Within the frameworks of a contest under the mega-grants program by the Russian Federation Ministry of Science and Higher Education, a team of SUSU scientists developed a methodology for obtaining of a microspheres composite material. It can help modify sensory electrodes, which are used to electrochemically detect organic pollutants in water. This material will increase the efficiency of sensors and expand the range of their possible application, including for decomposition of organic pollutants. The research results have been published in the Sensors (Q1) top-ranking journal.
The goal of the Ecological Environment of Post-industrial Agglomerations strategic project under the Priority 2030 program is to develop the SUSU’s research direction aimed at improving the state of the environment through conducting fundamental research studies and elaboration of technological solutions.
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Sensory electrodes are part of the configuration of a device, which is used to detect pollutants in aquatic environment. An electrode consists of carbon (graphite) and synthesized material in the form of powder. The powder created by the SUSU scientists is unique as it has microspheres of high porosity and big surface area, and therefore it makes an electrode highly efficient.
"Microspheres were synthesized from dispersions of the source materials using the hydrothermal method. They have a complex structure and are composed of a multitude of needle-like formations, the size of which can be regulated through the temperature mode. The chemical properties of these microspheres are regulated by the conditions of the synthesis: the time of the source material being held in furnace, the pressure and temperature," shared participant of the project, Senior Research Fellow of the Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre Elena Korina.
Samples of the developed material turned to be electrochemically-active with regard to pesticides. The testing showed that electrochemical sensors from the new material have a low detection level, a wide linear range of operation and high selectivity.
To synthesize and test the electrocatalytic properties of the obtained material, the SUSU scientists created a Laboratory for Studying Environmental Problems in Post-industrial Agglomerations. In order to study the elemental composition and surface morphology of the sensor material, the researchers use the Jeol JSM 7001F scanning election microscope, and the Rigaku Ultima IV diffractometer – to determine the phase composition and structure of the samples.
The new material will make it possible to optimize the structure and properties of the engineered sensor for its wider laboratory and commercial application. Next, it is planned to study the photoelectrocatalytic properties of the synthesized material for decomposition of organic pollutants in natural water bodies and industrial water circulation systems.
The SUSU research fellows are actively working in this research field. The scientists design composite materials for electrodes with fundamentally different compositions.
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The goal of the Ecological Environment of Post-industrial Agglomerations strategic project under the Priority 2030 program is to develop the SUSU’s research direction aimed at improving the state of the environment through conducting fundamental research studies and elaboration of technological solutions.
In 2022 this project received support by a mega-grant from the Russian Federation Government in the amount of 90 million roubles for the period of 3 years. The project is headed by the leading foreign scientist Dalibor Stanković (University of Belgrade, Serbia). The research studies are being conducted in the scientific field of Ecology and Rational Use of Natural Resources, with the focus on the topic of Innovations for Cleaning Air and Water and Reduction of Carbon Footprint: Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Photocatalytic and Electrochemical Approaches.
South Ural State University is a university of transformations, where innovative research is conducted in most of the priority fields of science and technology development. In accordance with the strategy of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation, the university is focused on the development of big scientific interdisciplinary projects in the field of digital industry, materials science, and ecology. In 2021 SUSU became the winner in the competition under the Priority 2030 program. The university acts as a regional project office of the World-class Ural Interregional Research and Education Centre (UIREC), which is aimed at solving the tasks of the Science and Universities National Project.