Ghassan E. Jabbour

Roll-to-roll compatible in situ silver nanostructure growth on hybrid knitted fabric achieved X-band EMI shielding up to 52.9 dB. APTES treatment improved hydrophobicity and washing stability while preserving useful breathability.

This study presents a hybrid knitted fabric engineered for high‐performance electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE), achieving a maximum shielding effectiveness of 59.4 dB. The functionalized fabric is made from copper‐cotton core‐spun yarn with alternating bi‐layer of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), MXene to enhance both conductivity and reflection/absorption. By employing a reactive in situ synthesis process, AgNPs are successfully synthesized directly onto the fabric, achieving particle sizes that range from 15 to 38 nm. Notably, smaller nanoparticles showed improved shielding performance by 7 dB, highlighting the important role of particle size in enhancing EMI shielding effectiveness. In addition, increasing the number of coating layers enhances the shielding effectiveness. In order to improve the durability of the fabric, (3‐Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) treatment is performed, which contributed to the preservation of stable EMI shielding properties, even after 90 min of washing. Beyond EMI shielding performance, the APTES‐treated fabrics demonstrate good air permeability and moisture vapor transmission rates, ensuring they are breathable and comfortable, making them potential candidates for wearable applications where EMI exposure is a concern.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted considerable interest for various applications, including antiviral and antimicrobial treatments, textile nanocomposites, heat transfer and strain sensing textiles, flexible electronics, and smart textiles. Their unique properties, determined by their size, shape, and morphology, render them suitable for a wide range of uses, such as antimicrobial treatments, anticancer therapy, drug delivery, personal protective equipment (PPE), and catalysis. In this investigation, we present an in situ reactive technique for the self-assembly of AgNPs directly onto cotton yarn. A systematic investigation was undertaken to establish the influence of several synthesis parameters on the average size of AgNPs. The variables under consideration included the ambient vacuum conditions, the concentration of both Ag precursor and reducing agent, the growth temperature, and the duration of thermal treatment. By precisely optimizing these parameters, we successfully regulated the AgNPs size range between 10 and 50 nm on the cotton yarn. The findings of this study elucidate the methodology of the controlled synthesis of AgNPs on cotton yarn for potential advancements in smart textile technologies.

This paper presents a versatile method to fabricate ultrathin nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) films as thin as 800 nm by blade coating, which is compatible with a roll-to-roll process on a large scale. Our approach allows obtaining a dried nanocellulose film within a span of 1 h subsequent to 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical-assisted oxidation and homogenization procedures. One of the thinnest freestanding NFC films with a thickness of 800 nm is achieved using a blade coating of nanocellulose after 72 h of oxidation followed by homogenization with a channel size of 65 μm. Incorporating water-soluble CdTe core-type quantum dots into the nanocellulose film led to a uniform emission under 385 nm UV irradiation, indicating excellent material compatibility. We anticipate nanocellulose developed in our study to be beneficial in biomimicry flying objects, environmentally friendly encapsulation, color filters, and energy storage device membranes, to name a few.

The chapter Nano and Society 5.0: Advancing the Human-Centric Revolution delves into the profound implications of nanotechnology within the context of Society 5.0, a visionary concept that seeks to harmoniously merge technological progress with human-centric ideals. Society 5.0 envisions a world where technology enhances life quality for individuals and society, with nanotechnology playing a crucial role in this transformation. This chapter explores the role of nanotechnology in Society 5.0, highlighting its potential in personalized healthcare, real-time health monitoring, sustainability, and education. Nanotechnology enables precision medicine, enabling tailored treatments and diagnostics. It also revolutionizes energy generation, storage, and materials science, contributing to environmentally conscious construction practices. Nanotechnology-driven innovations address global challenges such as water purification and resource conservation. In education, nanotechnology inspires future generations, particularly in STEM disciplines, and supports accessible and inclusive learning environments. However, ethical considerations regarding privacy, equitable access, and responsible governance must be considered as nanotechnology becomes a central focus in this human-centric revolution. This chapter highlights the role of nanotechnology in shaping society toward a future where technology aligns with core values, demonstrating its potential to be a transformative force, propelling Society 5.0 into a new era of innovation, inclusivity, and human betterment.

A conductive network of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) overlaying on a lightweight polymeric scaffold can offer notable electrical properties while maintaining the same mechanical properties as a similar feature without rGO layer. However, conventional methods are unable to produce customized architecture with controllable electronic and mechanical properties. Herein, a simple methodology for preparing objects of complex geometries by 3D printing that possesses the capability to exhibit a diverse spectrum of conductivity levels depending upon the dip‐coating process is reported. The versatile two‐step process is beneficial to create highly conductive objects as low as 100 Ω sq⁻¹ and lightweight rGO networks. Alternative to inkjet printing and direct fluid dispensing methods, the fabrication method for 3D rGO networks provides the opportunity to combine material selection and advanced printing techniques, thus achieving desired performance criteria at a low cost. Simple fabrication techniques for robust 3D rGO networks hold promise for designing objects with unique properties, offering both high resistance to external mechanical force and uniform internal electronic properties.

The use of sustainable materials in high-tech devices is one way to decrease the carbon footprint and tackle global climate change. We first synthesized blue-emissive carbon dots (CDs) from biocompatible onion inner epidermal cells using solvothermal method. Then, cellulose nanofiber was prepared by TEMPO oxidization, followed by homogenization from soft wood source. Finally, the blue emissive CDs-cellulose nanofibers-based nanopaper was fabricated by simple roller-coating approach, and its optical and morphological properties were investigated by transmittance, photoluminescence, fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The results indicate that nanopapers have a high light emission, and that their transparency may be easily adjusted by varying the proportion of CDs content. These nanopapers can be incorporated into flexible and stretchable electronics and optical sensor platforms.

The nanowires (NWs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) are developed effectively on an n-type silicon substrate through a seed zinc (Zn) layer by a wet oxidation technique. The growth is performed at different temperatures, 650, 750, and 850 °C, in a wet and rich oxygen environment under a flow of oxygen in the presence of water vapor at atmospheric pressure with a heating rate of 100 °C in 30 min. At 415 °C, the oxygen gas is introduced for the oxidation process. The Zn seed layer is deposited by the thermal evaporation technique. The structural, morphological, and optical properties are investigated. The temperature effect on NWs of ZnO growth intensity and their direction are explored. The nanowires are grown vertically oriented at a temperature of T = 750 °C. The ultraviolet (UV) analysis has been exposed in the visible region ranging from 10 nm to 700 nm at UV to visible intensity ratio of 2.22. In addition, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) is employed to research the structural properties of NWs of ZnO, and the characterization is verified by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to investigate the morphology.

The process of effective solar energy harvesting and conversion requires efficient photon absorption, followed by charge generation and separation, then electron transfer. Nanostructured materials have been considered as potential building blocks for the development of future generations of solar cells. Much attention has been given to wide-bandgap semiconductor nanowires, combined and sensitized with low-bandgap semiconductors effectively attached to the nanowires for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells. Here, the in situ growth of lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles on the surface of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires grown by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) technique is presented for different numbers of cycles. The morphology and structure of PbS nanoparticles are confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), revealing the decoration of the nanowires with the PbS nanoparticles, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and HR-TEM, showing the tight attachment of PbS nanoparticles on the surface of the ZnO nanowires. The Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) confirms the crystallization of the PbS. Photoluminescence spectra show a broad and more intense deep-level emission band.