Enhanced photocurrent generation with quantum dots containing multilayers on gold

Quantum dots (QD) immobilised on electrodes show a light-triggered current depending on the applied potential. In this study it is investigated whether multiple layers of QD can be formed on electrodes and used for an enhanced photocurrent generation. Therefore multilayers of QD and the redox protein cytochrome c (cyt c) are constructed verified by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements. The voltammetric investigation of these multilayer assemblies shows no enhancement of the redox signal from cyt c in contrast to multilayers of cyt c and polyelectrolytes or gold nanoparticles. But photocurrent measurements reveal a slight enhancement of the signal which is depending on the number of deposited QD layers. In a second step QD multilayers with a positively charged polyelectrolyte are built up verified by QCM. Chronoamperometric investigations reveal an increase of the photocurrent which is proportional to the number of deposited layers. This indicates an efficient electron transfer between the QD layers. At an electrode with 5 bilayers (QD and polyallylamine) the light-induced current is increased about 5 times compared to a monolayer.     

A novel layer-by-layer self-assembled carbon nanotube-based anode: Preparation, characterization, and application in microbial fuel cell

To exploit the outstanding ability of carbon nanotubes to facilitate electron transfer in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) and polyeletrolyte polyethyleneimine (PEI) were employed to modify carbon paper (TP) electrode utilizing a layer-by-layer (LBL) assemble technique for the first time, and the performance of the modified electrode as an anode in MFC was investigated. This modification strategy ensured a relatively high content of MWNTs within the polymer matrix. IR and cyclic voltammetry (CV) demonstrated the uniform formation of a polyethyleneimine/MWNT multilayer composite on the TP surface. The SEM profiles presented a three-dimensional MWNTs interwoven network surface structure with a large accessible surface area. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements confirmed that the existence of polyelectrolyte/MWNT multilayers decreased the interfacial charge transfer resistance from 1163 to 258 Ω. With the modified anode, the MFC produced a higher power density with 20% enhancement comparing to the bare TP anode. The MWNT-based LBL self-assembled electrode is promising for the electricity production by MFC.     

Electrochemical characterization of screen-printed and conventional carbon paste electrodes

This work compares the electroactivity of a conventional carbon paste electrode and non-pretreated commercially available screen-printed carbon electrodes (from Alderon Biosciences, University of Florence and DropSens) towards some benchmark redox couples like hexaammineruthenium (III), ferricyanide, p-aminophenol and hydroquinone. While cyclic voltammograms of Ru³⁺ did not show significative electron transfer reactivity differences between the electrodes tested, the other redox systems exhibited higher reversible behaviours on DropSens electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy and roughness analysis with a profilometer were applied to detect the surface morphology of the working electrodes. The roughness evaluated of the screen-printed carbon working electrodes increased in this order Alderon < University of Florence < DropSens. Finally, the most electrochemically active and rough unpretreated electrode (DropSens commercial screen-printed electrode) was used to study the electrochemical-chemical reaction mechanism of indigo carmine oxidation in 0.1 M sulphuric acid. This study showed that the adsorption of the oxidation product of indigo carmine is stabilized when it is adsorbed on the surface of the electrode.     

Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction by quinones adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes

The reduction of oxygen in alkaline solution has been studied on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrodes modified with various quinones using a rotating disk electrode (RDE). The electrode surface was modified by adsorption of quinones from a 0.1 M KOH solution. The oxygen reduction activity of these electrodes was considerably higher than that for unmodified HOPG and characteristic current maxima for oxygen reduction was observed. All quinones studied catalysed the two-electron reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. The peak potentials for oxygen reduction were in good correlation with the redox potentials of the quinones that were found from the cyclic voltammograms in oxygen-free solutions. The results obtained give further evidence that oxygen reduction is catalysed by the semiquinone radical and that the redox potential of the quinone is the most important factor determining its electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction.     

Interaction between myoglobin and hyaluronic acid in layer-by-layer structures—An electrochemical study

The layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembled film construction of the biocompatible polymer hyaluronic acid (HA) and single heme redox protein, myoglobin (Mb) is described. The films were built upon gold electrode substrates, both gold quartz crystal electrodes and bulk gold (Au(bulk)) electrodes, and formation of the LBL films was gravimetrically monitored by an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. The electrochemical properties of the hyaluronic acid/myoglobin films ({HA/Mb}_n) were investigated after each deposition step using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The CV response presented an oxidation peak at +0.3 V vs. SCE, not characteristic of the redox protein myoglobin, and, the peak current decreased slightly with each additional bilayer. CV at Au(bulk) electrodes in pH 5.0 acetate buffer solution, containing Mb, presented the same oxidation peak as observed at {HA/Mb}_n modified electrodes, confirming the presence of the same electroactive species. The Mb oxidation peak current depends linearly on scan rate, characteristic of adsorbed thin-layer electrochemical systems, attributed to free adsorbed heme. Impedance spectra, recorded after deposition of each bilayer, were in agreement with the cyclic voltammetry observations.     

Electrochemical preparation and properties of composite films with polypyrrole/poly(styrene sulfonate): polyviologen multilayers

Multilayers consisting of polypyrrole/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PP/PSS) and polyviologen (PV) were electrochemically prepared on Au to enhance long-term and environmental (e.g., pH) stability of PV modified electrodes. PV cationic polyelectrolytes were adsorbed on top of electrochemically synthesized PP/PSS via electrostatic interactions with PSS present at the surface of conducting polymer substrates. By alternating electrochemical synthesis of PP/PSS and PV adsorption in a single medium, multilayers were prepared up to 13 layer-pairs. The electrochemical and electrochromic properties of multilayers produced in this way were quite reproducible, since the film preparation does not require medium changes and the layer thicknesses can be finely controlled using the applied potential and time. Although the redox potential of PP/PSS shifted in the positive direction with increase in the number of layer-pairs, cyclic voltammograms of multilayers indicated that total electroactivity of PP/PSS was retained. PV molecules, sandwiched between reduced PP/PSS layers, were also fully electroactive and quite stable during repeated redox switching processes, indicative of enhanced long-term stability. Multilayers also possessed electrochromic properties which were directly proportional to the number of PV layers.     

Probing the electrochemical behaviour of SWCNT-cobalt nanoparticles and their electrocatalytic activities towards the detection of nitrite at acidic and physiological pH conditions

The electrochemical decoration of edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (EPPGE) with cobalt and cobalt oxide nanoparticles integrated with and without single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is described. Successful modification of the electrodes was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), AFM and EDX techniques. The electron transfer behaviour of the modified electrodes was investigated in [Fe(CN)6]^3−/4− redox probe using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and discussed. The study showed that cobalt nanoparticles modified electrodes exhibit faster electron transfer behaviour than their oxides. The catalytic rate constant (K) obtained at the EPPGE-SWCNT-Co for nitrite at pH 7.4 and 3.0 are approximately the same (∼3 × 10⁴ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) while the limits of detection (LoD = 3.3δ/m) are in the μM order. From the adsorption stripping voltammetry, the electrochemical adsorption equilibrium constant β was estimated as (13.0 ± 0.1) × 10³ M⁻¹ at pH 7.4 and (56.7 ± 0.1) × 10³ M⁻¹ at pH 3.0 while the free energy change (ΔG°) due to the adsorption was estimated as −6.36 and −10.00 kJ mol⁻¹ for nitrite at pH 7.4 and 3.0, respectively.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polyaniline nanofibers and its electrochemistry

A simple and versatile method based on noncovalent supramolecular attachment and layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly is proposed to prepare nanostructured hybrid conducting polymer. The negatively charged poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is doped with cationic polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers via LBL assembly, and a well-defined PANI/MWCNTs composite was obtained. The LBL assembly process is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry and electrochemical methods. It was found that PSS wrapped MWCNTs inside the multilayer film can dope nanostructured PANI effectively and shift its electroactivity to a neutral pH environment. Moreover, the conducting composites show amperometric response for hydrogen peroxide with a linear range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁷-1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹.     

Electrochemical studies on the redox mechanism of uranium chloride in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic

The reduction and oxidation processes on platinum and glassy carbon electrodes in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic containing UCl₃ were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range 660-780 K. Two redox peaks have been observed in the cyclic voltammograms corresponding to the two redox reactions U(IV)/U(III) and U(III)/U which are found to be reversible and quasi-reversible, respectively. The reduction potentials of U(IV)/U(III) and U(III)/U are −0.325 and −1.490 V versus reference electrode (0.1 mol% AgCl in the LiCl-KCl), respectively at 700 K. Chronopotentiometric measurements confirm the three-electron transfer during the reduction of U(III) to U metal. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data at various potentials were interpreted either as diffusion, adsorption or reduction process by nonlinear fit of the impedance data to the simulated equivalent circuits.     

Combination of redox capacity and double layer capacitance in composite electrodes through immobilization of an organic redox couple on carbon black

Carbon electrodes have been modified with 2-nitro-1-naphthol with the aim of producing composite supercapacitor electrodes, which make use of both the electric double layer (EDL) capacitance of high surface area carbon and the redox capacity (pseudocapacitance) of the organic compound. In situ FTIR and cyclic voltammetric data confirm literature reports of the reduction of 2-nitro-1-naphthol to 2-amino-1-naphthol and the subsequent oxidation of the o-aminonaphthol to the corresponding o-naphthaquinoneimine in aqueous acidic media. The measurements also show that the quinoneimine is not stable and hydrolized in sulphuric acid electrolyte to 1,2-naphthaquinone. The chemically highly reversible o-naphthaquinone/o-naphthahydroquinone couple remains immobilized on the carbon electrodes during redox cycling. The organic redox couple contributes a capacity of 35 mA h g⁻¹ of the bare carbon to the overall charge storage capability of the composite electrode. Surprisingly, it does not affect the capacitance of the electric double layer of the carbon. During 1000 charge/discharge cycles, the pseudocapacitance decreases by less than 20% in a normal large-volume electrochemical cell. Electrochemical impedance measurements show that the full capacity of the electrode is accessible at frequencies below 0.1 Hz.     

Horizontally aligned single-walled carbon nanotube field emitters fabricated on vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube electrode arrays

Vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) arrays were fabricated on an anodic aluminum oxide membrane bonded to a Si wafer. After obtaining a protruding tip for the MWCNTs by etching away some oxide, they were used as electrodes in the fabrication of carbon nanotube field emitters. Long single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were spin coated on the MWCNT arrays of uniform height. Clean SWCNTs were suspended by attaching them to the tips of the vertically aligned MWCNT arrays. The spin coated SWCNTs function as emitters, while the MWCNT arrays function as electrodes. The field emission was greatly improved by coating gold on the MWCNT arrays and annealing at 400 °C. Our field emitter exhibits good field emission properties such as a low turn-on field (1.4 V/μm), high current density (122 mA/cm²), and good stability (55 h for 10% degradation of current density from 400 μA/cm²).     

The characterization and bioelectrocatalytic properties of hemoglobin by direct electrochemistry of DDAB film modified electrodes

Direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin can be performed in acidic and basic aqueous solutions in the pH range 1-13, using stable, electrochemically active films deposited on a didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) modified glassy carbon electrode. Films can also be produced on gold, platinum, and transparent semiconductor tin oxide electrodes. Hemoglobin/DDAB films exhibit one, two, and three redox couples when transferred to strong acidic, weak acidic and weak basic, and strong basic aqueous solutions, respectively. These redox couples, and their formal potentials, were found to be pH dependent. An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the in situ deposition of DDAB on gold disc electrodes and hemoglobin deposition on DDAB film modified electrodes. A hemoglobin/DDAB/GC modified electrode is electrocatalytically reduction active for oxygen and H₂O₂, and electrocatalytically oxidation active for S₂O₄²⁻ through the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. In the electrocatalytic reduction of S₄O₆²⁻, S₂O₄²⁻, and SO₃²⁻, and the dithio compounds of 2,2′-dithiosalicylic acid and 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid, the electrocatalytic current develops from the cathodic peak of the redox couple at a potential of about −0.9 V (from the Fe(II)/Fe(I) redox couple) in neutral and weakly basic aqueous solutions. Hemoglobin/DDAB/GC modified electrodes are electrocatalytically reduction active for trichloroacetic acid in strong acidic buffered aqueous solutions through the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. However, the electrocatalytic current developed from the cathodic peak of the redox couple at a potential of about −0.9 V (from the Fe(II)/Fe(I) redox couple) in weak acidic and basic aqueous solutions. The electrocatalytic properties were investigated using the rotating ring-disk electrode method.     

Electrode passivation by reaction products of the electrochemical and enzymatic oxidation of p-phenylenediamine

The electrochemical and enzymatic oxidation of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) was studied under various conditions to evaluate its reversibility and stability when used as a laccase redox mediator. In accordance with published results, PPD oxidation during cyclic voltammetry showed that a passivation occurred with cycling in static systems without laccase. Such passivation was observed both in McIlvaine and acetate buffers on glassy carbon and platinum electrodes. Our results suggest that the oxidised form of PPD reacts with other PPD molecules in their reduced state to form a polymer on the surface of the electrode. When laccase is present in solution, PPD is only found in its oxidised state and another behaviour is observed at the electrode, with the appearance of a redox couple with an E’ centered at about −25 mV vs. Ag/AgCl in 0.1 M acetate buffer. These redox waves are attributed to the formation of soluble PPD oligomers. RRDE experiments showed no passivation, meaning that in order to form a film, the reaction products from the first oxidation of PPD must be further oxidised in a slow, homogeneous reaction. Results from these experiments have a significant importance in the design of efficient enzyme-modified electrodes since PPD diffusion in the thick polymer layers used to immobilise enzymes is a much slower process than in free solution, which allows enough time for the oxidation products to further react at the electrode and to polymerise on its surface. Passivation can therefore be observed with modified electrodes, even under hydrodynamic conditions, while similar conditions will provide a reversible system on bare electrodes. An example of this consequence of the reactivity of PPD oxidation products on the mediator's reversibility is given through experiments with a modified glassy carbon RDE functionalised with a thick layer of poly(ethyleneimine) microcapsules. In such case, the cyclic voltammograms showed that the oxidation and reduction processes are broader than at a bare electrode and that higher scan rates or rotation rates must be used to avoid passivation.     

Fabrication of glass-coated electrodes with nano- and micrometer size by means of dissolution with HF

Platinum nano-electrodes were fabricated at the success rate 76% by the six processes; (i) etching a Pt wire in ethanol-water mixture, (ii) sealing it with a glass sheath, (iii) grinding roughly the glass tip, (iv) polishing the tip while monitoring the capacitive ac current flowing through the glass thin film on the Pt, (v) dissolving the glass film in HF solution until a part of Pt was exposed, and (vi) heating the tip at 85 °C for stabilization. A key of the process was to make a thin glass film on the Pt tip (iv) and to expose the Pt surface chemically by (v). 50 electrodes thus fabricated had diameters ranging from 1 nm to 5 μm, estimated from the steady-state diffusion-controlled current of ferrocene in acetonitrile and ferrocenyl derivative in aqueous solution. They exhibited reproducible and stable voltammograms without hysteresis, withstanding 6 hours’ continuous use and 15 hours’ iterative processes of heat and voltammetry. Not only the halfwave potentials but also slopes of the log-plots were independent of radii of the electrodes. No kinetic effect was revealed in the steady-state voltammograms.     

Nitrate reduction on Pt single crystals with Pd multilayer

Nitrate reduction on palladium multilayers deposited on platinum single crystal electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry and FTIR spectroscopy in acid and alkaline media. The results are compared with those obtained with bulk palladium single crystals. The reaction is sensitive to the electrode surface structure, the reactivity depending on the solution pH. In acid solution nitrate was reduced at potentials below the potential of zero total charge (pztc), when the electrode is negatively charged. Competition between nitrate, hydrogen and anion adsorption and NO formation and accumulation at the surface are proposed as the main reasons for the slow reaction rate. On the bulk palladium single crystal electrodes, NO formation leads to a fast blockage of the surface resulting in a very low activity for nitrate reduction. In alkaline solution, nitrate is reduced at more positive potentials with significantly higher current being measured on the Pd multilayer on Pt(1 0 0) electrode.     

The impedance of fast charge transfer reactions on boron doped diamond electrodes

Reversible charge transfer on boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes was studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Polycrystalline diamond films of 5 μm thickness with 200 and 3000 ppm boron content were prepared by chemical vapour deposition on niobium substrate. The samples were mounted in a Teflon holder and used as rotating disk electrodes (RDE) with rotation frequencies between 0 and 4000 rpm. The electrochemical measurements were carried out in aqueous electrolyte solutions of 0.5 M Na₂SO₄ + 5 mM K₃[Fe(CN)₆]/K₄[Fe(CN)₆] and 0.1 M KCl + 5 mM [Ru(NH₃)₆]Cl₂/[Ru(NH₃)₆]Cl₃. The electrochemical redox behaviour of the BDD electrodes was found to differ significantly from that of an active Pt electrode. The deviations are indicated by a large peak potential difference and a shift of the peak potentials in cyclic voltammograms with increasing sweep rate. At rotating electrodes lower limiting current densities are found and the impedance diagrams exhibit an additional capacitive impedance element at high frequencies. The results are described quantitatively by an impedance model which is based on partial blocking of the diamond surface.     

Phthalocyanines and porphyrins linked to gold adatoms and their catalytic property towards hydroxide oxidation

This paper describes the electrochemical formation and detection of gold adatoms, by recording successive cyclic voltammograms of a gold electrode in base, and their ability to function as an anchor for phthalocyanine or porphyrin adsorption. The values of the redox potential of the adatom reactions are linked to the redox potential of the adsorbed central metal ion, cobalt or copper, of the phthalocyanine or porphyrin compound. In addition, when using a phthalocyanine or porphyrin immobilized on a gold electrode, the detection of hydroxide can be improved by electrocatalysis. The catalytic current was found to vary linearly with the hydroxide concentration and a detection limit of 11 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ for a 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin-Co(II) modified gold electrode could be calculated.     

Giant multilayer electrocatalytic effect investigation on Pt/Bi/Pt nanostructured electrodes towards CO and methanol electrooxidation

This work describes CO and methanol electrooxidation over Bi/Pt 1.2:1.2 or 10:10 ML electrodeposited on a bulk platinum substrate. It could be observed in a blank solution that the same features for bulk Pt and Pt/Bi/Pt MM and the hydrogen region were overlaid. The electroactive areas, calculated using the hydrogen desorption method, are the same for both bulk Pt and Pt/Bi/Pt MM electrodes. This is in agreement with AFM images and RMS values, which were the same for bulk Pt and Pt/Bi/Pt MM electrodes. CO stripping voltammograms showed a shift in the anodic peak potential towards the negative direction of 138 and 197 mV for Pt/Bi/Pt 10:10 and 1.2:1.2 ML, respectively, in comparison to bulk Pt. Moreover, for methanol electrooxidation the Pt/Bi/Pt 1.2:1.2 ML electrodes presented an enhancement of 315% and 22 times in the peak current density compared to bulk Pt using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques respectively. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it was possible to observe the lowest resistance charge transfer for Pt/Bi/Pt 1.2:1.2 ML compared to Pt/Bi/Pt 10:10 ML and bulk Pt respectively. We designate the Pt/Bi/Pt MM electrodes as a giant multilayer electrocatalytic (GME) system, due to their enhanced electrocatalytical properties.     

Electrochemical behavior of glassy carbon electrodes modified by multi-walled carbon nanotube/surfactant films in a buffer solution and an ionic liquid

The electrochemical behavior of glassy carbon (GC) electrodes coated with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/surfactant films was studied in an ionic liquid and a phosphate buffer solution (pH = 6.86), using cyclic voltammetry. The dispersion of MWCNTs in different media was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Cast films of MWCNT/zwitterionic dodecyldimethylamine oxide on a GC electrode show a typical redox couple in phosphate buffer solution, which is better than that of MWCNT/anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate and cationic alkyltrimethylammonium bromide. However in the ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]), the GC electrode modified by MWCNT/cationic surfactant films shows a well-defined irreversible reduction of MWCNTs. The cyclic voltammograms clearly show that the surfactant hydrophilic group plays an important role in the electrochemical behavior of the MWCNTs. The electrolytes also have an important effect. In an ionic liquid, the strong binding of the ionic liquid cations with the MWCNTs may change the structure of the modified films and lead to changes of electrochemical behavior.     

Electrochemical characterization of single-walled carbon nanotubes for electrochemical double layer capacitors using non-aqueous electrolyte

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a non-aqueous electrolyte, 1 M Et₄NBF₄ in acetonitrile, suitable for supercapacitors. Further, in situ dilatometry and in situ conductance measurements were performed on single electrodes and the results compared to an activated carbon, YP17. Both materials show capacitive behavior characteristic of high surface area electrodes for supercapacitors, with the maximum full cell gravimetric capacitance being 34 F/g for YP17 and 20 F/g for SWCNTs at 2.5 V with respect to the total active electrode mass. The electronic resistance of SWCNTs and activated carbon decreases significantly during charging, showing similarities of the two materials during electrochemical doping. The SWCNT electrode expands irreversibly during the first electrochemical potential sweep as verified by in situ dilatometry, indicative of at least partial debundling of the SWCNTs. A reversible periodic swelling and shrinking during cycling is observed for both materials, with the magnitude of expansion depending on the type of ions forming the double layer.