Advanced Bifunctional Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Electrocatalyst Derived from Surface‐Mounted Metal–Organic Frameworks

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives are considered as promising catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which are important for many energy provision technologies, such as electrolyzers, fuel cells and some types of advanced batteries. In this work, a “strain modulation” approach has been applied through the use of surface‐mounted NiFe‐MOFs in order to design an advanced bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalyst. The material exhibits an excellent OER activity in alkaline media, reaching an industrially relevant current density of 200 mA cm^?2 at an overpotential of only ≈210 mV. It demonstrates operational long‐term stability even at a high current density of 500 mA cm^?2 and exhibits the so far narrowest “overpotential window” ΔE_ORR‐OER of 0.69 V in 0.1 m KOH with a mass loading being two orders of magnitude lower than that of benchmark electrocatalysts.     

Photolithographic Encoding of Metal Complexes

A platform technology for the creation of spatially resolved surfaces encoded with a monolayer consisting of different metal complexes was developed. The concept entails the light‐triggered activation of a self‐ assembled monolayer (SAM) of UV‐labile anchors, that is, phenacylsulfides, and the subsequent cycloaddition of selected diene‐functionalized metal complexes at defined areas on the surface. The synthesis and characterization of the metal complexes for the UV‐light assisted anchoring on the surface and a detailed study of a short‐chain oligomer model system in solution confirm the high efficiency of the photoreaction. The hybrid materials obtained by this concept can potentially be utilized for the design of highly valuable catalytic or (opto‐)electronic devices.     

A chip-based platform for the in vitro generation of tissues in three-dimensional organization

We describe a multi-purpose platform for the three-dimensional cultivation of tissues. The device is composed of polymer chips featuring a microstructured area of 1-2 cm(2). The chip is constructed either as a grid of micro-containers measuring 120-300 x 300 x 300 microm (h x l x w), or as an array of round recesses (300 microm diameter, 300 microm deep). The micro-containers may be separately equipped with addressable 3D-micro-electrodes, which allow for electrical stimulation of excitable cells and on-site measurements of electrochemically accessible parameters. The system is applicable for the cultivation of high cell densities of up to 8 x 10(6) cells and, because of the rectangular grid layout, allows the automated microscopical analysis of cultivated cells. More than 1000 micro-containers enable the parallel analysis of different parameters under superfusion/perfusion conditions. Using different polymer chips in combination with various types of bioreactors we demonstrated the principal suitability of the chip-based bioreactor for tissue culture applications. Primary and established cell lines have been successfully cultivated and analysed for functional properties. When cells were cultured in non-perfused chips, over time a considerable degree of apoptosis could be observed indicating the need for an active perfusion. The system presented here has also been applied for the differentiation analysis of pluripotent embryonic stem cells and may be suitable for the analysis of the stem cell niche.     

Thermochemical Studies for Determination of the Standard Molar Enthalpies of Formation of Alkyl-Substituted Furans and Some Ethers

The standard molar enthalpies of vaporization _l ^g H _m ^º of 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2-tert-butylfuran, 2,5-di-tert-butylfuran, cyclopentenyl methyl ether, cyclohexenyl methyl ether, and tert-amyl methyl ether were obtained from the temperature variation of the vapor pressure measured in a flow system. The standard (p° = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation _f H _m ^º (1) at the temperature T = 298.15 K were measured using combustion calorimetry for 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2-tert-butylfuran, and 2,5-di-tert-butylfuran. From the derived standard molar enthalpies of formation for gaseous compounds, ring correction terms and non-nearest neighbor interactions useful in the application of the Benson group additivity scheme were calculated.     

A Versatile Method for Quantification of Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A in Dried Figs

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Thin-layer chromatography is a rapid and reliable working method for quantification of mycotoxins which is suitable for checking EC...     

Migration Testing of GPPS and HIPS Polymers: Swelling Effect Caused by Food Simulants Compared to Real Foods

Migration kinetic data from general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) were generated for a set of model substances as well as styrene monomer and oligomers at different temperatures (20 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C) using food simulants stipulated in the European Regulation (EU) 10/2011 and real foods like milk, cream and olive oil (20 °C, 40 °C). The extent of polymer swelling was characterized gravimetrically and visual changes of the test specimens after migration contact were recorded. Isooctane and 95% ethanol caused strong swelling and visual changes of HIPS, overestimating real migration into foods especially at high temperatures; GPPS was affected by isooctane only at 60 °C. With 50% ethanol, after 10 days contact at 60 °C or 40 °C both polymers were slightly swollen. Contrary, most of the real foods analyzed caused no detectable swelling or visual changes of the investigated polymers. This study demonstrates that the recommendations provided by EU regulations are not always in agreement with the physicochemical properties of styrenic polymers. The critical point remains the selection of adequate food simulants/testing conditions, since the high overestimation of aggressive media can lead to non-compliance of polystyrene materials even if the migration into real food would be of no concern.     

Lebensmittelverpackungen: Alltäglich und doch unscheinbar

Almost all foods are nowadays sold in packaging. In order for the aroma and taste of foods to be fully experienced by consumers, packaging systems must be optimally designed for specific types of foods. This is achieved using special laminated films, additives, oxygen barriers and light barriers. “Active and intelligent packaging systems” are also being employed to actively influence key parameters for quality stability and to monitor the life cycle of packaged foods. All these developments are allowing fresh foods with a long shelf‐life and high nutritional and enjoyment value to be sold in the marketplace.