Screening-limited response of nanobiosensors

Despite tremendous potential of highly sensitive electronic detection of biomolecules by nanoscale biosensors for genomics and proteomic applications, many aspects of experimentally observed sensor response (S) are difficult to understand within isolated theoretical frameworks of kinetic response or electrolyte screening. In this paper, we combine analytic solutions of Poisson-Boltzmann and diffusion-capture equations to show that the electrostatic screening within an ionic environment limits the response of nanobiosensor such that S(t) approximately c1(ln(rho0) - ln(I0)/2 + ln(t)/ D F + c2[pH]) + c3 where c i are geometry-dependent constants, rho0 is the concentration of target molecules, I0 the salt concentration, and D F the fractal dimension of sensor surface. Our analysis provides a coherent theoretical interpretation of a wide variety of puzzling experimental data that have so far defied intuitive explanation.     

Vertical Phase Separation in Small Molecule:Polymer Blend Organic Thin Film Transistors Can Be Dynamically Controlled

Blending of small‐molecule organic semiconductors (OSCs) with amorphous polymers is known to yield high performance organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). Vertical stratification of the OSC and polymer binder into well‐defined layers is crucial in such systems and their vertical order determines whether the coating is compatible with a top and/or a bottom gate OTFT configuration. Here, we investigate the formation of blends prepared via spin‐coating in conditions which yield bilayer and trilayer stratifications. We use a combination of in situ experimental and computational tools to study the competing effects of formulation thermodynamics and process kinetics in mediating the final vertical stratification. It is shown that trilayer stratification (OSC/polymer/OSC) is the thermodynamically favored configuration and that formation of the buried OSC layer can be kinetically inhibited in certain conditions of spin‐coating, resulting in a bilayer stack instead. The analysis reveals here that preferential loss of the OSC, combined with early aggregation of the polymer phase due to rapid drying, inhibit the formation of the buried OSC layer. The fluid dynamics and drying kinetics are then moderated during spin‐coating to promote trilayer stratification with a high quality buried OSC layer which yields unusually high mobility >2 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in the bottom‐gate top‐contact configuration.     

Application of local error method to SSSF simulation of vector propagation in dispersion compensated optical links

A local error method based on an analytical scheme previously developed for the scalar optical fiber channel is applied to the second-order symmetrized split-step Fourier simulation of polarization multiplexed signal propagation through dispersion compensated optical fiber links. It is found that the global simulation accuracy for the vector propagation can be satisfied using the local error bound from a scalar propagation model for the same global error over a large range of simulation accuracy, chromatic dispersion, and differential group delay. Furthermore, carefully designed numerical simulations are used to show that similar local simulation error are obtained for vector simulations and that the similar local error leads to higher computational efficiency compared to other prevalent step-size selection schemes. The scaling of the global simulation error with respect to the number of optical fiber spans is demonstrated, and global error control for multi-span simulations is proposed. Combining the local error and global error control, the developed simulation scheme can significantly speed up the time-consuming simulations in coherent optical fiber communication system analysis and design.     

Composite Nanostructures of TiO2 and ZnO for Water Splitting Application: Atomic Layer Deposition Growth and Density Functional Theory Investigation

The commercialization of solar fuel devices requires the development of novel engineered photoelectrodes for water splitting applications which are based on redundant, cheap, and environmentally friendly materials. In the current study, a combination of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) onto nanotextured silicon is utilized for a composite electrode with the aim to overcome the individual shortcomings of the respective materials. The properties of conformal coverage of TiO₂ and ZnO layers are designed on the atomic scale by the atomic layer deposition technique. The resulting photoanode shows not only promising stability but also nine times higher photocurrents than an equivalent photoanode with a pure TiO₂ encapsulation onto the nanostructured silicon. Density functional theory calculations indicate that segregation of TiO₂ at the ZnO surfaces is favorable and leads to the stabilization of the ZnO layers in water environments. In conclusion, the novel designed composite material constitutes a promising base for a stable and effective photoanode for the water oxidation reaction.     

Development and application of C60-fullerene bound silica for solid-phase extraction of biomolecules

Sample pretreatment is the most important procedure to remove the matrix for interfacing with mass spectrometry (MS). Additionally, for the samples with low concentration, the process of preconcentration is required before MS analysis. We have newly developed a solid-phase extraction stationary phase based on C60-fullerene covalently bound to silica for purification of biomolecules of different characteristics. Silica particles of different porosity are modified with aminopropyl linker and then covalently bound to C60-fullerenoacetic acid or C60-epoxyfullerenes. The developed materials have been successfully applied as an alternative to commercially available reversed-phase materials for solid-phase extraction. C60-fullerene silica is able to retain small and hydrophilic molecules like phosphopeptides, which can be easily lost by reversed-phase sorbents. The novel materials are applied for desalting and preconcentration of proteins and peptides, especially phosphopeptides. In addition, the C60-fullerene silica is applied for the solid-phase extraction of selected flavonoids with recoveries of approximately 99%. The recoveries are compared with the commercially available solid-phase extraction materials.     

Hybrid biosorbent: An innovative matrix to enhance the biosorption of Cd(II) from aqueous solution

To enhance the metal removing capacity of a fungus biosorbent, a new idea of producing a hybrid biosorbent (HB) matrix by combining two different biosorbents using a simple and low-cost immobilization technique was tested for the sorption of Cd(II). The two biosorbents, used as the building block for the production of HB matrix, were the fungal biomass of Phanerochaete chrysosporium (B1) and fibrous network of papaya wood (B2). Maximum independent biosorption capacity of B1 and B2 was noted, respectively, to be 71.36 and 17.62 mgCd(II)g(-1) biosorbent. However, when two biosorbents were hybridized to form HB matrix, the combined biosorption capacity (141.63 mgCd(II)g(-1) biosorbent) was increased by 98.47, 703.80%, respectively, as compared to the ability of B1 and B2 when used alone, and by 59.17% than the sum of separate individual abilities of biosorbents B1 and B2. The kinetics of equilibrium was fast, approximately 88% of Cd(II) biosorption taking place within 30 min. Biosorption kinetics and equilibria followed the pseudo-second order kinetics and Langmuir adsorption isotherms model. HB matrix was also shown to be highly effective in removing Cd(II) from aqueous solution in a continuous flow fixed-bed column bioreactor, both in batch and repeated cycles.