Energie budoucnosti a inovace

Browse

Now showing 1 - 5 of 68

Magneto-Fluorescent Microrobots with Selective Detection Intelligence for High-Energy Explosives and Antibiotics in Aqueous Environments
(American Chemical Society, 2025-03-27) Natarajan, Senthil Nathan; Oral, Çaatay Mert; Pumera, Martin
Fluorescence-based sensing is a straightforward and powerful technique with high sensitivity for the detection of a wide range of chemical and biological analytes. Integrating the high sensing capabilities of fluorescent probes with wireless navigation systems can enable the extension of their operational range, even in challenging scenarios with limited accessibility or involving hazardous substances. This study presents the development of molecularly engineered magneto-fluorescent microrobots based on the push-pull quinonoids by incorporating magnetic nanoparticles using a reprecipitation approach with the aim of detecting high-energy explosives and antibiotics in aqueous environments. The magnetic components in the microrobots offer remotely controlled navigability toward the intended target areas under the guidance of external magnetic fields. Upon interactions with either explosives (picric acid) or antibiotics (tetracycline), the microrobots' intrinsic fluorescence switches to a "fluorescence off" state, enabling material-based intelligence for sensing applications. The molecular-level interactions that underlie "on-off" fluorescence state switching upon engagement with target molecules are elucidated through extensive spectroscopy, microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The microrobots' selectivity toward target molecules is achieved by designing microrobots with amine functionalities capable of intermolecular hydrogen bonding with the acidic hydroxyl group of picric acid, leading to the formation of water-soluble charge transfer picrate complexes through proton transfer. Similarly, proton transfer interactions play a key role in tetracycline detection. The selective fluorescence switching performance of microrobots in fluidic channel experiments illustrates their selective sensing intelligence for target molecules in an externally controlled manner, highlighting their promising characteristics for sensing applications in real-world scenarios.
High-entropy alloys: Electrochemical Nanoarchitectonics toward high-performance Water splitting
(Elsevier, 2025-04-01) Iffelsberger, Christian; Novčić, Katarina; Kolíbalová, Eva; Matysik, Frank-Michael; Pumera, Martin
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) offer unprecedented catalytic properties over single-composition nanoparticles or single atom engineered materials. Traditionally, the Hume-Rothery rule suggests that only size-and-structure similar elements can be mixed in conventional alloying, which limits the possible combinations of alloying elements. Here we propose an electrochemical approach as an innovative and alternative synthetic method for preparation of HEAs. Upon an electric arch by applying voltage drop of about 2 MV/m with high current densities and using ultra-thin Pt wire in glass, whose movement, in the aqueous solution containing the salt of the elements to be incorporated to the HEAs, is controlled by the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM), the HEAs, consisting of doped silica nanobeads are produced. The composition of such HEAs depends on the materials and solution used in their preparation and thus it contains Pt, Si, Al, Ca, K, Cl, Mn, Zn, Na, N, Mo, and S. This new approach is compatible with ambient air and aqueous solution processes and is not limited by material selection, presenting a significant advancement in the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. The findings underline the potential of these high-entropy nanostructured materials in advancing the efficiency of industrial processes, particularly in the realm of green hydrogen production through water splitting. This simple, lowvoltage, room temperature process is suitable for fabrication of HEAs of various composition and has the applicability to wide spectra of catalytic reactions.
MXene 3D/4D Printing: Ink Formulation and Electrochemical Energy Storage Applications
(WILEY-V C H, 2025-04-01) Nouseen, Shaista; Pumera, Martin
2D MXenes are a rapidly expanding class of 2D materials with a broad spectrum of electrochemical applications, particularly in the electrochemical energy storage area. Concurrently, 3D and 4D printing techniques have garnered significant research attention offering customized designs, rapid prototyping, and cost-effective scalable production. Integrating MXene into the 3D/4D printed structures offers a promising path for the development of advanced electrochemical energy storage devices, with the combination of outstanding properties of MXene and the versatility of printing technology. The present article provides a comprehensive report on MXene printing technologies, focusing on their rheological characteristics, surface chemistry, ink formulation, stability, and storage. Different printing techniques, including 3D/4D printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, and continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) methods-are discussed in the context of MXene integration. Additionally, the application of printed MXene materials in electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors and batteries, is explored along with future directions in evolving fields.
Nanoarchitectonics of Laser Induced MAX 3D-Printed Electrode for Photo-Electrocatalysis and Energy Storage Application with Long Cyclic Durability of 100 000 Cycles
(WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, 2024-11-01) Nouseen, Shaista; Deshmukh, Sujit; Pumera, Martin
3D printing, a rapidly expanding domain of additive manufacturing, enables the fabrication of intricate 3D structures with adjustable fabrication parameters and scalability. Nonetheless, post-fabrication, 3D-printed materials often require an activation step to eliminate non-conductive polymers, a process traditionally achieved through chemical, thermal, or electrochemical methods. These conventional activation techniques, however, suffer from inefficiency and inconsistent results. In this study, a novel chemical-free activation method employing laser treatment is introduced. This innovative technique effectively activates 3D-printed electrodes, which are then evaluated for their photo and electrochemical performance against traditional solvent-activated counterparts. The method not only precisely ablates surplus non-conductive polymers but also exposes and activates the underlying electroactive materials. The 3D-printed electrodes, processed with this single-step laser approach, exhibit a notably low overpotential of approximate to 505 mV at a current density of -10 mA cm(-2) under an illumination wavelength of 365 nm. These electrodes also demonstrate exceptional durability, maintaining stability through >100 000 cycles in energy storage applications. By amalgamating 3D printing with laser processing, the creation of electrodes with complex structures and customizable properties is enabled. This synergy paves the way for streamlined production of such devices in the field of energy conversion and storage.
Real Time Tracking of Nanoconfined Water-Assisted Ion Transfer in Functionalized Graphene Derivatives Supercapacitor Electrodes
(WILEY, 2024-10-01) Kandambath Padinjareveetil, Akshay Kumar; Pykal, Martin; Bakandritsos, Aristides; Zbořil, Radek; Otyepka, Michal; Pumera, Martin
Water molecules confined in nanoscale spaces of 2D graphene layers have fascinated researchers worldwide for the past several years, especially in the context of energy storage applications. The water molecules exchanged along with ions during the electrochemical process can aid in wetting and stabilizing the layered materials resulting in an anomalous enhancement in the performance of supercapacitor electrodes. Engineering of 2D carbon electrode materials with various functionalities (oxygen (& horbar;O), fluorine (& horbar;F), nitrile (& horbar;C equivalent to N), carboxylic (& horbar;COOH), carbonyl (& horbar;C & boxH;O), nitrogen (& horbar;N)) can alter the ion/water organization in graphene derivatives, and eventually their inherent ion storage ability. Thus, in the current study, a comparative set of functionalized graphene derivatives-fluorine-doped cyanographene (G-F-CN), cyanographene (G-CN), graphene acid (G-COOH), oxidized graphene acid (G-COOH (O)) and nitrogen superdoped graphene (G-N) is systematically evaluated toward charge storage in various aqueous-based electrolyte systems. Differences in functionalization on graphene derivatives influence the electrochemical properties, and the real-time mass exchange during the electrochemical process is monitored by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Electrogravimetric assessment revealed that oxidized 2D acid derivatives (G-COOH (O)) are shown to exhibit high ion storage performance along with maximum water transfer during the electrochemical process. The complex understanding of the processes gained during supercapacitor electrode charging in aqueous electrolytes paves the way toward the rational utilization of graphene derivatives in forefront energy storage applications. Covalent functionalization and doping of graphene surfaces -featuring groups such as oxygen, cyano-, carbon-fluorine, carboxyl groups, and nitrogen heteroatoms- significantly affects water-assisted ion transfer as monitored with electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, modulating the performance of supercapacitor electrodes. Such studies are crucial for advancing energy storage applications with a broader impact across electrochemistry-related technological domains. image

Browse

Recent Submissions