Leveraging self-signal amplifying poly(acrylic acid)/polyaniline electrodes for label-free electrochemical immunoassays in protein biomarker detection.

Accurate quantification of specific biomarkers is essential for clinical diagnosis and evaluating therapeutic efficacy. A self-signal-amplifying poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/polyaniline (PANI) film-modified disposable and cost-effective screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) has been developed for constructing new label-free immunosensors targeting two model biomarkers: human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The electrochemically deposited PAA/PANI film on the SPCE serves a dual function: both a bio-immobilization support and a signal amplifier, enhancing biomarker detection sensitivity and efficiency.

Improving the properties of FeO by a sparking method under a uniform magnetic field for a high-performance humidity sensor.

Iron oxide (FeO) thin films are promising semiconductors for electronic applications because FeO is an earth-abundant semiconductor with an appropriate band gap. However, many methods for the synthesis of FeO thin films require a corrosive source, complex procedures, and many types of equipment. Here, we report, for the first time, a simple method for FeO deposition using sparking under a uniform magnetic field.

Photocatalytic efficiency under visible light of a novel Cu-Fe oxide composite films prepared by one-step sparking process.

Copper-iron (Cu-Fe) oxide composite films were successfully deposited on quartz substrate by a facile sparking process. The nanoparticles were deposited on the substrate after sparking off the Fe and Cu tips with different ratios and were then annealed at different temperatures. The network particles were observed after annealing the film at 700 °C.

Influence of Co concentration on properties of NiO film by sparking under uniform magnetic field.

Nickel oxide (NiO) films cover numerous electronic applications, including transparent conducting oxides and hole transport layer, because of its high transparency and wide band gap. A sparking discharge is a new and unique method for the deposition of NiO films due to non-complex operation and non-requirement of a vacuum atmosphere. Unfortunately, NiO films by the sparking method display a porous surface with inferior crystallinity.

Stretchable and flexible high-strain sensors made using carbon nanotubes and graphite films on natural rubber.

Conventional metallic strain sensors are flexible, but they can sustain maximum strains of only ~5%, so there is a need for sensors that can bear high strains for multifunctional applications. In this study, we report stretchable and flexible high-strain sensors that consist of entangled and randomly distributed multiwall carbon nanotubes or graphite flakes on a natural rubber substrate. Carbon nanotubes/graphite flakes were sandwiched in natural rubber to produce these high-strain sensors.