Layer by Layer Electrode Surface Functionalisation Using Carbon Nanotubes,Electrochemical Grafting of Azide‐Alkyne Functions and Click Chemistry

Ferrocene was covalently bonded to a layer of adsorbed single‐walled carbon nanotubes on a glassy carbon electrode surface using electrochemical grafting and click chemistry. Grafting of the 4‐azidobenzenediazonium salt onto the surface was accomplished by electrochemical reduction. The surface‐bound azide groups, with the use of a copper(I) catalyst, were reacted with ethynylferrocene to form covalent 1,2,3‐triazole bonds by click chemistry. This layer by layer construction of the electrode surface results in stable electrodes by combining good electrical conductivity and increased surface area of the nanotubes with the versatility of the Sharpless click reaction.     

Preparation and characterization of MgB2 superconductor

The MgB₂ superconductor, synthesized using solid-state and liquid-phase sintering methods, have been characterized for various properties. The upper critical field, irreversibility line and critical current density have been determined using magnetization data. The current-voltage characteristics recorded under an applied magnetic field revealed the existence of vortex glass transition. The surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that MgB₂ is sensitive to atmospheric degradation.     

Corrosion Behavior of Biocompatible Stainless Steels in Physiological Medium for Non‐invasive Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathies Applications

A non‐invasive device based on measurements of electrochemical skin conductance can detect small fiber neuropathy, a sweat gland dysfunction implicated in several diseases. The measurement is related to sweat composition and notably to chloride concentration. To optimize the electrode material, in vitro experiments are performed in mimetic sweat solutions. This work reports on the resistance to pitting corrosion of biocompatible stainless steels (AISI 304L, AISI 430, AISI 430T, D2205) in sweat mimicking electrolyte at pH 7 with variable chloride concentration, to determine the most sensitive material to sweat composition. AISI 430 is promising due to its high sensitivity to chloride concentration variations.