XPS and flow-cell EQCM study of albumin adsorption on passivated chromium surfaces: Influence of potential and pH

The adsorption of albumin (BSA: bovine serum albumin) on passivated chromium surfaces was studied in deaerated sulphate solutions as a function of potential (in the passive state) and pH (from 4 to 10). In situ switch-flow cell EQCM measurements were coupled to ex situ XPS analyses. EQCM results showed that (i) the initial adsorption rate is about 3.3 ng cm⁻² s⁻¹ which corresponds to 3 × 10¹⁰ molecules cm⁻² s⁻¹, irrespective of the passive potential and pH, and (ii) the passive potential as well as the pH have no influence on the amount of adsorbed BSA (Δm = 440 ± 70 ng cm⁻² on the adsorption plateau). From the XPS N 1s and C 1s signals, which provide a fingerprint for the protein, it can be concluded that BSA is adsorbed on the Cr surface and is chemically intact. The XPS results show that (i) when increasing the passive potential, the oxide layer thickness increases (mean value: d_ox = 2.2 ± 0.2 nm), and (ii) the passive film is not modified by the adsorption of protein. From combined EQCM and XPS data, a full coverage of the Cr surface by the adsorbed proteins (γ = 1) is demonstrated at pH 4 (whatever the passive potential). The thickness of the continuous BSA layer (h_BSA) is 3.3 ± 0.3 nm, which corresponds to one monolayer “side-on”, i.e. oriented parallel to the surface. At pH 5.5 and 10, the adsorbed proteins form islands. The surface coverage is much lower (γ ∼ 0.5), and the height of the protein islands is significantly higher (h_BSA ∼ 6.5 nm). The results suggest a strong interaction (partially covalent) between the protein and the passivated chromium surface.     

Molecular characteristics of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) in dilute solutions

Samples and fractions of a membrane-forming polymer, poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), were studied by methods of molecular hydrodynamics (velocity sedimentation, translational isothermal diffusion and viscometry) in cyclohexane in the molecular mass range 60<M×10⁻³ g mol⁻¹<430. The following molecular-mass dependencies of the hydrodynamic characteristics (intrinsic viscosity [η] (cm³ g⁻¹), sedimentation coefficient s₀(s) and translational diffusion coefficient D₀ (cm² s⁻¹)) were established: [η]=0.198 M^0.50±0.06; s₀=8.66×10⁻¹⁶M^0.50±0.04; D₀=9.30×10⁻⁵M^{−0.50±0.04}. On the basis of the hydrodynamics data the equilibrium rigidity and hydrodynamic diameter of PTMSP chains were evaluated. The equilibrium properties of the different disubstituted polyacetylenes molecules are compared on the base of the normalised scaling plots.     

Hydrogen oxidation kinetics on model Pd/C electrodes: Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and rotating disk electrode study

This work reports on the kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) on model Pd nanoparticles supported on a low surface area carbon substrate. Two Pd/C samples, with the average particle size 2.6 and 4.0 nm were used. The structure of the catalysts was characterized with the ex situ (electron microscopy) and in situ (electrochemical) methods. We utilized the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry to study the kinetics of the HOR on Pd/C. The relevance of these techniques for elucidating the kinetics and the mechanism of the HOR on Pd/C was explored. The experimental results suggest that the catalytic activity of Pd in the HOR is more than 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of Pt, and does not depend on the particle size in the range from 2.6 to 4.0 nm. Computational modeling of the experimental steady-state (RDE) and non-steady-state (EIS) data shows that the reaction kinetics can be adequately described within Heyrovsky-Volmer mechanism, with the rate constants υ_0H = (8.8 ± 1.5) × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ and υ_0V = (1.0 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁸ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹. The model suggests that underpotentially deposited hydrogen H_UPD is unlikely to be the active intermediate H_ad of the HOR. It is concluded that the surface coverage of H_ad deviates from that of H_UPD with increasing overpotential, and the lateral interactions within H_ad adlayer are weak.     

Cyclic voltammetry and scanning electrochemical microscopy studies of methylene blue immobilized on the self-assembled monolayer of n-dodecanethiol

Electron transfer (ET) kinetics through n-dodecanethiol (C₁₂SH) self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An SECM model for compensating pinhole contribution, was used to measure the ET kinetics of solution-phase probes of ferrocyanide/ferricyanide (Fe(CN)₆^4−/3−) and ferrocenemethanol/ferrociniummethanol (FMC^0/+) through the C₁₂SH monolayer yielding standard tunneling rate constant () of (4 ± 1) × 10⁻¹¹ and (3 ± 1) × 10⁻¹⁰ cm s⁻¹ for Fe(CN)₆^4−/3− and FMC^0/+ respectively. Decay tunneling constants (β) of 0.97 and 0.96 Å⁻¹ for saturated alkane thiol chains were obtained using Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ and FMC respectively. Also, it was found that methylene blue (MB) molecules are effectively immobilized on the C₁₂SH monolayer and can mediate the ET between the solution-phase probes and underlying gold substrate. SECM-mediated model was used to simultaneously measure the bimolecular ET between the solution-phase probes and the monolayer-immobilized MB molecules, as well as tunneling ET between the monolayer-immobilized MB molecules and the underlying gold electrode, allowing the measurement of k_BI = (5 ± 1) × 10⁶ and (4 ± 2) × 10⁷ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the bimolecular ET and and (7 ± 3) × 10⁻² s⁻¹ for the standard tunneling rate constant of ET using Fe(CN)₆^4−/3− and FMC^0/+ probes respectively.     

Interaction between promethazine hydrochloride and DNA and its application in electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization

The interactions of promethazine hydrochloride (PZH) with thiolated single-stranded DNA (HS-ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (HS-dsDNA) self-assembled on gold electrodes have been studied electrochemically. The binding of PZH with ssDNA shows a mechanism containing an electrostatic interaction, while the mode of PZH interaction with dsDNA contains both electrostatic and intercalative bindings. The redox system belongs to the category of diffusion control approved by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The diffusion coefficients of PZH at the bare, HS-dsDNA and HS-ssDNA modified gold electrodes decrease regularly as 1.34 × 10⁻³ cm² s⁻¹, 1.04 × 10⁻³ cm² s⁻¹, 7.47 × 10⁻⁴ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. The electron transfer standard rate constant k_s of PZH at bare gold, HS-ssDNA and HS-dsDNA modified electrodes are 0.419 s⁻¹, 0.131 s⁻¹, and 0.154 s⁻¹, respectively. The presence of adsorbed dsDNA results in a great increase in the peak currents of PZH in comparison with those obtained at a bare or ssDNA adsorbed gold electrode. The difference between interactions of PZH with HS-ssDNA and HS-dsDNA has been used for hybridization recognition of 14-mer DNA oligonucleotide. The peak current (i_pa) of PZH is linearly proportional to the logarithmic concentration of complementary target DNA in the range from 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ with the detection limit of 3.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹.     

Novel conjugated alternating copolymer based on 2,7-carbazole and 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole

A novel conjugated alternating copolymer (PCzDBSe) based on N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole and 5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzoselenadiazole) was synthesized by Suzuki polycondensation. The polymer reveals excellent thermal stabilities with the decomposition temperature (5% weight loss) of 390 °C and the glass-transition temperature of 140 °C. The absorption peaks of the polymer are located at 412 and 626 nm, respectively, while the absorption onset is extended to 716 nm, which is 56 nm red-shifted as compared with its analogue, poly[N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT). The HOMO and LUMO levels of the polymer were estimated to be −5.28 and −3.55 eV, respectively, with an optical bandgap of 1.73 eV. The hole mobility of PCzDBSe as deduced from a solution-processed organic field effect transistor (OFET) was found to be 3.9 × 10⁻⁴ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. Polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on the blends of PCzDBSe and [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) with a weight ratio of 1:4 were fabricated. Under AM 1.5 (AM, air mass), 100 mW cm⁻² illumination, the devices were found to have an open-circuit (V_oc) of 0.75 V, a short-circuit current density (J_sc) of 7.23 mA cm⁻², a fill factor (FF) of 45% and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.58%. The primary results indicate that 5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzoselenadiazole) is a promising unit for low bandgap polymer for polymer solar cells.     

Reduction process of uranium(IV) and uranium(III) in molten fluorides

This study focused on the electroreduction process of uranium cations in molten fluorides. It involved cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry with and without current reversal, and square wave voltammetry.The results indicate a two-step reduction process for uranium(IV). The first step U(IV)/U(III) exchanging one electron corresponds to a soluble/soluble system and is limited by U(IV) diffusion with D_U(IV) = 1.25 ± 0.35 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ in LiF-NaF at 720 °C.In order to perform a thorough study of the second step U(III)/U(0) in the reduction process, the melt was chemically reduced in U(III) with U metal as reducing agent. Alternatively to the use of LiF-NaF where U metal is unstable at 720 °C, the chemical reduction of U(IV) in U(III) was performed in a LiF-CaF₂-UF₄ solution containing U metal at 810 °C. It has been confirmed that the reduction of U(III) proceeds in one step exchanging three electrons and by a diffusion controlled process with D_U(III) = 2.2 ± 0.7 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ in LiF-CaF₂ at 810 °C.     

Electron transfer rate of redox ion controlled by electrostatic interaction with bilayer films assembled using thiolate-copper ion-carboxylate bridges

11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) monolayer and MUA-copper ion-MUA bilayer assembled using thiolate-coppcr ion-carboxylate bridges on MUA monolayer electrode were prepared, and tried to control electron transfer rate of redox ions. The soaking solution to assemble MUA on gold electrode changed from ethanolic MUA solution to 1-butanolic one, then the differential interfacial capacitance decreased from 2.5±0.1 μF cm⁻² to 1.6±0.2 μF cm⁻², and electron rate constant, k⁰ of [Co(phen)₃]³⁺ decreased from 20×10⁻⁶ cm s⁻¹ to 8.3×10⁻⁶ cm s⁻¹. These results show that highly ordered MUA monolayer can be obtained only changing soaking solvent to assemble MUA, Obtained highly ordered MUA monolayer electrode was block off completely redox anion by electrostatic repulsion and MUA film thickness. Moreover using MUA-copper ion-MUA bilayer electrode, k⁰ of [Co(phen)₃]³⁺ decreased under 1/400 against using MUA monolayer electrode, that value become to under 0.02×10⁻⁶ cm s⁻¹. This study shows that the combination of electrode surface charge and length of insulating spacers is able to control electron transfer rate of various electroactive ions.     

Sticking probability of CN radicals

The sticking probability, s, of CN(X²Σ⁺) radicals which were the precursor of the formation of amorphous carbon nitride films with high [N]/([N]+[C]) ratios (≤ 0.5) was re-evaluated. CN(X²Σ⁺) radicals were generated from the decomposition of BrCN with the microwave discharge flow of Ar of the pressure of 0.2-0.4 Torr. The number density of CN(X²Σ⁺), n_CN(X), was evaluated from the intensity of the CN(A²Π_i-X²Σ⁺) laser-induced fluorescence spectrum calibrated against Rayleigh scattering intensity of Ar. The weight of the C and N components of films, w, was evaluated from the compositional analysis for the deposited films using Rutherford back scattering and elastic recoil detection analysis. The [N]/([N]+[C]) ratios of films were 0.4-0.5. Based on n_CN(X), w, and the flow speed measured by a time-resolved emission, s was evaluated both under the desiccated and H₂O-added conditions as (8.5 ± 2.1) × 10^− 2 − (6.1 ± 1.2) × 10^− 2 and (11.4 ± 1.3) × 10^− 2 − (7.4 ± 1.8) × 10^− 2, respectively. The variation of s under various experimental conditions was discussed based on the electron densities in the reaction region.     

Mass transport and charge transfer rates for Co/Co redox couple in a thin-layer cell

Recently, the complex Co(dtb)₃ⁿ⁺ (dtb = 4,4 di tert-butyl-2,2′ bipyridine) in methoxypropionitrile (MPN) solvent has been proposed as an alternative redox mediator in the thin-layer dye sensitized solar cells. The electrochemical properties of this new mediator as a function of temperature were investigated by mean of symmetric golden electrodes thin-layer cell, using three electro-analytical techniques: electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), slow scan cyclic voltammetry (SCCV) and chronoamperometry (CA). Our study pointed out that, at room temperature, both the electron transfer rate k° = 1.24 10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹ as well as the diffusion coefficient D = 5.85 × 10⁻⁷ cm s⁻¹ are rather low. Raising the temperature has a beneficial effect, increasing more than 6 times the standard rate constant of electron transfer and more than 3 times the ionic diffusion coefficient at 80 °C. However, for all the studied temperatures, the slow mass transport of Co^(III)/Co^(II) species still remains the rate determining step. Viscosity measurements have demonstrated that the ionic mass transport in MPN follows the Stokes’ law and the Walden product is constant, in the temperature range investigated.     

Subaquatic oxidation of coal by water-dissolved oxygen

Subaquatic oxidation of two bituminous coals by water-dissolved oxygen was investigated using batch reactor equipped with membrane oxygen sensor. Effects of time, temperature and coal grain size were studied as basic parameters influencing the oxidation process. Obtained results showed the subaquatic coal oxidation can be considered as interaction of the first reaction order with respect to oxygen. From temperature dependence of oxidation rate, activation energies E = 72 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹ and/or 50 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹ were calculated. For the samples, oxygen consumption R_O2 was found to be in the range of 2 × 10⁻⁷ mol O₂ kg⁻¹ s⁻¹ to 6 × 10⁻⁷ mol O₂ kg⁻¹ s⁻¹, such values being quite comparable with R_O2 for aerial oxidation of bituminous coals.     

Potassium-ion selective solid contact microelectrode based on a novel 1,3-(di-4-oxabutanol)-calix[4]arene-crown-5 neutral carrier

The development of novel potassium-ion selective microelectrodes using microfabrication technologies and electrochemical polymerization is described. The microelectrode is based on electropolymerized polypyrrole films, doped with cobaltabis(dicarbollide) ions ([3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]), as an internal solid contact layer between the platinum surface and the polymeric sensing membrane. The ion selective membranes, which are based on a plasticized PVC membrane, contain 1,3-(di-4-oxabutanol)-calix[4]arene-crown-5 as a novel potassium ionophore, and are deposited on top of a layer of the conducting PPy[3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]. The response of the microelectrode was linear with a Nernstian slope of 51 ± 2 mV decade⁻¹ over a K⁺ ion concentration range of 6 × 10⁻⁶ to 1 × 10⁻¹ M, with a detection limit of 1.8 × 10⁻⁶ M. The microelectrode is suitable for use within the pH range of 3-11. The electrode could be used for at least one month without a considerable alteration in its potential.     

Rapid formation of high-quality self-assembled monolayers of dodecanethiol on polycrystalline gold under ultrasonic irradiation

Self-assembled monolayers of dodecanethiol (C₁₂SH-SAMs) on polycrystalline gold were prepared under ultrasonic irradiation at 100 W (the actual ultrasonic power intensity is about 0.1 W cm⁻² including the heat loss) for different time and investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). CV experiments show that the differential capacitance C_d values of the C₁₂SH-SAM prepared under ultrasonic irradiation at 100 W (0.1 W cm⁻²) for 15 min are independent of the scan rate, the thickness d value of this monolayer is 17.5 Å, the tilt angle φ value of the molecules in this monolayer from the gold surface normal was calculated to be 30° and the difference value of the current density at −0.2 and 0.5 V (Δi_p) is only 0.69 μA cm⁻². From the EIS experiments, we find that the phase angle value at 1 Hz Φ_1 Hz of the C₁₂SH-SAM prepared under ultrasonic irradiation at 100 W (0.1 W cm⁻²) for 15 min is 89°, the charge transfer resistance R_ct value of this monolayer is 1.40 × 10⁶ Ω cm² and the surface coverage θ value of this monolayer was calculated to be 99.997% from R_ct. These results indicate that the C₁₂SH-SAM of almost defect-free structure and very low ionic permeability can be formed under ultrasonic irradiation at 100 W (0.1 W cm⁻²) in a short time (15 min).     

Electroreduction of nitrate ions on Pt(1 1 1) electrodes modified by copper adatoms

Kinetics and mechanism of nitrate ion reduction on Pt(1 1 1) and Cu-modified Pt(1 1 1) electrodes have been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic current transient technique and in situ FTIRS in solutions of perchloric and sulphuric acids to elucidate the role of the background anion. Modification of platinum surface with copper adatoms or small amount of 3D-Cu crystallites was performed using potential cycling between 0.05 and 0.3 V in solutions with low concentration of copper ions, this allowed us to vary coverage θ_Cu smoothly. Following desorption of copper during the potential sweep from 0.3 to 1.0 V allowed us to estimate actual coverage of Pt surface with Cu adatoms. Another manner of the modification was also applied: copper was electrochemically deposited at several constant potentials in solutions containing 10⁻⁵ or 10⁻⁴ M Cu²⁺ and 5 mM NaNO₃ with registration of current transients of copper deposition and nitrate reduction.It has been found that nitrate reduction at the Pt(1 1 1) surface modified by copper adatoms in sulphuric acid solutions is hindered as compared to pure platinum due to induced sulphate adsorption at E < 0.3 V. Sulphate blocks the adsorption sites on the platinum surface and/or islands of epitaxial Cu(1 × 1) monolayer thus hindering the adsorption of nitrate anions and their reduction. The extent of inhibition weakly depends on the copper adatom coverage. Deposition of a small amount of bulk copper does not affect noticeably the rate of nitrate reduction.Nitrate reduction on copper-modified Pt(1 1 1) electrodes in perchloric acid solutions occurs much faster as compared to pure platinum. The steady-state currents are higher by 4 and 2 orders of magnitude at the potentials of 0.12 and 0.3 V, respectively. The catalytic effect of copper adatoms is largely caused by the facilitation of nitrate adsorption on the platinum surface near Cu_ad and/or on the islands of the Cu(1 × 1) monolayer (induced nitrate adsorption).Hydrogen adatoms block the adsorption sites on platinum for NO₃⁻ anion adsorption and inhibit reactions of nitrate reduction even at moderate surface coverage.The products of nitrate reduction in sulphuric and perchloric acids are essentially the same (NO and ammonia) irrespective of the presence or absence of Cu on the platinum surface.     

Redox induced switching dynamics of a three colour electrochromic metallopolymer film

Thin films of a novel Ru-phenolate based metallopolymer, [Ru(terpy)(box)PVP₂₀]PF₆, in which one in every twenty of the 4-vinyl pyridine monomer units is labelled with the ruthenium complex have been formed on glassy carbon electrodes, terpy is 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, box is 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole, and PVP is poly(4-vinylpyridine). Cyclic voltammetry and Raman spectroscopy reveal that the Ru^2+/3+ couple is electrochemically reversible but that the phenolate ligand based oxidation is irreversible. These redox processes are associated with reversible colour changes from wine red (reduced) to red orange (mixed composition) then to light green (oxidized) in the visible region and an irreversible change in the near-IR region, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that repeated switching in LiClO₄ aqueous solution does not induce any significant structural change within the deposit films. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to determine the electrochromic switching rate under semi-infinite linear diffusion conditions. In aqueous LiClO₄, the homogeneous charge transport diffusion coefficient, D_CT, decreases from 3.6 ± 0.3 × 10⁻¹³ to 2.7 ± 0.2 × 10⁻¹³ cm² s⁻¹ as the LiClO₄ concentration increases from 0.1 to 1.0 M. This weak dependence of D_CT on electrolyte concentration suggests that counterion availability is not rate-determining and that the overall rate of charge transport through the metallopolymer film is limited by the rate of segmental polymer chain motion necessary to bring adjacent centres sufficiently close to allow electron transfer to occur. Also the impact of changing the identity of the charge compensating anion of the redox electrochromic switching rate has been investigated. Finally, the electronic conductivity has been determined using interdigitated array electrodes (IDAs).     

Self-assembled nano-arrays of single-walled carbon nanotube-octa(hydroxyethylthio)phthalocyaninatoiron(II) on gold surfaces: Impacts of SWCNT and solution pH on electron transfer kinetics

The construction by sequential self-assembly process of reproducible, highly stable and pH-responsive redox-active nanostructured arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) integrated with octa(hydroxyethylthio)phthalocyaninatoiron(II) (FeOHETPc) via ester bonds on a gold surface (Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc) is investigated and discussed. The successful construction of this electrode is confirmed using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as from the distinct cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic profiles. The Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc electrode exhibited strong dependence on the reaction of the head groups and the pH of the working electrolytes, the surface pK_a is estimated as 7.3. The high electron transfer capability of the Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc electrode over other electrodes (Au-Cys-SWCNT or the Au-Cys-FeOHETPc or the Au-FeOHETPc) suggests that SWCNT greatly improves the electronic communication between FeOHETPc and the bare gold electrode. The electron transfer rate constant (k_app) of Au-Cys-SWCNT-FeOHETPc in pH 4.8 conditions (∼1.7 × 10⁻² cm⁻² s⁻¹) over that of the electrode obtained from SWCNT integrated with tetraaminophthalocyninatocobalt(II) (Au-Cys-SWCNT-CoTAPc) (5.1 × 10⁻³ cm⁻² s⁻¹) is attributed to the possible effect of the central metal on the phthalocyanine core and substituents on the peripheral positions of the phthalocyanine rings. We also prove that aligned SWCNT arrays exhibit much faster electron transfer kinetics to redox-active species in solutions compared to the randomly dispersed (drop-dried) SWCNTs.     

Assessment of Ba0.5Sr0.5Co1−yFeyO3−δ (y = 0.0-1.0) for prospective application as cathode for IT-SOFCs or oxygen permeating membrane

The influence of iron doping level in Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_1−yFe_yO_3−δ (y = 0.0-1.0) (BSCF) oxides on their phase structure, oxygen nonstoichiometry, electrical conductivity, performance as symmetrical cell electrode and oxygen permeating membranes was systematically investigated. A cubic perovskite structure was observed for all the compositions with the presence of iron. The increase of iron doping level resulted in the decrease of the lattice constant, room-temperature oxygen nonstoichiometry, total electrical conductivity, and the increase of area specific resistance (ASR) as cathode with samaria doped ceria electrolyte. However, promising cathode performance with an ASR as low as 0.613 Ω cm² was still obtained at 600 °C for Ba_0.5Sr_0.5FeO_3−δ (BSF). The ceramic membranes composing of BSCF with various iron doping level are all oxygen semi-permeable at elevated temperatures. The increase of iron doping level resulted in the decrease of oxygen permeation flux from JO₂ = 2.28 μmol cm⁻² s⁻¹ (STP) for Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BSCF5582) to ∼0.45 μmol cm⁻² s⁻¹ (STP) at 900 °C for BSF (y = 1.0) with the same membrane thickness of 1.1 mm, alongside with the change of the rate-determination step from the oxygen surface exchange to the slow oxygen bulk diffusion. The formation of composite oxide with a proper electronic conducting phase and the thin film technology are important for their prospective application as cathode in IT-SOFCs and oxygen permeating membrane, respectively.     

Diffusional mass transfer model for the adsorption of food dyes on chitosan films

The adsorption kinetics of erythrosine B and indigo carmine on chitosan films was studied by a diffusional mass transfer model. The experimental curves were obtained in batch system under different conditions of stirring rate (80–200 rpm) and initial dye concentration (20–100 mg L⁻¹). For the model development, external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion steps were considered and the specific simplifications were based on the system characteristics. The proposed diffusional mass transfer model agreed very well with the experimental curves, indicating that the surface diffusion was the rate limiting step. The external mass transfer coefficient (k_f) was dependent of the operating conditions and ranged from 1.32 × 10⁻⁴ to 2.17 × 10⁻⁴ m s⁻¹. The values of surface diffusion coefficient (D_s) increased with the initial dye concentration and were in the range from 0.41 × 10⁻¹⁴ to 22.90 × 10⁻¹⁴ m² s⁻¹. The Biot number ranged from 17.0 to 478.5, confirming that the intraparticle diffusion due to surface diffusion was the rate limiting step in the adsorption of erythrosine B and indigo carmine on chitosan films.     

A new fast methodology to measure total diene content in gasoline

The rate constants for the quenching of biacetyl phosphorescence by a series of conjugated dienes were measured. 1,3-cyclohexadiene (k_qP = 2.94 × 10⁹ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L), 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene (k_qP = 1.91 × 10⁹ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L), 2,4-dimethyl-1,3-pentadiene (k_qP = 1.78 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L), 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (k_qP = 1.22 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L), 2,4-hexadiene (k_qP = 1.35 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L) and trans-2-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (k_qP = 3.84 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L). Cyclooctene also quenched biacetyl phosphorescence but with a lower rate (k_qP = 1.97 × 10⁷ s⁻¹ mol⁻¹ L). Quenching was not observed with 1-methylnaphthalene. Since conjugated dienes quench biacetyl phosphorescence preferentially, this method was studied using gasoline samples with known diene composition. A good correlation was found between the rate of quenching of biacetyl by the gasoline samples and the quantity of conjugated dienes present.     

Electrochemical sensor for sulfite determination based on a nanostructured copper-salen film modified electrode

The electrochemical preparation described herein involved the electrocatalytic oxidation of sulfite on a platinum electrode modified with nanostructured copper salen (salen = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneiminato)) polymer films. The complex was prepared and electropolymerized at a platinum electrode in a 0.1 mol L⁻¹ solution of tetrabutylammonium perchlorate in acetonitrile by cyclic voltammetry between 0 and 1.4 V vs. SCE. After cycling the modified electrode in a 0.50 mol L⁻¹ KCl solution, the estimated surface concentration was found to be equal to 2.2 × 10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻². This is a typical behavior of an electrode surface immobilized with a redox couple that can usually be considered as a reversible single-electron reduction/oxidation of the copper(II)/copper(III) couple. The potential peaks of the modified electrode in the electrolyte solution (aqueous) containing the different anions increase with the decrease of the ionic radius, demonstrating that the counter-ions influence the voltammetric behavior of the sensor. The potential peak was found to be linearly dependent upon the ratio [ionic charge]/[ionic radius]. The oxidation of the sulfite anion was performed at the platinum electrode at +0.9 V vs. SCE. However, a significant decrease in the overpotential (+0.45 V) was obtained while using the sensor, which minimized the effect of oxidizable interferences. A plot of the anodic current vs. the sulfite concentration for chronoamperometry (potential fixed = +0.45 V) at the sensor was linear in the 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 6.9 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ concentration range and the concentration limit was 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The reaction order with respect to sulfite was determined by the slope of the logarithm of the current vs. the logarithm of the sulfite concentration.