Simultaneous Investigation of the Laser Intensity and Magnetic Field Effects on Laser-Induced Plasma Spectroscopy

Journal of Russian Laser Research - In this paper, we use laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to investigate the laser-induced copper plasma with and without an external magnetic field,...     

On the Thermal Degradation of a Novel Epoxy-Based Nanocomposite Cured With Tryptophan as an Environment-Friendly Curing Agent

The thermal degradation kinetics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) cured with tryptophan (Trp) in the presence of silica nanoparticles (SiNP) was investigated by thermogravimetry analysis. The activation energies of the solid-state decomposition process were evaluated using the advanced isoconversional method. The dependence of conversion (degradation) on the temperature and activation energy was determined allowing the calculation of master plots. The experimental master plots agreed with the first-order (F1) kinetic function for both neat epoxy and nanocomposite in the conversion range of 0.45–0.85. Using the kinetic model and the calculated kinetic parameters, the times at half conversion (α = 0.5) were computed for different degradation temperatures. The kinetic analysis showed that the degradation rate of the epoxy nanocomposite was lower than that of the neat epoxy for conversions between 0.45 and 0.85. Therefore, we concluded that adding SiNP to DGEBA/Trp can improve the thermal stability in the conversion range of 0.45–0.85.     

A new super-efficiency model in the presence of negative data

This paper proposes a new super-efficiency model when some factors (inputs/outputs) are negative. The proposed model employs the RDM model (Portela et al, 2004) for ranking decision-making units (DMUs). Our model ranks the DMUs and determines the type of efficiency for each DMU, simultaneously     

Glucose Biosensor Based on Silicon Nitride Nanoparticles

For the first time silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) nanoparticles was used for preparation electrochemical biosensor. GOx immobilized on the Si₃N₄ nanoparticles exhibits facile and direct electrochemistry. The surface coverage and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) of immobilized GOx were 6.3×10^?13 mol cm^?2 and 47.4±0.3 s^?1. The sensitivity, linear concentration range and detection limit of the biosensor for glucose detection were 38.57 µA mM^?1 cm^?2, 25 µM to 8 mM and 6.5 µM, respectively. This biosensor also exhibits good stability, reproducibility and long life time. These indicate Si₃N₄ nanoparticles is good candidate material for construction of third generation biosensor and bioelectronics devices.     

Fabrication of a Highly Sensitive Glucose Biosensor Based on Immobilization of Osmium Complex and Glucose Oxidase onto Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode

In this research a novel osmium complex was used as electrocatalyst for electroreduction of oxygen and H₂O₂ in physiological pH solutions. Electroless deposition at a short period of time (60 s), was used for strong and irreversible adsorption of 1,4,8,12‐tetraazacyclotetradecane osmium(III) chloride (Os(III)LCl₂) ClO₄ onto single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) modified GC electrode. The modified electrode shows a pair of well defined and reversible redox couple, Os(IV)/Os(III) at wide pH range (1–8). The glucose biosensor was fabricated by covering a thin film of glucose oxidase onto CNTs/Os‐complex modified electrode. The biosensor can be used successfully for selective detection of glucose based on the decreasing of cathodic peak current of oxygen. The fabricated biosensor shows high sensitivity, 826.3 nA μM^?1cm^?2, low detection limit, 56 nM, fast response time <3 s and wide calibration range 1.0 μM–1.0 mM. The biosensor has been successfully applied to determination of glucose in human plasma. Because of relative low applied potential, the interference from electroactive existing species was minimized, which improved the selectivity of the biosensor. The apparent Michaelis‐Menten constant of GOx on the nanocomposite, 0.91 mM, exhibits excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity of immobilized enzyme toward glucose oxidation. Excellent electrochemical reversibility, high stability, technically simple and possibility of preparation at short period of time are of great advantages of this glucose biosensor.     

Electrocatalytic reduction of NAD+ at glassy carbon electrode modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes and Ru(III) complexes

A simple procedure was developed to prepare a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotubes and Ruthenium (III) complexes. First, 25 μl of dimethyl sulfoxide–carbon nanotubes solutions (0.4 mg/ml) was cast on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode and dried in air to form a carbon nanotube film at the electrode surface. Then, the glassy carbon/carbon nanotube-modified electrode was immersed into a Ruthenium (III) complex solution (direct deposition) for a short period of time (10–20 s for multiwalled carbon nanotubes and 20–40 s for single-walled carbon nanotubes). The cyclic voltammograms of the modified electrode in aqueous solution shows a pair of well-defined, stable, and nearly reversible redox couple, Ru(III)/Ru(II), with surface-confined characteristics. The attractive mechanical and electrical characteristics of carbon nanostructures and unique properties and reactivity of Ru complexes are combined. The transfer coefficient (α), heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k _s), and surface concentrations (Γ) for the glassy carbon/single-walled carbon nanotubes/Ru(III) complex-, glassy carbon/multiwalled carbon nanotubes/Ru(III) complex-, and glassy carbon/Ru(III) complex-modified electrodes were calculated using the cyclic voltammetry technique. The modified electrodes showed excellent catalytic activity, fast response time, and high sensitivity toward the reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in phosphate buffer solutions at a pH range of 4–8. The catalytic cathodic current depends on the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide concentration. In the presence of alcohol dehydrogenase, the modified electrode exhibited a response to addition of acetaldehyde. Therefore, the main product of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide electroreduction at the Ru(III) complex/carbon nanotube-modified electrode was the enzymatically active NADH. The purposed sensor can be used for acetaldehyde determination.     

Immobilization of [Cu(bpy)2]Br2 complex onto a glassy carbon electrode modified with α-SiMo12O40 and single walled carbon nanotubes: Application to nanomolar detection of hydrogen peroxide and bromate

A simple procedure has been used for preparation of modified glassy carbon electrode with carbon nanotubes and copper complex. Copper complex [Cu(bpy)₂]Br₂ was immobilized onto glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with silicomolybdate, α-SiMo₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)_. Copper complex and silicomolybdate irreversibly and strongly adsorbed onto GC electrode modified with CNTs. Electrostatic interactions between polyoxometalates (POMs) anions and Cu-complex, cations mentioned as an effective method for fabrication of three-dimensional structures. The modified electrode shows three reversible redox couples for polyoxometalate and one redox couple for Cu-complex at wide range of pH values. The electrochemical behavior, stability and electron transfer kinetics of the adsorbed redox couples were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Due to electrostatic interaction, copper complex immobilized onto GC/CNTs/α-SiMo₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ electrode shows more stable voltammetric response compared to GC/CNTs/Cu-complex modified electrode. In comparison to GC/CNTs/Cu-complex the GC/CNTs/α-SiMo₁₂O₄₀⁴⁻ modified electrodes shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward reduction H₂O₂ and BrO₃⁻ at more reduced overpotential. The catalytic rate constants for catalytic reduction hydrogen peroxide and bromate were 4.5(±0.2) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 3.0(±0.10) × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The hydrodynamic amperommetry technique at 0.08 V was used for detection of nanomolar concentration of hydrogen peroxide and bromate. Detection limit, sensitivity and linear concentration range proposed sensor for bromate and hydrogen peroxide detection were 1.1 nM and 6.7 nA nM⁻¹, 10 nM-20 μM, 1 nM, 5.5 nA nM⁻¹ and 10 nM-18 μM, respectively.