ZnO Doped Silica Nanoparticles (ZnO@SiO) for Enhanced Electrochemical Detection of Cd Ions in Real Samples.

Pollution by heavy metal ions has a serious impact on human health and the environment, which is why the monitoring of heavy metal ions is of great practical importance. In this work, we describe the development of an electrochemical sensor for the detection of cadmium (Cd) involving the doping of porous SiO spheres with ZnO nanoparticles. Zinc oxide is chosen as the central dopant in the composite material to increase the conductivity and thus improve the electrochemical detection of Cd ions with the SiO spheres.

Photosystem II as a chemiluminescence-induced photosensitizer for photoelectrochemical biofuel cell-type biosensing system.

Herein, photosystem II (PSII), extracted from spinach, is used for the first time as an efficient and green sensitizer for a photobioanode in a photoelectrochemical glucose biofuel cell (PBFC) setup. The concept is based on the formation of hemin-catalyzed luminol chemiluminescence (CL) after the enzymatic oxidation of glucose and the simultaneous production of hydrogen peroxide by glucose oxidase. The photosynthetic enzyme PSII, combined with an osmium polymer serving as mediator and photosensitizer, is immobilized and wired on microporous carbonaceous material (MC) for the chemiluminescence-induced oxidation of water to O at the photobioanode (GCE|MC|Os polymer|PSII).

Functionalizing Carbon Nanotubes with Bis(2,9-dialkyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II) Complexes for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

A new ligand, namely, 2-(5-(pyren-1-yl)pentyl)-9-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline, as well as new bis(2,9-dialkyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II) complexes were designed, which were immobilized on multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) electrodes. These complexes show a high tendency of autoreduction into their copper(I) form according to electrochemical and EPR experiments. These complexes exhibit strong interactions with MWCNT sidewalls either with or without anchor functions such as the pyrene moiety.

Quantitative Shape-Classification of Misfitting Precipitates during Cubic to Tetragonal Transformations: Phase-Field Simulations and Experiments.

The effectiveness of the mechanism of precipitation strengthening in metallic alloys depends on the shapes of the precipitates. Two different material systems are considered: tetragonal γ'' precipitates in Ni-based alloys and tetragonal θ' precipitates in Al-Cu-alloys. The shape formation and evolution of the tetragonally misfitting precipitates was investigated by means of experiments and phase-field simulations.

Genome Wide Association Study Pinpoints Key Agronomic QTLs in African Rice Oryza glaberrima.

Background: African rice, Oryza glaberrima, is an invaluable resource for rice cultivation and for the improvement of biotic and abiotic resistance properties. Since its domestication in the inner Niger delta ca. 2500 years BP, African rice has colonized a variety of ecologically and climatically diverse regions.

Photoelectrochemically-assisted biofuel cell constructed by redox complex and g-CN coated MWCNT bioanode.

Herein, we report a membraneless glucose and air photoelectrochemical biofuel cell (PBFC) with a visible light assisted photobioanode. Flavin adenine dinucleotide dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FADGDH) was immobilized on the combined photobioanode for the visible light assisted glucose oxidation (GCE|MWCNT|g-CN|Ru-complex|FADGDH) with a quinone mediated electron transfer. Bilirubine oxidase (BOx) immobilized on MWCNT coated GCE (GCE|BOx) was used as the cathode with direct electron transfer (DET).

Voltammetric sensing of recombinant viral dengue virus 2 NS1 based on Au nanoparticle-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube composites.

A homemade gold electrode is modified with a carbon nanotubes/gold nanoparticles nanocomposite to perform selective and sensitive electrochemical detection of dengue toxin. This nanostructured composite offers a large specific surface and a reactive interface allowing the immobilization of biological material. Dengue antibodies are immobilized on gold nanoparticles via covalent bonding for dengue toxin detection.

Functionalized tungsten disulfide nanotubes for dopamine and catechol detection in a tyrosinase-based amperometric biosensor design.

WS2 nanotubes functionalized with carboxylic acid functions (WS2-COOH) were used for improved immobilization of the enzyme tyrosinase in order to form an electrochemical biosensor towards catechol and dopamine. The nanotubes were deposited on glassy carbon electrodes using a dispersion-filtration-transfer procedure to assure the reproducibility of the deposits. After the electrochemical and morphological characterization of these WS2-COOH nanotube deposits, the formed biosensors showed very satisfying performance towards catechol detection with a linear range of 0.

Dawson-type polyoxometalate nanoclusters confined in a carbon nanotube matrix as efficient redox mediators for enzymatic glucose biofuel cell anodes and glucose biosensors.

Two new inorganic-organic hybrid materials based on heteropolyoxometalates (POMs): (CHN)[PMoO]·4HO (PMo) and (CHNO)[HPWO]·6HO (PW) are reported as mediators for electron transfer between FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH) and a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) matrix for glucose biofuel cell and biosensor applications. These polyoxometalates were chosen due to their promising redox behavior in a potential range for mediated electron transfer with the glucose oxidizing enzyme, FAD-GDH. PMo and PW were immobilized on 1-pyrenemethylamine (PMA) functionalized MWCNT deposits.

Flotation Assembly of Large-Area Ultrathin MWCNT Nanofilms for Construction of Bioelectrodes.

We report a simple, versatile, and rapid method for the fabrication of optically-transparent large-area carbon nanotube (CNT) films via flotation assembly. After solvent-induced assembly, floating films were transferred to a flat supporting substrate to form conductive and transparent CNT film electrodes. The resulting electrodes, with uniform 40 ± 20 nm multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) layers, were characterized by electrochemical and microscopy methods.

Tuning the redox potential of vitamin K derivatives by oxidative functionalization using a Ag(i)/GO catalyst.

We propose herein initial results to develop optimum redox mediators by the combination of computational simulation and catalytic functionalization of the core structure of vitamin K. We aim to correlate the calculated energy value of the LUMO of different vitamin K derivatives with their actual redox potential. For this, we optimized the catalytic alkylation of 1,4-naphthoquinones with a designed Ag(i)/GO catalyst and synthesized a series of molecules.

Assembly and Stacking of Flow-through Enzymatic Bioelectrodes for High Power Glucose Fuel Cells.

Bioelectrocatalytic carbon nanotube based pellets comprising redox enzymes were directly integrated in a newly conceived flow-through fuel cell. Porous electrodes and a separating cellulose membrane were housed in a glucose/oxygen biofuel cell design with inlets and outlets allowing the flow of electrolyte through the entire fuel cell. Different flow setups were tested and the optimized single cell setup, exploiting only 5 mmol L glucose, showed an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.

Controlled carbon nanotube layers for impedimetric immunosensors: High performance label free detection and quantification of anti-cholera toxin antibody.

An original impedimetric immunosensor was developed based on carbon nanotube (CNT) deposits with controlled thicknesses for enhanced electroactive surface areas leading to improved sensor performances. Cholera monitoring was chosen as the model immune system for this setup. These CNT deposits were characterized using confocal laser microscopy and electrochemical methods.

Interprotein Electron Transfer between FeS-Protein Nanowires and Oxygen-Tolerant NiFe Hydrogenase.

Self-assembled redox protein nanowires have been exploited as efficient electron shuttles for an oxygen-tolerant hydrogenase. An intra/inter-protein electron transfer chain has been achieved between the iron-sulfur centers of rubredoxin and the FeS cluster of [NiFe] hydrogenases. [NiFe] Hydrogenases entrapped in the intricated matrix of metalloprotein nanowires achieve a stable, mediated bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of H at low-overpotential.

A synthetic redox biofilm made from metalloprotein-prion domain chimera nanowires.

Engineering bioelectronic components and set-ups that mimic natural systems is extremely challenging. Here we report the design of a protein-only redox film inspired by the architecture of bacterial electroactive biofilms. The nanowire scaffold is formed using a chimeric protein that results from the attachment of a prion domain to a rubredoxin (Rd) that acts as an electron carrier.

Molecular dynamics study of colloidal quasicrystals.

Colloidal quasicrystals have received increased interest recently due to new insight in exploring their potential for photonic materials as well as for optical devices [Vardeny et al., Nat. Photonics, 2013, 7, 177].

Diazonium Functionalisation of Carbon Nanotubes for Specific Orientation of Multicopper Oxidases: Controlling Electron Entry Points and Oxygen Diffusion to the Enzyme.

We report the controlled orientation of bilirubin oxidases (BOD) from Myrothecium verrucaria on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalised by electrografting of 6-carboxynaphthalenediazonium and 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenediazonium salts. On negatively charged naphthoate-modified MWCNTs, a high-potential (0.44 V vs.

Cubic PdNP-based air-breathing cathodes integrated in glucose hybrid biofuel cells.

Cubic Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) were synthesized using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and were evaluated for the catalytic oxygen reduction reaction. PdNPs were confined with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) dispersions to form black suspensions and these inks were dropcast onto glassy carbon electrodes. Different nanoparticle sizes were synthesized and investigated upon oxygen reduction capacities (onset potential and electrocatalytic current densities) under O2 saturated conditions at varying pH values.

Electrocatalytic O2 Reduction at a Bio-inspired Mononuclear Copper Phenolato Complex Immobilized on a Carbon Nanotube Electrode.

An original copper-phenolate complex, mimicking the active center of galactose oxidase, featuring a pyrene group was synthesized. Supramolecular pi-stacking allows its efficient and soft immobilization at the surface of a Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) electrode. This MWCNT-supported galactose oxidase model exhibits a 4 H(+)/4 e(-) electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction at a redox potential of 0.

Fully Oriented Bilirubin Oxidase on Porphyrin-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction.

The efficient immobilization and orientation of bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria on multi-walled carbon nanotube electrodes by using π-stacked porphyrins as a direct electron-transfer promoter is reported. By comparing the use of different types of porphyrin, the rational effect of the porphyrin structure on both the immobilization and orientation of the enzyme is demonstrated. The best performances were obtained for protoporphyrin IX, which is the natural precursor of bilirubin.

Laccase wiring on free-standing electrospun carbon nanofibres using a mediator plug.

Electrospun carbon nanofibres (CNFs) containing CNTs were produced by electrospinning and subsequent thermal treatment. This material was evaluated as a bioelectrode for biofuel cell applications after covalent grafting of laccase. Bis-pyrene-modified ABTS was used as a plug to wire laccase to the nanofibres leading to a maximum current density of 100 μA cm(-2).

One-year stability for a glucose/oxygen biofuel cell combined with pH reactivation of the laccase/carbon nanotube biocathode.

This study reports a mixed operational/storage stability of a MWCNT-based glucose biofuel cell (GBFC) over one year. The latter was examined by performing a one hour discharge every day during one month followed by several discharges over a period of 11 months. Under continuous discharge in physiological conditions (5 mM glucose, 37°, pH7), the GBFC exhibits a 25% power decrease after 1 h of operation.

A membraneless air-breathing hydrogen biofuel cell based on direct wiring of thermostable enzymes on carbon nanotube electrodes.

A biocathode was designed by the modification of a carbon nanotube (CNT) gas-diffusion electrode with bilirubin oxidase from Bacillus pumilus, achieving high current densities up to 3 mA cm(-2) for the reduction of O2 from air. A membraneless air-breathing hydrogen biofuel cell was designed by combination of this cathode with a functionalized CNT-based hydrogenase anode.