A novel on-target phosphopeptide enrichment method is presented that allows specific enrichment and direct analysis by matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) of phosphorylated peptides. Spots consisting of a thin film of anatase titanium dioxide are sintered onto a conductive glass surface. Enrichment and analysis can be performed on the modified target with minimal sample handling. The protocol leads to an enrichment efficiency that is superior to what has been reported before for similar methods. The method was tested using beta-casein as a model phosphorylated protein as well as with a custom peptide mixed with its phosphorylated form. A very low detection limit, a significantly improved phosphoprofiling capability, and a simple experimental approach provide a powerful tool for the enrichment, detection, and analysis of phosphopeptides.

Dye-sensitized mesoporous TiO2 films have been widely applied in energy and environmental science related research fields. The interaction between accumulated electrons inside TiO2 and cations in the surrounding electrolyte at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface is, however, still poorly understood. This interaction is undoubtedly important for both device performance and fundamental understanding. In the present study, Stark effects of an organic dye, LEG4, adsorbed on TiO2 were well characterized and used as a probe to monitor the local electric field at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface. By using time-resolved photo- and potential-induced absorption techniques, we found evidence for a slow (t > 0.1 s) local charge compensation mechanism, which follows electron accumulation inside the mesoporous TiO2. This slow local compensation was attributed to the penetration of cations from the electrolyte into the adsorbed dye layer, leading to a more localized charge compensation of the electrons inside TiO2. Importantly, when the electrons inside TiO2 were extracted, a remarkable reversal of the surface electric field was observed for the first time, which is attributed to the penetrated and/or adsorbed cations now being charge compensated by anions in the bulk electrolyte. A cation electrosorption model is developed to account for the overall process. These findings give new insights into the mesoporous TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface and the electron-cation interaction mechanism. Electrosorbed cations are proposed to act as electrostatic trap states for electrons in the mesoporous TiO2 electrode.

Blue and green dyes as well as NIR-absorbing dyes have attracted great interest because of their excellent ability of absorbing the incident photons in the red and near-infrared range region. A novel blue D−π−A dye (Dyenamo Blue), based on the diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-core, has been designed and synthesized. Assembled with the cobalt bipyridine-based electrolytes, the device with Dyenamo Blue achieved a satisfying efficiency of 7.3% under one sun (AM1.5 G). The co-sensitization strategy was further applied on this blue organic dye together with a red D−π−A dye (D35). The successful co-sensitization outperformed a panchromatic light absorption and improved the photocurrent density; this in addition to the open-circuit potential result in an efficiency of 8.7%. The extended absorption of the sensitization and the slower recombination reaction between the blue dye and TiO 2 surface inhibited by the additional red sensitizer could be the two main reasons for the higher performance. In conclusion, from the results, the highly efficient cobalt-based DSSCs could be achieved with the co-sensitization between red and blue D−π−A organic dyes with a proper design, which showed us the possibility of applying this strategy for future high-performance solar cells.

A simple method for on-target enrichment and subsequent separation and analysis of phosphorylated peptides is presented. The tryptic digest of a phosphorylated protein, in this case β-casein, is loaded onto a spot on a thin stripe made of mesoporous TiO 2 sintered onto a conductive glass surface. After washing with a salicylic buffer in order to remove the non-phosphorylated peptides, the stripe is placed in an elution chamber containing a phosphate solution. In a way analogous to thin layer chromatography (TLC), the phosphate solution acts as an eluent, clearly separating multi-and monophosphorylated peptides. By performing matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) along the stripe, the detection of all phosphorylated peptides present in the digest is facilitated, as they are isolated from each other. The method was also tested on commercial drinking milk, achieving successful separation between mono-and multiphosphorylated peptides, as well as a detection limit in the femtomol range. As the enrichment, separation and analysis take place in the same substrate, sample handling and risk of contamination and sample loss is minimized. The results obtained suggest that the method, once optimized, may successfully provide with a complete phosphoproteome.