In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) Ag/ZnO hollow microspheres with different Ag contents were prepared through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method assisted by sodium alginate. The samples were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was shown that all samples were composed of metallic Ag and wurtzite ZnO; the 3D Ag/ZnO hollow microspheres were constructed from self-assembled 1D Ag/ZnO nanorods; the surface O species can be categorized to surface hydroxyl oxygen (OH) and crystal lattice oxygen (OL), and the ratio between them varies with different Ag loadings. The photocatalytic performance for the degradation of Orange G was also evaluated. The results show that such hierarchical Ag/ZnO hollow microspheres exhibit significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. Investigation of the relationship of photoluminescence (PL) spectra and surface structure of the samples with their photocatalytic performance indicated that optimized amount of Ag deposits not only acted as electron sinks to enhance the separation of photoinduced electrons from holes, but also elevated the amount of the surface hydroxyl, leading to the formation of more hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and then the higher photodegradation efficiency.

In this paper, Ag/ZnO metal-semiconductor nanocomposites were prepared through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method with the assistance of tyrosine. The synthesized samples were structurally characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was shown that the added tyrosine served both as a shape conductor for the formation of ZnO faceted nanorods and as a reducing agent of Ag(+) ions. In the reaction process, the complexation of Ag(+) with NH(3) and OH(-) decreased the redox potential of Ag(+)/Ag, which prevented the formation of isolated Ag nanoparticles in solution. The prepared Ag/ZnO nanocomposites showed potential applications in photodegradation of organic dye pollutants and destruction of bacteria.

We present a fiber-optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer pressure sensor based on a nanothick silver diaphragm. The sensing diaphragm, with a thickness measured in a few hundreds of nanometers, is fabricated by the electroless plating method, which provides a simple fabrication process involving a high-quality diaphragm at a low cost. The sensor exhibits a relatively linear response within the pressure variation range of 0-50 kPa, with a high pressure sensitivity of 70.5 nm/kPa. This sensor is expected to have potential applications in the field of highly sensitive pressure sensors.