Bioelectrochemistry at nanocomposite-modified interfaces and surfaces

该研究计划旨在提供对固定在表面和界面上的纳米材料改性复合结构中各种相互作用分子的详细了解。电化学在导电电活性聚合物的制备和表征中起着重要的作用。电化学技术特别适合于这些化合物的受控合成和用于调整明确定义的氧化态。第一个目标是研究的假设，共轭聚合物的电活性显着影响的纳米复合材料中的金属纳米粒子的表面等离子体。作为一个长期目标，该研究计划将提供一个系统的方法和配方，以开发新的纳米复合材料改性表面和界面。在这项研究计划中，重点在于开发新型电化学和等离子体传感器以及在各种表面（碳，氧化铟锡（ITO），金，银，硼掺杂金刚石等）上制造的纳米机器。将使用具有纳米材料如碳纳米管、石墨烯和金属纳米颗粒的CEP进行修饰。对于电化学传感器和纳米机器的发展，纳米复合材料将被用作活性，传感或催化层;也作为捕获生物分子和纳米材料的基质。某些金属纳米颗粒与共轭聚合物表现出优异的协同性能。尽管进行了大量的研究，导电聚合物和螯合纳米材料之间的潜在协同效应的一些基本性质还没有得到很好的理解。这些包括与金属纳米颗粒缔合后聚合物的增强的导电性，以及在电化学测量期间金属纳米颗粒的受驱动的集体电子振荡特性（局部表面等离子体共振，LSPR）。该研究计划的目标之一是利用开发的纳米机器快速有效地去除水中的有毒金属和有机污染物。拟议的项目假设纳米机器技术可以用来开发一种新的工具，通过设计工具来解决传统水净化方法的挑战和局限性，这些工具可以被水处理厂和无法获得清洁水的家庭使用。在提高混合纳米机器的效率、功率和功能方面取得的实质性进展，为设计下一代具有在微环境中执行复杂任务和反应能力的纳米级器件提供了令人兴奋的未来。该研究计划融合了电化学，传感器，纳米技术和设备制造，为学生提供了了解当今世界科学与纳米技术之间联系的机会;因此，积极为加拿大和全球的经济财富和生活质量做出贡献。

The research program aims to provide a detailed understanding of various interacting molecules in a nanomaterial-modified composite structure immobilized on surfaces and interfaces. Electrochemistry has played a significant role in the preparation and characterization of the conducting electro-active polymers (CEPs). Electrochemical techniques are especially well suited to the controlled synthesis of these compounds and for the tuning of a well-defined oxidation state. First objective is to investigate the hypothesis that electro-activity of conjugated polymers is significantly influenced by the surface plasmons of metal nanoparticles in the nanocomposite. As a long-term objective, the research program will provide a systematic approach and recipes to develop novel nanocomposite-modified surfaces and interfaces. In this research program, the focus lies on the development of novel electrochemical and plasmonic sensors and nanomachines fabricated on various surfaces (carbon, indium tin oxide (ITO), gold, silver, boron-doped diamond, etc.) that will be modified using CEPs with nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and metal nanoparticles. For the development of electrochemical sensors and nanomachines, nanocomposites will be used as active, sensing, or catalytic layers; also as matrices entrapping biomolecules and nanomaterials. Certain metal nanoparticles exhibit excellent synergistic properties with conjugated polymers. Despite intense studies, some fundamental properties of the potential synergistic effects between the conducting polymers and the sequestered nanomaterials are not well understood. These include enhanced conductivity of the polymer after association with the metal nanoparticles, and the driven collective electron oscillation characteristics (localized surface plasmon resonance, LSPR) of the metal nanoparticles during electrochemical measurements. One of the goals of this research program is to utilize the developed nanomachines for fast and efficient removal of toxic metals and organic pollutants from water. The proposed project hypothesizes that nanomachine technology can be utilized to develop a novel tool that will address the challenges and limitations of conventional water purification methods by designing tools, which can be used by water treatment plants as well as households, which do not have access to the clean water. Substantial progress in improving efficiency, power, and functionality of hybrid nanomachines promises an exciting future for designing the next generation of nanoscale devices with the capability to perform complex tasks and reactions in microenvironments. The research program, with its blend of electrochemistry, sensors, nanotechnology, and device fabrication provides students with opportunities to learn about the connection between science and nanotechnology in today's world; therefore contributing actively to economic wealth and the quality of life in Canada and also globally.