Composite Silica-Based Films as Platforms for Electrochemical Sensors.

Sol-gel-derived silica thin films generated onto electrode surfaces in the form of organic-inorganic hybrid coatings or other composite layers have found tremendous interest for being used as platforms for the development of electrochemical sensors and biosensors. After a brief description of the strategies applied to prepare such materials, and their interest as electrode modifier, this review will summarize the major advances made so far with composite silica-based films in electroanalysis. It will primarily focus on electrochemical sensors involving both non-ordered composite films and vertically oriented mesoporous membranes, the biosensors exploiting the concept of sol-gel bioencapsulation on electrode, the spectroelectrochemical sensors, and some others.

Hydrogenase-based electrode for hydrogen sensing in a fermentation bioreactor.

The hydrogen-based economy will require not only sustainable hydrogen production but also sensitive and cheap hydrogen sensors. Commercially available H sensors are limited by either use of noble metals or elevated temperatures. In nature, hydrogenase enzymes present high affinity and selectivity for hydrogen, while being able to operate in mild conditions.

Deoxofluorination of (Hetero)aromatic Acids.

Diverse trifluoromethyl-substituted compounds were synthesized by deoxofluorination of cinnamic and (hetero)aromatic carboxylic acids with sulfur tetrafluoride. The obtained products were used as starting materials in the preparation of novel fluorinated amino acids, anilines, and aliphatic amines - valuable building blocks for medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry.

Controlled electrochemically-assisted deposition of sol-gel biocomposite on electrospun platinum nanofibers.

The modification of platinum nanofibers by silica using the electrochemically-assisted deposition is reported here. Pt nanofibers are obtained by electrospinning and deposited on a glass substrate. The electrochemically-assisted deposition of the sol-gel material then gives the unique possibility to finely tune the silica film thickness around these nanofibers.