Green ammonia synthesis using CeO/RuO nanolayers on vertical graphene catalyst electrochemical route in alkaline electrolyte.

The electrochemical synthesis of ammonia at ambient temperature and pressure has the potential to replace the conventional process for the production of ammonia. However, the low ammonia yield and poor long-term stability of catalysts for the synthesis of ammonia hinders the application of this technology. Herein, we endeavored to tackle this challenge by synthesizing 3-D vertical graphene (VG) on Ni foam a one-step, low-temperature plasma process, which offered high conductivity and large surface area.

Electrolyte/Structure-Dependent Cocktail Mediation Enabling High-Rate/Low-Plateau Metal Sulfide Anodes for Sodium Storage.

As promising anodes for sodium-ion batteries, metal sulfides ubiquitously suffer from low-rate and high-plateau issues, greatly hindering their application in full-cells. Herein, exemplifying carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-stringed metal sulfides superstructure (CSC) assembled by nano-dispersed SnS and CoS phases, cocktail mediation effect similar to that of high-entropy materials is initially studied in ether-based electrolyte to solve the challenges. The high nano-dispersity of metal sulfides in CSC anode underlies the cocktail-like mediation effect, enabling the circumvention of intrinsic drawbacks of different metal sulfides.

Immobilization and stabilization of alcohol dehydrogenase on polyvinyl alcohol fibre.

A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibrous carrier has been chemically modified for the immobilization of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) with an aim to increase its stability over a wide pH range, prolong its activity upon storage, and enhance its reusability. The strategy for immobilization involved functionalization of the fibrous carrier with chloropropinoyl chloride followed by amination with ethylenediamine. Tethering of the ADH enzyme to the PVA scaffold was achieved with glutaraldehyde.

Silk provides a new avenue for third generation biosensors: Sensitive, selective and stable electrochemical detection of nitric oxide.

Using heme entrapped in recombinant silk films, we have produced 3rd generation biosensors, which allow direct electron transfer from the heme center to an electrode avoiding the need for electron mediators. Here, we demonstrate the use of these heme-silk films for the detection of nitric oxide (NO) at nanomolar levels in the presence and absence of oxygen. The sensor was prepared by drop-casting a silk solution on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) followed by infusion with heme.

Detection of vapor-phase organophosphate threats using wearable conformable integrated epidermal and textile wireless biosensor systems.

Flexible epidermal tattoo and textile-based electrochemical biosensors have been developed for vapor-phase detection of organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents. These new wearable sensors, based on stretchable organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) enzyme electrodes, are coupled with a fully integrated conformal flexible electronic interface that offers rapid and selective square-wave voltammetric detection of OP vapor threats and wireless data transmission to a mobile device. The epidermal tattoo and textile sensors display a good reproducibility (with RSD of 2.

Design of silk proteins with increased heme binding capacity and fabrication of silk-heme materials.

In our previous studies, heme was bound into honeybee silk to generate materials that could function as nitric oxide sensors or as recoverable heterogeneous biocatalysts. In this study, we sought to increase the heme-binding capacity of the silk protein by firstly redesigning the heme binding site to contain histidine as the coordinating residue and secondly, by adding multiple histidine residues within the core of the coiled coil core region of the modified silk protein. We used detergent and a protein denaturant to confirm the importance of the helical structure of the silk for heme coordination.

Wearable Flexible and Stretchable Glove Biosensor for On-Site Detection of Organophosphorus Chemical Threats.

A flexible glove-based electrochemical biosensor with highly stretchable printed electrode system has been developed as a wearable point-of-use screening tool for defense and food security applications. This disposable-mechanically robust "lab-on-a-glove" integrates a stretchable printable enzyme-based biosensing system and active surface for swipe sampling on different fingers, and is coupled with a compact electronic interface for electrochemical detection and real-time wireless data transmission to a smartphone device. Stress-enduring inks are used to print the electrode system and the long serpentine connections to the wireless electronic interface.

Surface activation of CNT Webs towards layer by layer assembly of biosensors.

Several surface activation methods such as chemical, electrochemical and plasma have been used for enhancing the electrochemical performance of carbon based electrodes for various applications. However, some of these surface activation methods may not be useful depending on the chemical and physical properties of the activated surface. Herein we investigate the surface activation of carbon nanotube (CNT) webs by electrochemical and plasma techniques to enhance their electrochemical performance and enable the fabrication of a biosensor using the layer-by-layer (LBL) approach.

Carbon nanotube-ionic liquid composite sensors and biosensors.

A new composite electrode has been fabricated using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and the ionic liquid n-octylpyridinum hexafluorophosphate (OPFP). This electrode shows very attractive electrochemical performances compared to other conventional electrodes using graphite and mineral oil, notably improved sensitivity and stability. One major advantage of this electrode compared to other electrodes using carbon nanotubes and other ionic liquids is its extremely low capacitance and background currents.

Ionic liquid-carbon composite glucose biosensor.

The use of ionic liquids that are solid at room temperature such as n-octyl-pyridinium hexafluorophosphate (nOPPF(6)) is shown to be advantageous in the fabrication of new form of biocomposite materials with attractive performance over other types of composites and pastes involving non-conductive binders. The resulting IL/graphite material brings new capabilities for electrochemical devices by combining the advantages of ILs and "bulk" composite electrodes. The electrocatalytic properties of the ILs are not impaired by their association with the graphite powder.

Enhanced stability and sensitivity of ionic liquid-carbon paste electrodes at elevated temperatures.

We describe the operation of ionic liquid-carbon paste electrodes at elevated temperatures and the effect of heating on the electrode performance and response. Using cyclic and square wave voltammetry and amperometry, it is shown that signals can be enhanced and stabilized by increasing the temperature of the operating solution. At low temperature, the electrode was susceptible to electrode fouling and showed poor stability, sensitivity, and linearity.

Sensitive and stable amperometric measurements at ionic liquid-carbon paste microelectrodes.

Ionic liquids (ILs) were utilized in preparing carbon paste electrodes with improved sensitivity, linearity, and stability. In order to overcome the large capacitance encountered with these pastes which affects the measured signal, microelectrodes were used to minimize the background current and improve the signal to background response. A number of ILs were tested including those having the same anions, such as butyl, hexyl, and octyl hexafluorophosphate (PF(6)), and those having the same cation, including hexyl-imide, trifluorophosphate (PF(3)) and PF(6).

Acid stability of carbon paste enzyme electrodes.

This note reports on the unusual protection of several enzymes against harsh pH conditions provided by carbon paste electrodes. Both glucose oxidase and polyphenol oxidase carbon paste amperometric biosensors display a remarkable resistance to acid deactivation compared to conventional biosensors prepared by electropolymeric entrapment of enzymes. For example, the carbon paste enzyme electrodes fully retain their activity upon stressing in strongly acidic conditions (pH approximately 2.

Carbon nanotube screen-printed electrochemical sensors.

The fabrication, and evaluation of carbon-nanotube (CNT)-derived screen-printed (SP) electrochemical sensors based on a CNT ink are reported. The fabricated CNT strips combine the attractive advantages of CNT materials and disposable screen-printed electrodes. Such thick-film CNT sensors have a well-defined appearance, are mechanically stable, and exhibit high electrochemical reactivity.

Capillary electrophoresis microchip with a carbon nanotube-modified electrochemical detector.

Significant improvements in the performance of a capillary electrophoresis (CE) microchip with an electrochemical detector are observed using a carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified working electrode. The CNT-modified electrode allows CE amperometric detection at significantly lower operating potentials and yields substantially enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics. The electrocatalytic detection is coupled to resistance to surface fouling and hence enhanced stability.

Enzyme-dispersed carbon-nanotube electrodes: a needle microsensor for monitoring glucose.

The preparation of an enzyme-dispersed carbon-nanotube (CNT) electrode, based on mixing glucose oxidase (GOx) within CNT, is described. The new binderless biocomposite was packed within a 21-gauge needle and used for amperometric monitoring of glucose. The resulting microsensor offers a low-potential highly selective and sensitive detection of glucose.

Carbon-nanotube-modified glassy carbon electrodes for amplified label-free electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization.

The preparation and attractive performance of carbon-nanotube modified glassy-carbon (CNT/GC) electrodes for improved detection of purines, nucleic acids, and DNA hybridization are described. The surface-confined multiwall carbon-nanotube (MWCNT) facilitates the adsorptive accumulation of the guanine nucleobase and greatly enhances its oxidation signal. The advantages of CNT/GC electrodes are illustrated from comparison to the common unmodified glassy carbon, carbon paste and graphite pencil electrodes.

Carbon nanotube/teflon composite electrochemical sensors and biosensors.

The fabrication and attractive performance of carbon nanotube (CNT)/Teflon composite electrodes, based on the dispersion of CNT within a Teflon binder, are described. The resulting CNT/Teflon material brings new capabilities for electrochemical devices by combining the advantages of CNT and "bulk" composite electrodes. The electrocatalytic properties of CNT are not impaired by their association with the Teflon binder.

Solubilization of carbon nanotubes by Nafion toward the preparation of amperometric biosensors.

The ability to solubilize single-wall and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) in the presence of the perfluorinated polymer Nafion is described. Such use of Nafion as a solubilizing agent for CNT overcomes a major obstacle for creating CNT-based biosensing devices. Their association with Nafion does not impair the electrocatalytic properties of CNT.

Flow injection amperometric detection of OP nerve agents based on an organophosphorus-hydrolase biosensor detector.

A flow-injection system with an organophosphorus-hydrolase (OPH)-biosensor detector has been developed and characterized for the rapid detection of organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents. The enzyme was immobilized onto a thin-film gold detector through a cystamine-glutaraldehyde coupling. Factors influencing the performance were optimized.

Dual enzyme electrochemical coding for detecting DNA hybridization.

Enzyme-based hybridization assays for the simultaneous electrochemical measurements of two DNA targets are described. Two encoding enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and beta-galactosidase, are used to differentiate the signals of two DNA targets in connection to chronopotentiometric measurements of their electroactive phenol and alpha-naphthol products. These products yield well-defined and resolved peaks at +0.

Oxygen-independent poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based carbon-paste glucose biosensors.

Several silicone oils have been assessed and compared as an internal source of oxygen in connection to their use as binders for carbon-paste glucose biosensors. All four poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) oils tested a dramatic increase in the oxygen capacity of carbon-paste enzyme electrodes to allow convenient biosensing under severe oxygen-deficit conditions. The resulting oxygen independence is better than that exerted by perfluorocarbon binders or that displayed by mediator-based bioelectrodes.