Generation Of Electrical Potential Research Articles

Deciphering competitive interactions: Phosphate and organic matter binding on goethite through experimental and theoretical insights

The adsorption of phosphorus (P) onto active soil surfaces plays a pivotal role in immobilizing P, thereby influencing soil fertility and the filter function of soil to protect freshwater systems from eutrophication. Competitive anions, such as organic matter (OM), significantly affect the strength of this P-binding, eventually controlling P mobility and release, but surprisingly, these processes are insufficiently understood at the molecular level. In this study, we provide a molecular-level perspective on the influence of OM on P binding at the goethite-water interface using a combined experimental-theoretical approach. By examining the impact of citric acid (CIT) and histidine (HIS) on the adsorption of orthophosphate (OP), glycerol phosphate (GP), and inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) through adsorption experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, we address fundamental questions regarding P binding trends, OM interaction with the goethite surface, and the effect of OM on P adsorption. Our findings reveal the complex nature of P adsorption on goethite surfaces, where the specific OM, treatment conditions (covering the surface with OM or simultaneous co-adsorption), and initial concentrations collectively shape these interactions. P adsorption on goethite exhibits a binding strength increasing in the order of GP < OP < IHP. Crucially, this trend remains consistent across all adsorption experiments, regardless of the presence or absence of OM, CIT, or HIS, and irrespective of the specific treatment method. Notably, OP is particularly susceptible to inhibition by OM, while adsorption of GP depends on specific OM treatments. Despite being less sensitive to OM, IHP shows reduced adsorption, especially at higher initial P concentrations. Of significance is the strong inhibitory effect of CIT, particularly evident when the surface is pre-covered, resulting in a substantial 70 % reduction in OP adsorption compared to bare goethite. The sequence of goethite binding affinity to P and OM underscores a higher affinity of CIT and HIS compared to OP and GP, suggesting that OM can effectively compete with both OP and GP and replace them at the surface. In contrast, the impact of OM on IHP adsorption appears insignificant, as IHP exhibits a higher affinity than both CIT and HIS towards the goethite surface. The coverage of goethite surfaces with OM results in the blocking of active sites and the generation of an unfavorable electric potential and field, inhibiting anion adsorption and consequently reducing P binding. It is noteworthy that electrostatic interactions predominantly contribute more to the binding of P and OM to the surface compared to dispersion interactions.

Electrical potentials in bone induced by ultrasound propagation

Bone with complex geometry is hard, heterogeneous and anisotropic tissue, which makes ultrasound diagnosis very difficult. Therefore, the simulation of wave propagation is often performed to understand the complicated wave propagation in bone, where we find solid-liquid coexisting conditions. In addition to the diagnosis, one of the recent topics of bone studies are ultrasound fracture healing. The low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is popular as a fracture treatment technique in the field of orthopedic surgery, although how bones detect high frequency ultrasound is still under discussion. In this study, we focus on the weak piezoelectricity of bone as one of the key properties for the LIPUS treatment. According to the piezoelectric finite difference time-domain (PE-FDTD) method, we have investigated ultrasound propagation and generation of electrical potentials in bone. First, we verified the PE-FDTD method by comparing the simulated electric fields with the experimental data obtained by an ultrasound receiver using bone as the piezoelectric element. Next, we have tried to understand the wave propagation and generation in a real bone model (the radius of a 66-year-old woman). The generation of electrical potentials in the cancellous bone was also studied by simulation and experiments. The use of human bone to fabricate a model was permitted by the ethical committee at Doshisha University.

From stress to charge: investigating the piezoelectric response of solvate ionic liquid in structural energy storage composites.

Solvate ionic liquids (SILs) are a class of ionic liquids where the liquid-state salt is chelated by a coordinating solvent, and of interest due to their advantageous properties such as low vapour pressure and superb thermal and chemical stability for energy storage applications. The electromechanical and piezoelectric effect were studied in lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) solvated by triethylene glycol dimethyl ether (triglyme, G3), forming [Li-G3]TFSI. These effects were also investigated in full solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) used in energy storage devices, consisting of [Li-G3]TFSI paired with an epoxy-based resin system. The SIL's electromechanical response was first established in isolation, as well as within the SPE. Experimental data demonstrates the effect of a major part of the SPE contributing to the electrical potential generation during application of force and subsequent pressurisation as well as depressurisation, underlined by a direct piezoelectric effect. SPE response to applied load is explored after the recent discovery of liquid-to-crystalline phase transition following pressurisation in pure ionic liquids. This finding has the potential to ameliorate the performance of energy storage composites via additional effects of charging such a device by subjecting it to stress, leading to increased efficiency. Results to date show a bulk potential difference across the SIL of up to 150 mV, while the SPE potential response is scaled down due to a significantly lower volume of SIL at the interface (∼30 mV). Nevertheless, such findings can still significantly affect the performance of carbon fibre (CF)-based structural supercapacitors and batteries that are able to store and release electrical energy whilst simultaneously contributing to load-bearing performance.

Electrochemical reactions coupled multiphysics modeling for lithium ion battery with non-heterogeneous micro-scale electrodes structures

During high-rate discharging process of lithium-ion battery (LIB), the macroscopic models struggle to capture the actual three-dimensional spatial evolutions of physical fields. In this study, an electrochemical-thermal-species coupled microscale homogeneous (MNH) three-dimensional model for LIB is built, with which the electrochemical reaction, lithium-ion concentration, electric potential, and heat generation rate inside the microscale LIB electrodes can be visualized and analyzed. The simulation results show that conventional volume-averaged 1 + 1D Newman models underestimate the influence of the microscopic electrode structure on the diffusion kinetics and reaction kinetics within the electrode. At high multiplicities, the localized pore structure causes insufficient utilization for the electrode material near the collector, leading to the localized hot spots in narrow pores. Additionally, the effects of extreme heat exchange environments on the physical laws within the electrodes are discussed. The results indicate that under an isothermal environment, the mass transfer capability of the electrode decreases. Moreover, the extent of delithiation and heat generation behavior of the particles exhibit stronger spatial nonuniformity, resulting in an increased final cut-off voltage. Furthermore, we conclude that an electrolyte phase potential caused overpotential due to pore structure contributes to the sensitivity of the active polarization heat towards the heat exchange environment.

Virus-Based Pyroelectricity.

The first observation of heat-induced electrical potential generation on a virus and its detection through pyroelectricity are presented. Specifically, the authors investigate the pyroelectric properties of the M13 phage, which possesses inherent dipole structures derived from the noncentrosymmetric arrangement of the major coat protein (pVIII) with an α-helical conformation. Unidirectional polarization of the phage is achieved through genetic engineering of the tail protein (pIII) and template-assisted self-assembly techniques. By modifying the pVIII proteins with varying numbers of glutamate residues, the structure-dependent tunable pyroelectric properties of the phage are explored. The most polarized phage exhibits a pyroelectric coefficient of 0.13 µC m-2 °C-1 . Computational modeling and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy analysis confirm that the unfolding of α-helices within the pVIII proteins leads to changes in phage polarization upon heating. Moreover, the phage is genetically modified to enable its pyroelectric function in diverse chemical environments. This phage-based approach not only provides valuable insights into bio-pyroelectricity but also opens up new opportunities for the detection of various viral particles. Furthermore, it holds great potential for the development of novel biomaterials for future applications in biosensors and bioelectric materials.

Magnetoelectric Core–Shell Nanoparticle–Based Wearable Hybrid Energy Harvesters for Biomedical Applications

In this work, a novel barium titanate–coated cobalt ferrite core–shell magnetoelectric nanoparticle and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate–based wearable energy‐harvesting patch for wireless power‐transfer applications are proposed. The developed flexible patch has unique ease of fabrication and high‐efficiency energy conversion capability from the magnetic field and mechanical motion to the electric field as compared to bulk or thin‐film‐based devices. This unique power‐transfer capability of this device is achieved due to the crystalline nature of fabricated nanoparticles, which is confirmed using X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. This wearable patch can generate a high voltage of 560 mV when exposed to a 40 μT alternating magnetic field at the resonance frequency of 48.6 kHz. The hybrid mode of electric power generation is achieved by coupling bodily motion with the remotely applied alternating magnetic field (40 μT), which results in the generation of a higher electric potential of 860 mV and maximum power density of 0.458 mW cm−3 across a 10 kΩ load. The maximum magnetoelectric coefficient is recorded as 1300 mV cm−1 Oe−1. The flexible nature and hybrid operation of the proposed device make it an efficient alternative for powering a wide range of wearable medical electronic devices.

Designing and Reliability Analysis of Radiation Hardened Stacked Gate Junctionless FinFET and CMOS Inverter

Along with radiation sensing, necessity to study and design reliable radiation hardened devices is also increasing now-a-days. These devices are tolerant to high dosage of radiations without causing any physical damage, logic damage or data loss. In the current work, stacked gate Junctionless FinFET (SG JL FinFET) is analyzed as radiation hardened device by studying the impact of radiation of Linear Energy Transfer (LET) values ranging from 2MeV.cm/mg to 10MeV.cm/mg on the device performance. The proposed radiation hardened FinFET is experimentally calibrated with pre and post irradiation data. Single event upset (SEU) study using transient analysis is carried out to study the performance of proposed radiation hardened device at microwave frequency. High-k material-hafnium dioxide is used as gate oxide material to improve radiation hardness of SG JL FinFET. Electrical parameters-drain current, surface potential and SEU generation rate are studied to analyze device characteristics. Optimization of gate oxide, doping concentration, gate metals and temperature is carried out to enhance the reliability of device in terms of radiation hardness. SG JL FinFET is exposed to different types of waves-UV rays, X-ray, and Gamma rays to study the response of device at different frequencies. The comparison of SG JL and SG Inversion Mode (IM) FinFET has been performed. Comparison of SG JL FinFET with previously reported Inverted mode FinFET, L-shaped tunnel FET and Fully Depleted Silicon on Insulator (FD-SOI) MOSFET is carried out to find most suitable device which can provide highest immunity to radiation exposure. Response of JL FinFET based CMOS inverter in presence of radiation is studied and is also compared with other available CMOS inverters.

Entropy generation analysis of electroosmotic mixed convection flow in vertical microannulus with asymmetric heat fluxes

Flow formations and heat transfer of electroosmotic flow have significant applications in area of heat exchanger and recently for chemical separation at microlevel. Therefore in this article, exact solutions for entropy generation rate of electroosmotic mixed convection flow in a vertical microannulus subject to asymmetric heat fluxes are presented. Closed form solutions in terms of Bessel's functions are obtained for electric potential, fluid velocity, temperature, skin-friction, Nusselt number and entropy generation after transforming the governing equations into their corresponding dimensionless forms. The obtained solutions are graphically represented using MATLAB software in order to ascertain the role of various pertinent parameters entering flow formation and heat transfer. Results obtained showed that entropy generation rises with increase in radius ratio and electroosmotic force but decreases with increase in slip and buoyancy parameters. Also, irreversibility due to fluid friction or applied electric field is sufficient to dominant the overall entropy generation rate in the presence of strong buoyancy force. On application point of view, fluid velocity, temperature distributions, skin-friction, volumetric flow rate, Nusselt number and entropy generation rate can be optimized by careful selection of governing parameters.

Altered epithelial function in the stria vascularis and hearing loss in a mouse model of congenital cytomegalovirus infection associated hearing loss

Abstract Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children. The mechanism of HCMV damage to the developing auditory system that leads to SNHL is not understood and effective treatments are lacking. We developed a murine model of HCMV infection that results in neurodevelopmental abnormalities and SNHL, thus providing a useful model to study the mechanisms of SNHL associated with cCMV infection. We have shown that MCMV induces expression of proinflammatory molecules and immune cell activation in the cochlea associated with histopathologic changes and SNHL. The stria vascularis (SV) plays a critical role in hearing by; (1) maintaining an epithelial barrier needed for generation of the high electrical potential of endocochlear fluid surrounding the hair cells; (2) expression of a system of ion channels that create a high K +concentration in the endocochlear fluid; and (3) generation of a blood labyrinth barrier (BLB) that surrounds the vasculature in the SV and functions like the blood brain barrier. Utilizing several assays, our studies showed that MCMV infection altered each of these functions. The transcription and protein expression in the SV required for tight junctions in the epithelial barrier and ion channels were decreased early after infection and in SV from infected mice with SNHL compared to those without SNHL. In addition, the resident macrophages that contribute to the BLB had altered phenotypes. Functionally, penetration of a cell-impermeable tracer into the SV could be demonstrated in MCMV infected mice. In all, our data show that MCMV dysregulates expression of key proteins in the SV that in turn impact the capacity of the SV to maintain the cochlea’s unique environment.

A new look at osteoarthritis: Threshold potentials and an analogy to hypocalcemia.

Cartilage is a tissue that consist of very few cells embedded in a highly negatively charged extracellular matrix (ECM). This tissue is dealing with several electrical potentials which have been shown to control the production of ECM. Cartilage is present at joints and is constantly prone to degradation. Failing to repair the damage will result in the occurrence of osteoarthritis (OA). This perspective aims to link biophysical insights with biomolecular research in order to provide an alternative view on the possible causes of OA. Firstly, we hypothesize the existence of a threshold potential, which should be reached in order to initiate repair but if not met, unrepaired damage will evolve to OA. Measurements of the magnitude of this threshold electrical potential would be a helpful diagnostic tool. Secondly, since electrical potential alterations can induce chondrocytes to synthesize ECM, a cellular sensor must be present. We here propose an analogy to the hypocalcemia 'unshielding' situation to comprehend electrical potential generation and explore possible sensing mechanisms translating the electrical message into cellular responses. A better understanding of the cellular voltage sensors and down-stream signalling mechanisms may lead to the development of novel treatments for cartilage regeneration.

Application of a membrane-less air cathode microbial fuel cell to treat municipal waste composting leachate

The adverse effects of high strength wastewaters on the microbial activities have created a challenge to biological treatments. Microbial fuel cell has been considered as a promising process because the electrical potential generation can stimulate microorganisms and overcome the inhibitory effect. However, several issues (e.g., scalability, high costs and maintenance) have prevented the process from the industrial applications. Elimination of the proton exchange membrane has been suggested as a remedy to the mentioned problems. In this work, a membrane-less microbial fuel cell was modified by putting the cathode within a thin sand layer (instead of the proton exchange membrane) to treat a high strength wastewater sample. The influences of the feed organic load and time of treatment in the modified system were studied in batch and continuous operations. It was revealed that the batch operation efficiency was higher for the lower feed loadings as a 5-day batch treatment removed 66 ± 4% of the 15,000 ± 500 mg/L initial chemical oxygen demand while the continuous process efficiency with 9-day hydraulic residence time was slightly more than 50%. However, the efficiency of the continuous operation for treatment of higher initial loading values was better than the batch mode with the removal efficiency of 41 ± 2% versus 12 ± 2% for a more concentrated leachate feed (45,000 ± 1000 mg/L). Finally, it was disclosed that the modified membrane-less MFC employed in this work can be effective in treatment of high strength wastewaters in larger scales with lower costs.

Application of direct electrometry in studies of microbial rhodopsins reconstituted in proteoliposomes.

Microbial rhodopsins are the family of retinal-containing proteins that perform primarily the light-driven transmembrane ion transport and sensory functions. They are widely distributed in nature and can be used for optogenetic control of the cellular activities by light. Functioning of microbial rhodopsins results in generation of the transmembrane electric potential in response to a flash that can be measured by direct time-resolved electrometry. This method was developed by L. Drachev and his colleagues at the Belozersky Institute and successfully applied in the functional studies of microbial rhodopsins. First measurements were performed using bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium salinarum-the prototype member of the microbial retinal protein family. Later, direct electrometric studies were conducted with proteorhodopsin from Exiguobacterium sibiricum (ESR), the sodium pump from Dokdonia, and other proteins. They allowed detailed characterization of the charge transfer steps during the photocycle of microbial rhodopsins and provided new insights for profound understanding of their mechanism of action.

Measurements of the light-induced steady state electric potential generation by photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes.

In this minireview, we consider the methods of measurements of the light-induced steady state transmembrane electric potential (Δψ) generation by photosynthetic systems, e.g. photosystem I (PS I). The microelectrode technique and the detection of electrochromic bandshifts of carotenoid pigments are most appropriate for Δψ measurements in situ and in vivo. Direct electrometrical method and Δψ measurements in the photovoltaic system based on membrane filter (MF) sandwiched between semiconductor indium tin oxide electrodes (ITO) are suitable for studies of isolated pigment-protein complexes and small natural vesicles-chromatophores. In the presence of trehalose, ITO|PS I-MF|ITO system allows to keep a steady state level of ∆ψ after 1h of illumination. According to preliminary experiments, this system is capable of providing steady state light-induced ∆ψ after several months of storage in the dark at room temperature under controlled humidity in the presence of trehalose. The long-term generation of light-induced ∆ψ in relatively simple system may serve as a source of the solar-to-electric energy conversion.

Generation of electric potential and noise suppression from an integrated system of acoustic energy conversion

ABSTRACT Nowadays, the demand for electronics has increased, which requires some amount of input supply. This energy supply is now shifted from conventional to new techniques such as solar energy, wind energy and many other so-called free energies. Another type of free energy in an environment is sound energy; sometimes, it is referred to as noise. Hence, this article aims to convert this noise into electrical output to utilise it and drive small electronic applications. Nevertheless, the noise is uncomfortable for humans; hence, this experiment does not only convert energy but also reduces the noise amplitude. Here, the polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric element converts mechanical vibrations into electricity. It is employed in a foam block, and the sound source is placed at different heights of the foam block, just to analyse the output signal after sound impingement from different angles. Here, the maximum output peak of 80 mV is seen at 650 Hz and 82.9 dB. Likewise, different peaks of outputs have been observed. Also, noise reduction has been observed in this experiment; the maximum reduction of noise amplitude has occurred in the frequency range of 1100 Hz to 1200 Hz.

Performance analysis of thermoelectric generator mounted chaotic channel by using non-Newtonian nanofluid and modeling with efficient computational methods

Performance features of a thermoelectric system mounted in a chaotic channel with non-Newtonian power law fluid are numerically explored with finite element method. The analysis is performed for different values of Re number of the hot and cold fluid streams (250⩽Re⩽1000), power law indices (0.75⩽n⩽1.25) and solid volume fraction of alumina (0⩽ϕ⩽4%) in water. It is observed that the fluid type with different power law indices significantly affected the electric potential variations and power generation of the thermoelectric system. Impacts of Re number on the power generation enhancement amount depends upon the power law index. The power rises by about 123.78%, 94.13% and 52.30% at the highest Re for different power law index combinations of (0.75,0.75), (0.75,12.5) and (1.25,1.25), respectively. Thermoelectric power reduces by about 39.71% for shear thinning fluids in both channels while it rises by about 43.48% for shear thickening fluids in chaotic channels. The potential of using nanofluids is more when both channels contain shear thinning fluids. Nanofluids rise the power of thermoelectric system by about 31%, 29% and 28% for the case when the hot side fluid is shear thinning, Newtonian and shear thickening fluid types while the cold side chaotic channel is shear thinning. When constant and varying interface temperature configurations are compared, there is at most 3% variations in the generated power while the trends in the curves for varying parameters are similar. The computational cost of constant interface temperature and computations only in the thermoelectric domains are much cheaper as compared to high fidelity coupled computational fluid dynamics simulations. The temperature field in the whole computational domain is approximated by using POD based approach with nine modes. A polynomial type regression model is used for POD-modal coefficients while fast and accurate results for interface temperatures are obtained.

Formation of 3D Self-Organized Neuron-Glial Interface Derived from Neural Stem Cells via Mechano-Electrical Stimulation.

Due to dissimilarities in genetics and metabolism, current animal models cannot accurately depict human neurological diseases. To develop patient-specific in vitro neural models, a functional material-based technology that offers multi-potent stimuli for enhanced neural tissue development is devised. An electrospun piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) nanofibrous scaffold is systematically optimized to maximize its piezoelectric properties while accommodating the cellular behaviors of neural stem cells. Hydro-acoustic actuation is elegantly utilized to remotely activate the piezoelectric effect of P(VDF-TrFE) scaffolds in a physiologically-safe manner for the generation of cell-relevant electric potentials. This mechano-electrical stimulation, which arose from the deflection of the scaffold and its consequent generation of electric charges on the scaffold surface under hydro-acoustic actuation, induces the multi-phenotypic differentiation of neural stem cells simultaneously toward neuronal, oligodendrocytic, and astrocytic phenotypes. As compared to the traditional biochemically-mediated differentiation, the 3D neuron-glial interface induced by the mechano-electrical stimulation results in enhanced interactions among cellular components, leading to superior neural connectivity and functionality. These results demonstrate the potential of piezoelectric material-based technology for developing functional neural tissues in vitro via effective neural stem cell modulation with multi-faceted regenerative stimuli.

Thermoelectric generation in bifurcating channels and efficient modeling by using hybrid CFD and artificial neural networks

Thermoelectric power generation within TEG mounted branching channels is considered with finite element method. In the heat transfer fluid of bifurcating channels, nanodiamond + Fe3O4 binary particles are used for further system performance improvement. It was observed that when compared to non-bifurcating channels, TEG power will be reduced with the use of branching channels while branching location also affects the interface temperature variations. At (Re1, Re2)=(1000, 200), TEG power is reduced 34.7% when both channels are branching while it is 9.9% for only upper channel branching case as compared to non-branching channel case. Up to 18% variation of power is obtained when location of the upper branching channel varies. Highest powers are achieved when both channels are filled with hybrid nanofluid while at (Re1,Re2)=(1000,200) TEG power rises by about 33% and 15.5% with nanofluid in both channels and with nanofluid in only one channel cases when compared to fluid in both channel configuration. The computational cost of electric potential and power generation in TEG device is drastically reduced from 6 hours with fully coupled high fidelity CFD to 3 minutes by using hybrid CFD and artificial neural networks. The proposed approach will very helpful in the efficient design and optimization of TEG installed renewable energy systems.

Application of pincents of spinal leaf (chlorophylle) as a natural die for paint sensitive sun element (DSSC)

This study examines the history of the creation of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and the principle of their action. The materials from which these solar cells are made and the technology for manufacturing layers in them are given. Processes of generation of electric charge, potential and electric current in DSSC are investigated.

Experimental Study of Electric Potential Response Characteristics of Different Lithological Samples Subject to Uniaxial Loading

Electric potential (EP) signals are detected when coal or rock materials are subjected to mechanical loading. Such signals are attributed to the generation and accumulation of free charges under externally applied loads. Due to the excellent correlation between EP and damage evolution, EP methods have great potential in rock mass structural engineering damage monitoring. To systematically study the EP response of different materials, four kinds of samples were prepared for experiments. Moreover, the coefficient of variation (CV) and correlation coefficient were introduced to study the EP response characteristics in different loading stages. Furthermore, characterizations based on atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to reveal the reasons for electrification from a microproperty perspective. The results showed that the EP response characteristics were dominated by the main electrification factors in different loading stages, while these factors were influenced by the microstructure and composition of the different samples. Additionally, crack propagation was a significant mechanism for the EP response, which included electron escape induced by stress concentration at the crack tip, charge separation due to crack propagation, and discharge in the crack tip. Finally, the surface potential was a critical EP generation factor. Different samples were characterized by weak electrical properties in the 5 μm × 5 μm scanning area, and the unevenly distributed surface potential regions can affect the accumulation and migration of the free charges. This study offers new insights into the EP response characteristics and the causes of electrification from macro- and microperspectives.

Electrogenesis in Plasma Membrane Fraction of Halotolerant Microalga Dunaliella maritima and Effects of N,N′-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

The effects of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), non-specific inhibitor of various transport systems functioning in biological membranes, on Na+-transporting P-type ATPase of the green halotolerant microalga Dunaliella maritima were studied in the experiments with vesicular plasma membranes isolated from the alga cells. The effects of DCCD on electrogenic/ion transport function of the enzyme and its ATP hydrolase activity were investigated. Electrogenic/ion transport function of the enzyme was recorded as a Na+-dependent generation of electric potential on the vesicle membranes with the help of the potential-sensitive probe oxonol VI. It was found that unlike many other ion-transporting ATPases, the Na+-ATPase of D. maritima is insensitive to DCCD. This agent did not inhibit either ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by this enzyme or its transport activity. At the same time DCCD affected the ability of the vesicle membranes to maintain electric potential generated by the D. maritima Na+-ATPase. The observed effects can be explained based on the assumption that DCCD interacts with the Na+/H+ antiporter in the plasma membrane of D. maritima.