Cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of selenium(IV) at a thin-film mercury electrode in a thiocyanate-containing electrolyte

The well-known method for the determination of selenium(IV), which is based on the cathodic stripping voltammetry of copper(I) selenide, has been adapted for application at the thin-film mercury electrode on glassy carbon (TFME). Insufficient reproducibility and sensitivity have been overcome by using a 0.1 mol/L HClO₄ electrolyte solution containing 0.02 mol/L thiocyanate ions. Thiocyanate ions have been found to increase the peak height of the selenium response and shift it to more positive potentials. This behaviour is explained by an adsorption of SCN^– at the interface glassy carbon/Cu₂Se and its action as an electron transfer catalyst between glassy carbon and copper(I) selenide. A 3σ-detection limit of 75 ng/L Se^(IV) has been achieved. The relative standard deviation is 5.2% at 5 μg/L selenium(IV). The influence of cadmium(II), arsenic(III), zinc(II), iron(III) and lead(II) ions on the selenium response has been studied. In case of lead ions, a new signal occurred at more negative potentials than the reduction of Cu₂Se. This signal, which is probably due to the reduction of PbSe, can also be used for the determination of selenium(IV).     

Electrodeposition of Copper Selenide onto Mo Electrode in Tartaric Acid Solution

Results are presented of a study of the electrochemical behavior of copper(II) and selenium(IV) ions and their joint reduction on a molybdenum electrode by cyclic voltammetry in a tartaric acid electrolyte. The potentiostatic deposition was used to obtain copper selenide deposits on Mo plates. The diffraction and energydispersive analyses demonstrated that a Cu_2?xSe compound is formed with an admixture of the CuSe phase. A suggestion is made that the process of underpotential reduction affects the formation of copper selenide. Copper selenide films were deposited at a potential of ?0.6 V in the course of 30 min with a thickness of 0.43 μm and high adhesion to the substrate. At potentials in this range, an additional amount of the deposit may be formed due to the chemical reaction between Cu⁺ and Se^2? ions. The p-type conduction was determined for films electrodeposited at various potentials.     

Copper–mercury film electrode for cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of Se(IV)

The copper-mercury film electrode has been suggested for the determination of Se(IV) in a wide range of concentration from 1x10(-9) to 1x10(-6) mol L(-1)by square-wave cathodic stripping voltammetry. Insufficient reproducibility and sensitivity of the mercury film electrode have been overcome by using copper(II) ions during the plating procedure. Copper(II) has been found to be reduced and form a reproducible copper-mercury film on a glassy carbon electrode surface. The plating potential and time, the concentration of copper(II) and the concentration of the supporting electrolyte have been optimised. Microscopy has been used for a study of the morphology of the copper-mercury film. It has been found that it is the same as for the mercury one. The preconcentration step consists in electrodeposition of copper selenide on the copper-mercury film. The relative standard deviation is 4.3% for 1x10(-6) mol L(-1) of Se(IV). The limit of detection is 8x10(-10) mol L(-1) for 5 min of accumulation.     

Electrodeposition of semiconducting CuInSe2 films on glassy carbon electrode from sulfuric acid electrolytes

Electrochemical behavior of selenium(IV), copper(II), and indium(III) ions in joint deposition onto a glassy carbon electrode from sulfuric acid electrolytes was studied. The optimal conditions for formation of a stoichiometric compound CuInSe₂ were determined. The structure and composition of the compound synthesized were studied by X-ray phase, electron microscopic, and electron microprobe analyses.     

Analytical methods for the speciation of selenium compounds: a review

Selenium, like sulphur, exists in the environment in several oxidation states and as a variety of inorganic and organic compounds. Dissolved inorganic selenium can be found in natural waters as selenide Se (–II), as colloidal elemental selenium Se (0), as selenite anions HSeO ₃ ^– and SeO ₃ ^2– i.e. Se (+IV) and as the selenate anion (SeO ₄ ^2– ) i.e. Se (+VI). Organic forms of selenium that may be found in organisms, air or in the aqueous environment, are volatile (methylselenides) or non volatile (trimethylselenonium ion, selenoamino acids and their derivatives). Knowledge of the different chemical forms and their environmental and biomedical distribution is important because of the dependence of bioavailability and toxicity on speciation. This paper reviews the different analytical methods used for the speciation of selenium compounds, with special attention to inorganic selenium and organoselenium species.     

Cyclic and stripping voltammetry of Se(+4) and Se(−2) at the HMDE in acidic media

Electroreduction of Se(+4) and electrooxidation of Se(?2) were studied at mercury electrodes in acidic media and an improved mechanism of the reduction process was proposed. This mechanism takes into account the fact that the reduction path is concentration-dependent. At lower concentrations of Se(+4), mercury selenide and hydrogen selenide are formed at various potentials. At higher Se(+4) concentrations the electrode quickly becomes covered by a rigid deposit of mercury selenide and then the reduction starts to proceed to elemental selenium. Another form of selenium was formed in the vicinity of the mercury surface due to a chemical reaction between H₂SeO₃ and H₂Se. Oxidation of hydrogen selenide proceeds similarly, in the sense that after coverage of the electrode surface by a deposit of mercury selenide the oxidation starts to proceed to elemental selenium. The cathodic stripping peak of mercury selenide can be obtained down to 2 × 10^?8M of Se(+4), but this peak is often split and therefore the determination of traces of Se(+4) by the cathodic stripping technique is cumbersome.     

A Directed Route to Colloidal Nanoparticle Synthesis of the Copper Selenophosphate Cu3PSe4

The first colloidal nanoparticle synthesis of the copper selenophosphate Cu₃PSe₄, a promising new material for photovoltaics, is reported. Because the formation of binary copper selenide impurities seemed to form more readily, two approaches were developed to install phosphorus bonds directly: 1) the synthesis of molecular P₄Se₃ and subsequent reaction with a copper precursor, (P‐Se)+Cu, and 2) the synthesis of copper phosphide, Cu₃P, nanoparticles and subsequent reaction with a selenium precursor, (Cu‐P)+Se. The isolation and purification of Cu₃P nanoparticles and subsequent selenization yielded phase‐pure Cu₃PSe₄. Solvent effects and Se precursor reactivities were elucidated and were key to understanding the final reaction conditions.     

Galvanic synthesis of copper selenides Cu2 − x Se and CuSe in alkaline sodium selenosulfate aqueous solution

Spherical copper selenide nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a simple reaction of sodium selenosulfate with metal copper at room temperature in alkaline Na₂SeSO₃ aqueous solution. It is a galvanic process that operates on a coupled anodic copper oxidation and selenosulfate reduction. 1-Thioglycerol is found to catalyze this reaction. With gold and graphite as the positive electrodes, nanocrystallites of nonstoichiometric copper selenide (Cu_2 − x Se) and stoichiometric copper selenides (CuSe) were produced, respectively. The XRD study shows that the produced CuSe and Cu_2 − x Se are in the pure hexagonal phase and clausthalite phase, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy images show that the diameters of the produced CuSe and Cu_2 − x Se NPs are in the range of 10∼20 and 5∼15 nm, respectively.     

Determination of selenium(IV) by anodic stripping voltammetry with an in situ gold-plated rotating glassy carbon disk electrode

The application of an in situ gold-plated glassy carbon disk electrode to the determination of selenium(IV) by anodic stripping voltammetry is described. A single anodic stripping peak is obtained for solutions containing less than 1 × 10^-6 M Se(IV). The minimum concentration detected was 2 × 10^-9 M Se(IV). The determination of selenium in NBS SRM 1577 (Bovine Liver) by anodic stripping voltammetry with an in situ goldplated rotating glassy carbon electrode yielded a value of 1.14 ± 0.07 μg Se g^-1 compared with a certificate value of 1.1 ± 0.1 μg Se g^-1.     

Storage of aqueous solutions of selenium for speciation at trace level

 Different studies carried out in recent years on the preservation of trace selenium species in aqueous solutions are reviewed and experimental results showing a 29% oxidation of Se(IV) to Se(VI) in less than one month in acidic and oxygenated medium in the presence of chloride ions are presented. The hypothesis of an oxidation of Se(IV) to Se(VI) at acidic pH by traces of Cl₂, obtained by a reaction between chloride ions and dissolved oxygen, followed by chlorine oxidation, is examined. Received: 3 May 1996/Revised: 24 June 1996/Accepted: 1 July 1996     

Sequential speciation of selenium by flow injection cathodic stripping voltammetry

A semi-automatic continuous method for the determination of Se(IV) based on flow-injection cathodic stripping voltammetry (FICSV) is reported. The flow injection approach incorporates a thin mercury film on glassy carbon as the working electrode, on which Se(IV) is deposited at an applied potential of 0.0 V. A cathodic scan (from 0.0 to –0.9 V) is applied and the Se is stripped at –0.54 V, providing a current intensity proportional to the Se(IV) concentration in the sample. This method features a linear determination range between 0.5 and 30 ng/ml (r²=0.998, RSD=3.6%). The non-interference levels (foreign species to analyte ratio) are 2.5:1 for Cu(II), 7.5:1 for Pb(II), 35:1 for Cd(II), 250:1 for Zn(II) and 500:1 for Fe(III). After developing the method for Se(IV), the speciation of this element has been performed by sequential injection of the dissolved sample into a carrier which may or may not have been previously reduced off-line thus determining the sum (Se(IV)+Se(VI)) or only Se(IV), respectively. The method has been applied to selenium speciation in water samples.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of total lead, copper and selenium in whole blood and blood serum

A two-step procedure including appropriate wet-digestions, separation of selenium from interfering ions such as heavy metal ions with pentyl alcohol and anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) determination of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and SeO₃ ^2– is developed. The elements in digested whole blood and serum sample solutions were determined by using a standard addition method. 1 × 10^–9 mol/L SeO^2– ₃, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were successfully determined with relative standard deviations of approximately 1–2% (n = 6–8). Received: 19 August 1996 / Revised: 24 February 1997 / Accepted: 28 February 1997     

Cyclic and stripping voltammetry of Se(+4) and Se(-2) at carbon electrodes in acid solutions

The behaviour of the Se(+4)?Se(0)?Se(?2) system was studied by cyclic and stripping voltammetry using several kinds of graphite and glassy carbon electrodes in the pH range from 0 to 8. Well-defined curves of Se(+4) reduction were obtained with a very soft graphite electrode, whereas poorly defined curves were recorded with glassy carbon electrodes. The reduction of Se(+4) in acid solution led to the formation of two forms of elemental selenium. One was formed in a direct electroreduction and the other in a subsequent chemical reaction between Se(+4) and Se(?2). These two forms of Se(0) gave separate reduction and oxidation peaks. Hydrogen selenide was anodically oxidized stepwise to elemental selenium and selenous acid. With an increase of pH the extent of Se(+4) reduction decreased and the extent of Se(?2) oxidation increased.The cathodic and anodic stripping peaks of elemental selenium cannot be used for the determination of traces of Se(+4) because they appear only in solutions with Se(+4) concentrations >1×10^?5 mol 1^?1.     

Structure and Thermal Stability of Nanostructured Precursor Powders of Copper(I) Sulfide and Selenide

The hydrochemical precipitation method at 298 and 333 K with, respectively, thiocarbamide and sodium selenosulfate was used to obtain nanostructured powders of copper sulfide with formula composition Cu₂S, which are composed of globules 200–500 nm in diameter, formed by 70–100-nm particles, and copper(I) selenide, composed of crystallites with polyhedral shape, sizes of 80 to 500 nm, and a formula composition Cu_1.84Se. An X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the orthorhombic Cu₂S structure (space group no. 39-Abm2) with unit cell parameters a = 1.182 nm, b = 2.705 nm, and c = 1.343 nm. Powders of Cu_1.84Se copper selenide have a cubic structure (space group Fm3m) with lattice constant a = 0.5693 nm. A thermal analysis demonstrated that the chemically precipitated Cu₂S and Cu_1.84Se powders have a stable elemental composition up to 200–240°C. An intense oxidation of the samples begins at a temperature exceeding 250°C and is accompanied by a sharp decrease in their content of sulfur (selenium) and by an increase in the content of oxygen.     

Stability of selenium and its speciation analysis in water using automatic system separation and HR-ICP-MS measurement

A simple and convenient method has been developed for the pre-concentration and separation of inorganic selenium species from environmental water samples using anion exchange chromatographic column combined with high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) measurement. ⁷⁵Se(IV) and ⁷⁵Se(VI) were prepared and used as tracers during the experiments. The volatility of selenium during solution evaporation was investigated to establish a reliable water samples pretreatment procedure. The parameters which affect the uptake of Se(IV) and Se(VI) on Dowex1 × 8 resin was optimized and the procedure for Se(IV) and Se(VI) separation was proposed. Both Se(IV) and Se(VI) are retained on the column in natural or alkaline solution with high distribution coefficient. The successive gradient elution of pre-concentrated species of selenium with HNO₃ solution allows to differentiate between them. Se(IV) and Se(VI) finally were eluted with 0.05 mol/L HNO₃ and 5.0 mol/L HNO₃, respectively. The proposed method has been successfully verified using the certified reference materials (CRMs) of real water samples, and spiked recoveries for real samples were 98%-104% with 5% relative standard deviations (RSDs). The developed procedure is proved to be reliable and can be used for the rapid determination of selenium species in environmental water samples.     

Comparative characterization of two techniques for selenium(IV) preconcentration on a film mercury electrode with the use of an automated solution replacement system without circuit disconnection

Two versions of selenium(IV) preconcentration and determination on a mercury film electrode (MFE) by cathode stripping voltammetry with an automated solution replacement system without circuit disconnection are compared. In one version, selenium(IV) is preconcentrated together with copper(II); in the other, selenium is preconcentrated on a copper-modified MFE. Under optimum conditions (against the 0.1 M HCl background at selenium electrolysis potentials from ?350 to ?400 mV and electrolysis times of 180–300 s), calibration curves for both selenium preconcentration versions are linear over the concentration ranges from 2.5 to 20 μg/L and from 50 to 250 mg/L. The selenium peak heights are well reproduced in both cases (in the range of the concentrations studied, S _r lie in the range from 0.02 to 0.05). Sequential copper and selenium preconcentration is more convenient: there is no need to add copper to each analyzed solution, and it is possible to optimize selenium preconcentration parameters (solution composition, electrolysis potential, and electrolysis time) regardless of the copper preconcentration parameters.     

Lithiation of Copper Selenide Nanocrystals

The search for ion‐conductive solid electrolytes for Li⁺ batteries is an important scientific and technological challenge with economic and sustainable energy implications. In this study, nanocrystals (NCs) of the ion conductor copper selenide (Cu_2?ySe) were doped with Li by the process of cation exchange. Li_2xCu_2?2xSe alloy NCs were formed at intermediate stages of the reaction, which was followed by phase segregation into Li₂Se and Cu₂Se domains. Li‐doped Cu_2?ySe NCs and Li₂Se NCs exhibit a possible SI phase at moderately elevated temperatures and warrant further ion‐conductance tests. These findings may guide the design of nanostructured super‐ionic electrolytes for Li⁺ transport.     

Selenium-coated carbon electrode for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of copper(II)

We describe a new and promising type of selenium film electrode for anodic stripping voltammetry. This method is based on formation of copper selenide onto an in-situ formed selenium-film carbon electrode, this followed by Osteryoung square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Copper(II) is also in-situ electroplated in a test solution containing 0.01 mol L^-1 hydrochloric acid, 0.05 mol L^?1 potassium chloride and 500 µg L^?1 Se(IV) at a deposition potential of ?300 mV. The well-defined anodic peak current observed at about 200 mV is directly proportional to the Cu(II) concentration over the range from 1.0 to 100 µg L^?1 under the optimized conditions. The detection limit (three sigma level) is 0.2 µg L^?1 Cu(II) at 180 s deposition time. Relatively less interferences are shown from most of metal ions except for antimony(III). The method can be applied to analyses of river water and oyster tissue with good accuracy.     

Voltammetric determination of Se(IV) and Se(VI) in saline samples—Studies with seawater, hydrothermal and hemodialysis fluids

Determination of Se(IV) and Se(VI) in high saline media was investigated by cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV). The voltammetric method was applied to assay selenium in seawater, hydrothermal and hemodialysis fluids. The influence of ionic strength on selenium determination is discussed. The CSV method was based on the co-electrodeposition of Se(IV) with Cu(II) ions and Se(VI) determined by difference after sample UV-irradiation for photolytic selenium reduction. UV-irradiation was also used as sample pre-treatment for organic matter decomposition. Detection limit of 0.030 μg L⁻¹ (240 s deposition time) and relative standard deviation (RSD) of 6.19% (n = 5) for 5.0 μg L⁻¹ of Se(IV) were calculated. Linear calibration range for selenium was observed from 1.0 to 100.0 μg L⁻¹. Concerning the pre-treatment step, best results were obtained by using 60 min UV-irradiation interval in H₂O₂/HCl medium. Se(VI) was reduced to the Se(IV) electroactive species with recoveries between 91.7% and 112.9%. Interferents were also investigated.     

Comparison characterization of copper selenide thin layers prepared on polyamide 6 films by sorption-diffusion method

Some earlier synthesized copper selenide (Cu _x Se) layers formed on the surface of polyamide 6 by sorption-diffusion method using potassium selenotrithionate (K₂SeS₂O₆) as precursor of selenium were characterized by the XRD, XPS and SEM methods. According to the results of the SEM studies, the most uniform Cu _x Se layers form at the 2.5 h polyamide seleniumized duration at the temperature of 60°C. The thickness of layers, which dependeds on the duration of seleniumization, changed in the range of 0.8–3.2 µm. The XRD patterns of not previously studied Cu _x Se layers showed their phase composition of six copper selenides: Cu₂Se, two phases of CuSe₂, Cu₃Se₂, berzellianite, Cu_2-x Se, and bellidoite Cu₂Se. Analysis of the XRD and XPS data shows that the macrostructure and composition of the Cu_xSe layers depend on the conditions of formation of these layers.