A laccase-wiring redox hydrogel for efficient catalysis of O2 electroreduction

Laccase was earlier wired to yield an O2 electroreduction catalyst greatly outperforming platinum and its alloys. Here we describe the design, synthesis optimization of the composition, and characterization of the +0.55 V (AgAgCl) laccase-wiring redox hydrogel, with an apparent electron diffusion coefficient (D(app)) of 7.6 x 10(-7) cm2 s(-1). The high D(app) results in the tethering of redox centers to the polymer backbone through eight-atom-long spacer arms, which facilitate collisional electron transfer between proximal redox centers. The O2 flux-limited, true-area-based current density was increased from the earlier reported 560 to 860 microA cm(-2). When the O2 diffusion to the 7-microm-diameter carbon fiber cathode was cylindrical, half of the O2 flux-limited current was reached already at 0.62 V and 90% at 0.56 V vs Ag/AgCl, merely -0.08 and -0.14 V versus the 0.7 V (Ag/AgCl) reversible O2/H2O half-cell potential at pH 5.     

阿魏酸聚合修饰玻碳电极的制备及其对NADH的催化氧化

研究了阿魏酸修饰电极的制备、性质及对NADH的电催化作用.该电极在0.1mol/L磷酸缓冲溶液(pH=6.60)中,于-0.1～+0.50V(vs.Ag/AgCl)电位范围内呈现一对氧化还原峰,其式量电位E₀为+0.188V(vs.Ag/AgCl),且E₀随pH增加而负向移动.电子转移系数为0.496,表观电极反应速率常数(ks)为6.6s^-1.电极反应的电子数为1且有1个质子参与.该修饰电极对NADH氧化具有很好的催化作用.在NADH存在下,电极过程由扩散控制,扩散系数为1.76×10^-6cm²/s.NADH浓度在0.01～5.0mmol/L范围内与峰电流呈现良好的线性关系.通过计时安培法测得催化速率常数为6.82×10³mol^-1·L·s^-1.     

Long tethers binding redox centers to polymer backbones enhance electron transport in enzyme "Wiring" hydrogels

A redox hydrogel with an apparent electron diffusion coefficient (D(app)) of (5.8 +/- 0.5) x 10(-)(6) cm(2) s(-)(1) is described. The order of magnitude increase in D(app) relative to previously studied redox hydrogels results from the tethering of redox centers to the backbone of the cross-linked redox polymer backbone through 13 atom spacer arms. The long and flexible tethers allow the redox centers to sweep electrons from large-volume elements and to collect electrons of glucose oxidase efficiently. The spacer arms make the collection of electrons from glucose oxidase so efficient that glucose is electrooxidized already at -0.36 V versus Ag/AgCl, the reversible potential of the redox potential of the FAD/FADH(2) centers of the enzyme at pH 7.2. The limiting current density of 1.15 mA cm(-)(2) is reached at a potential as low as -0.1 V versus Ag/AgCl. The novel redox center of the polymer is a tris-dialkylated N,N'-biimidazole Os(2+/3+) complex. Its redox potential, -0.195 V versus Ag/AgCl, is 0.8 V reducing relative to that of Os(bpy)(2+/3+), its 2,2'-bipyridine analogue.     

肌红蛋白-纳米氧化铝模板-金胶复合组装体的直接电化学与电催化

将肌红蛋白(Mb)固定在纳米氧化铝(AAO)模板-金胶复合组装体修饰玻碳电极表面,制得Mb/AAO/Au colloid/GC薄膜电极.在pH=5.4的HAc-NaAc缓冲溶液中,该薄膜电极于-0.21 V(vs.Ag/AgC l)处有一对准可逆的氧化还原峰,为Mb血红素辅基Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ)电对的特征峰.在AAO/Au colloid薄膜的微环境中,Mb与玻碳电极间的电子传递明显加快,该Mb/AAO/Au colloid/GC薄膜电极还可用于过氧化氢和溶解氧的催化还原.     

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).     

Synthetic nanocrystalline diamond as a third-generation biosensor support

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been immobilized on the surface of functionalized nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin films. The structure of the modified NCD surface as well as the electrochemical behavior of the whole system was characterized by impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The proximity of HRP heme groups to the NCD surface allowed direct electron transfer between them, resulting in two separated one-electron-transfer peaks at 0.05 V and 0.29 V vs Ag/AgCl, corresponding to the cathodic and anodic process, respectively. The heterogeneous electron-transfer constant for both processes was calculated to be 0.066 s(-1), the charge-transfer coefficient alpha = 0.49, and the immobilized enzymatic layer about 2.10(-10) mol/cm2. The modified NCD electrode was used as a third-generation biosensor for hydrogen peroxide determination showing a linear response in the 0.1-45 mM H2O2 range, at +0.05 V vs Ag/AgCl.     

Redox characteristics of Schiff base manganese and cobalt complexes related to water-oxidizing complex of photosynthesis

In an effort to obtain synthetic analogues of water-oxidizing complex (WOC) of photosystem II (PS II) of plant photosynthesis, a Schiff base manganese and a cobalt complex, employing Niten, a SALEN type ligand, have been prepared. Cyclic and square wave voltammetric measurements have been performed to assess their redox characteristics. Both complexes undergo several reduction processes in cathodic negative potential region at more or less similar potentials. In view of these reductions being independent of the nature of the metal, they are thought to be ligand-localized. Although similar in negative region, a marked difference in the behavior of the complexes is observed in anodic region. While the cobalt complex is electrochemically inactive in the positive potentials up to +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, the manganese complex displays two oxidation waves at +0.25 and +0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The presence of oxidation wave in manganese complex at +0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl or +0.7 V vs. NHE suggests that this complex can catalyze the oxidation of water and can, thus, simulate the WOC of PS II.     

Electrochemical performance of angstrom level flat sputtered carbon film consisting of sp2 and sp3 mixed bonds

We have developed ultra-flat carbon film electrodes with a wide potential window and a low capacitive current by the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) sputtering method. The film consists of sp2 and sp3 bonds (sp3/sp2 ratio = 0.702) and is sufficiently conductive for electrochemical measurements without doping. The film has average roughness of 0.7 A, which is much flatter than that of nanocrystalline diamond film. The potential limit of ECR sputtered carbon (current limit < +/-500 muA/cm2) in the positive direction is 2.0 V vs Ag/AgCl, which is slightly lower than that of boron-doped diamond (2.1 V) and much wider than that of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode (1.7 V). In contrast, a much wider potential window can be obtained in the negative direction. The capacitive current is also much lower than that of a GC electrode due to the ultra-flat surface and the low number of oxygen-containing groups at the film surface. ECR sputtered carbon film can be used to measure each base of oligonucleotides by electrochemical oxidation without any pretreatment. The ultra-flat surface and low surface oxygen concentration suppress fouling with electroactive species, such as oligonucleotides, NADH, and bisphenol A.     

Electrochemistry of cytochrome P450 BM3 in sodium dodecyl sulfate films

Direct electrochemistry of the cytochrome P450 BM3 heme domain (BM3) was achieved by confining the protein within sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) films on the surface of basal-plane graphite (BPG) electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry revealed the heme FeIII/II redox couple at -330 mV (vs Ag/AgCl, pH 7.4). Up to 10 V/s, the peak current was linear with the scan rate, allowing us to treat the system as surface-confined within this regime. The standard heterogeneous rate constant determined at 10 V/s was estimated to be 10 s-1. Voltammograms obtained for the BM3-SDS-BPG system in the presence of dioxygen exhibited catalytic waves at the onset of FeIII reduction. The altered heme reduction potential of the BM3-SDS-graphite system indicates that SDS is likely bound in the enzyme active-site region. Compared to other P450-surfactant systems, we find redox potentials and electron-transfer rates that differ by approximately 100 mV and >10-fold, respectively, indicating that the nature of the surfactant environment has a significant effect on the observed heme redox properties.     

Carbon fiber microelectrodes modified with carbon nanotubes as a new support for immobilization of glucose oxidase

Carboxylated carbon nanotubes were coated onto carbon microfiber electrodes to create a micron-scale bioelectrode. This material has a high surface area and can serve as a support for immobilization of enzymes such as glucose oxidase. A typical carbon nanotube loading of 13???g?cm^?1 yields a coating thickness of 17???m and a 2000-fold increase in surface capacitance. The modified electrode was further coated with a biocatalytic hydrogel composed of a conductive redox polymer, glucose oxidase, and a crosslinker to create a glucose bioelectrode. The current density on oxidation of glucose is 16.6?mA?cm^?2 at 0.5?V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in oxygen-free glucose solution. We consider this approach to be useful for designing and characterizing surface treatments for carbon mats and papers by mimicking their local microenvironment.

EuCl_3在氯化1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑中的电化学性质

应用循环伏安法研究了Eu3+在亲水性离子液体—氯化1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑([BMIM]Cl)中的电极过程.实验表明,工作电极为玻碳电极时,[BMIM]Cl的电化学窗口为-1.7～0.80V(vs.Ag/AgCl).Eu3+在[BMIM]Cl中被还原为Eu2+,此电极反应受电荷迁移和物质扩散共同控制.当体系温度从55℃升高到75℃时,Eu3+在[BMIM]Cl中的扩散系数D从3.75×10-9cm2/s变化到1.32×10-8cm2/s,该反应活化能Ea为62.6kJ/mol.     

Electrocatalytic amperometric determination of amitrole using a cobalt-phthalocyanine-modified carbon paste electrode

Cobalt-phthalocyanine-modified carbon paste electrodes are shown to be excellent indicators for electrocatalytic amperometric measurements of triazolic herbicides such as amitrole, at low oxidation potentials (+0.40 V). The detection and determination of amitrole in flow injection analysis with a modified carbon paste electrode with Co-phthalocyanine is described. The concentrations of amitrole in 0.1 M NaOH solutions were determined using the electrocatalytic oxidation signal corresponding to the Co(II)/Co(III) redox process. A detection limit of 0.04 microg mL(-1) (4 ng amitrole) was obtained for a sample loop of 100 microL at a fixed potential of +0.55 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 M NaOH and a flow rate of 4.0 mL min(-1). Furthermore, the modified carbon paste electrodes offers reproducible responses in such a system, and the relative standard deviation was 3.3% using the same surface, 5.1% using different surface, and 6.9% using different pastes. The performance of the cobalt-phthalocyanine-modified carbon paste electrodes is illustrated here for the determination of amitrole in commercial formulations. The response of the electrodes is stable, with more than 80% of the initial retained activity after 50 min of continuous use.     

Adsorption and release behavior of bare and DNA-wrapped-carbon nanotubes on self-assembled monolayer surface

The adsorption and release behavior of single-stranded DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (ssDNA-w-SWCNTs) on alkylthiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surface was systematically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Fast electron transfer between bare Au electrode and redox species blocked by the alkylthiol SAM can be restored by SWCNTs or ssDNA-w-SWCNTs. The release of ssDNA-w-SWCNTs is carried out by positive or negative desorption potential. SWCNTs/SAM or ssDNA-w-SWCNTs/SAM is completely removed from Au surface at +0.90 V or -1.40 V (vs. 3.0 M KCl|Ag|AgCl). The controlled release of SWCNTs/SAM and ssDNA-w-SWCNTs/SAM holds great promise for gene delivering.     

Analysis of Redox Activity of Proteins on the Carbon Screen Printed Electrodes

Direct redox activity of different proteins was investigated on the surface of carbon screen printed electrodes (SPE). The signal attributed to the electrochemical oxidation of amino acid residues (cysteine (Cys), tryptophan (Trp) and tyrosine (Tyr)) was registered at E_max from 0.6 to 0.7 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Based on the difference in the redox behavior of L ‐tyrosine and 3‐nitro‐L ‐tyrosine, the selective electrochemical detection of native and nitrated albumins was demonstrated. It was shown that the electrochemical signal correlated with the surface density of electroactive amino acid residues on the protein molecule. A simple electrochemical method for the total protein analysis was proposed.     

Uranyl sensor based on a N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-2-hydroxy-phenylmethanediamine and multiwall carbon nanotube electrode

The electrochemical determination of uranyl was investigated by using carbon paste electrode modified with a Schiff base namely N,N??-bis(salicylidene)-2-hydroxy-phenylmethanediamine (SHPMD/CPE) and also in the presence of carbon nanotube (SHPMD/CNT/CPE). The both modified electrodes displayed an irreversible peak at E _pa?=?0.798?V versus Ag/AgCl. The electrocatalytic reduction of uranyl has been studied on SHPMD/CNT/CPE, using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, chronocoulometry and linear sweep techniques. Electrochemical parameters including the diffusion coefficient (D), the electron transfer coefficient (??), the ionic exchange current (i) and the redox reaction rate constant (K) were determined for the reduction of uranyl on the surface of the modified electrodes. Linear range concentration is 0.002?C0.6???mol?L^?1 and the detection limit of uranyl is 0.206?nmol?L^?1. The proposed method was used to detect uranyl in natural waters and good recovery was achieved.     

Self-assembly and heterogeneous electron transfer properties of metallo-octacarboxyphthalocyanine complexes on gold electrode

Electrochemical properties of redox-active self-assembled molecular films of novel metallo-octacarboxyphthalocyanine (MOCPc, M = Fe, Co and Mn) complexes integrated with cysteamine (Cys) monolayer on gold electrodes via amide bonds were investigated. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the appearance of the various elements in their expected chemical environment upon immobilization of these species. The heterogeneous electron transfer properties of the Au-Cys-MOCPc molecular films using an outer-sphere ([Fe(CN)(6)](4-)/[Fe(CN)(6)](3-)) redox probe were studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electron transfer rate constant (k(app)) depends markedly on the central metal of the metallophthalocyanine cores (k(app): Co > Mn > Fe). A strong pH dependence of the electron transport of the Au-Cys-MOCPc molecular films was found. The surface pK(a) values of the MOCPc complexes were essentially the same (ca. 7.5). The differences in the electron transports and ionization constants are discussed. The electrodes are sensitive to the electrooxidation of epinephrine in physiological pH conditions, peak potential (E(p)/V vs. Ag|AgCl, saturated KCl) decreasing as FeOCPc (0.20 V) < MnOCPc (0.26 V) < CoOCPc (0.34 V).     

Electrochemical and sem characterization of Ag electrodes roughened by potential sweep and potential step processes in aqueous chloride and chloride + pyridine media

The effect of solution pH and the presence of pyridine on the redox behavior of Ag electrodes in aqueous chloride media is investigated. Scanning electron microscopy is used to evaluate differences in surface morphology of Ag electrodes subjected to electrochemical oxidation and oxidation—reduction processes in 0.1 M KCl and 0.1 M KCl + 0.05 M pyridine media at pH values of 2, 7, and 12. Potential sweep and potential step methods are used to effect the electrochemical oxidation and oxidation—reduction events. Comparisons are made between the resulting surface morphologies on the submicroscopic level for Ag surfaces roughened in these two ways. The redox chemistry of the oxidation and reduction processes is interpreted in terms of the different species capable of interacting with the Ag electrode surface and Ag⁺ species generated during oxidation in each medium. Surface adsorbates proposed to be important include chloride ions and pyridine. The relative importance of these species in terms of their ability to influence the redox chemistry of the Ag electrodes is seen to be a sensitive function of solution pH.     

Intramolecular electrocatalysis of 8-oxo-guanine oxidation: secondary structure control of electron transfer in osmium-labeled oligonucleotides

A phosphoramidite containing Os(bpy)(3)(2+) (Os; bpy, 2,2'-bipyridine) with a three-carbon linker was synthesized and used to prepare oligonucleotides with the Os redox catalyst appended to the 5'-end. The electrogenerated Os(III) is capable of oxidizing 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-guanine (8G), but 8G is not electrochemically reactive at indium tin oxide electrodes because of poor electrode kinetics for the direct reaction. The hairpin-forming oligonucleotide Os-5'-ATG TCA GAT TAG CAG GCC TGA CAT 8G was synthesized and characterized by thermal denaturation and native gel electrophoresis both in the hairpin form and when hybridized to its Watson-Crick complement. The redox potential in both forms of the appended Os(III/II) couple was 0.63 V (all potentials vs Ag/AgCl), which is identical to that for the free complex. The diffusion coefficients of the hairpin form (10.2 x 10(-)(7) cm(2)/s) and the duplex form (8.7 x 10(-)(7) cm(2)/s) were consistent with values expected from studies of noncovalently bound redox labels, which suggest that the measured diffusion coefficient should be that of the appended DNA molecule. The oligonucleotide was designed such that in the duplex form, the 8G is far from the Os(III/II) couple, but in the hairpin form, the 8G is situated close to the redox center. For the duplex form, cyclic voltammetry studies showed that mediated oxidation of the 8G nucleobase occurred only through bimolecular reaction of the electrogenerated Os(III) of one duplex with the 8G of another duplex. However, in the hairpin form, intramolecular electron transfer from 8G to Os(III) in the same molecule was apparent in both chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry.     

Ag/ZnO Catalysts with Different ZnO Nanostructures for Non‐enzymatic Detection of Urea

Silver coated ZnO nanorods and nanoflakes with different crystallographic orientations were synthesized by a combination of sputter deposition and solution growth process. Catalytic properties of morphology‐dependent Ag/ZnO nanostructures were then investigated for urea sensors without enzyme. Ag/ZnO nanorods on carbon electrodes exhibit a higher catalytic activity and an improved efficiency than Ag/ZnO nanoflakes on carbon electrodes. Ag/ZnO nanorod catalysts with more electrochemically surface area (169 cm² mg^?1) on carbon electrode facilitate urea electrooxidation due to easier electron transfer, which further promotes the urea electrolysis. The Ag/ZnO nanorod catalysts also show a significant reduction in the onset voltage (0.410 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and an increase in the current density (12.0 mA cm^?2 mg^?1) at 0.55 V vs Ag/AgCl. The results on urea electrooxidation show that Ag/ZnO nanostructures can be a potential catalyst for non‐enzymatic biosensors and fuel cells.     

Spatially Resolved Confocal Resonant Raman Microscopic Analysis of Anode‐Grown Geobacter sulfurreducens Biofilms

When grown on the surface of an anode electrode, Geobacter sulfurreducens forms a multi‐cell thick biofilm in which all cells appear to couple the oxidation of acetate with electron transport to the anode, which serves as the terminal metabolic electron acceptor. Just how electrons are transported through such a biofilm from cells to the underlying anode surface over distances that can exceed 20 microns remains unresolved. Current evidence suggests it may occur by electron hopping through a proposed network of redox cofactors composed of immobile outer membrane and/or extracellular multi‐heme c‐type cytochromes. In the present work, we perform a spatially resolved confocal resonant Raman (CRR) microscopic analysis to investigate anode‐grown Geobacter biofilms. The results confirm the presence of an intra‐biofilm redox gradient whereby the probability that a heme is in the reduced state increases with increasing distance from the anode surface. Such a gradient is required to drive electron transport toward the anode surface by electron hopping via cytochromes. The results also indicate that at open circuit, when electrons are expected to accumulate in redox cofactors involved in electron transport due to the inability of the anode to accept electrons, nearly all c‐type cytochrome hemes detected in the biofilm are oxidized. The same outcome occurs when a comparable potential to that measured at open circuit (?0.30 V vs. SHE) is applied to the anode, whereas nearly all hemes are reduced when an exceedingly negative potential (?0.50 V vs. SHE) is applied to the anode. These results suggest that nearly all c‐type cytochrome hemes detected in the biofilm can be electrochemically accessed by the electrode, but most have oxidation potentials too negative to transport electrons originating from acetate metabolism. The results also reveal a lateral heterogeneity (x–y dimensions) in the type of c‐type cytochromes within the biofilm that may affect electron transport to the electrode.