Papers by Dr. Tayyaba Iftikhar
Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) utilizing lead halides stand out as promising options within photov... more Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) utilizing lead halides stand out as promising options within photovoltaic technology, characterized by their remarkable efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalable fabrication methodologies, as their efficiency approaches 26.1% in a single junction solar cell. To solve the problem of deep-level surface defects and regulate band alignment at the interfaces, lead thiocyanate (Pb(SCN) 2) as an additive is utilized in FACsPbI 3-based PSCs. Additionally, a novel europium metal oxide framework (Eu-MOF) integrated into the buffer layer was demonstrated to partially infiltrate into PCBM, influencing the interfacial band bending. This cathode buffer layer (CBL) enhances electron transport while impeding the hole backflow at the back cathode interface. The Pb(SCN) 2 constituted device with Me-4PACz as the HTL and Eu-MOF modified CBL in the inverted structure boosted the efficiency up to 25.11% with excellent current density and fill factor of 25.85 mA cm À2 and 85.11%, respectively. The champion device maintained 94% of its initial efficiency after 1000 h aging under a white LED equivalent of 1-sun illumination in ambient air at 65 1C. Broader context Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a leading technology in solar energy, offering high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalable fabrication. Achieving efficiencies approaching 26.5% in single-junction cells, PSCs are poised to surpass traditional silicon-based solar cells. Despite this, challenges like deep-level surface defects and suboptimal band alignment hinder their performance and stability. Our research addresses these issues by incorporating lead thiocyanate (Pb(SCN) 2) as an additive in formamidinium caesium lead iodide (FACsPbI 3) based PSCs. This approach mitigates deep-level defects and optimizes band alignment. Additionally, we introduce a europium metal-organic framework (Eu-MOF) into the cathode buffer layer (CBL), which infiltrates into [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), enhancing electron transport and reducing hole backflow. Our findings demonstrate that the integration of Pb(SCN) 2 and Eu-MOF in the CBL of inverted PSCs with Me-4PACz as the hole transport layer (HTL) significantly boosts efficiency, achieving up to 25.11% with a remarkable fill factor of 85.11%. The champion device maintained 94% of its initial efficiency after 1000 hours of aging under 1-sun LED illumination in ambient air at 65 1C. This research highlights the crucial role of precise interfacial engineering in MA-free inverted PSCs, enhancing power conversion efficiency and stability, and paving the way for future advancements in photovoltaic technology.
Hybridizing Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> Layers with Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets at the Molecular Level: A Smart Electrode Material for H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> Monitoring in Cancer Cells
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Jun 27, 2023
Tuning the Redox Chemistry of Copper Oxide Nanoarchitectures Integrated with rGOP <i>via</i> Facet Engineering: Sensing H<sub>2</sub>S toward SRB Detection
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Apr 21, 2022
The ultrasensitive determination of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is of great significance for ... more The ultrasensitive determination of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) is of great significance for their crucial roles in environmental and industrial harms together with the early detection of microbial corrosion. In this work, we report the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts, i.e., Cu2O-CuO extended hexapods (EHPs), which are wrapped on homemade freestanding graphene paper to construct a flexible paper electrode in the electrochemical sensing of the biomarker sulfide for SRB detection. Herein Cu2O-CuO EHPs have been synthesized via a highly controllable and facile approach at room temperature, where the redox centers of copper oxide nanoarchitectures are tuned via facet engineering, and then they are deposited on the graphene paper surface through an electrostatic adsorption to enable homogeneous and highly dense distribution. Owing to the synergistic contribution of high electrocatalytic activity from the Cu mixed oxidation states and abundant catalytically active facets of Cu2O-CuO EHPs and high electrical conductivity of the graphene paper electrode substrate, the resultant nanohybrid paper electrode has exhibited superb electrochemical sensing properties for H2S with a wide linear range up to 352 μM and an extremely low detection limit (LOD) of 0.1 nM with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N = 3), as well as high sensitivity, stability, and selectivity. Furthermore, taking advantage of the good biocompatibility and mechanical flexibility, the electrochemical sensing platform based on the proposed electrode has been applied in the sensitive detection of SRB in environmental samples through the sensing of sulfide from SRB, which holds great promise for on-site and online corrosion and environmental monitoring.
Unlocking the future of brain research: MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs for electrochemical NTMs detection and analysis
Talanta
The central nervous system relies heavily on neurotransmitters (NTMs), and NTM imbalances have be... more The central nervous system relies heavily on neurotransmitters (NTMs), and NTM imbalances have been linked to a wide range of neurological conditions. Thus, the development of reliable detection techniques is essential for advancing brain studies. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), transition metal oxides (TMOs), and MOFs-derived TMOs (MOFs/TMOs) as materials for electrochemical (EC) sensors targeting the detection of key NTMs, specifically dopamine (DA), epinephrine (EP), and serotonin (SR). The unique properties and diverse families of MOFs and TMOs, along with their nanostructured hybrids, are discussed in the context of EC sensing. The review also addresses the challenges in detecting NTMs and proposes a systematic approach to tackle these obstacles. Despite the vast amount of research on MOFs and TMOs-based EC sensors for DA detection, the review highlights the gaps in the literature for MOFs/TMOs-based EC sensors specifically for EP and SR detection, as well as the limited research on microneedles (MNs)-based EC sensors modified with MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs for NTMs detection. This review serves as a foundation to encourage researchers to further explore the potential applications of MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs-based EC sensors in the context of neurological disorders and other health conditions related to NTMs imbalances.
Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023
The untapped potential of electrochemical sensors based on metal-organic framework (MOF) derived ... more The untapped potential of electrochemical sensors based on metal-organic framework (MOF) derived metal oxides is still challenging in this globalization era to sense environmental pollutants. Herein, HKUST-1/rGO/CuO/α-Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites (NCs) have been fabricated via a single facile step of the hydrothermal process and utilized to modify the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface for simultaneous hydroquinone (HQ) and resorcinol (RS) detection. Electrochemical sensing is nevertheless hampered by the fact that MOFs have limited electrical conductivity, and their framework normally collapses upon calcination, which limits their applicability. MOFs can be used as a template and combined with other conductive materials to evade these pitfalls. The high electrocatalytic activity, increased surface area, abundant nanoscale interactions, and superb conductivity of these hybrids have efficiently increased redox reactions through their synergistic effect at the electrode surface. With a working potential of +0.39 V and +0.72 V (vs. Ag/AgCl electrode), the modified GCE exhibits great electro-oxidation for HQ and RS. The respective limits of detection (LODs) are 50 nM and 80 nM (S/N = 3) with 0.05-10 μM and 0.08-12 μM linear ranges, respectively. The sensing podium based on HKUST-1/rGO/CuO/α-Fe 2 O 3 has also been employed to detect HQ and RS in skin whitening creams and hair toners to assess its practicability. Thus, we believe that this structural integration technique has much potential in material synthesis, energy storage, catalysis, and sensing.
Elsevier, 2023
The central nervous system relies heavily on neurotransmitters (NTMs), and NTM imbalances have be... more The central nervous system relies heavily on neurotransmitters (NTMs), and NTM imbalances have been linked to a wide range of neurological conditions. Thus, the development of reliable detection techniques is essential for advancing brain studies. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), transition metal oxides (TMOs), and MOFs-derived TMOs (MOFs/TMOs) as materials for electrochemical (EC) sensors targeting the detection of key NTMs, specifically dopamine (DA), epinephrine (EP), and serotonin (SR). The unique properties and diverse families of MOFs and TMOs, along with their nanostructured hybrids, are discussed in the context of EC sensing. The review also addresses the challenges in detecting NTMs and proposes a systematic approach to tackle these obstacles. Despite the vast amount of research on MOFs and TMOs-based EC sensors for DA detection, the review highlights the gaps in the literature for MOFs/TMOs-based EC sensors specifically for EP and SR detection, as well as the limited research on microneedles (MNs)-based EC sensors modified with MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs for NTMs detection. This review serves as a foundation to encourage researchers to further explore the potential applications of MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs-based EC sensors in the context of neurological disorders and other health conditions related to NTMs imbalances.
The central nervous system relies heavily on neurotransmitters (NTMs), and NTM imbalances have be... more The central nervous system relies heavily on neurotransmitters (NTMs), and NTM imbalances have been linked to a wide range of neurological conditions. Thus, the development of reliable detection techniques is essential for advancing brain studies. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), transition metal oxides (TMOs), and MOFs-derived TMOs (MOFs/TMOs) as materials for electrochemical (EC) sensors targeting the detection of key NTMs, specifically dopamine (DA), epinephrine (EP), and serotonin (SR). The unique properties and diverse families of MOFs and TMOs, along with their nanostructured hybrids, are discussed in the context of EC sensing. The review also addresses the challenges in detecting NTMs and proposes a systematic approach to tackle these obstacles. Despite the vast amount of research on MOFs and TMOs-based EC sensors for DA detection, the review highlights the gaps in the literature for MOFs/TMOs-based EC sensors specifically for EP and SR detection, as well as the limited research on microneedles (MNs)-based EC sensors modified with MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs for NTMs detection. This review serves as a foundation to encourage researchers to further explore the potential applications of MOFs, TMOs, and MOFs/TMOs-based EC sensors in the context of neurological disorders and other health conditions related to NTMs imbalances.
“Electrons-siphoning” of sulfate reducing bacteria biofilm induced sharp depletion of Al-Zn-In-Mg-Si sacrificial anode in the galvanic corrosion coupled with carbon steel
Corrosion Science
Biosensors
Precision healthcare aims to improve patient health by integrating prevention measures with early... more Precision healthcare aims to improve patient health by integrating prevention measures with early disease detection for prompt treatments. For the delivery of preventive healthcare, cutting-edge diagnostics that enable early disease detection must be clinically adopted. Duplex-specific nuclease (DSN) is a useful tool for bioanalysis since it can precisely digest DNA contained in duplexes. DSN is commonly used in biomedical and life science applications, including the construction of cDNA libraries, detection of microRNA, and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) recognition. Herein, following the comprehensive introduction to the field, we highlight the clinical applicability, multi-analyte miRNA, and SNP clinical assays for disease diagnosis through large-cohort studies using DSN-based fluorescent methods. In fluorescent platforms, the signal is produced based on the probe (dyes, TaqMan, or molecular beacon) properties in proportion to the target concentration. We outline the report...
Environmental significance of wearable sensors based on MXene and graphene
Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry
Graphene-based nanocomposites for detection of chemical messengers in nervous system
Sensing of Deadly Toxic Chemical Warfare Agents, Nerve Agent Simulants, and their Toxicological Aspects
Topical advancements in electrochemical and optical signal amplification for biomolecules detection: A comparison
Materials Today Chemistry
Showcasing advanced electrocatalytic behavior of layered double hydroxide wrapped on carbon nanotubes: Real-time monitoring of L-cysteine in biological matrices
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022
Advancing interfacial properties of carbon cloth via anodic-induced self-assembly of MOFs film integrated with α-MnO2: A sustainable electrocatalyst sensing acetylcholine
Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022
The metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable composition, modified structure, and morphologic... more The metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable composition, modified structure, and morphologically controlled nanoarchitectures are quite imperative to improve the electrochemical (EC) performances of sensing platforms. Herein, EC control over the fabrication of HKUST-1 (Cu-MOFs) nanocrystals is achieved via anodic-induced electrodeposition approach following the mixing of Cu2+ salt precursor in the vicinity of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (BTC3-) ligands. The problem of controlled mass transfer and slow dispersal of MOFs is resolved by EC deposition of pyramidal-octagonal MOFs on a highly conductive and flexible carbon substrate (activated carbon cloth, ACC) wrapped with rGO layers (ACC-rGO@Cu(BTC). Further, α-MnO2 is integrated on ACC-rGO@Cu(BTC) to achieve the synergistic effect of ternary structure interfaces. The novel ACC-rGO@Cu(BTC)@MnO2 based flexible electrode exhibits striking EC performance toward non-enzymatic sensing of acetylcholine (ACh) including wide linear range (0.1 µM - 3 mM), lowest detection limit (5 nM, S/N = 3), high selectivity, and long-term stability. Moreover, the developed sensing system has been applied for real-time detection of ACh efflux released from three different cell lines and biological matrices. Our work unlocks a new prospect of precisely structured MOFs with extensive functionalities and scaled-up fabrication methods via selection of nanoscale reaction centers to develop flexible sensing devices.
Boosting electrocatalytic activity of carbon fiber@fusiform-like copper-nickel LDHs: Sensing of nitrate as biomarker for NOB detection
Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022
Morphological evolution of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with preferential crystal facets has ... more Morphological evolution of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with preferential crystal facets has appealed gigantic attention of research community. Herein, we prepare hierarchical hybrid material by structurally integrating fusiform-like CuNiAl LDHs petals on conductive backbone of CF (CF@CuNiAl LDHs) and investigate electrocatalytic behavior in nitrate reduction over a potential window of -0.7 V to +0.7 V. The CF@CuNiAl LDHs electrode exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic aptitude in nitrate sensing including broad linear ranges of 5 nM to 40 µM and 75 µM to 2.4 mM with lowest detection limit of 0.02 nM (S/N = 3). The sensor shows sensitivity of 830.5 ± 1.84 µA mM1- cm2- and response time within 3 s. Owing to synergistic collaboration of improved electron transfer kinetics, specific fusiform-like morphology, presence of more catalytically active {111} facets and superb catalytic activity of LDHs, CF@CuNiAl LDHs electrode has outperformed as electrochemical sensor. Encouraged from incredible performance, CF@CuNiAl LDHs flexible electrode has been applied in real-time in-vitro detection of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) through the sensing of nitrate because NOB convert nitrite into nitrate by characteristic metabolic process to obtain their energy. Further, CF@CuNiAl LDHs based sensing podium has also been employed in in-vitro detection of nitrates from mineral water, tap water and Pepsi drink.
Biosensors
Graphene (GR) has engrossed immense research attention as an emerging carbon material owing to it... more Graphene (GR) has engrossed immense research attention as an emerging carbon material owing to its enthralling electrochemical (EC) and physical properties. Herein, we debate the role of GR-based nanomaterials (NMs) in refining EC sensing performance toward bioanalytes detection. Following the introduction, we briefly discuss the GR fabrication, properties, application as electrode materials, the principle of EC sensing system, and the importance of bioanalytes detection in early disease diagnosis. Along with the brief description of GR-derivatives, simulation, and doping, classification of GR-based EC sensors such as cancer biomarkers, neurotransmitters, DNA sensors, immunosensors, and various other bioanalytes detection is provided. The working mechanism of topical GR-based EC sensors, advantages, and real-time analysis of these along with details of analytical merit of figures for EC sensors are discussed. Last, we have concluded the review by providing some suggestions to overco...
Food Chemistry
In this work, we have successfully developed Cu-MOF/CuO/NiO nanocomposites (NCs) and employed as ... more In this work, we have successfully developed Cu-MOF/CuO/NiO nanocomposites (NCs) and employed as a novel electrochemical sensing platform in catechol (CC) detection. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along Energy dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are carried out to characterize the as-fabricated Cu-MOF/CuO/NiO NCs. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques have used to obtain oxidation peak currents of CC. Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Cu-MOF/CuO/NiO has exposed the superb EC properties representing low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0078 µM (S/N = 3). To assess the practicability of Cu-MOF/CuO/NiO based sensing medium, it has been used to detect CC from two varieties of tea, namely black and green. Thus, we anticipate that this structural integration strategy possesses encouraging application potential in sensing podium and material synthesis.
Theoretical study of α, β unsaturated carbonyl thiophene derivatives to investigate optoelectronic properties toward organic photovoltaics
Journal of Molecular Modeling, 2020
Herein theoretical study, we designed sixteen conjugated arylated α, β unsaturated carbonyl thiop... more Herein theoretical study, we designed sixteen conjugated arylated α, β unsaturated carbonyl thiophene based compounds by using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent (TD) density functional theory at modified Perdue Wang density functional MPW1PW91 functional with 6-31G (d, p) basis set. Ground and excited state geometries, electronic and photophysical characteristics of designed molecules are evaluated by assuming the electron-donating and electron-withdrawing effects of the substituents that are attached to these newly designed molecules. Furthermore, calculation of vibrational spectra, time-dependent effect, isotopic substitution effect and force constant along with thermodynamic quantities are also carried out by using MOPAC (Molecular Orbital Package) with strong implementation of semi empirical Hamiltonians. The results reveal that our designed molecules can be a good candidates for electroluminescent and optoelectronic devices for further fabrication of solar cell devices.
Topical advances in nanomaterials based electrochemical sensors for resorcinol detection
Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2021
Abstract The ever-increasing environmental pollution is a severe threat to the ecosystem’s health... more Abstract The ever-increasing environmental pollution is a severe threat to the ecosystem’s healthy sustainability, and therefore environmental monitoring of these pollutants has become a burning issue throughout the world. In recent years, cost-effective, selective, portable, sensitive, and rapid sensing devices must be developed in urgent need. Advancement in nanotechnology has urged the use of different types of nanomaterials as an excellent electrode material to amplify the electrochemical detection in terms of long-term stability and electrocatalytic activity of the electrochemical sensors in addition to fulfill the aforementioned desires. This review article intimates significant advancement in developing the enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors based on different nanomaterials for the detection of resorcinol (RS) in the absence or presence of other phenolic compounds. This also concludes the current associated challenges as well as future perspectives for the analysis of RS in the environment. There is plethora of reported articles on RS sensors, but this review mainly discusses the selective reports on the applications of RS sensors.
Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 2021
The ever-increasing environmental pollution is a severe threat to the ecosystem's healthy sustain... more The ever-increasing environmental pollution is a severe threat to the ecosystem's healthy sustainability, and therefore environmental monitoring of these pollutants has become a burning issue throughout the world. In recent years, cost-effective, selective, portable, sensitive, and rapid sensing devices must be developed in urgent need. Advancement in nanotechnology has urged the use of different types of nanomaterials as an excellent electrode material to amplify the electrochemical detection in terms of long-term stability and electrocatalytic activity of the electrochemical sensors in addition to fulfill the aforementioned desires. This review article intimates significant advancement in developing the enzymatic and non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors based on different nanomaterials for the detection of resorcinol (RS) in the absence or presence of other phenolic compounds. This also concludes the current associated challenges as well as future perspectives for the analysis of RS in the environment. There is plethora of reported articles on RS sensors, but this review mainly discusses the selective reports on the applications of RS sensors.
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Papers by Dr. Tayyaba Iftikhar