Reduced Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots-Anchored Biopolymer Composite as Smart Sensor Platform for Fluorescent and Electrical Sensing of Rifampicin

Rifampicin (RFP), also known as rifampin, is an antibiotic medication used to treat tuberculosis and pathogenic bacterial infections. However, improper use typically results in severe side effects, bacterial resistance, and drug-induced environmental pollution. Therefore, the fabrication of an efficient sensor for RFP is of great concern. In this study, a green synthesis approach is implemented to develop a sensor using reduced graphene oxide quantum dots (rGQDs). Their photoluminescence properties are utilized to construct an optical sensor for the detection of RFP. The sensor operates through a Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based quenching mechanism, which inspires us to fabricate a mobile phone-assisted smart sensor system. In this portable device, the rGQD-anchored biopolymer-coated cellulose-based flexible substrate is used as a multimode sensor that can simultaneously process electrical and fluorescence responses in the presence of RFP. The practical applicability of the sensor system was tested in three different real samples, such as human blood serum, human urine, and tap water. The corresponding limit of detection (LOD) was evaluated by the standard calibration method and found to be 81.36, 79.94, and 74.35 nM, respectively. On the other hand, electrical and fluorescence smart sensing results show a sensitive response where the LOD is found to be 2.16 and 11.36 μM, respectively. This sensor possesses the special advantage of being portable, rapid, and selective toward RFP only. The multimode sensing strategy eliminates the time-consuming fabrication process. Moreover, the recyclability issue can be resolved by using this low-cost bridgeable material, which is readily available and demanding in terms of e-waste environmental pollution

Assessing CO₂ Adsorption Behavior onto Free-Standing, Flexible Organic Framework-PVDF Composite Membrane: An Empirical Modeling and Validation of an Experimental Data Set

Covalent organic framework (COF) materials have greatly expanded their range in a variety of applications since the cognitive goal of a highly organized and durable adsorbent is quite rational. The characteristics of a conjugated organic framework are combined with an industrially relevant polymer to produce a composite membrane optimized for selectively adsorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) gas across a wide temperature range. Additionally, treatment of the composite membrane with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) that specifically enhanced the parent membrane’s surface area by 36% is established. Following CAP treatment, the membrane accelerates the CO2 uptake by as much as 66%. This is primarily due to a Lewis acid–base interaction between the electron-deficient carbon atom of CO2 and the newly acquired functionalities on the COFs@PVDF membrane’s surface. In particular, the C–N bonds, which appear to be a higher electron density site, play a key role in this interaction. Moreover, the empirical model proposed here has confirmed CO2 adsorption phenomena in the COF@PVDF composite membrane, which closely matches the findings from the experimental data set under designated operating conditions. As a result, the current study may pave the way for future design work as well as refine the covalent framework polymer composite membrane’s features, revealing a more sophisticated approach to addressing CO2 capture problems

Unveiling the Potential of Covalent Organic Framework Electrocatalyst for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution

The potential for sustainable energy and carbon neutrality has expanded with the development of a highly active electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Covalent Organic Frameworks (COF) have recently garnered attention because of their enormous potential in a number of cutting-edge application sectors, such as gas storage, sensors, fuel cells, and active catalytic supports. A simple and effective COF constructed and integrated by post-alteration plasma modification facilitates high electrocatalytic OER activity under alkaline conditions. Variations in parameters such as voltage and treatment duration have been employed to enhance the factor that demonstrates high OER performance. The overpotential and Tafel slope are the lowest of all when using an optimized parameter, such as plasma treatment for 30 min utilizing 6 kV of voltage, PT-30 COF, measuring 390 mV at a current density of 10 mA.cm–2 and 69 mV.dec–1, respectively, as compared to 652 mV and 235 mV.dec–1 for the Pristine-COF. Our findings provide a method for broadening the scope by post-functionalizing the parent framework for effective water splitting