Electroless immobilization and electrochemical characteristics of nickel hexacyanoruthenate film at an aluminum substrate

The surface of an aluminum (Al) electrode was modified with a thin film of nickel hexacyanoruthenate (NiHCR) as a novel electrode material. The modification procedure of Al surface, includes two consecutive procedures: (i) the electroless deposition of metallic nickel on the Al electrode surface from NiCl₂ solution, and (ii) the chemical transformation of deposited nickel to nickel hexacyanoruthenate films in solution of 20 mM K₃[Ru(CN)₆] + 0.5 M KNO₃. Cyclic voltammogram of the modified Al electrode showed a well-defined redox reaction due to [Ni^IIRu^III/II(CN)₆]^1−/2− system. The effects of different supporting electrolytes and solution pH were studied on the electrochemical characteristics of the modified electrode. The diffusion coefficients of K⁺ and Na⁺ cations in the film (D), the transfer coefficient (α), and the charge transfer rate constant at the modifying film/electrode interface (k_s), were calculated in the presence of both K⁺ and Na⁺ cations. The stability of the modified electrode was investigated under various experimental conditions.     

Preparation and electrocatalytic oxidation properties of a nickel pentacyanonitrosylferrate modified carbon composite electrode by two-step sol-gel technique: improvement of the catalytic activity

The sol-gel technique was used to construct nickel pentacyanonitrosylferrate (NiPCNF) modified composite ceramic carbon electrodes (CCEs). This involves two steps: forming a CCE containing Ni powder and then immersing the electrode into a sodium pentacyanonitrosyl-ferrate solution (electroless deposition). The cyclic voltammograms of the resulting surface modified CCE under optimum conditions show a well-defined redox couple due to the [Ni^IIFe^III/II(CN)₅NO]^0/−1 system. The electrochemical properties and stability of the modified electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The apparent electron transfer rate constant (k_s) and transfer coefficient (α) were determined by cyclic voltammetry being about 1.1 s⁻¹ and 0.55, respectively. Sulfite has been chosen as a model to elucidate the electrocatalytic ability of NiPCNF-modified CCE prepared by one- or two-step sol-gel technique. The modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the SO₃²⁻ electro oxidation in pH range 3-9 in comparison with CCE modified by homogeneous mixture of graphite powder, Ni(NO₃)₂ and Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO] (one-step sol-gel technique). Sulfite was determined amperometrically at the surface of this modified electrode in pH 7. Under the optimized conditions the calibration curve is linear in the concentration range 2 μM to 2.0 mM. The detection limit (signal-to-noise is 3) and sensitivity are 0.5 μM and 13.5 nA/μM. The modified carbon ceramic electrode containing nickel pentacyanonitrosylferrate shows good repeatability, short response time, t (90%) <2 s, long-term stability (3 months), and it is renewed by simple mechanical polishing and its immersing in Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO] solution. The advantages of the SO₃²⁻ amperometrically detector based on the nickel pentacyanonitrosylferrate-doped CCE is high sensitivity, inherent stability at wide pH range, excellent catalytic activity and less expense and simplicity of preparation. This sensor can be used as amperometric detector in chromatographic instruments.     

Electrochemical characteristics of dopamine oxidation at palladium hexacyanoferrate film, electroless plated on aluminum electrode

A novel electrode material was obtained at an aluminum electrode (Al) by a simple electroless method including two consecutive procedures: (i) the electroless deposition of metallic palladium on the Al electrode surface from PdCl₂ + 25% ammonia solution and (ii) the chemical transformation of deposited palladium to the palladium hexacyanoferrate (PdHCF) films in a solution containing 0.5 M K₃[Fe(CN)₆]. The modified Al electrode demonstrated a well-behaved redox couple due to the redox reaction of the PdHCF film. The PdHCF film showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of dopamine (DA). The effect of solution pH on the voltammetric response of DA has been investigated. A linear calibration graph was obtained over the DA concentration range 2-51 mM. The rate constant k and transfer coefficient α for the catalytic reaction and the diffusion coefficient of DA in the solution D, were found to be 4.67 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹, 0.63 and 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. The interference of ascorbic acid was investigated and greatly reduced using a thin film of Nafion on the modified electrode. The modified electrode indicated reproducible behavior and a high level stability during electrochemical experiments, making it particularly suitable for the analytical purposes.     

Electrooxidation of sulfide by cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate film on glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry

A glassy carbon (GC) electrode was modified with cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate (CoPCNF) film. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of the CoPCNF onto the GC (CoPCNF/GC) shows a redox couple (Fe^III/Fe^II) with a standard potential (E^0′) of 580 mV. The current ratio I_pa/I_pc remains almost 1, and a peak separation (ΔE_p) of 106 mV is observed in 0.5 M KNO₃ as the supporting electrolyte. Anodic peak currents were found to be linearly proportional to the scan rate between 10 and 200 mV s⁻¹, indicating an adsorption-controlled process. The redox couple of the CoPCNF film presents an electrocatalytic response to sulfide in aqueous solution. The analytical curve was linear in the concentration range of 7.5 × 10⁻⁵ to 7.7 × 10⁻⁴ M with a detection limit of 4.6 × 10⁻⁵ M for sulfide ions in 0.5 M KNO₃ solution.     

Electrochemical behavior of a novel palladium pentacyanonitrosylferrate modified aluminum electrode

Novel inorganic film modified electrodes have been prepared by chemical deposition of a thin palladium pentacyanonitrosylferrate (PdPCNF) film on the surface of aluminum substrate. The modification process including the electroless deposition of metallic palladium on the aluminum electrode surface from PdCl₂+25% ammonia solution and chemical derivatization of deposited palladium to the PdPCNF film in 0.1 M Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO]+0.5 M KNO₃+HNO₃ solution (pH 1.5-2.5), are described. The aluminum-based modified electrodes exhibit, one pair of well-defined voltammetric peaks which correspond to the Fe(III)/Fe(II) transition in complex structure. The effect of pH, ammonium, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations of supporting electrolyte on the electrochemical characteristics of the modified electrode was studied in detail. Diffusion coefficients of hydrated ammonium and alkali metal cations in the film (D), transfer coefficient (α) and transfer rate constant for electron (k_s), were determined. The high stability of this modified electrode makes it attractive in practical application.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid by [Fe(CN)6] redox couple electrostatically trapped in cationic N,N-dimethylaniline polymer film electropolymerized on diamond electrode

Multinegatively charged metal complex, hexacyanoferrate ([Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻), was electrostatically trapped in the cationic polymer film of N,N-dimethylaniline (PDMA) which was electrochemically deposited on the boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode by controlled-potential electro-oxidation of the monomer. This ferrocyanide-trapped PDMA film was used to catalyze the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA). Increase in the oxidation current response with a negative shift of the anodic peak potential was observed at the cationic PDMA film-coated BDD (PDMA|BDD) electrode, compared with that at the bare BDD electrode. A more drastic enhancement in the oxidation peak current as well as more negative shift of oxidation potential was found at the ferrocyanide-trapped PDMA film-coated BDD ([Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−|PDMA|BDD) electrode. This [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−|PDMA|BDD electrode can be used as an amperometric sensor of AA. Ferrocyanide, electrostatically trapped in the polymer film shows more electrocatalytic activity than that coordinatively attached to the polymer film or dissolved in the solution phase. The electrocatalytic current depends on the surface coverage of ferricyanide, Γ_Fe, within the polymer film. Diffusion coefficient (D) of AA in the solution was estimated by rotating disk electrode voltammetry: D = (5.8 ± 0.3) × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹. The second-order rate constant for the catalytic oxidation of AA by ferricyanide was also estimated to be 9.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. In the hydrodynamic amperometry using the [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−|PDMA|BDD electrode, a successive addition of 1 μM AA caused the successive increase in current response with equal amplitude and the sensitivity was calculated as 0.233 μA cm⁻² μM⁻¹.     

Electropolymerization of aniline in acid media on the bare and chemically pre-treated aluminum electrodes: A comparative characterization of the polyaniline deposited electrodes

The electrosynthesis of polyaniline on the bare aluminum and pre-treated aluminum surface achieved in aqueous H₂PtCl₆ solution saturated with NaF for few seconds is described. The effect of some factors such as pre-treatment time, aniline and sulfuric acid concentrations on the electropolymerization process was investigated and optimum conditions were obtained. The stability of polyaniline film on the pre-treated aluminum electrode (Al-Pt) was studied as function of the potential imposed on the electrode. For applied electrode potentials of 0.1-0.7 V, the first-order degradation rate constant, k, of polyaniline film varies between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 2 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹, and a relatively low slope (i.e. 2.1) was obtained for the plot of log k versus E. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cyclic voltammetric behavior of the polyaniline-deposited Al electrode (Al/PANI) and polyaniline-deposited Al-Pt electrode (Al-Pt/PANI) in 0.1 H₂SO₄ solutions is described. The electrocatalytic activity of the Al-Pt/PANI electrode against para-benzoquinone/hydroquinone (Q/H₂Q) and Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ redox systems was investigated and the obtained results are compared with those obtained on Al/PANI and bulk Pt electrodes.     

Preparation of polypyrrole/ferrocyanide films modified carbon paste electrode and its application on the electrocatalytic determination of ascorbic acid

Functionalized polypyrrole film were prepared by incorporation of (Fe(CN)₆)⁴⁻ as doping anion, during the electropolymerization of pyrrole onto a carbon paste electrode (CPE) in aqueous solution by using potentiostatic method. The electrochemical behavior of the (Fe(CN)₆)³⁻/(Fe(CN)₆)⁴⁻ redox couple in polypyrrole was studied by cyclic voltammetry and double step potential chronoamperometry methods. In this study, an obvious surface redox reaction was observed and dependence of this reaction on the solution pH was illustrated. The electrocatalytic ability of polypyrrole/ferrocyanide films modified carbon paste electrode (Ppy/FCNMCPEs) was demonstrated by oxidation of ascorbic acid. It has been found that under optimum condition (pH 7.00), the oxidation of ascorbic acid at the surface of such electrode occurs at a potential about 540 mV less positive than unmodified carbon paste electrode. The kinetic parameters such as electron transfer coefficient, α and catalytic reaction rate constant, k_h′, were also determined by using various electrochemical approaches.The catalytic oxidation peak current showed a linear dependent on the ascorbic acid concentration and a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 4.5×10⁻⁴ to 9.62×10⁻³ M of ascorbic acid with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The detection limit (2σ) was determined as 5.82×10⁻⁵ M.     

Electrochemical modification of glassy carbon electrode by poly-4-nitroaniline and its application for determination of copper(II)

Electrochemical modification of glassy carbon (GC) electrode by poly-4-nitroaniline (P4NA), electrochemical reduction of P4NA and applicability of electrode modified in this way for determination of copper(II) (Cu(II)) is reported in this study. Electrochemical surface modification was performed by cyclic voltammetry in the potential range between +0.9 V and +1.4 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺ (in 10 mM AgNO₃) at the scan rate of 100 mV/s by 100 cycles in non-aqueous media. In order to provide electrochemical reduction of nitro groups on the P4NA-modified GC electrode surface (P4NA/GC), the cyclic voltammograms inducing/evidencing the reduction of nitro groups were performed in the potential range between −0.1 V and −0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl/(sat.KCl) at the scan rate of 100 mV/s. The reduced P4NA/GC surfaces (Reduced-P4NA/GC) were treated with aqueous solution of nitrilotriacetic acid. The sensitivity of GC electrode modified in described way towards Cu(II) was investigated in Britton-Robinson buffer solution, pH 5.0. The potentiometric generic pulse technique was applied as innovative electrochemical method for detection of analytical signal. It was shown that GC electrodes modified in here described way will be suitable for the determination of Cu(II) in technological waste water and/or some other solutions containing Cu(II) ions.     

Poly(o-aminophenol) film prepared in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate: Application for nickel ion dispersion and the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol and ethylene glycol

Poly(o-aminophenol) (POAP) was formed by successive cyclic voltammetry in monomer solution in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the surface of a carbon paste electrode. The electrochemical behavior of the SDS-POAP carbon paste electrode has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 M HClO₄ and 5 mM K₄[Fe(CN)₆]/0.1 M KCl solutions as the supporting electrolyte and model system, respectively. Ni(II) ions were incorporated into the electrode by immersion of the polymeric modified electrode having amine groups in 0.1 M Ni(II) ion solution. Cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric experiments were used for the electrochemical study of this modified electrode. A good redox behavior of the Ni(III)/Ni(II) couple at the surface of electrode can be observed. The electrocatalytic oxidations of methanol and ethylene glycol (EG) at the surface of the Ni/SDS-POAP electrode were studied in a 0.1 M NaOH solution. Compared to bare carbon paste and POAP-modified carbon paste electrodes, the SDS-POAP electrode significantly enhanced the catalytic efficiency of Ni ions for methanol oxidation. Finally, using a chronoamperometric method, the catalytic rate constants (k) for methanol and ethylene glycol were found to be 2.04 × 10⁵ and 1.05 × 10⁷ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively.     

Electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin on multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon ionic liquid electrode with hydrophilic EMIMBF4 as modifier

The direct electrochemistry of hemoglobin (Hb) on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was achieved in this paper. By using a hydrophilic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIMBF₄) as the modifier, a new CILE was fabricated and further modified with MWCNTs to get the MWCNTs/CILE. Hb molecules were immobilized on the surface of MWCNTs/CILE with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film by a step-by-step method and the modified electrode was denoted as PVA/Hb/MWCNTs/CILE. UV-vis and FT-IR spectra indicated that Hb remained its native structure in the composite film. Cyclic voltammogram of PVA/Hb/MWCNTs/CILE showed a pair of well-defined and quasi-reversible redox peaks with the formal potential (E^0′) of −0.370 V (vs. SCE) in 0.1 mol/L pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS), which was the characteristic of the Hb heme Fe^III/Fe^II redox couples. The redox peak currents increased linearly with the scan rate, indicating the direct electron transfer was a surface-controlled process. The electrochemical parameters of Hb in the film were calculated with the results of the electron transfer coefficient (α) and the apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) as 0.49 and 1.054 s⁻¹, respectively. The immobilized Hb in the PVA/MWCNTs composite film modified CILE showed excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and hydrogen peroxide. So the proposed electrode showed the potential application in the third generation reagentless biosensor.     

Selective oxidation of serotonin and norepinephrine over eriochrome cyanine R film modified glassy carbon electrode

A novel ECR-modified electrode is fabricated by electrodeposition of Eriochrome Cyanine R (ECR) at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in double-distilled water. The characterization of the ECR film modified electrode is carried out by atomic force microscopy (AFM), infrared spectra (IR), spectroelectrochemistry and cyclic voltammetry. The results show that a slightly heterogeneous film formed on the surface of the modified electrode, and the calculated surface concentration of ECR is 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol/cm⁻². The ECR film modified GC electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activities toward the oxidation of serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). Furthermore, the modified electrode can separately detect 5-HT and NE, even in the presence of 200-fold concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) and 25-fold concentration of uric acid (UA). Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the peak currents of 5-HT and NE recorded in pH 7 solution are linearly dependent on their concentrations in the range of 0.05-5 μM and 2-50 μM, respectively. The limits of detection are 0.05 and 1.5 μM for 5-HT and NE, respectively. The ECR film modified electrode can be stored stable for at least 1 week in 0.05 M PBS (pH 7) at 4 °C in a refrigerator. Owing to its excellent selectivity and sensitivity, the modified electrode could provide a promising tool for the simultaneous determination of 5-HT and NE in complex biosamples.     

Electrochemical characterization of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide modified carbon paste electrode and the application in the immobilization of DNA

A cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide modified carbon paste electrode (CTAB/CPE) was developed in this work based on the surface modification method. The improved electrochemical response of K₄Fe(CN)₆ at this electrode indicated that CTAB could change the surface property of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs), which was demonstrated by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In 0.1 mM [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4−, a low exchange current (i₀) of 2.72×10⁻⁷ A at bare CPE was observed while that at CTAB/CPE was 6.79×10⁻⁵ A. The effect of CTAB concentration on the electrode quality revealed that CTAB formed a compact monolayer on the electrode surface with high density of positive charges directed outside the electrode. This electrode showed strong accumulation ability toward Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ and can also accumulate Co(phen)₃²⁺ by the adsorption of the organic ligands in the hydrophobic area of the monolayer. The electrode was applied to the immobilization of DNA, which was characterized by the isotherm adsorption of Co(phen)₃²⁺.     

Voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid and dopamine in the same sample at the surface of a carbon paste electrode modified with polypyrrole/ferrocyanide films

Functionalized polypyrrole film were prepared by incorporation of [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ as a doping anion, during the electropolymerization of pyrrole onto a carbon paste electrode in an aqueous solution by potentiostatic method. The electrochemical behavior of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) in one solution was studied at the surface of bare and modified carbon paste electrodes using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and differntial pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. The well separated anodic peaks for oxidation of DA and AA were observed at the surface of the modified carbon paste electrode under optimum condition (pH 6.00), which can be used for determination of these species simultaneously in mixture by LSV and DPV methods. The linear analytical curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.10-1.00 mM and 0.10-0.95 mM for ascorbic acid and 0.10-1.20 mM and 0.20-0.95 mM for dopamine concentrations using LSV and DPV methods, respectively. The detection limits (2σ) were determined as 3.38 × 10⁻⁵ M and 1.34 × 10⁻⁵ M of ascorbic acid and 3.86 × 10⁻⁵ M and 1.51 × 10⁻⁵ M of dopamine by CV and DPV methods.     

Electrochemical behaviour of glassy carbon electrodes modified with aryl groups

The electrochemical modification of the glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface with biphenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 4-bromophenyl, 4-decylphenyl and 4-nitrophenyl groups was performed by the diazonium reduction method. The blocking behaviour of aryl films grafted by three different procedures was compared. Oxygen reduction was studied on these modified GC electrodes using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) method. The highest blocking efficiency for O₂ reduction was observed for 4-bromophenyl groups. The barrier properties of aryl-modified GC surfaces were also characterised using Fe(CN)₆³⁻ and dopamine redox probes. Electrochemical measurements were carried out in 0.1 M K₂SO₄ containing 1 mM K₃Fe(CN)₆ and in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ containing 1 mM dopamine using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The blocking action varied significantly depending on the surface modifier used and the solution based redox species studied.     

Reactivity at the film/solution interface of ex situ prepared bismuth film electrodes: A scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation

Bismuth film electrodes (BiFEs) prepared ex situ with and without complexing bromide ions in the modification solution were investigated using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). A feedback mode of the SECM was employed to examine the conductivity and reactivity of a series of thin bismuth films deposited onto disk glassy carbon substrate electrodes (GCEs) of 3 mm in diameter. A platinum micro-electrode (? = 25 μm) was used as the SECM tip, and current against tip/substrate distance was recorded in solutions containing either Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ or Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ species as redox mediators. With both redox mediators positive feedback approach curves were recorded, which indicated that the bismuth film deposition protocol associated with the addition of bromide ions in the modification solution did not compromise the conductivity of the bismuth film in comparison with that prepared without bromide. However, at the former Bi film a slight kinetic hindering was observed in recycling Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺, suggesting a different surface potential. On the other hand, the approach curves recorded by using Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ showed that both types of the aforementioned bismuth films exhibited local reactivity with the oxidised form of the redox mediator, and that bismuth film obtained with bromide ions exhibited slightly lower reactivity. The use of SECM in the scanning operation mode allowed us to ascertain that the bismuth deposits were uniformly distributed across the whole surface of the glassy carbon substrate electrode. Comparative AFM measurements corroborated the above findings and additionally revealed a denser growth of smaller bismuth crystals over the surface of the substrate electrode in the presence of bromide ions, while the crystals were bigger but sparser in the absence of bromide ions in the modification solution.     

Glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion-Au colloids for clenbuterol electroanalysis

Stable Nafion-Au colloids were immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for detection of β-agonist clenbuterol by electroanalysis. The Au colloids were prepared by a one-step electrodeposition onto GCE, with obvious electrocatalytic activity present. The negatively charged Nafion film was an efficient barrier to negatively charged interfering compounds, resulting in accumulation of positively charged clenbuterol at the Nafion film. The electrochemical characters of the electrode during various modified steps in a redox probe system of K₄[Fe(CN)₆]/K₃[Fe(CN)₆] were confirmed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and AC-impedance. In Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution (pH = 2.0) and the potential range of −0.2 to 1.2 V, the Nafion-Au colloid modified electrode, compared to a bare GCE, exhibits obvious electrocatalytic activity towards the redox of clenbuterol by greatly enhancing the peak current with a linear calibration curve from 8.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L and a detection limit of (1.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol/L) (R = 0.996). The modified electrode shows high sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility. The recovery for detecting clenbuterol (∼10⁻⁶ mol/L) in human serum is up to 98.19%.     

Influencing factors on electrochromic hysteresis performance of ruthenium purple produced by a WO3/Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)/polymer hybrid film

A [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine)/WO₃ hybrid (denoted as Ru-WO₃) film was prepared as a base layer on an indium tin oxide electrode by electrodeposition from a colloidal solution containing peroxotungstic acid, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate). A ruthenium purple (RP, Fe^III₄[Ru^II(CN)₆]₃, denoted as Fe^III-Ru^II) layer was electrodeposited on a neat WO₃ film or a Ru-WO₃ film from an aqueous RP colloid solution to yield a WO₃/RP bilayer film or a Ru-WO₃/RP bilayer film, respectively. The spectrocyclic voltammetry measurement reveals that Fe^II-Ru^II is oxidized to Fe^III-Ru^II by a geared reaction of [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+/3+ and Fe^III-Ru^II is reduced by a geared reaction of H_xWO₃/WO₃ in the Ru-WO₃/RP film. These geared reactions produced electrochromic hysteresis of the RP layer. However, the absorbance change in the hysteresis was smaller than that for the Ru-WO₃/Prussian blue bilayer film reported previously, resulting from the lower electroactivities of any redox component for the Ru-WO₃/RP film. The lower electroactivities could be explained by the specific interface between the Ru-WO₃ and RP layers. It might contribute to either an increase of the interfacial resistance between the Ru-WO₃ and RP layers, or formation of the physically precise interface between the layers to make it difficult for counter ions to be transported in the interfacial liquid phase involved in the redox reactions in the film. The specific interface at the Ru-WO₃ and RP layers could be formed possibly by the electrostatic interaction between [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ and terminal [Ru(CN)₆]⁴⁻ moieties of RP. It could be suggested by the decreased redox potential of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ in the Ru-WO₃ layer from 1.03 to 0.61 V by formation of the RP layer.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of deoxyguanosine on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a ruthenium oxide hexacyanoferrate film

The electrocatalytic oxidation of deoxyguanosine on a ruthenium hexacyanoferrate (RuOHCF) glassy carbon (GC) modified electrode was investigated in acid medium by using rotating disc electrode (RDE) voltammetry. Chronoamperometric experiments allowed information on the charge transport rate through the RuOHCF film and at a very short time window a diffusion-like behavior was observed with a D_ct value of 2.7 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ for a film with Γ = 4.47 × 10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻². The influence of systematic variation of rotation rate, film thickness and the electrode potential indicates that the rate of cross-chemical reaction between Ru(IV) centers immobilized into the film and deoxyguanosine controls the overall electrodic process and the value of the rate constant was found to be 3.2 × 10⁶ mol⁻¹ L¹ s⁻¹. The relatively high rate constant of the cross-reaction, the facile penetration of the substrate through the film and the fast transport of electrons suggest that the electrocatalytic process occurs throughout the film layer.     

Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of CdTe quantum dots with carbon nanotube film and its sensing of methimazole

A novel analytical method was reported based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) using carbon nanotube (CNT) modified glass carbon (GC) electrode. It was found that the CNT film on the GC electrode could greatly enhance the ECL intensity of CdTe QDs dispersed in aqueous solution, and the ECL peak potential and ECL onset potential both shifted positively. Influences of some factors on the ECL intensity were investigated using CNT modified GC electrode, and a high sensitive method for the determination of methimazole was developed under the optimal conditions. The ECL intensity decreased linearly in the concentration range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ M for methimazole with the relative coefficient of 0.995, which showed finer sensitivity than that at bare electrode. Thus, CNT modified electrode would have a great merit to expand the application of QD ECL.