Multifunctional chemically modified electrodes with mixed cobalt phthalocyanine/nafion coatings

A novel composite electrode coating based on a mixture of cobalt phthalocyanine and Nafion is described. The resulting film has better properties than either of the two components alone, resulting in several potential-sensing applications. In particular, it exhibits electrocatalytic, preconcentration and permselectivity properties simultaneously. For example, effective differentiation between compounds undergoing electrocatalysis, based on their characteristic charge, is illustrated. Enhanced sensitivity is achieved simultaneously for solutes undergoing electrocatalysis or electrostatic binding. Cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk experiments are employed to characterize the catalytic, loading and transport characteristics. Factors determining the film's performance are explored. The practical analytical utility is illustrated by selective flow-injection measurements of hydrazine or hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxalic or ascorbic acids, respectively. Low detection limits (e.g., 5.7 ng of hydrazine) are obtained.     

High performance electrochemical sensor based on modified screen-printed electrodes with cost-effective dispersion of nanostructured carbon black

A novel sensor based on a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with a stable dispersion of commercially available carbon black (CB) N220 was developed. This probe showed significantly enhanced electrochemical activity relative to a bare SPE when tested with ferricyanide, epinephrine, norepinephrine, benzoquinone and NADH. When challenged in amperometric batch mode with NADH, the response was stable and revealed a linear dependence up to 2·10^?4 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 3·10^?7 mol L^?1. The analytical performance, coupled with the low cost of the CB nanomaterial, suggests that this sensor holds promise for electrochemical applications.     

Thiol oxidation at 2-mercaptopyrimidine-appended cobalt phthalocyanine modified glassy carbon electrodes

The electrocatalytic activity of cobalt tetra-2-mercaptopyrimidylphthalocyanine-modified glassy carbon electrode (CoTMPyrPc-GCE) toward gluthathione, l-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol has been investigated. CoTMPyrPc-GCE provides a significant improvement on the reported oxidation potential of l-cysteine in pH 4.0 phosphate buffered solution. The oxidation peak potential (E_p), for l-cysteine, was 0.15 V – a relatively lowered oxidation potential compared to reported phthalocyanine complexes. The electrode prepared by drop-dry/thermal annealing method was very stable and sensitive over a long period of time. The stability has been attributed to the thermal annealing and the structure of the mercaptopyrimidine on the periphery of the CoPc.     

Manufacture and evaluation of carbon nanotube modified screen-printed electrodes as electrochemical tools

Carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) dissolved in a mixture of DMF:water were used to modify the surfaces of commercially available screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). The morphology of the MWCNT-COOH and the modified SPEs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. SEM analysis showed a porous structure formed by a film of disordered nanotubes on the surface of the working electrode.The modification procedure with MWCNT-COOH was optimised and it was applied to unify the electrochemical behaviour of different gold and carbon SPEs by using p-aminophenol as the benchmark redox system. The analytical advantages of the MWCNT-COOH-modified SPEs as voltammetric and amperometric detectors as well as their catalytic properties were discussed through the analysis, for instance, of dopamine and hydrogen peroxide. Experimental results show that the electrochemical active area of the nanotube-modified electrode increased around 50%. The repeatability of the modification methodology is around 6% (R.S.D.) and the stability of MWCNT-COOH-modified SPEs is ensured for, at least, 2 months.     

Detecting thiols in a microchip device using micromolded carbon ink electrodes modified with cobalt phthalocyanine

This paper describes the fabrication and evaluation of a chemically modified carbon ink microelectrode to detect thiols of biological interest. The detection of thiols, such as homocysteine and cysteine, is necessary to monitor various disease states. The biological implications of these thiols generate the need for miniaturized detection systems that enable portable monitoring as well as quantitative results. In this work, we utilize a microchip device that incorporates a micromolded carbon ink electrode modified with cobalt phthalocyanine to detect thiols. Cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) is an electrocatalyst that lowers the potential needed for the oxidation of thiols. The CoPC/carbon ink composition was optimized for the micromolding method and the resulting microelectrode was characterized with microchip-based flow injection analysis. It was found that CoPC lowers the overpotential for thiols but, as compared to direct amperometric detection, a pulsed detection scheme was needed to constantly regenerate the electrocatalyst surface, leading to improved peak reproducibility and limits of detection. Using the pulsed method, cysteine exhibited a linear response between 10-250 microM (r(2) = 0.9991) with a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 7.5 microM, while homocysteine exhibited a linear response between 10-500 microM (r(2) = 0.9967) with a limit of detection of 6.9 microM. Finally, to demonstrate the ability to measure thiols in a biological sample using a microchip device, the CoPC-modified microelectrode was utilized for the detection of cysteine in the presence of rabbit erythrocytes.     

Flow injection analysis of zinc pyrithione in hair care products on a cobalt phthalocyanine modified screen-printed carbon electrode

Zinc pyrithione (ZPT) is an antibacterial and antifungal reagent that is often utilized for the antidandruff activity in hair-care shampoos with a composition level up to 1% in the formulation. It has some adverse effects to human and animal if consumed orally. A disposable type of cobalt phthalocyanide modified screen-printed carbon electrode (CoPc/SPE) in couple with flow injection analysis (FIA) was developed for easy and selective analysis of ZPT in commercial hair-care products. Under the optimized FIA conditions, the CoPc/SPE yielded a linear calibration plot in the window of 6–576 μM with sensitivity and detection limit of 1.65 nA μM⁻¹ and 0.9 μM (i.e. 1.42 pg in 5 μl sample loop), respectively, in 0.1 M KOH solution at an applied potential of 0.3 V versus Ag/AgCl. Since the approach is simple, easy, selective, and inexpensive, it offers a potential application of daily ZPT analysis in hair-care products.     

Glassy carbon electrodes modified with single walled carbon nanotubes and cobalt phthalocyanine and nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine: Highly stable new hybrids with enhanced electrocatalytic performances

We report here a fast procedure to modify glassy carbon (GC) electrode using commercially available unsubstituted cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and tetrasulfonated substituted nickel phthalocyanine (NiTSPc) simply adsorbed on oxidized single walled carbon nanotubes SWCNT. The electrocatalytic activity of the resulting SWCNT-MPc nanocomposite materials was evaluated toward the oxidation of two biologically relevant molecules, namely 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and nitric oxide (NO). The obtained electrodes are highly stable under hydrodynamic conditions and the tailored hybrid surfaces allow enhancing electron transfer for the electrocatalytic oxidation of 2-ME and NO.     

Direct electrochemical determination of carbaryl using a multi-walled carbon nanotube/cobalt phthalocyanine modified electrode

The electrochemical detection of carbaryl at low potentials, in order to avoid matrix interferences, is an important challenge. This study describes the development, electrochemical characterization and utilization of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) plus cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) for the quantitative determination of carbaryl in natural waters. The surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy, enhanced sensitivity was observed with respect to bare glassy carbon and electrocatalytic effects reduced the oxidation potential to +0.80 V vs. SCE in acetate buffer solution at pH 4.0. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to estimate the rate constant of the oxidation process and square-wave voltammetry to investigate the effect of electrolyte pH. Square-wave voltammetry in acetate buffer solution at pH 4.0, allowed the development of a method to determine carbaryl, without any previous step of extraction, clean-up, or derivatization, in the range of 0.33-6.61 μmol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 5.46 ± 0.02 nmol L⁻¹ (1.09 ± 0.02 μg L⁻¹) in water. Natural water samples spiked with carbaryl and without any purification step were successfully analyzed by the standard addition method using the GC/MWCNT/CoPc film electrode.     

Acetylcholinesterase sensor based on screen-printed carbon electrode modified with prussian blue

Acetylcholinesterase (ChE) sensor based on Prussian blue (PB) modified electrode was developed and tested for the detection of organophosphorus and carbamic pesticides. The signal of the sensor was generated in PB mediated oxidation of thiocholine recorded at+200 mv in DC mode. ChE from electric eel was immobilized by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the surface of screen-printed carbon electrode covered with PB and Nafion. The content of the surface layer (specific enzyme activity, Nafion and BSA amounts) was optimized to establish high and reliable response toward the substrate and ChE inhibitors. The ChE/PB sensor makes it possible to detect Aldicarb, Paraoxon and Parathion-Methyl with limits of detection 30, 10 and 5 ppb, respectively (incubation 10 min). The feasibility of practical application of the ChE/PB sensor developed for the monitoring of degradation of the pesticides in wine fermentation was shown. To diminish matrix interferences, the electrolysis of the grape juice with Al anode and evaporation of ethanol were suggested, however the procedures decrease the sensitivity of pesticide detection and stability of the sample tested.     

Disposable screen-printed bismuth electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes for electrochemical stripping measurements

Integrating the advantages of screen printing technology with the encouraging electroanalytical characteristic of metallic bismuth, we developed an ultrasensitive and disposable screen-printed bismuth electrode (SPBE) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for electrochemical stripping measurements. Metallic bismuth powders and MWCNTs were homogeneously mixed with graphite-carbon ink to mass-prepare screen-printed bismuth electrode doped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SPBE/MWCNT). The electroanalytical performance of the prepared SPBE/MWCNT was intensively evaluated by measuring trace Hg(II) with square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The results indicated that the SPBE modified with 2 wt% MWCNTs could offer a more sensitive response to trace Hg(II) than the bare SPBE. The stripping current obtained at SPBE/MWCNT was linear with Hg(II) concentration in the range from 0.2 to 40 μg/L (R(2) = 0.9976), with a detection limit of 0.09 μg/L (S/N = 3) under 180 s accumulation. The proposed "mercury-free" electrode, with extremely simple preparation and ultrahigh sensitivity, holds wide application prospects in both environmental and industrial monitoring.     

Development of an immunosensor for the determination of rabbit IgG using streptavidin modified screen-printed carbon electrodes

Voltammetric enzyme immunosensors based on the employment of streptavidin modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) for the detection of rabbit IgG, as a model analyte, were described. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 3-indoxyl phosphate (3-IP) were used as the enzymatic label and substrate, respectively. The adsorption of streptavidin was performed by deposition of a drop of a streptavidin solution overnight at 4 °C on the pre-oxidized surface of the SPCEs. The analytical characteristics of these sensors were evaluated using biotin conjugated to AP.The immunosensor devices were based on a specific reaction of rabbit IgG with its biotinylated antibodies, which were immobilised on the modified screen-printed carbon electrodes through the streptavidin:biotin reaction. The immunosensors were used for a direct determination of AP labelled rabbit IgG, and for free rabbit IgG detection using a sequential competitive immunoassay. A calibration curve in the range of 5 × 10⁻¹¹ to 1 × 10⁻⁹ M of rabbit IgG was obtained with a estimated detection limit of 5 × 10⁻¹¹ M (7.0 ng/ml). These immunosensors were stable for 5 months if they were stored at 4 °C.     

Quantification of N-acetylcysteine in pharmaceuticals using cobalt phthalocyanine modified graphite electrodes

Flow injection analysis (FIA) with amperometric detection was employed for the quantification of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in pharmaceutical formulations, utilizing an ordinary pyrolytic graphite (OPG) electrode modified with cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc). Cyclic voltammetry was used in preliminary studies to establish the best conditions for NAC analysis. In FIA-amperometric experiments the OPG-CoPc electrode exhibited sharp and reproducible current peaks over a wide linear working range (5.0 × 10⁻⁵-1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹) in 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH solution. High sensitivity (130 mA mol⁻¹ cm²) and a low detection limit (9.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹) were achieved using the sensor. The repeatability (R.S.D.%) for 13 successive flow injections of a solution containing 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ NAC was 1.1%. The new procedure was applied in analyses of commercial pharmaceutical products and the results were in excellent agreement with those obtained using the official titrimetric method. The proposed amperometric method is highly suitable for quality control analyses of NAC in pharmaceuticals since it is rapid, precise and requires much less work than the recommended titrimetric method.     

酞菁钴修饰碳糊电极对微量苯酚的测定

研究了苯酚在酞菁钴修饰碳糊电极上的电化学行为,提出了催化反应的机理,并以此为依据,用伏安法以酞菁钴修饰碳糊电极为工作电极测定了微量苯酚.在pH 8.7的磷酸盐缓冲溶液(PBS)中,苯酚在0.61 V(对SCE)出现一氧化峰,该峰电流与苯酚的浓度在5.0×10-7～1.0×10-4 mol/L之间呈线性关系,检出限为1.0×10-7 mol/L.此法可用于工业废水中苯酚的测定.     

Enhanced electrochemical performance at screen-printed carbon electrodes by a new pretreating procedure

A new method for the pretreatment of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) by two successive steps was proposed. In step one, fresh SPCEs were soaked into NaOH with high concentration (e.g. 3 M) for tens to hundreds of minutes, and the resulted electrodes were called as SPCE-I. In step two, SPCE-I were pre-anodized in low concentration of NaOH, which were designated as SPCE-II. The pretreated electrodes showed remarkable enhancement in heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k⁰) increased from 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ cm s⁻¹ at the fresh SPCE to 1.1 × 10⁻² cm s⁻¹ at SPCE-I for Fe(CN)₆^3−/4− couple. The peak to peak separation (ΔE_p) in cyclic voltammetry was reduced from ca. 480 to 84 mV, indicating that the electrochemical reversibility was greatly promoted, possibly due to the removing of polymers/oil binder from the electrode surfaces. The electroactive area (A_ea) of the electrode was increased by a factor of 17 after pretreatment in step one. Further analysis by the electrochemical impedance method showed that the electron transfer resistance (R_ct) decreased from ca. 2100 to 1.4 Ω. These pretreated electrodes, especially SPCE-II, exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behavior for the redox of dopamine (DA). Interference from ascorbic acid (AA) in the detection of DA at SPCE-II could be effectively eliminated due to the anodic peak separation (190 mV) between DA and AA, which resulted from the functionalization of the electrode surface in the pretreatment of step two. Under optimum conditions, current responses to DA were linearly changed in two concentration intervals, one was from 3.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 9.8 × 10⁻⁶ M, and the other was from 9.8 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.3 × 10⁻⁴ M. The detection limit for DA was down to 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ M.     

Determination of glutathione in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection with a carbon-epoxy resin composite electrode chemically modified with cobalt phthalocyanine

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LCEC), incorporating a novel carbon-epoxy resin working electrode modified with cobalt phthalocyanine, has been employed for preliminary studies directed towards the determination of normal circulating levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in human plasma. The mobile phase consisted of 0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 3) containing 0.1% m/m ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); the calibration graph was linear in the range 0.24-30.7 ng of GSH injected. The mean recovery of GSH added to a control serum over the physiological concentration range (0.38-3.07 ng ml-1) was 99%; this was achieved following a simple sample pre-treatment method, prior to LCEC, involving chelation of divalent cations with EDTA and subsequent acidification with orthophosphoric acid. Using the LCEC method, the mean circulating level of GSH in plasma, found in three normal subjects, was 2.69 microM, GSH; this indicates that the method might be applicable to the determination of depressed circulating levels of GSH.     

Disposable amperometric sensor for neurotransmitters based on screen-printed electrodes modified with a thin iridium oxide film.

Potential cycling in the range from -0.2 to +1.2 V is used for the electrodeposition of hydrous iridium oxide films onto a screen-printed electrode from a saturated solution of alkaline iridium(III) solution. The iridium oxide redox couple shows a stable and obvious reversible redox, with the formal potential being pH dependent in the range 1-14. The properties, stability and electrochemical properties of iridium oxide films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. A modified electrode showed excellent catalytic activity toward the oxidation of neurotransmitters (catecholamines) over a wide pH range (2-8). The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for adrenaline and dopamine by hydrodynamic amperometry. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves are linear in the concentration range 0.1-70 and 0.1-15 microM for dopamine and adrenaline determination, respectively. The detection limit and sensitivity are 30 nM and 30 nA/microM for adrenaline and 15 nM and 80 nA/microM for dopamine. Finally, the analytical performance of the modified electrode was demonstrated for the elimination of interference by uric acid in catecholamines determination when present in a 1000-fold concentration excess.     

抗坏血酸在普鲁士蓝修饰的丝网印刷电极上的电催化氧化

制备了普鲁士蓝修饰的丝网印刷电极,研究了该修饰电极对抗坏血酸的催化氧化作用。在pH5.0的0.2mol/L磷酸盐缓冲溶液中,修饰电极对抗坏血酸显示出快速的电化学响应,较高的稳定性、重现性和催化活性,测定的线性范围为5.0×10-6～8.0×10-3mol/L,相关系数为0.998,检出限为3.0×10-6mol/L(3σ)。已对实际样品进行了测定。     

Electrochemical characteristics of conductive carbon cement as matrix for chemically modified electrodes

Conductive carbon cement (CCC) was evaluated as matrix material for the preparation of electrodes bulk-modified with electrocatalysts. For pure CCC electrodes the background current characteristics were examined. In acidic or neutral phosphate buffers the useful electrode potential range was from −0.3 to + 1.0 V vs. SCE, while in 0.1 mol 1⁻¹ NaOH it was from −0.3 to + 0.7 V. The electrochemical reversibility of CCC electrodes was examined by measuring the standard rate constants for the reduction of hexacyanoferrate (III) and the oxidation of hydroquinone, using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk experiments. The reversibility of a CCC electrode was comparable with that of a freshly polished glassy carbon electrode and better than that of carbon paste electrodes. CCC was used as matrix for the preparation of electrodes bulk-modified with cuprous oxide and cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC). With a Cu₂O-CCC electrode the oxidation potential of glucose, which shows sluggish kinetics at unmodified carbon electrodes, was strongly reduced. The kinetics of the mediated glucose oxidation has been studied with a rotating disk electrode. It was shown that at glucose concentrations higher than approximately 1 mmol l⁻¹ the electrochemical regeneration of the catalyst becomes rate-determining. The Cu₂O-CCC modified electrode has been applied with a constant potential in flow-injection analysis for the determination of glucose. The long-term stability of the electrode was studied; repeated injections of a glucose solution during a period of 6 h yielded a relative standard deviation of the peak height of 1.8% (n = 57). In CV experiments the electrocatalytic activity of CoPC was shown for the oxidation of various compounds such as penicillamine, hydrazine and bile acids. Application of the CoPC-CCC electrode for the detection of bile acids in flow-through detection with a constant or pulsed potential failed, due to a rapid deactivation of the electrode.     

Determination of reduced glutathione in human whole blood by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection by a graphite-epoxy resin electrode chemically modified with cobalt phthalocyanine

High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection by means of a re-polishable graphite-epoxy resin composite electrode, modified with the electrocatalyst cobalt phthalocyanine, has been used for the determination of reduced glutathione (GSH) in 25-mul samples of whole blood. The mobile phase was O.O5M phosphate buffer (pH 2.3) containing 1 mM EDTA, used in conjunction with a Waters muBondapak ODS chromatography column. The use of the electrocatalyst reduced the overpotential for the oxidation of GSH at a carbon electrode by approximately 750 mV, and the applied potential used was +0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The mean recovery of GSH added during the sample pretreatment step was 95%; the assay imprecision was 1-2% for triplicate analyses of the whole blood samples.