Tuning the Surface State and Zeta Potential of Aged CuO Nanoparticles by Additive-Free Surface Treatments as Guided by XPS.

ABSTRACT: Broad application of nanoparticles, for e.g., catalysis, antimicrobial coatings, medicine, electronics, batteries, and nanojoining technologies, is hindered by their limited shelf-life due to ambient aging. This study traces the changes in the surface chemistry of nanoparticles during atmospheric aging by monitoring the changes in the C 1s, O 1s, Cu 2p core-level spectra using XPS. The atmospheric aging of nanoparticles proceeds via hydroxylation and the adsorption of organic-O surface species, which introduces defects in the subsurface region. The position and shape of the main Cu 2p_3/2 peak and its satellite provide a sensitive fingerprint of the nanoparticle surface state, while the O 1s spectra reveal the formation of subsurface O defect species. Air annealing at 300°C and r

SUBMITTER: Batenkova AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12822534 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature