Ultrathin Carbon Film Electrodes from Vacuum‐Carbonised Cellulose Nanofibril Composite

A novel way to produce ultrathin transparent carbon layers on tin‐doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates is developed. The ITO surface is coated with cellulose nanofibrils (from sisal) via layer‐by‐layer electrostatic binding with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) or PDDAC acting as the binder. The cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC composite film is then vacuum‐carbonised at 500 °C. The resulting carbon films are characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and Raman methods. Smooth carbon films with good adhesion to the ITO substrate are formed. The electrochemical characterisation of the carbon films is based on the oxidation of hydroquinone and the reduction of benzoquinone in aqueous phosphate buffer media. A modest effect of the cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC film on the rate of electron transfer is observed. The effect of the film on the rate of electron transfer after carbonisation is more dramatic. For a 40‐layer cellulose nanofibril‐PDDAC film after carbonisation a two‐order of magnitude change in the rate of electron transfer occurs presumably due to a better interaction of the hydroquinone/benzoquinone system with the electrode surface.     

Electrocatalytic activity of BasoliteTM F300 metal-organic-framework structures

For the case of the commercially available metal-organic framework (MOF) structure Basolite^TM F300 or Fe(BTC) with BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, it is shown that the Fe(III/II) electrochemistry is dominated by reductive dissolution rather than ion insertion (which in marked contrast is dominating the behaviour of Fe(III/II) open framework processes in Prussian blues). Solid Fe(BTC) immobilised onto graphite or platinum working electrodes is investigated and it is shown that well-defined and reversible Fe(III/II) reduction responses occur only on platinum and in the presence of aqueous acid. The process is shown to follow a CE-type mechanism involving liberation of Fe(III) in acidic media, in particular for high concentrations of acid. Effective electrocatalysis for the oxidation of hydroxide to O₂ (anodic water splitting) is observed in alkaline aqueous media after initial cycling of the potential into the reduction potential zone. A mechanism based on a MOF-surface confined hydrous iron oxide film is proposed.     

Lactate biosensors: current status and outlook

Many research efforts over the last few decades have been devoted to sensing lactate as an important analytical target in clinical care, sport medicine, and food processing. Therefore, research in designing lactate sensors is no longer in its infancy and now is more directed toward viable sensors for direct applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the most immediate and relevant developments toward this end, and we discuss and assess common transduction approaches. Further, we critically describe the pros and cons of current commercial lactate sensors and envision how future sensing design may benefit from emerging new technologies.     

Nanoparticles in electrochemical sensors for environmental monitoring

We review the state-of-the-art application of nanoparticles (NPs) in electrochemical analysis of environmental pollutants. We summarize methods for preparing NPs and modifying electrode surfaces with NPs. We describe several examples of applications in environmental electrochemical sensors and performance in terms of sensitivity and selectivity for both metal and metal-oxide NPs. We present recent trends in the beneficial use of NPs in constructing electrochemical sensors for environmental monitoring and discuss future challenges.NPs have promising potential to increase competitiveness of electrochemical sensors in environmental monitoring, though research has focused mainly on development of methodology for fabricating new sensors, and the number of studies for optimizing the performance of sensors and the applicability to real samples is still limited.     

Tuning percolation speed in layer-by-layer assembled polyaniline–nanocellulose composite films

Polyaniline of low molecular weight (ca. 10 kDa) is combined with cellulose nanofibrils (sisal, 4–5 nm average cross-sectional edge length, with surface sulphate ester groups) in an electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition process to form thin nano-composite films on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates. AFM analysis suggests a growth in thickness of ca. 4 nm per layer. Stable and strongly adhering films are formed with thickness-dependent coloration. Electrochemical measurements in aqueous H₂SO₄ confirm the presence of two prominent redox waves consistent with polaron and bipolaron formation processes in the polyaniline–nanocellulose composite. Measurements with a polyaniline–nanocellulose film applied across an ITO junction (a 700 nm gap produced by ion beam milling) suggest a jump in electrical conductivity at ca. 0.2 V vs. SCE and a propagation rate (or percolation speed) two orders of magnitude slower compared to that observed in pure polyaniline This effect allows tuning of the propagation rate based on the nanostructure architecture. Film thickness-dependent electrocatalysis is observed for the oxidation of hydroquinone.

     

Substrate-dependent kinetics in tyrosinase-based biosensing: amperometry vs. spectrophotometry

Despite the broad use of enzymes in electroanalytical biosensors, the influence of enzyme kinetics on the function of prototype sensors is often overlooked or neglected. In the present study, we employ amperometry as an alternative or complementary method to study the kinetics of tyrosinase, whose catalytic activity results in o-quinone products. We further compare our results for four monophenolic substrates with those obtained from ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and show that the results from both assays are in good agreement. We also observe large variations in the enzyme kinetics for different monophenolic substrates depending on the R-group at the para position. To further study this effect, we investigate the stability of quinone products in the enzymatic assay. This information can in principle be utilized to discriminate between different phenolic species by monitoring the reaction rate.     

dsDNA modified carbon nanofiber—solidified paste electrodes: probing Ni(II)—dsDNA interactions

In order to develop a renewable electrode surface, carbon nanofibers (CNF) were embedded into solidified paste electrodes using a composite of paraffin wax and paraffin oil. A range of different compositions was surveyed and the optimal composition of the paste for electroanalysis was found to be 43% of CNF, 41% of paraffin wax, and 16% of paraffin oil. The electrochemical properties of the novel composite electrode were investigated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and compared to those of similar graphite—solidified paste electrodes. The carbon nanofibers enhance the activity of the surface of the electrode and provide a good substrate for the adsorption and voltammetric detection of dsDNA. Responses of dsDNA bases and Ni²⁺ ions accumulated from ammonium buffer pH 8.5 (with a Langmuirian binding constant of 10⁵ mol^?1 L) were investigated and a limit of detection of 7 nmol L^?1 (at 3σ) was obtained using “nucleation stripping voltammetry”. Interferences by other metal cations are examined and discussed.     

Arsenite Determination in Phosphate Media at Electroaggregated Gold Nanoparticle Deposits

Compared to bulk gold, highly reactive mesoporous gold film deposits are prepared on a boron‐doped diamond electrode surface. An electroaggregation process causing 5 nm diameter gold nanoparticles to deposit cathodically from aqueous solution is implemented to control the amount of mesoporous gold at the electrode surface. The resulting electrode surface is characterized by electron microscopy and by cyclic voltammetry.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of Ru3+ and $$ {\text{Si}}_{{\text{8}}} {\text{O}}^{{8 - }}_{{20}} $$ into electrochemically active silicate films

A porous silicate is obtained from octa-anionic cage-like poly-silicate (PS) and Ru³⁺ cations in an ethanol-based layer-by-layer assembly process. Electrochemical experiments (voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy) confirm the formation of redox-active ruthenium centers in the form of hydrous ruthenium oxide throughout the film deposit. Oxidation of Ru(III) to Ru(IV) at a potential below 0.5 V vs saturated Calomel electrode (SCE) is reversible, but a potential positive of 0.5 V vs SCE is associated with an irreversible change in reactivity, which is characteristic for very small hydrous ruthenium oxide nanoparticles. Further voltammetric experiments are performed in aqueous phosphate buffer solutions, and the effects of number of layers, scan rate, and pH are investigated. Three aqueous redox systems are studied in contact with the PS–Ru³⁺ films. The reduction of cationic methylene blue adsorbed onto the negative surface of the nanocomposite silicate is shown to occur, although most of the bound methylene blue appears to be electrochemically inactive either bound to silicate or buried into small pores. The PS–Ru³⁺-catalyzed oxidations of hydroquinone and arsenite(III) are investigated. Scanning electron microscopy images show that a macroscopically uniform porous surface is formed after deposition of 50 layers of the PS–Ru³⁺ nanocomposite. However, atomic force microscopy images demonstrate that in the initial deposition stages, irregular island growth occurs. The average rate of thickness increase for PS–Ru³⁺ nanocomposite films is 6 nm per deposition cycle.     

Handling and Sensing of Single Enzyme Molecules: From Fluorescence Detection towards Nanoscale Electrical Measurements

Classical methods to study single enzyme molecules have provided valuable information about the distribution of conformational heterogeneities, reaction mechanisms, and transients in enzymatic reactions when individual molecules instead of an averaging ensemble are studied. Here, we highlight major advances in all‐electrical single enzyme studies with a focus on recent micro‐ and nanofluidic tools, which offer new ways of handling and studying small numbers of molecules or even single enzyme molecules. We particularly emphasize nanofluidic devices, which enable the integration of electrochemical transduction and detection.