Knowledge of transduction mechanisms in biosensing applications paves the way for ultrasensitive and dynamic detection in living systems. Real-world biosensing applications where ultrasensitivity and dynamic detection are paramount include monitoring the anesthetic agent concentration during surgery; the slightest variation in concentration can potentially result in a life-threatening overdose or, on the other end of the spectrum, the patient's awareness during the procedure. We review the benefits and functions of the transcutaneous biosensor device compared with other current technology and discuss the sensor's capability to accurately measure volatile anesthetic gas concentration in blood using fuel cell technology. We review fundamental concepts of fuel-cell technology for bio-sensing applications. The fuel cell sensor can also continuously monitor other volatile organic compounds making it versatile with numerous potential applications.
The wide use of Li-ion batteries in energy storage has resulted in a new waste product stream rich in valuable metals Mn, Ni, and Co with well-known catalytic activities. In this work, a spent Li-ion battery electrode material with lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide is shown as an excellent reusable catalyst for oxidation of biomass-derived furan aldehydes and alcohols to their value-added oxidation products with applications in the sustainable polymer industry. A mechanically separated, combined cathode and anode black material from a spent DELL 1525 laptop battery was pyrolyzed in air at 600 °C to remove binders and electrolytes to prepare the catalyst. The SEM, XRF, and X-ray crystallography analysis of the catalyst showed the presence of C, O, Li, Ni, Co, and Mn, indicating the presence of a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 )-type cathode material in the spent Li-ion battery employed in the study. This material was shown as an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of aldehyde and alcohol functional groups in biofurans, furan-2-aldehyde, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, and 5,5′-[oxybis(methylene)]bis[2-furaldehyde], to their corresponding carboxylic acids in 82−97% yield, at 120−140 °C, under 1.24 MPa oxygen, and in 0.10 M aq. Na 2 CO 3 medium.
Controlling and predicting the morphology of lanthanide sesquioxides in thin film form is vital to their use in current applications. In the present study, single and codeposited Sm2O3, Er2O3, and Lu2O3 thin films were grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia (8%) substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature and 500 °C. The effect of two different substrate temperatures and altering the oxide cation on the structural and morphological properties of the films was analyzed. The thin films were characterized by profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. The single-component Lu2O3 and Sm2O3 films obtained were of the cubic phase, and the Er2O3 was a mix of cubic and monoclinic phases. It was observed for both the Er2O3 and Lu2O3 films that increasing the substrate temperature to 500 °C resulted in larger grained polycrystalline films. In contrast, large grained polycrystalline films were obtained at both room temperature and 500 °C for Sm2O3 and uneven granularity increased as temperature increased. Codeposition of Lu2O3 and Sm2O3, and Lu2O3 and Er2O3 resulted in a cubic bixbyite phase (the C phase of the lanthanide sesquioxide) solid solution. It was observed that the structure and morphology of the films can be controlled by manipulating deposition parameters. Both substrate temperature and altering the oxide cation contributed to changes in crystallinity and grain structure, which can modify the chemical and physical properties of the films for their applications.
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