All-solid-state reference electrodes based on conducting polymers

A novel construction of solution free (pseudo)reference electrodes, compatible with all-solid-state potentiometric indicator electrodes, has been proposed. These electrodes use conducting polymers (CP): polypyrrole (PPy) or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Two different arrangements have been tested: solely based on CP and those where the CP phase is covered with a poly(vinyl chloride) based outer membrane of tailored composition. The former arrangement was designed to suppress or compensate cation- and anion-exchange, using mobile perchlorate ions and poly(4-styrenesulfonate) or dodecylbenzenesulfonate anions as immobilized dopants. The following systems were used: (i) polypyrrole layers doped simultaneously by two kinds of anions, both mobile and immobilized in the polymer layer; (ii) bilayers of polypyrrole with anion exchanging inner layer and cation-exchanging outer layer; (iii) polypyrrole doped by surfactant dodecylbenzenesulfonate ions, which inhibit ion exchange on the polymer/solution interface. For the above systems, recorded potentials have been found to be practically independent of electrolyte concentration. The best results, profound stability of potentials, have been obtained for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or polypyrrole doped by poly(4-styrenesulfonate) anions covered by a poly(vinyl chloride) based membrane, containing both anion- and cation-exchangers as well as solid potassium chloride and silver chloride with metallic silver. Differently to the cases (i)-(iii) these electrodes are much less sensitive to the influence of redox and pH interferences. This arrangement has been also characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronopotentiometry.     

Metallic and non-metallic redox response of conducting polymers

The potentiometric response of electrodes coated with polypyrrole or poly(N-methylpyrrole) films with different doping anions was studied in solutions containing the redox couples: Fe(CN)₆^3−/4−, Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+ and Fe(Ill)/Fe(II). The stable potential measured with the electrodes was the potential of the redox couple. The response time was instant for polypyrrole doped with dodecylsulphate ions, PPy(DS) and slow for the polymers doped with mobile anions. On the basis of electrochemical measurements and chemical analysis by EDAX spectroscopy it was found that with the PPy(DS) electrode the potentiometric response was of the ‘metallic’ type, with no change in the oxidation state of the bulk polymer. With the other polymer systems studied reduction or oxidation of the polymer bulk took place when it was in contact with a redox couple in the solution.     

Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Electroactive Conducting Polypyrrole Polymers

Conducting/electroactive polypyrrole polymers are synthesized electrochemically on glassy carbon in various electrolytes (counterions). The polymers' electroactivity is measured using cyclic voltammetry. The electrolytes are chloride, nitrate, p-toluene sulfonate, dodecyl sulfate, and dodecylbenzenesulfonate of sodium and potassium ferrocyanide. It is found that the electrolyte (dopant) markedly affects the redox behavior of the polypyrrole films.     

Recognition and detection of oligonucleotides in the presence of chromosomal DNA based on entrapment within conducting-polymer networks

Overlapping voltammetric signals, accrued from redox processes of nucleobases, do not permit discrimination between short oligonucleotides and chromosomal DNA molecules when conventional electrochemical techniques are used. This article describes a new genoelectronic route for discriminating between short oligonucleotides and chromosomal DNA, based on the polypyrrole (PPy) doping process. Such a route relies on the profound effect of short nucleic acid dopants upon the redox activity of PPy, and hence on the square-wave voltammetric signal of the polymer-modified electrode in a blank electrolyte solution. The electropolymeric growth of PPy thus serves for preferential accumulation (by doping) of short oligonucleotides. High selectivity is demonstrated for voltammetric measurements of oligo(dG)₂₀ and oligo(dT)₂₀ in the presence of otherwise interfering ss- and ds-DNA. The signals for the oligonucleotides are also not affected by a large excess of chloride or phosphate ions. The response of the new preconcentration (doping)–medium-exchange–voltammetric protocol is proportional to the concentration of the oligonucleotide dopant. Such a new recognition process, based on the doping of conducting-polymer networks, enhances the scope of electroanalysis of nucleic acids.     

Molecular dynamic simulation of the hydration and diffusion of chloride ions from bulk water to polypyrrole matrix

A molecular dynamic simulation of wet polypyrrole film was carried out, in both oxidized and reduced state. The system was modeled by two layers of polypyrrole, water and chloride ions (as counterions required for charge balance in the oxidized state) in atomic detail to provide an insight into some dynamic and steady properties of the system. Our simulations pointed to a swelling of the polymer matrix after oxidation due to electrostatic repulsions between charged sites of the oxidized polypyrrole, followed by penetration of the polypyrrole by counterions to maintain the electroneutrality of the system. Associated with this penetration of counterions toward the core of the oxidized polypyrrole, dehydration of the counterions was observed. This dehydration was compensated (in part) by a strong coordination with the charged sites of the polymer. The remaining hydrophobicity inside the polymer also contributed to the dehydration of these counterions. The translational diffusion coefficient of chloride ions was also calculated at different positions of the polypyrrole/water interface, from bulk water to the inner polymer matrix. A value of 4.1 x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) was measured in the bulk water compared to 5 x 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1) inside the polymer, representing a diminution of two orders of magnitude for the translational diffusion coefficient from bulk water to the core of a oxidized polypyrrole matrix. These results were in good agreement with experimental data.     

The Phenomenon of Mutual Media in Polypyrrole with Electroactive Ions

The dependence of the differential capacitance of polypyrrole doped with several typical dopants on potential is presented, which shows that the differential capacitance varies with the potential, the doped polypyrroles with electroactive ions give the largest capacitance near their formal potentials, which is attributed to the mutual media for electron transfer between polypyrrole and electroactive dopants. The existence of two conducting phases was observed in the complex capacitance plots. The electroactive anions act as an intra-conducting-phase medium for electron transfer, the electroactive cations act as an inter-conducting phase medium for electron transfer. The mutual media between polypyrrole and redox dopants lead to the increase of the discharging time.     

Electrochemical study of uranium exchange on a polypyrrole resin

The ability to electrochemically control the binding of uranium ions by redox active polypyrrole resins has been studied. The optimization of the conditions for the fixation of uranium has been defined while taking in account the nature of the fixed species, the nature of the resin and the nature of the solutions.     

氟尿嘧啶的电化学控制释放

本文探讨了抗癌药物氟尿嘧啶在聚吡咯膜修饰玻碳电极上的电化学控制释放，结果表明药物自膜中的释放是聚吡咯膜的电化学氧化还原过程决定的。其释放量可由还原电位进行控制，并与还原电量和膜厚呈现良好的线性关系。     

Polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex for protein immobilization

The redox polymerization of pyrrole, with ferric chloride as oxidant, carried out in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), yielded polypyrrole latex particles. The polypyrrole latex was used, as seed, for the radical polymerization of acrolein. The resulting polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex (poly(P/A)) was suitable for immobilization of up to 11 mg of human serum albumin (HSA) and/or 33 mg of human gamma globulin (G) per 1 g of latex particles.The work was supported by the KBN Grant 2 0624 91 01     

Transition metal ion-substituted polyoxometalates entrapped in polypyrrole as an electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide

A conducting polymer was used for the immobilization of various transition metal ion-substituted Dawson-type polyoxometalates (POMs) onto glassy carbon electrodes. Voltammetric responses of films of different thicknesses were stable within the pH domain 2-7 and reveal redox processes associated with the conducting polymer, the entrapped POMs and incorporated metal ions. The resulting POM doped polypyrrole films were found to be extremely stable towards redox switching between the various redox states associated with the incorporated POM. An amperometric sensor for hydrogen peroxide detection based upon the POM doped polymer films was investigated. The detection limits were 0.3 and 0.6 μM, for the Cu(2+)- and Fe(3+)-substituted POM-doped polypyrrole films respectively, with a linear region from 0.1 up to 2 mM H(2)O(2). Surface characterization of the polymer films was carried out using atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.     

Electrochemical Performance of Transition Metal‐Coordinated Polypyrrole: A Mini Review

The conductive polymer of polypyrrole can be acted as electroactive electrode material of supercapacitor due to reversible redox behavior and high capacitance. It usually suffers from low electrochemical stability due to the breakdown of polymer molecule chain in the long‐term charge and discharge process. The monometallic or bimetallic‐coordinated polypyrrole usually exhibits the improved electrochemical performance. The transition metal ions such as ruthenium, iron, copper and cobalt are adopted for the coordination modification. The transition metal‐coordinated polypyrrole includes the intrachain and interchain coordination structure between transition metal ion and nitrogen atom of pyrrole ring. It is able to reinforce the polymer molecule chain strength to overcome excessive volumetric swelling and shrinking during charge‐discharge process, improving the cycling stability and rate capability of polypyrrole. Accordingly, the transition metal‐coordinated polypyrrole keeps simultaneously high capacitance performance and electrochemical stability, acting as the promising conductive polymer‐based supercapacitor electrode material for effective energy storage.     

Chemical Reactivity of Polypyrrole and Its Relevance to Polypyrrole Based Electrochemical Sensors

One of the most frequently used conducting polymers, polypyrrole, can take part in chemical processes with typical components of ambient media: oxygen, acids, bases, redox reactants, water, and organic vapors; it can also incorporate nonreactive ions and surfactants from solutions. The influence of such processes on changes of the polymer structure, composition and on possible degradation is analyzed. The benefits and disadvantages of such processes for analytical characteristic of polypyrrole based electrochemical sensors are considered. This discussion is focused on potentiometric ion sensors, where polypyrrole is either a receptor membrane or an ion‐to‐electron transducer placed between a solid state electrode support and a typical ion‐selective membrane.     

Development of a Chloride Ion‐Selective Solid State Sensor Based on Doped Polypyrrole‐Graphite‐Epoxy Composite

This paper reports the development and characterization of a solid state potentiometric sensor for chloride ions, based on doped polypyrrole‐graphite‐epoxy composite. The optimum mixture proportion found for polypyrrole:graphite was 60 : 40 meanwhile a 50 : 50 proportion was used for the polypyrrol+graphite:epoxy mixture. The stabilization time was approximately 16 min, while the response times varied within 2 and 23 s. The sensor displayed a sensitivity of 58 mV/decade [Cl^?], and 3×10^?6 M detection limit. The selectivity coefficients showed a greater selectivity to that reported for commercial‐type sensors. The statistical analysis for chlorides' determination in commercial saline serums did not show significant differences respect to data reported by the manufacturers.     

Sensitivity and Selectivity of Polypyrrole Based AC‐Amperometric Sensors for Electroinactive Ions – Frequency and Applied Potential Influence

Oxidation/reduction of polypyrrole films coupled with ion exchange on the polymer/solution interface can be utilized for amperometric sensing of electroinactive ions. Anion or cation exchanging films (polypyrrole doped by chloride or poly(4‐styrenesulfonate) ions, respectively) can be used to determine common anions (as Cl^?, NO , SO etc) or cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Li⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) under conditions of alternating current (AC) amperometry in the range 10^?4–1 M. A sensitivity can be tuned by choosing appropriate electrode potential, corresponding to polypyrrole oxidation (anion‐exchanging films) or reduction (cation‐exchangers). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and AC‐voltammetry studies have shown that applied frequency and potential could also affect the observed dependence of the signal (admittance or AC‐current) on ion concentration. For high frequency the sensitivity is higher but selectivity lower, due to influence of solution conductivity on the response. For low frequencies the sensitivity is lower; however, a selectivity increase was observed due to diverse mobility of ions in the polymer film. Selectivity of AC‐amperometric responses was studied both in separate and mixed solutions.     

Synthesis of polypyrrole films for the development of ammonia sensor

In the present investigation, we have synthesized a polypyrrole films by chemical polymerization technique for the development of ammonia sensor. The polypyrrole films were synthesized in an aqueous acidic medium on glass substrate with mild oxidation of ferric chloride at temperature 29°C. The concentrations (molar) of monomer (pyrrole), oxidant (ferric chloride), and dopant (polyvinyl sulfonate) have been optimized for the uniform and porous surface morphology of the synthesized polypyrrole film. The synthesized films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet‐visible, and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. Ammonia gas sensing behavior of polypyrrole films was studied by using indigenously developed gas sensing chamber. The synthesized polypyrrole film with optimized process parameters shows excellent and reproducible response to low concentration (100 ppm) of ammonia gas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel redox system consisting of π-conjugated polymers and transition metals

Coordination of π-conjugated polymers to transition metals constructs a novel redox system due to interchangeable various oxidation states of the polymers, which permits transition metals to interact with each other through a π-conjugate chain. The redox characteristics were found to depend on the electronic interaction with metals and the doping. A combination of copper(II) or iron(III) chloride and polyanilines afforded the complex catalysts with the higher oxidation capability for dehydrogenative oxidation. A catalytic system was also realized in the transition-metal-induced oxidation reaction, in which π-conjugated polymers serve as redox-active ligands participating in the reversible redox cycle. The Wacker oxidation of terminal olefins proceeded catalytically in the presence of a catalytic amount of polyaniline or polypyrrole derivative under oxygen.     

Electrochemical Evaluation of the Interaction between Avidin and Biotin at Biotinylated Polypyrrole Electrode Using a Redox Marker

The interaction between avidin and biotin was evaluated electrochemically by monitoring the change in the electrode response of redox markers. Biotin was immobilized on the electrode surface by means of the electrochemical polymerization of biotinylated pyrrole and pyrrole. When avidin was introduced onto the biotinylated polypyrrole electrode surface, the large change in the electrode response of the redox marker was detected. The fact that the change in the electrode response of a marker ion could be attributed to the electrostatic interaction between avidin on the electrode surface and the redox marker ion present in a solution was verified by replacing avidin with NutrAvidin. At a pH lower than the isoelectric point of avidin, the electrode response of ferrocyanide as an anionic marker ion increased linearly within the range of 5.0×10^?9 ?3.0×10^?8 M avidin. The relative standard deviation at 1.5×10^?8 M avidin was about 5.4% (n=5). The detection of biotin was also performed using a competitive reaction between biotin in solution and biotin that had been immobilized on the electrode surface in the form of the biotinylated polypyrrole.     

Investigation of SPR and electrochemical detection of antigen with polypyrrole functionalized by biotinylated single-chain antibody: A review

An electrochemical label-free immunosensor based on a biotinylated single-chain variable fragment (Sc-Fv) antibody immobilized on copolypyrrole film is described. An efficient immunosensor device formed by immobilization of a biotinylated single-chain antibody on an electropolymerized copolymer film of polypyrrole using biotin/streptavidin system has been demonstrated for the first time. The response of the biosensor toward antigen detection was monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemical analysis of the polypyrrole response by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The composition of the copolymer formed from a mixture of pyrrole (py) as spacer and a pyrrole bearing a N-hydroxyphthalimidyl ester group on its 3-position (pyNHP), acting as agent linker for biomolecule immobilization, was optimized for an efficient immunosensor device. The ratio of py:pyNHP for copolymer formation was studied with respect to the antibody immobilization and antigen detection. SPR was employed to monitor in real time the electropolymerization process as well as the step-by-step construction of the biosensor. FT-IR demonstrates the chemical copolymer composition and the efficiency of the covalent attachment of biomolecules. The film morphology was analyzed by electron scanning microscopy (SEM).Results show that a well organized layer is obtained after Sc-Fv antibody immobilization thanks to the copolymer composition defined with optimized pyrrole and functionalized pyrrole leading to high and intense redox signal of the polypyrrole layer obtained by the DPV method. Detection of specific antigen was demonstrated by both SPR and DPV, and a low concentration of 1 pg mL⁻¹ was detected by measuring the variation of the redox signal of polypyrrole.     

聚合电流对锂/聚吡咯电池正极电化学行为的影响

在Pt微盘电极上用恒电流技术在电流密度为0.05-10 mA·cm-2范围合成了1 滋m厚度的聚吡咯(PPy)膜. 采用循环伏安(CV)、计时电势、交流阻抗(EIS)技术考察了不同聚合电流下得到的聚吡咯的电化学行为. 结果表明, 最佳聚合电流区间为1-5 mA·cm-2, 对应的电势一般在3.9-4.1V (vs Li/Li+)之间, PPy的掺杂度为30%左右. 在这一聚合电流密度范围得到的PPy具有较大的电化学容量, 较佳的电化学反应可逆性能、较高的氧化还原电势数值和稳定性能. 处于氧化态的聚吡咯具有优良的导电性. 上述条件下得到的PPy适合于作为锂离子二次电池的正极材料. 适当选择电流, 可以得到有相对完整的共轭仔键的长链结构的PPy 膜.     

The Thermophilic CotA Laccase from Bacillus subtilis: Bioelectrocatalytic Evaluation of O2 Reduction in the Direct and Mediated Electron Transfer Regime

The thermophilic bacterial laccase CotA from Bacillus subtilis adsorbed on graphite electrodes enables monitoring of the temperature dependent direct biocatalytic O₂ reduction. Its entrapment in two different Os‐complex modified redox hydrogels is the basis for mediated bioelectroreduction of O₂. Besides the temperature and pH dependence of the bioelectrocatalytic response chloride and fluoride inhibition studies demonstrate that the Os‐complexes are bound to the T1 copper centre of the enzyme. The interaction between CotA and the Os‐complex modified polymers prevents inhibition by chloride ions.