Electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen at platinum particles deposited on Nafion- and clay-coated electrodes

Nafion- and clay-coated electrodes are prepared by casting a known amount of Nafion and clay solutions on the glassy carbon electrode (GC) surface. Subsequently platinum (Pt) particles are deposited on the GC electrodes and on the Nafion- and clay-coated GC electrodes. The formation of Pt particles on the modified electrode surface is analysed by scanning electron microscope, while cyclic voltammetry provides information on the anodisation of Pt particles deposited on the GC electrodes at >0.5 V(SCE) leading to the formation of platinum oxide (PtO). The involvement of PtO on the catalysed dioxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide is reported. Macrocyclic cobalt(III) complex is also used as the electrocatalyst. The effect of pH on the reduction of PtO and dioxygen in deaerated and oxygenated solutions is studied to understand the dioxygen reduction processes. Received: 24 January 1997 / Accepted: 14 April 1997     

Antibody-based immobilization of bioluminescent bacterial sensor cells

Whole-cell luminescent bioreporter sensors based on immobilized recombinant Escherichia coli are described and evaluated. The sensors were prepared by glutaraldehyde-anchoring of nonspecific anti-E. coli antibodies on aminosylilated gold or silica glass surfaces with subsequent attachment of the probe bacteria. We demonstrate the generality of the concept by attachment of several E. coli strains that express luciferase in response to different physiological stress conditions including heat shock, DNA damage (SOS), fatty acid availability, peroxide and oxidative stress. The sensors can be used either as single- or multiple-use disposable sensing elements or for continuous operation. We show compatibility with optical fiber technology. Storage stability of the sensors exceeded 5 months with no measurable deterioration of the signal. Repeatability on exposure in successive days was <15%, as was sensor to sensor reproducibility. Sensitivity and detection limits of the immobilized cells were comparable to that of non-immobilized bacteria.     

Studies on thermal, mechanical and morphological behaviour of caprolactam blocked methylenediphenyl diisocyanate toughened bismaleimide modified epoxy matrices

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA, LY 556) was toughened with 5%, 10% and 15% (by wt) of caprolactam blocked methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (CMDI) using 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) as curing agent. The toughened epoxy resin was further modified with chemical modifier N,N′-bismaleimido-4,4′-diphenylmethane (BMI). Caprolactam blocked methylenediphenyl diisocyanate was synthesized by the reaction of caprolactam with methylenediphenyl diisocyanate in presence of carbon tetrachloride under nitrogen atmosphere. Thermal properties of the developed matrices were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), heat distortion temperature (HDT) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength were tested as per ASTM standards. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and thermal stability were decreased with increase in the percentage incorporation of CMDI. The thermomechanical properties of caprolactam blocked methylenediphenyl diisocyanate toughened epoxy resin were increased by increasing the percentage incorporation of bismaleimide. The values of impact strength for epoxy resin were increased with increase in the percentage concentration of CMDI. The homogeneous morphology of CMDI toughened epoxy resin and bismaleimide modified CMDI toughened epoxy resin system were ascertained from scanning electron microscope (SEM).     

Facile one-pot template synthesis of isotypic Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of a Schiff base derived from glyoxylic acid and ethyl carbazate

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Glyoxylic acid and ethyl carbazate condense in situ in the reaction medium and react with metal nitrates of Co, Ni or Cu to yield isostructural metal...     

Solar-driven electrochemically assisted semiconductor-catalyzed iodide ion oxidation. Enhanced efficiency by oxide mixtures

Oxidation of iodide ion from an air-saturated solution under natural sunlight (900±50 W m⁻²) on the surfaces of TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, MoO₃ and CeO₂ enhances by 6 to 12-fold on application of a cathodic bias of −0.2 to −0.3 V (vs NHE) to the semiconductors; light, the semiconductor and dissolved oxygen are essential for iodine generation. The semiconductors under an anodic bias of +0.2 to +0.3 V (vs NHE) fail to oxidize iodide ion from air-saturated solution under sunlight. Under cathodic bias, semiconductor mixtures like TiO₂-ZnO, TiO₂-Fe₂O₃ and ZnO-Fe₂O₃ show enhanced photocatalytic activity, indicating improved charge separation in oxide mixtures. The mechanism of photocatalysis under cathodic bias is discussed.      

Kinetics of Ag/TiO2-photocatalyzed iodide ion oxidation

Abstract  

Ag-doped TiO₂ (anatase) samples (mass fraction w _Ag = 0.01 and w _Ag = 0.02) of 15.9 and 14.5 nm mean particle size and 11.46 and 10.14 m² g⁻¹ BET surface area were prepared by photodeposition. Doping results in surface plasmon resonance of the metallic silver nanoclusters at around 500 nm, but the absorption edge remains unaltered at 365 nm. Ag-doping remarkably enhances the photooxidation of iodide ion under UV light; iodine formation with Ag/TiO₂ with w _Ag = 0.01 is 16 times greater than with bare TiO₂. The reaction conforms to Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics with regard to both I⁻ and O₂. Increase of pH slows down iodine formation and sacrificial electron donors arrest the reaction. Pre-sonication of the catalyst slurry hinders the photocatalysis. Generation of iodine is much greater in acetonitrile than in water. Under the experimental conditions, Ag/TiO₂ with w _Ag = 0.01 is more efficient than Ag/TiO₂ with w _Ag = 0.02, and the enhanced photocatalysis is likely to be because of suppression of electron–hole pair recombination. Kinetic analysis reveals that increasing the Ag mass fraction from 0.01 to 0.02 enhances the surface pseudo-first-order rate constant but inhibits the adsorption of iodide ion and the oxygen molecule on the illuminated oxide surface.     

Morphological transition of ZnO nanostructures influenced by magnesium doping

Wurtzite zinc oxide (ZnO) nanochains have been synthesized through high-pressure pulsed laser deposition. The chain-like ZnO nanostructures were obtained from magnesium (Mg) doped ZnO targets, whereas vertically aligned nanorods were obtained from primitive ZnO targets. The Mg doping has influenced the morphological transition of ZnO nanostructures from nanorods to nanochains. The field emission scanning electron microscope images revealed the growth of beaded ZnO nanochains. The ZnO nanochains of different diameters 40 and 120 nm were obtained. The corresponding micro-Raman spectra showed strong E_2H mode of ZnO, which confirmed the good crystallinity of the nanochains. In addition to near band edge emission at 3.28 eV, ZnO nanochains show broad deep level emission at 2.42 eV than that of ZnO nanorods.