On the adsorption and redox catalysis of the oxalate anion and oxalato complexes on gold and metal-modified gold electrodes

The influence of foreign metal deposits (both upd- and opd-deposits) on a gold electrode on the rate of the redox reaction iron(II)/(III) oxalate has been studied with AC impedance measurements. An attempt has been made to rationalise observed changes in the rate of reaction in terms of changed metal-redox reactant interactions. Results obtained so far do not indicate significant changes in the adsorptive interaction as evidenced with Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy despite the fact, that metal-adsorbate bands are pronounced. No correlations between band positions and their changes and changes of the catalytic activity could be observed.     

Redox and catalytic properties of new polypyrrole modified electrodes functionalized by [Ru(bpea)(bpy)H2O] complexes; bpea=N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine, bpy=2,2′-bipyridine

New ruthenium(II) complexes containing one or two pyrrole-functionalized polypyridylic ligands have been prepared in order to study their electrochemical behaviour in heterogeneous phase, after anodic polymerization from CH₂Cl₂ solution on an electrode surface. Complexes containing one pyrrole unit have general formula [Ru(bpea-pyr)(bpy)(L)]²⁺ (bpea-pyr=N-[3-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminopropyl]pyrrole, bpy=2,2′-bipyridine, L=Cl, complex 3, or L=H₂O, complex 1), whereas compounds having two pyrrole units correspond to [Ru(bpea-pyr)(bpy-pyr)(L)]²⁺ (bpy-pyr=4-methyl-4′-pyrrolylbutyl-2,2′-bipyridine, L=Cl, complex 4, or L=H₂O, complex 2). Upon oxidative polymerization, all complexes form highly stable polypyrrolic films on a graphite disk electrode surface. An electrode modified with complex 2 polypyrrole coating film, C/poly-2, has been tested as heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol, showing a remarkably high efficiency and notably improving the results obtained with analogous complexes in homogeneous phase.     

Preparation, characterization and electrocatalytic behavior of zinc oxide/zinchexacyanoferrate and ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate hybrid film-modified electrodes

Polynuclear mixed-valent hybrid films of zinc oxide/zinchexacyanoferrate and ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate (ZnO/ZnHCF-RuOHCF) have been deposited on electrode surfaces from H₂SO₄ solution containing Zn(NO₃)₂, RuCl₃ and K₃[Fe(CN)₆] by potentiodynamic cycling method. Simultaneous cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) measurements demonstrate the steady growth of hybrid film. Surface morphology of hybrid film was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) data confirm existence of zinc oxide and ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate (RuOHCF) in the hybrid film. The effect of type of monovalent cations on the redox behavior of hybrid film was investigated. In pure supporting electrolyte, electrochemical responses of Ru^II/III redox transition occurring at negative potential region resemble with that of a surface immobilized redox couple. The electrocatalytic activity of ZnO/ZnHCF-RuOHCF hybrid film was investigated towards oxidation of epinephrine, dopamine and l-cysteine, and reduction of S₂O₈²⁻ and SO₅²⁻ as well as IO₃⁻ using cyclic voltammetry and rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE) techniques.     

Immobilization of tetra-amine substituted metallophthalocyanines at gold surfaces modified with mercaptopropionic acid or DTSP-SAMs

This paper shows that amine substituted cobalt phthalocyanine (CoTAPc) can be deposited on gold surfaces by using an interconnecting layer of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of mercaptopropionic acid or Lomant's reagent (dithiobis(N-succinimidyl propionate) (DTSP)). In both cases the new bond formed is obtained by the creation of an amide. The layers were characterized by electrochemistry and showed high coverage fractions (near 100%). Reductive and oxidative desorption of the SAMs limit the useful potential window from −0.6 to +0.5 V versus Ag|AgCl. The SAM-CoTAPc layers show electrocatalytic activities towards oxygen reduction through the Co(I) central metal ion. The amount of CoTAPc molecules deposited (obtained from the Co central metal ion activity in nitrogen purged solutions) revealed that the CoTAPc molecules are bonded in a perpendicular manner at the surface. Taking into account a surface of 200 Å² for a flatly bonded MPc, this should result in a four times less amount of deposited CoTAPc compared to the experimental value obtained. Both methods showed good results and promising long-term stability and will be interesting tools for further research in surface modification and sensor development.     

Charge transport effects in ferrocene-streptavidin multilayers immobilized on electrode surfaces

Streptavidin (SAv) has been modified by covalent coupling of ferrocene (Fc) electron-relay groups to lysine-residues of the protein backbone. Reagent ratios were varied to obtain conjugates with three to 16 Fc groups per SAv. Biotin was covalently attached to gold electrodes for the anchoring of the conjugate monolayers. A method was devised to produce in situ bisbiotin functionalities that efficiently cross-linked Fc₁₆SAv to form multilayer electrode coatings. The electrochemical charge transport properties of the coatings were examined by cyclic voltammetry. The characteristic current density i_E measuring the rate of charge transport was 1 mA cm⁻² for one monolayer of Fc₁₆SAv. It was found that the transport of electrochemical charge through the Fc-containing SAv system is a diffusion-like process, as evidenced by the proportionality of the peak current and the square root of sufficiently high scan rate, and the inverse dependence of i_E on the number (thickness) of Fc₁₆SAv layers.     

Electrochemical surface nanopatterning by selective reductive desorption from mixed metal surfaces

We report on a novel strategy to the functionalisation of electrode surfaces based on the preparation and patterning of mixed metal electrodes using metal selective electrodesorption of a sacrificial alkanethiol. Plain palladium (Pd) and plain polycrystalline gold (poly-Au) electrodes were used initially to determine metal specific potential windows within which electrodesorption of the short alkanethiol mercaptoethanol could be achieved. We found that stripping of mercaptoethanol from gold was achieved at potentials lower than −0.800 V, whilst stripping from palladium was achieved at more positive potentials i.e. around −0.650 V. Mixed metal electrodes were prepared by electroplating for short period of times palladium onto poly-Au electrodes. The resulting surfaces were characterised electrochemically in 1 M H₂SO₄ and clearly exhibited reduction peaks for both gold and palladium oxide formation. The mixed metal electrodes were coated with mercaptoethanol, which was further selectively removed from Pd by cyclic voltammetry in NaOH in the Pd-specific potential window. The presence of bare Pd domains revealed following electrodesorption was confirmed by subsequently adsorbing the electroactive alkanethiol 6-ferrocenylhexanethiol onto the freshly revealed Pd. Cyclic voltamogramms exhibited sharp redox peaks that could only be attributed to the successful immobilisation of 6-ferrocenylhexanethiol onto fresh Pd domains. Control surfaces, i.e. MCE fully coated Pd/Poly-Au electrode, exposed to 6-ferrocenylhexanethiol did not exhibit significant voltammetric features, attesting to the efficient patterning of the mixed metal electrode by employing metal specific reductive desorption of short alkanethiols. The possibility to pattern electrode surfaces in such way will find application in the field of diagnostics, and also in heterogeneous catalysis where Pd-Au alloys have received an increased interest in the recent years.     

Hydrogenases as catalysts for fuel cells: Strategies for efficient immobilization at electrode interfaces

Hydrogenases are the key enzymes for hydrogen metabolism in many microorganisms. Due to the high efficiency they develop for H₂ oxidation, research in the last five years has aimed towards their use as biocatalysts for H₂/O₂ biofuel cells to replace platinum-based chemical catalysts. We report in this review the major issues that have been addressed in view of the future development of such a novel biotechnological device. This includes enhancing the stability of either the enzyme itself or its immobilization onto conductive supports, increasing the amount of electrically connected enzymes and, finally, controlling hydrogenase orientation at the electrode surface, and hence the electron transfer process. We specifically focus on a particular [NiFe] membrane-bound hydrogenase purified from the hyperthermophilic and microaerophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus. This enzyme resists to O₂, CO, and high temperatures making it potentially efficient as a biocatalyst. Recent progress in these domains strengthens the credibility of a viable H₂/O₂ biofuel cell and opens new avenues for biofuel cell design.     

Prussian Blue-modified microelectrodes for selective transduction in enzyme-based amperometric microbiosensors for in vivo neurochemical monitoring

Prussian Blue-modified carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFE/PBs) are proposed as an alternative to the more conventional metal transducers used for H₂O₂-detecting biosensors in brain extracellular fluid (ECF). The main advantages of this approach are the very small dimensions (∼10 μm diameter) and the low applied potentials needed (0.0 V versus SCE). Electrocatalytic and physiochemical properties of PB deposits were studied using cyclic voltammetric (CV), amperometric and spectroscopic methods (FTIR and VIS). Optimized CFE/PB microsensors displayed a H₂O₂ current density of 1.00 ± 0.04 A M⁻¹ cm⁻² with a detection limit of 10⁻⁸ M. Furthermore, to improve stability and selectivity properties, several polymeric films were investigated: Nafion, poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD), and a hybrid configuration of these two polymers. Finally, the PoPD film was selected due to its excellent anti-interference properties. The use of this permselective film also enhanced the stability of PB against solubilization at high pH, albeit at the expense of slightly lower H₂O₂ sensitivity (0.48 ± 0.02 A M⁻¹ cm⁻²) and higher detection limit (∼10⁻⁷ M). However, the use of the PoPD film significantly enhanced the selectivity against the main endogenous brain interference species (ascorbic acid, uric acid, dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid), expressed as the ratio of the sensitivity slopes (SH₂O₂/Sinterference), which was close to 600 for all interference molecules studied. A prototype of a CFE/PB-based glucose microbiosensor design is presented, together with preliminary studies of its characteristics in vitro and its functionality in brain ECF in vivo.     

Hydrodynamic voltammetric studies of the oxygen reduction at gold nanoparticles-electrodeposited gold electrodes

The electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen at Au nanoparticles-electrodeposited Au electrodes has been studied using rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. Upon analyzing and comparison of the limiting currents data obtained at various rotation speeds of this RDE with those obtained at the bulk Au electrode, an effective value of the number of electrons, n, involved in the electrochemical reduction of O₂ was estimated to be ca. 4 for the former electrode and ca. 3 for the bulk Au electrode at the same potential of −350 mV versus Ag/AgCl/KCl(sat.). This indicates the higher possibility of further reduction and decomposition of H₂O₂ at Au nanoparticles-electrodeposited Au electrode in this acidic medium. The reductive desorption of the self-assembled monolayer of cysteine, which was formed on the Au nanoparticles-electrodeposited Au electrode, was used to monitor the change of the specific activity of the bulk Au electrode upon the electrodeposition of the Au nanoparticles.     

A SERS spectroelectrochemical investigation of the interaction of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole with copper, silver and gold surfaces

The interaction of the sulfide mineral flotation collector, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, with silver, copper and gold surfaces has been investigated by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, the copper, silver and gold compounds of this species, and the dithiolate, 2,2-dithiobis(benzothiazole) were characterised by ¹³C NMR and Raman spectroscopy to provide a basis for identifying surface species. SERS investigations showed that, at pH 4.6 where the solution species is in the protonated form, and at 9.2, where it is present as the ion, adsorption on each metal occurs over a wide potential range. Attachment of the organic compound occurs through bonding between the exocyclic sulfur atom and metal atoms in the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that the adsorbed layer was of monolayer thickness. Adsorption of the protonated 2-mercaptobenzothiazole occurs on copper at pH 4.6 at potentials below that at which charge transfer adsorption commences.     

Electrodeposition and Capacitive Behavior of Films for Electrodes of Electrochemical Supercapacitors

Polypyrrole films were deposited by anodic electropolymerization on stainless steel substrates from aqueous pyrrole solutions containing sodium salicylate and tiron additives. The deposition yield was studied under galvanostatic conditions. The amount of the deposited material was varied by the variation of deposition time at a constant current density. SEM studies showed the formation of porous films with thicknesses in the range of 0–3 μm. Cyclic voltammetry data for the films tested in 0.5 M Na₂SO₄ solutions showed capacitive behavior and high specific capacitance (SC) in a voltage window of 0.9 V. The films prepared from pyrrole solutions containing tiron showed better capacitive behavior compared to the films prepared from the solutions containing sodium salicylate. A highest SC of 254 F g⁻¹ was observed for the sample with a specific mass of 89 μg cm⁻² at a scan rate of 2 mV s⁻¹. The SC decreased with an increasing film thickness and scan rate. The results indicated that the polypyrrole films deposited on the stainless steel substrates by anodic electropolymerization can be used as electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors (ES).     

Catalytic electroxidation pathway for electropolymerization of polypyrrole in solutions containing gold nanoparticles

We report here the first electrochemical polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) on Au substrates in aqueous solutions containing additives of prepared Au nanoparticles with a diameter of ca. 2 nm. Encouragingly, the synthesized PPy films demonstrate novel characteristics due to the effects of Au nanoparticles, which provide a catalytic electroxidation pathway. The prepared PPy shows a stereomorphology, which is distinguishable from the typically granular raspberry morphology of pure PPy, and a rougher surface. The conductivity of PPy is significantly increased (∼10 times), which also reflects on the extremely high oxidation level of 0.36 revealed from the analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The mechanism of the nucleation and growth, and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern were investigated to explain the specific characteristics of PPy films.     

On-site monitoring of fish spoilage using vanadium pentoxide xerogel modified interdigitated gold electrodes

The development of a vanadium pentoxide xerogel (VXG)-based sensor for the detection of volatile inorganic (ammonia) and organic (dimethylamine, etc.) amines is described. The xerogel film was deposited on interdigitated gold electrodes by dip-coating using an aqueous solution of VXG. The morphology of the sensing layer, its interaction with ammonia, which was used as a model analyte throughout this work, as well as the regeneration of the surface of the sensor electrodes with vapors of HCl were examined with scanning electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Signal changes, due to changes of the RC-product of the electrochemical cell (Au-VXG-Au), as a result of its interactions with ammonia vapors, were probed with a portable, homemade charge meter, the Multipulser. Exposing the sensor electrodes to various concentrations of ammonia vapors resulted in proportional changes in the signal output. Finally, the proposed sensors were successfully used for on-site, real-time monitoring of fish spoilage in ambient conditions.     

Strategy for the syntheses of isolated fine silver nanoparticles and polypyrrole/silver nanocomposites on gold substrates

In this work, isolated fine silver nanoparticles and polypyrrole/silver nanocomposites with diameters of about 10 nm on gold substrates were first prepared by electrochemical methods. First, an Ag substrate was cycled in a deoxygenated aqueous solution containing 0.1 M HCl from −0.30 to +0.30 V versus Ag/AgCl at 5 mV/s with 30 scans. Subsequently the Ag working electrode was immediately replaced by an Au electrode and a cathodic overpotential of 0.2 V was applied under controlled sonication to synthesize Ag nanoparticles on the Au electrode. Then pyrrole monomers were encouragingly found to be polymerized on the deposited Ag nanoparticles. This polymerization is distinguishable from the known chemical or electrochemical one, due to the electrochemical activity of unreduced species of Ag_n⁺ clusters inside the nanoparticles. Also, this polymerization may be ascribed to the oxidizing agent of AuCl₄⁻, which is present on the Au electrode.     

Supported gold and gold palladium catalysts for selective chemical synthesis

Catalysts based on gold are now well established as very active and selective for broad ranges of redox reactions. Although primarily known for selective and preferential oxidation reactions, gold catalysts are also highly effective for selective hydrogenation. Hydrogenation reactions provide the focus for this perspective paper that is based on a François Gault lecture given at the Sabatier Conference in 2007. In particular, two reactions will be discussed; namely, the use of supported gold catalysts for selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols, and the use of supported gold palladium alloys for the direct hydrogenation of molecular oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide in preference to water.     

Preparation and characterization of the dopamine film electrochemically deposited on a gold template and its applications for dopamine sensing in aqueous solution

A dopamine polymer film was electrogenerated on the bare gold template from a 5 × 10⁻³ M dopamine solution in phosphate buffer at pH 7 and next subjected to overoxidation in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution. The overoxidized dopamine polymer film obtained shows good permeability to cationic species and was used for quantitative determination of dopamine. A linear relationship between dopamine concentration and current response was obtained in the range of 1 × 10⁻⁶ M to 6 × 10⁻⁴ M with the detection limit 2 × 10⁻⁷ M. The results have shown that using the overoxidized dopamine film it is possible to perform electrochemical analysis of dopamine without interference of ascorbic and uric acids, which is the major limitation in dopamine determination. The modified electrode shows good selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility and high stability.     

Electrocatalytic properties of NDGA and NDGA/FAD hybrid film modified electrodes for NADH/NAD redox reaction

The fabrication of monolayers composed of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and hybrid films composed of NDGA-flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) adsorbed films was performed in neutral aqueous solutions to produce electrochemically active thin films exhibiting one and two redox couples, respectively. An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the in situ growth of the NDGA and hybrid NDGA/FAD film monolayers. The NDGA modified film electrocatalytically oxidized NADH, ascorbic acid, dopamine, and N₂H₄ in neutral aqueous solutions. Well-separated voltammetric peaks were observed for dopamine and uric acid mixtures, and also for ascorbic acid and uric acid mixtures using the NDGA/GC modified electrode. When transferred to various aqueous buffered solutions, the two redox couples of the NDGA/FAD hybrid film and their formal potentials were observed to be pH-dependent. The electrocatalytic oxidation and reduction of NADH and NAD⁺ by a NDGA/FAD hybrid film in neutral aqueous solutions was carried out, and the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH was performed using a NDGA/FAD hybrid film.     

Fabrication of novel coated graphite electrodes for the selective nano-level determination of Cd ions in biological and environmental samples

Novel cadmium selective coated graphite electrodes were prepared using three different ionophores N¹, N²-dicyanoethyl-N¹, N²-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)benzene-1, 2-diamine [L₁], N¹, N²-dicyanoethyl-N¹, N²-bis(thiophen-2-ylmethyl) benzene-1, 2-diamine [L₂] and N¹, N²-dicyanoethyl-N¹, N²-bis(furan-2-ylmethyl)benzene-1, 2-diamine [L₃], and their potentiometric characteristics were determined. Membranes having different compositions of poly(vinylchloride) (PVC), the plasticizer o-nitrophenyloctylether (o-NPOE), sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) as an anionic additive and ionophores were coated onto the graphite surface. The potential response measurements showed that the best performance was exhibited by the electrodes with membranes having the composition L₁: o-NPOE:NaTPB:PVC as 4:51:2.5:42.5 (wt.%), L₂: o-NPOE:NaTPB:PVC as 3:52.5:1.5:43 (wt.%) and L₃: o-NPOE:NaTPB:PVC as 7:49:3.5:40.5 (wt.%). These electrodes had the widest working concentration range, Nernstian slope and fast response times of 12 s, 7 s and 17 s for L₁, L₂ and L₃, respectively. The selectivity studies showed that these electrodes have higher selectivity towards Cd²⁺ over a large number of cations and could tolerate up to 20 vol.% non-aqueous impurities. Furthermore, the electrodes generated constant potentials in the pH range 2.0–8.0, with a shelf life of approximately four to six weeks. The high selectivity of these electrodes permits their use in the detection of the Cd²⁺ content in some medicinal plants, soil and industrial wastewater samples. The electrodes could also be used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Cd²⁺ with EDTA.     

Effect of Bi(III) concentration on the stripping voltammetric response of in situ bismuth-coated carbon paste and gold electrodes

The effect of Bi(III) concentration (over the wide concentration range of 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁴ M) on the determination of Pb and Cd metal ions (in the 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁵ M range), by means of anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) at in situ bismuth-coated carbon paste (CPE) and gold electrodes, has been studied. It is shown that in square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) experiments the sensitivity of the technique generally depends on the Bi(III)-to-metal ion concentration ratio. It was found that, unlike the usually recommended at least 10-fold Hg(II) excess in anodic stripping experiments at in situ prepared mercury film electrodes, Bi(III)-to-metal ion ratios less than 10 are either optimal or equally effective at CPE and Au electrode substrates. Detection limits down to 0.1 μg L⁻¹ for Pb(II) and 0.15 μg L⁻¹ for Cd(II) were estimated at CPEs under conditions of small or moderate Bi(III) excess. Depending on Bi(III) concentration and deposition time, multiple stripping peaks attributed to Bi were recorded (especially in the case of Au substrates), indicating various forms of Bi deposits.     

New pathway for the synthesis of gold and silver bimetallic nanocomplexes and their derivatives of polypyrrole nanorods (TM04096)

We report here the first electrochemical pathway to prepare Au- and Ag-containing bimetallic nanocomplexes with a mean diameter of 5 nm in 0.1 M HCl aqueous solutions without addition of any stabilizer. First, a silver substrate was roughened by a triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycle (ORC) in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M HCl. Silver-containing complexes were left in the solution after the ORC treatment. Then a gold substrate was subsequently roughened by the similar ORC treatment in this solution. Encouragingly, polypyrrole (PPy)-coated Au and Ag bimetallic nanocomposites with a nanorod structure and a diameter smaller than 15 nm can be prepared by the formation of self-assembled monolayers and orderly autopolymerization of pyrrole monomers on these bimetallic nanocomplexes, and further link them together.