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Transparent nature-based luminescent solar concentrator with NIR emission and integrated thermal sensing
Publication . Correia, Sandra F. H.; P. Falcão, Bruno; Figueiredo, Gonçalo; Vaz, Bárbara M. C.; Contieri, Letícia S.; Mesquita, Leonardo M. de Souza; Almeida, Juliana; Fradinho, Joana C.; Pinto, Diana C. G. A.; Fu, Lianshe; André, Paulo S.; Ventura, Sónia P. M.; Ferreira, Rute A. S.; Sencadas, Vitor; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DQ - Departamento de Química; LAQV@REQUIMTE; RSC - Royal Society of Chemistry
The engineering of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) offers a way to turn windows into energy-generating units while maintaining transparency. Through UV/blue down-shifting materials to the red/near-infrared (NIR) spectral region, the performance of building integrated photovoltaics is maximized without compromising indoor light quality. The most efficient solutions are based on quantum dots, which raise environmental concerns. To address this, natural renewable materials, like bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) from phototrophic bacteria were used to fabricate an LSC prototype dispersed in a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) matrix. The LSCs emit in the red/NIR region with an emission quantum yield of ∼7%, demonstrating external photon efficiency and electrical device efficiency values of ∼1.0% and ∼0.04%, respectively. The thermal dependence of the BChl/SEBS emission is used to set two independent thermometric parameters based on the emission and the electrical power generated by the LSC edge-mounted photovoltaic cells with relative sensitivity values up to ∼2% °C−1, which is a remarkable performance. This prototype was scaled up for an active area of 0.1 m2, representing the first large-area LSC using nature-based red/NIR emission centers.
Biopolymers Derived from Forest Biomass for the Sustainable Textile Industry
Publication . Dias, Juliana C.; Marques, Susana; Branco, Pedro C.; Rodrigues, Thomas; Torres, Cristiana A.V.; Freitas, Filomena; Evtyugin, Dmitry V.; Silva, Carla J.; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
In line with environmental awareness movements and social concerns, the textile industry is prioritizing sustainability in its strategic planning, product decisions, and brand initiatives. The use of non-biodegradable materials, obtained from non-renewable sources, contributes heavily to environmental pollution throughout the textile production chain. As sustainable alternatives, considerable efforts are being made to incorporate biodegradable biopolymers derived from residual biomass, with reasonable production costs, to replace or reduce the use of synthetic petrochemical-based polymers. However, the commercial deployment of these biopolymers is dependent on high biomass availability and a cost-effective supply. Residual forest biomass, with lignocellulosic composition and seasonably available at low cost, constitutes an attractive renewable resource that might be used as raw material. Thus, this review aims at carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature on the use of residual forest biomass as a source of new biomaterials for the textile industry, identifying current gaps or problems. Three specific biopolymers are considered: lignin that is recovered from forest biomass, and the bacterial biopolymers poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) and bacterial cellulose (BC), which can be produced from sugar-rich hydrolysates derived from the polysaccharide fractions of forest biomass. Lignin, PHA, and BC can find use in textile applications, for example, to develop fibers or technical textiles, thus replacing the currently used synthetic materials. This approach will considerably contribute to improving the sustainability of the textile industry by reducing the amount of non-biodegradable materials upon disposal of textiles, reducing their environmental impact. Moreover, the integration of residual forest biomass as renewable raw material to produce advanced biomaterials for the textile industry is consistent with the principles of the circular economy and the bioeconomy and offers potential for the development of innovative materials for this industry.
Low-cost prototype for real-time analysis using liquid crystal optical sensors in water quality assessment
Publication . Soares, M. Simone; Gameiro, Francisco; Nedoma, Jan; Santos, Nuno; Almeida, Pedro L.; Marques, Carlos; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA)
In the food production sector, quickly identifying potential hazards is crucial due to the resilience of many pathogens, which could lead to wasted production results and, more severely, epidemic outbreaks. E. coli monitoring is essential; however, traditional quality control methods in fish farming are often slow and intrusive, thus promoting an increase in fish stress and mortality rates. This paper presents an alternative method by utilizing a prototype inspired by polarized optical microscopy (POM), constructed with a Raspberry Pi microprocessor to assess pixel patterns and calculate analyte levels. The sensors are based on the immune complexation reactions between E. coli specific antibodies and the disruption of liquid crystal (LC) alignment, which are measured with the POM technique. The prototype yielded a sensitivity of 1.01% ± 0.17%∕log10 (CFU/mL) for E. coli. In this paper, tests using sunlight as the prototype’s light source were also performed, and a user-friendly graphical user interface was designed.
Enhancing the efficiency of luminescent solar concentrators via soft colloidal lithography negative templating
Publication . Guerrero-Felix, J. G.; Correia, S. F. H.; Alexandre, M.; Gonzalez-Gomez, C. D.; Sencadas, V.; Fu, L.; Ruiz-Reina, E.; André, Paulo Sérgio B.; Moraila-Martinez, C. L.; Mendes, M. J.; Ferreira, R. A. S.; Fernandez-Rodriguez, M. A.; DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); UNINOVA-Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias; Elsevier
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) offers a sustainable pathway by seamlessly incorporating PV cells into architectural elements like façades and windows. In this study, we investigate the potential of luminescent down-shifting solar concentrators in combination with a nanophotonic light-trapping scheme to improve the optical-guiding capabilities and thereby enhance the energy conversion efficiency. We propose a novel cost-effective method to fabricate the photonic structures via soft colloidal lithography negative templating of thin films of TiO2 nanoparticles, successfully scaling the production to 11x11 cm2 glass windows. Through simulations and optical-electrical characterization, we demonstrate substantial improvements in energy harvesting for different angles of solar irradiation. We found increases in power output ranging from 57% for angles of incidence below 45° to above 100% for 60° thanks to the nanostructured TiO2 nanoparticles coatings added to a bottom down-shifting layer. This shows that such integrated approach can enhance both the efficiency and aesthetic appeal of solar solutions in urban environments, advancing the design of energy-efficient, sustainable buildings. Our methodology ensures consistent solar energy capture all year-round, for the relevant range of sunlight incidence angles, while preserving the transparency and multifunctionality of building elements.
One-step purification of L-asparaginase from cell extracts using carbon xerogels
Publication . Cristóvão, Raquel O.; Barros, Rita A. M.; Marramaque, Teresa P.; Aguiar, Gonçalo G.; Almeida, Mafalda R.; Carabineiro, Sónia A. C.; Paiva, Gabriela B. de; Pedrolli, Danielle B.; Freire, Mara G.; Faria, Joaquim L.; Santos-Ebinuma, Valéria C.; Tavares, Ana P. M.; Silva, Cláudia G.; LAQV@REQUIMTE; DQ - Departamento de Química; Elsevier
L-asparaginase (ASNase, EC 3.5.1.1) is an enzyme with wide applications in the pharmaceutical sector and food processing industries. It is mainly used as a biotherapeutic for treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and to reduce acrylamide formation in starchy compounds. Despite its relevance, current purification methods for microbial enzymes involve complex and expensive techniques. To overcome this drawback, Carbon Xerogels (CXs) were here investigated as novel adsorbents to be applied in an one-step ASNase purification process, using a flow-through-like setup, from a cell extract of genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis. Different operating conditions were studied for optimizing the adsorption onto CXs, including total protein concentration (3–15 mg/mL), CXs amount (12, 18 and 24 mg), and adsorption volume of cell extract (1.5, 2.0 and 15 mL). Ultimately, CXs were packed into a column to evaluate the feasibility of semi-continuous ASNase purification. CXs have high affinity for other proteins present in the cell extract, while leaving ASNase in the supernatant or eluted sample. Purification folds of 2.5 and 3.8 for ASNase were obtained in batch and semi-continuous experiments, respectively, revealing the potential of CXs as novel adsorbent materials for ASNase purification directly from a complex matrix.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base
Número da atribuição
UIDB/50011/2020