Layer by Layer Electrode Surface Functionalisation Using Carbon Nanotubes, Electrochemical Grafting of Azide‐Alkyne Functions and Click Chemistry

Ferrocene was covalently bonded to a layer of adsorbed single-walled carbon nanotubes on a glassy carbon electrode surface using electrochemical grafting and click chemistry. Grafting of the 4-azidobenzenediazonium salt onto the surface was accomplished by electrochemical reduction. The surface-bound azide groups, with the use of a copper(I) catalyst, were reacted with ethynylferrocene to form covalent 1,2,3-triazole bonds by click chemistry. This layer by layer construction of the electrode surface results in stable electrodes by combining good electrical conductivity and increased surface area of the nanotubes with the versatility of the Sharpless click reaction

Electrochemical Characterization of Self-Assembled Monolayer of a Novel Manganese Tetrabenzylthio-Substituted Phthalocyanine and Its Use in Nitrite Oxidation

Manganese phthalocyanine MnPc(SPh)4 has been synthesized and used to form self assembled monolayers on gold electrodes. The well packed SAM monolayer was characterized by analyzing the blocking of a number of Faradic processes by cyclic voltammetry, evaluating the electrical characteristics of the modified electrode by electrochemical impedance and imaging the modified surface by electrochemical scanning microscopy. Finally, MnPc(SPh)4-SAM modified electrode displayed an electrocatalytic behavior toward the oxidation of nitrite

Cobalt Phthalocyanine Molecular Electrode for the Electrochemical Investigation of the Release of Glutathione upon Copper-Catalyzed Decomposition of S-Nitrosoglutathione

Decomposition of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) in phosphate buffer solution at physiological pH 7.4 in the presence of cuprous ion as a catalyst and sodium borohydride as a reducing agent is analyzed by observing the transient apparition of reduced glutathione GSH through its electrooxidation. Transient formation of GSH, upon decomposition of 1 mM GSNO in presence of 0.025 mM Cu(NO3)2 and 1 mM NaBH4 was detected by using an ordinary pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with an adsorbed monolayer of cobalt phthalocyanine at 0 V vs. SCE

Defining A European Engineer Profile Within A European University Alliance

The world needs more engineers and Europe provides a rich and diverse environment to train them, including shared values of sustainability and interculturalism. In this paper we attempt to build a profile for a “European engineer” based on skills and competences acquired in a European University Alliance centred around engineering education (EELISA, European Engineering Learning Innovation Alliance). We carried out an on-line survey for students and staff of partner universities as well as nine indepth interviews (50 min) with relevante stakeholders. The questions included in the survey are described as well as general results from 75 respondents. The overall results from the in-depth interviews are also presented and discussed within the framework of the training concepts also promoted by international associations, including SEFI. Finally, we use our findings to suggest four conceptual fields for a European engineer profile: 1) Scientific and theoretical knowledge including digital skills, 2) Addressing sustainability, 3) Interculturalism: an engineer embracing the European project, and 4) Business and communication skills: practical and applied knowledge

Cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry of a novel manganese phthalocyanine substituted with hexynyl groups

We report here on the synthesis of a new manganese phthalocyanine complex, namely Mn tetrakis(5-hexyn-oxy) phthalocyanine (3), specifically designed to possess an alkyne moiety for its potential use in controlled immobilization on electrodes via the so called “click” chemistry reaction. The electrochemical activity of complex 3 was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and the nature of the observed redox couples was elucidated by spectroelectrochemistry. This work has also shown that the reduction of Mn(III)Pc complex to Mn(II)Pc is accompanied by the formation of MnPc μ-oxo species. Further reduction results in the formation of Mn(II)Pc(− 3) rather than Mn(I)Pc(− 2)

Electro-catalyzed oxidation of reduced glutathione and 2-mercaptoethanol by cobalt phthalocyanine-containing screen printed graphite electrodes

Electro-catalytic behavior of screen printed graphite electrodes modified with cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) towards the oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) is reported. We find, by using cyclic voltammetry, that the oxidation of 2-ME occurs at 0.2 V vs Ag/AgCl and − 0.3 vs Ag/AgCl V at pH = 7 and pH = 13, respectively and that of GSH occurs at 0.4 V vs Ag/AgCl and 0.0 V vs Ag/AgCl at pH = 7 and 13, respectively. The electro-catalytic activity depends on the method of electrode modification and the amount of catalyst incorporated in the ink used to fabricate the SPCEs. The highest activity was obtained with electrodes prepared with 2.5% (w:w) of CoPc

4-Azidoaniline-based electropolymer as a building block for functionalisation of conductive surfaces

We propose in this work to compare three approaches using 4-azidoaniline combined with “click” chemistry and electrochemistry to anchor ferrocene moieties at glassy carbon surfaces. The immobilisation of a newly synthesised molecule, 4-(4-ferrocenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)aniline, through direct electropolymerisation or via in situ diazotization followed by electrografting is studied by analysing the samples by XPS and electrochemistry

Real-time electrochemical detection of extracellular nitric oxide in tobacco cells exposed to cryptogein, an elicitor of defence responses

It was previously reported that cryptogein, an elicitor of defence responses, induces an intracellular production of nitric oxide (NO) in tobacco. Here, the possibility was explored that cryptogein might also trigger an increase of NO extracellular content through two distinct approaches, an indirect method using the NO probe 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and an electrochemical method involving a chemically modified microelectrode probing free NO in biological media. While the chemical nature of DAF-2-reactive compound(s) is still uncertain, the electrochemical modified microelectrodes provide real-time evidence that cryptogein induces an increase of extracellular NO. Direct measurement of free extracellular NO might offer important new insights into its role in plants challenged by biotic stresses

EELISA Credential: The Recognition Of Commitment And Impact In The Addressing Of Societal Challenges In The EELISA Alliance

EELISA Credential is a unique recognition process provided to EELISA students, professional and alumni who are part of the mission-driven EELISA communities and reflects the commitment and impact level achieved in the addressing of a societal challenge. The EELISA Credential is an individual, progressive environment on which students collect badges. These badges are acquired after verifying the achievement of an educational outcome level after participating in community\u27s educational activities. A badge represents the unit of learning acquisition and impact that corresponds to an educational outcome. It is reflected in the EELISA Credential which itself refers to an impact level and a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The impact level represents the badge measurement scale. In the EELISA Credential, there are 5 levels of impact (discovery, knowledge, engagement, action, transformation) that correspond to learning objectives relative to SDGs. The education activities proposed by EELISA Communities are defined around a societal challenge defined by a problem owner (faculty, students, local communities). Each activity is centered in 1 or 2 SDGs, and recognizes a maximum of 4 badges. Through the involvement in the activities of EELISA Communities, students enrich their EELISA Credential in areas addressing Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs), progressively improving their capacity for understanding, action and transformation. In this practice paper, we will present the requirements for activities to be part of the EELISA Credential, representative and successful activities, the Quality Assurance system, the lessons learnt in the process of implementing the credential and how EELISA Credential will evolve in the future