The electrochemical properties of a platinum electrode in functionalized room temperature imidazolium ionic liquids

The role of ether-functionalized ionic liquids in the sol-gel process: effects on the initial alkoxide hydrolysis steps

The ether-functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids (IL) applied in the silica sol-gel process demonstrated a defined coordination potential. These IL display the capacity to control the system organization from the reactions' first moments through a dynamic system-assembling ability, being the sum of ionic and physical interactions, i.e. Coulomb forces, H-bonding and London forces. The initial hydrolysis steps of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of these IL were followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), both in time-resolved experiments, in an attempt to correlate the structuring and the bonding dynamics of these systems.

A novel electrochemical immunosensor based on magnetosomes for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B in milk

In this paper, a novel electrochemical immunosensor to detect staphylococcal enterotoxin B based on bio-magnetosomes, polyaniline nano-gold composite and 1,2-dimethyl-3-butylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid, was developed, and found to exhibit high sensitivity and stability. The specific antibody to staphylococcal enterotoxin B conjugated with the magnetosomes showed rapid immunoreactions and good dispersion, which contributed to the formation of a nanostructurally smooth and dense film on the surface of a gold electrode. Polyaniline nano-gold composite and 1,2-dimethyl-3-butylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid were used to modify the electrode as mediators to improve the electron transfer and offer an excellent biocompatible microenvironment for the antibody to retain its activity to enhance the response of the electrochemical sensor. Under optimal conditions, the developed immunosensor showed a good linear response in the range from 0.05 to 5 ng/mL (R(2)=0.9957) with a detection limit as low as 0.017 ng/mL, compared with the one without magnetosomes (0.05-5 ng/mL, 0.033 ng/mL), this developed immunosensor showed a wider response range and a reduced detection limit. And a good specificity with little adsorption to staphylococcal enterotoxin A, C and Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) was obtained. Moreover, the immunosensor exhibited a good long-time stability at 4 °C reaching up to 60 days, which showed a relatively long working life. Meanwhile the immunosensor could be regenerated four times using NaOH elution. The sensor also displayed a good repeatability with a relative standard deviation of 5.02% for staphylococcal enterotoxin B detection (1 ng/mL, n=9). Furthermore, high recoveries in milk samples from 81% to 118% were achieved and successfully applied to milk sample detection. The obtained results demonstrate that the developed electrochemical immunosensor is a promising tool for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B in food.

Ether- and alcohol-functionalized task-specific ionic liquids: attractive properties and applications

In recent years, the designer nature of ionic liquids (ILs) has driven their exploration and exploitation in countless fields among the physical and chemical sciences. A fair measure of the tremendous attention placed on these fluids has been attributed to their inherent designer nature. And yet, there are relatively few examples of reviews that emphasize this vital aspect in an exhaustive or meaningful way. In this critical review, we systematically survey the physicochemical properties of the collective library of ether- and alcohol-functionalized ILs, highlighting the impact of ionic structure on features such as viscosity, phase behavior/transitions, density, thermostability, electrochemical properties, and polarity (e.g. hydrophilicity, hydrogen bonding capability). In the latter portions of this review, we emphasize the attractive applications of these functionalized ILs across a range of disciplines, including their use as electrolytes or functional fluids for electrochemistry, extractions, biphasic systems, gas separations, carbon capture, carbohydrate dissolution (particularly, the (ligno)celluloses), polymer chemistry, antimicrobial and antielectrostatic agents, organic synthesis, biomolecular stabilization and activation, and nanoscience. Finally, this review discusses anion-functionalized ILs, including sulfur- and oxygen-functionalized analogs, as well as choline-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs), an emerging class of fluids which can be sensibly categorized as semi-molecular cousins to the IL. Finally, the toxicity and biodegradability of ether- and alcohol-functionalized ILs are discussed and cautiously evaluated in light of recent reports. By carefully summarizing literature examples on the properties and applications of oxy-functional designer ILs up till now, it is our intent that this review offers a barometer for gauging future advances in the field as well as a trigger to spur further contemplation of these seemingly inexhaustible and--relative to their potential--virtually untouched fluids. It is abundantly clear that these remarkable fluidic materials are here to stay, just as certain design rules are slowly beginning to emerge. However, in fairness, serendipity also still plays an undeniable role, highlighting the need for both expanded in silico studies and a beacon to attract bright, young researchers to the field (406 references).