Electrodes supported on ion-exchange membranes as sensors in gases and low-conductivity solvents

An electroanalytical sensor is proposed that is suitable for the detection of electroactive analytes present in gases or low-conductivity solvents where supporting electrolytes cannot be introduced. It consists of a porous working electrode supported on one surface of a cationic ion-exchange membrane (Nafion 417), the other surface of which is in contact with an electrolyte solution containing the counter and reference electrodes. Such an ion-exchange membrane replaces a conventional supporting electrolyte dissolved in the analyte sample and can be regarded as a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) confined in the close neighbourhood of the working electrode. Alternative procedures followed for coating SPE membranes with various materials (Pt, Au, C or Hg) are described, together with the general properties displayed by the resulting composite electrodes in analyte-free gaseous or liquid media. These assemblies have been used as both voltammetric and amperometric sensors for electroactive analytes present in gases and in aqueous or organic solvents with no supporting electrolyte. The results indicate that their performance is similar to that expected on conventional electrodes, the only difference being a slightly lower degree of reversibility for the electrode processes investigated. Detection limits for some analytes were calculated and the use of SPE electrodes as sensors suitable for the continuous monitoring of electroactive analytes dispersed in gases or non-conductive liquids is reported. Preliminary attempts to use these assemblies for the determination of trace metals in low-conductivity solvents by anodic stripping voltammetry are discussed.     

环取代基对金属化聚苯胺衍生物膜修饰电极性能的影响

通过比较聚2，5－二甲氧基苯胺（PDMAn）、聚邻甲基苯胺（POT）和聚间氯苯胺（PmClAn）膜修饰电极的氧化还原电位、沉积在这3种聚合物上的铂微粒的表面形态与晶面取向以及异丙醇在分散Pt微粒的聚苯胺膜修饰电极上的氧化行为，从电子效应和立体效应探讨了聚合物电化学性质与环取代基的关系以及不同聚合基质对Pt沉积机理和有催化性能的影响,结果表明，在硫酸溶液中PDMAn膜修饰电极的氧化还原电位最负、POT次之、PmClAn最正，Pt在PDMAn和POT膜上的电沉积机理与在PmClAn膜上的不同，聚合物膜上沉积的Pt微粒呈现（200)晶面择优取向，其中POT膜上择优取向度最大，PDMAn次之，Pm-ClAn最小，异丙醇在金属化聚合物膜电极上的氧化电位取决于聚苯胺的本质，在POT膜修饰电极上异丙醇的电氧化主要发生在POT的活性电位区，而在PDMAn与PmClAn膜上的电氧化则主要发生在Pt上的氧化电位区，说明聚合物膜不仅作为Pt微粒的分散介质，而且本身有产生催化作用。     

Factors affecting the analytical applications of zeolite-modified electrodes preconcentration of electroactive species

The influence of various experimental parameters on the electrochemical response of zeolite-modified electrodes (ZMEs) have been studied using ion-exchange voltammetry, with regard to their application as amperometric sensors. In order to cover a large range of parameters, the investigations were carried out using three zeolites (A, X and Y), selected for their different cation-exchange capacities and ion-sieving properties; four electroactive species (silver(I), copper(II), dopamine and methylviologen) chosen on the basis of their size, charge and inorganic or organic nature; and two kinds of ZMEs: the zeolite-modified carbon-paste electrode (ZMCPE) and the zeolite monograin layers coated on glassy carbon electrode (ZMGCE). Compared to the corresponding unmodified electrodes, improvements in sensitivity were observed when using ZMEs, due to analyte accumulation at the electrode's surface by ion exchange in zeolite particles. The concentration process, and the subsequent voltammetric response of ZMEs, were found to be strongly affected by the accessibility of the analytes to the ion-exchanging sites and their mobility within the zeolite framework. Good correlation was found between results obtained in ion-exchange voltammetry and conventional ion-exchange characterization. The advantage of these fundamental studies for electroanalytical purposes was exemplified for the determination of copper(II) ions, using both ZMCPE and ZMGCE, zeolites A, X and Y, and the following analytical scheme: “preconcentration/voltammetric detection”.     

Electrochemical detection of herbicides and plant growth regulators at membrane glassy carbon electrodes

Membrane glassy carbon electrodes modified with cation-exchangers (Eastman AQ-29D, laponite, or polystyrene sulfonate) entrapped between the membrane and the carbon surface were used to study the electrochemical behavior of herbicides and plant growth regulators from the quaternary ammonium family. Cations are shown to incorporate in the entrapped solutions containing negatively charged cation-exchangers, because of favorable electrostatic interactions. In the case of nonelectroactive cations, collection of mepiquat, chlormequat and difenzoquat from the bulk solution is assessed from the competition in ion-exchange equilibrium between one of the above-mentioned cations and the electroactive diquat cation. An attractive property results from the use of spinach ferredoxin as cation-exchanger inside the membrane electrode. Promotion of ferredoxin is shown to be evidenced as a result of the collection of nonelectroactive cations from the bulk solution. Prospects of such modified membrane electrodes in the environmental field are discussed.     

Electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on heterogeneous carbon materials

Abstract  An overview of the use of electrochemical sensors made from heterogeneous carbon materials (carbon paste electrodes, screen-printed carbon electrodes) in the field of food analysis is presented. Sensors for inorganic and organic analytes as well as biosensors are summarized. Graphical abstract        

Sodium Ion-Selective Chalcogenide Glass Electrodes

Abstract

Analytical characteristics and sensing mechanism of sodium ion-selective electrodes based on NaCl-Ga₂S₃-GeS₂ glasses have been investigated. Chalcogenide glass electrodes containing 10 mol.% NaCl in the membrane showed near-Nernstian response in the concentration range from 10-³ to 1 M sodium nitrate solution. These sensors were superior to the conventional pNa oxide glass electrodes in selectivity in the presence of hydrogen ions and in Na⁺ ion sensitivity in fluoride media. Prolonged solution treatment for several days reduces, however, the detection limit of the sensors and the slope of the electrode response. Ionic processes at the membrane surface have been investigated using XPS technique and ²²Na tracer measurements. It was shown that sodium ion-exchange governed Na⁺ ion response of chalcogenide     

All‐Solid‐State Ion Selective and All‐Solid‐State Reference Electrodes

This paper is aiming to give a brief overview of recent research in the field of all‐solid‐state, internal solution free, ion‐selective electrodes and reference electrodes, employing conducting polymers or nano‐/microstructures as solid contacts beneath the polymeric, ion‐selective or reference membranes. The emphasis is on papers published in the last five years (after 2006). According to the papers published, poly(3‐octylthiophene) conducting polymer transducers offer highly reliable sensors for various applications, involving demanding analytical approaches and miniature sensors. On the other hand, the search for alternative materials continues: the sensors obtained by placing nano‐/microstructures (conducting polymers but also other materials, like, e.g., carbon nanotubes) underneath the receptor membrane are intensively tested. The recent years have also shown how useful the application of advanced instrumental methods is for the investigation of processes occurring within all‐solid‐state ion‐selective electrodes.     

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Resist Intercalation Whereas Pyrolytic Graphite Can Exfoliate in Propylene Carbonate: Electroanalysis Without the Deleterious Effects of Intercalation for the Detection of Ammonia

A generic approach is presented allowing the sensing of electroactive species at carbon based electrodes in otherwise potentially intercalating media. Graphite electrodes are known to suffer intercalation leading to exfoliation in propylene carbonate solution containing tetra‐n‐butylammonium perchlorate as supporting electrolyte. However, we report contrasting behaviour at bamboo multiwalled carbon nanotubes, where intercalation/exfoliation does not occur, so allowing useful electroanalytical measurements to be made, in particular for the amperometric determination of ammonia.     

Recent Advances in Nanomaterial‐Modified Pencil Graphite Electrodes for Electroanalysis

Pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) have several advantages over other carbon‐based or commercial metal electrodes, including widespread availability, very low cost, and ease of modification. To make the best use of PGEs in electroanalysis, significant recent advances in the development of different nanomaterial‐PGEs have been observed. The literature published up to mid‐2015 is summarized in the present review, with a focus on the various methodologies used to readily modify graphite pencil electrodes using nanomaterials. This review also touches on the surface characterization of these electrodes and their potential applications in a variety of electrochemical detection applications. The review outlines the scope for further research in this area and discusses the importance of surface modifications of conventional PGE electrodes using nanomaterials or a combination of nanomaterials and electroactive polymers.     

Biosensors Based on the Tissue of Plant as Catalytic Material for Amino Acids

Two tissue electrodes are described in this paper. It is shown that a portion of intact tissue from apple or cactus can be coupled with potentiometric ammonia gas sensing electrode to prepare sensors for some amino acids with good response properties. Their optimum operating conditions and properties with respect to buffer sort, pH of the bulk solution, selectivity, linearity, stability, sensitivity and response time are studied and discussed. At the same time, the dynamic parameters, such as Km and Km, of L-glutamine deaminasc and L-as-paragine deamlnase have been obtained by means of these tissue electrodes.     

PVC matrix membrane electrodes based on cobalt and nickel phenanthroline complexes for selective determination of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions

Potentiometric sensors for determining cobalt and nickel ions are described. They are based on the use of cobalt and nickel tris(1,10-phenanthroline)-TPB as electroactive compounds dispersed in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The sensors exhibit fast, near-Nernstian responses for cobalt and nickel-phenanthroline cations over the pH range 3–11 with a slope of 30.3 ± 0.3 mV/concentration decade. In the presence of excess 1,10-phenanthroline reagent, cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions at concentration levels as low as 4 × 10^–6 M are accurately determined. The results show an average metal ion recovery of 98.5% with a mean standard deviation of 0.5%. Cobalt in organometallic compounds and nickel in silicate rocks are determined by these sensors and results agreeing fairly well with atomic absorption spectrometry are obtained.     

Comparative study between two fabricated potentiometric sensors to enhance selectivity towards ferrous ions

Electroanalytical methods are highly selective for measuring electrical quantities including the charge, potential and current with their relation to chemical parameters. They are widely applied in various fields such as biochemical analysis, industrial quality control and environmental monitoring. They have many advantages over other techniques in that they are not time consuming and are specific for certain oxidation states of certain elements which give these techniques high selectivity and sensitivity features. This paper is based on two parts: the first part describes the fabrication of screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with methyl red as electroactive material, while second part describes the preparation and characterization of Fe(II)–methyl red complex using various spectroscopic tools, the complex being used for the construction of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs). The two proposed electrodes were successfully applied for the determination of Fe(II) in water and pharmaceutical (pharovit) samples. The electrodes under investigation show potentiometric response for Fe(II) in the concentration range 8.0 × 10^?7–1.0 × 10^?2 and 5.0 × 10^?7–1.0 × 10^?2 M at 25°C for SPE and CPE, respectively, and the electrode response is independent of pH in the range 1.5–7.0. These sensors show Nernstian slopes of 29.1 ± 0.2 and 29.7 ± 0.16 mV decade^?1 with detection limit values of 8.0 × 10^?7 and 5.0 × 10^?7 M for SPE and CPE, respectively. These electrodes show fast response time of 6 and 4 s and exhibit a lifetime of 100 and 30 days for SPE and CPE, respectively. The mechanism of chemical reaction between modifier and Fe(II) on the SPE surface was studied using infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. The proposed potentiometric method was validated according to the IUPAC recommendations. The results obtained using the proposed sensors were comparable with those obtained with inductively coupled plasma analysis.     

Dendrimer Modified Thiolated Gold Surfaces as Sensor Devices for Halogenated Alkyl‐Carboxylic Acids in Aqueous Medium. A Promising New Type of Surfaces for Electroanalytical Applications

Thiolated gold electrodes bearing either carboxylic or amino terminal groups were exposed to dilute PAMAM dendrimer aqueous solutions in which the ramified polymers have the complementary opposite charge. The novel interfaces that result from dendrimer electrostatic aggregation, were then probed as electrochemical sensors for three halogenated carboxylic acid compounds in aqueous solution. The results show an increased sensitivity for the electrochemical detection of the three acids using the modified surfaces as compared to bare gold electrodes. The use of this type of novel interfacial architecture, is presented as a potentially new and important approach for the development of electroanalytical sensors for the detection of organic contaminants in water.     

氨基酸植物组织传感器的研究

选择苹果及仙人球的组织切片作生物催化材料,同氨气敏电极组合,研制了2种对L-谷氨酰胺及L-天冬酰胺选择响应的新型的组织传感器。研究和讨论了传感器的最佳工作条件。用该组织传感器测定了L-天冬酰胺脱氨酶和L-谷氨酰胺脱氨酶的动力学参数K_m和V_m。     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) at thick-film gold electrodes

Cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic investigations of screen-printed, thick-film gold electrodes reveal significant differences when compared with conventional polished gold disk electrodes of comparable size. The rough and porous structure of the thick-film electrode surface leads to an actual electrode area which is increased six-fold compared to polished disk electrodes. Due to the catalytic properties of these surface structures it is possible to perform the electrochemical oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) at relatively low overpotentials, i.e. +0.145 V vs. SCE. By operating electrodes at this potential, electrode fouling processes and interference from electroactive species, e.g. acetaminophen, are minimized. An amperometric glucose sensor based on polymer matrix-entrapped glucose dehydrogenase with a working potential of +0.145 V vs. SCE was successfully incorporated into a flow injection analysis (FIA) system.     

Selective Liquid and (Vinyl-Chloride) Pentoxyverine Membrane Electrodes - Their Preparation and Use for the Potentiometric Determination of Pentoxyverine Citrate

Abstract

The use of liquid and poly(vinyl-chloride) membrane electrodes which are sensitive and reasonably selective for pentoxyverine determination is described here. The electrodes are based on the use of pentoxyverine-picrate, pentoxyverine-picrolonate and pentoxyverine-tetraphenylborate ion association complexes as electroactive materials in nitrobenzene or in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. These electrodes show near Nernstian response values in different concentration ranges, depending on the nature of the used counter-ions, at 3.3–7.8 pH range. Potentiometric determination of pentoxyverine citrate with use of these electrodes gives good results which later on are compared with those obtained by non-aqueous titration.     

An Investigation into Outer‐Surface Biofouling and Electrode Passivation Effects on Gold Electrodes Modified with Calix[4]resorcinarenetetrathiol and a PEG Derivative on Exposure to Whole Human Blood

An investigation into the hemo‐biocompatibility of calix[4]resorcinarenetetrathiol and calix‐PEG derivative coatings on gold electrodes is reported, with respect to the detection of the ascorbate ion in aqueous solution. The electrochemical behavior of the ascorbate ion at calix‐modified electrodes is also discussed. Findings show that a facilitated adsorption of ascorbate from solution is seen at calix‐modified gold electrodes. Following exposure to whole human blood, calix‐PEG derivative coatings were seen to offer some protection against both outer‐surface biofouling and electrode passivation effects in comparison to calix[4]resorcinarenetetrathiol counterparts. The individual effects of outer surface biofouling and electrode passivation on exposure to whole blood have been investigated. Our findings suggest that PEG moieties help prevent sorption of the biofouling film, thus possibly minimizing the release of a number of low molecular weight solutes which are thought to be involved with the passivation of electrode responses within clinical bio‐ and chemical sensors.     

Studies in the field of electrochemistry of organic compounds in 2000–2006

This review presents the author’s views on the state-of-art in the electrochemistry of organic compounds, based on the analysis of the data published from 2000 to 2006. The number of publications that consider to one or another extent the electrochemical reactions involving organic compounds constantly increases. The range of problems studied is intimately related with the demands of new technologies. The largest number of publications are devoted to the electrochemical polymerization and the properties of polymeric films on the electrode surface and also to the mechanism of electrode reactions of metal-complex compounds and their properties. The directions such as electrochemistry of nanomaterials and the methods of modification of electrodes are largely associated with the use of electroactive polymers. Fine organic electrosynthesis including the technological developments in the destruction of organic compounds, e. g., for cleaning of waste water, fade to the background. A new direction in this field is the development of amperometric sensors that employ modified electrodes based on electrochemically activated polymeric films.     

Potential shifts at electrodes coated with ion-exchange polymeric films

Voltammetry at electrodes modified with ion-exchange polymers, named "ion exchange voltammetry", has been recently developed for characterizing and determining quantitatively ionic electroactive analytes preconcentrated at the electrode surface. Like for other voltammetric techniques, characterization is based on the position of the response on the potential scale, but an appreciable difference is frequently observed between the formal half-wave potential for redox couples incorporated within ion-exchange polymeric films and those for the same redox couples in solution as measured at bare electrodes. Such a difference has been rationalized here by a generalized equation, inferred from a suitable elaboration of the Nernst equation, whose validity has been tested by a thorough investigation performed at glassy carbon electrodes modified with either cationic (Nafion) or anionic (Tosflex) polymeric films. With this purpose, the effect of both charge and concentration of the analyte and of the loading counterion, this last introduced as the cation or anion of the supporting electrolyte, of the ion-exchange selectivity coefficients of the redox partners and of their stoichiometric coefficients, as well as of the number of electrons involved in the charge transfer has been evaluated. The results obtained agree quite well with theoretical expectations and indicate that the potential shifts found are mainly conditioned by both charge and concentration of the counterion from the supporting electrolyte and by the ratio of the ion-exchange equilibrium constants for the two redox partners involved. Other parameters considered have no influence on the potential shift or lead to negligible effects, provided that the quantities of the redox partners incorporated within the ion-exchange coating represents less than 5% of the film capacity. Again in agreement with theoretical expectations, positive shifts are found for increasing supporting electrolyte concentrations when cationic redox species incorporated within cationic films are involved, while the opposite effect is found for anionic redox species incorporated within anionic films.     

Novel disposable bismuth-sputtered electrodes for the determination of trace metals by stripping voltammetry

This work describes a novel type of bismuth electrode for stripping voltammetry based on coating a silicon substrate with a thin bismuth film by means of sputtering. The bismuth-based sensors were characterized by optical methods (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)) and as well as by linear sweep voltammetry. Subsequently, the electrodes were tested for the detection of low concentrations of trace metals (Cd(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II)) by stripping voltammetry. Well-formed stripping peaks were observed for trace concentrations of the target analytes demonstrating “proof-of-principle” for these sensors. This type of electrochemical device, utilizing thin-film technology for the formation of the bismuth film, holds promise for future applications in trace metal analysis.