Nanodot zirconium trisulfide modified conducting thread: A smart substrate for fabrication of next generation biosensor

In present work, we report an eco-friendly, flexible and highly conducting cotton thread (CT) as a smart substrate for the development of biosensing platform towards ultrasensitive detection of swine flu serum amyloid A (SAA) biomarker. The biosensor was fabricated by optimized coating of CT with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conductive ink followed by incorporation of nanodot zirconium trisulfide (nZrS3) which helped in enhancing the electrochemical properties and improving stability of PEDOT:PSS polymeric film. The fabricated nZrS3/PEDOT:PSS/CT electrode was then used for sequential immobilization of monoclonal antibodies of SAA (anti-SAA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The synthesized nanomaterials and fabricated electrodes were characterized through X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle analyser techniques. The electrochemical response of the fabricated smart thread based biosensor (BSA/anti-SAA/ZrS3/PEDOT:PSS/CT) was recorded against SAA using chronoamperometry technique which revealed superior sensitivity {30.2 μA [log (μg mL-1)]-1 cm-2}, excellent lower detection limit (0.72 ng mL-1) and prolonged shelf life up to 48 days. The response of the biosensor was also validated by analysing the electrochemical response of SAA spiked serum samples and the obtained results showed good correlation with that of standard samples.

Effects of the Structure of TiO2 Nanotube Arrays on Its Catalytic Activity for Microbial Fuel Cell

To enhance the microbial fuel cell (MFC) for wastewater treatment and chemical oxygen demand degradation, TiO2 nanotubes arrays (TNA) are successfully synthesized on Ti foil substrate by the anodization process in HF and NH4F solution, respectively (hereafter, denoted as TNA-HF and TNA-NF). The differences between the two kinds of TNA are revealed based on their morphologies and spectroscopic characterizations. It should be highlighted that 3D TNA-NF with an appropriate dimension can make a positive contribution to the high photocatalytic activity. In comparison with the TNA-HF, the 3D TNA-NF sample exhibits a significant enhancement in current generation as the MFC anode. In particular, the TNA-NF performs nearly 1.23 times higher than the TNA-HF, and near twofold higher than the carbon felt. It is found that the two kinds of TiO2-based anodes have different conductivities and corrosion potentials, which are responsible for the difference in their current generation performances. Based on the experimental results, excellent stability, reliability, and low cost, TNA-NF can be considered a promising and scalable MFC bioanode material.

MoS2 nanosheet–Au nanorod hybrids for highly sensitive amperometric detection of H2O2 in living cells

MoS₂–Au hybrids were utilized to construct a sensitive H₂O₂ electrochemical biosensor for the determination of H₂O₂ released from living cells.

Redox mediated synthesis of hierarchical Bi2O3/MnO2 nanoflowers: a non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor

Redox mediated synthesis of Bi₂O₃/MnO₂ nanoflowers for efficient electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide down to 0.05 μM.

Antibody conjugated metal nanoparticle decorated graphene sheets for a mycotoxin sensor

The proposed rGO–Ni NPs based immunosensor utilized for aflatoxin B₁ detection indicates high sensitivity.

Preparation of vertically oriented TiO2 nanosheets modified carbon paper electrode and its enhancement to the performance of MFCs

A unique vertically oriented TiO2 nanosheets (TiO2-NSs) layer was synthesized in situ on the surface of a carbon paper (CP) electrode via hydrothermal synthesis upon addition of a suitable amount of activated carbon powders in a reactor. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images showed that the nanosheets were about 2 μm in length, 200-600 nm in width and 15 nm in thickness. X-ray diffraction and Raman patterns verified TiO2-NSs crystallized in the anatase phase. The electrochemical activities of CP and TiO2-NSs/CP electrode have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The maximum power output density of a mixed consortia inoculated microbial fuel cell was increased by 63% upon using TiO2-NSs/CP as a bioanode compared with that using bare CP as a bioanode. The performance improvement could be ascribed to unique 3D open porous interface made of vertically oriented TiO2-NSs, which provides good biocompatibility, favorable mass transport process, large surface areas for adhension of bacteria and direct pathways for electron movement to the electrode.

A surface functionalized nanoporous titania integrated microfluidic biochip

We present a novel and efficient nanoporous microfluidic biochip consisting of a functionalized chitosan/anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles (antTiO2-CH) electrode integrated in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel assembly. The electrode surface can be enzyme functionalized depending on the application. We studied in detail cholesterol sensing using the cholesterol esterase (ChEt) and cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) functionalized chitosan supported mesoporous antTiO2-CH microfluidic electrode. The available functional groups present in the nanoporous antTiO2-CH surface in this microfluidic biochip can play an important role for enzyme functionalization, which has been quantified by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic technique. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies are used to quantify the specific surface area and nanopore size distribution of titania nanoparticles with and without chitosan. Point defects in antTiO2 can increase the heterogeneous electron transfer constant between the electrode and enzyme active sites, resulting in improved electrochemical behaviour of the microfluidic biochip. The impedimetric response of the nanoporous microfluidic biochip (ChEt-ChOx/antTiO2-CH) shows a high sensitivity of 6.77 kΩ (mg dl(-1))(-1) in the range of 2-500 mg dl(-1), a low detection limit of 0.2 mg dl(-1), a low Michaelis-Menten constant of 1.3 mg dl(-1) and a high selectivity. This impedimetric microsystem has enormous potential for clinical diagnostics applications.

The nanoporous PdCr alloy as a nonenzymatic electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide and glucose

The nanoporous PdCr alloy fabricated by one-step mild dealloying exhibits superior sensing performance and durability toward H₂O₂ and glucose compared to Pt/C and NP-Pd catalysts.

A Review of Nanostructured TiO2 Application in Li-Ion Batteries

TiO2has large potential ability in Lithium-ion batteries due to its high energy density and safety. The main reasons that limit the performance of TiO2electrode is its low real capacity which caused by poor conductivity and other factors. Varying bulk TiO2materials to nanoscale is believed a promising method as it could increase Li insertion sites, short the ions diffusion distance and enhance the kinetics. In addition, doping heterogeneous elements or compositing other conductivity materials could enable TiO2to improve electron transfer ability. In this paper, we reviewed the electrochemical performance of some nanostructured TiO2and analyzed the merits and weaknesses. Some challenges and perspectives for future research were also discussed.

Electrophoretically deposited reduced graphene oxide platform for food toxin detection

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) due to its excellent electrochemical properties and large surface area, has recently aroused much interest for electrochemical biosensing application. Here, the chemically active RGO has been synthesized and deposited onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate by the electrophoretic deposition technique. This novel platform has been utilized for covalent attachment of the monoclonal antibodies of aflatoxin B1 (anti-AFB1) for food toxin (AFB1) detection. The electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible studies reveal successful synthesis of reduced graphene oxide while the XPS and FTIR studies suggest its carboxylic functionalized nature. The electrochemical sensing results of the anti-AFB1/RGO/ITO based immunoelectrode obtained as a function of aflatoxin concentration show high sensitivity (68 μA ng(-1) mL cm(-2)) and improved detection limit (0.12 ng mL(-1)). The association constant (ka) for antigen-antibody interaction obtained as 5 × 10(-4) ng mL(-1) indicates high affinity of antibodies toward the antigen (AFB1).