In this report, we present the results on the physicochemical characterization of cadmium telluride quantum dots (QDs) stabilized with glutathione and prepared by optimizing the synthesis conditions. An excellent control of emissions and the composition of the nanocrystal surface for its potential application in monoclonal antibody and biomarker testing was achieved. Two samples (QDYellow, QDOrange, corresponding to their emission colors) were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and their hydrodynamic sizes were 6.7 nm and 19.4 nm, respectively. Optical characterization by UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy showed excitonic peaks at 517 nm and 554 nm. Photoluminescence spectroscopy indicated that the samples have a maximum intensity emission at 570 and 606 nm, respectively, within the visible range from yellow to orange. Infrared spectroscopy showed vibrational modes corresponding to the functional groups OH-C-H, C-N, C=C, C-O, C-OH, and COOH, which allows for the formation of functionalized QDs for the manufacture of biomarkers. In addition, the hydrodynamic radius, zeta potential, and approximate molecular weight were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), and static light scattering (SLS) techniques. Size dispersion and the structure of nanoparticles was obtained by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and by X-ray diffraction. In the same way, we calculated the concentration of Cd²⁺ ions expressed in mg/L by using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In addition to the characterization of the nanoparticles, the labeling of murine myeloid cells was carried out with both samples of quantum dots, where it was demonstrated that quantum dots can diffuse into these cells and connect mostly with the cell nucleus.

Janus-type nanoparticles are important because of their ability to combine distinct properties and functionalities in a single particle, making them extremely versatile and valuable in various scientific, technological, and industrial applications. In this work, bimetallic silver–palladium Janus nanoparticles were obtained for the first time using the inert gas condensation technique. In order to achieve this, an original synthesis equipment built by Mantis Ltd. was modified by the inclusion of an additional magnetron in a second chamber, which allowed us to use two monometallic targets to sputter the two metals independently. With this arrangement, we could find appropriate settings at room temperature to promote the synthesis of bimetallic Janus nanoparticles. The structural properties of the resulting nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the chemical composition was analyzed by TEM energy dispersive spectroscopy (TEM-EDS), which, together with structural analysis, confirmed the presence of Janus-type nanostructures. Results of molecular dynamics and TEM simulations show that the differences between the crystalline structures of the Pd and Ag regions observed in the TEM micrographs can be explained by small mismatches in the orientations of the two regions of the particle. A density functional theory structural aims to understand the atomic arrangement at the interface of the Janus particle.

In this work, the structural, morphological and optical properties of aluminum (Al) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) thin films deposited by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering were studied. The films were grown using a high–purity Al target in controlled atmospheres containing varying flows of argon (Ar) and oxygen (O₂). Particular attention was given to how the target-substrate distance and the Ar/O2 flow ratios influence the films’ structural properties, surface features, and optical response. Characterization techniques included X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase identification and crystallite size estimation, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for surface morphology and roughness analysis, and UV–Vis Spectroscopy for optical transmittance measurements. The results showed that reducing the target-substrate distance led to films with increased surface roughness, thickness, grain size and crystallite size, likely due to enhanced energetic bombardment and adatom mobility. Optical measurements revealed that Al2O3 films grown at higher O2 flow rates (around 5 sccm) were highly transparent, exhibiting transmittance values close to 100% across the UV-visible range (190-900 nm). In contrast, films deposited under low O2 flow conditions (0.6-1.4 sccm) were nearly opaque, indicating incomplete oxidation or metallic behavior. The XRD analysis revealed that higher O2 flows tended to suppress crystallinity, resulting in amorphous Al2O3 films, while lower flows preserved some degree of crystalline order. Additionally, increasing the Ar flow rate during deposition promoted films growth, as evidenced by increased film thickness, which may be attributed to enhanced sputtering efficiency and target atom flux. These findings highlight the critical role of deposition parameters in tailoring the properties of Al-based thin films for optical and electronic applications.

Water stress is intensifying worldwide, increasing the need for efficient desalination and water purification technologies. Although commercial nanofiltration membranes such as NF90 exhibit high separation performance, their transport properties remain governed by permeability–selectivity trade-offs, and their surface characteristics offer limited tunability for application-specific requirements. Here, a commercial NF90 polyamide thin-film composite nanofiltration membrane was surface modified by depositing ultrathin ZnO coatings via RF sputtering (30–120 s) and evaluated in terms of surface properties, water permeate flux, and NaCl rejection. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of crystalline Wurtzite ZnO with preferential (002) orientation. ZnO deposition markedly increased surface hydrophobicity, raising the water contact angle from 52.5 ± 2.0° for the unmodified membrane to 140.4 ± 3.9° after 120 s of deposition. Hydraulic performance decreased after modification, with water permeate flux reduced by approximately 47–50% relative to pristine NF90. In contrast, NaCl rejection increased with ZnO deposition time, particularly at lower operating pressures, and tended to plateau at higher pressures. The Spiegler–Kedem model accurately described experimental rejection-flux behavior. Overall, RF sputtering of ZnO is a feasible post-fabrication route to tune NF membrane selectivity, while introducing a clear trade-off with permeate flux.

An evaluation of the improvement provided by a W thin film, when incorporated into a TiN bilayer coating system on 304 stainless steel, is reported after determining its electrochemical behaviour and mechanical properties. The TiN-bilayer and W/TiN-bilayer coatings were prepared by balanced magnetron sputtering. Coating structure, morphology, interphase, and chemical composition were determined by scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Mechanical properties were determined by the nanoindentation technique. The electrochemical behavior was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using 6 wt.% NaCl solution as electrolyte. The electrochemical results showed an increase in overall corrosion resistance (Rp) when the W thin film is incorporated into the TiN-bilayer coating system. The Rp for the initial measurement is 187.6 and 347.9 kΩ cm2 for the TiN-bilayer coating system and W/TiN-bilayer coating system, respectively. The results obtained from the EIS study over time indicate that the Rp after 7 weeks of immersion are 53.2 and 119.8 kΩ cm2 for the TiN-bilayer coating system and W/TiN-bilayer coating system, respectively. Nanoindentation hardness measurements showed a slight difference between the two coating systems. The TiN-bilayer hardness showed a value of approximately 24 GPa, while the W/TiN-bilayer hardness showed a value of approximately 22 GPa. Considering other beneficial properties associated with W, the results showed that a W/TiN-bilayer coating system can be used as an alternative hard and protective coating system on steel substrates to mitigate corrosion damage.