Zirconia-based amperometric sensor using La–Sr-based perovskite-type oxide sensing electrode for detection of NO2

An amperometric zirconia-based sensor attached with perovskite-type oxide sensing electrode was examined for monitoring NO₂ in automobile exhaust. The sensor using La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.98Mn_0.02O₃ showed high response to NO₂. The response was almost linear to NO₂ concentration in the range between 50 and 800 ppm, and a 90% reaction time to 400 ppm NO₂ was less than 20 s. Though the NO₂ response of the sensor was slightly affected by the changes in O₂ concentrations, it showed still high response in the examined range of 5–21 vol%.     

Self-assembly of TiO2/polypyrrole nanocomposite ultrathin films and application for an NH3 gas sensor

TiO₂/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposite ultrathin films for NH₃ gas detection were fabricated by the in situ self-assembly technique. The films were characterized by UV–Vis absorption, FT–IR spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrical properties of TiO₂/PPy ultrathin film NH₃ gas sensors, such as sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, and stability were investigated at room temperature in air as well as in N₂. The results showed that the optimum gas-sensing characteristics of TiO₂/PPy ultrathin film were obtained in the presence of 0.1?wt% colloidal TiO₂ for 20-min deposition. Compared with pure PPy thin-film sensors, the TiO₂/PPy film gas sensor has a shorter response/recovery time. It was also found that both humidity and temperature had an effect on the operation of the TiO₂/PPy film gas sensor at low NH₃ concentrations.     

Sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films and their gas sensing response

A new sol-gel synthesis procedure of stable calcium copper titanate (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂—CCTO) precursor sols for the fabrication of porous films was developed. The composition of the sol was selected in order to avoid the precipitation of undesired phases; ethanol was used as solvent, acetic acid as modifier and poly(ethyleneglycol) as a linker agent. Films deposited by spin-coating onto oxidized silicon substrates were annealed at 700 °C. The main phase present in the samples, as detected by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, was CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that mesoporous structures, with thicknesses between 200 and 400 nm, were developed as a result of the processing conditions. The films were tested regarding their sensibility towards oxygen and nitrogen at atmospheric pressure using working temperatures from 200 to 290 °C. The samples exhibited n-type conductivity, high sensitivity and short response times. These characteristics indicate that CCTO mesoporous structures obtained by sol-gel are suitable for application in gas sensing.     

Detection of liquid petroleum gas using mixed nanosized tungsten oxide-based thick-film semiconductor sensor

The thick-film semiconductor sensor for liquid petroleum gas (LPG) detection was fabricated using a mixed WO₃-based sensor. We present the characterization of both their structural properties by means of XRD measurements and the electrical characteristics by using gas-sensing properties. The sensing characteristics such as sensitivity, working range, cross-sensitivity and response time were studied by using nanosized WO₃-based mixed with different metal oxides (SnO₂, TiO₂ and In₂O₃) and doped with noble metals (Au, Pd and Pt). The WO₃-based mixed with 5 wt.% In₂O₃ and 0.5 wt.% Pd showed the higher sensing characteristic at low concentration of LPG sensor at an operating temperature 225 °C.     

AES investigations on starting powders for high performance ceramics

AES depth profiles on ceramic powders (untreated/hydrolyzed/oxidized/ (Al, Y)₂O₃ coated Si₃N₄, [BaO, SiO₂] coated Al₂O₃) are feasible on thin, homogeneous layers or m sized agglomerations prepared on an Au foil. By means of the depth profiles one can qualitatively characterize the coating around the particles. Factor analysis of the depth profiles on the differently treated Si₃N₄ powders suggests the existence of an Si₂N₂O phase on the oxidized sample.Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

A nanosized Y(2)O(3)-based catalytic chemiluminescent sensor for trimethylamine

The development of a catalytic chemiluminescent trimethylamine (TMA) sensor is demonstrated in the present paper. Intensive chemiluminescence (CL) is detected when TMA is introduced over the surface of nanosized catalysts and subsequently catalytically oxidized by O₂ from the air, and four catalysts are investigated with the strongest CL intensity obtained on nanosized Y₂O₃. This effect is utilized to develop a novel nanosized Y₂O₃-based catalytic CL sensor for TMA which under optimal conditions exhibits a wide linear range of 60-42,000 ppm and a detection limit of 10 ppm. An attractive advantage of this novel CL sensor is its high selectivity to TMA with negligible responses to many other gases such as NH₃ and organic vapors. This CL sensor has a short response time of less than 3 s, and shows good stability when examined by continual introduction of TMA into the sensor for 96 h. The applicability of this sensor to actual fish samples is also demonstrated in the paper.     

Graphene enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdS nanocrystal for H2O2 sensing

Graphene-CdS (G-CdS) nanocomposites were successfully prepared by CdS nanocrystals (CdS NCs) formed in situ on the surface of graphene sheets, using graphene oxide (GO) sheets with rich negatively charged carboxylic acid groups as starting materials. Compared with pure CdS NCs, the presence of the graphene doped in G-CdS nanocomposites could facilitate the electrochemical redox process of CdS NCs; further, the as-prepared G-CdS nanocomposite can react with H₂O₂ to generate strong and stable electrochemiluminescent (ECL) emission, which not only enhances its ECL intensity by about 4.3-fold but also decreases its onset potential for about 320 mV. The as-prepared solid-state ECL H₂O₂ sensor shows acceptable linear response from 5 μM up to 1 mM with a detection limit of 1.7 μM (S/N = 3). The ECL H₂O₂ sensor exhibits excellent reproducibility and long-term stability. Such a property would promote the potential application of the graphene as enhanced materials in fabricating sensors for chemical and biochemical analysis.     

Vibrational frequencies and force constants of N2O4 in complexes with molecules of different solvents determined by Raman spectra andAb initio calculation

The Raman spectra of N₂O₄ solutions in organic solvents have been recorded. The frequencies ofv ₁,v ₂, andv ₃ bands of N₂O₄ increase with increasing solvent electron-donor properties. Especially large changes ofv ₃ N-N stretching band have been observed (254.5 cm^–1 in n-hexane, 276.5 cm^–1 in 1,4-dioxane). The ab initio calculations have shown that the interaction between N₂O₄ and electron-donor molecules causes an increase of N-N and N-O stretching and O-N-O bending force constants of N₂O₄ in agreement with the results of Raman study.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence from CdS nanotubes and its sensing application in aqueous solution

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of CdS nanotubes in aqueous solution and its sensing application were studied by entrapping the CdS nanotubes in carbon paste electrode. Two ECL peaks were observed at −0.9 V (ECL-1) and −1.2 V (ECL-2), respectively, when the potential was cycled between 0 and −1.6 V. The electrochemically reduced nanocrystal species of CdS nanotubes could collide with the oxidized species in an annihilation process to produce the peak of ECL-1. The electron-transfer reaction between the reduced CdS nanocrystal species and oxidant coreactants such as S₂O₈²⁻, H₂O₂, and reduced dissolved oxygen led to the appearance of the ECL-2 peak. Based on the enhancing effect of H₂O₂ on ECL-2 intensity, a novel CdS ECL sensor was developed for H₂O₂ detection. The sensor exhibited a detection limit of 0.1 μM and a linear range from 0.5 μM to 0.01 mM. The relative standard deviations of five replicate determinations of 5 μM H₂O₂ was 2.6%. In addition, the ECL spectrum in aqueous solution also exhibited two peaks at 500 and 640 nm, respectively.     

BiVO4/ZnFe2O4同型异质结光阳极的构筑及其光电催化分解水性能

光生电子-空穴对的复合被认为是限制BiVO₄材料光电催化转换效率的重要原因之一。基于此,通过简单的水热-煅烧方法构筑了 BiVO₄/ZnFe₂O₄同型异质结光阳极,BiVO₄/ZnFe₂O₄复合光阳极在 1.23 V(vs RHE)下的光电流密度为 3.33 mA·cm^-2,较纯BiVO₄提升了2倍 (1.20 mA·cm^-2)。相关的结构及性能测试表明,BiVO₄和ZnFe₂O₄形成了带隙错开的n-n异质结,使得光生载流子得到有效分离,更有效地参与水氧化过程,进而提高了BiVO₄的光电催化水分解性能。     

MgAl2O4尖晶石对锂离子电池正极材料LiMn2O4的循环性能影响研究

MgAl₂O₄ spinel doping into cathode materials LiMn₂O₄ was used to improve the cyclic performance of the cathode. X-ray analysis results showed, when MgAl₂O₄ precursors were mixed with LiMn₂O₄ and sintered at 770 ℃ for 12 hour, MgAl₂O₄-LiMn₂O₄ mulriple spinel with the same physical characteristics as pure LiMn₂O₄ were synthesized. The electro-chemical performance testing showed, comparing with pure LiMn₂O₄, the first charge-discharge capacity of doping materials somewhat reduced, but the cyclic performance improved. The mechanism for doping material was also discussed.     

铜物种对Cu/Fe2O3水煤气变换反应催化剂性能的影响

采用共沉淀法制备了系列铜负载量不同的Cu/Fe₂O₃水煤气变换(WGS)催化剂,并考察了铜负载量对催化剂结构和水煤气变换反应性能的影响. 结果表明,Cu/Fe₂O₃催化剂呈现出良好的水煤气反应性能,当CuO质量分数为20%时,催化剂的WGS性能最优,250 ℃时CO转化率高达97.2%,同时热稳定性也最好. 运用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、N₂物理吸脱附和H₂程序升温还原(H₂-TPR)等手段对Cu/Fe₂O₃催化剂的物相、织构特征及还原性能进行了表征,结果表明,CuFe₂O₄物种的存在极大地改善了催化剂的还原性能和WGS反应活性. 这是由于CuFe₂O₄特殊的尖晶石结构有利于Cu微晶的稳定;同时,CuFe₂O₄在低温下即被还原为单质铜,有利于促进催化剂体系中电子的转移. 此外,通过(NH₄)₂CO₃溶液处理,研究了独立相CuO对Cu/Fe₂O₃催化剂WGS反应性能的影响,结果发现,独立相CuO的存在,有利于H原子在各组分传递,从而促进催化剂的CuFe₂O₄的还原,改善Cu/Fe₂O₃催化剂的WGS反应性能.     

Luminescent dual sensor for time-resolved imaging of pCO2 and pO2 in aquatic systems

An optical dual sensor for the two-dimensional detection of pCO₂ and pO₂ is described. Tris(tetraoctylammonium)-8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate ((TOA)₃HPTS) acting together with the lipophilic buffer tetraoctylammonium hydrogen carbonate ((TOA)HCO₃) as pCO₂-sensing system along with the oxygen indicator tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) ruthenium(II) bis(3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanesulfonate) (Ru(dpp)₃TMS₂) are incorporated into a single layer ethyl cellulose matrix. A second layer of black silicone rubber served as an optical isolation. The two indicators were simultaneously excited with a 460-nm LED, and a fast-gateable CCD camera was used as the detector. The time-gated imaging scheme enables the mapping of pCO₂ and pO₂ within one measurement, where images in three different time windows during and after a series of square-shaped excitation pulses are recorded. A numerical evaluation method for the resolution of the single parameter maps from these three overall images is described. The response of the sensor has been optimized for use in aquatic systems.     

Visible Light Photoelectrochemical Sensor for Dopamine: Determination Using Iron Vanadate Modified Electrode

This study reports a facile approach for constructing low-cost and remarkable electroactivity iron vanadate (Fe-V-O) semiconductor material to be used as a photoelectrochemical sensor for dopamine detection. The structure and morphology of the iron vanadate obtained by the Successive Ionic Adsorption and Reaction process were critically characterized, and the photoelectrochemical characterization showed a high photoelectroactivity of the photoanode in visible light irradiation. Under best conditions, dopamine was detected by chronoamperometry at +0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl, achieving two linear response ranges (between 1.21 and 30.32 μmol L⁻¹, and between 30.32 and 72.77 μmol L⁻¹). The limits of detection and quantification were 0.34 and 1.12 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. Besides, the accuracy of the proposed electrode was assessed by determining dopamine in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, obtaining recovery values ranging from 98.7 to 102.4%. The selectivity was also evaluated by dopamine detection against several interferent species, demonstrating good precision and promising application for the proposed method. Furthermore, DFT-based electronic structure calculations were also conducted to help the interpretation. The dominant dopamine species were determined according to the experimental conditions, and their interaction with the iron vanadate photoanode was proposed. The improved light-induced DOP detection was likewise evaluated regarding the charge transfer process.     

On-line microdialysis system with poly(amidoamine)-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles biosensor for glutamate sensing in vivo

In this work, an amine-terminated poly (amidoamine) dendrimer containing Pt nanoparticles (PAMAM/Pt) nanocomposite was synthesized and a novel amperometric H(2)O(2) biosensor based on PAMAM/Pt and MWCNTs was developed. The resulting film of MWCNTs/PAMAM/Pt was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and amperometric i-t curve. It demonstrates excellent electrocatalytic responses toward the reduction of H(2)O(2) at -200 mV (vs.SCE) without HRP participation. Immobilized with glutamate oxidase (GlutaOx), an effective glutamate biosensor, was fabricated, and the in vivo detection for glutamate was realized combining with the on-line microdialysis system. The glutamate biosensor showed good linear range from 1.0 μM to 50.0 μM with the detection limit of 0.5 μM (S/N=3). The basal level of glutamate in the striatum of rat was detected continuously with this on-line system and was calculated to be 5.80±0.12 μM (n=3). This method was proved to be sensitive and selective and may be feasible in the further application of physiology and pathology.     

Physical properties and electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4 cathode materials prepared by a precipitation method

LiMn₂O₄ powder for lithium-ion batteries was prepared by a precipitation method, and the effects of calcination temperature on the physical properties and electrochemical performance of the samples were investigated by various methods. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the lattice parameter (a) and the unit cell volume (v) decrease with the increasing calcination temperature, and the LiMn₂O₄ sample calcined at 750°C has smaller particle size and higher crystallinity than other samples. The results of the electrochemical experiments showed that the sample calcined at 750°C has larger peak currents, higher initial capacity, and better cycling capability, because of its lower charge-transfer resistance and larger diffusion coefficient of Li⁺ ions than those of other samples.     

Carbon nanotube networks as gas sensors for NO2 detection

Networks of different carbon nanotube (CNT) materials were investigated as resistive gas sensors for NO₂ detection. Sensor films were fabricated by airbrushing dispersions of double-walled and multi-walled CNTs (DWNTs and MWNTs, respectively) on alumina substrates. Sensors were characterized by resistance measurements from 25 to 250 °C in air atmosphere in order to find the optimum detection temperature. Our results indicate that CNT networks were sensitive to NO₂ concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm. All tested sensors provided significantly lower response to interfering gases such as H₂, NH₃, toluene and octane. We demonstrate that the measured sensitivity upon exposure to NO₂ strongly depends on the employed CNT material. The highest sensitivity values were obtained at temperatures ranging between 100 and 200 °C. The best sensor performance, in terms of recovery time, was however achieved at 250 °C. Issues related to the gas detection mechanisms, as well as to CNT network thermal stability in detection experiments performed in air at high operation temperatures are also discussed.     

Chemical modification of nanocrystalline metal oxides: effect of the real structure and surface chemistry on the sensor properties

The relationships between the composition, structure, chemistry of the surface, and sensor properties of nanocomposites SnO₂-M _n O _m (M _n O _m = Fe₂O₃, MoO₃, V₂O₅) obtained by chemical precipitation from solutions were analyzed. The relationships between the elemental and phase composition of the nanocomposites and the effect of the composition on the nanostructure and the acidic and oxidation properties of the nanocomposite surface were considered. The modification of the SnO₂ surface by other oxides makes it possible to control the type and density of the acid sites and the oxidation properties of the surface and to enhance the selectivity of the materials in the detection of various gases. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1086–1105, June, 2008.     

Effect of FeO x on the electrocatalytic properties of NiCo2O4 for O2 evolution from alkaline solutions

Mixtures of NiCo₂O₄ and FeO _x were obtained by thermal decomposition of the nitrates of Ni, Co, and Fe in appropriate proportions. Two series of electrodes were prepared: (1) at constant composition (20 mol% FeO _x ) and various calcination temperatures in the range 200 to 480 °C and (2) at constant calcination temperature (300 °C) and various compositions in the whole composition range 0 to 100 mol% FeO _x . The oxide layers were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Experimental data showed that the layers consist of a mixture of phases in which Fe oxide is present as Fe₂O₃. The electrocatalytic properties were assessed by means of quasi-stationary potentiostatic current-potential curves for the O₂ evolution reaction from alkaline solution. Results have shown that the mechanism of O₂ evolution depends on composition moderately. The electrocatalytic activity appears to depend on composition only slightly. Dedicated to Professor Oleg Petrii on the occasion of his 70th birthday on August 24th, 2007.