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.     

Diazonium salts: Stable monolayers on gold electrodes for sensing applications

The modification of gold electrodes with 4-carboxyphenyl diazonium salts to form stable layers for sensing applications is reported. Electrochemical reduction of 4-carboxyphenyl diazonium salts on gold electrodes yielded more stable layers than alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers in terms of extremes of electrode potential, sonication and with time. The application of the 4-carboxyphenyl modified electrodes for electrochemical sensing, which typically requires short chain alkanethiols on gold electrodes, is demonstrated via the covalent attachment of oligopeptides for the selective detection of Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺. The diazonium salt/peptide modified gold electrodes not only had greater stability but also performed with lowest detected concentration to alkanethiol/peptide modified electrodes and with far greater sensitivity than the metal ion sensors when diazonium salt/peptide modified similar glassy carbon electrodes were employed.     

Selective determination of uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid using a penicillamine self-assembled gold electrode

The electrochemical behaviors of uric acid (UA) at the penicillamine (Pen) self-assembled monolayers modified gold electrode (Pen/Au) have been studied. The Pen/Au electrode is demonstrated to promote the electrochemical response of UA by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The diffusion coefficient D of UA is 6.97 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹. In differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) measurements, the Pen/Au electrode can separate the UA and ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation potentials by about 120 mV and can be used for the selective determination of UA in the presence of AA. The detection limit was 1 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The modified electrode shows excellent sensitivity, good selectivity and antifouling properties.     

Electrochemical investigations of the reaction mechanism and kinetics between NADH and riboflavin immobilised on amorphous zirconium phosphate

Electrochemical investigations of the reaction mechanism and kinetics between riboflavin immobilised on zirconium phosphate (ZPRib) in carbon paste and NADH showed results yielding reliable information about aspects on the mechanism of the electron transfer reaction between the flavin and NADH. The formal potential (E°′) of the adsorbed riboflavin was −220 mV versus SCE at pH 7.0. A shift about 250 mV towards a more positive potential compared with its value in solution was assigned to the interaction between the basic nitrogen of riboflavin and the acid groups of ZP. The invariance of the E°′ with the pH of the contacting solution and the effect of different buffer constituents were attributed to the protection effect of ZP over the riboflavin. The electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at the electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode methodology using a potential of −50 mV versus SCE. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant, k _obs, was 816 M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and the Michaelis-Menten constant, K _M, was 1.8 mM (confirming a charge transfer complex intermediate in the reaction) for an electrode with a riboflavin coverage of 6.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻². This drastic increase in the reaction rate between NADH and the immobilised riboflavin was assigned to the shift of the E°′. A surprising effect with addition of calcium or magnesium ion to the solution was also observed. The E°′ was shifted to −150 mV versus SCE and the reaction rate for NADH oxidation increased drastically. Received: 22 February 1999 / Accepted: 10 March 1999     

Self-assembled monolayers on electrode surfaces: a probe for redox kinetics

The formation and characterization of self-assembled monolayers of organosulfur compounds like alkanethiols and dialkyl (di)sulfides on metal surfaces such as gold are areas of current research interest. The presence of an aromatic ring in a thiol molecule can enhance the binding between Au and the thiol, resulting in the formation of compact and impervious self-assembled monolayers. The formation of a monolayer of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), containing an aromatic group with a fused thiazole ring but no long alkyl chain, is achieved on a gold electrode surface. Voltammetric investigations of ferro/ferricyanide and ferrous/ferric redox systems carried out on this Au|MBT electrode are reported. Further, the possibility of using such an Au|MBT electrode to distinguish between inner and outer sphere electron transfer reactions is indicated. Received: 2 January 1998 / Accepted: 14 May 1998     

Voltammetric Determination of Folic Acid with a Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Modified Gold Electrode

The voltammetric behavior of folic acid (FA) at a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) modified gold electrode has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and chronocoulometry. The modified electrode exhibits a good promoting effect on the electrochemical reaction of FA. FA can generate a well-defined anodic peak at around 0.83 V (vs. SCE) in 0.1 M H₃PO₄–NaH₂PO₄ buffer solution of pH 2.5. The peak results from a 2-electron transfer of FA, and the standard potential of FA is estimated to be 0.79 V (vs. SCE). The parameters affecting the response of FA, such as solution pH, accumulation time, accumulation potential, and amount of MWNTs are optimized for the determination of FA. Under the optimum conditions, the peak current changes linearly with FA concentration in the range from 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ M to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M. This method has been applied to the determination of FA in drug tablets, and the recovery is 93.9–96.9%. In addition, the influence of some coexistent species is examined. When a Nafion layer is introduced on the gold electrode before deposition of MWNTs, the resulting composite electrode can give better response to FA. At the same time, the interference by some foreign species is suppressed to some extent.     

Blocking behavior of self-assembled monolayers on gold electrodes

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with metal electrodes, especially thiols on gold, are the subject of this investigation because of the unique properties of SAM-modified surfaces. Normal alkanethiols are used to modify the surface of a conventional gold electrode to block certain ions such as Pb(II) and Cu(II) from the surface of the electrode. Normal alkanethiols are also used to study the SAM-gold interfacial adsorption-desorption behavior of the self-assembled monolayer. The effects of varying chain length of SAMs, varying concentration of the alkanethiol solutions, immersion time of the pure gold electrode in the SAM solution, and the stability of a SAM-modified gold electrode in fresh chloroform are investigated using the oxidation-reduction peaks of gold. Conditions that optimize the surface coverage and the uniformity of the SAMs have been determined. Normal alkanethiols proved to be a good insulator on the electrode surface. Received: 16 January 1997 / Accepted: 4 March 1997     

Direct electrochemistry of heme multicofactor-containing enzymes on alkanethiol-modified gold electrodes

Direct electrochemistry of heme multicofactor-containing enzymes, e.g., microbial theophylline oxidase (ThOx) and D-fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) from Gluconobacter industrius was studied on alkanethiol-modified gold electrodes and was compared with that of some previously studied complex heme enzymes, specifically, cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) and sulphite oxidase (SOx). The formal redox potentials for enzymes in direct electronic communication varied for ThOx from -112 to -101 mV (vs. Ag|AgCl), at pH 7.0, and for FDH from -158 to -89 mV, at pH 5.0 and pH 4.0, respectively, on differently charged alkanethiol layers. Direct and mediated by cytochrome c electrochemistry of FDH correlated with the existence of two active centres in the protein structure, i.e., the heme and the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) prosthetic groups. The effect of the alkanethiols of different polarity and charge on the surface properties of the gold electrodes necessary for adsorption and orientation of ThOx, FDH, CDH and SOx, favourable for the efficient electrode-enzyme electron transfer reaction, is discussed.     

Adsorption voltammetry of the zirconium-alizarin red S complex at a multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode

We used a carbon paste electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as a working electrode and studied the electrochemical behavior of zirconium-alizarin red S complex on it. It was found that the modified electrode exhibited a significant catalytic effect toward the reduction of free alizarin red S and the complex. The second derivative linear scan voltammograms of the complex were recorded by a polarographic analyser from 0 to −1000 mV (vs. SCE), and it was found that the complex can be adsorbed on the surface of the modified electrode, yielding a peak at about −470 mV, corresponding to the reduction of alizarin red S in the complex. The linear range was found to be 2.0 × 10⁻¹¹–8.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹, and the detection limit was 1.0 × 10⁻¹¹ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) for 3 min accumulation. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of zirconium in the ore samples. Correspondence: Pei-Hong Deng, Department of Chemistry and Material Science, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang Hunan 421008, P.R. China     

Solid state electrochemical of the erbium hexacyanoferrate-modified carbon ceramic electrode and its electrocatalytic oxidation of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-cysteine

A kind of erbium hexacyanoferrate (ErHCF)-modified carbon ceramic electrodes (CCEs) fabricated by mechanically attaching ErHCF samples to the surface of CCEs derived from sol–gel technique was proposed. The resulting modified electrodes exhibit well-defined redox responses with the formal potential of +0.215 V [vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE)] at a scan rate of 20 mV s⁻¹ in 0.5 M KCl (pH 7) solution. The voltammetric characteristics of the ErHCF-modified CCEs were investigated by voltammetry. Attractively, the ErHCF-modified CCEs presented good electrocatalytic activity with a marked decrease in the overvoltage about 400 mV for l-cysteine oxidation. The calibration plot for l-cysteine determination was linear at 5.0 × 10⁻⁶–1.3 × 10⁻⁴ M with a linear regression equation of I(A) = 0.558 + 0.148c (μM) (R ² = 0.9989, n = 20), and the detection limit was 2 × 10⁻⁶ M (S/N = 3). At last, the ErHCF-modified CCEs were used for amperometric detection of l-cysteine in real samples.     

Simultaneous determination of uric acid and ascorbic acid at a ferrocenium–thioglycollate modified electrode

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMS) of chemisorbed thioglycollate on a gold electrode surface have been used as a base interface for the electrostatic adsorption of ferrocenium ion. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to evaluate the electrochemical properties of the supramolecular film. The bare gold electrode failed to distinguish the oxidation peaks of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) in phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.0), while the ferricinium–thioglycollate modified electrode could separate them efficiently. In differiential pulse voltammetric measurements, the prepared gold electrode could separate AA and UA signals, allowing the simultaneous determination of AA and UA. Under optimal conditions and within the linear range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ M, the detection limits of AA and UA achieved were 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. The applicability of the prepared electrode was demonstrated by measuring AA and UA in human urine without any pretreatment. Figure Fabrication process for the modified electrode     

Adsorptive Voltammetric Studies on the Cerium(III)–Alizarin Complexon Complex at a Carbon Paste Electrode

A novel procedure was developed for the determination of trace cerium on the basis of anodic adsorption voltammetry of the Ce(III)–alizarin complexon (ALC) complex at a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The procedure is convenient to determine cerium individually in the presence of other rare earths because there is a 100 mV difference between the peak potentials of Ce(III)–ALC and other rare earth(III)–ALC complexes in a supporting electrolyte of 0.08 M HAc–NaAc and 0.012 M potassium biphthalate (pH 4.7) when performing linear-scanning from −0.2 to 0.8 V (vs. SCE) at 100 mV/s. The second-order derivative peak currents are directly proportional to the Ce(III) concentration over a range of 6.0 × 10⁻⁹–3.0 × 10⁻⁷ M. The detection limit is as low as 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ M (S/N = 3) for a 120 s preconcentration. An RSD of 3.5% was obtained for 15 determinations of Ce(III) at a concentration of 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ M on the same CPE surface. The method was applied successfully to the determination of cerium in samples of rare earth nodular graphite cast iron.     

STM and AFM characterization of thin metal oxide films electrodeposited from [P2Mo18O62]6−

Two groups of techniques have been devised for the electrodeposition of new electroactive oxide films from [P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻. In the first group, two adsorption procedures were used: simple immersion of the electrode in a solution containing 10⁻⁴M [P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻ in a pH 3.50 medium or cycling of the electrode in this solution in the potential domain of the first three two-electron waves of the heteropolyanion results in surfaces which retain the oxometalate by mere adsorption. Strikingly, during the cycling, it was found that a fourth wave appears in the potential domain of the first three two-electron waves of [P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻, indicating an evolution of the heteropolyanion in the solution. Such an evolution was also observed with aged solutions. Then, the potential program for the actual modification step was run by cycling either of these electrodes from −0.2 V to −0.87 V vs. SCE in pure supporting electrolyte. Analysis of the STM images of the surfaces show essentially monomers 1.2–1.5 nm in diameter just after adsorption and a sizeable increase of the dimensions of the patterns after modification. The predominant sizes of these aggregates after modification remain in the range 10–12 nm. The second group of techniques consists in a modification of the electrode surface directly in the solution containing the heteropolyanion. A fixed potential as well as cycling prove efficient. Thick films are obtained readily, which are better imaged by tapping mode AFM. An increase of the pH to 4.50, in appropriate conditions, seems to be favourable to the deposition kinetics. The aggregates in the topmost layers are up to 40 nm in diameter and are assembled in interconnected islands. As a whole, these two groups of techniques appear to exert an important influence on the aggregate sizes. The paper demonstrates that these sizes might be relatively well controlled by the choice of experimental conditions. Received: 4 January 2000 / Accepted: 15 February 2000     

Electrochemistry and voltammetric determination of tannic acid on a single-wall carbon nanotube-coated glassy carbon electrode

The voltammetric behavior of tannic acid (TA) on a single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. TA can generate a well-defined anodic peak on the modified electrode at around 0.42 V (vs. SCE) in 0.10 M phosphate buffer solutions (pH = 4.0). The electrochemical reaction involves 1e transfer, accompanied by one proton. The electrode process is controlled by adsorption. The parameters affecting the response of TA, such as solution pH, accumulation time and accumulation potential are optimized for the determination of TA. Under the optimum conditions, the peak current changes linearly with the TA concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻⁸–1.0 × 10⁻⁶ M. The lowest detectable concentration of TA is 8.0 × 10⁻⁹ M after 180 s accumulation. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of TA in tea and beer samples. In addition, the influence of potential interferents is examined. In the presence of bovine serum albumin, the peak current of TA decreases linearly due to the formation of a super-molecular complex.     

Enhanced thermal stability and structural ordering in short chain <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkanethiol monolayers on gold probed by vibrational spectroscopy and EQCM

Monolayers of alkanethiols with varied chain lengths, CH₃(CH₂)_nSH where n = 3, 5, and 7, on gold substrates have been prepared by adsorption from (1) neat thiol, (2) millimolar thiol solution in alcohol (conventional method), and (3) potential-controlled adsorption. Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) have been used to characterize the integrity of the monolayers. Methylene and methyl stretching modes along with C–S stretching modes have been used as benchmarks to follow the order–disorder transitions in the monolayer structure, in the temperature range from 25 to 175 °C. Monolayers adsorbed from neat thiol show superior quality in terms of stability and structural arrangement. Short chain thiols with n = 3, 5, and 7 do show substantial stability. The possibility of multilayer formation is ruled out by EQCM studies comparing the frequency and mass change associated with the monolayer desorption. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) adsorbed under potential control behave very similarly to the monolayers adsorbed from neat thiol as far as stability and structural orientation are concerned, irrespective of the chain length. The adsorption from neat thiol gets rid of the solvent-induced defects and arrests the propagation of defects under temperature constraints.     

Determination of Active Ingredients of Apocynum Venetum by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

 A simple, reliable and reproducible method, based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) with electrochemical detection (ED), for the determination of three active ingredients of both Apocynum Venetum compound tablets and medicinal herbs was described. The active ingredients mainly consist of rutin, d-catechin and quercetin. Operated in a wall-jet configuration, a 300 μm diameter carbon-disk electrode was used as the working electrode, which exhibits good responses at + 950 mV (vs. SCE) for the three analytes. Under the optimum conditions, the analytes were base-line separated within 19 min, and excellent linearity was obtained in the concentration range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ g/ml to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ g/ml. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ g/ml, 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ g/ml, and 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ g/ml for d-catechin, rutin and quercetin, respectively. This work provides a useful method for the analysis of traditional Chinese medicines. Received July 12, 2000. Revision January 3, 2001.     

Electrochemical behaviors of GMP based on solid-phase extractionon at Cu-Mg-Al hydrotalcite-like compound (HTLC) modified glass carbon electrode

Guanosine-5′-monophosphate (GMP) was investigated the electrochemical behaviors based on solid-phase extractionon (SPE) at Cu-Mg-Al hydrotalcite-like compound (HTLC) modified glass carbon electrode. Cu-Mg-Al hydrotalcite-like compound (HTLC) was proved as a new sorbent for SPE of GMP, which showed an irreversible adsorption oxidation process on the HTLC/GCE with the oxidation peak potential located at 1.15 V (vs. SCE) in a pH 5.0 acetate buffer solution. Influencing factors of the electrochemical behavior of GMP on the HLTC/GCE were optimized and kinetic parameters were calculated. Under the optimal conditions, with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), a linear relationship was obtained between the oxidation peak current and the GMP concentration in the range from 1.0 × 10^− 6 to 8.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with the detection limit as 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The modified electrode surface has very good reproducibility and stability.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid and dopamine at the surface of electrodes modified with self-assembled gold nanoparticle films

Gold nanoparticles (GNs) could be efficiently immobilized on binary mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a gold surface composed of 1,6-hexanedithiol and 1-octanethiol (nano-Au/SAMs gold electrode). This GN chemically modified electrode was used for electrochemical determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA) in aqueous media. The result showed that the GN-modified electrode could clearly resolve the oxidation peaks of AA and DA, with a peak-to-peak separation (∆E _p) of 110 mV enabling determination of AA and DA in the presence of each other. The linear analytical curves were obtained in the ranges of 0.3–1.4 mM for AA and 0.2–1.2 mM for DA concentrations using differential pulse voltammetry. The detection limits (3σ) were 9.0 × 10⁻⁵ M for AA and 9.0 × 10⁻⁵ M for DA.     

Structuring of supported hybrid phospholipid bilayers on electrodes with phospholipase A2

The effect of a lipolytic enzyme, pork pancreatic phospholipase A(2), on hybrid bilayer membranes was monitored using voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. The hybrid bilayers were prepared by Langmuir-Schaefer transfer of lipid monolayers onto gold electrodes modified with self-assembled alkanethiol monolayers, or by liposome spreading. The electrodes were immersed in the phospholipase aqueous solution to allow adsorption of the enzyme and cleavage of the ester bond in the sn-2 position of phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the hybrid layers. The action of phospholipase A(2) led to perforation of the lipid films. Impedance spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance were used for monitoring enzyme adsorption, phospholipid hydrolysis and product desorption. The results obtained show that transport efficiency of an electroactive probe, ferrocyanate, and of an electroactive drug, doxorubicin, through the bilayer depends on the action of the enzyme; the state of the lipid layer covering the electrode surface depends on the latter as well. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study this effect. The doxorubicin reduction/oxidation signals appearing at potentials close to those observed using a bare gold electrode indicated facilitated penetration of the drug into the layer. The results obtained were interpreted in terms of pore formation in the lipid matrix; phospholipase A(2) can be considered as a nano-device for high precision perforation of the lipid layer.     

Potential-dependent sum frequency generation study of 5-methylbenzotriazole on polycrystalline copper, platinum, and gold

In situ sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy, at varied potentials and polarization combinations, was performed on polycrystalline copper, polycrystalline platinum, and polycrystalline gold samples in 0.5 M HClO4 with 50 mM 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-methylBTAH) added. These studies were performed to determine the orientation of 5-methylBTAH on the surface at different potentials. For copper surfaces, orientation of the molecule on the surface is not affected by potential within the potential window studied (-500 to -100 mV vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). Sum frequency generation spectra of 5-methylBTAH on platinum show a change in orientation over the potential range studied (-250 to 750 mV vs SCE). The orientation of the methyl group tilts more toward the plane of the interface as the potential is scanned in the positive direction. This orientation change is correlated to hydrogen coadsorption on the platinum surface at low potentials. 5-Methylbenzotriazole lies in the surface plane or does not orient on gold at lower potentials but the orientation is tilted toward normal at more positive potentials over the potential range studied (-500 to 900 mV vs SCE). To compliment these results, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed. Cyclic voltammograms of copper show that addition of 5-methylBTAH protects the surface from copper dissolution, increasing the electrochemical window by 450 mV. Cyclic voltammetry of 5-methylBTAH on platinum showed a partial blockage of adsorbed hydrogen and also prevented the adsorption of oxygenated species at 450-600 mV. Cyclic voltammetry on gold shows that 5-methylBTAH blocks oxide formation for 400 mV thus increasing the electrochemical window. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been performed to determine the potential of zero charge of 5-methylBTAH on copper.