Tuning the Bandgap and Cytotoxicity of ZnO by Tailoring the Nanostructures

Tuning the bandgap and cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) is very important, not only for customizing their optoelectronic and biomedical applications, but also for their cytotoxicity assay and safe usage. A unique soft-template of polyvinylpyrrolidone has been developed here to realize a rapid room-temperature neutral synthesis of ZnO with controlled nanostructures for tuning the bandgap and cytotoxicity of ZnO. By simply changing the reagent stoichiometry and the soft-template shape, high-purity ZnO rods, tripods, tubes, and unique T-like tubes with tunable size, surface composition/charge, bandgap, and cytotoxicity are obtained. It has been revealed that the ZnO bandgap can be remarkably reduced by introducing the surface nonstoichiometry; and the ZnO-induced cytotoxicity can be tuned by the size, shape, surface charge/composition, and bandgap of ZnO NPs at different degrees. Significantly, both the photochemistry reaction and the reactive oxygen species induced by ZnO NPs are not necessary for the ZnO-induced cytotoxicity. A polyvinylpyrrolidone soft-template has been developed to realize a rapid room-temperature synthesis of ZnO nanostructures for tuning the bandgap and cytotoxicity of ZnO. The ZnO bandgap can be remarkably reduced by introducing surface-nonstoichiometry; and the ZnO-induced cytotoxicity can be tuned by the size, shape, surface charge/composition, and bandgap of ZnO nanostructures tailored by the reagent ratio, at different degrees.