Electrochemical Detection of Catechol on Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode Modified with Au/TiO2 Nanorod Composite

Au/TiO₂ nanorod composites with different ratios of [TiO₂]:[Au] have been prepared by chemically reducing AuCl₄^‐ on the positively charged TiO₂ nanorods surface and used to modify boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. The electrochemical behaviors of catechol on the bare and different Au/TiO₂ nanorod composites‐modified BDD electrodes are studied. The cyclic voltammetric results indicate that these different Au/TiO₂ nanorod composites‐modified BDD electrodes can enhance the electrocatalytic activity toward catechol detection, as compared with the bare BDD electrode. Among these different conditions, the Au/TiO₂‐BDD3 electrode (the ratio of [TiO₂]:[Au] is 27:1) is the most choice for catechol detection. The electrochemical response dependences of the Au/TiO₂‐BDD3 electrode on pH of solution and the applied potential are studied. The detection limit of catechol is found to be about 1.4 × 10^‐6 M in a linear range from 5 × 10^‐6 M to 200 × 10^‐6 M on the Au/TiO₂‐BDD3 electrode.     

THE CYANIDE PHOTOISOMERIZATION IN ZINC HEXACYANOFERRATE (II) SUPPORTED ON TITANIUM DIOXIDE-SILICA GEL COMPOSITE: A MATRIX EFFECT

Abstract

Zinc hexacyanoferrates(II), ZnHCF, were supported on the surface of titanium(IV) oxide grafted on a silica gel surface, SiO₂/TiO₂. The adsorbed complex species SiO₂/TiO₂/ZnHCF was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse polarography and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The pentacyanoferrate (II) species would also be formed by an isomerization of one of the cyano groups, which forms a Zn-CN-Fe bond. The effect of supporting electrolyte in the electrochemical behavior of cyanoferrates was investigated using modified carbon paste electrodes. The modified electrode exhibits a quasi-Nernstian response showing the involvement of alkaline metal cations in the electrochemical process. The electrode prepared with the composite ≡TiHCFZn also exhibits electrochemical behavior dependent on acetate anion concentration selectively.     

Electroanalytical Study of Prussian Blue Modified Glassy Carbon Paste Electrodes

Two types of glassy carbon (GC) powder (i.e., Sigradur K and Sigradur G) have been mixed with mineral oil to obtain glassy carbon paste electrodes (GCPE's). The electrochemical behavior of such electrodes at different percentages of glassy carbon has been evaluated with respect to the electrochemistry of ferricyanide as revealed with cyclic voltammetry and the best paste composition was chosen. GC was then modified with Prussian Blue (PB), mixed at different percentages with unmodified GC and with a fixed amount of mineral oil in order to obtain PB modified glassy carbon paste electrodes (PB‐GCPE's). PB‐GCPE's with different percentages of GC modified with PB (PB‐GC) were compared and the dependence on the amount of PB on their performances was evaluated by studying the parameters of cyclic voltammetry (i.e., current peak, ΔE_p, anodic and cathodic current ratio, charge density) and the amperometric response to H₂O₂. Data interpretation based on the GC surface area is presented. GCPE's with a selected amount of PB‐GC were then tested as H₂O₂ probes and all the analytical parameters together with the dependence on pH were evaluated. Some preliminary experiments with these electrodes assembled as glucose, lysine and lactate biosensors are also reported.     

Low‐cost Nickel Complex Dye‐sensitized Titania Nanoparticle/nanotube Composites for Solar Cells

In this work, high‐performance dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on new low‐cost visible nickel complex dye (VisDye), TiO₂ nanoparticle/nanotube composites electrodes, carbon nanoparticles counter electrodes, and ionic liquids electrolytes have been fabricated. The electronic structure, optical spectroscopy, and electrochemical properties of the VisDye were studied. Experimental results indicate that it is beneficial to improve the electron transport and power conversion efficiency using the nickel complex VisDye and TiO₂ nanoparticle/nanotube composites. Under optimized conditions, the solar energy conversion efficiencies were measured. The short‐circuit current density (J_SC), the open‐circuit voltage (V_OC), the fill factor (FF), and the overall efficiency (η) of the DSSCs are 10.01 mA/cm², 516 mV, 0.68, and 3.52%, respectively. This study demonstrates that the combination of new VisDye with TiO₂ nanoparticle/nanotube composites electrodes and carbon nanoparticles counter electrodes provide a way to fabricate highly efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells in low‐cost production.     

Interlaced polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanocomposite co-electrodeposited on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes/Ti for high-performance supercapacitors

A series of PANI-CNTs/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes were fabricated via pulse current co-electrodeposition of polyaniline and functionalized carbon nanotubes onto TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes. FT-IR spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were applied in order to characterize the modified TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes. The morphology studies showed that the PANI-CNTs/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti nanocomposite electrode has many interlaced PANI-CNTs nanorods on the surface of TiO₂ nanotubes. The electrochemical measurements of the modified electrodes confirmed that the CNTs in the composite can significantly improve the capacitive behavior as well which have been compared with that of PANI/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti electrodes. The modified electrode exhibited much higher specific capacitance (190 mF cm^?2 with 90% retention after 1000 cycles) compared to the PANI/TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti (70 mF cm^?2 with 77% retention after 1000 cycles) at a current density of 0.85 mA cm^?2, indicating its great potential for supercapacitor applications.

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Graphical abstract Interlaced polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanocomposite electrodeposited on TiO₂ nanotubes/Ti

     

Rapid identification and high sensitive detection of cancer cells on the gold nanoparticle interface by combined contact angle and electrochemical measurements

In this study, we have proposed a novel strategy for the rapid identification and high sensitive detection of different kinds of cancer cells by means of electrochemical and contact angle measurements. A simple, unlabeled method based on the functionalized Au nanoparticles (GNPs) modified interface has been utilized to distinguish the different cancer cells, including lung cancer cells, liver cancer cells, drug sensitive leukemia K562/B.W cells and drug resistant leukemia K562/ADM cells. The relevant results indicate that under optimal conditions, this method can provide the quantitative determination of cancer cells, with a detection limit of ∼10³ cells mL⁻¹. Our observations demonstrate that the difference in the hydrophilic properties for target cellular surfaces and in the uptake efficiency of the anticancer drug daunorubicin for different cancer cells could be readily chosen as the elements of cancer identification and sensitive detection. This raises the possibility to advance the promising clinic diagnosis and monitoring of tumors with the aim of successful chemotherapy of human cancers.     

Amperometric Sensors Based on Synthetic Hydrotalcites and Their Application for Ethanol Detection in Beer

The electrochemical and electrocatalytic behavior of electrodes modified with a Co/Al‐NO₃ hydrotalcite (HT) has been investigated and compared with that displayed by Ni/Al‐NO₃ HT modified electrodes. Mono and polyhydric compounds have been tested to study electrocatalysis. At Co/Al‐NO₃ HT modified electrodes only polyhydric compounds give e current signal, whereas at Ni/Al‐NO₃ HT modified electrodes, both alcohols and polyhydric compounds can be detected. The different electrocatalytic behavior of Ni and Co based electrodes has been exploited to develop an analytic method for the selective determination of alcohols in the presence of polyhydric compounds. Samples of beer found on the Italian market have been analyzed to verify the validity of the proposed method in the detection of the ethanol content. The procedure does require neither a preliminar treatment nor a separation of the sample, but only the recording of two cyclic voltammogramms, one with the Co/Al‐NO₃ and one with the Ni/Al‐NO₃ HT modified electrode. The results obtained have been promising.     

Electrochemistry and voltammetric determination of L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a Nafion/TiO2-graphene composite film

We describe a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a film composed of Nafion and TiO₂-graphene (TiO₂-GR) nanocomposite, and its voltammetric response to the amino acids L-tryptophane (Trp) and L-tyrosine (Tyr). The incorporation of TiO₂ nanoparticles with graphene significantly improves the electrocatalytic activity and voltammetric response compared to electrodes modified with Nafion/graphene only. The Nafion/TiO₂-GR modified electrode was used to determine Trp and Tyr with detection limits of 0.7 and 2.3 μM, and a sensitivity of 75.9 and 22.8 μA mM^?1 for Trp and Tyr, respectively.

氮掺杂碳纳米管修饰电极的电化学行为

制备了氮掺杂改性的碳纳米管, 并用循环伏安法(CV)测定了多巴胺(DA)和抗坏血酸(AA)在不同氮含量的碳纳米管修饰电极上的电化学行为. 结果表明, 氮掺杂碳纳米管修饰电极对AA和DA有不同的电催化行为, 其中高氮含量修饰电极对AA的催化作用强, 而低氮含量修饰电极对DA的催化作用强. 微分脉冲伏安法(DPV)的结果显示, DA的氧化峰电流与其浓度在5.0×10^－6～2.0×10^－4 mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系, 检出限达1.64×10^－6 mol/L (S/N＝3); AA氧化峰电流与其浓度在3.0×10^－5～1.0×10^－2 mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系, 检出限达3.26×10^－6 mol/L (S/N＝3). 该修饰电极在AA大量存在(AA浓度为DA浓度两万倍)时可选择性地实现多巴胺的测定而不造成干扰.     

Photoelectrochemical oxidation of hydrazine on TiO2 modified titanium electrode: its application for detection of hydrazine

Despite extensive investigations on the photoelectrochemical properties of TiO₂-based electrodes, it is surprising that no photoelectrochemical investigation has been done for the case of hydrazine oxidation. In this paper, TiO₂ modified titanium (Ti/TiO₂) electrode was fabricated by anodization process under a constant applied potential. The morphological and microstructural characterization of the Ti/TiO₂ electrode was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical behavior of Ti/TiO₂ electrode in the absence and presence of hydrazine was examined by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. Experimental results indicated that the photocurrent response of photoelectrode was highly increased in the presence of hydrazine especially at lower potentials. It can be due to hole scavenging effect of hydrazine which decreases the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Based on these perceptions, a simple photoelectrochemical sensor for detection of hydrazine was obtained. The sensor showed high reproducibility, stability, and selectivity properties. This photoelectrode was successfully applied for direct determination of hydrazine in tap water.     

Iron(III) Oxide Graphite Composite Electrodes: Application to the Electroanalytical Detection of Hydrazine and Hydrogen Peroxide

Composite electrodes based on iron(III) oxide, Fe₂O₃, carbon powder and epoxy resin have been prepared and characterized using electrochemical methods and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Initially composite electrodes were made by mixing micron sized carbon powder surface with iron(III) oxide. However, the voltammetric responses were unsatisfactory. Therefore, a new type of composite electrodes was made using carbon powder modified with iron(III) oxide via a wet impregnation procedure. This technique involves saturation of the carbon powder with iron(III) nitrate followed by thermal treatment at ca. 623 K forming iron(III) oxide on the surface of the carbon powder.     

Electrochemical DNA Biosensor Based on Graphene and TiO2 Nanorods Composite Film for the Detection of Transgenic Soybean Gene Sequence of MON89788

Based on graphene (GR), TiO₂ nanorods, and chitosan (CTS) nanocomposite modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) as substrate electrode, a new electrochemical DNA biosensor was effectively fabricated for the detection of the transgenic soybean sequence of MON89788. By using methylene blue (MB) as hybridization indicator for monitoring the hybridization with different ssDNA sequences, the differential pulse voltammetric response of MB on DNA modified electrodes were recorded and compared. Due to the synergistic effects of TiO₂ nanorods and GR on the electrode surface, the electrochemical responses of MB were greatly increased. Under optimal conditions the differential pulse voltammetric response of the target ssDNA sequence could be detected in the range from 1.0×10^?12 to 1.0×10^?6 mol/L with a detection limit of 7.21×10^?13 mol/L (3σ). This electrochemical DNA biosensor was further applied to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of transgenic soybeans with satisfactory results.     

Construction of a modified carbon paste electrode based on TiO2 nanoparticles for the determination of gallic acid

A modified carbon paste electrode was prepared by incorporating the TiO₂ nanoparticles in the carbon paste matrix. The electrochemical behavior of gallic acid (GA) is investigated on the surface of the electrode using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The surface morphology of the prepared electrode was characterized using the scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that the electrochemical response of GA is improved significantly at the modified electrode compared with the unmodified electrode. Furthermore, the capabilities of electron transfer on these two electrodes were also investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Under the optimized condition, a linear dynamic range of 2.5?×?10^?6 to 1.5?×?10^?4?mol?L^?1 with detection limit of 9.4?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1 for GA is obtained in buffered solutions with pH 1.7. Finally, the proposed modified electrode was successfully used in real sample analysis.     

Probing Cellular Binding of Dendrofullerene by in‐situ Electrochemical Contact Angle Measurement

Dendrofullerene (C₆₀DF) is a novel fullerene derivative with potential and promising biomedical applications. In this work, electrochemical/contact angle behavior of C₆₀DF in the cellular system has been explored by in‐situ electrochemical contact angle measurement. This measuring system is a newly developed technique which can provide electrochemical and contact angle detection simultaneously. The electrochemical results indicate that dendrofullerene may effectively bind and permeate the tumor cell membrane and then distribute into the cancer cells. Our observations of in‐situ electrochemical contact angle measurement also illustrate that the permeation and interaction of C₆₀DF with target cancer cells may lead to some variation of the configurational structure of the relative cell membrane and thus result in the change of hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of target cellular system. Furthermore, through confocus fluorescence microscopy study we found that, upon application of C₆₀DF, the intracellular accumulation of anticancer drug daunorubicin in leukemia K562 cells could be remarkably enhanced by C₆₀DF. Therefore fullerene derivatives were demonstrated to be a good candidate that can play an important role in improving the intracellular drug uptake in the target cancer cells.     

Capacitive and Charge Transfer Effects of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in TiO2 Electrodes

The transfer of nanoscale properties from single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to macroscopic systems is a topic of intense research. In particular, inorganic composites of SWCNTs and metal oxide semiconductors are being investigated for applications in electronics, energy devices, photocatalysis, and electroanalysis. In this work, a commercial SWCNT material is separated into fractions containing different conformations. The liquid fractions show clear variations in their optical absorbance spectra, indicating differences in the metallic/semiconducting character and the diameter of the SWCNTs. Also, changes in the surface chemistry and the electrical resistance are evidenced in SWCNT solid films. The starting SWCNT sample and the fractions as well are used to prepare hybrid electrodes with titanium dioxide (SWCNT/TiO₂). Raman spectroscopy reflects the optoelectronic properties of SWCNTs in the SWCNT/TiO₂ electrodes, while the electrochemical behavior is studied by cyclic voltammetry. A selective development of charge transfer characteristics and double-layer behavior is achieved through the suitable choice of SWCNT fractions.     

Gold nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrode for electrochemical investigation of aliphatic di-carboxylic acids in aqueous media

The electrochemical reduction of di-carboxylic acids; oxalic, succinic, malic, and tartaric have been studied on the gold nanoparticles modified electrode in aqueous media solution of 0.1 M KCl. Gold nanoparticle (Au_NPs)-modified electrodes were prepared by the electrodeposition with cyclic voltammetric method onto glassy carbon electrode in acidic media. The surface morphology of the electrodeposited gold nanoparticles was examined by SEM. Also, the electrochemical properties of the prepared electrodes were investigated with different electrochemical techniques; cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic techniques were used for investigating the electrochemical behavior of the particulate acids. The modification of the electrode with Au nanoparticles (Au_NPs) enables the appearance of cyclic voltammogram peaks completely clear and sharp for the acids under investigation in comparison with the poor behavior of them in absence of the modification. All acids undergo totally irreversible redox reaction in neutral and acid media. The cyclic voltammetric response of the investigated acids is sensitive to pH, as well as of the scan rate. Each acid has a different reduction peak position from the other acids depending on the structure of the acid undergo the electroreduction process. Further, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies of the investigated acids have been theoretically evaluated and are compared with their electroreduction potential peaks.     

Al Electrode Modified by Au Atoms as a Novel Electrode for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Thiosulfate

An aluminum electrode modified with gold atoms was introduced as a novel electrode. Gold atoms were deposited both chemically and electrochemically onto the aluminum electrode to make an aluminum/gold (Al/Au) modified electrode (ME). The experimental results showed that the Al/Au modified electrode prepared by chemical deposition, exhibits much more current than the electrochemical deposition method. The electrochemical behavior of the Al/Au modified electrode was studied by cyclic voltammometry. This modified electrode showed two pairs of peaks, a₁c₁ and a₂c₂, with surface‐confined characteristics in a 0.5 M phosphate buffer. The dependence of E_pa of the second peak (a₂c₂) on pH shows a Nernestian behavior with a slope of 55 mV per unit pH. The effect of different supporting electrolytes, solution's pH and different scan rates on electrochemical behavior of Al/Au modified electrode was studied. Au deposited electrochemically on a Pt electrode (Pt/Au) was also used as another modified electrode. A comparative study of electrochemical behavior of bare Al, Pt/Au and Al/Au modified electrodes showed that both Pt/Au and Al/Au electrodes have the ability of electrocatalytic oxidation of S₂O₃^2?, but the electrocatalytic oxidation on the latter was better than the former. The kinetics of the catalytic reaction was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. The average value of the rate constant for the catalytic reaction and the diffusion coefficient were evaluated by means of chronoamperometry technique.     

Oxygen electroreduction on anthraquinone-modified nickel electrodes in alkaline solution

The electrochemical reduction of oxygen has been studied on anthraquinone (AQ) modified nickel electrodes in 0.1 M KOH solution using the rotating disk electrode (RDE) technique. Modification of the Ni electrode surface with AQ by electrochemical reduction of the corresponding diazonium salt was carried out in two different media (in acetonitrile and in aqueous acidic solution). The AQ-modified Ni electrodes showed a good electrocatalytic activity for O₂ reduction. The RDE data indicate that the reduction of oxygen on Ni/AQ electrodes proceeds by a two-electron pathway in alkaline solution. The O₂ reduction results obtained for Ni/AQ electrodes are compared with those of AQ-modified glassy carbon electrodes.     

Evaluation of the fuel cell performances of TiO2/PAN electrospun carbon-based electrodes

Electrocatalytic effect of the untreated and TiO₂+polyacrylonitrile (PAN) modified discarded battery coal (DBC) and pencil graphite electrodes (PGE) were evaluated in fuel cell (FC) applications. TiO₂+PAN solution is coated on PGE and DBC electrodes by electrospinning. According to the FESEM and EDS characterizations, TiO₂ and PAN nanofibers are found to be approximately 40 and 240 nm in size. TiO₂+PAN/PGE showed the best FC performances with 2.00 A cm^–2 current density and 5.05 W cm^–2 power density values, whereas TiO₂+PAN/DBC showed 0.68 A cm^–2 current density and 0.62 W cm^–2 power density values. Electrochemical characterizations of PGE and TiO₂+PAN/PGE electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Finally, long-term FC measurement results of developed electrodes exhibited very reasonable recovery values. Along with the comparison of the electrode performances, the recovery of DBCs as electrodes for renewable energy production has been achieved.     

Nano-p–n junction heterostructures enhanced TiO2 nanobelts biosensing electrode

6-Phosphate aminopurine (⁶PA), a purine analog, is usually used in clinical anticancer treatment and biochemical research. Up to now, to the best of our knowledge, no literature about the electrochemical behaviors of ⁶PA has been reported. In this study, nano-p–n junction heterostructures based on TiO₂ nanobelts were produced by the assembly of p-type semiconducting NiO nanoparticles onto the n-type surface-coarsened TiO₂ nanobelts. The electrochemical behaviors of ⁶PA were investigated by different voltammetric techniques in a phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.4 using the heterostructures as the sensing electrode. Compared with single-phase TiO₂ nanobelt electrodes, the resulting chemically modified electrodes exhibited higher surface accumulation ability and enhanced electrocatalytic activities in the oxidation for ⁶PA, with an irreversible oxidation peak at +0.91 V. It is proposed that the nano-p–n junction heterostructures played an important role in the enhancement of charge transport in the sensing electrodes. The results suggest that the nanoengineered TiO₂ nanobelts might be a promising candidate for biosensing applications of nucleic acid drugs that will be of significance to diagnostic medicine and molecular biology research.