Electrochemistry and electrocatalytic activity of polypyrrole/ferrocyanide films on a glassy carbon electrode

Functionalized polypyrrole films were prepared by incorporation of Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻ as doping anion during the electropolymerization of pyrrole at a glassy carbon electrode from aqueous solution. The electrochemical behavior of the Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻/Fe(CN)₆ ⁴⁻ redox couple in polypyrrole was studied by cyclic voltammetry. An obvious surface redox reaction was observed and dependence of this reaction on the solution pH was illustrated. The electrocatalytic ability of polypyrrole film with ferrocyanide incorporated was demonstrated by oxidation of ascorbic acid at the optimized pH of 4 in a glycine buffer. The catalytic effect for mediated oxidation of ascorbic acid was 300 mV and the bimolecular rate constant determined for surface coverage of 4.5 × 10⁻⁸ M cm⁻² using rotating disk electrode voltammetry was 86 M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Furthermore, the catalytic oxidation current was linearly dependent on ascorbic acid concentration in the range 5 × 10⁻⁴–1.6 × 10⁻² M with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. The plot of i _p versus v ^1/2 confirms the diffusion nature of the peak current i _p. Received: 12 April 1999 / Accepted: 25 May 1999     

Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen on the surface of glassy carbon electrodes modified with plumbagin

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of glassy carbon electrodes modified with plumbagin were investigated by employing cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disc electrode techniques. The cyclic voltammograms of the electroreduction of oxygen showed an enhanced current peak at approximately −0.289 V in air-saturated phosphate buffer pH = 7 and scan rate 10 mV s⁻¹. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the reduction of oxygen at glassy carbon have been evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. The experimental parameters were optimized and the mechanism of the catalytic process was discussed. The obtained values of E°′ (V vs. Ag/AgCl), the apparent electron transfer rate constant k_s (s⁻¹), heterogeneous rate constant for the reduction of O₂ at the surface of the modified electrode k_h (M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and α (charge transfer coefficient of oxygen) were as follows: −0.146, 23.4, 9.9 × 10³ and 0.57, respectively. In addition, plumbagin exhibited strong catalytic activity toward the reduction of H₂O₂.     

Preparation and characterization of Ca1 − x Ce x MnO3 perovskite electrodes

The electrochemical properties of Ca_1 − x Ce _x MnO₃ perovskite-type oxide electrode have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in Na₂SO₄ aqueous solutions with pH 14. The structural and morphological characterizations have also been investigated and the information used to interpret the electrochemical behavior. An estimation of the electrode’s capacitance and roughness factor has been obtained by means of cyclic voltammetry. The specific capacitance and consequently the roughness factor values are affected by the presence of Ce ions in the oxide. These findings are in agreement with the increase of the oxide-specific surface area by the introduction of Ce ion. The open-circuit potential and the voltammetric patterns are dependent on the presence of Ce ion in the electrodes and support that the surface electrochemistry of the perovskite oxide electrodes is governed by the Mn⁴⁺–Mn³⁺ redox couple.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of aspirin and acetaminophen on a cobalt hydroxide nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode

The electrocatalytic oxidation of aspirin and acetaminophen on nanoparticles of cobalt hydroxide electrodeposited on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode in alkaline solution was investigated. The process of oxidation and the kinetics have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and steady-state polarization measurements. Voltammetric studies have indicated that in the presence of drugs, the anodic peak current of low valence cobalt species increases, followed by a decrease in the corresponding cathodic current. This indicates that drugs are oxidized on the redox mediator which is immobilized on the electrode surface via an electrocatalytic mechanism. With the use of Laviron’s equation, the values of anodic and cathodic electron-transfer coefficients and charge-transfer rate constant for the immobilized redox species were determined as α _s,a = 0.72, α _s,c = 0.30, and k _s = 0.22 s⁻¹. The rate constant, the electron transfer coefficient, and the diffusion coefficient involved in the electrocatalytic oxidation of drugs were reported. It was shown that by using the modified electrode, aspirin and acetaminophen can be determined by amperometric technique with detection limits of 1.88 × 10⁻⁶ and 1.83 × 10⁻⁶ M, respectively. By analyzing the content of acetaminophen and aspirin in bulk forms using chronoamperometric and amperometric techniques, the analytical utility of the modified electrode was achieved. The method was also proven to be valid for analyzing these drugs in urine samples.     

Electrochemical preparation of oxide materials for electrochemistry and electronics

Electrochemical formation of barium tungstate (BaWO₄) was studied as a model case of electrochemical formation of an advanced oxide material for electronics. BaWO₄ is formed on the surface of tungsten electrode during oxidation in alkaline media (pH > 12) containing a corresponding cation. The analysis of electrochemical as well as electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) data taken during these experiments identifies at least three qualitatively different steps composing the electrode process. Effects of the potential, applied current density and alkaline earth metal cation concentration are demonstrated using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic experiments. Specific constraints of the ECC formalism for the electrochemical oxide deposition following from the galvanostatic data are discussed. Received: 2 October 1997 / Accepted: 4 December 1997     

Electrochemical solid phase micro-extraction and determination of salicylic acid from blood samples by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry

The electrochemical solid phase micro-extraction of salicylic acid (SA) at graphite-epoxy-composed solid electrode surface was studied by cyclic voltammetry. SA was oxidized electrochemically in pH 12.0 aqueous solution at 0.70 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) for 7 s. The oxidized product shows two surface-controlled reversible redox couples with two proton transferred in the pH range of 1.0∼6.0 and one proton transferred in the pH range of 10.0∼13.0 and is extracted on the electrode surface with a kinetic Boltzman function of i _p = 3.473–4.499/[1 + e^{(t − 7.332)/6.123}] (χ ² = 0.00285 μA). The anodic peak current of the extracted specie in differential pulse voltammograms is proportional to the concentration of SA with regression equation of i _p = −5.913 + 0.4843 c (R = 0.995, SD = 1.6 μA) in the range of 5.00∼200 μM. The detection limit is 5.00 μM with RSD of 1.59% at 60 μM. The method is sensitive and convenient and was applied to the detection of SA in mouse blood samples with satisfactory results.     

Direct electron transfer of cytochrome C and its electrocatalytic properties on multiwalled carbon nanotubes/ciprofloxacin films

In this study, stable and homogenous thin films of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were obtained on conducting surface using ciprofloxacin (CF, fluoroquinolone antibiotic) as an effective-dispersing agent. Further, MWCNTs/CF film modified electrodes (glassy carbon and indium tin oxide-coated glass electrode) are used successfully to study the direct electrochemistry of proteins. Here, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) was used as a model protein for investigation. A MWCNTs/CF film modified electrode was used as a biocompatible material for immobilization of Cyt-C from a neutral buffer solution (pH 7.2) using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Interestingly, Cyt-C retained its native state on the MWCNTs/CF film. The Cyt-C adsorbed MWCNTs/CF film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) and CV. SEM images showed the evidence for the adsorption of Cyt-C on the MWCNTs/CF film, and UV–vis spectrum confirmed that Cyt-C was in its native state on MWCNTs/CF film. Using CV, it was found that the electrochemical signal of Cyt-C was highly stable in the neutral buffer solution and its redox peak potential was pH dependent. The formal potential (−0.27 V) and electron transfer rate constant (13 ± 1 s⁻¹) were calculated for Cyt-C on MWCNTs/CF film modified electrode. A potential application of the Cyt-C/MWCNTs/CF electrode as a biosensor to monitor H₂O₂ has been investigated. The steady-state current response increases linearly with H₂O₂ concentration from 2 × 10⁻⁶ to 7.8 × 10⁻⁵ M. The detection limit for determination of H₂O₂ has been found to be 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M (S/N = 3). Thus, Cyt-C/MWCNTs/CF film modified electrode can be used as a biosensing material for sensor applications.     

The surface characteristics of polycrystalline cobalt electrooxidised in sulfuric acid solutions

The oxidation of cobalt electrodes has been carried out by means of cyclic voltammetry and coulometry under controlled potential in sulfuric acid solutions of different concentrations. The electrochemical scanning tunneling microscope/scanning tunneling microscope (ECSTM/STM) systems constructed by the authors and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with the SEM-EDX system of surface analysis of the elements have been used. The procedure applied in this work made it possible to observe the fragments of the same surface by means of SEM and ECSTM/STM. The most typical images for a polycrystalline Co electrode with a ±10% accuracy at the scales of 4800 nm × 4800 nm and 100 nm × 100 nm are presented and the results are discussed. In a diluted electrolyte (0.1 M), irregular forms of a stable cobalt oxide with Co:O ratio ∼1:1 appear. Unreproducible results have been obtained in a 1.0 M H₂SO₄ solution. Compact and relatively regular layers of cobalt oxide of the same ratio have been obtained in 0.1 M H₂SO₄, as well as in 10.0 M sulfuric acid solution, under controlled oxidation potential at the passivation range. Received: 6 January 1999 / Accepted: 5 May 1999     

Electrochemical deposition of platinum nanoparticles in multiwalled carbon nanotube–Nafion composite for methanol electrooxidation

Platinum nanoparticles were successfully deposited within a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–Nafion matrix by a cyclic voltammetry method. A Pt(IV) complex was reduced to platinum nanoparticles on the surface of MWCNTs. The resulting Pt nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Pt–MWCNT–Nafion nanocomposite film-modified glassy carbon electrode had a sharp hydrogen desorption peak at about −0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl (3 M) in a solution of 0.5 M H₂SO₄, which is directly related to the electrochemical activity of the Pt nanoparticles presented on the surface of MWCNTs. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pt–MWCNT–Nafion nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrode for methanol electrooxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in a 2 M CH₃OH + 1 M H₂SO₄ solution. In comparison with the Pt-coated glassy carbon electrode and the Pt–Nafion modified glassy carbon electrode, the Pt–MWCNT–Nafion-modified electrode had excellent electrocatalytic activity toward methanol electrooxidation. The stability of the Pt–MWCNT–Nafion nanocomposite-modified electrode had also been evaluated.     

Caffeic acid modified glassy carbon electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)

A new modified electrode was prepared by electrodeposition of caffeic acid (CFA) at the surface of an activated glassy carbon electrode. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the redox properties of this electrode at various solution pH values and at various scan rates. The pH dependence of the electrode response was found to be 58.5 mV/pH, which is very close to the expected Nernstian value. The electrode was also employed to study electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disk voltammetry as diagnostic techniques. It was found that the modified electrode exhibits potent and persistent electrocatalytic properties toward NADH oxidation in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) with a diminution of the overpotential of about 450 mV compared to the process at an unmodified electrode. The electrocatalytic current increases linearly with NADH concentration in the range tested from 0.05 to 1.0 mM. The apparent charge transfer rate constant and transfer coefficient for electron transfer between the electrode surface and immobilized CFA were calculated as 11.2 s⁻¹ and 0.43, respectively. The heterogeneous rate constant for oxidation of NADH at the CFA-modified electrode surface was also determined and found to be about 3 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Finally, the diffusion coefficient of NADH was calculated as 3.24 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ for the experimental conditions, using chronoamperometric results. Received: 6 January 1999 / Accepted: 11 May 1999     

Surfactant stabilized nanopetals morphology of α-MnO2 prepared by microemulsion method

α-Manganese dioxide is synthesized in a microemulsion medium by a redox reaction between KMnO₄ and MnSO₄ in presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate as a surface active agent. The morphology of MnO₂ resembles nanopetals, which are spread parallel to the field. The material is further characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive analysis of X-ray, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area. Supercapacitance property of α-MnO₂ nanopetals is studied by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling. High values of specific capacitance are obtained.     

The electrochemical behavior of (C70)2-p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene complex film

Electrochemical behavior of (C₇₀)₂-p-tert-butylcalix [8] arene film on a glassy carbon electrode has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Two pairs of reduction/reoxidation waves were detected in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile and water containing tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate as the supporting electrolyte. Received: 12 January 1998 / Accepted: 22 February 1998     

Enhancement of electron transfer kinetics on a polyaniline-modified electrode in the presence of anionic dopants

The electrocatalytic redox behavior of 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) has been studied on a polyaniline-modified platinum electrode (PANI) using cyclic voltammetry and rotating disc electrode (RDE) as diagnostic techniques. The modified electrode was prepared by electropolymerization of aniline in different acidic solutions. The PANI showed electrocatalytic activity toward the redox behavior of NQ. This process includes the participation of PANI to the redox reaction of NQ via the surface catalysis phenomena. The cyclic voltammograms of NQ in HCl on the PANI-Cl-modified electrode showed an overlapped oxidation peak, the peak potential of which did not change with increasing scan rate. The influence of other anions including and as dopant was also studied and compared with Cl⁻. The use of HClO₄ as a supporting electrolyte resulted in well-separated redox peaks. The RDE voltammogram was used to obtain a quantitative assessment of reaction rate at the PANI-modified electrode. It was found that PANI acts as an electrocatalyst for NQ reduction with decreasing ΔE _p and increasing k°.     

Nanomolar determination of hydrazine by TiO2 nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode

In the present paper, the use of a novel carbon paste electrode modified by N,N′(2,3-dihydroxybenzylidene)-1,4-phenylene diamine (DHBPD) and TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared by a simple and rapid method for the determination of hydrazine (HZ) was described. In the first part of the work, cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the redox properties of this modified electrode at various solution pH values and at various scan rates. A linear segment was found with a slope value of about 48 mV/pH in the pH range 2.0–12.0. The apparent charge transfer rate constant (k _s) and transfer coefficient (α) for electron transfer between DHBPD and TiO₂ nanoparticles-modified carbon paste electrode were calculated. In the second part of the work, the mediated oxidation of HZ at the modified electrode was described. It has been found that under optimum condition (pH 8.0) in cyclic voltammetry, a high decrease in overpotential occurs for oxidation of HZ at the modified electrode. The values of electron transfer coefficients (α) and diffusion coefficient (D) were calculated for HZ, using electrochemical approaches. Differential pulse voltammetry exhibited a linear dynamic range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ M and a detection limit (3σ) of 9.15 nM for HZ. Finally, this method was used for the determination of HZ in water samples, using standard addition method.     

Electrochemical studies of cytochrome c on gold electrodes with promotor of humic acid and 4-aminothiophenol

p-Aminothiophenol (PATP) and humic acids (HA or HAs) were applied jointly as the electron transfer accelerants of redox reactions of cytochrome c (Cyt c) on gold electrodes. The electrochemical properties of the modified electrodes were studied by field emission scanning electron microscope, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The immobilized Cyt c displayed a couple of stable and well-defined redox peaks with a formal potential of −0.101 V (vs. SCE) in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. Cyt c adsorption is in the form of a monolayer with average surface coverage of 5.28 pmol cm⁻². The electron transfer rate constant was calculated to be 2.14 s⁻¹. It indicate that the HA film acted as a good adsorption matrix for Cyt c and an excellent accelerant for the redox of Cyt c. The Cyt c-HA modified gold electrode showed a new couple of well-marked redox peaks when 2,4-dichlorophenol was added to the test solution.     

Oxidation of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole in aqueous solution: solid phase formation at glassy carbon electrodes

The redox reactions of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole (MBO) have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry at glassy carbon electrodes in aqueous solution. Four anodic and three cathodic processes could be identified. A more detailed analysis of the oxidation processes up to a potential of +0.6 V (SCE) and the corresponding reduction signals showed that the oxidation leads to bis(benzoxazolyl) disulfide (BBOD). Owing to its low solubility, the oxidation product remains at the electrode surface. This product has been identified by ex situ FTIR and XPS analysis. During the reduction of BBOD, mainly MBO is formed. The remarkable lower solubility of BBOD in aqueous solutions compared to MBO allows preparation of layers of BBOD in situ and to control the amount of deposited BBOD via the MBO solution concentration and electrolysis time. The peak potential and peak shape of the reduction signals change remarkably as the amount of BBOD increases from submonolayer coverage to coverages that correspond to multilayers. The behavior can be explained by assuming an electrochemical conversion of BBOD microcrystals, which are deposited on the electrode surface, if the amount of BBOD formed during the MBO oxidation exceeds one monolayer. Received: 21 January 1999 / Accepted: 15 March 1999     

Voltammetric detection of riboflavin based on ordered mesoporous carbon modified electrode

The potential application of ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC)-modified glassy carbon electrode (OMC/GCE) in electrochemistry as a novel electrode material was investigated. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron micrographs, and cyclic voltammetry were used to characterize the structure and electrochemical behaviors of this material. Compared to GC electrode, the peak currents of potassium ferricyanide (K₃[Fe(CN)₆]) increase and the peak potential separation (ΔE _p) decreases at the OMC/GC electrode. These phenomena suggest that OMC-modified GC electrode possesses larger electrode area and faster electron transfer rate, as compared with bare GC electrode. Furthermore, riboflavin was detected using OMC/GC electrode in aqueous solutions. The results showed that, under an optimum condition (pH 7.0), the OMC/GC electrode exhibited excellent response performance to riboflavin in the concentration range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M with a high sensitivity of 769 μA mM⁻¹. The detection limit was down to around 2 × 10⁻⁸ M. With good stability and reproducibility, the present OMC/GC electrode was applied in the determination of vitamin B₂ content in vitamin tablets, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Electrochemical capacitive properties of CNT fibers spun from vertically aligned CNT arrays

Due to their lightweight, large surface area; excellent electrical conductivity; and mechanical strength, carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers show great potentials in serving as both electrode materials and current collectors in supercapacitors. In this paper, the capacitive properties of both as-spun CNT fibers and electrochemically activated CNT fibers have been investigated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It is found that the as-spun CNT fibers exhibit a very low specific capacitance of 2.6 F g⁻¹, but electrochemically activated CNT fibers show considerably improved specific capacitance. The electrochemical activation has been realized by cyclic scanning in a wide potential window. Different electrolytes have also been examined to validate the applicability of our carbon materials and the activation mechanism. It is believed that such an activation process can significantly improve the surface wetting of the CNT fibers by electrolyte (aqueous Na₂SO₄ solution). The cycling stability and rate-dependence of the capacitance have been studied, and the results suggest practical applications of CNT fibers in electrochemical supercapacitors.     

New electrochemiluminescent biosensors combining polyluminol and an enzymatic matrix

Performant reagentless electrochemiluminescent (ECL) (bio)sensors have been developed using polymeric luminol as the luminophore. The polyluminol film is obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV) on a screen-printed electrode either in a commonly used H₂SO₄ medium or under more original near-neutral buffered conditions. ECL responses obtained after performing polymerization either at acidic pH or at pH 6 have been compared. It appears that polyluminol formed in near-neutral medium gives the best responses for hydrogen peroxide detection. Polymerization at pH 6 by cyclic voltammetry gives a linear range extending from 8 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.3 × 10⁻⁴ M H₂O₂ concentrations. Based on this performant sensor for hydrogen peroxide detection, an enzymatic biosensor has been developed by associating the polyluminol film with an H₂O₂-producing oxidase. Here, choline oxidase (ChOD) has been chosen as a model enzyme. To develop the biosensor, luminol has been polymerized at pH 6 by CV, and then an enzyme-entrapping matrix has been formed on the above modified working electrode. Different biological (chitosan, agarose, and alginate) and chemical (silica gels, photopolymers, or reticulated matrices) gels have been tested. Best performances have been obtained by associating a ChOD-immobilizing photopolymer with the polyluminol film. In this case, choline can be detected with a linear range extending from 8 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.3 × 10⁻⁴ M. This paper is based on the results presented in a poster that received a Poster Award on the occasion of XIII International Symposium on Luminescence Spectrometry in Bologna, Italy, on September, 7th-11th, 2008.     

Electrochemical characterization of 2, 2′-[1, 2-ethanediylbis (nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone-carbon nanotube paste electrode and its application to simultaneous voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid and uric acid

The preparation and electrochemical characterization of a carbon nanotube paste electrode modified with 2,2′-[1,2-ethanediylbis (nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone, referred to as EBNBH, was investigated. The EBNBH carbon nanotube paste electrode (EBNBHCNPE) displayed one pair of reversible peaks at E _pa = 0.18 V and E _pc = 0.115 V vs Ag/AgCl. Half wave potential (E _1/2) and ΔE _p were 0.148 and 0.065 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively. The electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) has been studied on EBNBHCNPE, using cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. It has been shown that the oxidation of AA occurs at a potential where oxidation is not observed at the unmodified carbon paste electrode. The heterogeneous rate constant for oxidation of AA at the EBNBHCNPE was also determined and found to be about 1.07 × 10⁻³ cm s⁻¹. The diffusion coefficient of AA was also estimated as 5.66 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ for the experimental conditions, using chronoamperometry. Also, this modified electrode presented the property of electrocatalysing the oxidation of AA and uric acid (UA) at 0.18 and 0.35 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively. The separations of anodic peak potentials of AA and UA reached 0.17 V. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the calibration curves for AA and UA were obtained over the range of 0.1–800 μM and 20–700 μM, respectively. With good selectivity and sensitivity, the present method provides a simple method for selective detection of AA and UA in biological samples.