Some studies of electrodes made from single crystals of TTF /sd TCNQ

Electrodes made from single crystals of tetrathiafulvalenium tetracyanoquinodimethanide (TTF. TCNQ) have been used to study the electrochemistry of the conducting organic salt and to investigate the mechanism of the electrochemical oxidation of glucose oxidase at conducting salt electrodes.The single crystal electrodes exhibit much lower non-Faradaic currents than the corresponding polycrystalline electrodes prepared as sublimed films or as pressed pellets. This leads to much lower background current levels and hence more clearly defined electrochemistry for solution species. Studies of the ac impedance behaviour and the electrochemistry of outer sphere redox species indicate that TTF·TCNQ electrodes behave as conventional metallic electrodes within their stable potential range.Results for the electrochemistry of glucose oxidase at the single crystal electrodes are inconsistent with a simple homogeneous mediation mechanism or with simple heterogeneous redox catalysis. Similarities with results obtained for TTF modified glucose oxidase suggest that the enzyme may undergo direct electrochemistry after modification by hydrophobic interaction with TTF molecules derived from the conducting salt electrode.     

Voltammetric investigation of cytochrome c on gold coated with a self-assembled glutathione monolayer

The direct, reversible electrochemistry of horse-heart cytochrome c (cyt. c) was realized on a self-assembled glutathione (GSH) monolayer modified Au electrode. The voltammetric responses of cyt. c on GSH/Au electrode were found to be affected by pH during the electrode modification, metal ions and surfactants. Using potassium ferricyanide [K4Fe(CN)6] as a probe, these effects on the voltammetric responses of cyt. c were characterized by electrochemical methods. It was found that the pH during the electrode modification, metallic ions and surfactants changed GSH monolayer's charge state and the conformation on the electrode surface, and resulted in the influence on the voltammetric responses of cyt. c. The experimental results provided us information to understand the mechanism of the interfacial electron transfer of electrode-protein, as well as the electron transfer of cyt. c in life system.     

Studies in the field of electrochemistry of organic compounds in 2000–2006

This review presents the author’s views on the state-of-art in the electrochemistry of organic compounds, based on the analysis of the data published from 2000 to 2006. The number of publications that consider to one or another extent the electrochemical reactions involving organic compounds constantly increases. The range of problems studied is intimately related with the demands of new technologies. The largest number of publications are devoted to the electrochemical polymerization and the properties of polymeric films on the electrode surface and also to the mechanism of electrode reactions of metal-complex compounds and their properties. The directions such as electrochemistry of nanomaterials and the methods of modification of electrodes are largely associated with the use of electroactive polymers. Fine organic electrosynthesis including the technological developments in the destruction of organic compounds, e. g., for cleaning of waste water, fade to the background. A new direction in this field is the development of amperometric sensors that employ modified electrodes based on electrochemically activated polymeric films.     

金属纳米线的合成与组装

金属纳米线以它独特的光学和电学性质以及在纳米级电子线路中的应用潜力,受到人们越来越多的关注。本文介绍了金属纳米线的合成方法及其二维有序组装体系研究的最新进展,展望了纳米材料未来的研究方向和发展趋势。     

Shaping and exploring the micro- and nanoworld using bipolar electrochemistry

Bipolar electrochemistry is a technique with a rather young history in the field of analytical chemistry. Being based on the polarization of a conducting object which is exposed to an external electric field, it allowed recently the development of new methods for controlled surface modification at the micro- and nanoscale and very original analytical applications. Using bipolar electrodes, analyte separation and detection becomes possible based on miniaturized systems. Moreover, the modified objects that can be created with bipolar electrochemistry could find applications as key components for detection systems. In this contribution, the principles of bipolar electrochemistry will be reviewed, as well as recent developments that focus on the modification of objects at the nano- and microscale and their potential application in miniaturized analytical systems.     

Direct electrochemistry of heme proteins: effect of electrode surface modification by neutral surfactants

Direct electrochemical studies on horse heart myoglobin and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) have been carried out using tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) and surfactant modified glassy carbon working electrodes. These proteins show very slow electron transfer kinetics at metal or untreated electrodes. Moreover, small amounts of surface-active impurity were drastically affects the electrode reaction of these proteins. The results showed that modification of the electrode surface with neutral surfactants significantly improves the electrochemical response of myoglobin as well as of HRP. The electrode response was found to depend on the structure of the surfactants. The amount of surfactant required per unit area of the electrode surface to promote the maximum electron transfer rate constants was found to be constant. This indicated that the surfactant molecules interacted with the electrode surface in a specific manner and anchored the protein molecules to align in the suitable orientation. The hydrophobicity of the surfactants rather than their charge was found to be crucial in promoting the electrode response of these proteins at the glassy carbon electrode.     

氧化还原蛋白质电化学研究*

研究氧化还原蛋白质与电极之间的电子传递过程不仅为理解代谢过程提供有价值的信息,而且为制备生物传感器奠定基础。本文从蛋白质修饰电极、蛋白质在电极表面的定向固定及蛋白质人工改造三方面,评述了近年来氧化还原蛋白质电化学研究的进展,并提出了今后可能的研究方向。     

Ions,ion pairs and inverse micelles in non-polar media

This paper begins with a review of the studies dedicated to the electrochemistry of non-polar liquids performed during last century. There is a list of dozens of liquids that have been studied, as well as variety of electrolytes. There is an overview of 13 different experimental methods which have been employed for this task. The theoretical part of the review emphasizes the work done by Onsager, Debye, Fuoss, Kraus, Bjerrum and others in 1920s and 30s. They initiated and justified the fundamental ideas that serve as the scientific basis for modern handbooks on non-aqueous electrochemistry. Many of these papers from 1930s and later are reviewed here.The second part of this paper is dedicated to the electrochemistry of non-polar liquids containing surfactants. These substances can serve as electrolytes if ionic. However, their main function is to enhance the solvation of ions, providing steric stabilization that minimizes ion re-association and ion-pair formation. Consequently, the classical “dissociation model” requires some modification when applied to surfactant solutions. There are also two additional theoretical models suggested specifically for surfactant solutions in non-polar liquids: the “disproportionation model” for dry inverse micelles, and the “fluctuation model” by Eicke, Borkovec, and Das-Gupta for microemulsions. Charged microemulsion droplets can serve as ions, which justifies the inclusion of this theory in this review. In addition, we can study (with a well defined theory) the transition from microemulsion droplet to dry inverse micelle ion by reducing water content. Studying this transition reveals some important features of both systems.We present here these three theories and apply them for interpreting experimental data (mostly conductivity) in four different systems, all of which are non-polar systems containing surfactants: solutions of ionic surfactants, solutions of non-ionic surfactants, microemulsions with ionic surfactants, and microemulsions with non-ionic surfactants.     

Use of Cationic Surfactants Film Carbon Paste Electrodes Modified with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in Electrochemical Analysis of dsDNA

Direct electrochemistry of dsDNA based on the enhancement effect of cationic surfactants such as dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) was achieved by using a carbon paste electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs/CPE) as the basal electrode. The results indicated that the dsDNA molecules have been adsorbed quite strongly on the cationic surfactants’ film and very well developed peaks which were attributed to the oxidation of guanine residues on the dsDNA molecule structure were obtained from both electrodes. The electrochemical behavior of dsDNA at the surface of the modified electrodes was also evaluated. Based on the signal of guanine, under the optimal conditions, very low levels of dsDNA were detected following short accumulation times with detection limits of 0.650 mg L^?1 and 0.119 mg L^?1 for DTAB/MWCNTs/CPE and TTAB/MWCNTs/CPE, respectively.     

Exploring the use of the tripeptide Gly-Gly-his as a selective recognition element for the fabrication of electrochemical copper sensors

The modification of electrodes with the tripeptide Gly-Gly-His for the detection of copper in water samples is described in detail. The tripeptide modified electrode was prepared by first self-assembling 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) onto the gold electrode followed by covalent attachment of the tripeptide to the self-assembled monolayer using carbodiimide coupling. The electrodes were characterized using electrochemistry, a newly developed mass-spectrometry method and quantum mechanical calculations. The mass spectrometry confirmed the modification to proceed as expected with peptide bonds formed between the carboxylic acids of the MPA and the terminal amine of the peptide. Electrochemical measurements indicated that approximately half the MPA molecules in a SAM are modified with the peptide. The peptide modified electrodes exhibited high sensitivity to copper which is attributed to the stable 4N coordinate complex the peptide formed around the metal ion to give copper the preferred tetragonal coordination. The formation of a 4 coordinate complex was predicted using quantum mechanical calculation and confirmed using mass spectrometry. The adsorption of the copper to the peptide modified electrode was consistent with a Langmuir isotherm with a binding constant of (8.1 +/- 0.4) 10(10) M(-1) at 25 degrees C.     

Strategies for "wiring" redox-active proteins to electrodes and applications in biosensors, biofuel cells, and nanotechnology

In this tutorial review the basic approaches to establish electrochemical communication between redox-active proteins and electrodes are elucidated and examples for applications in electrochemical biosensors, biofuel cells and nanotechnology are presented. The early stage of protein electrochemistry is described giving a short overview over electron transfer (ET) between electrodes and proteins, followed by a brief introduction into experimental procedures for studying proteins at electrodes and possible applications arising thereof. The article starts with discussing the electrochemistry of cytochrome c, the first redox-active protein, for which direct reversible ET was obtained, under diffusion controlled conditions and after adsorption to electrodes. Next, examples for the electrochemical study of redox enzymes adsorbed on electrodes and modes of immobilization are discussed. Shortly the experimental approach for investigating redox-active proteins adsorbed on electrodes is outlined. Possible applications of redox enzymes in electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells working by direct ET (DET) and mediated ET (MET) are presented. Furthermore, the reconstitution of redox active proteins at electrodes using molecular wire-like units in order to "wire" the proteins to the electrode surface and possible applications in nanotechnology are discussed.     

Switching “on and off” faradaic electrochemistry at an otherwise passivated electrode using gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles

Herein we combined the use of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified electrodes and gold coated magnetic nanoparticles (Au@MNPs) to modulate faradaic electrochemistry when nanoparticles are absorbed on and removed from, a passivated electrode using an external magnetic field. Substantial faradaic electrochemistry of potassium ferricyanide in solution is first prevented by modifying gold electrodes with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid to form a passivating SAM. Restoration of the faradaic electrochemistry is then achieved by introducing Au@MNPs which are brought to the surface using an external magnetic field. The faradaic electrochemistry can again be suppressed by removing Au@MNPs from the SAM using another external magnetic field.     

细胞色素C在单糖修饰金电极上的直接电化学

Hill等发现在4,4′-联吡啶存在时,细胞色素C在金电极上能进行准可逆的电化学反应。在研究细胞色素C的直接电化学过程中,人们又发现一些生物小分子如氨基酸、嘌呤等对细胞色素C的电化学反应有促进作用,但迄今未见有关糖类分子对细胞色素C电化学反应促进作用研究的报道。本文研究了5种单糖对细胞色素C电化学反应的促进作用。     

Recent Advances in Nanomaterial‐Modified Pencil Graphite Electrodes for Electroanalysis

Pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) have several advantages over other carbon‐based or commercial metal electrodes, including widespread availability, very low cost, and ease of modification. To make the best use of PGEs in electroanalysis, significant recent advances in the development of different nanomaterial‐PGEs have been observed. The literature published up to mid‐2015 is summarized in the present review, with a focus on the various methodologies used to readily modify graphite pencil electrodes using nanomaterials. This review also touches on the surface characterization of these electrodes and their potential applications in a variety of electrochemical detection applications. The review outlines the scope for further research in this area and discusses the importance of surface modifications of conventional PGE electrodes using nanomaterials or a combination of nanomaterials and electroactive polymers.     

熔盐电化学创新研究——武汉大学电化学研究中心熔盐电化学研究工作简介

简要介绍近3年武汉大学电化学研究中心在熔盐电化学方面的若干研究进展:1)熔盐电解固态化合物制备单质硅及其合金以及无机功能材料;2)适于高温熔盐的全密封长寿命Ag/AgCl参比电极和可负载微量粉末的金属腔(坑)工作电极新技术;3)“三相界线电化学”新概念以及描述三相界线在薄层固态化合物电解还原过程中扩展变化的薄层模型.     

Recent advances in graphite powder-based electrodes

Graphite powder-based electrodes have the electrochemical performance of quasi-noble metal electrodes with intrinsic advantages related to the possibility of modification to enhance selectivity and their easily renewable surface, with no need for hazardous acids or bases for their cleaning. In contrast with commercial electrodes, for example screen-printed or sputtered-chip electrodes, graphite powder-based electrodes can also be fabricated in any laboratory with the form and characteristics desired. They are also readily modified with advanced materials, with relatively high reproducibility. All these characteristics make them a very interesting option for obtaining a large variety of electrodes to resolve different kinds of analytical problems. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art, advantages, and disadvantages of graphite powder-based electrodes in electrochemical analysis in the 21st century. It includes recent trends in carbon paste electrodes, devoting special attention to the use of emergent materials as new binders and to the development of other composite electrodes. The most recent advances in the use of graphite powder-modified sol–gel electrodes are also described. The development of sonogel–carbon electrodes and their use in electrochemical sensors and biosensors is included. These materials extend the possibilities of applications, especially for industrial technology-transfer purposes, and their development could affect not only electroanalytical green chemistry but other interesting areas also, for example catalysis and energy conversion and storage.     

我国金属氢化物化学研究

综述了我国金属氢化物化学的发展。我国是从５０年代中期开始研究离子型金属氢化物的合成、性能和应用的,发展了一些合成方法,获得了多项中国专利。储氢合金的化学研究是７０年代中期开始的。在储氢合金的化学合成、吸放氢热力学与动力学、储氢合金氢化催化和电化学方面都有较深入的研究,特别是储氢电极合金电化学及其在Ｎｉ／ＭＨ可逆电池中的应用研究,在国家８６３计划强有力的支持下,某些方面进入了国际先进行列。     

具有均匀壳层的纳米功能材料：构筑与应用

表面修饰是一种重要的材料处理手段,被广泛应用于催化、光化学、电化学等领域。本文阐述了通过表面均匀包覆构建具有特定功能核壳结构的意义,并分析了构筑均匀包覆层的典型合成方法。同时,针对锂离子电池电极材料这一特定应用对象,综述了进行电极材料表面均匀包覆处理的途径,强调了电极材料核壳结构的构筑对于电极材料表面稳定、电化学性能优化等意义。     

二硒化钼基材料的制备及其在二次电池中的研究进展

二次电池由于具循环寿命长、成本低廉、绿色环保等优点受到科研工作者的广泛关注,而电极材料对整个电池系统的性能起着至关重要的作用。二硒化钼由于具有独特的层状结构、电导率高、带隙较窄等特点,被认为是储能领域的明日之星。然而,金属硒化物在循环过程中体积变化严重,导致动力学和电化学稳定性较差,限制了其在二次电池中的进一步实际应用。因此,研究者通过调整合成方法、与碳质材料复合、设计独特的结构等手段来缓解金属硒化物电极的稳定性问题。本文综述了二硒化钼材料的制备工艺、复合改性方法及其在二次电池中应用现状,最后对该材料在二次电池中所面临的挑战和应用前景进行了总结。     

Thirty years of platinum single crystal electrochemistry

The electrochemistry of platinum single crystals is historically reviewed. After a brief revision of historical results dating before the publication of the landmark experiment by J. Clavilier of the flame annealing in 1980, the controversy introduced by this experiment into the surface electrochemistry community is described. Questions about the structure and composition of the platinum surface after the flame annealing and their implications on the characteristic voltammetry of platinum single crystal electrodes were slowly answered in the years that followed the first introduction of this methodology. One of the last questions to be solved was that about the nature of the chemical species responsible for the charge transfer process that leads to the so-called unusual features in the voltammogram. This was solved with the charge displacement experiment. Nowadays, a great deal of knowledge has been gathered about the structure of the interphase between platinum electrodes and electrolytic solutions and also about the electrocatalytic behaviour of platinum surfaces. State-of-the-art information about platinum electrochemistry is provided, with emphasis on results from our group, especially those obtained with a thermodynamic analysis, involving either constant or variable temperatures and with the laser-induced temperature jump method.