Synthesis, characterization and the electrocatalytic behaviour of nickel (II) tetraamino-phthalocyanine chemically linked to single walled carbon nanotubes

In this work we report on the synthesis, characterization and the electrochemical behavior of amide linked nickel (II) tetraamino-phthalocyanine (NiTAPc)-single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanomaterials (NiTAPc-SWCNT (linked)). UV-vis, XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopies were used in characterization whilst cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical behavior of NiTAPc-SWCNT (linked)-GCE. Relative to the bare glassy carbon electrode (bare-GCE), SWCNT-GCE, NiTAPc-GCE, and NiTAPc/SWCNT (mixed)-GCE, the NiTAPc-SWCNT (linked)-GCE gave the best current responses for the oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). The catalytic rate constant is of the magnitude of 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ while the detection limit (LOD) is 0.15 μM using the 3δ notation, with a sensitivity of 2.53 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻².     

Prioritising quality traits for gender-responsive breeding for boiled potato in Uganda

Using quantitative, qualitative and sensorial data collected from western (Kabale) and central (Rakai) Uganda, this paper identifies and describes gender-responsive traits preferred in varieties for the boiled potato market. These traits are aggregated into a product profile to support breeding programme design and decision-making that will increase probability of variety acceptance. An interdisciplinary and participatory methodology was used to collect data on socio-economic on trait preferences, processing and organoleptics and finally, to develop a lexicon through a sensorial panel. Characteristics that were important to both men and women, such as red skin and yellow flesh, are linked to market preferences. Women-only preferred characteristics such as big size and mealiness are linked to processing efficiency and eating quality. Besides agronomic traits, breeders must consider factors such as gender roles, social norms, and market preferences traits that guide farmers and other food chain actors in their selection of new varieties.     

Energy delivery of solar thermal collectors in Zimbabwe

The long-term annual thermal energy delivery per unit of collector area of commonly used collector types and configurations, for a range of operating temperatures, are calculated for representative locations in Zimbabwe. A well-known model found in the literature is the basic tool of analysis, the only modifications being, the use of a locally-derived correlation of the monthly average diffuse fraction of hemispherical radiation to the monthly average clearness index, and the use of temperature-dependent collector heat loss coefficients. The results are presented as plots of annual specific thermal energy output against collector receiver temperature gain (T_r−T_a).The results, though founded on a number of simplifying assumptions on some collector parameters, provide a sound basis for the economic evaluation of solar thermal applications in Zimbabwe.     

Mutation of GGMP Repeat Segments of Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-1 Compromises Chaperone Function and Hop Co-Chaperone Binding

Parasitic organisms especially those of the Apicomplexan phylum, harbour a cytosol localised canonical Hsp70 chaperone. One of the defining features of this protein is the presence of GGMP repeat residues sandwiched between α-helical lid and C-terminal EEVD motif. The role of the GGMP repeats of Hsp70s remains unknown. In the current study, we introduced GGMP mutations in the cytosol localised Hsp70-1 of Plasmodium falciparum (PfHsp70-1) and a chimeric protein (KPf), constituted by the ATPase domain of E. coli DnaK fused to the C-terminal substrate binding domain of PfHsp70-1. A complementation assay conducted using E. coli dnaK756 cells demonstrated that the GGMP motif was essential for chaperone function of the chimeric protein, KPf. Interestingly, insertion of GGMP motif of PfHsp70-1 into DnaK led to a lethal phenotype in E. coli dnaK756 cells exposed to elevated growth temperature. Using biochemical and biophysical assays, we established that the GGMP motif accounts for the elevated basal ATPase activity of PfHsp70-1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this motif is important for interaction of the chaperone with peptide substrate and a co-chaperone, PfHop. Our findings suggest that the GGMP may account for both the specialised chaperone function and reportedly high catalytic efficiency of PfHsp70-1.     

Covalent linking of ethylene amine functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes to cobalt (II) tetracarboxyl-phthalocyanines for use in electrocatalysis

In this paper, we report on the use of ethylene amine (EA) side-wall functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in the synthesis of covalently linked cobalt (II) tetracarboxyl-phthalocyanine complex (CoTCPc–EA–SWCNT(linked)), the characterization of the linked complex and the application of this complex in the electrocatalytic oxidation of amitrole. UV–vis, FTIR, TEM, Raman and XRD spectroscopies were used in characterization of CoTCPc–EA–SWCNT complex, while cyclic voltammetry, rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry, chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used during the characterization of amitrole on the modified glassy carbon electrode. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to confirm the extend of functionalisation of of SWCNTs. The catalytic rate constant was 1.2 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 and the apparent electron rate transfer constant was 3.0 × 10^?5 cm s^?1. The linear dynamic range was 1.0 × 10^?5–1.6 × 10^?4 M, with a sensitivity of ～0.76 A mol^?1L cm^?2 and a limit of detection of 0.1 μM using the 3δ notation.     

Synthesis and characterization of electrocatalytic conjugates of tetraamino cobalt (II) phthalocyanine and single wall carbon nanotubes

In this paper we report on the synthesis and characterization of electrocatalytic conjugates of tetraamino cobalt (II) phthalocyanine and single walled carbon nanotubes (CoTAPc–SWCNT-linked) for use as electrode surface modifiers. FTIR, UV–vis and Raman spectroscopies were used to ascertain the chemical linkage between CoTAPc and SWCNT while cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry were used to assess the electrocatalytic efficiency of the linked product towards the oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol. The CoTAPc–SWCNT-linked-GCE demonstrated very good catalytic efficiency relative to CoTAPc–SWCNT-mixed-GCE, CoTAPc-GCE and f-SWCNTs-GCE (functionalised SWCNT). CoTAPc–SWCNT-linked-GCE gave a sensitivity of 0.2 μA/μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.2 × 10⁻⁷ M for 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) at pH 4.     

Synthesis and electrocatalytic behavior of cobalt (II)-tris(benzyl-mercapto)-monoaminophthalocyanine–single walled carbon nanotube nanorods

In this paper we report on synthesis and electrocatalytic behavior of cobalt (II)-tris(benzyl-mercapto)-monoaminophthalocyanine–single walled carbon nanotube nanorods towards the oxidation of amitrole. SWCNTs that were terminally functionalized with carboxylic acid groups were chemically linked to cobalt (II)-tris(benzyl-mercapto) monoaminophthalocyanine (CoMAPc) via an amide bond to form nanorods. UV–vis, FTIR, TEM, Raman and XRD spectroscopies were used in characterization of the nanorods (CoMAPc–SWCNT-linked), while cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used during the characterization of amitrole on the modified glassy carbon electrode. The linear dynamic range for the amitrole was from 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M to 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ M, with a sensitivity of 6.76 A mol⁻¹ L cm⁻². The estimated limit of detection for amitrole was 0.10 μM, using the 3δ criterion. The catalytic rate constant was found to be 1.09 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

High Performance Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Enabled by Fluoropoly(olefin) Membranes

Although the peak power density of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) has been raised from ≈0.1 to ≈1.4 W cm^?2 over the last decade, a majority of AEMFCs reported in the literature have not been demonstrated to achieve consistently high performance and steady‐state operation. Poly(olefin)‐based AEMs with fluorine substitution on the aromatic comonomer show considerably higher dimensional stability compared to samples that do not contain fluorine. More importantly, fluorinated poly(olefin)‐based AEMs exhibit high hydroxide conductivity without excessive hydration due to a new proposed mechanism where the fluorinated dipolar monomer facilitates increased hydroxide dissociation and transport. Using this new generation of AEMs, a stable, high‐performance AEMFC is operated for 120 h. When the fuel cell configuration is subjected to a constant current density of 600 mA cm^?2 under H₂/O₂ flow, the cell voltage declines only 11% (from 0.75 to 0.67 V) for the first 20 h during break‐in and the cell voltage loss is low (0.2 mV h^?1) over the subsequent 100 h of cell testing. The ease of synthesis, potential for low‐cost commercialization, and remarkable ex situ properties and in situ performance of fluoropoly(olefin)‐based AEM renders this material a benchmark membrane for practical AEMFC applications.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of amitrole and diuron on iron(II) tetraaminophthalocyanine-single walled carbon nanotube dendrimer

FeTAPc-single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) dendrimers are employed as glassy carbon electrode modifiers for the electrocatalytic oxidations of amitrole and diuron. The catalytic rate constants were 4.55 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 1.79 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for amitrole and diuron, respectively using chronoamperometric studies. The diffusion constants were found to be 1.52 × 10⁻⁴ cm² s⁻¹ and 1.91 × 10⁻⁴ cm² s⁻¹ for diuron and amitrole, respectively. The linear concentration range for both were from 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M and sensitivities of 0.6603 μA/μM and 0.6641 μA/μM for amitrole and diuron, with corresponding limits of detection of 2.15 × 10⁻⁷ and 2.6 × 10⁻⁷ M using the 3δ notation, respectively.