Comparative studies on zirconia and graphene composites obtained by one-step and stepwise electrodeposition for deoxyribonucleic acid sensing.

In this paper, the comparison of two kinds of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGNO) and zirconia composites, obtained by one-step (ZrO2-ERGNO) and stepwise (ZrO2/ERGNO) electrodeposition for DNA sensing, is systematically studied. The resulting composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. The results indicated that the ZrO2-ERGNO presented fine globular nanostructure. However, ZrO2/ERGNO presented agglomerate massive microstructure due to the absence of the oxygen-containing groups of graphene oxide, confirming the oxygen-containing groups provided a better affinity for the deposition of ZrO2. Due to the strong binding of the phosphate groups of DNA with the zirconia film, DNA probes were attached on the ZrO2-based composites. ZrO2-ERGNO/Au owning fine nanostructure presented larger surface area than microstructured ZrO2/ERGNO/Au. Moreover, compared with microstructured ZrO2/ERGNO, the nanostructured ZrO2-ERGNO provided more accessible space for immobilized DNA probe hybridization with target sequence, which consequently resulted in higher hybridization efficiency. Therefore, the ZrO2-ERGNO was chosen for fabricating DNA sensor with a limit of detection 1.21×10(-14) mol L(-1).

Simple, rapid and green one-step strategy to synthesis of graphene/carbon nanotubes/chitosan hybrid as solid-phase extraction for square-wave voltammetric detection of methyl parathion.

Simple, rapid, green and one-step electrodeposition strategy was first proposed to synthesis of graphene/carbon nanotubes/chitosan (GR/CNTs/CS) hybrid. The one-step electrodeposition approach for the construction of GR-based hybrid is green environmentally, which would not involve the chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and therefore result in no further contamination. The whole procedure is simple and needs only several minutes. Combining the advantages of GR (large surface area, high conductivity and good adsorption ability), CNTs (high surface area, high enrichment capability and good adsorption ability) and CS (good adsorption and excellent film-forming ability), the obtained GR/CNTs/CS composite could be highly efficient to capture organophosphate pesticides (OPs) and used as solid phase extraction (SPE). The GR/CNTs/CS sensor is used for enzymeless detection of OPs, using methyl parathion (MP) as a model analyte. Significant redox response of MP on GR/CNTs/CS sensor is proved. The linear range is wide from 2.0ngmL(-1) to 500ngmL(-1), with a detection limit of 0.5ngmL(-1). Detection limit of the proposed sensor is much lower than those enzyme-based sensors and many other enzymeless sensors. Moreover, the proposed sensor exhibits high reproducibility, long-time storage stability and satisfactory anti-interference ability. This work provides a green and one-step route for the preparation of GR-based hybrid, and also offers a new promising protocol for OPs analysis.

Poisoning of bubble propelled catalytic micromotors: the chemical environment matters.

Self-propelled catalytic microjets have attracted considerable attention in recent years and these devices have exhibited the ability to move in complex media. The mechanism of propulsion is via the Pt catalysed decomposition of H2O2 and it is understood that the Pt surface is highly susceptible to poisoning by sulphur-containing molecules. Here, we show that important extracellular thiols as well as basic organic molecules can significantly hamper the motion of catalytic microjet engines. This is due to two different mechanisms: (i) molecules such as dimethyl sulfoxide can quench the hydroxyl radicals produced at Pt surfaces and reduce the amount of oxygen gas generated and (ii) molecules containing -SH, -SSR, and -SCH3 moieties can poison the catalytically active platinum surface, inhibiting the motion of the jet engines. It is essential that the presence of such molecules in the environment be taken into consideration for future design and operation of catalytic microjet engines. We show this effect on catalytic micromotors prepared by both rolled-up and electrodeposition approaches, demonstrating that such poisoning is universal for Pt catalyzed micromotors. We believe that our findings will contribute significantly to this field to develop alternative systems or catalysts for self-propulsion when practical applications in the real environment are considered.

Image analysis for maintenance of coating quality in nickel electroplating baths--real time control.

The aim of this paper is to show how it is possible to extract analytical information from images acquired with a flatbed scanner and make use of this information for real time control of a nickel plating process. Digital images of plated steel sheets in a nickel bath are used to follow the process under degradation of specific additives. Dedicated software has been developed for making the obtained results accessible to process operators. This includes obtaining the RGB image, to select the red channel data exclusively, to calculate the histogram of the red channel data and to calculate the mean colour value (MCV) and the standard deviation of the red channel data. MCV is then used by the software to determine the concentration of the additives Supreme Plus Brightner (SPB) and SA-1 (for confidentiality reasons, the chemical contents cannot be further detailed) present in the bath (these two additives degrade and their concentration changes during the process). Finally, the software informs the operator when the bath is generating unsuitable quality plating and suggests the amount of SPB and SA-1 to be added in order to recover the original plating quality.

Preparation and activity measurement of electrodeposited alpha-emitting sources.

Alpha-emitting 238Pu and 241Am sources on stainless steel substrates have been prepared using a new electrodeposition method based on an ammonium oxalate-ammonium sulfate electrolyte containing diethyl triamino pentaacetic acid. The deposition yield is determined by measuring the activity of the sources using a high-efficiency 2pi alpha proportional counter and a backscattering chamber designed and fabricated for this purpose. Optimal electrodeposition parameters have been determined for 241Am, enabling manufacture of standard alpha-emitting sources with minimal radioactive waste.