Amperometric Glucose Biosensor on Layer by Layer Assembled Carbon Nanotube and Polypyrrole Multilayer Film

An amperometric glucose biosensor on layer by layer assembled carbon nanotube and polypyrrole multilayer film has been reported in the present investigation. Homogeneous and stable single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polypyrrole (PPy) multilayer films were alternately assembled on platinum coated Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane. Since conducting polypyrrole has excellent anti‐interference ability, protection ability in favor of increasing the amount of the SWNTs on platinum coated PVDF membrane and superior transducing ability, a layer by layer approach of polypyrrole and carbon nanotubes has provided an excellent matrix for the immobilization of enzyme. The layer‐by‐layer assembled SWNTs and PPy‐modified platinum coated PVDF membrane is shown to be an excellent amperometric sensor over a wide range of concentrations of glucose. The glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized on layer by layer assembled film by a physical adsorption method by cross linking through Glutaraldehyde. The glucose biosensor exhibited a linear response range from 1 mM to 50 mM of glucose concentration with excellent sensitivity of 7.06 μA/mM.     

The origin of open circuit voltage of porphyrin-sensitised TiO(2) solar cells

Electron lifetime and diffusion coefficient measurements in highly efficient porphyrin-sensitised TiO(2) solar cells showed reduced electron lifetime, and consequently, lower photo-induced electron density under illumination compared to commonly used ruthenium dye (N719)-sensitised solar cells, which is proposed to be the origin of the generally lower open circuit voltage.     

Electrochemical co-deposition of Ti n+ phases with gold in ionic liquids

The electro-deposition of titanium from two different classes of ionic liquids has been studied. Gold ions in solution have been used as an additive in order to provide a stable nucleation site for titanium to deposit on via a co-deposition process. Despite evidence from previous literature, it was found that it was not possible to reduce titanium from the +4 state to titanium (0) due to problems of redox cycling and solubility of reduced titanium species in the various ILs trialled. It was however found that gold was a very effective nucleating agent for these reduced titanium species and that successful mixed Ti(n+)/gold electro-deposits were obtained. The content of titanium in these species could be varied according to the conditions and IL used.     

Determining membrane capacitance by dynamic control of droplet interface bilayer area

By making dynamic changes to the area of a droplet interface bilayer (DIB), we are able to measure the specific capacitance of lipid bilayers with improved accuracy and precision over existing methods. The dependence of membrane specific capacitance on the chain-length of the alkane oil present in the bilayer is similar to that observed in black lipid membranes. In contrast to conventional artificial bilayers, DIBs are not confined by an aperture, which enables us to determine that the dependence of whole bilayer capacitance on applied potential is predominantly a result of a spontaneous increase in bilayer area. This area change arises from the creation of new bilayer at the three phase interface and is driven by changes in surface tension with applied potential that can be described by the Young-Lippmann equation. By accounting for this area change, we are able to determine the proportion of the capacitance dependence that arises from a change in specific capacitance with applied potential. This method provides a new tool with which to investigate the vertical compression of the bilayer and understand the changes in bilayer thickness with applied potential. We find that, for 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine membranes in hexadecane, specific bilayer capacitance varies by 0.6-1.5% over an applied potential of ±100 mV.     

Two-dimensional like conjugated copolymers for high efficiency bulk-heterojunction solar cell application:Band gap and energy level engineering

Three two-dimensional like conjugated copolymers PFSDCN,PFSDTA and PFSDCNIO,which consist of alternating fluorene and triphenylamine main chain,and different pendant acceptor groups (malononitrile,1,3-diethtyl-2-thiobarbituric acid and 2-(1,2-dihydro-1-oxoinden-3-ylidene)malononitrile) with thiophene as π-bridge,have been designed,synthesized and characterized.The structure-property relationships of the two-dimensional like conjugated copolymers were systematically investigated.The absorption spectra,band g...     

Electro‐oxidation and reduction of H2 on platinum studied by scanning electrochemical microscopy for the purpose of local detection of H2 evolution

Electrochemical detection of H₂ using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has shown to hold great promise as a sensitive characterization method with high spatial resolution for active surfaces generating H₂. Herein, the factors contributing to the current that is measured by SECM in generation/collection mode for H₂ detection are studied. In particular, the concentration gradient of H₂ at the substrate, the H₂/H⁺ recycling between the SECM tip and substrate and hemispherical profile of H₂ diffusion has been discussed. It was postulated that H₂/H⁺ recycling plays a dominant role in the oxidative current measured in generation/collection mode of SECM when the microelectrode is positioned in close vicinity of substrate. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetically Aligned Supramolecular Hydrogels

The magnetic‐field‐induced alignment of the fibrillar structures present in an aqueous solution of a dipeptide gelator, and the subsequent retention of this alignment upon transformation to a hydrogel upon the addition of CaCl₂ or upon a reduction in solution pH is reported. Utilising the switchable nature of the magnetic field coupled with the slow diffusion of CaCl₂, it is possible to precisely control the extent of anisotropy across a hydrogel, something that is generally very difficult to do using alternative methods. The approach is readily extended to other compounds that form viscous solutions at high pH. It is expected that this work will greatly expand the utility of such low‐molecular‐weight gelators (LMWG) in areas where alignment is key.     

S‐Alkylation of Soft Scorpionates

The alkylation reactions of soft scorpionates are reported. The hydrotris(S‐alkyl‐methimazolyl)borate dications (alkyl=methyl, allyl, benzyl), which were prepared by the reaction of Tm^Me anion and primary alkyl halides, have been isolated and structurally characterised. The reaction is, however, not universally successful. DFT analysis of these alkylation reactions (C?S versus B? H alkylation) indicates that the observed outcome is driven by kinetic factors. Extending the study to incorporate alternative imine thiones (mercaptobenzothiazole, bz; thiazoline, tz) led to the structural characterisation of di[aquo‐μ‐aquohydrotris(mercaptobenzothiazolyl)boratosodium], which contains sodium atoms in the κ³‐S,S,S coordination mode. Alkylation of Na[Tbz] and Na[tzTtz] leads to decomposition resulting in the formation of the simple S‐alkylated heterocycles. The analysis of the species involved in these reactions shows an inherent weakness in the B? N bond in soft scorpionates, which has implications for their use in more advanced chemistry.