ABSTRACT
Titanium dioxide is a well known photocatalyst for reactions involving surface trapped photogenerated carriers. Noble metal photo-reduction may be used for the processing of silver/TiO(2) nanocomposite coatings that may exhibit interesting optical and electrical properties. We present here results of our investigations performed on an original system consisting of preformed colloidal TiO(2) nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed within a mesoporous silica host matrix. Light irradiation of samples immerged in an aqueous silver salt solution leads to the homogeneous deposition of silver islands in the vicinity of the TiO(2) particles and throughout the film thickness. The silver volume fraction is directly controlled by the irradiation dose up to a value of about 16 vol.%. Films exhibit tunable plasmonic properties that correspond to silver nanoparticles in interaction, and a percolation threshold is observed at 8-10 vol.%, leading to films with a conductivity of about 40 S cm(-1). The major interest of this method lies in the high silver reduction quantum efficiency (about 50%) and the possibility to modulate optical and electronic properties by light irradiation while the low temperature of processing permits the photolithographic deposition of metallic patterns on organic flexible substrates.
ABSTRACT
Nanodiamond (ND) seeding is a well-established route toward the CVD (chemical vapor deposition) synthesis of diamond ultrathin films. This method is based on the deposition onto a substrate of diamond nanoparticles which act as pre-existing sp(3) seeds. Here, we report on a straightforward method to disperse diamond nanoparticles on a substrate by taking advantage of the electrostatic interactions between the nanodiamonds and the substrate surface coated with a cationic polymer. This layer-by-layer deposition technique leads to reproducible and homogeneous large-scale nanoparticle deposits independent of the substrate's nature and shape. No specific functionalization of the nanoparticles is required, and low concentrated solutions can be used. The density of NDs on the substrate can be controlled, as shown by in situ ATR-FTIR (attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared) analysis and QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) measurements. Highly dense and compact ND deposits can be obtained, allowing CVD growth of nanocrystalline diamond ultrathin films (70 nm) on various substrates. The synthesis of 3D structured and patterned diamond thin films has also been demonstrated with this method.
ABSTRACT
This paper describes a new system for amperometric determination of dissolved oxygen and its application for the detection of anionic toxic substances, which are known as enzyme inhibitors. This biosensor is based on the co-immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor and a redox active layered double hydroxide [Zn-Cr-ABTS] on a glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical transduction step corresponds to the electrocatalytic reduction of O2 at 0.2V by laccase as catalyst and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as mediator. Such device provides a fast and a sensitive response for dissolved oxygen determination between 6 x 10(-8) and 4 x 10(-6)M and very low detection limits for azide (5.5 nM), fluoride (6.9 nM) and cyanide (6.2 nM).
