Supplementary Information
METHODS
Unless otherwise specified, all physico-chemical characterisations were carried out at room
temperature. Sample homogeneity was ensured by thoroughly blending the batches of
sample received before sub-sampling. For each measurement, samples were taken from the
sub-samples randomly and measurements were performed at least in duplicate. In some
cases, e.g. for surface area, TGA, TEM, DLS and zeta potential, tests were performed on the
same sample batch at different laboratories and by different operators, yielding comparable
results.
Crystalline phase. Samples were prepared by packing approximately 0.5 g of solid material
in a plastic sample holder and flattening the surface with a glass slide. The crystalline phase
was determined by analysis of the diffraction pattern produced upon exposure of the
sample to x-rays generated by a Bruker ASX-D8 X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) using Cu K
radiation and an operating current of 40 mA and voltage of 40 kV. The scan ranged from
20 o to 150 o with a step size of 0.005 o. The size of the aperture slit directing the X-ray
source was 0.2 mm.
Particle morphology. The morphology of each sample was assessed by analysis of
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images.
Samples for TEM were prepared by briefly sonicating a few milligrams of the solid material
in approximately 20 µl ethanol to form a milky dispersion. Carbon-coated grids (copper, 300
mesh) were glow discharged in nitrogen for 30 s to render them hydrophilic. 5 µl of
dispersion was applied to the freshly-prepared grids. After 2 minutes, excess dispersion was
wicked off using filter paper (Whatman 541) and the grids were dried in air for 15 minutes.
Grids were examined at eucentric height using an FEI Tecnai 12 TEM operating at 120 kV,
and micrographs were recorded using an Olympus Megaview III CCD camera running
AnalySiS imaging software (Olympus). The maximum and minimum “Feret” diameters were
used as a measure of particle length and width and were determined from TEM images
using a semi-automated particle size analysis program (ImageJ/Fiji) (Igathinathane et al.
1
2012). Approximately 100 particles across the TEM grid were measured for each sample
which came from more than 10 images for NM-110 and NM-111, 5 for NM-112 and >20 for
NM113. This ensured that a representative set of images were acquired. To minimise
uncertainty caused by overlapping particles, only particles that were separated or could be
clearly defined were included in the analysis of maximum and minimum Feret diameter. In
addition, two operators performed measurements using the same software. The final data
reported here were the average values provided by the two operators.
Samples for SEM were prepared by sprinkling ~5 mg of ZnO powder over adhesive
conducting tape covering an SEM metal stub. The surface of the powder sample was
flattened with a spatula, and excess powder was removed by gently tapping the stub on its
side until a light coating of powder on the surface became apparent. The nanoparticles were
coated with iridium using a Polaron SC570 sputter coater. Sputtering was conducted under
vacuum while the passing gas was argon. The coating deposition time was 20 s at a plate
current of 50 mA, giving a coating thickness of approximately 1 nm. Images were obtained
with a Philips XL30 field emission SEM. The optimal spatial resolution of the microscope was
2–5 nm with varying accelerating voltage from 30 kV to 1 kV. Images of ZnO particles were
acquired at an accelerating voltage of 5 kV, a working distance of approximately 10 mm, and
a tilt angle of 0 °.
Specific surface area and porosity. Specific surface areas of the twelve ZnO samples were
determined by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) using a Micromeritics Tristar II 3020
instrument, which uses physical gas adsorption and capillary condensation principles to
obtain information about the surface area. Prior to analysis, the powdered sample was
transferred to a sample bulb which was de-gassed overnight at 300 C under high vacuum
and subsequently weighed on an analytical balance in order to determine the sample mass
after the degassing step. The sample tube containing the degassed sample was cooled by
immersion in liquid nitrogen to 77 K and exposed to the adsorbate gas (nitrogen, ultra high
purity 99.999 %) at 11 controlled pressures. Porosity was determined simultaneously with
surface area by applying the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method for analysing gas
adsorption and desorption isotherms to determine the total pore volume.
2
Elemental composition. To prepare samples for the determination of elemental
composition, approximately 0.15 g of ZnO sample was dissolved in a 1:1 HNO3:H2O2 mixture
with heating for 30 minutes. The solution was diluted to 100 mL, 10 µg ml-1 of Scandium
Standard (Ultra Scientific Analytical Solutions) was added as an internal standard, and the
resultant solution was analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission
Spectroscopy (Varian 730 Axial ICP-AES). Certified multi-element solutions (QCD Analysts)
were used to check accuracy.
Elemental analysis of the surface. The elemental composition within 1–10 nm of the
surface of the samples was quantitatively determined in duplicate by X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS). Powdered ZnO samples were placed in individual wells of a sample
holder and irradiated with X-rays under ultra-high vacuum using a Kratos HS spectrometer,
fitted with a monochromated Al Kα source, operating under standard conditions. The
sampling area was approximately 0.3 mm by 0.7 mm. Wide scan survey spectra were
recorded to identify and quantify all elements present on the surface.
Thermal stability. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) of all ZnO batches was performed on a
Perkin Elmer STA6000 instrument in duplicate. Roughly 50 mg of sample was heated in a
ceramic crucible from 50 oC to 1000 oC at a rate of 10 oC min-1, under a 20 ml min-1 flow of
N2 gas. Volatile species evolved during heating were passed through a heated transfer line
into the gas cell of a Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy system (FT-IR, Perkin Elmer
Frontier) for analysis.
Differential centrifugal sedimentation. To investigate the particle size distribution,
differential centrifugal sedimentation (DCS) measurements were performed using a CPS
Instruments 24000UHR disk centrifuge. Measurements were made at a fixed speed of
8900 rpm to access the distribution from 20–1000 nm, and, using the speed ramping mode,
with speeds between 1000 and 12 000 rpm, to access the distribution from 0.02–10 µm.
17 ml of a gradient fluid comprising 8–24 % w/w sucrose (99 %, Sigma Aldrich) in ultrapure
water (Milli-Q, 18.2 MΩ cm) with a 0.5 ml dodecane evaporation cap was used for all
measurements. A 0.377 µm nominal mean diameter calibration standard (polyvinyl chloride,
PS Instrument) was used. 0.1 ml of sample was injected for each run. The samples for fixedspeed measurements were 0.015 % w/w suspensions of ZnO in ultrapure water. 15 mg of
3
test powder was added to a clean, 20 ml glass vial, and mixed with a spatula with ~1 ml of
ultrapure water. More dispersant was added to create a final volume of 15 ml. This sample
was then ultrasonicated using a high-power ultrasonic horn (Misonix 3000) for 20 s with a
2 s pulsed duty cycle with a 1.3 cm tip at an amplitude of 20%. Following ultrasonication, the
sample was transferred to a 150 ml beaker and 85 ml of ultrapure water was added to
produce a 100 ml dispersion. The resultant suspension was stirred with an overhead stirrer
for at least 15 minutes prior to measurement. The samples for speed ramping
measurements were 1 % w/w suspensions prepared by directly adding 1 g of ZnO to 99 ml
of ultrapure water and stirring with an overhead stirrer for 15 minutes. Probe sonication
was then applied to the sample using a 1.3 cm ultrasonic horn tip at 100 % amplitude with a
2 s pulsed duty cycle. The sample was first sonicated for 15 s, measured, left to stir,
sonicated for a further 15 s (total sonication time: 30 s), measured, left to stir, sonicated for
a further 30 s (total sonication time: 60 s), and measured.
Dynamic light scattering (DLS). Measurements of z-average hydrodynamic particle diameter
in deionised water (Milli-Q, 18.2 MΩ cm) by DLS were obtained for all samples using a
Brookhaven particle size analyzer 90Plus equipped with a 633 nm laser. The scattering angle
in this instrument is 90 °. Reference standards (Duke polystyrene latex with a nominal
diameter of 100 nm, and NIST RM8013 gold nanoparticles with a nominal diameter of
60 nm) were used to verify the performance of the instrument. 10 mg ZnO particles were
added to a measuring cuvette containing 3 ml of deionised water. The cuvette was placed in
an ultrasonic bath (Branson 3510, 100 W, 42 kHz) for 10 s, and further shaken by hand to
check the particles were well dispersed before starting the DLS measurements. For the
uncoated products, the uniform colloidal dispersion obtained after sonication was used
directly for measurements. Due to the highly hydrophobic surface on particles of ZCOTE HP1, only some were successfully dispersed while most remained floating on top of
the water (as shown in Figure 5). To avoid any influence from the undispersed particles, a
pasteur pipette was used to transfer the dispersion to another cuvette for further
measurement without additional sonication. Each measurement was based on 10 sub-runs
which were averaged to produce the reported result. Duplicate experiments were
performed on each sample. The temperature was maintained at 25 oC during measurement.
4
The cuvette was thoroughly washed with deionised water before and after each
measurement.
Electrophoretic-mobility measurements of zeta potential (surface charge). A Malvern
Zetasizer Nano Z system was used for zeta-potential measurements. 10 mg of each ZnO
sample was placed in a plastic tube containing 3 ml dispersion medium. The dispersion
medium was prepared in advance and is based on deionised water with the pH (pH=2, 4, 6,
8, 10) adjusted by adding 0.1 M HCl or 0.1 M NaOH. The tube was placed in an ultrasonic
bath (Branson 3510, 100 W, 42 kHz) for 10 s and then shaken manually to check dispersion.
For uncoated ZnO products, the uniform colloidal dispersion after sonication was used
directly for zeta potential measurements. Dispersed samples of Z-COTE HP1 were prepared
as described above for DLS measurements. One ml of the dispersion was injected into a
DTS 1060 cuvette. Five measurements were performed at each pH to determine the average
and standard deviation. The temperature of all measurements was maintained at 25 oC. The
cuvette was thoroughly washed with deionised water before and after each measurement.
Photo catalytic activity. Two 62.5 ml mixtures of 1:1 Mineral Oil White Light
(Aldrich):Caprylic Capric C8/C10 Triglyceride (MOTG) were prepared. ZnO (31 mg) was
added to one mixture, and DPPH (5.2 mg) to the other. Each was magnetically stirred for
1.5 hours in a beaker covered on all sides with Al foil. Then the two mixtures were
combined, poured into a crystallising dish (135 mm diameter x 23 mm height) covered on all
sides with foil, and magnetically stirred for 5 minutes. Before exposure to UV (t = 0), 3 ml of
the solution was withdrawn and its UV-Vis absorption spectrum was measured using a Cary
5G UV-Vis NIR spectrophotometer. The 3 ml sample was returned to the solution. The
solution was then exposed to UV using a pre-warmed Spectroline UV lamp (BIB150 P/FA
365 nm, 150 W concentrated spot bulb, lamp diameter: 110 mm). The lamp was placed
12 cm above the ZnO/dye mixture, at a position where the 365 nm intensity was
45 mW cm2. Samples were taken at various times and absorbance at 520 nm was measured.
The equipment was designed with a sliding shield separating the sample and UV-lamp so
that between exposures the lamp remained on, thus avoiding variations in lamp intensity.
Dissolution measurements. The dissolution of each ZnO sample was measured using the
equilibrium dialysis method (Angel et al. 2013). Dialysis membranes had a molecular mass
5
cut-off of 1 kDa (Cole Parmer Spectra/Por 7). The membranes were cut into 10 cm lengths,
washed with deionised water (Milli-Q, 18.2 MΩ cm) filled with 20 ml of Milli-Q water and
sealed with acid-washed (1 % v/v HNO3) plastic dialysis clips. The total volume of the
dialysis cells was kept to below 5 % of the test solution in order to minimise dilution effects.
At the start of the test, 50 mg l-1 of each ZnO sample was prepared in triplicate by dispersing
in 3 L of 0.01 M Ca(NO3)2 buffered with 2 mM piperazine-N,N’-bisethanesulfonic acid (PIPES:
Sigma-Aldrich) to pH 7.5 ± 0.1. The dialysis cells were immediately added and the solutions
were continuously stirred with PTFE magnetic stirrers for 72 hours at constant temperature
(21 oC). At sampling times of 24, 48 and 72 hours, a dialysis cell from each treatment
replicate was removed from the solution, rinsed with Milli-Q water and sub-sampled for the
dialysed Zn concentration. At the same time, a filtered (0.1 µm) sample was also taken from
the bulk solution and analysed for Zn concentration for comparison with the dialysed
sample. An additional filtered (0.1 µm) sample from the bulk solution was taken at 8 hours.
Samples from dialysis cells and from bulk solutions (0.1 µm filtered) showed no differences
in levels of dissolved zinc at any time point, indicating that any agglomerated ZnO in the
bulk solution was larger than 100 nm. The pHs of all solutions increased marginally after 72
hours to the range 7.56 -7.68.
Dispersion of the NM-111 batch of Z-COTE HP1 in water. 20–33 mg of various samples of
the NM-111 batch of Z-COTE HP1 were weighed into glass bottles, and 5 ml of Milli-Q water
was added. The samples were bath sonicated for 3 minutes. After standing for a few
minutes, the samples were illuminated with a white-LED torch from the side, and images
were taken with a Nikon D5000 digital camera. Scattered light in the images indicated those
samples with particles in suspension. Various samples of the same batch, NM-111, had
experienced slightly different storage histories:
Sample 1: Stored in original glass bottle, first opened in 2009 (only once or twice).
Sample 2: Sub-sampled (~2 g) from Sample 1 in 2009, stored in plastic bottle.
Sample 3: Sub-sampled from Sample 2 on the day of the described experiment, heated at
100 oC for 1.5 hours and cooled.
Sample 4: Stored in original glass bottle, opened September 2012 and December 2012.
Sample 5: Stored in original glass bottle, opened September 2013, otherwise unknown
history.
6
Sample 6: Stored in original glass bottle, opened December 2013 (once only).
Sample 7: Stored in original glass bottle, opened on the day of the described experiment
only.
Figure S1: X-ray diffraction spectra from the OECD batches, NM-110, NM-111, NM-112 and
NM-113, of the four respective ZnO products, Z-COTE, Z-COTE HP1, Nanosun and bulk ZnO.
The spectra reveal that the only detected phase is hexagonal wurtzite zincite. Other batches
of the three nano-sized ZnO products display similar characteristics. The broader peak
widths for NM-112 indicate a smaller crystallite size compared with the other OECD
samples.
7
NM110
NM111
NM112
NM113
Figure S2: Typical SEM images of the OECD batches, NM-110, NM-111, NM-112 and NM113. The length of all scale bars is 500 nm.
8
(a)
(b)
0.9
NM110
1.4
adsorption
desorption
adsorption
desorption
NM111
Quantity Adsorbed (mmol/g)
Quantity Adsorbed (mmol/g)
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
0.0
1.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
Relative Pressure (p/p0)
0
Relative Pressure (p/p )
(c)
(d)
0.30
3.0
NM112
0.25
Quantity Adsorbed (mmol/g)
Quantity Adsorbed (mmol/g)
2.5
adsorption
desorption
NM113
adsorption
desorption
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
0.0
1.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
Relative Pressure (p/p0)
0
Relative Pressure (p/p )
Figure S3: Typical isothermal plots of OECD batches of the ZnO products (a) NM-110 (ZCOTE), (b) NM-111 (Z-COTE HP1), (c) NM-112 (Nanosun) and (d) NM-113 (bulk ZnO),
obtained from the BET method for gas adsorption and desorption. Other batches of these
products show similar results. The limited amount of gas adsorbed/desorbed at lower
pressures indicates that micropores contribute little to the total surface area. Black circles
and red crosses represent data for adsorption and desorption, respectively
9
Figure S4 TGA curves of different batches of the three nano-sized ZnO products, as indicated by
percentage mass changes when heated from 50 to 1000 oC at a rate of 10 oC min-1 under a nitrogengas flow rate of 20 ml min-1. (a) Z-COTE, (b) Z-COTE HP1, (c) Nanosun.
10
Table S1 Crystallite size with fitting error and lattice strain calculated from XRD spectra
Product name
Batch No.
Z-COTE
Z-COTE HP1
Nanosun
ZnO (bulk)
Crystallite size (nm)
Strain
OECD NM-110
69.3 ± 2.4
0.0009
CIAJ1004
70.1 ± 2.4
0.0010
EHHC1010
61.1 ± 2.1
0.0000
EHDA3001
65.0 ± 2.1
0.0003
Average ± SD
66.4 ± 4.2
0.0006
OECD NM-111
51.2 ± 1.5
0.0000
CNHH1902
58.0 ± 2.4
0.0010
CNHE0602
48.1 ± 1.2
0.0001
Average ± SD
52.4 ± 5.1
0.0004
OECD NM-112
23.4 ± 1.2
0.0071
3817
23.4 ± 1.2
0.0088
5672
23.5 ± 1.2
0.0090
4051
24.2 ± 1.2
0.0085
Average ± SD
23.6 ± 0.4
0.0083
156.8 ± 18.9
0.0000
OECD NM-113*
* Rough estimation, as the Williamson-Hall equation is for particles under 100 nm in size.
11
Table S2. Z-average hydrodynamic diameters and polydispersity indices (PDI) for various
batches of Z-COTE, Z-COTE HP1, Nanosun and bulk ZnO dispersed in deionised water and
measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS).
Product
name
Batch No.
Z-COTE
OECD NM-110
CIAJ1004
EHHC1010
EHDA3001
OECD NM-111
CNHH1902
CNHE0602
OECD NM-112
3817
5672
4051
OECD NM-113
Z-COTE HP1
Nanosun
ZnO (bulk)
Z-average
hydrodynamic
diameter (nm)
340
500
360
440
192
201
189
440
290
370
460
470
12
PDI
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
Table S3. Dissolution of various batches of Z-COTE, Z-COTE HP1, Nanosun and bulk ZnO in
aqueous 10 mM calcium nitrate, buffered at pH 7.5.
Product
name
Batch Number
Z-COTE
OECD NM-110
Equilibrium
solubility^ (µg l-1)
± SD
5800 ± 240
% dissolution*
14.4
EHHC1010
5770 ± 200
14.4
EHDA3001
5440 ± 140
13.5
CIAJ1004
5810 ± 160
14.5
Average
5705
14.2
ZOECD NM-111
5260 ± 310
13.1
COTE HP1 CNHH1902
5240 ± 400
13.1
CNHE0602
5140 ± 180
12.8
Average
5213
13.0
Nanosun OECD NM-112
5330 ± 220
13.3
5672
4110 ± 190
10.2
4051
5470 ± 130
13.6
3817
5010 ± 80
12.5
Average
4980
12.4
ZnO
OECD NM-113
5090 ± 180
12.7
(bulk)
^Mean equilibrium solubility (at 72 hours) from 3 replicate experiments.
* % dissolution is the dissolved Zn relative to total Zn in each sample.
13
Calculations of bulk atomic ratios of Si/Zn in Z-COTE HP1
1) from ICP-AES data (Table 3)
∆𝑚1/𝑀1
Atomic ratio Si/Zn = ∆𝑚2/𝑀2 where Δm1 is the mass percentage of Si (for example
1685 ppm = 0.1685 %; 915 ppm = 0.0915 % and 660 ppm = 0.066 %), Δm2 is the mass
percentage of Zn, M1 and M2 are the atomic masses of Si (28) and Zn (65), respectively.
OECD NM-111: atomic ratio Si/Zn =
CNHH1902: atomic ratio Si/Zn =
CNHE0602: atomic ratio Si/Zn =
0.1685/28
78.6/65
0.0915/28
79.5/65
0.0660/28
79/65
= 0.00498
= 0.00267
= 0.00194
2) from TGA data (Table 5)
∆𝑚1/𝑀1
Atomic ratio Si/Zn=∆𝑚2/𝑀2 where Δm1 is the mass of surface coating and was calculated by
the percentage of total mass loss of Z-COTE HP1 sample minus the average mass loss of all
Z-COTE samples (0.84 %), Δm2 is the weight remaining for ZnO (100 % - 0.84 % = 99.16 %).
M1 and M2 are the molecular massess of surface coating (trithoxycaprylysilane,
276.49 g mol-1) and ZnO (81 g mol-1), respectively.
OECD NM-111: atomic ratio Si/Zn=
CNHH1902: atomic ratio Si/Zn=
CNHE0602: atomic ratio Si/Zn=
(2.44%−0.84%)/276.49
=0.00473
99.16%/81
(2.08%−0.84%)/276.49
99.16%/81
=0.00366
(2.15%−0.84%)/276.49
=0.00387
99.16%/81
Surface Si/Zn atomic ratios found from XPS are higher because the analysis depth of XPS is
only several nanometres.
Si/Zn atomic ratios calculated from TGA, ICP-AES and XPS are slightly different as a result of
the very different techniques used to measure data and/or assumptions required. However,
data from all three methods consistently indicate that the OECD batch of Z-COTE HP1, NM111, has a relatively greater amount of surface coating compared with the other two
batches.
14
The theoretical Si/Zn atomic ratio of triethoxycaprylylsilane on a Wurtzite ZnO structure is
estimated as 6.63 x 10-4 x specific surface area of ZnO nanoparticles. For Z-COTE HP1
products, the average surface area is 12.4 m2 g-1. So the theoretical Si/Zn atomic ratio is
0.0082.
Therefore the percentage surface coverage of silane on Z-COTE HP1 was calculated as
below.
1) from ICP-AES data
OECD NM-111 = 100 x 0.00498/0.0082 = 60.7 %
CNHH1902 = 100 x 0.00267/0.0082 = 32.6 %
CNHE0602 = 100 x 0.00194/0.0082 = 23.7 %
2) from TGA data
OECD NM-111 = 100 x 0.00473/0.0082 = 57.7 %
CNHH1902 = 100 x 0.00366/0.0082 = 44.6 %
CNHE0602 = 100 x 0.00387/0.0082 = 47.2 %
In OECD NM-111, with the highest amount of surface coating, the coverage is around 60 %.
These calculations correlate well with the differences in photoactivity (around 57 %)
between the uncoated NM-110 (decay time 7.7 min) and the coated NM-111 (decay time
12.1 min). The incomplete surface coverage on NM-111 mitigates, but does not eliminate,
the photocatalytic activity of uncoated ZnO.
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