Controlling the charge transfer flow at the graphene/pyrene-nitrilotriacetic acid interface

The fabrication of highly efficient bio-organic nanoelectronic devices is still a challenge due to the difficulty in interfacing the biomolecular component to the organic counterparts. One of the ways to overcome this bottleneck is to add a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) in between the electrode and the biological material. The addition of a pyrene-nitrilotriacetic acid layer to a graphene metal electrode enhances the charge transfer within the device. Our theoretical calculations and electrochemical results show that the formation of a pyrene-nitrilotriacetic acid SAM enforces a direct electron transfer from graphene to the SAM, while the addition of the Ni2+ cation and imidazole reverses the charge transfer direction, allowing an atomic control of the electron flow, which is essential for a true working device. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Crystal and electronic structure study of Mn doped wurtzite ZnO nanoparticles

AbstractThe change in the crystal and electronic structure properties of wurtzite ZnO nanoparticles was studied according to Mn doping in the powder samples. The investigations were conducted by X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (XAFS) technique for the samples prepared with different heating and doping processes. Electronic analysis was carried out by the collected data from the X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure Spectroscopy (XANES) measurements. Additional crystal structure properties were studied by Extended-XAFS (EXAFS) analysis. Longer heating periods for the undoped wurtzite ZnO samples were determined to own stable crystal geometries. However, for some doped samples, the distortions in the crystal were observed as a result of the low doping amounts of Mn which was treated as an impurity. Besides, the changes in oxygen locations were determined to create defects and distortions in the samples

Structure determination of a bio-inspired self-assembled light-harvesting antenna by solid-state NMR and molecular modeling

Solid state NMR/Biophysical Organic Chemistr

The effects of Fe2O3 based DOC and SCR catalyst on the exhaust emissions of diesel engines

The effects of Fe2O3 based DOCs (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalysts on the exhaust emissions of diesel engine were investigated in this experimental study. The investigated catalysts, Al2O3 – TiO2/CeO2/Fe2O3 (ATCF) and Al2O3 – Nb2O5/CeO2/Fe2O3 (ANCF), were produced with impregnation method and aged for 6 h at 600 °C. FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy), XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) Surface Area analyzes were carried out to determine the specifications of catalysts. The catalytic performances of the DOCs were tested for the oxidation of CO, HC, PM, NO while SCR catalysts were tested for SCR of NOx using NH3. An individual exhaust system was built up and mounted to the engine for tests of catalysts. An electronic control system and a software were developed to control the SCR system. After the completion of experimental setup, catalysts placed inside the exhaust system were subjected to the engine tests to determine their effects on the exhaust emissions. Tests were carried out under actual working conditions with a single cylinder direct injection diesel engine. In conclusion, the catalysts made significant decrease in pollutant emissions while brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased slightly. ANCF released better conversion efficiency in all pollutant emissions compared to the ATCF. Maximum decreases in CO, HC and NOx emissions, which are resulted from ANCF catalyst, were obtained at a rate of 83.51%, 80.83% and 80.29% respectively. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

Differential Immunomodulatory Activities of Schiff Base Complexes Depending on their Metal Conjugation

PubMedID: 31267275Immunomodulatory compounds have become crucial with advances in immunotherapy. Using our own immune system cells, we can direct the immune cell function and develop desired response against a certain threat. Immunotherapy applications have been suggested against tumors, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Vaccination can be considered as one of the best known example of immunotherapy. Infectious agent’s signature molecular structures are introduced to the immune cells together with the adjuvants that further activate the immune cells to mount a proper immune response and memory. Immunotherapy and vaccine formulations are in constant need of a library of immunomodulatory reagents that can be applied depending on the target. In order to expand the number of immunomodulatory reagents that can find medicinal applications, our group has been testing unique chemical structures on the immune system cells, especially macrophages. Schiff base complexes are known for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we used previously characterized Schiff base complexes with different metal conjugations. These molecules had differential immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory potentials on macrophages in vitro depending on the type of the conjugated metal. After light exposure, these complexes changed their characteristics and became powerful anti-inflammatory complexes. Due to their possible antimicrobial potentials, we also tested their activities against gram negative and gram positive bacteria. All of the complexes exerted antimicrobial activities which were not light responsive. Here, we present Schiff base complexes with differential immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory activities that can also efficiently eliminate gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Upon photo activation, they block the production of inflammatory TNF? cytokine. Therefore, together with the light, they can be used to treat bacterial infections associated with damaging inflammation. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

New approach for consideration of adsorption/desorption data

In this paper we proposed a new approach to modify the Langmuir model by considering nonlinear effects such as diffusion of water molecules in/out of an adsorbing film for humidity adsorption and desorption kinetics. The model was tested on the humidity adsorption and desorption data of a spin coated 50. nm thick Ruthenium polypridyl complex (Ru-PC K314) film, measured under relative humidity between 11% and 97% using by Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) technique. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

New approach for consideration of adsorption/desorption data

In this paper we proposed a new approach to modify the Langmuir model by considering nonlinear effects such as diffusion of water molecules in/out of an adsorbing film for humidity adsorption and desorption kinetics. The model was tested on the humidity adsorption and desorption data of a spin coated 50. nm thick Ruthenium polypridyl complex (Ru-PC K314) film, measured under relative humidity between 11% and 97% using by Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) technique. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

New approach for consideration of adsorption/desorption data

In this paper we proposed a new approach to modify the Langmuir model by considering nonlinear effects such as diffusion of water molecules in/out of an adsorbing film for humidity adsorption and desorption kinetics. The model was tested on the humidity adsorption and desorption data of a spin coated 50. nm thick Ruthenium polypridyl complex (Ru-PC K314) film, measured under relative humidity between 11% and 97% using by Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) technique. © 2011 Elsevier B.V