Topological phase transition in the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi[Formula: see text]Te[Formula: see text] from the point of view of axion-like state realization.

This work aims to study the conditions of topological phase transition (TPT) between the topological and trivial states in the antiferromagnetic topological insulator (AFM TI) MnBi[Formula: see text]Te[Formula: see text] and propose some theory about the relationship of this TPT with the possibility of axion-like state realization in this material. Using the density functional approach we have analyzed the changes in the electronic and spin structure of topological surface states (TSSs) and the nearest conduction and valence bands (CB and VB) including the changes in the bulk band gap as well as the Dirac point (DP) gap in TSSs under variation of the spin-orbit coupling strength in the region of the TPT for infinite crystal and slab with a surface both. We have shown that in both cases the TPT occurs with inversion of the contributions of the Bi-[Formula: see text] and Te-[Formula: see text] states of different parity at the gap edges related to change in the gap sign.

Optical Oxygen Sensing and Clark Electrode: Face-to-Face in a Biosensor Case Study.

In the last decade, there has been continuous competition between two methods for detecting the concentration of dissolved oxygen: amerometric (Clark electrode) and optical (quenching of the phosphorescence of the porphyrin metal complex). Each of them has obvious advantages and disadvantages. This competition is especially acute in the development of biosensors, however, an unbiased comparison is extremely difficult to achieve, since only a single detection method is used in each particular study.

Chemical Structural Coherence Principle on Polymers for Better Adhesion.

Composite materials are the most variative type of materials employed in almost every task imaginable. In the present study, a synthesis of a novel perfluoroalkyltriethoxysilane is reported to be used in creating composites with polyhexafluoropropylene-one of the most indifferent and adhesion-lacking polymers existing. The mechanism of adhesion of hexafluoropropylene is proved to be due to chemical structural coherence of perfluoroalkyltriethoxysilane to a link of polyhexafluoropropylene chain.

Voltammetric studies of glutathione transfer across arrays of liquid-liquid microinterfaces for sensing applications.

The simple and facilitated transfer of tripeptide glutathione across the water/2-nitrophenyl octhyl ether interface was studied via cyclic voltammetry at interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). The micro-perforated membrane prepared with a laser with a femtosecond pulse was used for mechanical stabilization of the interface. The method of cyclic voltammetry was used to study the passive and facilitated interfacial transfer of glutathione and its complex with the crown ether dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6).

Modified Nanodiamonds as a Means of Polymer Surface Functionalization. From Fouling Suppression to Biosensor Design.

The development of different methods for tuning surface properties is currently of great interest. The presented work is devoted to the use of modified nanodiamonds to control the wetting and biological fouling of polymers using optical sensors as an example. We have shown that, depending on the type of modification and the amount of nanodiamonds, the surface of the same fluorinated polymer can have both bactericidal properties and, on the contrary, good adhesion to the biomaterial.