Improvement in the assessment of direct and facilitated ion transfers by electrochemically induced redox transformations of common molecular probes

A new strategy based on a thick organic film modified electrode allowed us, for the first time, to explore the voltammetric processes for a series of hydrophilic ions by electrochemically induced redox transformations of common molecular probes. During the limited time available for voltammetry, this thick organic film ensured that the generated product of the molecular probe, which is within a limited diffusion layer, was kept far away from the aqueous-organic solvent interface; therefore, regardless of the degree of hydrophobicity, the generated product never participates in ion exchange across the interface and the charge neutrality of the organic film (containing an extremely hydrophobic electrolyte) can only be maintained by the injection of ions from the aqueous phase. Taking advantage of this fact, common redox probes, such as ferrocene (Fc) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), which are almost useless for both three-phase electrode (TPE) and thin-layer cyclic voltammetry (TLCV) methods, can induce the transfer of numerous highly hydrophilic anions and cations. Consequently, the majority of their Gibbs transfer energies have been accurately determined for the first time to the best of our knowledge. With this in mind, using TCNQ as a redox probe to induce facilitated cation transfer, a stategy that is more advantageous than traditional methods has been developed. The main advantages are that: (i) voltammetric experiments performed on this system were free from the polarized potential window (ppw) in the aqueous phase and, as a result, this allowed the assessment of weakly assisted ion transfers, which appear at the terminal of the ppw at single polarized interfaces; (ii) without introducing the tetraphenylarsonium-tetraphenylborate (TPAs-TPB) thermodynamic assumption, one can conveniently evaluate both the association constant and the stoichiometric parameter between the ion and its ionophore by comparison of their direct and facilitated ion transfer voltammograms. These encouraging results illustrated the exciting innovation for assessing direct and facilitated ion transfers based on this new thick organic film modified electrode.     

应用扫描电化学显微镜研究极化液/液界面上的电子转移反应

将含有氧化还原电对的水溶液滴涂在铂盘电极表面, 然后将该电极插入到1,2-二氯乙烷溶液中, 形成稳定的油/水界面. 液滴中的K3Fe(CN)6和K4Fe(CN)6氧化还原电对既可以作为水相中的参比电对参与控制液/液界面上的电势差, 同时又可以作为水相的电子授受体参与界面上的电子转移反应. 结合扫描电化学显微镜电化学系统的特点, 利用其双恒电位仪分别控制界面电势差和现场扫描的优点, 通过扫描电化学显微镜的渐进曲线得到了不同界面电势差控制的电子转移反应速率常数. 实验结果表明, 应用此方法获得的液/液界面可以被外加电位极化, 在一定的电势差范围内, 反应速率常数与界面电势差的关系遵守Butler-Volmer公式.     

Bioelectronic modulation of single-wavelength localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) for the detection of electroactive biomolecules

The simplification of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) detection can further promote the development of optical biosensing application in point-of-care testing. In this study, we proposed a simple light emitting diode (LED) based single-wavelength LSPR sensor modulated with bio-electron transfers for the detection of electroactive biomolecules. Indium tin oxide electrode loaded with nanocomposites of polyaniline coated gold nanorod was used as LSPR chip, and the applied electric potential was scanned at the LSPR chip for single-wavelength LSPR biosensing. Under the scanning of applied potentials, biological electron transfer of redox reaction was employed to demonstrate the bioelectronic modulation of single-wavelength LSPR for selective electroactive biomolecule detection. Without any additional recognition material, electroactive biomolecules uric acid and dopamine were detected directly with a sensitivity of 5.05 μmol/L and 7.11 μmol/L at their specific oxidation potentials, respectively. With the simplified optical configuration and selective bioelectronic modulation, the single-wavelength LSPR sensor is promising for the development of simple, low-cost, and high specificity optical biosensor for point-of-care testing of electroactive biomolecules.     

Electrocatalytic Determination of Sulfite at Immobilized Microdroplet Liquid|Liquid Interfaces: The EIC′ Mechanism

Liquid|liquid interfaces provide a natural boundary and a reactive interface where an organic phase is in contact with an aqueous analyte. The selectivity of ion transfer processes at liquid|liquid interfaces can help to provide sensitivity, introduce reactive reagents, or allow analyte accumulation at the electrode surface. In this study, microdroplet deposits of the organic liquid 4‐(3‐phenylpropyl)‐pyridine (PPP) with the ferrocenylmethyl‐dodecyldimethylammonium⁺ (FDA⁺) redox system are deposited onto a basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode and employed to transfer anions from the aqueous into the organic phase. A clear trend of more hydrophobic anions transferring more readily (at more negative potentials) is observed and an ESI‐mass spectrometry method is developed to confirm the transfer. Subsequently, the electrocatalytic oxidation of sulfite, SO₃^2?, within the organic phase and in the presence of different electrolyte anions is investigated. Competition between sulfite transfer and inert anion transfer occurs. The electrocatalytic sulfite oxidation is suppressed in the presence of PF₆^? and occurs most readily in the presence of the hydrophilic nitrate anion. The resulting process can be classified as an electrocatalytic EIC′‐process (E: electron transfer; I: ion transfer; C: chemical reaction step). The effectiveness of the electrocatalytic process is limited by i) competition during anion transfer and ii) the liquid|liquid interface acting as a diffusion barrier. The analytical sensitivity of the method is limited to ca. 100 μM SO₃^2? (or ca. 8 ppm) and potential approaches for improvement of this limit are discussed.     

双通道微米管支撑的微-液/液界面上电荷转移反应的研究

将有机相和水相分别灌入双通道玻璃微米管θ管中的一个管中,利用θ管表面的亲水特征,在灌有有机相的微米管口附近形成微-液/液界面.利用循环伏安法研究了电荷在这种微-液/液界面上的转移反应,包括简单离子(四甲基铵离子TMA⁺)转移、加速离子转移(DB18C6加速K⁺离子)和电子转移(二茂铁/铁氰化钾+亚铁氰化钾体系)反应过程.结果表明,这种双通道微米管所得到的微-液/液界面具有不对称扩散场的特性.此装置是目前最简单的可用于研究液/液界面上的电荷转移反应的装置之一,即所谓的可进行"无溶液"液/液界面电化学及电分析化学研究的装置.     

薄层循环伏安法研究硝基苯/水界面上离子诱导的电子转移反应

应用薄层循环伏安法研究了硝基苯/水两相界面间,且有共同离子四丁基铵TBA+存在于两相中,在有机相中的四氰化二甲基苯醌(TCNQ)与水相中的K4Fe(CN)6之间发生的反向电子转移反应。在直径为0.64cm的裂解石墨电极上用2μL硝基苯溶液使之自然扩散在电极表面形成薄层的有机相,并以此作为工作电极。对电极为铂丝(0.5mm),参比电极为Ag/AgCl电极,均置于总体积为2mL的水相中。由于共同离子TBA+的诱导,在硝基苯/水界面间,在已氧化的TCNQ+阳离子(在有机相中)与[Fe(CN)6]4-阴离子(在水相中)之间发生了反向电子转移反应。试验证明:在一定条件下,通过改变两相中共同离子的浓度,可使一些不能发生的两相界面的电子转移反应得以发生;这类电子转移反应系受界面电位差所控制。此外,还测得了在恒定的共同离子浓度比值的条件下,此两相界面电子转移反应的表观速率常数(k)为0.135cm.s-1.mol-1。     

Comparative study of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the ion transfer across the liquid/liquid interface by means of three-phase electrodes

A comparative study of the behavior of different sorts of three-phase electrodes applied for assessing the thermodynamics and kinetics of the ion transfer across the liquid/liquid (L/L) interface is presented. Two types of three-phase electrodes are compared, that is, a paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode at the surface of which a macroscopic droplet of an organic solvent is attached and an edge pyrolytic graphite electrode partly covered with a very thin film of the organic solvent. The organic solvent contains either decamethylferrocene or lutetium bis(tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninato) as a redox probe. The role of the redox probe, the type of the electrode material, the mass transfer regime, and the effect of the uncompensated resistance are discussed. The overall electrochemical process at both three-phase electrodes proceeds as a coupled electron-ion transfer reaction. The ion transfer across the L/L interface, driven by the electrode reaction of the redox compound at the electrode/organic solvent interface, is independent of the type of redox probe. The ion transfer proceeds without involving any chemical coupling between the transferring ion and the redox probe. Both types of three-phase electrodes provide consistent results when applied for measuring the energy of the ion transfer. Under conditions of square-wave voltammetry, the coupled electron-ion transfer at the three-phase electrode is a quasireversible process, exhibiting the property known as "quasireversible maximum". The overall electron-ion transfer process at the three-phase electrode is controlled by the rate of the ion transfer. It is demonstrated for the first time that the three-phase electrode in combination with the quasireversible maximum is a new tool for assessing the kinetics of the ion transfer across the L/L interface.     

Analytical theory for ion transfer–electron transfer coupled reactions at redox layer–modified/thick film–modified electrodes

Electrodes modified by liquid films or plasticized polymeric membranes containing a redox species offer valuable alternatives for the study of ion transfers and bimolecular electron transfers at liquid–liquid interfaces with conventional electrode arrangements and stable interfaces. The ion-to-electron (or electron-to-electron) transducer affects the electrochemical signal, complicating the accurate analysis of experimental data. This can be reduced through the use of an electrode surface-attached redox species of well-defined electrochemical behaviour. As will be demonstrated, the voltammetry of these systems show significant deviations with respect to individual charge transfers, which must be considered for appropriate diagnosis and quantitative analysis. For this, a simple analytical theory is presented here, deducing mathematical expressions for the current–potential response, as well as for the potential difference at the two polarized interfaces, the surface excess of the redox species and the ion interfacial concentrations.     

Potential-modulation spectroscopy at solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces.

Potential-modulation spectroelectrochemical methods at solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces are reviewed. After a brief summary of the basic features and advantages of the methods, practical applications of potential-modulation spectroscopy are demonstrated using our recent studies of solid/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces, including reflection measurements for a redox protein on a modified gold electrode and fluorescence measurements for various dyes at a polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. For both interfaces, the use of linearly polarized incident light enabled an estimation of the molecular orientation. The use of a potential-modulated transmission-absorption measurement for an optically transparent electrode with immobilized metal nanoparticles is also described. The ability of potential-modulated fluorescence spectroscopy to clearly elucidate the charge transfer and adsorption mechanisms at liquid/liquid interfaces is highlighted.     

Ion Transport Across Liquid|Liquid Interfacial Boundaries Monitored at Generator‐Collector Electrodes

Anion transfer processes at a liquid|liquid interface were studied with an interdigitated gold band array electrode. The organic phase, 4‐(3‐phenylpropyl)‐pyridine containing Co(II)phthalocyanine, was immobilised as random droplets at the electrode surface and then immersed into aqueous electrolyte. Oxidation of Co(II)phthalocyanine at the generator electrode was shown to be associated with anion transfer from the aqueous into the organic phase. The corresponding back reduction at the collector electrode with anion expulsion was delayed by the anion/cation diffusion time across the interelectrode gap. A working curve based on a finite difference numerical simulation model was employed to estimate the apparent diffusion coefficients for anions in the organic phase (PF₆^?4^?3^?). Potential applications in ion analysis are discussed.     

液/液界面萃取循环伏安法测定Pb2+离子研究

本文利用吡咯烷二硫代氨基甲酸铵（APDC）作为螯合剂,甲基异丁酮（MIBK）作为萃取剂,将水相中的Pb2+萃取到有机相中,利用经典的三电极系统研究该有机相在液/液界面的伏安特性。实验结果表明,该电化学过程是一个由扩散控制的不可逆过程,Pb2+的萃取物从有机相转移到水相。铅萃取物的转移峰在0.16V vs.SCE处,并且在1.0×10-5~ 9.0×10-5mol/L范围内与峰电流大小成正比。这一方法为工业废水中铅的在线、现场测定提供了可靠、灵敏的监测方法。     

Facilitated Ion Transfer Across the Micro-liquid/Liquid Interface Supported at the Tip of a Silanized Micropipette

IntroductionIon transfer across a liquid/liquid( L/L) inter-face or an interface between two immiscible elec-trolyte solutions( ITIES) plays a significant role inmany biochemical fields and technological systemsfrom biological membrane and drug delivery to ex-traction process and chemical sensors[1] . Theminiaturization of ITIESwas firstachieved by Tay-lor and Girault via supporting the interface at thetip of a micropipette in1 986[2 ] .Later on a nano-ITIES supported at a nanopipette …     

Thin‐Film Voltammetry of a Lutetium Bisphthalocyanine at Ionic Liquid|Water Interface

At room temperature, tetraoctylphosphonium bromide is a viscous ionic liquid, this gel‐like organic phase can be cast over a basal‐plane graphite electrode (BPGE). Cyclic voltammetry at such a modified electrode, in contact with an aqueous solution have revealed one reversible oxidation and five reversible reduction steps for a Lu^III bisphthalocyanine dissolved in the ionic liquid film, a proof that the highly reactive reduced species were protected from interaction with water in this highly lipophilic phase. It has also been shown that the redox properties are influenced by the ions in the aqueous phase, a property which has been attributed to ion‐pairing effects; obviously, the ion transfers at the organic|aqueous interface has been ignored. Electrochemistry of Lu(III)[(_tBu)₄Pc]₂ (cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry) under similar conditions shows that the nature and concentration of the anion in the aqueous solution in contact with the ionic liquid film influences the potential of the electrode reaction. This can be attributed to variations of the interfacial potential and also because the organic phase is an anion exchanger. Moreover, SWV experiments suggest that the rate of the overall reaction varies with the nature and concentration of the anion of the aqueous electrolyte, which implies that the ion transfer through the organic|aqueous interface is slower than the electron exchange rate of the molecule at the surface of graphite.     

液/液界面电化学及其进展

液/液界面电化学及电分析化学与研究萃取和化学传感机理、相转移催化、药物释放、模拟生物膜等密切相关,近年来备受到关注. 文中结合作者课题组工作,介绍、综述该领域近十几年、尤其在液/液界面微观结构、电荷（离子与电子）转移反应及界面功能化的新进展.     

Detection of hydrogen peroxide produced at a liquid/liquid interface using scanning electrochemical microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to monitor in situ hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced at a polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface. The water/DCE interface was formed between a DCE droplet containing decamethylferrocene (DMFc) supported on a solid electrode and an acidic aqueous solution. H₂O₂ was generated by reducing oxygen with DMFc at the water/DCE interface, and was detected with a SECM tip positioned in the vicinity of the interface using a substrate generation/tip collection mode. This work shows unambiguously how the H₂O₂ generation depends on the polarization of the liquid/liquid interface, and how proton-coupled electron transfer reactions can be controlled at liquid/liquid interfaces.     

Single Fusion Events at Polarized Liquid–Liquid Interfaces

A new electrochemical framework for tracking individual soft particles in solution and monitoring their fusion with polarized liquid–liquid interfaces is reported. The physicochemical principle lies in the interfacial transfer of an ionic probe confined in the particles dispersed in solution and that is released upon their collision and fusion with the fluid interface. As a proof-of-concept, spike-like transients of a stochastic nature are reported in the current–time response of 1,2-dichloroethane(DCE)|water(W) submilli-interfaces after injection of DCE-in-W emulsions. The sign and potential dependence of the spikes reflect the charge and lipophilicity of the ionic load of the droplets. A comparison with dynamic light scattering measurements indicates that each spike is associated with the collision of a single sub-picoliter droplet. This opens a new framework for the study of single fusion events at the micro- and nanoscale and of ion transport across biomimetic soft interfaces.     

二苯并18冠6促进钾离子在微液-液界面上的迁移反应

本文研制出一种用于构造互不相溶电解质界面 (ITIES)的两亲性微孔电极 ,并对发生于该界面上的二苯并 18冠 6 (DB18C6 )促进钾离子的迁移反应进行了研究 ,计算其相关的反应参数 .实验证明 ,该方法操作简便 ,是研究ITIES界面上电荷迁移反应的一种有效工具     

Kinetic effects of the complexation reaction in the facilitated ion transfer at liquid membrane systems of one and two polarized interfaces. Theoretical insights

An in-depth study of the ion transfer facilitated by complexation in the organic phase (TOC mechanism) in liquid membrane systems of one and two polarized interfaces is carried out by taking into account the kinetic effects associated with the complexation reaction. Explicit analytical equations for the normal pulse voltammetric (I/E) and chronoamperometric (I/t) responses with an explicit dependence on the kinetic parameters of the chemical complexation are presented for both kinds of membrane system, which could be useful for modeling artificial and biological membranes. The equations are compared with those obtained by using the widely used approximation of total equilibrium conditions that leads to the transfer by interfacial complexation mechanism (TIC), which only depends on thermodynamic parameters. Simple methods are proposed that allow quantitative determination of the equilibrium and kinetic constants of the complexation reaction in the organic phase for both kinds of membrane system.     

Electrochemical detection of dopamine using arrays of liquid-liquid micro-interfaces created within micromachined silicon membranes

The detection of protonated dopamine by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) at arrays of micro-interfaces between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (μITIES) is presented. Microfabricated porous silicon membranes (consisting of eight pores, 26.6 μm in radius and 500 μm pore-pore separation, in a hexagonal layout) were prepared by photolithographic and etching procedures. The membrane pores were fabricated with hydrophobic internal walls so that the organic phase filled the pores and created the liquid interface at the aqueous side of the membrane. These were used for harnessing the benefits of three-dimensional diffusion to the interface and for interface stabilisation. The liquid-liquid interface provides a simple method to overcome the major problem in the voltammetric detection of dopamine at solid electrodes due to the co-existence of ascorbate at higher concentrations. Selectivity for dopamine over ascorbate was achieved by the use of dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) for the facilitated ion transfer of dopamine across the μITIES array. Under these conditions, the presence of ascorbate in excess did not interfere in the detection of dopamine and the lowest concentration detectable was ca. 0.5 μM. In addition, the drawback of current signal saturation (non-linear increase of the peak current with the concentration of dopamine) observed at conventional (millimetre-sized) liquid-liquid interfaces was overcome using the microfabricated porous membranes.