arXiv subjects

Udai B. Singh

Publications and source records attributed to Udai B. Singh.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Highly Sensitive Label-free Biomolecular Detection Using Au-WS2 Nanohybrid Based SERS Substrates

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have led to the development of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based rapid and low-cost technologies for ultra-sensitive label-free detection and identification of molecular analytes. Herein, we utilized the synergistic plasmonic and chemical enhancement effects of Au-WS2 nanohybrids to attain the high-intensity Raman signals of targeted analytes. To develop these nanohybrids, a series of monodispersed Au nanoparticles (NPs) of varying diameters from 20 to 80 nm was chemically synthesized and successively blended with liquid-phase exfoliated WS2 nano-flakes of average lateral size 90 nm. They provided a maximum enhancement factor (EF) of ~1.80 109 corresponding to the characteristic peaks at 1364 cm-1 and 1512 cm-1 for R6G analyte molecules. Theoretical studies based on the finite-difference time-domain simulations on Au-WS2 nanohybrid systems revealed a huge field-intensity enhancement with an EF of more than 1000 at the plasmonic hotspots, which was induced by the strong coupling of individual plasmon oscillations of the adjacent Au NPs upon light interactions. These electromagnetic effects along with the chemical enhancement effects of WS2 nanoflakes were found to be mainly responsible for such huge enhancement in Raman signals. Furthermore, these hybrids were successfully employed for achieving highly sensitive detection of the E. coli ATCC 35218 bacterial strain with a concentration of 104 CFU/mL in phosphate-buffered saline media, indicating their real capabilities for practical scenarios. The findings of the present study will indeed provide vital information in the development of innovative nanomaterial-based biosensors, that will offer new possibilities for addressing critical public health concerns.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Enhanced radiation tolerance of YSZ at high temperature against swift heavy ions: key role of interplay between material microstructure and irradiation temperature

Yttria stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) pellets with different crystallite sizes were irradiated with 80 MeV Ag$^{6+}$ ions at room temperature and 1000 K to understand the role of crystallite size/material microstructure and irradiation temperature on the radiation tolerance against high electronic energy loss (S$_e$). X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements reveal that, irrespective of the irradiation temperature, the nano-crystalline samples suffered more damage as compared to the bulk-like sample. A reduction in the irradiation damage i.e. improvement in the radiation tolerance, was observed for all the samples irradiated at 1000 K. The reduction in the damage, however, was remarkably higher for the two nano-crystalline samples compared to the bulk-like sample, and hence the difference in the damage between the bulk-like and nano-crystalline samples was also significantly lower at 1000 K than that at room temperature. The irradiation damage, against S$_e$, was thus found to be critically dependent on the interplay between the irradiation temperature and crystallite size. These results are explained with the help of detailed theoretical calculations/simulations based on the 'in-elastic thermal spike' model by taking into consideration the combined effect of crystallite size and environmental (irradiation) temperature on the electron-phonon coupling factor and lattice thermal conductivity (and hence on the resulting thermal spike). Our results are crucial from the fundamental perspective of comprehending the size and temperature dependent radiation damage against S$_e$ ; and also for a number of applications, in various radiation environments, where nano-materials are being envisioned for use.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗