Surface preparation of glassy carbon electrodes

Recent work on glassy carbon electrodes for various applications is reviewed. Activation of glassy carbon electrodes by different types of polishing, heat treatment, and electrochemical methods yields enhanced rates of electron transfer. Characterization of different glassy carbon surfaces by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that polished and electrochemically pretreated surfaces contain more oxygen on the surface than do unactivated surfaces; much of this oxygen is associated with phenolic groups. Causes of activation, characterization of glassy carbon by spectroscopic methods, and the role of surface cleanliness are summarized. For simple electron-transfer reactions, removal of contaminants from the electrode surface is important. For proton-coupled electrode reactions, specific interactions of reactants with catalytic groups created on the surface during polishing tend to play an important role in electrode activation     

A Comparative Study of Electrochemical Reduction of 4‐Nitrophenyl Covalently Grafted on Gold and Carbon

4‐Nitrophenyl layers were grafted on gold and glassy carbon surfaces by electrochemical reductive adsorption of the corresponding diazonium salt. Electrochemical conversion efficiencies of 4‐nitrophenyl moieties to 4‐aminophenyl moieties on gold versus on glassy carbon in a protic medium were investigated using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In total contrast to all previous comparative studies showing greater electrochemical reactivity of aryl diazonium salt‐derived layers on gold than on glassy carbon, a much lower rate of conversion to 4‐aminophenyl was observed on gold than on glassy carbon by both cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) methods. The lower electron transfer rate during conversion observed on gold versus glassy carbon was proposed to be due to a mechanism related to the molecular structure rearrangement of 4‐nitrophenyl during the process on glassy carbon. However, whilst complete conversion of 4‐nitrophenyl to 4‐aminophenyl on gold by chronoamperometry was achieved, on glassy carbon complete reduction could not be achieved under the same conditions.     

The local electrochemical behavior of the AA2098-T351 and surface preparation effects investigated by scanning electrochemical microscopy

In this work, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) measurements were employed to characterize the electrochemical activities on polished and as-received surfaces of the 2098-T351 aluminum alloy (AA2098-T351). The effects of the near surface deformed layer (NSDL) and its removal by polishing on the electrochemical activities of the alloy surface were evaluated and compared by the use of different modes of SECM. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were also employed to characterize the morphology of the surfaces. The surface chemistry was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface generation/tip collection (SG/TC) and competition modes of the SECM were used to study hydrogen gas (H₂) evolution and oxygen reduction reactions, respectively. H₂ evolution and oxygen reduction were more pronounced on the polished surfaces. The feedback mode of SECM was adopted to characterize the electrochemical activity of the polished surface that was previously corroded by immersion in a chloride-containing solution, in order to investigate the influence of the products formed on the active/passive domains. The precorroded surface and as-received surfaces revealed lower electrochemical activities compared with the polished surface showing that either the NSDL or corrosion products largely decreased the local electrochemical activities at the AA2098-T351 surfaces.     

A Comparison of Electron Transfer Kinetics of Three Common Carbon Electrode Surfaces in Acetonitrile and in Room Temperature Ionic Liquid 1‐Butyl‐3‐Methylimidiazonium Hexafluorophosphate: Correlation to Surface Structure and the Limit of the Diffusion Domain Approximation

We report the comparison of electron transfer kinetic parameters of the ferrocene redox couple in both acetonitrile and in room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidiazonium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄mim] [PF₆]), using edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG), basal plane pyrolytic graphite (BPPG) and glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. Each electrode surface was characterized using SEM and AFM and the surface morphology was analyzed in terms of surface heterogeneity including the distribution of edge plane defects. The experimental data were modeled using both one and two dimensional simulations to correlate the electron transfer parameters obtained with the different surface structure of each electrode. Furthermore, we show that the diffusion domain approximation (commonly used to accurately simulate electron transfer kinetics at graphitic surfaces) breaks down when a BPPG electrode is used in RTIL and demonstrate the near impossibility of assigning rate constant to the basal plane surface.     

Non‐destructive Patterning of Carbon Electrodes by Using the Direct Mode of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Patterning of glassy carbon surfaces grafted with a layer of nitrophenyl moieties was achieved by using the direct mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to locally reduce the nitro groups to hydroxylamine and amino functionalities. SECM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that potentiostatic pulses applied to the working electrode lead to local destruction of the glassy carbon surface, most likely caused by etchants generated at the positioned SECM tip used as the counter electrode. By applying galvanostatic pulses, and thus, limiting the current during structuring, corrosion of the carbon surface was substantially suppressed. After galvanostatic patterning, unambiguous proof of the formation of the anticipated amino moieties was possible by modulation of the pH value during the feedback mode of SECM imaging. This patterning strategy is suitable for the further bio‐modification of microstructured surfaces. Alkaline phosphatase, as a model enzyme, was locally bound to the modified areas, thus showing that the technique can be used for the development of protein microarrays.     

Isotope and surface preparation effects on alkaline dioxygen reduction at carbon electrodes

The reduction of dioxygen in base was examined on several carbon electrode surfaces, particularly polished and modified glassy carbon (GC). Electrochemical pretreatment, fracturing, and vacuum heat treatment shifted the reduction peak positive, while adsorption of several covalent and physisorbed organic compounds shifted it negative. A reverse wave for O⁻₂ oxidation was observed in tetraethylammonium hydroxide electrolyte, and on GC surfaces preadsorbed with Co(II) phthalocyanine. An isotope effect was observed when H₂O + KOH and D₂O + KOD electrolytes were compared, with the largest effect observed on surfaces exhibiting the most positive reduction peak potential. The results indicate involvement of proton transfer in the rate limiting step of reduction, and a strong dependence of the electron transfer rate on the carbon surface condition. The results support a mechanism involving adsorption of O⁻₂ and associated enhancement of proton transfer from water to O⁻₂. Activation of the dioxygen reduction by surface pretreatment is attributed to increasing the concentration of adsorbed O⁻₂.     

Sensitive Hydrazine Electrochemical Biosensor Based on a Porous Chitosan–Carbon Nanofiber Nanocomposite Modified Electrode

A novel electrochemically-based biosensor was developed for the determination of hydrazine by modifying a glassy carbon electrode with an aqueous dispersion of carboxylic group-functionalized carbon nanofiber/chitosan solution, and then absorbing hemoglobin on the surface of chitosan-carbon nanofibers. Nafion was used to coat the hemoglobin membrane. The interactions of hemoglobin and the nafion/chitosan-carbon nanofibers were investigated by ultraviolet-visible absorption, infrared, and circular dichroism spectroscopies. The results indicated that the native structure of hemoglobin was retained post-immobilization. The circular dichroism results showed that the α-helical structure of hemoglobin was preserved though a small change was observed in the presence of the nafion/chitosan-carbon nanofibers. The modified nanofibers were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron impendence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The electrocatalytic mechanism of hemoglobin to the oxidation of hydrazine was investigated and an irreversible diffusion-controlled electrode process was obtained. The electron transfer rate constant (k_s), transfer coefficient (α), and Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) were also evaluated. The peak current of the catalytic oxidation was linear with hydrazine concentration from 3.722 × 10^?5 to 1.601 × 10^?3 molar with a correlation coefficient of 0.995. The detection limit was estimated to be 2.7 micromoles per liter. The sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility of the nafion/hemoglobin/chitosan-carbon nanofiber/glassy carbon electrode for the oxidation of hydrazine were also investigated.     

A hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin encapsulated in liquid-crystalline cubic phase on electrode

Liquid crystal cubic phase formed with monoolein has been used as immobilizing matrix to host redox protein hemoglobin on glassy carbon electrode surface. The promoted direct electron transfer between hemoglobin and electrode was observed and a large average kinetic electron transfer rate constant k(s) of 3.03(±0.02)s(-1) was estimated. The electrode modified with cubic phase containing hemoglobin retains the bioactivity of hemoglobin and shows excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide with a small apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 0.25(±0.03)mM. A novel reagentless hydrogen peroxide biosensor was constructed using the hemoglobin-containing cubic phase modified electrode and the proposed hydrogen peroxide biosensor shows a linear range of 7.0-239μM with a detection limit of 3.1(±0.2)μM and good stability and reproducibility.     

Scanning electrochemical microscope observation of defects in a hexadecanethiol monolayer on gold with shear force-based tip-substrate positioning

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used for imaging of n-hexadecanethiol-modified Au surfaces. In these studies, small defects were observed in the monolayer when a submicrometer electrode was used as an SECM tip, although a cyclic voltammogram of a Au disk electrode showed that the surface of the Au was completely covered with n-hexadecanethiol. The dependence of the SECM images on the potential of the Au electrode was also examined. A comparison of the current at the Au electrode and the tip current in the SECM images showed that direct electron transfer through the monolayer was dominant, rather than electron transfer at the defects. The size of the defects was estimated from the tip current to be 1-100 nm, under the assumption that the defects were small compared to the SECM probe.     

An electrochemical study of safranin O binding to DNA at the surface

The interaction of safranin O (SO) with double-stranded calf thymus DNA was investigated electrochemically, using a DNA-modified glassy carbon (GC-DNA) electrode. The results were compared with those obtained using a bare GC electrode. The formal potential of SO was more negative when using the GC-DNA electrode, although the rate of heterogeneous electron transfer was not altered. The GC-DNA electrode enabled preconcentration of the SO on the electrode surface, despite the fact that the mass transfer effects in the thin DNA layer adsorbed on the surface were still observed. The diffusion coefficient of SO and the binding ratio for the oxidized and reduced forms of the bound species were obtained. A binding isotherm for SO at the GC-DNA electrode was plotted from coulometric titrations, giving a binding constant of 5.8×10⁴ L mol⁻¹.     

Photosystem I patterning imaged by scanning electrochemical microscopy

We report the first directed adsorption of Photosystem I (PSI) on patterned surfaces containing discrete regions of methyl- and hydroxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. SAM and PSI patterns are characterized by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The insulating protein complex layer blocks the electron transfer of the SECM mediator, thereby reducing the electrochemical current significantly. Uniformly and densely packed adsorbed protein layers are observed with SECM. Pattern images correlate with our previous studies where we showed that low-energy surfaces (e.g., CH3-terminated) inhibit PSI adsorption in the presence of Triton X-100, whereas high-energy surfaces (e.g., OH-terminated) enable adsorption. Therefore, a SAM pattern with alternating methyl and hydroxyl surface regions allows PSI adsorption only on the hydroxyl surface, and this is demonstrated in the resulting SECM images.     

Application of scanning electrochemical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for the characterization of carbon-spray modified electrodes

Different gold surfaces modified by carbon-spray have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A transformation of the SECM image to a distance-location profile is proposed which assists the correlation of both images. The structures found in the transformed SECM images of carbon-spray layers on gold substrates can be explained by the topographic features visible in the SEM pictures. Tempering the carbon spray results in an increased density of electrochemically reactive carbon particles which could be confirmed by cyclic voltammetric investigations. Gold minigrids modified with carbon spray expose some areas of especially large currents which could not be predicted from their SEM images. This effect may result from particles located at the edge of a wire intersection having relatively large active surfaces per particle. They contribute significantly to the total current of the minigrid.     

Effect of Residual Stress on Corrosion Sensitivity of Carbon Steel Studied by SECM

The effect of compressive residual stress on the reactivity of carbon steel in a neutral chloride solution was investigated by means of potentiodynamic polarization and local electrochemical measurement with scanning electrochemical microscope（SECM）. Meanwhile, X-ray diffraction, as a nondestructive technique, was employed to determine the levels of residual stress in near-surface layers of carbon steel specimen. The results show that the resi- dual stress existed in the specimen fell into the category of compressive residual stress which was inversely propor- tional to the corrosion sensitivity of carbon steel specimen. By using I/I3 couple as a redox mediator in the current feedback mode of SECM measurements, the Faradaic current on Pt tip, which was relevant to the rate of the I3- ion reduction, fell with the increase of compressive residual stress. The correlation between compressive residual stress and heterogeneous electron transfer rate has been proposed based on the inference of the localized electrochemical reactions occurred on the specimen surface,     

Direct electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c on DNA-modified glassy carbon electrode and its application to cytochrome c biosensor.

DNA was immobilized on glassy carbon electrodes to fabricate DNA-modified electrodes. The direct electron transfer of horse heart cytochrome c on DNA-modified glassy carbon electrode was achieved. A pair of well-defined redox peaks of cytochrome c appeared at Epc = -0.017 V and Epa = 0.009 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in 10 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. The electron transfer coefficient (alpha) and the standard rate constant of the surface reaction (Ks) of cytochrome c on DNA-modified electrodes could be estimated to be 0.87 and 34.52 s(-1), respectively. The DNA-modified glassy carbon electrode could be applied to detect cytochrome c by means of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The cathodic peak current was proportional to the quantity of cytochrome c in the range of 4.0 x 10(-6) M to 1.2 x 10(-5) M. The correlation coefficient is 0.996, and with the detection limit was 1.0 x 10(-6) M (three times the ratio of signal to noise, S/N = 3).     

Detection and Quantification of Sulfonamide Antibiotic Residues in Milk Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

The use of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) for the qualitative and quantitative determination of sulfapyridine (SPY) in milk is described. A direct competitive immunoassay was performed involving an antibiotic horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐labeled analog and using selective capture antibodies immobilized on the surface of Protein G‐modified glassy carbon plates. SECM detection was accomplished by means of the sample generator/tip collector (GC) mode involving the reduction of benzoquinone (BQ) generated upon the HRP‐catalyzed oxidation of hydroquinone (HQ) at the modified substrate surface in the presence of H₂O₂. The detection limit for SPY in milk samples was as low as 0.13 ng mL^?1.     

Characterization of DNA Layers Adsorbed on Glassy Carbon Electrodes

A DNA layer adsorbed at glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) was characterized by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of the adsorbed DNA layer on polished glassy carbon electrodes was assessed indirectly by ellipsometric measurements. Ellipsometry was also useful to evaluate the influence of the oxide layer formed on glassy carbon electrodes, either spontaneously or after electrochemical pretreatments, on the DNA adsorption and further electrooxidation process. SEM and AFM images of the electrode surface covered by a thick layer of DNA reveal a nonuniform distribution, leaving channels and islands of the biological material.     

Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy of Individual Catalytic Nanoparticles

Electrochemistry at individual metal nanoparticles (NPs) can provide new insights into their electrocatalytic behavior. Herein, the electrochemical activity of single AuNPs attached to the catalytically inert carbon surface is mapped by using extremely small (≥3 nm radius) polished nanoelectrodes as tips in the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM). The use of such small probes resulted in the spatial resolution significantly higher than in previously reported electrochemical images. The currents produced by either rapid electron transfer or the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction at a single 10 or 20 nm NP were measured and quantitatively analyzed. The developed methodology should be useful for studying the effects of nanoparticle size, geometry, and surface attachment on electrocatalytic activity in real‐world application environment.     

DNA Immobilization on Nano-Gold Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

IntroductionTheimmobilizationofDNAonanelectronicallyconductivesurfaceisofinterestbothinthestudyofDNAitselfandinvariousapplications.Forexample,immobilizationofDNAonanelectrodeisusedtoproduceDNAbiosensors.VariousDNAelectrochemicalblosensorshavebeenpreparedbyimmobilizingDNAonthesurfaceofglassycarbon,carbonpasteandgoldelectrodes'-'.Thepropertiesofnano-scalegoldandbulkgoldexhibitseveraldifferences.Morenoteworthyarethesurfacecharge,highsurfaceareaandbiocompatibilityofnano-scalegold'.Thestrat…     

Voltammetric Determination of Neotame by Using Chitosan/Nickelnanoparticles/Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes Biocomposite as a Modifier

A selective and simple biosensor was prepared by immobilizing chitosan/nickelnanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotubes biocomposite on the glassy carbon electrode surface for voltammetric quantification of neotame. The properties and morphology of the modified electrode surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Electro oxidation of neotame on this modified surface was examined through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. The biocomposite modified surface (Chi/NiNPs/MWCNTs/GCE) proposed in this study showed good electrocatalytic activity for neotame with an improved voltammetric peak current at 1.004 V, unlike the bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface and several other modified surfaces. Under optimum conditions, Chi/NiNPs/MWCNTs/GCE gave linear SWV responses at the range of 2 μM ∼50 μM for neotame with 0.84 μM determination limit. This voltammetric sensor was successfully employed for the quantification of neotame on food samples and showed long-term stability, advanced voltammetric behavior, and good repeatability. Selective, accurate, and precise determination of neotame highlight the importance of this electrode in monitoring the control of food additives and ensures attract a great deal of attention.     

Coupled Electron‐Proton Transport in Electropolymerized Methylene Blue and the Influences of Its Protonation Level on the Rate of Electron Exchange with β‐Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

This paper describes electrochemical characteristics of poly(methylene blue) electrolytically deposited on glassy carbon and examines the electrocatalytic activity of the polymer toward oxidation of the coenzyme NADH. Redox‐active properties of the cationic polyelectrolyte arose from both electron self‐exchange between electroactive sites and a high ionic film‐conductivity. The diffusion coefficient of charge carriers in the film increased with decreasing solution pH, indicating the pH dependence of the electron diffusion coefficient. The electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at the polymer‐modified electrode proceeded via an intermediate charge‐transfer complex of the reduced polymer with the oxidized coenzyme. The complex dissociated more rapidly into the oxidation products as the reduced polymer protonated. Thus, the rate constant for the cross‐exchange reaction rose with a decrease in pH. For NADH oxidation, the polyelectrolyte exhibited an electrocatalytic activity higher than the monomeric dye because of a stronger oxidizing power of the second oxidized form of the polymer.