Boosting the electrochemiluminescence of luminol-O2 system by high-intensity focused ultrasound

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol is a well-established methodology in analytical chemistry and bioimaging. Developing novel strategies to enhance the ECL signal of this model emitter is a challenging but rewarding task. In this work, we introduced the high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as a pretreatment means and a non-invasive way to trigger and boost the ECL signal with a 40-fold significant enhancement in the luminol-O₂ system without the addition of exogenous co-reactants. The superoxide anion (O₂^-•) generated in situ by HIFU was the key initiator for boosting the ECL emission as demonstrated in this study for the first time. This promising co-reactant-free strategy could find potential applications for ultrasensitive ECL detection in the analysis of complex biological entities.

A new NiS nanoparticles-enhanced chemiluminescence method for determination of cephalexin in the pharmaceuticals and spiked human serum

It is reported that NiS nanoparticles (NPs) can enhance the light emission from chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of luminol-O₂ (λ_max = 425 nm), remarkably. Additionally, it was shown that cephalexin (CEF) could further increase the intensity of light emitted from NiS NPs-luminol-O₂ CL reaction. Inspired in these findings, we intended to develop a new and straightforward CL method for the determination of CEF. A calibration graph over the range of 1.00 × 10^-6 - 4.00 × 10^-5 mol L^-1 was established. The limit of detection (LOD) of the CL method was 8.00 × 10^-7 mol L^-1 . The coefficient of variation (CV) of the CL methods was 2.20% (n = 6) for the measurement of 6.00 × 10^-6 mol L^-1 CEF. NiS NPs were produced by exploiting the precipitation method and identified by employing several spectroscopic approaches. The proposed CL method was successfully used to measure CEF in some pharmaceutical and spiked human serum. The chemical mechanism governing the CL reaction was briefly explained.

Nickel oxide hollow microsphere for the chemiluminescence determination of tuberculostatic drug isoniazid

In this paper, NiO hollow microspheres (HMSs) were fabricated and used to catalyze chemiluminescence (CL) reaction. The studied CL reaction is the luminol-O₂ reaction that was used as a sensitive analytical tool for measuring tuberculostatic drug isoniazid (IND) in pharmaceutical formulations and water samples. The CL method was established based on the suppression impact of IND on the CL reaction. The NiO HMSs were produced by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by several spectroscopic techniques. The result of essential parameters on the analytical performance of the CL method, including concentrations of NaOH, luminol, and NiO HMSs were investigated. At the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for isoniazid was linear in the range of 8.00 × 10^-7 - 1.00 × 10^-4 mol L^-1 (R² =0.99). A detection limit (3S) of 2.00 × 10^-7 mol L^-1 was obtained for this method. The acceptable relative standard deviation (RSD) was obtained for the proposed CL method (2.63%, n=10) for a 5.00 ×10^-6 mol L^-1 IND solution. The mechanism of the CL reaction was also discussed.

Synthesis of rod-like CeO2 nanoparticles and their application to catalyze the luminal-O2 chemiluminescence reaction used in the determination of oxcarbazepine and ascorbic acid

Rod-like CeO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by the quick precipitation approach and employed as a catalyzer to increase the chemiluminescence (CL) intensity of the luminol-O₂ reaction. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of the CeO₂ NPs showed that rod-like particles with the length and diameter about 15 nm and 5 nm, respectively, were produced. Furthermore, pharmaceuticals including oxcarbazepine (OXP) and ascorbic acid (AA) showed an inhibitory effect against the CL intensity such that the more concentration of the pharmaceuticals, the less was the CL intensity. Therefore, the new CeO₂ NPs-luminol-O₂ CL reaction was developed to determine OXP and AA in the pharmaceutical formulations. It is the first CL method established for the quantification of OXP. The linear dynamic range of this method for OXP was from 6.0 × 10^-7 to 6.0 × 10^-5 mol L^-1 and for AA from 1.0 × 10^-6 to 1.0 × 10^-4 mol L^-1.

Chemiluminescence determination of vancomycin by using NiS nanoparticles-luminol-O2 system

In this research, NiS nanoparticles (NPs) were produced using a hydrothermal technique and characterized by several spectroscopic methods. Here, for the first time, it was shown that NiS NPs could be exploited as a nanocatalyst in a chemiluminescence (CL) reaction. Here, it was introduced that NiS NPs could intensify luminol-O₂ CL reaction, remarkably. Besides, it was shown that vancomycin (VAN) suppresses the CL intensity of NiS NPs-luminol-O₂ reaction. By exploiting the results obtained, a new and straightforward CL method was developed for the measurement of VAN. The linear concentration range of the CL method was 4.00 × 10^-6 - 1.00 × 10^-3 mol L^-1. The limit of detection (LOD) was equal to 1.40 × 10^-6 mol L^-1 and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the CL method was 3.00% (n = 6) for the determination of 8.00 × 10^-5 mol L^-1 VAN. The established CL method was applied to quantify VAN in the injection and spiked human serum.

Deposition of zinc cobaltite nanoparticles onto bismuth vanadate for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

During the past few decades, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has attracted significant attention because of the reduced production cost of hydrogen obtained by utilizing solar energy. Significant efforts have been invested by the scientific community to produce stable ternary metal oxide semiconductors, which can enhance the stability and increase the overall production of oxygen. Herein, we present the ternary metal oxide deposition of ZnCo₂O₄ as a route to obtain a novel photocatalyst layer on BiVO₄ to form BiVO₄/ZnCo₂O₄ a novel composite photoanode for PEC water splitting. The structural, topographical, and optical analyses were performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy to confirm the structure of the ZnCo₂O₄ grafted over BiVO₄. A remarkable 4.4-fold enhancement of the photocurrent was observed for the BiVO₄/ZnCo₂O₄ composite compared with bare BiVO₄ under visible illumination. The optimum loading of ZnCo₂O₄ over BiVO₄ yields unprecedented stable photocurrent density with an apparent cathodic shift of 0.46 V under 1.5 AM simulated light illumination. This is also evidenced by the flat-band potential change through Mott-Schottky analysis, which reveals the formation of p-ZnCo₂O₄ on n-BiVO₄. The improvement in the PEC performance of the composite with respect to bare BiVO₄ is ascribed to the formation of thin passivating layer of p-ZnCo₂O₄ on n-BiVO₄ which improves the kinetics of interfacial charge transfer. Based on our study, we have gained an in-depth understanding of the BiVO₄/ZnCo₂O₄ composite as high potential in efficient PEC water splitting devices.

New Evidence for Ag-Sputtered Materials Inactivating Bacteria by Surface Contact without the Release of Ag Ions: End of a Long Controversy?

The study provides new evidence for Ag-coated polyester (PES) mediating Escherichia coli inactivation by way of genetically engineered E. coli (without porins, from now denoted porinless bacteria). This allows the quantification of the bactericidal kinetics induced by the Ag surface without the intervention of Ag ions. Bacterial inactivation mediated by Ag-PES was seen to be completed within 60 min. The samples were prepared by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) at different sputter powers. In anaerobic media, this process required 120 min. The amounts of ions (Ar⁺, Ag⁺, and Ag²⁺) generated during the deposition by direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) and HiPIMS were determined by mass spectrometry. The thickness of the Ag films sputtered on PES by DCMS (0.28 A) during 100 s was found to be 340 nm. Thicknesses of 250, 230, and 200 nm were found when sputtering with HiPIMS was tuned at 8, 17, and 30 A, respectively. By scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM-HAADF), the atomic distribution of Ag and oxygen was detected. By X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a shift in the Ag oxidation state was observed within the bacterial inactivation period. This reveals redox catalysis within the time required for the total bacterial inactivation due to the interaction between the bacterial suspension and Ag-PES. Surface properties of the Ag-coated PES samples were additionally investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The formation of Ag plasmon was detected by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and was a function of the applied sputtering energy. The indoor sunlight irradiation dose required to induce an accelerated bacterial inactivation was found to be 5-10 mW/cm².

Cow manure-derived biochar: Its catalytic properties and influential factors

The conversion of waste biomass into biochar is considered as a waste disposal alternative, especially because biochar is a low-cost adsorbent for soil contaminants. However, a risk of desorption of contaminants from biochar may lead to secondary pollution. This study investigated the degradation behavior of soil fumigant, 1,3-dichloropropne (1,3-D), on cow manure-derived biochar (CMB) pyrolyzed at five different temperatures from 300 to 700 °C (termed as C-300 to C-700). Results showed that 1,3-D degradation rate was U-shape related to biochar pyrolysis temperature. Four degradation byproducts (NH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃OH, CH₃CH₂NH₂, NH₂COCONH₂, OHCH₂COOH) were identified by headspace GC-MS. When biochar humidity improved from 0 to 50% or incubation temperature increased from 20 to 40 °C, the degradation of cis-1,3-D on C-300 improved 24.26% and 35.48%, respectively. The OH concentrations, detected by the terephthalic acid method, were considerably higher for C-300 than that for C-700. Pyrolysis temperature (300-700 ° C) governed biochar physicochemical properties and further affected 1,3-D degradation mechanisms (pH-controlled substitution or OH-restricted oxidation reaction). All these findings showed that CMB can adsorb and degrade 1,3-D, thereby reduce its desorption risk, indicative of the conversion of cow manure into biochar as an effective waste management practice.

Localized photodeposition of catalysts using nanophotonic resonances in silicon photocathodes

Nanostructured semiconductors feature resonant optical modes that confine light absorption in specific areas called "hot spots". These areas can be used for localized extraction of the photogenerated charges, which in turn could drive chemical reactions for synthesis of catalytic materials. In this work, we use these nanophotonic hot spots in vertical silicon nanowires to locally deposit platinum nanoparticles in a photo-electrochemical system. The tapering angle of the silicon nanowires as well as the excitation wavelength are used to control the location of the hot spots together with the deposition sites of the platinum catalyst. A combination of finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations with scanning electron microscopy image analysis showed a reasonable correlation between the simulated hot spots and the actual experimental localization and quantity of platinum atoms. This nanophotonic approach of driving chemical reactions at the nanoscale using the optical properties of the photo-electrode, can be very promising for the design of lithography-free and efficient hierarchical nanostructures for the generation of solar fuels.

BiVO4-rGO with a novel structure on steel fabric used as high-performance photocatalysts

A high-performance and novel photocatalyst of BiVO4-reduced Graphene Oxide (BiVO4-rGO) nanocomposite was prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. The photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, UV-Vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and UV-Vis adsorption spectroscopy, respectively. The visible-light photocatalytic activity was evaluated by oxidation of methyl orange (MO) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The results show that the BiVO4-rGO nanocomposites exhibit enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of MO with a maximum removal rate of 98.95% under visible light irradiation as compared with pure BiVO4 (57.55%) due to the increased light absorption intensity and the degradation of electron-hole pair recombination in BiVO4 with the introduction of the rGO.

Photocurrent of BiVO4 is limited by surface recombination, not surface catalysis

Bismuth vanadate is one of the most promising photoanode materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting. In order to achieve high photocurrents the surface of BiVO4 always has to be modified with water oxidation catalysts, such as cobalt phosphate (CoPi), FeOOH, or NiFeO x . While this has generally been attributed to the poor intrinsic catalytic activity of BiVO4, detailed insight into the fate of the photogenerated charge carriers at the surface is still lacking. We used intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) to investigate the surface carrier dynamics of bare and CoPi-modified spray-deposited BiVO4 films. Using a model developed by Peter et al., it was possible to distinguish the reaction rate constants for surface recombination and charge transfer to the electrolyte. We found that modification with CoPi reduced the surface recombination of BiVO4 with a factor of 10-20, without significantly influencing the charge transfer kinetics. Control experiments with RuO x , one of the best known OER electrocatalysts, did not affect surface recombination and led to an actual decrease of the photocurrent. These results show that the main role of the CoPi is to passivate the surface of BiVO4 and that, contrary to earlier assumptions, the photocurrent of BiVO4 is limited by surface recombination instead of charge transfer. The importance of surface recombination is well recognized for conventional semiconductors in the field of photovoltaics; these findings show that it may also play a crucial role in oxide-based semiconductors for photoelectrochemical energy conversion.

High Visible Photoelectrochemical Activity of Ag Nanoparticle-Sandwiched CdS/Ag/ZnO Nanorods

We report on the sensitizing of CdS-coated ZnO (CdS/ZnO) nanorods (NRs) by Ag nanoparticles (NPs) embedded between the CdS coating and the ZnO nanorod and the improved optical and photoelectrochemical properties of the Ag NP-sandwiched nanostructure CdS/Ag/ZnO NRs. The CdS/Ag/ZnO NRs were fabricated by growing Ag NPs on hydrothermally grown ZnO NRs and subsequently depositing CdS coatings followed by subsequent N₂ annealing. The structure of the fabricated CdS/Ag/ZnO NRs was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman backscattering, revealing that the ZnO NRs and the CdS coatings are both structured with hexagonal wurtzite and the Ag NPs contact well with ZnO and CdS. Optical properties were evaluated by measuring optical absorption and photoluminescence, showing that the Ag NPs behave well as sensitizers for optical property improvement and the CdS/Ag/ZnO NRs exhibit better photoresponse in a wide spectral region than CdS/ZnO because of plasmon-enhanced absorption due to the embedment of Ag NPs. The Ag NPs also serve as electron relays from CdS to ZnO, facilitating electron transfer from the CdS coatings to the ZnO NRs. The excellent photoresponse and efficient electron transfer make the CdS/Ag/ZnO NRs highly photoelectrochemically active. The CdS/Ag/ZnO NRs fabricated on indium-tin oxide present much better photoelectrochemical performance as photoanodes working in the visible region than CdS/ZnO NRs without Ag NPs. Under visible illumination, a maximum optical-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 3.13% is obtained for CdS/Ag/ZnO NR photoanodes against 1.35% for CdS/ZnO NR photoanodes.

Antimicrobial Characteristics of Heated Eggshell Powder

Eggshells have high bioavailability and can be used as a source of calcium. The main component is CaCO3, which, when heated, is converted to CaO. Seashells are also mainly composed of CaCO3 and were previously found to exhibit antimicrobial activity after being heated. In this study, heated eggshell powder (HESP) was found to have antimicrobial activity against bacterial vegetative cells, fungi and bacterial spores. Parameters, such as the minimum inhibitory concentration, were determined with kinetic analysis using an indirect conductimetric assay. Moreover, HESP was able to kill the Bacillus subtilis spores. There were no significant differences in the activity between HESP, heated scallop-shell powder and pure CaO. The MIC values for HESP against bacteria and fungi were 0.29-0.43 and 1.3-1.5 mg/mL, respectively. Against B. subtilis spores, a reduction of two orders of magnitude of viability was confirmed following 20 min of treatment at 10 mg/mL at 60 ℃. The active oxygen generated from the HESP slurry was examined with chemiluminescence. The intensity of this increased with increasing concentrations of the HESP slurry. This suggests that HESP could be used as a natural antimicrobial agent. Although a high pH is the main contributor to this antimicrobial activity, active oxygen species generated from HESP are likely to be the main antimicrobial agents..

Photoelectrochemical device based on Mo-doped BiVO4 enables smart analysis of the global antioxidant capacity in food

For a healthy diet, which is an extension of a high quality lifestyle, tremendous attention has been focused on using antioxidant capacity indicators for food inspections and health guides. Although photoelectrochemical transducers have broadened our horizons for global antioxidant activity analysis, a growing body of foods and beverages needs to be quantified in the visible region and the necessary photoelectrochemical instrumentalization is still in its infancy. Generally, BiVO4 is considered as an ideal starting material for antioxidant surveillance under visible light irradiation. However, it is subjected to unsatisfied charge collection and utilization in practical applications. Herein, we studied the effects of successive molybdenum substitution of vanadium on the photocatalytic behavior of BiMo x V(1-x)O4 under visible light illumination. A superior photocurrent density was obtained for BiMo0.015V0.985O4 due to the flower-like architecture and favorable crystalline form. At the same time, this superhybrid BiMo0.015V0.985O4 composite successfully acted as a sensing unit in a photoelectrochemical platform for antioxidant capacity evaluation in foodstuffs. The related mechanism was further unearthed and discussed in-depth. Such a straightforward yet cogent principle was also applied to our integrated device for the "smart" analysis of the global antioxidant capacity, whereby collected data can be treated as a nutritive value index for routine quality control in the food industry. On the basis of this achievement, it is anticipated that mobile app-based quantitative antioxidant capacity detection will soon be realized.

Free radicals, natural antioxidants, and their reaction mechanisms

The normal biochemical reactions in our body, increased exposure to the environment, and higher levels of dietary xenobiotic's result in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).

Improvement of visible light photocatalytic acetaldehyde decomposition of bismuth vanadate/silica nanocomposites by cocatalyst loading

Photocatalytic activity of bismuth vanadate (BiVO(4)) for acetaldehyde decomposition under visible light irradiation was improved by inclusion of a nanocomposition of silica as an adsorbent material and loading of platinum (Pt) or trivalent iron ion (Fe(3+)) as reduction cocatalysts. Addition of silica enhanced photocatalytic activity due to improvement of adsorption ability, but total decomposition of acetaldehyde was not observed within 24h of visible light irradiation. For further improvement of photocatalytic activity, BiVO(4) with an optimized amount of silica composition were modified with Pt or Fe(3+). Photodeposition of Pt greatly increased photocatalytic activity, and acetaldehyde was totally decomposed within 24h of visible light irradiation.

Preparation of Au-BiVO4 heterogeneous nanostructures as highly efficient visible-light photocatalysts

Au-BiVO(4) heterogeneous nanostructures have been successfully prepared through in situ growth of gold nanoparticles on BiVO(4) microtubes and nanosheets via a cysteine-linking strategy. The experimental results reveal that these Au-BiVO(4) heterogeneous nanostructures exhibit much higher visible-light photocatalytic activities than the individual BiVO(4) microtubes and nanosheets for both dye degradation and water oxidation. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies are attributed to the charge transfer from BiVO(4) to the attached gold nanoparticles as well as their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption. These new heteronanostructures are expected to show considerable potential applications in solar-driven wastewater treatment and water splitting.