H2S sensors based on SnO2 films: RGTO verses RF sputtering

Gas sensing characteristics of SnO₂ thin films prepared by RF sputtering have been investigated and compared to that of RGTO (Rheotaxially Grown and Thermally Oxidized) films. Both the sensor films exhibited a highly selective response towards H₂S with RF sputtered film showing better response characteristics. RF sputtered and RGTO films exhibited a maximum response of 54 and 15 towards 10 ppm of H₂S at an optimum operating temperature of 150 and 250 °C, respectively. Sputtered films exhibited a linear response in the wide concentration range from 500 ppb to 500 ppm while RGTO films were found to saturate for concentrations above 100 ppm. XPS investigations revealed that the RGTO films are more sub–stoichiometric or oxygen deficient than the sputtered films. Raman studies further indicates that the surface of sputtered and RGTO films are characterized by the presence of oxygen deficiency attributed to the “bridging-type” and deeper “in-plane/sub-bridging” oxygen vacancies, respectively. The improved response kinetics of the RF sputtered films is attributed to the presence of bridging type oxygen vacancies that facilitates the charge transfer between the sensor surface and H₂S molecules.     

Comparison of ZnS semiconductor nanoparticles capped with various functional groups as the matrix and affinity probes for rapid analysis of cyclodextrins and proteins in surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) capped with a variety of functional groups including bare ZnS NPs, 3-mercaptopropanoic acid (ZnS-3-MPA), sodium citrate (ZnS-citrate), cysteamine (ZnS-Cys), and 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (ZnS-2-MES) have been investigated as the matrix and affinity probes for analysis of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs), ubiquitin, and insulin in biological samples by using surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF-MS). Various parameters that would influence the ionization efficiency and sensitivity of these ZnS NPs in SALDI-TOF-MS were examined including the effect of capping agents, sample pH, ion abundance, and concentration of ZnS NPs. Among these ZnS NPs, our results have demonstrated that ZnS-3-MPA exhibited the highest efficiency toward CDs, ubiquitin, and insulin for high-sensitivity detection in SALDI-TOF-MS. The detection limits were 20-55 nM for CDs, 91 nM for ubiquitin, and 85 nM for insulin. The applicability of the present method is demonstrated by detection of ubiquitin-like proteins in oyster mushroom and also in the analysis of analytes in biological samples such as human urine and plasma. To our best knowledge, this is the first time semiconductor NPs were used as the matrix and affinity probes for high-sensitivity detection of organic and biomolecules in SALDI-TOF-MS. This approach exhibits the advantages of being simple, rapid, efficient, and straightforward for direct analysis of organic and biological samples in SALDI-TOF-MS without the need for time-consuming separation processes, tedious washing steps, or further laborious purification. In addition, it also can provide a sensitive and reliable quantitative assay for small- and large-molecule analysis with the detectable mass up to 8500 Da. We believe that this novel ZnS nanoprobe is simple, efficient, lower cost (compared with Au, Ag, and Pt NPs), fast, and with the potential for high-throughput analysis in SALDI-TOF-MS.     

Effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles coating on the electrodes of benthic microbial fuel cell

Benthic microbial fuel cell is a power source for low-power devices. For enhancement of power, Cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) were coated on anode and cathode electrodes and compared separately. CeO₂ NPs were synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by Dynamic light scattering. Polyvinylidene fluoride and graphite powder were used as a conductive matrix for binding CeO₂ NPs. Coated electrodes were characterized by physical and electrochemical analysis. Maximum power densities generated by CeO₂ coated cathode and anode were 60 and 43 mW/m³ respectively; whereas conductive matrix only produced 14 mW/m³. Results demonstrated that CeO₂ at cathode performed better than at anode. NPs show their effectiveness as an oxygen reduction reaction catalyst in the sea water.     

Electrospun Nanofibers: Materials,Synthesis Parameters,and Their Role in Sensing Applications

Since the last decade, electrospinning is garnering more attention in the scientific research community, industries, applications like sensing (glucose, H₂O₂, dopamine, ascorbic acid, uric acid, neurotransmitter, etc.), biomedical applications (wound dressing, wound healing, skin, nerve, bone tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems), water treatment, energy harvesting, and storage applications. This review paper provides a brief overview of the electrospinning method, history of the electrospinning, factors affecting the electrospun nanofibers, and their morphology with different materials and composites (metals, metal oxides, 2D material, polymers and copolymers, carbon-based materials, etc.) used in the electrospinning technique with optical spinning parameters. Moreover, this paper deliberates the application of electrospun nanofibers and fibrous mats for sensing (electrochemical, optical, fluorescence, colorimetric, mechanical, photoelectric, mass sensitive change, resistive, ultrasensitive, etc.) in most illustrative representations. In the end, the challenges, opportunities of the electrospun nanofibers, and new direction for future progress are also discussed.     

Selective H2S detection by CuO functionalized ZnO nanotetrapods at room temperature

ZnO nanotetrapods have been synthesized by carbothermal method. The structure, phase, morphology of the synthesized sample were investigated by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and Selected area electron diffraction. The gas-sensing characteristics of thick films of pure and CuO-functionalized ZnO Nanotetrapods have been compared. Pure ZnO nanotetrapod films were found to be sensitive to both H₂S and NO with similar sensitivities, at a temperature of 250–300 °C. It is demonstrated that functionalization of ZnO nanotetrapods with CuO, results in selectivity towards H₂S at a lower temperature of 50 °C.     

Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Solid Propellants in Rocket Motors by Indentation Technique

It is essential to evaluate the mechanical properties of propellants in a solid propellant rocket motor (SPRM) for structural integrity and its performance evaluation before the flight test. Conventionally, uni‐axial tensile testing on an universal testing machine (UTM) is used to evaluate the mechanical properties of solid propellant carton which is cast along with SPRM. Propellants in rocket motors experience various types of loading during storage, transportation, and environmental conditions over the period of time before actual flight whereas the propellant carton doesn’t experience the same as it is stored in magazine. At present, the mechanical properties of propellant cast in a carton are considered to be the mechanical properties of propellant in a rocket motor, which is not truly representative. Therefore, a non‐destructive indentation technique has been used to establish a method for evaluating the mechanical properties of solid propellants in rocket motors based on hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene. The test results obtained using the penetrometer indentation technique was analyzed comprehensively and compared with UTM results. The mathematical correlations were also developed using least square method and established by conducting the penetrometer indentation test on similar propellant composition. Further, the developed correlation was used to evaluate the mechanical properties of propellant in flight SPRM by penetrometer indentation technique.     

Element mobility during the hydrothermal alteration of rhyolitic rocks of the Los Azufres geothermal field, Mexico

The effects of hydrothermal alteration on major, rare-earth, and other trace-element concentrations in rhyolitic rocks of the Los Azufres geothermal field, Mexico, were investigated by statistically comparing the chemical compositions of altered drill cuttings (taken above 450 m depth) with those of fresh rock outcrop samples. Altered rhyolitic rocks show predominantly vitreous and fluidal textures, with alteration products (mainly clay minerals, chlorites and, less commonly, sericite) comprising up to 40% of the rock mass; cryptocrystalline quartz, chlorite, and zeolites fill fractures and vesicles. In altered rocks the greater statistical variances of several elements (Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Lu, and Pb) are probably due to alteration effects, whereas smaller variances for CaO, Sr, Rb/Sr, and Rb/Ba suggest that alteration processes have resulted in more uniform chemical compositions. Only MnO, P₂O₅, Ta, Zr, and Nb have significantly different concentrations in hydrothermal altered rocks as compared to fresh rocks. MnO, P₂O₅, Ta, Rb/Zr, and Rb/Nb decrease, whereas Zr, Nb, and Nb/Y increase in the altered rocks. The present study stresses that caution should be taken when using these chemical parameters for petrogenetic studies of old hydrothermally altered areas, particularly with rhyolitic rocks. Rare-earth element (REE) concentrations were not significantly different between fresh and altered rhyolitic rocks. This may indicate that these elements were relatively immobile during the hydrothermal alteration processes affecting the rhyolites at Los Azufres, or more likely that they were reincorporated into hydrothermal minerals after being mobilized from the primary phases.     

SolGeo: A new computer program for solute geothermometers and its application to Mexican geothermal fields

The freely available computer program Solute Geothermometers (SolGeo) was written and tested using geochemical data and reported geothermometric temperatures from several geothermal wells from around the world. Subsurface temperatures for the Mexican geothermal fields of Cerro Prieto, Las Tres Vírgenes, Los Azufres, and Los Humeros were estimated based on different solute geothermometers and found to be generally in close agreement with measured well temperatures when considering errors in the calculations and measurements. For Los Humeros wells it was concluded that a better agreement of chemical geothermometric temperatures is observed with static formation than with bottom-hole temperatures (BHTs). It was also found that the widely used Na–K geothermometric equations generally give more consistent and more reliable temperature estimates than the other geothermometers, which should therefore be applied with caution.