Electrochemical Behavior of Potassium Ferricyanide in Aqueous and (w/o) Microemulsion Systems in the Presence of Dispersed Nickel Nanoparticles

Electrochemical Detection of Dopamine Release from Living Neurons Using Graphene Oxide-Incorporated Polypyrrole/Gold Nanocluster Hybrid Nanopattern Arrays

Stem-cell-based therapeutics have shown immense potential in treating various diseases that are currently incurable. In particular, partial recovery of Parkinson's disease, which occurs due to massive loss or abnormal functionality of dopaminergic (DAnergic) neurons, through the engraftment of stem-cell-derived neurons ex vivo is reported. However, precise assessment of the functionality and maturity of DAnergic neurons is still challenging for their enhanced clinical efficacy. Here, a novel conductive cell cultivation platform, a graphene oxide (GO)-incorporated metallic polymer nanopillar array (GOMPON), that can electrochemically detect dopamine (DA) exocytosis from living DAnergic neurons, is reported. In the cell-free configuration, the linear range is 0.5-100 µm, with a limit of detection of 33.4 nm. Owing to its excellent biocompatibility, a model DAnergic neuron (SH-SY5Y cell) can be cultivated and differentiated on the platform while their DA release can be quantitatively measured in a real-time and nondestructive manner. Finally, it is showed that the functionality of the DAnergic neurons derived from stem cells can be precisely assessed via electrochemical detection of their DA exocytosis. The developed GOMPON is highly promising for a wide range of applications, including real-time monitoring of stem cell differentiation into neuronal lineages, evaluating differentiation protocols, and finding practical stem cell therapies.

Tb- and Eu-doped yttrium oxyselenides as novel absorber layers for superstrate thin-film photovoltaics: improved spectral optical absorption and green-red phosphor activation

To generate and deliver alternative sustainable energy in the face of the current energy crisis, new materials that can capture solar energy and transform it into other useful energies are required. Rare-earth (RE) oxychalcogenides are now being used more frequently as up/down-conversion materials in established photovoltaic (PV) devices to boost their PV performance. Here, through an efficient microwave assisted synthesis procedure, novel nanoplate/sheet shaped nanomaterials of yttrium oxyselenide (YOSe) and its analogues doped with Tb and Eu (YOSe:Tb and YOSe:Eu) were successfully synthesized. Analyses of the structure, stability, morphology, light absorption, and electrochemistry were performed. This work showed that the parent YOSe exhibited green (543 nm) and red (615 nm) emission luminescence when doped with Tb and Eu with a luminescence quantum yield (LQY) of 0.56 and 0.53 for YOSe:Tb and YOSe:Eu nanomaterials, respectively. The surface and material conductivity of YOSe improved with the addition of the dopant elements, with the best outcome shown in YOSe:Eu, according to electrokinetic research evidenced by the enhanced current peaks, reduced charge-transfer resistance (Rct) and low impedance magnitude (Zmag) through electrochemical experiments. These improvements were induced by the distinctive properties of the dopant elements. PCEs of 0.25%, 0.67%, and 1.20% were obtained for YOSe, YOSe:Tb, and YOSe:Eu-based PV devices, respectively, using the nanomaterials as novel absorber layers in a superstrate device design. Our results can initiate further exploitation of the doped host structure for effective down-conversion NIR luminescence for applications in PV devices and to boost the PV performance of existing solar cells.

Exploring the Reduction Mechanism of 99Tc(VII) in NaClO4: A Spectro-Electrochemical Approach

Technetium (Tc) is an environmentally relevant radioactive contaminant whose migration is limited when Tc(VII) is reduced to Tc(IV). However, its reaction mechanisms are not well understood yet. We have combined electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and microscopy (cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrode, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman and scanning electron microscopy) to study Tc(VII) reduction in non-complexing media: 0.5 mM KTcO₄ in 2 M NaClO₄ in the pH from 2.0 to 10.0. At pH 2.0, Tc(VII) first gains 2.3 ± 0.3 electrons, following Tc(V) rapidly receives 1.3 ± 0.3 electrons yielding Tc(IV). At pH 4.0-10.0, Tc(IV) is directly obtained by transfer of 3.2 ± 0.3 electrons. The reduction of Tc(VII) produced always a black solid identified as Tc(IV) by Raman and XPS. Our results narrow a significant gap in the fundamental knowledge of Tc aqueous chemistry and are important to understand Tc speciation. They provide basic steps on the way from non-complexing to complex media.

Probing Charge Transport Kinetics in a Plasmonic Environment with Cyclic Voltammetry

Possible modifications in electrochemical reaction kinetics are explored in a nanostructured plasmonic environment with and without additional light illumination using a cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. In nanostructured gold, the effect of light on anodic and cathodic currents is much pronounced than that in a flat system. The electron-transfer rate shows a 3-fold increase under photoexcitation. The findings indicate a possibility of using plasmonic excitations for controlling electrochemical reactions.

Electrochemical investigations and theoretical studies of biocompatible niacin-modified carbon paste electrode interface for electrochemical sensing of folic acid

The modified electrode–analyte interaction is critical in establishing the sensing mechanism and in developing an electrochemical sensor. Here, the niacin-modified carbon paste electrode (NC/CPE) was fabricated for electrochemical sensing applications. The two stable structures of the niacin were optimized and confirmed by the absence of negative vibrational frequency, at B3LYP and B3LYP-GD3BJ level and 6–311 g** basis set. The physical and quantum chemical quantities were used to explain the molecular stability and electronic structure-related properties of the niacin. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was performed to disclose the donor–acceptor interactions that were a critical role in explaining the modifier–analyte interaction. The fabricated NC/CPE was used for the determination of folic acid (FA) in physiological pH by cyclic voltammetry (CV) method. The limit of detection (LOD) for FA at NC/CPE was calculated to be 0.09 µM in the linear concentration range of 5.0 µM to 45.0 µM (0.2 M PBS, pH 7.4) by CV technique. The analytical applicability of the NC/CPE was evaluated in real samples, such as fruit juice and pharmaceutical sample, and the obtained results were acceptable. The HOMO and LUMO densities are used to identify the nucleophilic and electrophilic regions of niacin. The use of density functional theory-based quantum chemical simulations to understand the sensory performance of the modifier has laid a new foundation for fabricating electrochemical sensing platforms.

Metal Coordination Complexes as Redox Mediators in Regenerative Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted a substantial interest in the last 30 years for the conversion of solar power to electricity. An important component is the redox mediator effecting the transport of charge between the photoelectrode and the dark counter electrode (CE). Among the possible mediators, metal coordination complexes play a prominent role and at present are incorporated in several types of devices with a power conversion efficiency exceeding 10%. The present review, after a brief introduction to the operation of DSSCs, discusses at first the requirements for a successful mediator. Subsequently, the properties of various classes of inorganic coordination complexes functioning as mediators relevant to DSSC operation are presented and the operational characteristics of DSSC devices analyzed. Particular emphasis is paid to the two main classes of efficient redox mediators, the coordination complexes of cobalt and copper; however other less efficient but promising classes of mediators, notably complexes of iron, nickel, manganese and vanadium, are also presented.

A sensitive and selective electroanalysis strategy for histidine using the wettable well electrodes modified with graphene quantum dot-scaffolded melamine and copper nanocomposites

A wettable well was fabricated on an electrode, which was further modified with carbon quantum dot-scaffolded nanocomposites of melamine and copper for probing histidine through a unique displacement reaction route. The developed electrode with wettable well enables the condensing enrichment of analytes from the sample droplets, improving the electroanalytical sensitivity.

A highly conductive thin film composite based on silver nanoparticles and malic acid for selective electrochemical sensing of trichloroacetic acid

A highly conductive thin film composite based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and malic acid (MA) was deposited on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the selective and sensitive electrochemical sensing of trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The casting solution containing MA functionalized AgNPs was employed as a precursor for the thermal deposition of the AgNPs integrated MA thin film composite onto the GCE surface. The uniform coverage of AgNPs within the thin film composite at GCE was obtained by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). A significantly high charge transfer resistance of the modified electrode (85.7 Ω for AgNPs-MA/GCE in 2 mM [Fe(CN)₆]^3-/4- at a bias of +0.235 V as compared to bare GCE (38.01 Ω) verified the optimum coating of AgNPs-MA composite at the surface of the electrode. The AgNPs-MA composite deposited GCE revealed substantial electrocatalytic activity toward TCA reduction with significantly enhanced reduction current. The novel electrode manifested a linear square wave voltammetric (SWV) response over the concentration ranges of 0.1-2 (R² = 0.9953) and 4-100 μM (R² = 0.9969) with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 30 nM and 92.5 nM, respectively. The modified electrode exhibited an excellent long-term stability (30 days) with the retention of >95% of initial current. The selectivity of the proposed electrode for the determination of TCA was examined in the presence of dichloroacetic acid (DCA) and monochloroacetic acid (MCA) with the retention of high recovery percentages.