The rapid development of nanotechnology and its applications in medicine has provided the perfect solution against a wide range of different microbes, especially antibiotic-resistant ones. In this study, a one-step approach was used in preparing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by mixing silver nitrate with hot Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) aqueous extract under high stirring to prevent agglomeration. The formation of silver nanoparticles was monitored by continuous measurement of the surface plasma resonance spectra (UV-VIS). The effect of St. John’s wort aqueous extract on the formation of silver nanoparticles was evaluated and fully characterized by using different physicochemical techniques. The obtained silver nanoparticles were spherical, monodisperse, face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structures, and the size ranges between 20 to 40 nm. They were covered with a capping layer of organic compounds considered as a nano dimension protective layer that prevents agglomeration and sedimentation. AgNPs revealed antibacterial activity against both tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains causing the formation of 13–32 mm inhibition zones with MIC 6.25–12.5 µg/mL; Escherichia coli strains were resistant to tested AgNPs. The specific growth rate of S. aureus was significantly reduced due to tested AgNPs at concentrations ≥½ MIC. AgNPs did not affect wound migration in fibroblast cell lines compared to control. Our results highlighted the potential use of AgNPs capped with plant extracts in the pharmaceutical and food industries to control bacterial pathogens’ growth; however, further studies are required to confirm their wound healing capability and their health impact must be critically evaluated.

Environmentally green synthesis of stable polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-capped silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) was successfully carried out. The present study focused on investigating the influence of adding PVP during the synthesis process on the size, optical properties and antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles produced. An aqueous extract of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves was used as a reducing agent. The effects of different PVP concentrations and reducing time on the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nano tracker analysis (NTA). The addition of PVP was studied. The prepared PVP-AgNPs were spherical with an average size of 13 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed that PVP protects AgNPs by a coordination bond between silver nanoparticles and both N and O of PVP. DLS results indicated the good dispersion of silver nanoparticles. PVP-AgNPs were found to be stable for nearly 5 months. Antibacterial studies through the agar well diffusion method confirmed that silver nanoparticles synthesized using PVP had no inhibitor activity toward Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as opposed to silver nanoparticles prepared without adding PVP, which showed a significant antibacterial activity towards some of the tested pathogens.

A micropyramid structure was formed on the surface of a monocrystalline silicon wafer (100) using a wet chemical anisotropic etching technique. The main objective was to evaluate the performance of the etchant based on the silicon surface reflectance. Different isopropyl alcohol (IPA) volume concentrations (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%) and different etching times (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min) were selected to study the total reflectance of silicon wafers. The other parameters such as NaOH concentration (12% wt.), the temperature of the solution (81.5°C), and range of stirrer speeds (400 rpm) were kept constant for all processes. The surface morphology of the wafer was analyzed by optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images confirmed a well-uniform pyramidal structure with various average pyramid sizes ranging from 1 to 1.6 μm. A UV-Vis spectrophotometer with integrating sphere was used to obtain the total reflectivity. The textured silicon wafers show high absorbance in the visible region. The optimum texture-etching parameters were found to be 4–6% vol. IPA and 40 min at which the average total reflectance of the silicon wafer was reduced to 11.22%.

The As flux effect on InAs quantum dots formed by gas source molecular beam epitaxy on InP substrates, oriented following the (311)B crystallographic direction has been studied. Atomic force microscopy images show that the quantum dot (QD) density dramatically increases and quantum dot sizes decrease, when decreasing the As pressure. Moreover, the size dispersion is narrowed. Photoluminescence measurements on the high QD density samples is shifted to higher energy, toward the telecommunication important 1.55 µm emission.

This study is one of the few studies that presents an ecofriendly procedure for biosynthesis of AgNPs via aqueous extract Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves (AEECL). The main of current work was to ensure the ability of AEECL as reducing agent for synthesis of AgNPs. Characterization of AgNPs was carried out by UV-Vis, FTIR and XRD, SEM, EDX, DLS, and Zeta value. The surface Plasmon at 450 nm is the primary confirmation for the formation of Ag. Characterization studies by SEM found the synthesized AgNPs were spherical shape with size about 28 nm. The EDX analysis of the AgNPs confirmed strong signals for silver atoms. According XRD analysis, synthesis of Silver nanocrystals with size ∼16 nm was confirmed. The FT-IR study confirmed that the ECL extract acts both role as a reducing agent and a stabilizer of AgNPs. The DLS results confirmed the monodispersity of AgNPs with mean size of 68 nm.