2008 DEC 8 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "A review of optical fiber sensors based on nanostructured coatings fabricated by means of the layer-by-layer electrostatic-self assembly (ESA) method is presented here," investigators in Pamplona, Spain report.

  "The modification of the optical properties of these sensing coatings by the target parameter can induce changes in the reflected or transmitted spectrum. This property can be exploited for the development of refractometers, pH sensors, chemical sensors, biosensors and other applications," wrote I. Delvillar and colleagues ...read more

  2008 OCT 6 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "In recent years significant work had been carried out on the fabrication and application of nanoparticle-modified electrodes for trace heavy metal detection with the view to producing sensitive and versatile sensors," researchers in Oxford, the United Kingdom report.

  "Much has focused on the use of gold nanoparticles for the detection of arsenic and other toxins, however silver, platinum and bismuth nanoparticles have also been researched. This review covers a range of different nanoparticle fabrication and electrode modification methods for the production of electrodes which have been applied using stripping voltammetry," wrote S.E.W. Jones and colleagues, University of Oxford ...read more

  2008 SEP 8 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "The potentialities of conductometric titration were investigated for the study of protolytically active groups using organosilicas with immobilized acid groups of different types as an example," investigators in Kiev, Ukraine report.

  "The methods of conductometric and pH-metric titration were compared in determining the concentrations of these groups. It was found that pH metry was mainly applicable to the determination of strongly acid groups of organosilicas, whereas conductometric titration can be applied to the determination of all types of test materials," wrote V.N. Zaitsev and colleagues ...read more