2D Materials-based Platforms for Electroanalysis Applications

Utilizing nanotechnology to boost the reliability and determine the vertical load capacity of pile assemblies

Because of their high electrocatalytic activity, sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term stability in electrochemical sensors and biosensors, numerous nanomaterials are being used as suitable electrode materials thanks to developments in nanotechnology. Electrochemical sensors and biosensors are two areas where two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) are finding increasing utility due to their unusual structure and physicochemical features. Nanosensors, by their unprecedented sensitivity and minute scale, can probe deeper into the structural integrity of piles, capturing intricacies that traditional tools overlook. These advanced devices detect anomalies, voids, and minute defects in the pile structure with unparalleled granularity. Their effectiveness lies in detection and their capacity to provide real-time feedback on pile health, heralding a shift from reactive to proactive maintenance methodologies. Harvesting data from these nanosensors, data was incorporated into a probabilistic model, executing the reliability index calculations through Monte Carlo simulations. Preliminary outcomes show a commendable enhancement in the predictability of vertical bearing capacity, with the coefficient of variation dwindling by up to 12%. The introduction of nanosensors facilitates instantaneous monitoring and fortifies the long-term stability of pile foundations. This study accentuates the transformative potential of nanosensors in geotechnical engineering.

Enantioselective voltammetric sensor based on mesoporous graphitized carbon black Carbopack X and fulvene derivative

For medicine and pharmaceuticals, the problem of determining and recognizing the enantiomers of biologically active compounds is an actual issue because the enantiomers of the same substance can have different effects on living organisms. This paper describes the development of an enantioselective voltammetric sensor (EVS) based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with mesoporous graphitized carbon black Carbopack X (CpX) and a fulvene derivative (1S,4R)-2-cyclopenta-2,4-dien-1-ylidene-1-isopropyl-4-methylcyclohexane (CpIPMC) for recognition and determination of tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. Synthesized CpIPMC was characterized by 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), chromatography-mass spectrometry, and polarimetry. The proposed sensor platform was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Using the square-wave voltammetry (SWV), it was established that the developed sensor is an effective chiral platform for the quantitative determination of Trp enantiomers, including in a mixture and in biological fluids like urine and blood plasma, with adequate precision and recovery ranged from 96% to 101%.

Simultaneous determination of nitrophenol isomers based on reduced graphene oxide modified with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin

The present study reports the development of an electrochemical sensor based on sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin modified reduced graphene oxide hybrid (SBCD-rGO) for simultaneous detection of nitrophenol isomers. First, SBCD-rGO hybrid was synthesized and detailed characterized. Afterwards, a sensor was fabricated via the modification of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with SBCD-rGO, and its electrochemical detection performances were also investigated. Then, the constructed electrochemical sensor was applied to detect nitrophenol isomers by voltammetry analysis. The results suggested that the sensitivities were 389.26, 280.88 and 217.19 μA/mM for p-nitrophenol (p-NP), m-nitrophenol (m-NP), and o-nitrophenol (o-NP), respectively, and their corresponding detection limits were all about 0.05 μM. Significantly, the combination of voltammetry analysis with the constructed sensor and data analysis by multiple linear regression realized the simultaneous detection of nitrophenol isomers.

Half-metallic two-dimensional polyaniline with 3d-transition-metal decoration

Possible half-metallic behavior was explored in 3d-transition-metal (Fe, Co, and Ni) decorated two-dimensional polyaniline (C₃N) on the basis of density-functional theory. 3d-transition-metal atoms would prefer to adsorb on top of the carbon hexagonal ring. The calculated electronic structures suggest the Fe and Co decorated polyanilines ([Formula: see text]Fe and [Formula: see text]Co) are magnetic half-metals, while the Ni-decorated polyaniline ([Formula: see text]Ni) is a nonmagnetic semiconductor with an enlarged band gap. In [Formula: see text]Fe, the half-metallic energy window can be as large as 0.7 eV. Interestingly, there are two half-metallic energy windows with opposite spins near Fermi level in [Formula: see text]Co. The energy windows and band gaps can be modulated by the distance between 3d-transition-metal atoms and C₃N. Due to the large half-metallic energy window and the appropriate band gap, 3d-transition-metal decorated C₃N may be used in nanoscale spintronic devices.