This research investigated the sustainable biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Zinnia elegans L. extracts to demonstrate the potential of plant-based methods in nanotechnology. The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the plant extracts were evaluated, and the phytocompounds that react as natural reducing agents in the synthesis of AgNPs were characterized. This approach has demonstrated the potential of Zinnia elegans L. as an environmentally friendly source for the production of AgNPs. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized based on their optical, structural, and morphological properties using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of pure silver phases exhibiting a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy revealed an absorption peak at 462 nm, which is characteristic of the surface plasmon resonance associated with AgNPs. ATR-FTIR analysis identified several vibrational peaks corresponding to the functional groups of the constituents present in the biosynthesized AgNPs. The size distribution of the AgNPs was found to range from 10 to 30 nm, and both SEM and TEM confirmed their predominantly spherical morphology. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis corroborated the predominance of silver as the principal element within the composition of the nanoparticles. This technique provided quantitative elemental analysis, confirming the high purity and concentration of silver in the synthesized AgNPs. The study effectively elucidated the synthesis of AgNPs utilizing plant extracts as natural reducing agents. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities, indicating their potential applicability in diverse biomedical and environmental contexts. Employment of the advanced characterization techniques facilitated a thorough understanding of the multifaceted properties of the synthesized AgNPs, thereby enhancing their viability for future research and application in nanomedicine and bioremediation. Using Zinnia elegans L. for the biosynthesis of plant-synthesized AgNPs is a sustainable and eco-friendly technique that offers a viable alternative to conventional chemical processes.

Thin copper selenide films were synthesized on polyamide sheets using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at three different temperatures. It was found that elevating the temperature of the solution led to the creation of copper selenide films with different features. X-ray diffraction characterization revealed that all films crystallized into a cubic Cu_2−xSe, but with different crystallinity parameters. With elevating the temperature, grain size increased (6.61–14.33 and 15.81 for 40, 60 and 80 °C, respectively), while dislocation density and the strain decreased. Surface topology was investigated with Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy, which revealed that the grains combined into agglomerates of up to 100 nm (80 °C) to 1 μm (40 °C). The value of the direct band gap of the copper selenide thin films, obtained with UV/VIS spectroscopy, varied in the range of 2.28–1.98 eV. The formation of Cu_2−xSe was confirmed by Raman analysis; the most prominent Raman peak is located at 260 cm⁻¹, which is attributed to binary copper selenides. The thin Cu_2−xSe films deposited on polyamide showed p-type conductivity, and the electrical resistivity varied in the range of 20–50 Ω. Our results suggest that elevated temperatures prevent large agglomeration, leading to higher resistance behavior.

Cadmium selenide (CdSe)-based layers were formed on the surface of polyamide 6 (PA) substrate film by treating PA film samples with potassium selenotrithionate (K₂SeS₂O₆) solution (seleniumization) and then with cadmium(II) acetate, Cd(CH₃COO)₂, solution (cadmiumization). The morphology of CdSe-based layers was investigated by atomic force and scanning electron microscopies. It was determined that the formation of CdSe-based layers proceeds unevenly in the form of islands, which later tends to agglomerate. Therefore the surface of the layers formed is relatively uneven and rather rough. After seleniumization and cadmiumization procedures the average height of this layer have tendency to decrease from 337 after 1 h of seleniumization to 153 nm at 2.5 and 3.5 h of seleniumization. It was also determined that the RMS of formed layers slightly increases (from 32 to 42 nm) with the prolongation of PA seleniumization (from 1 to 2.5 hours) and it decreases (from 43 to 22 nm) with the increase of the temperature (from 50 °C to 70 °C) of seleniumized PA treatment by the solution containing Cd(II) salt. XPS data show that in coatings, substantial amounts of both cadmium hydroxide (Cd(OH)₂) and cadmium oxide (CdO) are formed on the surface and within deeper layers of formed coatings. It was also determined that only a small fraction (∼0.1%–2%) of cadmium selenide is present on the surface of formed coating after seleniumization and cadmiumization, while within in the deeper layers the concentrations of both Cd and Se were much higher and the fractions of Cd(OH)₂ and CdO decreased.

The spin-coating method has been employed for nanostructured crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin film preparation on FTO glass substrates. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) layers were then deposited on the surface via the chemical bath deposition method. To investigate the effect of the formation of the CdS layer on ZnO/FTO, the deposition of these layers was performed at three different temperatures (40, 60, and 80 °C). The synthesized CdS/ZnO composite was found to have homogenously distributed crystalline grains of both ZnO and CdS. The uniform distribution of the grains and the equal molar ratio of the two components resulted in excellent optical and photocatalytic performance. Analysis of CdS/ZnO thin films was performed using XRD analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. The best optical, morphological, and electrical properties and the highest photocurrent value of the CdS/ZnO thin films were obtained when the CdS layers were formed at 60 °C. X-ray diffraction characterization revealed that CdS/ZnO thin films crystallized into hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and cubic CdS. The crystallite size of ZnO and CdS/ZnO was ~38 nm and ~19 nm, respectively. The band gap calculated for CdS/ZnO, formed at different temperatures, varies from 2.05 to 2.15 eV.

The processes of obtaining layers of cobalt sulfides CoxSy by the sorption–diffusion method on polyamide 6 (PA) using solutions of dodecathionic acid, H2S12O6, as precursors of sulfur are studied. The concentration of sorbed sulfur (from ~50 to ~300 µmol · cm–3) increases with the increase of the duration of treatment (up to 6 h) and temperature (20–40 °C) of precursor solution. Cobalt sulfide layers are formed on the surface of polyamide after the treatment of sulfurized polymer with Co(II) salt solution. The concentration of cobalt in the layer increases with the increase of initial sulfurization duration and a different concentration of cobalt (24–28 µmol · cm–3) in PA at each temperature is reached. XRD spectra of polyamide films treated for different time with solutions of dodecathionic acid and then with Co(II) salt solution confirmed the formation of cobalt sulfide layers on the surface of polyamide: five phases of cobalt sulfides – CoS, Co3S4, Co6S5, Co9S8 and CoS2 were found in the films on the polyamide surface. The morphology of modified films characterised by SEM and AFM showed a spongy structure formed by the network of plate-like crystallites.