete dipole approximation method to find the absorption, scattering, and extinction efficiencies for the UV region (30–400 nm). A new modified hexagonal shape is introduced to determine the scattering problem and it is assumed in this study that the wavelength is comparable to the particle size. From these results, we conclude that the optimum particle radius to block the UV radiation is between r eff = 40–80 nm.
ZnO nanorods with 80 nm diameter and 700 nm length and grown on the tip of a borosilicate glass capillary (0.7 μm in diameter) were used to create a highly sensitive pH sensor for monitoring in vivo biological process within single cells. The ZnO nanorods, functionalized by proton H3 O+ and hydroxyl O H- groups, exhibit a pH -dependent electrochemical potential difference versus a AgAgCl microelectrode. The potential difference was linear over a large dynamic range (4-11), which could be understood in terms of the change in surface charge during protonation and deprotonation. These nanoelectrode devices have the ability to enable analytical measurements in single living cells and have the capability to sense individual chemical species in specific locations within a cell. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.
In this study, we have used cotton silk as a source of abundant hydroxyl groups for the fast nucleation/growth of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanowires via a hydrothermal method. The crystal planes of the Co3O4 nanowires well matched the cubic phase. The as-synthesized Co3O4 nanowires mainly contained cobalt and oxygen elements and were found to be highly sensitive towards uric acid in 0.01 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. Importantly, the Co3O4 nanowires exhibited a large surface area, which was heavily utilized during the immobilization of the enzyme uricase via a physical adsorption method. The potentiometric response of the uricase-immobilizing Co3O4 nanowires was measured in the presence of uric acid (UA) against a silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrode. The newly fabricated uric acid biosensor possessed a low limit of detection of 1.0 +/- 0.2 nM with a wide linear range of 5 nM to 10 mM and sensitivity of 30.6 mV dec(-1). Additionally, several related parameters of the developed uric acid biosensor were investigated, such as the repeatability, reproducibility, storage stability, selectivity, and dynamic response time, and these were found to be satisfactory. The good performance of the Co3O4 nanowires was verified based on the fast charge-transfer kinetics, as confirmed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The successful practical use of the uric acid biosensor was demonstrated based on the recovery method. The observed performance of the uricase-immobilizing Co3O4 nanowires revealed that they could be considered as a promising and alternative tool for the detection of uric acid under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Also, the use of cotton silk as a source of abundant hydroxyl groups may be considered for the remarkably fast nucleation/growth of other metal-oxide nanostructures, thereby facilitating the fabrication of functional electrochemical devices, such as batteries, water-splitting devices, and supercapacitors.
Ever since the discovery of the pH-sensing properties of ZnO crystals, researchers have been exploring their potential in electrochemical applications. The recent expansion and availability of chemical modification methods has made it possible to generate a new class of electrochemically active ZnO nanorods. This reduction in size of ZnO (to a nanocrystalline form) using new growth techniques is essentially an example of the nanotechnology fabrication principle. The availability of these ZnO nanorods opens up an entire new and exciting research direction in the field of electrochemical sensing. This review covers the latest advances and mechanism of pH-sensing using ZnO nanorods, with an emphasis on the nano-interface mechanism. We discuss methods for calculating the effect of surface states on pH-sensing at a ZnO/electrolyte interface. All of these current research topics aim to explain the mechanism of pH-sensing using a ZnO bulk- or nano-scale single crystal. An important goal of these investigations is the translation of these nanotechnology-modified nanorods into potential novel applications.
A ZnO nanorod probe was employed to determine the resting membrane potential of a human fat cell. The distribution of protons associated with the cell versus the extracellular distribution is proportional to changes in membrane potential. The membrane potential determines the concentration gradient of the protons with dominant permeability according to the Nernst equation. A ZnO nanorod probe was successfully used to find the resting membrane potential for a human fat cell: 34 +/- 2.6 mV.
The control of ionic current (electrolyte) flow through zinc oxide (ZnO) nanotubes is investigated. We studied a structure operating like a field effect transistor with a tunable ionic flow. The main investigation tool used was molecular dynamics simulation. We complemented the molecular dynamics simulation with the site binding method in order to study the effect of the double layer on the ionic current flowing through the nanotube. We achieved this by considering the electrolyte solution as a virtual semiconductor wire. The double layer capacitance and surface charge of the inner walls of the ZnO nanotube have been calculated. The results indicate that ZnO nanotubes can be tuned to operate as ion selectors. ZnO nanotubes exhibit enhanced functionality with characteristics similar to those of the nanopore membrane.
pH determination is a prerequisite for many biochemical and biological processes. The authors have used two methods, namely, the electrochemical potential method and the site binding method to study the sensitivity of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods for the use as intracellular pH sensing device. The dimensions of these nanorods were varied with radii between 50–300 nm and lengths between 2 and 10 μm. The ZnO nanorods showed a high sensitivity ≈ 59 mV per decade at room temperature for a pH range (1–14), assuming that the solution is water. This is expected due to the polar and nonpolar surfaces of the ZnO nanorods.
The iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles have been fabricated through a simple, cheap and reproducible approach. Scanning electron microscope, x-rays powder diffraction of the fabricated nanoparticles. Furthermore, the fabrication of potentiometric urea biosensor is carried out through drop casting the initially prepared isopropanol and chitosan solution, containing Fe3O4 nanoparticles, on the glass fiber filter with a diameter of 2 cm and a copper wire (of thickness −500 μm) has been utilized to extract the voltage signal from the functionalized nanoparticles. The functionalization of surface of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles is obtained by the electrostatically immobilization of urease onto the nanobiocomposite of the chitosan- Fe3O4 in order to enhance the sensitivity, specificity, stability and reusability of urea biosensor. Electrochemical detection procedure has been adopted to measure the potentiometric response over the wide logarithmic concentration range of the 0.1 mM to 80 mM. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles based urea biosensor depicts good sensitivity with ~42 mV per decade at room temperature. Durability of the biosensor could be considerably enhanced by applying a thin layer of the nafion. In addition, the reasonably stable output response of the biosensor has been found to be around 12 sec.
In this study, a potentiometric urea biosensor has been fabricated on glass filter paper through the immobilization of urease enzyme onto chitosan/cobalt oxide (CS/Co3O4) nanocomposite. A copper wire with diameter of 500 mu m is attached with nanoparticles to extract the voltage output signal. The shape and dimensions of Co3O4 magnetic nanoparticles are investigated by scanning electron microscopy and the average diameter is approximately 80-100 nm. Structural quality of Co3O4 nanoparticles is confirmed from X-ray powder diffraction measurements, while the Raman spectroscopy has been used to understand the chemical bonding between different atoms. The magnetic measurement has confirmed that Co3O4 nanoparticles show ferromagnetic behavior, which could be attributed to the uncompensated surface spins and/or finite size effects. The ferromagnetic order of Co3O4 nanoparticles is raised with increasing the decomposition temperature. A physical adsorption method is adopted to immobilize the surface of CS/Co3O4 nanocomposite. Potentiometric sensitivity curve has been measured over the concentration range between 1 x 10(-4) and 8 x 10(-2) M of urea electrolyte solution revealing that the fabricated biosensor holds good sensing ability with a linear slope curve of similar to 45 mV/decade. In addition, the presented biosensor shows good reusability, selectivity, reproducibility and resistance against interferers along with the stable output response of similar to 12 s.
The electron transport in the electronic devices has significant influence on the device performance, thus current transport properties determination is highly demanded for a particular device. Herein, we report the facile hydrothermal growth method based fabrication of p-NiO/n-ZnO heterojunction. The material characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photo electron spectroscopy. These techniques provided the good crystal quality, pure phase of p-NiO and n-ZnO nanostructures respectively. The measured valance band offset of composite nanostructure is 2.25 eV and conduction band offset was found to be 2.58 eV. The current transport properties of the fabricated p-n junction are governed by three different I-V regions. The impedance spectroscopy was used for the determination of the role of grain boundaries at the interface.
Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized by aqueous chemical growth technique. The above mentioned synthesized materials were characterized by applying scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction for confirmation of morphological analysis, compositional purity, and crystalline property and emission characteristics as well. In order to fabricate the urea biosensor (potentiometric), a solution of deionized water and chitosan was prepared having Ag NPs. The said solution was dropped on the glass fiber filter having diameter of 2 cm. A wire of copper having thickness of approximately 500 pm was used for the voltage signal to pull out from the said working nanoparticles (NPs). To improve the strength, sensitivity and the quality of the potentiometric urea biosensor, a specific functional surface of Ag NPs was attained by electrostatic restrained of an enzyme (urease) onto the chitosan-Ag (a nanobiocomposite). The potentiometric reaction was measured via electrochemical detection technique. The potentiometric urea biosensor illustrates significant sensibility at room temperature with approximate to 42 mV as per span. Furthermore, the said biosensor showed an appropriate stable response within 7 sec.
CuO microstructures are produced in the presence of water-soluble amino acids by hydrothermal method. The used amino acids include isoleucine, alpha alanine, and arginine as a soft template and are used for tuning the morphology of CuO nanostructures. The crystalline and morphological investigations were carried out by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The XRD study has shown that CuO material obtained in the presence of different amino acids is of high purity and all have the same crystal phase. The CuO microstructures prepared in the presence of arginine were used for the development of sensitive and selective glucose biosensor. The linear range for the glucose detection are from 0.001 mM to 30 mM and limit of detection was found to be 0.0005 mM. The sensitivity was estimated around 77 mV/decade. The developed biosensor is highly selective, sensitive, stable and reproducible. The glucose biosensor was used for the determination of real human blood samples and the obtained results are satisfactory. The CuO material is functional therefore can be capitalized in wide range of applications such as lithium ion batteries, all oxide solar cells and supercapacitors.
This work describes the fabrication of unique arrow head shaped CuO nanostructures using simple hydrothermal treatment method. The highly attractive features were obtained by the application of glutaric acid utilised simultaneous as template and functionalising agent. The functionalised nanostructures were known to possess excellent potential towards the electro-catalytic oxidation of carbofuran pesticide. The generated intense electrochemical signal with lower potential value enabled sensitive and selective determination of carbofuran up to 1 x 10(-3) mu M with wide sensing window in range of 0.01 to 0.16 mu M. The feasibility of the developed sensor system for the practical application was also studied by testing its potential in real sample extracts of various vegetables. The excellent recoveries demonstrated the analytical robustness of the developed sensor system. The sensor system utilises a new and simple approach towards sensitive determination of toxic pesticides reflecting its wide spectrum application in various fields.
A simple, economical and mild solution chemistry method was used to synthesize diverse nickel oxide (NiO) nanostructures employing methionine as a growth-directing agent. The as-synthesized NiO nanostructures were observed to possess a unique skein-shape morphology with uniform spherical distribution. The NiO nanoskein (NiO NSk) formation was extensively studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques, respectively. The unique NiO NSks exhibited better electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation in alkaline media, enabling the development of a highly sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor. The observed analytical properties included high sensitivity (1915 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2)), wide linear range (0.1-5.0 mM), low detection limit (0.7 mu M), higher stability and reproducibility. Moreover, the sensor is selective in the presence of interfering species such as ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and dopamine (DP) during the non-enzymatic glucose sensing. The worthy-of-notice electrocatalytic activity and economical feasible preparation of NiO NSk-shaped electroactive material for direct glucose-sensing applications make the present study of high interest for the fabrication of low-cost devices. A NiO NSk-based glucose sensor has also been employed for glucose determination in human serum with adequate results, suggesting high potential for the routine monitoring of glucose from biotechnology, clinical and food industry samples.
In this study diclofenac sodium (DFS), an analgesic drug has been employed as an effective template for the synthesis of NiO nanostructures. The NiO nanostructures were synthesised using low temperature hydrothermal growth method, both in the presence and absence of the DFS drug. The synthesised nanostructures were studied for their structural, compositional and electrochemical properties using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry. The synthesised nanostructures were then utilised for the modification of glassy carbon electrode which were then utilised for the electro-catalytic enzyme free glucose sensing in alkaline media. The competitive experiments suggested that although, both nanostructures possess excellent capability of glucose sensing, the NiO nanoflakes modified electrode was found to be twice as much as sensitive (2584 A mu A mM(-1) cm(-2)) as nanoflowers based electrode (1154 A mu A mM(-1) cm(-2)). The NiO nanoflakes based sensor further demonstrated excellent anti-interference potential in the presence of common interferents like uric acid, ascorbic acid and dopamine. In addition, the successful application NiO nanoflakes based sensor to determine real blood glucose concentration further suggest its feasibility for real sample analysis.
In this study a simple, inexpensive and efficient route is proposed to synthesise attractive cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanostructures using glycine as an effective growth controller and regulator. The as-synthesised Co3O4 nanostructures were observed to possess unique nanoflake shape morphological features with highly dense distribution. The formation of Co3O4 nanoflakes (Co3O4 NFKs) was elaborately explored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. The unique Co3O4 nanoflakes were known to possess excellent electro-catalytic potential for the oxidation of glucose in alkaline medium. This potential property allowed successful development of highly sensitive (1180 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2)), selective and stable non-enzymatic glucose sensor. In addition, the developed sensor had a wide working range (0.1-5.0 mM), low limit of detection (0.7 mu M), and excellent reproducibility, besides the capability of analysing real blood glucose samples.
This study describes sensitive determination of atropine using glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with Co3O4 nanostructures. The as-synthesised nanostructures were grown using cysteine (CYS), glutathione (GSH) and histidine (HYS) as effective templates under hydrothermal action. The obtained morphologies revealed interesting structural features, including both cavity-based and flower-shaped structures. The as-synthesised morphologies were noted to actively participate in electro-catalysis of atropine (AT) drug where GSH-assisted structures exhibited the best signal response in terms of current density and over-potential value. The study also discusses the influence of functional groups on the signal sensitivity of atropine electro-oxidation. The functionalisation was carried with the amino acids originally used as effective templates for the growth of Co3O4 nanostructures. The highest increment was obtained when GSH was used as the surface functionalising agent. The GSH-functionalised Co3O4-modified electrode was utilised for the electro-chemical sensing of AT in a concentration range of 0.01 -0.46 mu M. The developed sensor exhibited excellent working linearity (R-2 = 0.999) and signal sensitivity up to 0.001 mu M of AT. The noted high sensitivity of the sensor is associated with the synergy of superb surface architectures and favourable interaction facilitating the electron transfer kinetics for the electro-catalytic oxidation of AT. Significantly, the developed sensor demonstrated excellent working capability when used for AT detection in human urine samples with strong anti-interference potential against common co-existing species, such as glucose, fructose, cysteine, uric acid, dopamine and ascorbic acid. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The study reports the synthesis of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanostructures and their application in enzyme free electrochemical sensing of glucose. The synthesized nanostructures were elaborately characterized via number of analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The as-synthesized nanostructures of Co3O4 were found to exhibited nanodisc like morphology with the size dimension in range of 300-500 nm. The obtained morphological features were evaluated for their electrochemical potential towards oxidation of glucose which enabled development of sensitive (27.33 mu A mM(-1) cm(-2)), and stable enzyme free glucose sensor. In addition, the developed sensor showed excellent linearity (r(2)=0.9995), wide detection range (0.5-5.0 mM), lower detection limit (0.8 mu M) and extreme selectivity towards glucose in the presence of common interferents like dopamine (DP), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The successfully application of developed sensor for real blood glucose analysis further reflects its capability for routine glucose measurement.
This study presents the development of a highly selective and sensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of melamine from aqueous environments. The sensor system is based on functionalised marigold-like CuO nanostructures fabricated using a controlled hydrothermal process, where the utilised succinic acid is considered to play a dual role as a functionalising and growth controlling agent (modifier). The fabricated nanostructures exhibit sharp and well-ordered structural features with dimensions (thickness) in the range of 10-50 nm. The sensor system exhibits strong linearity within the concentration range of 0.1 x 10(-9) to 5.6 x 10(-9) M and demonstrates an excellent limit of detection up to 0.1 x 10(-10) M. The extreme selectivity and sensing capability of the developed sensor is attributed to the synergy of selective interaction between succinic acid and melamine moieties, and the high surface area of marigold-like CuO nanostructures. In addition to this, the developed sensor was also utilised for the determination of melamine from real milk samples collected from different regions of Hyderabad, Pakistan. The obtained excellent recoveries proved the feasibility of the sensor for real life applications. The sensor system offers an operative measure for detecting extremely low melamine content with high selectivity in food contents.
This work reports a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for organophosphate pesticide (malathion) based on unique and attractive CuO nanostructures. The discussed nanostructures were synthesized using low temperature hydrothermal growth method utilizing green amino acids such as glycine, serine, threonine and histidine as effective bio-compatible templates. The morphological evaluation demonstrated formation of unique and attractive 1-D nanostructures reflecting the effective growth controlling and directing capabilities of the utilized amino acids. The as-synthesized CuO nanostructures were noted to possess high affinity towards malathion which enabled their application as electrode material for the development of affinity based electrochemical sensor. Although, the as-synthesized morphologies were all sensitive towards malathion but the glycine directed triangular flake-like nanostructures exhibited greater sensitivity compared to other competitors. The electrochemical behaviour of the modified electrodes was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) whereas, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was utilized for the analytical evaluation of the sensor. The developed sensor demonstrated high reproducibility, stability, wide detection window (1-12 nM), and sensitivity to detect malathion up to 0.1 nM based on suppressive signal measurement. In addition, the sensor system exhibited high anti-interference capability in the presence of common co-existing pesticides like lindane, carbendazim, and trichlorfon. The developed sensor provides an effective measure for detecting extremely low concentration of malathion with wide applicability in various fields. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hexagonal c-axis oriented zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) with 120-300 nm diameters are synthesized via the low temperature aqueous chemical route at 80 degrees C on silver-coated glass substrates. The influence of varying the precursor solutions stirring durations on the concentration and spatial distributions of deep level defects in ZnO NRs is investigated. Room temperature micro-photoluminesnce (mu-PL) spectra were collected for all samples. Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra of the as-synthesized NRs reveal a significant change in the intensity ratio of the near band edge emission (NBE) to the deep-level emission (DLE) peaks with increasing stirring durations. This is attributed to the variation in the concentration of the oxygen-deficiency with increasing stirring durations as suggested from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Spatially resolved CL spectra taken along individual NRs revealed that stirring the precursor solutions for relatively short duration (1-3 h), which likely induced high super saturation under thermodynamic equilibrium during the synthesis process, is observed to favor the formation of point defects moving towards the tip of the NRs. In contrary, stirring for longer duration (5-15 h) will induce low super saturation favoring the formation of point defects located at the bottom of the NRs. These findings demonstrate that it is possible to control the concentration and spatial distribution of deep level defects in ZnO NRs by varying the stirring durations of the precursor solutions.
Low temperature aqueous chemical synthesis (LT-ACS) of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) has been attracting considerable research interest due to its great potential in the development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The influence of the molar ratio of the zinc acetate (ZnAc): KOH as a ZnO seed layer precursor on the density of interface defects and hence the presence of non-radiative recombination centers in LT-ACS of ZnO NRs/GaN LEDs has been systematically investigated. The material quality of the as-prepared seed layer as quantitatively deduced by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is found to be influenced by the molar ratio. It is revealed by spatially resolved cathodoluminescence that the seed layer molar ratio plays a significant role in the formation and the density of defects at the n-ZnO NRs/p-GaN heterostructure interface. Consequently, LED devices processed using ZnO NRs synthesized with molar ratio of 1:5M exhibit stronger yellow emission (similar to 575 nm) compared to those based on 1:1 and 1:3M ratios as measured by the electroluminescence. Furthermore, seed layer molar ratio shows a quantitative dependence of the non-radiative defect densities as deduced from light-output current characteristics analysis. These results have implications on the development of high-efficiency ZnO-based LEDs and may also be helpful in understanding the effects of the ZnO seed layer on defect-related non-radiative recombination. Published by AIP Publishing.
As the low-temperature aqueous chemical synthesis (LT-ACS), holds great promises for the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanostructure-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and hence require parameter tuning for optimal performance. N-ZnO nanorods (NRs)/p-GaN heterojunction LEDs have been synthesized by the LT-ACS using ZnO nanoparticle (NPs) seed layers prepared with different precursor solutions. The effect of these seed layers on the interface defect properties and emission intensity of the as-synthesized n-Zn/p-GaN heterojunction LEDs has been demonstrated by spatially resolved cathodoluminescence (CL) and electroluminescence (EL) measurements, respectively. A significant reduction of the interface defects in the n-ZnO NRs/p-GaN heterostructure synthesized from a seed layer prepared from zinc acetate (ZnAc) with a mixture of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) (donated as ZKH seed) compared with those prepared from ZnAc and KOH (donated as ZK seed) is observed as revealed by spatially resolved CL. Consequently, the LEDs based on n-ZnO NRs/p-GaN prepared from ZKH seed show an improvement in the yellow emission (approximate to 578nm) compared to that based on the ZK seed as deduced from the electroluminescence measurements. The improvement in the yellow EL emission on the ZKH LED probably attributed to the low presence of the non-radiative defect as deduced by light-output current (L-I) characteristics analysis.
We demonstrate an efficient possibility to synthesize vertically aligned pure zinc oxide (ZnO) and Co-doped ZnO nanorods (NRs) using the low-temperature aqueous chemical synthesis (90 degrees C). Two different mixing methods of the synthesis solutions were investigated for the Co-doped samples. The synthesized samples were compared to pure ZnO NRs regarding the Co incorporation and crystal quality. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements confirmed the substitution of Co2+ inside the ZnO NRs, giving a highly anisotropic magnetic Co2+ signal. The substitution of Zn2+ by Co2+ was observed to be combined with a drastic reduction in the core-defect (CD) signal (g similar to 1.956) which is seen in pure ZnO NRs. As revealed by the cathodoluminescence (CL), the incorporation of Co causes a slight red-shift of the UV peak position combined with an enhancement in the intensity of the defect-related yellow-orange emission compared to pure ZnO NRs. Furthermore, the EPR and the CL measurements allow a possible model of the defect configuration in the samples. It is proposed that the as-synthesized pure ZnO NRs likely contain Zn interstitial (Zn-i(+)) as CDs and oxygen vacancy (V-O) or oxygen interstitial (O-i) as surface defects. As a result, Co was found to likely occupy the Zn-i(+), leading to the observed CDs reduction and hence enhancing the crystal quality. These results open the possibility of synthesis of highly crystalline quality ZnO NRs-based diluted magnetic semiconductors using the low-temperature aqueous chemical method. Published by AIP Publishing.
In the present work, cerium oxide CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method and used for the growth of ZnO nanorods. The synthesized nanoparticles were studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, these nanoparticles were used as the seed layer for the growth of ZnO nanorods by following the hydrothermal growth method. The structural study of ZnO nanorods was carried out by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and XRD techniques. This study demonstrated that the grown ZnO nanorods are well aligned, uniform, of good crystal quality and have diameters of less than 200 nm. Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that the ZnO nanorods are composed only of zinc, cerium as the seed atom, and oxygen atoms, with no other impurities in the grown nanorods. Moreover, a photoluminescence (PL) approach was applied for the optical characterization, and it was observed that the near-band-edge (NBE) emission was the same as that of the zinc acetate seed layer, however the green and orange/red emission peaks were slightly raised due to possibly higher levels of defects in the cerium oxide seeded ZnO nanorods. This study provides an alternative approach for the controlled synthesis of ZnO nanorods using cerium oxide nanoparticles as the seed nucleation layer, improving both the morphology of the nanorods and the performance of devices based upon them.
Controlling the reaction kinetics during the nucleation/growth of cupric oxide (CuO) nanostructures is very critical in order to achieve a specific and well-defined morphology. For this purpose, we have slowed down the reaction speed using a mixed solvent concept and successfully obtained a chain-like morphology of CuO nanostructures using hydrothermal method. The CuO chain-like morphology was synthesized using a 1:1 (v/v) ratio of ethylene glycol and water. The morphology and crystalline features of CuO were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. The high resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed 5 nm crystallite size for the CuO material prepared in the mixed solvents. The obtained results have shown that the prepared CuO chains had a monocline phase, containing only Cu and O as main elements as confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy. This unique morphology obtained from mixed solvent process has provided a better surface for the loading of urease enzyme, thus it enabled the development of sensitive and selective urea biosensor in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.4. The physical adsorption method was used to immobilize urease enzyme onto the nano surface of CuO. The fabricated biosensor based on urease/CuO chains has shown a dynamic linear range from 0.0005 to15 mM with a low limit of detection 0.0001 mM. Additionally, a fast response time aroudn1s, h high selectivity, stability, repeatability, storage time, and reproducibility were observed. The effect of pH and temperature on the potentiometric signal of the developed biosensor was also examined. Importantly, the practical aspects of the fabricated urea biosensor were probed and the obtained percent recovery results revealed an outstanding performance. The strategy of using mixed solvent with equal volume ratio would be useful for the preparation of other metal oxides with improved catalytic properties for a wide range of clinical, biomedical and other related applications.
We present a fast, highly sensitive, and efficient potentiometric glucose biosensor based on functionalized InN quantum-dots (QDs). The InN QDs are grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The InN QDs are bio-chemically functionalized through physical adsorption of glucose oxidase (GOD). GOD enzyme-coated InN QDs based biosensor exhibits excellent linear glucose concentration dependent electrochemical response against an Ag/AgCl reference electrode over a wide logarithmic glucose concentration range (1 x 10(-5) M to 1 x 10(-2) M) with a high sensitivity of 80mV/decade. It exhibits a fast response time of less than 2 s with good stability and reusability and shows negligible response to common interferents such as ascorbic acid and uric acid. The fabricated biosensor has full potential to be an attractive candidate for blood sugar concentration detection in clinical diagnoses. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4758701]
To split water and produce hydrogen by white light is an excellent solution for the storage and supply of clean and sustainable energy. Efficiency and stability are the key challenges for a successful exploitation. InGaN, evaluated against other semiconductors, metal oxides, carbon based - and organic materials has most suited intrinsic materials properties. Based on this optimum materials choice we report photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen generation under white light illumination by an InGaN-based quantum nanostructure photoelectrode. No degradation occurs for operation over 10 h. Our novel concept, combining quantum nanostructure physics with electrochemistry and catalysis leads to almost 10% efficiency at zero external voltage. The efficiency rises above 25% at 0.2 V. This is unmatched for a single photoelectrode, representing the most advanced technology of low complexity. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown by vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) catalytic growth method were irradiated with 2 MeV helium (He+) ions. The fabricated LEDs were irradiated with fluencies of ~ 2×1013 ions/cm2 and ~ 4×1013 ions/cm2. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the morphology of the irradiated samples is not changed. The as-grown and He+ irradiated LEDs showed rectifying behaviour with the same I-V characteristics. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements showed that there is a blue shift of approximately 0.0347 eV and 0.082 eV in the near band emission (free exciton) and green emission of the irradiated ZnO nanorods, respectively. It was also observed that the PL intensity of the near band emission was decreased after irradiation of the samples. The electroluminescence (EL) measurements of the fabricated LEDs showed that there is a blue shift of 0.125 eV in the broad green emission after irradiation and the EL intensity of violet emission approximately centred at 398 nm was nearly disappeared after irradiations. The color rendering properties shows a small decrease in the color rendering indices of 3% after 2 MeV He+ ions irradiation.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on n-ZnO nanorods (NRs)/p-4H-SiC and n-ZnO (NRs)/p-GaN were fabricated and characterized. For the two LEDs the ZnO NRs were grown using a low temperature (andlt;100 degrees C) aqueous chemical growth (ACG) technique. Both LEDs showed very bright nearly white light electroluminescence (EL) emission. The observed luminescence was a result of the combination of three emission lines composed of violet-blue, green and orange-red peaks observed from the two LEDs. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) was also measured and consistency with EL was observed. It was found that the green and violet-blue peaks are red-shifted while the orange peak is blue-shifted in the EL measurement. It was also found that due to the effect of the GaN substrate the violet-blue peak in the EL measurement is more red-shifted in n-ZnO (NRs)/p-GaN LEDs as compared to n-ZnO (NRs)/p-4H-SiC LEDs.
The effect of post-growth annealing on the colour properties of the light emitted by n-ZnO nanorods/p-GaN white LEDs has been investigated. The as-grown ZnO nanorods were annealed in nitrogen, oxygen, argon and air atmospheres at 6008C for 30 minutes. The colour rendering indices and correlated colour temperatures were calculated from the spectra emitted by the LEDs. It was observed that the ambient atmosphere used for annealing is very effective for altering the colour properties of the fabricated LEDs. The LEDs annealed in nitrogen have excellent colour rendering properties with a colour rendering index and a correlated colour temperature of 97 and 2363 K, respectively, in the forward bias and 98 and 3157K in the reverse bias.
We investigate photoelectrochemical water splitting by a spontaneously formed In-rich InGaN nanowall network, combining the material of choice with the advantages of surface texturing for light harvesting by light scattering. The current density for the InGaN-nanowalls-photoelectrode at zero voltage versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode is 3.4 mA cm(-2) with an incident-photon-to-current-conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 16% under 350 nm laser illumination with 0.075 W.cm(-2) power density. In comparison, the current density for a planar InGaN-layer-photoelectrode is 2 mA cm(-2) with IPCE of 9% at zero voltage versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The H-2 generation rates at zero externally applied voltage versus the Pt counter electrode per illuminated area are 2.8 and 1.61 mu mol.h(-1).cm(-2) for the InGaN nanowalls and InGaN layer, respectively, revealing similar to 57% enhancement for the nanowalls. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.
The electrochemical sensing activity of cupric oxide (CuO) nanopetals was investigated for the detection of silver (I) ions (Ag+). The CuO nanopetals were synthesized on a large area glass substrate by a low-temperature hydrothermal growth process. Structural morphological investigations were carried out using field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. To check the sensing application of the CuO nanopetals, it was functionalized for selectivity of Ag+. A polymeric membrane with Ag+-selective ionophore was coated on the surface of the CuO nanopetals. CuO nanopetals reveal excellent electrochemical sensing behavior in aqueous solution to selectively detect Ag+. The CuO based sensor exhibits a linear electrochemical response within the concentration range of 1 mu M to 100 mM. The functionalized CuO nanopetal based sensor show stable, fast response and high sensitivity for [Ag+]. This work demonstrates a simple technique for sensitive detection of Ag+ and other biochemical species.
The electrochemical sensing activity of cupric oxide (CuO) nanopetals was investigated for the detection of silver (I) ions (Ag+. The CuO nanopetals were synthesized on a large area glass substrate by a low-temperature hydrothermal growth process. Structural morphological investigations were carried out using field emission scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. To check the sensing application of the CuO nanopetals, it was functionalized for selectivity of Ag+. A polymeric membrane with Ag+-selective ionophore was coated on the surface of the CuO nanopetals. CuO nanopetals reveal excellent electrochemical sensing behavior in aqueous solution to selectively detect Ag+. The CuO based sensor exhibits a linear electrochemical response within the concentration range of 1 μM to 100 mM. The functionalized CuO nanopetal based sensor show stable, fast response and high sensitivity for [Ag+]. This work demonstrates a simple technique for sensitive detection of Ag+ and other biochemical species.
We investigated the influence of the pH value, precursor concentration (C), growth time and temperature on the morphology of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. The pH of the starting solution was varied from1.8 to 12.5. It was found that the final pH reaches an inherent value of 6.6 independently of the initial pH solution. Various ZnO structures of nanotetrapod-like, flower-like, and urchin-like morphology were obtained at alkaline pH (8 to 12.5) whereas for pH solution lower than 8 rod-like nanostructures occurred. Moreover, we observed the erosion of the nanorods for a pH value less than 4.6. By changing the concentrations the density and size were also varied. On going from a high (C > 400mM) to lower (C < 25mM) C, the resulted ZnO nanostructures change from a film to nanorods (NRs) and finally nanowires (NWs). It was also found that the length and diameter of ZnO NRs follow a linear relation with time up to 10 hours, above which no further increase was observed. Finally the effect of growth temperature was seen as an influence on the aspect ratio.