Zoran Laušević

Boron and phosphorus doped glassy carbon : I. Surface properties

Abstract The effects of boron and phosphorus incorporation in phenolic resin precursor on the surface properties of glassy carbon (GC) have been studied. Characterization of the surface properties using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analysis of desorption products showed that boron and phosphorus doped GC contained more carbon-oxygen complexes on the surface than undoped GC. The thermal decomposition of the surface oxide species, resulting in desorption of CO and CO2 as major gas products, showed that the presence of heteroatoms affects the nature of the surface oxide species and contributes to their increased stability. The presence of stable surface oxide species promotes the increased oxidation resistance of doped GC samples.

Glassy carbon and boron doped glassy carbon electrodes for voltammetric determination of linuron herbicide in the selected samples

AbstactIn this study the application of home-made unmodified (GC) and bulk modified boron doped glassy carbon (GCB) electrodes for the voltammetric determination of the linuron was investigated. The electrodes were synthesized with a moderate temperature treatment (1000°C). Obtained results were compared with the electrochemical determination of the linuron using a commercial glassy carbon electrode (GC-Metrohm). The peak potential (Ep) of linuron oxidation in 0.1 mol dm−3 H2SO4 as electrolyte was similar for all applied electrodes: 1.31, 1.34 and 1.28 V for GCB, GC and GC-Metrohm electrodes, respectively. Potential of linuron oxidation and current density depend on the pH of supporting electrolyte. Applying GCB and GC-Metrohm electrodes the most intensive electrochemical response for linuron was obtained in strongly acidic solution (0.1 mol dm−3 H2SO4). Applying the boron doped glassy carbon electrode the broadest linear range (0.005–0.1 µmol cm−3) for the linuron determination was obtained. The results of voltammetric determination of the linuron in spiked water samples showed good correlation between added and found amounts of linuron and also are in good agreement with the results obtained by HPLC-UV method. This appears to be the first application of a boron doped glassy carbon electrode for voltammetric determination of the environmental important compounds.

Photocatalytic Performance of Carbon Monolith/TiO2 Composite

The new and simple approach for deposition of catalytically active TiO2 coating on carbon monolith (CM) carrier was presented. CM photocatalysts were impregnated with TiO2 using titanium solution and thermal treatment, and their photocatalytic activity was investigated in the process of methylene blue (MB) photodegradation. For the purpose of comparison, CM composite photocatalysts were prepared by dip-coating method, which implies binder usage. The presence of TiO2 on CM carrier was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption characteristics of CM and the role of adsorption in the overall process of MB removal were evaluated through amount of surface oxygen groups obtained by temperature-programmed desorption and specific surface area determined by BET method. CM has shown good adsorption properties toward MB due to high amount of surface oxygen groups and relatively high specific surface area. It was concluded that photocatalytic activity increases with CM disc thickness due to increase of MB adsorption and amount of deposited TiO2. Good photocatalytic activity achieved for samples obtained by thermal treatment is the result of better accessibility of MB solution to the TiO2 particles induced by binder absence.

Formation of oxygen complexes in controlled atmosphere at surface of doped glassy carbon

The effects of boron and phosphorus incorporation in phenolic resin precursor to the oxidation resistance of glassy carbon have been studied. In order to reveal the nature and composition of the oxygen complexes formed at the surface of doped glassy carbon, under controlled atmosphere, the surface of the samples was cleaned under vacuum up to 1273 K. Specific functional groups, subsequently formed under dry CO2 or O2 atmosphere on the surface of boron-doped and phosphorus-doped glassy carbon samples, were examined using the temperature-programmed desorption method combined with mass spectrometric analysis. Characterization of surface properties of undoped and doped samples has shown that in the presence of either boron or phosphorus heteroatoms, a lower amount of oxygen complexes formed after CO2 exposure, while, typically, higher amount of oxygen complexes formed after O2 exposure. It has been concluded that the surface of undoped glassy carbon has a greater affinity towards CO2, while in the presence of either boron or phosphorus heteroatoms, the glassy carbon surface affinity becomes greater towards O2, under experimental conditions.

IN VIVO MRI BIOCOMPATIBILITY EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON FIBERS IN REACTION WITH SOFT TISSUES

In modern medicine implants are very important and so is their design and choice of materials. Almost equally important is the choice of imaging technique used to in vivo monitor their fate and biocompatibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in monitoring the biocompatibility of two newly designed carbon fibers. We have analyzed the interaction of surface functionalized carbon fibers (basic and acidic) with muscle and subcutaneous tissues of rabbits. MRI techniques showed to be useful in longitudinal monitoring of the surrounding tissues, assessment of biocompatibility of new implants, and in the distinction of in vivo surgical edema from inflammation. Histopathology confirmed MRI results, thus showing that MRI has a great potential for in vivo studies of such materials. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 45006 and III 41005]