Polyelectrolytes Assembly: A Powerful Tool for Electrochemical Sensing Application

Time-pH and time-humidity scaling of ionic conductivity spectra of polyelectrolyte multilayers

In this systematic study, ionic conductivity spectra of poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium)/poly(acrylic acid) (PDADMA/PAA)n polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) are investigated regarding superposition principles. In this context, charge transport as well as charge compensation processes in polyelectrolyte assemblies are discussed. The validity of different scaling concepts is tested to differentiate between changes in the mobility and charge carrier density, caused by the variation of a parameter X, where X is either relative humidity during measurement, or salt concentration or pH during preparation. For the first time, time-X scaling for conductivity spectra of PEMs is reported for all three parameters X, resulting in individual mastercurves. Furthermore, a super-mastercurve can be obtained including variations of all three parameters. Changes in plasticization caused by either varied humidity, pH or ionic strength imply non-constant charge carrier mobilities in accordance with a Summerfield-type of scaling, while the charge carrier density remains constant. Interestingly, for preparation conditions which favor extrinsic charge compensation, significant deviations from such Summerfield-type scaling are observed, indicating a variation of the number density of mobile charge carriers with humidity.

Electrochemical Sensing Strategies for Synthetic Orange Dyes

This review explores electrochemical sensing strategies for synthetic orange dyes, addressing the growing need for sensitive and selective detection methods in various industries. We examine the fundamental principles underlying the electrochemical detection of these compounds, focusing on their redox behavior and interaction with electrode surfaces. The review covers a range of sensor designs, from unmodified electrodes to advanced nanomaterial-based platforms. Chemically modified electrodes incorporating polymers and molecularly imprinted polymers are discussed for their enhanced selectivity. Particular attention is given to nanomaterial-based sensors, including those utilizing carbon nanotubes, graphene derivatives, and metal nanoparticles, which have demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and wide linear ranges. The potential of biological-based approaches, such as DNA interaction sensors and immunosensors, is also evaluated. Current challenges in the field are addressed, including matrix effects in complex samples and long-term stability issues. Emerging trends are highlighted, including the development of multi-modal sensing platforms and the integration of artificial intelligence for data analysis. The review concludes by discussing the commercial potential of these sensors in food safety, environmental monitoring, and smart packaging applications, emphasizing their importance in ensuring the safe use of synthetic orange dyes across industries.

Magnetic Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized by Superhydrophilic Polymer Brushes with Exceptional Kinetics and Catalysis

Stimuli-responsive catalysts with exceptional kinetics and complete recoverability for efficient recyclability are essential in, for example, converting pollutants and hazardous organic compounds into less harmful chemicals. Here, we used a novel approach to stabilize silver nanoparticles (NPs) through magneto/hydro-responsive anionic polymer brushes that consist of poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) moieties at the amine functional groups of chitosan. Two types of responsive catalyst systems with variable silver loading (wt.%) of high and low (PAAgCHI/Fe3O4/Ag (H, L)) were prepared. The catalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the reduction of organic dye compounds, 4-nitrophenol and methyl orange in the presence of NaBH4. The high dispersity and hydrophilic nature of the catalyst provided exceptional kinetics for dye reduction that surpassed previously reported nanocatalysts for organic dye reduction. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were carried out to study the colloidal stability of the nanocatalysts. The hybrid materials not only showed enhanced colloidal stability due to electrostatic repulsion among adjacent polymer brushes but also offered more rapid kinetics when compared with as-prepared Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), which results from super-hydrophilicity and easy accumulation/diffusion of dye species within polymer brushes. Such remarkable kinetics, biodegradability, biocompatibility, low cost and facile magnetic recoverability of the Ag nanocatalysts reported here contribute to their ranking among the top catalyst systems reported in the literature. It was observed that the apparent catalytic rate constant for the reduction of methyl orange dye was enhanced, PAAgCHI/Fe3O4/Ag (H) ca. 35-fold and PAAgCHI/Fe3O4/Ag (L) ca. 23-fold, when compared against the as prepared AgNPs. Finally, the regeneration and recyclability of the nanocatalyst systems were studied over 15 consecutive cycles. It was demonstrated that the nanomaterials display excellent recyclability without a notable loss in catalytic activity.

Advances in Bioelectrode Design for Developing Electrochemical Biosensors

The critical performance factors such as selectivity, sensitivity, operational and storage stability, and response time of electrochemical biosensors are governed mainly by the function of their key component, the bioelectrode. Suitable design and fabrication strategies of the bioelectrode interface are essential for realizing the requisite performance of the biosensors for their practical utility. A multifaceted attempt to achieve this goal is visible from the vast literature exploring effective strategies for preparing, immobilizing, and stabilizing biorecognition elements on the electrode surface and efficient transduction of biochemical signals into electrical ones (i.e., current, voltage, and impedance) through the bioelectrode interface with the aid of advanced materials and techniques. The commercial success of biosensors in modern society is also increasingly influenced by their size (and hence portability), multiplexing capability, and coupling in the interface of the wireless communication technology, which facilitates quick data transfer and linked decision-making processes in real-time in different areas such as healthcare, agriculture, food, and environmental applications. Therefore, fabrication of the bioelectrode involves careful selection and control of several parameters, including biorecognition elements, electrode materials, shape and size of the electrode, detection principles, and various fabrication strategies, including microscale and printing technologies. This review discusses recent trends in bioelectrode designs and fabrications for developing electrochemical biosensors. The discussions have been delineated into the types of biorecognition elements and their immobilization strategies, signal transduction approaches, commonly used advanced materials for electrode fabrication and techniques for fabricating the bioelectrodes, and device integration with modern electronic communication technology for developing electrochemical biosensors of commercial interest.

Artificial photosynthesis systems for solar energy conversion and storage: platforms and their realities

In natural photosynthesis, photosynthetic organisms such as green plants realize efficient solar energy conversion and storage by integrating photosynthetic components on the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, researchers have developed many artificial photosynthesis systems (APS's) that integrate various photocatalysts and biocatalysts to convert and store solar energy in the fields of resource, environment, food, and energy. To improve the system efficiency and reduce the operation cost, reaction platforms are introduced in APS's since they allow for great stability and continuous processing. A systematic understanding of how a reaction platform affects the performance of artificial photosynthesis is conducive for designing an APS with superb solar energy utilization. In this review, we discuss the recent APS's researches, especially those confined on/in platforms. The importance of different platforms and their influences on APS's performance are emphasized. Generally, confined platforms can enhance the stability and repeatability of both photocatalysts and biocatalysts in APS's as well as improve the photosynthetic performance due to the proximity effect. For functional platforms that can participate in the artificial photosynthesis reactions as active parts, a high integration of APS's components on/in these platforms can lead to efficient electron transfer, enhanced light-harvesting, or synergistic catalysis, resulting in superior photosynthesis performance. Therefore, the integration of APS's components is beneficial for the transfer of substrates and photoexcited electrons in artificial photosynthesis. We finally summarize the current challenges of APS's development and further efforts on the improvement of APS's.

Theoretical analysis of the absorption of CO2 and CO on pristine and Al-doped C3B

Real-time detection of CO2 and CO is of great importance because CO2 is a major cause of global warming and CO endangers the human nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Determination of sodium and potassium ions in patients with SARS-Cov-2 disease by ion-selective electrodes based on polyelectrolyte complexes as a pseudo-liquid contact phase

Nowadays, there are several methods for the detection of various bioelements during SARS-CoV-2. Many of them require special equipment, high expenses, and a long time to obtain results. In this study, we aim to use polyelectrolyte multilayers for robust carbon fiber-based potentiometric sensing to determine the ion concentration in human biofluids of COVID-19 patients. The polyethyleneimine/polystyrene sulfonate complex is hygroscopic and has the ability to retain counterions of inorganic salts. This fact makes it possible to create a flexible ionometric system with a pseudo-liquid connection. The formation of the polyethyleneimine/polystyrene sulfonate complex allows for the adhesion of a hydrophobic ion-selective membrane, and creates a Nernst response in a miniature sensor system. This approach discloses the development of miniaturized ion-selective electrodes and their future application to monitor analyte changes as micro and macroelement ions in the human body to identify correlation to SARS-CoV-2. An imbalance in the content of potassium and sodium in urine and blood is directly related to changes in the zinc content in patients with coronavirus. The proposed method for assessing the condition of patients will allow fast determination of the severity of the course of the disease.