Electrochemical determination of estradiol using a poly(l-serine) film-modified electrode

A thin film of poly(l-serine) was prepared via electropolymerization for the determination of trace levels of estradiol. In pH 5.0 phosphate buffer, l-serine was oxidized during the cyclic potential sweeps between −0.60 and 2.0 V, forming a thin film at the electrode surface. The electrochemical behavior of estradiol was investigated. The oxidation peak potential of estradiol shifts negatively at the poly(l-serine) film-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) compared with that at the bare GCE. Otherwise, the oxidation peak current greatly increases at the poly(l-serine) film-modified GCE. These phenomena suggest that the poly(l-serine) film exhibits catalytic activity towards the electrochemical oxidation of estradiol. Based on this, a sensitive, rapid and simple electrochemical method was proposed for the determination of estradiol. The limit of detection is evaluated to be 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. Finally, this method was successfully used to determine estradiol in blood serum.     

Effect of carbon surface oxidation on platinum supported carbon particles on the performance of gas diffusion electrodes for the oxygen reduction reaction

The effect of carbon surface oxidation on platinum supported carbon particles (Pt/C) with nitric acid was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, polarization experiments and chronoamperometry. Cyclic voltammograms, polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectra showed that the treated catalyst had much larger active surface area and higher ionic conductivity than the untreated catalyst, and provided enhanced performance for oxygen reduction. The formation of acidic groups was examined by IR spectra. The Pt/C surface oxidation had a large effect on the performance of a gas diffusion electrode for oxygen reduction reaction.     

A disposable sensor based on immobilization of acetylcholinesterase to multiwall carbon nanotube modified screen-printed electrode for determination of carbaryl

A simple method has been devised for immobilization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) covalent bonding to a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT)-cross-linked cellulose acetate composite on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) and a sensitive and disposable amperometric sensor for rapid determination of carbaryl pesticide is proposed. The immobilized enzyme was preserved on this film because of the excellent biocompatibility and non-toxicity of cellulose acetate. Based on the inherent conductive properties of the MWNT, the immobilized AChE had greater affinity for ATCl and excellent catalytic effect in the hydrolysis of ATCl. MWNT improved the interface enzymatic hydrolysis reaction and increased the amperometric response of the sensor. Under optimum conditions, the inhibition of carbaryl on AChE increased linearly with the increasing concentration of carbaryl in two ranges, from 0.01 to 0.5 μg mL⁻¹ and from 2 to 20 μg mL⁻¹, with the correlation coefficients of 0.9985 and 0.9977, respectively. The detection limit was 0.004 μg mL⁻¹ taken as the concentration equivalent to 10% decrease in signal. The sensor showed acceptable stability, accuracy and could be fabricated in batches, thus it is economic and portable. This type of disposable enzyme-based amperometric sensor has extensive application potential in environmental monitoring of pesticides.     

Oxidation of some aliphatic polyols on anodically deposited MnO2

Galvanostatic steady state current potential measurements were carried out for oxidation of a series of aliphatic alcohols having varying number of hydroxyl groups. The anodically deposited layer of MnO₂ on platinum was used as the electrode material. The deposit was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and electrode potential measurements. The catalytic role of MnO₂ in the electro-oxidation of alcohols was indicated by the chronopotentiograms and the cyclic voltammograms. An analysis of the electrochemical data indicated a catalytic EC mechanism in which Mn (V) is generated electrochemically and consumed chemically in succession. Based on this and the hydrogen bonding interaction between alcoholic hydroxyl groups and MnO₂ layer, a mechanism was proposed which accounts for the variation in the observed electrochemical reaction orders. Tafel behaviour was found to be followed only approximately. Current efficiency of the electrochemical oxidation of polyols was studied. Replacement of platinum by carbon as current collector was found to leave the electrocatalytic activity of the MnO₂ deposit practically unaltered.     

Electrochemical behaviour of phenylethanolamine at gold in aqueous solution

The electrooxidation of phenylethanolamine (2-amino-1-phenylethanol) at a gold electrode in alkaline electrolyte has been studied. Measurement of the differential capacitance of the electric double layer versus the electrode potential has shown that the adsorption of phenylethanolamine at the gold-solution interface plays a significant role in the oxidation mechanism. The effect of amine concentration, electrolyte pH and potential scan rate on the electrooxidation is analysed.     

ΝΗ<Subscript>3</Subscript> decomposition in a proton conducting solid electrolyte cell

The reaction of NH₃ decomposition was studied on Ag in a proton conducting double chamber cell-reactor. The proton conductor was a strontia-ceria-ytterbia (SCY) perovskite of the form SrCe_0.95Yb_0.05O_3−α. The reaction was studied at 350–700 °C and atmospheric total pressure. The proton transference number (PTN) was calculated by simultaneous measurement of the imposed current and the proton flux and it was found to vary between 0.5 and 0.7. The effects of imposed current, temperature and inlet gas composition on the reaction rate and the PTN, were examined. Although the faradaic efficiency (Λ) remained near unity in all experiments, reaction rate enhancements (ρ) as high as 57 were achieved. An up to 90% decrease in the activation energy of the reaction was observed when protons were electrochemically “pumped” away from the catalyst.     

High-performance carbon counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Here, we reported that a new carbon electrode prepared with an activated carbon was superior to a Pt sputtered electrode as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cells. The photovoltaic performance was largely influenced by the roughness factor of carbon electrode. The open-circuit voltage increased by about 60 mV using the carbon counter electrode compared to the Pt counter electrode because of positive shift of the formal potential for I₃⁻/I⁻ couple.     

二次电池电极基板用复合多孔金属材料的研究

介绍了一种复合金属多孔体的制备及其方法，首先以泡沫塑料为芯膜，经过导电化处理使其具有导电性，其次进行电沉积金属铁，再进行电沉积金属镍，经过热处理后可制备出复合金属多孔体。该复合金属多孔体用铁取代金属镍，其抗拉性能优于单质泡沫镍，同时可以降低制造成本，主要用于载体如电池电极。     

江西铜工业存在的问题及对策探讨

简要介绍了我国铜工业概况，重点分析了江西铜工业存在的问题，并提出发展对策，如优化铜产品结构、利用国内外两种资源和大力发展湿法炼铜等。江西要发挥潜在优势，建立我国铜加工材生产基地，利用外力，提高铜加工材的竞争力，由进口替代逐步走向增加出口。     

WC含量对弥散强化铜Cu/WC组织与性能影响的研究

对以WC粒子为第二相的弥散强化铜材料的组织与性能进行了研究。在同样条件下，用机械混料方法制备了不同WC含量的Cu/WC复合材料，分别测定了其密度，电阻率和硬度，结果表明：WC粒子是一种较为理想的弥散相，并且WC体积含量为1.2%时，细小的球形状第二相粒子均匀分布，弥散效果好，材料密度，硬度较高，而电阻率较小，综合性能较好。