Photonic Nano-/Microstructured Diatom Based Biosilica in Metal Modification and Removal—A Review

Abstract

The siliceous exoskeletal shells of diatoms, commonly known as frustules, have drawn attention because of their photoluminescence property and high volume to surface area. Photonic biosilica can also enhance the plasmonic sensitivity of nanoparticles. Because of this, researchers have studied the effectiveness of various metal particles after combining with biosilica. Additionally, naturally occurring diatom-based biosilica has excellent adsorption and absorption capabilities, which have already been exploited for wastewater treatment. Moreover, the nanoporous, ultra-hydrophilic frustules can easily accumulate more molecules on their surfaces. As a consequence, it becomes easier to conjugate noble metals with silica, making them more stable and effective. The main focus of this review is to agglomerate the utility of biocompatible diatom frustules, which is a no-cost natural resource of biosilica, in metal modification and removal.

Limit-Defying μ-Total Analysis System: Achieving Part-Per-Quadrillion Sensitivity on a Hierarchical Optofluidic SERS Sensor

“…Convection flow establishes analyte movement from regions of high to low density, leading to translational local accumulation of the analyte in DE cavities. ,,, This device-directed analyte accumulation is further improved or supported by the biochemical and porous nature of our choice of substrate material i.e., DE. Because of their biological origin, the DE surface is rich in anionic silanol groups that bestow them with hydrophilic characteristics, helping in drawing and retaining more test fluid in the cavities. − However, the porosity in DE increases the specific surface area by introducing multiple interaction sites in the exposed cavity walls, contributing to a high analyte flux at any time. − The device-directed analyte accumulation is further complemented by the improved Raman scattering due to the silver-functionalized DE lining the final level of the sensing device. Compared to DE or silver nanoparticles alone, the optical potential of plasmonic-functionalized DE to tune Raman scattering is much superior.…”

Nature’s glass lace: the nanomechanics of diatom silica frustules

“…The requirements of small size, speci c optical properties, low density and high strength are important for numerous applications, especially in silicon photonics 10,11 and for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) 12,13 . The interest in diatom frustules as prototypical photonic crystals for microelectronic technology arose relatively recently and has already been re ected in a number of high pro le publications [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] . Dimensional and structural correspondence between diatom exoskeletons and devices such as photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and MEMS for high-sensitivity microphones (Fig.…”

“…The particular spatial organization of nano-and micropores of the diatom frustules offers promising prototypes of functional systems and elements for targeted drug delivery 25,26 , electrochemical energy storage 27,28 , photovoltaics 29 , metamaterials 30 , catalysis 31,32 , ltration 33 , metal modi cation and removal 20,34 and many others [35][36][37] . The material, shape and thickness of the frustules, as well as the spatial order of the pores and the topology of the channels connecting them determine such engineering properties as stiffness and strength and natural oscillation frequency.…”

Revealing the static and dynamic nanomechanical properties of diatom frustules—Nature's glass lace

“…The requirements of small size, specific optical properties, low density and high strength are important for numerous applications, especially in silicon photonics 10,11 and for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) 12,13 . The interest in diatom frustules as prototypical photonic crystals for microelectronic technology arose relatively recently and has already been reflected in a number of high profile publications [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] . Dimensional (e.g.…”

“…The particular spatial organization of nano-and micropores of the diatom frustules offers promising prototypes of functional systems and elements for targeted drug delivery 25,26 , electrochemical energy storage 27,28 , photovoltaics 29 , metamaterials 30 , catalysis 31,32 , filtration 33 , metal modification and removal 20,34 and many others [35][36][37] . The material, shape and thickness of the frustules, as well as the spatial order of the pores and the topology of the channels connecting them determine such engineering properties as stiffness and strength and natural oscillation frequency.…”