Modification of Carbon Paste Electrode Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Electrochemical Determination of Diazinon in Biological and Environmental Samples

The wide use of pesticides can lead to environmental and human adverse effects. Diazinon, as an organophosphorous pesticide, is used in agriculture because of its low cost and high efficiency on insects. Due to the increasing application of pesticides, accurate analytical methods are necessary. The aim of this work was modification of carbon paste electrode composition and applying it as a sensor for determination of diazinon in biological and environmental samples. Multi‐walls carbon nanotubes and a molecularly imprinted polymer were used as modifiers in the sensor composition. A molecularly imprinted polymer and a non‐imprinted polymer were synthesized for applying in the electrode. After optimization of electrode composition, it was used to determine the analyte concentration. Instrumental parameters affecting the square wave voltammetric response were adjusted to obtain the highest current intensity. The modified electrode with MIP showed very high recognition ability compared to the electrode containing NIP. The obtained linear range was 5×10⁻¹⁰ to 1×10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit of the sensor was 1.3×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation for analysis of target molecule by the proposed sensor was 2.87 %. This sensor was used to determine the diazinon in real samples (human urine, tap, and river water samples) without special sample preparation before analysis. The optimization of electrode composition containing mentioned modifiers improved its response considerably.     

Structural and electronic properties of type-I and type-VIII Ba8Ga16Sn30 clathrates under compression

The total energy and electronic structures for type-I (β phase) and type-VIII (α phase) Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ clathrates under hydrostatic pressure have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It was found that the type-VIII phase is more stable than the type-I one at ambient conditions and that β→α phase transition can not occur under hydrostatic pressure. The band structures show that the type-I and type-VIII Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ are indirect semiconductors with band gaps of 0.24 eV and 0.19 eV, respectively. The results suggested that type-I clathrate Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ has a larger value of the thermoelectric (TE) power than that of type-VIII clathrate. We found that pressure tuning changes the k-point of conduction band minimum (CBM) in the Brillouin zone for β-phase, but it is not the case for α-phase. Furthermore, the results show that the pressure can change the interaction between guest atoms and the host lattice, and consequently results in the decrease of the band gap of β-phase and the increase of the band gap of α-phase, indicating that the pressure effect can play an important role in the magnitude of the TE power.     

Dicarboxylated ethynylarenes as buffer-dependent chemosensors for Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II)

Two dicarboxylated ethynylarenes were prepared efficiently from condensation of 1,3-bis(3-aminophenylethynyl)benzene with 2 equiv of either succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride. These compounds behave as fluorescent chemosensors selective for Cd(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) cations under buffered aqueous conditions, with analyte binding observed as bathochromically shifted, intensified fluorescence. It was noteworthy that the fluorescence responses varied significantly with buffer identity. A conformational restriction mechanism involving reversible interactions between the fluorophore, metal cation, and buffer itself is proposed.     

挖掘机器人视觉目标定位

为实现挖掘机器人的自动挖掘,在挖掘机实验模型基础上进行了电路改造,构建了以单片机为核心的控制电路,通过无线蓝牙与上位机进行通讯,实现对挖掘机操作装置的控制。通过视觉传感器采集挖掘机铲斗、目标物的实时图像,经图像处理后,对目标物中心及铲斗标记中心进行提取、定位,计算出二者之间的实时距离,进而控制挖掘机铲斗对目标物进行挖掘。     

Fluorescent sensor based on dimesitylborylthiophene derivative for probing fluoride and cyanide

A new D-π-A dimesitylboron derivative with terminal phenothiazine bridged by fluorenevinyl (PFTB) has been synthesized. It was found that PFTB could selectively recognize fluoride and cyanide anions by naked eyes. Upon addition of F⁻ and CN⁻, the color of the solution of PFTB in DCM turned to yellowish-green from yellow and strong green emitting was observed under UV light, while the emission of PFTB in DCM was weak. Moreover, the presence of 10 equiv of tetrabutylammonium salts of other anions, such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, AcO⁻, HSO₄⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, could not lead to obvious changes of the UV–vis absorption and the fluorescent emission spectra of PFTB. The detection limits of PFTB towards F⁻ and CN⁻ were 7.52×10⁻⁸ mol/L and 6.12×10⁻⁸ mol/L in DCM, respectively. Therefore, the D-π-A type triarylborane derivatives can be used as ‘turn on’ fluorescent sensors for detecting F⁻ and CN⁻.     

Pressure-responsive AuNPs/Polyacrylamide Nanocomposite Hydrogel with Highly Stable and Tunable Electrochemiluminescence Performances

Synergistically taking the advantage of distinctive porous matrix, luminophore and functional nanoparticles, we prepared functional nanocomposite hydrogel combining the hydrophilic three-dimensional network of hydrogels as matrix for the adsorption of luminophore, Ru(bpy)₃²⁺, and in situ grown gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the conductive. Interestingly, the designed nanocomposite hydrogel shows external pressure resposnsive properties, which precisely tune the distance between the AuNPs becomes shorter, resulting in a remarkable amplification of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signals. Additionally, differing from the poor stability of conventional ECL, uniform dispersion of the Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ over nanocomposite hydrogel significantly enhanced the long term stability of ECL.     

Nonenzymatic Electrochemical Sensor for Wearable Interstitial Fluid Glucose Monitoring

We report on a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for wearable glucose monitoring in interstitial fluid. The sensor exhibited acceptable selectivity and reliability for continuous glucose detection for up to 30 days. The sensor tip is coated with polyurethane, and the biocompatibility of the tip is investigated by tissue staining. A fully integrated wearable glucose monitoring system is developed with a wireless connection with a smartphone. The test results are in agreement with reference methods. So, we believe the sensor is promising for the development of a continuous glucose monitoring system and diabetes management.     

DFT study on the chemical sensitivity of C3N nanotubes toward acetone

Potential application of single-walled C₃N nanotubes was investigated as chemical sensors for acetone molecules based on the density functional theory calculations. It was found that the pristine nanotube weakly adsorbs an acetone molecule with the adsorption energy of − 9.7 kcal/mol, and its electronic properties are not sensitive to this molecule. By replacing a C atom with a Si atom, the nanotube becomes a p-type semiconductor. The adsorption energy of the acetone molecule on the Si-doped nanotube becomes much more negative (E_ad=−67.4 kcal/mol). The adsorption process leads to a sizable increase in the resistance of the Si-doped tube, thereby, it can show the presence of acetone molecule, creating an electronic signal. Also, the sensitivity of these devices can be controlled by the doping level of Si atoms. By increasing the number of dopant atoms from 1 to 4, the sensitivity is gradually increased.     

Fluidization characteristics of sawdust in a cold flow fluidized bed

India has abundance of biomass such as rice husk, bagasse, wheat straw, sawdust etc. which is used as a main or auxiliary fuel in the fluidized bed combustor, gasifier and pyrolizer. Design of such fluidized bed equipments require the knowledge of minimum fluidization velocity (U_mf), complete fluidization velocity (U_cf) and transport disengagement height (TDH). The present work reports the fluidization characteristic, U_mf, U_cf and TDH of the individual size groups of sawdust and mixture thereof. The results indicate that the U_mf and U_cf have a tendency to increase with increase in particle diameter, however the TDH shows the reverse trend. The sawdust particle size of 925 and 1200 ​μm showed significant difference between their U_mf and U_cf, an essential parameter for controlled fluidization. Based on the experimental work new correlations for the prediction of U_mf, U_cf and TDH for sawdust sample are proposed. The proposed correlations of U_mf, U_cf and TDH are in good agreement with experimental values and the deviations found within the range of nearly ±10% for all the samples.