This diploma thesis is focused on calculation of both structure and electronic properties of the graphene after the adsorption of atomic and molecular oxygen and urea using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). The influence of van der Waals interactions on the structure and adsorption energy is studied, as well as influence of the thermal corrections, the charge density spatial distribution and the electronic doping of graphene after the adsorption of the adsorbant on the graphene.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第22895号 / 工博第4792号 / 新制||工||1749(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科分子工学専攻 / (主査)教授 SIVANIAH Easan, 教授 田中 庸裕, 教授 今堀 博 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

Graphene electronics represent a developing field where many material properties and devices characteristics are still unknown. Researching several possible fabrication processes creates a fabrication process using resources found at Cal Poly a local industry sponsor. The project attempts to produce a graphene network in the shape of a fractal Sierpinski carpet. The fractal geometry proves that PDMS microfluidic channels produce the fine feature dimensions desired during graphene oxide deposit. Thermal reduction then reduces the graphene oxide into a purified state of graphene. Issues arise during thermal reduction because of excessive oxygen content in the furnace. The excess oxygen results in devices burning and additional oxidation of the gate contacts that prevents good electrical contact to the gates. Zero bias testing shows that the graphene oxide resistance decreases after thermal reduction, proving that thermal reduction of the devices occurs. Testing confirms a fabrication process producing graphene electronics; however, revision of processing steps, especially thermal reduction, should greatly improve the yield and functionality of the devices.

Predmetom tejto diplomovej práce bolo štúdium vplyvu detergentov na aktivitu, termostabilitu a agregáciu voľnej a imobilizovanej formy komerčného preparátu lipázy izolovanej z mikroskopickej huby Rhizopus arrhizus. Teoretická časť obsahuje ucelenú rešerš popisujúcu štruktúru, mechanizmus účinku a priemyselný význam spomínanej hydrolázy spolu s popisom chemických účinkov detergentov, pričom dôraz bol kladený predovšetkým na skupinu neionogénnych detergentov s názvom tweeny. V experimentálnej časti bol študovaný efekt tweenov na rozpustnej a imobilizovanej forme RA lipázy. Imobilizácia spočívala v priamej adsorpcii enzýmu na neupravený nosič. Ako nosič bol použitý oxidovaný grafén ošetrený tweenom (tween 20, 60, 80). Aktivita enzýmu bola stanovená spektrofotometricky za pomoci substrátu p-nitrofenyl laurátu. Zvýšenie aktivity voľnej lipázy (104 % oproti maximálnej hodnote) bolo zaznamenané pri použití tweenu 20 o koncentrácii vysoko nad hodnotou kritickej micelárnej koncentrácie (10 mmol•dm-3). Na základe štúdie imobilizačných podmienok, boli nastavené ideálne parametre pre dosiahnutie účinnej imobilizácie v spojení s čo najvyššou lipolytickou aktivitou (koncentrácia enzýmu 0,1 mg•ml-1, fosfátový tlmivý roztok pH 7,2, koncentrácia tweenu 10,8 mmol•dm-3, čas imobilizácie 1 hodina). Obe formy lipázy vykazovali maximálnu aktivitu pri 35 °C. Optimálne pH sa u imobilizovanej lipázy posunulo na hodnotu 8, v porovnaní s voľnou formou, ktorej pH optimum bolo stanovené na 9. Tepelná stabilita vykazovala približne rovnaký priebeh u oboch foriem skúmanej hydrolázy. Avšak v prípade štúdia stability enzýmu pri dlhodobej úschove bolo po imobilizácii zistené výrazné zlepšenie tohto parametru.

Tématem diplomové práce je imobilizace lipáz a konkrétně studium interakcí mezi lipázou a nosičem na bázi uhlíku. Lipáza izolovaná z kmene Rhizopus arrhizus byla adsorbována přímo na různé typy grafen oxidu (a1, a, b, c a d) a na grafen oxid typu a1 modifikovaný poly(ethylenglykolem), PEG-a1. Enzym adsorbovaný na nosič a1 byl následně sesítěn pomocí glutaraldehydu a vzorek byl označen jako GA(RA-a1). Vliv hydrofobního charakteru povrchu nosiče na účinnost imobilizace byl potvrzen vyšší úchovou počáteční aktivity enzymu imobilizovaného na více hydrofobním nosiči (nižší koncentrace polárních skupin) i při vyšší koncentraci rozpustného enzymu v roztoku. Stanovení enzymové aktivity bylo provedeno spektrofotometricky za použití p-nitrofenyl laurátu (p-NPL) jako substrátu. Pro imobilizovaný a volný enzym byly stanoveny základní biochemické a kinetické parametry. Optimální pH kovalentně imobilizovaného enzymu bylo posunuto do více kyselého oblasti (pH 7-8) ve srovnání s volným enzymem, kdy bylo optimum dosaženo při pH 9. Tepelná stabilita imobilizovaného enzymu byla výrazně zlepšena v případě vzorku GA(RA-a1), kde bylo aplikován glutaraldehyd po adsorpci enzymu na nosič. Sesíťování adsorbovaného enzymu pomocí glutaraldehydu vedlo ke zlepšení tepelné stability vzorku, a to pravděpodobně v důsledku intermolekulárních kovalentních vazeb. Na základě měření stability enzymu při teplotě 4 C ve fosfátovém pufru bylo prokázáno značné zlepšení úchovy lipolytické aktivity imobilizovaného vzorku oproti volnému enzymu. Volný enzym ztratil více než 84 % své původní aktivity za 42 dní, zatímco imobilizovaný enzym na nosiči c si zachoval 100 % své původní aktivity. Nejlepší stabilitu enzymu při úchově měl nosič c, když si po 180 dnech stále zachoval 87 % své původní aktivity.

Water splitting through photoelectrochemical reaction is widely regarded as a major method to generate H2 , a promising source of renewable energy to deal with the energy crisis faced up to human being. Efficient exploitation of visible light in practice of water splitting with pure TiO2 material, one of the most popular semiconductor material used for photoelectrochemical water splitting, is still challenging. One dimensional TiO2 nanotubes is highly desired with its less recombination with the short distance for charge carrier diffusion and light-scattering properties. This work is based on TiO2 NTPC electrode by the optimized two-step anodization method from our group. A highly crystalized p-type Cu2O layer was deposited by optimized pulse potentiostatic electrochemical deposition onto TiO2 nanotubes to enhance the visible light absorption of a pure p-type TiO2 substrate and to build a p-n junction at the interface to improve the PEC performance. However, because of the real photocurrent of Cu2O is far away from its theoretical limit and also poor stability in the aqueous environment, a design of rGO medium layer was added between TiO2 nanotube and Cu2O layer to enhance the photogenerated electrons and holes separation, extend charge carrier diffusion length (in comparison with those of conventional pure TiO2 or Cu2O materials) which could significantly increase photocurrent to 0.65 mA/cm2 under visible light illumination (>420 nm) and also largely improve the stability of Cu2O layer, finally lead to an enhancement of water splitting performance.

CHARLES UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF PHARMACY IN HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis Candidate: Aneta Ptáčková Supervisor: PharmDr. Lukáš Lochman, Ph.D. Title of thesis: Modification of capillary wall by graphene for separation applications Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a highly efficient separation method. Substances are separated due to their different mobility in an electric field. The CE modes of operation can be modified in different ways, e.g. capillary electrochromatography or micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. Modification of the inner wall of the capillary is believed to help improve separation efficiency and selectivity. Graphene is carbon with a hexagonal structure in form of two-dimensional sp2 single-atom-thick sheets. Graphene seems to be a suitable material for separation application due to its excellent properties such as large surface area and affinity to aromatic ring through π-π interactions. Our work is focused on the modification of the capillary wall by graphene. One of the methods of capillary wall modification is the Layer-by-Layer method via layering of differently charged substances bounded by electrostatic forces. Another method is chemical coating employing covalent interactions. Different combinations of polymers...

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Grafenoxid (GO) ar en lovande kandidat som nano-tillsats i medicinska byggnadsstallningar for benregenerering. GO kan forbattra den biologiska kompatibiliteten och osteogena prestandan hos polymerbaserade byggstallningar, och ocksa vasentligt bidra till forbattringen av materialets mekaniska egenskaper. I detta arbete ympades nano-grafenoxid (nGO) kovalent pa ytan av poly (e-kaprolakton) (PCL) genom att fdrst modifiera polymerytan via aminolys. Med anvandning av 1,6-hexandiamin / isopropanol infordes fria amingrupper framgangsrikt pa PCL-ytan for efterfoljande immobilisering av nGO. En optimerad ympningsprocess utvecklades via en losningsmedelsassisterad metod med vatten som losningsmedel for att kovalent binda nGO pa ytan av PCL byggnadsstallningar. De initiala nGO koncentrationerna var 0,5 och 1 mg / ml. fourier-transform infrarodspektroskopi (FTIR) och termogravimetrisk analys (TGA) verifierade bindningen mellan de funktionella gruppema pa nGO och de fria aminema. Svepelektronmikroskopi (SEM) visade en homogen fordelning av nGO pa ytan av de porosa byggnadsstallningarna. De mekaniska testema som utfordes demonstrerade · en 50 och 21 % okning av kompressionsstyrkan :for byggnadsstallningarna ympade med de initiala nGO-koncentrationema pa 0,5 och 1 mg / ml. In vitro-mineraliseringstester visade bildandet av mineralfallningar pa ytan av byggnadsstallningama som okade i storlek med hogre nGO-halt. A ven nGO: s potential som nano-barare av ett antibiotikum studerades i detta arbete. Pa grund av sitt overflod av kemiska funktionaliteter kan nGO effektivt adsorbera foreningar genom olika sekundara interaktioner. I denna studie optimerades dessa sekundara interaktioner genom att reglera losningens pH for maximal adsorption av ciprofloxacin, ett bredspektrum antibiotikum som anvands vid behandling av osteomyelit. Ciprofloxacin befanns kunna adsorberas starkast i sin katjonform vid pH 5, dar 1t-1t elektron­donatoracceptor (EDA) -interaktioner dominerar. Sammanfattningsvis bekraftar de resultat som presenteras i detta arbete potentialen hos nGO som egenskapsforbattrare och lakemedelsbarare i applikationer inom vavnadsregenerering. / Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising candidate as nano-filler material in scaffolds for bone regeneration. It has been demonstrated to enhance the biological compatibility and osteogenic performance of polymer-based scaffolds, aside from its substantial contribution to the improvement of the material's mechanical properties. In this work, nano-graphene oxide (nGO) was covalently grafted to the surface of poly( e-caprolactone) (PCL) by first modifying the polymer surface via aminolysis. Using 1,6-hexanediamine/isopropanol, free amine groups were successfully introduced to the PCL surface for the subsequent immobilization of nGO. An optimized grafting pathway, which implements the solvent-assisted method and uses water as a solvent, was developed to covalently attach nGO using initial concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) both verified the successful attachment of nGO through the free amines. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) depicts a homogeneous dispersion of nGO over the polymer matrix. Mechanical tests were performed and demonstrate a 50 and 21 % increase in compressive strength for the scaffolds grafted using initial nGO concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mglmL. In vitro mineralization tests showed the formation of mineral precipitates on the surface of the scaffolds that increased in size with higher nGO content. The potential of nGO as a nano-carrier of an antibiotic drug was also explored in this work. As it comprises of an abundance of chemical functionalities, nGO is able to efficiently adsorb compounds through various secondary interactions. In this study, these secondary interactions were optimized by controlling the solution pH for the maximum adsorption of ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used in the treatment of osteomyelitis. Ciprofloxacin was found to be adsorbed most strongly in its cationic form at pH 5, in which 1t-1t electron-donor acceptor (EDA) interactions predominate. Overall, the results presented in this work validate the potential of nGO as nano-enhancer and drug carrier in tissue engineering scaffold applications.

Groundwater (GW) accounting for most of the freshwater available around the World, finding sustainable techniques to depollute it is of crucial importance for safe drinking water supply. The extensive use of fertilizers in the agriculture, as well as other anthropogenic activities, are contributing to the excessive nitrate levels in some aquifers. These levels need to be reduced to obtain potable water. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES), using microorganisms to catalyze a desired electrochemical reaction, recently proved to be a very promising technology for water remediation. Groundwater denitrification using Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) needs to be improved for further scaled-up on-site system. The advantages conferred by fluidized bed reactor (FBR), as well as the outstanding electrochemical properties of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), are two potential enhancements of such bioelectrochemical denitrification system that were investigated in this thesis. Some essential parameters could be determined during the preliminary steps' experiments. The fluidization trials gave us a clear insight that Coconut-based Activated Carbon (CAC) particles were resistant carrier particles, nicely fluidized within a 39.27cm3 circular cathodic chamber for a flow rate ranging between 450ml/min to 590ml/min. For the same flow rate of 500ml/min, we could obtain CAC particles fluidization for the upstream fluidized configuration, and still bed particles for the fixed bed downstream configuration, which would be very useful for later unbiased comparison. The denitrifying bacteria showed during their enrichment, a nitrate removal rate of up to 1.986ppm NO3-N/h in serum bottles, with an average of 0.38ppm NO2-N/h accumulation. The parallel running of fixed bed versus fluidized bed denitrifying reactor in order to compare their denitrification performances, was planned, but could not be performed due to COVID-19. The graphene oxide (GO) batch experiments showed a good biocompatibility between GO/rGO and our autotrophic denitrifying bacteria. A change of morphology within about 20 hours was observed, probably suggesting the reduction of GO to rGO by the bacteria. During a first test, the presence of GO led to a 2.7 folds less efficient denitrification performance as compared with the GO/rGO-free condition, likely due to the competition between nitrate and GO for being reduced. However, the denitrification rate in presence of GO/rGO increased up to 1.873ppm NO3-N/h after the second pulse of groundwater and flush with H2/CO2 gas, which is almost 2.3 folds higher than initially in the same condition. This suggests that GO needs some time to get fully reduced to rGO, and the denitrification rate might reach the same or higher levels as in the GO/rGO-free conditions, when GO is fully reduced. Improved denitrification would indicate that rGO facilitates the electron transfer between bacteria and nitrate, as it can be expected from its electrochemical properties previously studied. This would be worth being investigated in the scope of a longer experience. / Grundvatten (GW) som står för det mesta av det sötvatten som finns tillgängligt runt om i världen och att hitta hållbara tekniker för att förorena det är av avgörande betydelse för en trygg dricksvattenförsörjning. Den omfattande användningen av gödselmedel i jordbruket, liksom andra antropogena aktiviteter, bidrar till de överdrivna nitratnivåerna i vissa vattenfiskare. Dessa nivåer måste sänkas för att erhålla dricksvatten. Bioelektrokemiska system (BES), med användning av mikroorganismer för att katalysera en önskad elektrokemisk reaktion, visade sig nyligen vara en mycket lovande teknik för sanering av vatten. Grundvatten denitrifikation med hjälp av Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) måste förbättras för att ytterligare skala upp systemet på plats. Fördelarna med fluidiserad bäddreaktor (FBR) såväl som de enastående elektrokemiska egenskaperna hos reducerad grafenoxid (rGO) är två potentiella förbättringar av ett sådant bioelektrokemiskt denitrifikationssystem som undersöktes i denna avhandling. Vissa väsentliga parametrar kan bestämmas under de preliminära stegens experiment. Fluidiseringsstudierna gav oss en klar insikt om att kokosnötbaserade aktiverade kolpartiklar (CAC) -partiklar var resistenta bärarpartiklar, trevligt fluidiserade i en cirkulär katodisk kammare på 39,27 cm3 för en flödeshastighet mellan 450ml/min till 590ml/min. För samma flödeshastighet på 500ml/min kunde vi få CAC-partikelfluidisering för uppströms fluidiserad konfiguration och stillbäddspartiklar för den fixerade bädden nedströms konfiguration, vilket skulle vara mycket användbart för senare opartisk jämförelse. De denriffriserande bakterierna visade under deras anrikning en nitratborttagningshastighet av upp till 1,986 ppm NO3-N/h i serumflaskor, med ett genomsnitt på 0,38 ppm NO2-N / h ackumulering. Den parallella körningen av denitrifierande reaktorn med fast bädd kontra fluidiserad bädd för att jämföra deras denitrifikationsprestanda planerades, men kunde inte utföras på grund av COVID-19. Diagramexperimenten av grafenoxid (GO) visade en god biokompatibilitet mellan GO/rGO och våra autotrofiska denitrifierande bakterier. En förändring av morfologin inom cirka 20 timmar observerades, vilket antagligen antydde att bakterierna minskade GO till rGO. Under ett första test ledde närvaron av GO till 2,7 gånger mindre effektiv denitrifikationsprestanda jämfört med GO/rGO-fritt tillstånd, troligtvis på grund av konkurrensen mellan nitrat och GO för att ha minskat. Denitrifikationsgraden i närvaro av GO/rGO ökade emellertid upp till 1,873 ppm NO3-N/h efter den andra grundvattenspulsen och spolades med H2/CO2-gas, vilket är nästan 2,3 gånger högre än ursprungligen i samma tillstånd. Detta antyder att GO behöver lite tid för att helt reduceras till rGO, och denitrifikationsgraden kan nå samma eller högre nivåer som i GO/rGO-fria förhållanden, när GO är helt reducerad. Förbättrad denitrifikation skulle indikera att rGO underlättar elektronöverföring mellan bakterier och nitrat, som det kan förväntas av dess elektrokemiska egenskaper som tidigare studerats. Detta skulle vara värt att undersökas inom ramen för en längre upplevelse.