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In this study we show an optical biosensor concept, based on elastic light scattering from sapphire micro-spheres. Transmitted and elastic scattering intensity of the microspheres (radius 500 mu m, refractive index 1.77) on an optical fiber half coupler is analyzed at 1510 nm. The 0.43 nm angular mode spacing of the resonances is comparable to the angular mode spacing value estimated using the optical size of the microsphere. The spectral linewidths of the resonances are in the order of 0.01 am, which corresponds to quality factors of approximately 10(5). A polydopamine layer is used as a functionalizing agent on sapphire microspherical resonators in view of biosensor implementation. The varying layer thickness on the microsphere is determined as a function of the resonance wavelength shift. It is shown that polymer functionalization has a minor effect on the quality factor. This is a promising step toward the development of an optical biosensor. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., Funding Agencies|Life-Science Initiative Limburg; Research Foundation Flanders FWO [G.0829.09, G.0997.11N]

Donor-acceptor type light-harvesting molecular wires are covalently attached to a boron-doped diamond surface via a combination of diazonium electrografting and Suzuki cross-coupling. For the Suzuki reaction, various catalytic systems are compared with respect to their imposed surface coverage. Combining 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) and Pd(0), the diamond coverage improves considerably (by 98%) as compared to the standard tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh3)(4)) catalyst. As the energy levels between the molecular chromophores and the diamond film align well, the sophisticated functionalized diamond surfaces present a first step towards the development of fully carbon-based devices for light to electricity conversion., Funding Agencies|Special Research Fund of Hasselt University; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) [G.0555.10N]; EU FP7 Collaborative Project "MOLESOL" [256617]; Swedish Research Council Linnaeus grant; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [13-37383S]

N3 dye molecules [cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II)] are covalently attached to boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (B:NCD) thin films through a combination of coupling chemistries, i.e., diazonium, Suzuki, and EDC-NHS. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy are used to verify the covalent bonding of the dye on the B:NCD surface (compared to a hydrogen-terminated reference). The spectroscopic results confirm the presence of a dense N3 chromophore layer, and the positions of the frontier orbitals of the dye relative to the band edge of the B:NCD thin film are inferred as well. Proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical measurements show a strong increase in the photocurrent compared to non-dye-functionalized B:NCD films. This study opens up the possibility of applying N3-sensitized B:NCD thin films as hole conductors in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Donor-acceptor type light-harvesting molecular wires are covalently attached to a boron-doped diamond surface via a combination of diazonium electrografting and Suzuki cross-coupling. For the Suzuki reaction, various catalytic systems are compared with respect to their imposed surface coverage. Combining 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) and Pd(0), the diamond coverage improves considerably (by 98%) as compared to the standard tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh3)(4)) catalyst. As the energy levels between the molecular chromophores and the diamond film align well, the sophisticated functionalized diamond surfaces present a first step towards the development of fully carbon-based devices for light to electricity conversion., Funding Agencies|Special Research Fund of Hasselt University; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) [G.0555.10N]; EU FP7 Collaborative Project "MOLESOL" [256617]; Swedish Research Council Linnaeus grant; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [13-37383S]

N3 dye molecules [cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II)] are covalently attached to boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (B:NCD) thin films through a combination of coupling chemistries, i.e., diazonium, Suzuki, and EDC-NHS. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy are used to verify the covalent bonding of the dye on the B:NCD surface (compared to a hydrogen-terminated reference). The spectroscopic results confirm the presence of a dense N3 chromophore layer, and the positions of the frontier orbitals of the dye relative to the band edge of the B:NCD thin film are inferred as well. Proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical measurements show a strong increase in the photocurrent compared to non-dye-functionalized B:NCD films. This study opens up the possibility of applying N3-sensitized B:NCD thin films as hole conductors in dye-sensitized solar cells.

N3 dye molecules [cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II)] are covalently attached to boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (B:NCD) thin films through a combination of coupling chemistries, i.e., diazonium, Suzuki, and EDC-NHS. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy are used to verify the covalent bonding of the dye on the B:NCD surface (compared to a hydrogen-terminated reference). The spectroscopic results confirm the presence of a dense N3 chromophore layer, and the positions of the frontier orbitals of the dye relative to the band edge of the B:NCD thin film are inferred as well. Proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical measurements show a strong increase in the photocurrent compared to non-dye-functionalized B:NCD films. This study opens up the possibility of applying N3-sensitized B:NCD thin films as hole conductors in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Donor-acceptor type light-harvesting molecular wires are covalently attached to a boron-doped diamond surface via a combination of diazonium electrografting and Suzuki cross-coupling. For the Suzuki reaction, various catalytic systems are compared with respect to their imposed surface coverage. Combining 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) and Pd(0), the diamond coverage improves considerably (by 98%) as compared to the standard tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh3)(4)) catalyst. As the energy levels between the molecular chromophores and the diamond film align well, the sophisticated functionalized diamond surfaces present a first step towards the development of fully carbon-based devices for light to electricity conversion., Funding Agencies|Special Research Fund of Hasselt University; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) [G.0555.10N]; EU FP7 Collaborative Project "MOLESOL" [256617]; Swedish Research Council Linnaeus grant; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [13-37383S]

Donor-acceptor type light-harvesting molecular wires are covalently attached to a boron-doped diamond surface via a combination of diazonium electrografting and Suzuki cross-coupling. For the Suzuki reaction, various catalytic systems are compared with respect to their imposed surface coverage. Combining 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) and Pd(0), the diamond coverage improves considerably (by 98%) as compared to the standard tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh3)(4)) catalyst. As the energy levels between the molecular chromophores and the diamond film align well, the sophisticated functionalized diamond surfaces present a first step towards the development of fully carbon-based devices for light to electricity conversion., Funding Agencies|Special Research Fund of Hasselt University; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) [G.0555.10N]; EU FP7 Collaborative Project "MOLESOL" [256617]; Swedish Research Council Linnaeus grant; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [13-37383S]

N3 dye molecules [cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II)] are covalently attached to boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (B:NCD) thin films through a combination of coupling chemistries, i.e., diazonium, Suzuki, and EDC-NHS. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy are used to verify the covalent bonding of the dye on the B:NCD surface (compared to a hydrogen-terminated reference). The spectroscopic results confirm the presence of a dense N3 chromophore layer, and the positions of the frontier orbitals of the dye relative to the band edge of the B:NCD thin film are inferred as well. Proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical measurements show a strong increase in the photocurrent compared to non-dye-functionalized B:NCD films. This study opens up the possibility of applying N3-sensitized B:NCD thin films as hole conductors in dye-sensitized solar cells.

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Donor-acceptor type light-harvesting molecular wires are covalently attached to a boron-doped diamond surface via a combination of diazonium electrografting and Suzuki cross-coupling. For the Suzuki reaction, various catalytic systems are compared with respect to their imposed surface coverage. Combining 2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2,6-dimethoxybiphenyl (SPhos) and Pd(0), the diamond coverage improves considerably (by 98%) as compared to the standard tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (Pd(PPh3)(4)) catalyst. As the energy levels between the molecular chromophores and the diamond film align well, the sophisticated functionalized diamond surfaces present a first step towards the development of fully carbon-based devices for light to electricity conversion., Funding Agencies|Special Research Fund of Hasselt University; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) [G.0555.10N]; EU FP7 Collaborative Project "MOLESOL" [256617]; Swedish Research Council Linnaeus grant; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [13-37383S]

N3 dye molecules [cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2-bipyridyl-4,4-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II)] are covalently attached to boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (B:NCD) thin films through a combination of coupling chemistries, i.e., diazonium, Suzuki, and EDC-NHS. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy are used to verify the covalent bonding of the dye on the B:NCD surface (compared to a hydrogen-terminated reference). The spectroscopic results confirm the presence of a dense N3 chromophore layer, and the positions of the frontier orbitals of the dye relative to the band edge of the B:NCD thin film are inferred as well. Proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical measurements show a strong increase in the photocurrent compared to non-dye-functionalized B:NCD films. This study opens up the possibility of applying N3-sensitized B:NCD thin films as hole conductors in dye-sensitized solar cells.