Nadhratun Naiim Mobarak

Binding Affinity of a Highly Sensitive Au/Ag/Au/Chitosan-Graphene Oxide Sensor Based on Direct Detection of Pb2+ and Hg2+ Ions

The study of binding affinity is essential in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing because it allows researchers to quantify the affinity between the analyte and immobilised ligands of an SPR sensor. In this study, we demonstrate the derivation of the binding affinity constant, K, for Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions according to their SPR response using a gold/silver/gold/chitosan–graphene oxide (Au/Ag/Au/CS–GO) sensor for the concentration range of 0.1–5 ppm. The higher affinity of Pb2+ to binding with the CS–GO sensor explains the outstanding sensitivity of 2.05 °ppm−1 against 1.66 °ppm−1 of Hg2+. The maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) upon detection of Pb2+ is 1.53, and exceeds the suggested logical criterion of an SNR. The Au/Ag/Au/CS–GO SPR sensor also exhibits excellent repeatability in Pb2+ due to the strong bond between its functional groups and this cation. The adsorption data of Pb2+ and Hg2+ on the CS–GO sensor fits well with the Langmuir isotherm model where the affinity constant, K, of Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions is computed. The affinity of Pb2+ ions to the Au/Ag/Au/CS–GO sensor is significantly higher than that of Hg2+ based on the value of K, 7 × 105 M−1 and 4 × 105 M−1, respectively. The higher shift in SPR angles due to Pb2+ and Hg2+ compared to Cr3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions also reveals the greater affinity of the CS–GO SPR sensor to them, thus supporting the rationale for obtaining K for these two heavy metals. This study provides a better understanding on the sensing performance of such sensors in detecting heavy metal ions.

Synthesis and characterization of carboxymethyl κ-carrageenan for dye-sensitized solar cells application

κ-Carrageenan is an anionic polymer extracted from marine red algae. In order to increase conductivity of the κ-carrageenan, carboxymethyl κ-carrageenan was synthesized by the reaction of κ-carrageenan with monochloroacetic acid. A polymer electrolyte comprising κ-carrageenan and carboxymethyl κ-carrageenan was prepared by solution-casting technique. The films were characterized by Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to investigate the presence of the complexes. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy was conducted to obtain ionic conductivity. Ionic conductivity was found to increase with the addition of carboxymethyl group on carrageenan. The conductivity achieved for κ-carrageenan and carboxymethyl κ-carrageenan were 5.34×10-7 S cm−1 and 2.02×10−4 S cm-1, respectively.

Spectroscopic studies of carboxymethyl chitosan-ammonium triflate (NH4CF3SO3) based solid polymer electrolytes

Carboxymethyl chitosan is the promising material to be used as host polymer for solid polymer electrolyte application. The film has been prepared by solution casting technique with different weight percentage of ammonium triflate (NH4CF3SO3) added to carboxymethyl chitosan. The highest ionic conductivity achieved by carboxymethyl chitosan with 20 wt. % of NH4CF3SO3 was 8.90 × 10−6 S cm−1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy had been used to examine the effect of ammonium triflate salt on each functional group of carboxymethyl chitosan. The shifting of wavenumber for hydroxyl, carbonyl and ether groups prove there are interaction between ammonium triflate salts and polymer host. The film is electrochemically stable up to 0.8 V.