Aldo J. G. Zarbin

• PhD
• Professor (Full) at Federal University of Paraná

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) encompasses a versatile set of characterization techniques that reveal different properties and characteristics of materials. Herein we demonstrate the potential of combining different SPM modes to...

This study involves synthesizing thin films through an interfacial method, which relies on composites of Prussian blue nanoparticles and nanostructures derived from graphene, known as crumpled graphene. The resulting compounds...

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted significant attention from the scientific community due to its mechanical, optical, electrical, and chemical properties. This review outlines synthetic methods for GO functionalization, including those involving covalent and noncovalent bonds with organic molecules. In a novel contribution to this field, particular...

The arrival of aqueous sodium-ion batteries has been an essential sustainable advancement in energy storage devices. The use of electrolytes based on polymeric hydrogel is emerging due to the facility in which they can be obtained as film, flexibility, and high ionic conductivity. Additionally, these electrolytes have a dual purpose by acting also...

Organophosphates are prevalent in agrochemicals and chemical warfare agents, posing significant health and safety concerns. These compounds are known for their high chemical stability and to address this issue, nucleophilic catalysts have emerged as a promising solution for their degradation. Herein, we focus on a novel material created through the...

Platinum nanoparticles supported by carbon nanotubes were obtained by a simple chemical route and used for preparation of electrochemical sensor towards caffeine determination. Carbon nanotubes were used before and after an acid treatment, yielding two different materials. Morphological and structural characterization of these materials showed plat...

Mastering graphene preparation is an essential step to its integration into practical applications. For large‐scale purposes, full graphite exfoliation appears as a suitable route for graphene production. However, it requires overpowering attractive van der Waals forces demanding large energy input, with the risk of introducing defects in the mater...

X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) were employed to characterize the electronic properties of Prussian blue (PB) and its analogs when electrodeposited over metal‐decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Through an investigation of the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and preparation conditi...

The exploration of organophosphorus compounds may commonly be found wobbling between two biases and, like the two sides of the same coin, they can ensure health or threat. Although they...

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based biosensors have gained increasing prominence due to their ability to provide fast, accurate and real-time results. The functionalization of the SPR sensor chip is essential to...

Targeted multiple functionalization is a promising tool for developing nanocatalysts for the degradation of toxic organophosphates, present in many agrochemicals and chemical warfare. Herein, we functionalized graphene oxide with two different functional groups (thiol and imidazole), focused on two distinct anchoring sites: epoxide and carboxylic a...

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) operating in aqueous electrolyte are an emerging technology that promises to be safer, cheaper, more sustainable and more efficient than their lithium-based counterparts. One of the great challenges associated with this technology is the development of advanced materials with high specific capacity to be used as electrod...

The design of electrodes with highly exposed electroactive sites and improved charge transport that overcomes the current limitations of pseudocapacitors may result in electrodes with high capacity at high rates. These energy storage electrodes are interesting and may have applications as micro-supercapacitors for wearable and implantable devices....

3D-printing has shown an outstanding performance for the production of versatile electrochemical devices. However, there is a lack of studies in the field of 3D-printed miniaturized settings for multiplex biosensing. In this work, we propose a fully 3D-printed micro-volume cell containing six working electrodes (WEs) that operates with 250 μL of sa...

This review covers the use of Prussian blue and its analogues as sacrificial templates and the adopted strategies to produce new materials with diverse compositions, structures and morphologies.

Obtaining a wide color gamut and controllable color switching of electrochromic polymers (ECPs) is crucial for advanced applications. In this study we present a full-color palette of ECPs based on...

Correction for ‘Prussian blue and its analogues as functional template materials: control of derived structure compositions and morphologies’ by Behnoosh Bornamehr et al. , J. Mater. Chem. A , 2023, 11 , 10473–10492, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TA09501G.

O artigo faz uma reflexão e uma contextualização sobre a profunda dependência existente entre o conhecimento científico e a qualidade de vida humana, e demonstra como a ciência é fundamental para melhorar a sociedade.

The development of immunosensors to detect antibodies or antigens has stood out in the face of traditional methods for diagnosing emerging diseases such as the one caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present study reports the construction of a simplified electrochemical immunosensor using a graphene-binding peptide applied as a recognition site to...

Hybrid nanocomposite films containing polythiophene/gold nanoparticles and polythiophene/gold nanoparticles/carbon nanotubes, synthesized through a liquid-liquid interfacial polymerization route at different reaction times and amounts of carbon nanotubes, were investigated through spectroscopic and morphological techniques. X-ray photoelectron spec...

Aqueous sodium-ion battery is a sustainable, non-toxic, non-flammable, and low-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries, while transparency is a•growing requisite of modern and integrated devices that batteries have yet to fulfil. In this work we present the preparation of a transparent and rechargeable aqueous Na-ion battery, assembled with diffe...

Phosphorus availability in soils is low due to its strong retention by inner-sphere complexation on minerals in the clay fraction with pH-dependent charges, such as goethite. On the other hand, sulfur has greater availability because it is retained mainly by electrostatic attraction. We evaluated the intensities of the inner-sphere complexation of...

A thin film of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and nickel nanoparticles nanocomposite was used as precursor to synthesize a novel graphene/nickel hexacyanoferrate (rGO/NiHCFe) thin film nanocomposite through a heterogeneous electrochemical...

Graphene oxide (GO) composites with conducting polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly (styrenensulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) were applied as methanol vapor sensors. The active layer was prepared with neat polymer and its composites for different mixing ratios with GO. An optimal ratio was found with 3% (v/v) PEDOT:PSS in GO dispersion, and submitt...

In celebration of the excellence and breadth of Latin American research achievements across the chemical sciences, we are delighted to present an introduction to the themed collection, Celebrating Latin American talent in chemistry.

We demonstrate here the huge potential of liquid/liquid interfaces to process different kinds of materials as thin films, aiming for the preparation and modification of electrodes, specifically focusing on transparent and flexible ones. As a proof-of-concept, we prepared single-walled carbon nanotubes films at water/chloroform interfaces and deposi...

This work reports a simple, direct, and easy route to prepare thin films between graphene‐like materials and two hexacyanometallates, based on metal cation modification in graphene oxide (GO) thin films obtained by the liquid/liquid interfacial route. The reaction between GO and Cu²⁺ or Fe³⁺ ions in aqueous solution yields GO/Cu²⁺ or GO/Fe³⁺, and t...

Thin films of nanocomposites based on different molybdenum-based materials and carbon nanotubes were prepared and their performance as anodes in aqueous potassium-ion batteries was verified. The films were obtained through an innovative methodology based on the liquid/liquid interfacial route in a single-step procedure, starting from carbon nanotub...

Aqueous dispersions of fullerene C60 were prepared from fulleride solutions in tetrahydrofuran, followed by air oxidation, transfer to water and solvent evaporation. Fulleride exposition to air produces charged fullerene dispersions in THF that can be transferred to water to produce aqueous fullerene dispersions, stable for months.

Pesticide sensing is an important object of study due to its increasing use worldwide. Herein, we report a SERS study of 4-nitrophenol (PNP), which is product of neutralization processes of various pesticides such as Paraoxon, and can be used as a target molecule for monitoring. PNP is also widely used in the chemical industry and due to its high t...

Poly(3,4-ethyledioxythiophene), or PEDOT, is a well-known polymer used in organic electronics due to its high electrical conductivity, flexibility and optical transparency. This study proposes a simple and fast method to obtain a conductive ink based on PEDOT aqueous dispersion, stable for months without surfactants, polymers, or additives, formed...

In this work we present morphological and thermal studies on the behaviour of ammonia gas sensor devices fabricated with neat polyaniline (PANI) polymer and different ratios of polyaniline and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT:PANI) films as active layer. The inclusion of MWCNT improved the devices stability and lifetime, acting as a drain of the...

Thin film technology is pervasive for many fields with high impact in our daily lives, which makes processing materials such as thin films a very important subject in materials science and technology. However, several paramount materials cannot be prepared as thin films through the well-known and consolidated deposition routes, which strongly limit...

Due to issues related to the use of indium, the conjugated polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is considered as one of the main substitutes for indium tin oxide (ITO) in the structure of organic photovoltaics. Recent works demonstrated that the blend of PEDOT:PSS and graphene oxide (GO) can provide transparen...

Electrodes combining battery and supercapacitor materials are an alternative to enhance energy and power densities in energy storage devices. Herein, a material of graphene modified with triruthenium-acetate coordination compound was synthesized through covalent functionalization of graphene. The structure and chemical composition of the material w...

Thin films of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polyaniline nanocomposites (CNT/PAni) were synthesized through the liquid/liquid (L/L) interfacial route, deposited over glass substrates, and evaluated through cyclic voltammetry and amperometry as electrochemical sensor, using L-ascorbic acid as probe. Films with three different CNT/PAni ratios have been...

Asymmetric energy storage devices were developed using thin films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Ni(OH)2 nanocomposite as cathode, and activated carbon (AC) as anode. The films were prepared using the liquid/liquid interfacial route and were fully characterized by spectroscopic, microscopic and electrochemical techniques. The rGO/Ni(OH)2 nanoc...

Herein we describe the covalent functionalization of graphene oxide with hydroxamic acid groups (GOHD) anchored directly on the carboxylate groups. The functionalization was confirmed by several characterization techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The anchored g...

This work describes the application of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with imidazole functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT-H-IMZ) for Paraoxon (PX) determination in samples of commercial, fresh and 100% orange juice. Homemade multi-walled CNTs were treated according to the Hummers procedure to oxidize graphite and later chemically function...

This work describes the preparation of a novel graphene/Prussian blue nanocomposite thin and transparent film and its application as both electrochromic material and cathode for transparent K-ion battery operating in aqueous electrolyte. Large graphene sheets were chemically synthesized from benzene, at a water/benzene liquid/liquid interface, usin...

Aqueous rechargeable batteries are sustainable energy storage devices with the potential to replace the current state-of-the-art organic phase secondary batteries. Electrode materials for secondary batteries are often based on composite structures, which combine an electronically conducting scaffold with an ionic conductor, whose properties define...

This paper reports a simple, direct and in situ route to prepare different graphene/copper oxide nanoparticles thin films, followed by the demonstration of their use as precursors for graphene/copper hexacyanoferrate. Starting from an aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide and aqueous solution of copper nitrate, films of graphene/Cu2O/CuO were obtain...

We present the unprecedented application of a black phosphorus-based nanocomposite as electrode for aqueous Na-ion battery under ambient conditions. Impressive specific capacity of up to 200 mAh g-1 was reached...

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), PEDOT:PSS, is a polymeric composite that can substitute indium tin oxide (ITO), enabling ITO-free organic devices. However, PEDOT:PSS films have conductivities two orders of magnitude lower than ITO due to the presence of PSS, an insulator polymer added to provide water dispersion to PEDOT. T...

The cleavage of highly toxic organophoshates (OP) can lead to products of a reduced toxicity, and due to this, materials and routes to promote efficiently this reaction has been of increasing interest. In the present study, we developed nanocatalysts derived from magnetic carbon nanotubes, chemically functionalized with imidazole groups, to be empl...

Undoubtedly, the chemical element carbon is strategic for the development of any country and herein we show some specific impacts in the economical, industrial and scientific sovereignty of Brazil, with emphasis on sp2 carbn structures, namely graphite, carbon black, carbon nanotubes and graphene. Brazil comprises the second greatest natural reserv...

The search for new structures, new synthetic paths, and new processing technologies is crucial for the future of electronic devices. In this context, this work reports a novel and simple miniemulsion-way to achieve nanostructured polymers in aqueous solution using graphene oxide (GO) as a surfactant for electronic applications. The materials were p...

The functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has long been a challenge due to the low reactivity of CNTs. Herein we present a novel approach to covalently functionalize CNTs directly on the carbon surface with three different monomers of conductive polymers. A covalently linked polymeric nanocomposite derived from polypyrrole was also obtained....

We report a simple and effective route to synthesize, disperse, exfoliate and process different molybdenum-based 2-dimensional (2D) materials. Starting from a reaction between ammonium molybdate and ammonium sulfide solutions, a powder consisting of a mixture between amorphous molybdenum oxide and sulfide is obtained. By tuning the atmosphere and t...

A simple and versatile route to synthesize nanocomposite thin films containing polythiophene, gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes is demonstrated. The strategy is based on a liquid-liquid interfacial reaction, in which polythiophene and gold nanoparticles are concomitantly synthesized through a reaction between an aqueous solution of tetrachlor...

A novel methodology to prepare stable aqueous dispersions of raw both single- or multi-walled carbon nanotubes is reported, based on dispersions previously prepared in tetrahydrofuran containing a phenol that donate electrons to nanotubes and provide colloidal stability through electrostatic repulsion. A proposed mechanism for the stabilization of...

To mark the occasion of Nature Chemistry turning 10 years old, we asked scientists working in different areas of chemistry to tell us what they thought the most exciting, interesting or challenging aspects related to the development of their main field of research will be — here is what they said.

A detailed and multi-technique study on the kinetics and mechanism of the electrodeposition of Prussian blue (PB)over iron filled-carbon nanotubes (CNTs)thin films is presented here. PB is electrochemically synthesized through a heterogeneous reaction between iron species encapsulated into CNTs and ferricyanide ion in aqueous solution. The reaction...

The conducting polymer, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS), is indeed one of the most important materials for indium tin oxide substitute in organic devices. Its metallic conductivity and transmittance are promising for organic photovoltaic applications. In contrast, Graphene oxide (GO) is not a good conductor b...

The generation of hydrogen is one of the greatest challenges nowadays, especially when chemically obtained from the simple, straightforward borohydride hydrolysis reaction. Herein we are interested in this reaction for producing hydrogen using various nanocatalysts which are derived from graphene (reduced graphene oxide, rGO) and combined with meta...

Thin films of nanocomposites between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and three different hexacyanometallates (HCMs) – Prussian blue, ruthenium purple (RP) and cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCFe) - were synthesized with different cations: K⁺, Na⁺ and Li⁺. The effect of the cations in both the structure and properties of the HCMs was evaluated by several charac...

The largest graphene sample obtained through a chemical reaction under ambient conditions (temperature and pressure), using simple molecules such as benzene or n-hexane as precursors, is reported. Starting from a heterogeneous reaction between solid iron chloride and the molecular precursor (benzene, n-hexane) in a water/oil interface, graphene she...

The interfacial electronic structure and charge transfer dynamics of poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (Fe-MWCNT) nanocomposites were investigated by near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and resonant Auger (RAS) spectroscopies around the sulfur K-edge. Nanocomposites with 5 wt% (P3HT/Fe-MWCNT-5%) and 10 wt%...

Thin films of iron-filled carbon nanotubes prepared through the liquid/liquid interfacial method were modified with a mixture of hexacyanometallates (HCMs) Prussian blue and ruthenium purple. Two different approaches were used in order to obtain both materials in the composites, based on a direct reaction starting from a mixture of both precursors...

Dispersing carbon nanotubes is an easy and low-cost way to manipulate these solids and allows the preparation of more complex materials or devices, so it is fundamental for further uses that these dispersions have controlled properties and high colloidal stability. In this work we report the spontaneous electrical charge build-up in pristine multi-...

The iron complex hexacyanoferrate (Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3), known as Prussian Blue (PB), was electrodeposited over a free-standing carbon nanotube (CNT) film assembled at the interface between two immiscible liquids, water and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. Polarization of the interface achieved through a fixed potential or under potential variation enabled iron pres...

Chemical security has been a hot topic over several years, especially involving organophosphates (OP), which are related to organophosphorus chemical warfare and pesticides. The main challenges are to develop efficient ways to destroy stockpiles of these materials and also to monitor their presence in the field or food. A promising approach in this...

The modification of electrode surfaces has been the target of study for many researchers in order to improve the analytical performance of electrochemical sensors. Herein, the use of an imidazole-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-IMZ) as an artificial enzymatic active site for voltammetric determination of progesterone (P4) is described for the fir...

Environmentally friendly multifunctional rubber composites are reported. Graphitic nanocarbon (NC) deriving from cracking of biogas (methane/carbon dioxide) and natural rubber extracted directly from the Hevea brasiliensis tree are the two components of these composites produced via latex technology. While maintaining and enhancing the intrinsic th...

Most of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) developed so far use organic electrolytes and water-sensible sensitizers. The search for aqueous DSSC, a promising technology for solar energy conversion, implies the finding of stable materials in aqueous solution. Herein we report the innovative utilization of Prussian blue (PB) as a sensitizer in a p...

This work demonstrates a simple and one-step synthesis of polythiophene/gold nanoparticles (PT/Au) nanocomposite thin films, through a liquid-liquid (L/L) interfacial polymerization route. Starting from an aqueous solution of tetrachloroauric acid (acting both as metallic gold source and oxidizing agent to start the oxidative polymerization of thio...

Graphene-based nanocomposites with conducting polymers have attracted increasing interest due to the enhanced synergistic properties, which can potentiate and broaden applications. In this context, covalent functionalization stands out as a strategic designing tool, which optimizes the interaction between the nanocomposites components. Herein, cova...

A rapid and simple method for voltammetric determination of rifampicin (RIF) using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with nanostructured nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) was developed. The sensor was prepared through an unusual method to NiHCF electrosynthesis, starting from nickel nanoparticles previously deposited on the surface of differen...

The greatest challenge regarding black phosphorus (BP) comes as a result of its fast degradation when exposed to ambient conditions, which has overshadowed its applications. Herein, we report a simple and efficient route towards overcoming BP deterioration by preparing a nanocomposite with the conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI). The liquid/liqui...

The interactions of anti-inflammatory Nimesulide (NM) with different graphene material species were explored employing both ab initio calculations, based on Density Functional Theory (DFT), and the batch adsorption process. The NM adsorption onto graphene, with and without vacancy, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and functionalized graphene nanoribbon...

The role of the different actions headed by the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) for the development of the Graduate Programs in Chemistry in Brazil is highlighted herein. Specifically, the importance of the SBQ journals, such as the Quimica Nova (QN), Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society (JBCS) and Revista Brasileira de Química (RVQ) as vehic...

The way carbon nanotubes can modify the charge transport of organic materials may open opportunities for new uses. However, the understandings of many intrinsic physical properties associated to those changes are still poor. Here, we report our investigation on the properties of (PAni) and PAni/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites obtained by innovat...

Anchoring different functional groups on graphene may modulate and broaden its application, providing free groups to act for example as catalytic sites or for metallic nanoparticles (NPs) passivation. In this work, two novel approaches, based on the liquid/liquid (L/L) interfacial method, were used to obtain thiolated graphene oxide (GO) thin films...

This study describes a new route for preparation of a nanocomposite between graphene oxide (GO) and bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) and its evaluation as modifier electrode for development of electrochemical sensors. BiNPs were synthesized under ultrasound conditions using Bi(NO3)3 as metal precursor and ascorbic acid (AA) as reducing agent/passivati...

Many studies have reported significant improvements in the photocatalytic degradation capacity of TiO2 immobilized in carbonaceous materials, mainly due to a well-characterized synergistic effect. The photocatalytic degradation of the estrogens 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethynylestradiol was evaluated using 1 mg L-1 aqueous solutions, employing a nanoco...

An innovative, single-pot synthesis for chemically producing graphene/polyaniline nanocomposites is presented. The method, which is based on chemical reactions at liquid-liquid interfaces, begins with benzene and aniline and ultimately yields nanocomposites as thin films of polyaniline mixed with graphene. These films self-assembled at the water-be...

Conducting and transparent interfacial thin films have been prepared from double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) and further deposited over glass and plastic (polyethylene terephtalate-PET) substrates. The morphology, vibrational structure as well as the optical and electrical properties has been evaluated. The influence of the DWCNT purifying trea...

Here, composites based on carbon nanotubes and polyaniline films were tested as ammonia gas sensors with three different doping approaches (sulfuric acid, camphorsulfonic acid and m-cresol). The polyaniline high sensitivity to ammonia combined with the stability of the carbon nanotube increased the sensors reproducibility when compared to a regular...

This work describes the preparation, characterization and properties of multifunctional nanocomposite materials obtained from the combination of natural rubber latex (NR), and four different carbon nanostructures: carbon nanotubes (NTC), nanografite (NanoG) graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The effect of the inherent characteris...

The present work describes the synthesis of a nanocomposite between carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles through modified Brust-Schiffin route. Observations by XRD, TEM and TGA techniques showed an uniform, well-distributed and non-agglomerated dispersion of gold nanoparticles (7 ± 4 nm of average size) completely loaded onto MWCNTs surface. Aft...

Different nanocomposites between reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles were synthesized through modifications in the polyol method (starting from graphene oxide (GO) dispersion in ethylene glycol and nickel acetate), processed as thin films through the liquid-liquid interfacial route, homogeneously deposited over transparent electr...