同质冷籽晶技术生长SmBCO/Ag超导单畴块材的研究

在前期的研究中,利用NdBCO123冷籽晶技术成功制备出具有理想织构的SmBCO/Ag单畴块材.但由于高质量的Nd籽晶的供应难以得到保证,从而限制了SmBCO单畴块材的批量化制备.Ag可以降低SmBCO坯体的熔点,这为用SmBCO冷籽晶技术引导SmBCO/Ag坯体生长单畴块材提供了可能性.然而,实验中我们发现,坯体里面的Ag容易向籽晶内部扩散,导致籽晶熔融,对单畴块材的生长产生不利影响.为克服这困难,我们通过在坯体和籽晶之间加入一个SmBCO211缓冲层,有效地阻止坯体里面的Ag向籽晶扩散,成功实现了同质冷籽晶技术生长SmBCO超导单畴块材.     

降温速率对Ag-SmBCO单畴生长中自发成核的影响

在前期的研究中曾通过Ag掺杂降低Sm123/Sm211体系熔点,利用Nd123冷籽晶技术成功制备出具有理想织构的SmBCO/Ag单畴块材.但在实验结果中发现相比于未掺杂坯体,掺入Ag后的SmBCO坯体生长速率下降,在所考察的慢冷温区里,生长速率呈不断减小趋势,最终因自发成核而无法继续生长,使得SmBCO单畴区域局限于15×15mm2范围内.为了抑制单畴生长中的自发成核现象,本文研究了降温速率对SmBCO/Ag单畴自发成核的影响.在两组不同条件下的降温速率实验中发现,不同的降温速率对体系自发成核的抑制效果是不同的.利用降低降温速率,成功地将掺Ag SmBCO单畴面积从15×15mm2增大至26×26mm2.     

Developing On-Site Trace Level Speciation of Lead,Cadmium and Zinc by Stripping Chronopotentiometry (SCP): Fast Screening and Quantification of Total Metal Concentrations

Electrochemical stripping techniques are interesting candidates for carrying out onsite speciation of environmentally relevant trace metals due to the existing low-cost portable instrumentation available and the low detection limits that can be achieved. In this work, we describe the initial analytical technique method development by quantifying the total metal concentrations using Stripping Chronopotentiometry (SCP). Carbon paste screen-printed electrodes were modified with thin films of mercury and used to quantify sub-nanomolar concentrations of lead and cadmium and sub-micromolar concentrations of zinc in river water. Low detection limits of 0.06 nM for Pb(II) and 0.04 nM for Cd(II) were obtained by the standard addition method using a SCP deposition time of 180 s. The SCP results obtained for Pb(II) and Cd(II) agreed with those of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The coupling of SCP with screen-printed electrodes opens up excellent potential for the development of onsite speciation of trace metals. Due to the low analysis throughput obtained for the standard addition method, we also propose a new, more rapid screening Cd(II) internal standard methodology to significantly increase the number of samples that can be analyzed per day.     

Facile synthesis of silver doped-copper oxide nano materials utilizing areca catechu (AC) leaf extract and their antidiabetic and anticancer studies

The present research highlights physical significance of green combination of metal oxide nanomaterials utilizing medicinal plant which has widely analyzed in different medical applications i.e., medicinal science, therapeutics. In this paper, we discussed environmentally benign approach for synthesizing silver doped copper oxide nanoparticles (Ag–CuO NPs) utilizing (ACLE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to confirm the size, crystalline structure and surface morphology of the obtained nanomaterials. The monoclinic crystalline structure of the Ag–CuO NPs as produced was revealed by XRD patterns. Morphological analysis disclosed the nano-based spherical configuration of Ag–CuO NPs, as well as their morphology and elemental composition. The anti-diabetic effect of Ag–CuO NPs was further investigated utilizing a yeast cell model and amylase inhibition. Here, a decrease in intracellular glucose and a delay in carbohydrate digestion indicate promising antidiabetic action. Furthermore, the prepared nanomaterial showed anticancer potential against the MCF-7 cancer cell line, with an IC ₅₀ value of 11.21 g/ml.     

Fullerene Black Modified Screen Printed Electrodes for the Quantification of Acetaminophen and Guanine

Fullerene Black (FB) and Extracted Fullerene Black (EFB) were used in modified screen‐printed electrodes producing electrochemical transducers (FB‐SPEs and EFB‐SPEs). A complete electrochemical study was performed and the best results are obtained working with FB‐SPEs, especially in terms of: 1. improved electron‐transfer kinetic mechanisms and 2. sensitivity and selectivity toward Acetaminophen (Ac) and Guanine (G). These latter represent two important electro‐active targets to quantify in medicine field application, because: Ac is a preferred alternative (as analgesic‐antipyretic agent) to aspirin, particularly for patients who cannot tolerate aspirin; the oxidation signal of G is useful for the fabrication of emerging analytical tools, such as DNA chipsand user‐friendly diagnostic devices. Ac and G are quantify by using FB‐SPEs electrochemical devices, with an extended linearity (1–300 μM for Ac; 0.1–300 μM for G), an excellent sensitivity (2.82 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻² in the case of Ac; and 0.183 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻² in the case of G), a low detection limit (0.01 μM for Ac; 0.005 μM for G), a very good reproducibility (both: intra‐; inter‐electrodes reproducibility RSD % ranging from 0.3–0.5 for Ac; and 0.50–0.85 for G) and a very fast response time (6 s for Ac; 5 s in the case of G). In addition, high selectivity is obtained at FB‐SPEs, meaning that the FB‐SPEs electrochemical transducers are suitable to simultaneously quantify Ac and G in real samples, having several different (highly concentrated) interference.     

Ni(II) selective sensors based on Schiff bases membranes in poly(vinyl chloride)

The two nickel chelates of Schiff bases, 3-hydroxy-N-{2-[(3-hydroxy-N-phenylbutyrimidoyl)-amino]-phenyl}-N′-phenylbutyramidine (M₁) and bis-4-(ethyliminomethyl)naphthalene-1-ol (M₂), have been synthesized and explored as ionophores for preparing PVC-based membrane sensors selective to nickel ion. The influences of membrane compositions on the potentiometric response of the electrodes have been found to substantially improve the performance characteristics. The best performance was obtained with the electrode having a membrane composition (w/w; mg) of (M₁): PVC:NaTPB:CN in the ratio 5:150:5:150. The sensor shows a linear potential response for Ni²⁺ over a wide concentration range 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻² M with Nernstian compliance (30.0 ± 0.2 mV/decade of activity) within pH range 2.5-9.5 and a fast response time of 10 s. The sensor has been found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media up to 20% (v/v) content of methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile and could be used for a period of 4 months. The analytical usefulness of the proposed electrode has been evaluated by its application in the determination of nickel in real samples. The practical utility of the membrane electrode has also been observed in the presence of surfactants.     

Structure and morphology controllable synthesis of Ag/carbon hybrid with ionic liquid as soft-template and their catalytic properties

Ag/carbon hybrids were fabricated by the redox of glucose and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in the presence of imidazolium ionic liquid ([C₁₄mim]BF₄) under hydrothermal condition. Monodisperse carbon hollow sub-microspheres encapsulating Ag nanoparticles and Ag/carbon cables were selectively prepared by varying the concentration of ionic liquid. Other reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time and the mole ratio of silver nitrate to glucose, play important roles in controlling the structures of the products. The products were characterized by XRD, TEM (HRTEM), SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), FTIR spectroscopy and a Raman spectrometer. The possible formation mechanism was proposed. The catalytic property of the hybrid in the oxidation of 1-butanol by H₂O₂ was also investigated.     

Effect of non-covalent interactions in 2,5-di-Me-pyrazine-di-N-oxide - methanol – Carbon nanotube electrocatalytic system

Catalytic oxidation of methanol (MeOH) in the absence of noble metals and noble metal oxides as catalysts, and the use of metal-free materials are inexpensive and attractive process for practical use in electrocatalysis, sensors, and in direct methanol fuel cells. In previous works, it was found that the use of single-walled (SWCNT) or multi-walled (MWCNT) carbon nanotube paper electrodes instead of GC increases the catalytic efficiency of organic compounds oxidation in the presence of aromatic di-N-oxides by several times. In this work, the effect of non-covalent interactions on the catalytic efficiency of MeOH oxidation in the presence of 2,5-di-Me-pyrazine-di-N-oxide (Pyr₁) in 0.1 M Bu₄NClO₄ solution in acetonitrile at SWCNT and MWСNT paper electrodes was studied by the methods of quantum chemical modeling, Raman spectroscopy, and using electrochemical data. New factors determined the features of mechanism of MeOH oxidation on CNT electrodes and lead to an increase in the catalytic efficiency of the electrode process in comparison with the GC electrode were established.     

Sensitive Electrochemical Quantification of Proanthocyanidins in Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) by Utilizing Disposable Screen-printed Carbon Electrodes

This work presents quantification of proanthocyanidins (PAs) isolated from grapevine using disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE). Procyanidin B2 (B2) used as a model to investigate the electrochemical characteristics of complicated PAs structures in Britton Robinson buffer solution using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry. B2 exhibits a well-defined reversible redox wave at +0.49 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Significantly, the B2 was determined over a linear concentration range of 3.45–34.6 μM with a detection limit of 2.07 μM. The SPCE was used to analyze PAs in grapevine samples, and the results were consistent with those obtained using Folin-Ciocalteu standard method.     

Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Thiabendazole in Fruits Using Ag−MoS2 Electrode

Herein, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) modified MoS₂ (Ag−MoS₂) was applied to the surface of glassy carbon (GC) to produce a robust electrochemical sensor for the detection of thiabendazole, a common antifungal in the post-harvesting of fruits. Cyclic voltammetry studies confirmed thiabendazole exhibited an irreversible, diffusion-controlled process on Ag−MoS₂ with a two-fold increase in peak current than the pristine MoS_2. A square wave voltammetry was used for the detection of TBZ. The developed sensor exhibited a linear range between 1–10 μM with LOD down to 0.1 μM (S/N>3). Analysis of TBZ in mango and banana matrices gave a recovery of 91.6–100.4 % indicating the suitability of the sensor for food safety monitoring.