Anion-adsorption-related frequency-dependent double layer capacitance of the platinum-group metals in the double layer region

The interfacial impedance for platinum-group metals in simple binary electrolytes, in their so-called double layer region, is generally assumed to be ideally capacitive. Using single crystalline platinum-group metals with various solutions we demonstrate that this is not necessarily the case when the anion of the solute is specifically adsorbed on the electrode. We attribute the frequency dependence of the interfacial capacitance to the relatively slow exchange of anions between the outer and inner Helmholtz planes.     

Electrochemical evaluation of electron transfer kinetics of high and low redox potential laccases on gold electrode surface

Laccases and other multicopper oxidases are reported to be able to carry out direct electron transfer reactions when immobilized onto electrode surface. This allows detailed research of their electron transfer mechanisms. We have recently characterized the kinetic properties of four laccases in homogenous solution and immobilized onto an electrode surface with respect to a set of different redox mediators. In this paper we report the direct electron transfer of four purified laccases from Trametes hirsuta (ThL), Trametes versicolor (TvL), Melanocarpus albomyces (r-MaL) and Rhus vernicifera (RvL), by trapping the proteins within an electrochemically inert polymer of tributylmethyl phosphonium chloride coating a gold electrode surface. In particular, we have characterized the steps involved in the laccases electron transfer mechanism as well as the factors limiting each step. During the voltammetric experiments, non-turnover Faradic signals with midpoint potential of about 790 and 400 mV were observed for high potential laccases, ThL and TvL, corresponding to redox transformations of the T1 site and the T2/T3 cluster of the enzyme, respectively, whereas low redox potential laccases r-MaL and RvL shown a redox couple with a midpoint potential around 400 mV. The electrocatalytic properties of these laccase modified electrodes for the reduction of oxygen have been evaluated demonstrating significative direct electron transfer kinetics. The biocatalytic activity of laccases was also monitored in the presence of a well known inhibitor, sodium azide. On the basis of the experimental results, a hypothesis about the electronic pathway for intramolecular electron transfer characterizing laccases has been proposed.     

Charge distribution effects in polyatomic reactants involved in simple electron transfer reactions

The role of charge distribution in a polyatomic reactant in determining its effective charge in the double layer is discussed. It is shown that the use of a corrected Tafel plot (cTp) requires knowledge of the effective charge on both the reactant and product of a simple electron transfer process. This leads to the use of so called apparent corrected Tafel plots. Data obtained in this laboratory for six different simple electron transfer reactions involving transition metal ions are reviewed, and discussed in terms of their kinetic parameters, namely, the effective charge on the reactant and the apparent Tafel coefficient.     

Thin films of amorphous nitrogenated carbon a-CNx: Electron transfer and surface reactivity

The electrochemical behaviour of thin films of nitrogenated amorphous carbon a-CN_x is similar to that of boron-doped diamond, with a wide potential window in aqueous media. They are elaborated by cathodic sputtering of a graphite target in an Ar-N₂ active plasma for varying nitrogen contents, determined by XPS (0.06 ≤ x ≤ 0.39). Their electrochemical reactivity is sensitive to the surface state. The present study reports on the influence of electrochemical pre treatment on the electronic transfer rate of a fast redox system ferri-ferrocyanide, by focusing on the direction of the potential excursion. On the other hand, the role of both the pH and the potential on the interfacial capacitance in the presence of Na₂SO₄ without redox species is documented. The results show up the sensitivity of the film surface to the electrochemical conditions.     

Aging of electrochemical double layer capacitors with acetonitrile-based electrolyte at elevated voltages

Laboratory-scale electrochemical capacitor cells with bound activated carbon electrodes and acetonitrile-based electrolyte were aged at various elevated constant cell voltages between 2.75 V and 4.0 V. During the constant voltage tests, the cell capacitance as well as the capacitance and resistance of each electrode was determined. Following each aging experiment, the cells were analyzed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the individual electrodes were characterized by gas adsorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. At cell voltages above 3.0 V, the positive electrode ages much faster than the negative. Both the capacitance loss and resistance increase of the cell could be totally attributed to the positive electrode. At cell voltages above 3.5 V also the negative electrode aged significantly. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated the presence of degradation products on the electrode surface with a much thicker layer on the positive electrode. Simultaneously, a significant decrease in electrode porosity could be detected by gas adsorption.     

Improvement in the capacitance of a carbon electrode prepared using water-soluble polymer binder for a capacitive deionization application

It is very important to increase the wetted surface area of a carbon electrode for high capacitive deionization performance. To increase the wettability of a carbon electrode, we fabricated carbon electrodes by using water-soluble polymer binder, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The electrochemical properties of the PVA-bonded carbon electrode were compared with another that was prepared using hydrophobic binder, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF). Electrochemical methods - cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrical impedance spectroscopy - were used to characterize the electrochemical properties of the electrodes. As might be expected, it was confirmed that the PVA-bonded electrode was more wettable than the PVdF-bonded one, based on contact angle measurements. From the cyclic voltammetric analysis, we found that the specific capacitance was 74.4-80.3 Fg⁻¹ for the PVdF-bonded electrode and 89.6-99.8 Fg⁻¹ for the PVA-bonded electrode, depending on the potential, indicating a 13.3-30.1% increase in specific capacitance. It was observed that the ac-signal penetrated micropores of the PVA-bonded carbon electrode more deeply than the PVdF-bonded one, resulting in a higher capacitance. This was attributed to the fact that the ac-signal was able to charge more inner surface sites because micropores in the PVA-bonded electrode could be wetted due to the PVA binder.     

Fabrication of a stable, switchable An/SAM-Au electrode with tunable electron transfer and excellent electrochemical properties

This paper describes the electrochemical properties, such as electrode reactivity, and interfacial capacitance of an anthracene/self-assembled monolayer (An/SAM) Au electrode prepared through controllable immersion of the dodecanethiol (C₁₂SH) SAM-Au electrode in a THF solution of anthracene (An). The C₁₂SH SAM almost totally blocks heterogeneous electron transfer between the bare Au electrode and Fe(CN)₆^3−/4− in solution, but adsorption of the An molecules onto the SAM-Au electrode restores electron transfer. The prepared An/SAM-Au electrode possesses good reactivity without a remarkable barrier to heterogeneous electron transfer. On the other hand, the electroactive form of the An/SAM-Au electrode can be converted back to the non-electroactive form by immersing the electrode into pure THF.     

A comparison of the aging of electrochemical double layer capacitors with acetonitrile and propylene carbonate-based electrolytes at elevated voltages

The aging behavior of electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) based on activated carbon electrodes bound with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) was tested in electrolyte solutions based on acetonitrile (AN) and propylene carbonate (PC) at a constant elevated cell voltage of 3.5 V. The aging was quantified in terms of capacitance loss and resistance increase for the full cell and the individual electrodes. It is shown that the enhanced aging rate of symmetric EDLCs in either solvent at elevated voltages is dominated by the aging of a single electrode, and that the polarity of this limiting electrode depends directly on the solvent. In AN, the positive electrode ages much more rapidly than the negative, while in PC the negative electrode exhibits faster aging than the positive. After aging, the electrodes were investigated by nitrogen adsorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, revealing significant modifications of the electrode surface and providing clear evidence for the deposition of electrolyte degradation products on the electrodes.     

Modulated Cr(III) oxidation in KOH solutions at a gold electrode: Competition between disproportionation and stepwise electron transfer

The electrochemical oxidation of aqueous Cr(III) was examined using cyclic voltammetry with a polycrystalline Au electrode in KOH solutions of varying pH and Cr(III) concentration. The mechanism and kinetics for the oxidation of Cr(III) is a quasi-reversible diffusion-controlled reaction and is largely dependent on the solution pH. The reaction mechanism is initiated by an irreversible electrochemical electron transfer to form Cr(IV) which is the rate-determining step (RDS). Following the RDS, subsequent oxidation of Cr to its hexavalent state occurs by the disproportionation of Cr(IV) at low KOH concentrations and electron transfer at high KOH concentrations due to the involvement of OH⁻ in the disproportionation reaction. As the solution pH increases, the Cr(III) oxidation peak potential shifts negatively owing to the involvement of OH⁻ in the RDS. The competitive adsorption of OH⁻ and CrO₂⁻ on the electrode surface also plays an important role in the oxidation behavior.     

Cyclic voltammetry investigation of borohydride oxidation at a gold electrode

Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) is receiving increasing attention during the last decade regarding its possible application in energy systems. NaBH₄ has the dual potential of generating hydrogen on demand or being directly oxidised in a direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC). Progress on DBFCs relies on the development of systematic studies to allow a more comprehensive characterisation of the borohydride (BH₄⁻) oxidation process. In this paper, cyclic voltammetry (CV) is applied to study systematically the BH₄⁻ electrooxidation on a gold (Au) disc macroelectrode in 2 mol l⁻¹ NaOH solutions. Voltammograms are obtained for various NaBH₄ concentrations [0.03-0.12 mol l⁻¹], working temperatures [25-65 °C], and potential scan rates [0.02-20 V s⁻¹], over a wide potential range [−1.0-0.8 V vs. SCE]. Modelling of CV data indicates that BH₄⁻ oxidation on Au electrode follows a first irreversible electrochemical pathway via the direct BH₄⁻ oxidation reaction, involving nearly 8 mol of exchanged electrons per mole of BH₄⁻. A second pathway, at higher potentials, concerns a yet undetermined oxidation mechanism in the partially oxidised Au surface which, in a third pathway, is reactivated, allowing an electrochemical-adsorption mechanism to take place. Relevant parameters such as transfer coefficient, kinetic rate constant, standard rate constant, charge transfer activation energy, and number of exchanged electrons are estimated. The BH₄⁻ oxidation reaction on Au is found to be first order with respect to BH₄⁻.     

Towards understanding the structure and capacitance of electrical double layer in ionic liquids

In order to understand basic principles of the double layer formation in room temperature ionic liquids, we have performed Molecular Dynamic simulations for a simplified system: dense assembly of charged Lennard-Jones spheres between charged walls. For simplicity, in this first investigation we have considered the cations and anions of the same size. We have calculated the corresponding values of the double layer capacitance as a function of the electrode potential and compared the results with existing theories. We have found that the capacitance curve does not follow the U-shape of the Gouy-Chapman theory, but has a bell-shape in agreement with the mean-field theory that takes into account the effect of limited maximum packing of ions. The wings of capacitance decrease inversely proportional to the square root of the electrode potential, as prescribed by the mean-field theory and the charge conservation law at large electrode polarizations. We have found, however, that the mean-field theory does not quantitatively reproduce the simulation results at small electrode potentials, having detected their remarkable overscreening effects (ionic correlations). The plots for the distributions of ions near the electrode at different electrode charges show that for the considered system, unlike it is often assumed, the double layer is not one layer thick. The overscreening effects, dominating near the potential of zero charge (p.z.c.), are suppressed by the high electrode polarizations, following the onset of the so-called ‘lattice saturation effect’. The maximum of the capacitance coincides with the p.z.c., but it is true only for this ‘symmetric’ system. If sizes of cations and anions are different the maximum will be shifted away from the p.z.c., and generally the shape of the capacitance curve could be more complicated.     

Thermodynamic approach to the double layer capacity of a Pt(1 1 1) electrode in perchloric acid solutions

A thermodynamic method based on the work done by Frumkin and Petrii [A.N. Frumkin, O.A. Petrii, Electrochim. Acta 20 (1975) 347], to calculate the so-called double layer capacity for a Pt(1 1 1) electrode is proposed. The analysis requires careful measurement of the total charge density versus potential curves for a series of solutions with composition (0.1 − x) M KClO₄ + x M HClO₄. A method in which the total charge densities are determined by integration of cyclic voltammograms recorded in solutions with or without chloride is described. Following this procedure the double layer capacity curves were calculated. The double layer capacity curves displayed three peaks that were tentatively assigned to the solvent reorientation, onset of OH adsorption and completion of the OH adlayer. In the hydrogen adsorption region, the double layer capacity values were 14 ± 5 μF/cm², in good agreement with previous estimates reported in the literature by using other approaches.     

Studies on electrochemical oxidation of azithromycin and Hemomycin at gold electrode in neutral electrolyte

The aim of the present study was to examine the oxidative properties and an assay of azithromycin and Hemomycin^® at a gold electrode in neutral electrolyte using cyclic linear sweep voltammetry. The maximum value of the current of the oxidation peak of pure azithromycin and azithromycin from Hemomycin^® at 0.6 V versus SCE in 0.05 M NaHCO₃ and in a mixture methanol −0.05 M NaHCO₃ (1:1) at a scan rate of 50 mV s⁻¹ is a linear function of the concentration in the range of 0.235-0.588 mg/cm³. HPLC analysis of the bulk of electrolyte confirmed the data obtained by analysis of the values of the current peak concerning the concentration of antibiotic in the investigated concentration range. The role of methanol, when present, is discussed. In the case of azithromycin, the presence of methanol leads to higher current peak values. However, in the case of Hemomycin^®, methanol should be avoided because of its inhibiting influence on the qualitative and quantitative determination of azithromycin and on the azithromycin/lactose separation.     

Voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization of a cathodic and anodic pre-treated boron doped diamond electrode

The effect of boron doped diamond (BDD) surface termination, immediately after cathodic and anodic electrochemical pre-treatments, on the electrochemical response of a BDD electrode in aqueous media and the influence of the different supporting electrolytes utilized in these pre-treatments on the final surface termination was investigated with [Fe(CN)₆]^4−/3−, as redox probe, by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The cyclic voltammetry results indicate that the electrochemical behavior for the redox couple [Fe(CN)₆]^4−/3− is very dependent on the state of the BDD surface, and a reversible response was observed after the cathodic electrochemical pre-treatment, whereas a quasi-reversible response occurred after anodic electrochemical pre-treatment. Differential pulse voltammetry in acetate buffer also showed that the potential window is very much influenced by the electrochemical pre-treatment of the BDD surface. Electroactivity of non-diamond carbon surface species (sp² inclusions) incorporated into the diamond structure was observed after cathodic and anodic pre-treatments. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirmed the cyclic voltammetry results and indicates that the BDD surface resistance and capacitance vary significantly with the electrolyte and with the electrochemical pre-treatment, caused by different surface terminations of the BDD electrode surface.     

Electro-oxidation and determination of gemcitabine hydrochloride,an anticancer drug at gold electrode

Electrochemical behavior of an anticancer drug, gemcitabine hydrochloride (GMB) was studied in 10.4 pH with 0.2 M phosphate buffer solution as supporting electrolyte at 25 ± 0.1 °C at gold electrode (GE) using different voltammetric techniques. The electrochemical process was observed to be diffusion controlled, irreversible and involving one-electron oxidation. Under optimal conditions, the peak current was proportional to GMB concentration in the range of 0.1–15 μM with a detection limit of 0.06 μM by differential pulse voltammetry. The method was developed for the determination of GMB in pharmaceutical formulations and urine as a real sample.     

Simultaneous determination of paracetamol and ascorbic acid using tetraoctylammonium bromide capped gold nanoparticles immobilized on 1,6-hexanedithiol modified Au electrode

Tetraoctylammonium bromide stabilized gold nanoparticles (TOAB-AuNPs) attached to 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT) modified Au electrode was used for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol (PA) and ascorbic acid (AA) at physiological pH. The attachment of TOAB-AuNPs on HDT modified Au surface was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-FT-IR spectroscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM). The ATR-FT-IR spectrum of TOAB-AuNPs attached to the HDT monolayer showed a characteristic stretching modes corresponding to -CH₂ and -CH₃ of TOAB, confirming the immobilization of AuNPs with surface-protecting TOAB ions on the surface of the AuNPs after being attached to HDT modified Au electrode. AFM image showed that the immobilized AuNPs were spherical in shape and densely packed to a film of ca. 7 nm thickness. Interestingly, TOAB-AuNPs modified electrode shifted the oxidation potential of PA towards less positive potential by 70 mV and enhanced its oxidation current twice when compared to bare Au electrode. In addition, the AuNPs modified electrode separated the oxidation potentials of AA and PA by 210 mV, whereas bare Au electrode failed to resolve them. The amperometry current of PA was increased linearly from 1.50 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.34 × 10⁻⁵ M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9981 and the lowest detection limit was found to be 2.6 nM (S/N = 3). The present method was successfully used to determine the concentration of PA in human blood plasma and commercial drugs.     

Spectroelectrochemical study of the adsorption of acetate anions at gold single crystal and thin-film electrodes

Acetate adsorption at gold electrodes is studied in perchloric acid solutions by cyclic voltammetry and in-situ infrared spectroscopy. External reflection measurements, performed with gold single crystal electrodes, are combined with Surface Enhanced Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy experiments under attenuated total reflection conditions (ATR-SEIRAS) carried out with sputtered gold thin-film electrodes. Theoretical harmonic IR frequencies of acetate species adsorbed with different geometries on Au clusters with (1 1 1), (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) orientations have been obtained from B3LYP/LANL2DZ, 6-31 + G* calculations. The theoretical and experimental results confirm that, irrespective of the surface crystallographic orientation, bonding of acetate to the surface involves the two oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group, with the OCO plane perpendicular to the metal surface. DFT calculations reveal also that the total charge of the metal cluster-acetate supermolecule has small effect on the vibrational frequencies of adsorbed acetate species. Both the external and the internal reflection measurements show the co-adsorption of acetate and perchlorate anions. Step-scan measurements carried out with the gold thin-film electrodes have allowed the monitoring of the time-dependent behaviour of perchlorate, acetate and water bands in potential step experiments. Acetate adsorption under those conditions is shown to involve perchlorate desorption and to follow a Langmuir-type kinetics. The step-scan spectra also show the rise and decay of transient water structures with parallel time-dependent shifts of the background intensity in the infrared spectra.     

Electrochemical characterization of a 1,8-octanedithiol self-assembled monolayer (ODT-SAM) on a Au(1 1 1) single crystal electrode

Recently, it has becoming increasingly important to control the organization of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ω-functionalized thiols for its potential applications in the construction of more complex molecular architectures. In this paper, we report on the spontaneous formation of a SAM of octanedithiol (ODT) as a function of the modification time. Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, double layer capacitance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used for the characterization of this monolayer. The increase in modification time brings about changes in the octanedithiol self-assembled monolayer (ODT-SAM) reductive desorption voltammograms that indicate an evolution toward a more ordered and compact monolayer. This trend has also been found by following the changes in the electron transfer processes of the redox probe K₃Fe(CN)₆. In fact, the ODT-SAM formed at low-modification time does not significantly perturb the electrochemical response as it is typical of either a low coverage or of the presence of large defects in the layer. Upon increasing the modification time, the voltammograms of the redox probe adopt a sigmoidal shape indicating the existence of pinholes in the monolayer distributed as an array of microelectrodes. The surface coverage as well as the size and distribution of these pinholes have been determined by the impedance technique that gives a more reliable evaluation of these monolayer structural parameters.     

Effect of Nafion ionomer and catalyst in cathode layers for the direct formic acid fuel cell with complex capacitance analysis on the ionic resistance

Using platinum (Pt) black and carbon-supported Pt (Pt/C) as cathode catalysts, membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) were fabricated with various Nafion ionomer content, and their direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) performances were investigated. In MEAs incorporating Pt black catalysts, the current density at 0.6 V was highest at ionomer/catalyst volume ratio of 1.0, which was consistent with the electrochemical active area (EAS) variation measured by cyclic voltammetry. However, the current density measured at 0.3 V, the cell performance increased with Nafion ionomer content, especially at low ionomer loading, indicating that proton transport rate played an important role. The variation in ionic resistance (R_ion) of cathode layers with Nafion ionomer content was experimentally confirmed by using the complex capacitance analysis of impedance data implemented with nitrogen (cathodes)/hydrogen (anodes) atmosphere. For Pt/C, the layer thickness and EAS of cathode were larger than those of MEA cathode using Pt black; and the current densities at 0.6 V were lower than those of Pt black, suggesting that smaller fraction of EAS was utilized.